The Urban Farm Podcast with Greg Peterson

We are continuing the conversation on the evolutionary and truly remarkable tower gardens with our guest today Troy Albright founder and CEO of True Garden in Mesa, Arizona. He started True Garden, a solar powered greenhouse that spans 5000 square feet, designed to drastically reduce water consumption by 90% and use 90% less space than a conventional farm.Check out our show notes at https://www.urbanfarm.org/2016/01/21/troy-albright/

She grew up gardening and farming. She had a farm and edible landscaping when she lived in Washington State. Then she moved to Arizona - Climate culture shock! After a couple of years, she gave up. She no longer had the energy to do it well. Until last spring, when she walked into True Garden in Mesa, Arizona, where she discovered the Tower Garden.Check out our show notes at https://www.urbanfarm.org/2016/01/19/renata-chalmers/

Today, we are meeting with Sheri Menelli, a fellow podcaster and an Earth Friendly Homeowner and member of the Secrets of Soil Society. Sheri has a green garden group and teaches people how to turn their lawns into a drought-tolerant landscapes. Sheri wanted to create a podcast because “I know if we just had a way to get out some of the information that we knew out to the public, we’d have less pollution in our water, healthier soil and less damage from droughts and floods.”Check out our show notes at https://www.urbanfarm.org/2016/01/16/sheri-menelli/

Christal is a writer, horticulturist, and cook. She spent many years in permaculture and interior scaping. Now, she blogs, with ongoing posts about how to start a garden from seed. She also includes recipes using techniques and ingredients that you can afford - all real food - good for you too!Check out our show notes at https://www.urbanfarm.org/2016/01/14/christal-blessin/

Benjamin Fahrer is joining us today on the Urban Farm Podcast. Ben is the owner and operator of Top Leaf Farms and has over 18 years of organic farming experience. Prior to starting Topleaf farms a year ago, Ben worked with Josiah Cain, a well-known landscape architect known for vertical systems. Ben was called in to consult on a new project: To design and convert a living roof into a food roof.

The Snarky Gardener (AKA Don Abbott) is a gardener, blogger, author, educator, speaker, reluctant activist, and permaculture practitioner from Kent, Ohio. He became the Snarky Gardener, living in a rental property, when he had been a gardener for just a short time, but he had been snarky and sarcastic his whole life. In today's episode, Don discusses permaculture, Hugelkultur (a fascinating concept), and gardening while renting.Check out our show notes at https://www.urbanfarm.org/2016/01/09/don-abbott/

Today on the show we talk to Diane Kennedy of Finch Frolic Garden, a food forest habitat and demonstration site in San Diego County.  Diane is a former Senior Park Ranger, tour guide for the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, librarian, independent baker, and a long-time vegetarian, organic gardener, freelance writer, and activist.  Along with her daughter Miranda, she lectures, gives tours of her food forest, consults, designs and in all ways promotes permaculture. Check out our show notes at https://www.urbanfarm.org/2016/01/07/diane-kennedy/

Peter Burke is the author of Year-Round Indoor Salad Gardening. He has been teaching garden classes since 2006, when he started presenting workshops on Indoor Salad Gardening, Square Foot Gardening, Extending the Garden Season, and many more. He also started TheDailyGardener.com to support the need for specialized seeds for Indoor Salad Gardening. Peter believes that with nothing more than a cupboard and a windowsill, you can grow all the fresh salad greens you need for the winter months (or throughout the entire year) with no lights, no pumps, and no greenhouse.Check out our show notes at https://www.urbanfarm.org/2016/01/05/peter-burke/

Have any food-related resolutions for 2016? I sure do, and Haley Cloud is an amazing example for foodies everywhere. Today on The Urban Farm Podcast Haley talks about Living Raw By Grace and her experience with a raw food diet.Check out our show notes at https://www.urbanfarm.org/2016/01/02/haley-cloud/

20: Matt Gordon on Rogue Farm Corps and Cully Neighborhood GardenMatt is an urban farming rockstar in Portland, Oregon. He not only is in charge of Cully Neighborhood Farm's CSA, but also the chapter coordinator for Rogue Farm Corps, a non-profit dedicated to training the next generation of farmers through hands-on farm internships in Oregon. Check it out!Check out our show notes page at https://www.urbanfarm.org/2015/12/31/matt-gordon/

Justin is dedicated to making the world a better place and it shows in all that he does. In today's episode, Justin shares how he has reached out to 36,000 students in 30 states through Compass Green, a school garden on wheels. From three years as a monk in India to living and working on a schooner in Hawaii, to working as Co-Director of Programs in Japan for the David Lynch Foundation, he has always pursued work for the betterment of humankind and the environment. In 2009 and 2010, Justin helped found the Green Belt Team for teaching Biointensive sustainable farming in developing nations, and set up the mini-farm site for their internship on California’s Mendocino Coast.Check out our show notes at https://www.urbanfarm.org/2015/12/29/justin-cutter/

