The Urban Farm Podcast with Greg Peterson

Covering some basic questions about making cheese at homeIn This Podcast: Having a small dairy farm is very helpful if you are going to make cheese at home, and Gianaclis Caldwell shares some of the truths she collected as she learned to make her own cheeses.  She helps explain some of the differences between common cheeses as well as how slight changes in the process can change the resulting cheese.  Gianaclis is the main cheese-maker, milker and owner of Pholia Farm, a licensed dairy located on 24 acres in southern Oregon.  Her farm is well known for its artisan, aged raw milk cheeses; as well as classes on small-dairy, goat husbandry, and cheese-making at all levels.Her book, Mastering Artisan Cheesemaking by Chelsea Green Publishing, has received praise and awards from all levels of the cheese world for her writing and photography. Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/08/17/275-gianaclis-caldwell/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.

Working together with other small farms to provide farm goods to a local economy.In This Podcast: Not having enough eggs to keep her farm stand stocked, Deb Kolaras reached out to a couple neighboring small farms to add their products to hers. What has developed is a successful honor based farm stand that neighbors shop to find their fresh produce, eggs and cheeses. Using her marketing background she is focusing a local economy to support small farmers.  Trading her digital marketing agency in Boulder, Colorado, for a small farm in rural Virginia, Deb and her husband set out to expand their backyard hobby farming into a slightly larger and more sustainable homestead.  While restoring a 1907 farmhouse, they’re raising chickens & goats, and selling the food products at their roadside honor farm-stand.Other local micro farms also sell produce and goods in Deb’s farm stand as she is working to help improve her local microeconomy by networking and supporting small farmers and producers in her county.Her background is in business, but she’s always had a passion for making, building, re-purposing, and then harvesting the goods from those labors.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/08/15/274-deb-kolaras/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.

Buzzing through some basics on bees, hives and honey.In This Podcast:  Starting from a bucket list item on her boyfriend's wall, Hilary Kearney jumped into the world of beekeeping and found her passion.  She teaches us some basics about bees, beekeeping, and the honey that they produce.  She also shares some tips for new beekeepers including some highlights of introducing new queens to a hive.  If you've had an interest in beekeeping, this might just help you jump in too!Hilary owns and operates Girl Next Door Honey, and is a full-time beekeeper in her home town of San Diego, California where she provides educational opportunities for hundreds of new beekeepers each year. She is the author of the blog Beekeeping Like A Girl and maintains a popular Instagram account with over 42,000 followers around the world who are inspired by her beekeeping exploits and unique business model.  When she’s not rescuing bee hives, teaching classes, photographing bees or managing one of her sixty colonies… she’s sleeping and dreaming of bees.  Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/08/12/273-hilary-kearney/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.

Motivating the necessary people to create and maintain a lasting grade school garden program.In This Podcast:  A class project for her community college biology students to create a school garden at an elementary school challenged Lori Rose to move from the theoretical world to the epic one she has created for the local grade schools in her community. The tricky part was that she did not know how to garden at the time. She did not let that stop her, and it built into an amazing and EPIC new program at her college. Her lessons learned on how to make a school garden project that lasts are valuable indeed. Lori is a college instructor for biology, nutrition, herbal and wellness classes, as well as a board-certified nutrition professional & holistic nutrition consultant, registered herbalist, and holistic health coach.  She also created, developed, and instructs in, the Hill College Holistic Wellness Pathway program in Cleburne, Texas. Lori is a wife & mother, city class teacher, and passionate Zumba dancer!  She loves spreading love & light, and helping others feel great on the inside & out so they can live their dreams! When not doing all that, she is an organic gardener of vegetables, fruits, & medicinal herbs, at home and at the Hill College school garden.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/08/10/272-lori-rose/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.

Learning the identity and uses for common plants growing wild in North America.In This Podcast: Sharing her knowledge about wild herbs and plants is exactly what Brigitte Mars wants to do and she used modern technology to reach this goal. After an inspiring walk with a couple of Navy Seals, she focused on making a new mobile app specifically to help identify wild plants and educate on their uses and dangers if any.  She shares with us some common plant and what they are useful for along with a few suggestions on how to protect plants in your areas. Brigitte is an herbalist and nutritional consultant of Natural Health with almost fifty years of experience.  She is also the author of more than a dozen books and DVDs. However, today we are most interested in her mobile app for wild plant reference called iPlant.She teaches Herbal Medicine at Naropa University, and The School of Health Mastery in Iceland and has taught at Esalen, Kripalu, the Arise Festival and Mayo Clinic.Brigitte is the author of more than a dozen books and DVDs, including - The Home Reference to Holistic Health and Healing, The Country Almanac of Home Remedies, and her most recent book through Storey Publishing called Natural First Aid.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/08/08/271-brigitte-mars/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.

Bonus Episode 4: Ask Jake and Greg. A July 2017 Q&A session with two experts on Gardening and Fruit Trees.In This BONUS Podcast: Jake Mace the Vegan Athlete and Greg Peterson of The Urban Farm are both gardening educators offering classes, podcasts, and videos on a large variety of gardening topics. Every month they get together for a monthly gardening chat to discuss what is going on in their gardens and answer your questions.  This is the JULY 2017 Q&A episode with a variety of questions addressed from planning for planting, building healthy soil, and much more. Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/08/07/bonus-episode-4-ask-jake-and-greg/ for more information and links on this bonus podcast, and to find our other great guests.

Improving results in your garden through planning and record keeping.In This Podcast: Putting a brand new edible landscape together for homeowners and even apartment communities in the Seattle area is just another work day for Colin McCrate, and he loves it.  So, after several years and many gardens built & maintained, he has learned a thing or two about how to improve the production of vegetables.  He helps explain some of that here and shares a few of his tips and techniques. Colin has been growing food organically for the past 15 years.  He worked on a variety of small farms in the Midwest before moving to the west coast in 2003 to teach garden-based environmental education.  He quickly realized that Washington is the most beautiful state in the Union, and has been farming, teaching and designing landscapes there ever since.  He founded the Seattle Urban Farm Company in January of 2007 and still looks forward to planting potatoes every spring.  Colin is the author of two books High-Yield Vegetable Gardening published by Storey Publishing and Food Grown Right, In Your Backyard.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/08/05/270-colin-mccrate/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.

