Growers Daily

Most of you all know and love Karl Hammer from Vermont Compost (IG VermontCompost) already. If you're looking for a concise "how-to" guide on how Karl makes his awesome compost, and even better known potting soil, this is not that interview. Karl is known for his verbose and winding stories that mostly answer the question given, but always entertain. There is a richness in speaking with someone like Karl with a lifetime of experience. So, prepare yourself for a deep and fertile conversation full of expert level nuggets Find out more about Earth Care Farm and follow Jayne's work... Guest/topic recommendations -> [email protected] Follow Earth Care Farm on Instagram Subscribe to Earth Care Farm on YouTube Mentioned in the show... Farmers of Forty Centuries by F. H. King The Physics of Agriculture by F. H. King The 131 School of Composting The Bionutrient Food Association Folks who make this show possible... Optimize commercial compost production while maintaining high-quality with Viably. Use our link here to learn more, get a consultation, and let them know we sent you. The Culinary Breeding Network's Variety Showcase for plant breeders, seed growers, farmers, chefs, comsumers, and more, on October 16th in NY. GET TICKETS HERE! High Country News is an independent, non-profit, publication covering the land, wildlife, and communities of the Western US for over 50+ years. Check them out using our link here. Xsense provides home safety and environmental monitoring products for your peace of mind.

Today, I'm in Austria, joined by Dr. Martin Wellacher. Martin is uber committed to the environment, as most of us in this industry are eco-conscious, but he is next-level. He doesn't even own a car. So, he needed to plan to meet, traveling by bus and by bike just to get to us. After a tour of the Komptech facilities and a tasty locally-sourced lunch, we had a rich conversation about his 30 years in the compost industry, starting out just when legislation was passed requiring household organics to be separated back in '92, where many states are just starting right now. At the time, he worked with universities doing research and with Komptech developing technology and research for the compost industry. He now has his own engineering and consulting firm. Not everywhere has a layout like Austria, where the highly populated urban areas are very close to the farms, but there are a lot of places that are like that, like where I am in New England. There is a lot that we can learn from Austria's last 30 years that we can glean and apply to our own homes and towns and states. Folks who make this show possible... Optimize commercial compost production while maintaining high-quality with Komptech. Use our link here to learn more, get a consultation, and let them know we sent you. The Culinary Breeding Network's Variety Showcase for plant breeders, seed growers, farmers, chefs, comsumers, and more, on October 16th in NY. GET TICKETS HERE! High Country News is an independent, non-profit, publication covering the land, wildlife, and communities of the Western US for over 50+ years. Check them out using our link here. Xsense provides home safety and environmental monitoring products for your peace of mind.

Robert Rynk and Matthew Cotton, who you may recognize as the authors of The Composting Handbook, just came back from a tour giving composting workshops to Australian farmers. They had an intensive nine workshops over twelve days, about 1,600 miles travelled! Although a tiring trip, for sure, they seem to be even more optimistic about the future of composting. Let's listen in to what they have to say in retrospect. Mentioned in the show... The USCC Compost Operator Training Course October 23rd - 27th, in San Marcos, TX Folks who make this show possible... Optimize commercial compost production while maintaining high-quality with Komptech. Use our link here to learn more, get a consultation, and let them know we sent you. The Culinary Breeding Network's Variety Showcase for plant breeders, seed growers, farmers, chefs, comsumers, and more, on October 16th in NY. GET TICKETS HERE! High Country News is an independent, non-profit, publication covering the land, wildlife, and communities of the Western US for over 50+ years. Check them out using our link here. Xsense provides home safety and environmental monitoring products for your peace of mind.

Steven Wisbaum, of Champlain Valley Compost Co & CV Compost, has been growing organic food and making compost for over 30 years. Today, we talk about water management on the compost farm. He provides custom composting services to farms and makes his own premium manure-based compost. In addition writing a variety of compost related articles and guides, Steven has also become the largest distributor of ComposTex compost covers. Through these, he has helped composters around the world make a better compost using less labor and fuel. I use Steven's ComposTex covers to cover our finished compost piles and they've made a big difference with the quality of our product. Folks who make this show possible... Optimize commercial compost production while maintaining high-quality with Komptech. Use our link here to learn more, get a consultation, and let them know we sent you. Vermont Compost Company for premium living soils, composts, and potting mixes. Invest in your soil! High Country News is an independent, non-profit, publication covering the land, wildlife, and communities of the Western US for over 50+ years. Check them out using our link here. Xsense provides home safety and environmental monitoring products for your peace of mind.

Brenda Platt is the director and life-force behind the Composting for Community Initiative of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. ILSR has a vision of thriving, diverse, equitable communities. To reach this vision, they build local power to fight corporate control. They are a national research and advocacy organization that partners with allies across the country to build an American economy driven by local priorities accountable to people and the planet. Today, we're going to talk about one of the institutes five key initiatives: the Composting for Community Initiative is advancing local composting to create jobs, enhance soils, protect the climate, and reduce waste through advocacy, training, research, demonstration sites, and coalition building. Mentioned in the show... The wealth of resources provided by the ISLR on composting Folks who make this show possible... Optimize commercial compost production while maintaining high-quality with Komptech. Use our link here to learn more, get a consultation, and let them know we sent you. Vermont Compost Company for premium living soils, composts, and potting mixes. Invest in your soil! High Country News is an independent, non-profit, publication covering the land, wildlife, and communities of the Western US for over 50+ years. Check them out using our link here. Xsense provides home safety and environmental monitoring products for your peace of mind.

Michael Martinez is the founder and executive director of LA Compost. He has chosen compost as a way to show his care for humanity and build a healthy community. His work has been incredibly impactful. LA Compost now has a diverse network of 41 community composting locations across LA county. I heard Michael speak at the US Compost Conference last Winter. He often brings people to happy tears as he speaks from the heart about his love of compost. Hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did. Editorial note, we had some technical difficulties and are only able to publish the last half of our wonderful talk. Please take a moment to learn more about the amazing work Michael and LA Compost are doing! Folks who make this show possible... Optimize commercial compost production while maintaining high-quality with Komptech. Use our link here to learn more, get a consultation, and let them know we sent you. Vermont Compost Company for premium living soils, composts, and potting mixes. Invest in your soil! High Country News is an independent, non-profit, publication covering the land, wildlife, and communities of the Western US for over 50+ years. Check them out using our link here. Xsense provides home safety and environmental monitoring products for your peace of mind.

Hey Composters and compost lovers, it's Jayne Merner of Earth Care Farm! Episode one of season two of The Composter will air Monday, August 21st, and continue with a new episode every Monday for ten weeks. We have an awesome lineup, chatting with composters behind many compost facilities like LA Compost, Vermont Compost, Champlain Valley Compost, and more. And, I'll be headed to Austria to tour compost facilities in late-August. Expect some news from me from the country that composts the most organic matter in all of Europe. I'm hoping to bring back some tips for all of us to adapt. It's going to be a rich, fertile season two. If you love compost as much as me, join me!

Paul and Sandy Arnold of Pleasant Valley Farm in upstate NY are seasoned expert winter growers. They have been involved with winter growing since they first purchased their 60-acre property 35 years ago. With three large RIMOL high-tunnels, numerous caterpillar and field tunnels, dedicated wash/pack, and climate controlled storage facilities, they have honed their year-round systems on three cultivated acres and have achieved financial stability for themselves and their family. Until recently, 90% of their sales were from farmers markets. Due to the initial impacts of COVID, they transitioned to almost all online sales without missing a beat. As they are approaching retirement, their farm business is in transition and they are considering how best to keep the land actively farmed. Their two children, Robert and Kim, Followed in their footsteps and each have their own farm businesses, Smart Farm Innovations and Pleasant Valley Flowers, respectively. Both Sandy and Paul offer an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience with winter production and farming for the long haul. It was truly and honor to speak with them for the last episode of this fourth Winter Growers podcast season. Folks who make the show possible... Vermont Compost Company premium living soils, composts, and potting mixes. Invest in your soil! SeedTime Planner crop planning tool for home gardeners and market farmers. Get your free account and $5 seed coupon ->> seedtime.us/notillpodcast Johnny's Selected Seeds vegetable, flower, and cover crop seeds. Visit the Growers Library for a wealth of growing resources. RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels.

