About Anthropogen
My name is Spencer Woodard, a northern California native, twenty-nine years old.
I am interested in the history of human relationships with plants and how the ever-changing state of these relationships has affected the ways in which our species interacts with and influences larger ecological systems in our midst.
I derived the word Anthropogen (www.anthropogen.com), the title of this website, from the adjective Anthropogenic, meaning… of, relating to, or resulting from the influence of human beings on nature – examples being, Anthropogenic pollutants, or, Anthropogenic landscapes.
Anthrome (www.anthrome.wordpress.com) refers to an Anthropogenic Biome, which describes the terrestrial biosphere in its contemporary, human-altered form using global ecosystem units defined by global patterns of sustained direct human interaction with ecosystems.
This is a photo I took of myself in front of a large number of Flamingos in the Great Rift Valley, Kenya.
After relocating to Argentina for a year when I was sixteen/seventeen, I have spent at least half of every subsequent year (throughout college, now full time) living, working, and traveling throughout Central and South America, Europe and Asia (Africa to a lesser extent), expanding my knowledge and familiarity with useful tropical flora and how diverse species can be incorporated into dense, productive agro-ecosystems for the purposes of land restoration, reforestation, food production, resource renewal and the preservation/dissemination of local and non-local biodiversity. I hold a self-designed, multi-disciplinary degree in Socio-Ecological Sustainability from Antioch College.
I am currently under the employment of Island Planning Corporation, an exterior design firm specializing in high-end residential and commercial projects throughout the world. Using native species and a practical approach, IPC creates mature, elegantly simple design solutions for logistically demanding projects.
Overview: Primarily, this weblog serves as a database of information related to edible, medicinal and otherwise useful plant species of the world. I encounter plants, I take photos and absorb information and post some of that information on this website. More then anything I upload photos, however would like to begin focusing more heavily a text accompaniment.
I post information on a wide range of flora from climates around the world. As mentioned above, I am interested in the history of the relationship between people and plants, I tend to focus most intently on edible and medicinal plants, or plants with other ethnobotanical use.
Typically, the information I am uploading will reflect plant species I have encountered, either somewhere I have recently visited, or somewhere I am (at the moment of posting). I take all the photos I post, unless otherwise noted. At present I have posted photos/entries from North, Central, and South America, East Africa (Kenya), Central West Africa (Gabon), the Balkans, Greece, and elsewhere in Europe, Vietnam, and a number of other regions of the world.
In addition to content related to plant identification and information I incorporate notable articles, links, and other related miscellany .
Apart from collecting, cultivating and planting edible, medicinal, and otherwise useful tropical plants, my profound interest in complex agroforestry drives a continuous motivation and dedication to studying pre-Colombian land management and resource renewal systems and models. Such systems have proven far more logical, productive and historically sustainable then the modern European colonial agricultural model.
The Flora category in the site consists of an evolving expanding list of plant species accompanied by related discussion and photos.
I welcome readers to contribute to any article in any Category via the comment forum attached to the article. Upon receiving edit marks, criticism or additional information I will make any due corrections or updates. To facilitate your navigation of past posts I have included an Index page (species list). Some species listed therein are linked to their respective entry. Those species that are not yet linked can be plugged into the search bar. You can search by plant family, genus, species, common name, geographical region of origin, or use. There are many more species featured in the site archives that are not yet listed in the index. The index is due for an update.
Is this open to the public? Or only for residents?
The nurseries are both occupying enclosed spaces, although when I am there working I am always happy to receive interested visitors, show them around, answer any questions. The Clementinas area is also enclosed. I am currently in the process of conditioning to the soil and planting the space. If individuals wish to talk to me and see the space that can probably be arranged. Feel free to write: spencer.woodard@gmail.com, or w@islandplanningcorporation.com. These initial projects are acting as plant propagation facilities (Conservatorio, Santa Familia) and preliminary urban ag. models for the area (Clementinas), once they are established I look foward to having support to expand into public spaces. The plazas of Casco Viejo, for example, are in need of major revitilization.
