The CCERP Podcast: For the Love of Nature

Justin Bower joins us to for an interesting discussion of his background, his work, and water quality. A discussion I wish could have gone longer.

We talk about
-his background
-his childhood in rural New York
-why he got into environmental planning
-what he does now
-the Cypress Creek Watershed Partnership: history, function, purpose, goals
-Cypress Creek water quality
-why water quality is important to you, our community, and our local ecology
-what you can do about it, and how you can get involved.

Enjoy!

Justin's contact info: https://cypresspartnership.weebly.com/contact.html

Contact Michael:
1. [email protected]
2. http://www.goldams.com
3. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gold-2883921/
4. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/

Join us at CCERP on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/

Show notes:
1. The Cypress Creek Watershed Partnership: https://cypresspartnership.weebly.com

2. Houston-Galveston Area Council: http://www.h-gac.com/home/residents.aspx

3. Cypress Creek water quality
a. https://communityimpact.com/houston/environment/2019/07/24/group-forms-to-tackle-water-quality-issues-on-cypress-creek/
b. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/neighborhood/champions-klein/news/article/Fecal-matter-in-Cypress-Creek-prompts-watershed-13817228.php
c. https://cypresspartnership.weebly.com/water-quality.html

4. Andrew Wyeth paintings: https://andrewwyeth.com/gallery/

5. The Geography of Nowhere: The Rise and Decline of America's Man-Made Landscape
by James Howard Kunstler: https://www.amazon.com/Geography-Nowhere-Americas-Man-Made-Landscape/dp/0671888250

6. The Clean Water Act
a. https://www.americanrivers.org/rivers/discover-your-river/the-importance-of-the-cwa-to-protecting-your-rivers-clean-water/
b. https://cfpub.epa.gov/watertrain/moduleFrame.cfm?parent_object_id=2571
c, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clean_Water_Act

7. Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act of 1954
a. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watershed_Protection_and_Flood_Prevention_Act_of_1954
b. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb1042173.pdf

8. Cuyahoga River Fire
a. https://clevelandhistorical.org/items/show/63
b. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuyahoga_River
c. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/cuyahoga-river-caught-fire-least-dozen-times-no-one-cared-until-1969-180972444/

9. Texas Fish Consumption Bans and Advisories: https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/fishing/general-rules-regulations/fish-consumption-bans-and-advisories

10. Texas Stream Team
a. https://www.meadowscenter.txstate.edu/Service/TexasStreamTeam.html
b. https://www.meadowscenter.txstate.edu/Service/TexasStreamTeam/citizenscientists.html
b. https://www.tceq.texas.gov/waterquality/nonpoint-source/projects/texas-stream-team

11. Urban Forestry in the H-GAC Region: http://www.h-gac.com/urban-forestry/default.aspx

Contact Michael at [email protected] or [email protected].

In this episode, 19-year veteran Texas Master Naturalist Teri MacArthur joins us to discuss the Texas Master Naturalist Program, what it does, how it started and evolved, the projects that they have done and that you can participate in, the training program, and how you can get involved. Enjoy!

About Teri: Teri MacArthur has been an environmental educator for more than 20 years. She has been a Certified Texas Master Naturalist since 2001, is a Certified Texas Waters Specialist, a Certified Master Volunteer Entomologist Specialist, Certified Project Learning Tree facilitator, Certified Leopold Education Facilitator, Certified Stream Team Volunteer Trainer since 2006, member of the Texas Mycological Society since 1980, and currently serves as the Water Conservation Specialist for The Woodlands Township

Contact Teri about the Texas Master Naturalist Program:
a. 281-381-3281
b. [email protected]

Contact Teri about the Woodlands Township water conservation program, education programs, or volunteering:
a. 281-210-3928
b. [email protected]


Contact Michael:
1. [email protected]
2. http://www.goldams.com
3. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gold-2883921/
4. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/

Join us at CCERP on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/



Show notes:
1. Texas Master Naturalist Program
a. main: https://txmn.org
b. about: https://txmn.org/about/
c. curriculum: https://txmn.org/resources/curriculum/
(see also: https://www.tamupress.com/book/9781623493400/texas-master-naturalist-statewide-curriculum/ or https://www.amazon.com/Naturalist-Statewide-Curriculum-AgriLife-Extension/dp/1623493404)
d. history: http://www.ntxe-news.com/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi?archive=77&num=115482
e. history, about, stats: https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_rp_w7000_0874.pdf

2. Texas Master Naturalist Heartwood Chapter (Montgomery County)
a. main: https://txmn.org/heartwood/
b. prospective members; training; etc.: https://txmn.org/heartwood/prospective-members/

3. Texas Master Naturalist Gulf Coast Chapter (Harris County)
a. main: https://txmn.org/gulfcoast/
b. training: https://txmn.org/gulfcoast/training/