Joy Longfellow is a flowers trial technician on the flowers team at Johnny's research farm. I invited Joy to speak about their overwinter flower trials and the info they have gathered over the past few years. The Johnny's research farm is 200+ acres acres in size with 60+ acres in crop production that includes both field and greenhouse growing for plant breeding, seed production, trialing, and cover crop rotation. The overwintering flower trials focus on cool season annuals, and a few perrenial, biannual, and bulb crops. Everything is grown for research purposes. Using unheated high-tunnels and meticulous record keeping, they're able to determine the best timing of the top five flower crops to grow in an over-winter tunnel for northern climates. All of their work is a great free resource for farmers interested in getting early high quality flower crops without having to do the time consuming and often costly experimentation on their own. Joy offers a wealth of of information about growing, selecting, and managing overwinter flowers and her expertise is an excellent resource for winter growers. Folks who make the show possible... SeedTime Planner crop planning tool for home gardeners and market farmers. Get your free account and $5 seed coupon ->> seedtime.us/notillpodcast Vermont Compost Company premium living soils, composts, and potting mixes. Invest in your soil! Johnny's Selected Seeds vegetable, flower, and cover crop seeds. Visit the Growers Library for a wealth of growing resources. RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels.

Located in the Pacific Northwest, Brian and his partner Chrystine first started as a fresh market farm is 2004, producing their first seed catalog in 2007, and then transitioned entirely to seed production in 2011. Uprising Seeds is WA fist 100% certified organic seed company, producing over 70% of the seeds they sell with the rest being sourced from a network of regional family farms. Brian is passionate about exploring the relationship between grower security and open pollinated seeds and the ability to seasonally adapt varieties to climactic conditions specifically through seed work. Brian is also involved with a collaborative project between Uprising Seeds, The Culinary Breeding Network, and northern Italian vegetable breeder Smarties to further establish radicchio as an anchor crop for the fall and winter seasons in North America. Overall, a great conversation for better understanding how seed production and selection can effect winter crop production. Mentioned in the show… Brian's favorite tool, the Winnow Wizard by Luterra Lane Selman and The Culinary Breeding Network (A podcast with Lane on Collab Farm about CBN) For more on seed production, check out The Seed Growers Podcast with Dan Brisebois Folks who make the show possible... SeedTime Planner crop planning tool for home gardeners and market farmers. Get your free account and $5 seed coupon ->> seedtime.us/notillpodcast Vermont Compost Company premium living soils, composts, and potting mixes. Invest in your soil! Johnny's Selected Seeds vegetable, flower, and cover crop seeds. Visit the Growers Library for a wealth of growing resources. RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels.

Erin and Sam started Long Season Farm in Ulster County, NY, in 2014 as a winter-only operation, but have since expanded to year-round production and market the majority of their produce at two year-round farmers markets. With seven acres in production, they have four 30' x 96' unheated high-tunnels, plus a prop house, multiple cat/ tunnels, a moveable tunnel, and a large heated greenhouse that includes their wash station. Unheated winter tunnel crops have been very successful, especially when coupled with a diverse array of storage crops. Erin is also very active in her local community and was elected to the town board in 2019. While they both appreciate the year-round cash-flow and access to new markets that winter production allows, the farm revenue only covers expenses, and they've found it challenging to save meaningfully while also avoiding the burnout that can come from year-round farming. I enjoyed hearing about their experiences and insights and what motivates them to continue farming year-round. Folks who make the show possible... RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. Johnny's Selected Seeds vegetable, flower, and cover crop seeds. Visit the Growers Library for a wealth of growing resources. SeedTime Planner crop planning tool for home gardeners and market farmers. Get your free account and $5 seed coupon ->> seedtime.us/notillpodcast Vermont Compost Company premium living soils, composts, and potting mixes. Invest in your soil!

Jamila Norman of Patchwork City Farms in Atlanta, GA, is a first generation daughter to Caribbean parents whose history is rooted in agriculture. After a career in environmental engineering, she founded Patchwork City Farms in 2010, an acre+ urban farm with one 30'x96' high-tunnel and four caterpillar tunnels that supplies two farmers markets, a couple of local restaurants, and a farmstand. I reached out to Jamila in January after an arctic blast with lows in the teens hit Atlanta and decimated 90% of her winter crops and severely impacted local winter crop availability. I wanted to see if I could offer any help or suggestions in preparing for future extreme cold weather events not normally experienced so far south, but what I learned from Jamila was just how difficult it is to prepare for extreme unpredictable cold unless adequate infrastructure, like high-tunnels, are already in use, which are not typically needed for winter hardy crops in the south. We also talk about her television series, Homegrown, on Magnolia Network, which just launched it's third season. The series focuses on helping families in the Atlanta area transform their outdoor spaces into beautiful and functional backyard farms and gardens. It can be streamed on HBO Max. Jamila is a warm-hearted leader and resource for the urban farming community and I truly enjoyed this conversation. Mentioned in the show… Homegrown from Magnolia Network on HBO Max Folks who make the show possible... Vermont Compost Company premium living soils, composts, and potting mixes. Invest in your soil! SeedTime Planner crop planning tool for home gardeners and market farmers. Get your free account and $5 seed coupon ->> seedtime.us/notillpodcast RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. Johnny's Selected Seeds vegetable, flower, and cover crop seeds. Visit the Growers Library for a wealth of growing resources.

In 2015, Amy Frye and Jacob Slosberg of Boldly Grown Farm in Bow, WA, started a one-acre farm at an incubator farm shortly after meeting and working on their university farm. Now, in their ninth season, they've purchased their own farm property and currently cultivate 30 acres of vegetables, a couple acres of grains, dry beans, seed crops, and flowers. Winter crops have always been the focus from the beginning. Eighty percent of sales are through wholesale channels including distributors and food hubs, plus they operate a 250+ member winter CSA and recently opened an on-site farmstand. Amy and Jacob's story is a great example of rapid growth of their farming goals combined with mechanized and scaled winter production, while simultaneously raising a family and anchoring their farm business and home on permanent land. Mentioned in the show… VIVA Farms farm incubator, listen to their conversation on Collab Farm here NOLS Leadership Course, Year in Patagonia Folks who make the show possible... RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. Johnny's Selected Seeds vegetable, flower, and cover crop seeds. Visit the Growers Library for a wealth of growing resources. SeedTime Planner crop planning tool for home gardeners and market farmers. Get your free account and $5 seed coupon ->> seedtime.us/notillpodcast Vermont Compost Company premium living soils, composts, and potting mixes. Invest in your soil!

Order The Ecological Farm: A Minimalist No-Till, No-Spray, Selective-Weeding, Grow-Your-Own-Fertilizer System for Organic Agriculture by Helen Atthowe Hey, Farmer Jesse here, and we've got a special treat for you today. We are re-releasing the interview I did with Helen Atthowe from back in 2020, some of you may have heard it, some may have not. There are a couple reasons for the re-release: First, this was one of those early episodes we got a ton of positive feedback on because it's just a great episode all the way through, but second and more importantly, she just released a new book through Chelsea Green called The Ecological Farm: A Minimalist No-Till, No-Spray, Selective-Weeding, Grow-Your-Own-Fertilizer System for Organic Agriculture It is super excellent and extremely nerdy and, as the reader, you get to dive even deeper into the details of the systems Helen describes in this conversation we're posting today. Honestly, I think every serious ecologically-minded grower should own a copy of this new book. Mentioned in the show... Studies: https://eorganic.org/node/14129 https://eorganic.org/node/15582

Jillian and Ross Mickens of Open Door Farm in Cedar Grove, NC, work collaboratively with previous podcast guests Vera and Gordon of Ten Mother Farm to fill CSA boxes with many of the land intensive crops like potatoes and winter squash. With 5 acres under cultivation, and eleven seasons under their belt, they recently made the transition to winter-only sales from mid-August to the end of March, while using the main-season to tend to storage and root crop production, as well as rest during the hottest months of the year. Both the focus on winter-only sales and the collaborative relationship with neighboring farms creates an interesting farm business model that we get to better understand the opportunities and challenges of as a potential approach to growing in a warmer winter climates of the South. Folks who make the show possible... RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. Johnny's Selected Seeds vegetable, flower, and cover crop seeds. Visit the Growers Library for a wealth of growing resources. SeedTime Planner crop planning tool for home gardeners and market farmers. Get your free account and $5 seed coupon ->> seedtime.us/notillpodcast Vermont Compost Company premium living soils, composts, and potting mixes. Invest in your soil!