Spreading Education and support about an oft dismissed, yet devastating disease.In This Podcast: There is a disease spreading across the United States and other countries, unchecked and in many cases dismissed or ignored, at great physical, emotional and financial cost.  Sarah Schlichte Sanchez was infected in a state that supposedly did not have Lyme disease, so getting answers and help was almost impossible.  Now she spends much of her time helping others who need support and information about this ruthless illness. She shares her story here.Sarah contracted Lyme Disease as a teenager, however it took 17 years of pain and suffering before she received an accurate diagnosis.  Since starting treatment at the age of 37, she has devoted her time to help others cope with the daily struggles of living with a chronic illness.  She is an author, speaker, and entrepreneur, and together with her husband Aaron, produces a regular podcast called LymeVoice. Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/08/03/269-sarah-sanchez/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.

Assisting urban and rural farmers negotiate the maze of promotion and marketing.In This Podcast: When agriculture is a serious passion, then one way or another your path will probably lead you to a place like a state farm bureau.  Julie Murphree cares so much about helping farmers find ways to succeed that she wrote a book and tries to personally deliver them when she visits farms in her state. Her years of experience and her network of agriculture resources help her bring a bounty of ideas to new or struggling farmers, as well as to those who are ready to move up to the next level.Julie previously ran her own public relations & marketing firm supporting clients in the agriculture and technology industries before joining the Arizona Farm Bureau as the Outreach Director. She works with farmers and ranchers throughout the state to advance the importance of agriculture as a food security issue for our state and the nation.Julie is a native of Arizona, grew up on a cotton and alfalfa farm in Pinal County where she was in production agriculture with her parents until 2005. She is the author of two books, Fresh Air and A Farmer's Guide to Marketing the Direct-Market Farm published by the AZ Farm Bureau.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/08/01/268-julie-murphree/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.

Addressing the impact water scarcity will have on food resources on a national level.In This Podcast: Filmmaker and environmental planner Jim Thebaut has been working hard to educate others about serious issues involving the water-food nexus which can have a major impact on national security.  Although his upcoming film is regionally based, the consequences can have tremendous reach.  His message can be applied to any area and needs to be considered by all policy makers as they are faced with decisions that have lasting impacts.Jim is a former Regional Environmental Planner and was responsible for numerous Environmental Impact Statements, and Planning Studies in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Alaska. He is currently president and CEO of The Chronicles Group, a not-for-profit corporation focusing on educating the public through media about profound issues that affect both human and ecological systemsHe has written, produced and directed an array of prominent, socially significant productions, including “The Iceman Tapes,” A&E’s “Bad Cops,” and “Execution at Midnight.”His environmentally focused pieces include “Running Dry” a documentary regarding the worsening global humanitarian water crisis, along with its follow up “The American Southwest: Are We Running Dry?”, and “Beyond the Brink” a film on how food shortages like the one in California's San Joaquin Valley will lead to a National Security Threat (to be released Fall 2017).  Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/07/29/267-jim-thebaut/ for more information on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.

266: Jonathan Pereira on What is Beyond Sustainable. Creating a circular economy system with cooperating businesses for shared benefits.In This Podcast: Cooperating business that work together to succeed as they reduce the waste stream at the same time. While this might sound unrealistic, this concept is succeeding through a project in Chicago, and Jonathan Pereira tells us more about how it came about.  Plant Chicago is working to help bring the concept of circular economy into practice anywhere they can through education and inspiration. Jonathan holds a BS in Geology and a Masters in Science Education, and has worked as an informal science educator for over 15 years before joining the non-profit organization Plant Chicago.  He has developed numerous innovative programs including Greencorps Youth Program in Chicago, and Greentrack at Manhattan Comprehensive Night-and-Day High School in New York.  In 2012, he was nominated with his students from Global High School for the Zayed Future Energy Prize.As Executive Director, Jonathan is working to bring the circular economy to life inside Plant Chicago and outward to the neighborhood. He sees a future where businesses work together to ensure both the economy and the environment are thriving.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/07/27/266-jonathan-pereira/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.

Shifting a food-growing landscape into a more natural systemIn This Podcast: Learning about many different methods to garden, Kateen Fitzgerald kept going and learning until she found the program that put everything into place for her.  Now she teaches others about permaculture, dynamic designing, and working with nature to cultivate a landscape to a beautiful and productive result.  She talks about what can be gained from the many concepts of landscape design that has become her passion.  Kateen is a tree of many branches; she’s a design consultant, mentor, teacher, farmer, gardener, and mom. After 20 years of teaching and mentoring, she decided to create something more. In 2007, she purchased 40 acres of land near Port Townsend, WA and built Compass Rose Farms, a bio-intensive family farm and homestead.Two years later she began an internship program to teach modern homesteading, holistic animal wifery, and regenerative food systems. Effectively, converting the farm into a permaculture demonstration site, she then founded The Dirt Rich School, a nonprofit education program dedicated to “Empowering people to live in abundance and thrive in a changing world.”Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/07/25/265-kateen-fitzgerald/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.

Bonus Episode 3: Brendan Gaughran on Liver Health.Chat with an expert on Gut Health. In This BONUS Podcast: Brendan Gaughran was a podcast guest not too long before this interview which took place one evening as Greg invited him back to discuss gut health further and specifically focus on liver health. This is a variety of health and nutrition issues brought into an easy to understand perspective.Brendan holds a degree in Molecular Biology from the University of Connecticut and his MBA from Bentley University. He has spent 15 years in the Healthcare field and was an executive for a major nutraceutical manufacturer before starting multiple companies of his own, the latest being Liver Medic. He conducts health lectures to both physicians and the public. His research focuses primarily on gut health, liver health, endocrine system, adrenal fatigue and optimum diets.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/07/24/bonus-3-brendan-gaughran/ for more information and links on this bonus podcast, and to find our other great guests.

264: Anne Biklé on Microbial Roots of Life and HealthMapping the nutritional highway that connects healthy soil to healthy plantsIn This Podcast: The microscopic world of fungi and other soil organisms is crucial to the health of soil, plants and any being that lives off those plants. Biologist Anne Biklé understands the relationship between the lifeforms which create the microbiome that starts the food chains, and helps explain the basics in this conversation. Anne is a biologist and avid gardener whose wide-ranging interests have led her into watershed restoration, environmental planning, and public health.  She uses her broad background and endless fascination with the natural world to investigate and write about people and their environments. Anne is also a rampant plant whisperer, coaxing plants into rambunctious growth or nursing them back from the edge of death.  She uses her garden, a nearby traffic circle and sidewalk planting strip as places to watch plants, people, and their interactions.She co-wrote The Hidden Half of Nature: The Microbial Roots of Life and Health with her husband David Montgomery who was our guest on episode 259.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/07/22/264-anne-bikle/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.

