The Urban Farm Podcast with Greg Peterson

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.

Sharing the Passion of Gardening into the Community Starting at Home.In This Podcast:In the third of five special daily episodes, we hear from Andrew Trujillo whose seeds of inspiration were planted in him as a child.  When those seeds began to sprout as an adult, he watered and nourished them by connecting with and learning from lots of other gardeners.  Andrew now uses his Growing Spaces growing dome to pass those seeds of gardening inspiration on to others in his community by building more gardens and providing fresh vegetables to neighbors in need.Andrew Trujillo is a husband, daddy, veteran, friend, and neighbor with  a deep-rooted desire to grow, who thrives when working in the soil.  He has helped build gardens at all the schools in Bayfield, Colorado as well as the local food bank and his local church. Andrew uses a lot of permaculture techniques as well as hugelkultur in his garden designs.  His own personal garden has an 18-foot Growing Dome, where he shares about the benefits of this earth-friendly greenhouse.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/04/13/672-andrew-trujillo/ for show notes and links.Andrew Trujillo on Hobby Gardening in a Greenhouse.

Engineering a Growing Community.In This Podcast:In the second of five daily special episodes, we hear from Eric Andrews, who is using a forty-two-foot Growing Spaces growing dome to educate and inspire the members of his Detroit community.  Eric’s excitement is contagious as he shares the incredible story behind the nonprofit he cofounded and tells us how the dome will contribute to its mission in a new way.  He describes the buzz created in the community as the dome was being built and talks about the challenges encountered along the way, both frustrating and amusing.Eric Andrews was born and raised in Detroit, MI. He is the current Executive Director and co-founder of Peace Tree Parks a 501(c)3 Nonprofit Organization. Eric is a Ferris State University Alumnus that majored in Mechanical Engineering Technology. He is currently employed as a Sr. Product Engineer at American Axle Manufacturing, and he is a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.Peace Tree Parks was founded in 2015 with the mission to increase the access that Metro Detroit residents have to fresh organic produce by converting vacant land into community gardens.  They reach their community through a residential and community garden program. These programs work together and are designed to reach those in need regardless of race, age, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/04/12/671-eric-andrews/ for show notes and links.Eric Andrews on Peace Tree Parks and Community.

Creating a sustainable greenhouse business in the 90’s.In This Podcast:In the first of five special daily episodes, we hear from Puja and Udgar Parsons, the founders of Growing Spaces.  They give us a peek inside their geodesic dome greenhouse kits, detailing how they work and describing the features that improve upon a traditional greenhouse.  Udgar explains how the dome’s shape is an extension of his permaculture principles and love of nature, and Puja inspires us with stories of their determination to share the joy of healthy, garden-fresh vegetables year-round with as many people as possible, despite the growing pains they experienced as entrepreneurs.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/04/11/670-puja-and-udgar/ for show notes and links.Growing a Green Business.

There’s More to Gardening Than Merely Keeping Pests at Bay.In This Podcast:Christy Wilhelmi returns to tell us about her latest book, Garden Variety, a novel set in a community garden.  She explains why she wrote the book and shares a little bit about the process, then she introduces us to the characters and even narrates a page or two.  As expected, Christy weaves some amazing gardening tips into her novel and our podcast.  Don’t miss her announcement about a new gardening course and her plans for future novels!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/2022/04/08/669-christy-wilhelmi/ for show notes and links.Christy Wilhelmi on Garden Variety – a Novel.

Understanding the Importance of Keeping Grounded While Trying to Make a DifferenceIn This Podcast:We talk a lot about agricultural practices, climate change, and the global food supply, and the news is not always great.  Rebecca Ruda reflects on the anxiety this can cause and reminds us that just as the problems of the world deserve our attention, so does our mental health.  She provides tips for recognizing anxiety symptoms and openly shares her own experience.  Then Rebecca offers simple but useful strategies for continuing the work of advocating for nature without doing harm to ourselves.Rebecca Ruda is a wife, mother, mental health therapist and urban farmer. When not endlessly pulling bindweed from her strawberry patch, she enjoys hiking in the nearby mountains with her family. She is currently at work on her first novel.  As an Urban Farm podcast listener, we have invited her to share her story.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/04/01/668-rebecca-ruda/ for show notes and links.Mental Health and Urban Farming.

Highlighting Entrepreneurs with Strong Moral Standings and an Understanding of Regenerative Practices.In This Podcast:When we think of permaculture, we immediately think of farms, gardens and homesteads, but Joshua Prieto broadens our perspective.  These principles are so universal, they can (and should!) be applied to more than just our gardens.  Joshua explains his unique programs that teach entrepreneurs how to grow regenerative businesses from the ground up, rather than creating businesses that simply apply regenerative practices.Joshua Prieto is the Co-Founder and Director of the Seeds of Tao learning platform for regenerative entrepreneurs. He has over 10 years of experience creating, building, and operating startup solutions alongside entrepreneurs of all shapes and sizes. That experience has shown him that entrepreneurs have the biggest role to play in the Anthropocene as we either create the solutions for, or become the root problem of, our people, planet, and future. Josh now co-creates educational programs that disrupt the current way our entrepreneurs learn. His holistically designed educational programs empower entrepreneurs to stop chasing “silver-bullet” solutions and start designing solutions that use regenerative systems.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/03/25/666-joshua-prieto/ for show notes and links.Empowering Regenerative Businesses.