4. Texas Master Naturalist Coastal Prairie Chapter (Waller Country)
a. main: https://txmn.org/coastal/
b. training: https://txmn.org/coastal/about-our-chapter/tmn-training-information/

5. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: https://www.wildflower.org

6. Mercer Botanic Gardens: https://www.hcp4.net/parks/mercer/

7. Invasive species
a. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/invasive.html
b. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasive_species
c. https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/what-are-invasive-species
d. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/invasive-species/
e. https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Threats-to-Wildlife/Invasive-Species

8. Texas invasive species
a. main: https://texasinvasives.org
b. invasive of the Cypress Creek area: https://texasinvasives.org/i101/ecoalert_detail.php?ecoregion_id=2
c. what you can do: https://texasinvasives.org/action/
d. citizen scientists: https://texasinvasives.org/invaders/
e. resources, reading, etc.: https://texasinvasives.org/resources/

9. Texas Parks & Wildlife's "Texas Wildlife Identification Guide:" https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_k0700_0517.pdf

10. "Historic Wildlife of Texas: In Numbers, Numberless" by Steve Nelle: https://www.texas-wildlife.org/resources/publications/historic-wildlife-of-texas

11. Texas plant life
a. https://texasalmanac.com/topics/environment/texas-plant-life
b. https://tpwd.texas.gov/education/resources/texas-junior-naturalists/plants

12. The Natural History of Texas (Integrative Natural History Series, sponsored by Texas Research Institute for Environmental Studies, Sam Houston State University) by Brian R. Chapman, Eric G. Bolen, and Andrew Sansom: https://www.amazon.com/Integrative-sponsored-Institute-Environmental-University/dp/1623495725/

13. Podcast interview of Tom Brown III: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/19221963



Note: the point of mentioning cultivating mushrooms is to get people aware of the importance of soil to our well-being and the deep ecological connections we depend upon. Darwin saw this fundamental idea when he studied earthworms and wrote his last book he Formation of Vegetable Mould through the Action of Worms, with Observations on their Habits (https://www.amazon.com/Formation-Vegetable-Through-Action-Observations/dp/1346468974).



Bio and picture courtesy Teri MacArthur

Contact Michael at [email protected] or [email protected].

Fitness Trainer Tim Maddox joins us to discuss a neglected aspect of hiking, tracking, trail running, picking up trash, care-taking a natural area, orienteering, and generally being outdoors: our own movement.

Tim shares his background and qualifications, and who and what has influenced him, then he discusses what "natural movement" and "MovNat" are. We then get into how to run, walk, and hike outdoors and on our forest trails. We talk technique, how to, progressions, training, starting from scratch, becoming a master, philosophy, and what you can do no matter your level of training and expertise. Valuable ideas and discussion for everyone who gets outside. Enjoy!

Sorry if the sound quality is not the best: I am not an audio expert.

About Tim: Tim is a MovNat Level II certified trainer and continuing learning workshop enthusiast. He enjoys ultra running and mindful movement practices.

Contact Michael:
1. [email protected]
2. http://www.goldams.com
3. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gold-2883921/
4. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/

Join us at CCERP on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/


Show notes:
1. WHOLEistic SELF-Defense: https://wholeisticselfdefense.com

2. ChiRunning: A Revolutionary Approach to Effortless, Injury-Free Running by Danny Dreyer and Katherine Dreyer: https://www.amazon.com/ChiRunning-Revolutionary-Approach-Effortless-Injury-Free/dp/1416549447

3. MovNat
a. The Website of MovNat: https://www.movnat.com
b. MovNat's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/MovNat
c. MovNat training at Wildfitness in Africa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4nmu6mZd4s
d. Some intermediate-level MovNat workouts outdoors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91s9A4XgvuU
e. Erwin LeCorre's article The History of Physics Fitness: https://www.movnat.com/history-of-fitness/
f. The Practice of Natural Movement book by Erwan LeCorre: https://www.amazon.com/Practice-Natural-Movement-Reclaim-Freedom/dp/162860283X/
g. MovNat Movement Library: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf0XEBKYNfU&list=PLC5sbdn5ESCRN_VeYcEimsilu7IXiLmP_
h. MovNat videos showing 100+ movements done with good technique: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVdaMhrNhzQ&list=PLC5sbdn5ESCSKU66Fbp6stQFPLaNQ8rib
i. Find a MovNat Trainer near you: https://www.movnat.com/find-a-trainer/

4. Kellen Milad
a. https://www.movnat.com/movnat-team/
b. https://www.movementparallelslife.com

5. Katy Bowman
a. website: https://www.nutritiousmovement.com
b. her books: https://www.nutritiousmovement.com/the-books-ive-written/
c. podcasts: https://www.nutritiousmovement.com/category/podcast-transcripts/
d. books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Katy-Bowman/e/B0057HLJY2