263: Deanna Cook on Kids and Farmers MarketsCreating an early love of healthy foods and cooking through fun activities.In This Podcast: Encouraging kids to enjoy healthy cooking and eating is an investment in their future, and Deanna Cook has some activities to help make that a little easier and a lot more fun.  Working with kids, learning how they enjoy cooking, and helping them have fun in the kitchen has been a focus of hers since just after high school. She has used this experience to create several fun books to help parents teach healthy lifestyles early.Deanna graduated from college and received a Watson Fellowship to travel around the world and collect recipes from kids. This led her to write her first book The Kids' Multicultural Cookbook.Keeping her focus on kids and cooking, she has been the creative development director at FamilyFun, an editor at both Scholastic and Disney, and is currently the content director at Kidstir.com, and kids’ book and cookbook acquisitions editor at Storey Publishing.Deanna, has written dozens of award-winning books for kids including Baking Class, the best-selling Cooking Class, and Farmers Market Create-and-Play Activity Book.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/07/20/263-deanna-cook/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.

262: Bill Sadler on Nutrition to the Soil and PlantsDeveloping solutions for our growing mediumsIn This Podcast: Soil nutrition is not just a simple matter to Dr. Bill Sadler; it is so significant that feeding the life in the soil is central to the whole life cycle.  He explains the importance of healthy nutrition for the multiple families of organisms in the soil, as well as why different groups need different foods.  He also shares why noticing which weeds are growing can help you understand what is happening in your soil.Bill began farming at the age of eight, when under the watchful eye of his father, he both successfully managed his own tomato & vegetable stand selling his own harvests, and helped raise Nubian dairy goats on the family farm.When his family purchased a large farm in rural Missouri, he and his father developed a cattle operation and planted their own vineyard. His father’s pioneering influence and background in agriculture and sustainable farming led Bill to appreciate these methods long before they were considered “cool.”Bill earned his PhD in Biochemistry, and with skills as a proven problem solver, focuses on developing green and sustainable solutions for a wide range of products and services.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/07/18/262-bill-sadler/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.

261: Brigitte Mars on Natural First Aid Preparing a resource for quick response to emergency incidents with simple and natural ingredients.In This Podcast: She knew that she wanted to avoid needing doctors ever since she was very young. So, Brigitte Mars has spent her entire life learning about and using natural herbs, plants, and oils for health and the prevention and treatment of minor ails. She shares with us the essentials of a good first aid kit and several examples of first aid remedies.Brigitte is an herbalist and nutritional consultant of Natural Health with almost fifty years of experience. She teaches Herbal Medicine at Naropa University, and The School of Health Mastery in Iceland and has taught at Esalen, Kripalu, the Arise Festival and Mayo Clinic.Brigitte is the author of more than a dozen books and DVDs, including - The Home Reference to Holistic Health and Healing, The Country Almanac of Home Remedies, and her most recent book through Storey Publishing called Natural First Aid. She also created a wild plant reference app called iPlantGo to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/07/15/261-brigitte-mars/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.

260: Amanda Jordan-Starks on Vacant Land into Urban GardensNourishing a community and its youth through transformative garden programs on vacant properties.In This Podcast: Vacant lands can become whatever you see in them, and for Amanda Jordan Starks she sees potential. Potential for her community, and especially the youth that can grow and blossom by working the land and growing the food that nourishes the people that make up the community.  She tells us more about the programs that are working to make this happen in her area.Amanda is third generation Californian, raised in a small coastal town near the Oregon border. She went to the University of California, San Diego to pursue a degree in International Studies-Political Science, and obtained her Master's degree in Social Justice.  Amanda currently works with UrbanLife Ministries, and directs its youth outreach and community development activities.  Her love for growing food and serving youth came together when she began directing the UrbanLife Farms program which uses vacant land to grow local, healthy produce and provide job skills training to teenagers. Her favorite veggies are radishes and artichokes!Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/07/13/260-amanda-jordan-starks/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.

259: David Montgomery on Bringing Our Soil Back to Life.Using a geology background to understand regenerative soil processes.In This Podcast: Studying the surface formation of the earth usually means looking at geological processes taking place over long periods of time.  Geologist David Montgomery, however, became interested in studying more than just rocks and focused on something a bit more connected to life on earth and in the soil. As a non-farmer, his outsider’s perspective might help others understand the crucial processes taking place in regenerating this very necessary material for food production.David is a MacArthur Fellow and professor of geomorphology at the University of Washington. He is an internationally recognized geologist who studies landscape evolution and the effects of geological processes on ecological systems and human societies.An author of award-winning popular-science books, he has been featured in documentary films, network and cable news, and on a wide variety of TV and radio programs, including NOVA, PBS NewsHour, Fox and Friends, and All Things Considered.David has written two books on soil: Growing A Revolution: Bringing Our Soil Back to Life, and The Hidden Half of Nature: The Microbial Roots of Life and Health which he co-wrote with his wife Anne Biklé.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/07/11/259-david-montgomery/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.

Bonus Episode 2: Seed Chat June 2017A chat with an expert on Seeds, Bill McDorman In This BONUS Podcast: There is always a bounty of information available in conversations with Bill McDorman. This is the June 2017 episode with a Seed School Chat Class covering Seed School Online, de-hybridization, seed patents, 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.He authored the book, Basic Seed Saving, in 1994. In 2010, he and his wife Belle Starr created Seed School, a nationally recognized week-long training. He served as Executive Director of Native Seeds/SEARCH from 2011 to 2014. Bill is a passionate and knowledgeable presenter who inspires his audiences to learn to save their own seeds.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/07/10/bonus-episode-2-bill-mcdorman/ for show notes

258: Deb Burns on How to Get a Farming Book Published.Writing and publishing books for urban farmers, homesteaders and nature lovers.In This Podcast. Helping authors get published is what Deb Burns has done for more than two decades.  She explains a lot about the process and helps break it down and make it easier to understand for aspiring authors. If you have considered writing a book, this might help you get past some of those hurdles you’ve built.Storey Publishing is a prolific publisher of farming and gardening books.  Having roots going back to the 1970’s, their in-house editors and designers embrace the challenge of complementing each author’s work with book design, editing, and original illustration or photography to enhance the book’s distinctiveness and make it accessible as well as practical. We have had many Storey authors on our show and thought it might be great to get useful information on how to get your book published.Deb has been an Acquiring Editor at Storey Publishing for 23 years, where she oversees books on farming, animals, and nature.  She attended Bard College and UC Berkeley and currently lives in the beautiful Berkshires of Massachusetts. She loves making music and traveling the world and has authored books on history and travel. Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/07/08/258-deb-burns/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.

