The Urban Farm Podcast with Greg Peterson

723: Bodacious Garden.A Rosie on the House Radio Show.In This Podcast:This is the January 2023 show discussing how to grow your own BODACIOUS edible garden.  Greg covers all the bases – sun, water, soil, and garden helpers.  Plant your garden where it will get just the right balance of sun and shade by determining your garden’s solar aspect and observing the light as it moves throughout your space each day and each season.  Seek out every drop of water available to you.  Before you default to the typical drip irrigation system, consider also harvesting grey water, rainwater and air conditioning condensate.  The next, and most important component is healthy soil.  You’ll want to be sure it contains all five of the following: dirt, airspace, water, organic matter, and living organisms.  Greg talks about how to improve soil that is lacking in any of these things.  And last but certainly not least, he explains how chickens and weeds make fantastic garden workers.   "Rosie on the House is a father and son weekly radio show on home-improvement advice that is found on several key Arizona radio stations. It is a trusted source of home-improvement advice and know-how. Rosie and Romey consider that an honor and a responsibility, a feeling that Greg shares."On the fourth Saturday of each month, Farmer Greg will talkabout all aspects of gardening and urban farming in the Arizona climates… Gardening Tips * Chickens * CompostingSmart Watering Tips * Fruit Trees * Seed SavingSonoran Desert Weather * Permaculture TidbitsCome join us for the next broadcast or catch up on our previous shows through our podcast episodes.  Either way you will expand your knowledge about growing food in the local desert and gain new perspectives on your food system.Visit www.urbanfarm.org/Rose23Jan for the show notes on this episode and broadcasting information!

Making a Little Side Income Growing Citrus in the Pacific NorthwestIn This Podcast:Do you wish you could grow citrus but live outside of California or Florida?  Donna Balzer is growing lemons in Canada and she loves to teach others how she does it.  She and Greg discuss all the juicy details, covering topics from the roots to the leaves.  Donna explains how she cares for her citrus trees in the harsher climate using some unique methods to protect them from frost.  In return, they give her a delicious harvest that is not easily found in her area, and even a little bit of income. Don’t miss an episode!visit UrbanFarm.Org/blog/podcast Donna Balzer is the co-host of the internationally aired HGTV show “Bugs & Blooms", a regular guest on CBC radio in Alberta, a very popular and inspirational public speaker around gardening, and the bestselling author of No Guff Vegetable Gardening.  She lives with her adoring husband in Qualicum Beach, B.C. with their puppy. She has two greenhouses, twelve grandchildren, three grand-dogs, four grand-cats and two grand-guinea pigs all spread across Alberta and B.C. Visit www.UrbanFarm.org/Podcast-by-episode-titles for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!Donna Balzer on Growing Lemons for Profit.urbanfarm.org/DonnaBalzer

Teaching people of all backgrounds about sustainably growing food (at the Guelph Centre for Urban Organic Farming)In This Podcast:Mike Smith studied political science with the intention of changing agricultural policy and making a difference from the top down.  As important as that s, he eventually discovered that he could make a bigger impact on the ground – literally, with his hands in the earth.  Now he works at the Guelph Centre for Urban Organic Farming in Canada, actually growing food and teaching others how to do the same.  In this episode, Mike talks about the positive impact this has had on his life and on the local food economy. Don’t miss an episode!visit UrbanFarm.Org/blog/podcast Mike Smith manages day-to-day farm operations, including planning and preparing materials for the cropping season, at the Guelph Centre for Urban Organic Farming, a one-hectare (that is 2.47 acres) learning and research facility within the Department of Agriculture at the University of Guelph. Here he works with stakeholders, recruits staff, supervises interns and volunteers, and plays a key role in enhancing educational and outreach activities.  Mike received his B.A. in political science with a focus in agricultural policy from McMaster University and post-graduate certificate in project management from the University of Toronto. His education and experience give him a solid background in organic vegetable production, from planting to post-harvest activities, which he is using to impact the community.Visit www.UrbanFarm.org/Podcast-by-episode-titles for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!Mike Smith on A Demonstration Organic Farm.urbanfarm.org/Guelph

Having the right tools in the right condition for our farming jobIn This Podcast:Gardening can be hard work, but it doesn’t have to be.  Chris Sabbarese explains how the right tool not only makes the job easier, but it also makes it safer for you and your plants.  He describes the difference between a bypass pruner and an anvil pruner, what to look for when choosing tools, and some easy things you can do to keep your tools in tip top shape.  Chris also shares his gift for storytelling, taking this inspiring episode much deeper than the humble gardening tool. Don’t miss an episode!visit UrbanFarm.Org/blog/podcast Chris Sabbarese is the marketing, communications and social media director for Corona Tools, a leading global brand and manufacturer of quality garden and landscape tools since 1928.  He joined the organization in 2010, and manages the brand experience with end-users across all forms of digital & print media.  Chris also serves as the executive director of GardenComm, a non-profit membership organization made up of green industry communications professionals. Visit www.UrbanFarm.org/Podcast-by-episode-titles for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!Chris Sabbarese on Tools and Farming.urbanfarm.org/CoronaTools

Researching the Changes Occurring in Our Food SystemsIn This Podcast:The grocery aisle appears to provide a whole buffet of choices, but who are the companies behind those choices?  Phil Howard has studied our current food system and discovered that there are a surprisingly small number of companies who are in control.  Who are these companies?  How much power do they have and what are they doing to keep it?  More importantly, what can be done about it?  Phil lifts the lid on the industry to reveal the fragility of our modern food system. Don’t miss an episode!visit UrbanFarm.Org/blog/podcast Phil Howard is a member of the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems and a professor at Michigan State University. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in Community, Food and Agriculture, and a graduate course in The Political Ecology of Food. Phil’s research focuses on the “food system” which involves all of the steps required to produce food and get it to our plates–from farming and processing to distribution and consumption. He is the author of Who Controls What We Eat? (2021) published by Bloomsbury Academic.Visit www.UrbanFarm.org/Podcast-by-episode-titles for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!Phil Howard on Who Controls What We Eat?UrbanFarm.org/PhilHoward