18: Bill McDorman on Playful Plant BreedingToday on The Urban Farm  Podcast we have Bill McDorman to talk about seeds and playful plant breeding! 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 weeklong training. He served as Executive Director of Native Seeds/SEARCH from 2011 to 2014.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 weeklong 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.To find more links and resources for this podcast go to   http://www.urbanfarm.org/blog/2015/12/26/bill-mcdorman/ 

David Burns and Austin Young talk about the placement of fruit trees throughout urban spaces as a means to cultivate community and food security. Fallen Fruit is a collaborative art project that began in Los Angeles in 2004 with mapping public fruit–fruit that grows on or over public property. Our projects include diverse site-specific artworks that embrace public participation. Fallen Fruit’s art works encourage the public to experience their city as a fruitful, generous place, inviting people to engage in sharing and collectively explore the meaning of community and collaboration through public participation and exhibition projects. Check out our show notes at https://www.urbanfarm.org/2015/12/24/david-burns-and-austin-young/

Today on The Urban Farm Podcast we Jim Dennis from Farm Phoenix, a featured farmer here to expand on his urban farming journey. Jim was raised on a farm that had one foot in the past and one in the future. Leaving that place, he spent a long time in cities and the corporate world, and eventually returned to his roots. Jim’s business is to help people learn the ways of gardening and adapting to a sustainable lifestyle.Check out our show notes at https://www.urbanfarm.org/2015/12/22/jim-dennis/

15: Casey Hay on Gardening as a Tool for Special EducationToday on The Urban Farm Podcast we have Casey Hay to talk about gardening as a tool for special education and student partnerships! One of Casey’s personal missions is to educate our up-and-coming generations with knowledge that is attainable for all learning styles. She currently works in a self-contained Special Education classroom at Curry Elementary in the Tempe School District. She has introduced the "Kindness Matters" garden project, which she originally created in 2013, to the school Special Ed program. This program builds self-confidence and pride in the students by walking them through all the steps of planting and maintaining a garden from seed, also providing the opportunity to connect general education and special education students together. Check out our show notes at https://www.urbanfarm.org/2015/12/19/casey-hay/

James is the author of two nonfiction books, including My Backyard Jungle: The Adventures of an Urban Wildlife Lover Who Turned His Yard into Habitat and Learned to Live with It. In his writing he explores what it means to be human in the natural world. His work has also appeared in print and online in The New York Times, The Atlantic, National Geographic and Conservation as well as numerous other publications, and he has appeared on a variety of national public radio shows. Jim currently serves as a creative and environmental writing professor at the University of South Carolina.Check out our show notes at https://www.urbanfarm.org/2015/12/17/james-barilla/

Table top farming of edible insectsKatharina grew up raising chickens, cows and horses on the border of Austria and Hungary. Noticing the dramatic state of our food system while living in Hong Kong, she is now determined to ‘design nature for humans’ and her first product that she is developing with her company Livin Farms is the world’s first tabletop device for edible insects. Katharina is a Fulbright alumna and an award winning industrial designer.In this podcast: Think bugs are disgusting to eat? Think again! Did you know that mealworms are edible AND one of the best sources of protein out there? It sounds crazy, but when you listen to this podcast with Katharina Unger from Livin Farms, you might just be converted. Listen today as award-winning industrial designer Katharina shares her latest project: the world’s first tabletop device for edible insects.Check out our show notes https://www.urbanfarm.org/2015/12/15/katharina-unger/

Julian was born and raised in Bakersfield, California. After graduating from college he experimented with various entrepreneurial projects and eventually found his niche in urban farming and self-sustainable technology. He started his first garden after a year of preparation and was soon motivated to expand his work to include more urban farming projects. He is currently preparing to build a self-sustainable micro-farm. In this episode of The Urban Farm Podcast, Julian shares about the successes and struggles that come with being a self-starter and urban farming beginner.Check out out show notes at https://www.urbanfarm.org/2015/12/12/julian-jacquez/

11: Scott Murray on Avocado FarmingScott has 42 years of organic agricultural production experience in the United States and Mexico. He has a multitude of experience with conservation, food production, and environmental leadership—including serving as an elected California Conservation official for the last 22 years and president of South Coast Resource Conservation and Development Council. Scott also specializes in farmland preservation projects utilizing Smart Growth Principles. He joins us today to share his experience and talk about avocado farming.Check out our show notes at https://www.urbanfarm.org/2015/12/10/scott-murray/

