The Good Dirt: Sustainability Explained

In this episode of The Good Dirt Podcast, hosts Mary Kingsley and her daughter Emma talk with Florence Reed, founder of Sustainable Harvest International, a nonprofit that has worked with smallholder farmers in Central America for over 27 years in adopting regenerative farming practices. Florence tells the story of how Sustainable Harvest International got its start, and highlights the importance of healthy soil, biodiversity, and the role of local technical assistance in fostering long-term agricultural transformation. She points out how these practices alone applied to small farms the world over could significantly contribute to the United Nations' goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Florence tells us that there are many inspiring success stories, including one that she shares about a farmer who restored his land and sent both of his daughters to college as a result of his farming success following the SHI program. The conversation offers a hopeful message about the potential for individual and collective action in combating climate change. ,00:00 Introduction 00:31 Welcome to the Good Dirt Podcast 00:57 Guest Introduction: Florence Reed 03:25 Florence Reed's Background and Motivation 06:04 Early Challenges and Realizations 08:05 Founding Sustainable Harvest International 11:52 Initial Steps and Early Support 14:22 Challenges of Slash and Burn Farming 20:40 Sustainable and Regenerative Practices 27:42 Community Engagement and Program Implementation 30:48 Deciding Where to Work 31:32 Challenges and Demand 32:17 Global Impact of Small-Scale Farmers 33:40 Resistance to Change in Farming Practices 39:59 Success Stories and Long-Term Impact 46:02 Personal Reflections and Slow Living 49:16 Future Plans and Getting Involved LINKS Sustainable Harvest International Roots of Renewal: A Film on Farming for a Hopeful Future Eliot Coleman: The New Organic Grower Barbara Damrosch: The Garden Primer The Good Life: Helen and Scot Nearing's Sixty Years of Self Sufficient Living ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community Visit Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: • Wendy Gray

In celebration of the holiday this week, and upcoming "Black Friday", we're re-airing our favorite slow-living take on the matter...Slow Friday! RE-AIR FROM 11/26/21 You're in for something a little different this Friday...it's a solo show with Mary and Emma! At Lady Farmer, we're always thinking about ways to shift our thinking to live into a more slow and sustainable lifestyle, and today is a great opportunity to do just that. What if Black Friday became Slow Friday, and what would that look like? Join us on this week’s episode of The Good Dirt as we share a bit about our own Christmas memories and experiences with gift-giving as well as how we're thinking about being more mindful with our consumer habits during the holiday season. Enjoy this week's episode, let us know what you think, and we'll be back with another interview next week! Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: The negative impacts of consumerism and how to think differently about our consumer habits The importance that we have placed on gift-giving and receiving during the holiday season Slow Friday Challenge Resources: Unplug the Christmas Tree Christmas by Peter Spier ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community Visit Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: • Wendy Gray 

In this episode, Zandra Zuraw, founder of Slow Style Home, shares her insights on interior design. Slow Style Home is an interior design coaching platform for people looking to create a beautiful, meaningful home without breaking the bank, hiring a designer, or hurting the planet to get one. Zandra discusses her step-by-step framework, the importance of a vision for your space, and offers tips for decluttering and balancing aesthetics with functionality. Zandra also touches on the broader concept of slow living. She encourages everyone to find a personal and meaningful approach to home decoration and stresses the emotional satisfaction that comes from using and transforming what we already have. Listeners are inspired to appreciate and design their living spaces mindfully, focusing on beauty and personal expression.She's currently writing a book about her Slow Style approach to design, to be released in Spring 2025 .and is also the host of the popular podcast, Slow Style Home. 00:00 Introduction to Slow Style Home 01:23 Zandra Zuraw's Personal Journey 02:17 The Concept of Slow Style 02:54 Navigating Interior Design Challenges 06:37 Creating a Vision for Your Space 19:25 Balancing Sentimentality and Practicality 22:09 The Impact of Disposable Decor 26:18 The Emotional Weight of Objects 26:51 Struggles with Waste and Disposal 30:29 Decluttering Strategies and Challenges 37:18 The Concept of a Slow Home 40:04 Balancing Organization and Livability 46:56 The Importance of Good Dirt 49:17 Final Thoughts and Resources Zandra's Website Slow Style Home Podcast Peter Walsh: Let it Go Tracy McCubbin: Making Space, Clutter Free Monica Leed: Simply Spaced ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community Visit Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: • Wendy Gray

In this conversation, Casey and Brooke Oberg from Detroit Mulch Company share their journey of transforming tree waste into mulch in the urban landscape of Detroit. They discuss their backgrounds, how they came to the project, various types of mulch, the significance of topsoil and the role of composting in community engagement. The conversation highlights the community impact of their work repurposing organic materials into beneficial mulch, a product that provides environmental sustainability and circularity into the local economy. The discussion also touches on the concept of slow living and how it relates to their work, culminating in a reflection on the meaning of good dirt and its impact on the environment and local communities. Topics Discussed: ・The beginnings of Detroit Mulch Company ・Sustainable practices in Mulching ・Benefits of Mulch Gardening ・Addressing concerns about tree waste ・Community Impact ・The role of mulch in urban revitalization ・The future of tree waste management ・Encouraging sustainable practices beyond Detroit ・The importance of mulch and compost for top soil ・Composting practices and community engagement ・Embracing slow living and the idea of 'the good dirt' Connect with Brooke and Casey: Detroit Mulch Company Website Instagram: @detroitmulch ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community Visit Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: • Wendy Gray

In this episode of The Good Dirt, Mary & Emma explore sustainability in the spirits industry with Harrison Holditch of Half Shell Vodka. At just 33 years old, Harrison has pioneered innovative sustainable practices in producing vodka, including using recycled materials and local partnerships. Among Half Shell Vodka's noteworthy achievements is its revolutionary 100% recyclable cardboard bottle made from 94% recycled materials. The discussion covers Harrison's journey, the company’s sustainable practices, and innovations like their unique filtration system using oyster shells and coconut carbon. The episode also highlights the challenges and benefits of adopting sustainable methods in distilling. 00:00 Welcome to The Good Dirt 01:34 Introducing Half Shell Vodka 03:21 Harrison Holditch's Journey 09:11 Sustainability Practices at Half Shell Vodka 17:26 The Innovation of the Paper Bottle 26:05 Sustainability and Glass: A Complex Relationship 27:07 The Global Supply Chain and Carbon Footprint 29:43 Exploring Alternatives: Paper Bottles and Beyond 32:40 Challenges and Innovations in the Spirits Industry 37:48 Living the Slow Life: A Personal Perspective 39:57 Navigating Natural Disasters: Life on the Gulf Coast 41:55 The Good Dirt: What It Means to Us 42:58 Where to Find Half Shell Vodka ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: · Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community · Visit Our Website · Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram · Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: · Wendy Gray

What are more sustainable death practices that we can can consider as alternatives to the expensive and consumptive services offered in the modern funeral industry? CEO of Endswell Cremation Hunter Beattie is our guest today, here to discuss the green burial movement, the problems with our current death rituals and practices and how the process of aquamation offered by his company is another choice over cremation or burial. Hunter shares his honest emotional personal journey with death, the founding of Endswell and the philosophy behind providing thoughtful, compassionate end-of-life services. Topics Discussed · The Good Death Movement · The Green Burial Movement · Misconceptions About Cremation · The Deal with Spreading Ashes · Death Cafe, Death Doulas, and Death Conferences · End of Life Care with Your Parents · Living with Grief · Neurodegenerative Conditions · The Predatory Nature of the Funeral Industry · The History of the Modern Funeral Industry · Working with Hospice Workers · Understanding Aquamation · Green Burial Movement · Community Involvement · Burying On Your Own Land · Reclaiming Death Rituals Rituals and Eco-Friendly Death Care · Eco-Friendly Death Care Episode Resources: · Listen to The Good Dirt “Episode 65 | Where Nature is Enough: Rethinking Death Practices with Heidi Hannapel of Bluestem Conservation Cemetery · Listen to The Good Dirt “Creating Sustainability in the Death Care Industry with Tom Harries of Earth Funeral” · WorkAway · Final Exit · Read Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond · NPR Article “A plain pine coffin and eco-friendly cremation are the last acts of Desmond Tutu” on Desmond Tutu’s Aquamation · Order of the Good Death Connect with Hunter Beattie: · Website: https://endswellcremation.com · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/endswellaquamationandgallery/ · Farewell Earth Network: https://farewellearth.org ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: · Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community · Visit Our Website · Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram · Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: · Wendy Gray

Join Mary and Emma as they discuss a slow living Halloween, the second largest consumer season in the US. From the ancient traditions of the Celtic Samhain celebrations, to the modern day spook fest that dominates this time of year, you'll hear how you can embrace the special beauty and magic of nature during this time, letting go of much of the waste and frenzy but keeping all of the fun! Things Mentioned: Zero Waste Candy Alternatives The Scariest Thing About Halloween is the Plastic Waste National Retail Federation Prediction for Halloween Spending in 2022 About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

In this episode, Mary welcomes back Krista Arias and her daughter, Fia, from Tierra Soul, a homestead and learning space in Magdalena, New Mexico. They catch up on their conversation from a year ago, discussing ongoing and new projects at Tierra Soul, such as the community cafe project and plans for their first holistic homesteading festival. They also discuss their signature 8 week holistic homesteading online program,"Lazy Lady Living," which provides an overview of multiple topics such as soulful permaculture, sustainable economy, biodynamics, traditional food, cultivated ecology and more. Tierra Soul is now offering "Lazy Lady Living" at a reduced price. Enroll HERE during their fall sale beginning October 15th! Tierra Soul Website Enroll in Lazy Lady Living for $500 off 00:36 Welcoming Krista and Fia from Tierra Soul 04:34 Updates from Tierra Soul Homestead 09:25 The Evolution of Tierra Soul's Cafe 12:34 Challenges and Philosophies of Running a Cafe 25:50 The Future of Tierra Soul: Events and Gatherings 28:52 Bridging the Gap Between Presenters and Attendees 29:51 Influence of Indigenous Ceremonies 32:10 Holistic Homesteading Festival: Gather and Give 32:22 Introduction to Lazy Lady Living 37:11 The Philosophy Behind Lazy Lady Living 40:59 The Importance of Connection in Farming 45:22 The Feminine Perspective in Permaculture 50:15 The Adaptive Nature of Plants and Earth 53:43 Concluding Thoughts on Slow Living 🌻 About Lady Farmer: · Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community · Visit Our Website · Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram · Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Lady Farmer 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: · Wendy Gray

In this episode, Mary & Emma begin their discussion on consumerism by reflecting on a recent social media trend dubbed "underconsumption', and how that idea overlaps with the fundamentals of slow living. They ask the questions, are we drawn to the true ideals of a lifestyle or the visual aesthetics as represented on social media, and how likely are we to feel compelled to "buy" into it due to feelings of lack in our own lives? Mary and Emma also discuss personal vulnerabilities in consumer habits, referencing their own experiences with fashion, skincare, and digital consumption. The conversation addresses the impact of social media on consumer behavior, emphasizing awareness and conscious decision-making in a consumer-driven society. They conclude by encouraging listeners to balance needs and desires within the context of appropriate consumption as part of a slow living lifestyle. 00:00 Introduction to Simple Living 00:51 Life Updates and New Beginnings 02:01 Exploring Conscious Consumerism 02:48 The Trend of Underconsumption 03:56 Media Influence on Consumption 14:37 Personal Vulnerabilities in Consumerism 23:54 Navigating Consumer Habits 27:02 Conclusion and Final Thoughts ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community Visit Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Lady Farmer 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: • Wendy Gray

How do you pursue homesteading while honoring the wildness of the nature around you? The flowers, animals, and flora that live on the land can impact the way you approach your garden. Julie Stonefelt, a full-time park ranger and co-founder of Wild Homestead Living with her husband Kevin, has sought to live off the land while preserving the natural ecosystem of her 2 acre property in the state of Washington. Despite a suburban upbringing, Julie has spent decades honoring a dream she first had with her childhood best friend. Julie is also a breast cancer survivor, and shares her compelling story of discovery and resilience on her journey "from cancer to country living." Her goal is to support others in moving in the direction of a more sustainable lifestyle, regardless of their location, while understanding and respecting the wildness around us all. Julia emphasizes respecting nature in homesteading, creating resilient, conflict-free gardens, and forming symbiotic relationships with wildlife. Topics Discussed · Experiencing Fresh Food · Being a Full Time Park Ranger · Enforcement Rangers vs Interpretive Rangers · Having a Spouse with Type 1 Diabetes · Surviving Breast Cancer · Reviving Old Dreams · Living in Snoqualmie Valley · Gardening with Nature in Mind · The Human-Animal-Nature Connection · Holding Space for Animal’s Natural Habitats · Beavers, Bears, and Coyotes · Creating Your Dream Life · Dealing with Envy Towards Others · Do You Need to Grow all Your Own Food to be a Homesteader? · Challenges of Being an Online Creator · Facing Your Grief · Starting Wild Homestead Living · Reaching Harmony with Wildlife · Resources and Courses for Homesteading · Cancer Journey and Its Impact on Julie’s Approach to Homesteading Episode Resources: · Listen to The Good Dirt “166. The Human-Animal Connection with Alison Zak, author of "Wild Asana" · Read "Wild Asana: Animals, Yoga, and Connecting Our Practice to the Natural World" by Alison Zak · Hawthorn Farm · Read "Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest" by Suzanne Simard · Read "The New Organic Grower: A Master's Manual of Tools and Techniques for the Home and Market Gardener" by Eliot Coleman Connect with Julie Stonefelt: · Website: https://wildhomesteadliving.com · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildhomesteadliving/ · Courses: https://courses.wildhomesteadliving.com/connect ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: · Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community · Visit Our Website · Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram · Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: · Wendy Gray

In the second of this episode series, Emma and Mary discuss some obstacles that may come up in trying to live more slowly and sustainably, as well as addressing a few frequently asked questions. They discuss how slow living often seems so out of reach to many of us given all of the distractions of modern life, and offer ways to make it seem a little more accessible. They also talk about how the concept of convenience often gets in the way of more conscious living, giving examples of some practices that have worked in their own lives and offering ideas they've gotten from others as well. Mary and Emma also respond to the idea that slow living is expensive, and therefore not an option for many. As always, the conversation will help you reflect on the possibilities that are already available to you, and encourage those small shifts that make all the difference! 🌻 About Lady Farmer: · Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community · Visit Our Website The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living Episodes mentioned: Episode # 110 Designing the Life of Your Dreams with Stephanie O'Dea Episode #150 One Family's Journey in Sustainable Living with Jamilla Edwards Episode # 183 Manifesting the Life You Want with Stephanie O'Dea Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: · Wendy Gray

Chwynyn Vaughan is the creator of Slow Botanicals, and for over 30 years she has been blending science and wise woman wisdom to create a sustainable lifestyle. With her background in midwifery and conventional healthcare, Chwynyn found a deep love for botanicals and plants that prompted her to create her fully certified-organic skincare line. Full of fresh ingredients and essential oils, Chwynyn takes advantage of her herbal knowledge to make botanical skin creams, shampoos, shave soaps, and bars that all come from her organic regenerative garden. Chwynyn discusses her lifestyle and business, as well as the quarter-acre plot where she lives along with her husband and children, taking inspiration from the earth and seasonal living. Use Code “GOODDIRT” to get 10% off at Slow Botanicals! Topics Discussed · Growing Your Own Herbs · Creating High-Quality Organic Skincare · Living in a Commune · Herbal Medicine · Being a Midwife · The Gardening Industry · The Life Cycle of a Garden · Starting Seeds and Peat-Free Potting Mix · Favorite Natural Skincare Products · Collagenase · Manufacturing Certified Organic Products · Packaging Products sustainably · Protecting your Peace · Gardening Techniques and Philosophy · The Journey to Herbal Medicine and Skincare · Creating a Personal Connection with Your Garden Episode Resources: · Floret Flower Farm · Back to the Roots Organic All-Purpose Peat-free Premium Potting Mix Connect with Chwynyn Vaughan · Website: slowbotanicals.com · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slow.botanicals/?hl=en · Threads: https://www.threads.net/@slow.botanicals?xmt=AQGzClLZvasxn2Du8hsDGSaOiv4nKM46-NJus9dC2XAkjR8 · Newsletter: https://slowbotanicals.ck.page · Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chwynyn-vaughan-2171a1281? ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: · Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community · Visit Our Website · Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram · Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: · Wendy Gray

In the first of this bonus episode series, Emma and Mary discuss the concept and meaning of slow living. Using the quote from The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living, they discuss slow living in terms of making conscious choices in how we live our lives, paying attention to how we spend our time, money, and resources, and stepping back from industrialized systems that have come to provide our daily needs. They also highlight the importance of observing our own consumer habits and how they intersect with our quality of life. The conversation encourages questioning, reflection, and making small shifts towards a more sustainable and intentional lifestyle. A Sampling of Related Episodes: Episode 88: Conscious Clothing Episode 86: Loving the World Through Simple Living with Danielle Alvarado of Sustainably Kind Living Episode 186: Grow Your Own Food with Nicky and Dave Schauder of Permaculture Gardens 🌻 About Lady Farmer: · Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community · Visit Our Website The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living · Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram · Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: · Wendy Gray

Alexia Allen is a suburban homesteader. She and her husband Daniel are transforming their own corner of suburbia into a permaculture paradise. They spent all of 2017 doing a hand harvested food challenge, which meant they were eating only hand harvested food right down to salt from the ocean. Daniel and Alexia are long time educators with a passion for authentic earth based skills. As Suburbia grew up around them, it made sense to share these skills with people eager to learn. In this conversation with Alexia, we hear about the organic growth of their community, their experience with the hand harvested food challenge, and the importance of fostering nature connection through personal grounding practices and educational programs. With help from an amazing "farm-ily, the small community of people that live and work together on the homestead, and a lively crew of program helpers, Hawthorn Farm has offered learning opportunities for the past 15 years. Topics Discussed · Alexia's Journey to Homesteading · Multigenerational Communal Living · Balancing Public and Private Spaces · Age Diversity · Suburban Living · Dealing with the Perception of Time · Social Ecology · The Underappreciation of Farming · Making Money as a Homesteader · Being a “Farm Grandma” · Nurturing Healthy, Happy Humans · Lifelong Educators · The Ups and Downs of Intentional Community · Grounding Practice — All You Have to do is Sit! · The Hand Harvested Food Challenge · Consistency over Decades · Allowing Change · Reconnecting with Your Environment · Finding Your Strengths and Leaning on Others for Theirs Episode Resources: · Listen to The Good Dirt “191. Paul Hawken on Carbon, Climate and Connection” · Nature Connection Mentors · Wilderness Connection School Connect with Alexia Allen: · Website: https://www.hawthornfarm.org · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hawthornfarm/?hl=en · Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hawthornfarmheals/ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: · Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community · Visit Our Website · Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram · Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: · Wendy Gray

This episode originally aired on August 23, 2022. What aspects of the back-to-school season are tapping into core memory making, and how much is just consumer hype? Listen in as Mary & Emma peel away the marketing from the emotion, and discuss ideas for reframing this season in a more sustainable way for kids AND parents. Things Mentioned: Episode 135 with Wisdom Supply Co. Michael Pollan, author of In Defense of Food - An Eater's Manifesto Lady Farmer Marketplace Wool Lunchbox Jute Sandwich Bag Jackalo Clothing About Lady Farmer: Lady Farmer is a sustainable apparel and lifestyle brand, with education around sustainability and sustainable living at the forefront of our mission. Lady Farmer is proud to produce The Good Dirt podcast. Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or tell us what the good dirt means to you. Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026

Ellen Gordon of the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve in Maryland is an environmental activist spearheading an effort to help transition local farmland to regenerative farming practices. She joins Mary in this episode to discuss the benefits of regenerative farming, including the improvement of soil health, enhancing biodiversity, reducing costs and sequestering carbon. Ellen shares her journey from studying biology and working in ocean and coastal issues to her involvement with a local nonprofit and becoming an advocate for sustainable farming methods. The conversation also explores the challenges and rewards of regenerative agriculture and the importance of reconnecting with indigenous farming practices, the need to change the way we view and interact with the land, and the potential of regenerative agriculture in the mitigation of climate change. Topics Discussed · Sustainable Farming · Regenerative Agriculture · The Importance of Regenerative Agriculture · Challenges and Resistance in Transitioning to Regenerative Farming · Education on Sustainable Practice · Green Revolution · How to Grow New Soil · The Value of Biodiversity · Creating Resilient Food Systems · From Ocean Studies to Regenerative Farming · The Difficulties of Open Land · Indigenous Practices · Modern Hurdles to Farming · Supporting Healthy Soil, Water, and Air · Handling Resistance to Change · Plans for the Future Episode Resources: · The Montgomery County Maryland Agriculture Reserve · Sugarloaf Citizens Association · The Montgomery Countryside Alliance · Read "Dirt to Soil: One Family's Journey Into Regenerative Agriculture" by Gabe Brown · Rockland’s Farm Winery · White Oak Pastures Connect with Elle Gordon: · Website: The Montgomery County Maryland Agriculture Reserve ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: · Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community · Visit Our Website · Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram · Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: · Wendy Gray

Heidi is a multi-disciplinary artist based in Austin, Texas. She works in multiple media including clay and watercolor, striking a balance between classical and intuitive painting. For the past 10 years, she has sought to reduce the waste from art supplies in her own work by creating dyes that use the Earth’s soil, insects, and plants. She discusses her journey of learning about natural pigments, her artistic process, and the influences of science and nature on her work. We explore the intersection of art, environmental stewardship and education, especially as it comes to Heidi's commitment to sustainability and her efforts to inspire others to connect with the natural world. Learn to celebrate the peaceful and messy aspects of the natural world with Heidi, so you can also celebrate those same aspects in yourself. Topics Discussed · Oil and Acrylic Paints · Being a Multidisciplinary Artist · Paint in the Past · The Ingredients in Paint · Heidi's Journey to Natural Paints · The Art of Making Natural Paints · Foraging and Creating Paints · Challenges and Discoveries in Paint Making · Heidi's Artistic Background and Inspirations · Environmental Advocacy Through Art · Community Reactions and HOA Challenges · Creative Projects and Future Plans · Collecting and Painting with Ashes and Biochar · Exploring Soil Colors · Art Supplies and Environmental Impact · Composting Adventures · Touch Grass Movement · Soil Science · Where Science and Art Intersect Episode Resources: · Earth Native Wilderness School · The Art of Soil · Listen to The Good Dirt “138. The Urgent Need for Restorative Gardening with Mary Reynolds” · Terry Tempest Williams · Listen to The Good Dirt “199. Coming to our Senses with Author and Retreat Leader Leah Rampy” Connect with Heidi Lowell: · Website: https://heidilowell.art · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidilowellart/ · Links: https://linktr.ee/heidilowellart ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: · Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community · Visit Our Website · Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram · Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: · Wendy Gray

Brittany Felton is a writer, editor, producer, baker, crafter, restauranteur, and host of the “Yeah, I’d Hang Out with Her” Podcast. Her mother and Mary have been friends since the 90's and participated in an early Artist’s Way group together. Brittany’s connection with Lady Farmer led her to invite Mary and Emma onto the podcast, and today we're sharing that interview here with all of you. You’ll hear all about Mary and Emma’s deep-seated connection to the land, their journey towards a more sustainable lifestyle and the inspiration for Lady Farmer. Mary shares her long quest to find the land she now calls home and some glimpses into the writing of “The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living”. Meanwhile, Emma recounts her experience in creative freelancing and how it ultimately led to the Lady Farmer initiative. This episode encapsulates the essence of Lady Farmer, highlighting its evolution from a clothing line to a broader community advocating for slower, more intentional living. Topics Discussed · Introduction to the Podcast · Meet the Hosts: Mary and Emma · Brittany's Backstory and Connection · Mary's Origin Story · Emma's Journey to Lady Farmer · The Birth of Lady Farmer · The Magic of the Farm · Understanding Slow Living · Consumer Habits and Sustainability · The Pandemic's Impact on Slow Living · The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living · Sustainable Fashion and Climate Change · The Good Dirt Podcast · Community and Support Systems · Personal Slow Living Journeys · Daily Routines and Reflections · Mary & Emma’s Creative Pursuits Episode Resources: · “Yeah, I’d Hang Out with Her” Podcast · Read “The Artist's Way: 30th Anniversary Edition” by Julia Cameron · Read “The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living” by Mary E. Kingsley Connect with Brittnay Felton: · Website: https://www.brittanyfelton.com/myfilms · Instagram @brittfelt: https://www.instagram.com/brittfelt/?img_index=1 · Substack: https://brittanyfelton.substack.com/ · Links: https://linktr.ee/brittanyfelton ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: · Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community · Visit Our Website · Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram · Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: · Wendy Gray

Natalie Leon is a British Japanologist with a Master’s Degree in Japanese Studies who has dedicated her life and career to sharing Japanese culture with the world and with the United Kingdom. Her passion lies in seasonality, and celebrating every day. She recently published “The Japanese Art of Living Seasonally” which is her love letter to seasonal living in Japan. Natalie shares her deep passion for Japanese culture, a journey that began with a childhood fascination with a kimono. The conversation explores various aspects of seasonality in Japan, such as the concept of 'shun' (eating what's in season), 'kisetsukan' (awareness of the seasons), and 'kasane' (color layering). Natalie also delves into the folklore and spirituality of Japan, illustrating how these traditions are interwoven with everyday life. If you enjoy this episode, Natalie's new book, “The Japanese Art of Living Seasonally: An Invitation to Celebrate Every Day” is out now and serves as a loving invitation to incorporate these enriching practices into our daily lives. Topics Discussed · Japanology · Seasonality · The unique · Kimonos, Tea Ceremony, Matsuri, and other Annual Ritual Festivals · Japanese Textiles & Symbolism · The Idea of Vintage · Art & The Connection and Elevation of Nature · John Ruskin the Art Critic · The Mingei Art Movement · William Morris Designs · Kisetsukan (季節感) · Shun (旬) · Takanoko / Bamboo Shoots · Western Culture’s Impact on Japan · Kasane no Irome (襲の色目) · The Significance of Cherry Blossoms · Dealing with Rituals, Spirituality, and the Supernatural · Shintoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism · The 4 Japanese Seasonal Goddesses · The Climate & Ecosystem of Japan · Forest Bathing in Yakashima · Marie Kondo & Minimalist, Zero-Waste Culture · Furoshiki (風呂敷) · Kamikatsu - Japan’s Zero Waste Town Episode Resources: · Read “The Japanese Art of Living Seasonally: An Invitation to Celebrate Every Day” by Natalie Leon Connect with Natalie Leon: · Website: https://www.natalie-leon.co.uk/ · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_natalie_leon/ · Newsletter: https://natalieleon.substack.com · Links: https://linktr.ee/sakura_sister_ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: · Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community · Visit Our Website · Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram · Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: · Wendy Gray

This episode originally aired on November 4th, 2022. Today's guest is Claire Dunn, here with us to dive deeply into the mysteries of nature and psyche through the pathways of deep nature connection. Speaking to us from Melbourne, Australia, Claire is a writer, speaker, barefoot explorer, rewilding facilitator, and founder of Nature’s Apprentice, a platform for education and guidance in rewilding our souls and the planet. For the last 15 years, Claire has been facilitating individuals in ancestral earth skills, deep ecology, ecopsychology, soul-centric nature-based practice, village building, dance, ceremony, and contemporary wilderness rites-of-passage. Claire is the author of the memoir, My Year Without Matches, which tells the story of her year living wild – and the recently released memoir Rewilding the Urban Soul exploring how we might embody wild consciousness even while living in the setting of a city. Topics Covered: Rewilding as a new human movement Cultivation of a "Wild Mind" Claire's childhood and background in the environmental movement  How Claire's introduction to primitive earth skills led her more deeply into the human nature relationship  Richard Lou The Last Child in the Woods Vitamin N (Nature)  Tom Brown's Tracker School in New Jersey Australia's first Independent Wilderness Studies Program Claire's one-year self-initiated deep nature immersion The sacred order of survival Bill Plotkin Claire's emergence from her immersion, and sharing the immersion experience with the world Nature's Apprentice Rewilding the Urban Soul - Claire Dunn My Year Without Matches Jon Young's Core Routines of Nature Common threads of people who come to Claire for instruction What is a vision quest?  The urgency of climate change Bringing back the species of the wild human Active Hope by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone Connect with Claire: Her website, naturesapprentice.com.au/ Claire's Books: Rewilding the Urban Soul My Year Without Matches Follow her on Instagram @_natures_apprentice_ Claire's Facebook 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community Visit Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: • Wendy Gray

Angela Ferraro Fanning built and runs the Axe and Root Homestead in New Jersey. After suffering from postpartum depression, Angela wanted to remove herself from modern day hustle culture and return to nature, growing as much of her own food as possible. She grew from her own private garden to a fully functioning farm, and shares the empowerment that comes along with homesteading with our audience today. Sitting down with Emma and Mary in this follow-up to her original episode “Homesteading is What You Make It”, we catch up with Angela’s progress in running her farm a few years later after she was certified as a permaculturist by Cornell University. Angela shares insights about the evolution of her farm, managing a variety of plants and animals, and implementing permaculture principles into her lifestyle. She talks about publishing her books “The Sustainable Homestead” and the “Little Homesteader” series , growing protein-rich crops as a vegetarian, and raising a family on a farm. She leaves us all with why she believes it is vitally important to remember the legacy we leave for the people who take over the land after we’re gone. Topics Discussed · Eco-friendly Permaculture Homesteading · Maintaining Geese, Ducks, Apiary, Sheep, Orchard, and Garden · Being a Vegetarian Homesteader · Leaving Graphic Design and Web Design for Nature · Food Allergies & Pesticide Pain · Pros and Cons of Eating According to the Season · Compromises for Family · Finding a Flexible Sustainability Sustain that Works For YOUR Lifestyle · Mary’s Raspberry Story · Preserving Your Food · A Mugwort Invasion · Growing Strawberries · Working with Horses · Raising Kids on a Farm · Spending Time Outdoors · Compromises, Saltwater Pools, and Honeybees · Cultural Shifts Post-Pandemic · Writing “The Sustainable Homestead: Create a Thriving Permaculture Ecosystem with Your Garden, Animals, and Land" by Angela Ferraro-Fanning · The Little Homesteader Books · Seitan · Growing Beans, Garbanzos, and Quinoa · Impact of COVID on Homesteading Episode Resources: · Listen to The Good Dirt “Homesteading is What You Make It with Angela Ferraro Fanning of Axe & Root Homestead” · Listen to The Good Dirt “Homesteading is a Mindset with Angela Ferraro Fanning” · Read Angela’s Books including “The Sustainable Homestead”, “The Harvest Table”, “Design for Change”, and the “Little Homesteader” series · Listen to Vox Media’s “Today Explained: Honey, We Saved the Bees” Connect with Angela : · Axe & Root Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/axeandroothomestead/ · Website: https://www.axeandroothomestead.com · Angela’s Photography Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angferrarofanning_photography/ · The HOMESTEADucation Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/homesteaducation/id1593301801 ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: · Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community · Visit Our Website · Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram · Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: · Wendy Gray

In this special episode, Emma and Mary are catching up with their first guest ever featured on the podcast, Amy DuFault. A writer on sustainable textiles for 15 years, Amy has dedicated her next chapter to reconnecting with the roots of her home on Cape Cod. Amy brings us along from her career in various aspects of sustainability in fashion and textiles to her current focus on water quality. She has dedicated her next chapter to reconnecting with the roots of her home on Cape Cod and is now working as communications director at the Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center.  You will hear about Amy's work with growing natural dye plants in wastewater and innovative solutions for water sustainability. Finding her “why” was key to Amy’s journey as her drive to heal the earth is directly tied to her late father's environmental awareness, and a deep longing for the return of the environment she remembers as a child. Topics Discussed · Fibershed · The “Why” Behind Your Sustainability · Your Personal Toolkit & How to Use it to Change · Sustainable Fabrics and Clothing Practices · Determining Your Value System · Working with the Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Tech Center · The Fear Around Eco-conscious Businesses · The Umbrella of Sustainability · Where Our Clothing’s Color Comes From · Natural Dye Farmers · The Priceless Value of Waters · Sanitation Practices · Experiments for Optimal Flower Growing · NOFA: Northeast Organic Farming Association · Septic Tank Issues · Saltwater Intrusion · Exploring Wastewater Fertilization · Revitalizing Septic Systems and Destroyed Bodies of Water · The Cape Cod AquiFund · Pasteurized Urine · Restoring Your Home · Eco-grief for the Way the Environment Was · Government Support and Funding · Water Quality · Preserving Our Ground Water Episode Resources: · Listen to The Good Dirt’s 1st Episode with Amy DuFault · PROJECT: Wastewater’s Impacts On Natural Dye Plant Growth & Color · Botanical Colors · Feedback Friday Videos · Read “The Three Ages of Water: Prehistoric Past, Imperiled Present, and a Hope for the Future” by Peter Gleick · The Rich Earth Institute · Read "Everybody Poops!" by Justine Avery · Read "Everybody Pees!" by Justine Avery Connect with Amy DuFault: · Website: amydufault.com · Instagram: @amytropolis · Links: https://linktr.ee/amytropolis · Southeastern New England Fibershed ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: · Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community · Visit Our Website · Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram · Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: · Wendy Gray

Tune in to the July episode of Slow Living Through the Seasons, in which Mary highlights the nostalgic soundtrack of July flies, the societal and physical impact of air conditioning, gardening by the signs in midsummer, and a simple recipe for fermented cucumbers. With the 12th episode in this series, we've now completed a full journey around the sun with seasonal reflections, memories, gardening guidance, tips, and a whole year of planting and gardening by the signs of the moon. After taking a pause from this monthly program, Mary will be picking up this discussion again but in a different format moving forward, bringing it more directly into the community for sharing and conversation and adding more personal interaction into the experience.  Read more what's in store for Slow Living Through the Seasons HERE https://ladyfarmer.substack.com/t/seasonal-living PINE TREE GARDEN SEEDS Order their seeds today from superseeds.com and use our promo code: GOODDIRT2024 for 20% off your entire order! NEPTUNE'S HARVEST ORGANIC FERTILIZERS  Use code GOODDIRT at checkout for 5% off your order for products from the ocean to set your plants in motion 🌊 ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community Visit Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: • Wendy Gray

In this thought-provoking episode, Emma and Mary delve into the concept of eco-spirituality, discussing its origins, significance, and their personal experiences with it. They reflect on various interviews they've conducted with guests who have touched on this topic, exploring the integration of spirituality with a love for the earth and nature. The episode is a deep dive into how eco-spirituality informs their work with Lady Farmer and The Good Dirt podcast, and how it serves as a path to healing both personally and globally. Key Points: Introduction to Eco-Spirituality: Eco-spirituality combines the study of ecology and spirituality. Historically, spirituality and nature were never separate until modern times. The separation between humans and nature is perceived, not real. Personal Journeys: Mary shares her spiritual journey and how it led to her interest in eco-spirituality. Emma discusses her observations of environmental changes growing up and her connection with nature. Influential Conversations: Recap of impactful interviews with guests like Ian C. Williams, Paul Hawken, and Asia Suler. Insights on how eco-spirituality involves healing oneself to heal the earth. Themes and Reflections: The importance of language in discussing eco-spirituality. The challenge of integrating spirituality and ecology without perpetuating the idea of separateness. How personal healing practices can contribute to environmental regeneration. Practical Applications: Encouragement to connect with nature daily as a form of grounding and healing. Discussion on how eco-spirituality can be a response to climate change and environmental degradation. Exploring ways to live with eco-spiritual principles in modern society. The role of sacredness and reverence in how we treat the natural world. Resources Mentioned: Ian C. Williams' book, Soil and Spirit, Seeds of Purpose, Nature's Insight and the Deep Work of Transformational Change Asia Suler's book, Mirrors in the Earth: Reflections on Self Healing from the Living World Osprey Orielle Lake's work on climate justice and rights of nature Claire Dunn's experience of living in nature for a year The Good Dirt Episodes Mentioned: Mary DeJong Ian C Williams Asia Suler Leah Rampy Osprey Orielle Lake Pt. 1 & Pt. 2 Claire Dunn 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community Visit Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: • Wendy Gray

*This episode is a replay of Episode 64, initially published on October 22, 2021 under the title Homesteading is What You Make It On today’s episode of The Good Dirt, we’re chatting with Angela Ferraro Fanning of Axe and Root Homestead, a six-acre farm in central New Jersey. Angela shares the story of how she went from being a graphic designer to a homesteader in 2012, when she told her husband she'd like to trade her job income for time outside growing food they would no longer have to buy. Now she finds herself balancing a life raising two boys with managing a working farm, as well as authoring a cookbook, a children's book series and hosting a homesteading podcast. In this conversation, we discuss not only the benefits of growing your own food, but the many options available to the modern homesteader. Though the concept of homesteading appeals to a lot of people, the reality of shifting to such a lifestyle is often intimidating and seemingly full of obstacles. Angela explains that homesteading doesn't look the same for everyone, and doesn't have to be defined by what you see when you look out your window. She encourages her followers to begin with the smallest task, such as growing one plant, and taking that longing for connection to food and nature just one step at a time. It doesn't have to involve raising and harvesting your own animals, or all of your food, baking artisan bread or keeping bees. There are likely others in your area that can do all of that. Instead, she says to focus on what interests you, and rely on your community for the rest. The homesteading mindset is about hands-on, local, seasonal living. Join us on today’s episode to hear more about the first steps that Angela took in growing her own food, how she got comfortable with the constant trial and error of homesteading, and how she’s slowly expanding her business through writing and online media. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: A day in the life of Angela  The joys and challenges of farm life Getting back to basics and not relying on machinery  Homesteading on a plant-based diet  Sharing her story and expertise through writing, podcasting, and online courses  Guest Info Website Instagram The Definitely Not Simple Life Podcast The Harvest Table: A Collection of Seasonal Plant- Based Recipes Inspired by the Home Garden Little Country Cottage: An Autumn Treasury of Recipes, Crafts and Wisdom Follow Us: Our Website Instagram

Leah Rampy, author, educator and retreat leader, discusses her work and recent book release“Earth and Soul: Reconnecting Amid Climate Chaos”. She emphasizes how facing the reality of climate change and loss can help us open our hearts and "come to our senses" , allowing our grief to empower us in reconnecting to the living world. Leah integrates ecology, spirituality and personal practices in guiding others to deepen this relationship. In this conversation, we also discuss the epidemic of loneliness, the importance of community, the concept of indigeneity and the challenges of finding one's place in a changing world. We hear all about the co-housing community in West Virginia where Leah lives with her husband, and her involvement with the Church of the Wild-Two Rivers, a place to find hope through community and connection with nature. Topics Discussed · Leah discusses her book · Working with Al Gore & Biodiversity for a Livable Climate · Eco-Anxiety and Eco Grief · Older vs. Younger Generation Perceptions of Climate Loss · The Loss of Spring · How Being Busy Distances Us from the Earth · The Paradigm of Human Superiority · Our Language towards Nature · Distance or Disconnection · The Beauty of Worms · The Co-housing Movement · The Epidemic of Loneliness · A Community of Like-minded People or Like-hearted People · Indigeneity and Connection to the Land · Active Listening to the World Around Us · How Science Helps Us Understand Our World · The Tricky Thing about Hope · Age Diversity · Retreats and Pilgrimages Episode Resources: · Read “Earth and Soul: Reconnecting Amid Climate Chaos” by Leah Rampy · Biodiversity for a Livable Climate · Shepherd Village · The Church of the Wild · Read the Lady Farmer Article "St Brigid The Lady Farmer” · Listen to The Good Dirt “The History and Folklore of Bridgid: Saint, Legend and Lady Farmer with Kathy Spaar” · Listen to The Good Dirt “185. Reimagining Our Place in the Landscape: Eco-Spirituality and Rewilding with Mary DeJong” · Read "Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest" by Suzanne Simard Connect with Leah Rampy · Website: https://www.leahmoranrampy.com/ · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahrampy/ · Join Leah’s Mailing List: https://www.leahmoranrampy.com/subscribe.html ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: · Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community · Visit Our Website · Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram · Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: · Wendy Gray

This bonus episode originally aired on June 19th, 2021 We have a special bonus episode for you this week in celebration of our newest national holiday-- Juneteenth! Mary and Emma reunite with author, historian and farmer Tony Cohen for an exploration into the history of Juneteenth and the holiday’s complex folklore and origins. Tony takes us back in time to examine how this monumental declaration of freedom spread in a variety of ways depending on the geographic, economic and social landscape of the time. Mary, Emma and Tony pause to reflect upon what freedom means and looks like in the modern era and why society continues to resist a hard look at injustice. Tony points to how altering behavior can feel like giving up our own freedoms and comforts and reminds us that the fair trade movement has deeply historic roots. He also reflects upon the transition from enslavement to the tenant farming system and points to how that system affects us still today. The trio grapples with some hard truths about freedom itself and acknowledges the work still left to be done.  Tony shares how he celebrates Juneteenth at Button Farm and rejoices in community as he reflects upon the precious ability to gather and take new found enthusiasm into the world.    Let’s get into the episode: 1:30 - Emma introduces this week’s special episode 3:00 - Tony Cohen on the history of Juneteenth 15:00 - The transition into freedom 20:00 - The shift to “waged” labor and the evolution of slavery 28:00 - Fair trade 31:00 - Local emancipation 41:00 - Celebrating Juneteenth 42:30 - The happenings at Button Farm 48:00 - Creating Community   Things Mentioned:  Button Farm Oprah’s visit  The Menare Foundation HipCamp - Camp at Button Farm  Anthony Cohen The Good Dirt - Episode 31  The AG Reserve - Montgomery County  The Underground railroad in Montgomery County, Maryland: A history and driving guide Juneteenth becomes a federal holiday  Lift Every Voice and Sing DC Emancipation Day  Montgomery County Historical Society  13th Amendment  14th Amendment 15th Amendment 🌻 About Lady Farmer: · Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community · Visit Our Website The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living · Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram · Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: · Wendy Gray

This episode was initially published on April 21, 2023 under the title The Urgent Need for Restorative Gardening Internationally acclaimed landscape designer, activist and bestselling author of The Garden Awakening and her newly released title We are the Ark, Mary Reynolds discusses her efforts to restore the earth through her global ARK campaign, (Acts of Restorative Kindness). She launched her career by achieving a gold medal for garden design at the Chelsea flower show in 2002, the story of which was made into a 2016 movie called “Dare to be Wild”. She later founded the global movement “We are the ARK”, an organization advocating for more wild spaces and to raise awareness of our current extinction event. Topics Discussed Mary's new book We Are the Ark: Returning Our Gardens to Their True Nature Through Acts of Restorative Kindness with illustrations by Ruth Evans Mary's story of the pivotal moment that changed her career How Mary reframes the concept of gardens The ARK concept How the idea of feeding the world is greenwashing, when we should support the world to feed itself. Floral designer Amber Tamm @ambertamm Doug Tallamy, founder of Home Grown National Park - a grassroots organization regenerating local biodiversity Native species vs non-native plants and how they affect local eco-systems The 100th monkey syndrome Shifting Baseline Syndrome/ Daniel Pauly  How has Mary's mission evolved from The Garden Awakening to We Are the Ark Mary's project in Westport, County Mayo The difference between a garden and an ark is intention How can people become less afraid of the wildness? Where does Mary find hope that we will be able to save the planet and ourselves?  Spreading the message of The ARK all over the world From What is to What If written by Rob Hopkins The book Silent Spring  written by Rachel Carson Connect with Mary: Website: We Are the Ark Instagram: wildmarymary 🌻 About Lady Farmer: · Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community · Visit Our Website · Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram · Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: · Wendy Gray Original music by John Kingsley. Our technical partner for this series is CitizenRacecar, Post-Production by Alex Brouwer and José Miguel Baez, Coordinated by Gabriela Montequin and Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

CEO of Broken Ground Kareen Erbe has dedicated herself to helping people in cold climates grow their own food so they can eat healthier, live more sustainably and be more self-reliant. She delves into permaculture and how it applies not only to growing food and helping the earth , but also creating community. Kareen helps her clients by designing integrated edible landscapes and encourages them in cultivating community alongside the cultivation of their gardens. She goes into her permaculture design principles for families, those in cold climates, and those who live in urban environments. You will also hear about integrating gardens into lawns, creating beneficial relationships between plants and people, and the benefits of including your neighbors to help with gardening tasks. This episode is about gardening, sustainability, building stronger, more self-sufficient communities and the wider ranging significance of permaculture principles. Topics Discussed · Low Waste Gardening · Growing Food in Cold Climates · Kareen’s Grandmother’s Diaries · Permaculture Hot Takes · Pollinator Gardens · Taking Before/After Photos · Kareen’s Most Impactful Books · Weeds & Welcoming Wildness · Raising Kids in Nature · Herbal Lawns · Quackgrass · Growing Zones · Montana Growing Seasons · Cultivating Lawns & Community · Permaculture in Urban Spaces · Embracing Diversity in Gardens · Hope and Regeneration in Agriculture · Adapting to Climate Challenges · Resources and Programs for Permaculture Enthusiasts Episode Resources: · Listen to The Good Dirt “151. "Lawns into Meadows" with Author Owen Wormser on Regenerative Agriculture” · Listen to The Good Dirt “138. The Urgent Need for Restorative Gardening with Mary Reynolds” · Listen to The Good Dirt “163. Sailors for Sustainability Searching for Solutions: A Journey Around the World” · Listen to The Good Dirt “110. An Ecological Civilization for All with Andrew Schwartz” · Listen to The Good Dirt “156. Pathways Toward an Ecological Civilization with Phillip Clayton of EcoCiv” · Read Gorillas in the Mist by Dian Fossey · Read Jane Goodall’s Books · Read "Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture" by Toby Hemenway · Read "Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants" by Robin Wall Kimmerer · Read “Earth User's Guide to Teaching Permaculture” by Rosemary Morrow · Read "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle - Tenth Anniversary Edition: A Year of Food Life" by Barbara Kingsolver · Read "Nature's Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard" by Douglas W Tallamy” · Read "We Are the Ark: Returning Our Gardens to Their True Nature Through Acts of Restorative Kindness" by Mary Reynolds Connect with Kareen Erbe: · Website: https://brokengroundpermaculture.com/ · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brokengroundmt/ · YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/brokenground ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: · Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community · Visit Our Website · Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram · Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: · Wendy Gray

Tune in to celebrate the many joys of June--the beautiful weather, carefree childhood memories, the miracle of fireflies and all the berries! Also, hear Mary's reflection on the summer solstice and all the tips for planting by the signs of the moon for the month. Read more about Slow Living Through the Seasons HERE https://ladyfarmer.substack.com/t/seasonal-living PINE TREE GARDEN SEEDS Order their seeds today from superseeds.com and use our promo code: GOODDIRT2024 for 20% off your entire order! NEPTUNE'S HARVEST ORGANIC FERTILIZERS  Use code GOODDIRT at checkout for 5% off your order for products from the ocean to set your plants in motion 🌊 ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community Visit Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: • Wendy Gray

On the other side of the interview this week, we're sharing the episode we did with Bailey Van Tassel of Garden Culture Podcast! We'll be back next week with another interview from The Good Dirt! ______________________________________________________________________________________ Emma and Mary Kingsley are the mother-daughter duo behind Lady Farmer, a brand that began with a sustainable clothing line and now is a successful podcast (The Good Dirt) around slow and conscious living. Emma and Mary talk about each of their childhoods and how it informed their current path together. They chat about what moved them to do a Kickstarter campaign which led to where they are now, on a sustainable path and how they live within that ethos. This chat is a great peek into how it takes nothing other than a passion and interest to move into a life that you're inspired by and proud of. They share about plastic in our clothing, where they shop, and what we all can think about to start getting more intentional. Emma and Mary's Fave Books: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer We are the Ark by Mary Reynolds Love, Nature, Magic by Maria Rodale For more info on Bailey Van Tassel go to www.baileyvantassel.com and join her monthly gardening membership here: www.thekitchengardensociety.com

In this episode, Mary and Emma sit down with a longtime listener Nathalie Girod, a designer with a rich multicultural background, who shares her journey and experiences in slow and sustainable living. Nathalie discusses how her upbringing in a family with French and Bolivian roots has influenced her sustainable practices, her professional career in fashion design, and her commitment to living a life that minimizes environmental impact. Key Takeaways Cultural Influences on Sustainability: Nathalie talks about how growing up with French and Bolivian grandparents who valued resourcefulness and minimal waste deeply impacted her lifestyle choices. Sustainable Fashion: Nathalie shares insights from her career in fashion, emphasizing the importance of custom-made, slow fashion as opposed to mass-produced, fast fashion. Daily Sustainable Practices: Nathalie outlines her daily habits and choices that contribute to a sustainable lifestyle, from cooking seasonal food to making her own cleaning products. Independent Thinking: Embracing slow living requires courage and independent thinking, especially in a world driven by consumerism and convenience. Topics Discussed Differences in sustainable practices between Europe and the United States Nathalie's journey in the fashion industry and her focus on slow, custom-made fashion Practical sustainable living tips, including: Cooking seasonal and homemade food Making homemade cleaning products Using reusable and low-waste products The importance of independent thinking in adopting a sustainable lifestyle Resources Mentioned Karen Logan's Book: Clean House Clean Planet – A guide for making homemade cleaning products. Mary Reynolds' Wildlife Sanctuary: Nathalie mentions being inspired by Mary Reynolds to create a wildlife sanctuary. Sustainable Fashion Tips: Insights on slow fashion and custom-made clothing from Nathalie's experience. Connect with Nathalie: @isa.maisa on Instagram _______________________________________ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: · Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community · Visit Our Website The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living · Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram · Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: · Wendy Gray

