Professional Certificate in Indigenous Food Forest Design
Published on June 28, 2025
About this Podcast
HOST: Welcome to our podcast, today I'm excited to have Dr. Melissa Jones, an expert in Indigenous food forest design and the instructor of the Professional Certificate in Indigenous Food Forest Design. Welcome, Melissa! GUEST: Thanks for having me, I'm looking forward to our conversation! HOST: To start, could you share a bit about your personal experiences and insights related to Indigenous food forest design? GUEST: Absolutely! I've spent over a decade working with Indigenous communities, learning from their traditional ecological knowledge and applying these principles in modern food forest design. It's been incredibly rewarding to see the positive impact on both the environment and local communities. HOST: Fascinating! What current industry trends are you seeing that are relevant to this professional certificate? GUEST: There's growing interest in sustainable food production and permaculture design. People are recognizing the value of traditional ecological knowledge and how it can be integrated into modern land management practices. HOST: That's great to hear. Have you faced any challenges in this field or while teaching this subject? GUEST: One challenge is dispelling misconceptions about Indigenous practices and emphasizing their relevance in today's world. Another is ensuring that students understand the importance of cultural sensitivity and respect when working with Indigenous communities. HOST: Indeed, those are important points to consider. Looking to the future, what do you envision for the area of Indigenous food forest design? GUEST: I believe we'll see increased adoption of these practices as we face pressing environmental and food security challenges. It's crucial that we continue to learn from Indigenous communities and incorporate their wisdom into our efforts to create sustainable food systems. HOST: Dr. Melissa Jones, thank you so much for joining us today and sharing your insights on the Professional Certificate in Indigenous Food Forest Design. We're excited to see the positive change that will come from this course! GUEST: Thank you for having me, it's been a pleasure!