In Part 2 of this special 3 part series, Greg Peterson reflects on the upcoming move from the Urban Farm in Arizona, to a new, yet to be named farm in North Carolina.  He talks about the factors leading up to the move and the criteria for choosing the new location."Well, the news is out and there are big changes in my life. Heidi and I are moving, and this is not a little move. We are transporting ourselves 1900 miles to our dream home in Asheville, North Carolina. Lots more to come about our landing place in the ‘future’ part of my writing. I want to assure you, however, with our team in place (Janis, Tayler, Theresa, Ray, Renee, Bill, Belle and Kari) all of our programs will continue into the future just like they have for over 20 years. And for those of you that expect to see me on the ground in Phoenix – you still will for the Fruit Tree Program events and the Seed Up. To begin my journey I thought I would review the Past of the Urban Farm, visit the Present and the biggest question I get…why are you moving?, and speculate on the Future of our new space.  Here is a little teaser, we are moving mid-April 2022 to a quaint little town 10 miles from downtown Asheville, North Carolina.  We found our ‘dream farm to be’ on 4 acres that is exploding with possibilities, way too many for me to choose right now."For more information visit www.UrbanFarm.org/patronVisit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/03/22/urbanfarmpresent/ for show notes and links.

A chat with Lisa Ziegler.  In This Garden Chat: Every vegetable garden can benefit from having beautiful flowers in and around the area. Beautiful blooms can boost the aesthetics and add a wide pallet of colors. Some flowers can repel unwanted pests, and some flowers can bring in healthy pollinators. Some flowers are even edible. Let's get in the know with Lisa Ziegler of "Vegetables Love Flowers".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: Lisa Ziegler is a cut-flower farmer, author, and online teacher on organic cut-flower gardening. She has been farming since 1998 in Southeastern Virginia on the Ziegler family homestead. In season this urban three-acre farm produces thousands of stems of flowers and an abundance of vegetables weekly. Lisa has sold her flowers to florists and supermarkets, and at farmer’s markets and her members-only farm market. She loves sharing the experiences she gathers from day-to-day life on the farm. In recent years Lisa’s business, TheGardenersWorkshop.com has grown into an online garden shop and Learning Center that includes resources and online courses for gardeners and farmers.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/03/18/664-garden-chat/ for show notes and links.

In Part 1 of this special 3 part series about the Past, Present and Future of the Urban Farm, Greg Peterson reviews the history of the Urban Farm and gives a sneak peek into the future."Well, the news is out and there are big changes in my life. Heidi and I are moving, and this is not a little move. We are transporting ourselves 1900 miles to our dream home in Asheville, North Carolina. Lots more to come about our landing place in the ‘future’ part of my writing. I want to assure you, however, with our team in place (Janis, Tayler, Theresa, Ray, Renee, Bill, Belle and Kari) all of our programs will continue into the future just like they have for over 20 years. And for those of you that expect to see me on the ground in Phoenix – you still will for the Fruit Tree Program events and the Seed Up.To begin my journey I thought I would review the Past of the Urban Farm, visit the Present and the biggest question I get…why are you moving?, and speculate on the Future of our new space. Here is a little teaser, we are moving mid-April 2022 to a quaint little town 10 miles from downtown Asheville, North Carolina. We found our ‘dream farm to be’ on 4 acres that is exploding with possibilities, way too many for me to choose right now."Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/03/15/urbanfarmpast/ for show notes and links.

662: Starting Your Seeds Indoors in Trays.A Chat with an Expert on Seeds.In This Podcast: This is the February 2022 Seed Saving Class with special guest Kari Spencer discussing starting your seeds indoors. Kari shares insights on how to get a head start on your spring gardens by starting your seeds indoors in trays. We will talk about germination temps, timing, and nutrition as well as how to avoid common problems.  Then we discuss how to transplant your seed starts into your garden successfully.  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&AKari Spencer is the founder of the Microfarm Project in Phoenix, Arizona and the author of two books, Vegetable Gardening Journal; A Weekly Tracker and Logbook, and City Farming. 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.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/03/11/662-seed-chat/ for the show notes on this bonus episode, and access to our full podcast library!