6. Erwan LeCorre
a. https://www.movnat.com/erwan-le-corre/
b. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erwan_Le_Corre
c. The Workout The World Forgot, the video Dani mentioned: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKGF-ErsJiI
d. The Practice of Natural Movement: Reclaim Power, Health, and Freedom by Erwan Le Corre: https://www.amazon.com/Practice-Natural-Movement-Reclaim-Freedom-ebook/dp/B07M75GF7W/

7. Georges Hebert
a. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges_Hébert
b. https://www.movnat.com/the-roots-of-methode-naturelle/
c. https://www.amazon.com/Natural-Method-adapted-Practical-Education-ebook/dp/B00OSMWRAC/

8. The effect of "the less one knows, the more competent one thinks one is," i.e., the "confidence of the incompetent," that Tim was trying to think of is the Dunning-Kruger Effect.
a. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning–Kruger_effect
b. https://www.forbes.com/sites/markmurphy/2017/01/24/the-dunning-kruger-effect-shows-why-some-people-think-theyre-great-even-when-their-work-is-terrible/#148894195d7c
c. https://www.britannica.com/science/Dunning-Kruger-effect
d. https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2019/01/07/whats-behind-confidence-incompetent-this-suddenly-popular-psychological-phenomenon/

Other resources
1. Esther Gokhale Google talk on posture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yYJ4hEYudE

2. The Nature Fix by Florence Williams: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Fix-Happier-Healthier-Creative/dp/0393355578/

3. Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv: https://www.amazon.com/Last-Child-Woods-Children-Nature-Deficit/dp/156512605X/

4. Federico Bitti's TED talk "Dystonia. Rewiring the brain through movement and dance” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwkHK3rfKO0

5. Anders Hansen TED talk "Why the Brain is Built for Movement:" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9p3Z7L0f0U



Bio and picture courtesy Tim Maddox.

Contact Michael at [email protected] or [email protected].

Geologist Tom Helm joins us to discuss the geologic history of Texas and our local Houston area. We discuss his background, how he became interested in geology, the geologic formation of our state and local area, what you can see around Texas, when and how our bayous and creeks were formed, and what you can see in our bayous and creeks. This episode will help you come to a new-found, deeper appreciation of our area. Enjoy!

Contact Michael:
1. [email protected]
2. http://www.goldams.com
3. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gold-2883921/
4. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/

Join us at CCERP on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/

Show notes:
1. Tom's Buffalo Bayou tours: https://www.helmguide.com
See also:
a. http://www.savebuffalobayou.org/?p=6331
b. https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/brandi-on-the-bayou-buffalo-bayous-hidden-wilderness/285-616207263

2. Geologic time periods (use to follow along and keep your bearings in the discussion; if the first link is not sufficient, try the others).
a. https://geology.com/time.htm
b. https://www.digitalatlasofancientlife.org/learn/geological-time/geological-time-scale/
c. https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/outreach/floridaseagrant/pdf_files/TropicalConnections_GeologicalTimeWithMajorEvolutionaryEventsInFossilRecord_KruczynskiFletcher.pdf
d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geologic_time_scale
e. http://www.jsg.utexas.edu/npl/outreach/texas-geologic-history/
f. https://cdn.britannica.com/67/73167-050-B9A74092/chart.jpg

3. A geologic map of Texas (also good to use to follow along and make sense of things).
a. Texas
i. https://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/maps/Geologymap.pdf
ii. http://www.geojeff.org/geology-of-texas.html
b. United States:
i. https://www.gifex.com/images/0X0/2009-09-18-8432/United_States_Geology_Map.jpg
ii. http://mapas.owje.com/maps/8168_united-states-geology-map.html
c. United States:
https://www.americangeosciences.org/critical-issues/maps/interactive-map-united-states-geology-and-natural-resources

4. Descriptions of Texas geology
i. "Geology" by Tucker F. Hentz: https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/swgqz
ii. The Geology of Texas by C. Reid Ferring: https://www.cengage.com/custom/regional_geology.bak/data/Texas.pdf

5. Texas geology
a. Llano Uplift: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llano_Uplift
b. Enchanted Rock: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enchanted_Rock

6. The garden-hose water toy, WHAM-O's Water Wiggle, we discuss:
a. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4D_WdavMuKs
b. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvGH8n0_-pw

7, Helping injured wildlife
a. Texas Wildlife Rehabilitation Coalition: https://www.twrcwildlifecenter.org
b. Wildlife Center of Texas: https://wildlifecenteroftexas.org/about-us/

8. The law about artifacts and about soil, gravel, sand, etc. in Texas
a. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/permalink/1243483202527850/
b. https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/NR/htm/NR.191.htm
c. https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PW/htm/PW.86.htm

Contact Michael at [email protected] or [email protected].

