Farm Small Farm Smart Daily

Learn more at www.permaculturevoices.com/151 There had always been that group of design-centric permaculturalists focused on the process, not the techniques. The Toby Hemenways and Larry Santoyos of the world, the Darren Dohertys and the Ben Falks, The Richard Perkins, and my guest today, Rob Avis. They are all just a small sample of a larger subset that's focused on permaculture a design process, and only a design process. To them it's just another tool in the toolbox. A tool that you have at your disposal that when needed and applied correctly, can make your job easier. It's through the readings and conversations with these people that I have re-embraced permaculture for what it was a intended to be, and how I initially came about it. And a big key in that return to permaculture as a tool, were the conversations that I had with Rob Avis of Verge Permaculture. Like me Rob comes from an engineering background, and he came to permaculture after having been an engineer. For him, permaculture gave him another tool to use and way to re-purpose his engineering career. Permaculture gave him a way to richen and deepen his design work and engineering versus diluting it. And it was in one of our conversations where he said something that stopped me in my tracks, and changed my paradigm on the spot. He said, "Diego, it doesn't matter what anyone is saying or doing with permaculture, no matter how irrelevant it may seem. Permaculture is simply another tool in the toolbox, and if it makes my job easier, then I will use it. Like a hammer, it doesn't matter what people are saying or claiming about a hammer, when you need to drive a nail you use a hammer, and when you, I don't pay attention." It was that simple idea of permaculture being a tool, regardless of what claims people make, it's still a tool, that really reset my perspective on permaculture. Suddenly all the bogus claims didn't matter, and I had something in my back pocket that made things easier, it was Permaculture - Another Tool in The Toolbox. Support the show at www.permaculturevoices.com/support

Support the show at www.permaculturevoices.com/support Valuable and necessary to the success of hte changing landscape of agriculture... or an abused form of cheap labor that helps some farms appear more profitable than they really are... That's what we are talking about today on The Urban Farmer with Curtis Stone With the 2017 season underway, we'll be widening the scope. Not only going beyond Curtis and the urban farmer, but also beyond the urban farm. This year Curtis and I will take a step back zooming out from the tools and techniques and his one third of an acre farm, to take a look at some of the macro issues surrounding agriculture. Each of our episodes will look at a difference topic that all are touched by the common thread of how do we scale this movement, and what does that look like in the future. It's a year of farming small and farming smart, but thinking big. Today, we are going to start out by taking a look at interns and farms. What's good, what's bad, and what could be improved upon. It's an issue that's really relevant and timely, because it's one that Curtis is dealing with right now, doing something that I never, ever, thought he would do, get an intern. Let's find out why, in this episode of The Urban Farmer... Learn more at www.permaculturevoices.com/farmsmallfarmsmart Support the show at www.permaculturevoices.com/support

Today I will be talking with someone who likely inspired many of you to get into farming, to consider farming, or to farm better, not bigger. I'll be talking to market gardener, Jean-Martin Fortier. We'll start out talking about his days before he farmed and how he figured out exactly who Jean-Martin Fortier was and what he was about. And we'll end up in the fields talking about something that still gets JM excited today, the soil... Learn more at www.permaculturevoices.com/farmsmallfarmsmart Support the show at www.permaculturevoices.com/support

A compilation of stories from peers, friends, and students paying tribute to Toby Hemenway who passed away on December 20, 2016. Learn more about Toby at www.permaculturevoices.com/150 Support the show at www.permaculturevoices.com/support Background Music: Voyage by LEMMiNO https://soundcloud.com/lemmino Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b... Moon by LEMMiNO https://soundcloud.com/lemmino Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b... Music by BENSOUND http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-... Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b... Last Light by Gregory Klein https://500px.com/GregoryKlein Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b... . Dreams by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b... Music provided by Audio Library https://youtu.be/VF9_dCo6JT4 Grass - Silent Partner https://youtu.be/VlohuOGWzG8 Days Are Long by Silent Partner https://youtu.be/dMWPj0wu1Dw Parallel & Last Dawn - Ross Bugden https://youtu.be/wWjgsepyE8I https://youtu.be/je9bnuIqVVc Kygo feat. Conrad Firestone Instrumental https://youtu.be/rGIAQm-ixAQ Get Back Up - Silent Partner https://youtu.be/pMdlF4rbf6Y

Ben Watson, a senior editor at Chelsea Green, joins me to talk about his work with Toby Hemenway on the first edition of Gaia's Garden back in 2000 and how much of an influence that book had on the permaculture movement and the future of books in this space. Learn more at www.permaculturevoices.com/149 Support the show at www.permaculturevoices.com/support

