The Urban Farm Podcast with Greg Peterson

Encouraging youth to bloom through off-grid farming on vacant lots.In This Podcast: We usually speak with food farmers, however, Quilen Blackwell is doing something so amazing with flower farming we needed to get him on the show! Learn why he chose to farm flowers over food, got community buy-in, and how he eliminated much of the overhead cost of a farm by working with nature (even in the middle of a big city). The flowers are a product of his true passion, which is teaching skills to at-risk youth and giving them job skills to better their future.Quilen’s background in renewable energy and community organizing is well suited in his role as president of Southside Blooms where they serve over 70 youth a week at four sites in Chicago and one site in Detroit. Southside Blooms has the mission of using sustainability to alleviate inner-city poverty through a scalable social enterprise program that converts vacant city lots into off-grid flower farms.Quilen’s organizing credentials include work abroad as a volunteer in the Peace Corp organizing rural farmers in Thailand all the way to helping working-class residents of suburban Milwaukee attain affordable housing. He later worked in the biofuels industry where he procured feedstock such as used cooking oil and soybean oil for biodiesel production. Quilen holds a bachelor’s degree with comprehensive honors from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master’s degree in environmental policy from the University of Denver.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2020/02/15/520-quilen-blackwell/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!520: Quilen Blackwell on Urban Flower Farms.

Growing enough food to provide for a family of four all year.In This Podcast: If you had to exist just from the food in your yard, what would you be eating? Melissa Norris would have very few lifestyle changes. She is a professional homesteader who grows and preserves enough fruits, vegetables, and meat on her property to feed her family all year long. Here, she discusses what's growing in her garden, season extending for longer harvests, planning for a year's worth of food, the amount of space it takes to feed a family of four, and her new book.Melissa is a 5th generation homesteader and believes everyone can and should grow some of their own food. She’s the host of the Pioneering Today Podcast and founder of the Pioneering Today Academy where she teaches people how to live a homegrown and homemade life in a modern world.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2020/02/11/519-melissa-norris/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!519: Melissa Norris on Feeding A Family.

Balancing the larger world context with local, practical, and creative solutions.In This Podcast: In the final part of our interview with David Holmgren, the co-founder of permaculture talks soil, owning your mistakes, and balancing food production in limited spaces. He also shares what it’s like to live a voluntarily simplistic life, and how children absorb knowledge just by being around parents in agriculture. Listen in for some of his failures and successes, as well as what drives him and his advice for others. We are very excited to have the co-founder of permaculture on the show today. When I got David on the call I just let him talk and it turned into a 90-minute chat, so we decided to split it into three shows. This is part 3 and if you enjoy our content please consider supporting the podcast at UrbanFarmPodcast.org Since developing permaculture with Bill Mollison in the mid-1970s, David’s local and global influence has gone beyond permaculture networks. He is a public intellectual working outside of academia, government or corporate support. His depth of thinking, design practice and teaching has been continually informed by practical experience through a lifetime of household self-reliance, voluntary simplicity, and innovative action. He has received many awards including an honorary Ph.D. from Central Queensland University. He has written 8 books about permaculture & related topics, been a part of at least 5 other books, written multiple articles, given numerous presentations, has over 40 years of practical experience, he is an authority on the permaculture concept and how to make it work and basically – he is the guy who penned it!Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2020/02/08/518-david-holmgren/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!518: David Holmgren on Downshifting to a Resilient Future. Part 3

Balancing the larger world context with local, practical, and creative solutions.In This Podcast: In part 2 of 3 we hear from David Holmgren, the co-founder of permaculture, about his definition of permaculture, soil conservation and regenerative practices, creating civilization systems that can withstand the test of time, and creative reuse of resources instead of recycling or composting. Learn about David’s new book: Retrosuburbia and how to rebuild economies, habits, and biological landscapes on a household level. We are very excited to have the co-founder of permaculture on the show today. When I got David on the call I just let him talk and it turned into a 90-minute chat, so we decided to split it into three shows. This is part 2 and if you enjoy our content please consider supporting the podcast at UrbanFarmPodcast.org Since developing permaculture with Bill Mollison in the mid-1970s, David’s local and global influence has gone beyond permaculture networks. He is a public intellectual working outside of academia, government or corporate support. His depth of thinking, design practice and teaching has been continually informed by practical experience through a lifetime of household self-reliance, voluntary simplicity, and innovative action. He has received many awards including an honorary Ph.D. from Central Queensland University. He has written 8 books about permaculture & related topics, been a part of at least 5 other books, written multiple articles, given numerous presentations, has over 40 years of practical experience, he is an authority on the permaculture concept and how to make it work and basically – he is the guy who penned it!Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2020/02/06/517-david-holmgren/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!517: David Holmgren on Downshifting to a Resilient Future. Part 2

Balancing the larger world context with local, practical, and creative solutions.In This Podcast: In part 1 of 3 we hear from David Holmgren, the co-founder of permaculture, about the birth of permaculture over 40 years ago. Learn about what inspired the concept of permaculture, permanent agriculture, working with nature, sustainability, and how to take new industry concepts and have them become widely accepted. David also discusses what it's like when your theory takes on a life of its own and the balance of being both a fan and critic.We are very excited to have the co-founder of permaculture on the show today. When I got David on the call I just let him talk and it turned into a 90-minute chat, so we decided to split it into three shows. This is part 1 and if you enjoy our content please consider supporting the podcast at UrbanFarmPodcast.org  Since developing permaculture with Bill Mollison in the mid-1970s, David’s local and global influence has gone beyond permaculture networks. He is a public intellectual working outside of academia, government or corporate support. His depth of thinking, design practice and teaching has been continually informed by practical experience through a lifetime of household self-reliance, voluntary simplicity, and innovative action. He has received many awards including an honorary Ph.D. from Central Queensland University. He has written 8 books about permaculture & related topics, been a part of at least 5 other books, written multiple articles, given numerous presentations, has over 40 years of practical experience, he is an authority on the permaculture concept and how to make it work and basically – he is the guy who penned it!Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2020/02/04/516-david-holmgren/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!516: David Holmgren on Downshifting to a Resilient Future. Part 1

Mentoring cancer survivors through backyard vegetable gardens.In This Podcast: Anyone who gardens knows the benefits, but Kerry Smith is proving it with her Harvest for Health program for cancer survivors. This experiment partners the Alabama Master Gardeners with Auburn University to track improvements in physical activity, diet, and stress markers for people who beat cancer. In addition to teaching them gardening basics and healthy food habits, they spread the love for plants through volunteers who are motivated by heartwarming experiences. Kerry is the Home Grounds team Co-leader in the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Working with team members she develops, supports and delivers programs that inspire smart yards for home landscapes. She is also the State Program Coordinator for the Alabama Master Gardener Program, a large volunteer group assisting the same mission of promoting sustainable, smart yard landscapes. Kerry has worked for the Education Department at Callaway Gardens, been a schoolteacher, an estate gardener, and many things in between. Her current priority for the Master Gardener program is Harvest for Health, a 5-year garden mentor project in partnership with the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Comprehensive Cancer Center and funded in part by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Through this project, Master Gardeners mentor cancer survivors learning to grow a backyard vegetable garden.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2020/02/01/515-kerry-smith/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!515: Kerry Smith on Harvest for Health.