Picking the best indoor garden for your needsIn This Podcast:Angelo Kelvakis demystifies the hydroponic garden.  The right garden can be a great investment in your health and wellbeing.  Angelo helps take the guesswork out of choosing the garden that best fits your lifestyle.  He’ll teach you how to ask the right questions, identify the most important components, and research a system before you make a purchase, so you will continue to enjoy your garden and reap many benefits from it for years to come. Don’t miss an episode!visit UrbanFarm.Org/blog/podcast Angelo Kelvakis is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago where he studied environmental science and published research on nutrient uptake for plants. During this time, he also managed the Eco-Dome lab where he ran the aquaponics system which supplied fresh produce and fish to the Loyola Farmers Market. After graduating, he worked for several indoor farm companies helping them get start up, and finally was an early employee of Rise Gardens where he works today. At Rise, Angelo is both the Director of Research and Development, and a Horticulturalist where he is in charge of the Rise Lab focusing on nutrient design, plant growth research, and algorithm development.Visit www.UrbanFarm.org/Podcast-by-episode-titles for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!Angelo Kelvakis on Indoor Garden Systems.urbanfarm.org/RiseGardens

Growing and Saving SeedsIn This Podcast:Hassena Kassim returns to talk about the recent growth she is experiencing since moving from Arizona to North Carolina about 5 years ago.  She explains how growing and saving seeds for Sow True Seeds led her to the Organic Seed Alliance seed school and what she learned from completing the program.  Hassena admits to a newfound appreciation for beans as she shares interesting facts from their long and colorful history.  Don’t miss the fantastic seed resources mentioned in this episode!Don’t miss an episode!visit UrbanFarm.Org/blog/podcast Hassena Kassim is a mother and a newish farmer in Hot Springs NC.  She works the land with honeybees, chickens, dairy goats, gardens and several composting methods.  Hassena is a grower of seeds for Sow True Seed in Asheville, North Carolina and has recently completed the Organic Seed Alliance seed school. Visit www.UrbanFarm.org/Podcast-by-episode-titles for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!Hassena Kassim on Saving Seeds.urbanfarm.org/hassena

Staying Open to PossibilitiesIn This Podcast:In this special episode, Greg Peterson shares an update from his new home in North Carolina.  There are lots of exciting possibilities created by starting from scratch in a completely new and different place and Greg is taking the time to explore them all.  He also confirms that the Urban Farm programs are not going anywhere, and he replays the very first episode of the Urban Farm Podcast.Don’t miss an episode!visit UrbanFarm.Org/blog/podcast Visit www.UrbanFarm.org/Podcast-by-episode-titles for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!The Future of the Urban Farm and 000 Relaunch.

715: What is Happening in the World of Seeds.A Chat with an Expert on Seeds.In This Podcast:This is the December 2022 Seed Saving Class with Bill McDorman discussing what is happening in the world of seeds.  Bill recently returned from the 9th Session of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in New Delhi. He shares what he learned about how the world is protecting the genetic resources of smallholder farmers in the global south who contribute so much to the diversity and genetic pool of our precious seeds. At least ten times a year we have a live Seed Saving Class. Join the class! Register anytime for the next event.Register Here for the Seed Saving Class with Live Q&ABill McDorman is the co-founder of Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance, Seedsave.org, Seed School and the Great American Seed Up.  Bill has been teaching seed saving for decades and is dedicated to educating communities about the value of seed saving and local seeds as a foundation for a local food system.  Visit www.urbanfarm.org/seeds22dec for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!

Doreen Pollack on How Permaculture Changed Her Life.Integrating the "P" Word Into Everyday LifeDoreen Pollack took a permaculture course nearly 20 years ago and she has never looked back.  In this episode she explains how those concepts learned so long ago still influence every part of her life today.  She points out the positive impacts, not only on her garden, but on her thoughts, her actions, and especially on her daily interactions with the earth and the community of people around her.  Always eager to expand that community, Doreen shares her nuggets of wisdom and gently encourages everyone she meets to experience permaculture for themselves.Doreen Pollack has been a Master Gardener for over 18 years and has turned her urban lot in downtown Phoenix into a living example of what she teaches.  Her front yard now houses an edible garden where a bermuda grass lawn used to be.  Rainwater harvesting systems channel and store rainwater, compost piles supply needed amendments to harsh clay soil and creative plant locations maximize use of her urban lot. A Laundry to Landscape system uses washing machine output to water a 35-year-old grapefruit tree.  Doreen has taught hundreds of people about gardening through Master Gardeners, Mesa Community College, City of Tempe, and Rio Salado College, and has appeared on local news talking about gardening.  She loves to help people become better gardeners and stewards of the land.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2023/01/06/714-doreen-pollack/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!

Kathy Jentz on National Seed Swap Day.Promoting Biodiversity in Our Gardens and Farms.Kathy Jentz started National Seed Swap Day to officially celebrate and encourage something farmers and gardeners have been doing for hundreds of years – trading seeds.  She chats with Greg about the origins of the event, what happens at a modern swap, and what the many benefits are for both new and experienced gardeners.  (HINT: It’s not just about the seeds!)  Kathy provides valuable information for anyone thinking of attending or organizing a seed swap.Kathy Jentz is editor and publisher of the award-winning Washington Gardener Magazine, based in Washington, DC.  She is also the editor of three plant society journals: the Water Garden Journal, The Azalean, and Fanfare, and she hosts the popular GardenDC Podcast, which was recently named Best DC Podcast.  Kathy is co-author of The Urban Garden: 101 Ways to Grow Food and Beauty in the City and has a new book, Groundcover Revolution coming out soon, which is available for pre-order now on Amazon.   Her mission is to turn black thumbs green. A life-long gardener, Kathy believes that growing plants should be stress-free and enjoyable. Her philosophy is inspiration over perspiration.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2023/01/03/713-kathy-jentz/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!

Kathy Mortensen on Not Just Any Farmers Market.Managing a family-based, full-participation farmers market. We meet Kathy Mortensen who manages a community market from an entirely different state. The health focused market in Naperville, Illinois is growing with big events, strategic booth placement, and fun vendor-involved themes. We find out what she is doing to make it a successful event for the local community.Kathy grew up with nine siblings and had family meals every night.  Her mom was very sustainable and on an extremely tight budget, yet only purchased meat from the local butcher; and fresh fruits and vegetables were the norm.  Kathy’s husband started running the Naperville Farmers Market when the founder passed it on to him. Kathy took it over when he left his position at work, never expecting it to develop into what it is today.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/12/30/712-kathleen-mortensen/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!