Reducing Agricultural Nitrogen Runoff into Rivers and OceansIn This Podcast:Abby Schaefer didn’t know what she wanted to do when she started college, but she went with the flow and turned her love of chemistry into a career studying water as a bio-systems engineer.  Abby studies woodchip bioreactors, a relatively new technology which harnesses the power of microbes to remove excess nitrogen from agricultural waste water.  She explains what they are and how they work to prevent dangerous dead zones downstream.Abby Schaefer is a research scientist and engineer in Michelle Soupir’s Water Quality Research Lab in the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering department at Iowa State University. Abby solves water quantity and quality problems, and loves microbes, data analysis, and programming.  She is the 2020 American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Pre-Professional Engineer of the Year, and her research was recently published in Agrosystems, Geosciences, & Environment.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/03/04/661-abby-shaefer/ for show notes and links.Woodchip Bioreactors.

A chat with Bill McDorman.  In This Garden Chat: Your tastiest vegetables can be grown again and again from your own garden! Future harvests are just a few steps away from what you are growing now and Bill McDorman can help you see the path to the future you want.  Explore the benefits of seed saving, learn how to take those first steps, and keep your journey on course with a free class recommendation.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: Bill McDorman 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, and in 2010 he and his wife, Belle Starr, created Seed School, a nationally recognized week long training.  Bill is a passionate and knowledgeable presenter who inspires his audience to learn to save their own seeds and so much more!Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/02/25/660-garden-chat/ for show notes and links.

Companion Planting.A Chat with an Expert on Seeds.In This Podcast:This is the December 2021 Seed Saving Class with Bill McDorman  and special guest Kari Spencer discussing companion planting. Why work so hard in your garden? Gardening should be fun, relaxing and stress free. Unfortunately many of us don’t subscribe to that philosophy. We worry, we fret and we fear we aren’t doing it right. Companion planting is a way to capture nature’s brilliance to help you “get it right.” There are plants that naturally love being partnered with each other in the garden. They provide many benefits such as shade for a heat sensitive specimen or maybe are themselves a kind of bug repellent for another plant. Often food from plants that taste good together have a symbiotic relationship in the garden.  At least ten times a year we have a live Seed Saving Class. 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/2022/02/18/659-seed-chat/ for show notes and links.

Growing Fruit Trees WhileAdapting to Changing Climates.In This Podcast:Mike Biltonen explains how he applies pre-industrial farming principles to help food farmers plan for the unpredictable weather that affects their crops.  He remains a positive voice in the often negative conversation surrounding climate change, and advocates for quality of nutrition over quantity of production, focusing on the soil to accomplish that goal.  Don’t miss Mike’s tip for an easy soil test you can do right now!Mike Biltonen has spent nearly 40 years in agriculture –working mostly with orchards, vineyards, and specialty veg and fruit crops. An early passion for sustainable agriculture evolved into a profound dedication to the principles and practices of ecologically focused, biodynamically-driven farming. For the last fifteen years Mike has worked as a consultant to novice and seasoned farmers and orchardists on all aspects of managing regenerative and integrated farmscapes. Mike conducts workshops, seminars, and webinars, and has a free newsletter for the truly dedicated. He co-owns Know Your Roots, a novel and innovative family-owned company, with his wife Debbie, where they are synchronously using farming and herbalism practices to heal the Earth.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/02/11/658-mike-biltonen/ for show notes and links.Regenerative Orcharding with Climate Change.

Renewing Our Relationships with Bugs.In This Podcast:Wait…Don’t step on that bug!  Vicki Hird introduces us to the fascinating world of bugs, showing us a whole new way to think about our insect and invertebrate friends.  She invites us to look a little closer so we can begin to appreciate bugs not only for the many essential services they perform, but also for the amazing diversity they represent.  Vicki describes the many dangers they face, then talks about what we can do to protect them from harm and even encourage them to thrive and flourish.Vicki Hird is the Head of the Sustainable Farming Campaign for Sustain: The Alliance for Better Food and Farming (over 100 non-profit organizations), and she runs an independent consultancy.  She has a Masters in Pest Management and is a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society (FRES).  As an experienced and award-winning environmental campaigner, researcher, writer, and strategist working mainly in the food, farming and environmental policy arena, Vicki has worked on government policy for many years.  Vicki is the author of Perfectly Safe to Eat? The facts on food, and her latest book is titled Rebugging the Planet (published by Chelsea Green). Her passion is insects and other invertebrates.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/02/04/657-vicki-hird/ for show notes and links.Rebugging the Planet.

A chat with Jenny Beasley.  In This Garden Chat: Jenny Beasley talks about her 12 years working with Heart for the City Community Garden in Arizona.  Grown from nothing more than a plot of dirt and a desire to help others, the garden is now a safe space where people exchange food and knowledge with neighbors from other cultures.  Jenny recalls the work it took to get the garden off the ground, describes the tending that was required to grow a strong sense of community, and expresses appreciation for the many people who keep it growing.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: Jenny Beasley received her certification as a health coach at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City along with her Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from Northern Arizona University. She is currently the Director of Heart for the City Community Garden located in Glendale, AZ.  She became involved with Heart for the City twelve years ago, a non-profit that helps change lives of inner city at risk youth by walking life with them. She was asked to spearhead a 1/2-acre community revitalization project…. a community garden in which they educate Title 1 school children and their families on gardening and provide families ways of growing their own healthy foods.  Jenny decided to become a health coach to fulfill her passion of working with individuals to enhance their own well-being, and she is currently becoming a Master Gardener.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/01/28/656-garden-chat/ for show notes and links.