Osprey Orielle Lake is back in Part 2 of our conversation about women's roles in healing the land and the work for environmental justice. We discuss the myth of whiteness and hear her discuss how we can reconnect with nature by looking to the earth for our indigenous roots. Osprey discusses the work that WECAN is doing in lifting up Black and indigenous voices in the environmental space. She speaks on how harmful practices like fracking, fossil fuel extraction, and deforestation on indigenous lands and communities of color in the United States is a reflection of systemic racism. In this conversation, we come to a better understanding of how race and poverty are linked to climate injustices by drawing connections between the degradation of land and the targeting of marginalized communities. Topics Discussed · The Myth of Whiteness · Reconnecting to the Land · Addressing the Problems of the Land · Reconnecting Ancestral Roots & Practices · White Supremacy’s Stain on Environmentalism · Race & Identity · Disproportionate Impact on BIPOC communtities · Destroying Lands · The Desire of Community and Identity · The Emptiness of Wanting to Belong · Consumerism & Imbalance · Separation from the Earth · Dismantling Oppression · Centering Women · Practicing Mindfulness · The Joy of Rebuilding Our Connection to Nature Episode Resources: · Listen to The Good Dirt “194. Empowering Women in Environmentalism with WECAN Founder Osprey Orielle Lake (Part 1)” · Read “The Story Is in Our Bones: How Worldviews and Climate Justice Can Remake a World in Crisis” by Osprey Orielle Lake · Listen to The Good Dirt “191. Paul Hawken on Carbon, Climate and Connection” Connect with Osprey Orielle Lake: · Website: http://www.ospreyoriellelake.info/OspreyOrielleLake/Home.html · Instagram @ospreyoriellelake: https://www.instagram.com/ospreyoriellelake/ · WECAN International: https://www.wecaninternational.org/who-we-are ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: · Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community · Visit Our Website · Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram · Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: · Wendy Gray

The earth is in so much pain right now — but how can we reconnect with our place in nature to help her? Osprey Orielle Lake, founder of WECAN (Women’s Earth & Climate Action Network, International, has just published “The Story Is in Our Bones: How Worldviews and Climate Justice Can Remake a World in Crisis”. In this conversation, she talks about the importance of women's leadership in climate solutions, detailing how gender inequality exacerbates climate vulnerability and how women's involvement is crucial for sustainable outcomes. Osprey's work emphasizes the need for a just transition to clean energy, touching on the detrimental effects of patriarchy and racism on the environment. She takes us through some of her successes as a leader advocating for systemic change to address root causes of environmental degradation. Topics Discussed · The Rights to Nature Movement · Founding of the Women's Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN)· · How Women Create Balance and Healing in Society · Balance and Harmony with Nature · Environmental Degradation · Climate Justice · Dismantling Systems of Oppression · Reciprocity with the Earth · How to Live in Balance · Environmental Laws & Justice System · Speaking Language, Memory, and a Storied Living Landscape · Healing Relationships · The Impact of Women-led Movements · Damage of the Patriarchy on Our Relationship to the Earth · Growing Up in the Countryside · Humanity’s Destructive Imprint on the World · Colonization · The Pain of Transformation Episode Resources: · Read “The Story Is in Our Bones: How Worldviews and Climate Justice Can Remake a World in Crisis” by Osprey Orielle Lake · Listen to The Good Dirt “191. Paul Hawken on Carbon, Climate and Connection” Connect with Osprey Orielle Lake: · Website: http://www.ospreyoriellelake.info/OspreyOrielleLake/Home.html · Instagram @ospreyoriellelake: https://www.instagram.com/ospreyoriellelake/ · WECAN International: https://www.wecaninternational.org/who-we-are ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: · Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community · Visit Our Website · Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram · Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: · Wendy Gray

Join us for this special Mother's Day episode as mother and daughter team Mary and Emma share what it's like running a business and producing a weekly podcast together. They also have family news to share—both joyful and sad. You can read about Jeanne's beautiful life here. In the episode, they talk about the privilege and delight of working together, the division of labor and expertise, and the importance of setting boundaries. They also touch on the challenges and frustrations that come with running a business and the need to separate personal and work lives. Overall, they emphasize the joy and fulfillment they find in their collaboration. and how it has forced them to grow and work on communication skills. Mary and Emma are also taking this opportunity to announce that Emma is going to be a mom, and they discuss their plans for the podcast during Emma's maternity leave. They touch on the challenges and decisions involved in becoming a parent and the consumer pressures that can come at this time. They emphasize the importance of removing judgment from parenting choices and the need for support and understanding in navigating the entrance to parenthood. In bringing the discussion to a close, Mary and Emma remind us that Mother's Day can be a difficult day for some people, and they encourage others to acknowledge their own feelings and associations around this time and to practice self care where it's needed. They also acknowledge Mother Earth as the mother of all, and as the ultimate source of life and sustenance. Topics Discussed: • In an intro, Mary announces the passing of her mother on May 1st after the recording of this episode. • Working with family can be a privilege and a delight, bringing a unique dynamic to the business. • Setting clear roles and boundaries can help maintain a healthy working relationship. • Separating personal and work lives is important for maintaining balance and avoiding burnout. • Challenges and frustrations are a normal part of running a business, but finding joy and fulfillment in the work can make it all worthwhile. • Working with family can be a privilege and provide flexibility, but it also requires growth and communication skills. • Becoming a parent involves making challenging decisions and facing pressure and guilt, but it's important to remove shame and judgment from parenting choices. • Mother's Day can be a difficult day for some people, and it's important to offer support and understanding. • Let's celebrate Mother Earth on Mother's Day, as the ultimate source of life and sustenance 🌻 About Lady Farmer: · Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community · Visit Our Website The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living · Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram · Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: · Wendy Gray

 Welcome to May, the month that celebrates moms and flowers, wraps up the school year, launches graduates of all ages and stages, and inaugurates summer with its exit. May 1st, or May Day is the second cross-quarter day of the year, traditionally known as Beltane and celebrated as a time of fertility and growth. But beyond the cultural observances and celebrations, what is May? In this episode, Mary talks about low waste alternatives in a season of high consumption, bee swarm season, and gardening by the signs of the moon. She also talks about how all the celebrations of May can be complicated, stressful and sad for some people, how to embrace slow living through this busy time as a means of self care, and how to find your May, the one that brings you the joy of flowers and warmer days. Don't miss the recipe for strawberry kefir, a delicious probiotic treat. And don't forget to order your seeds and organic fertilizers using the discount codes below! Read more about Slow Living Through the Seasons HERE https://ladyfarmer.substack.com/t/seasonal-living PINE TREE GARDEN SEEDS Order their seeds today from superseeds.com and use our promo code: GOODDIRT2024 for 20% off your entire order! NEPTUNE'S HARVEST ORGANIC FERTILIZERS  Use code GOODDIRT at checkout for 5% off your order for products from the ocean to set your plants in motion 🌊 ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community Visit Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: • Wendy Gray

How do we nurture our plants and gardens with the best, most sustainable fertilizer around? One family’s quest for sustainability in their business led to the creation of Neptune’s Harvest, a full line of organic fertilizers that utilizes a by- product of the seafood industry. On today’s episode, we spoke with with Ann Molloy from this 5th generation family-run company in Gloucester, MA. We learn about the rich heritage of Gloucester in the fishing industry and how Neptune’s Harvest evolved from the family’s seafood business, pioneering a variety of organic fertilizers so that all parts of the harvested fish are used and not disposed of as waste. We also learn about Ann's personal journey from an art student who traveled with the Grateful Dead, to her pivotal role in marketing and sales at Neptune's Harvest. If you’re wondering what is so special about fish fertilizer, Ann shares all of the benefits that we can expect from Neptune’s Harvest and her favorite products. Get ready to make some good dirt! Topics Discussed: · The Grateful Dead · From Art Major to Sales and Marketing · Working in a Family Business & Passing it to the Next Generation · Chitin · Growing Squash Plants · Seed Starting and Sustainable Gardening · Organic Fertilizers · Ann’s Journey & The Fascinating History of Neptune's Harvest · The Benefits of Fish Fertilizer · Gardening Tips · Using Fish Waste · The Environmental Impact of Fish Waste Disposal · Soil Enhancers · Liquid Humate · Italian Heritage · Nutrients in Soil & Food · Combatting Garden Pests with Natural Solutions · The Importance of Sustainable and Organic Gardening · Addressing Climate Change and Its Effects on Fishing · Celebrating Gloucester's Rich Fishing History · Understanding Organic Labels and Certification Episode Resources: · April Slow Living Episode · Tomato & Vegetable Fertilizer · Liquid Crab & Lobster Fertilizer · Hydrolyzed Fish Fertilizer Connect with Ann Malloy: · Website: https://www.neptunesharvest.com · Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-molloy-949a1a43/ · Email: [email protected] · Neptune’s Harvest YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/neptunesharvest · Neptune’s Harvest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neptunesharvest/ · Neptune’s Harvest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neptunesharvest/ · Glouchester SALT: https://www.gloucestersalt.org ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: · Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community · Visit Our Website · Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram · Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: · Wendy Gray

In this conversation with best selling author and activist Paul Hawken, we discuss the reframing of our relationship with nature by moving away from the concept of "othering" ourselves, and more towards the integration of our interconnectedness. Paul speaks of the cultural disconnect, the role of language in shaping our perception of the environment, and how crucial it is to engage directly with the natural world. Hawken's vast experience, including starting the first natural food company (Erewhon) in the U.S. and working with Martin Luther King Jr., as well as his involvement in founding Regeneration and NEXUS, are all a result of a lifetime of pursuing solutions to our climate crisis. He shares how he views carbon and climate change through a lens of interconnectedness and flow rather than as isolated problems. He also talks about his upcoming book, 'Carbon, the Book of Life,' the significance of soil regeneration, societal shifts and the connection between joy and sustainability as well as the power of individual and community action in the face of environmental challenges. 🌿 This episode is sponsored by Neptune’s Harvest Organic Fertilizer. Use code GOODDIRT at checkout for 5% off your order for products from the ocean to set your plants in motion 🌊 Topics Discussed · Opening Reflections: Embracing Nature and Conversations on Disconnection · Insights from Paul Hawken: Bridging the Gap Between Humanity and Nature · Organic Food Pioneer · Finding Your Environmental Voice · Exploring the Language of Nature and Indigenous Wisdom · The Power of Language in Healing Our Relationship with the Planet · Redefining Success and the Essence of Soil · The Transformation of Soil and Agriculture · Ultra Processed Food · Soil's Organism and Its Impact on Plant Health · The Haber-Bosch Process · Exploring Soil Acoustics and Its Significance · The Power of Community and Individual Action · Reconnecting with Nature Outside of the Internet · Sensationalism in Media · Indigenous Voices & Decolonizing Our Perspectives · Innovative Solutions for a Sustainable Future · Joy and Sustainability · Carbon & The Myth of Carbon Neutral · Empowering Actions Through Nexus and Regeneration.org Episode Resources: · Listen to The Good Dirt Podcast “Reimagining Our Place in the Landscape: Eco-Spirituality and Rewilding with Mary DeJong” · Listen to The Good Dirt Podcast “The Urgent Need for Restorative Gardening with Mary Reynolds” · Read “Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation” by Paul Hawken · Read “Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming” by Paul Hawken · Read The Guardian’s Article “Vegetables are losing their nutrients. Can the decline be reversed?” · Read “Ultra-Processed People: The Science Behind Food That Isn't Food” by Chris Van Tulleken · InventWood Connect with Paul Hawken: · Website: https://paulhawken.com/ · Climate One Website: https://www.climateone.org/people/paul-hawken · Project Regeneration Website: https://regeneration.org/about/paul-hawken · Instagram @paulhawken: https://www.instagram.com/paulhawken/ · Paul’s Newsletter: https://regeneration.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=ebb591cd0ef4ad186dcf2cd3f&id=8f12b90f3e · Nexus: https://regeneration.org/nexus ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: · Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community · Visit Our Website · Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram · Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: · Wendy Gray

We all know about Earth Day, but when and how did it begin, and how has it evolved over it's 54 year history? In this special Earth Day episode, we are interviewing Emily Walker who is the education coordinator at the nonprofit that started it all: EarthDay.org. We are diving into the significance of Earth Day, its 1970 origin, and its evolution over the years towards addressing contemporary environmental issues. Each year they chose a new focus, and the theme for this year's Earth Day is 'Planet vs. Plastics,' emphasizes the urgent need to decrease plastic production and usage. Emily explores how EarthDay.org's education drives aim to incorporate climate education into school systems worldwide, the challenges and successes of implementing such programs, and the organization's efforts to influence environmental policies at various levels. In this conversation, we talk about the importance of individual action, community involvement, and the need for systemic change to address environmental issues. Emily also talks about the hope she sees in the younger generation's enthusiasm for finding solutions to the environmental issues we are now facing. 🌿 This episode is sponsored by Neptune’s Harvest Organic Fertilizer. Use code GOODDIRT at checkout for 5% off your order for products from the ocean to set your plants in motion 🌊 Topics Discussed · Celebrating Earth Day: Origins and Impact · The Evolution of Environmental Awareness · From Litterbugs to Environmental Advocates · Earth Day's Mission: Combatting Plastic Pollution · Inside EarthDay.org: Its Missions Today · Emily Walker's Journey from Teacher to EarthDay.org Education Coordinator · The Expanding Role of Earth Day in Education and Policy · Current Initiatives and Future Plans for Earth Day · The Challenge of Eliminating Plastics · Reflecting on Past Environmental Efforts and the Path Forward · The Problem with Plastic Packaging · Slowing Down & Making Sustainable Choices · The Hidden Dangers of Plastics for Babies · Sustainable Clothing and Health Impacts · Demand for Sustainable Alternatives · The Role of Consumers and Institutions in Sustainability · The Importance of Policy Change and Education · Global Perspectives on Earth Day Initiatives · Inspiring Hope Through Youth Advocacy · Planet vs Plastics · Climate Education · Mindset Shift to Earth Day Every Day · Take Action Global Tag & Coding for Climate · Ending Plastic in Cafeteria Initiative · Taking a Moment to Reflect on Our Purchasing Choices · Consequences of Convenience Episode Resources: · Baby vs Plastic - Earth Day Article · Hierarchy of Needs · Climate Ed 101 - Earth Day Article · Planet vs. Plastics Connect with Emily Walker: · Website: https://www.earthday.org · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earthdaynetwork/ · Earth Day Educators Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earthdayeducators/ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: · Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community · Visit Our Website · Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram · Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: · Wendy Gray

In Part 2 of the Slow Kitchen Bonus, Mary and Emma discuss ideas for simple, real food prep and their favorite kitchen equipment. They cover the process of making one whole chicken into several nutritious meals, using dried garbanzo beans for a variety of different dishes, and simple but delicious salad ideas. You'll also hear about the use of fermenting for kefir, sourdough and a variety of vegetables. Their go-to kitchen tools include the immersion blender, the Chemex drip coffee maker, a bamboo bread slicer and slow cookers. The goal is to demystify the slow food practices and gradually implement them into your daily life until those techniques are what you'll choose-- because they become the "convenience" foods. Bread Slicers: Emma's bread slicer Mary's bread slicer Vitaclay Cookers 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production

How do you pursue your passions even as life throws you curveball after curveball? Los Angeles actor, Creator of One Broke Actress, owner of Fast Forward Productions, and Co-Owner of The Membership Sam Valentine comes on to share her story of learning to pivot to the next right thing for her in her career in her pursuit of her art. In this solo interview, Emma and Sam delve into their personal journeys, challenges, pivot points, and the nuances of leading a multi-hyphenate career in a rapidly evolving industry. Sam shares her experiences moving from the Midwest to Los Angeles, grappling with the realities of the acting business, learning to run her own ventures, and finding fulfillment beyond traditional career paths. They touch on embracing how success changes with age, avoiding burnout, and the complexities of social media's role in creative careers. Sam also shares her vision for a more inclusive and dynamic future in entertainment and beyond, and leaves us all feeling inspired to pursue our inner artist. 🌿This episode is sponsored by Neptune’s Harvest Organic Fertilizer. Use code GOODDIRT at checkout for 5% off your order for products from the ocean to set your plants in motion 🌊 Topics Discussed · Being a Multihyphenate · Moving from Small Midwestern Towns to a Big Urban City · Acting & Slow Living · Surviving Your Early 20’s · Art and Lived Life Experience · Defining Success · The Future of Fast Forward Productions · Giving Back with One Broke Actress · Mentoring in The Membership · The Fluidity of Dreams · Burnout in the Pursuit of Many Goals · Actor to Producer Pipeline · Nature, Jealousy, and Comparison · Relationship to Social Media · Creating Content of Service · Investing in the Good, not the Toxic Episode Resources: · Read Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention--And How to Think Deeply Again by Johann Hari · Listen to One Broke Actress “Actor & TIkTok Star Drew Talbert on Advice for Actors on the Internet, Finding Success, and the SAG Influencer Contract” Connect with Sam Valentine: · Fast Forward Productions Website: https://fastforwardproduction.com · Fast Forward Productions Instagram @thewomenarespeaking https://www.instagram.com/thewomenarespeaking/ · One Broke Actress Website: https://onebrokeactress.com · One Broke Actress YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLLnIi2v_7sxQIEzaHra4Ug/videos · One Broke Actress Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1R0Vcnx2XdBgbi73EWLtsK · One Broke Actress Instagram @onebrokeactress: https://www.instagram.com/onebrokeactress/ · Links: https://onebrokeactress.com/links · Sam’s Personal IG @samvalentine: https://www.instagram.com/samvalentine/ · The Membership @themembership.co: https://www.instagram.com/themembership.co/ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: · Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community · Visit Our Website · Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram · Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: · Wendy Gray

This is a free preview of the full paid episode described below. To hear more, visit https://ladyfarmer.substack.com/t/seasonal-living ATTENTION GARDENERS! To get your safe, non GMO seeds, go to Pine Tree Garden Seeds at superseeds.com and use our promo code: GOODDIRT2024 for 20% off your entire seed order! In this PREVIEW, Mary discusses the arrival of spring and the human connection to nature. She highlights the disconnect between humans and the natural world, emphasizing the need to reclaim our cooperative place on the planet. Mary also explores the significance of Earth Day and the importance of environmental action. In the full episode, available here with a paid subscription, Mary discusses gardening by the signs of the moon in April and talks about embracing weeds as a way to reduce work and support biodiversity. She also explains why she is not partaking in a big garden center shopping haul this spring. The episode concludes with a recipe share and a reminder to live in harmony with the Earth. Takeaways We are nature and the same with all of the natural world. Earth Day is an important event that raises awareness and promotes environmental action. Gardening can be done in a low-waste manner, reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainability. Gardening by the signs can help optimize planting and harvesting times. Embracing weeds can support biodiversity and provide nutritious additions to meals. Chapters PREVIEW Introduction to Spring and Human Connection to Nature The Disconnect Between Humans and the Natural World Earth Day and Environmental Action FULL EPISODE (available here) Gardening and the Low-Waste Garden Challenge Gardening by the Signs of the Moon in April Embracing Weeds Bringing violets into your kitchen with Violet Lemon Crisps ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community Visit Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: • Wendy Gray

In part two of this episode the conversation with Danielle Schwab, creator of Illuminate Food, continues. Danielle discusses the influential role of policy and larger institutions in forming the public's food choices, emphasizing the importance of transparency in supply chains to combat climate change's negative effects. She delves into the benefits and challenges of transitioning to plant-based diets and expresses her advocacy for beans as a sustainable food source instead. We explore consumer responsibility, the impact of food service choices on sustainability, and the complexities involved in shifting our cultural approach to certain foods. Danielle also shares her personal journey from corporate to creating content that sheds light on food system issues, and offers guidance on how to influence positive change in the food chain in our own kitchens. 🌿 This episode is sponsored by Neptune's Harvest Organic Fertilizer. Use code GOODDIRT at checkout for 5% off your order for products from the ocean to set your plants in motion 🌊 Topics Discussed · Polices and Optimism in Food Chain Change · Climate Beneficial Meat · Benefits and Challenges of Transitioning to Plant Based Meats · Monocultures · Supply Chain Transparency · Responsibility of Consumers in Educating Themselves · Sustainable Food Practices · Why We Should All Eat Beans · Diverse Food Sources · Overfarming & The Exploitation of Humans and Land · Societal Pressure to Eat or Avoid Certain Foods · What’s Going on with Soy & Soybeans · Responsible Ways to Eat Protein · Being Openminded with Food · Treating Cooking as a Pleasure over a Chore · Creating Content to Share Food Episode Resources: · Kiss the Ground · Primary Beans · Rancho Gordo Beans · Listen to The Good Dirt “Eating for the Future with Danielle Schwab of Illuminate Food Part 1” Connect with Danielle Schwab: · Website: https://illuminate-food.com · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/illuminate_food/ · Links: https://linktr.ee/illuminatefood · Substack: https://illuminatefood.substack.com ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: · Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community · Visit Our Website · Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram · Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: · Wendy Gray

In this Episode, Danielle Schwab , founder of Illuminate Food discusses her journey from the corporate world to the food industry and her current work in the mushroom meat sector. She has dedicated her career to helping consumers understand our food system so as individuals making personal food decisions we can shift to a more sustainable way of feeding ourselves. In this discussion we explore the complexities of global supply chains and the need for more depth in consumer discussion and understanding. Danielle highlights the importance of individual choices in driving change and the challenges of convincing consumers to try unfamiliar foods, difficulties in innovating the food system, and the tendency to embrace simplistic solutions to the problem of ensuring our food supply for the future. This Episode is Sponsored by Pinetree Garden Seeds! Order their seeds today from superseeds.com and use our promo code: GOODDIRT2024 for 20% off your entire order! Topics Discussed · Spring Cleaning · Mushroom Meat: What It Is & Its Benefits · Foraging & Global Food Systems · Journey from the Corporate World to Food Industry · Starting a Farm Box Business · Structure & Operation of the Farm Box vs. CSAs · Accessing Local, Sustainable Food · Global Food Supply Chains · Viral Content, Awareness, and Social Media Trends · Writing About Food · The Soybean Industry · Innovating Our Food Systems · How We Make Our Food Choices · Commodity Crops · How Policy and Institutions Shape Our Food Choices · Challenges in Local & Commodity Scale Production · The Struggle with Getting Good Quality Food · Being a Flexitarian Episode Resources: · Illuminate Good Article “Does Being Resourceful Lead to Destruction?” Connect with Danielle Schwab: · Website: https://illuminate-food.com · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/illuminate_food/ · Links: https://linktr.ee/illuminatefood · Substack: https://illuminatefood.substack.com ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: · Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community · Visit Our Website · Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram · Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: · Wendy Gray

In the first of this two-part series on how to achieve a slow and sustainable kitchen, Mary and Emma discuss their own experiences with sustainable food sourcing, including tips for how to find local food and how to shop more sustainably in the grocery store when local food is less available. They also talk about packaging considerations as a guide for sustainable food shopping, and some unique ideas for low waste kitchen storage. More to come in Part 2! Topics Discussed There are many things to discuss on the topic of the slow kitchen Start with local food when possible Tips for food sourcing when local food is less available Shopping tips Packaging and lower waste considerations Sustainable kitchen storage--mason jars and more! Links Find your local food sources HERE For sustainable and slow food shopping--Eating on the Wild Side/ The Missing Link to Optimum Health by Jo Robinson 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

In this episode we welcome back Dave and Nicky Schauder to The Good Dirt to reconnect and update our listeners on what’s been happening with their business project, Permaculture Gardens. We talked to them almost four years ago now, in June of 2020, early in lockdown when the buzz about growing your own food was really getting ramped up. Nicky and Dave started Permaculture Gardens to make permaculture and growing food accessible to everyone - especially families! They specialize in education for backyard vegetable gardens, small-space permaculture and indoor gardening solutions. For several years, they grew hundreds of pounds of their own food for themselves and their six children on a small suburban townhouse lot. In this conversation we'll hear about their new location and the innovative new gardening app, Sage, designed to simplify and streamline sustainable gardening practices. Tune in to Dave and Nicky for inspiration on growing your own food, even with limited time and space. This Episode is Sponsored by Pinetree Garden Seeds! Order their seeds today from superseeds.com and use our promo code: GOODDIRT2024 for 20% off your entire order! Topics Discussed · A Peak Behind the Scenes: Google Drive Problems · Slow Living Challenge Takeaways · The Permaculture Principle of 'The Problem is the Solution' · Evolution of Permaculture Gardens. · The backstory of the Schauders' journey into permaculture f · Children's health challenges and their commitment to organic food. · The Launch & Impact of Afterschool Permaculture Programs · Starting a Personal garden · Their Approach to permaculture education. · Transition to a larger space for both their family and permaculture projects · The development and features of the new app SAGE · Community Engagement, Education, and their Observation of Climate Changes on Gardening Choices. · Balancing Raising Kids and Permaculture · The Kickstarter for their SAGE · Fences as a Living Basket · Harvesting Your Own Food · Native vs. Nonnative Plants · Favorite Things to Grow Including: Bananas, PawPaws, Blackberries, Perennials, and more · “Lazy Gardening” · The Gradual Evolution of Your Garden Episode Resources: · How to Grow More Vegetables book · SAGE: https://www.permaculturegardens.org/sage · GIY: https://www.permaculturegardens.org/giy · Listen to Nicky and Dave’s First Episode “Grow Your Own Food in 15 Minutes” Connect with Nicky & Dave Schauder: · Website: **https://permaculturegardens.org/** · Instagram @permaculture_garden: https://www.instagram.com/permaculture_garden/ · YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PermacultureGardens · Links: https://linktr.ee/permaculturegardens ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: · Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community · Visit Our Website · Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram · Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: · Wendy Gray

Spiritual Ecologist and Eco-Theologian Mary DeJong presents her perspective on how we can each reconnect with the sacred Earth through rewilding our inner selves. DeJong works with Waymarkers, guiding others through retreats and pilgrimages, with an emphasis on placing Earth first in each decision we make. In this conversation we explore Celtic tradition and the primacy of creation, how the language we use shifts the various hierarchical ladders in our society, and the way that different spiritualities have more in common than we think. We discuss themes of change, belonging, the importance of reimagining our understanding of divinity in relation to the earth, and the power of stories and language in shaping human experience and perception of the natural world. This Episode is Sponsored by Pinetree Garden Seeds! Order their seeds today from superseeds.com and use our promo code: GOODDIRT2024 for 20% off your entire order! Topics Discussed · Exploring Eco Spirituality · Impact of Rapid Development on Personal Beliefs · Exploring Indigenous Cultures and Traditions · The Importance of Reconnecting with Earth · Sacred Soil & Putting the Earth First · Rewilding Our Inner Selves · The Impact of Language on Our Perception of Nature · Land Restoration and Living in Harmony with the Seasons · The Origin of Our Disconnection from Nature · The Power of Local Action · Restoration and Reclamation of Urban Landscapes · The Transformation of a Landscape · Exploring Celtic Spiritual Traditions · The Celtic Imagination and Connection to the Divine · The Natural World and Spiritual Practice · Reading Wisdom in the Wild · The Impact of Language on Our Perception of Nature · Reimagining the Divine and the Role of Imagination · Seeing the Earth as God's Body · Our Heroic Journey, Mythology, and Pilgrimage Episode Resources: · Read “The Dance of the Dissident Daughter: A Woman's Journey from Christian Tradition to the Sacred Feminine” by Sue Monk Kidd · Read “ The Secret Life of Bees” by Sue Monk Kidd · Listen to The Good Dirt “183. Manifesting the Life You Want with Stephanie O'Dea of the Slow Living Podcast” · Read “The Alphabet Versus the Goddess: The Conflict Between Word and Image” by Leonard Shlain · Read “Hagitude: Reimagining the Second Half of Life” by Sharon Blackie · Listen to The Lady Preacher Podcast “Rewilding Our Souls with Mary DeJong” Connect with Mary DeJong: · Website: https://www.waymarkers.net/aboutmary · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waymarkers/ · WayMarkers Book: https://www.waymarkers.net/waymarkers-book · WayMarkers, Wild Winter - Your Seasonal Journey: https://waymarkers.teachable.com/p/wild-winter-your-seasonal-journey 25% Discount on Wild Spring Online Course with coupon code: WILDLADYFARMER *coupon code does not apply to the monthly pricing plan. Learn more here: ***https://www.waymarkers.net/wild-spring ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: · Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community · Visit Our Website · Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram · Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: · Wendy Gray

This is a free preview of the full paid episode described below. To hear more, visit https://ladyfarmer.substack.com/t/seasonal-living Welcome March and welcome spring! Even with the unpredictable and sometimes extreme weather, we can see life returning to the landscape. In this episode, we will hear the story of Demeter and Persephone, the ancient Greek myth that explains why we have four seasons. We'll also explore the cultural significance of St. Patrick's Day and consider the deeper impact of its origins. Planting begins this month for many, so we'll discuss the moon calendar for getting the growing season off to a good start. We'll learn how the tradition of Hot Cross Buns blends both pre-Christian and Easter traditions, and how the return of the spring peepers brings joy and hope in a time of eco-anxiety. Takeaways March is a month of anticipation for spring, with its unpredictable weather and the return of life. Cultural narratives and traditions can shape our relationship with the earth and impact our collective responsibility. Climate change is affecting gardening practices, with earlier seasons and the need for adaptation. The unity of pre-Christian traditions and Easter can be celebrated through the tradition of Hot Cross Buns. The return of the spring peepers brings hope in a time of environmental challenges. Resources Mentioned 2023 Updated USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community Visit Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: • Wendy Gray

We all have bodies that we carry with us throughout our entire lives, but how do we take care of ourselves as we get older? Educator, Business Mentor, Coach, and soon-to-be Physical Therapist Sharon Bailey is here to discuss how she approaches her body and her life as she ages, and her advice will apply in your 20s to your 90s. Here on International Women's Day, we are diving into Nature’s Rhythm of the female and menstruating body, and how we are each effected when we go into perimenopause and menopause. Sharon dives into her journey towards becoming a Physical Therapist, strength training, and coaching healers. She touches upon the challenges that healers often face in running their businesses, including frequent burnout and compassion fatigue. This is all about exploring the intersection of lifestyle habits, physical health, shifting hormones, and business sustainability — leaving you filled with joy and hope by the end. This Episode is Sponsored by Pinetree Garden Seeds! Order their seeds today from superseeds.com and use our promo code: GOODDIRT2024 for 20% off your entire order! Topics Discussed · International Women’s Day · Getting Divorced · Changing Business Names · Moving to Grand Junction · The Transformation of Physical Fitness · Pursuing a Doctorate in Physical Therapy · Movement as Medicine · Strength Training’s Effect on Perimenopause/Menopause · Regenerative Business & Regenerative Business Practices · Coaching Healers · Centering Mental Health as a Business · Compassion Fatigue and Burnout in the Healthcare Industry · Hormonal Cycles and the Rhythm of Work · Allopathic Medicine · Remembering that We are the Earth · The Magic in the Mundane Episode Resources: · Lady Farmer’s Guide to Slow Living by Mary E. Kingsley · Join Us on SubStack for Our Slow Living Challenge · Listen to The Good Dirt “Living in Rhythm: Women’s Well Being with Sharon Bailey” · Adam Grant · Natasha Oceane · Dr. Mary Claire Haver, MD, author of The New Menopause Connect with Sharon Bailey: · Website: https://sharonbailey.co/ · Instagram @sharonsharesjoy: https://www.instagram.com/sharonsharesjoy/ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: · Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community · Visit Our Website · Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram · Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: · Wendy Gray

We last saw Stephanie in Episode 110, “Designing the Life of Your Dream in a Consumer Culture with Stephanie O’Dea of The Slow Living Podcast” and it was an absolute hit with our listeners. Now a few years out of the pandemic, and dozens of episodes of the Slow Living with Stephanie O'Dea Podcast out, Stephanie comes back onto The Good Dirt to dive into how her definition of slow living has changed. She discusses the nostalgia her clients have felt for the slower pace of life during Covid-19 lockdowns and the difficulty of maintaining that slowness when life returns to normal. She also shares her take on the idea of manifestation contrasted against the desire for immediate gratification, and practical tips for achieving long-term goals. If you have been searching for a way to find personal contentment in your life, Stephanie’s advice will give you a starting place to view your aspirations in a completely new light. Topics Discussed · Welcoming March - AKA Emma’s Birthday Month. the spring equinox and Easter · Manifesting What One Wants in Life · SMART Goals · SLOW - Simply Look Only Within · Care Tasks vs. Chores · The Great Resignation & Finding Fulfillment Outside of Work · Maintaining a Lifestyle Balance · Preparing for the Future · Looking at the Length of a Lifetime · Taking Action & Making Consistent Moves Towards Goals · Mindset & Outcomes · Societal Expectations on Success & Hustling · Consumerism · Focusing on Liking How Your Life Feels · Decluttering, both Mentally and Physically · Intentional Goal Setting · How Life & Individual Goals have Evolved Since the Pandemic Episode Resources: · Join Us on SubStack for Our Slow Living Challenge · Listen to The Good Dirt “Designing the Life of Your Dream in a Consumer Culture with Stephanie O’Dea of The Slow Living Podcast” · Listen to the Slow Living Podcast “Manifestation vs. Magical Thinking” · Watch The Secret · Read How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing by KC Davis Connect with Stephanie O’Dea: · Website, stephanieodea.com · Podcast - Slow Living with Stephanie O'Dea · Slow Living with Stephanie O'Dea - Apple Podcasts · Stephanie's Books · On Instagram @stephanieodea ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

Stanley Cups. We’ve all heard of it at this point. It’s impossible not to. When cars explode and ice remains and Target shelves are empty, it’s crowds seeking the latest edition of this product that was hyped on social media. But what does all of that hype get us? More and more products in production, leading to more waste. mary and Emma sit down to discuss the Stanley Quencher cup phenomenon and how it relates to slow living. They touch on how the cup is a status symbol more than it being associated with sustainability, how buying one also buys into 'perceived luxury', and the effect of a product going viral. Topics Discussed · Consumer Issues with Slow Living · The Stanley Cup · Status Symbol Materialism · Perceived Luxury · When Plastic Water Bottles Became Big · The Impact of Consumerism and Culture on the Stanley Quencher Cup Trend · Social Media & Overconsumption · The Culture of Scarcity · The History of Hydration · Role of Women in Driving Economy and Culture · Budgeting and Alternative Products · Making Conscious Choices When Consuming Episode Resources: · Listen to The Good Dirt “181. Mary & Emma Chat: What is Slow Living?” · Story of Stuff ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

Where does our food come from, and what will happen when we have no farmers coming in to take over the legacy of the farmers of today? In this conversation with business executive, homesteader, and consultant Judith Horvath, Judith speaks extensively on the benefits of regenerative agriculture, her experience in agri-entrepreneurism, and her vision for the development of agrihoods — communities centered around functional farms that provide food for the community. Judith encourages a close connection to the food we consume, supporting local farming communities, and adopting sustainable and regenerative farming practices. Judith also highlights the significance of high-quality soil and efficient farming methods for successful results in small scale farming. She discusses her role as a mentor to aspiring farmers and helps develop plans for regenerative agricultural ventures and her vision for creating a resilient food supply chain through the small local farms. Topics Discussed · Slow Living Challenge & Daffodils · A Farmer’s Living Wage · The Agrihood Movement · Composting Waste · Growing Your Own Food and Knowing the Food Supply Chain · Convincing Local Grocery Stores to Provide Cast-off Produce · Challenges Faced in Obtaining Cast-off Produce from Grocery Stores · Benefits of Supporting Local Farms and Communities · The Need for Farmers to Engage in Ongoing Public Awareness Programs · Importance of Sustainable Farming Practices, Such as Interplanting and Companion Planting · The Value of Open-Pollinated and Heirloom Varieties of Vegetables · Encouraging the Acceptance of "Ugly" Produce · The Significance of No-Till and Low-Till Farming Practices · The Role of Composting and Waste Reduction in Sustainable Farming · Encouraging Youth and Individuals with Special Needs to Consider Farming as a Career · The Potential of Agrihoods and Eco-Communities in Promoting Sustainable Food Systems · The Need for Continued Documentation and Sharing of Experiences in Agrihood Projects Episode Resources: · Join the Slow Living Challenge on Substack · Common Ground Film · Kiss the Ground · The FOOP Connect with Judith Farrell Horvath: · Website: https://www.fairhillfarm.com · Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judithhorvath/ · Podcast: https://fairhillfarm.podbean.com ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

In this episode of The Good Dirt Podcast, Mary and Emma sit down for a deep dive as a duo into the concept of slow living and what their relationship is to it in 2024. We hear them discuss their philosophy and also the challenges they’ve faced in adopting a slow living mindset, and share how they’ve come to view it as a quest in life. They also answer some listener questions from Instagram, sharing their thoughts on slow living with full schedules, clutter, city living, cooking, and balancing lives as pet owners or parents. Strategies, tips and tricks are explored to overcome these barriers, highlighting the importance of mindfulness and appreciative living. You’ll leave this episode with a sense of how you can apply slow living to your everyday, but if you want an even more guided approach, become a part of the upcoming Slow Living Challenge taking place in March, where you will receive daily prompts and inspirations to help you live in the moment. Topics Discussed · Understanding Slow Living · Personal Experiences with Slow Living · The Impact of Life Phases on Slow Living · The Importance of Individual Experiences in Slow Living · The Role of Clutter in Slow Living · Defining Slow Living · The Evolution & Challenges of Slow Living · The Role of Nature in Slow Living · The Impact of Productivity on Slow Living · The Role of Mindfulness in Slow Living · The Importance of Balance in Slow Living · Clutter & Waste · The Role of Nature in Slow Living · The Impact of Anxiety on Slow Living · The Role of Food in Slow Living · The Impact of Takeout on Waste and Stress Levels · The Role of Conscious Consumption in Slow Living · Living Slowly in a Fast-Paced City · The Amazon Dilemma: Convenience vs. Sustainability · Pets, Slow Living and Sustainability · Introducing the 2024 Slow Living Challenge · The Joy of Libraries and Slow Living with Kids · Embracing Slow Living in Everyday Life Episode Resources: · Listen to The Good Dirt “Designing the Life of Your Dreams in a Consumer Culture with Stephanie O'Dea of The Slow Living Podcast” · The Libby App · Always Feeling Rushed? The Good Dirt Episode on Time with Mary & Emma ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

Today's guest is Pamela Tanner Boll who is an artist, filmmaker, writer and activist. She is the Founder and CEO of Mystic Artists Film Productions, joining us to talk about her current project, a film called To Which We Belong which highlights farmers and ranchers leaving behind conventional agriculture and adopting regenerative practices that are improving the health of our soil and sea and saving our planet. Pamela shares with Emma and Mary the misconceptions regarding the climate impact of cattle and the untapped potential of ruminants in climate remediation, the importance of understanding the interconnectedness of every organism on earth, how we as individuals can reduce waste, and ways to foster community in order to better the planet. Join the Lady Farmer Slow Living Challenge! Topics Discussed · Valentine’s Day and Waste · Interconnectedness of Life · Connection to the Earth · Documentary Filmmaking · Cattle and Their Effect on Climate Change · Microbes, Fungi, and Bugs · The Effect of Our Actions on the Planet · Policy Changes · Power of Individuals · Sharing Stories of Sustainability · Creativity & The Power of Change · Individualistic Mindset · The Role of Love in Creating a Better World · Fixing Earth, not aiming for Mars · Embracing “Dirty” Aspects of Life · Supporting Non-profit Organizations · Gardens · The Business of Big Agro · Reversing Soil Erosion · Where Our Food Comes From · Seeing the Good · Being Mindful Consumers Episode Resources: · Join the Lady Farmer Slow Living Challenge! · Slow Living Through the Seasons January · Watch Allan Savory’s TED Talk “How to green the world's deserts and reverse climate change” · The Savory Institute Connect with Pamela Boll: · Website: https://www.mysticartists.com/about · Instagram @pamelatannerb: https://www.instagram.com/pamelatannerb/ · Born into Brothels: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0388789/?ref_=nm_flmg_t_14_prd · IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2035066/ · To Which We Belong: https://www.towhichwebelong.com/pamela_tanner_boll · Who Does She Think She Is: https://www.whodoesshethinksheis.net/pamela_tanner_boll ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter Visit Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: • Wendy Gray

Organic Farmer and herbalist Jane Hawley Stevens discovered the magic of natural remedies in her personal life before establishing Four Elements Organic Herbals and developing a complete herbal wellness line. Jane and her husband have a 130 acre farm where they have been certified organic since 1990, and take great care to cultivate their plants sustainably. In her new book “The Celestial Garden” Jane shares the wisdom of planting by the moon and by the zodiac, relying on the earth's natural rhythms for guidance not only in the garden but in so many aspects of life. She explains how the movement of the moon through the constellations of the zodiac provides a detailed calendar of optimal times for planting seeds, roots, and transplants, as well as for pruning, weeding, propagation, harvesting, and even starting new projects or taking a rest. In this conversation, we talk about the different methods and traditions of astrological gardening, the importance of listening to your inner guidance, grounding ourselves in the wisdom of elders and living in harmony with the moon and the Earth. Topics Discussed · Introduction and Weather Talk · Celebrating the Festival of Imbolc and St. Bridget · St. Bridget's Influence on Lady Farmer · Jane's Journey into Organic Farming and Herbalism · Horticulture & The Old Farmer’s Almanac · Traditional Medicines · The Story of Finding the Farm · Exploring Celestial Gardening · Planting by the Signs · The Rhythms of Gardening and Life · Comparing Different Systems of Celestial Gardening · Adapting to Changing Seasons and Climate · Winter Activities, Wreath Making, and Holiday Preparations · Embracing the Non-Gardening Months · Outdoor Winter Fun · The Impact of Marketing on Common Sense · The Importance of Trusting Inner Guidance · The Shifting Baseline Phenomenon · The Magic of Plants Choosing You · The Good Dirt and the Importance of Soil · Promoting Home Remedies and Reducing Plastic Usage Episode Resources: · Listen to The Good Dirt “The History and Folklore of Brigid: Saint, Legend and Lady Farmer with Kathy Spaar” · Listen to Slow Living Through the Seasons · Read “The Celestial Garden: Growing Herbs, Vegetables, and Flowers in Sync with the Moon and Zodiac” by Jane Hawley Stevens · Old Farmer’s Almanac Connect with Jane Hawley Stevens: · Website: https://fourelementsherbals.com · Instagram @fourelementsherbals: https://www.instagram.com/fourelementsherbals/ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter Visit Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: • Wendy Gray

Welcome to the cross-quarter between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, a time to celebrate the promise of spring through many cultural traditions. February 1st is the Feast of St Brigid and the Celtic Festival of Imbolc, which overlap with our Groundhog Day and Candlemas, each acknowledging the return of light and life that is beginning for all living things in this hemisphere. As for Gardening by the Signs this month, it's a perfect time for microgreens! Tune in to hear about this easy way to get a jump on growing your own food this season, plus an irresistible Valentine treat from the seasonal kitchen! Episode Resources • Some of the linked articles will only be available to current members of The ALMANAC. If you are not currently a member and are interested in subscribing, check out this page for more information. Chocolate Ganache Brownie Cake https://lady-farmer.com/blogs/news/6-low-waste-nutrient-dense-valentines-gift-ideas A Guide to Microgreens https://lady-farmer.com/blogs/news/a-guide-to-microgreens Support this podcast and get your own downloadable planting by the moon calendar by becoming a member of The Good Dirt Supporters! 🌻 About Lady Farmer: • Our Website • Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram • Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC • Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: • Wendy Gray

Hustle culture and pressures to accomplish, achieve and produce can result in personal and widespread burnout. Mary and Emma sit down for a deep dive discussion around the idea of "radical rest" and what that might look like in practice. They touch on their personal experiences with rest, acknowledging the exhaustion and burnout many people experience, especially in the wake of a challenging winter season. Together they explore ways to incorporate more resting into daily life through examples of long walks, nourishing food, and intentional, rejuvenating activities. They acknowledge it's not solely about physical rest, but mental and spiritual rest as well. If you've been struggling with rest, this episode will leave you with practical tips to try to incorporate in your daily lives. Topics Discussed · The Importance of Rest · Reflecting on Personal Experiences · Understanding Radical Rest · The Intersection of Rest and Social Issues · The Impact of Culture on Rest · The Pressure of Productivity · The Importance of Slowing Down · Rest and Nature's Rhythms · Exploring the Nap Ministry and Rest as Resistance · The Intersection of Rest and Racial Equality · Characteristics of White Supremacy Culture · Understanding the 5 Different Types of Resters · Practicing Radical Rest · Burnout · The Effect of the Pandemic · Working from Home · Feeling Lazy or Unworthy of Rest · How Rest Helps Grief Episode Resources: · Listen to The Good Dirt “Slow Living Through the Seasons: December” · Read Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto by Tricia Hersey · The Nap Ministry · Read Rest Easy: Discover Calm and Abundance Through the Radical Power of Rest by Ximena Vengoechea · Read Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

In this episode, Mary and Emma feature a conversation with Carley Lake and Tanya Dastyar, co-founders of Lucky Sweater, a tech platform designed for a slow fashion community. They share how Lucky Sweater works, allowing users to swap, gift, and trade clothing items, fostering a sustainable and connected community. Carley started out as one of the first 500 employees at Uber before becoming a digital strategist while Tanya was leading product for Microsoft News and Microsoft Managed Desktop before going into freelance Product Design. The conversation outlines the origins and growth of Lucky Sweater and what they are trying to do to combat consumer culture. Carley and Tanya also open up on how they balance work and their personal lives, why they want to shift consumer mentalities towards sustainability, and the impact of technology on our modern lifestyles. Download Lucky Sweater App here! Topics Discussed · Hot Chocolate Recipe · Being Without Heat · Slow Fashion · Environmentally Aware Brands · Staying Away from Fashion Trends · Sewers, Crocheters, Knitters, and Crafts · Fabrics · Building a Community-Based App · The Swap Drop · Shipping & Handling · The Sell-Resell Market · Gifting · Poshmark & the Secondhand Market · Fast Fashion Trends · Technology & Social Media · How Lucky Sweater Makes a Profit · Amsterdam · Life’s String of Beads · The Memories Held in Clothing · Struggles of Running a Startup · Exploring the Features and Benefits of Lucky Sweater Episode Resources: · Hot Chocolate Recipe · Rudy Jude Clothing · Mirrors in the Earth: Reflections on Self-Healing from the Living World by Asia Suler · Listen to The Good Dirt “Healing Ourselves, Healing the Earth with Asia Suler, Author of ‘Mirrors in the Earth’” · Light Phone · “The Artist's Way” by Julia Cameron Connect with Carley & Tanya: · Website: https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=lucky+sweater&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8 · Instagram @lucky.sweater: https://www.instagram.com/lucky.sweater/ · Download the App: Download Lucky Sweater App here! · TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lucky.sweater?lang=en · Gift a Sustainer Membership: https://www.luckysweater.com/gift-sustainer ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

Janna Hockenjos is a long-time listener of the podcast who was so inspired by what The Good Dirt stands for that she created Earth Friends Everywhere, an early education curriculum designed to enrich children’s connection and awareness of nature. Janna has been passionate about the environment every since she was a child, yet her career has taken her in many directions. She has a Masters Degree in Journalism from NYU, is a two-time published author, has owned a yoga studio, and is currently a freelance book editor. Now, as the mother of two children, she has circled back to her fervent passion for the planet and people with Earth Friends. In this conversation, Janna walks us through the conception of her nonprofit, what it’s been like to educate children, and why it is so important to have someone fall in love with the planet early on in life. Janna also shares how she has been impacted by The Good Dirt podcast, and highlights some of her favorite episodes. Topics Discussed · 4 Years of the Podcast · Early Childhood Education · Where We Live & How We Live · Changing Careers · Traumatic Brain Injuries & Yoga · Foreign Language Study · Labeling Environmental Education · Going Back to Basics · The Language of Environmental Activism · Compost, Recycling, Landfill, Reuse · Self-Agency in Kids · Origin Story of Earth Friends · Raising Kids in a Sustainable Lifestyle · Accessibility of Programs to All Kids · Teaching How Special the Earth Is · Yamas and Niyamas · Human Impact · Falling in Love with the Planet · Finding Each Child’s Passion in Nature · Going from Convenience to Connection · Accessibility · Fast Fashion · How The Good Dirt Has Had An Impact · The Equity Factor Episode Resources: · Join Us in The ALMANAC · Read All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis by Katharine K. Wilkinson and Ayana Elizabeth Johnson · Read Mirrors in the Earth: Reflections on Self-Healing from the Living World by Asia Suler · Read Miseducation: How Climate Change Is Taught in America by Katie Worth · For Days Take Back Bag · Listen to The Good Dirt “138. The Urgent Need for Restorative Gardening with Mary Reynolds” · Listen to The Good Dirt “151. "Lawns into Meadows" with Author Owen Wormser on Regenerative Agriculture” Connect with Janna Hockenjos: · Website: https://www.jannahockenjos.com/ · Books: https://www.jannahockenjos.com/books · Instagram @jannacabana: https://www.instagram.com/jannacabana/ · Earth Friends Everywhere Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earthfriendseverywhere/ · Earth Friends Everywhere Website: https://www.earthfriends.us/ · The Imperfect Green Guide Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimperfectgreenguide/?hl=en ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

Wool is one of the oldest known materials used for textiles. As a renewable resource with a potential for mitigating climate change, we love to highlight wool in our exploration of sustainable living here on this show. Our guest today is Jane Cooper whose passion for knitting led her to search for a rare-breed sheep and their distinctive wool. In her book, “The Lost Flock: Rare Wool, Wild Isles and One Woman's Journey to Save Scotland's Original Sheep”, Jane tells the story of the remarkable and rare little horned sheep, known as the Orkney Boreray, and how she moved to one of Scotland’s wildest islands to save them. Finding she was the sole custodian of this lost flock she began investigating their mysterious and ancient history, tracking down the origins of the Boreray breed and its significance to Scotland's natural heritage.From Viking times to Highland crofts and nefarious research experiments in Edinburgh, this is a so-far untold real-life detective story. Join us as we follow Jane’s journey in securing a future for her beloved sheep, and along the way, how she reveals their deep connection to the Scottish landscape. Topics Discussed · The Many Uses of Wool · Scotland’s Islands & Mainland · Boreray Sheep · The Orkney Boreray Community · Mutton · Growing Up with a Love of Nature · Northern European Short-Tailed Sheep · Life as a Sheep Breeder · Scottish Sheep Culture: Clothing, Bedding, Milk, Cheese, Sustenance, and Farms · Rooing Fleece · The History of Vikings and Sheep (and their Woven Wool Sails) · The Process of Wool Weaving · Wool & Felt · Bast Fibers · Why Modern Farmers Need to Shear Sheep · Endangered Sheep Breeds · Wool Sack for the 20212 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London · Living on a Scottish Island · Being a Custodian of the Gene · Sustainable Fibers · Living with the Rhythm of the Seasons · The Highland Clearances of Dunface Sheep Episode Resources: · Join Us in The ALMANAC · Shop Our Wool · Listen to The Good Dirt "Your Mattress, Your Health: Regenerative Bedding with Holy Lamb Organics' Jason Schaefer” · Listen to The Good Dirt “A Passion for Wool: What’s Behind a Sustainable Supply Chain with Lani Estill”  · Listen to The Good Dirt “Regenerative Practices in Textile Production with Jeanne Carver of Shaniko Wool Co.” · Listen to The Good Dirt “No Fluff: The Inside Info On Wool Insulation with Andrew Legge of Havelock Wool” · Read Jane Cooper’s “The Lost Flock: Rare Wool, Wild Isles and One Woman's Journey to Save Scotland's Original Sheep” · Read Charles Darwin’s “The Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of Worms” · Read Gabe Brown’s “Dirt to Soil: One Family's Journey Into Regenerative Agriculture” Connect with Jane Cooper: · Wool Sack Website: http://www.woolsack.org/ · Orkney Boreray Website: https://orkneyboreray.com/ · Instagram @orkneyboreray: https://www.instagram.com/orkneyboreray/ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