Maximizing the benefit of rainwater for both personal and community use.In This Podcast: Have you ever considered capturing free water for your landscape? Brad Lancaster has pioneered rainwater harvesting in Tucson, AZ and around the world. He teaches how to reinvest rainwater into living systems that grow resources all for the cost of shoveling some dirt. Learn about rain gardens, zoning, benefits of rainwater, adjusting your mentality, developing your strategy, and integrating sun, shade, and gravity into your design. You'll never look at your yard the same way!Brad runs a successful permaculture consulting, design, and education business in Tucson, Arizona. He is focused on integrated and sustainable approaches to landscape design, planning, and living. Growing up in a dryland environment, water harvesting has long been one of his specialties and a true passion. He is the author of the permaculture bible for water harvesting: Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond Volumes I & II and he has just released new full color revised and expanded editions of both.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2020/01/28/514-brad-lancaster/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!514: Brad Lancaster about Harvesting the Rain.

Getting fruit and vegetables into and through a network of community support services.In This Podcast: We know our food system is broken, however, the food bank system is surprisingly effective! April Bradham from the Arizona Food Bank Network explains how local, state and national food banks distribute huge amounts of fresh produce and food within days. Listen in to learn where the surplus food and food waste comes from, how they work to spread healthy food to people in need, and the new Arizona initiative that is helping both small and mid-size farms as well as the food banks. April is Vice President for Programs, of the Arizona Food Bank Network and oversees the Member Services and Innovation programs. April holds a B.S. in Business Administration from The Sage Colleges in New York, and an M.B.A. from Arizona State University. She has worked in operations and supply chain for over 17 years in a variety of industries. April and her team offer food banks - logistics and transportation support, plus they coordinate the “Southwest Produce Cooperative,” which was started to help with the sharing of produce between food banks in AZ, NM, and TX.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2020/01/25/513-april-bradham/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!513: April Bradham about Moving Produce through Food Banks.

A chat with an expert on Seeds. In This Podcast: This is the December 2019 episode of a live Seed Saving Class discussing seed catalog season, the best seed catalogs, what the terminology in the catalogs mean, and so much more.There is always a bounty of information available in conversations with Bill McDorman.Bill McDorman is Executive Director of Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance, Ketchum, Idaho. He got his start in the bio-regional seed movement while in college in 1979 when he helped start Garden City Seeds. In 1984, Bill started Seeds Trust/High Altitude Gardens, a mail-order seed company he ran successfully until it sold in 2013.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2020/01/21/seedchat19dec/ for the show notes on this bonus episode, and access to our full podcast library!512: Seed Saving Class December 2019.

Sharing good gardening information with others.In This Podcast: Gardening in a new climate can pose challenges; however, Angela Judd did not let it stop her from becoming an inspirational gardener who regularly contributes to area publications. She reviews the classes and resources she used to take her from novice to knowledgable, and some of the things that make her hot climate garden successful in providing food for her family and friends. Planting times, soil, involving your kids, and trial and error are all part of her success story. Angela is an avid vegetable, flower, and fruit tree gardener. As a mother of five, she enjoys growing and preparing food from the garden for her family. She shares inspiration and tips on her blog GrowingInTheGarden.com and other social channels to help home gardeners successfully grow their own garden.As a certified Master Gardener, Angela has been featured in Phoenix Home & Garden, San Diego Home/Garden, Edible Phoenix, Family Fun, Burpee.com, and is a regular contributor to Master Gardener publications. Her articles and videos are can be found in several well-known online publications including Better Homes & Gardens, Gardeners.com, and GardeningKnowHow.com.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2020/01/18/512-angela-judd/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!511: Angela Judd on Inspiring Gardeners to Grow.

Promoting the local food scene and building the local food community in an accessible, affordable, and original way.In This Podcast: Food brings people together, and David Tyda specializes in creating events and festivals that build relationships between local restaurants and the community. If you've ever wondered how food festivals become a reality or considered starting your own, listen in to learn how he creates affordable events for 10,000 people! David shares things he considers, ways to maximize the event space and infrastructure, and how he makes fun, original events that people attend year after year!David is always busy, which is why he requires so many calories to pull off all the projects he has going on. 10 years ago, he co-created the Arizona Taco Festival - which was the first taco festival in the world. Now there are over 200 of them!Over the years he’s created many food festivals, including the Annual Phoenix Pizza Festival and Downtown Donut Festival. If you are in Phoenix this spring, catch his 2nd FRIED, A French Fry & Music Festival. David prides himself on two things: making sure every event is original - he despises copycats; and making sure the events are inclusive - he’s not a fan of high-ticket price events. Having moved on from the Taco Festival, he is opening an agave bar in Downtown Phoenix to help keep him connected to the “taco lifestyle” he so identifies with.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2020/01/14/510-david-tyda/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!510: David Tyda about Food Festivals.

Giving nature a helping hand by restoring vegetation.In This Podcast: How can we revitalize arid areas in a logistically feasible way? Dr. Elise Gornish walks us through the process of working with land and stakeholders to restore their land using seed balls. Learn about seed balls: making them, how they work, and strategies for small or large scale production. She also gives tips on creating invasion resilience and deterring invasive weeds while encouraging native plants. Full of great info for teachers, parents, and environmental enthusiasts! Elise is a Cooperative Extension Specialist in Ecological Restoration at the University of Arizona. Her research and outreach program largely focuses on identifying strategies for successful restoration in arid land systems and integration of restoration approaches into weed management. Originally from New York, she received her MS and PhD from Florida State University in 2013. She then completed two years of a post doc at the University of California, Davis before becoming a Cooperative Extension Specialist in Ecological Restoration at UC Davis. Then in 2017 she moved to Tucson AZ! Seed ball super hero Elise is an early career leader in the fields of arid land restoration and weed management, and has published over 40 papers and has presented over 150 times at various venues.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2020/01/11/509-elise-gornish/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!509: Dr. Elise Gornish on Seed Balls.

