This week on The Naturalist Bernie and Carol take us on journey to the next possible stars that could support human life and look at what make our planet so uniquely suited to supporting us and why Earth is a Goldilocks planet. Also, ever wonder why eggs and bunnies are symbols of Easter? On the second half of the show learn about the origins of Easter, Passover and other spring holidays. This episode was sponsored by Fairway Market

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Paul Cross is the founder and head grower of Charybda Farms in Arroyo Hondo, New Mexico. He grows organic heirloom hothouse tomatoes, microgreens, flowers, and herb and vegetable transplants, irrigated from rain catchment in a region with an average of 12” annual precipitation, an 87 day growing season, at an elevation of 7,300 feet. His work in innovative sustainable agricultural techniques has been recognized in American Vegetable Grower, New Mexico Magazine, Edible Santa Fe, and many other publications. His products, marketed under the brand name of Chef’s Edition, are distributed by Sysco Foods, Whole Foods Market, and many smaller retailers. This episode has been brought to you by Hearst Ranch.

"When I built the first greenhouse [on Charydba Farms], I designed a system that would catch all of the rainwater off the residential house, as well as the greenhouse. So in an area where we only get twelve inches of rain, we can capture 45,000 gallons in an average year." -- Paul Cross on Greenhorn Radio

This week's episode of Burning Down the House is a response to last week's interview with Elizabeth Heider of the U.S. Green Building Council. On this episode, Curtis B. Wayne discusses the dichotomy between faith and science in the field of architecture- specifically green building. Curtis highlights the empirical nature of the LEED system, and how it has made energy efficiency quantifiable. Also, Curtis discusses three different architectect types- the academic, the practitioner, and the technician- and how a syncretic worldview of the built environment could improve civilization. Curtis also explores the idea of embodied energy, and how it could affect the future of architecture and conservation. This episode has been sponsored by White Oak Pastures.

"I disagree with categorization that being 'green' is as being religious because being religious involves issues of faith, which cannot be based on science, but rather are based on belief."

"Most of the materials that go into the waste stream that say they are recyclable are not [recycled]."

-- Curtis B. Wayne on Burning Down the House