Drywall. Concrete. Limestone. All materials we see in our day-to-day in the buildings we come across and the homes we live in. But did you know that at the core of it all is the element of calcium? Just like the calcium within our bones, the calcium that is extracted from the earth to build homes and skyscrapers is a finite resource that is slowly hurting the soil we all stand in. In this episode, Mary and Emma speak to Korynn Newville, an artist, designer, author, and environmental activist with a Master's in Architecture from the Art Institute of Chicago and a Bachelor of Design from the University of Minnesota. Her thought-provoking book, "Indiscernibile Elements: Calcium", explores the intersection of science, art, design, and nature, urging humans to be more conscious of the natural systems in the built environment. She shares her perspective here — including how architecture can honor the earth, why concrete is a bigger problem than we realize, and how our grief around the Earth's suffering can be directed towards its healing. Korynn will leave you with a new appreciation of the interconnections of all life, by taking us into the world of calcium. Topics Discussed • Welcoming 2024 & Celebrating 4 Years of the Podcast • Reintroducing Ourselves • What Calcium Can Do • Green Burials • How Architecture Can Honor the Earth • Osteoporosis • Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) • Artwork & Architectural Design Work • Environmental Activism & Working in the Corporate World • Balancing the Housing Issue and Sustainability • Building Non-Toxic Homes • Korynn's Dream House • Bio Retention Areas • Intentional City Planner • Why Concrete is a Huge Problem • Extracting Limestone • How Drywall is Made • The Kilning Process • The Deal with Burying Bones • Speaking from Calcium's POV • Discerning Your Wants & Needs • Grieving Our Earth Episode Resources: • Join Us in The ALMANAC  • Listen to The Good Dirt "Where Nature is Enough: Rethinking Death Practices with Heidi Hannapel of Bluestem Conservation Cemetery" • Listen to The Good Dirt "Creating Sustainability in the Death Care Industry with Tom Harries of Earth Funeral" • True Cost Documentary • Indiscernibile Elements: Calcium by Korynn Newville • The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living by Mary Kingsley Connect with Korynn Newville: • Website: https://www.newvillekorynn.com/ • IG @kornville https://www.instagram.com/kornville/ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: • Our Website • Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram • Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC • Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: Wendy Gray

Have you heard of "Old Christmas?" In this episode, Mary reflects on her Appalachian roots by explaining the origins and traditions of "Old Christmas," a vestige of the the Old World that came to the mountains with the Scots and Irish settlers in centuries past. Also, what does the Planting By the Signs offer us when it's too cold for gardening? Tune in to find out what the moon calendar offers us in January. And in the seasonal kitchen, don't miss the guide to 7 days of delicious, savory "real food" winter meals, with shopping lists and meal food prep included! 7 Days of Savory and Delicious Real Food Winter Meals Planting By The Signs January Blog Episode Resources: • Raising With the Moon: The Complete Guide to Gardening—and Living—by the Signs of the Moon by Taylor Reese and Jack Pyle Phil Case from the Facebook Group Planting By the Signs • Some of the linked articles will only be available to current members of The ALMANAC. If you are not currently a member and are interested in subscribing, check out this page for more information. Support this podcast and get your own downloadable planting by the moon calendar by becoming a member of The Good Dirt Supporters! 🌻 About Lady Farmer: • Our Website • Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram • Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC • Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: • Wendy Gray

Happy Holidays! 2023 has been a rollercoaster of a year, and we here at The Good Dirt thank you for everything over the past few months. For our Day 1 fans to our New Listeners, we welcome you. To celebrate, Mary and Emma reflect on the top three episodes of the past year and share what their big takeaways were from each one. From Mary Reynolds, a reformed landscape designer advocating for restorative gardening, and Owen Wormser, who shares his expertise on transforming lawns into meadows, to the Maria Rodale's wisdom in Love, Nature, Magic. They also delve into the enlightening conversation with Floris Van Hees and Ivar Smits, Dutch sailing partners on a mission to document positive environmental actions around the world. Join Mary and Emma as they reflect back on the year and look forward to a new beginning. Support The Good Dirt Pledge Drive Here! Topics Discussed · New Years Weekend · Looking Back on 2023 · Mary & Emma's Top Three Episodes of 2023 · "The Urgent Need for Restorative Gardening with Mary Reynolds" · Acts of Restorative Kindness to the Earth · How to Change the Paradigm · "'Lawns into Meadows' with Author Owen Wormser on Regenerative Agriculture" · "Sailors for Sustainability Searching for Solutions: A Journey Around the World" · "Seeking the Wisdom of the Earth with Maria Rodale, author of Love, Nature, Magic: Shamanic Journeys into the Heart of My Garden" · Looking Ahead to 2024 · Returning to the Beginning Episode Resources: • Join Us in The ALMANAC  • "We Are the Ark: Returning Our Gardens to Their True Nature Through Acts of Restorative Kindness" by Mary Reynolds • "Lawns Into Meadows, 2nd Edition: Growing a Regenerative Landscape" by Owen Wormser • "Love, Nature, Magic: Shamanic Journeys Into the Heart of My Garden by Maria Rodale • Sailors for Sustainability • Kiss the Ground Documentary • The Rodale Institute ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: • Our Website • Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram • Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC • Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

Did you catch Emma's song from last Friday's episode? Wanting more music? We've got more for you today! While Mary & Emma are on a break from interviews for the holidays, we wanted to share something fun from the Lady Farmer Archives. Tune in for Missing Sister Band, recorded in Seneca, MD November, 2020. Covers: White Flag - Joseph Helplessly Hoping - Crosby, Stills, and Nash Strangers - The Kinks Baby Where You Are - Ted Lucas Dogs Laying Around Playing - My Bubba Long Time Traveller - Sacred Harp  vocals:  Anna Glenn Charlotte Henderson Shannon Beston (guitar)  Caitlin Robinson Emma Kingsley guitar:  Cameron Palmer audio/visuals:  David Smith Emma Kingsley Mary Kingsley editing:  Emma Kingsley

Today we have something a little different from Mary & Emma...you can think of it as a holiday surprise from us to you! We start out with a story from Mary and wrap up with a song from Emma - performed, recorded, mixed, and edited all by Emma herself. Happy Holidays to all! Story- A Christmas Miracle by Mary E Kingsley Song - Cover of "Sister Winter" by Sufjan Stevens Guitar - Cam Palmer Vocals - Emma Kingsley ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: • Our Website • Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram • Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC • Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: • Wendy Gray

With microplastics and toxic chemicals all around us, what can we do as consumers to make more informed choices for the benefit of our planet? Mary and Emma sit down with Janette Spiezio, the founder of Sustainable Haus Mercantile, to discuss the concept of zero waste living and the importance of making those sustainable, educated choices for ourselves and the planet. As a first generation American with a corporate background, Janette became determined to make better choices for her daughters and their future. Now, she runs refillable zero-waste businesses in Summit, NJ, and she shares her journey towards her zero-waste lifestyle while providing valuable insights into the world of sustainable living. From reducing plastic waste to composting and making mindful consumer choices, Janette's passion for the environment shines through as she offers practical advice and encourages listeners to make small changes towards a more sustainable future. Support The Good Dirt Pledge Drive Here! Topics Discussed · The Winter Solstice · Wax Paper, Parchment Paper, and Gift Wrap: An Update from Our "Embracing a Good Dirt Holiday" Episode · Healthy People, Healthy Home, Healthy Planet · Coming from a Corporate Background · Understanding Ingredients in Everyday Items · The Zero Waste Movement · Trust But Verify · BPAs & Other Chemicals in Our Food · Microplastics · Running a Zero Waste Shop: The Origin of Sustainable Haus Mercantile · Refilling Products vs. Buying Brand New · Being a Naturist in a Modern World · The Value of Environmental Education · Creative Ideas for Plastic Alternatives at the Supermarket · The Problem with Laundry Pods & Strips · Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) · "Soil, not oil, holds the future for humanity” - Vandana Shiva Quote · How Corporations Mishandle Our Trust · Phenol in Receipt Paper · Biodegradable vs. Compostable · Janette's Hope Episode Resources: • Join Us in The ALMANAC  • Listen to The Good Dirt's Slow Living Through the Seasons: December Episode! • Listen to The Good Dirt's Talking Trash with Eve Schaub • Think Dirty • Listen to The Good Dirt Seeking Real Solutions to Plastic Pollution with Smruti Aravind of The Story of Stuff • The Environmental Working Group • Beth Terry's My Plastic Free Life • Read Eve Schaub's A Year of No Garbage Connect with Janette: • Website: https://www.sustainablehaus.com/ • Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janette-filbert-spiezio-05960212 • Sustainable Haus TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sustainablehaus?lang=en • Sustainable Haus IG @sustainablehaus: https://www.instagram.com/sustainablehaus/ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: • Our Website • Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram • Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC • Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: • Wendy Gray

In this special December episode of "Slow Living Through The Seasons," Mary & Emma delve into the topic of Christmas trees, exploring traditions, personal experiences, and ways to approach this festive symbol with a slow living mindset. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: • Our Website • Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram • Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC • Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: • Wendy Gray

We’re talking to Christina Schindler, who after spending 20 years in public education as a teacher and administrator, has embarked on a business venture with her family as the CEO of the Modern Stone Age Kitchen, a restaurant in Chestertown, MD that optimizes nutrition in modern foods through ancestral techniques–creating healthy food for the community.  Christina also serves as President of the Eastern Shore Food Lab, a non-profit that is focused on creating a nourishing, ethical and sustainable food system through education, outreach and research. Most importantly, Christina is a mother of three busy teenagers and is married to Dr. Bill Schindler, author of Eat Like a Human. In this conversation, we’ll be talking about the extraordinary adventures of this enterprising family, from living and traveling abroad to serving their community through this very unique restaurant, and their work with the non-profit. We’ll hear about their food journey as a family, practical tips for healthy eating in a busy modern world with kids, their years long quest for gaining knowledge about ancestral foods–and how you can live in a suburban neighborhood and still accomplish things that most people would think you need to live on 20 acres to do.  This is a wonderful conversation for anyone interested in embracing ultimate health through ancestral food ways –and a great story of how this family has brought it into the context of modern family life and business. Prepare to be inspired by the end of the episode to start eating like a human. Support The Good Dirt Pledge Drive Here! Topics Discussed · Living & Traveling Abroad · Having a Family-Owned Community-Oriented Restaurant · Being a Former Educator · Cottage Food Operation  · Commercial Food Production · The Sourdough Process · What It Means to Eat like a Human · Employing a Team of 25 · Food Processing Then & Now · Traveling Abroad with Family · The Origin of Maize (aka Corn) · Being a Former Vegetarian · Hunting as a Food Source · Food Education · Old Bay Seasoning & Pumpkin Spice · Raising 3 Teenagers: Fast Food, Snacks, and House Rules · The Nutritional Pressure of Feeding a Family · Living in Ireland · Kefir · Ancestral Nutrition Knowledge Episode Resources: • Join Us in The ALMANAC  • Listen to the Discover Ag Podcast! • Read the Eat Like A Human Book • Learn More About Homemade Sourdough • Seed Oil Scout: Healthy Dining App • 12 Spoons - The Weston A. Price Foundation Connect with Christina: • Website: www.modernstoneagekitchen.com • IG @modernstoneagekitchen: https://www.instagram.com/modernstoneagekitchen/ • Eat Like a Human Website: https://eatlikeahuman.com/start-here/ • Eastern Shore Food Lab @esfoodlab: https://www.instagram.com/esfoodlab/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/modernstoneagekitchen ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: • Our Website • Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram • Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC • Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: • Wendy Gray

Whatever we’re celebrating in December, whether it’s the birth of the Christ child, or the miracle of light in the darkness, cultural heritage or family tradition— the urge to gather together in feasting and celebration, seeking warmth and light, is something that connects us to the common human experience of being vulnerable to nature. In this episode, Mary reflects on the winter solstice, what we perhaps share in common with our ancestors’ experience in the darkest and coldest days of the year, and how our cultural celebrations can separate us further from the rhythms of the natural world. Also, what’s behind the tradition of hanging a wreath on the door? Here’s a story you might not have heard before.  Topics discussed • The holiday season and Yuletide • Our connection to our human ancestors • The winter solstice as a common experience to all humans, regardless of culture, religion, or tradition • The meaning of the wreath on the door • The December moon • Peppermint Hot Chocolate Recipe • The Good Dirt Pledge Drive Episode Resources: • Raising With the Moon: The Complete Guide to Gardening--and Living--by the Signs of the Moon by Taylor Reese and Jack Pyle • Some of the linked articles will only be available to current members of The ALMANAC. If you are not currently a member and are interested in subscribing, check out this page for more information. Support this podcast and get your own downloadable planting by the moon calendar by becoming a member of The Good Dirt Supporters! ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: • Our Website • Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram • Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC • Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: • Wendy Gray

Did you know that honeybees increase the yield in our food supply by 30% in our current agricultural system? Master Beekeeper and "Bee Whisperer" Michael Jordan tells us all about it from his perspective as a small scale commercial beekeeper, educator and mead maker. A master in beekeeping, Michael is the CEO and Founder of A BEE Friendly Company, INC. in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where he produces honey, tends to his hives, and educates others on how to properly keep and care for bees. In this episode, he dives into the history of bees, the challenges of organic and treatment-free beekeeping, the impact of human practices on bee colonies, and the role of bees in our ecosystem. We also learn about the art of mead making and Michaels' accomplishments as creator of The King's Mead. Whether you're a seasoned beekeeper or simply curious about the intricate world of bees and how they help keep us fed, this episode will leave you with a deeper appreciation for the role of bees in our lives. Support The Good Dirt Pledge Drive Here! Topics Discussed • Welcoming December • Becoming a Beekeeper • Mead/Honey Wine • Managing 60 hives & Multiple Apiaries  • Backyard Beekeeping vs. Commercial Beekeeping • Pricing Honey by the Pound • Apiaries, Colonies, and Hives • Resting Haven for Bees • Why Bees are Important & Worth Saving • Achieving a Nice, Natural Honeycomb • Honeybees Being Imported to America • How Food Production Changed due to Bees • Mead Making at Weddings & Private Events • Resoiling the Earth & Permaculture • Preventative Measures to Save Bees • Organic and Organic Practices • "Raw" Honey • Bee Focused Education Programs Episode Resources: • Join Us in The ALMANAC  • A "Bee Friendly" Company Inc. Facebook • Michael's TikTok @michaeljordanbeeman • The Survival Podcast Connect with Michael Jordan: • Website: https://www.facebook.com/abeefriendly/ • Michael's IG @michaeljordan_bee_whisperer https://www.instagram.com/michaeljordan_bee_whisperer/?hl=en • Michael's TikTok @michaeljordanbeeman: https://www.tiktok.com/@michaeljordanbeeman?lang=en • The Survival Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-survival-podcast/id284148583 • Got more bee-related questions for Michael? Email him at [email protected] ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: • Our Website • Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram • Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC • Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

Welcome to our November Bonus episode of The Good Dirt Podcast! With the holidays right around the corner, the consumerism capitalistic market is about to ramp up to full speed. You are going to be bombarded by a message to buy, buy, buy. But what if there was another way? Mary and Emma sit down to present an alternative to diving into the world of holiday celebrations and the concept of a "Good Dirt" holiday. They discuss the importance of thoughtful gift-giving, alternative gift ideas, and the joy of giving gifts that align with the recipient's interests and values. The holiday season doesn't have to be perfect - small shifts towards a more sustainable and mindful holiday experience make all the difference over time. Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season filled with joy, connection, and Good Dirt! Support The Good Dirt Pledge Drive Here! Topics Discussed • Having a Good Dirt Holiday • Regenerative vs. Degenerative Celebrations • Wasteful Practices & Traditions During the Holidays • Decorations • Family Meals • Textile Materials • Responsible Thrifting • Plastics, Wax Paper, and Parchment Paper • Gifting Books • Gift Alternatives • Budgeting Your Resources, Time, and Energy Episode Resources: • Join Us in The ALMANAC  ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: • Our Website • Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram • Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC • Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

Topsoil nutrition continues to decline, plastics in our foods are on the rise, and governments all around the world are taking too long to solve the impending crisis on the horizon. So what can we do? In this episode, regenerative farmer, mother, speaker, chef, restauranteur, producer, and writer Mollie Engelhart shares her moment of realization that food composting is key to turning this around. She believes that the hope for Earth's future falls to what we can each do individually because collective action and community can change the future. Mollie shares her expertise and passion for sustainable practices in farming and the importance of healthy eating and holistic family life. As a board member of Kiss the Ground, a nonprofit focused on regenerative agriculture, Mollie emphasizes the potential of regenerative practices in stabilizing Earth's ecosystems. Join Emma and Mary as they delve into Mollie's inspiring journey and learn about the power of good dirt in healing our planet. This episode will leave you feeling inspired by the prospect of regenerative farming and the transformative potential of conscious purchasing decisions. Support The Good Dirt Pledge Drive Here! Topics Discussed • Black Friday/Cyber Monday • Being a Mother, Chef, and Farmer • The Danger of Carbon & Methane • The Forever Chemicals Being Sprayed on Our Food • What We’ve Lost in Our Efficiency • Why We Can’t Rely Solely on Regenerative Energy Sources • Over-Regulation & Bureaucracy • Returning to Collaboration & Community • Climate Change & Cities • Future Fertility Rates • Survival of the Family Farm • Self-Sufficiency & Individualism is Not the Answer • California vs. Texas • Hyper-polarization in Politics • Processed Foods • Eating for Sustenance • Microbial in Top Soil • Seasonality of Food • Mollie’s Rescue Parrots • Being a Poet and a Producer • How Mollie Sees the Revolution • Slow Living & Full Living • Persimmons Episode Resources: • Join Us in The ALMANAC  • Sage Plant Based Bistro and Brewery  • Mollie's Hot Sauce • Kiss the Ground's Stories of Regeneration with Mollie Engelhart Connect with Mollie: • Website: https://kisstheground.com/ • Sage Plant Based Bistro Links: https://linktr.ee/thekindsage • Sovereignty Ranch: https://www.sovereigntyranch.com • Instagram @chefmollie: https://www.instagram.com/chefmollie/?hl=en • Sow a Heart Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sowaheart/?hl=en • The Kind Sage Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekindsage/?hl=en • IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1917633/ • Mollie's Links: https://linktr.ee/chefmollie ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: • Our Website • Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram • Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC • Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

Our guest today is Baron Wormser, award winning poet, professor and author of "The Road Washes Out in Spring: A Poet's Memoir of Living Off the Grid". In this episode, Baron shares stories from his experience living and raising a family off the grid in rural Maine for 23 years, as well as his insight into connecting poetry with how we live, the value of simple living, and how we connect more deeply with the earth. We hear about his journey from the beginning in the mid 1970s, the day-to-day logistics of an off-grid life, raising children in that setting, and the eventual reentry into the contemporary world. Baron has been an example of slow and sustainable living throughout his life and career, and brings his gift of storytelling and poetry to this inspiring conversation. Topics Discussed • "Convenience" by W.S. Merwin • Membership Pledge Drive • Why Choose to Live Off the Grid • The Logistics of the Day-to-Day • Historical Precedence of Living without Electric Power • Living Through the Mid 70s • Needs vs. Wants • Defining Hardship • Living Off the Grid Then vs. Living On the Grid Now • Human Adaptability • Do We Truly Need the Internet? • Raising Children in an Off the Grid Lifestyle • Neighbor Stories • The Recognition of Hard Work • Money & Rural Towns • Deconstruction the Romanticization of an Off the Grid Lifestyle • Finding Your Ordinary • Reentry to the Grid • Baron's View on Hope • Falling in Love with the World Episode Resources: • Join Us in The ALMANAC  • "Convenience" by W.S. Merwin • Listen to The Good Dirt "151. 'Lawns into Meadows' with Author Owen Wormser on Regenerative Agriculture" • "The Road Washes Out in Spring: A Poet's Memoir of Living Off the Grid" by Baron Wormser Connect with Baron Wormser: • Website: https://baronwormser.com/ • Books: https://baronwormser.com/books.html ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: • Our Website • Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram • Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC • Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

Our guest for today is Jill Winger, creator of The Prairie Homestead who over the last 10 years has influenced thousands of people in rediscovering some of the simpler ways of life–helping people grow their own food, cook healthy meals, raise chickens, bake bread—and SO many other things. And yes, she confesses that an old fashioned life can include modern technology, especially in teaching others through online content creation. But Jill’s mission is more than about teaching skills, it’s about guiding others into slowing down and creating a healthier, more centered, balanced lifestyle that includes our modern realities. Jill started out on a neglected farmstead 40 miles away from the nearest grocery store, and has grown with her passion for practicing this way of life and teaching others how to find it for themselves. She is the author of The Prairie Homestead Cookbook and her latest release: "Old-Fashioned on Purpose: Cultivating a Slower, More Joyful Life". Jill lets Mary and Emma in on her process of content creation for homesteading, running an online business, finding writing once again, and what challenges she's faced in trying to do it all. This episode is for anyone who wants to strike a healthier balance between old-fashioned living and life in the modern world. Topics Discussed • Being a Homesteader • Getting Started without a Background in Farming or Ranching • Finding an Alternative to the Suburban-White-Picket-Fence Dream • Sparks of Inspiration & Knowing • Balancing Old-Fashioned Living with Modern Demands • How Jill's Support System Helps Her "Do It All" • Jill's Team & Task Delegation • How to Get People to Consume Your Content • The Consumer-Creator Relationship • Dealing with Technology Addiction as an Online Business • Creator Sustainability • Boundaries & Intentionality • The Pros and Cons of Homesteading's Growing Popularity • Writing Old-Fashioned on Purpose • Community • Raising Kids in a Homestead Lifestyle • Owning a Restaurant • Outsourcing Where You Can • Herbicide Long-Term Damage and Aminopyralid Poisoning Episode Resources: • Join Us in The ALMANAC  • The Prairie Homestead "how to use eggshells" Blog • The Prairie Homestead "I Think I Poisoned My Garden" Blog • "Old-Fashioned on Purpose: Cultivating a Slower, More Joyful Life" by Jill Winger • "The Prairie Homestead Cookbook: Simple Recipes for Heritage Cooking in Any Kitchen" by Jill Winger • Listen to The Good Dirt "Reclaiming Our Food from Field to Kitchen with CSA Farmer Mo Moutoux of Moutoux Orchard" Connect with Jill Winger: • Website: https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/ • Follow Jill on IG @jill.winger https://www.instagram.com/jill.winger/ • YouTube: https://youtube.com/theprairiehomestead • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theprairiehomestead • Links: https://meet.theprairiehomestead.com/IGlinks ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: • Our Website • Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram • Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC • Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

How does November feel to you? After the bright and festive days of October with its blue skies and glorious foliage, pumpkin picking and trick-or–treating, we rather suddenly descend into a different vibe altogether. There are certainly many ways to describe this month, but the first that comes to mind is that November is a mood. Listen in as Mary describes how the increasing darkness and sense of melancholy reflects a time for endings, in life and in nature, and reminds us of the beauty and wholeness in the full cycle of the seasons. Support this podcast and get your own downloadable planting by the moon calendar by becoming a member of The Good Dirt Supporters! Topics Discussed*: Planting By the Signs November Blog November Recipe Blog/Sally Lunn Bread and Pear Clafoutis My November Guest by Robert Frost Kate Hill Podcast Episode #55 Planting By the Signs for southern regions The November Garden: what NOT to do Beaver Moon Baking by the signs of the moon A November challenge Episode Resources*: • Raising With the Moon: The Complete Guide to Gardening--and Living--by the Signs of the Moon by Taylor Reese and Jack Pyle *Some of the linked articles will only be available to current members of The ALMANAC. If you are not currently a member and are interested in subscribing, check out this page for more information. Support this podcast and get your own downloadable planting by the moon calendar by becoming a member of The Good Dirt Supporters! ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Email Mary at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share a story about slow living through the seasons!

Humans are one of hundreds of thousands of lifeforms on this planet, and each has its own unique place in the ecosystem. In this conversation, we're talking about the inherent connection between humans and the world of living things. Our guest is Alison Zak, environmental educator, anthropologist, yoga teacher and author of "Wild Asana: Animals, Yoga, and Connecting Our Practice to the Natural World. This book is a delightful mix of wildlife science, Hindu mythology, Eastern philosophy, and personal stories. Alison sits down with Mary and Emma to discuss the importance of curiosity and wonder in our relationship with nature and how the yoga poses inspired by animals help foster that connection. Alison also shares fascinating insights and stories stemming from her academic studies in human-animal interactions and her involvement in beaver conservation. Tune in to hear things you never knew about beavers as a keystone species in the ecosystem--and about how the creature living in the wall of Mary's kitchen challenges her own feelings about the human-animal connection! Topics Discussed • Daylight Savings Time to Standard Time • Human-Wildlife Conflict • How Yoga, Wildlife Conservation, Writing, and Anthropology Connect • Balancing the Mystic with the Scientist • The Inherent Worth of Animals • The Academic Path to Conservation • Anthropomorphism & Anthropo-Denial • Why We Should Not Separate Humans & Animals • The Rise of Animal Acceptance & How Dogs Might Save the World • Coyotes & Wolves and Other Threatening Animals • Animal Boundaries in Society • The Creature in the Kitchen • Keystone Species • The Human-Beaver Coexistence Fund • Beavers Before Humans • The Beaver's Ecological Impact • The Conservation Movement's Evolution • Honoring Each Animal Episode Resources: • Shop Holy Lamb Products at The Lady Farmer Marketplace! • "Wild Asana: Animals, Yoga, and Connecting Our Practice to the Natural World" by Alison Zak • Listen to The Good Dirt: "Jason Schaefer" • Listen to The Good Dirt "Healing Ourselves, Healing the Earth with Asia Suler, Author of 'Mirrors in the Earth' " • "Mirrors in the Earth: Reflections on Self-Healing from the Living World" by Asia Suler Connect with Alison Zak: • Website: https://alisonzak.com/ • Instagram @animal_asana: https://www.instagram.com/animal_asana/ • Human-Beaver Coexistence Fund on IG @coexistwithbeavers: https://www.instagram.com/coexistwithbeavers/ • Links: https://linktr.ee/aazak127 • A Yogic Lens on Animal Conservation with Alison Zak Podcast ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: • Our Website • Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram • Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC • Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

How many of us consider recycling the answer to plastic pollution? We are sold the idea that it's okay to buy and use these materials because they can be recycled into other things. But these claims are ultimately untrue. 95% of the plastic produced in the world goes directly into the landfill, and essentially stays there forever. The small percentage of materials that make it into the recycling system might find a reuse, but will ultimately end up as trash as well, or be shipped overseas to become someone else's garbage. These are some of the shocking truths that are revealed by Eve O. Schaub In her newest book and experiment, "Year of No Garbage: Recycling Lies, Plastic Problems, and One Woman's Trashy Journey to Zero Waste". In this interview, Eve tells the story of how she convinces her entire family to go a year without producing any garbage. With a family of four, it was already a monumental task, and when the pandemic hit just a few months into the experiment, it became even more challenging. However, throughout it all, Eve and her family remained committed to their goal, resulting in a transformative experience. She shares with Mary and Emma her motivations for taking on this no-garbage challenge, describes her experience, and reflects on the valuable lessons she learned along the way. During this experimental year, Eve gained a wealth of knowledge about the pervasive plastic pollution in our soil and bodies, the influence of fossil fuel companies in lobbying for increased plastic production, and the silent epidemic of plastic waste. Despite the alarming nature of her findings, Eve is able to convey this information with a sense of humor and perspective that gets the message across.. Tune in for an insightful and entertaining discussion that will inspire you to reconsider waste and its impact on our lives. Topics Discussed • Halloween • Modern Recycling is Broken • Single Stream Recycling • Convincing Your Family to do the Impossible • Growing Up with Hoarders • Finding Compromise • Undergoing the Experiment During 2020 • Waste: The Silent Epidemic • Resin Identification Code • Carton Council & TerraCycle • Why Plastics & Micro Plastics Are so Dangerous • How Eve Found Activism in This Way • The Barbie Phenomena • The Impending Plastic Crisis • Racism & Classism in Plastic Pollution • Taking Beyond Plastic 101 with Judith Enck • How Plastics Use Tobacco Tactics to Lobby the US Government • Ramping Up Plastic Production by 2050 • Starting with One Small, Manageable Step • Heating Up Food in Plastic • Incinerating Plastic • Chemical Recycling in NOT a good thing • Eve's Realization that Recycling is a Lie • How Eve's Cats Taught Her a Great Lesson • Life After the Experiment Episode Resources: • Join Us in The ALMANAC  • Discover Ag Podcast & The Elevate Ag Course • Listen to The Good Dirt, "Halloween Bonus Episode" • Listen to The Good Dirt, "Seeking Real Solutions to Plastic Pollution with Smruti Aravind of The Story of Stuff" • Watch The Story of Stuff's "The Story of Plastic" • "Year of No Garbage: Recycling Lies, Plastic Problems, and One Woman's Trashy Journey to Zero Waste" by Eve O. Schaub • "Year of No Sugar: A Memoir" by Eve Schaub • "Year of No Clutter: A Memoir" by Eve Schaub Connect with Eve Schaub: • Website: https://eveschaub.com/ • Instagram @eveoschaub : https://www.instagram.com/eveoschaub/ • TikTok @eveoschaub : https://www.tiktok.com/@eveoschaub • Links: https://linktr.ee/Eveschaub ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: • Our Website • Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram • Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC • Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 34:52

How can we reconnect ourselves to nature, to the plants and animals around us, and the very Earth we walk upon? This is the topic of discussion with our guest Asia Suler, writer, teacher, mother, earth intuitive, ecological philosopher and author of Mirrors in the Earth: Reflections on Self-Healing from the Living World. Asia has taught her principles to over 20,000 students in 70+ countries, and constantly sees how going on a journey of self-healing and acceptance is the key to being able to heal both ourselves and our place in the ecosystem. In this interview, Asia brings us into the profound ecological history of the Appalachian mountains, the magic and healing potential of the natural world, and the interconnectedness of our personal healing with the healing of the whole world. She believes that when we embody the belief that we are enough as we are, we then we ourselves embody the healing of the Earth. This episode is brought to you by Dirty Labs: Use code "GOODDIRT" for 20% off your order! Topics Discussed • What comes to mind with when we think of mirrors in the earth? • Asia's Background and Experience Leading to the Writing of her Book. • Joyful Engagement with the Living World • Vulvodynia, Lyme Disease, and Chronic Pain • Western Herbalism • Finding Your Place in Nature • Creating One Willow Apothecary • Flower Essences & The Power of the Violet • Psycho-emotional States and Inner Blockages • Intellectual Rationalism • Growing up In-between Philadelphia and New York • Watering Plants throughout New York • Re-connecting with Magic • Cultivating a Love of Earth in Urban Spaces • The 10 Year Process Behind "Mirrors in the Earth" • Self-Realization & Self-Compasson • The Influence of Indigenous Beliefs • Earth as a Sentient Being • Empaths & Sensitives • Humanity's Place on Earth & The Proclivity towards Narcissism • Gardens, Boundaries, and Social Media • The Magic within the Appalachian Mountains Episode Resources: • Join Us in The ALMANAC  • Mirrors in the Earth: Reflections on Self-Healing from the Living World by Asia Suler Connect with Asia Suler: • One Willow Apothecaries Website: https://onewillowapothecaries.com/ • YouTube @AsiaSuler : https://www.youtube.com/c/AsiaSuler • Instagram @asiasuler : https://www.instagram.com/asiasuler/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asiasuler/ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: • Our Website • Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram • Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC • Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

We often hear about the rising tides, the growing storms, the heat that continues to climb. Evidence of climate change is all around us. In 2016, Dutch sailors Floris van Hees and Ivar Smits set off on a voyage around the world searching for answers to the growing crisis. As Sailors for Sustainability, Floris and Ivar have an incredibly inspiring conversation with Emma and Mary directly from their boat out at sea, during which they share their adventures and how they have witnessed firsthand dozens of incredible initiatives that are driving positive transformation around the globe. From sustainable agriculture to renewable energy to school projects, they have encountered wise and passionate individuals, politicians, and organizations who are actively working towards a more sustainable future. Their unwavering optimism and belief in humanity's ability to achieve change will impact you, leaving you feeling as though anything can be possible. Listen for the sea lions in the background, who joined us in this conversation directly from their location at sea! This episode is brought to you by Dirty Labs: Use code "TGD20" for 20% off your order! Topics Discussed • Emma's Wooden Boat Adventures & The Almanac • Sustainable Solutions in All Areas of Life • Sailing as a Passion • Humanity's Dependence on Nature • A Dream of Sailing Around the World • Immersion in Different Cultures: Switzerland, Netherlands, and More • Why Sailing is the Most Sustainable Mode of World Travel • Alternative Renewable Fuel: Energy from the Sun, the Wind, and the Sea • Documenting Solutions to Climate Change • Providing Inspiration & Motivation to Others • What YOU Can Do • Using Your Vote to Support the Green Agenda • Confronting Climate Change & Ecosystem Destruction Upfront • The State of the Sea and Corals • Plastics Islands in the Ocean • Social Inequality • Agro-Ecology & Brazil • Dealing with Eco-Grief/Eco-Anxiety • Day in the Life on the Sea • Low Points & High Points Out at Sea • Funding the Project • Spreading the Message • The Power of Hope Episode Resources: • Join Us in The ALMANAC  • Listen to The Good Dirt September Bonus Episode: Let's Make Good Dirt! Connect with Sailors for Sustainability: • Website: https://sailorsforsustainability.nl/ • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/sailorsforsustainability • IG @sailorsforsustainability : https://www.instagram.com/sailorsforsustainability/ • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SailorsforSustainability • Links: https://linktr.ee/sailorsforsustainability ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: • Our Website • Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram • Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC • Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 36:41

Today’s guests are Chris Young and Susan Ottaviano, co-authors of The Green Witch's Guide to Magical Plants & Flowers: 26 Love Spells from Apples to Zinnias, a practical guide on how to bring more love and contentment into your life using elements of nature. In this book, the authors help you unlock the secrets hiding in your garden, transforming everyday flowers, fruits, and plants into delightful foods, bath salts, herbal infusions, soaps, sachets, tinctures, and more. Chris, a lifelong gardener, shares his belief that all plants are magical, while Susan, a chef, artist and performer, tells us how to bring plant magic into the kitchen. Join Mary and Emma as they uncover the secrets hidden in gardens and discover how everyday flowers, fruits, and plants can be transformed into powerful tools for self-care and enchantment. This episode is brought to you by Dirty Labs: Use code "GOODDIRT" for 20% off your order! Topics Discussed • Welcoming Autumn • Fall Flowers Including: Goldenrods, Calendula Marigold, Black-Eyed Susans, and Zinnias • Lifetime Love of Plants • Magical Herbalism • Recipes for Oils, Candles, Soaps, Tinctures, and Sachets • Imbuing Magic into the Food We Eat • The Magical Properties of Apples & Basil • Strawberry Vodka Recipe • Strawberry-Basil-Lemon Water Recipe • Aroniaberries (Chokeberries) • Plant Potency • How Acid changes Flavor • Being a Food Stylist • Habitat Gardens & Pollinator Stations • Milkweed & Monarch Butterflies • Being a Green Witch in New York City • Green Spaces in a Big City • The Love Food Movement Episode Resources: • "The Green Witch's Guide to Magical Plants & Flowers: 26 Love Spells from Apples to Zinnias" by Chris Young and Susan Ottaviano • Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham • Salt Falt Acid Heat • The Theodore Payne Foundation • Listen to The Good Dirt: 151. "Lawns into Meadows" with Author Owen Wormser on Regenerative Agriculture  • Listen to The Good Dirt: 138. The Urgent Need for Restorative Gardening with Mary Reynolds • "Picture This" Plant Identification App • Doug Tallamy & the Homegrown National Park • "Nature's Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard" by Douglas W. Tallamy • The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living Connect with Chris Young & Susan Ottaviano: • Susan's Website: https://www.susanottaviano.com/ • Chris's IG @plantymcflowers https://www.instagram.com/plantymcflowers/ • IG @2greenwitches : https://www.instagram.com/2greenwitches/ • Links: https://linktr.ee/2greenwitches • TikTok @2greenwitches : https://www.tiktok.com/@2greenwitches ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: • Our Website • Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram • Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC • Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

In this episode, Mary talks about her personal associations with the splendor of October, Planting By the Signs as the growing season wanes, the Zodiac signs and their rulership, growing garlic, preserving herbs and a chocolate cake with a surprise ingredient! Support this podcast and get your own downloadable planting by the moon calendar by becoming a member of The Good Dirt Supporters! Topics Discussed*: • Planting By The Signs: Part Three Blog • Of Time and the River by Thomas Wolfe • Halloween/Origins and Cultural Significance • Link to Halloween Bonus podcast episode (October '22) • The October Garden • Hunter's Moon • Garlic • Planting By the Signs/the Zodiac signs, their symbols and rulership • Harvesting and Preserving Herbs • Chocolate Beet Cake • How to Make Stevia Extract by Jill Winger from The Prairie Homestead Episode Resources*: • Raising With the Moon -- The Complete Guide to Gardening--and Living--by the Signs of the Moon by Taylor Reese and Jack Pyle • How to process and preserve fresh herbs - For Members of the Lady Farmer ALMANAC* *Some of the linked articles will only be available to current members of The ALMANAC. If you are not currently a member and are interested in subscribing, check out this page for more information. Support this podcast and get your own downloadable planting by the moon calendar by becoming a member of The Good Dirt Supporters! ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Email Mary at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share a story about slow living through the seasons!

When it comes to reducing waste in our daily lives, there are several steps we can take, like curbing our consumerism, composting our food waste, and recycling. But what about our cleaning products? Have you ever thought about the impact of your laundry detergent or hand wash and what actually goes down the drain? If you're curious about cleaning up your own cleaning routine and learning about the ingredients in your household products you'll want to hear today's episode with David Watkins, the co-founder of Dirty Labs. David, an award-winning product designer and entrepreneur, has seen firsthand the staggering amount of manufacturing waste generated by consumer products. That's why he decided to start Dirty Labs, a company dedicated to providing eco-friendly alternatives to conventional cleaners and detergents. In this episode, Emma and Mary sit down with David, and he shares his insights on conscious consumerism and how working with Dirty Labs has influenced his own shopping habits. If you're curious about cleaning up your own cleaning routine and learning about the ingredients in your household products Tune in to this episode and discover how Dirty Labs is making a difference in the world of sustainable consumer goods. This episode is brought to you by Dirty Labs: Use code "TGD20" for 20% off your order! Topics Discussed • Petrochemicals & Harsh Synthetic Compounds • The Role of Chemistry in Environmentalism • The Origins of Dirty Labs • Cleaning Innovations Lab • Laundry, Laundry Sheets, and Tide Pods • Greenwashing • Incorporating Sustainability into Business Practices • The Perceived Value of Something • Why Use Silicone • Re-learning the Proper Quantity to Use • How Businesses Get Us to Consume More and More Product • California Prop 65 Chemical of Concern • Laundry Scents • Regional Ingredient Bans • 1, 4-Dioxane Episode Resources: • Join Us in The ALMANAC  Connect with David Watkins: • Website: https://dirtylabs.com/ • About: https://dirtylabs.com/pages/about • IG @dirty_labs : https://www.instagram.com/dirty_labs/ • Links: https://linktr.ee/dirty_labs/ • Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidpwatkins/ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: • Our Website • Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram • Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC • Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

The foundation of all life on the planet is the soil beneath our feet. But that soil isn't indestructible and if scientists are right, we may only have a few dozen harvests left before the good dirt is depleted. So what can we do? We're glad you asked. In this episode, Mary and Emma discuss how everyone can contribute to soil regeneration, even without access to a farm or garden. They explore various methods, including composting food waste, sourcing food from local growers, and adding organic matter to the soil. They also share tips on minimizing digging, leaving leaves to create natural mulch, and starting a worm bin to make the soil of your dreams. If you want to start cultivating with intention by taking small steps towards creating a healthier planet, this episode on The Good Dirt about the good dirt is sure to inspire you. Topics Discussed • Encouraging Kids to love good dirt. • Individual Responsibility • The Biology of Soil • Harvest Cycles • Soil Degradation & Regeneration • Limited Resource Depletion • Composting Your Food Waste • Local Food Sources • Intention, not Guilt • Good Dirt in Small Spaces • Herbicides and Pesticides • The Dealing with Raking Your Leaves • Leave Your Garden Alone in the Fall • Vermiculture • Actionable Steps to Take This Season Episode Resources: • Only 60 Years of Farming Left if Soil Degradation Continues by Chris Arsenault in The Scientific American • Old Farmers Almanac: How To Compost At Home • Home composting resource and free composting consult • Find a Composter • Compost Manufacturing Alliance • Vermiculture Blog • The Nation’s Corn Belt Has Lost a Third of Its Topsoil by Becca Dzombak in the Smithsonian Magazine ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: • Our Website • Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram • Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC • Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

We often have this misconception about homesteading; that we need 40+ acres in order to start growing our own food. But that's not the case. There's so much we can do with where we are. Master Gardener Michelle Bruhn and Master Preserver Stephanie Thurow sought to change this mindset by co-authoring "Small-Scale Homesteading: A Sustainable Guide to Gardening, Keeping Chickens, Maple Sugaring, Preserving the Harvest, and More". Join the conversation as they cover a range of topics related to small scale homesteading, including the joy of preserving and growing food, finding balance in a busy schedule, and the importance of inspiring others. Emma and Mary also ask Michelle and Stephanie about their greatest challenges and joys in their work, making for a lively and informative conversation that will leave you feeling motivated to try your hand at homesteading, no matter how small your space may be. This episode is brought to you by Dirty Labs: Use code "TGD20" for 20% off your order! Topics Discussed • The Fall Equinox • Finding a Business Partner • From Online Connection to In-Person Collaboration • Pushing the Seasons • Chickens, Eggs, and Silver Maple Trees • Food Preservation • Feeding the Soil • Dealing with Foxes • Vertical Gardening in the Suburban Space • Hügelkultur Gardening and Lasagna Gardening • Working with Your Local Government • Yearning • Doing What You Can Where You're At • Why We All Need Community • Fostering Relationships with other Farmers • Farmer's Markets & Sourcing Products You Can't Grow On Your Own • The Lone Star Tick • Farm to School Food • Favorite Foods to Can • Raspberries Episode Resources: • Listen to The Good Dirt "Slow Living Through the Seasons | 02 | September" • Find Mary's Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe here • Join Us in The ALMANAC • "Small-Scale Homesteading: A Sustainable Guide to Gardening, Keeping Chickens, Maple Sugaring, Preserving the Harvest, and More" by Stephanie Thurow and Michelle Bruhn • "Weck Home Preserving: Made-From-Scratch Recipes for Water-Bath Canning, Fermenting, Pickling, and More" by Stephanie Thurow • "Freeze Fresh: The Ultimate Guide to Preserving 55 Fruits and Vegetables for Maximum Flavor and Versatility" by Crystal Schmidt • The Northern Gardener Magazine Connect with Michelle Bruhn: • Forks in the Dirt: https://forksinthedirt.com/ • IG @forksinthedirt : https://www.instagram.com/ForksintheDirt/ • Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/forksinthedirt Connect with Stephanie Thurow: • Minnesota from Scratch: https://minnesotafromscratch.com/ • IG @minnesotafromscratch : https://www.instagram.com/minnesotafromscratch/ • Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/MinnesotafromScratch ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: • Our Website • Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram • Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC • Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

Our guest today is Andi Eaton Alleman, Founder of Oui, We Studio, a platform dedicated to new school approaches to radiant living. She also hosts the top-ranked wellness podcast Your Woo Woo Best Friend, which features practical conversations for attainable transformation. Andi is known for her no nonsense approach to spiritual wellness and practical advice for living a high-vibe life. Her latest book, Elemental: Nature Inspired Rituals to Nourish Your Life is for wellness enthusiasts interested in disconnecting from the digital and reconnecting with the natural world for better health and inner peace. She’s also the Founder and Creative Director of the clean beauty brand Casa Noon. In this conversation, we discuss numerous topics, including some of the ideas in Andi's book about nature and ritual, Ayurveda, the practice of manifestation, the system of Human Design, and how to bring soul and spirit into our work. Tune in for a fresh and accessible approach to creating the life you want! This episode is brought to you by Dirty Labs: Use code "TGD20" for 20% off your order! Topics Discussed • Manifestation • Ayurveda & Ayurvedic Beauty Brand • Rituals • Astrology • Living with Intentionality • Disconnecting from the Digital World • The Difference Between Ritual and Habit • Believing in What is Meant for You • Detaching from the Outcome • Human Design • Defining a Manifesting Generator • Connecting to Your Intuition • The Incarnation Cross • Being a Conscious CEO • What Success Means • Breaking the Hustle Culture Cycle Episode Resources: • "Elemental: Nature-Inspired Rituals to Nourish Your Life" by Andi Eaton Alleman  • The Artist's Way with Lady Farmer Connect with Andy Eaton Alleman: • "Oui, We" Website: https://www.ouiwegirl.com/ • IG @ouiwestudio: https://www.instagram.com/ouiwestudio • IG @ouiwegirl: https://www.instagram.com/ouiwegirl/ • TikTok @ouiwegirl: https://www.tiktok.com/@ouiwegirl • Listen to Your Woo Woo Best Friend: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-woo-woo-best-friend/id1555589799 • Casa Noon Beaty @casanoonbeauty: https://www.instagram.com/casanoonbeauty/ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: • Our Website • Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram • Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC • Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 36:46

Liv Olsen, owner of the secondhand fabric shop A Thrifty Notion in Ogden, Kansas, has a passion for textiles and ecology. She is on a mission to prevent deadstock and destashed fabrics from ending up in landfills, while promoting sustainability in the textile industry. In this episode, Emma, Mary, and Liv discuss the challenges of sourcing quality secondhand textiles, ways to promote mindful consumption, and the intersection of textiles and sustainability. Liv's message will inspire you to reconsider your own practices and adopt a more sustainable approach to your clothing. This episode is brought to you by Farmer’s Friend: Use code “good dirt” for $10 off your first order of Quick-Plant Fabric for the month of September. One use per customer. Offer valid exclusively for new customers, expires 10/1/23 at 12:00 am.  Topics Discussed • The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron • Creating an Online Business • Leaving Quilting for the Secondhand Store • Why Thrifting Has Risen in Popularity • Goodwill's Rising Prices • Checking Clothes for Plastic Content: The Burn Test • The Permanence of Plastics in Fabrics • Overconsumption & Abundance of Clothing • Growing Up in a Homestead • Each Generation Dealing with More and More Stuff • How Marketing Might Be the Potential Solution in America • Secondhand Quality Control • Tough Fabrics to Maintain • Balancing Sustainability with Running a Business • Funding the Creative Process • Cotton • Linen, Flax, and Hemp • Waiting Before Consuming Episode Resources: • The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron • "The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living: Cultivating Sustainable Simplicity Close to Home" by Mary E. Kingsley • Crispina ffrench • Listen to The Good Dirt. "The Chico Flax Project" • Listen to The Good Dirt, "The PA Flax Project" • Mr. Money Mustache Connect with Liv Olsen: • A Thrifty Notion Website: https://athriftynotion.com/ • Instagram @athriftynotion: https://www.instagram.com/athriftynotion/ • Blog: https://athriftynotion.com/a/blog • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC__MBy85k6bHejXAl4NLNPA?sub_confirmation=1 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

Welcome to September and Slow Living Through the Seasons! This is the month that we transition into fall. We'll talk how to embrace the last beautiful days of summer despite the marketing pressure for the upcoming autumn and winter season. Our Planting By the Signs segment will help you plan your fall garden activities, and as always we'll be sharing a couple of special recipes from our seasonal kitchen. Also we're discussing sweater weather, and some things to consider in keeping your cool weather wardrobe more sustainable. Support this podcast and get your own downloadable planting by the moon calendar by becoming a member of The Good Dirt Supporters! Topics Discussed & Resources Mentioned*: Planting by the Signs: Part Two Blog on Lady Farmer Website Find Mary's Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe here Find Mary's Pimento Cheese Recipe here For Members of the Lady Farmer ALMANAC* Creating Fall Fragrances *Some of the linked articles will only be available to current members of The ALMANAC. If you are not currently a member and are interested in subscribing, check out this page for more information. Support this podcast and get your own downloadable planting by the moon calendar by becoming a member of The Good Dirt Supporters! ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Email Mary at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share a story about slow living through the seasons!