710: Grain Culture.In This Podcast: This is the November 2022 class discussing Grain Culture! Heritage and ancient grains are taking center stage in all kinds of gardening programs and on tables across the country. Find out why these grains are easier on bellies, easy to grow and a lot easier to process than you may think. At least ten times a year we have a live Seed Chat.Some links from this class:The Grain Bundle at GASUBreadlab.wsu.eduHeritageGrains.orgDrip Tape Class - replaySeedSchoolOnline.comJoin the class! Register anytime for the next event. Register Here for the Seed Saving Class with Live Q&ABill McDorman is the former Executive Director of Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance, Ketchum, Idaho. He got his start in the bio-regional seed movement while in college in 1979 when he helped start Garden City Seeds. In 1984, Bill started Seeds Trust/High Altitude Gardens, a mail order seed company he ran successfully until it sold in 2013.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/12/16/711-garden-chat/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!

A chat with Greg, Janis, and Doreen.  The holidays are just around the corner, and we all love to share gifts from our heart with our friends and family. Join us as we share our ideas for some cool gardening gifts both from and for the garden. This is sure to be an inspiration filled class. Our team members Janis Norton and Doreen Pollack joined Greg in this fabulous brainstorming session.On the last Tuesday every month we host The Urban Farm Garden Chats where Greg Peterson has a relaxed conversation in a Zoom room with a special guest (or two) to cover useful gardening topics, and they answer questions from the live listening audience. To join us for the next event, go to www.GardenChat.org or Click HERE to register for the Monthly Garden Chat with Live Q&AOur Special Guest: Doreen Pollack is a member of the Urban Farm Team. She has been a Master Gardener for over 16 years. She has also turned her own urban plot in a downtown Phoenix Historic District into a living example of what she teaches.  Her front yard now houses an edible garden where a lush Bermuda grass lawn used to be.  Rainwater harvesting systems channel and store rain, compost piles supply needed amendments to harsh clay soil and creative plant location maximize use of this neighborhood lot. A Laundry-to-Landscape system uses washing machine output to water a 35 year old grapefruit tree. Editor's Notes: Check out our articles on Wicking Beds as this was a question in the chat tonight. www.urbanfarm.org/wickingbeds Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/12/16/711-garden-chat/ for show notes and links

709: Kathryn Wilking on Feng Shui in Our Spaces.Balancing the energies around us to create sanctuaries that we love.Greg chats with Kathryn Wilking to discover how feng shui concepts can be used in our home and gardens to enhance and beautify our spaces. She introduces three core concepts of this practice that she uses to help people and discusses the five earth elements giving us examples on how to bring the energies in for positive results. Finding balance in our spaces is key to boosting our productivity.Since 2012, Kathryn has been working exclusively as a Feng Shui Coach helping homeowners and businesses take charge of their space and learn to thrive, not just survive! Author of Practical Feng Shui For the Office, and host of the podcast “Feng Shui Your Day!” she teaches that Feng Shui is easy and practical while helping us create function & flow, boost productivity, and find the work-life balance.  Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/12/09/709-kathryn-wilking/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!

 Dr. Joel Fuhrman on Eating for Life.Using Nutrition To Prevent And Reverse DiseaseIn This Podcast: Joel Fuhrman, M.D. is a board-certified family physician, seven-time New York Times bestselling author and nutritional researcher who specializes in preventing and reversing disease through nutritional methods. At his Eat to Live Retreat in San Diego, CA, and through his books, television specials, and virtual speaking engagements, Dr. Fuhrman shares his life-saving nutritional protocols with hundreds of thousands of people around the world seeking to recover from obesity, food addictions, diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune disease, cancer, and other serious health concerns.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/12/02/708-joel-fuhrman/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!

Worm CompostingSimplifying Vermicomposting And Making It Easy For Anyone To StartA chance encounter at a farmers market led Greg to meet Steve Churchill, the creator of the worm bag he had recently bought. In this interview, Steve explains the reason he designed a new worm composting bag and explains many of the ins and outs of vermicoposting. Steve Churchill is the owner of the Urban Worm Company, a vermicomposting-related blog, online store, and manufacturer of the Urban Worm Bag. Through the Urban Worm blog, social media, and e-mail interactions with his readers, Steve is a joyful promoter of vermicomposting as a means to turn household and commercial waste into a highly valuable soil amendment. Steve is also a retired military veteran and a pilot for Southwest Airlines.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/11/25/707-steve-churchill/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!

A chat with Peter Burke.  It makes sense to keep our herb gardens close to our kitchens for easy access, and for some people that means gardening indoors. There are a variety of culinary options to our inside gardens and this month Janis stepped in to chat with Peter Burke to get some useful and inspirational tips for practical gardening indoors - with a focus on growing a fresh salad in only seven days.On the last Tuesday every month we host The Urban Farm Garden Chats where Greg Peterson has a relaxed conversation in a Zoom room with a special guest to cover useful gardening topics, and they answer questions from the live listening audience. To join us for the next event, go to www.GardenChat.org or Click HERE to register for the Monthly Garden Chat with Live Q&AOur Special Guest: Peter has been teaching gardening classes since 2006 when he started presenting workshops on Indoor salad gardening. He also teaches about square foot gardening, extending the gardening season, and more and supports the need for specialized seeds for indoor salad gardening. He is the host of In The Garden on WDVE radio Vermont. He lives with his family in Calais Vermont and is the author of Year-round Indoor Salads.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/11/18/706-garden-chat/ for show notes and links

705: How Do You Store Your Seeds.This is the October 2022 Seed Saving Class with Bill McDorman discussing how to store your seeds. The most asked question we get in all our educational programs is “How do you store your seeds?” Our quick answer is the mantra: keep your seeds cool, dark, and dry. But there are a few other tricks of the trade to make sure that your seeds will germinate year after year and not necessarily what is indicated on your seed packet. We’ll cover that as well so you can understand why seed packets have an expiration date of between 15 to 18 months.  At least ten times a year we have a live Seed Saving Class. Bill McDorman is the former Executive Director of Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance, Ketchum, Idaho. He got his start in the bio-regional seed movement while in college in 1979 when he helped start Garden City Seeds. In 1984, Bill started Seeds Trust/High Altitude Gardens, a mail order seed company he ran successfully until it sold in 2013.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/11/11/705-seed-chat/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!

