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Common Ground: A Prairie Podcast

Common Ground: A Prairie Podcast

Written by: Walsh County Three Rivers Conservation District
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About this listen

Common Ground: A Prairie Podcast is hosted by Dr. Josh Anderson, a former American literature professor who returned home to rural ND to help lead local conservation efforts. Often considered “flyover country,” North Dakota is the least visited state in the nation. But thanks to a generous grant from the North Dakota Natural Resources Trust, you can experience this rich and rugged landscape. Josh travels to the pastures, grasslands, and wetlands to talk to Pulitzer Prize winning journalists, award-winning artists, soil health experts, conservation organizations, and local farmers & ranchers.Walsh County Three Rivers Conservation District Biological Sciences Science
Episodes
  • Episode 12: Grassroots Community-Building with Art and Science
    Jul 25 2025

    In this episode of Common Ground: A Prairie Podcast, we talk with Dr. Alison Wallace, a biologist and ecologist from Minnesota State University, Moorhead, and a researcher who worked on the climate science team during the Biden Administration. We also talk with acclaimed artist Corinne Teed, a professor at Temple University who teamed up with Dr. Wallace and their students titled "Fragile Preservation: A Tallgrass Community," which is a permanent art installation at the Plains Art Museum in Fargo.

    Listen to the episode to hear how collaborations between science and art can drive policy and grow community across the prairie.

    Thank you to Crista Fiala for producing the episode and Matthew Connolly for the theme music.

    Special thanks to the North Dakota Natural Resources Trust for the generous grant funding that supports Common Ground: A Prairie Podcast.

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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Episode 11: The Next Generation of Farmers and Ranchers
    Jul 7 2025

    In this episode of Common Ground: A Prairie Podcast, we speak with two North Dakota farmers who represent the future of agriculture.

    Jake Callander is a farmer raised on a 3,000 acre conventional farm who now runs his own market garden farm with sales of delicious fruits and vegetables direct to customers. Jake is also the facilitator of the Farm Beginnings program with FARRMS (Foundation for Agricultural and Rural Resources Management and Sustainability).

    Luke Rotunda is a self-described "city kid" who has joined his uncle to take on the family farm and ranch. We spoke with Luke at his ranch on a windy day in Nelson County, North Dakota, where he was joined by Robert Ford of Ducks Unlimited to discuss their partnership in conservation working lands management.

    Special thanks to Crista Fiala for producing this episode and to Matthew Connolly for our theme music. Thanks also to the North Dakota Natural Resources Trust for providing the grant funds that support our efforts here at Common Ground: A Prairie Podcast.

    We hope you enjoy today's episode.

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    51 mins
  • Episode 10: How To Restore Soil Health with Jon Stika
    Jun 16 2025

    In today's episode, we speak with soil health expert Jon Stika about lessons from his career and his influential book A Soil Owner's Manual: How to Restore and Maintain Soil Health.

    Listen to the episode to learn how to apply the principles of soil health to any farm, ranch, or garden. Listen to deepen your understanding of how healthy soil is supposed to function, and how healthy soil has many cost benefits to a farmer's bottom line. Listen to learn why Jon says that the most important step to restoring soil health begins with changing our attitudes and our mindsets toward the soil.

    Thank you to Crista Fiala for producing today's episode and to Matthew Connolly for providing our theme music.

    Special thanks to the North Dakota Natural Resources Trust for providing a generous grant to support our work here at Common Ground: A Prairie Podcast.


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    58 mins
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