Feeding Us With Trees: Rethinking Food, Fire, and Our Role on the Land with Elspeth Hay

In today’s episode, I talk with writer and journalist Elspeth Hay, author of Feed Us With Trees, whose work invites us to rediscover a food story far older — and far more hopeful — than industrial agriculture. Speaking from her home on Cape Cod, surrounded by oak woods that quietly shaped her research journey, Elspeth shares how a single insight — that acorns are edible — opened the door to an entirely new way of seeing food, land, and our role within ecosystems. She traces how nut trees like acorn, chestnut, and hazel once formed staple diets across the Northern Hemisphere, and how Indigenous stewardship, cultural fire, and communal land care created biodiverse, abundant landscapes long before monocultures existed. What begins as curiosity becomes a powerful re-storying of what it means to feed ourselves well — in ways that heal both land and climate. Together, we explore: 🌳 How tree crops challenge the myth that only industrial agriculture can “feed the world”🔥 Why low-intensity cultural fire is essential for healthy oak ecosystems🌰 What makes nut trees a climate-resilient, nutrient-rich staple food🌿 How reconnecting with local keystone species can guide us toward meaningful climate action🏡 Why shifting our focus from global doom to local community can rekindle genuine hope Elspeth’s future vision is one of re-skilled, rooted communities living in deeper relationship with their home ecosystems — landscapes filled with life, diversity, and the wisdom of trees. Her message: hope grows when we pay attention to the places we belong, and when we start small, right where we are. “I hope that I’m an ally to the trees… I learned a story when I was a kid that they didn’t need our help because they were wild and natural. And as an adult, I learned a new story — that they do need some human help to have the conditions they need on the land.” - Elspeth Hay 👉 Learn more about Elspeth and order her book: * Elspeth’s website 🙋 Want to connect with me or share feedback? * Email: [email protected] * Website: claudiageratz.com * LinkedIn: @claudiageratz 📍 Nominate a guest for the podcast: Submit your idea here 🎵 Music by Alberto Gariglio Instagram | YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit positiveclimatecareers.substack.com