The Urban Farm Podcast With Greg Peterson

602: Partnering with NatureA chat with Jessica WalliserJessica Walliser returns for a riveting discussion about unique ways we can partner with nature that will enable a thriving garden. Many perceive bugs or mushrooms as a pest problem, however, Jessica points out that fungi and insects can actually be an indicator of other things happening in your garden. Jessica guides us through different ways that we can utilize nature to create a symbiotic ecosystem and identifying the difference between pests versus beneficial bugs.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 register for the live classes go to www.GardenChat.orgJessica co-hosted The Organic Gardeners, an award-winning program on KDKA Radio in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for 15 years, is a former contributing editor for Organic Gardening&nb

Gardening tips, tricks, and advice in short, bite-size episodes.Returning guest Brian Wells, host of The Homestead Journey podcast, shares the most common yet avoidable mistakes that everyone should know when beginning a homestead. Brian points out that homesteading is a journey of trial and tribulation with emphasis on not a 'one size fits all' approach. The tips he shares focus importance on being realistic, accepting failure, and knowing what works best for you and your space.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

600: Saving Seeds of Grasses and Grains.In This Podcast: At least ten times a year we have a live Seed Saving Class with Bill McDorman. This is the April 2021 class discussing the importance of growing our own grains, ancient grain sources, and so much more on which grains are best for specific regions.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/2021/05/18/600-seed-chat/ for the show notes on this bonus episode, and access to our full podcast library!

Building Healthy Soil with Five Essential Components.Gardening tips, tricks, and advice in short, bite-size episodes.Greg kicks off this episode with answering two questions from our listeners that focus on aspects of looking at pest management from a different angle. Tying into our main focus, Greg shares with us the concept of understanding natural pest management and what will bring the healthy life you want in your space. In order to have healthy life, Greg guides us through the five necessary components that we should be adding to our soil that will produce healthy plants.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

Tommie Hockett on sharing seeds with friends.Splitting a Seed Up In a Box with six others and building community resilience.We hear first-hand experience from one of our avid podcast listeners, Tommie Hockett, on how he hosted a community seed sharing event. Living in rural Texas, Tommie does not have many close neighbors and he shares with us how he devised a plan to build community resilience that expanded across county lines. Tommie notes how his expectations were exceeded throughout the process from the number of seeds he received to the unexpected guests that showed up out of curiosity.Tommie runs Sissy & Bubba's Farmstead alongside his beautiful wife Chellie. Through their strong faith, they are striving to be good stewards while living a self-sufficient life full of abundance! Tommy recently convinced a few friends to go in on a purchase of a Seed Up In a Box and had their own seed sharing event.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/05/11/598-tommie-hockett/ for the show notes on this episode, and a

Uncovering the Root Causes of Blossom End Rot.Gardening tips, tricks, and advice in short, bite-size episodes.Marlene Simon, host of the Flower Power Garden Hour Podcast, joins us this week as she uncovers the truths and busts the myths about blossom end rot. Marlene explains how many people believe the issue stems from a lack of calcium in the soil. Lacking substance in the soil is not usually the case, however, the main causes can be prevented at the roots. She reveals her top tips that will help naturally correct the issue and advises not to waste money on special sprays.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 qu

Patti Milligan on Saliva and the Immune System.Improving our body’s resilience to environmental and emotional stressors.This week we delve into the world of saliva research as we speak with Patti Milligan on the importance of healthy saliva production. Patti describes how our saliva production can be impacted by the foods we eat and when we eat those certain foods that create healthy saliva, this bolsters our immune systems. Patti advises us on some tried and true ways to improve saliva production including the types of foods we should be eating and which foods to avoid. Patti has been in the nutrition field for nearly 40 years. Working in clinical nutrition, integrative medicine and natural foods, Patti brings a unique blend of clinical, educational, holistic, consumer, and PR experience. Her work and passion in the field of Neuroscience of Taste has led her to the field of saliva research and exploring the ‘why’ behind the foods we like. Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/05/04/596-patti-milliga

Defining what is modern homesteading.Gardening tips, tricks, and advice in short, bite-size episodes.Greg invites Brian Wells, host of The Homestead Journey Podcast, to share with us how he defines what it means to be a homesteader. Brian describes homesteading as a lifestyle that has evolved into the modern era where its definition depends on the standpoint of where people live and what they do. He emphasizes that homesteading is not about the destination rather it is more about the journey, because a journey is never truly complete, it is continuously evolving.   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

