Katrina Van Osch-Saxon: Urban Forester, Arborist, and Professor at Fleming College

The Smoko Podcast

Take a break, we’re on Smoko! We’re joined by Katrina Van Osch-Saxon, a professor at Fleming College in the School of Environment and Natural Resources. Katrina specializes in urban forestry and agriculture, focusing on tree care and forest health. She shares her journey from being the tomboy daughter of a self-taught arborist to becoming a passionate educator about forest health and the critical role trees play in our lives.

Katrina delves into the distinctions between traditional forestry and urban forestry, explaining the unique challenges and benefits of managing trees within city environments. She emphasizes the importance of education in raising awareness about invasive species and forest health, recounting a pivotal moment when a student questioned the relevance of studying insects in forestry and how it underscored the necessity of understanding these small but impactful creatures.

The conversation also explores the Women in Trees program, which Katrina helped develop to encourage women to consider careers in forestry and related fields. She shares the program's origins, its growth, and the rewarding experience of seeing women of all ages and backgrounds climbing trees and engaging with forestry.

In addition to her professional work, Katrina talks about her personal passion for homesteading. She discusses how she started her journey into growing and preserving her own food during the COVID-19 pandemic, inspired by YouTube channels like Roots of Refuge. Katrina provides practical advice for anyone looking to live a more self-sufficient and sustainable lifestyle, whether through small-scale gardening, canning, or other homesteading practices.

Join Alexis and Katrina for an inspiring and educational conversation about sustainability, the evolution of forestry practices, the empowerment that comes from connecting with nature, and the importance of not fearing failure but rather embracing it as a path to growth.
Katrina Van Osch-Saxon:

https://www.instagram.com/katrina_van_osch/

https://youtube.com/@katrinavanosch?feature=shared

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrina-van-osch-saxon-9979a779/

Fleming College & Women in Trees:

https://flemingcollege.ca/focus-on-fleming/women-in-trees-encourages-women-to-take-their-career-to-new-heights/

https://flemingcollege.ca/programs/urban-forestry

Roots of Refuge:

https://youtube.com/@rootsandrefugefarm?feature=shared

The Smoko Podcast is sponsored by Peggy Workwear: workwear designed by women, for women. From the shop floor to the boardroom, Peggy Workwear creates workwear
https://www.peggyworkwear.ca/