Liberation Permaculture by Toby Hemenway. This episode is the rebroadcast of Toby talk from PV2 in March 2015. Permaculture offers more than a path to a sustainable and just food system. It can move entire segments of our society off the radar screens of state oppressors and help return equality, abundance, and justice to people while restoring healthy ecosystems. This talk will tell you how. Here's a hint on how that's possible. If you can't measure it, you can't tax it. Enjoy it, I hope it gets you thinking. Learn more at www.permaculturevoices.com/148 Support the show at www.permaculturevoices.com/support

Today, let's take a look at permaculture. Let's go beyond the land, and beyond food to take a look at a concept that Toby is calling liberation permaculture. "Permaculture offers more than a path to a sustainable and just food system. It can move entire segments of our society off the radar screens of state oppressors and help return equality, abundance, and justice to people while restoring healthy ecosystems. This talk, being premiered at Permaculture Voices, will tell you how. If you've appreciated Toby's series on permaculture and civilization, you'll want to see this significant new chapter." Learn more at www.permaculturevoices.com/147 Support the show at www.permaculturevoices.com/support

Backing Away from the Energy Cliff: A Permaculturist's Guide to Thinking About Energy. Fossil fuels are the underpinning of our civilization, and our desperate attempts to keep cheap oil flowing runs the risk of collapsing ecosystems and cultures. This lecture uses a permacultural approach to evaluate energy sources and to design possible energy futures. Presented by Toby Hemenway at PV1 in March 2014. Learn more at www.permaculturevoices.com/146 Support the show at www.permaculturevoices.com/support

Ten thousand years of agriculture has devastated every ecosystem it has come in contact with. Horticultural societies point toward a solution, and permaculture can help us design a way to overcome agriculture's deficiencies, preserve many of the best features of our culture, and create a horticultural society that has a good chance of proving sustainable. This lecture shows how we got into this mess, and offers a route out of it. Presented live at PV1 in March 2014. Learn more at www.permaculturevoices.com/145 Support the show at www.permaculturevoices.com/support

Toby Hemenway joins me to talk permaculture - how permaculture has changed and how we can work more permaculture into our lives. Key Takeaways: It really benefits anyone in almost any field to be able to think in whole systems. Someone who embraces permaculture can do a lot more than teach and design property. Apply permaculture techniques and principles to what you do. Find good mentors. Many people want to help others. You just have to ask. Some standard economic training is good. You can get a great toolkit and then apply it however you want. Standard training is a tool, a means to an end if you goal is ecological design. Catch kids while thinking in whole systems. Before they are trained out of it into compartmentalized thinking. Starting with soil fertility and building organic matter is a good idea. It is almost a universal panacea along with being careful with water. Move to the highest generalization. For example, do you want to open a store, or do you want to make a living providing good products for your community. Find the things in life that you are really good at and do those things. It gives you good feedback and then you start building confidence and making forward progress. Want to transition careers? Find ways to make it less scary - lower expenses. Show Notes: www.permaculturevoices.com/144 Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support.

Today's episode is the first episode in a week long series dedicated to the late Toby Hemenway. It's the first presentation in a series of episodes which Toby called his civilization series. It's titled How Permaculture Can Save Humanity and the Earth, but Not Civilization. Learn more at www.permaculturevoices.com/143 Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support.

2016 has been an interesting year for me. It's been one of transition and growth and change. It's been a year that's ended a long career in one world and kick started a new career going out on my own. It's been a year of loss losing pioneers like Toby Hemenway, Gene Logsdon, and Bill Mollison; and it's been a year of addition as a beautiful daughter entered my life. I have a grown a lot and changed a lot as a person. And honestly I feel like I am more me than I have ever been. It's a me that's been found through a lot of self-reflection, writing, literally hundreds of podcasts, and conversations with people like Javan. Along the way I have learned a lot. Today I will be sharing some of what I learned as Javan and I go through our top 5 lessons from 2016. In total 10 simple ways of looking at life, approaching life, and thinking about life that can change your life tomorrow. I look at a lot of these lessons as base principles in an approach to life that very much contradicts the status quo. None of these lessons require any money or technology to implement. There are no tools or techniques here. It's simply changing your approach. As 2016 comes to an end, take what you can from this episode, to align what you do in life more with who you are. Learn more at www.permaculturevoices.com/javan Support the show at www.permaculturevoices.com/support

Mycologist and author Peter McCoy of RadicalMycology.com takes on the question - I'm wondering if you have any information about inoculating trees to grow truffles. I have read that hazelnuts are sometimes used in truffle production and, while there are nurseries that sell (large quantities of) inoculated trees, I can't find any information about doing it yourself. It seems like the method is to introduce some kind of inoculum into sterilised seeding media just prior to germination, but what is the inoculum? Ground up truffles? Can you grow out the inoculum prior to introducing it to the soil to expand your supply? To learn more about Peter and see all of the ASK Peter episodes visit permaculturevoices.com/peter. Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support.