Saludos..Mi nombre es Harold Valdés Me gustaria contactar al Sr. Spencer Woodart.
He inicido un vivero comunitario en San Juan de Dios, Antón,Tenemos poca experiencia, pero tenemos muchos deceos de aprender, la idea es lograr que las personas desarrollen un amor por la naturaleza y la vez logren beneficios de la agroforesteria. saludos
I was wondering if I could pick your brain and help me ID a few plants I photogaphed in Boquete. I work in the hort field in St. Pete, FL, but I was born and raised in Panama. Is there a way I could send you some pictures? Its not for an urgent reason, just curiosity. I’m all for your vision too dude, great website!
Dear Spencer,
I live in Panama City and wish to publish a booklet on the medicinal, edible use of locally available trees / large shrubs, large vines and plants also. Contact me as I would like to discuss collaboration with you please.
I can be reached at the email.
Just thought you’d want to know about our new addition to the plant family.
Christina and Craig
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/act/998497870.html
Hello Spencer!
Thanks for visiting my blog Midoria. Allow me to link to your blog because I’m sure it will be a great reference for me and others. The photos you posted are great by the way…
Hello Spencer,
My name is Sandra Ramirez and I teach art at Colegio Isaac Rabin, located in Clayton, City of Knowledge, Panama.
I work in an interdisciplinary team with the science and social studies’ teachers, and we are exploring with a group of 7th graders the possibilities of edible gardens in the Clayton area, specifically in our school.
We have found your name and work through articles written in local papers about your project in Casco Viejo.
Are you in Panama at the moment? We would like to know if you are available and interested in sharing information and experiences with us. Right now we are planning the project so your input is welcome.
Thanks so much!
Sandra Ramirez
Hello Spencer! I´m a journalist and Environmental Specialist. I want to know where can I read about your “jardines urbanos comestibles” in Panama City. Or if I can talk with you about a similar proyect in Bogotá Colombia.Can you share some information with me? I´d would like to make you an interview because I think your work is a very good topic for a documentary.
Hope you can answer,
thanks a lot
Maria Isabel
Dear Spencer,
Congratulations for your beautiful page!
I grow very rare fruit & plant species in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and invite you to visit our webpage (www.e-jardim.com) and blog (http://e-jardim.blogspot.com).
I’m currently studying Myrciaria vexator, and learned that McVaugh examined a tree of this species in Summit Gardens, Panama City. Do you know if this tree still exists? I have seen several pics of M. vexator in your webpage.
Best regards,
Edward
Edward,
Thanks for visiting the site. I’ll definitely take a look at your webpage and blog.
As a matter of fact, all of the M. vexator in my collection come from the only two remaining trees at Summit. I know of no other bearing trees in this area of Central America. I collect seed from the two Summit trees every year. It seems to bear heavily every other year. This past season was very productive. The photographs of M. vexator on my blog are all of the Summit trees and trees I have grown from their seed. One of the trees appears to be very healthy, the other not quite as much.
I have visited Summit innumerable times. Their botanical collection is relatively unappreciated and semi-abandoned. No one has planted any trees there for probably 50 years. Unfortunately, the main focus of Summit are the caged animals, which are kept in dark, dirty, utterly abysmal confines.
Over the past seven years I have scoured the entire park and found some very interesting species. I have propagated nearly everything of note in their collection.
I would be very interested to read any of the information you have gathered on M. vexator.
Thanks for writing.
Spencer
Dear Spencer,
Only today I came across your exceedingly interesting message. Thank you very much!!!
I would like very much to receive an e-mail from you, so that we can communicate quickier. Also I would like to send you, through e-mail, detailed information I gathered on Myrciaria vexator.
I also would appreciate your comments on other notable trees from Summit Garden.
All the best,
Edward
Hey Spencer,
I was wondering out of the 135 species (you probably have many more currently) how many were collected from Summit? Thank You-Brandon
Brandon,
That’s an interesting question. I’m not sure exactly how many species I have propagated from Summit, but I’ve definitely propagated the majority the significant species in their collection, somewhere in the vicinity of 30-40 different trees, and some shrubs.