655: Culinary & Aromatic Herbs.A Chat with an Expert on Seeds.In This Podcast: This is the October 2021 Seed Saving Class with Bill McDorman discussing herbs. A garden without herbs is like ice cream without hot fudge. Herbs enhance any meal, and drinking teas made from herbs is healing and medicinal.  They can be perennial and annual allowing for many different planting opportunities, and they are usually easy to divide and reproduce. Bill and Greg explore this magical garden component. 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/2022/01/21/655-seed-chat/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!

Building a Network of Neighborhood Compost Hubs.Do good and earn a profit? Sign us up!  Alyssa Brodsky explains Food2Soil, a program in San Diego that creates soil farmers, people who get paid for turning food scraps from homes and restaurants into rich compost.  She passionately describes how the program works, how she got involved, and the many ways the program has positively impacted both the environment and the participants.  Alyssa also provides some tips for anyone considering a similar program in their own community.Alyssa is a Soil Farmer at Food2Soil, as well as their "Web Builder", meaning she is working to expand the Food2Soil web of decentralized community composting hubs throughout the city of San Diego, including policy work and participant outreach. She served in the Peace Corps working in agriculture for 3 years in Madagascar and with her partner is starting her own market garden farm. Alyssa is fueled by outrage that food scraps are considered "waste", and by awe in the beauty of the composting process.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/01/14/654-alyssa-brodsky/ for show notes and links.Composting for Profit.

A Farmer Friday Reflection by Greg Peterson.In This Farmer Friday Podcast on Starting Fresh in 2022:Greg takes a few minutes at the beginning of this new year to acknowledge the challenges of the last couple of years and to highlight the importance of growing our own food.  He expresses gratitude for you, the Urban Farm community, and talks about ways we can support each other.  Then he walks us through the comforting rhythms of his year round-garden, describing in detail the tasks of each season and the bountiful harvests he enjoys as a result of his efforts.Do you ever wish you could catch those tidbits of wisdom that some people throw out without warning? Well, in our new Farmer Friday episodes - Farmer Greg shares quick thoughts, revelations, tips, and general farming advice in bite-sized and fun episodes. Sometimes it might be Greg just sharing a thought that hit him while working in the yard, or a really cool inspiration from the garden, and occasionally he’ll answer some listener questions. Other times he will catch a moment with a farming friend or podcast guest to share educational farming tidbits.  This quick podcast episode is designed to be brief and not take up your day. So… listen in and enjoy this Garden snack… Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2022/01/07/653-farmer-friday/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!Starting Fresh in 2022.

Working to increase awareness about healthy food and personal health.In This Podcast:Shannon Owen shares the joys and struggles of starting a new farm business with her husband, Chris.  They saw a need in their community and decided to help by growing microgreens in their basement.  Shannon reveals the magic that happens when they take their greens out into the community, and she describes the encouraging conversations that educate and bring people together, as well as the love of community that inspires them to grow and sell healthy, nutritious food.Shannon Owen and her husband, Chris, are the Co-Owners at Cheshire Curiosities MicroFarm & Homestead located in Evansville, Indiana. In 2020, they converted their basement to a commercial grow room with a heart for developing nutrient-dense food in their area by growing microgreens! With this newfound focus, they began a mission to feed their community by bringing healthy options to their local region. Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/12/31/652-shannon-owen/ for show notes and links.Educational Gaps in Nutrition Density.

A chat with Raymond Jess.  In This Garden Chat: Farmer Greg talks with Raymond Jess and Janis Norton, from the Urban Farm, about a multitude of variations on the traditional garden box.  They share their own experiences and discuss the unique advantages of each type of bed, covering topics such as how they work, how to set them up, and how to care for them.  Raymond gives us a peek inside his garden, telling us what he is currently growing and how he is growing it, and Janis tells how to nourish your plants so they thrive.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: Raymond Jess is the Urban Farm General Store leader, master gardener, and all around fun guy.  Ray has been gardening for more than two decades and loves to experiment with ways to plant in the ground and in various containers.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/12/24/651-garden-chat/ for show notes and links.

