The Urban Farm Podcast with Greg Peterson

Expanded growing options through hydroponics.In This Podcast: When Kevin Espiritu started gardening he quickly became interested in hydroponics, and as he tried to learn how, he found that most articles and books were focused on only one well-known plant and he wanted to grow food. He started documenting his experiences to help others, and now Kevin has several platforms to share information for new and beginning gardeners. Today he shares several tips about small space gardening, and how there is a way for anyone with a will. www.urbanfarm.org/epicgardening Living in a condo in 2011, Kevin didn’t have the space for a big backyard soil-based garden, so he got creative. Learning about urban gardening was eye opening for Kevin and as a self-admitted geek and someone with an obsessive personality, he got hooked. Living in a condo in 2011, Kevin didn’t have the space for a big backyard soil-based garden, so he got creative. Learning about urban gardening was eye opening for Kevin and as a self-admitted geek and someone with an obsessive personality, he got hooked.  He started building his own “bizarre” hydroponic systems with amazing results, and when his friends and family wanted to learn how to do the same – Kevin was in business.  Epic Gardening began as a way to present gardening information in a more modern, updated way. First, the website, next YouTube, a daily podcast, and then his Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest presence. Kevin is the author of Field Guide to Urban Gardening from our friends at Quarto Publishing.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/08/27/473-kevin-espiritu/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.This contest period has expired.473: Kevin Espiritu on Small-Space Urban Gardens

Focusing on sustainable growing practices on 20-acres down under.In This Podcast: We meet Angela Neyland as she tells us why an old TV comedy series influenced her and how she found permaculture. With this foundation, she shares the journey that led her and her husband to start a permaculture based homestead. She describes her property and some of the challenges they have overcome so far as well as her future plans for the property.Angela is an Australian 34-year-old mother and part-time university research officer who holds a PhD in Australian Aboriginal archaeology. She and her husband Danial own Loganberry Forest, a permaculture homestead in rural Victoria Australia where she recently started a small heirloom seed business for her homegrown seeds online.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/08/24/472-angela-neyland/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.472: Angela Neyland on Permaculture Homesteading in Australia.

Bonus Episode 29: Seed Saving Class July 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 July 2019 Seed Saving Class  In this class he covers Extreme Seed Saving, and of course a few more things as well.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/08/20/bonus29/ for more information and links on this bonus podcast, and to find our other great guests.

Digging into the reasons plants flourish.In This Podcast: We delve deeper into the relationship between plant roots and healthy soil with Jake Mowrer. He explains why the soil changes when plant roots extend through it's layers, and lessons learned from the dustbowl times regarding soil degradation. Through his simple explanations, it is easier to understand the nature of soil make-up. And, he shares simple tips on how to improve soil quality. Jake was raised on a farm in north Georgia where his family produced broiler chickens and beef cattle.  Growing up, the work was often hard, but the food was always good. Life on the farm is a good way to gain an appreciation for the connectivity of food production in our daily lives.Jake now works with farmers in Texas as a Texas A&M faculty member in the Soil and Crop Science Department, and as an Extension Specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension to communicate the importance of managing soil as a natural resource.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/08/17/471-jake-mowrer/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.471: Jake Mowrer on Deep Roots in Soil

Getting serious about the microscopic life in soil.In This Podcast: Retired after years of leadership in Monsanto, David Stark was asked to mentor a young company making what was essentially compost tea. Reluctantly and with some concerns over the science, he agreed and now is excited to share what he has learned about soil science and plant health. Grateful for not turning down the request, he now can help teach about soil and plant health and explain about the various microbes in the soil and the essential roles they play.Dr. Stark is President of Holganix LLC where he leads the company’s efforts to expand its business into agriculture.  Dr. Stark spent over 25 years with Monsanto Company where he held various senior leadership roles in technology, corporate affairs and business operations. In 2015 he went to work for Holganix, sells a line of 100% natural bionutritional products for turf, ornamental and agriculture use. The product starts with a proprietary process for making and concentrating a diverse mix of over 800 species of beneficial bacteria, fungi and protozoa. The end result is the most complete mix of Organic beneficial microbes on the market.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/08/13/470-david-stark/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.470: David Stark on Soil Microbes.

Creating resilience in an urban community.In This Podcast: It was after spending some time out of the country that Francey Slater woke to the poor American relationship with food.  This motivated her towards food justice and making a difference in her community.  With a belief that healthy food is a right for everyone, she co-founded a non-profit that is creating community and school gardens, and building a stronger, resilient community as a result. Francey is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Mill City Grows in Lowell, MA. Her experience creating garden-based educational programming spans two decades, several continents, and youth through adult learners. Mill City Grows is an organization that fosters food justice by improving physical health, economic independence and environmental sustainability in Lowell through increased access to land, locally-grown food and education.Prior to founding Mill City Grows, she was the Education Director for CitySprouts, worked as a member of the Urban Nutrition Initiative in Philadelphia, PA, helped to restore agricultural efforts in a village school in Bangalore, India; and provided education for farmers, gardeners, and youth in Hocotepec, Mexico. Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/08/10/469-francey-slater/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.469: Francey Slater on Urban Ag and Food Justice.

