Sonoran Rosie has a lifelong passion for the Sonoran Desert and its native plants. After discovering a lack of natural desert-inspired aromatherapy, Rosie studied local herbalism and began creating herbal skincare, self-care, and haircare using sustainably hand-foraged desert botanicals like creosote to capture the scent and wellness benefits of the desert. Committed to giving back, Sonoran Rosie supports local conservation organizations and businesses while promoting a deeper connection to the desert. In 2022, Rosie expanded this mission by opening Arizona Poppy, a vibrant downtown Tucson shop featuring the work of more than 75 local artisans and celebrating the creativity, beauty, and community of the Southwest. In 2025, Rosie wrote Seasons of the Desert, a guide that teaches readers how to identify, sustainably forage, and build a deeper connection with the Sonoran Desert through herbal remedies, recipes, and the wisdom of its native plants.

Now, Rosie is on to a new adventure through land stewardship. She is purchasing acres of untouched Sonoran Desert in Three Points, AZ with fellow herbalist Wren, founder of The Nohm Collective. Together they will conserve the natural ecosystem & native plants already on the land while growing even more medicinal and edible desert plants. Their aim is to create a community desert garden where we can all go to learn and teach about the wonders of the Sonoran Desert & its unique plant life.

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Interested in the sensation of Desert Rain a Bottle? Sonoran Rosie offers a suite of aromatherapy and self care products ethically sourced from the Sonoran Desert. Check it out at:

http://www.sonoranrosie.store

Rosie recently published a book called 'Seasons of the Desert' Its a great resource for folks interested in desert foraging.

Rosie produces a bunch of informative content on instagram... if you're open to learning more about the Sonoran Desert, make sure to follow.

https://www.instagram.com/sonoranrosieherbal/

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Book recommendations:

Southwest Foraging by John Slattery
Southwest Desert Herbal Plants by Michael Moore
Desert Alchemist

What potential does agroforestry have for improving access to food, our relation to natural resources, and our communities?

Nick Wren creator and operator of the Living Soil Tree Farm joins for this episode. We cover agroforestry and food forests. Nick shares the day to day life in creating and operating a tree nursery. Nick believes in a future where there is more resources and opportunities for people to connect with food through agroforestry. He is planting the seeds for the future he wants to live in.

Living Soil Tree Farm is a human scale plant nursery focused on food producing perennials and collaborative plant breeding. They focus on growing bare root trees/shrubs and diverse seed populations. They provide extremely healthy plants and seeds while using land management techniques which improve the health of our ecosystem.

Want a baby tree? Living Soil Tree Farm ships 1 year old bare root trees. They are easy to plant, and with care, will one day provide food! They service locally North Carolina and Virginia.

*Connect and support the podcast at*

https://linktr.ee/surfaceexposure
---Where to find Nick and The Living Soil Tree Farm---

https://livingsoiltreefarm.com/

Instagram: @livingsoiltreefarm https://www.instagram.com/livingsoiltreefarm/

---Shout Out by Nick to other folks doing cool related things.---

Appalachian Sustainable Development
https://asdevelop.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asdevelop/

Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
https://carolinafarmstewards.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinafarms/

Savannah Institute
https://www.savannainstitute.org/
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/savannainstitute/

Tree Range Chicken Farm
https://treerangefarms.com/shop/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPOTM2NjE5NzQzMzkyNDU5AAGn119n68UfHgo1GxMzoqLGoy6JRQgpprHhHiMNTgRYhAvPcUvvA2b_Tg8OJ2c_aem_-SuPzkp5wrMQhYEYFroJKw
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/treerangefarms/

Deepti Kannapan joins me for this episode. She’s known for her TED Talk entitled ‘ The Climate Movement Needs Your Creativity, Not Your Guilt’. The Ted Talk presents powerful insights on dealing with feelings of responsibility and guilt over climate change, the mechanics of change, and how to turn negative feelings associated with the issue into positive meaningful action. I recommend you give it a listen.

During this episode, we expand on Deepti’s message. Climate Change can promote a sense of hopelessness and a feeling of responsibility for the damage that has been done to the natural world. Deepti argues we are not individually responsible for damage, yet, do have a responsibility to act. Deepti lays out an action plan for those who want to make a positive change, and feel good about doing so.

Deepti Kannapan is an artist, engineer, and climate activist in the Los Angeles area. She's the author a Fire's Ally, a fantasy novel with climate themes. She’s active with organizations such as 350.org and the league of women voters.

Connect, support, and provide feedback for Surface Exposure

https://linktr.ee/Surfaceexposure

Deepti Kannapans TED Talk: Climate Movement Needs Your Creativity, Not Your Guilt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLn76Go47MY

Fire’s Ally, a Fantasy Novel with Climate Themes by Deepti Kannapan

https://buy.bookfunnel.com/p5vo2ghzps

Deepti’s Newsletter

http://deepti-kannapan.kit.com

Deepti’s Website

Deeptikannapan.com

-Organization Shoutouts from Deepti-

350.org

350southbaylosangeles.com

Instagram:@350southbaylosangeles

Sunrise Movement

Instagram: @sunrisemvmt , @sunrisemvmtla (Los Angeles)

citizensclimatelobby.org

Sierra club

League of Women Voters

www.lwv.org
@lwvtorrancearea

laclimateweek.com

Instagram: @laclimateweek