Rebecca and her husband, Mark, started Moonshot Farm in East Windsor, NJ, in 2019 after relocating from New York City to begin their dream of growing year-round cut flowers in a northern climate. In just four short years, they have built their 3.5 acre flower farm to include four high-tunnels, two of which are heated by a geothermal heating system, and they sell at two year round farmers markets, manage a 130 member CSA bouquet-of-the-month club, and an on-site farmstead. Just this year, they were able to quit their off-farm jobs to work full-time on the farm. Also, in the last four years, they had two children, Rose and Violet! We talk extensively about their geothermal heating system which allows them to offer customers blooms 12 months of the year. I learned a ton about flower production from our conversation, she offers such great info for anyone looking to add winter flowers to their farm. Follow Moonshot Farm on Instagram Mentioned in the show… The Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers NRCS EQIP High-Tunne Grant Program Rural Energy for America Program Folks who make the show possible... RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. Johnny's Selected Seeds vegetable, flower, and cover crop seeds. Visit the Growers Library for a wealth of growing resources. Farmers Friend for caterpillar tunnels, harvest equipment, tarps, & more! Get free shipping through ->> farmersfriend.com/notill BCS America for two wheel tractors + implements.

Today my guest is John Dindia of Lakeview Hill Farm in Traverse City, MI. John and his partner Bailey designed and built their farm from the ground up beginning in 2017 on a 58-acre property with 10 acres of available farmland and a 35-acre woodlot. Now, with 2.5 acres in production, they have five 30' x 148' heated greenhouses, a dedicated propagation house connected to a production barn, and seven 20' x 148' caterpillar tunnels. Plus, their farm is 75% powered by solar and they are committed to utilizing renewable energy in all aspects of their farm. Seventy percent of gross sales are dedicated to wholesale, including grocery stores, restaurants, and a growers cooperative CSA, all within 15 miles of the farm. The rest comes from an on-site farm stand that they are expanding into a full service farm store later this summer ('23). John and Bailey have been full-time on their farm since the beginning, plus they have five year-round employees with four staff on salary. John and I dig into the details of the heating and lighting systems he uses to maintain productivity during the cold grey winters of Michigan, as well as the support he and Bailey access to finance the startup and growth of their farm business, including loans through the FSA. John offers a ton of expertise and experience for farmers looking to improve their winter growing systems and mindfully grow their farm business for the long haul. Mentioned in the show... USDA/FSA Farm Loan Programs USDA/NRCS Grants, Programs, & Initiatives John uses Nolt's Greenhouse Supplies & Total Grow LEDs Folks who make the show possible... RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. Johnny's Selected Seeds vegetable, flower, and cover crop seeds. Visit the Growers Library for a wealth of growing resources. Farmers Friend for caterpillar tunnels, harvest equipment, tarps, & more! Get free shipping through ->> farmersfriend.com/notill BCS America for two wheel tractors + implements.

Two quick things: first, we are welcoming back another exciting season of the Winter Growers Podcast with Clara Coleman--super cool--and second, you are going to notice there is a lot more activity on this feed than usual and the reason is from here on out all of the shows we produce are going to appear in this feed as The No-Till Growers Network… Welcome back to the Winter Growers Podcast! In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Niki Jabbour, who is an award-winning author, radio show host, educator, and gardening expert on year-round growing in a northern climate. Niki is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, zone 5b at the 44th parallel. She enthusiastically maintains half an acre of raised beds in her back yard using a combination of a high tunnel, low tunnels, cold frames, she grows over 30 veggie crops for winter harvest, including: lettuce, scallions, parsley, kale, carrots, leeks, and arugula. In addition to her books on year-round gardening, Niki also offers online courses on her website savvygardening.com and free educational videos on her YouTube channel and Instagram. I loved speaking with Niki, she is an excellent resource for home gardeners and small-scale growers looking for tips and techniques for successful year-round vegetable production. Mentioned in the show… Niki's website, savvygardening.com The Savvy Gardening Instagram, YouTube channel, and online courses/resources BOOK// The Year-Round Vegetable Gardener: How to Grow Your Own Food 365 Days a Year, No Matter Where You Live Folks who make the show possible... RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. Johnny's Selected Seeds vegetable, flower, and cover crop seeds. Visit the Growers Library for a wealth of growing resources. Farmers Friend for caterpillar tunnels, harvest equipment, tarps, & more! Get free shipping through ->> farmersfriend.com/notill BCS America for two wheel tractors + implements.

Hi again, it's Natalie, and this is my last episode, THE last episode, of the fifth season of The No-Till Market Garden Podcast! I want to thank Farmer Jesse and the whole crew of the podcast for giving me the mic and so much freedom. It's been fun, and if you've learned even a fraction of what I have then I'll call it a win. I am thrilled to bring you my conversation with Tatiana Schreiber of the Rich Earth Institute. We focus mainly on her work there regarding the social aspects of dry sanitation systems. Translation, how do people feel about using urine as fertilizer. You might be thinking, how could I even broach this topic after devoting a whole episode to PFAS and how the use of biosolids has lead to the contamination of soils that we are only beginning to understand. I encourage you to listen to this one. Not all human waste is created the same and if we care about big picture sustainability this is something we really need to talk about. Check out their research and findings here SUPPORT OUR WORK ON PATREON

On today's episode of the podcast I, Alex Ball of Old City Acres, sit down with Jonah Sloven of Sweet Hollow Organic Farm in Victor, Idaho, a small valley town of only 2,000 people with a thriving local food scene. Jonah operates his farm on land directly connected to a housing development forming an agrihood and increasing the connection between community members and where their food is produced. The farm was also involved with a SARE grant to trial no-till deep mulch systems to combat pervasive bindweed. We also chat about building farm infrastructure in a high wind and snow load environment as well as using two wheel walk behind tractors and the value in choosing appropriate technology and systems for your individual and unique farm situation. Mentioned in the show... Follow Sweet Hollow Farm on Instagram & check out their farmsite Jonah's SARE research on bindweed and no-till production Using Tilmor cultivation equipment Folks who make the show possible... RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. Certified Naturally Grown grassroots, peer-to-peer, holistic certification. Farmers Friend for caterpillar tunnels, harvest equipment, tarps, & more! Get free shipping through ->> farmersfriend.com/notill BCS America for two wheel tractors + implements. ... and, as always, our work is powered by the folks who support us every month over at patreon.com/notillgrowers, you can pick up a copy of The Living Soil Handbook if you don't have one already, as well as a No-Till Growers hat, and you can ask you questions or share your insights into ecological market gardening on our brand new forum at notillgrowers.community.chat

Today I, Mimi, am speaking with my good good friend Abby Rose of Vidacycle, a farmer, physicist, and soil health advocate. She is the co-founder of Vidacycle Tech which makes easy to use web applications that support farmers on their regenerative path wherever they are. I've used these apps, spent a lot of time with her, think the world of her, and I feel this episode is part two of where we left off with Jim of Red Shirt Farm where we exposed the tender underbelly of the systems we're all working in and trying very hard to keep our heads above. In this conversation, Abby and I also talk about her other work on an AWESOME award-winning podcast, Farmerama Radio, if you haven't heard of it already go find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Specifically, the LANDED series. Her experience in working with an international cadre of farmers and stewards on their respective regenerative journeys has given her a keen perspective on the lay of the land regarding what we're up against when it comes to making space for holistic systems in a global economy that is working against it. Mentioned in the show... Abby's farm in Chile, Vidacycle Farm The web-based apps from Vidacycle Tech Listen to Farmerama Radio on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts Link to the LANDED series with Col Gordon Folks who make the show possible... RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. Tilth Soil amazing compost-based living potting soils and soil blends. Orisha for wireless greenhouse+ automation, get 15% off with code "No Till Grower" Real Organic Project for a whole farm certification program to distinguish crops grown in health soils. ... and, as always, our work is powered by the folks who support us every month over at patreon.com/notillgrowers, you can pick up a copy of The Living Soil Handbook if you don't have one already, as well as a No-Till Growers hat, subscribe our growing YouTube channel, and you can ask you questions or share your insights into ecological market gardening on our brand new forum at notillgrowers.community.chat