Committing to sustainable resourcing and zero waste, while supporting local agriculture.In This Podcast: How do you go from teaching yoga with no culinary experience to a culinary leader implementing sustainable change within our food system? When Danielle Leoni jumped into fine cuisine, her journey was shaped by her patrons inquiring where the food was sourced. She soon discovered the true cost of inexpensive food and is now actively engaged in the good food fight and influencing traceable sourcing. This episode will inspire everyone to follow their dreams and live their values!Chef Danielle is the Executive Chef & Owner of The Breadfruit & Rum Bar in Phoenix, Arizona. Hailed as a champion of sustainability and green restaurant innovation, Chef Danielle has distinguished herself with an avant-garde approach to blending the best of the southwest with the tropical traditions of Jamaica. She has explored the islands of the Caribbean and immersed herself in seaside food cultures with a keen eye on responsible fishing practices. Under her stewardship, The Breadfruit and Rum Bar has introduced an entirely new cuisine to Arizona while redefining perceptions of tropical and green dining.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2020/01/07/508-danielle-leoni/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!508: Danielle Leoni on Serving up Good Food.

Bringing life into your home.In This Podcast: The OGarden, a high tech way of bringing indoor gardening into a small space in your home, is Pierre Nibart's labor of love to improve people's well being. With his OGarden, you can grow 90 plants in a self-lit, 29" by 53" space with minimal involvement. Learn how to start seeds, use the plants in your daily meals, and teach kids about gardening. Plus, it's a great way to get your kids to eat more vegetables when they play a part in growing the plants! Pierre has a life that, like his vision of the world, is largely out of the ordinary. At 11 years old, he left his parents' home, traveling and living in more than 20 countries, which allowed him to learn about many different cultures. He studied hotel management in a prestigious school in Belgium to finally discover his true passion, entrepreneurship. As president of Manufacture OGarden, Pierre delights in helping his customers bring all the benefits of growing food and plants into their home.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2020/01/04/507-pierre-nibart/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!507: Pierre Nibart on Indoor Gardening.

Providing convenience, variety, and deliciousness to the on-the-go conscientious eater.In This Podcast: We've all heard about the benefits of eating microgreens, but what does it take to grow them? Melissa Canales of Quantum Microgreens did a career 180 after a health crisis and now makes it her business to grow and supply this amazing health food. Hear about her growing set up and which varieties are the best for beginners. For more advanced farmers, she shares how she made the leap into farming, the business side, and how to find your place in the farming community. Melissa grows and sells microgreens in the heart of San Diego, California. Her company Quantum Microgreens was formed in early 2017, and she specializes in selling living trays of microgreens, grown outside year-round direct to customers at farmer’s markets. She does workshops in the community introducing people to the world of microgreens and helps busy people stay healthy with fresh greens. She also sells Grow Your Own Microgreens kits to share the microgreens love throughout the country.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/12/31/506-melissa-canales/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!506: Melissa Canales on Urban Microgreens.

Transitioning from factory farmed foods to healthy organic.In This Podcast: Many of us try to eat organic fruits and vegetables and pasture raised meats as often as possible. However due to marketing terms, we may not be eating what we think we bought. Eugene Trufkin explains what the gimmicky packaging terms really mean, how that impacts your diet and body, and how to source high quality meat and produce if you aren't growing your own. Nutrition minded, healthy food visionaries will love the information in this episode!Eugene grew up on a Biodynamic farm in Ukraine and has dedicated his entire life to the understanding of mental and physical health. He currently operates Trufkin Athletics in Irvine, California – a fat loss training center that takes a holistic approach to fat loss and wellness. He’s a graduate from the University of California, Irvine and a CHECK Institute trained professional. He also holds a degree from the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/12/28/505-eugene-trufkin/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!505: Eugene Trufkin on Changing to Better Diets.

Developing lead generation without giving up the farm.In This Podcast: An online presence is important for any farmer or person in agriculture to share their products and knowledge. This episode's guest, John Lagoudakis, professionally coaches businesses on reaching their audience. Here, he gives Urban Farmers tips on how to build their business using online strategies. Learn about the benefits of a website, the best way to use social media, and how to capture future customer's attention using consistent, free content and genuine interaction. John is one of Australia’s leading Internet marketers. It all started back in 2007, when he stumbled across affiliate marketing and within two years was able to go from $0 online, to being one of Clickbank’s top 100 affiliates worldwide. He’s been featured in the New York Times bestseller ‘Get Rich Click’, has authored several books, and been the host of a long-running Internet marketing podcast.  Today, John helps businesses create lead generation campaigns on Facebook and Google that get results fast. Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/12/24/504-john-lagoudakis/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!504: John Lagoudakis on Business Side of Urban Farms.

Taking the initial steps to starting her own farm.In This Podcast: Returning guest, Tiffany Panaccione, is back for an update on her new basil farm. She discusses some of her early learnings on preparing greenhouse plants for a garden, when to plant outside of your area's planting calendar, how she protects against pests, and theories on a mysterious overnight digger. Also, listen in for her experience attending the Earthship Academy, some of her mentors as she starts her farm, and why basil holds a special place in her heart. Tiff is a Phoenix native with a gypsy soul. Her self-healing journey has sailed her around the world and right back home to her roots. With a strong craving and an inner calling to go deep within herself and simultaneously the dirt, she is now listening, learning, discovering, and planning to cultivate the gifts of the Sonoran Desert. After all, she wonders… is it really worth doing the “hard work” if it isn’t your heart’s work? Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/12/21/503-tiffany-panaccione/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!503: Tiffany Panaccione on The Basil Project.

Bonus Episode 32: Seed Saving Class November 2019. In This Bonus Podcast: This special seed saving chat covers Bill McDorman's learning and experiences after attending the 8th Session of the Governing Body International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resource for Food and Agriculture in Rome, Italy. This is a recording of the November 2019 episode of a live Seed Saving Class discussing the global seed situation, plant patents, advanced methods for creating new plants, why seed saving is more important than ever, and so much more.Bill McDorman is Executive Director of Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance, Ketchum, Idaho. He got his start in the bio-regional seed movement while in college in 1979 when he helped start Garden City Seeds. In 1984, Bill started Seeds Trust/High Altitude Gardens, a mail-order seed company he ran successfully until it sold in 2013.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/12/17/bonus32/  for the show notes on this bonus episode, and access to our full podcast library!

