Land Ethic

Ruben Cantu is a Certified Wildlife Biologist & Certified Professional in Rangeland Management. He spent 27 years with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department as a Wildlife Biologist. Now "retired," he began teaching at Angelo State University, created Habitat Advantage, LLC, and is co-owner of Wildlife Consulting, LLC. He has authored and co-authored various publications about wildlife throughout his career, including one titled Scaled Quail in Texas: their Biology and Management, which is how I came across his name. We spoke about North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, management of Texas Wildlife, including exotic and invasive species, and the importance of private landowners in conservation. He also helped bring out my Texas accent.. Enjoy, and go to www.thewildlifeconsultants.com to learn more.

Chris Wood is the President and CEO of Trout Unlimited. Before joining TU in September 2001, Chris served as the senior policy and communications advisor to the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service where he helped protect 58 million acres of publicly owned land. He is the author and co-author of numerous papers and articles and three books including, Watershed Restoration: Principles and Practices, From Conquest to Conservation: Our Public Land Legacy, and My Healthy Stream: A handbook for streamside owners. Chris and I discussed his personal journey, the mission of Trout Unlimited, stream ecology, federal environmental policy, and being an ethical angler. Go to TU.org to learn more and to become a member of your local chapter.

Daron "Farmer D" Joffe is the founder of Famer D organics and Farmer D Consulting, where he designs and builds biodynamic farms and gardens all over North America. His book encourages readers to connect more fully with their food through biodynamic farming practices and community agriculture. We discussed his unique career path, agrihood developments including Serenbe, Georgia, and the role of mysticism and culture in cultivation. Check out Daron's podcast and his book, both called Citizen Farmers, to learn more.

In the inaugural episode of Land Ethic, I spoke with Duke Phillips III, CEO and founder of Ranchlands. Duke and his family manage over 300,000 acres of land across Colorado, Texas, Wyoming, and New Mexico. We discussed Duke's background, his philosophy of ranching and its role in conservation, and the issues of water and predator control in the American West.