Kelly Norrid, of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, joins us to discuss his background, what his job with TPWD involves, how you can benefit from it, how he became interested in biology (interesting story!!), restoring ecosystems, some interesting behavior of Vultures, the benefits of snakes, the importance of nature and the wild, and more. A fascinating discussion I look forward to continuing.

Sorry if the sound quality is a little off on this: I'm not an audio engineer by trade. And sorry for my typing sometimes during the discussion: I was taking notes for the show notes.

Contact Michael:
1. [email protected]
2. http://www.goldams.com
3. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gold-2883921/
4. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/

Join us at CCERP on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/

Show notes:
1. Urban Wildlife Program: https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/wildlife_diversity/urban_program/

2. Vultures roll up carpet, take off vinyl, take off windshield wipers
a. https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/vultures-chewing-on-rubber-car-parts-in-florida-everglades-becoming-more-prevalent-expert/1914613/
b. https://www.npca.org/articles/1628-vulture-vandals

3. "You may drive out Nature with a pitchfork, yet she still will hurry back." -- Horace: https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Horace

4. Rattlesnakes
a. https://sciencing.com/importance-snakes-ecosystem-8078550.html
b. https://cmns.umd.edu/news-events/features/1162
c. I have not yet located that article I discussed.

5. Sheldon Lake State Park
a. https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/sheldon-lake
b. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheldon_Lake
c. https://www.facebook.com/SheldonLakeStatePark/

6. Chinese Tallow
a. http://www.tsusinvasives.org/home/database/triadica-sebifera
b. https://www.texasinvasives.org/plant_database/detail.php?symbol=TRSE6
c. https://rangeplants.tamu.edu/plant/chinese-tallow-tree/

7. Davis Hill State Park
a. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Forgotten-parks-languish-for-a-decade-4303271.php
b. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Davis-Hill-State-Park/120336528015831

8. Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring: https://www.amazon.com/Silent-Spring-Rachel-Carson/dp/0618249060/

9. Legend of Boggy Creek: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068837/

10. Little Golden Books
a. http://www.littlegoldenbooks.com
b. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/series/LGB/little-golden-book

11. Snake relocation by
a. Boyd Everitt (text only) 281-639-8462
b. Kelly Norrid
i. https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/wildlife_diversity/urban_program/
ii. https://www.facebook.com/people/Kelly-Norrid-Tpwd/100005234297725

12. Free Snake Relocation Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/262485500985003/

13. Scribe Vineyard
a. https://scribewinery.com
b. https://winesvinesanalytics.com/news/article/167426/Birds-and-Snakes-Partner-With-Grapegrowers
c. this case was discussed in a book I listened to on Audible, but I do not recall which book it was

14. Copperhead videos
a. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1336l7biJuA
b. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oclePwxJH8
c. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWsW3_mYRPI
d. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kV2yL9qxbI4
e. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqDAd1pcgqU
f. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsPqYtehvgI

15. Wasp videos
a. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp4cfh-0z9I
b. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-jUH8mW2ng
c. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83wbinQCHpk
d. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYCqMEyJXTg
e. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyFt87qc478
f. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxWKaYKrYc0

16. Big Thicket
a. https://www.nps.gov/bith/index.htm
b. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Thicket

17. Winters Bayou
a. https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/pwd_rp_t3200_1059c/winter_bayou.phtml
b. https://houstonaudubon.org/sanctuaries/winters-bayou.html

Contact Michael at [email protected] or [email protected].

Today we are joined by Susan Chadwick of Save Buffalo Bayou for a discussion of our local area, its history, the importance of natural creeks and bayous, what you can do to keep things wild and natural, and the natural beauty around us. Enjoy! (Oh, my cat Prince adds some dialogue, too!)

About Susan: Susan Chadwick, a writer and journalist who grew up on Buffalo Bayou, is the president and executive director of Save Buffalo Bayou. She was the art critic for the Houston Post from 1985 until it closed in 1995.

More about Susan, her work, and her contact info, at:
a. https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-chadwick-66502a3b/
b. www.SaveBuffaloBayou.org
c. https://www.facebook.com/SaveBuffaloBayou/

Contact Michael:
1. [email protected]
2. http://www.goldams.com
3. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gold-2883921/
4. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/

Join us at CCERP on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/

Show notes:
1. Buffalo Bayou:
a. http://www.savebuffalobayou.org
b. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_Bayou
c. https://web.archive.org/web/20130403174413/http://www.hcfcd.org/L_buffalobayou.html
d. http://www.savebuffalobayou.org/?page_id=4850

2. Cypress Creek
a. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cypress_Creek_(Texas)
b. https://web.archive.org/web/20130403160508/http://www.hcfcd.org/L_cypresscreek.html

3. Braes Bayou (aka Brays Bayou)
a. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brays_Bayou
b. https://web.archive.org/web/20130403125818/http://www.hcfcd.org/L_braysbayou.html