Building a community of farms, one yard at a time.In This Podcast: How do you farm in a city without a large plot of land? Allie Borovik, the creator of Neighborfood, is learning how to do just that in Austin, TX. Using Fleet Farming and Curtis Stone for inspiration, she has devised a business model that allows her to produce and harvest food for local chefs and restaurants without purchasing her own land. Listen in to learn her method of yard farming, the benefit to her landowners, and how she builds her inventory of yards and produce.Allie was born in Houston, TX and raised in Memphis, TN - not on farms, but always around food. She spent her college years in New York City playing volleyball and studying politics, food, and public health. In 2017, she fell in love with farming at the Farmer Training Program in Burlington, VT.  A year later she was growing vegetables and some animals at Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture outside of NYC. Just this past spring, Allie moved to Austin, TX to start Neighborfood, a neighborhood-based network of small yard farms. Currently, she has three yards in production and is selling her produce to restaurants and markets around the city. Allie started Neighborfood as a way to feed people, build communities, and combat climate change. Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/12/14/502-allie-borovik-on-networking-small-yard-farms/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!502: Allie Borovik on Networking Small Yard Farms

Learning how to cook with vegetables.In This Podcast: Shortly after getting married, Sonja Overhiser and her husband, Alex, did a 180 from fast and frozen food to eating a home-cooked, mostly whole food plant-based diet. She shares what motivated them to learn to cook as well as her efforts to teach others through an award-winning food blog, cookbook, and popular newsletter. There are so many social, mental, and physical benefits to plant-forward diets and she gives examples of how the shift in cooking has changed their life.Sonja is the writer behind the award-winning food blog A Couple Cooks and author of the book Pretty Simple Cooking, named a best vegetarian cookbook by Epicurious and Food & Wine. Along with her husband Alex, the couple has a worldwide following for their vegetarian and plant-based recipes. She's also author of a recipe series with Washington Post Food called Voraciously: Plant Powered, on how to cook more plant-forward meals. Featured everywhere from the TODAY Show to Bon Appetit, Sonja is a national advocate for healthy and sustainable eating to improve our health, communities, and planet. Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/12/10/501-sonja-overhiser/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!501: Sonja Overhiser on Eating more plants.

Moving others to take the leap towards inspiration.In This Podcast: We normally focus on inspiring urban farming, but for our 500th episode, we wanted to educate on one way you can turn your urban farming passion into a business. John Lee Dumas is the creator of Podcasters Paradise, a school that teaches how to start and run a successful podcast. JLD tried several careers before he found his perfect fit, and he discusses what led him to podcasting, managing a business, how to create energy for action, and some of his hurdles along the way. Our guest today is not all that involved with the food movement, he is more in the inspiration movement. I began listening to him in 2014 and was so inspired by his bright personality and incredible guests that I joined Podcasters Paradise - the podcasting school that he and his partner Kate run. This led me to launch the Urban Farm Podcast in the fall of 2015. Using their techniques and strategies, we now have a global reach, 50,000 downloads a month, AND hundreds of episodes educating and inspiring others to be part of their food system. So, in celebration of our 500th episode I have asked JLD to be my guest today. John Lee Dumas, or JLD as he is known by his listeners, is the host of Entrepreneurs on Fire, an award-winning podcast where he interviews inspiring entrepreneurs who are truly ON FIRE. With over 2000 episodes, 1 million+ listens a month, and seven-figures of annual revenue, he is just getting started. Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/12/07/500-john-lee-dumas/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library! Disclosure: This interview mentions affiliate links. If you choose to purchase affiliate items or courses, The Urban Farm will earn a small commission at no cost to you. This helps us to continue giving you great content for FREE and we appreciate the support. We believe in all the affiliate programs we suggest. See our Disclosure Policy (www.urbanfarm.org/disclosure) for more details. 500: John Lee Dumas on Lighting your Life on Fire.

Creating a circular food system in the arctic extremes.In This Podcast: Dropping everything and moving to the northernmost city in the world might be what some people would call ‘extreme’, yet Chef Benjamin Vidmar did that and is going even further by working towards a zero-waste food system for the city. He shares how this project uses permaculture in a city that imports its food and exports its waste, and how he has garnered the city leaders’ support. Listen in to see how you can help.Benjamin is an Eco-chef and Foodie from Cleveland, Ohio with over 20 years of international experience. After working for 18 years as a professional chef in the United States, Asia, and Scandinavia, he visited Svalbard, Norway for the first time in 2007 and instantly fell in love with the Arctic. After several years as the head chef at Svalbard Pub, he felt called to interrupt and innovate a food system that simply wasn’t working.In 2015 he created Polar Permaculture to help restore sustainable systems in the “northern most” town in the world. Today, Polar Permaculture produces farm fresh, nutritious vegetables, microgreens, and sprouts for the local community with a sustainable, circular system in mind.  Their intent is to produce enough food for the entire town of Longyearbyen and process all of the community’s organic and biological waste.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/12/03/499-benjamin-vidmar/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!499: Benjamin Vidmar on Growing Food at the Pole.

Encouraging landscapes and gardens with plants favorited by native bees.In This Podcast: We've heard about bees on previous podcasts, but Jaime Pawelek, a taxonomist who identifies bees and unnamed species, is sure to teach you something new! We go outside of the typical honey, carpenter, and mason bee discussion and into some unique varieties like a sweat bee. Jamie shares details on how bees collect pollen and nectar, their motivation, seasonal needs, and environmental needs to bring these pollinators to your garden. Learn more on how to plant garden bees! Jaime is the owner of Wild Bee Garden Design and has been studying native bees for nearly 15 years. She graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Conservation and Resource Studies in 2008. At the university, she worked in the Urban Bee Lab with Dr. Gordon Frankie for several years where she learned about the close relationships of bees and plants by observing their interactions all across California.   With the information she learned, and started designing gardens full of native and drought tolerant plants for homeowners and businesses to help them create valuable pollinator habitats.  She currently works as a taxonomist identifying bees for various researchers around the country.   Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/11/30/498-jaime-pawelek/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!498: Jaime Pawelek on Pollinator-Friendly Habitats