Buckle up for another NERDY episode of the podcast. For this one, I--Natalie--spoke with Andrea Jilling, an assistant professor of environmental soil chemistry at Oklahoma State University. It's just coincidence that this one follows so soon after Mimi's interview with Dr. Cotrufo, as it's a nice continuation of that conversation about organic matter and carbon, but extending it to nitrogen, Andrea's area of research. Nitrogen is HUGE, it's in the air as both an inert gas and a greenhouse gas, it's in the soil as organic matter and inorganic molecules, it's even in some rocks. It's constantly changing and shifting in ways that are regulated by microbes, plants, humans, even lightning! In other words, it's complicated. There are economic and environmental implications regarding nitrogen management, and not just for farms spreading inorganic fertilizer, but for everyone. I can't promise that this conversation will help you create a fertility plan for you farm... in fact I'm pretty confident it won't. But, I think it provides an important link between thinking about carbon management and nitrogen management. Mentioned in the show... Andrea's Journal Articles Folks who make the show possible... Certified Naturally Grown grassroots, peer-to-peer, holistic certification. Johnny's Selected Seeds vegetable, flower, and cover crop seeds. BCS America for two wheel tractors + implements. RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. ... and, as always, our work is powered by the folks who support us every month over at patreon.com/notillgrowers, check out our weekly YouTube videos, pick up a copy of The Living Soil Handbook if you don't have one already, as well as a No-Till Growers hat, and you can ask you questions or share your insights into ecological market gardening on our brand new forum at notillgrowers.community.chat

Hey football fans, it's Mimi. And lest you be confused, today we're speaking with Jim Schultz of Red Shirt Farm--get it?--a 13 acre livestock + no-till veg farm in western Mass. He's been farming for more than a decade and came to farming later than he had originally planned (hence, Red Shirt). It's a long conversation, but the main reason I want you to stick it out is that not only has Jim done some of the coolest things, but when I reached out to him I was also thinking about the idea of the small farm held up as an ideal against scaling-up even regenerative agriculture and how it's difficult for me to talk about those two ideas in the same sentence, not to mention land ownership, and we have a deeply personal conversation about that as well as the behind the scenes version of what we, as farmers, go through. Mentioned in the show... Dr. Elaine Ingham's Soil Food Web Advancing Eco-Agriculture The Bionutrient Food Association Solawrap Greenhouse Coverings Ecosystems Design Climate Battry Slow Food International Folks who make the show possible... RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. Farmers Friend for caterpillar tunnels, harvest equipment, tarps, & more! Get free shipping through ->> farmersfriend.com/notill Tilth Soil amazing compost-based living potting soils and soil blends. Real Organic Project for a whole farm certification program to distinguish crops grown in health soils. ... and, as always, our work is powered by the folks who support us every month over at patreon.com/notillgrowers, you can pick up a copy of The Living Soil Handbook if you don't have one already, as well as a No-Till Growers hat, and you can ask you questions or share your insights into ecological market gardening on our brand new forum at notillgrowers.community.chat

Hey everyone, Alex Ball of Old City Acres, and today we sit down with Mat & Nina Ladegaard of Ground Stone Farm and Squash Blossom Local Food, respectively. Mat is a highly skilled high-elevation vegetable grower. Ground Stone Farm is a flourishing farm situated in the high-desert region of Nambe, New Mexico. Over the years, Mathew has developed and refined farming techniques that are specifically tailored to meet the unique demands of growing crops in a high-elevation environment, where weather can be unpredictable and precipitation is scarce. We dig deep into his adaptations for growing veg in a challenging environment, managing water through acequia community governance, and we get the privilege of chatting with Nina about Squash Blossom, the family local food aggregation and distribution subscription service. Check out Ground Stone Farm on Instagram (@groundstonefarm) to learn more about their high-desert farming techniques. Learn more about Squash Blossom Local Food (@squashblossomlocalfood), the family business Nina operates, which supports dozens of local growers and food producers in the New Mexico area. Folks who make the show possible... RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. Certified Naturally Grown grassroots, peer-to-peer, holistic certification. BCS America for two wheel tractors + implements, on sale through the end of the year! Orisha for wireless greenhouse+ automation, get 15% off with code "No Till Grower" ... and, as always, our work is powered by the folks who support us every month over at patreon.com/notillgrowers, you can pick up a copy of The Living Soil Handbook if you don't have one already, as well as a No-Till Growers hat, check out our YouTube channel, and you can ask you questions or share your insights into ecological market gardening on our brand new forum at notillgrowers.community.chat

Christine Sprunger is a soil scientist and head of the Soil Health and Ecosystem Ecology Lab at Michigan State University. With a deep-rooted passion for soil science, Christine's research doesn't shy away from the complexity of soil health and what it means for both the researcher and the farmer. Soil health is a laborious concept that requires a deep understanding of the ecosystem's overall functioning. To accurately assess soil health, it's crucial to identify relevant indicators that connect ecological processes with the practical management decisions farmers make. Some of Christine's research has revolved around nematodes. Nematodes, as microscopic worm-like organisms, play a critical role in soil ecosystems by feeding on bacteria, fungi, plant roots, and each other! These diverse feeding groups can serve as vital soil health indicators, allowing researchers and farmers to measure the ecological functioning and productivity of their agroecosystems. In addition to nematodes, she has researched the perenniality of roots, especially deep-rooted perennial legumes, and how they can be a crucial component of soil health as they contribute significantly to not only soil carbon sequestration processes, but also nitrogen storage capacity. Ultimately, soil health should be measured from various angles, prioritizing individual management goals and local contexts. Christine highlights the necessity of choosing suitable soil health indicators to link the scientific understanding of ecological function and practical farming approaches. She emphasizes that effective communication between researchers and farmers plays a vital role in selecting appropriate soil health indicators. By continuously collaborating and integrating farmers' concerns, researchers can ensure that these indicators address the desired outcomes and cater to farmers' specific needs. Mentioned in this episode… Reach out to Christine Sprunger's lab at Michigan State University if you are a farmer interested in collaborating on upcoming projects and receiving a free soil health assessment! Learn more about nematodes, their role in soil health, and how to identify them through research and resources provided by the Soil Health and Ecosystem Ecology Lab at Michigan State University. Consider signing up for Real Organic Project Certification to differentiate your farm from mass-marketed corporate organic practices. Visit realorganicproject.org/notill to apply. Browse Johnny's Selected Seeds online for a variety of seeds, tools, and free educational resources. Visit Johnnyseeds.com to explore their offerings. Check out Rimol Greenhouses for your next quality greenhouse or high-tunnel. There are several style and options to choose from, check out rimolgreenhouses.com There's no substitute for a high-quality seed starting mix. Get Sprout—a living-soil, compost-based, seed-starting soil mix—for you farm or garden at tilthsoil.com Get tickets for the Rough Draft Farmstead No-Till Farm Tour for April 25th or May 9th! "Long term implementation of regenerative practices is actually shifting the nematode community, contributing to greater overall ecosystem services like carbon accumulation and nitrogen retention... Understanding the linkages between nematode communities and various soil health indicators is crucial in realizing the actual soil health outcome and overall benefit to the farmer." - Christine Sprunger Folks who make the show possible... As always, our work is powered by the folks who support us every month over at patreon.com/notillgrowers, you can pick up a copy of The Living Soil Handbook if you don't have one already, as well as a No-Till Growers hat, check out the No-Till Growers YouTube channel where we're posting weekly videos, and you can ask you questions or share your insights into ecological market gardening on our brand new forum at notillgrowers.community.chat