In this interview, the mother-daughter team Krista and Fia Arias join Emma and Mary to discuss the mission of Tierra Soul Farm in Magdalena, New Mexico, helping people and communities find well being, connection and belonging in an often confusing and complicated world. Tierra Soul Farm is an earth sanctuary, honey spa, artist hive, ministry for healing, liberation, and cultural repair. Krista Arias is a Myth Mender— an Earth Alchemist and the creator of the Lazy Lady Living program. Also, among other things, she is a nutritional therapist, restorative justice enthusiast, permaculture instructor, birth keeper, and death midwife. Fia Arias, 17 years old, is keeper of the farm animals, big sister, daughter and aspiring sustainable, regenerative, and connected farmer. Her specialty is dairy. In this conversation, Fia reflects on her work with the animals and her coming of age in the context of an atypical upbringing, while Krista shares her thoughts about the inherent spirituality of earth connection, permaculture, indigenous wisdom and ancestral healing. This episode is brought to you by Farmer's Friend: Use code "gooddirt" for $10 off your first order of Quick-Plant Fabric for the month of September. One use per customer. Offer valid exclusively for new customers, expires 10/1/23 at 12:00am. Topics Discussed • Folklore Foods & Farming Program • Te Amo Member Cafe • Homesteading & Permaculture • Typical Teenager Life vs. Farm Life • Cultural Ethos to Raising Children • Indigenous & Mexican Practices • The Spiritual Dimension of Our Material Reality • Appropriation of Ceremony and Ritual • The Trauma of Colonization • Creative Revolutions from Plants • Remembering Our Bodies as a Part of Nature • GED, College, and Rites of Passage • Home Schooling • Reciprocity & Relationships • Specializing in Dairy & Cows vs. Goats • Myth Mending • The Soft Animal Course • Solace in Nature & Animals Episode Resources: • Lazy Lady Living • Captain Fantastic Connect with Krista Arias: • Website: https://kristaarias.com/contact/ • Follow @tierrasoulvillagefarm: https://www.instagram.com/tierrasoulvillagefarm/?hl=en • Tiera Soul Website: https://tierrasoul.com/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TierraSoul ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

Do you feel like your time slips away from you? Do you feel overwhelmed by the tasks you have to complete during your day, like they're an insurmountable mountain you can't climb? You're not alone. We all feel this way at times. At The Good Dirt, we aim to educate and empower you, the consumer, to create the life you want and embrace slow living. In today's discussion, Mary and Emma will explore techniques to help you reframe your relationship with time and provide three practical tips for helping you experience more spaciousness in your day: Topics Discussed • What Time Actually Is • EOD or End-of-Day • The 21st Century Human's Relationship to Time • The Fixed Nature of a 24 Hour Day • Allowing Time • Changing Our Language Internally & Externally • The Making Meditation • Remember the Breath • Embrace Empty Space • Giving Your Kids Permission to Embrace Time • Overview of the 3 Practices: Allowing Time, The Making Meditation, Embrace Empty Space Episode Resources: Leave Us a Voice Note at (443) 459-1950 to let us know how you will be implementing these techniques to help you take ownership of your time! ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 12:42

As the climate crisis continues to escalate, viable solutions might seem more and more unattainable. Our guest is Philip Clayton, Co-Founder and President of the Institute for Ecological Civilization, talking about the great hope in on-the-ground solutions showing up all over the world that reflect the values of living in harmony with the earth. Philip describes EcoCiv as a place where "big ideas meet the local project." With his extensive background in academia, including a PhD from Yale University and guest professorships at top universities, he has refocused his efforts at the intersection of the environment and humanity, helping others in living ecologically and in ways that foster the thriving of our one and only planet earth. Philip provides three crucial steps that anyone can take to transform their habits and explores how each of us can affect positive change in a world that is increasingly in need of ecological solutions. Topics Discussed • The Institute for Ecological Civilization • The Climate Crisis • Finding a Piece of Earth • Reconciling Theology and Ecology • Our Home Ecosystem • Panentheism & Spirituality • Centering Nature over Humanity • Honoring the Sacred Aspect of Nature • The Anthropocene • How Humanity's Dominance Over Nature Shows Up In Our Day-to-Day • Transforming Our Habits • Promising Changes Happening Today • The Three Phrases to Help Anyone Get Started • Incremental Lifestyle Choices Episode Resources • Listen to Our New Podcast "Slow Living Through the Seasons" • Listen to The Good Dirt "An Ecological Civilization for All with Andrew Schwartz of EcoCiv" • Visit The Lady Farmer Marketplace • The Ecociv Podcast. • "Is It Too Late?: A Theology of Ecology" by John B. Cobb • "The New Possible: Visions of Our World beyond Crisis" by Philip Clayton and Kelli M. Archie • This Changes Everything with Naomi Klein • "Change the Story, Change the Future: A Living Economy for a Living Earth" by David C. Korten • Kiss the Ground Film • Humanity as a Geologic Force with Michael Osborne of Generation Anthropocene • Greta Thunberg • Jainism • Deep Ecology • Religious Society of Friends. Connect with Philip Clayton: • Website: https://www.philipclayton.net/ • Institute for Ecological Civilization: https://ecociv.org/member/clayton-philip/ • Instagram @ecociv_: https://www.instagram.com/ecociv_/ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: • Our Website • Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram • Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC • Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

In this episode we're talking to Leah Webb, author of The Seven Step Homestead about how to turn any yard into a primary food source with vegetables, fruits, chickens, pollinator plants and medicinal herbs. A mother of two children with unique medical needs, Leah utilizes food grown in her own backyard garden as an important part of her children's integrative care. She sees herself as a solutions-based Family Food and Garden Coach, with a goal of guiding families in making small yet impactful steps towards sourcing their own nutrition and achieving long term dietary, cooking, and gardening goals. She is also the author of The Grain-Free, Sugar-Free, Dairy-Free Family Cookbook. In this conversation, we delve into the challenges and benefits of growing and preparing nutrient dense food, and the practicalities of creating your own microfarm in the space you already have. If you are one of many with a goal to connect with the land and create more independence from the industrial food system, Leah can guide you through, step-by-step. Topics Discussed • A Stormy Week in the DC Area • Leah's Background in Nutrition Education and Her Path to Creating a Microfarm in her own Backyard. • Being a Mom to Kids with Unique Medical Needs and the Role of Gardening and Home Grown Food in their Integrative Care. • Learning the Basics of Gardening for Food • Eating Home Grown Vegetables • Food Preservation • Convenience Foods • Priorities & Food • Investing in Homesteading • Start Small for the Long Haul • Which Plants to Start With • Planting Charts • Using, Measuring, and Creating Compost • The Difference Between Homesteading and Gardening • Homesteading , Self Sufficiency and Community • Finding an Alternative to the Industrial Food Industry • Consumer Awareness of Food • Regenerative Growing Practices Episode Resources: •"The Grain-Free, Sugar-Free, Dairy-Free Family Cookbook: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Cooking with Whole Foods on a Restrictive Diet" by Leah Webb •"The Seven-Step Homestead: A Guide for Creating the Backyard Microfarm of Your Dreams" by Leah Webb •Listen to The Good Dirt Reclaiming Our Food from Field to Kitchen with CSA Farmer Mo Moutoux of Moutoux Orchard Connect with Leah Webb: • Website: https://www.leahmwebb.com/ • Instagram @leah_m_webb https://www.instagram.com/leah_m_webb/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeahMWebbWellness/ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: •Our Website •Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram •Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC •Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

This episode originally aired on August 23, 2022. What aspects of the back-to-school season are tapping into core memory making, and how much is just consumer hype? Listen in as Mary & Emma peel away the marketing from the emotion, and discuss ideas for reframing this season in a more sustainable way for kids AND parents. Things Mentioned: Michael Pollan, author of In Defense of Food - An Eater's Manifesto Lady Farmer Marketplace Wool Lunchbox Jute Sandwich Bag Jackalo Clothing About Lady Farmer: Lady Farmer is a sustainable apparel and lifestyle brand, with education around sustainability and sustainable living at the forefront of our mission. Lady Farmer is proud to produce The Good Dirt podcast. Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or tell us what the good dirt means to you. Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

TRIGGER WARNING: Princess Manuel briefly mentions her history with suicidal ideation. If you or someone you know needs help, please contact the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. Many of us have lost our connection to the Earth through decades of colonization and the pressures of a capitalistic system, and consequently we have lost connection to our community as well. How can we rediscover our way back to each other and the plant and animal life all around us? Princess Manuel, LMSW (she/they/siya/sila), has been pursuing the answer to this question as a Spiritual Life Coach, Community Herbalist, Shamanic Practitioner and Founder of LUYA Healing and Herbs. She is deeply committed to helping communities of color heal generational trauma that presents itself in triggers, exhaustion, lack of motivation and low self-worth. Princess is interested in helping us thrive and rise above victimization and survival, and specializes in mental health wellness with a decolonization and intersectional framework. In this conversation, Princess talks about efforts to decolonize therapy and address the limiting beliefs placed on us all, and explains how nature holds the healing we need for our original attachment and mother wounds. Princess gives us unique insight into the healing wisdom of plant medicines, ancestral technology and somatic practices, animal spirit guides and ritual practices as tools for helping us reconnect with ourselves and the land. Topics Discussed • It's still summer! • Decolonizing therapy • Addressing Limiting Beliefs and the impacts of racism, sexism and classism • Intergenerational and present-day trauma • Healing by Reconnecting with the Earth • Becoming an Herbalist & Studying Traditional Medicine • Guidance towards Shamanism • Psychosomatic Healing Practices • Sourcing Herbs • Attachment Wounds & Mother Wounds • Insecure vs. Secure Attachments • Learning from Plants through the Indigenous View instead of a Capitalistic View • Healing Our Original Attachment Wound & Reconnecting with the Land • Indigenous Peoples' Connection to & Knowledge of the Earth • Belonging • The Privilege of the Nuclear Family • Generational Traumas • Animal and Spiritual Herbalism • Shamanic Journeying & A Lifestyle of Ritual Practice • Community Organizing & Think Tanks • The Soul Fire Farm Speaker's Collective • Knowing that You Are Love Episode Resources: •Listen to Slow Living Through the Seasons | 01 | August: Intro to Gardening by the Moon •Listen to The Good Dirt "Restoring Justice Through Love and the Living Soil with Jonathan McRay of Silver Run Forest Farm" • Join The Good Dirt Supporters! •"Love, Nature, Magic: Shamanic Journeys Into the Heart of My Garden" by Maria Rodale •"Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest" by Suzanne Simard •Sign Up for a Discounted Session with LUYA Healing & Herbs Here! Connect with Princess Manuel: • Follow Princess Manuel on IG @decolonizehealingjourney: https://www.instagram.com/decolonizehealingjourney/?hl=en • Princess Manuel's Website: https://www.princessmanuel.com/ • Soul Fire Farm Website: https://www.soulfirefarm.org/our-team/ • LUYA Healing & Herbs Website: https://www.luyahealing.com/ • Instagram @soulfirefarm: https://www.instagram.com/soulfirefarm/ • Facebook @soulfirefarm: https://www.facebook.com/soulfirefarm/ • YouTube @soulfirefarm: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz3Bs3G0GkDR83JSxF4C5Eg • Support Soul Fire Farm here: https://linktr.ee/soul.fire.farm ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: •Our Website •Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram •Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC •Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

In a world where rampant consumerism leads to the exploitation of the Earth's resources, what solutions can we look to for a more sustainable economy? Today's guest, Emily Prieto, co-founder of Seeds of Tao with her husband Joshua Paul Prieto, proposes an alternate path: Regenerative Business. Rather than solely focusing on the bottom line, regenerative business aims to form a circular economy, where production and consumption involve sharing, reusing, and recycling current products as long as possible. As an artist, entrepreneur, regenerative land designer, brand strategist, marketer, and mother of four, Emily advises fellow business owners on how to increase their profits while giving back to the planet. She aims to completely rewrite entrepreneurial education, focusing on local bio-regional issues, because what works in Washington D.C may not work in Argentina. This discussion delves into how the current economy takes but fails to give back, the small changes we can make to be more responsible in our choice of businesses to work with and support, and what buzzwords to look out for in greenwashing marketing practices. Topics Discussed • Reishi Powder & Umami • Slow Living Through the Seasons Podcast • Regenerative Business & Scaling Impact • Building a Circular Economy • The Meaning Behind "Seeds of Tao" • Taoism • Emily's Journey to Panama • Permaculture Design & Natural Buildings • Bio-Regional Hub • Creating a Home Based on the Climate • Local Business • The Power of Reframing Language • Moving Away from the Bottom Line • Examples of Regenerative Businesses • Tech & Sustainability • Greenwashing and Voting with Your Dollars • The Types of Businesses Emily Works With • Small Businesses, Entrepreneurs, and Solopreneurs vs. Big Corporations • What Consumers Need to Know About Marketing • Permaculture Land Design • Emily and Her Family's Work in the Rainforest • Hope in the Face of Eco-Grief • Motherhood and Slow Living Episode Resources: •Our New Podcast: Slow Living Through the Seasons •Join The Good Dirt Supporters Membership Here! •Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching: A Book about the Way and the Power of the Way •Allbirds & Vivobarefoot Connect with Emily Prieto: • Website: https://www.seedsoftao.com/about • Podcast: https://www.seedsoftao.com/blog • Instagram @seeds_of_tao : https://www.instagram.com/seeds_of_tao/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seedsoftao/ • Support Seeds of Tao: https://linktr.ee/seedsoftao ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: •Our Website •Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram •Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC •Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

Welcome to the debut of Mary’s solo podcast, Slow Living Through the Seasons. In this first episode, Mary talks about the seasonal shifts that take place in August and encourages us to slow down enough to notice the changes taking place in our environment. She also gives us an introduction to the Appalachian tradition of Gardening by the Signs of the Moon and some first steps in getting started with it for your fall planting.  For this month’s peek into the seasonal kitchen, we’re talking about baking bread in celebration of the ancient festival of Lammas, and a favorite recipe for garden tomatoes. She wraps up the episode with a discussion about taking a more sustainable approach to this season of back-to-school preparation, referencing some past episodes of The Good Dirt with more on the topic.  Support this podcast and get your own downloadable planting by the moon calendar by becoming a member of The Good Dirt Supporters! Topics Discussed*: Significance of August 1st as a cross-quarter day and some of the traditions behind it.  How does August feel? The blue moon of August Gardening by the Signs of the Moon: an overview and an introduction with some basic “how-tos” for your fall garden. (Recap here!) A favorite Recipe for Garden Tomatoes - Tarte de la Tomate Back-to-School season For Members of the Lady Farmer ALMANAC* More about Lammas and Mary's go-to Sourdough Bread recipe More favorite Recipes for Garden Tomatoes *Some of the linked articles will only be available to current members of The ALMANAC. If you are not currently a member and are interested in subscribing, check out this page for more information. Resources Mentioned Gardening by the Signs Blog-August The Old Farmer's Almanac The Farmer's ALMANAC Raising with the Moon, The Complete Guide to Gardening–and Living–by the Signs of the Moon, by Jack R. Pyle and Taylor Reese You and the Man in the Moon: The Complete Guide to Using the Almanac, by Jack R Pyle and Taylor Reese You can find Kate’s Tomato Recipe in her story highlights @katedecamont, or check out Mary's personal spin on it here. More on Kate Hill's current residency program is here! The Good Dirt Podcast Episodes Mentioned 55. A Taste of France: Cooking and Slow Living in Gascony with Kate Hill Bonus: Mary & Emma Chat: How to Make Back-to-School More Sustainable 135. Seeking Solutions to Waste in the School Supply Industry with Wisdom Supply Co Support this podcast and get your own downloadable planting by the moon calendar by becoming a member of The Good Dirt Supporters! ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Email Mary at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share a story about slow living through the seasons!

What is our work as individuals in creating a more sustainable and regenerative future? Today's guest is Ian C Williams, author of  Soil & Spirit: Seeds of Purpose, Nature’s Insight & the Deep Work of Transformational Change.  In his book, Ian draws the link between the work of self-actualization and the solution to the present day crisis we face both for our planet and for the human race. Years of addiction and recovery forced Ian to relentlessly pursue self-awareness and inner work, guiding him to what he refers to as an “environmental awakening.” All of this, combined with a single mystical experience, led him to an essential discovery: the only way out is in.  This conversation takes us on a deep dive into what our inner work as individuals might be, and how through self exploration and our reconnection with our place in the natural world, we can create cultural transformation from the inside out. In other words, the way to transform the world—is to transform ourselves. Topics Discussed • Self-Actualization • Substance Use Abuse, Addiction, and Recovery • The Impact of Losing a Beloved Pet • Focusing on the Process Over the Outcome • Climate Change & Soil • Diversity Creates Resilience • The Foundation of Spirituality • Internal, Social, External, and Spiritual Landscapes • Environmental Awakening • Reconnecting to Nature Through Experience • Falling in Love with the World • Saving Ourselves to Save the World • Teaching At-Risk Youth to Form Positive Experiences with Nature • Social Justice and Environmental Justice • Reconnecting Corporate America with the Earth • Hope for Humanity's Future • Mass Extinction Events & The Way The Earth Endures • How to Save Yourself on the Individual Basis • The Power of Breath Episode Resources: •Soil & Spirit: Seeds of Purpose, Nature's Insight & the Deep Work of Transformational Change by Ian C. Williams Connect with Ian C. Williams: • Website: https://www.reviveuandi.com/ • Instagram: @reviveuandi https://www.instagram.com/reviveuandi/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reviveuandi ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: •Our Website •Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram •Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC •Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

Mary and Emma have returned from Emma's wedding!  After months planning the weekend-long event, doing all they could to reduce waste and be as sustainable as possible, they can now sit down to reflect on the celebration. They share tips on practical ways to cut down on waste, how to communicate your goals with your vendors, the challenges of  trying to do things differently and some surprising examples of things actually being easier than anticipated. In the end, Mary and Emma were both delighted with how everything turned out. Whether you have a wedding coming up or are curious about ideas for planning an event with sustainability in mind, come join us for this post wedding wrap-up! Topics Discussed • Post-Wedding Reflections • Emma's Mini-Honeymoon • Cultural Expectations Around Weddings & Honeymoons • Composting During a Wedding • Reducing Waste in Wedding Party Favors • Gift Boxes • Communicating with Your Caterers • Choosing Sustainable Vendors • Ethical Wedding Dress & Bridal Party Attire • Why Have a Wedding? • Staying On Budget During a  DIY Wedding Episode Resources: Listen to The Good Dirt: "Bonus Episode: Planning a "Sustainable" Wedding: A Peek Into Our Process {PART 1}" Listen to The Good Dirt: "Bonus Episode: Planning a "Sustainable" Wedding: A Peek Into Our Process {PART 2}" Black Bear Composting Still White ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 13:39

Did you know that in this country, we have an area totaling the size of Washington State that is mowed lawns? Our guest is Owen Wormser, author of Lawns Into Meadows, who helps to weave people and the natural world back together through his work building regenerative landscapes. In this conversation, we discuss how meadows offer a compelling solution in a world where lawns have an enormous detrimental impact on our ecology and have wreaked havoc on our natural ecosystems. Owen was born and raised off the grid in rural Maine, surrounded by the natural world, with nature being his greatest teacher. Influenced by his study of horticulture, permaculture, organic agriculture, and ecology, Lawns Into Meadows is a how-to guide on growing your own wildflowers and native grasses. Owen offers approachable, simple steps for anyone and everyone to create sustainable and regenerative landscapes, starting with even a few square feet of land.  Topics Discussed • Connection to the Natural World • Building Low-Maintenance Ecologically Focused Landscapes • How Lawns Are Damaging the Planet • Growing Up in Rural Maine & Off the Grid • Living a Simple Life in a World We've Made Difficult • Convenience & Its Impact on Lifestyle • What Counts Toward a Life Full of Satisfaction, Abundance, and Fulfillment? • Applying Academic Knowledge to Real World Practice • Why We Want to Turn Laws into Meadows • What Makes a Meadow a Meadow • Dealing with Home Owner Associations • Humans are Traditionalist • Lawns & Status • Steps to Start & Maintain a Meadow • What to Plant in a Meadow • The Lifelong Learning Process of Healing the Earth • How Stillness Sustains Us • Plants as Our Birthright Episode Resources: •If You Stop Mowing This May, Will Your Lawn Become a Meadow? •Owen Wormser Massachusetts Department of Higher Education •Lawns Into Meadows: Growing a Regenerative Landscape by Owen Wormser •Lawns Into Meadows, 2nd Edition: Growing a Regenerative Landscape by Owen Wormser •The Road Washes Out in Spring: A Poet's Memoir of Living Off the Grid by Baron Wormser •The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art Bobbie's Meadow Museum •Listen to The Good Dirt "The Urgent Need for Restorative Gardening with Mary Reynolds" •Listen to The Good Dirt "Seeking the Wisdom of the Earth with Maria Rodale, author of Love, Nature, Magic: Shamanic Journeys into the Heart of My Garden" Connect with Owen Wormser: • Website: Abound Design https://abounddesign.com/ • Instagram: @lawns_into_meadows ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: •Our Website •Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram •Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC •Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

Welcome to Slow Living Through the Seasons! This is a new monthly podcast hosted by Mary Kingsley of The Good Dirt. Come join us for a monthly overview of how to embrace a slower, more sustainable lifestyle, tuning in to our connection with nature as we navigate our way through the year. Each month we'll be talking about gardening by the moon phases, what's up in the seasonal kitchen as it pertains to our food, whether its growing it, sourcing it, preserving or preparing it. We'll also be talking about how to navigate our cultural holidays and celebrations, and the nature celebrations that we want to integrate into our lives. We’ll be touching on topics that come up in our weekly interviews, and how to approach sustainability and low waste in a world that is very much the opposite of those things. We'll have lots to say about conscious consumerism, how to recognize greenwashing, adopting more regenerative lifestyle practices, how to demonstrate to family and friends that yes, you CAN do lots and lots of things without plastic and be the better for it, how to recharge your mind, body and spirit through more nature connection and SO MANY other things. The more we can bring our awareness to the energy shifts and gifts of each season, the more we can bring our daily lives more into sync with the rhythms of the earth. And in doing that we find ourselves making decisions and adapting our behavior in ways that foster more care for the earth—all with the intention of helping all of us cultivate more slow and intentional living. 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Email Mary at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share a story about slow living through the seasons!

Jamila Edwards, a long-time listener and fan of The Good Dirt podcast, joins Mary and Emma to talk about how slow living has transformed her life. After sending an email about convenience and sustainable living to the show, Jamila was invited onto the podcast to share her 15-year journey from working in the coffee industry to creating her own family-owned business, the Life's Flowers Coffeehouse & Marketplace, with her husband Eric and their blended family. Having observed massive amounts of waste in the food industry over the years, Jamila aimed to create a package-free, convenient, nature-conscious business to offer everyone the opportunity to transition to a low-waste household. She focuses on creating a positive environmental footprint while providing food justice to all at an affordable price point. In this episode, Mary, Emma, and Jamila discuss motherhood, minimalism, zero waste, and how small businesses can help us reconnect with nature. Topics Discussed • No Waste During the Season of Picnics • What Does "Convenience" Actually Mean? • Survival or Choice • Waste in the Food Industry • Zero Waste Living • Motherhood, Moving, and Feeling that Sustainability was Impossible • Minimalism • Reconnecting with Our Place in Nature • The African Diaspora & The Connection to the Earth • Figuring Out a Meal Plan for the Family • How Small Businesses Can Help Cut Down On Waste • The Cost of Providing Zero Waste Packaging • Taking Inventory of Household Items • The Problem with the Term "Throw Away" • What We're Leaving Behind for Future Generations • Passing Down Sustainable Thinking to Jamila's Kids • Keeping Food in Temp • Working with the Health Department & Satisfying Regulations • Finding Investors & Customers Who Believe in a Sustainable Start-Up • Food Justice & Food Deserts • Farmer's Market Accessibility Episode Resources: •Listen to The Good Dirt "Attainable Sustainability with Stephanie Miller, Author of Zero Waste Living the 80/20 Way" •Listen to The Good Dirt "Smart Aravind on the Story of Stuff, The Plastic Revolution, and Systemic Policy Change" •Listen to The Good Dirt "Growing Access: Modeling a Community Based Food system with Laurell Simms of Urban Growers Collective" •Zero Waste Living, the 80/20 Way: The Busy Person's Guide to a Lighter Footprint by Stephanie J. Miller •The Good Ancestor: A Radical Prescription for Long-Term Thinking by Roman Krznaric •The Modern Milkman Connect with Jamila Edwards: • Life's Flower Market Website: https://www.lifesflowermarket.com/about • Life's Flower Farm Blog: https://www.lifesflowermarket.com/blog • Instagram: Follow Life's Flower Farm on IG @lifesflowerfarm & Life's Flower Coffeehouse & Marketplace on IG @lifesflowermarket • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lifesflowerfarm ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: •Our Website •Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram •Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC •Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 35:45

In this episode, Emma and Mary sit down to talk to Smruti Aravind, who oversees fundraising, donor communications, and grants at the Story of Stuff Project. Smruti brings over a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector, with an emphasis on digital storytelling and network-building to drive systemic change. Prior to joining the Story of Stuff, she led communications at Faith in Action East Bay, a federation of the largest faith-based organizing network in the U.S. Smruti shares about her work and her perspective on creating meaningful social impact, as well as the campaign work that Story of Stuff is doing in order to create policy change. She introduces the Bottle Bill project as well as the Reuse Revolution, and why burning plastic is not the solution that you may believe it to be. Smruti also touches on what other countries are doing to deal with their waste, the impact on The Global South, and how we can all flex our citizen muscles and advocate for plastic reduction laws to be codified. Topics Discussed •Smruti's Work in the Nonprofit Sector •How the Story of Stuff Came to Be •Using the Power of Media to Influence Policy Change •Content Creation & Advocacy •The Story of Microbeads & The Story of Plastic •Founder Annie Leonard's Inspiration for the Documentary •Increasing BIPOC Voices in the Search of a Solution •Systems Thinking for the General Public •The Break Free From Plastic Movement Treaty •How Millennials and Gender Z Approach Environmental Activism •Shifting From Individual Responsibility to Systemic Change •Real Solutions vs. False Solutions •The Great Pacific Plastic Patch  •Why Burning Plastic & Buying Plastic Clothes Doesn't Work •Stopping the Tap with Campaign Work: The Bottle Bill & The Reuse Revolution •What Other Countries Are Doing •The Impact of Waste on the Global South •Flexing Our Citizen Muscles •What Corporations are Able to Change •Moving to Florida & the Way that Different States Handle Plastic Waste •Cloth Diapers •Slow Living in a Big City •The Impact of the Individual Episode Resources: •Watch The Story of Stuff Documentary •The California Plastic Incinerator Connect with Smruti Aravind: •Website: https://www.storyofstuff.org/blog/people/smruti-aravind/ •YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/storyofstuffproject •Instagram: @storyofstuff https://instagram.com/storyofstuff/ •Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/storyofstuff •Links: https://linktr.ee/storyofstuff ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: •Our Website •Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram •Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC •Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

To celebrate Plastic Free July, Mary and Emma are bringing back one of their favorite episodes on sustainable living: episode 86 with Danielle Alvarado which first aired on April 8th, 2022.    Learn to make space for what truly makes you happy using the power of refusal and conscious choice, with Danielle Alvarado of Sustainably Kind Living. Danielle’s educational online collective for the conscious consumer provides alternative resources to the harmful fast fashion, home, and beauty industries. Moved by the horrific stories she heard first hand from garment workers in Southeast Asia, Danielle found her calling by advocating for sustainable fashion and for a rejection of harmful and toxic industrial systems. After making the move to Italy to begin her family, Danielle found herself in a small Italian village where sustainable slow-living was simply the norm. Amazed by this new way of life and inspired by her experience in Asia, she began a blog to educate and advocate for a paradigm shift towards simple living. She now preaches about the power to bypass consumerism by asking, “What truly makes us happy?” and “What defines actual need?” Danielle knows that beneath all of the things we think we want, we are really longing for acceptance and connection back to each other and the Earth. She also knows that if we have the privilege to consider sustainable options, then we have the responsibility to select those options. Ultimately, she argues that slow living is, at its core, a call to show ourselves and the world greater empathy.   Please be advised, this episode contains mention of sexual assault and sexual violence.  Topics Discussed • Sustainable Fashion  • Consumer Culture  • Fast Fashion  • Child Labor  • Social Inequality  • Minimalism • Conscious Consumerism • Slow Fashion • Slow Living Episode Resources: •Elizabeth Kline Good Dirt Episode  •Fashion Revolution  •The True Cost Documentary  •Wildling Shoes  •Plastic Free July •Follow Plastic Free July on Instagram @plasticfreejuly Connect with Danielle Alvarado: • Website: www.sustainablykindliving.com • Instagram @sustainablykindliving and @sustykindliving  • Facebook, Sustainably Kind Living • Facebook, Danielle Alvarado  • Pinterest, Sustainably Kind Living ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: •Our Website •Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram •Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC •Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

Meet Maria Rodale, an author and advocate for organic regenerative farming. An explorer in search of the mysteries of the universe, Maria is the author of "Love Nature Magic: Shamanic Journeys into the Heart of My Garden", "Organic Manifesto", "Scratch", and is the author of a children's book series called written by the under the pen name "Mrs. Peanuckle". Her book "Love Nature Magic" was featured as a part of the a recent selection for the Lady Farmer book club, so it was truly an honor to get to talk with her on The Good Dirt. Together, Mary, Emma, and Maria discuss her new book, her family legacy in the world of regenerative agriculture, as well as her evolution from a CEO to (in her own words) a “crazy gardener.” Maria is truly a voice for the power and magic of nature and a guide for all of us seeking to rekindle a meaningful connection to the earth. Maria is the former CEO and Chairman of Rodale Inc, and has served on multiple nonprofit boards including the Rodale Institute, Bette Midler’s New York Restoration Project, and the Pennsylvania Federal Reserve Advisory council. She has received awards for her lifetime of service and activism, including the National Audubon Rachel Carson Award and the United Nations Population Fund’s Award for the Health and Dignity of Woman Everywhere. Topics Discussed • Growing up on as 3rd Generation Farmer at the Rodale Institute • The Farming Systems Trial • Moving Out at 18 to Becoming CEO: Family Loss & Legacy • The Implosion of the Publishing Industry • Following Her Nose: How Maria Found Writing • The Making of "Love Nature Magic" • What is a Shamanic Journey?  • Dealing with Mugwort in Gardens • Decolonizing Our Relationship with Nature • A Garden's Desire to be Wild • Why the Biggest Changes Come from a Change in Behavior • Being Open to Hearing Nature's Message • Changing the Future by Modeling What Could Be Over What Is • Recovering from a Stroke •"Regenerative" over "Sustainability" Episode Resources: •The Rodale Institute: 75 Years of Organic Agriculture Leadership •"Love, Nature, Magic: Shamanic Journeys into the Heart of My Garden" •"Organic Manifesto: How Organic Food Can Heal Our Planet, Feed the World, and Keep Us Safe" •"Scratch: Home Cooking for Everyone Made Simple, Fun, and Totally Delicious: A Cookbook" •Mrs. Peanuckle's Books •Mindful Bear •The Good Dirt: "The Urgent Need for Restorative Gardens with Mary Reynolds" •Fried Dandelion TikTok Connect with Maria Rodale: • Website: https://www.mariarodale.com/ • Mrs. Peanuckle Website: https://www.mrspeanuckle.com/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariarodale/  ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: •Our Website •Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram •JSign up to join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC •Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

Bailey Van Tassel is an entrepreneur and mother of three, who created both the Kitchen Garden Society and the Garden Culture Podcast. She grew up on a hobby farm in Sebastopol, California, but didn't fully appreciate her cowboy parents until she moved away and missed the huge garden, chickens, and pigs that she grew up around. Settling into the suburbs of Southern California meant she couldn't have the same amount of space, but after a challenge from her husband Joe, Bailey went to Home Depot, bought some plants, got her HOA's permission after vowing to share her vegetables, and the rest was history. Bailey's life changed even more once she started to share her journey online, where her passion shifted from hobby to profession. In this episode, Emma and Mary sit down with Bailey to discuss her journey, the evolution of her gardening practices, and techniques such as planting by the moon and vermicomposting. After years of searching for the perfect land to have her farm and garden, Bailey realized that right where she was, was good enough. She wants you to know that you can grow the garden of your dreams in any amount of space – you just need the right info. And that's what she's here to teach you! 🎉 SPECIAL OFFER: Get one month free in Bailey's Kitchen Garden Society Membership (AND one month free in The ALMANAC!) when you use the code "DIRT" at checkout for TKGS! Topics Discussed • The Summer Solstice • Social Media & Running an Online Business • Deciding How to Raise Kids • Lessons Learned from Moving from a Small City to a Big City • Creating a Connection to Nature for the Next Generation • Sharing the Journey to Gardening Online • The Feeling of Yearning • Our Innate Connectedness to Nature • Living a Garden Inspired Life • How to Garden in a Small Space • High Density Planting • Kids & Vegetables • The Deal with Snap Peas • Regenerative Gardening Practices • Planting by the Moon • What Is Vermicomposting Episode Resources: The Good Dirt: "Seeking Solutions to Waste in the School Supply Industry with Wisdom Supply Co." The Good Dirt: "The Urgent Need for Restorative Gardening with Mary Reynolds" The Good Dirt: “Homeschooling In The New Normal: Ideas And Options with Rebecca Gallop of A Daily Something” Connect with Bailey Van Tassel: • Website: https://baileyvantassel.com/ • Instagram: @baileyvantassel • The Kitchen Garden Society's IG: @thekitchengardensociety • The Garden Culture Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/an-intro-to-the-garden-culture-podcast-and-bailey-van-tassel/id1643017748?i=1000578082770 ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

As Mary and Emma prepare for Emma's wedding, they are looking back at some of their favorite episodes on The Good Dirt. Today, it is a replay of episode 40, which first aired on April 30th, 2021.   Liz Kimball (MFA, CPC) is a creativity catalyst, writer, coach, speaker, and founder of The Collective, a network of women creators and thought leaders dedicated to fostering cultural change through creativity. Her work has been featured at TEDx, Oprah.com, the NBA, The Guggenheim, NYU, and at universities and institutions throughout the country. In today's episode, we talk about the creative process from many angles, how pursuing our dreams might not be the straight path we imagine, how to foster our creative selves in a world that demands much from us, and how some of these things might be shifting from the pandemic year. Liz talks about the importance of detaching yourself from labels that you’ve placed on yourself since adolescence. Your work in the world is much more important than a title. We discuss how the ideas of slow living and "good dirt" are essential to cultivating the creative life, and building a future we can’t wait to wake up to! Topics Discussed • Mary & Emma catch up and chat about plants! • Liz introduces herself • Rewriting the rules  • The Collective • Discussion around time • The creative process • Mary recalls her own journey with her creative process Episode Resources: Liz's Website - The Collective Liz's TED Talk Howard Thurman - The Sound of The Genuine Big Magic - Elizabeth Gilbert The ALMANAC - Sharon Bailey's Workshop (available to members only)  Lynn Felton - @bonzart  Connect with Liz Kimball:: • Website: https://lizkimball.com/  • Instagram: @lizkimball ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

As Mary and Emma prepare for Emma's wedding, they are looking back at some of their favorite episodes on The Good Dirt. Today, it is a replay of episode 37, which first aired on April 9th, 2021. In this episode, Mary and Emma have a wonderful conversation with Eliza Blue, a singer/songwriter who lives and works on a regeneratively-managed ranch raising grass-fed cattle and fiber sheep with her husband and two children. Eliza discusses her transition from the life of a touring musician to a teaching job in South Dakota, and the pivotal moment when she walked into a friend's lambing barn during lambing season and realized she had found her calling. Eliza's connection to the land is evident in her stories of life on the ranch and her daily involvement with the animals and natural environment. She has written a book called "Accidental Rancher," which was released last spring. Additionally, she writes and produces audio "postcards" about ranch life for the North and South Dakota NPR affiliates. She has also just finished filming for a new series that celebrates rural life through stories and songs called "Wish You Were Here. Topics Discussed • The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living • Eliza introduces herself • Eliza’s creative endeavor  • Eliza’s shares a story from the ranch • How the pandemic has affected Eliza’s life • What inspires Eliza’s music and songwriting? • Regenerative Agriculture in the grasslands • What does The Good Dirt mean to Eliza? Episode Resources: The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living Book Accidental Rancher by Eliza Blue Postcards from the Prairie Wish You Were Here Dirt to Soil by Gabe Brown Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan The History and Folklore of Brigid: Saint, Legend and Lady Farmer with Kathy Spaar Eliza's Spotify Connect with Eliza Blue: • Website: https://elizablue.net/ • Instagram: @elizabluesings ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

Jeanne Carver is the award-winning founder and president of Shaniko Wool Company and current owner of Imperial Stock Ranch (est 1871) in Oregon. For over 20 years, she has been connecting the origins of food to fiber while strengthening local, regional, and domestic supply chains. Her mission began in 1999 when she and her husband Dan focused on selling environmentally friendly products. Jeanne now focuses on improving the wool, fossil fuel, and carbon emissions that come from her ranch, and has overseen the expansion of RWS certified American wool throughout the market. This includes the Ralph Lauren America Winter Olympic uniform program in 2018 and 2022. Thanks to her work in taking American wool to global third-party standards and leading the measurement initiative, she has been awarded the American Sheep Industry Association’s 2023 Innovation Award. She was also chosen by the Textile Exchange to be the voice of Responsible Animal Fibers globally in the film they recently released.  Jeanne's efforts have contributed significantly to the US Textile Industry and will potentially bring a new income stream to mid-size and smaller family ranches. This episode covers Jeanne’s journey as a rancher, scaling an ethically responsible business as CEO of Shaniko Wool Company, and the measurable data used to protect her sheep and the health of the soils and grasslands. Topics Discussed • Seeing the Earth Win and the legacy of Imperial Stock Ranch • Loss of Salmon in Buck Hollow Creek & Buck Hollow Watershed Project • The Power of Concerted Collaborative Conservation Efforts • Free Enterprise Economy • The Purpose of Grazing Animals • The Power of Story in Stewardship & Heritage • Working with Ralph Lauren on the Opening Ceremony USA Uniforms for Sochi 2014 • Third-party Certified Benchmarks • Patagonia Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) • Bringing Organic Cotton to Market • Wool as a Miracle Fiber • Scaling the Supply of Responsibly Sourced Wool in the USA • Annual Audit Expense • The Consequences of Separating Product from Place • The New Nativa™ Regen-Shaniko Wool Program • The Carbon Initiative with Dr. John Talbot with Oregon State University • Winning the American Sheep Industry Association’s 2023 Innovation Award. Episode Resources: The Shaniko Wool Company Imperial Stock Ranch Textile Exchange The Nature Conservancy The Good Dirt: Beyond Sustainability: Creating a Regenerative Supply Chain with Janessa Leone The Good Dirt: Seeking Solutions to Waste in the School Supply Industry with Wisdom Supply Co The Good Dirt BONUS: Mary & Emma Chat: How to Make Back-to-School More Sustainable This episode is Sponsored by True Leaf Market: Use our promo code: TGD10 - for $10 off an order of $50 or more (expires June 15th. Limit to one use per customer) at https://www.trueleafmarket.com/ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

Grown up in East Tennessee with deep roots like Mary Kingsley, Jonathan McRay shares his day-to-day as he works in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. With an MA in Conflict Transformation and Restorative Justice, Jonathan has worked with Vine and Fig, Speakers Collective of Soul Fire Farm, and the Cambium Collective. He founded Silver Run Forest Farm along with his partner Cornelius Deppe, where he grows plants and is committed to cleansing the pollutants from our souls, society, and soil. An advocate of land care, transformative racial justice, and renewable energy sources, Jonathan sits down with Mary and Emma to discuss how his love of trees started it all, restorative justice, and collective land trusts. Topics Discussed • Appalachian tradition of "planting by the signs" • How a Childhood in Central Appalachia Fostered a Love of Land • The Riparian Nursery • Collective Land Trusts and Decommodification of Farm Land • Restorative Justice, its Critiques, and How to Practice It • Questions to Ask Ourselves; What's Happened Here, Whose Responsibility is it to Make it Right, Who Needs to Participate to Bring Healing, and What are the Root Causes? • Food Sovereignty and Ecological Restoration, • Storytelling through Plants & Honoring Their Indigenous Partners • Uprooting Racism in the Food System Trainings • Land Ownership and Food System's White Supremacist Roots • Supporting Black Farmers • Mariame Kaba's Hope & James Hal Cone's Whose Earth Is It Anyway? • The False Idea of Human Supremacy over Nature • Jonathan's Native Plant Nursery & Folk School • Agroforestry • Watershed Health Episode Resources: Follow Jonathan McRay on Instagram Learn More About Jonathan Here Cambium Collective "2020 Vision" by Jonathan McRay on Resilience.org Acres of Ancestry "A History of the World in Seven Cheap Things A Guide to Capitalism, Nature, and the Future of the Planet" by Raj Patel  "The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South" by Michael W. Twitty Ishmael by Daniel Quinn Adrienne Maree Brown The Good Dirt: Planning a "Sustainable" Wedding: A Peek Into Our Process The Good Dirt: Planning a "Sustainable" Wedding: A Peek Into Our Process {PART 2} This Episode is Sponsored by Pinetree Garden Seeds! Order their seeds today from superseeds.com and use our promo code: GOODDIRT15 for 15% off your entire order! ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

Mom of three girls and sustainable coffee shop owner Olivia Youngs is making waves in the coffee world one cup at a time. Simple Coffee Co. opened their doors in November of 2019 and since then, they’ve diverted more than 100k plastic/paper cups from landfill and saved countless tons of carbon. Instead of traditional paper cups, all of their to-go beverages are served in reusable glass jars. Customers can re-use the jar at all locations for a $1 discount per jar (the same price they pay at check out). Join us as we discuss the pursuit of slow living and sustainability in business and in life with this busy mom, writer and entrepreneur. Topics discussed • Olivia introduces herself, her background and early attraction to the coffee shop culture and the concept of the Paper-Cup Free Cafe • Discussion of the term Zero -Waste  • Olivia's journey into minimalism, slow fashion and sustainability ethics as a blogger • Rana Plaza collapse 2013 • Her move to CO and the opening of the first coffee shop • IMBY, an early slow fashion company • BAR 9, a coffee shop in LA • The cultural assumption of single use as normal • Starbucks as the beginning of the coffee shop movement in the US  • Discussion of the term Zero-Waste • Where is Olivia with slow fashion now?  • Giving ourselves and each other grace is slow living lifestyle decisions • Terracycle and the possibility of community supported recycling in the shop • Olivia's tiny living experience • "Horror Vacui" and the concept of never enough time  • Olivia's view of slow living • What would Olivia do with a day alone? • Circling back to the coffee culture discussion, the "Third Space" concept Connect with Olivia: • Website: Simple Coffee Co. • Instagram: @liv__youngs This Episode is Sponsored by Pinetree Garden Seeds! Order their seeds today from superseeds.com and use our promo code: GOODDIRT15 for 15% off your entire order! About Lady Farmer: • Our Website • @weareladyfarmer on Instagram • Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC • Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! • Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. Our technical partner for this series is CitizenRacecar, Post-Production by Alex Brouwer and José Miguel Baez, Coordinated by Gabriela Montequin and Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

Our guest today is Marianna Sparks, founder of Property Pro's, a property stewardship company with a mission to foster sustainability in the building industry. Marianna speaks to us today about the difference between demolition and deconstruction. We explore the staggering amounts of waste created by construction demolition every day, and how careful deconstruction offers a sustainable alternative to reuse megatons of building materials. Driven by a desire to facilitate positive change, Marianna is constantly expanding her knowledge of environmental initiatives such as Circularity and Climate Justice. She leverages this knowledge to implement strategies for greater impact in creating more sustainability in a highly wasteful sector of our economy. Her role at Property Pro’s is multi-faceted with valuation, innovation, collaboration, research, participation in trade organizations, problem solving, content and report creation, education, and customer relations at the forefront. Topics Discussed  Zigbone Farm Retreat, Sabillasville, MD Second Chance in Baltimore Community Forklift in DC An overview of the reuse industry Property Pros is an appraisal company that appraises architectural reuse materials An average 2,000 square foot house will create about 20 tons of materials that will end up in the landfill Demolition vs deconstruction Property Pros also does consulting to help people learn about the possibilities for these materials Since deconstruction and material reuse is not part of the usual process, it can be difficult to find contractors that are open to the possibilities How the value of materials might help offset the costs of deconstruction Why isn’t the reuse industry more mainstream?  Some cities are implementing incentives such as expedited permitting and increasing landfill fees to encourage homeowners to explore the possibilities of deconstruction’ Build Reuse–an organization that advocates for the reuse industry Marianna’s background, how she was raised with the idea of reuse and was inspired while living abroad in the military New ideas and innovations in the reuse industry The typical Property Pros client and how the process works Lifecycle Building Center in Atlanta Celebrities often donate their materials Reclaimed lumber can often have a lot of value Reusing concrete One problem in the industry is availability of materials when people need them/flexibility is necessary Reuse is the ultimate in sustainability Connect with Marianna: Website: gotopropertypros and www.artisangardencompany.com Instagram: @artisangardenco and @gotopropertypros This Episode is Sponsored by Pinetree Garden Seeds! Order their seeds today from superseeds.com and use our promo code: GOODDIRT15 for 15% off your entire order! About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. Our technical partner for this series is CitizenRacecar, Post-Production by Alex Brouwer and José Miguel Baez, Coordinated by Gabriela Montequin and Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

In the second installment of this bonus series on sustainable weddings, Mary and Emma discuss the challenges of planning their family celebration without the excessive waste that is typical in the industry. With Emma’s big day coming up in just one month, Mary and Emma chat about their process and let us in on what they are thinking about in regards to sustainability and a wedding! Topics Discussed "Picture This" App Emma reflects on her wedding as an entry point to a new life Weddings as a reflection of cultural expectations vs. personal values and vision Book: A Practical Wedding Planner by Meg Keene Emma explains how rethinking certain aspects of the traditional wedding can relieve pressure Rethinking the bridal party Investing in a "day-of" coordinator Delegate where. you can--trust your vendor Rethinking the honeymoon Creating your own vision and desires vs buying into a giant industry Wedding letdown or wedding relief? This episode is Sponsored by True Leaf Market: Use our promo code: TGD10 - for $10 off an order of $50 or more (expires June 15th. Limit to one use per customer) at https://www.trueleafmarket.com/ About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. Our technical partner for this series is CitizenRacecar, Post-Production by Alex Brouwer and José Miguel Baez, Coordinated by Gabriela Montequin and Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

Internationally acclaimed landscape designer, activist and bestselling author of The Garden Awakening and her newly released title We are the Ark, Mary Reynolds discusses her efforts to restore the earth through her global ARK campaign, (Acts of Restorative Kindness). She launched her career by achieving a gold medal for garden design at the Chelsea flower show in 2002, the story of which was made into a 2016 movie called “Dare to be Wild”. She later founded the global movement “We are the ARK”, an organization advocating for more wild spaces and to raise awareness of our current extinction event. Topics Discussed Mary's new book We Are the Ark: Returning Our Gardens to Their True Nature Through Acts of Restorative Kindness with illustrations by Ruth Evans Mary's story of the pivotal moment that changed her career How Mary reframes the concept of gardens The ARK concept How the idea of feeding the world is greenwashing, when we should support the world to feed itself. Floral designer Amber Tamm @ambertamm Doug Tallamy, founder of Home Grown National Park - a grassroots organization regenerating local biodiversity Native species vs non-native plants and how they affect local eco-systems The 100th monkey syndrome Shifting Baseline Syndrome/ Daniel Pauly  How has Mary's mission evolved from The Garden Awakening to We Are the Ark Mary's project in Westport, County Mayo The difference between a garden and an ark is intention How can people become less afraid of the wildness? Where does Mary find hope that we will be able to save the planet and ourselves?  Spreading the message of The ARK all over the world From What is to What If written by Rob Hopkins The book Silent Spring  written by Rachel Carson Connect with Mary: Website: We Are the Ark Instagram: wildmarymary This Episode is Sponsored by Pinetree Garden Seeds! Order their seeds today from superseeds.com and use our promo code: GOODDIRT15 for 15% off your entire order! About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. Our technical partner for this series is CitizenRacecar, Post-Production by Alex Brouwer and José Miguel Baez, Coordinated by Gabriela Montequin and Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

"Food as Medicine. Food as Culture. Food for our Future." is the slogan of Three Part Harmony Farm (TPH) owned and operated by Gail Taylor in northeast Washington, D.C.  Three Part Harmony Farm is a diversified vegetable operation using agroecology and sustainable growing methods. They prioritize growing real food for real people. Since 2012 they have cared for a 2-acre plot of land in northeast DC owned by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. The DC site has been in production since 2012 and has 64 permanent beds (1/2 acre of production) using a no-till system. The farm has been an important source of learning local food for the community and learning for aspiring farmers of color in the DMV, especially Black farmers. Taylor is a member of the Black Dirt Farm Collective (BDFC), a group of farmers, academics, organizers, builders, and food entrepreneurs who own 24.5 acres in Brandywine, MD. The land is being developed to increase their offerings of food and black agrarian educational opportunities to individuals and organizations that wish to reconnect with their roots as Afro-descendant agrarian people. The collective created a written curriculum as a companion guide to their signature Afroecology training program which they use during Afroecology Encounters. Topics discussed: How Three Part Harmony Farm was created in Washington, DC Land acquisition  soil remediation Gail's background and education, and her process in becoming a farming The intention and impact of Three Part Harmony Farm-- Gail's idea was to create a model to emulate a small farmer  Carrie Vaughn  The momentum in 2006--2010 encouraged young farmers to enter the industry The Black Dirt Farm Collective--land Acquisition and education in Afroecology The gentrification of the northwest DC in the area of TPH Farm Where do her CSA members come from and where do the newcomers get their food? How the food system has changed since Gail got into farming Where does TPH Farm fit into the local food supply? Gail's perspective on how we can create fair accessibility to healthy food, and what she's done at TPH Farm to address that issue.   How did Three Part Harmony Farm get its name? The story of the logo--the butterfly symbolizes migration, as a reminder of the movement of people across generations and the importance of creating habitat. What sustainable and regenerative practices are employed at TPH Farm? Gail talks about the TPH team TPH Farm CSA currently sustains 100 members, with hopes to expand in future years. There is currently a waiting list Connect with Gail: Website: Three-Part Harmony Farm Instagram: 3phfarm This Episode is Sponsored by Ettitude Use code THEGOODDIRT for $25 off your first order! About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. Our technical partner for this series is CitizenRacecar, Post-Production by Alex Brouwer and José Miguel Baez, Coordinated by Gabriela Montequin and Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