Providing organic, non-GMO, and soy-free chicken feed to local backyard farmers. In This Podcast: Even if you don't own chickens, if you've ever considered the difference that eating organic makes, this podcast on Chicken Feed Co-ops is for you! Learn why Scott Brown is passionate about finding reasonably priced organic feed for his hens and how his plight created a community co-op. Most importantly, he shares some of the science and studies on GMO's, soy, and organic foods. Through bioaccumulation, our food's food is our food and he puts a whole new spin on eating well. Scott is just a guy who started a chicken feed co-op to save money on eggs. He organized Phoenix Organic Feed, Flour and Grain, as a local buying club to get organic chicken feed at reasonable prices.  Plus as an added bonus he can specify which ingredients go into the premium USDA certified organic feeds, grains, and flours.   Phoenix Organic Feed, Flour and Grain is a local supplier of organic, non-GMO chicken feed serving Phoenix and Tucson.  Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/11/26/497-scott-brown/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!497: Scott Brown on Chicken Feed Co-ops

Making growing healthy food at home fast, easy, and fun.In This Podcast: The idea of growing 20% of your own food at home can be intimidating, but Jason Pechenik found a way to make it attainable, affordable, and fool-proof. He shares how his hydroponic Farm Stand saves water, energy, shortens time to harvest, and extends growing seasons. The most amazing part of the program is the plant suggestions by zip code and continuous coaching and reminders to add water and nutrients. Listen in for a promo code and free app that helps all food growers!Jacob is a passionate entrepreneur who has built a career around questioning and improving industry status quos. After graduating from MIT with a BS in Chemical Engineering he founded and led an early web-based B2B supply chain platform, a peer-to-peer derivatives trading platform, and a film finance and production company with over 30 film credits.  But when expecting their first child, Jacob became acutely aware of limitations in our food system, and they were inspired to look into possible solutions. This passion led them to found The Farm Project, a Public Benefit Corporation whose mission is to transform our food system by engaging and empowering consumers.  With Jacob as Founder and CEO, The Farm Project launched the hit web series “Your Food’s Roots” in partnership with ATTN: in 2017. And in the spring of 2019, the company launched Lettuce Grow, an initiative that empowers everyone to grow 20% of their own food at home. Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/11/23/496-jacob-pechenik/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!496: Jacob Pechenik on Home Grown Salads

Pursuing regenerative farming solutions for desert climates and communities.In This Podcast: Dry, arid regions make for some creative watering strategies. Sara El-Sayed has taken the traditional olla method of watering to a new level by incorporating drip irrigation tubing. The Clayola system creates a hands-off watering system that only needs monthly attention. She also shares about how food creates culture and identity, how to consider the whole food system beyond the grocery store shelves, the growing conditions in Egypt, and how to regenerate areas using biomimicry.Sara is pursuing her Ph.D. at Arizona State University in food system sustainability, specifically on Women in Arid Region's Regenerative Practices. She is dedicated to making a difference in her local food system and has co-founded multiple organizations for this purpose.   Nawaya is a social enterprise working as a catalyst to transition small scale farmer communities in Egypt into more sustainable ones through education and research. Dayma is an LLC responsible for outdoor Environmental Education, teaching young adults about Biomimicry and local Egyptian communities. And, Clayola, is an LLC creating low-tech irrigation systems in collaboration with local Egyptian clay artisans.  Sara has served as a board member in Slow Food, an international movement aiming to safeguard local food cultures and traditions by promoting Good, Clean and Fair food for all. Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/11/19/495-sara-el-sayed/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!495: Sara El-Sayed on Low-Tech Irrigation.

Foraging and harvesting edible plants.In This Podcast: Explore the abundance of the desert with Cactus Kelly Athena. Normally a teacher and wild desert cuisine harvester, Kelly will open your eyes to ways you could be eating the native plants in your area or harvesting them and selling to local chefs and restaurants. After this episode, you'll be harvesting your neighborhood trees to try desert edamame, mesquite flour, nopales, and prickly pear! Also, she explains the environmental and social benefits of hyperlocal cuisine.Kelly grew up loving nature in Northern California and moved to Phoenix in 1986. She holds a Master's Degree in Music and Photography, and is a Master Gardener of Maricopa County. She was named Arizona Photographer of the year in 2000, and especially enjoys photographing nature. Five years ago, she began hosting plant walks to help people learn to identify and sustainably harvest wild plants. Then she was dubbed “Cactus Kelly.” Kelly is especially interested in desert bean trees such as the Palo Verde, Mesquite, and Ironwood trees as well as edible cacti and weeds. She harvests wild desert cuisine for restaurants and chefs in the area, makes prickly pear juice and powder, and teaches desert foraging in schools and at the Desert Botanical Garden.  Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/11/16/494-kelly-athena/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!494: Kelly Athena on Wild Desert Cuisine.

Researching how urban farmers can increase the performance of our landscapes.In This Podcast: If the term active carbon sequestration has you picturing scientists in hazmat suits, you aren’t alone! Returning guest Scott Murray shares how to harness the power of nature and use home landscaping to reduce carbon in the environment. Listen in for an easy to understand explanation of the impact of carbon on our global environment, how capturing it helps the growth of our plants and trees, and what we can do right now to create microsystems that reduce your carbon output.Scott has 46 years of organic agricultural production experience in the United States and Mexico. He has a multitude of experience with conservation, food production, and environmental leadership—including serving as an elected California Conservation official for the last 27 years. Scott also specializes in farmland preservation projects utilizing Smart Growth Principles. These days he does farm creation and consulting as his primary work, including work on a farm growing coffee in Southern California which had its first harvest and sold out in one day for $796 a pound. Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/11/12/493-scott-murray/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!493: Scott Murray on Active Carbon Sequestration

Working with military vets to share urban farming skills.In This Podcast: AOVS Urban Farm is much more than CSA and Farmers Market produce. The farm is home to veterans, and Christopher Peterson discusses the immense benefits for the veterans who work and walk through the farm. This unique model has its challenges, and he shares how they planned a regenerative, ADA accessible space that produces food, but also acts as landscaping for the on-site residents. Listen in to learn about this unique approach to helping our veterans and the surrounding community! Christopher works as the Farm Manager at AOVS Urban Farm, a 2-acre Urban Farm and Gardens in South Memphis serving economically disadvantaged veterans who have suffered from physical and/or mental health conditions. Prior to this position, he ran Loch Holland Farm, a small, sustainable livestock farm focusing on multi-species rotational grazing and has worked on several other small, sustainable farms in the Memphis area.  Christopher also previously served as Executive Director for GrowMemphis (now a program of Memphis Tilth) and has consulted on various other Mid-south food initiatives. In addition to food work, he holds an MA in Human Value and Global Ethics and continues to teach locally as an adjunct professor in Philosophy and Anthropology.  Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/11/09/492-christopher-peterson/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!492: Christopher Peterson on Urban Farming with Vets