Fascination with an underappreciated vegetable.His first introduction to okra did not go over well, but years later Chris Smith was given okra seeds as a gift and he felt responsible to do his best with them.  This prompted him to research, learn, and experiment with many varieties and recipes. He learned a lot and he shares part of his journey becoming fascinated with this often discounted vegetable. There is a lot more to this plant than just a simple pod. Check out the recipe for pickled okra he shared with us and included on our shownotes page.Chris is a garden writer and homesteading consultant who serves on the board of The People’s Seed. When he is not okra-ing he can sometimes be found at Sow True Seed, an Asheville-based open-pollinated seed company. The Whole Okra: A Seed to Stem Celebration by our friends at Chelsea Green Publishing, has just been released and is available!Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/08/06/468-chris-smith/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.This contest period has expired.468: Chris Smith on Okra

Having WAY too much fun with worms!In This Podcast: Watching his coworker through her lunch scraps into a large bin under her desk was just too exciting for Bentley Christie and soon he was on his way to becoming the Compost Guy with a popular blog and website about worm composting.  He shares his excitement and admiration for the legless wonders that produce a valued garden soil amendment. Not stopping there, he explains a new method of composting that transformed his garden into a bountiful wonder.Bentley, also known as "Compost Guy", earned an Honors Bachelor of Science in Biology with undergrad and grad studies in: plant pathology, microbiology, soil and compost science.  He has been working with worms for over 20 years, is the author of the blog Red Worm Composting and is currently teaching about trench vermicomposting.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/08/03/467-bentley-christie/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.467: Bentley Christie on Worm Composting

Bringing residents, local government, and businesses together to build an epic garden and so much more.In This Podcast: The area Shannon McBride grew up in had experienced a tumultuous change when the Phoenix light rail was built right down the middle. Instead of getting angry, she decided to start a collaboration for the area. Building around a vision for a safe, walkable community, she started with a community garden; and through team work, donations, and community buy-in, the results are impressive. But she’s not done and there is so much more to this collaboration. 19North is not your typical community garden by any means!Shannon grew up in the 19NORTH Community in Central Phoenix where she currently lives. In her career journey, she has held executive positions with Fortune 100 companies working in: Human Resources, Communications, Strategy Implementation and Training/Development.Her community work began as a Pastor at Open Door Fellowship Church where she founded 19NORTH - a non-profit community development organization that is bringing together schools, churches, neighborhoods, local government, city offices and businesses to help assure that, "Every Business Thrives, Every Student Succeeds and Every Neighborhood is Safe".Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/07/30/466-shannon-mcbride/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.466: Shannon McBride on Successful Community Collaboration

Empowering a community through the benefits of growing food in the middle of the city. In This Podcast: After running the Cooperative Extension Program for Urban Gardening in Atlanta, and taking leadership roles in several other community orgs, Bobby Wilson was not going to stop when he retired! Instead he invested his retirement money into a farm and is transforming it in a community resource with education and community plots along with the production agriculture. He has a huge vision for what his team can accomplish.Bobby is the President and CEO of Metro Atlanta Urban Farm, founded to use as a teaching tool, economic empowerment zone, and as a food production site for the southwest Metropolitan Atlanta area.  He promotes the benefits of urban agriculture in food deserts with a farming model that works to decrease the number of food insecure families through education on planting, cultivating, and cooking fresh produce.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/07/27/465-bobby-wilson/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.The contest in this episode has been closed.465: Bobby Wilson on Five Acres in Atlanta

Tapping into the many benefits of backyard botanicals.In This Podcast: While becoming a licensed acupuncturist and doctor, Nicole Finklestein felt the carbon footprint of the medicinals and botanicals in her practice was extensive. She drew on her family farming background to start growing herbs and flowers. She discusses holistic practices used on her farm, as well as regenerative agriculture used to rebuild the soil. She has great advice for those interested on jumping into the niche market of medicinal farming.Nicole is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, licensed acupuncturist, and registered herbalist who was raised as a naturalist on her family's berry farm in rural Ohio. She spent much of her childhood exploring the plant kingdom and testing botanical remedies passed down through generations of Appalachian healers. With over a decade of Western and Eastern herbal study, she founded Herban Austin - an herb farm in Central Texas where she cultivates botanicals for both medicinal and culinary use.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/07/23/464-nicole-finklestein/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.464: Nicole Finklestein on Urban Herb Farming

Keeping people at the core of small business success.In This Podcast: When an entrepreneurial opportunity came his way, Carl Atwell jumped on board with a passion. He is now president of Gempler’s and is building it again with a commitment towards his customers and employees. He shares the story of how Gempler’s was created with a focus on good values and how he connected with that. He also explains how the relationship with his customers and employees is so important to him and to his vision for the company.Carl has spent 25 years working toward the dream of someday owning a company centered around employees and customers.  In January he purchased Gempler’s, an 80-year-old farm-and-home-store that helps anyone who works outdoors.Gempler’s is an independent farming and outdoor-work supply company with a promise to treat you like a neighbor, not a number. They provide innovative products to make the hardest outdoor jobs easier with fair pricing, and friendly service every time.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/07/20/463-carl-atwell/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.463: Carl Atwell on Entrepreneurship and Valued Relationships

Turning garden pests into edible treats.In This Podcast: Her 9-year-old son wanted to eat snails while in France, and once home he wanted to eat the garden snails too – so food writer Molly Watson did the research and figured out how to harvest and cook the snails they collected. Her down to earth descriptions can help any gardener who wondered if the pests had an edible purpose. She also shares a lot about her research for her upcoming book about how to decide about being vegan.Molly is the editor-in-chief of Edible Communities, the flagship website for a network of 80+ hyper-local food magazines across the US and Canada. She is the author of Bowls! (2017) and Greens + Grains (2014), both from Chronicle Books, as well as the forthcoming Should We All Be Vegan? out this fall (2019) from Thames & Hudson. She lives in San Francisco where the winters feel colder than her native Minnesota, no matter what the local say.Molly hates to garden! She’s tried it, she wants to like it, but she just doesn’t! She wrote about it a bit in her award-winning piece “Cooking’s Not for Everyone,” about how people shouldn’t have to cook (garden) to have high-quality, locally grown, sustainable food. Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/07/16/462-molly-watson/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.462: Molly Watson on Harvesting Garden Snails