Growing food while overcoming droughts, record rains and floods, and catastrophic fires.Clara is a 31-year-old Amateur Mycologist, mushroom grower, Beekeeper, and Chicken lady who is passionate about animals and the environment.  She is Hungarian-Australian and currently living in Australia, where she is President of the local Permaculture Central Coast group.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/11/04/704-clara-roza/ for show notes and links

Earth Friendly Potting Soil.Educating about soil and planetary health with peat free planting mix.In This Podcast:Justin “Jules” Giuliano may be a relative newcomer to the garden, but his love of the outdoors and his willingness to make mistakes have grown into a lifelong passion for the soil.  Combining that passion with his roots in education, he is a natural advocate for keeping our soils healthy.  Jules inspires us to carefully consider what we put into the soil… and what we take out.  Even his language is infused with his love of gardening!Justin "Jules" Giuliano is an organic farmer and educator with a background in vermicompost and natural farming. He is the lead soil researcher at Rosy Soil, a potting soil company based in Georgia. Prior to joining Rosy, Jules managed an urban farm in Atlanta, studied regenerative agriculture at the Rodale Institute and won a Cannabis Cup for his organic cannabis cultivation. In addition to Rosy, Jules manages the Tik Tok @SmokeYrGreens with over 250k followers where he educates his community about plant, soil, and planetary health.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/10/28/703-jules-giuliano/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!

A chat with Christy Wilhelmi. Now is the perfect time to get a 'kick in the pants' on starting back into our fall gardening. Christy Wilhelmi, frequent Urban Farm Podcast guest and author of Garden Variety, joins us for this month's Garden Chat to help dig into different aspects about one of the best times to garden.  She details her garden planning process and tells us what she likes to plant and how she decides when to plant it.  Christy also has plenty of tips for taking full advantage of this prime growing season no matter where you live.On the last Tuesday every month we host The Urban Farm Garden Chats where Greg Peterson has a relaxed conversation in a Zoom room with a special guest to cover useful gardening topics, and they answer questions from the live listening audience. To join us for the next event, go to www.GardenChat.org or Click HERE to register for the Monthly Garden Chat with Live Q&AOur Special Guest: Christy Wilhelmi is the founder of Gardenerd, the ultimate resource for garden nerds, where she publishes her newsletters, her popular blog, top-ranked podcasts, and YouTube videos. She also specializes in small-space, organic vegetable garden design, consulting, and classes. Between 70-80 percent of her family's produce comes from her garden of less than 300 square feet. She is author of Gardening for Geeks, 400+ Tips for Organic Gardening Success, Grow Your Own Mini Fruit Garden, and just released in February 2022 is her debut novel Garden Variety (William Morrow/Harper Collins).Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/10/21/702-garden-chat/ for show notes

701: Seed Starting Challenges.This is the September 2022 Seed Saving Class with Kari Spencer discussing seed starting.  There is nothing more satisfying than getting a jump on the gardening season by starting seeds in flats or in the ground.  What do we need to know to be successful?  Soil composition, temperature, moisture and light all determine whether we are jumping for joy from our efforts or crying out in despair.  How many times have we started seeds only to realize we created a wonderful sprouted bounty for our feathered friends?  Get a good start to starting seeds with some simple information and ideas for success.  A little attention will go a long way in making sure you lengthen your garden season and end up with healthy vibrant plants you started from seeds!  At least ten times a year we have a live Seed Saving Class. Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/10/14/701-seed-chat/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!

Helping People Share Seeds In Their CommunityIn This Podcast: Rebecca Newburn’s vision was to start seed libraries, not just locally, but all over the world.  To accomplish this goal, she created an easy roadmap for others to follow and then made it easily available to everyone.  Learn how important seed libraries are, how you can find one, and how you can make a difference by starting one in your community.  Rebecca generously shares her advice and offers us free step by step resources.  Rebecca Newburn is the Co-Founder of Richmond Grows Seed Lending Library, a free seed exchange located in the Richmond Public Library in Richmond, California where she lives. The “create a library” template she designed has helped hundreds of seed libraries launch around the world. She is the webmaster for SeedLibraries.net and the editor of Cool Beans! Seed Libraries Newsletter, an international publication supporting local seed projects.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/10/07/700-rebecca-newburn/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our podcast library!

Raising Public Awareness About the Dangers of Gene EditingIn This Podcast: Jeffrey Smith returns to the Urban Farm Podcast to talk about what he calls “GMO 2.0”, an easily attainable technology with the power to permanently change the genetic makeup of every living thing on earth.  The foods we eat are already being changed and we are already being affected in ways we don’t yet understand, yet there are no controls in place to ensure the changes are safe.  Jeffrey illuminates the very real dangers we face and tells us how we can fight back.Jeffrey Smith is a bestselling author, award-winning filmmaker and celebrated public speaker. He has influenced the behavior and health of millions of people worldwide through his books like Seeds of Deception, and Genetic Roulette, and his podcast Live Healthy Be Well. Jeffrey is the founding executive director of the Institute for Responsible Technology, which has started a global education campaign called Protect Nature Now with the documentary titled “Don’t Let the Gene Out of the Bottle”, which won a Telly Award.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/09/30/699-jeffrey-smith/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!Protecting the Microbiome.

Creating a Hopeful Future Through How We Manage Our WaterIn This Podcast: Andrew Millison, an experienced and enthusiastic permaculture teacher, announces his upcoming online Permaculture Water Summit.  He spells out the serious problems facing the world today, then shares his passionate belief that quick action by individuals can turn things around faster than any government.  In some parts of the world, deserts are already being turned into lush forests!  Learn how to attend this free summit and become part of the exciting changes to come.Andrew is an innovative educator, storyteller and designer. He founded the Permaculture Design education program at Oregon State University (OSU) in 2009. Andrew serves as an Education Director and Senior Instructor who offers 25 years of experience and a playful approach to regenerative design. In October 2022 – just a couple weeks after the release of this podcast, Andrew hosted a three-day Permaculture Water Summit; a free global summit created to share viable solutions for the water crises found throughout the planet.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/09/27/698-andrew-millison/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!The Permaculture Water Summit.

A chat with Suzanne Bontempo. In This Garden Chat: Bugs play a vital role in the health of an ecosystem, and with a little strategic planting, we can invite the "good" ones to join us in our own growing spaces. Join us as we talk with Suzanne Bontempo about planning ahead for bugs, how to recognize the difference between pests and beneficial insects, and how to encourage the ones we want for our garden ecosystems.On the last Tuesday every month we host The Urban Farm Garden Chats where Greg Peterson has a relaxed conversation in a Zoom room with a special guest to cover useful gardening topics, and they answer questions from the live listening audience. To join us for the next event, go to www.GardenChat.org or Click HERE to register for the Monthly Garden Chat with Live Q&AOur Special Guest: Suzanne Bontempo works as an environmental educator, teaching the principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for sustainable, eco-friendly pest management around the home and garden. Suzanne, owner of Plant Harmony and program manager for Our Water Our World was recognized for excellence in her field winning the 2013 CA IPM Innovators Award. She has worked as a professional gardener for over 25 years. She loves teaching folks how to grow bountiful gardens that are also safe and healthy for you, your family, and the environment.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/09/23/697-garden-chat/ for the show notes and links.