257: Laura Allen on Greywater Exploring low-tech, sustainable water solutions for urban homes and landscapes. In this Podcast: A determination to save money and help the environment was the beginning of a career in water conservation and education for Laura Allen.  She tells us why water solutions became so important to her, as well as gives us an understanding of what a greywater system is and why anyone can set up an easy one for themselves. There are many different options to customize a functioning system and she helps explain the differences.Laura has spent the past 15 years exploring low-tech, urban, sustainable water solutions, while earning a BA in environmental science, a teaching credential, and a master’s degree in education.  Plus, she participated in the CA and WA state greywater code development committee.   She puts this to use by presenting at conferences, leading classes and workshops on rainwater harvesting, greywater reuse, and composting toilets.Laura is the author of Greywater, Green Landscape, and The Water-Wise Home: How to Capture, Conserve, and Reuse Water in Your Home and Landscape. Both published by Storey Publishing.   She is also the co-founder of GreywaterAction.org, an education based organization that teaches people how to design and install greywater systems and was the 2014 recipient of the Silicon Valley Water Conservation Award of Water Champion.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/07/06/257-laura-allen/ for more information, photos and links on this podcast and to find our other great guests.

256: Tammi Hartung on the Versatility of Plants. Discovering amazing uses for herbs, weeds and other common North American plants.In This Podcast: Curiosity about the uses and benefits of plants led Tammi Hartung to do some pretty interesting research.  She has a significant knowledge base to pull from since she loves plants and has over 1200 varieties on her farm, yet she wanted to know more and shares a little of what she found.  There are some amazing surprises that blew our mind, let us know if you think so too.Tammi is an ethnobotanical herbalist, organic farmer, author and international speaker. She has been working with plants for more than 37 years.She and her husband, Chris, own Desert Canyon Farm, a certified organic farm in southern Colorado where they grow more than 1200 different varieties of plants.Tammi is the author of several books including the national bestseller Homegrown Herbs, The Wildlife-Friendly Vegetable Gardener, and her newest book Cattail Moonshine & Milkweed Medicine, Published by Storey Publishing.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/07/04/256-tammi-hartung/ for more information & links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.

255: Gianaclis Caldwell on Holistic Goat Care   Considering the whole picture of raising goats and their benefits.In this podcast: Raising goats in a holistic and nurturing manner is second nature to Gianaclis Caldwell.  She shares with us some uplifting and useful advice on caring for these unique farm animals, including the three most important things to know about them. She also tells how she and her husband started their dairy farm from scratch and off-the-grid, raised their family, and now they host guests who get to know the intricacies of goat farming. This is a great resource for anyone considering raising goats.In addition to actively managing their dairy goats, Gianaclis is the main cheesemaker, milker and owner of Pholia Farm, a licensed dairy located on 24 acres she grew up on in southern Oregon. Her farm is well known for its artisan, aged raw milk cheeses; classes on small-dairy, goat husbandry, and cheesemaking at all levels; and its off-grid, sustainable life-style focus.She is the author of many books including Holistic Goat Care, Mastering Basic Cheesemaking, The Small-Scale Cheese Business, and often writes and photographs for Culture – The Word on Cheese magazine. Gianaclis and her husband Vern own and run Pholia, where they are raising their daughters Phoebe and Amelia.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/07/01/255-gianaclis-caldwell/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.

254: Stephanie Tourles on Natural Ways to Repel InsectFocusing on natural options to create your own bug repellents.Due to the increasing concern about tick and mosquito populations spreading, as well as the diseases they carry, we pushed this interview to the top of our calendar.  Please share this interview with your friends in those areas that are high tick infestation areas, or those who just love the outdoors.In This Podcast: Years of studying skin care and natural ingredients has led Stephanie Tourles to put together several recipes for natural insect repellents. She shares some important information about using natural product recipes, as well as a recipe for a great smelling tick and mosquito repellent.   Stephanie has practiced and taught healthy living for more than 25 years.  She is a licensed holistic esthetician with a strong background in Western and Ayurvedic herbalism, has extensive training in the nutritional sciences, and is an avid organic gardener.Stephanie is also a certified aromatherapist, a nationally certified foot & hand reflexologist, and a professional member of the Alliance of International Aromatherapists.Currently residing in Orland, Maine, she is the author of twelve books the including Organic Body Care Recipes, Hands-On Healing Remedies, and Naturally Bug-Free all available through Storey Publishing. Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/06/29/254-stephanie-tourles/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.

253: Tony Kasowski on Farm TrippinTraveling across several states and profiling examples of amazing farms.In This Podcast: Chatting with friends on his social media about their farming activities and garden projects got to the point where Tony Kasowski decided he needed to just go see some of those farms and gardens for himself.  We hear his plans for this summer, when he is going on a road trip to see farms, where he will learn new things and share some knowledge & skills along the way.  The cool part is that he is going to share the adventure with the rest of his social media friends. Tony is Co-Founder and Principal Farmer at St Vincent de Paul Urban Farms in Phoenix, Arizona. The agricultural division to the charity provides food production, education, and revenue generation, and has produced over one hundred thousand pounds of fresh food to feed the working needy and homeless through five dining rooms in Arizona. The farm is also responsible for mitigating over one million pounds of food and landscape material through its composting initiatives.Tony is also the founder of GrowKale.com where he consults, educates, designs and builds ecological and chemical free edible spaces. His current project, Farm trippin is a cross country road trip showcasing ways to grow food mindfully, while featuring the individuals and their stories behind the farms. He will be sharing the journey through his website Farmtrippin.com and his informative Instagram @Tonygrowsfood.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/06/27/253-tony-kasowski/ for more information and links on this podcast and to find our other great guests.

Bonus Episode 1: Ask Jake and Greg. A Q&A session with two experts on Gardening and Fruit Trees.In This BONUS Podcast: Jake Mace the Vegan Athlete and Greg Peterson of The Urban Farm are both gardening educators offering classes, podcasts, and videos on a large variety of gardening topics. Every month they get together for a monthly gardening chat to discuss what is going on in their gardens and answer your questions.. This is the June 2017 Q&A episode with a variety of questions addressed from shade trees, mulching, fertilizing, soil amendments, watering, and much more. Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/06/26/bonus-episode-1-jake-and-greg/ for more information and links on this bonus podcast, and to find our other great guests.Episode 252.5

252: Ed Vaccaro on Hydration for Outdoor Pets and Small AnimalsCreating a product for animals that also helps plants and then getting it to market.In this podcast:  We learn about the motivation to create an ingenious watering device for animals which directs discarded water into useful watering for plants. Ed Vaccaro shares more than just how his unique product works, he shares how he was able to get it onto store shelves and make a new business from a great idea. Ed grew up in northern California during the 70’s. His parents were in the flower business and his uncle was in the plant business. His relationship with his family and their businesses influenced the direction he took in life. A keen animal lover from early childhood, he joined the famed animal husbandry organization 4-H.After working in the solar industry for a while in the 80’s, he eventually went back to his roots and launched his own plant business.  He quickly won accounts with two large grocery store chains and opened a store in the San Francisco Flower Market.These days Ed is the proprietor of HydroPet an automatic outdoor water bowl for pets – that periodically automatically refreshes itself while repurposing old water to nearby trees, shrubs and plants.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/06/24/ed-vaccaro/ for more information and links on this podcast and to find our other great guests.