Investing in small agriculture businesses.Production farming in America is not an easy business path to start on without some help or connections.  Appreciating the value of farming after his travels in the US Navy, Chris Rawley realized these challenges farmers face when trying start or expand small-to-midsize farms and decided he could help. He breaks down the basic process for agriculture investing outside of traditional bank loans and the benefits for both farmers and investors. Check out his article too!As a career naval officer, Chris has traveled the world. Over the course of visiting dozens of war-torn and poverty-stricken countries, he began to appreciate the importance of farming to every single person on earth. As a professional investor, he decided to invest in a farm, but discovered that these types of investments were inaccessible to the average person. He created Harvest Returns in 2016 to democratize investments in agriculture.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/07/13/461-chris-rawley/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests - and check out his article at www.urbanfarm.org/investinfoodsystem461: Chris Rawley on Alternative Funding for Urban Farmers

Making the hatching of backyard chickens easy and fun.In This Podcast:  If you are not careful, you might find that hatching eggs can quite easily develop into a passion, just ask Pascale Pearce! She took a job that needed her to hatch eggs at least once, so she knew what she was talking about – and now she loves to help others understand the process.  She shares some key points about incubating bird eggs and starting the chicks off right.We also include a link to a great article from her with even more info!A native of France, Pascale is a graduate of Bordeaux Business School where she earned an MBA specializing in International Trade. In 1994 in the UK, she started as Brinsea Export Manager and joined Brinsea USA in 1998 shortly after its creation where she was in charge of business development.Brinsea® is a family run business offering bird breeding and veterinarian products. Established in 1976 by an engineer with an interest in breeding birds it quickly became a passion, which coupled with his background and enthusiasm has produced the most innovative egg incubators and brooders available.With 25 years’ experience in the bird breeding and animal intensive care, Pascale enjoys sharing her knowledge of incubation with backyard breeders to make hatching an enjoyable experience they will want to repeat.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/07/09/460-pascale-pearce/ for more on this podcast, and www.urbanfarm.org/hatchingeggs for her article.460: Pascale Pearce on Egg Incubation for Beginners

Expecting that ruralization is the next evolution.In This Podcast: Studying the changes in shifting populations, Jason Bradford is predicting the trend for urban growth is going to reverse. He breaks down why our energy dependency is indicating a reversal, why technology is creating discounted problems, and more importantly why personal action toward energy literacy and resilience is critical. He talks about what to do as the approaching change draws near. Jason has been affiliated with Post Carbon Institute since 2004, first as a Fellow and then as a Board Member. He graduated from U.C. Davis with a B.S. in biology before earning his doctorate from Washington University in St. Louis, where he also taught ecology. He’s worked for the Center for Conservation and Sustainable Development at the Missouri Botanical Garden, was a Visiting Scholar at U.C. Davis, and co-founded the Andes Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research Group.After all that, Jason shifted from academia to learn more about and practice sustainable agriculture. completed training with Ecology Action (aka GrowBiointensive) in Willits, California, and founded Brookside School Farm.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/07/06/459-jason-bradford/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.459: Jason Bradford on Rural Living as our Future

Bringing concentrated, jam-packed garden education to life.Her passion for bringing people together in educational garden summits is quite evident when you listen to Stacey Murphy tell us what she has planned this year.  She explains why she started presenting her summits and some of the exciting results she’s getting in return.  She also talks about how food dies, nutrients are lost every day and what you can do about it. Her collection of experts will be covering several topics related to growing superfoods in your garden.Stacey has helped tens of thousands of new gardeners from six continents grow vegetables and herbs in small spaces, and enjoy a green lifestyle nourished with fresh, homegrown food. With her holistic garden system, she teaches what to grow in any climate. Stacey is a garden geek, growing food since 1979, and her superpower is packing, literally, tons of vegetables and herbs into tight spaces.Featured on Martha Stewart Radio and PBS’s Growing a Greener World, Stacey believes growing food organically is the best health plan for people, communities, and the earth.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/07/02/458-stacey-murphy/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.458: Stacey Murphy on the Superfood Garden Summit

Developing a relationship between primary pollinators and growers.Realizing that his apple trees were barely producing compared to his neighbors, Dave Hunter found the answer was mason bees.  His hobby increased his harvest, and eventually his new passion developed into a brand-new industry and a new company. Now he is working hard to educate how mason bees and leaf cutter bees are a significant pollination solution. His goal is to build more native bee industries around the world. Dave is the founder and owner of Crown Bees, a native bee company in Woodinville, WA that sells bees and products online, to nurseries and farmers. His experience with mason bees extends over two decades. Dave founded the commercial mason bee industry, Orchard Bee Association, and works with researchers to ensure that what Crown Bees practices is both ethical for the bee and efficient for the farmer/gardener.  He co-authored the book The Mason Bee Revolution, and speaks to gardeners, farmers, and researchers throughout the year.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/06/29/457-dave-hunter/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.Also - Check out Dave’s post on our Blog: The Future of Food ~ Native BeesThis contest period has expired. 457: Dave Hunter on Native Bees

Bringing a whole system approach of design and nature to the farm.In This Podcast: Taking a permaculture course as a young adult gave Raven Venturelli the confidence and inspiration to start her own farm. However, finding land in California to develop her nature-based farming concepts was difficult so she followed her parents and moved to Arizona. She has used her holistic design methodology to build a farming business the way she wants and the quality and diversity of produce at Blue Apple Farm has developed a following at the local farmer’s market. Raven is a small farmer and activist for environmental and social justice. She has been studying Permaculture Design for ten years and manages Blue Apple Farm in Cornville, Arizona. She is on the board of the Sedona-based non-profit, Gardens for Humanity, on the Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance Teaching Team, and runs the Verde Valley Seed Library. Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/06/25/456-raven-venturelli/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.456: Raven Venturelli on Permaculture for the Small Farm