696: Cool Season and Warm Season Crops.A Chat with an Expert on Seeds.In This Podcast: This is the August 2022 Seed Saving Class with Bill McDorman discussing cool season and warm season crops.  Do we plant cool season crops in the fall and warm season in the spring? How is it that cool season varieties get sweeter as the weather gets colder? Can warm season crops last through blistering heat? Can we strengthen the genetics of any crop through selection and adaptation? Come play with us and find out the answers to these questions and more with Bill McDorman and Greg Peterson on Seed Chat.  At least ten times a year we have a live Seed Saving Class. Join the class! Register anytime for the next event. Register Here for the Seed Saving Class with Live Q&ABill McDorman is the former Executive Director of Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance, Ketchum, Idaho. He got his start in the bio-regional seed movement while in college in 1979 when he helped start Garden City Seeds. In 1984, Bill started Seeds Trust/High Altitude Gardens, a mail order seed company he ran successfully until it sold in 2013.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/09/16/696-seed-chat/for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!

Making Growing Fruit Trees Easy and Affordable for Beginners In This Podcast:Joshua Burman Thayer believes everyone can and should grow food, but with so much to learn, it is easy for a beginner to get overwhelmed.  Where do you start?  What do you really need?  Where should you spend your time and money to get the best harvest?  Joshua has used his experience with his clients to write the book he couldn’t find… a book especially for beginners.  He shares some tips from the book and gives us a preview of his next book.Joshua Burman Thayer has always had his hands in the earth as he has traveled extensively working with communities around plants and food. He started out as a W.W.O.O.F. volunteer on organic farms throughout Latin America, worked as a laborer on organic C.S.A. farms back home in California, apprenticed and worked in ecological landscape design, and did native plant field research with renowned mentors. With all that experience Joshua has become a lead designer and advocate for uniting ecology with aesthetic, creating beautiful, productive natural systems that work with nature to foster bounty.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/09/09/695-joshua-thayer/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!Food Forests for First Timers.

Making a Connection Between Jazz and GardeningIn This Podcast: Like many people during the pandemic, Elizabeth “Lizzy” Shapiro suddenly found herself at home staring at an empty calendar.  To fill the time, she turned her attention to decorating the unattractive cement spaces outside her home.  One potted plant led to another and another, and they grew into a gardening obsession which, at first, seemed so different from her jazz roots.  But the deeper she dug into gardening, the more she discovered that nature held lessons that transposed beautifully into music.  Lizzy's garden changed not just the view outside her home, but also her view of the world.Elizabeth "Lizzy" Shapiro is a screenwriter, actress and musician. As a screenwriter, she has created TV shows alongside Hollywood heavyweights like Ben Stiller and Joey Soloway, as well as creating and starring in "The Crossroads of History" which received 2 Emmy nominations.As a musician, she trained as an opera singer and is currently the front woman of Lizzy & the Triggermen. Dubbed "10-piece jazz sensations" by LA Weekly, the band's debut album, "Good Songs for Bad Times," hit #3 on iTunes Jazz Charts (just behind Miles Davis).Their music simultaneously transports you to a prohibition speakeasy while feeling arrestingly modern, thanks to the powerhouse vocals and songwriting of Lizzy. Their eerily prophetic original song, "Dance Song (for the End of the World)" garnered international press for its music video which featured dancers all over the world at the beginning of lock down. The band has been forging exciting new paths for modern big band and swing music: headlining some of the top music venues in the country, opening for the UK rock band Squeeze, and being selected as Official Artists of SXSW.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/09/02/694-lizzy-shapiro/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!Discovering Music in a Container Garden.

Worms Are People TooIn This Podcast: When his previous industry ground to a sudden halt, Paul Horner decided to farm worms, and this unusual decision turned his life in a completely unexpected direction. His enthusiastic appreciation for the humble worm has fueled a passion for educating others about the value of these tiny creatures, creatures that can magically turn food waste into one of the best plant foods on the planet.  Paul openly shares his story, encouraging us to have positive feelings not just about worms, but also about ourselves.Paul Horner is a worm farmer, published children’s book author, and Co-Founder of Our Silent Partners - a grass roots effort focusing on transforming waste diversion into chemical-free soil amendments. An organic gardener and avid composter for over 20 years, Paul has only recently been awakened to what he calls “the true magic that is vermicomposting”.  His first book, an illustrated children’s book titled “Worms Are People, Too”, was published in April 2022.  He is a member of the U.S. Composting Council, the North Carolina Composting Council, and the Carolina Farm Stewards Association.  Paul currently resides in Harrisburg, NC with his wife and three children.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/08/26/693-paul-horner/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!Paul Horner on Vermicomposting.

A chat with Scott Murray. In This Garden Chat: Watering your gardens is a step that we all need to do. Fertilizing is just as important, although sometimes not as easy to remember. Both of these chores can be done in a variety of ways and too many choices might prevent us from starting. Join us as we chat with our friend and mentor Scott Murray about combining those two processes into one easy step to minimize our energy output and boost our harvest and garden health. Fertlizing with your irrigation is the solution to many gardening and orcharding questions.On the last Tuesday every month we host The Urban Farm Garden Chats where Greg Peterson has a relaxed conversation in a Zoom room with a special guest to cover useful gardening topics, and they answer questions from the live listening audience.To join us for the next event, go to www.GardenChat.org or Click HERE to register for the Monthly Garden Chat with Live Q&AOur Special Guest: Scott Murray has 48 years of organic agriculture production experience in the United States & Mexico.  He has served in a wide variety of roles within conservation, food production, and environmental leadership, including as an elected California conservation official for the last 27 years.  Scott also specializes in farmland preservation projects utilizing smart growth principles.  These days his primary work is on farm creation and consulting, including his work on a farm growing coffee in southern CA which had its first harvest and sold out in one day...at an unbelievable $796 a pound.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/08/19/692-garden-chat/ for show notes and links.