There are quite a few species from summit, and elsewhere that I haven’t uploaded onto the species list on this site. I am overdue for an update.
Are you familiar with Summit gardens? I have visited probably hundreds of times and have grown quite fond of their semi-abandoned botanical collection, which I visit season after season to observe and collect seed from. I think the park has huge potential to expand and diversify, however, it seems management has dedicated the past few years of funding towards buying more gumball and candy machines and trashcans.
Anyways, I’d be happy to answer any other questions you may have.
Thanks for visiting the site,
Spencer
Hey Spencer,
I noticed that you had done some Edible Landscape classes at a school here in Clayton, great job. I hope that the school as well as the students take advantage of the resources that you have given them.
I have seen pictures of the vivieros that you are helping put together in Casco Viejo. I was wondering if plants and seeds are also for sale at the vivero or is the vivero more of a testing ground for the various species that you have there. I would be interested in purchasing some of the plants or seeds.
Thanks
Brandon
Primarily the vivero is a testing ground, and to grow custom orders of trees for specific projects. I have some stuff that I would be willing to sell. But weather or not I sell trees depends on where the person I am selling to is planning on planting the trees. Shoot me an email to spencer.wodard@gmail.com and we can discuss. You live in Panama?
Hey Spencer,
I live in Clayton, Panama City. Thanks for your quick response. I tried the email address that you gave me and I couldn’t get the message to send. Do you have an alternate address. Here is my email address brandonlloydvalentine@gmail.com
Thanks-Brandon
Hey Spencer,
I just saw Paul Zink yesterday and we spent a lovely evening carousing around the gardens at Dumbarton Oaks in Dc. He put me on to your blog here and it looks wonderful. Congratulations on having such interesting work.
Will you be back in Casco anytime soon?
Hello Spencer,
You have a very interesting website, I’ll be reading a lot more on the site
Your iboga article got my attention, I would like to post it on our website, http://www.ibogafoundation.com. The foundation is about creating awareness, your article does it!
Please let me know, how you feel about this!
Kind regards,
Daphne
Hey Spencer,
Iam a Researcher working in Ethiopia in Hararge region is an Indian and impressed by the collection of your plant species.
Thank you
Dr. Kesari,
Thank you for visiting the site, please come back, and let me know if there is any subject/species you would like to find there that I have not included. What type of research are you working on in Ethiopia? Sounds interesting.
I ´m looking for seeds of myrciaria vexator to buy. Do you know who can sell ?
ANTONINO
I’m not aware of any commercial sources, although I can send you a link to a private collector who might be able to help you.
I´d be glad getting it. Thanks
Hello Spencer,
I’m Minh Peter from Vinh Hy, Viet Nam. Nice photos in Vietnam.
Hi Spencer,
I hope you’re having an awesome week! I thought you might like this infographic I helped build about the health, mental, and financial benefits of gardening (http://blog.lochnesswatergardens.com/how-gardening-benefit/).
If you think your readers would like it too, please feel free to use it on the Anthropogen website. There’s code at the bottom of our post that makes it super easy to post on your blog. It’s all free (of course). If you have any questions about posting it, let me know and I’ll try to help.
Thanks!
~ Janey
janealvarado83@gmail.com
Nice blog! I have added it to my reading list, and put a link on my blog Plants as Medicine at http://www.sourcepointherbs.com. We have very similar interests, you and I. Although I focus on medicinal plants, any interaction between plants and people is of interest to me.
Thanks for visiting the site. I’ll definitely check out yours, sounds interesting.
Spencer
very interesting blog! I’m a very very new orchid gardener, but have been gardening flowers /cacti/veggies for decades. I look forward to reading your posts.
Hi Spencer, i see we’re on the same vibe… Let’s work together in Gabon!
Yes, right on. I’m glad you visited my website. I look forward to working together. I hope all is well with you. See you soon.