Nature Answers: Rural Stories from a Changing Planet

Farm Radio | Carleton University
  • 3.0 (3)
  • Nature
  • Updated Biweekly

How can nature itself help us tackle the challenges of a changing world? Each episode, we dive into an inspiring story of how a community in rural Africa is harnessing the power of nature-based solutions to adapt, thrive, and heal the planet. In Season Two, our new host Ivy Prosper takes us to her home country, Ghana, plus Uganda, Cote d’Ivoire, and Zambia, where we meet a woman growing her community, one tree at a time; young people banding together to save a swamp and the birds living in it; farmers using their ancestors' knowledge to keep their farms from flooding; and even communities using nature to help recover from addiction. Stay tuned to learn about things that you can do in your own backyard. Produced by Farm Radio International, a Canadian not-for-profit that provides resources and training to help rural broadcasters in Africa; in partnership with Carleton University Journalism students who travelled to Africa to produce this series.

  1. 5d ago

    From Ash to Assets: How Biochar is Reshaping Kamonaayili

    Turning farm waste into charcoal is helping transform a community’s future. In this episode, host Ivy Prosper takes us to Kamonaayili in northern Ghana, where farmers are using biochar, made from burned plant waste, to improve soil fertility, retain moisture and increase crop yields. We hear from farmers of different generations about how this nature-based solution is helping families improve food security, build financial independence and invest in their children’s futures. As harvests improve, young people are finding new opportunities in farming, and some who left the community are returning home. This episode was written and produced in Ghana by student producer Kyla Silva, with support from Farm Radio International’s Accra office and translation support from Zaa Radio in Tamale. This episode was produced by Farm Radio International, thanks to funding from the Government of Canada.   More about Nature Answers: Rural Stories from a Changing Planet at farmradio.org/natureanswers This is a Farm Radio International podcast produced thanks to funding from the Government of Canada.

    From Ash to Assets: How Biochar is Reshaping Kamonaayili

  2. Oct 8

    The Root Cause: How Mangroves Are Saving Ghana’s Keta Lagoon

    What if restoring mangroves could help bring fish back to a community? In this episode, host Ivy Prosper takes us to Vodza and Agido in Ghana’s Volta Region, where local communities are restoring mangroves in the Keta Lagoon to help rebuild important fish spawning grounds. We hear from fishers, fishmongers, environmentalists and community leaders about how the loss of mangroves has affected local fisheries, and how residents are working together to restore them. The Landing Beach Enforcement Committee has already planted more than 500 mangroves and is finding new ways to protect the seedlings and reduce reliance on mangrove wood. This episode was written and produced in Ghana by student producer Matheus Modesto Nelson and edited by John McGill, with support from Farm Radio International and Jubilee Radio in Vodza. This episode was produced by Farm Radio International, thanks to funding from the Government of Canada.   More about Nature Answers: Rural Stories from a Changing Planet at farmradio.org/natureanswers This is a Farm Radio International podcast produced thanks to funding from the Government of Canada.

    The Root Cause: How Mangroves Are Saving Ghana’s Keta Lagoon

  3. Oct 1

    Rooted in the Sand: Planting a Future Against the Waves in Volta

    In the Volta region of Ghana, the coastal community of Vodja has already lost 90% of its land mass to rapid sea erosion. Nestled precariously between a lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean, residents are refusing to let the water claim the rest of their homes. Host Ivy Prosper travels to the shoreline to meet the local committee turning to a nature-based shield—massive coconut plantations—to stabilize the sand, reclaim their beach, and hold back the rising tide.    In this episode, host Ivy Prosper, takes us to the Vodja region in Ghana where some remarkable individuals are using knowledge sharing to create incredible and sustainable outcomes for their community.   Produced by Stefanja Ottier and edited by John McGill.   More about Nature Answers: Rural Stories from a Changing Planet at farmradio.org/natureanswers This is a Farm Radio International podcast produced thanks to funding from the Government of Canada.

    Rooted in the Sand: Planting a Future Against the Waves in Volta

  4. Season 4 Trailer

    Season 4 trailer

    Season 4 of Nature Answers will be in your feed THIS Thursday! More about Nature Answers: Rural Stories from a Changing Planet at farmradio.org/natureanswers This is a Farm Radio International podcast produced thanks to funding from the Government of Canada.

