My Favorite Trees

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With Halloween less than two weeks away, we're getting in the holiday spirit with a spooky topic. Why are we so afraid of the deep dark woods? Learn about the harmful trees we should certainly fear, the reason humans separated themselves from the wilderness, and what forests are the most haunted today. Content warning for self-harm and suicide; listener discretion is advised. Music is by Academy Garden. Cover art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram. Follow me on Facebook and Twitter @MyFavoriteTrees and on Instagram @treepodcast.

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Dates are among the earliest tree crops cultivated by humans and retain cultural significance throughout the Middle East and the surrounding Arabic world. Date Palm trees are especially important in Jewish faith and see prominence in multiple holidays, like the upcoming Sukkot. Hear about the long  history of these trees, the variety of uses and symbols associated with them, as well as why America turned its back on the fruit in the last century. Music is by Academy Garden. Cover art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram. Follow me on Facebook and Twitter @MyFavoriteTrees or on Instagram @treepodcast.

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The Douglas-Fir is one of the most iconic of the big trees that define the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Its wood is premier for lumber use across the western United States and its extensive human influence is surrounded by culture and story. This episode dives into those stories as well as exploring why this tree is not actually a Fir as well as the backgrounds of the Scottish botanists that contributed to its modern name. Music is by Academy Garden--cover art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram. Follow me on Facebook and Twitter @MyFavoriteTrees or on Instagram @treepodcast.

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Nothing says Fall in Texas quite like a slice of pecan pie. This final nut of our miniseries is truly a staple of the American South as it does not grow anywhere else in the world! Learn about how this rich delight was almost overlooked as a crop, some controversy in its historic production, and how to actually pronounce the dang word itself. Music is by Academy Garden. Cover Art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram. Follow my on Facebook and Twitter @MyFavoriteTrees or on Instagram @treepodcast.

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The walnut is considered by some to be the "King of Nuts." Part two of this three-part miniseries will explore why this food has historically been regarded as godly as well as some other unique features of various walnut species. Music is by Academy Garden. Cover Art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram. Follow me on Facebook and Twitter @MyFavoriteTrees or on Instagram @treepodcast.

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This is the first part of a new miniseries focused on nut trees! Almonds are considered the largest nut crop in the world, but are they actually even nuts? Find out how this popular food traveled from Persia to California and learn the legends that have lead the almond to be found in our snack mixes, milks, and flours. Music is by Academy Garden. Cover Art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram. Follow me on Facebook and Twitter @MyFavoriteTrees or on Instagram @treepodcast.

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 Have you ever wondered where the cork in your wine bottle comes from? Or the cork in corkboard where you hang cheesy photos from high school and college? All cork products come from a single tree species known as the Cork Oak. Learn about how and why these oaks produce this versatile material as well as how human use actually helps their ecosystem. Music is by Academy Garden. Cover Art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram. Follow me on Facebook and Twitter @MyFavoriteTrees or on Instagram @treepodcast. 

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What many understand to be the age of the dinosaurs is, in the plant world, the age of the Cycad. These are weird plants that look like palms or ferns and made up most of the world's plant composition in the Jurassic Era. But some species are still around today--and in some unexpected places. Music is by Academy Garden. Cover Art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram. Follow me on Facebook and Twitter @MyFavoriteTrees and on Instagram @treepodcast.

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Mangroves are incredible plants that survive the salty waters of tropical coastal areas. Learn about the fascinating ecosystems they create, the ways they help us mitigate Climate Change, and why their forests are shrinking. Music is by Academy Garden. Cover art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram. Follow me on Facebook and Twitter @MyFavoriteTrees and on Instagram @treepodcast.

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This is an episode where I cover a broad forestry topic. What exactly does it mean to manage a forest? I explain what being a forester and land manager is like from the perspective of various objectives like wood products and conservation. Music is by Academy Garden. Cover art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram. Follow me on Facebook and Twitter @MyFavoriteTrees and on Instagram @treepodcast.