Our guest on this episode is the host of Generation Anthropocene, a science podcast that explores planetary change. So, what is the Anthropocene? "The Anthropocene is a statement: Humanity is a geologic force, reshaping the earth’s surface. We are on par with ice ages and tectonic plates. But who, or what, is really in control? What are the limits of our power as a species, or as a society? How did we get here, and what are the forces that will shape this humbling and awe-inspiring new geologic age?” (genanhtro.com) Michael Osborne is an academic and a digital content producer. As a graduate student at Stanford in 2012, he created Generation Anthropocene with fellow student Miles Traer as a response to the environmental crisis. Michael is both passionate and knowledgable, and brings a new and refreshing perspective to the topic of climate change. This was one of those zoomed out conversations where we got to talk about some really big questions with a really smart guy. So what is the Anthropocene, and what does it have to do with The Good Dirt? Tune in to this fun and fascinating episode to find out! Topics Discussed What is the Anthropocene?  How did Michael get so involved in the topic? The power of podcasts/ audio in communicating the issue of climate change Michael's assessment of where we're headed in the climate situation. Are we worried about the earth, or ourselves? Creating connectivity in a world of alienation and disconnection Humans as story tellers Alienation as driven by a materialistic lifestyle Environmentalism and misanthropy A discussion on capitalism, how the issues we're facing are about more than that The Good Ancestor by Roman Krznaric Marshmallow thinking vs acorn thinking "Weaponized despair" and mental health implications Awareness of the climate change crises has increased There is no place on earth that hasn't been touched by human influence Creating an aspirational future that we want to live in  The grief we feel in the climate crisis What will it feel like to live 50 years from now Generational empathy/ Michael's position on climate change as a parent The trap of nostalgia in thinking about the changing earth Mindfulness in environmentalism Michael talks about Famous and Gravy, another one of his podcasts Connect with Michael: Michael's Website This Episode is Sponsored by Ettitude Use code THEGOODDIRT for $25 off your first order! About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. Our technical partner for this series is CitizenRacecar, Post-Production by Alex Brouwer and José Miguel Baez, Coordinated by Gabriela Montequin and Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

The school supply industry is filling our oceans and landfills with megatons of TRASH and consumers CAN choose to refuse, thanks to the paradigm shifting innovations of people like these two creative and passionate entrepreneurs. This was another great conversation where our guests really tell it like it is. Heather Itzla and Nikki Kozlowski came together over their grave concern about plastic pollution. After many years of clean-ups, data collection and public education, they came to understand the scale of the problem. The amount of plastic produced annually outweighs all of humanity, and is now firmly documented in our air, soil, and water. Before they teamed up, Nikki was working to educate consumers on the massive amounts of waste coming from the restaurant industry. Heather, being a parent, and frustrated with the annual back-to-school prescription of cheap, disposable plastic supplies, had crowdfunded and stocked each classroom with plastic-free school supplies. The next step was to come together as co-founders of Wisdom Supply Co (B-Corp certified) to design Plastic-Free, Vinyl-Free + Spiral-Free School + Office supplies..." because the mass production of products creating permanent waste is outdated, shortsighted, and reckless." The more Wisdom Supply Co. grows, the more waste is prevented, and the more young minds are opened to an empowering new way of thinking about how everyday products are designed, and the absurdity of wasting / polluting the resources all life on earth depends on. This Episode is Sponsored by Ettitude Use code THEGOODDIRT for $25 off your first order! Topics Discussed: Transcendental Meditation Biodynamic Calendar The Artist's Way  What is a waste reduction company?  How Nikki and Heather witnessed and interrupted the disposability cycle  Naming the problem--encouraging our children to buy garbage for the landfill, teaching a disregard for the giant mess we have created  The Zero Waste Classroom Stocking Pilot Program, a strategy for waste elimination/ 3 Steps Set up a last plastic marker box Assemble the inventory in the classrooms and at home that already exists and create a student store. Having done steps 1 and 2, teachers and students together take stock of what they have and discuss what they really need, and what should be purchased moving forward How do Nikki and Heather get schools involved?  Students want to be part of the problem solving The mass production of spiral bound notebooks/ waste as a design flaw and the Wisdom Supply Solution of 100% recyclable notebooks and planners with fewer pages The 28 Ton Project--schools can sign up to participate  Equity in the classroom regarding school supplies Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard The "goody bag" mentality The albatross logo The power of young people in making the change Ida B Wells quote "The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them."  Connect with Heather and Wisdom Supply Co.: Website: www.wisdomsupplyco.com About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. Our technical partner for this series is CitizenRacecar, Post-Production by Alex Brouwer and José Miguel Baez, Coordinated by Gabriela Montequin and Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

In the first of this bonus series on sustainable weddings, Mary and Emma discuss the challenges of planning their family celebration without the excessive waste that is typical in the industry. With Emma’s big day coming up in a couple of months, Mary and Emma find themselves confronting the logistics behind their sustainable, low-waste goals for this event.  Topics Discussed How we reconciled our wedding dreams and visions with our desire for ease, enjoyment and sustainability Discussing the big issues in wedding planning through the lens of simplicity, cost, logistics, and low waste  The venue The dress Flowers Food & food waste The gift registry The Bridal party (or lack thereof) This episode is Sponsored by True Leaf Market: Use our promo code: TGD10 - for $10 off an order of $50 or more (expires June 15th. Limit to one use per customer) at https://www.trueleafmarket.com/ About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. Our technical partner for this series is CitizenRacecar, Post-Production by Alex Brouwer and José Miguel Baez, Coordinated by Gabriela Montequin and Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

Deep-dive into one brand's process in sourcing & developing responsible fashion. This week, Mary & Emma are chatting with Elisabeth de Gramont, Chief Brand Officer and Head of Impact at Frank And Oak. Combining style, design and technology since it was founded in Montreal in 2012, Frank And Oak offers collections of sustainable, durable clothing and accessories for men and women that are thoughtfully designed and well suited to the lifestyles of its customers. Inspired by responsible thinking and with an eye to the future, Frank And Oak believes that dressing with intention can inspire a more conscious lifestyle for all. They strive to inspire better living through thoughtfully designed products that care about you and the planet. Above all, they believe in helping communities to build a diverse and inclusive world that enriches our society, sustainably. Topics Discussed: Elisabeth's background and journey to FAO Unified Commerce Group   History of FAO brand started with the idea of community and collaboration 2017 FAO took a strong turn towards sustainability Elisabeth's current role with FAO What's the relationship between scalability and sustainability? How can sustainable brands scale up? Seawool How FAO screens and selects suppliers FAO's 100% Responsible Product announcement FAO denim SeaCell FAO's other sustainable product innovations Kapok Yak Wool as an alternative to cashmere Problems with cashmere  How Elisabeth's own experience and evolution with sustainable fashion, and how covid shifted her perspective  Consumer culture in the US is different than other cultures in its prioritization of price and appearance over source Guppy Friend washing bag for microplastic pollution Frank and Oak's updated progress report FOA's focus on end -of-life options for garments Consumer education on the issues with the recycled PET microplastics FOA has eliminated all virgin polyester from their production Connect with Frank And Oak: Website: Frank And Oak Instagram @frankandoak This Episode is Sponsored by Ettitude: ettitude.com/thegooddirt ^Use code THEGOODDIRT for $25 off your first order! About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. Our technical partner for this series is CitizenRacecar, Post-Production by Alex Brouwer and José Miguel Baez, Coordinated by Gabriela Montequin and Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

Phoebe Yu and Kat Dey are the cofounders of ettitude, an award-winning material science and lifestyle company innovating eco-textiles to fight climate change. Why does this matter? Listen to this conversation to hear why eco-textiles are so important, and what to look for when looking to purchase textiles for your home. With its proprietary technologies, ettitude offers sustainable bedding, bath essentials, apparel and a variety of textiles made with CleanBamboo.  Topics Discussed: The Old Farmer's Almanac Phoebe Yu and Kat Dey introduce themselves and their company ettitude, and describe their "aha" moments in getting behind sustainable textiles. The problems with plant-based textiles and the toxic processes used in their production A discussion of the different types of plant-based fibers, such as viscose, lyocell, Tencel, cotton, and bamboo Bamboo as a high-performance textile and it's advantages over cotton How does bamboo measure up to organic cotton?  The beneficial aspects of bamboo in regards to climate Eutrophication: a term to explain how many toxic chemicals are being released into the atmosphere or into the environment. Kiss the Ground Connect with ettitude: Website: ettitude Instagram @ettitudestore This Episode is Sponsored by Frank and Oak: Frank & Oak Use our code "gooddirt30" for $30 off orders over $99 on frankandoak.com! About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. Our technical partner for this series is CitizenRacecar, Post-Production by Alex Brouwer and José Miguel Baez, Coordinated by Gabriela Montequin and Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

Have you ever wondered where the ingredients for your bread come from...like really wondered? And why should you care? Today's guest is here to tell us all about how a local grain supply supports local economies, a more resilient supply chain, better quality staple foods for the consumer and better soil health for the region. Heather Coiner is a plant physiological ecologist and co-founder of the Common Grain Alliance, an organization striving for a more connected grain economy in the Mid-Atlantic. The Common Grain Alliance envisions an integrated grain economy of local and regional businesses that produce nutritious, flavorful and consistent regional grain products for the communities they serve, and helps drive regional interest in— and demand for — regional grain through events, workshops and marketing Heather, holds a PhD in plant physiological ecology from the University of Toronto and co-owns Little Hat Creek Farm, an ecological vegetable farm and wood fired bakery in central Virginia where she lives with her husband and two children.  Topics discussed: Heather's background as an academic and a bread baker How the Common Grain Alliance came to be Michael Grantz of Great Day Gardens How does the CGA operate as a membership organization? Carolina Ground (a similar grain operation out of Asheville) Jennifer Laps Why should we care about local grain? Nutrition Supply Local economies Soil improvement Challenges in creating a local grain economy Some solutions to the issue of accessibility sliding scale prices equipment pools for farmers businesses that provide traveling services for planting and processing Creating an awareness of the importance of local grains Little Hat Creek Farm The idea of horizontal vs vertical integration Significant accomplishments of CGA  Foggy Mountain Pasta  Next Step Produce Migrash Farms Purple Mountain Moutoux Orchards CSA The Grain Stand pilot program What are the alternatives if you can't access local grain?  King Arthur Organic Flour is a good alternative to locally grown grain Restaurants in the Area that support the local grain economy Albemarle Baking Co  Seylou Bakery Slice Versa MarieBette Cafe and Bakery Connect with Heather Coiner: Website: Common Grain Alliance Instagram @commongrainalliance This Episode is Sponsored by Frank and Oak: Frank & Oak Use our code "gooddirt30" for $30 off orders over $99 on frankandoak.com! About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. Our technical partner for this series is CitizenRacecar, Post-Production by Alex Brouwer and José Miguel Baez, Coordinated by Gabriela Montequin and Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

This week we are talking to writer, creator and self proclaimed life-long learner, Hillarie Maddox, founder of Black Girl, Country Living. Hillarie preaches the idea that slow living in a lifestyle anyone can live, and focuses her encouragement specifically on the BIPOC community. She climbed the big tech corporate ladder, then ditched the city for slow living and finding her love of nature, and she found herself in the process. Topics discussed How Hillarie and her family went from city to rural living What was the new way of being that Hillarie discovered? When you live in an urban environment, many things are made "invisible" A feeling of disconnection might lead to excess consumerism Seeking a slower and more sustainable lifestyle is like peeling an onion How a vision board helped Hillarie and her husband make the shift The shift to slow living does not always mean a move to the country Hillarie speaks to her intention and mission on the land, beginning with gardening Hillarie's gardening experience and desire to share the knowledge Rewilding workshops launching next year, helping particularly bipoc people develop a relationship with nature Hillarie talks about the slow living movement and what that means for people of color  The value of mentors and community in this lifestyle Hillarie's family connection to the original Homesteading Act The changes of agriculture in America in the last century Wendall Berry, The Unsettling of America Hillarie explains what "rewilding" means to her The indigenous people of the region where Hillarie now lives The biggest challenges and rewards of this lifestyle shift for Hillarie's family Connect with Hillarie Maddox Website: Black Girl Country Living Instagram This Episode is Sponsored by Frank and Oak: Frank & Oak Use our code "gooddirt30" for $30 off orders over $99 on frankandoak.com! About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. Our technical partner for this series is CitizenRacecar, Post-Production by Alex Brouwer and José Miguel Baez, Coordinated by Gabriela Montequin and Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

Our guest today is someone who began her plastic-free journey in her kitchen, and has now become the renowned Zero Waste Chef, Anne-Marie Bonneau! Starting as a Zero Plastic Chef, she took the next step in her sustainability journey and became the Zero Waste Chef working towards producing zero waste in her own kitchen and inspiring others to do the same. She talks about how to shop differently, buy differently, and cook differently to reduce waste in the kitchen! Topics Discussed: Hugelkultur Anne Marie’s transition to plastic free Beginning tips for zero waste Zero Waste as a goal Anne Marie’s rhythm with food prep Fighting Food waste The idea of convenience contributing to waste Zero waste can be simple The attention economy informs our perception of what we can do Thneeds (from The Lorax by Dr. Suess) The Good Ancestor Is there hope for conscious consumerism?  Greta Thunberg The slow food movement began in Italy Alton Brown baked beans Connect with Anne-Marie Bonneau Instagram: @zerowastechef Website Anne-Marie's Book, The Zero Waste Chef This Episode is Sponsored by Frank and Oak: Frank & Oak Use our code "gooddirt30" for $30 off orders over $99 on frankandoak.com! About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. Our technical partner for this series is CitizenRacecar, Post-Production by Alex Brouwer and José Miguel Baez, Coordinated by Gabriela Montequin and Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

Meet Dina Falconi, herbalist, teacher, and author, of Feasting and Foraging. In this episode, we hear about her journey toward leading a meaningful, healthy life and finding natural medicine through food. Specializing in permaculture and herbal healing, Dina explores about how we can make changes in our everyday lives to improve our physical, mental, and spiritual health. Topics discussed: Dina's journey with plants beginning at age 11 in the East Village of NYC Micky Carter, Dina's early mentor Worked and studied at an herb company with Pam Montgomery, https://www.wakeuptonature.com/about/ William Lassasier--herbal teacher Earthy Bodies and Heavenly Hair Dina's work in the Hudson River Valley, NY creating virtual teachings with her son and filmmaker Sam Falconi How Dina shares content on digital media without a cellphone Dina talks about living without a cellphone Claire Dunn Episode Dina's clinical herbalist is connected to food activism and foraging How do city dwellers experience wild foods? Ecosystem stewardship and land care are big themes for foragers A discussion about invasives Mugwort The process of creating Foraging and Feasting Wendy Hollender / illustrator for Foraging and Feasting Plant foraging and healing with herbs as a growing topic of interest/ the "hipster wave" Knowledgeable foraging can create more biodiversity and abundance in the landscape Slow living as plant literacy, observing nature's processes Botanical Arts Press Dina Falconi's YouTube Channel In the Wild Kitchen Connect with Dina Falconi  Instagram @foragingandfeasting Facebook @ForagingFeasting Dina's Website, www.botanicalartspress.com Foraging and Feasting by Dina Falconi, Illustrated by Wendy Hollender This Episode is Sponsored by Ettitude: ettitude.com/thegooddirt ^Use code THEGOODDIRT for $25 off your first order! About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. Our technical partner for this series is CitizenRacecar, Post-Production by Alex Brouwer and José Miguel Baez, Coordinated by Gabriela Montequin and Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

Ever dream about moving to a Homestead? In today's episode, we're talking to Jade Miles of Black Barn Farm. Jade is the author of FUTURESTEADING, a practical and inspirational guide to living in a way that values tomorrow and the host of a podcast by the same name. Futuresteading is grounded in a slower, simpler, steadier existence as the first step – one that’s healthier for humans and the planet. In addition, Jade runs Black Barn Farm with her husband and their three children, inspired by their belief in building a localized fair food system. Topics Discussed: Jade tells us about her background and journey to Black Barn Farm Jade and her husband Charlie's commitment to land stewardship and local food systems Experiencing the 2019-2020 fires in Australia Governmental vs. individual responsibility in addressing the global environmental issues Diversity and Permaculture at Black Barn Farm as a “beyond organic” orchard, an educational resource, a nursery, a local food provider and a working homestead for Jade and her family Farm Scale permaculture Futuresteading is about “...assessing whether or not the decision that you make will have an outcome that is regenerative, sustainable or degenerative.”  Growing Mountain Pepper, an indigenous bush food Connecting with the indigenous First Nations people of the land Educational opportunities at Black Barn Farm include school and upskilling workshops  Sustainable Table Futuresteading the book  Futuresteading the podcast More information on the indigenous tribes discussed: Pallanganmiddang people Pangerang Learn more about the Mad Agriculture program! More information on Steward Check out our podcast with Dan Miller and Spike Gjerde of Steward! Connect with Jade: Instagram Facebook This Episode is Sponsored by Ettitude: ettitude.com/thegooddirt ^Use code THEGOODDIRT for $25 off your first order! About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. Our technical partner for this series is CitizenRacecar, Post-Production by Alex Brouwer and José Miguel Baez, Coordinated by Gabriela Montequin and Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

Today's discussion is with Lauren Haynes, founder of Wooden Spoon Herbs, a company providing products and education to help you build your routine of herbal support. Lauren's goal is to make earth-grown, time-tested herbal formulas accessible for the health of ourselves and our planet. In this conversation, we discuss Lauren's background in Appalachia and her education as an herbalist, the challenges of regulations around herbal products, educating consumers about product use, and the role of herbalism in healing the broken relationship between humans and earth. Topics Discussed: Lauren's journey to Wooden Spoon Herbs How Lauren was first drawn to herbalism The issue of compliance in the utilization of herbalism  The Appalachian Center for Natural Health Phyllis D. Light Green Comfort School of Herbal Medicine Candice Pert, Your Body is Your Subconscious Mind Molecules of Emotion Herbalism is NOT a replacement for professional health care, but it can be a compliment What is unique about Wooden Spoon Herbs The challenge of regulations around herbal products and education The DSHEA Act Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act  Wooden Spoon Herbs sourcing Lauren's background growing up in Appalachia Isaias Hernandez @queerbrownvegan The role of herbalism in healing the broken relationship between humans and earth How can slow living be accessible to everyone? Stephanie O'Dea Jessie Inchauspe @theglucosegoddess @tartvinegar Connect with Lauren: @woodenspoonherbs on Instagram Wooden Spoon Herbs Website This Episode is Sponsored by Ettitude: ettitude.com/thegooddirt ^Use code THEGOODDIRT for $25 off your first order! About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. Our technical partner for this series is CitizenRacecar, Post-Production by Alex Brouwer and José Miguel Baez, Coordinated by Gabriela Montequin and Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

Today's episode is about Brigid, saint and legend, known for her skills at the hearth, the loom, midwifery, healing, poetry and animal husbandry. Kathy Spaar, spiritual director, pilgrimage leader and nature educator shares many of the folklore and stories of this legendary figure from Celtic tradition. As a figure of feminine wisdom and power who presides over the land and the homestead, we consider Brigid the quintessential Lady Farmer, our guide, protector and inspiration for slow living through the seasons. Intro: Follow Kesslyn @gemwellnessofficial for more about her journey as a midwife and her exploration of St. Brigid. Episode Reprise: Imbolc is here! Mary and Emma introduce Kathy and Brigid Kathy introduces herself Brigid's Feast Day Kathy's favorite stories of Brigid Brigid - the quintessential Lady Farmer How does Brigid relate to the times we are in now The most important thing Brigid has taught Kathy Mentions: The Almanac Brigidine Sisters Children's Book “Brigid’s Cloak: An Ancient Irish Story” by Bruce Milligan. "Symbols of Plenty" by Ruth Bidgood "Rekindling the Flame " by Rita Minehan About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. Our technical partner for this series is CitizenRacecar, Post-Production by Alex Brouwer and José Miguel Baez, Coordinated by Gabriela Montequin and Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

Looking for a natural insulation option? Look no further than the world's oldest...wool! In today's episode, Mary & Emma chat with Andrew Legge, founder of Havelock Wool to discuss wool insulation, how it differs from more conventional insulation methods, and why you might want to consider it for your tiny home, van conversion, or even full home renovation! Topics Discussed Join the Lady Farmer Slow Living Challenge! (Starts 2.6.23) Interview: Andrew discusses his background and the path to Havelock Wool  The shift in consumer knowledge and demand for alternative building projects Wool as a dynamic fiber The contrast between wool and synthetic fibers as insulation Design obsolescence, how consumers are conditioned to expect the need to replace products The power of the consumer in choosing alternatives Build better, build less, build slower. Don't build space that you don't need As shelter from the elements, the building's key feature is insulation.  Common sense in the construction industry If wool is a natural product, why is it more expensive? Wool insulation manufacturing as a sustainable and low waste process Embodied vs operational carbon Biophilic design Sourcing wool from New Zealand Why not source the wool in the US or other places?  Havelock as the go-to insulator for van conversions Connect with Havelock Wool: Website Instagram This Episode is Sponsored by Ettitude: ettitude.com/thegooddirt ^Use code THEGOODDIRT for $25 off your first order! About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. Our technical partner for this series is CitizenRacecar, Post-Production by Alex Brouwer and José Miguel Baez, Coordinated by Gabriela Montequin and Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

Today's guest is Kyle Lybarger, a forester and conservationist from north Alabama. His passion is identifying, protecting, and managing the overlooked grassland ecosystems in his region and educating the public about the environmental value and climate benefits of these native plants. Most people don't realize that so many of our forested areas were once actually native grasslands that were maintained by the grazing of native animal life and the management practices of the native people. In this conversation, Kyle also explains the importance of fire in land management, both the naturally occurring fires and those that indigenous people practiced to sustain local food systems. Tune in to hear Kyle's take on Smokey the Bear, rewilding and the "no-mow" movement, how our domestic landscape has shifted here in the United States and what we can all do to reinvigorate our land and secure our food system.  Topics Discussed: Join the Lady Farmer Slow Living Challenge! (Starts 2.6.23) How Kyle got to the Native Habitat Project and how that evolved Grassland ecosystems The need for education about native plants The ecological role of grasslands Why the grasslands have disappeared Kyle discusses "rewilding" Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee  The role of burning in maintaining grasslands How Native Americans utilized the grassland ecosystems How Smoky the Bear and growing populations changed land management practices Porter's Goldenrod Hartselle Sandstone Barren How Kyle established an outdoor classroom in his hometown How forestry competes with biodiversity Grasslands are valuable for sequestering carbon Birds for Beef Jenny Harris of White Oak Pastures Grazing Gone Native with The American Forage Council Discretionary use of sprays to restore grasslands Restoring lawns to native habitats for wildlife diversity and for creating reliable food sources Connect with Kyle: Native Habitat Project's website Kyle's FB page, Native Habitat Managers On Tik Tok @nativeplanttok On Instagram @nativehabitatproject The Native Habitat Podcast This Episode is Sponsored by Havelock Wool: Visit https://havelockwool.com/gooddirt to learn all about wool insulation! About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. The Good Dirt podcast is edited and engineered by Aleksandra van der Westhuizen and produced by Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

Today's episode is with Julia Blandford, a recent graduate from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a BFA in Fashion Marketing and Management, and host of the Seeking Sustainability Podcast. Join us for this fun and refreshing conversation with one of the younger voices within our community. Julia identifies herself as on the cusp of the Millennial and Gen Z generations, openly sharing about her passion as a self-proclaimed environmentalist as well as the doubts and frustrations along her own sustainable living journey. We find it hopeful and enlightening to hear how Julia and her contemporaries are approaching the challenges that face us in our world today. Topics Discussed: Join the Lady Farmer Slow Living Challenge! (Starts 2.6.23) Julia's story as a Gen Z environmentalist How she started her podcast--Seeking Sustainability ESG: Environmental Sustainable Governance Environmentalism in hard times How Julia's personal struggles informed her environmentalist views  Privilege and sustainability  How Julia felt like she failed at sustainability  There's no formula for what it means to be an environmentalist  Julia's experience with being a vegan Small steps to getting around degenerative systems Accountability and empathy Sustainability and consumerism Intersectional environmentalism Cottage core Gen Z and sustainability  "Trends don't exist outside of social media for my generation." What does slow living mean outside of social media? Julia's slow-living stew Connect with Julia: On Instagram @seekingsustainability.pod Seeking Sustainability Podcast This Episode is Sponsored by Havelock Wool: Visit https://havelockwool.com/gooddirt to learn all about wool insulation! About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. The Good Dirt podcast is edited and engineered by Aleksandra van der Westhuizen and produced by Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

In this episode, Mary and Emma discuss the meaning of January 6th as the Feast of Epiphany. According to the Christian Liturgical Calendar, this day commemorates the three Magi's visit to the scene of the nativity and marks the end of the Christmas season. In the Appalachian tradition, Epiphany was known as "Little Christmas" or "Old Christmas," hearkening back to Old World traditions of extending the Christmas season over 12 days as an extended period of celebration and rest, ending with "Little Christmas" on January 6th. This episode concludes with Mary's telling of an Epiphany story from Italy, the Legend of Old Befana, which is a replay from two years ago. Topics Discussed: Epiphany Little Christmas or Old Christmas The Legend of Old Befana About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. The Good Dirt podcast is edited and engineered by Aleksandra van der Westhuizen and produced by Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being. 

Tune in as Mary and Emma each discuss and review their picks for the most impactful episodes from 2022. The year has been so full of fun, informative and inspiring interviews, it's hard to narrow it down, but here are just some of the conversations that stand out as they look back on another year of The Good Dirt. Episodes Discussed: #101 Andrew Schwartz of EcoCiv #104 Heidi Barr and Emma DeLong of the PA Flax Project #80 Lincoln Smith, Forested LLC #96 Marti Buckley #88 Rose and Doug Phillips #110 Stephanie O'Dea #94 Bex Partridge #84 Eliza Greenman About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. The Good Dirt podcast is edited and engineered by Aleksandra van der Westhuizen and produced by Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

Tune in for this special winter episode, featuring a holiday reflection and a favorite traditional song, sent to you with love from Mary and Emma. Happy Holidays everyone! Special thank you to The Longest Johns for sharing their cover of Bright Morning Star. About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. The Good Dirt podcast is edited and engineered by Aleksandra van der Westhuizen and produced by Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network.

Our guest today is Christa Norman, a fine artist whose photographic medium is cyanotype. Her work reflects seasons and explores seasons of the human experience. Christa creates floral artwork with flowers grown in her own garden and conceptual collections inspired by her personal life seasons.  We covered a number of topics in this interview, including the dilemma that comes up so often in our conversations regarding the conflict between pursuing our creative passions and making a living, a common theme for creatives in our current economic system. Christa points out that one of our fundamental roles as humans is to be creators of things, but to a certain extent, we've forgotten that role and we've defaulted into our role as consumers. Join us in this conversation as we discuss, among other things, how this affects us as individuals and in our culture as a whole. Topics Covered: Christa's journey with photography, and the path to cyanotype Bringing together creative passion with the need to make a living  What is cyanotype? Louis-Jacques Daguerre Floret Flowers  Our phones, capturing the present moment or taking us out of it? The cost of fine art How Christa's patronage works/ Creating sustainability as an artist Sustainability of Cyanotype as an art medium Cyanotype as a seasonal art What is culture? The role of art in our culture Rae Dunn pottery New York Magazine/ The Cut Article on Rae Dunn Julia Watkins of Simply Living Well Creativity as fundamental to all human Connect with Christa Christa's Website, christanormanstudio.com On Instagram @christanormanstudio This episode is Sponsored by True Leaf Market: Use our promo code: TGD10 - for $10 off an order of $50 or more (expires June 15th. Limit to one use per customer) at https://www.trueleafmarket.com/ About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. The Good Dirt podcast is edited and engineered by Aleksandra van der Westhuizen and produced by Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

Our discussion today is with Mary Ellen Dowd, a Communications Associate at TerraCycle, Inc. TerraCycle is an international leader in innovative sustainability solutions, creating and operating first-of-their-kind platforms in recycling, recycled materials, and reuse. Across 21 countries, TerraCycle is on a mission to rethink waste and develop practical solutions for today’s complex waste challenges. The company engages an expansive multi-stakeholder community across a wide range of accessible programs, from Fortune 500 companies to schools and individuals, and has raised over $44 million for schools and nonprofits since its founding more than 15 years ago. In this conversation, we talk about how the Terracycle services can bring our home recycling practices to a new level. To learn more about TerraCycle and join them on their journey to move the world from a linear economy to a circular one, please visit www.terracycle.com. Topics Covered: Mary Ellen's background What is Terra Cycle and how they take recycling to the next level The Zero-Waste Box Free Recycling Programs Recycling is a process that is governed by economics What happens to the contents of Zero-Waste Box  Bausch and Lomb partnership Origins of Terracycle The value of trash Eliminating the idea of waste The Loop circular shopping system, or the modern milkman How the good dirt connects to waste and the economy  How can the zero-waste box be more accessible to the individual?  What happens when the Zero Waste Box is returned to Terracycle How Terracycle addresses microplastics  The problem of cigarette butts  Actionable steps for individuals "Wish-cycling" How Terracycle addresses scale Connect with Terracycle: Terracycle's website, terracycle.com On Instagram @terracycle On Facebook @TerraCycle This episode is Sponsored by True Leaf Market: Use our promo code: TGD10 - for $10 off an order of $50 or more (expires June 15th. Limit to one use per customer) at https://www.trueleafmarket.com/ About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. The Good Dirt podcast is edited and engineered by Aleksandra van der Westhuizen and produced by Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

Our guest today is Jeremy Lang of Pela, the company that started with a product that you hold every day - the world’s first compostable phone case. Jeremy had the courage to spend years experimenting with new materials to try and find an alternative to plastic that could be used in everyday products. Pela’s mission is to make sustainable products the new normal and they recently launched another product, a home countertop composter called Lomi to help solve the food waste and plastic problem. Lomi became the most successful cleantech crowdfunding campaign of all time, raising over $9M. Pela and Lomi are now creating a waste innovation category with a goal of eliminating 10 billions pounds of waste on their mission to create a waste-free future, a testament to Jeremy’s belief in creating businesses as a force of good– to leave the world a better place.  We are so much in awe of Jeremy and the innovative technologies he has spearheaded through his company and products. In this episode, we're hearing and talking about new technologies that are already addressing some of our most pressing problems and have given us real hope that some things are moving in the right direction. Topics discussed: The story of Pela and how it started with compostable phone cases  How Pela came up with a home composter The problem of food waste Food waste as a valuable natural resource "Wasting food" vs food waste or food scraps The Lomi home composter From food waste to good dirt Home composter reduces the weight of food waste by 70%   Trials with taking the Lomi compost dirt straight to farms  Demographics of those using the home composter  How the home composter is carbon neutral  End-of-life plan for the home composter Responsibility Economy Cutting out the compost facilities with the home composter The Lomi-approved certification program Compostable materials for everyday life increasing with consumer demand Responsibility of the consumer vs. responsibility of the manufacturer The issue of plastic water bottles being recycled into clothing Can technology help with the current problem of plastic on the planet? Connect with Jeremy: Pela's Website Get your own Lomi Composter! On Instagram @pelacase and @getlomi This episode is Sponsored by True Leaf Market: Use our promo code: TGD10 - for $10 off an order of $50 or more (expires June 15th. Limit to one use per customer) at https://www.trueleafmarket.com/ About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. The Good Dirt podcast is edited and engineered by Aleksandra van der Westhuizen and produced by Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

Our guest today is Laurell Sims, Co-Founder & CEO of Urban Growers Collective in Chicago, here to talk about food accessibility and the development of community-based food systems. Urban Growers Collective (UGC) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that was co-founded by Laurell Sims and Erika Allen in the fall of 2017. Working closely with community partners, their approach is to demonstrate and to support communities in developing systems of their own where food is grown, prepared, and distributed within the community itself. Urban Grower's Collective operates 8 urban farms on 11 acres of land, predominantly located on Chicago’s South Side. These farms are production-oriented but also offer opportunities for staff-led education, training, leadership development, and food distribution. Each farm utilizes organic growing methods, intensive growing practices, and year-round production strategies to best maximize growing space. In this conversation, we talk about the numerous programs operating within UGC that are helping not only to bring food to underserved areas but to facilitate youth involvement and outreach programs for positive community impact.  Laurell is active in the Chicago Food Policy Action Council and formerly served on the Board of Directors for Slow Food Chicago and Green City Market. In 2011, Laurell was selected as a Bold Food Fellow, a State Department exchange with farmers from Uganda and Kenya, and has managed development projects with urban farms in Haiti. In her spare time, Laurell is a volunteer magician for Open Heart Magic which provides bedside magic for hospitalized children. Topics Discussed: How Laurell came to the Urban Grower's Collective ReVision Urban Farm in Boston The impact of the urban farming movement  The eight farms and programs within in the Urban Grower's Collective Healing aspects of community spaces Fresh Moves Mobile Market Linkup Illinois for food assistance Dr. Geeta Maker-Clark Prescription for Health, Howard Brown Health Center Food Justice and privilege  Food waste in Chicago How policy and racism affect grocery store access Farm Bus in Richmond, Mark Lilly Midwest Foods Wholesaler USDA Food boxes April Jones on The Good Dirt Julia Skinner on The Good Dirt The challenge of land access, particularly for BIPOC growers Green Era Urban Farm in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood in Chicago The anaerobic digester as mitigation for food waste Soil contamination and remediation Wasted! The Story of Food Waste Chicago Food Policy Action Council Connect with Laurell & the UGC: Urban Grower's Collective website On Instagram @urbangrowerscollective Donate or Volunteer with the Urban Grower's Collective! This episode is Sponsored by True Leaf Market: Use our promo code: TGD10 - for $10 off an order of $50 or more (expires June 15th. Limit to one use per customer) at https://www.trueleafmarket.com/ About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. The Good Dirt podcast is edited and engineered by Aleksandra van der Westhuizen and produced by Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

In celebration of the holiday this week, and upcoming "Black Friday", we're re-airing our favorite slow-living take on the matter...Slow Friday! RE-AIR FROM 11/26/21 You're in for something a little different this Friday...it's a solo show with Mary and Emma! At Lady Farmer, we're always thinking about ways to shift our thinking to live into a more slow and sustainable lifestyle, and today is a great opportunity to do just that. What if Black Friday became Slow Friday, and what would that look like? Join us on this week’s episode of The Good Dirt as we share a bit about our own Christmas memories and experiences with gift-giving as well as how we're thinking about being more mindful with our consumer habits during the holiday season. Enjoy this week's episode, let us know what you think, and we'll be back with another interview next week! Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: The negative impacts of consumerism and how to think differently about our consumer habits The importance that we have placed on gift-giving and receiving during the holiday season Slow Friday Challenge Resources: Unplug the Christmas Tree Christmas by Peter Spier Follow Us: Our Website Instagram Original Music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026

Today we're talking to Brandi Stanley, host of the podcast This Plus That. Brandi makes a living out of making connections. If creativity is the ability to connect the seemingly un-connectable, that’s the art she practices. In love with the space between things—the intersections and the paradoxes—she's constantly looking for what insights can be gained when we mash the unexpected together and the growth that happens when we learn to hold complexity.  We had a great time talking with Brandi about so many things, from the hustle culture to church history, from empty calories as a metaphor to the gift economy, and of course all of the good dirt in between all of it. If you enjoy “connecting the dots” as they say, and discovering how much more we all have in common with each other than we think, then you’ll love this conversation. Topics Discussed: Brandi's journey to creating her Podcast This Plus That, and finding her way to doing what she loves The Great Resignation  Wendell Berry Steve Jobs Nathan Myhrvold Ishmael by Daniel Quinn Charles Eisenstein and the gift economy The hustle culture and passive income in an extractive economy The idea of finding "aliveness" in what we do Consuming Empty Calories as a metaphor  Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer Connecting the seemingly unconnectable Soil and social justice  Christianity and the Industrial Food System Nutrient depletion in our soil means nutrient-deficient food Groundwork Podcast - Interview with Alicia Brown Emily McElroy Intersections of Painting Plus Prayer How church history impacted our relationship with nature in western civilization How our language impacts the way we think and act in the world Emergent Strategy by Adrian Marie Brown  Living into the new story Connect with Brandi: Brandi's Podcast, This Plus That On Instagram @thisplusthatpod On Youtube, This Plus That Podcast This episode is Sponsored by True Leaf Market: Use our promo code: TGD10 - for $10 off an order of $50 or more (expires June 15th. Limit to one use per customer) at https://www.trueleafmarket.com/ About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. The Good Dirt podcast is edited and engineered by Aleksandra van der Westhuizen and produced by Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

Today our guest is Jenni Harris, daughter of Will Harris and 5th generation Harris family member at White Oak Pastures. In the mid-90s, her father Will Harris recognized the problems in late 20th-century agriculture and decided to take his whole operation back to the days of his great-grandfather. He gave up chemical inputs and animal confinement farming and began implementing regenerative farming before it was even a word. White Oak pasture-raises 10 species of livestock, eggs, organic vegetables, and honey on almost 5,000 acres of land and does it in what they call a “radically traditional way.” Jenni is here to talk to us about White Oak Pastures and how they have continued to evolve as an online source for high-quality meat while maintaining not only a commitment to land stewardship and sustainability but to their rural community as well. Topics Discussed: The story of White Oak Pastures Jenni's early knowledge that she was gay and her journey away from her hometown The transition of the farm back to more traditional practices How the farm changed over the years in order to achieve resilience  The challenge for conventional farmers to change to a different model The challenges for the grass-fed beef industry for American farmers Meat production as a contributor to climate change Sacred Cow by Diana Rodgers - it's not the cow, it's the how! Epic Provisions, owned by General Mills measuring soil assessments to demonstrate the livestock as a regenerative product Carbon emissions in the Impossible Burger White Oak Pastures Rural Revival  The value of knowing your farmer Connect with White Oak Pastures: Their website, whiteoakpastures.com White Oak Pastures Online Shop On Instagram @whiteoakpastures On Facebook @whiteoakpastures This episode is Sponsored by True Leaf Market: Use our promo code: TGD10 - for $10 off an order of $50 or more (expires June 15th. Limit to one use per customer) at https://www.trueleafmarket.com/ About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. The Good Dirt podcast is edited and engineered by Aleksandra van der Westhuizen and produced by Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

Today's guest is Claire Dunn, here with us to dive deeply into the mysteries of nature and psyche through the pathways of deep nature connection. Speaking to us from Melbourne, Australia, Claire is a writer, speaker, barefoot explorer, rewilding facilitator, and founder of Nature’s Apprentice, a platform for education and guidance in rewilding our souls and the planet. For the last 15 years, Claire has been facilitating individuals in ancestral earth skills, deep ecology, ecopsychology, soul-centric nature-based practice, village building, dance, ceremony, and contemporary wilderness rites-of-passage. Claire is the author of the memoir, My Year Without Matches, which tells the story of her year living wild – and the recently released memoir Rewilding the Urban Soul exploring how we might embody wild consciousness even while living in the setting of a city. Topics Covered: Rewilding as a new human movement Cultivation of a "Wild Mind" Claire's childhood and background in the environmental movement  How Claire's introduction to primitive earth skills led her more deeply into the human nature relationship  Richard Lou The Last Child in the Woods Vitamin N (Nature)  Tom Brown's Tracker School in New Jersey Australia's first Independent Wilderness Studies Program Claire's one-year self-initiated deep nature immersion The sacred order of survival Bill Plotkin Claire's emergence from her immersion, and sharing the immersion experience with the world Nature's Apprentice Rewilding the Urban Soul - Claire Dunn My Year Without Matches Jon Young's Core Routines of Nature Common threads of people who come to Claire for instruction What is a vision quest?  The urgency of climate change Bringing back the species of the wild human Active Hope by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone Connect with Claire: Her website, naturesapprentice.com.au/ Claire's Books: Rewilding the Urban Soul My Year Without Matches Follow her on Instagram @_natures_apprentice_ Claire's Facebook About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] This episode is Sponsored by True Leaf Market: Use our promo code: TGD10 - for $10 off an order of $50 or more (expires June 15th. Limit to one use per customer) at https://www.trueleafmarket.com/ Original music by John Kingsley. The Good Dirt podcast is edited and engineered by Aleksandra van der Westhuizen and produced by Mary Ball. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

Our guest today is Tom Harries, co-founder and CEO of Earth™, a sustainable funeral brand specializing in soil transformation. So what is soil transformation, and what does it have to do with death care and burial? What does it share in common with the green burial movement —and how is it different?  Tom has been innovating in the funeral industry for almost a decade, and in this conversation he tells us not only about this carbon-neutral alternative to burial or cremation, but also about how his company is providing ways to reimagine funerals, providing a more sustainable and modern alternative to all aspects of conventional death care. Topics covered; Join the ALMANAC for fall! Tom's entry into the death care industry Making funeral service sustainable Traditional death care practices From funeral logistics to soil transformation  What is soil transformation, the process and how it differs from cremation and burial Building a 21st-century experience in death care How does soil transformation differ from green burial? The issue of land availability for human body disposition The results of soil transformation, what is the quality of the soil from the human remains? Goals for Earth™ The cost of soil transformation relative to cremation and other current death care practices  Preplanning for death care Legalization of the soil transformation process Our conversation with Heidi Hannapel about Green Burial Connect with Tom: The Earth Funeral website: https://earthfuneral.com/ On Instagram @earth_funeral On Facebook @joinearth About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] This episode is Sponsored by True Leaf Market: Use our promo code: TGD10 - for $10 off an order of $50 or more (expires June 15th. Limit to one use per customer) at https://www.trueleafmarket.com/ Original music by John Kingsley. The Good Dirt podcast is edited and engineered by Aleksandra van der Westhuizen and produced by Mary Ball. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

Join Mary and Emma as they discuss a slow living Halloween, the second largest consumer season in the US. From the ancient traditions of the Celtic Samhain celebrations, to the modern day spook fest that dominates this time of year, you'll hear how you can embrace the special beauty and magic of nature during this time, letting go of much of the waste and frenzy but keeping all of the fun! Things Mentioned: Zero Waste Candy Alternatives The Scariest Thing About Halloween is the Plastic Waste National Retail Federation Prediction for Halloween Spending in 2022 About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Get 15% off your order of all-natural plant fertilizers from BIOS Nutrients with the code LADYFARMER15. Original music by John Kingsley. The Good Dirt podcast is edited and engineered by Aleksandra van der Westhuizen and produced by Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

Today’s guest is Monique Allen, CEO and Creative Director of The Garden Continuum, a landscaping design company that brings the principles of regenerative agriculture to ornamental gardening. The central work of The Garden Continuum is to create outdoor living spaces, both public and private, that draw people out into those spaces and begin to build that reconnection with nature.  In this episode, you’ll hear how Monique's approach infuses life back into systems and landscapes that have been abused by degenerative practices. You'll hear her explain the difference in a landscape as something pretty to look at, compared with what she calls a “life scape,” or a space that calls you in and actually asks you to interact with nature in an active and participatory way. You’ll also hear about her book, Stop Landscaping, Start Lifescaping.  Through regenerative gardening, Monique breathes new life into the soil, and through her personalized landscape business coaching she helps clients build a high-integrity business reflecting care for the entire earth community. Topics Discussed: Monique's journey as a landscape gardener to regenerative ornamental gardening Ornamental gardening means we aren't growing for food   Monique's central work is to draw people outdoors and reconnect them with nature The Lifescape method Straw Hat Park and Pocket Parks Creating a sense of place The Japanese practice of Shinto  How Monique applied regenerative farming practices to her ornamental garden designs and her business Finding inspiration for her book project Operating a hyperlocal business The pricing challenge of regenerative landscaping/ incremental investing Biochar A discussion of tilling How to prepare the soil for a garden How gardens change people and their lives Regeneration for entrepreneurs Monique's ideas about slow living and good dirt Monique's Book, Stop Landscaping, Start LifeScaping Connect with Monique: Monique's Website, thegardencontinuum.com/ On Instagram @thegardencontinuum Monique's Book, Stop Landscaping, Start LifeScaping About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Get 15% off your order of all-natural plant fertilizers from BIOS Nutrients with the code LADYFARMER15. Original music by John Kingsley. The Good Dirt podcast is edited and engineered by Aleksandra van der Westhuizen and produced by Mary Ball. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

Today’s guest is Jessie Stokes, founder and owner of The Tiny Yellow Bungalow Shop. What started as an experimental blog in sustainability in the Spring of 2015 has become an online, eco-conscious one-stop source for natural and sustainably produced items for your daily needs. Jessie puts a lot of work and research into providing products that are free of plastics, pollutants, toxins, and wasteful packaging.  In this conversation we talk about the conundrum of selling the idea of sustainability without promoting more consumerism, issues with greenwashing, the problem with buzzwords like "zero waste" and "plant-based", and the driving force of convenience as a selling point. Jessie is passionate about her mission and eager to encourage others in their sustainability journey. She’s also a young mom, and has advice for others in making life decisions that require a different approach to sustainability. Stick around for what she has to say about cloth diapering!  Topics Discussed: Pawpaws are here! Earthy Delights Autumn Ice Cream recipes in The ALMANAC Natural Dyeing, Botanical Colors Why Jessie started a sustainable shop The conundrum of selling sustainable items/encouraging purchases How making small changes can encourage people to go further Finding appropriate products for the store Working on sustainability within a broken system Encouraging others that they don't have to be perfect Bringing the issues to a dialogue  Sustainability was the norm not that long ago Compostable as greenwashing Marketing words used around sustainability Convenience as a factor in decision making Cloth diapering Connect with Jessie: Tiny Yellow Bungalow online shop On Instagram @tinyyellowbungalow About Lady Farmer: Lady Farmer is a sustainable apparel and lifestyle brand, with education around sustainability and slow living at the forefront of our mission. Lady Farmer is proud to produce The Good Dirt podcast, along with the Lady Farmer Marketplace and our online community, The ALMANAC. Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or tell us what the good dirt means to you. Email us at [email protected] Support your Good Dirt at home with BIOS Nutrients! Listeners of The Good Dirt podcast can enjoy 15% off BIOS Nutrients organic, natural fertilizers using the code LADYFARMER15 at checkout. Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

Today we're talking to Becky Cole, regenerative farmer, gardener, folk herbalist, forager and mother. Becky runs Broughgammon Farm with her husband Charlie in Northern Ireland. She became interested in natural living when she became burnt out from city life and went on a journey to discover slow living and nature connections. In this conversation, we talk about the health crises which lead Becky to reevaluate her lifestyle, her background in the fashion industry, the regenerative ethos and practices of Broughgammon farm, and her practice and teachings of foraging and herbalism. You can find Becky every month on BBC Radio 2 and her popular podcast, Nature & Nourish. She teaches workshops online & on the farm. Her first book The Garden Apothecary was released in 2022 with Hardie Grant and she runs monthly nature connection circles on her Patreon page, The Rooted Connection. Topics Covered: Becky's background in the fashion industry How a health crisis guided her back to nature Fashion in the UK Fashion brands mentioned: Country Clothing Dubarry of Ireland Cabbages and Roses Hunter Boots Becky's fashion ethics The environmental ethos of Broughgammon Farm Closing the waste loops in the food chain at Broughgammon Farm, and how they make use of by-products. Billy Burgers Ethically raised veal The Garden Apothecary by Becky O Cole  Foraging and Herbalism Fear of Nature Farming as a lifestyle A leisurely discussion of slow living Common Herbs for Natural Health by Juliette de Bairacli Levy Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman Connect with Becky: On Instagram, @beckyocole Becky's Website, beckyocole.com Becky's Patreon, The Rooted Community Nature & Nourish Podcast Broughgammon Farm on Instagram About Lady Farmer: Lady Farmer is a sustainable apparel and lifestyle brand, with education around sustainability and sustainable living at the forefront of our mission. Lady Farmer is proud to produce The Good Dirt podcast. Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or tell us what the good dirt means to you. Email us at [email protected] Support your Good Dirt at home with BIOS Nutrients! Listeners of The Good Dirt podcast can enjoy 15% off BIOS Nutrients organic, natural fertilizers using the code LADYFARMER15 at checkout. Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being. Mentioned in this episode: BIOS Ad BIOS Natural Plant Fertilizer - LADYFARMER15 for 15% off BIOS Affiliate Link

Today we are talking to Aaron Deacon, creator of BIOS Nutrients, a natural plant fertilizer that provides natural alternatives to chemical fertilizers & pesticides for indoor plants, gardens, and farms. Aaron’s story is truly one of curiosity, passion, and drive to find a solution for something he cares very much about, which is soil health and thriving plants. His fertilizers and pesticides are made with all-natural, organic ingredients to keep your soil & plants free of harmful chemicals, handmade with love and care. All batches are lab tested to ensure you're getting the best for your indoor plants, gardens, or farms. In this conversation, we talk not only about soil science but also about the spiritual and metaphorical aspects of our human relationship to healthy soil and how good dirt is key to all life on the planet. We are excited about Aaron's work and his product, and pleased to welcome Bios Nutrients to Lady Farmer as an affiliate partner! Topics Covered: Aaron's background growing cannabis, and discovering life in the soil Korean Natural Farming and utilizing fermentation for soil health Natural vs Synthetic How to use the BIOS products Nourishing your indoor plants Our human connection to soil biology Aaron's learning curve in soil microbiology Creating the natural fertilizer, leaning into nature and intuition, creating a balance of microbes Aaron's basement operation The challenge of educating people regarding life in the soil Positive testimonials The importance of educating children in soil biology How to Do Nothing by Jenny O'Dell Connect with Aaron: BIOS Nutrients website - use the code LADYFARMER15 for 15% off! On Instagram @biosnutrients On TikTok @biosnutrients About Lady Farmer: Lady Farmer is a sustainable apparel and lifestyle brand, with education around sustainability and sustainable living at the forefront of our mission. Lady Farmer is proud to produce The Good Dirt podcast. Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or tell us what the good dirt means to you. Email us at [email protected] Support your Good Dirt at home with BIOS Nutrients! Listeners of The Good Dirt podcast can enjoy 15% off BIOS Nutrients organic, natural fertilizers using the code LADYFARMER15 at checkout. Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being. Mentioned in this episode: BIOS Ad BIOS Natural Plant Fertilizer - LADYFARMER15 for 15% off BIOS Affiliate Link