Creating healing tonics from common and locally foraged plants.In This Podcast: Growing up in a plant based family and then struggling with health concerns it felt natural for Devon Young to turn to herbals remedies for wellness and relief. When she started noticing results, she focused on helping others as expanded her knowledge through studies and training. She shares some key details about how to make typical remedies and why her new book is jam packed with details on 50 North American herbs.Devon, founder of the holistic lifestyle blog Nitty Gritty Life, is a trained herbalist and is well practiced in developing and implementing herbal remedies. She has a degree in Complementary and Alternative Medicine from The American College of Healthcare Sciences, and is the author of THE BACKYARD HERBAL APOTHECARY.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/06/22/455-devon-young/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.This contest period has expired.455: Devon Young on Medicinal Remedies

Bonus Episode 28: Seed Saving Class May 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 May 2019 Seed Saving Class - In this class he covers seed school, how to become a teacher, allowing plants to go to seed, and of course a few more things as well.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/06/18/bonus28/ for more information and links on this bonus podcast, and to find our other great guests.

Finding joy and adventure in the backyard with kids and nature.In This Podcast: We welcome back Matt Smith from Smith House Design to hear more about improving family life with a garden. Matt and his wife have created a learning environment in their backyard full of fruit trees and plants. Now, their children prefer nature over screen time. He shares his secrets to gardening with kids and how to make your neighbors never want to leave your backyard. Also, get a sneak peek on Matt's farm to table project and how it will revolutionize their cooking! Matt is the creative force behind Smith House Design, an influential marketing and design agency here in Phoenix. He and his wife Candyce live in South Tempe with their five children and are building a food forest and learning space in their backyard. With such an inviting place, they frequently have much of the neighborhood stopping by.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/06/15/454-matt-smith/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.454: Matt Smith on Improving Family Life with a Garden

Merging two gardening systems into one.In This Podcast: What do you get when a civil engineer loves to garden but doesn’t want to spend two hours a day in the backyard? You get a LEHR garden! Meet Ed Williams, the creator of this regenerative, functioning ecosystem that utilizes aquaponics and mushroom spawn. His garden beds are low maintenance, create soil, self-water, and fertilize using earthworms, fish, and chicken droppings. Listen in to learn about the amazing backyard garden that Ed is creating at his LEHR Urban Homestead. Ed is a civil engineer by profession. In his spare time, he uses engineering principles to design functional ecosystems, which he applies to gardening. This practice led him to develop a new method of gardening he calls a LEHR Garden. He is currently building his second-generation prototype of the LEHR Garden and using it as a centerpiece for his homestead and demonstration garden in Tempe, LEHR Urban Homestead. Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/06/11/453-edmund-williams/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.453: Edmund Williams on Aquaponics with Soil 

Making more than just juice from a popular fruit.In This Podcast: Our apple expert Kanin Routson joins us again to help us understand the process of making delicious apple cider using white wine making techniques. He explains the difference between juice, cider, and hard cider, and how the new modern ciders vary from the heritage ciders. We are introduced to Stoic Cider and we learn more about his dedication to apple tree diversity with the RAD project. Kanin has devoted his life, including two graduate degrees, to exploring and promoting apple tree diversity. His latest work has been co-founding Stoic Cider, a local hard cider company based out of Prescott, Arizona. Through the RAD Project (Restoring Apple Diversity), Stoic Cider works to find, propagate, and promote unique apple varieties and to celebrate this diversity through hard apple cider.Stoic Cider is growing and preserving local heritage apples, wild apples, and European and American cider varieties in several orchards on the family farm. They utilize white wine making techniques to create premium, dry, fruit-forward ciders.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/06/08/452-kanin-routson/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.452: Kanin Rouston on Apple Cider

Having good clean fun on an urban farm.In This Podcast: Awakening to the desire to grow their own fruits, vegetables, and meat, Brittney Schiff and her husband Stephen started with a few garden beds and chickens. Gradually this increased and they moved to a property that allowed them to do more.  Now they raise, chickens, ducks, rabbits and goats and their kids are learning homesteading skills too. She shares what she appreciates most about this journey.Brittney and her husband Stephen moved to a one-acre urban homestead in 2015 with a desire to rely less on the grocery store and our messed-up food system. Taking homesteading from a hobby to a lifestyle, she bakes bread, cans food, makes butter and cheese, line-dries clothes, and even has a small soap-making company. They have 28 fruit bearing trees, several raised gardens and plans to add an in-ground 2500 sq. ft. row garden in the next year.  They had no previous livestock experience, but now raise 90% of their family’s meat, egg, & dairy needs with chickens and ducks for meat and eggs as well as goats for milk.  All this and she loves every bit of it!Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/06/04/451-brittney-schiff/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.451: Brittney Schiff on Growing Food and Raising Animals

Farming with an eye on the future.In This Podcast: The home purchase was going to be a stretch, but she could not escape the pull.  After several visits, Katie Critchley took the leap and this farming community is much more than she expected.  The appeal was so strong that her extended family joined her as well. She found herself becoming more and more involved and eventually became the Farm Director at a truly integrated farming community.   A one sentence description is impossible – you must hear this podcast to understand, and you’ll be wanting to visit Agritopia very soon!Katie is the Farm Director of The Farm at Agritopia and a long time resident of the nationally recognized and award winning  “agrihood” at Agritopia.  She is a founding board member of The Johnston Family Foundation for Urban Agriculture, which is committed to promoting and preserving Urban Agriculture throughout the State of Arizona.She has also been a part of the development team at Johnston Properties maintaining and expanding their commercial holdings.  Her last role at Johnston Properties was co-project manager for the award winning craftsman community, Barnone located in Agritopia.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/06/01/450-katie-crichtley/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.450: Katie Critchley on Building a Farm Community