4. Native plants
a. Purple Passionflower: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PAIN6
b. Prairie Nymph: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=HELA6
c. Natives database: http://www.txsmartscape.com/plant-search/
d. Native and adapted: http://counties.agrilife.org/harris/files/2011/05/houstonplants.pdf

5. Aristotle
a. "To summarize: Aristotle’s philosophy laid out an approach to the investigation of all natural phenomena, to determine form by detailed, systematic work, and thus arrive at final causes. His logical method of argument gave a framework for putting knowledge together, and deducing new results. He created what amounted to a fully-fledged professional scientific enterprise, on a scale comparable to a modern university science department. It must be admitted that some of his work - unfortunately, some of the physics - was not up to his usual high standards. He evidently found falling stones a lot less interesting than living creatures. Yet the sheer scale of his enterprise, unmatched in antiquity and for centuries to come, gave an authority to all his writings.

"It is perhaps worth reiterating the difference between Plato and Aristotle, who agreed with each other that the world is the product of rational design, that the philosopher investigates the form and the universal, and that the only true knowledge is that which is irrefutable. The essential difference between them was that Plato felt mathematical reasoning could arrive at the truth with little outside help, but Aristotle believed detailed empirical investigations of nature were essential if progress was to be made in understanding the natural world. " Read more: https://galileoandeinstein.phys.virginia.edu/lectures/aristot2.html
b. "The Greeks cast their science from first principles, without troubling to examine the natural world. Aristotle changed everything." Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/oct/02/the-lagoon-armand-marie-leroi-aristotle-review
c. Great BBC show about the book:
i. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN8ortM4M3o
ii. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e12pbSHrzAs

6. Gabe Brown
a. the 8" figure: https://social.shorthand.com/PaintedMtCorn/jCPnGp7QYM6/plant-and-grow-rich-chapter-2
b. his book Dirt To Soil: https://www.amazon.com/Dirt-Soil-Familys-Regenerative-Agriculture/dp/1603587632
c. In episode 63 of the Peak Human Podcast, Gabe says his soil can infiltrate 30” of rain in one hour!! Listen here: https://overcast.fm/+Na3jvm6yM/40:10 (Or find the episode here: https://www.peak-human.com/ and tune in at about 40 min 10 sec.)

7. Wolves and the Lamar River in Yellowstone: https://www.pbs.org/strangedays/episodes/predators/experts/yellowstonewolves.html

8. All about Alligators
a. https://www.zooamerica.com/animals/american-alligator/
b. https://wildlifelearningcenter.org/animals/northamerica/american-alligator/
c. https://www.nps.gov/ever/learn/nature/alligator.htm
d. https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Reptiles/American-Alligator

9. Brazos Bend State Park -- where you can see Alligators! :)
https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/brazos-bend

10. No, Alligators are not that dangerous to humans
a. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_alligator_attacks_in_the_United_States
b. http://crocdoc.ifas.ufl.edu/publications/factsheets/Alligator%20Attack%20Risk%20Comparison%202019.pdf
c. "The total number of alligator deaths per year in the U.S. is unclear, according to alligator experts. However, it is thought to be far smaller than the toll from spiders, which kill around seven people each year in the United States. Cows kill about 20. Dogs, known as "man's best friend," kill an average of 28. " (from https://mashable.com/2016/06/15/alligator-attacks-florida-orlando-rare/)
d. "[F]rom 1999 to 2014, 921 people died in the United States from encountering hornets, wasps or bees, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. During that same time span, nine people died from crocodile or alligator attacks, and 78 people died from attacks by other reptiles. ...Meanwhile, 486 people died from dog attacks and 1,163 people died from attacks by other mammals, such as cows or horses. About 4.5 million dog bites occur each year." (from https://www.cnn.com/2016/06/17/health/animal-attacks-statistics/index.html)
e. "Alligators are opportunistic carnivores, preferring to go after readily available and easily overpowered prey. The reptiles generally don’t attack for reasons other than food and rarely pursue humans. ... In fact, alligators tend to be naturally afraid of humans, but they may lose that fear—and associate humans with food—when people feed them. For this reason, it’s illegal in the state of Florida to feed wild alligators." (from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2016/06/alligator-attack-toddler-disney-world-grand-floridian/)

Bio and image courtesy Susan Chadwick.

Contact Michael at [email protected] or [email protected].

In this episode, Scott Dammitt joins us to discuss why he loves our area and what it offers everyone of us, and to discuss our trail system, its maintenance, CCMTB, and using it to hike, bike, and horseback ride. We have a great discussion that would benefit others in other areas of the country.

We talk about the start of CCMTB, how it has grown, the wildlife in our area, the diversity of nature areas you see on there trials, a huge buck Scott recently saw, how to ride the trails, where they go, how to get involved, and lots more. Enjoy!

