This was a fun podcast for me because I think there's a lot of misinformation around this topic and it was great to hear from an expert! Sphagnum Peat Moss is the gold standard for the horticulture industry. In N. America we use the majority of our peat for growing plants. Are there better options? What's the current research tell us about the sustainability of peat moss? In this episode we talk about why peat moss is such a popular choice for media as well as the pros and cons of the current substrates on the market.

My guest this week is Christine DeJesus. Christine operates at the intersection of regenerative organic agriculture and social justice. For five years she’s been perfecting a highly efficient organic cultivation model while managing operations for Galenas Cannabis in Akron, Ohio. Prior she worked in food justice, ran a farm for Great Lakes Brewing Company, functioned as campaign coordinator for Marijuana Policy Project, and co-founded the Midwest CannaWomen. She was featured in the documentary “Polycultures: Food Where We Live,” with Michael Pollan, and at the “My Global Kitchen” exhibit at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Christine is a creative writer, a columnist for Cannabis Business Times magazine, and holds degrees from both Kent State and the University of Pittsburgh. In her current role, she focuses on keeping plants, processes, and people healthy and productive while delivering top-tier quality cannabis flower to Ohio consumers. Christine also works with home-growers to bring commercial-level success to their backyard gardens.

Christine Goedhart is an experienced educator and educational developer with a specialization in teaching undergraduate biology courses. Currently serving as a Science Education Specialist at the University of British Columbia, she supports faculty in making their courses more equitable and student-centered, and she recently developed and taught an undergraduate Biology of Cannabis course. Previously, Christine spent eight years as a full-time faculty member at Citrus College, where she taught a variety of biology courses for non-major students. With a strong commitment to student-centered and inclusive education, Christine has effectively implemented innovative pedagogical and assessment strategies to enhance student engagement and learning in biology courses, and she shares information, tips, and evidence-based best practices for teaching in her Tips for Teaching blog article series.