Northern Latitudes: Annette Kehnel - The Green Ages

Episode Title: Rethinking Sustainability in History with The Green Ages Podcast: Northern Latitudes Host: Bill Ault Guest: Dr. Annette Kehnel Release Date: November 11th, 2024

Description: In this episode of Northern Latitudes, host Bill Ault sits down with Dr. Annette Kehnel to explore her thought-provoking book, The Green Ages. Dr. Kehnel shares insights into how historical communities embraced sustainable practices long before the modern green movement. From medieval recycling to community-led environmental efforts, The Green Ages reveals a wealth of historical lessons for today’s challenges. Tune in as we discuss the past’s forgotten green initiatives, how they parallel today’s sustainability goals, and what they teach us about future possibilities.

Topics Discussed:

Sustainable Practices in the Medieval Era: Examples of how communities from the Middle Ages recycled, repurposed, and practiced eco-friendly methods.

Lessons from the Past for Today: How historical examples of environmental care can inspire contemporary efforts.

Surprising Historical Findings: Fascinating insights and lesser-known facts uncovered in The Green Ages.

Dr. Kehnel’s Inspiration: The journey behind writing The Green Ages and her motivations as a historian.

Links of Interest:

• The Green Ages by Dr. Annette Kehnel: Brandeis University Press
• Dr. Annette Kehnel’s academic profile:
• Here’s a list of sources and resources to dive into historical sustainability practices across various periods and cultures:
  • Waste and Want: A Social History of Trash by Susan Strasser Strasser examines waste and recycling in the United States, covering changes in consumption, reusing practices, and attitudes toward waste.
  • The Environmental Imagination: Thoreau, Nature Writing, and the Formation of American Culture by Lawrence Buell Though focused on American culture, this book connects past ecological thought with today’s environmentalism and provides historical context for attitudes toward nature and conservation.
  • The Human Impact on the Natural Environment by Andrew Goudie Goudie covers environmental practices from ancient to modern times, discussing early methods of resource management and environmental impacts of historical civilizations.
  • Ecology and Empire: Environmental History of Settler Societies by Tom Griffiths and Libby Robin This work explores the environmental impacts of settler societies, focusing on how settlers adapted historical ecological knowledge and practices in new landscapes.
  • Medieval Europe and the World: From Late Antiquity to Modernity, 400-1500 by Robin W. Winks and Teofilo F. Ruiz This book offers a broad perspective on medieval Europe, including the role of resource management, agrarian practices, and community-based sustainability efforts.

Key Takeaway: History holds more eco-conscious insights than we might imagine. Dr. Kehnel’s The Green Ages shows that sustainable practices are not just a modern ideal—they’re a tradition that reaches deep into our past, offering wisdom for a sustainable future.