About Scott: Scott Dammitt was born in Houston, Texas and lived most of his life on the north side of town, where he graduated valedictorian from Aldine High School and joined the Marine Corps in 1998. Scott served on multiple deployments while overseas and returned home for good in 2002, where he began working in Information Technology. Somewhere around 2008, Scott's love for the outdoors and his lifelong passion for bicycles culminated in a new hobby of MTB which quickly evolved into a lifestyle. In 2011 Scott teamed up with other trail builders to organize efforts to improve their local trails, which is now one of the most popular riding destinations in the Houston area. Nowadays, Scott spends most of his days either riding or working to improve the trail experience for walkers, joggers, and bike riders, coordinating materials and logistics for the trail crews, and coaching Eagle scout candidates who are building their community improvement projects.

Contact Michael:
1. [email protected]
2. http://www.goldams.com
3. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gold-2883921/
4. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/

Join us at CCERP on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/

Show notes:
1. CCMTB on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CypressCreekMTBTrails/

2. A map of the trails: https://www.facebook.com/CypressCreekMTBTrails/photos/a.619241441446310/1388945021142611/?type=1&theater

3. GHORBA: http://ghorba.org

4. Apps for trails
a. Trail Run Project: https://www.trailrunproject.com
b. MTB project: https://www.mtbproject.com
c. Trail Forks: https://www.trailforks.com

5. Bayou Land Conservancy: https://www.bayoulandconservancy.org

6. Color code levels of difficulty: green, blue, black
a. https://signsofthemountains.com/blogs/news/what-do-the-symbols-on-ski-trail-signs-mean
b. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piste

7. How to fall, how to roll.
a. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTiNRwT44Uc
b. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbzhSbS1tPo
c. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdVHMulJfqk
d. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgjVORA9LIE

8, MovNat
a. https://www.movnat.com
b. https://www.youtube.com/user/MovNat

9. Freshwater shrimp. It's some kind of Caridean Shrimp: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/7840724

10. Cypresswood Bike Trails on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cypresswood-Bike-Trails/172613456109541

Bio and image courtesy Scott Dammitt.

Contact Michael at [email protected] or [email protected].

Mark "Merriwether" Vorderbruggen, Ph.D., joins us to talk about the many and varied benefits of foraging.
1. It saves you money.
2. It adds nutrients to your diet.
3. It adds variety to your diet.
4. It lowers your water bill, fertilizer costs, and landscaping costs.
5. It gets you outdoors in the fresh air and sunshine (Vitamin D!).
6. It makes you move, increasing your mobility, agility, and strength.
7. It "connects" you to your food.
8. It "connects" you to nature.
9. It helps you connect with neighbors and friends.
10. And lots more!! Listen to the interview!

We talk about specific plants in our Cypress Creek area, and learn what and why Mark has in his backyard permaculture garden. Interesting stuff. Fun discussion.

About Mark: Mark "Merriwether" Vorderbruggen, Ph.D. has been a forager all his life. Both his parents were children of the Great Depression and their families foraged to get through those terrible times. Thankfully, this knowledge passed on to Merriwether. Knowing how to harvest nature's free food fed him through the poverty years of childhood and on through getting a master's degree in medicinal chemistry and a Ph.D. in physical organic chemistry. For the last eighteen years he's worked as a research chemist in the oil industry using his knowledge of natural products to develop environmentally friendly replacements for traditional oil field chemicals. More recently these skills have been turned to household chemical products, making your home safer. However, his evenings and weekends are spent guiding people back to nature's bounty, not only teaching them which plants are edible and/or medicinal but also proselytizing how foraging heals the body, mind, and soul...and prepares them for the zombie apocalypse! Since 2008 his website www.foragingtexas.com has been one of the top wild edible plant sites on the internet.

His Website (again): https://www.foragingtexas.com

His book Foraging (includes plant IDs, pictures, mimics, nutrient or medicinal info -- and 30+ recipes!: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1615648895/

His Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Mark-Vorderbruggen/e/B0193IH9YE%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

His Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ForagingTexas/


Contact Michael:
1. [email protected]
2. http://www.goldams.com
3. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gold-2883921/
4. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/

Join us at CCERP on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/

Show Notes:
1. A bit about Michael's infamous Cherry Laurel Tea
a. https://www.facebook.com/michael.gold.397/posts/10153897618387256
b. https://www.facebook.com/gold.academy/posts/891241321006200

2. Diet and health
a. Dr. Terry Wahls’ TED talk “Minding Your Mitochondria:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLjgBLwH3Wc
b. Dr. Nicole Apelion on healing MS: https://www.nicoleapelian.com/natural-wellness/?fbclid=IwAR1gTy5tpKlcRl-Okx7hF03fUAGKqbEgjq--xsqDiWMfxh2TE-Z6qD56znQ