Deeply inspired by her work in ecology, Dr. Francesca Cotrufo defied the traditional view on litter decomposition and soil organic matter dynamics. An internationally recognized ecologist, she has made great strides in understanding soil organic matter and its underlying processes. With a diverse research background spanning forests, grasslands, the Arctic, and the Tropics, her work has led to pioneering discoveries in regenerative soil health practices. Francesca's groundbreaking contribution to the field is the Microbial Efficiency Matrix Stabilization (MEMS) framework, which has transformed how scientists view soil formation and carbon sequestration. Mentioned in this episode... Dr. Francesca Cotrufo's MEMS (Microbial Efficiency Matrix Stabilization) framework and its impact on understanding soil formation and carbon sequestration. The two-pathway model of soil formation proposed by Cotrufo to better understand the role of labile compounds and microbial efficiency in soil health. The differences between mineral-associated organic matter and particulate organic matter and their impacts on soil structure and water retention. The role of microbial efficiency in the transformation of plant material and its impact on soil health and nutrient recycling. Host Natalie Lounsbury's Priming for Production The Rough Draft Farmstead No-Till Field Day "We need to think about not just what leads to more persistent carbon, but what makes the soil healthier, retain more water, maintain an active biology, so that we can have the recycling of the nutrients… We can only rebuild our richness by caring about soil… We have consumed our soil's organic matter capital; now we better start working to build it again." - Francesca Cotrufo Folks who make the show possible... RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. Certified Naturally Grown grassroots, peer-to-peer, holistic certification. Farmers Friend for caterpillar tunnels, harvest equipment, tarps, & more! Get free shipping through ->> farmersfriend.com/notill BCS America for two wheel tractors + implements. ... and, as always, our work is powered by the folks who support us every month over at patreon.com/notillgrowers, you can pick up a copy of The Living Soil Handbook if you don't have one already, as well as a No-Till Growers hat, check out the No-Till Growers YouTube channel where we're posting weekly videos, and you can ask you questions or share your insights into ecological market gardening on our brand new forum at notillgrowers.community.chat

Despite the risk of pivoting their business, Lindsay Steele of Garden Fort in Dexter, Michigan (outside of Ann arbor), chose to switch from farmers markets to direct-to-retail sales and ended up reaping unexpected rewards - from more time with his family to increased profitability. In this episode, Alex Ball of Old City Acres and Lindsay dig deep into successfully shifting from farmers markets to direct-to-retail sales, selecting profitable crops for year-round production, how clever packaging and branding set their products apart, scaling-up and effectively managing farm labor, and how all of those things contributed to a better work/family balance while farming. Also mentioned in this episode... Follow Garden Fort on Instagram. They use Rimol Greenhouses Nor'Easter series for year-round greens production. Consider focusing more on high-profit-margin crops like salad greens for year-round production and potential wholesale opportunities. Evaluate your farm's workflow (i.e. wash/pack) and systems (i.e. tarping, reduced tillage) to increase efficiency for a better work/life balance. Consider the benefits of incentivising well-trained and returning farm workers and how that can contribute to the overall success of your farm. The Rough Draft Farmstead No-Till Farm Tour! Folks who make the show possible... RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. Tilth Soil amazing compost-based living potting soils and soil blends. Orisha for wireless greenhouse+ automation, get 15% off with code "No Till Grower" Real Organic Project for a whole farm certification program to distinguish crops grown in health soils. ... and, as always, our work is powered by the folks who support us every month over at patreon.com/notillgrowers, you can pick up a copy of The Living Soil Handbook if you don't have one already, as well as a No-Till Growers hat, and you can ask you questions or share your insights into ecological market gardening on our brand new forum at notillgrowers.community.chat

We all know how important it is to start with a quality plant. With a degree and experience in applied industrial ecology, Kurstin of Purple Springs Nursery discusses the transition from IPM to regenerative agriculture in the nursery space. Her work at Purple Springs allowed her to explore innovative ways to improve plant health and soil quality. Kurstin's dedication to sustainable practices and her understanding of the intricacies of soil health and plant nutrition make her a great guest on perinneal production. Check out their website where you can download their free guide to regenerative agriculture. Also, garlic? Yes, garlic. In this episode... - Explore Advancing Eco Agriculture's website and learn from John Kemp's core concepts for plant health. - Read the book Science and Agriculture by Arden Anderson to understand the importance of soil health. - Implement the Morgan Extraction Method soil test (developed by Dr. Kerry Reams) to analyze and improve soil conditions. - Apply plant SAP analysis to determine the nutritional needs of plants at different growth stages. - Adopt regenerative principles in managing tree nurseries, including using mulch, living mulch, and cover crops. - Utilize tools and equipment that help manage regenerative practices in tree nurseries without causing soil compaction. - Focus on increasing plant growth efficiency to improve inventory management in tree nurseries. - Read Agriculture and Transition by Donald Schneissman and Albrecht on Calcium to further enhance understanding of soil health and plant growth. Quotes: "Weeds tell you a lot about the condition of your soil. It can be messy when you're transitioning, but you're really challenging the status quo." —Kurstin Barta "A healthy plant will resist pests and disease, so how can we make these plants healthier?" —Kurstin Barta "Redefining what beauty means: does beauty actually mean clean rows or does it mean that rejuvenating your soil and focusing on what plants are actually doing?" —Kurstin Barta Folks who make the show possible... Certified Naturally Grown grassroots, peer-to-peer, holistic certification. Johnny's Selected Seeds vegetable, flower, and cover crop seeds. BCS America for two wheel tractors + implements. RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. ... and, as always, our work is powered by the folks who support us every month over at patreon.com/notillgrowers, you can pick up a copy of The Living Soil Handbook if you don't have one already, as well as a No-Till Growers hat, and you can ask you questions or share your insights into ecological market gardening on our brand new forum at notillgrowers.community.chat

Hi everyone, it's Natalie again, and I am putting the ecologists back-to-back here on the podcast. This time with microbial ecologist Terry Bell of the Microbiome Manipulation Lab at the University of Toronto. He came highly recommended and did not disappoint. We talk about what is the soil microbiome, how can we manage or change it, whether soil microbial inoculants work, and why microbiome breeding is not analogous to plant breeding. If you one of those people who listen to podcasts to get to sleep I really don't think this one is going to work for you, because there is so much here to get the gears turning in your head! Enjoy. Folks who make the show possible... RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. Farmers Friend for caterpillar tunnels, harvest equipment, tarps, & more! Get free shipping through ->> farmersfriend.com/notill Tilth Soil amazing compost-based living potting soils and soil blends. Real Organic Project for a whole farm certification program to distinguish crops grown in health soils. ... and, as always, our work is powered by the folks who support us every month over at patreon.com/notillgrowers, you can pick up a copy of The Living Soil Handbook if you don't have one already, as well as a No-Till Growers hat, and you can ask you questions or share your insights into ecological market gardening on our brand new forum at notillgrowers.community.chat

Hey everyone, it's Alex Ball, and today we sit down with Bill and Kathy of Argus Farm Stop in Ann Arbor, Michigan. We dig deep into running a consignment-only grocery store, working with farmers in the community, and building food access. Mentioned in the show... The Retail Edge Consignment POS Check out the Argus Farm Stop Website Follow Argus Farm Stop on Instagram Folks who make the show possible... RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. Certified Naturally Grown grassroots, peer-to-peer, holistic certification. BCS America for two wheel tractors + implements, on sale through the end of the year! Orisha for wireless greenhouse+ automation, get 15% off with code "No Till Grower" ... and, as always, our work is powered by the folks who support us every month over at patreon.com/notillgrowers, you can pick up a copy of The Living Soil Handbook if you don't have one already, as well as a No-Till Growers hat, check out our YouTube channel, and you can ask you questions or share your insights into ecological market gardening on our brand new forum at notillgrowers.community.chat

Hey fellow passengers, it's Mimi. My most sincere hope is that, by now, I'm growing on you, not unlike a fungus. You know what they say, falling in love is like eating mushrooms, 'you never know if it's the real thing until it's too late.' Today, my guest is Dr. Michael Beug. If you don't know who he is, you may be familiar with some of his proteges, including Paul Stamets, and many others who studied under Dr. Beug. He taught chemistry, mycology, and organic farming at Evergreen State Collage in Olympia, WA, for 32 years, now retired, but that hasn't slowed him down! He's had a very interesting career and I can't wait for you to hear some of those stories from his life. Fungi are so critical to everything that we do in agriculture. They synthesize a truly limitless array of secondary metabolites and have played a role in the great phylogenetic tree of life since it crept out of the ocean. Dr. Beug is very passionate about the intersection between fungi, chemistry, agriculture, and the particular moment in which we all find ourselves in the modern age. Mentioned in the show... Take Podcast Host Natalie's Survey! Mushrooms of Cascadia Ascomycete Fungi of North America Folks who make the show possible... Real Organic Project for a whole farm certification program to distinguish crops grown in health soils. RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. Johnny's Selected Seeds vegetable, flower, and cover crop seeds. Tilth Soil amazing compost-based living potting soils and soil blends. ... and, as always, our work is powered by the folks who support us every month over at patreon.com/notillgrowers, you can pick up a copy of The Living Soil Handbook if you don't have one already, as well as a No-Till Growers hat, and you can ask you questions or share your insights into ecological market gardening on our brand new forum at notillgrowers.community.chat