Working Toward Bee Conservation and Biodiversity in Urban Areas.In This Podcast:Jennifer Foltz-Sweat opens our eyes to the wide world of bees.  By now many of us have heard that bees are a crucial element of the environment, but what should we do with that knowledge?  Jennifer explains easy things we can do to attract bees to our garden and warns us what not to do.  She gives uplifting examples of how important education is to conservation, tells us about the move toward citizen science, and encourages all of us to get involved. Jennifer Foltz-Sweat began researching wild bee ecology in 2002, while a graduate student in California. Her studies focused on determining how wild bee communities differed between grassland habitats and urban areas. She moved back to Arizona, where she grew up, in 2009 and began teaching at Arizona State University West campus and the Maricopa County Community College District. Jennifer continues to conduct research on urban bee communities with her undergraduate students. She is interested in measuring native bee foraging on urban flowering plants and characterizing urban bee communities. Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/12/17/650-jennifer-foltz/ for show notes and links.Urban Bee Communities.

Growing Compact and Bountiful Gardens in the Smallest of SpacesIn This Podcast:Jennifer McGuinness’ contagious enthusiasm for gardening will have you pining to grow something.  No space? No problem!  Jen has found creative ways to grow food in small spaces.  She gives us a taste of the small space gardening projects we’ll find in her new book and she shares the joy she found in writing and taking the photos for it.  Jen tells about her website, describes all the things she loves about gardening, and revels in her current role in the gardening community.Jennifer McGuinness began regularly writing as Frau Zinnie in 2011 on her garden blog, FrauZinnie.com. The website features Jen’s writing, photography, personal experiences in her garden located in Connecticut, and interviews with garden experts. She is a proponent of organic methods and pollinator-friendly gardens, and excited about her first published book “Micro Food Gardening: Project plans and plants for growing fruits and veggies in tiny spaces”.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/12/10/649-jennifer-mcguinness/ for show notes and links.Micro Food Gardening.

Returning to Living As We Were Designed.In This Podcast:Listen as Tony Horn shows us where to look and what to do to rediscover peace in our lives.  Tony shares his key definition of peace and his vision of a beautiful world where humans are once again living as nature intended.   He explains that the biggest human struggles we face today have surfaced recently and are of our own making, but he believes we do have the power to eliminate these problems.  First, though, we must wake up, gather together, and be willing to change.Tony is an educator and author. He has taught both junior high and college students, and has many years of corporate experience as an Instructional Designer.  He is an author of several books including:  The Three R’s: Government for the Way People Live and his most recent book Change or Perish.  He’s also the founder of Community Groove, Inc., a non-profit company dedicated to rebuilding strong communities globally.  He lives in Sun Lakes, AZ where he writes and enjoys playing tennis. Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/12/03/648-tony-horn/ for shownotes and links.Living in Harmony.

Exploring Solutions to Current Water Challenges for Farming.In This Podcast:Seth Siegel is passionate about tackling the world’s water problems before they get to crisis level.   He explains the practical steps necessary to put into practice the solutions he has gathered from around the world.  Agriculture is one of the largest consumers of water, but most crops are watered using wasteful methods that are centuries old.  Seth presents a new technological solution that is both effective and cost effective, making it more appealing to commercial farms.  Seth is a serial entrepreneur, water activist, New York Times bestselling author, and the Chief Sustainability Officer for N-Drip. His critically acclaimed award-winning book Let There Be Water: Israel’s Solution for a Water-Starved World has been published in 20 languages and is on sale in more than 50 countries. His other books are Troubled Water: What's Wrong with What We Drink, and Other People’s Words all produced by St Martin’s Press.  In addition to his books, his commentary on a range of topics has appeared in many leading publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. Seth has spoken on water issues at more than 325 venues in 68 cities, 26 states, and on four continents–and during the Coronavirus lockdown, to dozens of others via video. For his work in communicating water needs, he was named one of the 100 Global Water Heroes.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/11/26/647-seth-siegel/ for shownotes and links.Water Scarcity in Agricultural Areas.

646: Loving Those Legumes.A Chat with an Expert on Seeds.In This Podcast: This is the October 2021 Seed Saving Class with Bill McDorman discussing legumes.  Beans and peas are great to eat and also great for your soil. Incorporating them into your garden rotation is smart and delicious. Pollinators also love legumes so it's a win-win all around. Plant them along a wall or fence for a beautiful display of cascading leaves and fruit for easy picking. There is so much to love about legumes! 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/2021/11/19/646-seed-chat/ for the show notes on this bonus episode, and access to our full podcast library!

A Farmer Friday Interview with Alyssa Brodsky.In This Farmer Friday Podcast on Composting for Your Neighbors:Have you tried composting food scraps, only to give up because you did not generate enough waste to be successful?  Alyssa Brodsky shares details about a composting program that solves this problem.  Residential participants learn how to collect local neighborhood waste and turn it into plenty of rich compost that they can share with their neighbors.  Some participants even earn an income, making this a great way to enrich soil and enrich lives at the same time!Gardening tips, tricks, and advice, in short, bite-size episodes.Do you ever wish you could catch those tidbits of wisdom that some people throw out without warning? Well, in our new Farmer Friday episodes - Farmer Greg shares quick thoughts, revelations, tips, and general farming advice in bite-sized and fun episodes. Sometimes it might be Greg just sharing a thought that hit him while working in the yard, or a really cool inspiration from the garden, and occasionally he’ll answer some listener questions. Other times he will catch a moment with a farming friend or podcast guest to share educational farming tidbits.  This quick podcast episode is designed to be brief and not take up your day. So… listen in and enjoy this Garden snack…Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/11/12/645-farmer-friday/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!Composting for Your Neighbors.