3. Benefits of walking/running outdoors on natural surfaces
a. https://www.charlottewattshealth.com/exercise/benefits-walking-uneven-ground/
b. https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/hiking-body-mind
c. https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/21/the-benefits-of-exercising-outdoors/
d. https://time.com/4820394/hiking-walking-mind-body-workout/

4. Lots of video Michael took at one of Merriwhether's foraging classes (Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park, 5 November 2016): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LW5E6zvfmK8&list=PLlyWPZGxqu6sTdlltrfHzSvRVNS5XbGq-

5. Some foraging videos Michael has made: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG2GhHeJrgY&list=PLlyWPZGxqu6ss-8Qv-5jKP7kl5OlkEYbH

6. Permaculture (video)
a. Permaculture Principles (9 min 42 sec): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mwRAf3z9ag
b. Purple Pear Biodynamic Farm (6 min 19 sec): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8i_2VRNwrg
c. Small 1-acre Permaculture Farm (12 min 52 sec): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSNc13cmknE
d. Thriving 23-Year-Old Permaculture Food Forest : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GJFL0MD9fc

7. Permaculture (readings)
a. https://permacultureprinciples.com/
b. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permaculture
c. https://permaculturenews.org/what-is-permaculture/

8. What weeds tell you about minerals in soil
a. https://www.kellogggarden.com/soil/what-your-weeds-tell-you-about-your-garden-soil/
b. https://www.almanac.com/news/gardening/gardening-advice/weeds-indicator-plants
c. https://permaculturenews.org/2017/04/14/using-weeds-read-soil-basic-concepts-get-started/
d. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/weeds_are_an_indicator_of_a_soils_health

Picture and bio courtesy Mark Vorderbruggen.

Contact Michael at [email protected] or [email protected].

University of Tennessee Professor Jim Fordyce (PhD, UC Davis) joins us to discuss ecology, ecological thinking, their importance, and why it matters to us all. Great discussion.

Dr. Fordyce's UT page: https://eeb.utk.edu/people/james-fordyce/

Contact Michael:
1. [email protected]
2. http://www.goldams.com
3. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gold-2883921/
4. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/

Join us at CCERP on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/

Show notes:
1. Ecology
a. https://www.esa.org/about/what-does-ecology-have-to-do-with-me/
b. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecology
c. https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ecology/

2. Wolves of Yellowstone/How Wolves Change Rivers
a. Most have seen this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSBL7Gk_9QU
b. This has more information and starts with the work of hydrologist Bob Beschta ("why predators are important for ecosystems": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vF4F7yvMlAM
c. This mentions Beschta: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111221140710.htm
d. A Beschta bio on PBS: https://www.pbs.org/strangedays/episodes/predators/experts/bio_beschta_bob.html

3. Local Flora
a. edible and medicinal: https://www.foragingtexas.com
b. https://npsot.org/wp/houston/native-plant-info/
c. http://counties.agrilife.org/harris/files/2011/05/houstonplants.pdf

4. The Importance of Wasps
a. https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/in-defence-of-wasps-why-squashing-them-comes-with-a-sting-in-the-tale-a7144306.html
b. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-41042948
c. https://www.newsweek.com/most-people-hate-wasps-theyre-just-important-bees-1126616

5. The Importance of Snakes
a. https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/the-reptiles-snakes-saving-snakes/2911/
b. https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2018/02/snakes-act-ecosystem-engineers-seed-dispersal
c. https://savethesnakes.org/s/why-snakes/

6. The Sea Otter, Starfish, Kelp, and more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRGg5it5FMI

7. The critter I was trying to think of in the podcast was the Little Brown Skink (this link also has a link to the video I took): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/10791345

8. Passionflower (aka Passiflora):
a. Purple: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=pain6
b. Yellow: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=palu2

9. The Gulf Fritillary
a. https://texasinsects.tamu.edu/gulf-fritillary/
b. https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/49150-Agraulis-vanillae

10. The Kaibab Deer Crash (just some of the info and analysis; I looked at this last year, but don't recall if I have the latest, most comprehensive analysis available)
a. https://www.biologycorner.com/worksheets/kaibab.html
b. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaibab_Plateau
c. https://www.wafwa.org/Documents%20and%20Settings/37/Site%20Documents/Working%20Groups/Mule%20Deer/Workshop%20Proceedings/Deer/1976%20Logan%20UT%20Mule%20Deer%20Decline%20in%20the%20West/1976-Mule%20Deer%20Decline%20in%20the%20West.pdf
d. http://www.ndow.org/uploadedFiles/ndoworg/Content/public_documents/Wildlife_Education/Publications/muledeer.pdf
e. https://books.google.com/books?id=MHHtDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA184&lpg=PA184&dq=kaibab+mule+deer+crash&source=bl&ots=H2iF4k-LmC&sig=njBusrCtEGEURDjZ1hEUzvK6kQQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwinur6W3O3bAhUs5YMKHaANDXA4ChDoAQhXMAk#v=onepage&q=kaibab%20mule%20deer%20crash&f=false




Picture and bio courtesy Jim Fordyce.