Focusing on higher yield and better quality in harvests.Earning his degree in agronomy put Marty Campfield on a path that led him eventually to work for AZOMITE selling this unique nutrient dense fertilizer/soil amendment product. He helps explain about the importance of nutrients in the soil, and how different forms can easily break down for quick plant consumption or slowly break down for long term nutrient availability. Marty also shares tips on different methods of application for this mineral rich substance.Marty is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing with AZOMITE Soil Products, LLC, and has served in various positions in the agricultural, turfgrass, landscape, greenhouse, and fertilizer industry segments. He has traveled globally to over 15 countries working with everyone from the growers up to the product formulators. As a former certified professional agronomist (CPAg) and former certified crop advisor (CCA) his experience has included focusing on optimizing soil health and crop production in conventional and organic farming systems. His overarching goal has been to help companies and producers optimize yield, quality, and return on investment in their crops.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/05/28/449-marty-campfield/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.449: Marty Campfield on AZOMITE on the Farm

Stewarding future crops through considerate cultivation and harvesting of seeds.In This Podcast: In the pursuit of resetting his health, Luke Allen took a four-day fasting journey and ended up taking his life in a new direction.  Eventually he resettled, started growing food, and seeds! He helps break down some seed terminology for us and discusses the importance of true breeding in seeds.Luke was raised in a small town, then moved to Seattle where he worked doing computer graphics design. After many years there, he realized something was missing from the daily grind and went on a series of vision quests where realized that he needed to work with the land, the water, the animals and the food. Luke studied permaculture, received his permaculture design certificate and started growing food.Sundial Seed is a small, family run regional seed company located in Willits, California to produce hand-crafted market-ready varieties.  They work with seed growers to co-create delicious market-ready true-breeding varieties.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/05/25/448-luke-allen/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.448: Luke Allen on True Breeding Seeds

Bonus Episode 27: Seed Saving Class April 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 April 2019 Seed Saving Class - In this class he covers grains, disease resistance, and packaging seeds safely, and of course a few more things as well.Bill McDorman is Executive Director of Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance, in 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.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/05/21/bonus27/ for more information and links on this bonus podcast, and to find our other great guests.

Building up property value with beautiful food growing spaces.In This Podcast: Knowing that curb appeal is important, Matt Smith has applied this concept to his backyard to improve the value of his home. He shares how growing food and appreciating nature has become so important to him, and which historical figures influence his goals for his green space. Matt also explains why home improvement shows can diminish home values and what to focus on to prevent that from happening in your space. Matt was a part of MTV at its prime and starred on influential reality TV shows that helped reshape the entertainment industry. He lived a charmed life in his 20’s, but if you ask him about being a celebrity, he’d tell you that it was a waste of time.Today, Matt is the creative force behind Smith House Design, an influential marketing and design agency in Phoenix. He and his wife live in South Tempe with their five children and are focused on creating a vibrant food garden and learning space for their family. They are in year three of a massive backyard upgrade that is inspiring self-motivated creativity and exploration of the natural world by their entire clan. The Smiths are building an ideal urban farm space while adding value to their home.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/05/18/447-matt-smith/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.447: Matt Smith on Urban Farming and Home Values.

Grinding out award winning chocolateIn This Podcast: Early influences helped Kasey McCaslin develop a love for food and making things, and that eventually led her to try making small batch chocolate to sell at the farmers market.  From there she has gone on to develop recipes that have earned her several awards and she shares about the steps and care she takes to make her internationally inspired flavors. Kasey is one of the creators of Stone Grindz Chocolate, a small-batch company driven by quality and craft. She is a self-taught chocolate maker, with a background in nutrition. Her free time is spent playing in her garden, painting, and hanging out with her adorable pup, Finnley.Stone Grindz specializes in small batch, single origin craft chocolate and sources cacao from all over the world, giving customers a glimpse and taste from the different growing regions.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/05/14/446-kasey-mccaslin/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.446: Kasey McCaslin on Making Craft Chocolate

Homesteading with a passion and a purpose.In This Podcast: For years, Julia Hubler couldn't find a garden planner that had it all. After running her family's homestead of chickens, goats, and gardens, she put together a comprehensive garden planning guide and journal. Here, she paints a picture of life on her homestead. Listen in to learn why she added native trees back into her orchard, what it's like raising chickens for meat, and how you can win a free copy of her e-book so you can start planning your best garden yet!Julia lives in Arizona on two and a half acres, with HOT summers, lots of cacti and amazing sunsets!  She is a homeschool graduate living with her family and every day you’ll find her raising guineas, making dinner, milking goats, and writing about it all. You can find her at ReformStead.com.   Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/05/11/445-julia-hubler/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.This contest period has expired.445: Julia Huber on Gardening with a Plan

Taking fruits and berries to make tasty results.In This Podcast: What do you do with the abundance of fruit from your yard? Making jams and jellies are an easy solution. Sara Wolters from Pomona's Universal Pectin shares how their fruit-based pectin allows you to create delicious preserves with little to no added sugar. She also shares about the pectin industry, the recipe and video resources they have available to the public, methods of making jams with young kids, and additional uses for pectin.Sara and her husband own and operate Pomona’s Universal Pectin. Pomona Pectin has been around for 39 years, and they’ve owned the business for just over 2 years now. They have two sons and live right next to Yosemite National Park.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/05/07/444-sara-wolters/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.This contest period is expired.444: Sara Wolters on Healthy, Homemade Jams & Jellies.

