Topic: Army Corps Of Engineers

The restoration of the North American landscape through permaculture involves building millions of small farm ponds to inventory water and prevent flooding. Historically, 8-10% of the landscape was water due to beaver activity, a figure that has dropped to less than 4%. By holding water on the "high scape" rather than relying on massive downstream engineering projects, farmers can build soil health and mitigate the effects of drought and rising fertilizer costs.

The discussion reveals how ancient burial mounds and ceremonial sites have been repurposed as features on Florida's numerous golf courses. Dr. Longo explains that builders used these naturally hilly areas because they were less profitable for traditional real estate. He also describes how the Army Corps of Engineers and private interests dismantled many mounds to use the shell material for building high-quality roads in the early 20th century.