Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Sensei, is the spiritual director of the Mountains and Rivers Order of Zen Buddhism, and the abbot of the Zen Center of NYC. Among other projects, Shugen is concerned with fostering an integration of  religious practice with environmental awareness.

Tom Cowan is a shamanic practitioner specializing in Celtic visionary and healing techniques. He combines universal core shamanism with traditional European spirit lore to create spiritual practices that can heal and enrich one’s own life and the lives of others. He is an internationally respected teacher, author, lecturer, and tour leader.

Barbara Bravo, master gardener, returns to Be the Change Radio to share her love and knowledge of gardening. How do you grow a garden that you enjoy, not one that you think you should have?

“Herbal Medicine is People’s Medicine.” Herbalist Susun Weed explains the uses of several plants that grow wild in your lawn. We get a very brief history of the Wise Woman’s role in the history of human healing, and learn about slowing down enough to  listen to plants.

Gordon Douglas and Laura Wallace of Friends of the Great Swamp (FroGS) lovingly describe this extraordinary Dutchess County resource.

Elizabeth Cunningham, author of the Maeve Chronicles, director of the Center at High Valley, and counselor in private practice. We will discuss the thread of common ground and community that runs through all of Elizabeth’s work.

Cait Johnson, author of “Witch in the Kitchen,” invites us to find the sacred in everyday activities such as preparing a meal.

Elly Wininger joins Julie in discussion with Dave Conover, education director at Clearwater. Dave tells us about Clearwater’s youth environmental stewardship initiative, and we join him in singing a couple of sea chanties.

How can children in the modern urban world experience the direct relationship with nature that is integral to human survival? By going to Farm Camp! John Chartier is Frost Valley YMCA’s Farm Director and Erin Hall is the Farm Camp Program Director. John & Erin foster a farm community where city children can return to basics, learning about where their food comes from and how to tend the animals. The kids find new wonders in everyday things as they explore the natural world around them.