Growing delicious produce - in the garden, an allotment, or in the greenhouse!In This Podcast: Jason Johns is the author of 18 books on gardening. Here, he shares everything anybody needs to know about growing tomatoes! From the ideal soil, varieties, conditions, and pruning you'll be ready to plant amazing tomatoes. We also discussed common pests and what to do about them, as well as his first failure with tomatoes and what he learned from the experience. Jason plants something new each year. As a bonus, he also shared some of his other growing experiences!Jason is the author of Growing Tomatoes: Your Guide to Growing Delicious Tomatoes at Home, as well as 17 other self-published 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.  After turning the greenhouse into a tomato farm, he was hooked at the taste of the first ripe tomato.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/05/04/443-jason-johns/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.This contest period has expired.443: Jason Johns about Growing Tomatoes.

Living the good life while selling from a small farm.In This Podcast: How does one become a farmer when you haven't gone to school for agriculture? Emily Heller did just that using local education programs and opportunities. Here, she discusses successful selling as a small space producer, parameters for success in gardening, and some of her best practices. She also speaks to the emotional journey of farming and how to handle the imperfections and challenges. Emily also shares how to educate customers at Farmers Markets and build repeat clients.Tempe, Arizona grower Emily is a student of Mother Nature’s. Since moving to Arizona in 1998, she’s been growing food and studying the low-desert seasons as a backyard gardener. A former journalist, she shifted gears in 2014 and became a master gardener — then completed beginning farmer programs in Maricopa and Pinal counties. She went on to sell her produce at farmers markets through the local growers’ co-op, Community Exchange. Now she leases farmland in Queen Creek, has scaled up production and has her own booth at Uptown Farmers Market in Phoenix. The name of her farming adventure is Bene Vivendo. That translates from Latin to “the good life.”Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/04/30/442-emily-heller/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.442: Emily Heller on Growing Food for Locals and Small Restaurants.

Finding purpose in educating about indoor farming. In This Podcast: We had the pleasure of talking aquaponics with Jill Shea from Trifecta Ecosystems. Trifecta Ecosystems practices sustainable farming in their aquaponics farm and educates the community to grow their own food as part of the City that Feeds Itself initiative. In addition to the great community programs, we dove into how aquaponics works, is lower cost, uses less land and conserves water. The AgTech field is growing tremendously, with several great opportunities for new farmers. www.urbanfarm.org/jillsheaJill’s farming story started in Orlando, Florida in exchange for free herbalism classes.  Since 2006 she has been fortunate enough to both tend land and teach a variety of growing styles all over the US. She considers it a pleasure to now farm for Trifecta Ecosystems where they help cities feed themselves through aquaponic growing innovation. Trifecta Ecosystems is creating incentives for communities to grow their own food while raising awareness about sustainable farming through education, workshops, and city projects. They do this by empowering farmers in urban environments and educating others on the true potential of aquaponics.  Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/04/27/441-jill-shea/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.441: Jill Shea as a Woman in the World of Aquaponics.

Bonus Episode #26: Seed Saving Class March 2019. In This Bonus Podcast: There are new things to learn in every conversation with Bill McDorman. This is the March 2019 episode of a Seed Saving Class - we go back to the basics on why to save seeds, how to start, how to store seeds, cross-pollination, planting diversity, 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.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/04/23/bonus26/ for more information and links on this bonus podcast, and to find our other great guests.

Having trees as partners in farming projects.In This Podcast: Akiva Silver spent years observing and learning from nature. He discusses how to partner with trees, talks about his new book, and shares some of his favorite trees. Listen in to learn about the different functions of trees, all the amazing ways we can use Hickory trees, and how to use some of the lesser know varieties in really cool ways. He also shares what it looks like to raise 20,000 trees in a year and when he prefers to grow from seed vs cuttings.Akiva owns and operates his 20-acre Twisted Tree Farm, a homestead, nut orchard, and nursery near the Finger Lakes Region of New York.  There he grows around 20,000 trees per year that are raised naturally without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides. Akiva is the author of Trees of Power, Ten Essential Arboreal Allies, released this month in paperback through our friends at Chelsea Green Publishing.  He is dedicated to growing healthy trees, food, and family. Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/04/20/440-akiva-silver/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.This contest period is expired. 440: Akiva Silver on Working with Trees as Allies

Maximizing growing potential by gardening out of the box.In This Podcast: Garrett Hill loved gardening using grow bags so much, he made it into a business. Today we talk about starting a business, the benefits of grow bags, how they work, and some of the cool things Garrett is growing in them. We also dive into the wifi controlled watering system he recommends to all his clients that helps conserve water and integrate technology to improve his farm to table gardening.Garrett and his wife moved back to Gilbert, AZ from Huntington Beach, CA after honorably serving for 10 years of active duty in the United States Coast Guard. As native Arizonians, they both realized that their home state offered the perfect climate for gardening and they began their urban garden using strictly grow bags. Realizing grow bags allowed them to grow vegetables, fruit, herbs, and more far beyond their maximum potential of a standard pot or raised pine box garden, they soon started their business Urban Hills Grow Bag Gardens with the intention of sharing with others this discovery.  Their passion and drive opened doors for a new business concept that revolves around water conservation, farm to table gardening, and integrating technology for 21st-century gardening.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/04/16/439-garrett-hill/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.439: Garrett Hill on Gardening in the 21st Century

