Episode 010 - Dr. Gerould Wilhelm, Botanist and Steward

Welcome back! This episode is with Dr. Gerould Wilhelm.

Few people can provide such a deep long-term perspective on wild plants, ecological restoration, and human culture.

Jerry created the Floristic Quality Assessment method back in the 1970s. He’s written several floras of the Chicago area including the Flora of the Chicago Region: A Floristic and Ecological Synthesis.

We talk about disturbance, Floristic Quality, lichen as indicators, the effects of grasses and sedges on soils, the cultural connections needed to foster biodiversity, and much more.

You can find a bunch of Jerry’s writing on the website of the Conservation Research Institute, where he is the Director of Research. There are essays here as well as ecological monographs and the depth of his work and thought is fascinating.

This podcast is brought to you by Wild Ridge Plants, where we grow chemical-free native plants from locally collected seeds.

I’ve been hoping for years for a good excuse to speak with Jerry Wilhelm. Enjoy!