Episode #39 with Elizabeth Bekolay

Elizabeth Bekolay is a mother, educator, biologist, volunteer coordinator, and co-founder of One School One Farm Shelterbelt Project.

The idea for One School One Farm came to Elizabeth in 2018, when she was in a ceremony with some family and friends. Elizabeth was praying for guidance on how to help the land and future generations, and the phrase came fully formed- “One School One Farm.” The main activities of the project include connecting a teacher with a land steward and facilitating that relationship that will culminate in the planting of whatever design adds to the biodiversity potential of the land. This has also included consulting on design, species selection, and ecological functions. 

The project’s mission is to “actively co-create solutions to the extinction crisis and climate change through the building of biodiverse, regionally appropriate shelterbelt habitats that host pollinators, sequester carbon, provide food species, and transpire water, thereby acting in the reduction or prevention of erosion and drought.” In addition, the project focuses on promoting relationships between rural and urban populations. Elizabeth’s background in education has led the goal of increasing and enhancing Ecological Literacy within the school systems. 

To learn more about Elizabeth and the amazing work of the One School One Farm Shelterbelt Project, click here.