A chat with Christy Wilhelmi. You’ll enjoy Christy Wilhelmi’s contagious enthusiasm for the cooler planting seasons as she explains how to increase your chance of success by planting the right crop in the right season.  Christy covers it all, from the basics of what “in season” actually means, to the specifics of which crops do well in cooler temperatures.  Hear why fall is her favorite season and learn some clever tips and tricks for getting the most out of this under appreciated time of the year.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.orgOur Special Guest:Christy Wilhelmi is founder of Gardenerd, the ultimate resource for garden nerds, where she publishes newsletters, her popular blog, top-ranked podcasts, and YouTube videos. She also specializes in small-space, organic vegetable garden design, consulting, and classes.  She is author of Gardening for Geeks (Fox Chapel Publishing), 400+ Tips for Organic Gardening Success (Amazon Digital), Grow Your Own Mini Fruit Garden published by our friends at Cool Springs Press, and her upcoming novel Garden Variety (William Morrow/Harper Collins) will be sprouting in April 2022. Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/11/05/644-garden-chat/ for show notes and links

643: Nifty Nightshades.This is the September 2021 Seed Saving Class with Bill McDorman discussing nightshades.  We are so glad the deadly nightshades aren’t!  Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and tomatillos.  Easy to save the seeds and so many reasons to.  And the good news is that these plants are self-pollinating so no worries about your plants “getting crossed up.”  Everyone’s favorite vegetable, tomato, could become your favorite seed saving variety.  Plant, pick, save seeds.  Oh and eat the fruit.  Really!  At least ten times a year we have a live Seed Saving Class. 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/2021/10/29/643-seed-chat/ for the show notes on this bonus episode, and access to our full podcast library!

Motivating People Into Action to Protect Our Ecosystems.In This Podcast:Jeffrey Smith sounds the alarm about the devastating harm that can be caused by genetic engineering.  He explains how GMO’s have the potential to destroy entire microbiomes, and he describes the serious negative effects on people, pets and the environment.  Discover the first step Jeffrey recommends we all take to start healing our bodies of dozens of diseases, then learn how easy it is to take that a step further.  Take action and become an advocate for all of nature!  Jeffrey 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 just won a Telly Award. Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/10/22/642-jeffrey-smith/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!The Impact of GMO's On Our Environment and Health.

A Farmer Friday Interview with Christy Wilhelmi.In This Farmer Friday Podcast on Garden Soil Prep for Success:Christy Wilhelmi returns to the Urban Farm, this time to talk about keeping life healthy below the ground as well as above it.  Healthy soil is all about healthy microbes, and Christy shares her special recipes for feeding them.  Hear why worm castings are a gardener’s secret weapon against certain pests and learn how to make a compost tea your soil will love.  You’ll also discover how to use a broadfork and find out why you might want to trade in your tiller.Do you ever wish you could catch those tidbits of wisdom that some people throw out without warning? Well, in our new Farmer Friday episodes - Farmer Greg shares quick thoughts, revelations, tips, and general farming advice in bite-sized and fun episodes. Sometimes it might be Greg just sharing a thought that hit him while working in the yard, or a really cool inspiration from the garden, and occasionally he’ll answer some listener questions. Other times he will catch a moment with a farming friend or podcast guest to share educational farming tidbits.  This quick podcast episode is designed to be brief and not take up your day. So… listen in and enjoy this Garden snack… Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/10/15/641-farmer-friday/ under the Farmer Fridays section for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!Garden Soil Prep for Success.

Focusing on Leveraging Micro Landscapes into Ecosystem Changes.In This Podcast:Zach Loeks encourages each of us to transform our human habitat by focusing on one small section of landscape at a time.  He believes that changes are most successful when they are manageable, and he reminds us that positive change will naturally grow and spread.  Zach paints a beautiful picture of “edible biodiversity” and then shares some manageable, specific changes that will move us toward that goal. Zach is an educator, designer and grower who specializes in Edible Eco-system Design through landscaping and education. He manages an award-winning farm with diversified food forest products, heirloom garlic, and a hardy tree nursery.  He is also the director of the Ecosystem Solution Institute, which is dedicated to the education, propagation and inspiration of ecosystem solutions for land use transition. The Institute oversees pathbreaking education sites, including an Edible Biodiversity Conservation Area near Ottawa, Ontario and a suburban food forest in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  And he is the author of several books including The Permaculture Market Garden, and The Edible Ecosystem Solution. Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/10/08/640-zach-loeks/ for shownotes and links.Edible Ecosystems In a Nutshell.