691: Seed Harvesting. A Chat with an Expert on Seeds.In This Podcast: This is the July 2021 Seed Saving Class with Bill McDorman discussing seed harvesting.  Before you know it, all your crops will be going to seed. Rather than deadhead and “clean everything up,” learn how to be your own best seed detective. What are the characteristics of the plants from which you should be saving seed? How do you decide when and how to harvest your seeds? What are some simple strategies that can be applied to most plants when saving for seed? What are the benefits from saving your own, locally cultivated and adapted seed? Bill McDorman is Executive Director of Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance, Ketchum, Idaho. He got his start in the bio-regional seed movement while in college in 1979 when he helped start Garden City Seeds. In 1984, Bill started Seeds Trust/High Altitude Gardens, a mail order seed company he ran successfully until it sold in 2013.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/08/12/691-seed-chat/ for the show notes on this bonus episode, and access to our full podcast library!

Setting an urban farming goal and then making it a reality.In This Podcast:When Dr. Jolene Kuty and her husband were ready to start planting on their bare new property, they spent a lot of time planning what they wanted to do in the space and how they wanted it to look in 10 years.  They wisely took even more time to plan the space accordingly.  Now, 10 years later, hear how they are enjoying the fruits of their labor, both literally and figuratively, and proving that the best time to plant a tree really is 10 years ago!Chiropractic physician and health educator, Dr. Jolene Kuty, built an idyllic sustainable urban farm as a role model for her patients and her family. Her home and on-site chiropractic office is surrounded by 800 square feet of raised organic vegetable gardens and over 20 trees from the Urban Farm fruit tree program. They live, work, and play on a half-acre in the city where their five children swing beside seedlings and are surrounded by fresh growing fruit. They eat farm-to-table, sharing recipes and inspiration with all who visit.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/08/05/690-jolene-kuty/ for show notes and links.Creating a 10-Year Vision.

An Ask a Farmer Session with One of Greg's Mentors.In This Podcast:Scott Murray shares his four-step plan for starting a farm.  If you have gardened, you have likely learned how to grow a thing or two, and maybe you are considering stepping it up and becoming a farmer.  Do you know how to start a farm?  What does it take to go from gardener to farmer?  What questions should you ask before you start and where do you find the answers?  Start right here with the answers and inspiration you’ll find in this session!Gardening advice and inspiration from a mentor.Even those of us who have been farming for decades can gain insight and inspiration when we have a more experienced farmer as a mentor.  For Greg, one of those people is his good friend, Scott Murray.  One of the best things about Scott is that he is so willing to help others learn how to grow food successfully.  Every now and then we'll have a live Ask a Farmer webinar where the audience can submit questions for Scott to answer.This podcast episode is a recording of one of those sessions with information so good, we couldn't help but share!Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/07/29/689-scott-murray/ for show notes and links.Scott Murray on Being a Farmer.

A chat with Don Titmus.  In This Garden Chat: The biggest and most basic concern when maintaining a garden is water.  In these uncertain times of drought and rising costs, how can you ensure your garden will not wilt just when you need it most?  Don Titmus shares his secrets for finding free water right where you are, no matter where you live.  Using his expert tips, your garden will be stay green and healthy, and you will be a better steward of our most precious resource.  Best of all, watering your garden will be easier than ever!The Water Harvesting Summit mentioned in this episode was amazing!  Click HERE for the replays...and a lot more! On the last Tuesday every month we host The Urban Farm Garden Chats where Greg Peterson has a relaxed conversation in a Zoom room with a special guest to cover useful gardening topics, and they answer questions from the live listening audience. To join us for the next event, go to www.GardenChat.org or Click HERE to register for the Monthly Garden Chat with Live Q&AOur Special Guest: Don Titmus grew up in London and at age 16 spent 4 years being trained in horticulture through an apprenticeship and a college course. From there he continued landscaping in his hometown until he moved to Arizona in 1981, where he worked in landscaping and then started his own business in garden maintenance.  In 2003 he attended a Permaculture Design Course, which was life-changing for Don. He knew right away that this was the path he’d been waiting for, and later attended two Permaculture Teacher Trainings.  He co-founded the Phoenix Permaculture Guild, started a Permaculture design company, redesigned his home site into a permaculture design destination, and helped develop a thriving permaculture community in the Phoenix, Arizona area. He has presented in 5 cities, worked in several states, attended classes in 5 states, and pretty much lives and breathes permaculture.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/07/22/688-garden-chat/ for show notes and links.

687: Squashes, Summer & Winter.A Chat with an Expert on Seeds.In This Podcast: This is the June 2022 Seed Saving Class with Bill McDorman discussing squashes.  Help! How can we tell the difference between summer and winter squashes and why is it important? What are the challenges with cross-pollination and why don’t the three different species of squash cross? And what are they? What are the pitfalls of planting and planning for harvest? So many questions and so many answers can be found on Seed Chat with Greg and Bill. At least ten times a year we have a live Seed Saving Class. Join the class! Register anytime for the next event. Register Here for the Seed Saving Class with Live Q&ABill McDorman was Executive Director of Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance, Ketchum, Idaho. He got his start in the bio-regional seed movement while in college in 1979 when he helped start Garden City Seeds. In 1984, Bill started Seeds Trust/High Altitude Gardens, a mail order seed company he ran successfully until it sold in 2013.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/07/15/687-seed-chat/for the show notes on this bonus episode, and access to our full podcast library!

Spending a year eating only what they could catch, grow, harvest, or raise.In This Podcast:Have you ever wondered what would it be like to eat for an entire year without stepping foot in a grocery store? Sure, our ancestors did it, but can we? Chris Hall and Stef Lowi decided to take advantage of the sudden changes in their lives and find out. They had almost no experience, simply learning how as they went along, but they progressed from surviving to thriving. By the end of the year, Chris and Stef found that their relationships with food, themselves and each other had changed in some unexpected ways.When the pandemic first hit, Chris Hall and Stef Lowi found themselves without jobs, living on a small island, while grocery stores were running out of items, and supply chains were breaking down. They asked themselves “What would happen if things got worse? Could we survive without grocery stores?” They decided to take a 365 Day Challenge and find out. Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/07/08/686-chris-hall/ for show notes and links.Lovin Off the Land.

