Greening the (Marijuana) Grow

Aired on KQED Public Radio's Quest on Monday, May 10, 2010.

http://www.kqed.org/quest/radio/greening-the-grow

Voters in California will consider a measure on the November ballot to legalize and tax marijuana. Amid the debate over pros and cons, another issue has been gaining visibility -- the environmental damage pot cultivation can incur. Illegal pesticide use and creek water diversion at large-scale outdoor operations are well-documented. But environmental concerns are also growing over indoor marijuana cultivation, and I went to Humboldt to learn more.

Check out the slide show and blog, too.

Small Businesses: Where Have All the Farmers Gone?

Aired on the AllBusiness podcast, April 14, 2010.

http://www.allbusiness.com/14238671-1.html

The number of small business farms is shrinking. Here's another version of my FarmLink story.  It's a Sonoma County-based organization using an innovative approach to grow the next generation of farmers.

Loudon Wainwright III talks about "Grey in L.A.

Aired on The California Report Magazine on Friday March 5, 2010.

http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201003051630/e

Bear Hunting

Aired on The California Report Magazine on Friday, March 5, 2010.

http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201003051630/d

And NPR's All Things Considered on March 31:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125420237

The Department of Fish and Game holds hunter education clinics throughout the state of California, like the bear hunting clinic I attended in Diamond Springs, near Placerville. Bear hunting is getting a lot of attention right now as the department is proposing changing regulations to expand where and how Californians can hunt bears.

Gaining Historical Empathy Through Slave Narratives

Published on edutopia.org on March 6, 2010.

http://www.edutopia.org/engaging-students-history-slave-narratives

Some amazing teachers in Oakland help students give voice to slaves through a collaborative slave narrative project.

Gypsy Innkeepers

Aired on The California Report Magazine on Friday, February 26, 2010.

http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201002261630/e

Lots of folks fantasize about spending their lives on the road, traveling wherever, whenever. But few do it. On a recent trip to Desert Hot Springs north of Palm Springs, I met a couple in their 50s who really did take to the road. This aired as part of the series "Turning Points," profiling Californians who make life-altering decisions.

Modernism Week in Palm Springs

Aired on KQED's The California Report Magazine on Friday, February 12, 2010.

http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201002121630/c

Besides the great weather and gorgeous mountains, is also boasts spectacular examples of mid-century modern architecture. This weekend, fans of modern design will flock to Palm Springs for the fifth annual Modernism Week. I paid a visit, and learned about my own grandparents' role in the creation of Palm Springs' style.

(there's a slideshow, too!)