A Farmer Friday Interview with Nicole Gennetta.In This Farmer Friday Podcast on Keeping Bees:Nicole Gennetta, a Master Beekeeper, sets us on the path to successful beekeeping by sharing the 5 steps she recommends beginners take before getting any bees.  She tells how to determine if bees are legal on your property, and she recommends beginners learn all they can about beekeeping before making any purchases.  Nicole gives tips on finding the information you need, purchasing equipment, and acquiring the bees for your new hive.  Do you ever wish you could catch those tidbits of wisdom that some people throw out without warning? Well, in our new Farmer Friday episodes - Farmer Greg shares quick thoughts, revelations, tips, and general farming advice in bite-sized and fun episodes. Sometimes it might be Greg just sharing a thought that hit him while working in the yard, or a really cool inspiration from the garden, and occasionally he’ll answer some listener questions. Other times he will catch a moment with a farming friend or podcast guest to share educational farming tidbits.  This quick podcast episode is designed to be brief and not take up your day. So… listen in and enjoy this Garden snack… Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/10/01/639-farmer-friday/ for shownotes and links.Keeping Bees.

A chat with Kari Spencer.  In This Garden Chat: Great gardeners seem to know all the rules - but the very best gardener is the one who wrote the rules. She is Mother Nature and has no equal. Her systems and regenerative cycles CAN be replicated in our own gardens and food forests to help them be amazingly resilient. Permaculture is the best way to start and it can make your gardening much easier! Author Kari Spencer is going to help us find the best ways to adopt permaculture practices for increased resilience in our gardens.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.Our 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. Her book is City Farming: How-To Guide to Growing Crops & Raising Livestock in Urban Spaces.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/09/28/638-garden-chat/ for shownotes and links.Permaculture in the Garden.

A Farmer Friday Interview with Christy Wilhemi.In This Farmer Friday Podcast on Growing Great Berries:Christy Wilhelmi helps us appreciate the potential of berries in our gardens and urban farms. She breaks down the different varieties of berries and why to choose different types for your own climate and harvest goals.  We learn a bit about why some berries are better in containers, and some are fabulous in the ground, and why climate and chill hours can make or break your harvest.  And she shares some highlights on blueberries and acidic soil as well as some fertilizing tips.Do you ever wish you could catch those tidbits of wisdom that some people throw out without warning? Well, in our new Farmer Friday episodes - Farmer Greg shares quick thoughts, revelations, tips, and general farming advice in bite-sized and fun episodes. Sometimes it might be Greg just sharing a thought that hit him while working in the yard, or a really cool inspiration from the garden, and occasionally he’ll answer some listener questions. Other times he will catch a moment with a farming friend or podcast guest to share educational farming tidbits.  This quick podcast episode is designed to be brief and not take up your day. So… listen in and enjoy this Garden snack… Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/09/24/637-farmer-friday/ for shownotes and links.Growing Great Berries.

636: How to let your garden go to seed.In This Podcast:This is the August 2021 Seed Saving Class with Bill McDorman discussing brassicas.  Take the best seeds from this year’s garden and save them for the next. When you adapt and save seeds from plants that were hardy, and exhibited characteristics you like (disease and insect resistance for example) those seeds will work better in your garden the following year because after all, that is where they learned their new tricks. Join us and we’ll show you how to select the best seed for your best garden. At least ten times a year we have a live Seed Saving Class. 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 is one of the creators of The Great American Seed Up.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/09/21/636-seed-chat/ for shownotes and links.How to Let Your Garden Go to Seed.

A Farmer Friday Interview with Vicki Hird.In This Farmer Friday Podcast on Rebugging Your Farm and Garden:Vicki Hird reminds us that it is possible to have bugs without having a bug problem.  In fact, when it comes to bugs, the more you have in your garden the better!  Vicki provides information about the beneficial roles that bugs play and she tells how to nurture and protect them.  Learn what to do to encourage (and live with!) a healthy bug population in your own garden as well as how to advocate for them in your community.Do you ever wish you could catch those tidbits of wisdom that some people throw out without warning? Well, in our new Farmer Friday episodes - Farmer Greg shares quick thoughts, revelations, tips, and general farming advice in bite-sized and fun episodes. Sometimes it might be Greg just sharing a thought that hit him while working in the yard, or a really cool inspiration from the garden, and occasionally he’ll answer some listener questions. Other times he will catch a moment with a farming friend or podcast guest to share educational farming tidbits.  This quick podcast episode is designed to be brief and not take up your day. So… listen in and enjoy this Garden snack… Visit whttps://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/09/17/635-farmer-friday/ for shownotes and links.Rebugging Your Farm and Garden.

