The Revolution will be Handmade

We don't know what a new world could look like yet, so we're sort of in that in-between space.

SUMMARY

In this engaging conversation, Lissa M. Cowan speaks with Hoann Chan Ignacio about her journey into horticulture, the importance of ecological gardening, and the cultural implications of gardening language. They explore the intersection of horticulture and Indigenous rights, sustainable practices in landscaping, and the global perspectives on horticulture amidst conflict. Hoann shares her personal connections to gardening and offers practical advice for new gardeners, emphasizing the significance of planting to support life and the environment.

WHERE TO FIND HOANN

Instagram.com/playingwithseeds

SELECTED RESOURCES 

Environmental practices to her current work, causes. and learning:

⁠Thamra⁠ -- Thamra, which means “fruit” in Arabic, was created in 2024 by two Palestinians: farmer Yousef Abu Rabea and photographer Leena Almadhoun. Thamra supports Palestinians who lack the resources necessary to grow fresh, nourishing food.

⁠⁠Sulula Animal Rescue —  Sulala Society is the first and only animal rescue in the Gaza Strip.

⁠Apnature.org ⁠-- The “Revive Gaza’s Farmland” project aims to rehabilitate Gaza’s agricultural sector and restore local food systems to combat famine, counter the blockade and build food sovereignty. 

BOOKS

Medicine Wheel for the Planet by Dr. Jennifer Grenz; a personal and ecological exploration that blends Western science with Indigenous ecological knowledge to transform how we understand humanity’s role in healing the planet. 

FILMS

⁠The Seeds of Vandana Shiva⁠

⁠Yintah⁠⁠ -- Spanning more than a decade, YINTAH follows Howilhkat Freda Huson and Sleydo’ Molly Wickham as their nation reoccupies and protects their ancestral lands from the Canadian government and several of the largest fossil fuel companies on earth.

ECOLOGICAL AND INDIGENOUS LAND STEWARDSHIP RESOURCES

⁠Blooming Boulevards  ⁠⁠

⁠⁠Pollinator Partnership ⁠ 

⁠North American Native Plant Society ⁠

⁠Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library ⁠

SHOW NOTES

00:00 Introduction with Hoan Chan Ignacio

04:12 The Journey into Horticulture

07:01 Understanding Ecological Gardening

10:02 Connecting with Nature and Childhood Memories

12:58 Awakening to the Environment

16:01 Language and Colonial Structures in Horticulture

25:14 Evolving Perspectives on Horticulture and Language

31:09 Indigenous Knowledge and Ecological Practices

35:00 Horticulture as a Tool for Resilience

37:20 Navigating the Liminal Space of Change

39:00 Getting Started with Ecological Gardening

Instagram Substack.com BlueSky lissamcowan.com

Theme music credit: This is the Dark Bean, The Dark Bean, Free Music Archive, Creative Commons License.