Extracting Great Resources from Our SeedsIn This Podcast:You plant seeds, save seeds, share seeds, and even eat seeds, but still there is more you can do with those seeds!  In this podcast, Bevin Cohen explains how to press seeds and nuts to make your own oils.  Are you considering the next step on your journey towards self-sufficiency or looking for healthy oils to use in your kitchen?  Maybe you just need a new way to use some of those seeds you have saved?  Bevin provides the information and inspiration you need to get started.  It’s easier than you think!Bevin Cohen is an author, herbalist, seed saver and owner of Small House Farm in Michigan. He offers workshops and lectures across the country on the benefits of living closer to the land through seeds, herbs, and locally grown food. Bevin is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications including Mother Earth News, Hobby Farms Magazine, and The Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company catalog. He is the author of four books, including Saving Our Seeds, The Artisan Herbalist and his highly anticipated new book, The Complete Guide to Seed & Nut Oils.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/07/01/685-bevin-cohen/ for show notes and links.Bevin Cohen on Seed & Nut Oils.

683: Pollinators & Wildflowers. A Chat with an Expert on Seeds.In This Podcast: This is the May 2022 Seed Saving Class with Bill McDorman discussing planting wildflowers.  A diverse and integrated garden requires many different elements. Top on that list are pollinators and wildflowers. If you have a robust flower component to your cultivated gardens, so much of the extra workload is handled by these workhorses as they attract beneficial bugs and increase harvests. Learn how to plant wildflowers and how they impact the beauty and functionality of your garden or farm and create healthy eco-systems that are balanced and regenerative. At least ten times a year we have a live Seed Saving Class. Join the class! Register anytime for the next event. Register Here for the Seed Saving Class with Live Q&ABill McDorman is Executive Director of Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance, Ketchum, Idaho. He got his start in the bio-regional seed movement while in college in 1979 when he helped start Garden City Seeds. In 1984, Bill started Seeds Trust/High Altitude Gardens, a mail order seed company he ran successfully until it sold in 2013.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/06/17/683-seed-chat/ for the show notes on this bonus episode, and access to our full podcast library!

Doing the hard work of setting up a strong communityIn This Podcast:Turn your vision for a successful community garden into a reality using the ten-step plan laid out by Christine Lance in this episode.  It is no surprise that gardening skills are a plus, but what about planning, land, and funding?  How do you develop collaborations, build relationships, and get the support that will be required to keep the project going and growing?  Listen as Christine provides the answers to set any community garden on the path to success.Christine Lance started gardening in her 20’s and her knowledge went deeper after completing the Master Gardener class at Colorado State University (CSU). To help complete volunteer time required at CSU, she helped to build the first community garden in Ridgway, CO and then expand it from 7 members to the 137 that are served today. 2022 will be Christine’s 13th year with the Ridgway Community Garden (RCG).    Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/06/10/682-christine-lance/ for show notes and links.Planning, Building, and Maintaining a Community Garden.

Home gardens are more efficient and effective than the industrial food systemIn This Podcast:David Fisher talks about what he has learned during the recent lockdowns about the productivity of home gardens versus the industrial food system. He studied in depth about the differences between two distinct sources of our food, as well as some of the external costs of the industrial food system.  David is primarily a botanist. He received a B.S. in Biology from North Carolina State University, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Botany from the University of Wisconsin.  He then served as a research scientist at the USDA Forest Experiment Station in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, and was a Humboldt fellow at the University of Gurtingen, Germany. Prior to joining the faculty of Maharishi International University (MIU), he was a professor and researcher at the University of Hawaii.  Since leaving MIU, he now devotes his time to sustainability research and writing.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/06/03/681-david-fisher/ for show notes and links.David Fisher on Growing it Yourself.

Greg interviews Megan Baxter about her new book. Join us as we meet this delightful guest and learn about her journey to write a memoir about growing up on a farm.Megan has won numerous national awards, including a Pushcart Prize. Her work has been listed in The Best American Essays of 2019. She serves as a mentor to young writers and loves developing cross-genre and innovative creative writing pedagogy for her workshops and classes. She lives in New Hampshire where she loves walking her dogs, running and cooking with local foods from her permaculture homestead. She teaches writing at Colby-Sawyer College and Southern New Hampshire University, and is starting her own small farm where she will put to use more than 20 years of organic farming experience. Megan is the author of Farm Girl: A Memoir published by Green Writers PressVisit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/05/27/680-megan-baxter/ for show notes and links.Finding Where You Belong.

A chat with Michael Moore.  In This Garden Chat: Instead of starting a new crop in your gardens with tired old soil, consider boosting the potential yield and health of the crops by rejuvenating the soil each season. In this Garden Chat we talk with permaculture gardener and practitioner Michael Victoria Moore about how to boost the health of the ecosystem housing the roots of your plant babies. Michael, Greg and co-host Janis Norton also answer some soil questions sent in during the live chat.On the last Tuesday every month we host The Urban Farm Garden Chats where Greg Peterson has a relaxed conversation in a Zoom room with a special guest to cover useful gardening topics, and they answer questions from the live listening audience. To join us for the next event, go to www.GardenChat.org or Click HERE to register for the Monthly Garden Chat with Live Q&AOur Special Guest: Michael Victoria Moore is a Permaculture Consultant and Practitioner living in Alberta. After watching Geoff Lawton videos on YouTube, she attended workshops, lectures, and films, read all that she could on the internet, and started picking up books on anything permaculture.  The more she read, the more she realized that this was her course in life. Michael signed up to take her Permaculture Design Certification Course and what a game changer that was! Since then, the momentum has never stopped.  She attended the International Permaculture Conference and Convergence in Amman Jordan, with over two hundred delegates from around the world, including the co-founder of Permaculture himself, Bill Mollison. Then she studied with Doug Weatherby, the Soil Doctor with the renowned organization, The Soil Foodweb. Michael’s company, Genesis Permaculture, Regenerative Landscape and Design has been in practice for the past 11 years. As a Practitioner and Designer of regenerative systems, Michael and her company help people grow their own food and create self-sustaining landscapes that are vibrant and full of life.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/05/20/679-garden-chat/ for show notes and links.

678: Seed Saving Myths.A Chat with an Expert on Seeds.In This Podcast: This is the April 2022 Seed Saving Class with Bill McDorman discussing seed saving myths.  A myth is an idea or story that is believed by many people but that is not true, according to Webster’s Dictionary. Seed saving myths are plentiful and often are motivated by large corporations to increase seed sales and profits. You can’t save seeds to hybrids. You need lots of chemical inputs to grow successful seed crops. Seed saving is hard and should not be attempted by amateurs. You need a lot of space to save seeds. In this Seed Chat, Bill and guest host Janis Norton debunk these myths and others. They will help you understand the origins of these stories and how they have become part of our general narrative.  At least ten times a year we have a live Seed Saving Class. Join the class! Register anytime for the next event. Register Here for the Seed Saving Class with Live Q&ABill McDorman is Executive Director of Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance, Ketchum, Idaho. He got his start in the bio-regional seed movement while in college in 1979 when he helped start Garden City Seeds. In 1984, Bill started Seeds Trust/High Altitude Gardens, a mail order seed company he ran successfully until it sold in 2013.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/05/13/678-seed-chat/ for the show notes on this bonus episode, and access to our full podcast library!