Our guest today is Stephanie O’Dea, a New York Times best-selling author, a certified life coach, and the host of The Slow Living Podcast. Stephanie specializes in long-term goal planning for her clients to live out the life they’ve always wanted — the one they’ve always dreamt about. She asks, what if you could truly “have it all?” What if you could design the life of your dreams and then live it out, in Real Time? What started as an idea for a way to stay home with her kids became her blog, A Year of Slow Cooking, a website and TV appearances, book contracts, life coaching, and more recently, The Slow Living Podcast. Tune in to hear how Stephanie has evolved a life that remains true to her core desires in her life, and how she is guiding others in doing the same.  We talk about topics such as... Fall Season inside The ALMANAC How Stephanie's project "A Year of Slow Cooking" led to "The Slow Living Podcast" and life coaching Amy Dufault on The Good Dirt Living "On Purpose" A discussion about the Instant Pot Marketing and Societal pressures affecting our consumer behaviors The Peace Pyramid "Miracle Morning" by Hal Elrod FOMO= "Figure Only Myself Out" Screen boundaries for kids Our Town Connect with Stephanie: Stephanie's Website, stephanieodea.com Podcast - Slow Living with Stephanie O'Dea Slow Living with Stephanie O'Dea - Apple Podcasts Stephanie's Books On Instagram @stephanieodea About Lady Farmer: Lady Farmer is a sustainable apparel and lifestyle brand, with education around sustainability and sustainable living at the forefront of our mission. Lady Farmer is proud to produce The Good Dirt podcast. Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or tell us what the good dirt means to you. Email us at [email protected] Support your Good Dirt at home with BIOS Nutrients! Listeners of The Good Dirt podcast can enjoy 15% off BIOS Nutrients organic, natural fertilizers using the code LADYFARMER15 at checkout. Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being. Mentioned in this episode: BIOS Ad BIOS Natural Plant Fertilizer - LADYFARMER15 for 15% off BIOS Affiliate Link

Our guests today are Janessa Leone, founder of the sustainable luxury brand Janessa Leoné, and Rachel Cantu, supply chain and sustainability advisor, and founder of Simplify and Grow Business Consulting. The Janessa Leone brand is bringing the healing potential of regenerative agriculture and rethinking our global textile supply chain. Janessa Leoné makes beautiful, thoughtful products with impact in mind–hats, accessories and knits. Since launching in 2013– the company has emerged as a leader in sustainability, releasing earlier this year, the first collection of carbon-negative sweaters to be made entirely in the USA  We cover a lot of ground in this conversation, including... how sustainability and luxury pair together Janessa's personal journey in this space–and what has motivated her to pivot her business in this way  the tensions around sustainability in the fashion industry  how regenerative business can heal ecosystems  how to measure impact, and how to share that impact to educate and empower customers Topics Covered & Links: Victory Chimes Windjammer Tour Join the ALMANAC for Fall! Establishing a regenerative clothing brand Creating transparent supply chains from scratch Rachel Cantu's business, Simplify + Grow Regeneration vs . sustainability What is Regenerative? Janessa's journey with chronic health issues and her discovery of regenerative agriculture Quantifying carbon impact How Janessa's personal journey evolved her business What makes wool special Our conversation with Sheep Inc's Edzard Van Der Wyck Rambouillet sheep and wool How the regenerative ranch co-op works Textile Exchange - leading organization in terms of standards development Responsible Wool Standard Shaniko Wool Co in Oregon Rachel's experience with large brands, pros and cons of large and small scale production Janessa's Leone's highest priorities as a company Luxury and Sustainability Connect with Janessa and Rachel: The Janessa Leone Website: janessaleone.com/ On Instagram @janessaleone Simplify + Grow Consulting by Rachel Cantu About Lady Farmer: Lady Farmer is a sustainable apparel and lifestyle brand, with education around sustainability and sustainable living at the forefront of our mission. Lady Farmer is proud to produce The Good Dirt podcast. Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or tell us what the good dirt means to you. Email us at [email protected] Support your Good Dirt at home with BIOS Nutrients! Listeners of The Good Dirt podcast can enjoy 15% off BIOS Nutrients organic, natural fertilizers using the code LADYFARMER15 at checkout. Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

Our guest today is April Jones, founder of the Pinehurst farmer's market in Columbia, South Carolina and an advocate for the food justice and food sovereignty movement.  April is a writer, a public speaker, a blogger, a recipe developer book reviewer, and is passionate about community gardens and farmer's markets. She contributes content to her blog, Frolicking Americana, and to numerous publications, including Mother Earth News, Country Lore, The Natural Farmer, The Agrarian Trust, Cornucopia Institute, and Farmer's Market Coalition. April's work is in creating a resilient food system, farmer's markets and creating community change around food. Some of the topics covered in this conversation include food apartheid as opposed to food justice and food sovereignty, the value of farmer's markets in community and culture, soil mitigation, bringing civility into our communities, and how food reflects value systems. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, Youtube, or on your favorite podcast platform.  Topics Covered: Beginning of Pinehurst Farmer's Market Food Apartheid/ food deserts Food Justice and Food Sovereignty How the farmer's market benefits the community Farmer's Markets as a reflection of local culture Soil mitigation Bringing resources to communities Educating for food sovereignty Civility in our communities Value systems reflected through food Resources Mentioned: Baker Creek Seed Company Angus King Ari Shapiro (NPR) Laura Ingalls Wilder Agrarian Trust (VA) Native Indigenous Conference (MN) Connect with April: @pinehurstfarmersmarket on Facebook April's Blog, Frolicking Americana About Lady Farmer: Lady Farmer is a sustainable apparel and lifestyle brand, with education around sustainability and sustainable living at the forefront of our mission. Lady Farmer is proud to produce The Good Dirt podcast. Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or tell us what the good dirt means to you. Email us at [email protected] Support your Good Dirt at home with BIOS Nutrients! Listeners of The Good Dirt podcast can enjoy 15% off BIOS Nutrients organic, natural fertilizers using the code LADYFARMER15 at checkout. Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

In this episode, we talk about growing food in small spaces and food preservation, regional foods, and the benefits of a front yard garden. Our guest for this episode is Kris Bordessa, a long-time gardener, certified Master Food Preserver, and award-winning book author. Kris lives in Hawaii, and is learning to grow food in a climate that’s vastly different from where she grew up. She loves helping people learn that they can provide for themselves, from producing food to cooking at home. Kris's most recent book is Attainable Sustainable: The Lost Art of Self-Reliant Living (National Geographic). She’s the founder of the site by the same name, Attainable Sustainable (attainable-sustainable.net), where she writes about food from the ground up, covering gardening, recipes, food preservation, and green(er) living.  In this conversation, we talk about the food supply in Hawaii, growing food in small spaces and food preservation, regional foods (the strawberry guava, for example) and the benefits of a front yard garden. We even get a sneak peek at Kris's next book on how to make your own staples. Be the first to hear about it here! Topics discussed: A cautionary tale about garden grafting from The New Yorker, May 1965  The food supply situation in Hawaii Kris's book, Attainable Sustainable Nemo the pig Growing food in small spaces Single harvest vs. cut-and-come-again crops Growing and preserving food in Hawaii Strawberry Guava Fermenting as a preservation technique The front yard garden Kris's course on container gardening What does sustainability mean to Kris? Creating staples from scratch  Connect with Kris On Instagram @attainablesustainable Buy Kris' book, Attainable Sustainable Kris' website and blog, attainable-sustainable.net About Lady Farmer: Lady Farmer is a sustainable apparel and lifestyle brand, with education around sustainability and sustainable living at the forefront of our mission. Lady Farmer is proud to produce The Good Dirt podcast. Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or tell us what the good dirt means to you. Email us at [email protected] Support your Good Dirt at home with BIOS Nutrients! Listeners of The Good Dirt podcast can enjoy 15% off BIOS Nutrients organic, natural fertilizers using the code LADYFARMER15 at checkout. Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

Learn how a region's foodways can be one of the most fascinating tell the history and culture of a specific time and place. If you're interested in food, development and land use planning, and stories, this episode is for you! Claudia Kousoulas and Ellen Letourneau are the co-authors of A Culinary History of Montgomery County, Maryland. This is the second book in which they have explored the food heritage of Montgomery County, the first being Bread and Beauty: A Year in Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve, which is full of beautiful photographs and wonderful recipes representing our region. Their current book is all about how the history of our area is tied in with food. In terms of where you live, looking at food history is a way of looking at how your culture and community have evolved over time. During this conversation, we hear lots of stories about the people and foodways of this region. We also talk about the history of Montgomery County and the Agricultural Preserve, the heritage of indigenous people in the region, development and land use planning, supply chain issues, and more.  Topics Covered and Links: Bread and Beauty A Culinary History of Montgomery County, Maryland. Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve Eating as a Political Act Caroline Taylor on The Good Dirt Supply Chain Issues Tony Cohen on The Good Dirt Button Farm Living History Center Glen Echo Park Culinary Historians of Washington The Seneca Quarry The C and O Canal The Capital Crescent Trail TDR's or Transferable Development Rights Indigenous People of this Region Chataqua Movement Montgomery County Farm Women's Cooperative Bill Marriott and Hot Shoppes in D.C. Josiah Henson Museum Connect with Ellen and Claudia: On Facebook @mococulinaryhistory Buy the Book, A Culinary History of Montgomery County, Maryland. About Lady Farmer: Lady Farmer is a sustainable apparel and lifestyle brand, with education around sustainability and sustainable living at the forefront of our mission. Lady Farmer is proud to produce The Good Dirt podcast. Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or tell us what the good dirt means to you. Email us at [email protected] Support your Good Dirt at home with BIOS Nutrients! Listeners of The Good Dirt podcast can enjoy 15% off BIOS Nutrients organic, natural fertilizers using the code LADYFARMER15 at checkout. Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

What aspects of the back-to-school season are tapping into core memory making, and how much is just consumer hype? Listen in as Mary & Emma peel away the marketing from the emotion, and discuss ideas for reframing this season in a more sustainable way for kids AND parents. Things Mentioned: Michael Pollan, author of In Defense of Food - An Eater's Manifesto Lady Farmer Marketplace Wool Lunchbox Jute Sandwich Bag Jackalo Clothing About Lady Farmer: Lady Farmer is a sustainable apparel and lifestyle brand, with education around sustainability and sustainable living at the forefront of our mission. Lady Farmer is proud to produce The Good Dirt podcast. Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or tell us what the good dirt means to you. Email us at [email protected] Support your Good Dirt at home with BIOS Nutrients! Listeners of The Good Dirt podcast can enjoy 15% off BIOS Nutrients organic, natural fertilizers using the code LADYFARMER15 at checkout. Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

Sara Buscaglia is the creator of Farm and Folk, which is a fusion of her work as both sustainable organic farmer and folk textile artist. Sara believes that the magic and alchemy of farming and art are one and the same, and her passion for transferring natural color to natural fibers is a fascination that only grows stronger as the years roll by. In this conversation we talk about how Sara came to be an organic farmer, her evolution as an artist, her quilting practice and shared thoughts on social media and consumerism. Join us to hear the inspiring story of Sara's slow living journey and the decisions that have influenced her family's intentional lifestyle. Topics Covered: Finding farming as a lifestyle Sara's evolution as a fabric artist What is folk art?  The early years of CSA's The intersection of farming and art Their experience hemp farming Sarah's quilting journey and practice Sara's upcoming book project with Abrams Sara's Instagram practice Consumerism culture, and raising children within it Resources Mentioned: Indian Runner Ducks Marlee Grace Interview Cookie Washington Interview Noco Hemp Expo Farm and Folk Logo Design, @Untodust Connect with Farm & Folk On Instagram @farmandfolk Sara's website and online shop: https://www.farmandfolk.com/ About Lady Farmer: Lady Farmer is a sustainable apparel and lifestyle brand, with education around sustainability and sustainable living at the forefront of our mission. Lady Farmer is proud to produce The Good Dirt podcast. Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or tell us what the good dirt means to you. Email us at [email protected] Support your Good Dirt at home with BIOS Nutrients! Listeners of The Good Dirt podcast can enjoy 15% off BIOS Nutrients organic, natural fertilizers using the code LADYFARMER15 at checkout. Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

Today’s guests are Heidi Barr of Kitchen Garden Textiles and Emma de Long of Knee High Farm, who have joined forces in the Pennsylvania Flax Project, aiming to revitalize the flax for linen industry in their region for the benefit of both urban and rural communities. Their goals are to create an industry built on the principles of radical inclusion, environmental stewardship and social justice, and to create clean jobs across the industries of farming, milling, weaving, cut and sew manufacturing. Their story as a team begins on March 12, 2020 when the two met to have a conversation about a natural dye project. Their chat quickly turned into an enthusiastic musing about the possibilities of Pennsylvania grown linen and the Pa. Flax Project began. In this episode we chat about the history of linen in this country and the challenges of reinstating it as a viable domestic industry, creating connection in a globalized economy, and issues with product transparency and consumer awareness. Heidi and Emma are excited to expand their commitment to the local economy and textile supply chain, recognizing that local self reliance and choosing to produce natural fibers on regenerative farms is an important step towards a healthy future.  Topics Covered: The history of textile production in the US Heidi and Emma's journey to growing flax domestically The process of turning flax in to linen fiber How linen compares to other natural fibers, particularly hemp, and the impacts on our soils PA Flax Project's process to regionalize flax seed varieties Rethinking the wedding industry, and the desire for domestically-grown and sewn gowns Consumption culture and the influence of social media The next steps for PA Flax, and their crowdfunding goals Resources Mentioned: Magic Fashion Trade Show Chico Flax Episode Amy DuFault Episode Crowdfunding Campaign Connect with the PA Flax Project: Their Website: https://paflaxproject.com/ Square Yard Project Heidi's Company, Kitchen Garden Textiles Emma's Farm, Kneehigh Farm @paflaxproject on Instagram PA Flax Project on Go Fund Me About Lady Farmer: Lady Farmer is a sustainable apparel and lifestyle brand, with education around sustainability and sustainable living at the forefront of our mission. Lady Farmer is proud to produce The Good Dirt podcast. Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or tell us what the good dirt means to you. Email us at [email protected] Support your Good Dirt at home with BIOS Nutrients! Listeners of The Good Dirt podcast can enjoy 15% off BIOS Nutrients organic, natural fertilizers using the code LADYFARMER15 at checkout. Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

In this episode, Mary and Emma are talking to Julia Skinner of Root: Historic Food for the Modern World. Root was born from Julia's deep love for community and a belief in the power of food to tell stories, connect us to place and to each other, and to build a bridge to the past. Julia's work is all about food, history, food stories, where it comes from and the people behind it. She loves fostering connections with other people and with the earth around us. Julia is especially interested in learning and teaching about fermentation, demonstrating to people the ease and accessibility of preparing delicious and healthy food using this ancient and powerful food preservation technique. Topics Covered: Exploring historic cookbooks Julia’s discovery of historical cooking traditions Types of fermentation she has explored How to start fermenting The growing popularity of traditional foods Shifting food interests during the pandemic Food Access Milk Kefir Food as medicine Resources Mentioned: Julia's website--Root Kitchens Our Fermented Lives. by Julia Skinner The English Housewife by Gervase Markham The Art of Fermentation by Sandor Katz Free99Fridge, Atlanta Umi Feeds Goodr Sowans Celtic Porridge The Fermentation School Son-Mat --(Korean) Hand taste, the unique quality and taste food has from an individual's touch, care, and experience; the way food tastes different when made by different people, often used to describe the taste of mom's cooking. Connect with Julia:  Root Kitchens Website: https://root-kitchens.com/ @rootkitchens on Instagram Julia's Books, Classes and Courses Root Kitchens Newsletter on Substack About Lady Farmer: Lady Farmer is a sustainable apparel and lifestyle brand, with education around sustainability and sustainable living at the forefront of our mission. Lady Farmer is proud to produce The Good Dirt podcast. Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or tell us what the good dirt means to you. Email us at [email protected] Support your Good Dirt at home with BIOS Nutrients! Listeners of The Good Dirt podcast can enjoy 15% off BIOS Nutrients organic, natural fertilizers using the code LADYFARMER15 at checkout. Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

Edzard van der Wyck is the co-founder of Sheep Inc., a sustainable apparel company that creates carbon negative knitwear made from merino wool. Sheep Inc's revolutionary approach starts at the source - the farm! Their partnership with regenerative farms in New Zealand and innovative manufacturing processes allow them to maintain a carbon negative status from sheep to sweater. In this episode, we talk about the impact of the fashion industry on our climate, how Sheep Inc was born, why they chose to start at the raw materials, regenerative sheep wool farms and how they work, and why carbon neutral goals are not enough. We also discuss how we can collectively shift to a more sustainable economy as a whole, and Edzard's hope for what the future of purchasing looks like. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, Youtube, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: The impact of the fashion industry on our climate Sheep Inc's innovative manufacturing process Regenerative sheep farming in New Zealand Why carbon neutral goals are not enough How Sheep Inc maintains its carbon negative status Sustainably dyeing their garments How Sheep Inc avoids waste or deadstock in their manufaturing The future of transparency and shopping sustainably How social pressure may have a role in a more sustainable future The true cost of fashion, and our perceived value of apparel The durability of natural fibers Why transparency is important, but may not be enough in the future Resources Mentioned:  Lady Farmer ALMANAC Membership ZQ Merino Connected Dot Sheep Inc’s Website: https://sheepinc.com/ On Instagram @sheepinc About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share a shoutout. Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

What does it mean for humans to live sustainably on the earth? Andrew Schwartz, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of The Institute for Ecological Civilization, a non-profit promoting long-term solutions for the wellbeing of people and the planet, helps us pull apart that question. Andrew is also the Executive Director of the Center for Process Studies and Assistant Professor of Process and Comparative Theology at Claremont School of Theology. In this conversation, we’re talking about fundamental shifts in many of our most basic assumptions about our relationship with each other and the environment, and the role each of us plays in the way forward towards a worldwide, life-supporting community.   Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, Youtube, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: How Andrew came to his interest in ecology through religion How The Institute for Ecological Civilization came into being Explanation of The Institute for Ecological Civilization and its mission The Centrality of the Human Experience Genesis as a directive for the human role in the web of creation Deep Ecology Are we fighting for human survival or earth's survival? EcoCiv partners and programs Where are the solutions? Does change happen from within the system, outside the system or from the top down? Who is getting it right? Who do we support? Resources Mentioned:  Rose of Sharon Sacred Harp Hymn 254 Don Shiva David Corton Jeremy Lent Ishmael by Daniel Quinn Aspen Institute Philip Clayton John Cobb What is Ecological Civilization by Andrew Schwartz and Philip Clayton Claremont School of Theology Willamette University Water for South Sudan Wellbeing Economy Alliance Connect with Andrew and the Institute for Ecological Civilization: EcoCiv website: https://ecociv.org/ On Instagram @ecociv_ Listen to the EcoCiv Podcast About Lady Farmer: Lady Farmer is a sustainable apparel and lifestyle brand, with education around sustainability and sustainable living at the forefront of our mission. Lady Farmer is proud to produce The Good Dirt podcast. Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or tell us what the good dirt means to you. Email us at [email protected] Support your Good Dirt at home with BIOS Nutrients! Listeners of The Good Dirt podcast can enjoy 15% off BIOS Nutrients organic, natural fertilizers using the code LADYFARMER15 at checkout. Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

"What does the good dirt mean to you?" Join Mary and Emma as they celebrate this 100th episode milestone by reflecting on the two and a half years of their podcasting journey and by highlighting several of their past guests answering this question. Things Mentioned: Our Episode with Sherri Powell “4,000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals” by Oliver Burkeman Mary Oliver Poem - The Summer Day Featured Guests 27:11 - Amy DuFault, Episode 1 27:28 - Liz Kimball, Episode 40 28:43 - Rebecca Burgess, Episode 38 29:28 - Lynn Cassells, Episode 79 30:54 - Justin West, Episode 72 31:28 - Julia Watkins, Episode 12 & 83 33:10 - Jason Fowler, Episode 84 35:01 - Eliza Greenman, Episode 86 35:33 - Amanda Agricola, Episode 87 36:14 - Ryan Mitchell, Episode 77 35:35 - Lisa Mitchell, Episode 91 36:54 - Bex Partridge, Episode 94 38:45 - Doug Phillips of Conscious Clothing, Episode 90 39:10 - Melissa K. Norris, Episode 99 39:40 - Jesse Golden, Episode 81 40:20 - Megan Borukhovsky of Sister Nettle, Episode 83 41:13 - Tony Cohen, Juneteenth Bonus Episode (June 19, 2021) About Lady Farmer: Lady Farmer is a sustainable apparel and lifestyle brand, with education around sustainability and sustainable living at the forefront of our mission. Lady Farmer is proud to produce The Good Dirt podcast. Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or tell us what the good dirt means to you. Email us at [email protected] Support your Good Dirt at home with BIOS Nutrients! Listeners of The Good Dirt podcast can enjoy 15% off BIOS Nutrients organic, natural fertilizers using the code LADYFARMER15 at checkout. Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

Want small, attainable steps you can take to begin your homesteading journey? Melissa K. Norris is a fifth-generation homesteader who believes in keeping the old ways alive and that food shouldn't come from a box. She lives on a 15-acre farm in Washington state with her husband and two children, and together they raise 100% of their own meat and a majority of the fruits and vegetables they consume in a year.  Melissa doubled-down on her homesteading journey after a chronic health issue caused her to look at the foods she was eating every day. She decided she could save money and be healthier if she grew and preserved her own food rather than purchasing pre-packaged food items. From this, she’s built a homesteading empire, with a podcast, multiple books, and an online education platform with over a thousand members.  Melissa's passion is to teach others the skills of the homesteading and simple life movement, no matter where you live. In this conversation, we talk about the concept of convenience and how it is used against us - especially in the food industry - as well as small, attainable steps you can take to begin your homesteading journey. Join us for this inspiring conversation!  Topics Covered: How Melissa healed her chronic health issues with food Food fads of the nineties Reframing what "convenience" means to you  Small steps to start homesteading How Melissa created the Pioneering Today Academy Herbalism and Natural Medicines Resources Mentioned: Cream of Chicken Soup Recipe | Melissa K Norris Blog Michael Pollan Books Pioneer Today Academy Sourdough Starter Tutorial  Homesteaders of America Conference Connect with Melissa: On Instagram @melissaknorris On Facebook @melissaknorris Melissa’s Youtube Channel Melissa’s Website: https://melissaknorris.com/ Pioneering Today Podcast Pioneer Today Academy About Lady Farmer: Lady Farmer is a sustainable apparel and lifestyle brand, with education around sustainability and sustainable living at the forefront of our mission. Lady Farmer is proud to produce The Good Dirt podcast. Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or tell us what the good dirt means to you. Email us at [email protected] Support your Good Dirt at home with BIOS Nutrients! Listeners of The Good Dirt podcast can enjoy 15% off BIOS Nutrients organic, natural fertilizers using the code LADYFARMER15 at checkout. Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

After observing the waste and unsustainable practices while working in the fashion industry, Sarah Arch and Allie Feldman decided to do something about it by starting Rooted Botanics, a fashion brand that gives ethically sourced vintage pieces new life through natural dyes. Both Sarah and Allie are dedicated to thoughtful sourcing, purposeful education about the history of natural dye, and creating beautiful garments while developing a business model designed to remain at a human scale. The relationships they have forged with plant dyes continue to advance a paradigm shift in the fashion industry - a shift that ultimately downplays harm and amplifies joy. Topics Covered: Discovering Natural Dyes Waste in the Fashion Industry Greenwashing and Microplastics Health Benefits of Natural Dyes and Fibers Embracing the Beauty and Unpredictability of Natural Dye Learning and Growing Into Slow Living Resources Mentioned:  Christie Dawn Podcast Episode Textiles 101: Fiber Content Maiwa natural dyes Connect with Rooted Botanics: https://rootedbotanics.com/  Instagram: @rootedbotanics About Lady Farmer: Lady Farmer is a sustainable apparel and lifestyle brand, with education around sustainability and sustainable living at the forefront of our mission. Lady Farmer is proud to produce The Good Dirt podcast. Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or tell us what the good dirt means to you. Email us at [email protected] Support your Good Dirt at home with BIOS Nutrients! Listeners of The Good Dirt podcast can enjoy 15% off BIOS Nutrients organic, natural fertilizers using the code LADYFARMER15 at checkout. Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

Herbalist, artist, and cookbook author Spencre McGowan tells us about her herbal allies and the ways that living in relationship with plants has shaped her slow living journey. After receiving informal training in cooking with herbs in Sweden and attending herb school in California, Spencre began exploring her own personal relationships to herbs through writing and creating zines, one of which became her first book (Blotto Botany, a guide to herbal infusions and cordials). Spencre is passionate about the accessibility of herbal medicine, and encourages listeners to get to know a few herbs personally, whether or not they have access to their own garden. She also advocates for the use of herbs within their cultural context. Her honesty about her slow living journey has gained her a large following on TikTok, where she works to share openly about the difficulties and joys of living closely with herbs and plants. Topics Covered: Self-Expression Through Zines Herbal Cordials and Infusions The Beauty of Tulsi, or Holy Basil Our Healing Relationships with Herbs Getting to Know Our Herbal Allies Cultural Responsibility In Herbalism TikTok and Slow Living Diverse Uses for Nettles Resources Mentioned:  Blotto Botany Forest + Home: Cultivating an Herbal Kitchen (Available for Pre-Order) Verdant Feasts Workshop Connect with Spencre McGowan: https://www.gingertooth.com/ Instagram: @gingertooth TikTok: @spencrelinnea About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share a shoutout. Submissions throughout the month of June will be entered to win a Slow Living Consult with Mary and Emma!  Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

Marti Buckley captivates us as she portrays the rich culinary traditions of the Basque country of Spain, where slow living and seasonal eating are key ingredients to community life. Marti fell in love with Basque culture when she studied abroad in college, and has now lived in San Sebastian, Spain, for over ten years, where she has written two cookbooks about Basque cuisine. She hopes to give visibility to the little-known food, history, and culture of Basque country. Marti takes us on a journey through the way to eat in Basque country - from pintxos (similar to tapas) to dining societies, Basque traditions around eating provide inspiration and creativity to those of us looking for ways to slow down, eat closer to home, and delve deeply into community life. Topics Covered: Basque Culture and Cuisine The American Food Industry and the Myth of Convenience Slow Living and Long Lunches in Basque Country The Art of the Pintxo Connecting With Friends Through Traditional Basque DIning Societies Relearning Seasonal Eating Slow Living To Boost Nutrition and Well-Being Resources Mentioned:  Basque Country (Marti’s First Book)  Auxiliares Program Bottega Restaurant (Birmingham, AL) Connect with Marti Buckley:  https://www.travelcookeat.com/ Email: [email protected] Instagram:@martibuckley About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share a shoutout. Submissions throughout the month of June will be entered to win a Slow Living Consult with Mary and Emma!  Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

Lizzie Horvitz explores the subtleties and nuances of sustainability as she introduces us to Finch, a browser extension that rates products on their environmental and social impact as you shop online. Lizzie started Finch in order to empower customers to make informed, conscious choices as they consider the impact of what they buy. She is hopeful about the ways data and technology can address greenwashing and begin to shift our paradigm of unconscious over consumption. Influenced by the data she works with at Finch, Lizzie takes a pragmatic approach to sustainability, recognizing that there are no perfect solutions or simple answers when it comes to mitigating climate change, improving welfare for manufacturing workers, or shifting the standards to which we hold our products. She advocates for small, simple steps towards improved buying choices by providing the information that customers need to choose a sustainable life. Topics Covered: Decoding Sustainability with Data Choosing Progress Over Perfection The Nuances of What Makes A Product Sustainable Regenerative Agriculture and Alternatives to the Meat Industry Resources Mentioned:  Environmental Working Group Done Good Connect with Lizzie Horvitz: Finch Website Instagram @choosefinch Twitter @choosefinch or @lizzieh188 About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share a shoutout. Submissions throughout the month of June will be entered to win a Slow Living Consult with Mary and Emma! The winner will be announced in our 100th episode. Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

Despite her life being as busy as ever, Bex Partridge tells us about the ways it feels full of better, more fulfilling things since she made the shift from a corporate job to working as a full-time flower farmer and floral designer. Bex is the founder of Botanical Tales, a dried flower installation business based in Devon, England, where she provides beautiful, low-waste floral designs to her community from her own garden. Since moving to Devon, her family has enjoyed being part of a close-knit community which supports local makers and growers. She encourages listeners to trust the process as they seek to pursue a more sustainable lifestyle, and to remember that we are not separate from nature - we all come from the good dirt. Topics Covered: Planting by the Moon The Winding Road of the Lady Farmer Lifestyle Floral Artistry and Dried Flowers The Benefits of Local Flowers Floral Design and the Wedding Industry World Events as Catalysts for Paradigm Shifts Rethinking Slow Living as “Full Living” Our Interconnectedness with Nature Resources Mentioned:  Bex’s First Book: Everlastings Bex’s Upcoming Book (Available for Pre-Order): Flowers Forever Guest Info: Bex's Instagram: @botanical_tales Botanicaltales.com Patreon Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

In this bonus episode, Mary and Emma chat about greenwashing in food, fashion and cleaning products. What do we mean by greenwashing, and how does an informed consumer know when a so-called "green" product is really better for the planet, or when they're being pulled in by marketing strategies that don't tell the whole story? Listen in and see what we have to say about it, and let us know what you think! Notes & Resources: Podcast Episode on Cotton with Mairin Wilson Email us at [email protected]! Follow us on Instagram @weareladyfarmer Continue the conversation in our membership, The ALMANAC

Mairin Wilson talks about the ways that Christy Dawn, a dress company based in Los Angeles, California, is transcending sustainability and seeking to create garments that regenerate land, businesses, and communities from the soil up. Rather than being satisfied with a net-neutral outcome when it comes to their agricultural, manufacturing, and employment practices, Christy Dawn is working towards a positive impact through innovative fundraising campaigns, regenerative farming methods, and high standards for transparency throughout the entire process of making clothes. As the Director of Regenerative Practices at Christy Dawn, Mairin has the privilege of visiting and working alongside farm and textile partners in India who are returning to traditional methods of farming, printing, and dyeing cotton cloth. She loves the way her job allows her to connect with the abundant life present in healthy soil, and is excited to continue working towards increasingly positive outcomes through regenerative practices. Topics Covered: Rethinking Weeds Organic Cotton Regenerative Agriculture and the Fashion Industry Innovative Economic Practices in the Textile Industry The Dangers of Conventional Cotton Block Printing and Natural Dye Traditions Resources Mentioned:  Gardenkeeper Gus Oshadi Collective Christy Dawn’s Farm to Closet Collection Guest Info: Connect with Mairin Wilson and Christy Dawn Website: https://christydawn.com/ Instagram: @christydawn LinkedIn: Mairin Wilson Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

April Gargiulo, founder of the skin-care company Vintner's Daughter, closes the loop between winemaking, soil health and sustainable skincare, as she tells the story of the slow beauty company she created to reflect her desire for quality, love for the earth, and production with an old-world mindset. April works from the foundation that fewer and better products are the remedy to a market built for overconsumption, and approaches skincare with the attitude of a winemaker: focusing on whole plants, active ingredients, quality sourcing, and soil health, resulting in a product made to an exacting standard of quality. For April, slow living means leaning into terroir, the unique flavor of a place that it carries due to the composition of the soil in which things are grown. Her intentionality and desire to engage with the details of the making process fuel her ability to serve her specific community, just as creators would have done in the pre-industrial age. Topics Covered: Slow Beauty Winemaking Holistic Skincare Routine Soil Health and Terroir from a Skincare Perspective Creating Products with a “Fewer, Better” Mindset Conscious Consumption Resources Mentioned:  Spirit Weavers Gathering Rosemary Gladstar Buddhist Economics Gargiulo Vineyards Guest Info: Connect with April Gargiulo Vintner’s Daughter Instagram @vintnersdaughter Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

Fiber farmer Lisa Mitchell encourages listeners to embrace a beginner’s mindset and connect to the earth through handwork and making as she tells us the story of her major life shift, from striving for success as an art therapist in the suburbs, to slow living on a guanaco farm in the Pacific Northwest. Guanacos, the undomesticated ancestors of the alpaca, produce a unique and high-quality wool, but are often challenging to work with, and are not commonly farmed in the United States. In the absence of mentors and educational resources, Lisa and her husband set about spending significant time learning how to care for these special animals through experience, trial, and error, resulting in a fiber farm producing the highest quality wool on the market. Lisa seeks to “live with her hands” as she creates, and to practice making as an act of love - for the animals she lives alongside, for other people, and for the earth. Topics Covered: Seeking a different life Guanacos and Guanaco Wool Learning to Work with Natural Fibers Working with Natural Dye Embracing Beginner’s Mind Creating as an Act of Love Connecting with Reality Through Hand Work Resources Mentioned:  Black Sheep Gathering Guest Info: Lisa Mitchell's Website and Online Store, A Fiber Life Instagram: @afiberlife Podcast: https://afiberlife.com/podcast/ Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

Learn about individual actions you can take to mitigate climate change and make sustainability attainable for everyone, with Stephanie Miller, author of Zero Waste Living the 80/20 Way and founder of Zero Waste in DC. Stephanie left her job as a climate change specialist for the World Bank in order to simplify her own life, confront the disconnect she felt between her life and her work, and to take personal steps toward sustainability. She now empowers others in her community to examine their waste practices and connect with local resources for low-waste living. Stephanie recognizes how paralyzing it can be to think about climate change, and encourages listeners to focus on what she calls the “magic three”: focus on food, ditching plastic, and recycling right, growing more confident and conscious with each choice. The joy and connection that result from low-waste living are paradigm shifting in themselves. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: The 80/20 Way - Perfection is not the answer Sustainability in Food Choices The greenwashing of “plant-based.”  Sustainable meat production vs standard industrial CAFO operations The problem of food waste Purge Plastic / Easy Alternatives Recycle Right/ the problem of “Wish-Cycling” The community-building aspect of cultivating a more sustainable lifestyle Finding joy in sustainable living  Resources Mentioned:  Stephanie’s Book: Zero Waste Living the 80/20 Way Coining "dirt" to mean gossip: Ernest Hemingway in The Sun Also Rises Connect with Stephanie Miller: Zero Waste in DC Instagram @zerowasteindc Follow Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Original music by John Kingsley, @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

Join us in this conversation about the ins and outs of sustainable fashion, how it has evolved over the last decade and where it might be headed. In this episode, Shannon Lohr, sustainable fashion expert and founder of Factory 45, discusses her own journey in apparel production and her subsequent launch of Factory 45 as an online business school for entrepreneurs launching ethical, sustainable fashion brands. Shannon teaches courses on the entire process of brand development, from fundraising and marketing to production and manufacturing. She seeks to educate and empower both consumers and business owners to make sustainable choices as they buy, sell, and manufacture, focusing on the major benefits of these choices rather than on fear or shame. Shannon believes that more conscious consumers lead to a brighter future. As customers gradually come to know their purchasing power and begin to think about the impact of their buying choices, the market evolves and shifts toward a more sustainable outcome. While it doesn’t happen all at once, Shannon urges us to trust the process and keep making positive choices every day. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: Sustainable Fashion Ethical Fashion Supply Chain Textile Manufacturing Rana Plaza Collapse Fashion Revolution Week Resources Mentioned:  Factory 45 https://factory45.co/ The Crowdfunding Factory https://crowdfundingfactory.co/ Guest Info Connect with Shannon Lohr  http://www.shannonlohr.com/ Instagram: @factory45co Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

Challenge yourself to think a little deeper about what you buy with Rose and Doug Phillips of Conscious Clothing as they talk slow fashion, conscious consumption, staying authentic as business owners, and the “hearts and minds campaign,” encouraging consumers to delve into the impact of their purchasing power. Founded in Michigan in 2006, Conscious Clothing designs and creates beautiful, sustainable, and ethically sourced staple garments to complement a capsule wardrobe - all sewn in the USA.  Rose and Doug are not just passionate about sustainable clothing, but also cultivate opportunities for sustainable living through their business, creating systems that allow sewers to work on their own schedules at home and seeking authentic collaborations and relationships with like-minded companies. For them, the good dirt is all about those relationships: with others, with our purchases, and with the earth. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: Slow Fashion Natural Fibers Conscious Consumerism Sustainable Fashion Slow Living Clothing Manufacturing Recycled Materials Microplastics Resources Mentioned:  Conscious Clothing https://www.consciousclothing.net/ “The True Cost” Documentary https://truecostmovie.com/ Guest Info Connect with Conscious Clothing Instagram: @consciousclothing Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/consciousclothing_/pins/ TikTok: @consciousclothing Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/consciousclothing5104 Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

It’s #fashionrevolutionweek! We have a special bonus episode up for you today where we're chatting about our own personal stories regarding shopping, clothing, and the slow fashion journey. Tune in to listen to us chat about the ongoing fight against fast fashion, the beacon of hope that is slow living, and how to get in on the fashion revolution movement! Never miss an episode of The Good Dirt! Opt-in HERE to get a text from us whenever a new episode drops ✨ 🌿 Fashion Revolution Rana Plaza Collapse Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Sowing seeds of slow living is our mantra at Lady Farmer. Simplifying our belongings, prioritizing good choices in food and clothing, and choosing sustainable habits wherever we can all have a positive impact on ourselves, our community and our planet.

What do heritage livestock breeds have to do with sustainable and regenerative farming practices? For Aliza Eliazarov, photography was the discipline that helped her to confront the disconnect she felt with her relationship to her food sources and the land, and opened the door to the importance of preserving heritage breeds and supporting the regenerative farms that are raising them. Join us as we talk with Aliza, author of “On the Farm” a photo book about heritage livestock breeds, about her stunning livestock portraiture, our shared love of animals, and the benefits of raising heritage and rare animal breeds in contrast with conventional farming practices.  Aliza’s livestock photography career began when she noticed chickens in a community garden in New York city and decided to start photographing them. Since then, she has made portraits of all kinds of farm animals, from ducks to bison. Her work takes animals out of the context of the farm, focusing on the animals themselves and giving the viewer the opportunity to consider the role that these animals might play in their lives. Aliza believes that slow living comes easier through the observation and companionship of animals. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: Photography  Conservation  Preservation Heritage Breeds  Resources Mentioned:  Modern Farmer Magazine Tammy White Good Dirt Episode  Liz Riffle Good Dirt Episode  Angela Ferraro Fanning Good Dirt Episode  “On the Farm”, Aliza’s Book  “Best Dog Book”, In Production  Guest Info: Connect with Aliza Eliazarov at alizaeliazarov.com Instagram @aliza.eliazarov Facebook, Aliza Eliazarov Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

Learn to make space for what truly makes you happy using the power of refusal and conscious choice, with Danielle Alvarado of Sustainably Kind Living. Danielle’s educational online collective for the conscious consumer provides alternative resources to the harmful fast fashion, home, and beauty industries. Moved by the horrific stories she heard first hand from garment workers in Southeast Asia, Danielle found her calling by advocating for sustainable fashion and for a rejection of harmful and toxic industrial systems. After making the move to Italy to begin her family, Danielle found herself in a small Italian village where sustainable slow-living was simply the norm. Amazed by this new way of life and inspired by her experience in Asia, she began a blog to educate and advocate for a paradigm shift towards simple living. She now preaches about the power to bypass consumerism by asking, “What truly makes us happy?” and “What defines actual need?” Danielle knows that beneath all of the things we think we want, we are really longing for acceptance and connection back to each other and the Earth. She also knows that if we have the privilege to consider sustainable options, then we have the responsibility to select those options. Ultimately, she argues that slow living is, at its core, a call to show ourselves and the world greater empathy.   Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Please be advised, this episode contains mention of sexual assault and sexual violence.  Topics Covered: Sustainable Fashion  Consumer Culture  Fast Fashion  Child Labor  Social Inequality  Minimalism  Conscious Consumerism  Slow Fashion  Slow Living  Resources Mentioned:  Elizabeth Kline Good Dirt Episode  Fashion Revolution  The True Cost Documentary  Wildling Shoes  The Foresting School  Guest Info Connect with Danielle Alvarado at www.sustainablykindliving.com Instagram @sustainablykindliving and @sustykindliving  Facebook, Sustainably Kind Living Facebook, Danielle Alvarado  Pinterest, Sustainably Kind Living Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

Slow sustainable fashion meets yoga in this heart opening episode with our dear Lady Farmer friend, Amanda Agricola. A true renaissance woman, Amanda is the creator of Flowy, a sustainable slow fashion brand providing comfortable, naturally dyed garments for yoga and life, using materials that bring a consciousness to how we cover our bodies. As an artist and entrepreneur, Amanda brings a thoughtful and intentional eye to her products, empowering her customers energetically while also supporting mother earth. A disheartened consumer herself, frustrated by the systemic failures of the apparel industry, Amanda created Flowy out of a desire to cultivate a deeper appreciation for the materials that cover our bodies. Not only does she make her products herself, but Amanda invites participation in the making process through natural dye workshops and by distributing seeds for customers to grow their own dye gardens. She also offers a do-it-yourself dye kit to further encourage awareness of this sustainable process. Working with nature through these hands-on, intuitive methods, Amanda integrates her lifestyle and work with her goal to create a little love and comfort in the world. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: Yoga  Kundalini yoga Natural Dyes Conscious Closet  Slow Fashion  Recycled Materials  Natural Materials  Sustainable Undergarments  Resources Mentioned:  Maryland Institute College of Art  Ishamel by Daniel Quinn Tomorrow will be Better by Betty Smith  A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith The ALMANAC  Guest Info Connect with Amanda at www.flowylife.com  Instagram @flowy.life Amanda’s blog  Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

Tune in to this weeks bonus episode with Mary & Emma in our discussion of “product fatigue,” that feeling of overwhelm with all the things on our shelves and under our sinks requiring end-of-use decisions about the packaging and containers. Despite our efforts to purchase sustainably and reduce waste, things seem to pile up and we are left wondering what to do with the remains. With “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle” being the mantra for sustainable waste management, how do we decide which is most appropriate for so many products, every day? Join us as we give a couple of examples of our own struggles and solutions, and invite listener input as well! Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

Join this "fruitful" and enlightening conversation with tree crops specialist, horticultural historian and agroforestry practitioner Eliza Greenman as she explains the evolution of the apple, horticultural tree crop history and shares her love for fruit exploring. A creator of niche products, Eliza is passionate owner of charcuterie company, HogTree, and is working towards the goal of creating orchard systems that function symbiotically with livestock to replace costly livestock feed. After a time pruning apple trees on an island off the coast of Maine, paired with her time abroad in Germany in apprenticeship with an apple grower and a formative research trip to Asia, the homeland of fruits and nuts, Eliza found her calling and became single- mindedly obsessed with apples. Now she is an advocate for natural wildlife practices and indigenous systems, stressing the importance of eating in season and shying away from global commodities. The conversation includes various types of fruit and nut trees such as pawpaws, mulberry trees, hickory walnuts, acorns, autumn olive and the infamous Bradford Pear, exploring all the ways these beautiful gifts can be nurtured and enjoyed.  Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: Agroforestry  Agroecology Permaculture  Food Forests  Perennials  Fruit and Nut Trees  Bradford Pear  Red Delicious  Fire Blight  Heart Rot  Pollarding Autumn Olive Silvopasture agroforestry  Resources Mentioned:  US Apple - Lobbying  Back River Market  “Of New York” Series - Catalog of Fruit Varieties  The National Soil Fertility League  North American Fruit Explorers - NAFEX  John Bunker, Fedco Trees Francis Fenton  Silvopasture is the deliberate integration of trees and grazing livestock operations on the same land. These systems are intensively managed for both forest products and forage, providing both short- and long-term income sources.  Source: https://www.fs.usda.gov/nac/practices/silvopasture.php  Guest Info Connect with Eliza at elizaapples.com  HogTree charcuterie company  Fruit and Fodder  Instagram @elizaapples  Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

Step into the world of collaborative art, natural textiles, plants, botanicals and slow fashion with owner entrepreneur and artist Megan Borukhovsky of Sister Nettle. As a mother and artist living in the hills of Tennessee, Megan’s work centers around natural textiles using botanicals, creating slow fashion with a “collaboration over competition” mindset. Sister Nettle strives to offer products that are fulfilling to both the makers and the recipients, creating a beautiful and reciprocal relationship that honors all of the women a part of the process. A community minded business woman, Megan discovered block printing and natural dyeing as an accessible, inclusive and sustainable art form. After a time living off grid as a homesteader, Megan found herself called to a return back to self and to the natural world and continues to embrace the values of slow living in her life and her work. Valuing her fellow artists and makers, Megan believes in sourcing from people who feel valued and called to the work that they do. The end product results in a beautifully slow garment that is created from a place of passion and positivity that sustains both planet and people.  Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: Natural Textiles  Slow Fashion  Local Sourcing  Embroidery  Entrepreneurship  Women Artisans and Makers  Stinging Nettle  Oeko-tex Linen  Hemp  Resources Mentioned:  Events Sunchaser Retreats, [email protected]  Books Our Wild Farming Life Pre-Order and Author Meet and Greet Additional Resources: Cinnamon Ginger Oat Cookie Recipe inside The ALMANAC  The ALMANAC Online Community Membership  Sister Nettle  TS Designs Solid State Clothing Guest Info Connect with Megan at sisternettle.com Instagram @sister.nettle  Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

Discover the power of the potluck as a community forum for the New Agrarian Revival, a movement based in the Bedford, Va. area that offers inspiration for deeply rooted living, cultivating the local food economy and community connection. Our guest today, Jason Fowler, is founder and organizer of Land and Table, an organization that sponsors a monthly potluck event for farmers and like-minded local food enthusiasts, and offers a unique opportunity to gather for a shared meal in an evermore disconnected world. Jason found that not only were these gatherings great opportunities to eat delicious local food, but were formative community building events. Ten years on and the tradition is alive and well, and functions as a time for meaningful connection in reverence for the land, local food, and one another. Throughout the episode, Jason tells his own story of seeking a different way of life for himself and his family, his journey back to the land and his role as community leader in the New Agrarian Revival. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: Local Food Local Food Movement  Agrarian Philosophy  Community Building  Resources Mentioned:  Books “The Omnivore's Dilemma” by Michael Pollan “Farming as a Spiritual Discipline”  “Making Peace with the Land”  "The Art of the Common Place" by Wendell Berry  Podcast Episodes Great Day Gardens - The Good Dirt Episode 5 Other: Mountain Run Farm  Terra Numa - Nonprofit Organization The Parable of the Good Soil  The Stone Soup Story  New Agrarian Revival Guest Info: Connect with Jason at landandtable.com  @land_and_table on Instagram  Merch shop: @newagrarianrevival Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

Discover author Julia Watkins' light and loving approach to gardening and to slow living as she shares her perspective on parenting, work, and finding joy and compassion in the midst of it all. As an author, photographer, fellow slow living enthusiast, and Lady Farmer friend, Julia has a wealth of knowledge about how to cultivate a slow and beautiful life in a way that is honest and approachable. Her new book, Gardening for Everyone is a beautiful guide to planning, planting and playing in the garden, that is sure to be a foundational reference for gardening year after year. During this catch-up conversation, Mary and Emma discuss with Julia how life has unfolded during the pandemic, how to find balance as a parent and as a creative, and how to use social media in ways that bring light and connection. In this honest and joyful conversation, Julia inspires an approach to life filled with happiness, grace and grounded in a love for good dirt. Topics Covered: Slow Living Social Media  Gardening  Perennials  Parenting during a Pandemic  Small Space Gardening  Resources Mentioned:  Pre-Order, Gardening for Everyone  Simply Living Well  Subscribe to the Lady Farmer Newsletter  The ALMANAC  Alys Fowler, "The Edible Garden"  The Fisherman and His Wife, Brothers Grimm  Julia Watkins Episode 31  Guest Info: Connect with Julia at simplylivingwell.com  @simply.living.well on Instagram  Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram The Lady Farmer ALMANAC, our online community Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

This week we spoke with historian, nonprofit founder, and author Tony Cohen, who operates Button Farm,  Maryland’s only living history center depicting 19th-century slave plantation life and the heroic story of the Underground Railroad. Tony has dedicated his studies and work to preserving the Underground Railroad’s history, historic sites and environments. In this episode, he  shares with us stories of his own travels along the Underground Railroad on foot, in an effort to recreate some of the original travelers' sensory experience of the landscape and the monumental physical challenges they endured in the pursuit of freedom. Tony also shares the story of meeting Oprah Winfrey and working with her in preparation for her starring role in the film, BELOVED, based on the book by Toni Morrison. Tony is founder and director of the Menare Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to the creation of cutting edge educational programs, including an Underground Railroad immersion experience based on the work he did with Oprah Winfrey.    1:20 - Mary and Emma check in with the Slow Living Challenge 7:10 - The Spring Grow Your Own Food Intensive Let’s get into the interview! 8:40 - Tony introduces himself and The Menare Foundation 12:50 - Why start a nonprofit? 17:00 - Tony’s experience walking the route of The Underground Railroad 20:00 - Mary’s land and its connection to The Underground Railroad 27:00 - Tracking down your roots along The Underground Railroad 36:00 - Tony’s connection to the Harriet Tubman Museum 38:00 - How Tony got involved with Oprah Winfrey 49:00 - What is Button Farm? 57:00 - Tony’s work in relationship to Good Dirt  Mentions:  Slow Living Challenge Grow Your Own Food Intensive Workshop The ALMANAC Button Farm Living History Center The Menare Foundation The Underground railroad in Montgomery County, Maryland: A history and driving guide Chesapeake Tours The Chesapeake Fibershed Beloved by Toni Morrison Mentioned in this episode: Join The ALMANAC Community ALMANAC TGD Discount

Discover the wonders of forest agriculture and agroecology with our guest Lincoln Smith, founder of Forested, an edible food forest devoted to sharing research and knowledge surrounding forest gardens through tours, classes and forest to table dinners. As a champion of good dirt, Lincoln believes that growing forest gardens as a form of environmentalism can reintegrate our lives with nature, and reestablish a connection to the forest as a food source. Having trained in landscape design, Lincoln brings his expertise to food forest projects in and around the DC area, and has seen first hand the effects an edible forest garden can have on a community. Forest agroecology is a slow but rewarding process, that can produce vibrant, delicious and often overlooked foods from native species. He knows that like the forest, humans are interconnected and when we rethink our approach to food and to nature, we can rethink our approach to life.  Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: Edible Food Forests  Forest Gardens  Agronomic Science  Agroecology  Sustainable Landscape Design  Regenerative Agriculture  Rapid Land Development  Permaculture  Resources Mentioned:  Lady Farmer Slow Living Challenge  Forested   University of Maryland The US Botanic Garden  Maryland Master Gardeners Conference  Groundnut  Black tea chamomilla  Yaupon Holly  Yerba Mate Holly  Trugreen ChemLawn  Hyattsville Public Works, Emerson Street Food Forest Langley Elementary School Food Forest  Capital City Public Charter School Food Forest  Ddot  The Conway School  Yarrow  Nature by Design  American Native Plants  Chesapeake Natives  Persimmon Spice Latte - sub the pumpkin for persimmon! Guest Info Connect with Lincoln at Forested, LLC  Instagram @forested.us Newsletter  Youtube  Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The ALMANAC Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

Tune in today for a brief check-in & wrap up from Mary & Emma on the progress of the Lady Farmer 2022 Slow Living Challenge, and to discuss this week's final focus and theme. Sign up for the Slow Living Challenge HERE. Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Sowing seeds of slow living is our mantra at Lady Farmer. Simplifying our belongings, prioritizing good choices in food and clothing, and choosing sustainable habits wherever we can all have a positive impact on ourselves, our community and our planet. Every winter for the past few years we’ve taken on a Slow Living Challenge together as a community to bring these ideas into action little by little, day by day, week by week. This year, we’re excited to offer this free challenge for four weeks, kicking off Monday, January 31st. Each week you will receive a downloadable calendar in your email inbox that includes daily prompts centered around a theme. We’ll be able to share our experiences together in community, with all of us walking alongside you, through #slowlivingchallenge on Instagram or within our private online membership, The ALMANAC. If you’re not yet a member, participation in the challenge gets you a free trial in this community!