In terms of journeys, today I am going to highlight an epic one. It's the story of Justin Rhodes. Justin who has gone from someone one government assistance and in debt to someone who is self-made, out of debt, and now making a living through his various online businesses. A remarkable feet in an of itself. And even more remarkable given how quickly it has played out. It's a truly inspirational story that started from this show. Learn more at www.permaculturevoices.com/133 Support the show at www. permaculturevoices.com/support

Mycologist and author Peter McCoy of RadicalMycology.com takes on the question - The question is whether or not mushrooms could be used in a brooder to help break down the wood based bedding, manure and spilled feed and maybe get a mushroom harvest. My brooder, along with others across the country are basically going to sit idle over the winter. Come late winter I go in there with some tools and clear it out. It is my least favorite day of the entire year. I'd be interested in inoculating the bedding with a mushroom and seeing what could be done. Any reduction in the amount of bedding would be a gain. If I could get some mushrooms out of it, all the better. My thoughts were to cultivate something over the winter while the brooder is inactive and then clean it out before my first batch of broilers begins late February. Not sure if that would be a long enough time frame for mushrooms. To learn more about Peter and see all of the ASK Peter episodes visit permaculturevoices.com/peter. Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support.

Mycologist and author Peter McCoy of RadicalMycology.com takes on the question - I have an abundance of woodchips. Any thoughts on inoculating the pile to "rapidly" break down the pile of chips into compost, or is it not worth the effort and just let nature do the work? To learn more about Peter and see all of the ASK Peter episodes visit permaculturevoices.com/peter. Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support.

For notes related to this episode visit permaculturevoices.com/growmicrogreens. When you think about what your selling, don't forget that what you are selling isn't just what's in the cooler behind your booth. You're selling yourself, your story, and the role that you play in a bigger movement; all intangible assets that can allow you to succeed without having a diversity of products. But if you want to grow, and you don't have more products to sell to customers, then you need to find more customers, and that likely means diversifying beyond the farmers market. That's the subject of today's show where farmers market is one of the market streams that we dig into as Chris talks about his experiences selling to a diversity of market streams without a diversity of crops. For notes related to this episode visit permaculturevoices.com/growmicrogreens.

Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/theurbanfarmer Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support About one year ago Season 1, Episode 37 aired. It was us taking a look back at Curtis production for the 2015 season. Today we will do something similar for 2016, because a lot has changed. Let's start by rewinding the clock and go back that previous episode from December 2015... "We are officially out of the main season and for the most part, Curtis is now done producing crops off of his farm. In this episode we will take a look at what Curtis produced on the farm in 2016, and how much of it he produced. And as a hint, he produced a lot. All in Curtis produced about 17,500lbs of product off of his farm this year. That's a lot of food coming from a small space. Remember Curtis is only farming off of 15,000 sq.ft. which is spread out over 5 plots. And this year he made the most of it producing over 17,000lbs of produce on those 5 plots. And we aren't talking corn and potatoes here. For the most part many of the crops which he produced really aren't that heavy, he simply produced a lot of product. 3000lbs of tomatoes, 2500lb. of radishes, 2500lb. of spring mix, 2000lbs of turnips. Big numbers for a small farm." That was then. Now let's go to present day of December 2016. And while a year ago the production season was over, this year, it's not. We are still in production season, because Curtis's farm now produces year round, with sales every week of the year. That's just one of the many changes that took place at Green City Acres this year. As we look back at 2016, it was a year where Curtis farmed less land than 2015, cut back on certain crops, and added others. Part of those changes came as a result of changes in his market streams as he cut back on restaurant sales, eliminated the farmers market, and started selling a lot more to local grocers. Big changes, that have had a big effect on what he's growing and how much he's producing... Let's jump into it and take a look at Curtis 2016 farm production... what was produced, what wasn't, and why it changed. Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/theurbanfarmer Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support

Mycologist and author Peter McCoy of RadicalMycology.com takes on the question - Is it possible to have a raised "bed" of hardwood chips with multiple strains happily cohabiting and fruiting in different seasons? To learn more about Peter and see all of the ASK Peter episodes visit permaculturevoices.com/peter. Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support.

Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/141 Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support Stefan Sobkowiak of The Miracle Farm is encouraging more vegetable farmer to consider planting some fruit trees. And to start planting some trees now, so they are established and producing when you or the vegetable farming gets old. Now you may be saying, "I barely have enough time to do the work that I am doing now." Establishing this orchard might not take as much time as you think. And the slow growth of trees might be on your side. As Stefan will talk about in this episode he manages his whole operation on just 50 hours per year. That includes all pruning, training, irrigation, spraying, clean-up, the whole lot. And he thinks that one person could maintain 4 to 6 acres. Overall making it a doable takes that makes your farming enterprise less fragile, while adding some diversity to your famers market booth or CSA box. If that sounds intriguing stay tuned. Overall Stefan brings it in this one. He walks through what a typical season is like. Talks about why you want to be a price maker not a price taker. Talks about the pros and cons of a u-pick model. There's a lot in this one, and I am willing to bet that it will have you looking at small scale o Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/141 Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support

Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/theurbanfarmer Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support Anytime that you do something for a long time, over and over again, how do you keep it fresh. Let's be honest, any time that you do something for weeks and years, eventually that honeymoon phase wears off. As should be expecting, things changes, life changes, and you change. If that think that's getting old is you farm, and your livelihood is dependent upon it. How do you battle this evolution of getting stale? One way is to branch out and do other things. Maybe that's research and development, maybe that's teaching, maybe that's furthering a cause and maybe crowd sourcing inspiration globally as you try to get more people interested in farming. That's where Curtis finds himself now. After seven seasons of full time farming his farm has changed dramatically since day 1, and even going back to the beginning of 2016 things have changed quite a bit. It's those changes and the desire to grow and innovate that's helped Curtis stay motivated and keeps things fresh, when it could just as easily get old... That's the topic of today's show on The Urban Farm Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/theurbanfarmer Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support

Mycologist and author Peter McCoy of RadicalMycology.com takes on the question - What are your thoughts on looking for local strains of mushrooms to cultivate out versus ordering or receiving genetic material from someone from a strain that isn't indigenous to your particular area where the strain will be grown? To learn more about Peter and see all of the ASK Peter episodes visit permaculturevoices.com/peter. Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support.

Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/140 Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support What if you live in a suburban or urban area on a small lot? A lot of those the chickens living in those areas live in degenerative systems, spending their days on mud runs and dirt patches that are more of a net negative than a net positive. What can be done to avoid this issue? This is where we turn to the techniques that are used on broadacre properties and look to scale it down, rotating birds over a portion of an acre versus multiple acres. It's an idea and concept that I have been playing around with my 3/4 acre property here in San Diego and it's one that I think holds a lot of promise, and it's the subject of today's show. Earlier this year I was contact by a Canadian name Shaw McCarty. Shawn raises his 16 layer chicks on his property which is just under an acre. He rotates the birds through several small paddocks on that small suburban lot. His overall goal is to advance the system while giving the chickens access to as much fresh forage as possible. And so far it's worked. As Shawn stated.. "I thought the chickens would help me by 'mowing' the pasture but their actions have caused it to grow faster, and thicker than it has in the past. With 16 chickens I still need to cut the grass in each paddock a couple times a year to keep it fresh and palatable, once it gets too long the chickens will choose other forage." Shawn's system is one that could be implemented on most small plots, it shows you what's possible. The goal here is to get you thinking. Too many chickens in small urban lots live out their lives on dirt patches. Here's a system that might inspire you to change that. Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/140 Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support

Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/theurbanfarmer Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support A lot of people who want to start farming, don't start because they focus too much on what they don't have and not enough on what they do have. Land's too expensive. Lack money to start a farm. Common complaints that you hear about starting up a farming enterprise. And I will fully acknowledge that those constraints are very real. But let's put those constraints aside today, and focus on what is possible. Possible by all of us. Everything that we are going to talk about today deals with getting better and NOT spending money. If you stop and think about it, there are a lot of things that you can do to improve your business, make your business more competitive, and attract more customers that's free. If you ever feel like you are at a disadvantage because of what you don't have, start looking at the situation in terms of what you do have, and what you can do, because it's a lot of those things that will make the difference and give you a leg up on the competition, money or not. Today's episode is us exploring this idea - of what are some of things that you can do to make your farm better, without spending any money. Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/theurbanfarmer Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support

We are experiencing the end of an era as a new era in human civilization is beginning. It is a time of great risk but also a time of great potential. Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/103 Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support THIS EPISODE IS A REPLAY OF PREVIOUS PUBLISHED EPISODE. We now know that it is possible to restore large-scale damaged ecosystems. It is possible to sequester carbon and re-regulate the hydrological system. It is possible to restore natural fertility and to remove toxicity from contaminated soils and water. We are required to do this so that future generations will live in peace and abundance. For humanity to further evolve it is necessary to transition from a society dedicated to consumption to a society dedicated to ecological function. Although sometimes obscured by the collapse of the old order this heralds a time of full employment, equality, purpose and fulfillment. This is THE GREAT WORK OF OUR TIME and we are called to understand and participate in it. Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/103 Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support THIS EPISODE IS A REPLAY OF PREVIOUS PUBLISHED EPISODE. PV2 Audio: permaculturevoices.com/pv2audio

Mycologist and author Peter McCoy of RadicalMycology.com takes on the question - What are the current roadblocks to being able to consistently grow your own morel mushrooms? To learn more about Peter and see all of the ASK Peter episodes visit permaculturevoices.com/peter Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support

Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/javan Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support There are many reasons that we can do something. To survive, to get paid, to compete, to make ourselves better, to achieve a goal, to seek fulfillment, the list goes.... All valid reasons. None of them more universally right than another. Some are more applicable to some people at a given time in a given situation. It all comes down to context. It comes down to what are you seek. Something short term and material, something quantifiable, or something bigger, something bigger than yourself that you really can't put a finger on... To further explore this idea, let's go to the classic fable of the Three Stone Cutters as told by then Harvard University president Drew Faust... "A man came across three stonecutters and asked them what they were doing. The first replied, "I am making a living." The second kept on hammering while he said, "I am doing the best job of stonecutting in the entire county." The third looked up with a visionary gleam in his eye and said, "I am building a cathedral." The first stonecutter is simply doing a day's work for a day's pay, for the material reward he receives in exchange for his labor. The substance of his work, the purpose of his work, the context of his work do not matter. The second stonecutter has higher aspirations. He wants to be the best. The second stonecutter is an unshakable individualist. He believes in the power of the human mind, and its capacity for reason, in the drive for quality and results, and in the usefulness of reducing complex reality to a simple equation. His world is competitive and meritocratic. It is cosmopolitan; he measures himself against the "whole county" as the story has it—even the whole world. Yet somehow the vision of the second stonecutter is also incomplete. The focus on the task, the competition, the virtuosity, is a kind of blindness. Consumed with individual ambition, the second stonecutter misses the fundamental interconnectedness of human kind, of societies and of economies. This stonecutter fails to see that there would be no stones to cut if there were not a community building a cathedral. The third stonecutter embraces a broader vision. The very menial work of stonecutting becomes part of a far larger undertaking, a spiritual as well as a physical construction. This project aspires to the heavens, transcending the earthbound—and indeed transcending the timebound as well, for cathedrals are built not in months or even years, but over centuries. A lifetime of work may make only a small contribution to a structure that unites past and future, connects humans across generations and joins their efforts to purposes they see as far larger than themselves." An idea that we will explore in this episode. Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/javan Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support

Homesteader Justin Rhodes of AbundantPermaculture.com takes on the question - Basic advice, suggestions and learnings on breeding chickens on the homestead? To learn more about Justin and see all of the ASK Justin episodes visit permaculturevoices.com/justin. Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support.

For notes related to this episode visit permaculturevoices.com/growmicrogreens. Over the last two episodes [Episode 1, Episode 2] we looked at How Chris started and grew his microgreen business, and we have taken a look at what's possible with that business when it grows. And if you just stand back and look at the numbers, their jaw dropping. Let's be honest. Grossing $200,000 growing 10 day old crops in a shipping container that takes up 320 square is jaw dropping. It almost seems unbelievable. But it's real, and that's where Chris is at with his business after 10 years. Chris has show what's possible. And given that and the relatively low capital investment required to start a microgreens business, it's a business that attracts a lot of people. People that likely focus on the high dollar value per tray, and people that dream about how much money they can make. This is where it gets dangerous, because you can't just look at the income side of the business. You have to look at the expenses as well. When you do that with microgreens that high dollar per tray, isn't as high as it might appear. There are a number of cost that need to be considered - the soil, the seed, and the big one - the labor. There's a decent amount of labor that goes into producing each tray of microgreens. Labor that needs to be priced into the product, and labor that might turn some people off from growing microgreens. When over 60% of your time will be spent harvesting, cleaning, and sanitizing trays, some of the allure of that $50 tray goes away. Add in the need for rigorous observations and recording keeping, and you will find yourself in a position that Chris describes as part automaton and part scientist. No for everyone. Especially when people enter the business looking to make a quick buck. If you are thinking about starting a microgreens operation, there's a lot to consider, especially the negatives. For notes related to this episode visit permaculturevoices.com/growmicrogreens.

Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/27 Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support THIS EPISODE IS A REPLAY OF PREVIOUS PUBLISHED EPISODE. Ben Falk from Whole Systems Design, LLC joins me talk about permaculture design and what he has learned on his research site over the years. He talks about how to break into the business as a designHe touches on cold climate infrastructure and heating with wood. And he goes into his thoughts on designing a property and why it's important to understand the land's capability and how you should relate that to your goals. We also spend some time talking about the mass selection of plant genetics for a site, stressing the importance of over stacking the system in the beginning to see what works and what doesn't. Key Takeaways: Get some experience working with the land and systems before you start designing properties as "a designer." You can reduce your wood usage by 30-40% by drying wood well versus haphazardly drying it. Cold humid climates have a low tolerance for bad moisture detailing in structures. When designing a home detail carefully to keep the home dry and get water out. Grow tree multi-purpose tree species for fuel wood. Consider black locusts - fixes nitrogen, fast grower, rot resistant wood, good fuel wood, and makes great saw logs. Have goals but understand the land's capability so you can adjust those goals as needed. Don't fight against the land's tendencies and capabilities, work with it, not against it. Most people have more land than they can manage well. Moving down in acreage might be advantageous. It is better to manage 5 acres right than 100 acres wrong. Most people can have most of their needs met on 5-10 acres. Unless you have a commercial aspect or grazing component. Have a good access plan for your site. Don't box yourself out. Start and maintain a clear access pattern which is based on the water flow throughout the site. For site selection general location and access are a quick way to filter down a list of a lot of properties. Then look to the Keyline Scale of Permanance. Consider water security and controlling as much of a watershed as you can. Focus on manageability with regards to plantings. Plant based on water access with on contour swales. Not all permaculture techniques will work on all sites. So don't expect that. Practice the mass selection of genetics. Identify the best genetics from your site by growing trees from seed. Plant as many tress as you can on a site, way closer than you would ever imagine, and cut out the ones that don't do well. Use the first 3-5 years on a site to learn what does well. Years 5-10 are when you focus on plants and families that really want ot grow on your site - microclimate - aspect - soils. And there is no way to know which ones will work unless you start putting a lot of plants in the ground. Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/27 Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support THIS EPISODE IS A REPLAY OF PREVIOUS PUBLISHED EPISODE.

Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/139 Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support If you have kids and you are self-employed and you work from home, getting work done in that environment can be a challenge. Today Rob Avis is going to talk about some of his methodologies for balancing out working at home and what techniques he uses to plan out his week. Rob is a busy guy co-running two companies (Adaptive Habitat and Verge Permaculture) with his wife Michelle, and he does it from his house, raising two young kids, so he has had a lot of experience getting serious work done in the heat of it. Rob's also one of the smartest guys that I know. He's an avid reader and he thinks a lot about this type of stuff, so I was really curious how he is approaching raising kids, how he is choosing to school his kids and why. He's one of those guys that I go to when I am questioning a decision that I am making. He usually has a lot of insight into things that make me really think about what I am doing and why. It's something that I think we all need in our life. Overall this message is part life hacking, part parent hacking, part hard dose of reality. Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/139 Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support

For notes related to this episode visit permaculturevoices.com/growmicrogreens. "They weren't just buying the product, they were buying the whole package." That's how Chris Thoreau was able to go to a farmer's market selling one crop. Just one. Sunflower shoots. He was able to go to market with just one crop because he was selling a product that had a great story. It was a product that was produced hyper-locally and one that was delivered to market via pedal power on a bike. Since Chris started his microgreen business nearly 10 years ago he has grown the business into one that has multiple employees and one that will do over $200,000 in sales in 2016. If you want grow microgreens commercially, listen to today's episode. You'll see how important it is to systemize your production and constantly record and analyze your results. It's the constant testing, analyze and adaptation that has made Chris' business hugely successful. I think that you will really get a lot out of this interview. You'll learn how Chris introduced a brand new crop to his market. How he priced that product. And how and why he thinks about new products to sell. There's a lot of in depth applicable business content in here for the experienced growers. And for the beginners you will learn what Chris suggests for some good crops to grow There's a lot in this one and at it's core this interview focuses heavily on core success principles - relentless testing and experimentation, constant record keeping and analysis, and knowing what to focus on. Let's get into it Tips and Tricks for Growing, Harvesting, and Selling Microgreens as a Business with Chris Thoreau... For notes related to this episode visit permaculturevoices.com/growmicrogreens.

Mycologist and author Peter McCoy of RadicalMycology.com takes on the question - What are you thoughts on combing biochar and fungi? To learn more about Peter and see all of the ASK Peter episodes visit permaculturevoices.com/peter. Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support.

Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/138 Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support Today I am talking with Erica Wisner, co-author of The Rocket Mass Heater Builder's Guide. She co-wrote the book with her husband Ernie, and combined they are a wealth of knowledge on RMH. They build them, they use them, they teach about them, and they innovate new designed. They live the RMH lifestyle. On the surface I think RMH are a complex subject, and I really tried to break through that complexity in this one by getting to the core of the what, where why and how. At the end of this episode I think you will either be excited to learn more or saying, not for me. Either way, we have done our job. Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/138 Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support

Homesteader Justin Rhodes of AbundantPermaculture.com takes on the question - Any advice for processing one to two birds at a time on a homestead level without having to purchase a bunch of equipment? To learn more about Justin and see all of the ASK Justin episodes visit permaculturevoices.com/justin. Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support.