251: Shane Jordan on Food Waste.Making recipes from those leftover ingredients that might have been tossed.In this podcast: Creating a delicious meal using cooking scraps that would have been tossed, or maybe even looked over when shopping, is something that Shane Jordan wants everyone to try. He explains this philosophy for us here and invites you to try things like his Banana Skin Curry.   Shane is a vegetarian chef and author based in Bristol, England.  He works as a part time chef at Arc Cafe while teaching cooking at Universities and Festivals. He has been described as a "pioneer" for this imaginative use of food waste in restaurants and has written a cookbook detailing his alternative approach, called Food Waste Philosophy.  In it he explains his concepts and shares many of his popular recipes.Shane has a passion for education, working in schools and spreading the green message – he is dedicated to showing that dealing with environmental issues can be a fun and interesting experience.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/06/22/shane-jordan/ for more information and links on this podcast and to find our other great guests.

Greg Peterson - 250th Episode Special Interviewing Farmer Greg himself - about his life mission and creating The Urban Farm.In this podcast: This is the 250th episode of The Urban Farm Podcast with Greg Peterson and the tables are turned as our guest host Jake Mace gets to take control of the interview.  Greg tells us his story, how writing a mission statement for a college assignment affected him, and why naming your farm is so important to him.  And, he shares more about the origin of The Urban Farm Nursery and of Urban Farm U.   Greg has lived at the Urban Farm for almost 30 years.  His 1/3-acre yard features an entirely edible landscape, including over 70 fruit trees, rainwater and grey-water harvesting, solar applications, and extensive use of reclaimed and recycled building materials.Greg is a longtime permaculture advocate, flunked out of university in 1981 because he was bored, then went back twenty years later to get a bachelor’s degree and a Masters in Urban and Environmental Planning in 2006 and is a lifelong continual learner.On his days off he hangs out in his garden with his sweetheart Heidi and their chickens, creating new projects and catching some rays.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/06/20/greg-peterson-250th-podcast/ for more information, photos and links on this podcast and to find our other great guests. 

249: Andrew Gunther on Humanely Raised Farm Animals Labeling for meats to show how the animal was cared for and prepped for consumption.In this podcast: We learn about how the way an animal is raised can make a difference, not only in the taste, but in how healthy the meat is for us as consumers.  Andrew Gunther explains why it is important to know this distinction and how to recognize it when making your buying selection at the store. Andrew is the Executive Director of A Greener World where he spearheaded the growth and development of the “Animal Welfare Approved”, or AWA, certification into what Consumer Reports calls the only “highly meaningful” food label for farm animal welfare, outdoor access, and sustainability.Andrew works to increase the availability of Certified AWA meat, dairy and eggs in traditional retail settings. He is currently a member of the U.S. delegation for the International Standardization Organization who is responsible for development of standards related to Animal Welfare.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/06/17/andrew-gunther/ for more information, photos and links on this podcast and to find our other great guests

248: Ellen Zachos on Wildcrafted Cocktails             Blending naturally wild flavors to delight the palate and stir up the conversations.In this podcast: The love of plants was a strong enough call to help Ellen Zachos leave the Broadway stage, and her love of food and flavors combined with plants led her naturally to wild foraging, and then to experiment with mixing cocktails.  Ellen has done a lot of research and testing to bring her foraging skills to the cocktail bar and here we learn a lot about mixing the right flavors to get a perfect drink.  You might just rethink your next hike to the mountain or the farmers market after this podcast. A former Broadway performer (she was once in the cast of Les Miz), Ellen is a Harvard graduate and has earned multiple certificates in horticulture and ethnobotany from the New York Botanic Garden. In her spare time Ellen is a garden writer, photographer, and lectures at flower shows & for garden clubs around the world.  She is the author of seven books including The Wildcrafted Cocktail and Backyard Foraging: 65 Familiar Plants You Didn’t Know You Could Eat both by Storey Publishing.Ellen was named a Great American Gardener by the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, has served two terms as a National Board Member for the Garden Writers Association and works with RemyUSA, teaching foraged mixology workshops across the US.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/06/15/ellen-zachos/ for more information, photos and links on this podcast and to find our other great guests.

247: Kim Lehman on Beekeeping for KidsHelping young beekeepers learn and grow comfortable with the hives. In this podcast: The next generation of beekeepers can be intrigued and inspired by fun activities dreamt up by Kim Lehman through her many years of honey bee education. She shares how she got started with bees and some of the interesting facts about bees and beekeeping.  There are some sweet points in the podcast!Kim has worked over 25 years as a honey bee educator, teacher, professional storyteller, musician, and author. She has presented hundreds of programs and workshops at schools, libraries, museums, nature centers, and festivals. Through her work, children have gained a greater understanding of the honey bee, nature’s tiny treasure.As part of her children’s column for Bee Culture Magazine, Kim began the Bee Buddies Club which now has members in every state. Years ago, she founded the American Beekeeping Federation Kids and Bees Program and directed this educational service about honey bees for the public at their annual conferences in 15 states. Her book Beekeeper’s Lab: 52 Family-Friendly Activities and Experiments Exploring the Life of the Hive was published this year.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/06/13/kim-lehman/ for more information, photos and links on this podcast and to find our other great guests.

246: Johannes Paul on Modern Urban Chicken Coops Engineering a new design for housing poultry and encouraging people to raise backyard chickens.In this podcast: When Johannes Paul and his engineering design classmates were challenged to come up with an idea for a class project, little did they know that design could be received so well.  A decade later they have a line of products for outdoor pets and small animals, and their design called out as one of the best British designs in the last 100 years.Johannes met his three friends James, Simon, and Will, at the Royal College of Art in London where they were studying Industrial Design.  In their final year, they designed a revolutionary new chicken house which made it simpler to keep chickens in gardens. It looked rather like an igloo and in a moment of punning genius, they named it the Egglu. They exhibited the first prototype at the graduation show and over 500 visitors expressed an interest to keep chickens in their gardens.  At that moment, they decided to move to Oxford and start a company to develop the Eglu. They created the company Omlet as a way for people to get closer to their food and improve their quality of life through sustainable intelligent design. Over the next 8 months they made over 20 prototypes which they tested with volunteers, each time improving the design.  They launched the first Eglu in time for Easter 2004.  Since then, the Eglu has been exhibited all over the world and was included in the Victorian & Albert Museum first major exhibition celebrating post war design to coincide with the 2012 Olympics alongside the Concorde and the E-Type Jaguar.  Omlet has grown from the original four founders to over 40 committed to encouraging people to discover the joy of collecting their own fresh eggs!Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/06/10/johannes-paul/ for more information, photos and links on this podcast and to find some of our other GREAT guests.