Building your food system with backyard poultry.In This Podcast: Who knew when Christine Heinrichs told her daughter they could get chickens that it would shape her life into three popular books and a backyard full of heritage breeds? We sat down with Christine to discuss the re-release of her book, different chicken breeds, their characteristics, and what she learned along the way. We also discuss the mindset of raising meat hens and the importance of predator proofing your coop. We also have a special giveaway opportunity for 3 lucky listeners of the podcast, listen in for instructions on how to win a copy of her updated book!Christine lives on California’s Central Coast, in an unincorporated rural community. She has a small flock of about ten hens, some old friends and some newcomers. She holds a B.S. in Journalism from the University of Oregon and belongs to several professional journalism and poultry organizations. Christine started writing about chickens in the 1980’s when she lived in San Jose and got her first hens. How to Raise Chickens was published through Quarto Publishing in 2007, just as the local food movement was starting to focus attention on our food system and backyard chickens became the symbol of local food. How to Raise Poultry followed in 2009 and her third book The Backyard Field Guide to Chickens was published in 2016.  This year her first book How to Raise Chickens has been updated and re-released.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/04/13/438-christine-heinrichs/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.This contest period has expired.438: Christine Heinrichs on Raising Backyard Chickens.

 Stewarding our seed futures with regional growers working together.In This Podcast: We dove into the world of urban seed saving and starting a seed co-op with Casey O'Leary. She has worn many hats: an environmental activist, farmer, CSA owner, and founder of the Snake River Seed Cooperative. She now supports her bioregion (and the world) with seeds specific to her area and educates on seed saving in her upcoming seed school. Her CSA challenges members to learn how to cook a variety of food, and they educate members on how to prepare and store new items.Casey is a seed freak and urban farmer in Boise, Idaho. On her farm which is called Earthly Delights, she grows oodles of seed crops as well as vegetables, herbs, and flowers for her CSA members. She also co-founded the Snake River Seed Cooperative, which now involves over 30 Intermountain West farmers stewarding nearly 400 varieties of regionally-adapting seeds, which they sell to area farmers and gardeners. Casey loves to talk with others about the wondrous interconnections of the natural world.  Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/04/09/437-casey-oleary/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.437: Casey O'Leary on Seed Cooperatives.

Helping others understand how to plan their environments to work with nature. In This Podcast: Peter Bane is a long time Permaculture advocate. He has served on the board of the Permaculture Institute of North America, ran the Permaculture Activist magazine, and taught permaculture design courses around the world. Today, Peter shares some of the basic principles, how anyone can enter the world of permaculture, and how permaculture is the answer to many social and environmental issues. Listen in for details on his new book and how 3 lucky listeners can win a free copy!Peter has served the Permaculture Institute of North America (PINA) - as a Director, Board Secretary, President, Chair of the Diploma Program Committee, Application Reviewer, and Field Advisor. In October 2018, he stepped off the board to take a part-time staff position as Coordinator for the Board. He holds diplomas in Site Design from PINA, in Media and Communications and in Education from the Permaculture Institute (USA) and from the Permaculture Academy of Britain.  A founder, officer, site planner, and one-time resident of Earthaven Ecovillage in western North Carolina, Peter has consulted for universities, intentional communities, religious orders, businesses, farmers, and residential landowners in much of the USA and Canada. He is an experienced builder of, off-grid and solar energy systems, and has implemented water catchment, cisterns, ponds, and waste treatment systems at a range of scales. Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/04/06/436-peter-bane/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.This contest period has expired.436: Peter Bane on The World of Permaculture.

Starting the spring farming season as much as 6 weeks early.In This Podcast: Joel Karsten revolutionized the gardening world when he introduced the world to Straw Bale Gardening. Now, this best-selling author is back to blow our minds with the 6 Bale Greenhouse. Joel describes for our listeners how we can make a greenhouse for under $100 that can fit 360 vegetable starts. Using this temporary greenhouse allows us to start our garden 6 weeks early and turns into a trellis system for our plants. Listen in for a chance to win his new book! Joel is a farm boy who grew up tending a soil garden, shook up the gardening world with his first book describing his breakthrough Straw Bale Gardening concept. The New York Times called Straw Bale Gardening “a revolutionary gardening method” and his ideas have been enthusiastically embraced globally, making his books best-sellers in many languages. Joel earned a BS in Horticulture from the University of Minnesota and spends his summers tending his vegetable garden, doing research, and experimenting with new ideas and methods he can pass along.  Joel has inspired tens of thousands of first-time gardeners and a legion of “seasoned” growers who have found a new and better way to pursue their passion. His methods have enabled “retired” gardeners to begin gardening again since it eliminates some physical challenges found in traditional soil gardening.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/04/02/strawbale/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.This contest period has expired.435: Joel Karsten on The Six Bale Greenhouse

Encouraging family bonding, healthy habits & creative confidence for young cooks.In This Podcast: Give Garden is a recipe delivery service that teaches kids STEM skills and healthy eating habits. Stephanie Lucas, the program's creator, used her 15 years as a corporate nutritionist to create this Give Garden to encourage family bonding and build confidence in young cooks. Inadvertently, she is helping community members by creating jobs and using local resources in a new, innovative way. Listen in to learn about the monthly box and how to get a discount on your first one! www.urbanfarm.org/givegarden Stephanie grew up as a competitive gymnast where she learned first-hand that the body required the proper fuel to feel good and perform at its peak potential. Luckily, she was blessed with parents that loved to cook and a grandmother who had a passion for gardening. It is no surprise that she dedicated her college years to studying human nutrition and her career of planting the seed of proper nutrition with others. After spending 15 years in the nutrition operations for hospitals and schools and now the mother of 2 young children and the wife of a busy firefighter, she is deeply dedicated to encouraging families to make healthy choices in their own homes. As the Executive Director of Give Garden, a recipe delivery service for kids, she launched that dream into reality. Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/03/30/434-stephanie-lucas/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.434: Stephanie Lucas on Recipe Delivery for Kids 

Bonus Episode #25: Seed Saving Class February 2019. In This Bonus Podcast: There is always a bounty of information available in conversations with Bill McDorman. This is the February 2019 episode of a Seed Saving Class - with Special Guest Belle Starr. Listen and learn about highlights from the epic February 2019 Seed Summit, 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.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/03/26/bonus25/ for more information and links on this bonus podcast, and to find our other great guests.