Julia McGuire has kept bees in her backyard since 2008 and expanded to keeping bees in other people's yards in 2013. She coordinates her local bee club, and currently works for the Iowa Honey Producers Association as an agency relations specialist and belongs to its District 4 Education Team. She joins us on today's show to share tips on natural and successful beekeeping.Check out our show notes https://www.urbanfarm.org/2015/12/08/julia-mcguire/

Today's guests are Barry and Catherine Cohen from Together 24/7--a fun and informative podcast that talks to entrepreneurial couples that live and work together 24/7. They talk about the value of bartering as a community solution. Tune in to hear what they've learned from over 10 years in the bartering business.Check out our show notes for more links and resources at https://www.urbanfarm.org/2015/12/05/barry-and-catherine/

8: Lisa Steele on Fresh Eggs DailyAfter graduating from college and doing a short stint on Wall Street, Lisa Steele returned to her rural roots and is now living on a farm in Maine with her husband, their flock of chickens and ducks, two dogs, and a barn cat. A fifth generation chicken keeper, Lisa encourages others to raise their own chickens naturally without using antibiotics or chemicals. Also an aspiring herbalist, she incorporates herbs, weeds and edible flowers into the daily care of her flock and shares this advice on her blog and Facebook page, Fresh Eggs Daily. She has also written a book by the same name—which she’s here to talk about today—and a sequel called Duck Eggs Daily: Raising Happy, Healthy Ducks.!Check out our show notes for more links and resources at https://www.urbanfarm.org/2015/12/03/lisa-steele/

Michael Olson joins us on The Urban Farm Podcast to talk about his experience in agricultural consulting and avocado farming. Michael cultivated his first crop at the age of six and has since been all over the world with his work. Michael also joins us today to share his 2x2 Pledge... listen in to find out more!Check out our show notes for more links and resources at https://www.urbanfarm.org/2015/12/01/michael-olson/

6: Paul Dysinger on Winter Growing on a BudgetPaul Dysinger is the founder of Born to Grow and the brand new Garden Launch membership community where he enjoys teaching people how to grow their own healthy, nutrient dense, organic food. He lives with his family on Bountiful Blessings Farm where they serve the community year-round with fresh veggies, herbs, and berries. Paul joins us from Bountiful Blessings Farm in Tennessee to share some winter growing techniques that will protect your plants without leaving you broke! Paul is the founder of Born To Grow and the brand new Garden Launch Membership Community. Find out more about his work, winter growing on a budget, and his Garden Launch Membership Community in this podcast!Check out our shownotes for more links and resources at http://www.urbanfarm.org/blog/2015/11/28/paul-dysinger/

Have you ever wondered what urban farming really is? In what ways does urban farming add value to your life and community? In this episode of The Urban Farm Podcast, you'll hear from various special guests including Jason Mraz who address these questions in terms of their own urban farming experiences.Check out our show notes for more links and resources at https://www.urbanfarm.org/2015/11/26/what-is-urban-farming/

4: Chad Hudspeth on Aquaponics for Commercial to Hobby GrowersChad Hudspeth joins us on The Urban Farm Podcast to discuss his background in agriculture and his work in Aquaponics. He shares valuable information about Aquaponics, which is the art or practice of growing fish and plants together in a closed-loop water system, and ways that listeners can start or improve their very own system. In addition to teaching online and in-person classes on Aquaponics, Chad is also founder of Endless Food Systems, which provides turn-key modular Aquaponic kits for commercial and hobby growers. Chad has appeared on national television, several radio shows, and many magazines, and teaches the Urban Farm U "Aquaponics Revealed" online course. You don't want to miss this conversation!Check out our shownotes for more links and resources at https://www.urbanfarm.org/2015/11/24/chad-hudspeth/

Today's show features Kari Spencer of the Microfarm Project in Phoenix, Arizona. She shares what her journey was like to create a successful monetized farm and why she's passionate about her local food system. Kari is a rockstar and you'll love hearing about what drives her!Check out our shownotes for more links and resources at https://www.urbanfarm.org/2015/11/10/002-kari-spencer/

Jake Mace is an urban farmer in Tempe, Arizona. He is known for integrating lessons on health and agriculture, and teaches farming and martial arts classes. Jake also has a YouTube channel where he discusses life as a gardener and a vegan athlete, and shares practical tips for others to share in his success.Check out our shownotes for more links and resources at https://www.urbanfarm.org/2015/11/05/001-jake-mace/

Introducing The Urban Farm Podcast with Greg Peterson! In this episode you'll hear from your host about his urban farming journey and why he's excited to present this new urban farming podcast as a resource for you! Prepare to be connected with tools, tips, tricks, and information as you grow in confidence and connections, and grow your own food.Check out our shownotes for more links and resources at https://www.urbanfarm.org/2015/11/05/000-welcome-to-the-urban-farm-podcast/