245: Willow Aldridge on Raising Quail Exploring the benefits of raising quail for meat and eggs In this podcast: After meeting this young woman at a local Urban Farm tour and finding out how, and why, she started her own quail meat and eggs business, we could not act fast enough to get Willow Aldridge’s interview scheduled.  She shares with us how she convinced her parents to let her start the business, and the challenges and the wonders of raising quail and selling the meat and eggs.Cricket is natural homesteader. Growing up in rural Idaho with a garden, a horse, and lots of home canned food, she brings those sensibilities to her suburban home in Phoenix. Add a little dose of cottage garden flavor and permaculture tendencies, and you’ll see why her blog, GardenVariety.Life is a reflection of everything she does. Cricket enjoys sharing skills that promote a meaningful and practical connection to our gardens and environment. Because so many residents of the metro Phoenix area are transplants like her, she finds that the area’s unique desert climate is often misunderstood and underestimated in terms of what is possible. That’s where the fun begins. Arizona is a burgeoning permaculture haven with homesteading written all over it, and there is nothing Cricket enjoys more than encouraging others to jump in and give it a try.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/06/08/willow-aldridge/ for show notes

244: Raymond Jess on Wicking BedsWatering up in the garden, and using physics to maintain proper soil hydration.In This Podcast:  We hear from Ray Jess, a man who loves to learn, and is enthusiastically helping others get excited about wicking bed gardens.  When he first saw a wicking bed at a fellow Master Gardener’s yard, he was intrigued and that started his deep research. From there he tinkered with an idea about how he could build one in his own yard, with a little improvement, of course. Now he has written an article for the Urban Farm and we hear the benefits of capillary action in his own words.After retiring from two careers, the Air Force and teaching, he pursued his love of food by graduating from the Phoenix Art Institute with a certificate in Culinary Arts. The highlight of his culinary experience was working as a chef for the 2007 Super Bowl at the University of Phoenix Stadium. Natural extensions for this self-proclaimed foodie were the completion of his Master Gardner training and his Certificate in Permaculture Design.A love of fresh foods and herbs kept him gardening for the last two decades.  During a volunteer component of his Master Gardner training, Ray discovered wicking garden beds. A man of curiosity and a seeker of ways to do things more efficiently, he embarked on a research project leading him to the Father of Wicking Beds, Collin Austin. As a result of Ray’s research, his backyard garden has evolved from rows of crops in a plot of ground and raised beds, to grow-buckets and wicking beds. He is currently keeping his eyes open for the next great idea to perfect his garden, so he can keep giving his family, friends, and neighbors fresh produce.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/06/05/raymond-jess/ for more information on this podcast and to find our other great guests.

243: John Rowden on Planting for BirdsDetermining which plants are best for specifically local ecosystems.In this podcast: We learn a little bit more about a national resource for nature lovers from John Rowden from the National Audubon Society as he talks about their new database for native plants. It makes a lot of sense that native plants would be appreciated by birds, and John shares how the interaction between plants and birds can be enhanced and appreciated by anyone willing to grow a plant in their area.John joined Audubon in 2009 when he was hired by the New York City chapter to direct citizen science and outreach throughout the city.   In 2013, he transitioned to the National Audubon Society, first working on the Toyota TogetherGreen program before becoming Audubon’s Director of Community Conservation in 2016.John’s work at Audubon has focused on engaging new audiences in the organization’s conservation efforts, personally and through Audubon’s extensive national network. He holds a PhD in Zoology from Duke University.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/06/03/john-rowden/ for more information and links on this podcast.

242: Laura Kelly on Healthy Bones through Whole Foods.Combating nutritional deficiencies and fighting off diseases through whole and natural foods.In this podcast:  Sometimes it is fighting for the health of a family member that prompts an understanding which in turn helps many other people.  In this conversation, Dr. Laura Kelly explains why she turned her attention to bone health, and what she found when looking for underlying causes to bone density loss.  Then as she was not content to just helping others understand bone health, she determined to help people take action to help themselves.Dr. Laura practices medicine based on principles of nature, using nutrients and natural medicines. This approach to primary care combines functional medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, and tools of Western medicine to build a complete picture of the body – and a plan for how to guide and assist in its return to health.She consults with patients in multiple countries and is based in Topanga, California.  Her first book is The Healthy Bones Nutrition Plan and Cookbook, Published by Chelsea Green which she co-wrote with her mother Helen Bryman Kelly.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/06/01/laura-kelly/ for show notes

241: Jared Gulliford on Millennial FarmersStarting a farm from scratch as an urban-raised millennial.IN THIS PODCAST: Being young and not having any land or farming experience did not stop Jared Gulliford from developing a plan and a dream to have his own farm.  He shares his story about how he came to the decision to pursue a living as a farmer, where he got his training and experience, and how he transformed his family’s properties into a farm.  Then once he got there he had to change the soil and he did this using elbow grease and old-fashioned techniques so that he would not have to use chemicals because he cares about what he sells. At the age of 25, Jared moved back to the land he grew up on to start a farm.  Gardening since he was a teen, he became interested in agriculture while at University. Now, he is striving to produce food to share with, and nourish, his community while teaching others along the way.Taking advantage of an opportunity when his sister and her family bought the land next to their parents, he’s attempting the multi-generational farm dream in the middle of suburbia. On degraded soil and with ten thousand dollars, he started from the ground up. Although Jared is the only farmer at this point, he hopes friends and family will join as the project becomes further established.Despite start-up expenses, infrastructure needs, vehicle repairs, and everything else; he survived, and the inaugural year of Earth First Farm was a success. He has a ½ acre market garden, and homestead quantities of livestock then he plans for the farm to evolve from a working venture to a place for education and reconnecting with nature. Jared is also the curator at Dr. Jim Duke's Green Farmacy Garden in Fulton, Maryland; a sanctuary with over 300 species of native and non-native medicinal herbs.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/05/30/jared-gulliford/ for more information and links on this podcast and to find our other great guests. 