Improving geographic, economic, and informational access to healthy foods for residents in food deserts.In This Podcast: What is it like growing up without fresh, healthy food available? Rob Horton used his experience living in a food desert as motivation for creating Trap Garden. In this community garden in Nashville, he is teaching kids, community members, and college students not only how to grow their own fresh food, but how to cook healthy meals using their garden. His garden offers innovative solutions to the physical, financial, and educational shortcomings in food-insecure communities.Robert "Rob Veggies" Horton is the Founder and Executive Director of the trap Garden established in Nashville, Tennessee. Rob's motivation as an urban farmer and community health activist stems from his own experiences growing up in a St. Louis, Missouri neighborhood with few fresh, healthy food items. Then, moving to Nashville to attend Tennessee State University, Robert was frustrated with having to drive miles away from home for a grocery store that supplied quality, fresh products. Rob received his Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration from Tennessee State University in Nashville, TN, and Master of Business Administration from Belmont University in Nashville, TN. Trap Garden is a social enterprise that provides a sustainable source of healthy, high quality foods and offers innovative solutions to the physical, financial, and educational shortcomings in food insecure communities. Their mission is to help build, sustain, and empower low-income communities by assisting in the creation of community gardens and the promotion of healthy eating. Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/03/23/433-rob-horton/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.433: Rob Horton on Food Sensitive Communities

Cultivating a community with a non-profit urban farming project.In This Podcast: John Wann-Ángeles is building the south Phoenix farming community in a big way! He shares with us how a school project turned into a community farming effort that now involves a 19-acre piece of land and a local farmers market. Listen in to learn about community farming opportunities and programs available to support small farmers in south Phoenix. John also shares tips for selling at a farmers market, creating healthy soil, and a local weed that is actually an edible crop.John Wann-Ángeles is the Director of the Orchard Community Learning Center and Incubator Farm Coordinator at Spaces of Opportunity. The Orchard also manages the Spaces Farmers Market. They are a non-profit in south Phoenix founded in 2011. Their work centers on urban food systems, organic farming, STEA3M programs for youth, and economic justice in the local economy. John is an educator by profession, serving 22 years as principal of Valley View Elementary School in the Roosevelt School District. The dual language, K-8 school specializes in a project-based and multi-aged learning opportunities which included gardens and adventures in the creation of an edible landscape on the campus where some of the trees were donated by The Urban Farm.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/03/19/432-john-wann-angeles/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.432: John Wann-Ángeles on Place Making on an Urban Farm.

Educating kids and parents on the role food plays in their health.In This Podcast: Laurie Ouding is working to revolutionize the food system on the south side of Chicago. Through her work as a nurse, she identified the need for healthy, affordable, and available food in local neighborhoods. Now, Laurie is working with local educators to teach kids and their families healthy food habits through gardening and cooking at home. Listen in to hear about her amazing plans to build a year-round farmers market and empower her community to grow nutritious food near home! Laurie Ouding is an RN currently working at Rush University Medical center as a pediatric nurse. She was raised in rural Michigan where she spent much of her like working in cultivation of gardens, raising her three daughters and active volunteer organizations and nursing.Working with local community organizations, she is moving toward opening an indoor, year-round farmers market, greenhouse with vertical hydroponics, and a spirulina farm. Her south side Chicago project will employ commercial kitchen facilities to provide inner-city communities a path to prosperity through self-enabled, local food industries. Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/03/16/431-laurie-ouding/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.431: Laurie Ouding on Food Inequity and Kids' Health

Helping urban farmers grow food in other people's yards.In This Podcast: Lee Perry passionately shares the progress of the Fleet Farming movement and how it is strengthening Florida communities. This collective farming movement is an awesome way for gardening novices and interns to get hands-on gardening education while helping the community. Listen in to learn more about this fun, positive community experience, how it converts lawns to edible landscapes, and how you can get involved! Lee Perry is currently the Fleet Farming Director, which is her passion occupation. She has her bachelor's degree in Environmental Science from the University of Central Florida. Seasonally, she teaches children at an ecology camp at the Ed Yarborough Geneva Wilderness Area and was on the board of the Cuplet Fern Native Plant Society. Fleet Farming has a mission to empower all generations to grow food to increase local food accessibility. Their program minimizes the ecological footprint of agriculture by converting lawns into micro-farms and increasing fresh produce accessibility while training the next generation of American farmers. To Lee, Fleet Farming is a true solution to shift our culture and change the cycle of food. Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/03/12/430-lee-perry/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.430: Lee Perry on Fleet Farming

Minimizing food waste and improving soils by growing fungi.In This Podcast: We learn the ins and outs of growing mushrooms at home with Thomas Tuoti. Listen in for the difference between mushrooms and mycelium as well as how to use them to build your soil. Mushrooms are the composting tool we never knew we needed, and Tom shares how to harness the biological efficiency of mushrooms, use them to enrich your landscape, and how to start growing them at home. Thomas Tuoti practices permaculture at his home, or as he calls it "The Homestead," in Mesa, Arizona. He has been doing urban agriculture for 8 years; but before he ever stuck a shovel in the ground, he became interested in mushrooms and how they can be used to mitigate food waste and improve soils. He now manages edible landscape projects in the greater Phoenix area and is developing an at home mushroom kit so people can grow their own. Go to www.urbanfarm.org/mushroomtom for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.429: Thomas Tuoti on Growing Mushrooms at Home