Turning Homesteading Skills Into a New Business Venture.In This Podcast:Anyone who has ever had chickens knows that feeding poultry is a messy business.  Erik Diedrichsen found a better way, and in the process, he found his way into a new business venture.  Erik shares his experience of growing a product from idea to market and explains what he believes it takes to be a successful inventor. Hear about the challenges he faced and the lessons he learned, and of course get the scoop on what Erik and Greg call the “best chicken feeder on the market”.Erik lost his main trade show business due to Covid.  He turned to the skills he knew as a part-time homesteader and designed, patented, and produced the “best chicken feeder on the market” and started his new business PoultryProFeeder.com.  Aside from wanting to provide a proven superior product, Erik is using the opportunity to learn the business process.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/09/14/634-erik-diedrichsen/ for shownotes and links.Developing a New Poultry Feeder.

A Farmer Friday Interview with Mike Biltonen.In This Farmer Friday Podcast on Soil Is Not Dirt:Though the words are often used interchangeably, soil and dirt are not the same thing.  Mike Biltonen explains that we must know the distinction before we can truly appreciate the treasure that is our soil.  Once we realize its true worth, we will want to nurture and protect this most valuable resource, to preserve both the life in it and the life that comes from it.  Mike gives details about specific ways we can do just that.Do you ever wish you could catch those tidbits of wisdom that some people throw out without warning? Well, in our new Farmer Friday episodes - Farmer Greg shares quick thoughts, revelations, tips, and general farming advice in bite-sized and fun episodes. Sometimes it might be Greg just sharing a thought that hit him while working in the yard, or a really cool inspiration from the garden, and occasionally he’ll answer some listener questions. Other times he will catch a moment with a farming friend or podcast guest to share educational farming tidbits.  This quick podcast episode is designed to be brief and not take up your day. So… listen in and enjoy this Garden snack… Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/09/10/633-farmer-friday/ for shownotes and links.Soil Is Not Dirt.

Don’t Let Yard Size Determine Your Harvests.In This Podcast:Are your fruit trees an investment or an experiment?  Christy Wilhelmi talks about the steps needed to ensure that the fruit trees you plant in your yard are an investment that bears fruit.  She covers every stage of the process, including planning your harvest, planting trees in suitable soil, and pruning to keep your trees a manageable size.  Christy also explains why these steps are different from what you might hear in classes or read in agricultural textbooks. Christy is founder of Gardenerd, the ultimate resource for garden nerds, where she publishes newsletters, her popular blog, top-ranked podcasts, and YouTube videos. She also specializes in small-space, organic vegetable garden design, consulting, and classes.  She is author of Gardening for Geeks (Fox Chapel Publishing), 400+ Tips for Organic Gardening Success (Amazon Digital), Grow Your Own Mini Fruit Garden published by our friends at Cool Springs Press, and her upcoming novel Garden Variety (William Morrow/Harper Collins) will be sprouting in April 2022.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/09/07/632-christy-wilhelmi/ for shownotes and links.Growing Fruit in Small Spaces.

A Farmer Friday Interview with Nicole Gennetta.In This Farmer Friday Podcast on Feeding Chickens:What do chickens eat?  Nicole Gennetta explains that they are omnivores and can eat just about anything, so she answers that question by providing an important list of foods to avoid.  She discusses how to safely prepare specific foods and prevent food-related problems.   Listen and learn how to grow chicks into healthy adults by considering their special nutritional needs, and even how to show your chickens some love with healthy treats they’ll appreciate.Do you ever wish you could catch those tidbits of wisdom that some people throw out without warning? Well, in our new Farmer Friday episodes - Farmer Greg shares quick thoughts, revelations, tips, and general farming advice in bite-sized and fun episodes. Sometimes it might be Greg just sharing a thought that hit him while working in the yard, or a really cool inspiration from the garden, and occasionally he’ll answer some listener questions. Other times he will catch a moment with a farming friend or podcast guest to share educational farming tidbits.  This quick podcast episode is designed to be brief and not take up your day. So… listen in and enjoy this Garden snack… Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/09/03/631-farmer-friday/ for shownotes and links.Feeding Chickens.

A chat with Niki Jabbour.  In This Garden Chat: Great things come in small packages, even in gardening!  Niki Jabbour’s enthusiasm for corners, windowsills, and balconies will have you reconsidering the growing potential of your tiniest spaces.  Niki tells us what makes a good space, giving examples of some places that are often overlooked.  Learn how to decide which foods to grow and where, how to plant them, and how to ensure your plants thrive in their small space.  You’ll never look at a driveway the same way again! 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:Niki is the author of four books on food gardening including The Year-Round Vegetable Gardener and Growing Under Cover. She’s also a two-time winner of the prestigious American Horticultural Society Book Award. She writes for newspapers and magazines and has hosted a weekly radio show for the past 14 years.  Niki gardens in zone 5B in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/08/31/630-garden-chat/ for shownotes and links.Small Space - Big Potential.