For notes related to this episode visit permaculturevoices.com/growmicrogreens. Today we are going to start the series, by going back to the beginning. This is the story of how urban farmer Chris Thoreau started his microgreens farm almost 10 years ago. Chris will take on questions such as: Why microgreens? Why did he start with microgreen? Who did he model and how much did he start with? And how did he handle startup and work life balance. As you will hear it was tough at times, because Chris started his farm at what on paper looks like an inopportune time. He started this part time while in school full time and 2.5 months into his first semester his son was born. Despite life presenting challenges that some people would say aren't worth the risk, Chris made a go of it taking on these early challenges he has managed to grow his operation to one that will do around $200,000 in sales in 2016. And all that sales are coming from a farm that's in a shipping container taking up 320 sq. ft. That's where Chris is at today, but it didn't happen overnight, let's get into it and find out how it all started. For notes related to this episode visit permaculturevoices.com/growmicrogreens.

Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/79 Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support THIS EPISODE IS A REPLAY OF PREVIOUS PUBLISHED EPISODE. In Woody Agriculture, crops would be planted only once in a lifetime. The use of woody perennials for agricultural staple commodities production would result in little or no use of tillage, as well as the presence of a permanent cover during both the growing and the dormant seasons. Not only would this lead to a vastly lower rate of soil loss and less runoff into water supplies and aquatic environments, but there would be a reduced need for the fossil fuels consumed in plowing and tilling. In addition, use of pesticides needed for the establishment of annual plants could be sharply reduced. A further important benefit would be the reduction of soil compaction, since far fewer trips through the fields with heavy equipment would be required. Key Takeaways: Breeding: You cannot work with more than two traits at the same time. The most important trait is to have a population that actually survives. When you sell products off of your farm (like nuts) you are exporting a lot of minerals. It is important to remineralize your soil. You can use sheep and chickens in hazelnut systems to remineralize and fertilize the soil. Hickory and Pecan work well with hazelnuts. Chestnuts don't do as well given different soil pH requirements. Find the old timers growing tree species that you want to grow in your area. They may have long tested genetics suited for your area. Hazels are wind pollinated, so you don't' need immediate close proximity for insect pollination. Coppicing to the ground every 10 years can help to rejuvenate the plants. Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/79 Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support THIS EPISODE IS A REPLAY OF PREVIOUS PUBLISHED EPISODE.

Mycologist and author Peter McCoy of RadicalMycology.com takes on the question - I have been curious how an aspiring homeowner could make prefab parts of their home using mycelium on a straw based substrate? Wouldn't be amazing and incredibly empowering if we could literally grow the walls of our homes? Is this something the average person could realistically pull off? To learn more about Peter and see all of the ASK Peter episodes visit permaculturevoices.com/peter Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support

Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/58 Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support THIS EPISODE IS A REPLAY OF PREVIOUS PUBLISHED EPISODE. An interview with Phil Rutter of Badgersett Research Corporation. We talk about why perennial based woody agriculture is important and how chestnuts and hazelnuts fit into that. We also talk a lot about plant breed and using mass selection to find genotypes that have the traits that you are looking for. This episode is pretty dense and has a ton of information in it for anyone looking to breed plants. Phil is brilliant and I think I learned more about plant breeding my conversations with him than I ever have anywhere else. Given how much information is in this episode and how long this episode is, I have split it into two parts. This is part 2 of 2. Take it all in, enjoy it, and most importantly do something with this information. Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/58 Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support THIS EPISODE IS A REPLAY OF PREVIOUS PUBLISHED EPISODE.

Homesteader Justin Rhodes of AbundantPermaculture.com takes on the question - I have noticed that your kids do a lot of work on the farm, what has been yall's approach to introducing the kids to work and chores on the farm? To learn more about Justin and see all of the ASK Justin episodes visit permaculturevoices.com/justin. Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support.

Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/jodi Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support Curtis is on vacation, so I am joined by bio-intensive farmer Jodi Roebuck. Jodi's been farming and studying under the originator of the Grow Bio-Intensive form of farming, John Jeavons, for 18 years. Jodi's well known for using Jeavon's bio-intensive method to build soil. Soil that's deep and loose enough to literally put your arm into up to your elbow. It's a soil that well known grower JM Fortier has called some of the best soil that he's ever seen. It's from this rich soil that Jodi farms, growing his own fertility, his own food, saving seeds, and educating the next generation of farmers. He's traveled the world studying under the masters and visiting a lot farms along the way. This summer Jodi made a stop in North America where he visited the home farms of both JM Fortier and Curtis. As a result, he's very familiar with their market gardening style. The question then becomes how can he apply his knowledge of bio-intensive practices to the context of market farming, and that's where we pick up the conversation today. Where do the worlds of bio-intensive growing and market gardening collide, and what's possible... Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/jodi

Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/16 Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support THIS EPISODE IS A REPLAY OF PREVIOUS PUBLISHED EPISODE. Darren Doherty of Heenan Doherty and Regrarians joins me from Australia to fill in some of the gaps surrounding Keyline design. While the whole Keyline design system is complex and way beyond the scope of this podcast.This episode should give you a brief introduction into what Keyline is, where it can be used, and what it can accomplish. Like all other design systems Keyline isn't the be all, end all, it is another tool in the tool box help design a regenerative landscape. For those that want to learn more check out Darren's work, some of it below, and P.A. Yeomans books. Darren recommends The Keyline Plan and The Challenge of Landscape. Keyline design is a foundation of technique and planning using a scale of permanence. It's focus is on reacting to a climate of an environment, a site, and then using the landscape's shape to maximize the possibility of a sustainable, regenerative environment. Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/16 Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support THIS EPISODE IS A REPLAY OF PREVIOUS PUBLISHED EPISODE.

