Future Ecologies presents Ideas: What the River Wants to Be (Part 1)

Future Ecologies presents Ideas: What the River Wants to Be (Part 1)

From Future Ecologies by Future Ecologies

May 26, 2026 · 55 min · Season 6

About this episode

The episode explores ancient food systems being revived in the Cowichan Estuary, focusing on sustainable practices that blend into the landscape.

We have a soft spot for food systems that challenge the modern convention: food systems like forest gardens or sea gardens that don’t at all look like vast rows of monocultures, but instead blend into the landscape — to the point of being invisible… at least until you’ve learned how to see them. It just so happens that, not far from us (in the Cowichan Estuary), there’s another kind of ancient food system being revived, and we were looking forward to visiting it as part of our upcoming season 7. But when one of the all time greatest shows on Canadian radio beat us to the scoop, we thought we may as well save ourselves the effort and bring you the story that much sooner. From Ideas and producer Pauline Holdsworth, this is “What the River Wants to Be” This is just Part 1 of a 2-part series. Listen to Part 2 (or find CBC Ideas wherever you get podcasts)

Topics covered

  • food systems
  • forest gardens
  • sea gardens
  • ancient food systems
  • Cowichan Estuary
  • sustainable agriculture

Keywords

  • food systems
  • forest gardens
  • sea gardens
  • sustainable agriculture
  • Cowichan Estuary
  • ancient practices

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Ideas

Books & works: What the River Wants to Be

Places: Cowichan Estuary, Canada

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