240: Eve Sibley on Recording the Farm's ActivitiesCreating a history of the garden or farm to document what works best.Eve is a creative who studied painting in school, but it was her passion for activism which led her into gardening and farming. In 2006, when she turned 30, she left New York City and moved to a farm to clarify where she wanted to focus her activism energy. She became interested in gardening as a solution to many of the world’s ails and immediately learned square foot gardening.Eve has spent years setting up innovative gardens, mostly vertical, for different organizations in her travels through the USA, Costa Rica, and India. She came to believe internet technology could be utilized to help more people with their growing projects, and during her travels used her computer skills on attempts to find ways to connect and help gardeners around the world.Through her gardening work, and by volunteering on various farms, Eve recently found a need for improved garden record-keeping and she set out to build an app for that. The FarmFollow app is available in app stores and this is the first real season it is in use.In this podcast: We meet Eve Sibley who melded her determination to make a difference with a love of gardening to make an app that helps gardeners and farmers keep better records of their growing efforts.  Eve explains how she got the idea to make an app for growers, and how to make use of the free online tool to keep track of the daily tasks that can make a difference in each year’s crop results.  Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/05/27/eve-sibley/ for show notes

239: Pam Freeman on Chicken Raising RealitiesDiscussing the next level of raising your own chicks In this podcast: Chicken expert and poultry advice columnist Pam Freeman shares some great tips on getting started with raising your own chicks.  Her own adventure started with a little gift from the Easter Bunny, and now she helps others get comfortable with hens starting with the egg and raising chicks.Pam is the editor of both the Backyard Poultry and Countryside magazines. After she received four Silver Laced Wyandotte chicks from the Easter Bunny, her flock quickly grew and Pam launched PamsBackyardChickens.com.  In the years that followed, she hand-raised chicks, nursed chicks and chickens back to health, and experienced the entire lifecycle many times over.  Pam is also the resident "Ask the Expert" columnist for Backyard Poultry magazine and continues to write regular posts about chicken keeping and homesteading.  In her spare time, Pam loves to hunt for antiques, bolster her life list as a life-long bird watcher, plus tend her herb and perennial gardens that are set up to encourage local wildlife such as bees, butterflies and birds.  Her latest book is Backyard Chickens: Beyond the Basics. Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/05/25/pam-freeman/ for more information and to find our other great guests.

238: Mimi Arnold on Farm-to-Table, Resort Hotel Style Building food and garden resources for an ocean-front, secluded ranch hotel.In this podcast: We hear from Mimi Arnold, the gardener who is helping initiate a farm-to-table program at one of California’s beautiful coastal hotels. She explains how she has been working with the owners and the chef to help design and provide the resource gardens on the property. She is dedicated to preserving the environment and loves helping the Inn and its guests connect with nature as much as she can!Mimi is a visual artist and garden designer. After receiving her bachelors in Fine Art at UCLA's School of Art and Architecture, her ongoing interest in botanicals and green spaces fully surfaced; thus, she merged her artistic background with her love in all that is green and headed into the garden design industry. For over two years, Mimi worked for two specialty gardening companies in San Francisco, and contributed to projects for Google and Restoration Hardware.Currently, she is located on California's Mendocino coast where she works as the head ornamental & edible gardener for the Inn at Newport Ranch, as well as the ranch’s florist.  Here, she is involved with developing a farm-to-table food service for the inn, botanical styling throughout the interior, and providing weekly fresh florals-whether grown on site or foraged from the 2,700 acres of redwood forest.Food, flowers, and foliage, - the source matters; she’s doing her best to keep things local and maintain a mindful and sustainable practice.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/05/23/mimi-arnold/ for more information

237: Scottie Jones on Farm StaysExperiencing farm life at the source, a few days at a timeIn this podcast:  Moving to a farm gave Scottie Jones and her husband a new chapter in her life. Yet that story changed completely when she decided to open her farm to guests and realized there was no association or group available to help organize farms as a vacation resource. She tells us about how she decided to fix this and how she made FarmStayUS happen. Scottie is a woman of many talents.  She has an MA in Medieval Archaeology Plus an MBA.  She worked at Arizona State University for 11 years, was the Arizona franchisee for The Body Shop, and later Director of Retail and Host Services at The Phoenix Zoo.  Currently she is a sheep farmer at Leaping Lamb Farm in Oregon, a farm stay host, and the founder of FarmStay U.S. - a national travel site for farm and ranch vacations.  Building on the success of her own farm stay, she has made it her mission, via FarmStayUS.com, to raise awareness of the 1000+ working farms and ranches in the U.S. that offer overnight accommodations. For travelers, it's about experiencing farm life at the source, not just at the farmer’s market.Her feeling: it’s all about real food, real farmers, and living the lifestyle that built this nation - if only for a weekend.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/05/20/scottie-jones/ for more information on this podcast and to find our other great guests.

236: Roza Ferdowsmakan on Sourcing Food in the Digital Age.Helping foodies find chefs, and chefs find local farms, all through their phones.In this podcast:  We are excited to share this conversation with Roza Ferdowsmakan, someone who cares about building up the local food economy as much as we do.  Roza decided she could make a difference in her community by connecting foodies, culinary talents, and local farms through a specially design app.  It is with her new app that she hopes to give people culinary awakenings like the one she had as a young teenager.Roza wants to change the way people connect with food, with their communities, and with the earth. As a tech company founder, she has created a community-driven, farm-to-table mobile app called bites., set to be released in beta to the metro-Phoenix community in July.bites. is a marketplace app for foodies of all socio-economic levels to connect with and reserve personal chef services offered by homemaker cooks, culinary students, and professional personal chefs. These participating chefs are encouraged to source ingredients from local farms.These farms, whether they identify themselves as urban, micro, organic, co-op, family-owned, or simply small farms are encouraged to participate and gain visibility by visiting the bites. website and creating a farm profile prior to the July 1st beta release date so that their profiles will be up and running when the app goes live.Roza also just started a Phoenix area local meetup called "grassroots", intended to engage foodies, local culinary talent, local farms, and sustainability supporters in community events centered around sustainability and education, all part of the ethos behind the bites movement. Beyond "grassroots", she is working to co-organize and resurrect TEDx Phoenix for the local community.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/05/18/roza-ferdowsmakan/ for more information on this podcast and to find our other great guests.