 Using the space above planters to the best advantage. In This Podcast: Sometimes it just doesn't feel like we have enough space in our gardens! Returning guest, Jason Johns, shares his solution that increased the yield per square foot from his garden, different styles of vertical gardens, and design tips. He also recommends his favorite plants and how to customize the soil and watering schedule when you are planting upward. Listen in for details on how to win his newest book to help you start creating your own vertical garden. Jason is the author of Vertical Gardening: A Complete Guide to Growing Food, Herbs, and Flowers in Small Spaces, as well as 17 other gardening books on everything from greenhouse gardening to growing giant pumpkins. Jason is passionate about gardening, having grown his own produce for over twenty years. He started with a second-hand greenhouse, an 8’ by 6’ patch of his mother’s garden, and far too many tomato plants.  Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/11/09/492-christopher-peterson/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!491: Jason Johns on Vertical Gardening

Admiring the most commonly pickled vegetable in all its varieties.In This Podcast: Do you know the difference between a cucumber and a cucumber melon? Neither did Jay Tracy, but a conversation with a desert gardening guru helped him discover this tasty, drought-tolerant plant that is easy to grow in hot climates. Learn all about how to grow cucumber melons, how he avoids cross-pollination, and why landrace varieties are more resilient. Jay also shares some of his favorite varieties, his secrets for pre-sprouting vs direct seeding, and how to win some seeds!Jay began gardening in 2006 in Tucson Arizona, then moved to Fairfield, California for cooler weather and health reasons. In Fairfield, he has three large garden beds - one at home, two at nearby friends’ houses - and one greenhouse. His blog Scientificgardener.com is where he records his experiments and discusses his love of gardening.  Early in his gardening life he found an interest in growing cucumbers and has experimented with common and not-so-common varieties, and with each success, he expands to even more rare varieties. Over time this hobby has expanded to a small business known as the Cucumber Shop. Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/11/02/490-jay-tracy/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!This contest period has expired. 490: Jay Tracy on Cucumber Melons.

Changing the world by reclaiming nutrients lost from our bodies.In This Podcast: What is your first thought when you think of using urine as fertilizer? Abraham Noe-Hays from the Rich Earth Institute may change your mind. Urine contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, all things that we look for in a fertilizer. They create pollution in our wastewater system, but when added to the agricultural cycle they benefit our plants. Listen in and learn about urine diversion, and you'll honestly start to contemplate if you should begin peeing in your yard!Abraham is the Research Director of the Rich Earth Institute. He coordinates multidisciplinary research and demonstration efforts involving farmers, scientists, planners, and volunteer participants (aka "urine donors"), with the goal of developing tools to allow other communities to start recycling urine. A lifelong resident of Vermont, he has used alternative sanitation systems since 1976, and has been academically and professionally involved in their development since 2000. The Rich Earth Institute is an organization operating the nation’s first community-scale urine recycling program. This program converts human urine into fertilizer for use on local farms. The initiative saves water, prevents pollution, and supports sustainable agriculture by turning a universal waste product into a valuable resource.  Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/10/29/489-abe-noe-hays/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!489: Abraham Noe-Hays on Fertilizer from Urine

Documenting the many unique aspects in seed varieties.In This Podcast: Returning podcast guest, Chris Smith, updates us on his Okra Trials, everything he learned, and how they determined the best variety of okra out of over 60 contestants! He also shares how The Utopian Seed Project is focusing on bringing seed and food diversity to the south. They are currently testing southern crops such as cowpeas, heritage beans, corn, and groundnuts. Listen in to learn about growing tropical perennials in the south, open-sourced seeds, and much more! Chris is an author, garden blog writer, and homesteading consultant. In 2018 while writing his book The Whole Okra, he grew out 76 different varieties of okra as research. In many ways, this research fed The Utopian Seed Project to take root and grow. Based in Asheville, NC, the Utopian Seed Project is a hands-in-the-earth organization committed to research trials on crop varieties in the Southeast to support diversity in food and farming. They are working towards an overarching vision to support food security in the face of climate change through diverse and regenerative agriculture. Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/10/26/488-chris-smith/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!488: Chris Smith about Saving Seed Diversity

Bonus Episode 31: Seed Saving Class September 2019. In This Bonus Podcast: This is the September 2019 episode of a live Seed Saving Class discussing genetic modification, the current advances, what that means for our food, the truth behind the scientific studies, hand pollination, and so much more.There is always a bounty of information available in conversations with Bill McDorman.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/10/22/bonus31/ for the show notes on this bonus episode, and access to our full podcast library!

Discovering the wonders of harvesting native and urban trees, weeds, and cacti.In This Podcast: What would you eat if all the grocery stores in your area closed? Peggy Sorensen has found her answer in the native trees, shrubs, weeds, and cacti of the southwest! Hear how she got into foraging edible desert plants, which southwest plants are her favorite to harvest, and some of the ways to process and prepare them. If you've ever wondered about making your own prickly pear juice, mesquite flour, purslane pickles, or mallow chips, you'll love this intro to wild foods!Peggy is a wild-foods enthusiast and forager who enjoys helping people discover the edible plants, trees, and weeds that grow all around us but typically are not recognized as food.  She gives workshops and plant walks around the Phoenix area and not only brings in samples of the plants to see, touch and taste but she also likes to turn them into tasty treats in order to provide a well-rounded experience.  She has become known for her mallow chips, purslane pickles, prickly pear lemonade as well as mesquite nectar and truffles.  Peggy is also a gardener, an herbalist and a board member of the AZ Herb Association.  Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/10/19/487-peggy-sorensen/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!487: Peggy Sorensen on Foraging Edible Plants in the Desert

Honoring a family heritage or nurturing neighbors.In This Podcast: Most people in Arizona are familiar with Hickman's eggs, but there is so much more to this family-run business than eggs! Clint Hickman shared with us the evolution of egg farming, and how his family business grew enough to feed Phoenix. He also explains all the side businesses that came out of egg farming: organic fertilizer, recycling programs, and animal feed. They even formed a mutually beneficial program with local prisons that gives farm-work-release inmates a leg up.Clint is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Hickman’s Family Farms, the largest egg company in the Southwest United States and one of the top 20 nationwide. Truly family-run, Clint and his siblings have built up the business that his grandmother founded.  A graduate of the University of Arizona, he oversees the vast network of partners that Hickman’s maintains, and guides the company’s marketing efforts.   While growing up, Clint was inspired by how his grandparents treated friends and neighbors. From that, he now makes sure that programs are provided to help relieve hunger, support education, and promote extensive and ongoing training in the communities that Hickman brands are welcomed. Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/10/15/486-clint-hickman/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!486: Clint Hickman on Building Community Sustainability