Mycologist and author Peter McCoy of RadicalMycology.com takes on the question - What are your thoughts on the integration of fungi into septic, grey water, swales, and/or other water catchment systems? To learn more about Peter and see all of the ASK Peter episodes visit permaculturevoices.com/peter. Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support

Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/57 Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support THIS EPISODE IS A REPLAY OF PREVIOUS PUBLISHED EPISODE. An interview with Phil Rutter of Badgersett Research Corporation. We talk about why perennial based woody agriculture is important and how chestnuts and hazelnuts fit into that. We also talk a lot about plant breed and using mass selection to find genotypes that have the traits that you are looking for. This episode is pretty dense and has a ton of information in it for anyone looking to breed plants. Phil is brilliant and I think I learned more about plant breeding my conversations with him than I ever have anywhere else. Given how much information is in this episode and how long this episode is, I have split it into two parts. This is part 1 of 2.With the second part dropping this Friday, July 11 as episode 58. Take it all in, enjoy it, and most importantly do something with this information. Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/57 Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support THIS EPISODE IS A REPLAY OF PREVIOUS PUBLISHED EPISODE.

Homesteader Justin Rhodes of AbundantPermaculture.com takes on the question - You have been raising turkeys for a few months now - how has it been, and has it been worth it? To learn more about Justin and see all of the ASK Justin episodes visit permaculturevoices.com/justin. Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support.

Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/theurbanfarmer Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support Today Curtis takes on the question - Let's say you are starting a a new farm. And I gave you a bunch of land, 15 acres. All pretty flat, all pretty usable. How would you go about deciding how much of that land you would farm? We get into the ideas around how much land he would farm and why. Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/theurbanfarmer Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support

Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/13 Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support THIS EPISODE IS A REPLAY OF PREVIOUS PUBLISHED EPISODE. Darren Doherty of Heenan Doherty and Regrarians joins me from Australia to talk about the regrarian philosophy that he has put together and how it can be used to regenerate landscapes and farming enterprises. This is a system that borrows and includes tools from multiple disciplines like permaculture, keyline design, the transition movement, carbon farming, and the work of of people like Joel Salatin, Paul Stamets, and Dr. Elaine Ingham. These tools give you the ability to design a system that ultimately regenerates land while producing numerous agricultural products. The system deals with everything from the work done on the land to how you can synergistically stack multiple enterprises in the same system, and ultimately how to market and distribute those products to the people that actually want them. The system emphasizes participating in all 4 legs of the farm income stool - production, processing, marketing, and distribution. This allows you to be a market price setter, not a price receiver. If you are involved in an agricultural enterprise, or if you want to be involved in an agricultural enterprise, then you need to pay attention to the regrarian system and learn this information. The current status quo of agriculture isn't working; it isn't sustainable, it's degenerative. The regarian system IS regenerative. And it gives you the tools to produce the products that the consumers ultimately want, all while living the farming lifestyle that you want to live. It won't be easy, and it will be hard work, but hey that's farming. And I think farmers that farm in systems like this have fun and enjoy their life because they can make good living while restoring the land. Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/13 Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support THIS EPISODE IS A REPLAY OF PREVIOUS PUBLISHED EPISODE.

Mycologist and author Peter McCoy of RadicalMycology.com takes on the question - In order to produce the most amount of Reishi mushrooms out of this sawdust spawn for home use, does it make sense to expand the sawdust spawn out by going back to sterilized grain first and then expanding out onto more sawdust bags or just take the sawdust spawn and expand it out onto more pasteurized sawdust bags? Basically, is there any advantage to taking mycelium back to grain once it is on sawdust? To learn more about Peter and see all of the ASK Peter episodes visit permaculturevoices.com/peter. Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support.

Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/javan4 Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support Don't like where you are at? Today we take a look at analyzing your level of dissatisfaction. Looking at what is the current level is dissatisfaction? Is it to the point where you just need to get out? Or what does it take to bring your situation up to get it closer to a 10? Can you change the frame - how you are view it, or the situation? What can you do where you are at? Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/javan4 Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support

Homesteader Justin Rhodes of AbundantPermaculture.com takes on the question - You recently finished your series of 100 days of raising food, what are some of the things that you learned over those 100 days? To learn more about Justin and see all of the ASK Justin episodes visit permaculturevoices.com/justin. Support the show at permaculturevoices.com/support.