Knowing a Thing or Two Dozen About Raising Hens and Collecting EggsIn This Podcast:Eggs are an important and readily available food source, and they are so very versatile.  Rediscover the humble egg with returning guest, Lisa Steele as she talks about her newest book, The Fresh Eggs Daily Cookbook.  She also tells us a bit about the process of writing the book, as well as what she feels has contributed to her success as a blogger, and her expansion into television.  Even if you don’t have chickens, you will love the tips Lisa shares in this episode!Lisa Steele is a fifth-generation chicken keeper and founder of the popular blog, Fresh Eggs Daily. Referred to as Queen of the Coop, Lisa traded in her life on Wall Street for life on a farm in rural Maine, where she has kept chickens for more than a dozen years. Having written a number of books on raising and caring for chickens, Lisa is a trusted source for all things chicken and egg. Her latest book is “The Fresh Eggs Daily Cookbook: Over 100 Fabulous Recipes to Use Eggs in Unexpected Ways” published by Harper Horizon and just released in February 2022.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/05/06/677-lisa-steele/ for show notes and links.Lisa Steele on Cooking with Eggs.

A chat with Kari Spencer.  In This Garden Chat: Did you know that keeping a garden journal can help you to grow bigger and better vegetables? Kari Spencer, author of City Farming and Vegetable Gardening Journal & Logbook, will discuss the kinds of records that are important to keep, how to plan, and what to log anecdotally in a garden journal. She will share her personal record-keeping style, as well as tips about various journaling methods and technologies. Discover how planning and journaling can make you a better gardener with less stress over time.On the last Tuesday every month we host The Urban Farm Garden Chats where Greg Peterson has a relaxed conversation in a Zoom room with a special guest to cover useful gardening topics, and they answer questions from the live listening audience. To join us for the next event, go to www.GardenChat.org or Click HERE to register for the Monthly Garden Chat with Live Q&AOur Special Guest: Kari Spencer is a popular local gardening & homesteading speaker. As a Master Gardener and a Master Farmer, she enjoys sharing her passion for growing and raising food with others. In addition to teaching classes all over the city of Phoenix, she is the creator of Urban Farm U’s Growing Food the Basics & Backyard Livestock courses. She and her family operate The Micro Farm Project, a small farm in North Phoenix, where gardens and livestock animals provide her family with fun and food. Kari is the author of Vegetable Gardening Journal: A weekly tracker and logbook.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/04/29/676-garden-chat/ for show notes and links.

675: Seed Dehybridizing.A Chat with an Expert on Seeds.In This Podcast: This is the March 2022 Seed Saving Class with Bill McDorman discussing seed dehybridizing.  We love hybrid vigor and what hybridized seed can offer. The only downside to using hybridized seed is you can’t save it. Wait a minute. What if you found out that isn’t true? That you could capture the best traits hybrid seed offers and develop seed that would reproduce like its parents, in other words, true to type? Learn the tricks of the trade to dehybridize your favorite hybrid plants and have lasting seed stock you can save! At least ten times a year we have a live Seed Saving Class. Join the class! Register anytime for the next event. Register Here for the Seed Saving Class with Live Q&ABill McDorman is Executive Director of Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance, Ketchum, Idaho. He got his start in the bio-regional seed movement while in college in 1979 when he helped start Garden City Seeds. In 1984, Bill started Seeds Trust/High Altitude Gardens, a mail order seed company he ran successfully until it sold in 2013.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/04/22/675-seed-chat/ for the show notes on this bonus episode, and access to our full podcast library!

Bringing a 365-Days-a-Year Local Food Solution to Everyone.In This Podcast:In the last of five special daily episodes, we hear from Liz and Lem Tingley, whose passion for health and sustainability led them to Growing Spaces.  They fill us in on how they came to be the new owners of the business, the amazing impact their geodesic Growing Domes are having on the communities where they are installed, and the sense of personal fulfillment they have experienced in running the business.  Their excitement is contagious as they also describe their hopes and plans for the future of the Growing Domes and Growing Spaces.Lem Tingley graduated from Colorado University Boulder in Mechanical Engineering and has been working for Colorado based manufacturing companies for the last 25 years focusing on his core values which revolve around efficiency, superior quality, exemplary customer experience, and conscious business practices. Liz Tingley graduated from Kennesaw State University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and worked in the healthcare industry for over 27 years.  She joined the Growing Spaces team full time in January of 2021 taking on Marketing, Sales, and Human Resources responsibilities. In April 2018 they acquired Growing Spaces, a Colorado-based manufacturing company making innovative and environmentally friendly products. They were excited to promote sustainable and healthy lifestyles through the manufacturing and installation of the Growing Dome greenhouses which can thrive in any part of the world so that anyone can grow their own local food 365 days a year.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/04/15/674-liz-and-lem/ for show notes and links.Geodesic Greenhouses of Growing Spaces.

A Couple of Friends Who Are Transforming Their Disadvantaged Community.In This Podcast:In the fourth of five special daily episodes, we hear from Wallace Kirby and Boe Luther who have made it their mission to transform life and land.  Their non-profit community garden in Washington D.C. was awarded a Growing Spaces growing dome which they plan to use as both an educational classroom and a way to increase the amount of food they can give back to the community.  You will be inspired by their transformational stories, especially their own.Don’t miss an episode! visit UrbanFarm.Org/blog/podcast  Wallace Kirby is a product of public housing in Washington DC and claims to be a survivor, thriver and transformer of disadvantaged communities.  He is the senior co-founder of the Hustlaz 2 Harvesters Applied Research Garden.Boe Luther is the other co-founder of the Hustlaz 2 Harvesters. He was born and raised in Washington DC and is a returning citizen who is focusing on transforming lands and lives for the disadvantaged.Visit www.UrbanFarm.org/Podcast-by-episode-titles for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!Wallace Kirby and Boe Luther on Hustlaz 2 Harvesters.