  5. Jun 18

    Behind the scenes with MISA Zambia

    In this episode, we sit down with a key project coordinator to explore the vital intersection of community radio, climate resilience, and rural collaboration. Our guest unpacks their precise role within the Movement for Impact and Sustainable Action (MISA) and the Nature-Based Solutions project. We learn how they manage relationships with local broadcasters—including Breeze FM—and coordinate rural listening groups. The conversation clarifies the geographic reach of these initiatives, detailing how check-ins are conducted across Eastern Province to ensure high engagement and reliable feedback loops. We also dive deep into the editorial dynamics between NGOs and journalists, examining who holds the reins on the agricultural content hitting the airwaves. More importantly, our guest shares powerful field insights regarding the unique cultural significance of radio in remote farming communities. By contrasting the solo listening experience with the collaborative power of community groups, this episode highlights a measurable shift in how small-scale farmers discuss climate change. Tune in to discover how specialized radio programming is directly translating into improved livelihoods and sustainable agricultural practices. More about Nature Answers: Rural Stories from a Changing Planet at farmradio.org/natureanswers This is a Farm Radio International podcast produced thanks to funding from the Government of Canada.

  6. Jun 11

    Waves of Change: How Radio Broadcasts Are Reshaping Zambian Agriculture

    In Zambia's Chipangali district, farmers are overcoming climate-induced agricultural challenges by forming listening groups to engage with radio broadcasts about nature-based solutions. Facilitated by local broadcasters and the Media Institute of Southern Africa, these cooperative, community-led efforts have successfully transformed agricultural practices and increased yields through shared knowledge and collective action.  This episode is hosted by Ivy Prosper, produced by Claire Hutcheon, and edited by John McGill. This episode was produced by Farm Radio International, thanks to funding from the Government of Canada. More about Nature Answers: Rural Stories from a Changing Planet at farmradio.org/natureanswers This is a Farm Radio International podcast produced thanks to funding from the Government of Canada.

    Waves of Change: How Radio Broadcasts Are Reshaping Zambian Agriculture

  7. May 21

    Banking on the herd: How ancient manure techniques outlast modern droughts in Zambia

    Farmers in Zambia’s Kadiani Village are combating climate change and soil degradation by reverting to "kraal shifting," a traditional practice using manure to fertilize sandy soil, which improves moisture retention during droughts. By communal sharing of livestock for this process, the village increases resilience against the high costs and diminishing returns of chemical fertilizers.  This episode is hosted by Ivy Prosper, produced by Claire Hutcheon, and edited by John McGill. This episode was produced by Farm Radio International, thanks to funding from the Government of Canada. More about Nature Answers: Rural Stories from a Changing Planet at farmradio.org/natureanswers This is a Farm Radio International podcast produced thanks to funding from the Government of Canada.

    Banking on the herd: How ancient manure techniques outlast modern droughts in Zambia

  8. May 14

    From insurgency to opportunity: how reforestation is building a better life in Alebelebe

    Before the guns came, Alebelebe Village was alive with trees, rain, and abundance. What happened next, and how this community found its way back, is a story you won't soon forget. In this episode, we take you to Alebelebe Village in the Lira District of Uganda, where the Lord's Resistance Army insurgency forced families from their homes and shattered the rhythms of life they had always known. When residents finally returned, they found their land damaged and their livelihoods gone. Desperate to survive, many turned to cutting down trees to produce charcoal, which was a decision that deepened the crisis, stripped the land bare, and drove away the rain. Through the voices of community members like Richard Owanya and Florence Achan, we hear how training from Kijani Forestry and Farm Radio International introduced Nature-based Solutions that began to turn things around. From reforestation to beekeeping, the community discovered that restoring the environment and restoring their lives were one and the same. This episode is hosted by Ivy Prosper, produced by Doreen Ainembabazi, and edited by John McGill. This episode was produced by Farm Radio International, thanks to funding from the Government of Canada. More about Nature Answers: Rural Stories from a Changing Planet at farmradio.org/natureanswers This is a Farm Radio International podcast produced thanks to funding from the Government of Canada.

    From insurgency to opportunity: how reforestation is building a better life in Alebelebe
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How can nature itself help us tackle the challenges of a changing world? Each episode, we dive into an inspiring story of how a community in rural Africa is harnessing the power of nature-based solutions to adapt, thrive, and heal the planet. In Season Two, our new host Ivy Prosper takes us to her home country, Ghana, plus Uganda, Cote d’Ivoire, and Zambia, where we meet a woman growing her community, one tree at a time; young people banding together to save a swamp and the birds living in it; farmers using their ancestors' knowledge to keep their farms from flooding; and even communities using nature to help recover from addiction. Stay tuned to learn about things that you can do in your own backyard. Produced by Farm Radio International, a Canadian not-for-profit that provides resources and training to help rural broadcasters in Africa; in partnership with Carleton University Journalism students who travelled to Africa to produce this series.

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