Hi everyone, it's Natalie. It's hard to believe this is my sixth episode for The No-Till Market Garden Podcast. It felt super intimidating to commit to finding and interviewing ten people, but it turns out to have been a lot of fun to talk with people I've admired from a distance and also some of my friends. For this episode, I talked with my friend and colleague, Sonja Birthisel. She is a weed ecologist and agroecologist by training, but her interests and expertise are wide and varied. We get into some of her research on the effects of tarping and solarizing on soil biology, important traits of weeds, seed predation, and her work in the community. Mentioned in the show... Take Podcast Host Natalie's Survey! Bulletin #1075, Tarping in the Northeast: A Guide for Small Farms Folks who make the show possible... RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. Certified Naturally Grown grassroots, peer-to-peer, holistic certification. Farmers Friend for caterpillar tunnels, harvest equipment, tarps, & more! Get free shipping through ->> farmersfriend.com/notill BCS America for two wheel tractors + implements. ... and, as always, our work is powered by the folks who support us every month over at patreon.com/notillgrowers, you can pick up a copy of The Living Soil Handbook if you don't have one already, as well as a No-Till Growers hat, and you can ask you questions or share your insights into ecological market gardening on our brand new forum at notillgrowers.community.chat

Hey everyone, it's Alex Ball, and on today's episode of the podcast we talk to Liana Glass who, along with her partner Duncan, run City Beet Farm on leased yards and lots in urban Vancouver. These first generation farmers are actually the third owners of this farm! We dig deep on buying & valuing their farm business, partnering with local organizations & businesses, & mobile wash/pack solutions. Mentioned in the show... Take Podcast Host Natalie's Survey! The Super Rad City Beet Farm Mobile Wash/Pack Trailer (PDF of the build process, costs, and tons of photos) The City Beet Farm for Sale on Young Agrarians Follow City Beet Farm on Instagram The City Beet Farm Website Folks who make the show possible... RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. Tilth Soil amazing compost-based living potting soils and soil blends. Orisha for wireless greenhouse+ automation, get 15% off with code "No Till Grower" Real Organic Project for a whole farm certification program to distinguish crops grown in health soils. ... and, as always, our work is powered by the folks who support us every month over at patreon.com/notillgrowers, you can pick up a copy of The Living Soil Handbook if you don't have one already, as well as a No-Till Growers hat, and you can ask you questions or share your insights into ecological market gardening on our brand new forum at notillgrowers.community.chat

You can grow seed on your farm. And it's easier than you think... Subscribe to The Seed Growers Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. This is the first of 5 mini-episodes to get ready for the season 2 of The Seed Growers Podcast. Today's episode is about getting into the mindset for your first seed crop. By starting small and taking your time, there is a greater chance that seed growing seems realistic on your farm and that you persist and develop your seed skills. This is how you become a cornerstone in a resilient seed and farming community system. Ask a question for future episodes Dan's list of Seed Grower Resources Follow Dan Brisebois on Instagram The Seed Growers Podcast is produced, in part, by No-Till Growers No-Till Growers is powered by the folks who support it every month over at patreon.com/notillgrowers, you can also pick up a copy of The Living Soil Handbook if you don't have one already, as well as a No-Till Growers hat, and you can ask you questions or share your insights into ecological market gardening on the brand new growers forum at notillgrowers.community.chat

Oh hey, it's Mimi again. Gotcha two for the price of one today, because we're speaking with David Montgomery and Anne Biklé. I'm sure they don't need an introduction, because I know at least some of you all will have at least one of their books in your exhaustive libraries. If you haven't heard of them, David and Anne are married, live in Seattle, and are a pair of writers. To quote them, "Dave is a broad-minded geologist and Anne is a free-range biologist with a bad case of plant lust." If that doesn't make you want to hang out with them, I don't know how much better I'm going to be able to do. The reason I wanted to talk to them is not just because their book, What Your Food Ate, just came out, but also because they have a really great way of going back through the membrane of time and looking at some of the origins of our understanding about the connections between plants, soil microbiology, and our own health. I can't recommend the books highly enough. Dave's mustache is also the mustache to end all mustaches. A list of some of their amazing works... What Your Food Ate: How to Heal Our Land and Reclaim Our Health (2022) The Hidden Half of Nature: The Microbial Roots of Life and Health (2015) Growing a Revolution: Bringing Our Soil Back to Life (2017) Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations (2008) Folks who make the show possible... Certified Naturally Grown grassroots, peer-to-peer, holistic certification. Johnny's Selected Seeds vegetable, flower, and cover crop seeds. BCS America for two wheel tractors + implements. RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. ... and, as always, our work is powered by the folks who support us every month over at patreon.com/notillgrowers, you can pick up a copy of The Living Soil Handbook if you don't have one already, as well as a No-Till Growers hat, and you can ask you questions or share your insights into ecological market gardening on our brand new forum at notillgrowers.community.chat

Hi everyone, it's Natalie, and for this episode I talked with Ryan Fitzbeauchamp of Evening Song Farm in Vermont. Ryan and his wife Kara have an incredible story to get where they are today with a thriving year-round CSA (yes, you heard that right, a year-round CSA in Vermont!). They include what is often called rotational no-till on the farm and this is a production system that is near-and-dear to my heart. What I mean by rorational no-till is that, while they haven't eliminated tillage altogether, they have dramatically reduced it across the farm and completely eleminated tillage prior to some crops. This system is sort of a middle way to get many of the benefits of no-till without the herbicides associated with conventional no-till or the heavy reliance on mulch, compost, or other external inputs that many small-scale organic no-till farms rely on to get started. Mentioned in the show... The Evening Song Farmsite Follow Evening Song Farm on Instagram The USDA Climate Adaptation Fellowship (Northeast) Tarping Guidecase Study of Evening Song Farm (w/ photo of toolbar) Folks who make the show possible... RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. Farmers Friend for caterpillar tunnels, harvest equipment, tarps, & more! Get free shipping through ->> farmersfriend.com/notill Tilth Soil amazing compost-based living potting soils and soil blends. Real Organic Project for a whole farm certification program to distinguish crops grown in health soils. ... and, as always, our work is powered by the folks who support us every month over at patreon.com/notillgrowers, you can pick up a copy of The Living Soil Handbook if you don't have one already, as well as a No-Till Growers hat, and you can ask you questions or share your insights into ecological market gardening on our brand new forum at notillgrowers.community.chat

Hey everyone, it's Alex Ball, and today I'm excited to talk with Doug Wolcik & Kayleigh Boyle of Bread Seed Farm in rural Vermont. We dig deep into using "no-till" to market your farm, building a farm with community at the core, and adding value with ginger and dried flowers. Mentioned in the show... Karl Hammer of Vermont Compost Company (listen to him and Jesse on The No-Till Market Garden here) Folks who make the show possible... RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. Certified Naturally Grown grassroots, peer-to-peer, holistic certification. BCS America for two wheel tractors + implements, on sale through the end of the year! Orisha for wireless greenhouse+ automation, get 15% off with code "No Till Grower" ... and, as always, our work is powered by the folks who support us every month over at patreon.com/notillgrowers, you can pick up a copy of The Living Soil Handbook if you don't have one already, as well as a No-Till Growers hat, and you can ask you questions or share your insights into ecological market gardening on our brand new forum at notillgrowers.community.chat

Truth be told, I always wished to be a Jesuit monk, but kind of missed out on that opportunity on account of not being a dude. I wanted to live in a beautiful place and learn things and grow things without anybody asking me to do anything else. I imagine my life being like that of the great Baltasar Gracián, a Catalan jesuit monk. He famously said, "He that has satisfied his thirst turns his back on the well." Let me just say our guest today, Miguel Torres, is very thirsty. Miquel is the fifth generation and manager of Familial Torres. He runs the domain with his sister, Maria, and they have had such a journey, discovering along the way that they thought they were doing things well by the land there was always room to do them better. And given their commitment to not only being the fifth generation, but the entire region, they've started to train other growers, as well. Check out the Familia Torres website Follow Familia Torres on Instagram Folks who make the show possible... Johnny's Selected Seeds vegetable, flower, and cover crop seeds. RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. Tilth Soil amazing compost-based living potting soils and soil blends. Real Organic Project for a whole farm certification program to distinguish crops grown in health soils. ... and, as always, our work is powered by the folks who support us every month over at patreon.com/notillgrowers, you can pick up a copy of The Living Soil Handbook if you don't have one already, as well as a No-Till Growers hat (yep, back in stock and shipping now), and you can ask you questions or share your insights into ecological market gardening on our brand new forum at notillgrowers.community.chat