235: Colin Walker on Keys to Growing Nutrient-rich Food Connecting important ecology-centered concepts for producing nutrient dense food.IN THIS PODCAST: Previous guest Colin Walker goes further into ecology-centered concepts and describes the key points he has developed to focus on growing better foods.  He has taken years of experience, research, and study and compiled it into six key focal points that will help any gardener or farmer produce healthier, more nutrient rich foods.Colin grew up in a rural community near Auckland, New Zealand, and learned the basics of growing by helping his grandfather maintain a small flower market garden.  Initially, he went to college to study economics, however after some course changes, he turned to interests a little closer to his roots.  He got involved in and has had leadership roles in several areas of natural agriculture including establishing the Permaculture Institute of New Zealand, taking on advisory and advocacy roles for seed preservation with independent & government organizations, and even served as a national coordinator of a National Organic Advisory Programme.Colin’s concentrations have been on permaculture, ecology centered design, seed preservation, conservation of traditional/heirloom food plants, garden education and most recently investigating (from an ecology perspective) the essential elements needed to guarantee that the food we grow is actually nutrient-rich.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/05/16/colin-walker-nutrient-rich/ for more information and to hear from our other great guests.

234: Ruth & Grace Pepler on AgritourismExperiencing life on the farm as a vacation destination IN THIS PODCAST: We meet two very special ladies in the mother-daughter team with Ruth and Grace Pepler who are helping us understand the concepts of Agritourism and Guest Farms. Ruth is inspiring with her story of transforming their small homestead into a very active community building resource and agriculture education resource in the guise of something akin to a bed and breakfast vacation spot.  Her daughter Grace is a delight as she shares her knowledge and passion of teaching kids of all backgrounds the joys of farm lifeRuth has been a registered nurse, private chef, and caterer, and has taught cooking classes, managed a farm, and homeschooled her daughter. She and her husband Thomas started their homestead near the Buffalo National River in Arkansas ten years ago.  Shortly after moving there, they bought the adjoining property and opened Dogwood Hills Bed & Breakfast; Which they call a “guest farm” offering their guests a chance to experience life on the farm in a relaxing atmosphere.At sixteen, and having grown up on the homestead, her daughter Grace has taken a lead role in the daily functioning, guest relations, and marketing of Dogwood Hills Guest Farm.  She is a wonderful agri-tourism ambassador speaking about Dogwood Hills and how it functions, with everyone from the local & county 4H, county chambers, multiple tourism conferences and she even did a personal tour for the Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture.Since opening they’ve added many more cows, goats and chickens, a fodder room of hydroponically grown barley, a “high tunnel” hoop house, a visitor friendly milking room, and they are currently adding a new certified kitchen. With a complete farm to table operation, Dogwood Hills Guest Farm helps people from all over the world experience life on a family-owned dairy farm.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/05/13/ruth-and-grace-pepler/ for more information, photos and links on this podcast and to find our other great guests.

233: Colin Walker on Gardening with Ecology at its HeartFocusing on a larger picture to understand how to effectively grow a good garden. In this podcast: Part one of two with Colin Walker, a long-time gardener and educator from New Zealand, who helps explain a gardening concept that brings the world into focus while looking at the garden bed. The decades of experience and know-how are evident in this conversation about how an ecology-centered viewpoint is so important to successful gardening.Colin grew up in a rural community near Auckland, New Zealand, learning the basics of growing by helping his grandfather maintain a small flower market garden.  Much later, he helped to establish the Permaculture Institute of New Zealand. In the 1980s and 90s, he spent time in the US, Australia, Ireland, and England. Returning home, he learned about the principles of ecology-centered design from Dennis Scott, an innovative designer, landscape architect, and resource management consultantColin’s focus then turned to the conservation of traditional/heirloom food plants in New Zealand. He spent 16 years supporting local and national seed preservation initiatives by practical "growing out" hundreds of seed lines, managing research projects, running internship programmes, and taking on advisory and advocacy roles for this issue with independent & government organizations.In 2010, he returned to Northland to create a long-term home for him, his wife, and five sons. With six years of research and experimentation completed, investigating from an ecology perspective the essential elements needed (and how to practically work with them!) to guarantee that the food we grow is actually nutrient-rich, Colin’s ready to share results!Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/05/11/colin-walker-ecology/ for more information and links on this podcast and to find our other great guests.

232: John Vespasian on Rational, Self-Reliant Living.Learning lessons of resilience from history.IN THIS PODCAST: We chat with John Vespasian about learning from the mistakes found in some of history’s interesting stories.  Not satisfied with what he could find in most books at the time, John decided he could do a better job and set out to write a book that he would like to read.  From there he has focused on researching history, learning new languages, and figuring out how certain cultures succeeded and how cultures failed to determine what should be done today to get the best results.John is a personal development author of eight books about history and psychology, including his latest book "Thriving in difficult times: Twelve lessons from Ancient Greece to improve your life today." As a lover of history, he is continuously studying and making notes about what he learns and has found many examples in the past that he feels can help people today.John has given many interviews around his research into what made the Greek society prosperous for 1,000 years, and what later became its downfall. Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/05/09/john-vespasian/ for more information, photos and links on this podcast and to hear from our other great guests.

231: Trent Lindsey on Converting to Plant Based Nutrition  Chronicling the transition to a vegan lifestyle and helping educate others.In This Podcast:  We hear from Trent Lindsey about what it was like to convert to a plant based diet or lifestyle.  Choosing to go vegan can seem intimidating, however Trent is helping others understand by sharing this journey and opening up about the transition and what he has experienced as he and his family made the changeTrent is the founder of GoPlantBased.info: a website and blog on a mission to improve our world, one healthy person at a time. His blog educates his readers on the health benefits of a Plant Based Lifestyle. He is devoted to fighting against preventable dietary diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes, to name a few.He and his family have enjoyed the benefits of a Plant Based Lifestyle since January, 2016. Since then, he has immersed himself in the teachings of the Mastering Raw Food Nutrition program led by Drs. Rick and Karin Dina. He enjoys sharing his journey to health with others and has a passion for educating omnivores, vegetarians and vegans alike on the basics of nutrition.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/05/06/trent-lindsey/ for more information and links.

230: Katie Hess on Blooming into Your Full Potential Connecting with nature to empower the natural self.In this Podcast: We are learning about a natural-medicine aspect of plant essences through this conversation with flower alchemist Katie Hess. This is a new way for us of connecting with nature, and leads us to understanding more about why we feel at home when we are in our gardens. Katie explains how flowers have such a significant effect on living beings and why working with nature’s gifts can improve our lives profoundly.Katie is a flower alchemist and the founder of LOTUSWEI, one of the world’s leading floral apothecaries. After 15 years of independent research of flower and plant-based healing, her flower-powered community is thriving in over 15 countries. Her transformative elixirs having been featured in O, The Oprah Magazine, The New York Times and The LA Times among others.A lifelong spiritual seeker, Katie has studied meditation and mindful-awareness techniques with several Tibetan Buddhist masters, including the Dalai Lama and the Kamapa, Tibet’s next generation leader.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2017/05/04/katie-hess/ for more information, photos and links