Creating a full circle food system that connects family and community.In This Podcast: Wholistic living has taken on a whole new meaning for Jolene Kuty! Through learning about health, she went from eating cheese infused hot dogs to working as a chiropractic physician surrounded by her half-acre urban farm. She created a full circle system using compost, chickens, mealworms, and contributions from neighbors. Hear how she engages her kids and educates with no element overlooked as she creates a thriving space that allows her to get outside and engage with the world. Chiropractic physician and health educator, Dr. Jolene Kuty, built an idyllic sustainable urban farm as a role model for her patients and her family. Her home and on-site chiropractic office is surrounded by 800 sq. ft. of raised organic vegetable gardens and over 20 Urban Farm fruit trees. They live, work, and play on a half-acre in the city where their five children swing beside seedlings and are surrounded by fresh growing fruit. They eat farm-to-table sharing recipes and inspiration with all who visit. Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/10/12/485-jolene-kuty/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!485: Jolene Kuty on Abundant Holistic Harvests

Helping others understand and create food forests.In This Podcast: Eco-edible landscaping sounds like a cool new method, but it incorporates many of the tried and true methods of permaculture. Kristie Kapp educates on building a food forest and how to incorporate 7 layers, supporting plants, mineral accumulators, and beneficial insects. She teaches stacking plant functions and how to build the ideal soil for your food forest in just one year. Listen in to learn these principles and how to start creating regenerative, resilient ecosystems. Kristie is the Founder and Executive Director of Resilient Roots. She has a master's in ecology from Yale School of Environmental Studies and over twenty years of farming experience. She decided to merge the two professions, completed a permaculture landscape design program, and has been designing landscapes since 2014.   Resilient Roots is a non-profit organization whose mission is to educate and promote awareness about permaculture landscapes that are primarily edible and guided by ecological principles. They empower people to grow their own food in a manner that is sustainable and uses local resources.   Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/10/08/488-kristie-kapp/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!484: Kristie Kapp on Eco-edible landscaping

Moving from dreaming about it, to doing what it takes to grow a farm.In This Podcast: How does an adventurous spirit, practicing yoga and following your intuition lead someone to start a farm? As Tiffany Panaccione learned, those experiences teach you to follow your heart and try new things! Listen in to learn how she plans to turn her dream of farming into a profitable business. She discusses her plans for her first crop, and how she plans to build a customer base. Healthy soil, drip tape, and saving seeds are all part of the strategy she discusses. Tiff is a Phoenix native with a gypsy soul. Her self-healing journey has sailed her around the world and right back home to her roots. With a strong craving and an inner calling to go deep within herself and simultaneously the dirt, she is now listening, learning, discovering, and planning to cultivate the gifts of the Sonoran Desert. After all, she wonders… is it really worth doing the “hard work” if it isn’t your heart’s work? Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/10/05/483-tiffany-panaccione/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!483: Tiffany Panaccione on Starting an Urban Farm Business

Enhancing our connection to the earth and each other.In This Podcast: Learning about permaculture can be life changing, and Michael Gettens shares about his experience taking a permaculture design course, how to take on a production mindset instead of simply consuming resources, and how the current food system is degenerative instead of regenerative. Rainwater harvesting, sectors, zones, and solar cooking are all topics in this chat about working with the earth to connect with it and each other. Michael is a Permaculture student inspired by the diversity of plants and animals who call the Sonoran Desert home. Growing up in New Jersey, his Italian mother sparked an interest in nutrition, and thus the importance of fresh, local ingredients began his gardening journey. When he moved across the country in 2014 to Arizona, the unique climate presented an obvious focus on water to ensure a good harvest.  Michael took his first Permaculture Design Course in the Fall of 2017, led by Dan Dorsey - which guided him to a concentration in rainwater harvesting, and a goal to discover low-tech solutions that provide basic human needs. His current position at Galaxy Gardens includes irrigation maintenance, rain garden design, and planting services. Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/10/01/482-michael-gettens/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!482: Michael Gettens on Evolving Lifestyles in a Changing World

Building soil quality through carbon management.In This Podcast: Biochar can improve your soil and help the environment at the same time! We visited with Dr. Rivka Fidel from the University of Arizona to learn all about biochar and carbon farming. Listen in for how you can make it, use it, and the science behind adding it to your compost. She also shares about her journey into the field of sustainable agriculture, why it's important for our future to create a carbon negative world, and highlights in carbon farming.Dr. Rivka Fidel is currently an Assistant Professor of Practice at the Department Environmental Science, University of AZ, teaching introductory level classes in Soil Science and Critical Zone Science. She received her PhD in Soil Science from Iowa State University and her B.S. in Environmental Science from Union College. Her research is in soil carbon and nitrogen cycling, specifically examining the efficacy of biochar for improving soil quality and mitigating climate change.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/09/28/481-rivka-fidel/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!481: Rivka Fidel on Biochar and Carbon Farming

Bonus Episode 30: Seed Saving Class August 2019. In This Bonus Podcast: Once again we join a conversation with Bill McDorman and Greg Peterson to learn about growing from seed, growing for seed, and why our seeds are so important in these changing times.This is the replay of the August 2019 Seed Saving Class  In this class, he covers the Art of Seed Saving, and of course a few more things as well.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/09/24/bonus30/ for more information and links on this bonus podcast, and to find our other great guests.