Natalie here... and for this episode I want to talk farmer research! You may notice that research is a theme for me? SARE is a federally funded program for farmer centered research and innovation. Candice Huber works for SARE and Jennifer Wilhelm runs a no-till market garden near me in New Hampshire, Fat Peach Farm, and has received two SARE grants to pursue some of her ideas. Mentioned in the show... The SARE Projects Database Jennifer's SARE Projects: Exploring the Feasibility of Growing Microgreens in a Modified Cold Storage Room Assessing No-Till Permanent Raised Beds for Mixed Vegetable Production on Marginal Soils The No-Till Growers SARE Project Northeast SARE Farmer Grant Program ChipDrop Folks who make the show possible... RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. Farmers Friend for caterpillar tunnels, harvest equipment, tarps, & more! Get free shipping through ->> farmersfriend.com/notill Certified Naturally Grown grassroots, peer-to-peer, holistic certification. BCS America for two wheel tractors + implements. ... and, as always, our work is powered by the folks who support us every month over at patreon.com/notillgrowers, you can pick up a copy of The Living Soil Handbook if you don't have one already, as well as a No-Till Growers hat (yep, back in stock and shipping now), and you can ask you questions or share your insights into ecological market gardening on our brand new forum at notillgrowers.community.chat

Hey everyone, it's Alex Ball with another episode of the No-Till Market Garden Podcast! I'm really excited to share a conversation with you all from Adam of Country Valley Farm in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In the interview we get into building new no-till beds with deep woodchips, animal pressure on the farm, the realities of farming with a full-time job, and producing garlic for the wholesale market. A big thanks to Adam for sitting down to share all the work he and his family are doing at CVF. He has such a love for not only ecological farming, but for feeding his community and sharing the positivity that comes with being in touch with the land. I was really impressed by his deep wood chip compost method for building organic matter and I think i'm going to trial his technique on my own farm. If you want to learn more about their farm or are just looking for organic seed garlic, check out their website and their social media for more information. Thanks so much for listening! Mentioned in the show... Dairy Doo compost & fertilizer pellets from Morgan Composting No-Till Growers will be at the '23 OAK Conference! Folks who make the show possible... RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. Tilth Soil amazing compost-based living potting soils and soil blends. Orisha for wireless greenhouse+ automation, get 15% off with code "No Till Grower" Real Organic Project for a whole farm certification program to distinguish crops grown in health soils. ... and, as always, our work is powered by the folks who support us every month over at patreon.com/notillgrowers, you can pick up a copy of The Living Soil Handbook if you don't have one already, as well as a No-Till Growers hat (yep, back in stock and shipping now), and you can ask you questions or share your insights into ecological market gardening on our brand new forum at notillgrowers.community.chat

You know that feeling when you get to hang out with one of your heroes? Well I do, and you guys are going to get to hang out with us, too. Fred Provenza is a retired professor in rangeland science from Utah State University and is also a unicorn mixed with a phoenix. Not only is he an amazing human-being, he also has one of the deepest and most humble experiences working at the intersection between humans and landscapes, plants and animals. He has worked with farmers from all around the world, authored hundreds of papers and several books, and if you're a person who is interested in the integration of animals for the purpose of healing landscapes or bringing health back to your farm, I cannot recommend highly enough that you read and watch as much as you can by Fred. Mentioned in the show... NOVA's Ghost in your Genes (watch for free on Vimeo) BEHAVE (Behavioral Education for Human Animal Vegetation and Ecosystem Management) Nourishment, What Animals Can Teach Us about Rediscovering Our Nutritional Wisdom The Art & Science of Shepherding by Michel Meuret Foraging Behavior: Managing to Survive in a World of Change Folks who make the show possible... Certified Naturally Grown grassroots, peer-to-peer, holistic certification. BCS America for two wheel tractors + implements. Johnny's Selected Seeds vegetable, flower, and cover crop seeds. RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. ... and, as always, our work is powered by the folks who support us every month over at patreon.com/notillgrowers, you can pick up a copy of The Living Soil Handbook if you don't have one already, as well as a No-Till Growers hat (yep, back in stock and shipping now), and you can ask you questions or share your insights into ecological market gardening on our brand new forum at notillgrowers.community.chat

For this episode, I, Natalie, spoke with Iago Hale about kiwiberries, which I realize is a fruit that a lot of you have probably never heard of, much less tried. In my excitement, I forgot to have him introduce himself! Iago is an associate professor of agriculture, nutrition, and food systems department at the University of New Hampshire. When I first met him, he was in the beginning of his kiwiberry research program and it's really cool to see how far it has come in the last decade. As a researcher myself, I strongly agree with Iago that it's our job to take risks that farmers can't afford to take and I love to see applied research that tries to address what future food systems will look like, including things like perennial plants and things that will work on small farms and things that are resistant to pests and diseases so they don't require a lot of external inputs. Here's Iago... Mentioned in the show... The Nor'east Kiwiberry Website The Hale Lab & Kiwiberry Research Kiwi Korners Farm Folks who make the show possible... RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. Tilth Soil amazing compost-based living potting soils and soil blends. Farmers Friend for caterpillar tunnels, harvest equipment, tarps, & more! Get free shipping through ->> farmersfriend.com/notill Real Organic Project for a whole farm certification program to distinguish crops grown in health soils. ... and, as always, our work is powered by the folks who support us every month over at patreon.com/notillgrowers, you can pick up a copy of The Living Soil Handbook if you don't have one already, as well as a No-Till Growers hat (yep, back in stock and shipping now), and you can ask you questions or share your insights into ecological market gardening on our brand new forum at notillgrowers.community.chat

It's Alex Ball, and I'm excited to bring y'all a conversation with Jordan Scheibel of Middle Way Farm. Jordan and his crew are growing mixed veg for local wholesale, retail, and direct-to-consumer through a home delivery CSA and online farmers market out there in windy Iowa. We dig deep into selling to local specialty grocers, no-till tunnel production, the importance of consistent labor, and the growth they capitalized on during the pandemic. Jordan is building a community-centric model that is hard to not learn something from! Mentioned in the show... Follow Middle Way Farm on Instagram Middle Way Farm is Certified Naturally Grown GrownBy online cooperative sales platform Purple Cow Organics for compost The Paperpot Transplanter Nolt's Greenhouse Supplies Folks who make the show possible... Certified Naturally Grown grassroots, peer-to-peer, holistic certification. BCS America for two wheel tractors + implements, on sale through the end of the year! Orisha for wireless greenhouse+ automation, get 15% off with code "No Till Grower" RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. ... and, as always, our work is powered by the folks who support us every month over at patreon.com/notillgrowers, you can pick up a copy of The Living Soil Handbook if you don't have one already, as well as a No-Till Growers hat (yep, back in stock and shipping now), and you can ask you questions or share your insights into ecological market gardening on our brand new forum at notillgrowers.community.chat

Hey rebels, if you listen to this podcast you probably know that I, Mimi, am the lone wine person to date. So, since that's what I do, I thought I would poke some of my favorite people in wine and today I've got one of my BIG heroes. Eric Texier is a winegrower in the South of France. He's known for being an early leader in not just better practices in the vineyard, going beyond the adoption of biodynamics, but he went on a journey to figure out how his soils could be improved and how that could improve wine quality and also build in resilience for his family in the future. He's a native to Bordeaux, didn't come from a wine family, which is uncommon because it's really difficult to just buy a vineyard in France, and was a nuclear engineer before wine. Surprise, surprise, he wanted to do something else. A self made wine maker, very opinionated, not afraid to stoke the fire and call out bulls***… It was a super fun conversation, his wines are incredibly expressive, and he has a genuine humility about his process. We get into his vineyards, his wine-making, terriors and regenerative practices, and I just can't wait to share this conversation with you. I highly recommend looking for his wines, they're accessibly priced, and you can check out his website at https://www.eric-texier.com/ Folks who make the show possible... Johnny's Selected Seeds vegetable, flower, and cover crop seeds. RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. Tilth Soil amazing compost-based living potting soils and soil blends. Real Organic Project for a whole farm certification program to distinguish crops grown in health soils. ... and, as always, our work is powered by the folks who support us every month over at patreon.com/notillgrowers, you can pick up a copy of The Living Soil Handbook if you don't have one already, as well as a No-Till Growers hat (yep, back in stock and shipping now), and you can ask you questions or share your insights into ecological market gardening on our brand new forum at notillgrowers.community.chat