Join us for this conversation with author, mother, model and beauty entrepreneur Jesse Golden of The Golden Secrets, as she shares her story of creating a sustainable skincare product line, and her tools for creating self love and healing, all while living with chronic illness. As founder and CEO, Jesse has created a multifaceted career with integrity by embracing natural products, ancient folklore and a sensorial and soulfully slow approach to beauty. From seed to skin, Jesse fostered a brand around making the most conscious choices possible at every stage of her business and sees her products as a tool to tune in with one's self, and cultivate rituals of self love and self affirmation. Utilizing her own health crisis and struggle with rheumatoid arthritis as her greatest teacher, Jesse has learned to embrace her hardships and built a soulful life and business full of light and inspiration. Jesse’s “golden secrets” are beacons of hope in a an industry full of toxin and false promises. When it comes to beauty, Jesse believes, nature is enough.  Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: Rheumatoid Arthritis  Osteoarthritis Clean Beauty  Natural Beauty  Chronic Illness Retinol  Sustainable Packaging  Resources Mentioned:  The Golden Secrets Skincare Line Lady Farmer Slow Living Challenge  Dr Zach Bush  The Farmers Footprint  NRDC  The Loveland Foundation  USDA certified  Leaping Bunny Eco cert  FSC Forest Stewardship Certified  Plaine Products  “Our Wild Farming Life” Pre-Order  Lynn Cassells Podcast Interview  EWG - Environmental Working Group  Guest Info Connect with Jesse at The Golden Secrets  Instagram @jessegolden @thegoldensecrets Twitter @thegoldenglow Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being. Mentioned in this episode: Join The ALMANAC Community ALMANAC TGD Discount

Tune in today for a brief check-in from Mary & Emma on the progress of the Lady Farmer 2022 Slow Living Challenge, and to discuss this week's focus theme. Sign up for the Slow Living Challenge HERE. Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Sowing seeds of slow living is our mantra at Lady Farmer. Simplifying our belongings, prioritizing good choices in food and clothing, and choosing sustainable habits wherever we can all have a positive impact on ourselves, our community and our planet. Every winter for the past few years we’ve taken on a Slow Living Challenge together as a community to bring these ideas into action little by little, day by day, week by week. This year, we’re excited to offer this free challenge for four weeks, kicking off Monday, January 31st. Each week you will receive a downloadable calendar in your email inbox that includes daily prompts centered around a theme. We’ll be able to share our experiences together in community, with all of us walking alongside you, through #slowlivingchallenge on Instagram or within our private online membership, The ALMANAC. If you’re not yet a member, participation in the challenge gets you a free trial in this community!

Step back in time with living history fellow and historical baker, Justin Cherry, founder and owner of Half Crown Bakehouse, as he shares his love for nutrient rich ancient grains and 18th century bread baking methods. With his 18th century reproduction clay oven in tow, Justin travels to historic sites along the east coast of North America sharing his expertise on period correct methods and flavors, as well as, educating his patrons on the history and evolution of ancient grains and their uses in hopes of keeping this part of our history alive.  A maker deeply committed to his craft, Justin seeks to restore the baker and the hearth to a central part of our homes and lives. He started Half Crown Bakehouse out of a deep love for heritage grains and landrace grains and an awe and respect for this naturally slow process. For Justin, baking bread using historic methods is a way to return to tradition and to a way of life dependent upon community - a rekindling of a beautifully slow practice with a deep sense of place.   Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: Heritage Grains LandRace Grains - often referred to as heritage or heirloom grains, are ancient, pre-hybridized varieties of wheat, barley, oats, rye and other grains that flourished naturally for centuries throughout the world where they adapted to local environmental conditions. Source here  Living History  Potassium Bromate  Bromated Flour Local Grain Windmills Waterwheel Gristmills Barley Wheat Spelt Einkorn  Haudenosaunee People  Seneca  Iroquios White Corn  Amaranth  Pink Lady’s Thumb  Red May Flour Resources Mentioned:  The Washington Library  Anson Mills New Ebenezer Settlement  George Washington's Mount Vernon  American Heritage Chocolate The Lady Farmer Slow Living Challenge  Lynn Cassell’s Good Dirt Podcast Episode  Pre-order “Our Wild Farming Life” inside the Lady Farmer Marketplace Sarah Marie Massee Episode  King Arthur Baking Company  Migrash Farm Fort Frederick 18th Century Market Fair  Revolutionary War Weekend  Connect with Justin: Half Crown Bakehouse  Instagram @halfcrownbakehouse Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The ALMANAC, our private online community. Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being. Mentioned in this episode: Join The ALMANAC Community ALMANAC TGD Discount

Tune in today for a brief check-in from Mary & Emma on the progress of the Lady Farmer 2022 Slow Living Challenge, and to discuss this week's focus theme. Sign up for the Slow Living Challenge HERE. Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Sowing seeds of slow living is our mantra at Lady Farmer. Simplifying our belongings, prioritizing good choices in food and clothing, and choosing sustainable habits wherever we can all have a positive impact on ourselves, our community and our planet. Every winter for the past few years we’ve taken on a Slow Living Challenge together as a community to bring these ideas into action little by little, day by day, week by week. This year, we’re excited to offer this free challenge for four weeks, kicking off Monday, January 31st. Each week you will receive a downloadable calendar in your email inbox that includes daily prompts centered around a theme. We’ll be able to share our experiences together in community, with all of us walking alongside you, through #slowlivingchallenge on Instagram or within our private online membership, The ALMANAC. If you’re not yet a member, participation in the challenge gets you a free trial in this community!

Rewild the land and yourself by farming in harmony with nature and leaning into regenerative practices that create habitat connectivity. Our guest today, Lynn Cassells, alongside her partner Sandra Baer, owners of Lynbreck Croft, had a shared dream of living closer to the land. And while the pair never meant to be farmers, they found themselves called to the task of stewarding a 150 acre croft in the Highlands of Scotland in 2016. Seized by a vision of farming in collaboration with nature, rather than against it, they began their mission of creating a place that honored not only their desire to grow their own food, but also the needs of the land and the animals, all working and thriving in a collaborative community. The whole story of how they unexpectedly became farmers and created a viable and sustainable working farm using their own combination of regenerative and rewilding practices is soon to be available in their upcoming book “Our Wild Farming Life: Adventures on a Scottish Highland Croft”. Lynn’s message - looking back doesn’t have to mean going back. Let the land do the leading and don't be afraid to rewild yourself along the way.  Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: Regenerative Farming  Croft - A small agricultural unit and form of land use/ legal entity unique to Scotland: source via citzensadvice.org.uk  Rewilding - taking a piece of land and allowing it become self-willed; taking people out of the equation; reintroducing native species; restoration on a wild scale  Resources Mentioned:  Pre-Order Our Wild Farming Life: Adventures on a Scottish Highland Croft by Sandra Baer and Lynn Cassells  Wilding: Returning Nature to our Farm by Isabella Tree   BBC - This Farming Life Season 3  Lynbreck Croft Courses - “How to Farm”  The National Trust  Cairngorms National Park  Knepp Castle  “You Can Farm” by Joel Salatin  Guest Info Connect with Lynn Lynbreck Croft Instagram @lynbreck_croft Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being. Mentioned in this episode: Join The ALMANAC Community ALMANAC TGD Discount

Tune in today for a brief check-in from Mary & Emma on the launch of the Lady Farmer 2022 Slow Living Challenge, and to discuss this week's focus theme. Sign up for the Slow Living Challenge HERE. Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Sowing seeds of slow living is our mantra at Lady Farmer. Simplifying our belongings, prioritizing good choices in food and clothing, and choosing sustainable habits wherever we can all have a positive impact on ourselves, our community and our planet. Every winter for the past few years we’ve taken on a Slow Living Challenge together as a community to bring these ideas into action little by little, day by day, week by week. This year, we’re excited to offer this free challenge for four weeks, kicking off Monday, January 31st. Each week you will receive a downloadable calendar in your email inbox that includes daily prompts centered around a theme. We’ll be able to share our experiences together in community, with all of us walking alongside you, through #slowlivingchallenge on Instagram or within our private online membership, The ALMANAC. If you’re not yet a member, participation in the challenge gets you a free trial in this community!

Heal and connect with seasonal locally grown food and learn how to participate in a system that sustains our local economy, provides food access, food security and mitigates food waste. Our guest today, Liz Reitzig, saw that responsibly sourced food had the power to heal her family and community. In hopes of spreading the good word on the transformative power of this food, she started a buying club consisting of high quality foods from sustainable and regenerative local farms and artisans. She wanted to create consistent and convenient access to these foods and provide an alternative choice to the unsustainable industrialized system that currently prevails. Liz knows that access to shorter supply chains means not only supporting fair living wages for farmers and high quality conditions for our food but ensures our own food supply in the event of a larger scale supply chain disruption. The reward of eating local, getting to enjoy a deep connection to delicious, high quality food that is intrinsically linked to the land and the seasons.  Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: CSA - Community Supported Agriculture  Buying Club  Supply Chain Issues  Food Waste Raw Milk* Pasteurization  The Dairy Industry  Short Supply Chain Local Food  Sourcing Locally  Food Security  Food Waste Composting Resources Mentioned:  Liz Riffle of Riffle Bison Farm Good Dirt Episode  Veteran Compost 1000 Eco Farms  A History of Raw Milk Slow Living Challenge 2022 The ALMANAC   Liz's Store Guest Info Connect with Liz at http://nourishingliberty.com Liz's Podcast Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 *Raw milk for human consumption is a highly controversial issue and one that requires research and understanding on the part of the consumer. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

Join the minimalist movement, and design a simple, sustainable lifestyle that provides freedom from debt, consumerism, and cultural expectations. Our guest today is Ryan Mitchell, creator of The Tiny Life, who started his minimalist journey by challenging the American dream and having the courage to ask, what does the life I really want to live actually look like? He began by moving into his self built tiny house in 2012, sharing his journey along the way and connecting with other like-minded tiny house enthusiasts. This passion ultimately created a business that sustained his dream of an independent, pared down, low cost life – one deeply rooted in an understanding of slow living and the power of conscious choices. Ryan simplified his life by pausing to examine how he spent his time, money, and resources. He is now a life simplification expert and encourages everyone he meets to build a habit of questioning norms and stopping to think critically about your choices as a consumer. The key to minimalist living is to mindfully observe how you move through your life, how you use your resources, your time and your living spaces. Be bold and challenge assumptions. On the other side of hard decisions and self observation is a small, simple life that supports you and the planet.   Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: Tiny Homes The Tiny House Movement  Homesteading Simple Living  Minimalism Marketing “PAS” - Identity the Problem, Agitate the Consumer, Present a Solution  Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Resources Mentioned:  Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living CODE???? Blog Post - 7 Day’s of “Real Food” Winter Meals The Tiny Life  Tiny House Living: Ideas For Building and Living Well In Less Than 400 Square Feet by Ryan Mitchell  “If you will live like no one else, later you can live like no one else.” - Dave Ramsey “Children of Time” by Adrian Tchaikovsky “The Comfort Crisis” by Michael Easter  “Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart” by Gordon Livingston  Use code THEGOODDIRT for free shipping on The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living in the Lady Farmer Marketplace Guest Info Connect with Ryan at thetinylife.com  Instagram @thetinylifedotcom  Twitter @the_tiny_life Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

Where does land stewardship and regeneration, natural wine production, sustainable farming practices and local community collaboration come together? On today’s episode of The Good Dirt, Mary and Emma talk with sisters Lisa Hinton and Ashli Johnson of Old Westminster Winery in Westminster, Maryland. Their story begins in 2008; when the family was unable to sell their farm, they united instead behind a vision of preserving it and putting the land into a thriving, sustainable and regenerative operation. They agreed that growing and making wines was an idea worth pursuing, and thus the dream of planting a vineyard was born.  Ten years later, Lisa, Ashli, and their brother Drew, are on a mission to craft distinctive wines with a sense of place. Through trial and error, and in collaboration with other growers to proudly represent their region and it’s beautiful varieties, they have been able to develop a style of wine linked to the land and the seasons in an intimate and intentional way. Hand-harvesting 30,000 bottles annually, their wines are alive, vibrant, and uniquely local. With a holistic approach to sustainability, this family business is all about creating a great product while taking care of their land and their community. This is truly a good dirt story!  Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: Grape Varieties  Natural Wines Chardonnay  Muscat  Chardonel  Albarino Cabernet Franc Maryland Wineries Land Stewardship  Terroir - to mean “a sense of place.” Essentially, terroir encompasses all of the factors that go into producing wine grapes in a vineyard, from the climate to the soil to the elevation. Source via jjbuckley fine wines.  Resources Mentioned:  Burnt Hill Farm H-2A Visa Program Migrash Farms  The Almanac  Guest Info Connect with Ashli and Lisa at Old Westminster Winery  Follow Old Westminster on Instagram Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

Transform your microbiome and your life with cultured foods, and learn how the simple practice of food fermentation can promote mind and body healing. On today’s episode of The Good Dirt, Mary & Emma sit down with the founder of Cultured Food Life, Donna Schwenk. Many years ago, Donna found herself pregnant with her third child and in need of a lifestyle change. At 40 with a brand new baby she realized she wanted to live a vibrant life for her newborn and for herself. Enter “kefir'' and the beginning of Donna’s journey towards healing her body, mind and spirit. Cultured food was her pathway towards nurturing for herself and her family. Now Donna devotes her life to sharing the power that cultured food holds to transform your microbiome. Throughout the episode, Donna introduces us to the sacred trilogy that is fermented foods, kombucha and kefir while explaining how to rebuild your gut and reframe your mindset around bacteria. With over 350 free recipes on her site, Donna generously shares her abundant wisdom on cultured foods and on life. She knows when people feel good, they do good. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Resources Mentioned: Old Befana Podcast Episode  Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon Body Ecology By Donna Gates Bifidobacterium  Einkorn flour  saccharomyces boulardii Lactobacillus Plantarum Seylou bakery Red phenol powder Fermented Foods Safety Guest Info Follow Donna at Cultured Food Life Instagram Twitter Follow Us: Our Website Instagram Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

You can begin healing the planet, improving your health and mitigating climate change right outside your door! On today’s episode of The Good Dirt we sit down with Justin West, the creative entrepreneur behind Thrive Lot – a marketplace platform on a mission to create food abundance by combining agroecology, landscape design and technology. Thrive Lot seeks to reimagine the lawn care industry by scaling permaculture and installing ecosystems into our very own yards. But to do so requires a shift in our collective idea of what we consider lawn care. We can create habitats for wildlife, regenerate the soil, reduce our carbon footprint and mitigate climate change by reimagining our lawns as a place where we grow our own food, produce medicinal herbs, fruit trees and vibrant ecosystems. With over 40 million acres of lawn in the United States - the largest single irrigated crop - it’s a concept ripe with potential, which is why we’re so excited to share our conversation with Justin as he dreams of a future where home agroecology is the norm, and where “good dirt” heals the world.  Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: Agroecology--is the application of ecological concepts and principals in farming, combined to create a type of farming that is sustainable and in cooperation with nature.  Permaculture--the development of agricultural ecosystems that are self-sufficient and sustainable, drawing from an observation and imitation of systems in nature and resulting in crop diversity, resilience, increased natural productivity, less human intervention and more sustainability.   Carbon sequestration is "...the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide. It is one method of reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere with the goal of reducing global climate change." Perennials vs Annuals  Resources Mentioned:  Thrive Lot Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) Food Forest at Brown Mills  The Museum of Discovery and Science  Guest Info Visit the Thrive Lot website Follow Thrive Lot on  Instagram Follow Us: Our Website Instagram Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026

Today we're talking to Cookie Washington, an African American quilting muralist and fourth generation needle worker, who addresses issues of race and social equality while celebrating the contributions of her African ancestral heritage and the  Divine Feminine in her work.  Cookie is the first in this long line of needle workers to take up art quilting, yet she feels her connection very deeply to her foremothers and her African-American history whenever a needle and bit of cloth is in her hands. Her passion for quilting is a way of communicating the African American woman’s experience.  In our conversation, Cookie shares several  fascinating stories around her recent projects, You’ll hear about mermaids and goddesses, and how she was divinely inspired to do  a series of eight quilts depicting The Black Madonna as a way of bringing the healing energy of the Sacred Feminine into the world. She also shares the heartbreaking story of her friendship with Reverend Clementa Carlos Pinckney, a senior pastor at Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church  in Charleston who was murdered by a white supremacist terrorist in 2015, just days before they were to meet to plan an art exhibit in his church.  Cookie also shares with us some ancestral wisdom that is communicated through the bees, and the upcoming Return of the Bees Multimedia Project, which is an exhibit that  celebrates the history, evolution, and futurism of southern Black agrarian material culture, including fiber arts and heritage quilt making. The show will be in Charleston, South Carolina at the City Gallery at Waterfront Park, opening January 17th and running through Black History Month. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Mentioned: Website The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd The Return of the Bees Multimedia Project Acres of Ancestry Follow Us: Our Website Instagram Credits: Original Music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026

Today's guest is Sara Marie Massee, a lead interpreter at George Washington's Mount Vernon. She works with the historic trades department, teaching and actually doing many of the skills and trades that were being practiced around Washington's estate during his lifetime there.  She oversees Mount Vernon's cooking, baking, and textile living history demonstrations to illuminate daily life in the 18th century.  Sara Marie has been in the field of living history for 16 years, 14 of them at George Washington's Mount Vernon. She spends her days talking to visitors about Washington's sustainable, innovative farming practices and demonstrating various trades that enslaved people and white, indentured workers would have done on the estate. Her favorite demonstrations are cooking and textile work (spinning, weaving, natural dyeing, and preparing wool, linen, and hemp fibers to be spun). In today’s episode, Dr. Massee shares anecdotes and stories that give us a glimpse of the the textiles industry in the 18th century and the role it played in the economy of George Washington's estate. Tune in to learn more! Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: The history of textile production at Mount Vernon.  18th-century clothing and linen Working in the field of living history Resources Mentioned: Mount Vernon Guest Info Connect with Dr. Massee on Mount Vernon’s website Follow Us: Our Website Instagram

You're in for something a little different this Friday...it's a solo show with Mary and Emma! At Lady Farmer, we're always thinking about ways to shift our thinking to live into a more slow and sustainable lifestyle, and today is a great opportunity to do just that. What if Black Friday became Slow Friday, and what would that look like? Join us on this week’s episode of The Good Dirt as we share a bit about our own Christmas memories and experiences with gift-giving as well as how we're thinking about being more mindful with our consumer habits during the holiday season. Enjoy this week's episode, let us know what you think, and we'll be back with another interview next week! Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: The negative impacts of consumerism and how to think differently about our consumer habits The importance that we have placed on gift-giving and receiving during the holiday season Slow Friday Challenge Resources: Unplug the Christmas Tree Christmas by Peter Spier Follow Us: Our Website Instagram Join us at the Lady Farmer Slow Living Retreat! Original Music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026

This week we will hear from twin sisters Jess Boeke and Sarah Pottle of the Rust Belt Fibershed, a bioregional textile network growing hope and resilience through the use of local fibers. We speak with this dynamic duo on a multitude of topics, touching on ways to shift and expand our mindsets towards a more sustainable paradigm. Jess is an educator and fiber artist who has been working with natural dyes since 2008. Born and raised in Ohio, Cleveland, she is known for engaging and educating communities on the importance of local labor, dyes, and the carbon impacts of our soil-to-soil textile industry. In her teachings, she has inspired others on the promotion of ethical fashion and the importance of regenerative learning. Her twin sister, Sarah has personally coached hundreds of teachers through thousands of lessons in high-quality, equitable instruction. Her desire to create transformational systems change has led her on a daunting journey with her twin sister of slow living and sustainable fashion, spreading awareness on regenerative learning education in the Rust Belt Cities. Today we will learn more about how we can focus our relationships between people and the Earth in order to enable transformation in our society, explore the impact of the clothing and textile industry on climate change and incorporate more environmental teachings in the classroom. We will also speak to Sarah and Jess about what they envision for the future, their hopes and aspirations, and how we can continue to promote regenerative education learning in the classroom. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: What is regenerative living for modern families? How we can incorporate more environmental teachings in the classroom.  The impact of the clothing and textile industry on climate change. Resources Mentioned & Guest Info: Drift Lab Dye Studios Rust Belt Fibershed Connect with Jess and Sarah on their company website. If you're involved in the educational system (teacher, substitute, principal, para, school counselor, involved parent) and you want to know more about how we're trying to shift the educational paradigm away from a mechanical one towards one that's filled with more life, you can check out their podcast Regenerative Ed. Check out their workshops here. Follow Sarah & Jess: @groundedteaching Follow Us: Our Website Instagram Credits: Original music by John Kingsley - @jkingsley1026

Did you know that Gen Z is using fashion TikTok to fight climate change? Joining us on today’s episode is Sylar Saba, a Gen-Z influencer who shares her low waste sustainability tips by engaging online communities in small, fun, and meaningful ways. She shares her love for the outdoors and nature through her Instagram and TikTok platforms, engaging her community with #COOTD highlights (cute outfits of the day) and conscious outfit inspo, recipes, resources, and more. Skylar Saba is the Founder & CEO of Happy Earth Habits, a major supporter of mamma earth, mindful educator, & sustainability expert. She has grown a community of 40k+ changemakers around the world via Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. HEH has become a resource for sustainability education and low waste living. In addition, Skylar is the Founder and CEO of Skylar C Creative, a branding & social media agency for conscious businesses. She strives to connect individuals with the Earth and live more mindfully. Today we learn more about incorporating sustainable habits into our everyday lives, how perfectionism isn't necessary to live a low-waste life, as well as ways to share your favorite eco-friendly tips and tricks on social media. We will also be speaking to her about her hopes for the future and how we can take steps at the individual level to connect more deeply with the natural world. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: Regenerative lifestyle from the perspective of Gen Z The difference between fast and slow fashion How to use social media to inform, educate and inspire Inspiring individuals to reconnect with the Earth and live more mindfully How low-waste living can help reduce carbon emissions Resources Mentioned & Guest Info: Overrated vs underrated Swedish Dish Cloths Happy Earth Habits Follow Skylar on Tik Tok @skysaba Follow Skylar on Instagram @happyearthhabits Follow Us: Our Website Instagram Credits: Original music by John Kingsley - @jkingsley1026

This week's episode is all about honeybees! Did you know that there are 4,000 different bee species native to North America? Honey bees, however, are not native to North America, but were brought here from Europe in the 17th century, and have since become are integral part of our ecosystem. They are efficient pollinators who, along with native bees, allow our food crops and the planet's flora to flourish. Factors in our environment such as climate change, habitat loss, and widespread usage of chemicals in modern-day agriculture are threatening to the bee population, and in turn, to our food supply. Bees have always been a part of Tierney Monahan’s life, and her fascination with them has been well-documented in her new book, Beyond Honey. She weaves together beautiful stories about the economic, entrepreneurial, and environmental impacts of bees on our society. Today we will be speaking to her about her fascination with bees and how she has documented them as a writer for the Georgetown Magazine, and as author of her book as an MBA candidate at Georgetown University. Tierney also shares with us her mission of educating individuals on the impact of honey bees on society. Join us on this week’s episode as we learn more about the importance of pollinators in ensuring our planet’s biodiversity, how to support local beekeepers and the global impact of Colony Collapse Disorder due to habitat loss and climate change. We will be speaking to her about her personal experiences in beekeeping, how it has enhanced her life and the lives of others, and how we can take steps as individuals to ensure the survival of these essential creatures. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: How has human activity and interventions affected bee populations? Why are bees important and what is the profound impact that bees have on our everyday lives? Washington DC’s healthy and robust bee population. The difference between honey bees and native bees Learn more about Colony Collapse Disorder Resources Mentioned: Tierney Monahan DC Beekeepers Beyond Honey Community Food Rescue Finding the Mother Tree The Overstory Kirsten Shockey @kirstenkshockey Christy Johnson @christijay Eva Kosmas Flores @evakosmasflores Original music composed, performed, and produced by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026. Guest Info Connect with Tierney on Twitter @TierneyMonahan Follow Us: Our Website Instagram

Today we're talking with Heidi Hannapel, cofounder of the Bluestem Conservation Cemetery, about options for green burial. We're also taking a look at our modern approach to death and the practices that surround it. Heidi and her business partner Jeff Masten are land conservationists and conservation burial specialists, concerned with the degradation of our planet through wasteful burial practices. They are committed to offering an alternative to conventional burial, working on green burial initiatives specifically tied to land conservation, encouraging a way of caring for the dead with minimal environmental impacts. Through the establishment of Bluestem, Heidi and Jeff's vision is to establish the concept of conservation burial as a tool for protecting natural lands, wildlife and plant species, creating healing green spaces and increasing community connections to nature, and creating opportunities for those seeking green burial options for themselves and their loved ones. In addition, we talk to Heidi about her personal journey with death practices and conventions, inspired by the time she spent being present to her own mother's illness and death in 2015. This experience left her with the realization that death and loss are shared human experiences worthy of active participation, both before the passing of the loved one and in the sacred space between death and burial. Our modern customs often separate us not only from the process of dying itself, but also from the opportunity to experience the the hours and days after the passing as an opportunity for powerful healing. Modern burial procedures also separate us from the processes of nature, in which remains of the deceased continue to be part of the natural life cycle of the planet. The idea behind rethinking our cultural death practices and considering green burial, and as in the case of Bluestem Conversation Cemetery conservation burial, is that human death be honored and embraced as a sacred passage, "where nature is enough." Join us on this week’s episode as we learn more about green burials and how they can contribute to land conservation efforts and lessen our impact on the environment. Stay tuned to learn more! Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: Green burial options/reducing environmental impact Integration of life and death through conservation areas Death doulas Home funerals and home burials Hybrid cemeteries Resources Learning from Trees Green Burial Council Conservation Burial Alliance Bluestem Cemetery Green burial NYT article Original theme music for The Good Dirt composed and performed by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Guest Info Bluestem Conservation Cemetery Website Bluestem Resources Page LANDMATTERS Website Connect with Heidi on Twitter @hhannapel Follow Us: Our Website Instagram

On today’s episode of The Good Dirt, we’re chatting with Angela Ferraro Fanning of Axe and Root Homestead, a six-acre farm in central New Jersey. Angela shares the story of how she went from being a graphic designer to a homesteader in 2012, when she told her husband she'd like to trade her job income for time outside growing food they would no longer have to buy. Now she finds herself balancing a life raising two boys with managing a working farm, as well as authoring a cookbook, a children's book series and hosting a homesteading podcast. In this conversation, we discuss not only the benefits of growing your own food, but the many options available to the modern homesteader. Though the concept of homesteading appeals to a lot of people, the reality of shifting to such a lifestyle is often intimidating and seemingly full of obstacles. Angela explains that homesteading doesn't look the same for everyone, and doesn't have to be defined by what you see when you look out your window. She encourages her followers to begin with the smallest task, such as growing one plant, and taking that longing for connection to food and nature just one step at a time. It doesn't have to involve raising and harvesting your own animals, or all of your food, baking artisan bread or keeping bees. There are likely others in your area that can do all of that. Instead, she says to focus on what interests you, and rely on your community for the rest. The homesteading mindset is about hands-on, local, seasonal living. Join us on today’s episode to hear more about the first steps that Angela took in growing her own food, how she got comfortable with the constant trial and error of homesteading, and how she’s slowly expanding her business through writing and online media. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: A day in the life of Angela  The joys and challenges of farm life Getting back to basics and not relying on machinery  Homesteading on a plant-based diet  Sharing her story and expertise through writing, podcasting, and online courses  Guest Info Website Instagram The Definitely Not Simple Life Podcast The Harvest Table: A Collection of Seasonal Plant- Based Recipes Inspired by the Home Garden Little Country Cottage: An Autumn Treasury of Recipes, Crafts and Wisdom Follow Us: Our Website Instagram

On today’s episode of The Good Dirt, we’re speaking with Liz Riffle of Riffle Farm in Preston County, WV, which is a small bison farm raising grass-fed and finished animals.  Owner and Operator Liz is a U.S Navy Nurse Corps veteran and her husband, Jimmie, is currently still serving on active-duty as a Navy Nurse Corps Nurse Practitioner. Jimmie was born and raised in Grafton, WV. In their own words, Jimmie and Liz are homegrown and proud to now serve this great nation by feeding it!   After near extinction in the 1880s bison have made a comeback, and are now thriving on small operations such as Riffle Farm. Liz says she and her husband discovered bison burgers while traveling in Wyoming, and became interested in the idea of raising them. They eventually found a 64-acre spot where they could let bison roam and graze, and opened for business in 2017. Fast forward to today, and they’ve almost doubled their operation. Liz shares with us their journey from those beginnings until now, during which she’s learned much about regenerative agriculture, working with nature, slowing down and listening to the land. Liz believes that she has a responsibility to honorably raise as well as humanely harvest the bison on her farm. The regulatory system is set up for large-scale meat producers and sometimes makes it difficult for small scale farmers to accomplish their sustainability goals. Liz has started a new business, The Honest Carnivore, as a means of teaching other small farmers how to navigate that system, empowering them to continue providing sustainable meat solutions.  Join us on this week’s episode to learn more about building trust and transparency in the food chain with bison farmer Liz Riffle.  Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: Daily life of a bison farmer  How bison grazing patterns help the local flora and fauna  Farming regulations and how they can work against small farmers  Certification processes and marketing strategies of large food corporations  Keeping it simple when it comes to buying food  Resources Mentioned: The Honest Carnivore Guest Info Connect with Liz Riffle on her website.  Follow Us: Our Website Instagram Original intro music by John C Kingsley

Under A Tin Roof is a mother-daughter company created by today's guest, Kayloa Lobermeier and her mother Jill Haupt, inspiring others, as their motto says, in living a wholesome, simple, historical life by the seasons. Demonstrating the ways of a slower, more intentional lifestyle, Kayla helps others in bringing the best of domestic history and tradition forward to fit the needs of the present day. As a family-owned and operated business, Under a Tin Roof has much to offer both on site and online, including goods from their small handmade shop and their flower farm, to instruction in traditional recipes and food preservation methods on social media and through Kayla's blog, and even providing intimate dining experiences at their farm. Her love for cooking meals from scratch with homegrown and local ingredients continues to be her main passion and motivation. Kayla's shares her love of 18th-19th century homesteading through her hand made goods such as embroidery, soaps, apothecary items and the historic clothing we see her wearing. As a busy mom of two boys, Kayla still finds time to write articles for her blog sharing with subscribers historically inspired country recipes, resources for growing and preserving your own food organically, information on herbal and botanical skincare and remedies, and low waste home ideas.  Join us In this week’s episode, as we discuss with Kayla the joys, challenges, and contradictions in living a simple, historical lifestyle along with the pros and cons of growing a business through social media. It's a great conversation! Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: Learn more about 18th and 19th-century homestead living Impact of social media on lifestyle What it takes to expand and grow a business Living life at a slower pace on a family farm Growing and preserving your own food organically Resources Mentioned: Under a Tin Roof Beekman Boys Sustainable Documentary The Year 1000 by Valerie Hansen Garden Visit: Secrets of Another Century at Colonial Williamsburg Foodways at Colonial London Town The Food Timeline: History Notes--Colonial America and 17th and 18th Century France Guest Info Connect with Kayla on Instagram. Follow Us: Our Website Instagram

For today's guest Jenny Freeman, what sprouted as an idea to tackle food insecurity during the pandemic has now grown into a fully registered 501(c)(3) organization that offers individuals and organizations the ability to get involved in the local food movement. Her organization, Community FarmShare, is a community-based initiative that connects food-insecure families with local produce farmers in Montgomery County. This organization works by way of donation and is completely volunteer-run, all of the money is put towards purchasing Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm shares. These shares are then used to purchase weekly bags and boxes of organically grown produce at one of seven local participating vegetable farms.  CSA programs have recently received widespread attention for their ability to provide unique benefits to communities, environments, and economies. In a nutshell, CSAs directly connect consumers and producers to help create a more profitable and transparent local food system. This helps in reducing food insecurity among families that cannot afford organically grown foods. Jenny is passionate about tackling this issue by providing a solution that links families experiencing food insecurity with local vegetable and fruit growers. Jenny shares this mission with the rest of her community in order to create transformative change in her local community.  In this week’s episode, we will discuss Jenny’s journey creating Community FarmShare and how you can get involved with her organization. Join us on this week’s episode to find out more about Jenny’s story and learn how you can implement a similar project in your community! Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: What is a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and how does it work? Learn more about Community FarmShare and Jenny’s story as its founder Supporting Afghan refugees in the United States Resources Mentioned: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change  Community FarmShare Community Cheer Community Food Rescue Finding the Mother Tree The Overstory Guest Info Connect with Jenny on LinkedIn. Follow Us: Our Website Instagram

Located in a small town in New England, Wing & A Prayer Farm began as an idea sparked during a trip to England in 2000. Inspired by the many sheep farms dotting the countryside, Tammy and her children decided to start their own sheep farm with a few Shetland rescues. It is now a flourishing farm with a variety of animals and avenues of business.  It is home to Clun Forest, Poll Dorset, Colored Merino, Cotswold, Wensleydale, Teeswater, and Cormo sheep. It is also home to Vermont’s first Valais Blacknose Sheep. Currently, the farm sells fiber for yarn, which is derived from registered Shetland, Cormo, Cotswold, and Merino sheep, registered Angora goats, and alpacas. Along with the fiber, Wing & A Prayer sells fresh eggs, chickens, turkeys, honey, homemade soap and homemade pies! It must be noted, Farmer Tam is more than a fiber farmer. She also has a passion for the making arts--creating unique wood products, naturally hand dyed fiber products and home baked goods on her farm. Her passion as a teacher has also led her to run classes teaching fiber farming and sheep rearing. In this week’s episode, we will discuss Tammy’s journey building a successful business and the hilarious stories of the animals living on her farm. Interested in learning more about Tammy’s personal story? Join us on this week’s episode to find out more.  Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: Farming and sheep rearing What is fiber farming? Agriculture and sustainable practices Animal caretaking  Resources Mentioned: Wing & A Prayer Farm Guest Info Connect with Tammy on her website. Follow Us: Our Website Instagram

Lotta grew up in Sweden and began her career as a journalist before immigrating to the US in the ’80s. After settling in Charlottesville, Virginia, she transitioned into graphic design, bringing the Nordic design aesthetic of simplicity, elegance, and clear lines into her work. Like many artists, Lotta dreamed of the creative work she would like to pursue outside of the requests of her clients, and started combining her interests in gardening and natural materials as inspiration. She began leaning away from working with synthetic dyes and paints, aware of both the health and environmental effects of working closely with these toxins. What started as a hobby developed into a production line of linen household items including pillows, napkins, and runners, all using leaves and natural plant materials found outside in her immediate environment. Lotta soon discovered that the natural dyes had benefits beyond the lack of toxic chemicals, finding that she was able to realize colors she could never achieve with the synthetic dyes. Her artwork now extends beyond just textiles to printmaking and book arts, and features an eco-printing technique called "botanical contact printing." Lotta carries her sustainable principles through every part of the artistic process from composting old leaves used in the printing to creating her own processing solution from iron scraps. So much of Lotta’s art and life revolves around the slow principles we espouse at Lady Farmer. She reflects on how growing up in Sweden with the ability to wander freely and explore the natural world has fostered within her a deep, personal connection with nature. When she isn’t in the studio, she is outside cultivating her naturalist garden, tending to the trees and plants grown on her property that will be translated into the design and colors of her artwork. She also incorporates the meditative practice of hand stitching into her art. On this episode of The Good Dirt, Lotta encourages us to find beauty in the natural world all around, and experience the wonder that is everywhere. Join us on this week’s episode to find out more. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Captivate, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: Art being informed by one’s personal principles  Lotta’s sustainable and biodegradable dyeing process using linen, silk, and wool The Swedish concept of Allemansrätten, or right of public access Society’s pressure to be constantly producing The meditative practice of hand stitching Finding beauty in the simple and common natural world around us Resources Mentioned: India Flint The School of Nomad Arts Sewanee Wheesht: Creative Making in Uncertain Times Guest Info: Connect with Lotta on her website. Follow Us: Our Website Instagram

In Kate Kilmurray’s experience, weaving is one of the best practices for mindfulness, grounding ourselves in nature, and returning to who we really are. As our hands get involved with each thread, our mind is free to rest from our conscious stream. In this stillness, we are able to ground ourselves and find our inner center within our tumultuous and chaotic surroundings. Join us on today’s episode as we gain more insight into Kate’s journey and how she teaches weaving as a form of meditation to realign with our inner selves.  After graduating with a degree in Art History from the University of Pennsylvania, Kate ran a small textile business and worked for several years at Swan Gallery in Philadelphia. Faced with health challenges, she discovered yoga and meditation, and found herself called to the path of conscious and contemplative living. Kate received a certification in Mindfulness Meditation, and for fifteen years ran the Mystic River Yoga Studio in Medford, MA with her husband, Arthur, helping students slow down, find freedom in movement, and reconnect to their true nature. After a move from the east coast to California, Kate became inspired to begin teaching and presenting her visual art with others. She has developed a line of handwoven potholders and textiles made from a simple 7 x 7 inch metal handloom, which she uses in teaching her “Weaving As Meditation” classes. Kate teaches women the principles of hand weaving, while guiding them to slow down, connect to the breath, and tap into their creative channels. "Women leave my workshops with a new set of skills to create their own inner calm and beauty in their corner of the world," she says. Kate has sold her products at over 100 lifestyle stores across the United States, as well as shops in Canada, Denmark, and Japan. Listen to this week’s episode as we explore how the visual arts can be harnessed as a powerful tool of meditation and mindfulness! Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Captivate, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: Interconnectedness and how it nurtures one’s creativity Nourishing ourselves and growing from healthy soil  Reconnecting with our breath Using weaving as a form of meditation  Resources Mentioned: The Great Work Dream of the Earth Guest Info: Connect with Kate on her website. Follow Us: Our Website Instagram

Growing flax and processing it into linen is one of the oldest methods of clothing manufacturing on the planet. Sandy Fisher and Durl Van Alstyne have prided themselves in reviving this old craft here in the United States through their company, The Chico Flax Project. Through their work, they are bringing a new industry and social enterprise for fiber production of flax to Northern California in collaboration with local community members, farmers, artisans, and institutions.  For Sandy, weaving has always been an important part of her life—beginning as a young child when she learned how to knit. In 2012, a phone call during the Bangladesh fires inspired her to grow flax on her plot to use for weaving clothes. Durl is equally drawn to using natural fibers for clothing, his background coming from teaching at public schools for the past 35 years. Now, he works alongside his wife as a regenerative agricultural flax farmer.  In this week’s episode, we will discuss how garments made from flax fibers will create opportunities for employment and for meaningful craft, the process of designing clothes from natural fibers, and how they began The Chico Flax Project. Interested in learning more about Sandy’s and Durl’s story? Join us on this week’s episode to find out more.  Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: Weaving with flax seeds Process of designing clothes from natural fibers Impact of Covid-19 on agriculture Increasing the market of domestically grown linen Resources Mentioned: Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems 2021 Field Day The Big Book of Flax by Christian and Johannes Zinzendorf Guest Info Connect with Sandy and Durl on their website. Follow Us: Our Website Instagram

Separately, Dan Miller and Spike Gjerde knew that they needed to find a way to support regenerative farmers and producers using their own natural talents and expertise. Dan’s family had been farming in the Chesapeake Bay since the late 1800s, but he never understood how a region could have what appears to be a thriving agricultural system while also struggling economically. Meanwhile, Spike wanted to start a new restaurant concept that focused on growing seasons and local sourcing. It wasn’t until Dan created Steward, a platform that enables people to fund regenerative agriculture, that the two found each other and realized their shared passion.  Dan and Spike define regenerative agriculture as a system of farming principles and practices that seeks to rehabilitate and enhance the entire ecosystem of the farm by placing a heavy premium on soil health. The benefits of this kind of farming practice seem obvious, but individuals and families running regenerative farms often achieve such small profit margins that they can’t invest in the equipment, training, and labor that allows them to scale. Dan hopes Steward will change that by allowing people to make small or large contributions to regenerative farms in their area. In turn, investors receive all of the environmental benefits while also making a competitive return on their investment. When your local farms are thriving, you can taste the difference. That's why Spike has broken with traditional restaurant conventions and plans his menu with the seasons. You won't find lemons in your water at Woodberry Kitchen, but what you will get is food that supports everyone in the production chain. He encourages us to ask "How much does this really cost?" when we are tempted to question the high prices of local goods. Join us in this week’s episode of The Good Dirt Podcast to learn more. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: Regenerative Agriculture Human Scale Farming Community-Supported Agriculture(CSA) Sustainable Agriculture Grower Lending Resources Mentioned: Steward Woodberry Kitchen Aggie Bond Program - Business Oregon Chesapeake Bay Program Fisheye Farms Roundup (herbicide) - Wikipedia Guest Info Connect with Dan Miller on LinkedIn and Twitter. Connect with Spike Gjerde on LinkedIn and Instagram. Follow Us: Our Website Instagram

The greatest secret to mastering the art of cooking? It's' not the recipes, but in using the freshest ingredients that are indigenous to the land. In France, this means buying locally grown, in-season fruits and vegetables from the nearest farmer's market. This is a long-held practice in Gascony, a rural province of southwestern France where "the good dirt" is prized and protected for the preservation of its culinary heritage.  The culture of food in Gascony has its own unique flavors and methods. Kate has been collecting recipes for years, gathered from friends and neighbors and even from knocking on the doors of strangers to learn how to cook something new. Kate teaches methods such as oven roasting, braising, emulsifying sauces, and has recently been featured on a "Cooking with Wine" series streaming on Somm TV. But it doesn’t stop there, Kate also intertwines these culinary lessons with in-person road trips in France and Spain.  Kate masterfully wears multiple hats in her personal life and profession. She is a cook, teacher, mentor, and wonderful storyteller. In “A Culinary Journey in Gascony: Recipes and Stories from My French Canal Boat'," she tells the story of how she first discovered the region while floating slowly down the Canal de Garonne, and subsequently purchased the 18th-century farmhouse in the area which has been her home and culinary inspiration for the past thirty years.  Interested in learning more about Kate and her personal story? Join us on this week’s episode to find out more.  Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: French gastronomy and its influence on French culture Buying fresh, locally grown food The culture of food in Gascony Appreciating the experience and processes of cooking The role of food in human culture Resources Mentioned: A Culinary Journey in Gascony: Recipes and Stories from My French Canal Boat Cooking with Wine Gascony, France Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen French Dirt by Richard Goodman Jamie Beck on The Good Dirt Guest Info: Connect with Kate on her website. Follow Us: Our Website Instagram

Nature provides the greatest elixirs: sunshine, water, air, and plants. By harnessing that power and bringing these elements into our everyday beauty routines, we can embrace a simpler, more natural concept of beauty that is free from the questionable ingredients in many commercially available products, allowing these elements to revive the spirit and body.   Nadine Artemis has used plants as her teachers her entire life. Her curiosity and ingenuity led her into this exploration of ingredients at an early age, and since then, she has been challenging conventional notions of beauty and wellness by creating natural beauty products that are supported by extensive research into current science.  In 1992, Nadine opened the first North American full concept aromatherapy store namedOsmosis. She now runs Living Libations, a company that provides organic and pure renegade beauty products that honor human health and beauty. Nadine is also the author of Renegade Beauty: Reveal and Revive Your Natural Radiance and Holistic Dental Care: The Complete Guide to Healthy Teeth and Gums, in which she shares her story and message of rethinking conventional notions of wellness. Curious to learn more? Join us on this week’s episode to learn more about Nadine’s story. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: Rethinking conventional notions of beauty and wellness Using natural remedies to  enhance health Becoming discerning regarding commercial products Allowing the elements of nature to revive the body Synthetic vs. plant-based ingredients Resources Mentioned: Renegade Beauty: Reveal and Revive Your Natural Radiance Holistic Dental Care: The Complete Guide to Healthy Teeth and Gums Living Libations Guest Info Connect with Nadine on her website Living Libations. (Use code LADYFARMER for 10% off!) Follow Us: Our Website Instagram

Where can you find nearly one hundred thousand acres of land protected for food and outdoor recreation this close to a metropolitan area? Not many, except for Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve. It is the hidden gem of the Washington DC Metropolitan Area, as it continues to provide economic services, food resilience networks, and environmental services for the region. It has also been heralded as one of the best examples of land conservation policies in the country, and encompasses almost a third of the county’s natural resources.   Caroline Taylor, today’s guest and executive director of the non -profit organization Montgomery Countryside Alliance, shares with us the potential of the Ag Reserve in local food production, climate change mitigation and as a resource for people to experience and enjoy natural spaces. The Agricultural Reserve has also served to inform and influence the formation of land-use policies across the country, and has helped to shape the United States’ suburban landscape in a positive way .  According to Caroline, more connection with nature and relationship to our open spaces will lead to increased general wellness, awareness and momentum in seeking meaningful solutions to climate change. Curious to find out more? Join us on this week’s episode to learn all about the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve, a national model in land use planning for a sustainable future.   Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: Environmental stewardship and creating preservation goals Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve Producing food within the urban and suburban footprint Preservation programs and competing interests Regenerative solutions to combat climate change Resources Mentioned: Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve Montgomery Countryside Alliance Washington DC Defenders of Wildlife Guest Info Connect with Caroline on LinkedIn. Follow Us: Our Website Instagram

Linen is a woven and durable fabric that gets pulled out of the closet when summer rolls around or spread across one’s bed as a soft blanket or duvet cover. But the big question remains: how sustainable is linen? We speak to Heidi Barr about how she has worked with reclaimed fabrics to reduce textile waste in the industry. She noticed the need for more sustainable solutions when she saw the urgency for making these changes in order to build a healthy, vibrant future with kitchen products that you will want to use every day. Heidi Barr is the founder of The Kitchen Garden Textiles, a line of kitchen textiles made with natural and reclaimed materials sold to support urban agriculture. Her business began by making napkins out of the backs of second-hand men’s shirts and selling them to support her local urban CSA farm. Now, her company has gained significant traction in the textile industry and is used by some of Philly’s top chefs including Ari Miller, co-owner and chef at Musi BYOB, and by Judy Wicks, environmental activist, author, and founder of the White Dog Cafe. As a former dancer turned costume designer, her business combines her love for the environment, fabric, and sewing. Heidi uses this passion to continue to inspire other individuals to live a more environmentally conscious and plastic-free lifestyle. Join us on this week’s episode as we dive into the topics of ethically sourced products, environmental stewardship, and Heidi’s personal journey as an entrepreneur. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: Replacing single-use plastics with sustainable solutions Environmental stewardship Ethical business practices Affordability and sustainable products Greenwashing in the textile industry Resources Mentioned: The Kitchen Garden Textiles Weavers Way Farms Henry Got Crops The Flax Project  Guest Info Connect with the guest on Heidi’s website or by email at [email protected] Follow Us: Our Website Instagram

In this week’s episode, Mary and Emma talk with Amanda Cather from The Million Acre Challenge, a nonprofit organization that helps Maryland farmers build soil health, increase farm profitability, and improve water quality – while making farms resilient and active in the face of climate change. Their farmer-focused collaborative uses soil health science, economics, education, and incentives to achieve their mission. Amanda's early training in pre-med led her from an interest in equitable food access to a career path in urban agriculture, and ultimately to running her own farm raising grass-fed livestock. Now, alongside the team at Million Acre, the goal is to achieve one million agricultural acres in Maryland using healthy soil techniques by 2030, while sharing best practices and making healthy soil connections throughout the Chesapeake watershed.   Throughout the episode, Amanda shares her knowledge surrounding the effort. She educates us on the industrial versus ecological models, and introduces us to the multiple factors that affect the way farmers must approach soil improvement. She stresses the importance of listening to farmer’s voices and supporting their journey, as well as, fighting for systems that reward good stewardship and value biodiversity. She explains there are multi-pathways to healthy soil and no one way to achieve the goal. The key to progress in this effort is maintaining curiosity and communication along the way, and remembering that healthy soil (good dirt!) is the foundation of everything.     1:30 - Mary and Emma check in to see how Plastic Free July is going!  4:00 - Amanda Cather of Million Acre Challenge  Let’s get into the episode: 5:45 - Amanda introduces herself  11:00 - What is the Million Acre Challenge?  20:30 - Connecting to the issues  23:30 - Incentivising soil health and funding the transition  27:00 - Nutritional quality of crops  34:00 - Equity  43:00 - Lobbying to change  48:00 - Engaging with farmers  50:00 - What does the Good Dirt mean to you?  Things Mentioned:  Million Acre Challenge  IG: @soilchallenge The Land Institute  Plow and Stars Farm Guidelight / Patagonia Report  Pasa Sustainable Agriculture Soil Health BenchMark Study UMD Organic Grains Transition Project  American Farmland Trust Soil Health Institute   Maryland Department of Agriculture USDA FFAR The Farm’s Project  Regen1 The Real Food Project  The Agriculture Resilience Act Fair Farms Pledge Lady Farmer  The ALMANAC

