Digging In The Dirt with Kevin Gallagher

Welcome Judith Enck who is a Professor at Bennington College in Vermont. She is the President of Beyond Plastics and former EPA Regional Administrator, appointed by President Obama. Professor Enck is author of the new book "The Problem with Plastic: How to Save Ourselves and Our Planet Before It’s Too Late”

Today's guest is Mary Ellen Lemay. She is the "Conservation Director for the Aspetuck Land Trust", providing outreach, education and engagement to encourage people to improve biodiversity on their land by adding native plants and avoiding pesticides. Lemay's recent work includes designing and installing nature-based, climate smart projects in the City of Bridgeport, including the planting of 8 Miyawaki Forests at public schools and Seaside Park, as well as waterside buffers along rivers and coastal properties in the city.Her 25 years of conservation work was recognized as Winner of the Aquarion Connecticut Environmental Champion Award in 2022.

My guest today is Eliot Coleman. Eliot is an American farmer, author, agricultural researcher, educator, and proponent of organic farming. In 1989 he wrote the highly influential "The New Organic Grower". A master’s Manual of Tools and Techniques for the Home and Market Gardener.His latest book is "The Self-Fed Farm and Garden", A Return to the Roots of the Organic Method, on Chelsea Green Press. Then I speak with Eliot's wife Barbara Damrosch about her recent book,"A life in the garden". Barbara is a professional in the field of horticulture and a writer. Her book The Garden Primer is a classic manual of horticulture. For 14 years she wrote a weekly column for The Washington Post called A Cook’s Garden.Finally Long Islanders, my regular contributor to DITD Gloria Frazee of RewildLongIsland.org drops in to fill us in on many of the amazing events Rewild has going on this spring.

First up on Digging in the Dirt is Dana Jackson, who is the Director of Communications and Development for CT Northeast Organic Farming Association. Prior to joining CT NOFA, he published Edible Nutmeg, a regional magazine focused on western Connecticut’s food community, including farmers, chefs, and locally produced food of all kinds. He also worked for more than a decade as a certified organic farmer in Connecticut, an experience that led him to believe that local food production is the key to building stronger, more resilient communities in our state. Dana is coming here today to tell you about this weeks CT NOFA 44th annual Winter Conference. My 2nd guest is Sarah Layton Agricultural Programs Coordinator At the Connecticut Resource Conservation & Development AreaShe is a Certified Compost Operator, steering committee member of the CT Compost Alliance and the New CT Farmers Alliance, she is also a member of the Deep River Garden Club, and owner of a micro flower farm, Wild Hill Farm, in Deep River CT.She is here today to talk about the 2026 CT Compost Conference March 19, at Wesleyan University sponsored by the CT COMPOST alliance. Finally continuing with the subject of composting From the aforementioned Park city compost initiative, (PCCI), I have with me Tim O’Connor Executive Director of Park City Compost Initiative. Since then Tim has secured certification for Solid Waste Facility operations from CT DEEP, the Master Composter certification from UCONN and the Compost Operations Course by US Compost Council.As Executive Director of Park City Compost Initiative, Tim is all about PCCI's mission to Educate and Activate around aerobic composting.Tim has served for the past two years on the organizing committee of the CT Compost Alliance who have planned and arranged the March 19th 2026 Ct Compost Conference at Wesleyan University.

It's a great honor for me to host my next guest on Digging the Dirt, Bill McKibben. Bill is an American environmentalist, author and journalist who has written extensively on the impact of global warming . He has spearheaded many projects to address the climate crisis that faces our planet. Most significantly he founded 350.org and Third Act which focuses on making legislative progress state by state. Bill has a new book out called “Here comes the Sun”.My second guest on this episode of Digging the Dirt is the Executive Director of Biodiversity for a livable climate, Beck Mordini.Bio4climate states right upfront on their website that Nature is Climate. Biodiversity loss is not just the result of climate change, it is a primary driver of climate change. Only solutions that prioritize this web of life will create a truly livable climate for all.