*Update: The SeedLinked participatory variety trials are LIVE on their website and this year include cherry tomato and colored pepper trials AND a NO-TILL squash trial!* Nicolas of SeedLinked and Julie of University of Madison Wisconsin are leaders in participatory plant breeding. They are helping develop varieties that are regionally adapted to the traits that matter for direct market growers like most of you! They've developed a platform to make it easier to include farmers in variety trials to select for things like taste. I know everyone listening is involved in farming or gardening, largely because you know that not all tomatoes and carrots are created equal. Variety matters. Production practices matter. How long it takes to get the product into the hands of the customer matters. Truth be told, I do not have the personality to be a direct market farmer, so props to all of you out there, but when I WAS farming and someone would tell me they never liked brussels sprouts until they ate MY brussels sprouts, it was one of the most rewarding feelings. So, what Nicolas and Julie are doing in their participatory plant breeding work is trying to spread that feeling by increasing our collective capacity for developing new and amazing varieties. The website for their project is SeedLinked.com Their work is truly inspiring and we hope some of you growers out there can get involved! Mentioned in the show notes... Download the SeedLinked App Follow SeedLink on Instagram and keep up with their work Participate in a Seedlink.com variety trial (sign-ups page) Organic Association of Kentucky Annual Conference Folks who make the show possible... Farmers Friend for caterpillar tunnels, harvest equipment, tarps, & more! Get free shipping through ->> farmersfriend.com/notill RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. BCS America for two wheel tractors + implements, on sale through the end of the year! University of Wisconsin-Madison and their new certificate in organic agriculture. ... and, as always, our work is powered by the folks who support us every month over at patreon.com/notillgrowers, you can pick up a copy of The Living Soil Handbook if you don't have one already, as well as a No-Till Growers hat (yep, back in stock and shipping now), and you can ask you questions or share your insights into ecological market gardening on our brand new forum at notillgrowers.community.chat

Hey everyone, it's Alex, and I'm beyond excited to bring you all a very interesting conversation with Brian Bates of Bear Creek Organic Farm. Brian is one of my favorite farmers in the state of Michigan and I got the privilege to spend a day with him and his crew, learning how they grow food efficiently year-round. In this episode, we dive deep into the philosophy of farm growth, Spring plant sales, experiments in no-till, and investing in the most valuable asset of a farm. Surprise? It's their employees. ~ Alex Ball, Old City Acres Mentioned in the show... Follow Bear Creek Organic Farm on Instagram Morgan Compost Dairy Doo The Bear Creek Look Book Weed the Soil, Not the Crop by Eric & Anne Nordell of Beech Grove Farm Folks who make the show possible... Orisha for wireless greenhouse+ automation, get 15% off with code "No Till Grower" RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. Tilth Soil amazing compost-based living potting soils and soil blends. Certified Naturally Grown grassroots, peer-to-peer, holistic certification. ... and, as always, our work is powered by the folks who support us every month over at patreon.com/notillgrowers, you can pick up a copy of The Living Soil Handbook if you don't have one already, as well as a No-Till Growers hat (yep, back in stock and shipping now), and you can ask you questions or share your insights into ecological market gardening on our brand new forum at notillgrowers.community.chat

Natalie here. When Jesse asked me to be a guest-host, I knew I wanted to dedicate an episodeto the subject of PFAS contamination, but I didn't think it would be a good first episode, because it's really not uplifting. It's one of those topics that makes it hard to keep sitting up straight. But, since I've been behind the ball on getting more episodes going--and Jesse tells me there's a lot of intrest in this topic--I decided to go for it. For the vast majority of growers out there, PFAS contamination on your farms isn't going to be an issue, but it is something farmers may want to be aware of when looking for land or buying inputs like compost or straw mulch, and especially when making compost with various feedstocks. To learn more about PFAS, I spoke with Caleb Goossen, the organic crop and conservation specialist at MOFGA. And I promise there will be more uplifting epsides in the future. Folks who make the show possible... RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. Johnny's Selected Seeds vegetable, flower, and cover crop seeds. BCS America for two wheel tractors + implements, on sale through the end of the year! University of Wisconsin-Madison and their new certificate in organic agriculture. ... and, as always, our work is powered by the folks who support us every month over at patreon.com/notillgrowers, you can pick up a copy of The Living Soil Handbook if you don't have one already, as well as a No-Till Growers hat (yep, back in stock and shipping now), and you can ask you questions or share your insights into ecological market gardening on our brand new forum at notillgrowers.community.chat

It's about to get real nerdy, folks. We at No-Till Growers have always wanted to bring in more of the research and science from someone who really understands it. Natalie Lounsbury, herself, is a no-till and cover crop RESEARCHER at the University of New Hampshire, a legitimate scientist, and you may remember her from the Priming for Production Podcast series on soil organic matter. Go back and listen to it if you haven't already, it's one of our favorite things on the internet. Ever. In this mini-interview, she and I get into how the Serial podcast series changed her approach, her experience/research background, and how I should probably apologize to diakon radish. Her first contribution to the series will be next Monday. You don't want to miss it, it's a heavy subject, but one we as growers could all use a little science lesson on. As always, our work is powered by the folks who support us every month over at patreon.com/notillgrowers, you can pick up a copy of The Living Soil Handbook if you don't have one already, as well as a No-Till Growers hat (yep, back in stock and shipping now), and you can ask you questions or share your insights into ecological market gardening on our brand new forum at notillgrowers.community.chat

Tell Dr. Mimi where it hurts, because I've got the cure. Be it bread or beer, it all starts with grain. Today, we get to do all of my favorite things, which is to combine bread, beer, and rock stars. Andy Cato, half of the band Groove Armada, is the co-founder of a super-rad farm project, Wildfarmed, growing no-till regenerative grains. It's taken a lot of trail and error, and we get into his systems and how he makes it all work: rotations, equipment, producer groups, etc. for facilitating the change he wants to see on the land. In short, Andy is "an award-winning mixed arable and livestock farmer. Once a successful Grammy nominated musician, Andy gave that up after reading about the dire state of modern food production. He went on to spend over a decade trying to find a more restorative and sustainable way of growing food. Whilst farming in France, Andy was awarded the Chevalier l'Order Merit de Agricole - the equivalent of a knighthood for services to agriculture. Now back on British soil, Andy is on a mission to help other farmers adopt the Wildfarmed system." If you've ever thought about how to grow grains on a small scale regeneratively, this one's for you. Because we've got to figure that part out. The sourdough and beer are what's keeping me going. Follow Andy & Wildfarmed Follow Mimi & Hope Well Wine Folks who make the show possible... RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. Tilth Soil amazing compost-based living potting soils and soil blends. Johnny's Selected Seeds vegetable, flower, and cover crop seeds. Certified Naturally Grown grassroots, peer-to-peer, holistic certification. and You, our listeners. Help us keep our work free for everyone by supporting our work on Patreon or check out No-Till Growers and pick up a copy of The Living Soil Handbook and join the conversation at our new and improved growers forum.

Super excited to have Josh and Kelsey of Wild Prairie Flower Farm on The No-Till Market Garden Podcast! They're two super hard-working urban farmers in Columbus, OH, who grow about a quarter of an acre of cut-flowers and market them through a home-delivery CSA. Big thanks to Jesse and the No-Till Growers team for having me, Alex Ball, as a host. ~ Alex Ball, Old City Acres Mentioned in the show... Follow Wild Prarie on Instagram Check out the Wild Prarie GoFundMe Folks who make the show possible... RIMOL Greenhouses quality greenhouses and high-tunnels. Orisha for wireless greenhouse+ automation, get 15% off with code "No Till Grower" BCS America for two wheel tractors + implements, on sale through the end of the year! University of Wisconsin-Madison and their new certificate in organic agriculture. ... and You, our listeners. Help us keep our work free for everyone by supporting our work on Patreon or check out No-Till Growers and pick up a copy of The Living Soil Handbook and join the conversation at our new and improved growers forum.