In this week’s episode, Mary and Emma dive deep into the world of plastic consumption and waste management with Lauren Olson, a Zero Waste Manager at World Centric, exploring the world of compostables and the use of plastic in our daily lives. The discussion covers several aspects of the topic, including the difficulties of “zero-waste," how plastic sneaks into our homes even when we are consciously trying to avoid it, and all the ways in which existing systems make it difficult to create true sustainability in our homes.  Lauren explains the science behind bioplastics, as well as the difference between industrial vs home compostables. She also shares how to determine genuinely compostable products and helps us imagine a cradle to cradle world where waste equals food for the earth, and not the other way around!  Mary and Emma ask the vital questions, what can we do to work through this monumentally large plastic problem, and is it really possible to achieve the ultimate goal of a zero-waste economy? Lauren gives practical tips for individual action, while encouraging all of us to use our voices as paying consumers to demand change from the top down. 1:30 - Mary and Emma catch up and talk about plastic problem solving!  10:30 - World Centric  Let’s get into the episode: 11:30 - Introducing Lauren & the world of World Centric  16:30 - Is zero waste really achievable?   22:00 - Bioplastics  30:00 - Landfills as coffins for waste  35:00 - What can we do?  36:00 - Greenwashing  43:00 - Facing this massive issue  50:00 - What does the Good Dirt mean to you?  USE CODE: "thegooddirt" for 10% off online at World Centric. Valid for 30 days.  Things Mentioned: World Centric  The Ecology Center  Nature Works Polystyrene BPI  Compost Manufacturers Alliance (CAM)   ASTM 6400 or 6868 Findacomposter.com World Centric’s Giving Program

Mary and Emma have an enlightening conversation this week with grower and legal educator Eva Moss, discussing an aspect of the homestead dream that is too often overlooked. Knowing farm law and preparing for unexpected issues through healthy communication before they come up creates legal protection for all parties involved. Eva shares with us the story of how a life transition left her and her farm legally vulnerable. With help, she found her way through that experience all the wiser, and now uses her voice and legal knowledge to educate the farming community through her work at Farm Commons. Throughout the episode, Eva speaks to the power of finding healthy pathways forward in our relationships within the business, with each other and with the land. She reminds us that we have the power to create our own solutions and that we have significant creative power to (legally) cultivate the lady farmer life we’re dreaming of if we take the time to talk about our needs and goals. Mary, Emma and Eva also discuss how to cultivate a slow life as a hardworking homesteader and the important distinction between self-sufficiency and community resiliency. 1:30 - Mary and Emma catch up and talk about Plastic Free July!  7:30 - Introducing Eva Moss Let’s get into the episode:  9:25 - Eva introduces herself  18:30 - Creating a foundation...grounded in the law  21:30 - Eva’s homestead story  26:30 - Finding pathways   32:00 - A great place to start  39:30 - Looking ahead  47:00 - Setting boundaries  50:00 - Grappling with “homesteading”  57:00 - Carving out community  59:30 - What does the Good Dirt mean to you?    Shop our Plastic Free July zero waste products in the marketplace!  Use Code: plasticfreejuly for 15% OFF   Things Mentioned: Plastic Free July  Lady Farmer Marketplace Heart Strong Farm Farm Commons North Carolina Farm Link Land Link Montgomery  Thistle Farms Cooperative Extension

This week, Mary and Emma have a wonderful conversation with photographer, chef, cookbook author, educator and entrepreneur turned homesteader, Eva Kosmas Flores. Eva shares her journey to the slow living lifestyle, led by an ancestral pull and deep familial ties that have guided her back to a connection with home, the garden, food, family and community. Always leading with curiosity, Eva talks about her new adventures as a homesteader and what she’s learning from the land.  Throughout the episode, Mary, Emma and Eva talk about the pursuit of the creative life and how to make it work, native species, permaculture gardening and the complexity of our forest ecosystems. They also discuss their sustainable home projects, creating beautiful and enduring interiors, and the complicated decisions involved in the process. Eva reminds us that real life is an intersection of all the things we love, and we have permission to pursue all the parts of ourselves.   1:25 - Mary and Emma catch up and talk berries!  5:00 - Eva Kosmas Flores  Let’s get into the episode:   6:20 - Eva introduces herself  15:50 - Finding and creating a homestead  21:00 - Forestry and restoring the soil  22:30 - The importance of native species  29:00 - Breaking ground  33:00 - A sustainable home   39:30 - Timeless, natural interiors   52:00 - Loving lots of things 57:30 - What does the Good Dirt mean to you?     Things Mentioned: Eva Kosmas Flores  Adventures In Cooking First We Eat  https://www.firstweeat.co Adventures in Chicken The Hidden Life of Trees  The National Scenic Area  Simplicity by Nancy Braithwaite  The Nature of Home by Jeffery Dungan  Braiding Sweetgrass  

We have a special bonus episode for you this week in celebration of our newest national holiday-- Juneteenth! Mary and Emma reunite with author, historian and farmer Tony Cohen for an exploration into the history of Juneteenth and the holiday’s complex folklore and origins. Tony takes us back in time to examine how this monumental declaration of freedom spread in a variety of ways depending on the geographic, economic and social landscape of the time. Mary, Emma and Tony pause to reflect upon what freedom means and looks like in the modern era and why society continues to resist a hard look at injustice. Tony points to how altering behavior can feel like giving up our own freedoms and comforts and reminds us that the fair trade movement has deeply historic roots. He also reflects upon the transition from enslavement to the tenant farming system and points to how that system affects us still today. The trio grapples with some hard truths about freedom itself and acknowledges the work still left to be done.  Tony shares how he celebrates Juneteenth at Button Farm and rejoices in community as he reflects upon the precious ability to gather and take new found enthusiasm into the world.    Let’s get into the episode: 1:30 - Emma introduces this week’s special episode 3:00 - Tony Cohen on the history of Juneteenth 15:00 - The transition into freedom 20:00 - The shift to “waged” labor and the evolution of slavery 28:00 - Fair trade 31:00 - Local emancipation 41:00 - Celebrating Juneteenth 42:30 - The happenings at Button Farm 48:00 - Creating Community   Things Mentioned:  Button Farm Oprah’s visit  The Menare Foundation HipCamp - Camp at Button Farm  Anthony Cohen The Good Dirt - Episode 31  The AG Reserve - Montgomery County  The Underground railroad in Montgomery County, Maryland: A history and driving guide Juneteenth becomes a federal holiday  Lift Every Voice and Sing DC Emancipation Day  Montgomery County Historical Society  13th Amendment  14th Amendment 15th Amendment

On today’s episode of The Good Dirt, Mary and Emma have a conversation with artist, teacher and “sorceress of the stitch” Christi Johnson. Christi’s art reflects communion and connection with plants, revealing the hypnotic beauty of botanicals. Her work includes alchemy, herbalism, and images which are stitched slowly and methodically into fabric. Christi is dedicated to rejoining the art of embroidery with its complex and meaningful origins. Throughout the episode, Christi discusses her own history within the fashion industry. Mary, Emma and Christi remind us that “cheap is never a bargain” and discuss how many of the problems with manufacturing in the fashion industry are hidden from the consumer. Christi also dives into the concept of images as language, and talks about allowing the creative process to be a conversation between you and the work that is ever-changing and not predetermined. Christi discusses her dedication to experimentation, exploration and evolution in her work, shares her dream of bringing art and meaning back into traditional craft and how giving our art power in turn allows us to empower ourselves. Christi’s new book is entitled “Mystical Stitches: Embroidery for Personal Empowerment and Magical Embellishment”.  THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY PLAINE PRODUCTS. USE CODE LADYFARMER FOR 20% OFF.   Let’s get into the episode: 1:30.  Mary tells the story of her plant rescue mission 9:00 - Christi Johnson, sorceress of the stitch  11:20 - Christi introduces herself  15:30 - Understanding composition  30:30 - The intersection between herbs and art  34:00 - A “good” price  37:30 - Images as language  52:00 - Working with the seasons   1:00 - Mystical Stitches  1:01 - What does the Good Dirt mean to you? Things Mentioned: Mixed Color  Mystical Stitches  Magic Threads  Stitch Wish Shop Plaine Products  Textile Arts Center Doug Johnston Emily Fisher: Haptic Lab  Braiding Sweetgrass  The ALMANAC Summer Enrollment  A History of the World in Seven Cheap Things 

In this episode, we talk with Lady Farmer and chef Michelle Aronson, creator of Farmbelly, an educational platform dedicated to sharing the love of growing, cooking, and eating wonderful food.  Although Michelle wasn't particularly interested in cooking while growing up in the suburbs of the Midwest, once she moved to the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia for college, she I discovered her love for food and farming. After several summers apprenticing on different small-scale farms, and after managing  an educational farm in Charlottesville, complete with laying hens, bee hives, and lots of eager student volunteers, she recognized that she needed to level up her cooking skills  in order to enjoy the hard-earned fruits and veggies she was learning to grow. In the spring of 2013 Michelle attended culinary training at the Ballymaloe Cooking School, located on a 100-acre organic farm on the coast of Ireland, where almost all of the dairy, meat, vegetables, and herbs come straight from the fields into the teaching kitchens. Inspired by the incredible teachers, fresh ingredients, and straightforward culinary ethos at Ballymaloe, Michelle returned home to work in many sectors of the food/farming world, and ultimately to where she now lives on a beautiful 10-acre farm near Saxapahaw, North Carolina, cultivating a diverse market garden + farmstand, and teaching  gardening + cooking classes. Michelle shares about  her journey and her mission to make farm-fresh food accessible and less intimidating for folks...and to help everyone get a “farm belly." What's that? Listen in to find out!  Timestamps, Links & Resources Introduction: Slow Living Intensive The ALMANAC open enrollment 6:36: Introducing Michelle 8:35: Michelle describes her journey 10:27: Ballymaloe Culinary School in Ireland 11:28: Starting Farmbelly 12:33: A day in the life at Ballymaloe Culinary School 16:17: What is a  "farm belly" ?  18:45: Food culture now 20:00 The value of sitting down together for a meal 22:22 Focus on the farm 24:00 The farmstand, how it works 27:00 Cooking with the produce 31:30: Planting season 33:00 Lady Farmers 34:00. Michelle's Inspiration 38:30  Sustainability and  good dirt Follow Michelle on Instagram @farmbelly or via her website!    

On today’s episode of The Good Dirt, Mary and Emma sit down with artist, writer and teacher Katrina Rodabaugh to discuss her slow fashion journey, sustainability as a process, embracing imperfection and mending as healing. Katrina dives into her own outlook on embracing a more sustainable lifestyle, a process that takes place over time and many small steps. The three discuss the importance of accessibility in the movement, and how remembering the values of the past doesn't have to mean giving up the progress we have made as a society. They also talk about how slow fashion practices such as thrifting, mending and making are important as a disruption of the industry and a positive step towards change.  A poet and fiber artist at heart, Katrina has published three books, Make Thrift Mend (2021); Mending Matters (2018); and The Paper Playhouse (2015). Her writing and artwork has appeared in publications such as the New York Times, Boston Globe, Martha Stewart Living, Mother Earth Living, Sewing Magazine, Sunset magazine, Sweet Paul Magazine, Taproot magazine, and more.  Katrina currently lives with her artist husband and their young sons on a two-hundred-year-old farmhouse in Hudson Valley, New York where they grow dye plants, flowers, herbs, fruits, and vegetables while caring for chickens and honeybees.  Let’s get into the episode: 1:30 - Mary and Emma catch up and talk “cultivation” and upcoming events  4:00 - Katrina Rodabaugh: Artist, Writer, Teacher  5:20 - Katrina introduces herself  13:30 - Make Thrift Mend  20:00 - Accessible sustainability  34:00 - Remembering slow fashion   41:50 - Mending as healing  47:40 - What does the Good Dirt mean to you? Things Mentioned: Slow Living Intensive  ALMANAC summer open enrollment  Make Thrift Mend Mending Matters  Katrina Rodabaugh Studios  2013 Garment Factory Collapse

On today’s episode, Mary and Emma sit down to talk about what’s currently captivating their interest and the latest happenings on the farm. Mary shares her experience and knowledge gardening by the moon and encourages the use of the lunar cycle as a framework for the things we want to cultivate in our lives. The mother and daughter duo discuss the mesmerizing emergence of the seventeen-year cicada and embrace the celebratory nature of the phenomenon. drawing the parallel of a cultural emergence that's unfolding a year after a worldwide lockdown.  Let’s get into the episode: 1:30 - Mary and Emma catch up and talk about gardening by the moon  11:30 - The 17 year cicada  19:00 - The insect sounds of summer  23:00 - Fireflies at the farm  23:50 - Upcoming events and announcements    Things Mentioned: Slow Living Intensive The Farmer’s Almanac  The 17 year cicada The Almanac lady-farmer.com Raising With the Moon: The Complete Guide to Gardening and Living By the Signs of the Moon by Jack R. Pyle and Taylor Reese You and the Man and the Moon: The Complete Guide to Using the Almanac by Jack R. Pyle and Taylor Reese

On today’s episode of The Good Dirt, Mary and Emma talk with dancer, writer and quiltmaker Marlee Grace to consider the question, what are we practicing and showing up for in our day to day lives? Throughout the episode, Mary, Emma, and Marlee dig into the concept of “personal practice” as they reimagine art forms as a practice rather than a performance. Marlee shares why she stepped away from social media, questions the role it plays in our lives, and addresses the platform’s inherently performative nature. She also shares where she finds encouragement and inspiration, and reminds us to take our work seriously (but not ourselves).  Marlee’s work focuses on the self, rituals of devotion, creativity, and art-making. Her practice is rooted in improvisation as a compositional form expressed through dance, writing, quilting, teaching, and hosting artists. Her dance project Personal Practice has been featured in the New York Times, Dance Magazine, Vanity Fair, and The Huffington Post. Marlee is the author of Getting to Center: Pathways to Finding Yourself.  THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY PLAINE PRODUCTS. USE CODE LADYFARMER FOR 20% OFF! 1:30 - Mary and Emma catch up and talk about natural dyeing and quilting!  6:40 - Dancer, Writer, and Quiltmaker Marlee Grace  Let’s get into the episode: 8:30 - Marlee Grace introduces herself  15:50 - Personal practice  24:20 - Escaping the chaotic and addictive loop of social media 37:00 - Improvisational quilting  39:30 - What inspires and encourages you? 45:30 - Slow living and its challenges  53:00 - What does the Good Dirt mean to you?    Things Mentioned: Natural Dye and Slow Fashion Pop Up  Line + Tow Marleegrace.space Getting to Center: Pathways to Finding Yourself Within the Great Unknown New York Times feature Vanity Fair feature Huffingtonpost feature Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now  Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler  The Freedom Quilting Bee  Acres of Ancestry Initiative Natural Dyeing Intensive Plaine Products: Use code LADYFARMER for 20% off! 

In today’s episode, Mary and Emma sit down with Lani Estill, founder of Lani’s Lana ~ Fine Rambouillet Wool; a commercial wool business and small yarn line based in Northern California. Alongside her family, Lani also owns and operates a vertically integrated diversified livestock ranch producing cattle, sheep, alfalfa and grass hay in the Northern California/Northern Nevada region. With the help of partners like Fibershed and the Carbon Cycle Institute, Lani’s family ranch is now running under a climate-fighting Carbon Farm Plan! Throughout the episode, Mary and Emma dig into Lani’s life on the ranch and chat about the complexities of owning and operating a truly sustainable supply chain. They also speak to the power of the consumer and talk about the soul satisfying decision to invest in climate beneficial products.   1:20 - Mary and Emma catch up and talk about upcoming events!  Let’s get into the episode: 9:30 - Lani’s Lana Wool! 12:15 - Lani introduces herself  16:00 - Regeneration on the ranch 20:00 - The early days at Fibershed  23:40 - Investing in carbon farming  30:00 - The team  32:30 - The sheep  35:10 - The fabrics  42:00 - The cost of climate beneficial products  49:00 - Dyers and natural dyes 51:20 - What does the Good Dirt mean to you?   Things Mentioned: Kefir Workshop with Mary  Lani's Lana   Water mountain weavers    Fibershed   TGD - Rebecca Burgess   TGD - Elizabeth Cline   Northface Backyard Project   Carbon Cycle Institute

1:30 - Mary and Emma catch up and talk fermentation around the farm!  8:20 - Introducing Kirsten Shockey of Ferment Works   Let’s get into the episode: 10:30 - Kirsten introduces herself  16:50 - What is fermentation?  19:40 - Bioavailability 22:40 - Fermentation vs Pickling  28:05 - The Wonderful World of Vinegar  34:50 - Fermentation School 38:35 - Fermenting dairy  39:50 - Fermenting safety & policy...it’s safe y’all!  42:00 - Fermentation vs canning...fermentation for the win!  45:35 - Tips & tricks  47:55 - Kirsten’s favorite ferment  49:20 - Gateway ferment for getting started!   51:50 - What does the Good Dirt mean to you?  52:55 - Don’t be afraid and you've got this Kirsten's Books: The Big Book of Cidermaking; (award winning) Miso, Tempeh, Natto & Other Tasty Ferments Fiery Ferments Homebrewed Vinegar  Fermented Vegetables Things Mentioned: Upcoming Kefir Workshop Ferment Works Plaine Products 20% OFF with CODE: ladyfarmer fermentationschool.com THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR PLAINE PRODUCTS: USE CODE "LADYFARMER" FOR 20% OFF YOUR PURCHASE

Liz Kimball (MFA, CPC) is a creativity catalyst, writer, coach, speaker, and founder of The Collective, a network of women creators and thought leaders dedicated to fostering cultural change through creativity. Her work has been featured at TEDx, Oprah.com, the NBA, The Guggenheim, NYU, and at universities and institutions throughout the country. In today's episode, we talk about the creative process from many angles, how pursuing our dreams might not be the straight path we imagine, how to foster our creative selves in a world that demands much from us, and how some of these things might be shifting from the pandemic year. Liz talks about the importance of detaching yourself from labels that you’ve placed on yourself since adolescence. Your work in the world is much more important than a title. We discuss how the ideas of slow living and "good dirt" are essential to cultivating the creative life, and building a future we can’t wait to wake up to! Let's get into the episode:  1:30 - Mary & Emma catch up and chat about plants! 7:00 - Liz introduces herself 20:00 - Rewriting the rules  23:00 - The Collective 27:00 - Discussion around time 35:00 - The creative process 50:00 - Mary recalls her own journey with her creative process   Things Mentioned:  Liz's Website - The Collective Liz's TED Talk Howard Thurman - The Sound of The Genuine Big Magic - Elizabeth Gilbert The ALMANAC - Sharon Bailey's Workshop (available to members only)  Lynn Felton - @bonzart     

1:30 - It’s Fashion Revolution week! 10:00 - Elizabeth introduces herself 11:00 - Has there been much change in the last two decades in the fashion industry? 20:00 - Why are corporations not paying their factories? 28:00 - The problems in your own closet 38:00 - The PayUp Campaign  42:00 - What does The Good Dirt mean to you? 50:00 - How Farmers in West Texas inspired Elizabeth Things Mentioned: Fashion Revolution  Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion by Elizabeth Cline The Conscious Closet by Elizabeth Cline Lady Farmer Essential Collection Line and Tow Line at Lady Farmer Grace Brian The Twilight of the Ethical Consumer article PayUp Fashion SB 62 - The Garment Worker Protection Act Elizabeth Cline Instagram PayUp Fashion Instagram Greenwashing article for Patagonia Another Tomorrow The ALMANAC

On this special live episode of The Good Dirt, Mary and Emma talk with Rebecca Burgess, the founder of Fibershed, a non profit organization that develops regional fiber systems that build soil and protect the health of our biosphere. Fibershed envisions the emergence of regional textile communities that facilitate soil-to-soil textile processes, and create opportunities for localized clothing production and supply. Rebecca speaks about the origins of the organization and its efforts in connecting wearers in numerous regions with local fields where the clothes are grown, working to build viable systems that can be sustained for generations to come. 1:40 - Next week is Fashion Revolution Week Let’s get into the interview! 6:13 - Rebecca shares her biggest influences 11:35 - The moment that started Fibershed 16:35 - What is Fibershed? 22:50 - Hemp in the fashion industry 30:00 - What’s to come of Fibershed? 40:00 - What does the Good Dirt mean to you? 41:00 - Seniors and the working community 44:00 - What makes for a healthy fibershed? Things mentioned: Fashion Revolution Lady Farmer Marketplace Lady Farmer Instagram Fibershed Fibershed by Rebecca Burgess Chesapeake Fibershed The ALMANAC Harvesting Color by Rebecca Burgess

In this episode, Mary and Emma have a wonderful conversation with Eliza Blue, a singer/songwriter who lives and works on a regeneratively-managed ranch raising grass-fed cattle and fiber sheep with her husband and two children. She talks about going from the life of a touring musician to a teaching job in South Dakota, and the pivotal moment when she walked into a friend’s lambing barn at lambing season and knew she had found her calling. Eliza's connection to the land is evident in her stories of life on the ranch and her daily involvement with the animals and the natural environment. She has written a book called "Accidental Rancher," which came out this past spring, and she writes and produces audio "postcards" about ranch life for the North Dakota and South Dakota NPR affiliates. In addition, she has just finished filming for a new series that celebrates rural life through stories and songs called Wish You Were Here. 1:23 - It’s been a year since The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living has been released! Let’s get into the interview! 8:35 - Eliza introduces herself 13:20 - Eliza’s creative endeavor  18:00 - Eliza’s shares a story from the ranch 30:00 - How the pandemic has affected Eliza’s life 33:00 - What inspires Eliza’s music and songwriting? 44:00 - Regenerative Agriculture in the grasslands 50:00 - What does The Good Dirt mean to Eliza? Things Mentioned: The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living Book Accidental Rancher by Eliza Blue Postcards from the Prairie Wish You Were Here Dirt to Soil by Gabe Brown Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan The History and Folklore of Brigid: Saint, Legend and Lady Farmer with Kathy Spaar Eliza's Spotify  

Today's guest is Sharon Bailey of The Glow Emporium, a woman’s wellness education and empowerment community. As a homesteader, mother, entrepreneur, and educator living in a small mountain town, Sharon espouses a life lived in sync with nature, and helps other women connect with their own feminine rhythms for a happier and healthier lifestyle. Emphasizing the counter- cultural art of slowing down as a fundamental necessity for coping with the many demands of women today, Sharon offers empowering information and advice for dealing with exhaustion and burnout. In this conversation, Sharon shares her own story of early challenges that led to destructive habits in early adulthood, and how through the experience of giving birth and early motherhood, she came to an understanding of the necessity for taking care of herself and her body. Her passion for supporting other women on the path to claiming full health and well being for themselves is the inspiration for the work she does today. 1:30 - Mary and Emma talk about planning by the moon Let’s get into the interview! 6:53 - Sharon introduces herself 9:00 - How did Sharon get into health and wellness? 16:15 - The current mission of The Glow Emporium 25:00 - Planning around your hormonal cycle 32:00 - What are we trading our time for? 40:00 - Making sustainability more accessible 48:00 - What does Sharon want us to most take away from this conversation? Things Mentioned: The ALMANAC The Glow Emporium The Glow Apothecary Unrefined SHE Podcast The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan

Cynthia Main @sunhousecraft is an artisan maker in Berea, Kentucky who has built a thriving business hand making home goods. Inspired by the timeless traditions of Appalachian crafts, her wooden wares are hand made, often hewn with axe and knife. Brooms are hand woven, with a non-electric process, with utmost attention given to the details of each piece. The materials are sourced and harvested from local, sustainable materials. In this conversation, Cynthia discusses her lifelong passion for learning traditional agrarian skills and the arts of self sufficiency, from farming to building, wood working, furniture making and crafting the basic tools of everyday life. With many of these skills largely forgotten by our consumer culture, Cynthia shares the story of how she has made her way, rediscovering these skills for herself, teaching others, and demonstrating an alternative path through a life of making. 1:20 - Catch up with Mary and Emma Let’s get into the interview! 12:00 - Cynthia introduces herself 17:50 - The importance of mindful supply chains 20:40 - Broommaking and Appalachia 31:00 - Crafts, accessibility and price 39:00 - Claiming your own power 45:00 - Cynthia’s work in relation to The Good Dirt 48:30 - How 2020 has affected Sunhouse Craft Things Mentioned: Sunhouse Craft Emma's quilting course - A Quilt is Something Human State the Label East Fork Pottery Raleigh Denim Serviceberry: An Economy of Abundance by Robin Wall Kimmer The Way Home - Tales From a Life Without Technology by Mark Boyle Let’s Talk About Your Skin! Herbal Skincare with Militza Maury Sunhouse Craft on Youtube

Alyson Morgan (@alysonsimplygrows) is an environmentalist, gardener, artist and photographer, as well as a slow living advocate and mother. Through this conversation, Alyson gives us a glimpse of conscious living through her lens, the realities of juggling a creative business and motherhood, the desire for activism alongside the need for slowing down and being present, and the power of plants in everyday life. Through her beautiful photography and her writing, along with the flower essences she creates for Earth Star Herbals, Alyson offers her gifts of healing to her audience and the world.  1:20 - Mary and Emma talk about the seasonal transition Let’s get into the interview! 5:34 - Alyson introduces herself 8:40 - How did Alyson get into herbalism 18:00 - Plant allies and personal growth 22:00 - What is a flower essence? 29:00 - Rest and Productivity 33:40 - Living by the moon 40:40 - Balancing slow living and motherhood with COVID 45:00 - What does Good Dirt mean to you? Things Mentioned: The ALMANAC Wintering by Katherine May Lady Farmer Playlists on Spotify Numero Group Earth Star Herbals Alyson’s Instagram

In today's episode, Mary and Emma talk with Kathy Hattori of Botanical Colors about natural plant dyes, and how she created a business from her desire to connect herself and others to the natural world. She talks about a personal wake-up call that led to her decision to quit her corporate job in pursuit of a more creative and personally fulfilling career, despite her fears around the uncertainties of such a move. Though at the time, Kathy couldn't imagine the career potential in the world of plant dyes, Botanical Colors is now the premier source for all things related to dyeing with plants, including sustainably sourced materials, supplies, information and education. 1:30 - Come join us in The ALMANAC for the Spring season! 6:15 - Sign up now for the Grow Your Own food Intensive Let’s get into the interview! 6:46 - Kathy introduces herself 11:50 - What is Botanical Colors and how did it get started? 20:00 - How does working with dye companies look like? 30:00 - Living with natural vs synthetic goods 41:00 - The effect of the pandemic on Botanical Colors 45:50 - Natural dyes and the good dirt 50:15 - What is it that Kathy wants us to come away with most? Things Mentioned: The ALMANAC Grow Your Own Food Intensive Botanical Colors Earth Hues Eileen Fisher x West Elm Numero Group Feedback Friday All We Can Save edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson & Katharine K. Wilkinson

For this special birthday episode of "The Good Dirt," Emma goes solo as host, talking with Lindsey and Krista from the "Almost 30" podcast. Emma reflects on her twenties and discusses her feelings about this passage in her life. Krista and Lindsey share some of their own journey through their twenties and the transition into their thirties, and give their advice on seeking your own true path. In this episode we talk about how the good dirt of experience is fertile ground for growing your most authentic life!  1:40 - Mary and Emma reflect on the significance of this day.  Let’s get into the interview! 15:00 - Get to know Krista and Lindsey 18:00 - Emma opens up about her dreams of a career in acting.  24:50 - What is turning 30 like? 35:50 - Emma’s favorite things about being involved in theatre. 38:30 - How do you feel "rooted" in your life? 47:00 - What does "good dirt" mean to you? 50:12 - What to come away with from Krista and Lindsey about transitioning through this significant phase of life.  Things Mentioned: Almost 30 Podcast Grow Your Own Food Intensive Workshop

This week we spoke with historian, nonprofit founder, and author Tony Cohen, who operates Button Farm, Maryland’s only living history center depicting 19th-century slave plantation life and the heroic story of the Underground Railroad. Tony has dedicated his studies and work to preserving the Underground Railroad’s history, historic sites and environments. In this episode, he shares with us stories of his own travels along the Underground Railroad on foot, in an effort to recreate some of the original travelers' sensory experience of the landscape and the monumental physical challenges they endured in the pursuit of freedom. Tony also shares the story of meeting Oprah Winfrey and working with her in preparation for her starring role in the film, BELOVED, based on the book by Toni Morrison. Tony is founder and director of the Menare Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to the creation of cutting edge educational programs, including an Underground Railroad immersion experience based on the work he did with Oprah Winfrey.    1:20 - Mary and Emma check in with the Slow Living Challenge 7:10 - The Spring Grow Your Own Food Intensive Let’s get into the interview! 8:40 - Tony introduces himself and The Menare Foundation 12:50 - Why start a nonprofit? 17:00 - Tony’s experience walking the route of The Underground Railroad 20:00 - Mary’s land and its connection to The Underground Railroad 27:00 - Tracking down your roots along The Underground Railroad 36:00 - Tony’s connection to the Harriet Tubman Museum 38:00 - How Tony got involved with Oprah Winfrey 49:00 - What is Button Farm? 57:00 - Tony’s work in relationship to Good Dirt  Mentions:  Slow Living Challenge Grow Your Own Food Intensive Workshop The ALMANAC Button Farm Living History Center The Menare Foundation The Underground railroad in Montgomery County, Maryland: A history and driving guide Chesapeake Tours The Chesapeake Fibershed Beloved by Toni Morrison

Mary and Emma chat with Farai Harreld, an herbalist and writer known as the Hillbilly African, who takes inspiration from both her African and rural American roots. Farai grew up in Botswana and came to America to go to college, where she encountered the challenges of an entirely different culture. Her journey into herbalism began as a struggle with her hair, and led her into a deeper knowledge of plants as a source of healing and support. Now as a mother, a writer, a doula and a folk herbalist, she inspires others as a champion of slow living, local engagement and community building.  3:00 - Grow Your Own Food Intensive Workshop Let’s get into the interview! 6:00 - Farai explains her origin story 11:30 - Farai’s garden 16:00 - Farai’s love of the folklore of plants 25:40 - What does sustainability mean to you? 30:00 - What will you bring from 2020 into 2021? 35:00 - The importance of rest 39:00 - Good Dirt means good conversation 45:00 - The origin of Hillbilly African  Things Mentioned: - Episode 11 with Nicky and Dave - Grow Your Own Food Intensive Workshop - The ALMANAC - Farai’s Instagram - Farai’s Patreon - Farai’s Website - Slow Living Challenge 2021

Mary and Emma chat with Alissa Hessler, creator of Urban Exodus, a project highlighting people from a variety of backgrounds who have made the switch from urban to rural living. Alissa tells the story of her own life transformation, from chasing the career and paycheck to creating a more intentional life and more meaningful work in a rural setting. The message is not that you have to move to the country to have the life you desire, but about making choices in the direction of what you want, regardless of where you live or what you think is holding you back. Alissa encourages everyone to pay attention to those dreams. It's never too late to make a shift in your own life story!  1:40 - Use #ladyfarmerinthecity and share with us your posts! 5:40 - Let’s get into the interview! 9:00 - Alissa talks about her backstory 18:00 - Raising a child in the country 23:00 - Your worth is not based on your paycheck 26:00 - Things that hold people back from moving to a rural area 30:00 - Getting the benefits of rural living without making the move 34:00 - Learning from 2020    Things Mentioned: Urban Exodus Ditch the City and Go Country Book Blueberries for Sal Sherri Powell Urban Haven Photography

In this special live episode, Mary and Emma talk with Ellen Polishuk, an organic vegetable farmer for 25 years and now a teacher and consultant for those in the farming business. Ellen speaks from years of experience as both a grower and a consumer on food sustainability, including topics such as organic certification, composting, GMO's, soil basics, eating locally, community supported agriculture and the potential for a world in which everyone is well fed and farmers can earn a living. This episode is full of great information for anyone who grows or eats food!    Let’s get into the interview! 8:40 - Ellen introduces herself 13:50 - Changes in the organic agricultural industry  18:40 - What is organic certification? 29:00 - What is non GMO, what is GMO? 33:00 - Importance of healthy soil 42:00 - Local or Organic? 45:30 - Growing your own food and Composting 51:50 - Are animals worth the cost for labor on your farm? 01:02:00 - Advice for aspiring farmers Things Mentioned: The Almanac Potomac Vegetable Farms Correction @ 25:45 - Glyphosate was patented as an antibiotic in 2010, not 2014 Start Your Farm by Ellen Polishuk Plant To Profit website Ellen’s Instagram Growing for Market magazine

Today's episode is about Brigid, saint and legend, known for her skills at the hearth, the loom, midwifery, healing, poetry and animal husbandry. Kathy Spaar, spiritual director, pilgrimage leader and nature educator shares many of the folklore and stories of this legendary figure from Celtic tradition. As a figure of feminine wisdom and power who presides over the land and the homestead, we consider Brigid the quintessential Lady Farmer, our guide, protector and inspiration for slow living through the seasons. 1:20 - January is here! 1:50 - Mary and Emma introduce Kathy and Brigid Let's get into the interview! 7:15 - Kathy introduces herself 10:00 - Brigid's Feast Day 12:30 - Kathy's favorite stories of Brigid 20:00 - Brigid - the quintessential Lady Farmer 27:00 - How does Brigid relate to the times we are in now 31:00 - The most important thing Brigid has taught Kathy Things mentioned: The Almanac Brigidine Sisters Children's Book “Brigid’s Cloak: An Ancient Irish Story” by Bruce Milligan. "Symbols of Plenty" by Ruth Bidgood "Rekindling the Flame " by Rita Minehan

Mary and Emma talk with Militza Maury, the creator of Little Green Dot, an educational space dedicated to natural skincare. In a world where the beauty industry is so often urging us to consume, Militza urges us to take a step back and consider not only what it is we are putting on our skin, but the messages we're getting about why we need all of these products. Combining her love of herbalism and cooking with her fascination with the skin, Militza shares with us her wealth of information and guidance on this topic so relevant to the sustainability conversation. Militza has just released a book on how to make your own skincare from whole food ingredients, and teaches Skincare Herbalism classes.  1:15 - Mary and Emma discuss their own experiences with skincare Let’s get into the interview! 9:00 - Militzia introduces herself 20:00 - Our skin connects us with the rest of the world 25:00 - A pivotal time when skincare shifted to include more chemicals 30:00 - The parasympathetic system and skincare 38:00 - Sourcing ingredients 41:00 - Trial and error when creating recipes 45:00 - How the pandemic has affected the natural skincare world *Things Mentioned: * -Little Green Dot -Natural Homemade Skin Care, by Militzia Maury

Mary and Emma sit down with Kip and Angelique, the founders of Smarter by Nature - an urban and rural farming business serving the community in Tallahassee, Florida. Their goal is to provide fresh produce and opportunities for economic sustainability through education as well as to take care of the soil and protect the natural environment. Kip and Angelique share their challenges, methods and aspirations for the future.  1:30 - Catch- up with Mary and Emma 6:20 - Introducing Kip and Angelique Now let’s get into the interview! 9:36 - K&A introduce their business 14:56 - K&A’s role as regenerative farmers 20:00 - Guiding principles of Smarter by Nature 25:00 - The magic of mycelium  30:00 - How to check the minerals in your soil 38:25 - Smarter by Nature’s business model 44:00 - Permaculture and microclimates 48:00 - Transitioning a food desert into an oasis 52:00 - Applying sustainability in every aspect of life Things Mentioned: Microgreens Blog The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living Book The Hands-On Home book by Erica Strauss The ALMANAC  Mycelium Running book IFAS Extension Office Etsy Smarter By Nature Youtube Smarter By Nature Instagram

Mary and Emma sit down with Eric Henry from TS Designs who has been navigating sustainability through the fashion industry for the past 40 years. Henry discusses the effects of NAFTA on TS Designs and the process of rebuilding his business with the triple bottom line - People, Planet, Profit - in the forefront of operations. Eric pushes you to think about the impact of the goods you consume and the places you spend your money while considering that sustainability is a journey not a destination. 1:55 - Mary and Emma talk about the New Year in pandemic times Let’s get into the interview! 7:10 - Eric introduces himself and TS Designs 13:30 - What is NAFTA and how did it affect business? 16:00 - How TS Designs facilitates their production 26:40 - The 10,000 pounds project 40:00 - The value of connecting to local food 41:00 - Hope for the future of the clothing industry with the impact of Covid 48:20 - The production of T-shirts and soil health Things Mentioned: TS Designs NAFTA Eric Henry Ted Talk WTO agreement Rehance technique 10,000 Pounds project Solid State clothing Gaslighting article Amy Dufault

Mary welcomes in the New Year by sharing the story of Old Befana, a tale for Epiphany. However you're celebrating this year, we hope that this story brings you joy and light!    The Almanac  

Mary and Emma sit down with Bridget Jones from Wildberry Farm. Bridget discusses how she and her husband Matt are keeping the family farm going by combining their marketing and graphic design backgrounds with traditional farming and agritourism. Agritourism provides innovative and creative experiences that bring visitors to the farm, and offers opportunities for the the community to come together. In this digital age, Bridget and Matt prove that growing crops and raising livestock aren't the only ways to have a successful farm enterprise.  4:20 - The launch of The ALMANAC Let’s get into the interview! 13:56 - Bridget introduces herself and Wildberry Farm 23:00 - Keeping the family farm alive 30:10 - The history of the farm 37:30 - No-till farming 43:00 - How has the pandemic affected such a young business? 48:40 - Advice for starting your own business Things Mentioned: The ALMANAC Wildberry Farm

Mary and Emma sit down to reflect on this past year of Lady Farmer - discussing their growth during the difficult year that was 2020. With the holidays around the corner, there’s a lot to think about. Mary and Emma share their tips to help balance your time when things may seem to be out of your control. From gift-giving to decorating to making time to connect with nature and getting plenty of rest, slowing down to make your own rules during this holiday season is essential - and of course, don’t forget to shop well, buy well and support small and local makers!  2:00 - A reflection on the past year of Lady Farmer 18:00 - Slowing down during this holiday season 33:40 - Mary shares the origin of hanging wreaths  Things mentioned: The Almanac The Social Dilemma  The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living Lady Farmer Instagram Email - [email protected]

On this special, live episode, Mary and Emma talk with Natalie Chanin, the founder and creative director of Alabama Chanin, about sustainability in the clothing industry. Natalie shares with us how difficult it is to maintain a small business that has grown into something much bigger and the conversations she has to endure to create balance. 11:00 - An introduction to Natalie and the trajectory of her career 14:40 - Natalie’s documentary, Stitch 18:00 - Issues in the fashion industry 21:00 - A reflection on food and clothing in past generations 28:00 - How Natalie has held on to older customs and techniques in her business 36:00 - Overcoming hardships as a sustainable business 43:45 - How community ties into Alabama Chanin 51:00 - Shifts of the fashion industry 58:00 - What is Natalie’s favorite piece of her brand to wear? 1:03:00 - Do you see a good future for more organic textile production in the US? 1:06:20 - Connection between Alabama Chanin and The Good Dirt 1:07:46 - Certifications and small businesses 1:13:00 - How often do you rotate your wardrobe? 1:14:30 - What is it that Natalie wants people to know about her work? Things Mentioned: Holy Lamb Organics Lady Farmer Marketplace Alabama Chanin Stitch documentary  The Almanac Alabama Chanin book The Story of Stuff video Zingerman’s Muscle Shoals documentary Florence, Alabama monument - healing site  Rana Plaza collapse 12 for life organization Texas Organic Cotton Growers Organization

Mary and Emma sit down with Jason from Holy Lamb Organics to discuss all things natural bedding. Jason talks us through the processing as well as the certifications and requirements the wool that is used for HLO must go through before it is used. The mattress industry is a 9 billion dollar industry and the majority of the companies produce a ton of waste and use a plethora of chemicals. Learn why better products cost more money and why we should support products and companies that are transparent to avoid greenwashing! 2:50 - Reading a podcast review 6:57 - Holy Lamb Organics is sponsoring the Good Dirt live recording at the Slow Living Retreat Let’s get into the interview! 9:30 - Know what’s in your mattress - your health depends on it 14:00 - Harmful substances in your mattress 16:18 - Where does HLO’s wool come from? 19:00 - What certifications are out there other than organic? 24:00 - HLO is worth the money and here’s why 30:00 - What HLO’s mattresses are made of 41:33 - Difficulties of running a sustainable business 46:00 - Greatest rewards of running a sustainable business 52:00 - The reality of returning products Resources: Holy Lamb Organics Slow Living Retreat - tickets close November 1! Natalie Chanin - Alabama Chanin Holy Lamb Organics 20% off in Lady Farmer store NaturePedic SavvyRest

Mary and Emma sit down with one another at the farm to chat a bit about how Mary got started on her journey as a Lady Farmer. Anyone, anywhere can achieve a slower, more sustainable lifestyle, as it is an ongoing evolution - grounded in the decisions you make everyday. Mary discusses her love for the outdoors, the animals she has on the farm and how life in the city made her long for a farmhouse of her own. 1:20 - Emma introduces what’s coming up with Lady Farmer 5:46 - Had Mary always wanted a farm? 11:00 - Eating “right” while raising children 16:30 - Finding the farm 19:30 - Where did Mary get her inspiration for the farm? 24:26 - Would this lifestyle be feasible with three younger children? 28:00 - A slower lifestyle does not happen overnight Links Retreat Omnivore’s Dilemma  Back to Eden film CSA Alabama Chanin

Mary and Emma sit down with Elana Jadallah (@elanaloo), a photographer, educator, marketing strategist and environmental advocate. From her time spent living in Hawaii, Elana eloquently shares her journey through raising awareness of the plastic pollution affecting our oceans through the awakening of the truth of her own contributions. Elena encourages listeners to realize that although you may be part of the problem, you can also be part of the solution by shopping locally and seasonally and consuming clothing made of raw materials. 1:25 - Join the Lady Farmer Community - Virtual Slow Living Retreat  4:44 - The ALMANAC - a new Lady Farmer project Let’s get into the interview 7:40 - Intro to Elana 9:00 - What is sustainable business? 12:40 - Finding your purpose and deepening it 19:00 - Realizing you are part of the problem and becoming part of the solution 25:46 - Phases of Activation 29:50 - Microplastics in “earth-friendly” clothing 42:00 - Questioning your consumption habits during the pandemic 46:00 - Cutting down your carbon footprint - Where does our food come from? 1:05:00 - Taking on the responsibility of our choices and taking action Everything Mentioned: Slow Living Retreat The ALMANAC Elana Jadallah The True Cost Documentary Phases of Activation How To Give Up Plastic by Will McCallum Microfiber Filter or Microfiber Bag Farming and Plastics article Join your local CSA 1000 Eco Farms VIP Retreat Ticket Retreat Scholarship Email Acres of Ancestry Initiative  Follow us @weareladyfarmer on Instagram and check out our website!

Mary and Emma sit down with Julian, the Director of ANIMA Casa Rural - a B&B, artist residency and working farm located in the municipality of Tala in Jalisco, Mexico. ANIMA offers a space that emphasizes the importance of working with nature as opposed to against it. Through permaculture, Julian and his family’s shared ecological beliefs/practices, and focus on the elimination of processed foods, Julian wishes to create a working community amongst every person who visits ANIMA Casa Rural. 1:15 - Virtual Retreat announcement on confirmed workshops - see the resources below for the mentioned instructors 4:00 - A recording of all the workshops will be available to purchase - included in the VIP ticket, but also can be purchased separately  5:40 - What is Permaculture? Let's get into the interview! 10:00 - What is ANIMA Casa Rural? 15:30 - How ANIMA grows and produces their own food  20:00 - The organic growth of ANIMA as a business 24:00 - WWOOF and ANIMA  33:00 - The structures and architecture on the ANIMA property 41:00 - A day in the life at ANIMA  51:00 - What is the biggest takeaway? 54:00 - How Julian has been inspired by Thomas Berry Resources: Virtual Slow Living Retreat VIP ticket Micro greens workshop with @beardedbirdsfarm Regenerative Agriculture workshop with @smarterbynature DIY skincare workshop with @littlegreendot Little Green Dot Book Cooking classes with @hen_ofthewoods Medicinal Herb workshop with @thehillbillyafrican Bill Mollison - creator of permaculture ANIMA Casa Rural WWOOF Metzeri - The Moon Building Thomas Berry - The Great Work Thank you to:  Marcin Wisniewsky Adam Williams Aidan Cowling Geo Alternativa Site + Cycle / Lift Artists in Residency TV. Griebel Family Proyecta Jalisco Tala Cultura All friends and family    

Lady Farmer sits down with Christine and Anca, the duo behind the Huckle & Goose cookbook and meal planning program, to talk about what it really means to cook, eat, and live seasonally. Their book is designed to speak to even the most intimidated home cooks, and the habit-forming plans and recipes that they offer make space for true transformation in your life. Scroll down to view notes by timestamp, and links to all the resources we mention throughout the episode. 00:51 - Intro with Mary and Emma 02:53 - Early Bird tickets on sale now for the Virtual Slow Living Retreat on November 14 and 15 04:32 - Submit to the Lady Farmer Blog - Form on website Let’s get into the interview!  08:53 - Inspiration behind Huckle and Goose  18:17 - How has the concept of eating/cooking changed 26:15 - Breaking down barriers to create healthier habits 29:40 - Why cooking at home is more beneficial - the less obvious reasons 33:05 - Eating seasonally connects you to nature 39:43 - Set a day aside to schedule and plan out meals  53: 32 - Keeping habits during the pandemic 1:08:32 - Origin of the name Huckle and Goose Resources:  Buy the book here! Virtual Slow Living Retreat Submit to the Lady Farmer Blog Share with us what you thought about this episode on our Instagram @weareladyfarmer  

The Lady Farmer Slow Living Retreat 2020 Yours Rurally Book: The History of The World in 7 Cheap Things Documentary: Hale County This Morning, This Evening The Digital Divide Amber Breitenberg Photography Lady Farmer Website Yours Rurally Instagram 

Rebecca Gallop, A Daily Something The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living Homeschool Legal Defense Association "There is no kind of knowledge to be had in these early years so valuable to children as that which they get for themselves of the world they live in. Let them at once get into touch with nature and a habit is formed which will be a source of delight through life." - Charlotte Mason  The Peaceful Press Rebecca's Quick Tips for Homeschool Scheduling 

Simply Living Well by Julia Watkins  Julia's Blog  Julia's Instagram 

Permaculture Gardens Website John Jeavons - Ecology Action Biointensive Mini-Farming Sign Up for GYO Newsletter to get Free Challenges Permies.com - Pond Forum! Amy Stross - The Suburban Microfarm Robyn O'Brien - The Unhealthy Truth Growing Food in Small Spaces Webinar  The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living  

Perfect Health by Deepak Chopra RALLY by Herb Girls Herb Girls Instagram Herb Girls Website Questions? Email: [email protected]

How will Lady Farmer move forward from this moment? What can we do, as a small company and as individuals, to help create positive change in our broken systems? What actions will we take against the scourge of inequality and racism in our society? Here is a declaration of our commitment to a better world, from Lady Farmer and The Good Dirt Podcast.

Jame Beck Instagram #isolationcreation Poster Series Lady Farmer May Book Club

Dawn Again: Tracking The Wisdom of the Wild

Mom's Stuff

Should we be worried about "blue light"? What impact does light have on our health, if any? In this episode we talk to Greg Yeutter, the young entrepreneur behind the Bedtime Bulb, a simple, science backed, highly effective tool for fighting circadian disruption. When he realized that his passion for light could be used to solve the problem of sleep deprivation and positively impact people, he knew he’d found his career path. What he didn’t know was how timely and relevant this product would become, when so many people are looking to embrace the fundamentals of good health. Tune in to this informative conversation and learn about how light and solid sleep patterns are so interconnected, and what you can do to optimize your body’s natural defenses against disease. Links: The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living Bedtime Bulb

Guide to Slow Living! Great Day Gardens Website Radical Roots Farm Common Grain Alliance WWOOF

Lady Farmer Slow Living Challenge Food and Fibers Project Anna's Past Work Women’s Wisdom Project Publisher of Comestible, a zine dedicated to food Illustrator for the 2019 edition of the Joy of Cooking Books Live Lagom: Balanced Living the Swedish Way Fika: The Art of the Swedish Coffee Break Paris Coffee Revolution Best Served Wild: Real Food for Real Adventures The Culinary Cyclist Hello, Bicycle: An Inspired Guide to the Two-Wheeled Life Lagom

How do you 'play'? Biophilia and the importance of nature in our spaces The Architecture of Happiness - Alain De Botton Margin - creating space (mentally, physically) Role of spaces in the process of regeneration A healing town Eutopia Joy Hoffman website & Instagram

Sweet Farm Kraut  Lancaster Builders  

Amy has been a sustainable fashion writer for the past 13 years for media including Ecouterre, Participant Media, and The Guardian. Currently, she’s the Sustainability and Communications Director for Botanical Colors and she consults for sustainability-minded folks like Elizabeth Cline (author of Overdressed and The Sustainable Closet), Buffy Bedding, and TS Designs. Things Mentioned: Jess Davis, Folk Rebellion Join the Lady Farmer Slow Living Challenge! (Sign up here) Botanical Colors Regenerative Agriculture Carbon Farming Fibershed Southeastern New England Fibershed - @senewenglandfibershed Chico Flax Linen  Sally Fox  Amy DuFault on Instagram - @amytropolis

In this intro episode, Mary & Emma tell a bit of the backstory behind Lady Farmer and the idea for this podcast, as well as answer some audience questions. They discuss working together on the business (and what it's really like), their individual passions, collective challenges, and where they see themselves and Lady Farmer headed in the future. With a focus on sustainable practices, regenerative agriculture, and mindful slow living, The Good Dirt podcast explores all aspects of a sustainable lifestyle with healthy soil as the touchpoint and metaphor for the healing of our relationship with the planet. Tune in for an inspiring, engaging, and thought-provoking discussion; it's time to get your hands dirty with The Good Dirt! ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!

Meet Lady Farmer Meet Mary & Emma of Lady Farmer and hear about what's in store for The Good Dirt podcast! On The Good Dirt, mother/daughter duo Mary and Emma dive into topics related to regenerative farming and gardening, slow living and mindfulness, and building an eco-friendly and sustainable home. Each episode is an educational conversation between Lady Farmer and various farmers, artists, authors, and leaders in the regenerative and sustainable living spaces. Subscribe Now so you don't miss an episode! 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!