Experimenting with living off existing food sources for difficult times.In This Podcast: We followed up with Kevin Espiritu to hear the results of his Apocalypse Survival Challenge. Could you survive for a whole month only eating what you grow, fish, barter, or forage? Hear how Kevin used his 200 square foot gardening space, community foodscapes, and trade - to nourish himself for an entire month. He gets specific on identifying what foods to grow in the 90 days prior to the challenge, how he added protein using fishing and plants, and his surprising takeaways. His business Epic Gardening began as a way for Kevin to present gardening information in a more modern, updated way to friends and family. First came the website. Followed by YouTube, a daily podcast, and finally his social media presence on Instagram, and Facebook.  Kevin is the author of Field Guide to Urban Gardening from our friends at Quarto Publishing.  Like Greg, Kevin was a presenter on the recent Superfood Summit and loves to share gardening knowledge. Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/09/21/480-kevin-espiritu/  for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!480: Kevin Espiritu on his Apocalypse Grow Survival Challenge

How to get creative with 80 pounds of fruit.In This Podcast: We are back with returning guest and team member, Katie Fiore to talk about getting creative when your yard gives you an excess of food. While many people fear abundance, she embraces the creativity it allows and shares a different way to look at cooking with apples in both the long and short term. You’ll also learn about the concept of a local "Cool Tool" community shed for lesser-used harvest tools, as well as saving seeds and succession planting for seasonal abundance. Katie  is an Arizona native who spent most of her life thinking she had a brown thumb. Five years ago, her first successful attempt at growing food was herbs grown in wine barrels. Since then she has become an Urban Farm junkie. In Spring 2018 she planted 15 fruit trees and bushes in the backyard and has started adding a few raised beds to her garden. Now, she is up to 21 fruit trees on her property, all with sweet potatoes planted under them.  A career change last summer has given her the time to pursue a healthier, lower stress life with her new husband Mark. She is currently following her dreams of blogging about all her adventures, nurturing her backyard food forest, and helping GrowPHX Collaborative establish a Speakers Bureau in Arizona. Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/09/17/479-katie-fiore/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!479: Katie Fiore on Apple Abundance.

Transforming ordinary spaces into beautiful, food-producing landscapes.In This Podcast: Entering college without much direction, a life-changing experience in Paraguay helped Matt Lebon find his place in the global food system. Now, he runs a custom foodscaping company making spaces beautiful and edible. He share about hands-on education in permaculture and farm school as well the magical food moments his company helps to create. He gives insight into how gardens and orchards connect people to nature and how schools can use their foodscapes to teach science.Matt is a proud St. Louis native with over ten years of farming and gardening experience. He got his start with farming as a Peace Corps volunteer in Paraguay, later going to study permaculture and work on several farms in Israel and Brooklyn, NY.  Then he became a practitioner and instructor on edible landscaping, organic agriculture, orcharding, and permaculture design.  He is most passionate about creating magical food moments in the everyday places we work, learn and play. His company Custom Foodscaping transforms ordinary spaces into beautiful, food-producing landscapes. They provide consultation, design, and installation services to create edible landscaping in your farm & garden. Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/09/14/478-matt-lebon-2/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!478: Matt Lebon on Foodscaping

Conveying observations from the kitchen, the dining room, and the garden.Journalism and food have been major themes all throughout Joe Yonan's life. In this podcast, learn about how he got involved with food at a very young age, his journey to food editor, and what a food editor actually does. Joe also shares about learning to homestead, succession planting, and what he's growing in his garden. He has written two cookbooks and edited another called “America The Great Cookbook,” don't tell anyone else, but we smell a book giveaway cooking!Joe is the Food and Dining editor of The Washington Post, supervising all food coverage in the features department. He is also the editor of "America The Great Cookbook" and has written two cookbooks “Eat Your Vegetables: Bold Recipes for the Single Cook” (2013) and “Serve Yourself: Nightly Adventures in Cooking for One" (2011).Joe was a food writer and Travel section editor at the Boston Globe before moving to Washington in 2006 to edit The Post’s Food section. He writes The Post’s Weeknight Vegetarian column and for five years wrote the Cooking for One column, both of which have won honors from the Association of Food Journalists.In addition to writing about food and dining, Joe also has written about his efforts to grow food on his 150-square-foot urban front yard.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/09/10/477-joe-yonan/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.This contest period has expired.477: Joe Yonan on Documenting the Culinary Experience

Inspiration through nature’s bounty of nourishing plants.In This Podcast: Working in a desk job and knowing that it was not a good fit, it still took Kimberly Kling a little while to build up the courage to do something different.  Eventually she found herself on a path to learning about herbalism and has finally found her passion. As a devoted learner, she is learning as much as she can, but still finds time to share with others what she has learned so far.Kimberly is an herbalist, mother, part-time homesteader, gardener, and the creatrix behind Joyful Roots, a botanical wellness brand. Kimberly and her family live on a 4-acre mini farm in a rural ranching town in Southern Arizona. She finds immense enjoyment in getting to know the local wild plants, experimenting with gardening, making art, creating with food and herbs, and exploring the land around her.Through her business, Joyful Roots, her passions are channeled into to helping others cultivate their inner joy by amplifying their self-care rituals and growing deeper roots in our Mother Earth. Kimberly is committed to offering small batch, 100% natural body-care and soul-care products that nourish our bodies, respect the Earth, and empower us into greater well-being.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/09/07/476-kimberly-kling/ for links to her poem, and to a surprising recipe.476: Kimberly Kling on the Impact of Herbs.

Farming for a local restaurant and a rapidly growing community.In This Podcast: It was not a direct path to this destiny for David Barrow, but running a sustainable urban farm in Austin Texas has been his biggest success. With many regenerative and sustainable practices in use on the farm it is no wonder the soil is healthy and the crops are productive. Working hand-in-hand with a restaurant onsite allows for the freshest of dishes in a unique way. He shares some key aspects about how sustainable farming is working in East Austin.David is the Farm Manager for Eden East Farm in East Austin. After 18 years of working in the film industry, he began managing Eden East and runs the farm in conjunction with a locally sourcing restaurant.Eden East Farm is a sustainable urban farm sitting three miles from the state capital building. They grow over 65 varieties of produce throughout the year, and service restaurants and the public alike. Formerly Springdale Farm, the property has served the community for over 100 years in some sort of farming capacity.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/09/03/475-david-barrow/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.475: David Barrow on Sustainable Urban Farming in Texas

Taking an everyday vegetable to the table in delicious new ways.After Amy Lacey’s health took a downturn and she wanted to bring some normalcy back to her family’s routine, she tried a recipe for a vegetable she did not really like. Little did she know how a bland vegetable could make such a difference for so many people. Combine that with her passion for doing good things and paying it forward, and she is truly making a delicious impact in the world.Amy is the author of Cali’flour Kitchen: 125 Cauliflower-Based Recipes for the Carbs You Crave. She is the co-founder and CEO of Cali’flour Foods, and her Cali’flour products have been featured in Food & Beverage Magazine, GQ, and OK! Magazine. They were also named one of “Whoopi’s Favorite Things” on The View; and won Clean Eating magazine’s Clean Choice Award two years in a row.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/08/31/474-amy-lacey/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.This contest period has expired.474: Amy Lacey on The very versatile cauliflower.