Contact Michael at [email protected] or [email protected].

Ecology is "the branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings." (from: https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/ecology)

Contact Melanie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-katragadda-nctm-9b14522a

Contact Michael:
1. [email protected]
2. http://www.goldams.com
3. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gold-2883921/
4. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/

Join us at CCERP on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/

Show notes:
1. Some species of plants and animals found in our area: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/michaelgold

2. "The collection of artifacts or digging on archeological sites is illegal without a permit. ... The Antiquities Code of Texas (Natural Resources Code, Title 9, Chapter 191, as amended), passed in 1969, forbids the collection or excavation of artifacts on state and political subdivision lands without a permit." (from https://www.thc.texas.gov/public/upload/archeology-artifact-collecting-tx.pdf) [see also https://guides.sll.texas.gov/abandoned-property/artifacts-antiquities]

3. Akokisa Indians
a. https://www.hcp4.net/parks/jjp/akokisa/

b. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akokisa

c. https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/bma17

d. https://sites.utexas.edu/tarl/2015/02/10/the-akokisa-and-the-atakapans/

4. Karankawa Indians (I forgot the spelling of, and hence mispronounced, this one in the podcast)
a. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karankawa_people

b. https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/bmk05

c. http://www.texasindians.com/karank.htm

d. https://www.indigenouspeople.net/karankaw.htm

5. Atakapa Indians
a. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atakapa

b. https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/bma48

c. http://www.atakapa-ishak.org/history/

6. Archeological find in Meyer Park
a. https://www.hcfcd.org/projects-studies/cypress-creek/completed-projects/meyer-park-archeological-site/

b. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Harris-County-park-celebrates-lives-of-Native-4744784.php

7. Archeological find in Cypress Park Knoll
a. https://www.txhas.org/PDF/dimond_knoll_chron_cyfair_20131217.pdf

b. https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Grand-Parkway-project-uncovers-prehistoric-remains-3738699.php

c. https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/dig-this-more-ancient-indian-artifacts-bones-found-at-grand-parkway-site/285-339631840

8. Sam Houston's and his army's march to San Jacinto
a. http://www.earlytexashistory.com/Tx1836/camp17.html

b. https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/cyfair-news/article/Cypress-society-preserves-life-the-way-it-used-to-1693955.php

c. https://www.meanderandgander.com/2013/10/texas-army-route-from-san-felipe-to.html

d. https://historicalcommission.harriscountytx.gov/Articles/Communities%20in%20Markers.pdf

9. Animals of Texas
a. https://texasalmanac.com/topics/environment/wildlife

b. https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_k0700_0517.pdf

10. Plants of Texas
a. https://texasalmanac.com/topics/environment/texas-plant-life

b. https://tpwd.texas.gov/education/resources/texas-junior-naturalists/plants

c. https://plantsoftexas.com

11. Mark "Merriwhether" Vorderbruggen's foraging website: https://www.foragingtexas.com

12. Parks of Cypress
a. http://www.pct3.com/Parks

b. https://www.hcp4.net/parks/

c. https://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=parks&find_loc=Cypress%2C+TX+77433

13. "The Cypress Creek watershed is located in northwest Harris County and extends into Waller County. Rainfall within the 267 square miles of the Cypress Creek watershed drains to the watershed’s primary waterway, Cypress Creek (K100-00-00). There are 250 miles of open waterways in the Cypress Creek watershed, including Cypress Creek and its major tributaries, such as Little Cypress Creek (L100-00-00), Turkey Creek (K111-00-00), Dry Gully (K133-00-00) and Mound Creek (K166-00-00)." (from: https://www.hcfcd.org/projects-studies/cypress-creek/)

14. Geology and geography of Cypress Creek
a. http://cbth.uh.edu/outreach/fieldtripguides/geologyofhoustontexas.pdf

b. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Houston

"Ecology (from Greek: οἶκος, 'house,' or 'environment;' -λογία, 'study of') is a branch of biology that studies the interactions among organisms and their biophysical environment, which includes both biotic and abiotic components. Topics of interest include the biodiversity, distribution, biomass, and populations of organisms, as well as cooperation and competition within and between species. Ecosystems are dynamically interacting systems of organisms, the communities they make up, and the non-living components of their environment. Ecosystem processes, such as primary production, pedogenesis, nutrient cycling, and niche construction, regulate the flux of energy and matter through an environment. These processes are sustained by organisms with specific life history traits.

"Ecology is not synonymous with environmentalism, natural history, or environmental science. It overlaps with the closely related sciences of evolutionary biology, genetics, and ethology. An important focus for ecologists is to improve the understanding of how biodiversity affects ecological function." (from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecology)

Contact Michael at [email protected] or [email protected].