594: Designing Your Edible Landscape. A chat with Kristin Parsons.We visit with Kristin Parsons who helps us explore the beneficial concepts of permaculture design and how to integrate functionality into the outdoor living space. We cover the important components of food forests, the first steps for beginners, and how to create ‘guilds’ for a thriving edible landscape.This is the first episode of our NEW monthly 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 register for the live classes go to www.GardenChat.orgKristin is a native Texan, who went to college in Kansas and ended up in Arizona in 2004. She has been gardening, raising chickens, planting fruit trees, and constructing buildings ever since! Although Kristin has been an architect designing interiors and commercial buildings, her roots began with spending time in the garden with her grandfather as

Exploring the Seven Layers of a Food Forest.Gardening tips, tricks, and advice in short, bite-size episodes.In This Brief Bite: Greg invites Crystal Stevens on our show to illustrate the seven dense layers of a food forest and the important role each layer provides to an ecosystem. From the top canopy layer to the microbes under the soil, Crystal points out how each layer is an interrelated network that optimizes nutrient uptake at each level. She closes with the importance of dynamic accumulators, an underestimated aspect for creating healthy soil.  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

592: Saving Seeds of Onions, Umbels, and More.A chat with an expert on Seeds.At least ten times a year we have a live Seed Saving Class with Bill McDorman. This is the March 2021 class discussing the many varieties of umbels, unique characteristics of onions and garlic, as well as so much more on aspects of permaculture as it relates to saving seeds.Come join us for the next live class, or catch up on our previous classes through our podcast episodes. Either way you will expand your seed knowledge and gain new perspectives on your food system.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/2021/04/20/592-seed-chat/ for the show notes on this bonus episode, and access to our full podcast library!

Adding liquid nutrients to your plants.Gardening tips, tricks, and advice in short, bite-size episodes.In This Brief Bite: Farmer Greg chats with Anthony Dominguez, the co-founder and C.O.O. of HyKreations, a company that produces liquid soil amendments and fertilizers. Anthony informs us on the process of foliar feeding and why trees and plants will greatly benefit from the additional nutrients. He also speaks in-depth on their line of liquid amendments that optimize nutrient delivery to your plants.  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 frie

Jeffrey Smith on Genetically Modified Microbes.Raising public awareness about gene editing.After attending a lecture on GMO’s twenty-five years ago, Jeffrey Smith could not help but feel concerned about the future impacts of genetic engineering on ecosystems. Jeffrey speaks on the growing intensity of GMO contamination in all aspects of life and he advocates the importance of protecting the global microbiome. Jeffrey also points out that genetic engineering creates unpredictable changes in organisms and if not careful, can eliminate terrestrial plant life.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 call Protect Nature Now with the first documenta

Starting an Organic Orchard.Gardening tips, tricks, and advice in short, bite-size episodes.In This Bite: Greg Peterson chats with the Urban Farm General Manager, Janis Norton, as she shares the story behind how she and Greg met, what led Janis to the world of organic gardening, and how she transformed her backyard from a dead & barren, desert-dirt slab to a vibrant and green, food producing urban jungle.Do you ever wish you could catch those tidbits of wisdom that some people throw out without warning?Well, in our new Farmer Fridays 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 br

Jessica Walliser on Science-based Companion Planting.Using tested methods to plan garden planting.In This Podcast: Discovering the science-based facts behind companion planting, Jessica Walliser captivates us with her expert knowledge on the unique benefits that arise when pairing plants together. Jessica explains how companion planting can be used as a strategy to improve soil health, manage pests, and even produce tastier vegetables. She helps us explore the various uses for companion planting and depending on the goal, how these practices will contribute to adding diversity in your space.Jessica co-hosted The Organic Gardeners, an award-winning program on KDKA Radio in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for 15 years, is a former contributing editor for Organic Gardening magazine as well as being a co-founder of the popular gardening website SavvyGardening.com. Jessica is the author of seven gardening books, including the Amazon best-seller Good Bug, Bad Bug: Who’s Who, What They Do, and her newest book Pl

Gardening tips, tricks, and advice in short, bite-size episodes.In This Brief Bite:  This is the first episode of the Farmer Friday Chats and Greg answers some questions about the importance of microbial life in your soil, foliar feeding and its benefits, and how to ‘establish’ your citrus trees.  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.ur

Nikki Jabbour on Growing Under Cover.Protecting gardens from cold weather and pests and extending growing seasons.An intriguing conversation on how to garden year-round in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Niki Jabbour illustrates her growing techniques that she claims to be a ‘game-changer’ in her garden. Niki describes the different types of crop covers used for various plants that can allow you to garden during winter as well as maintaining resilience against pests. She also emphasizes the importance behind creating microclimates in her space to produce the best tasting vegetables.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. Niki writes for newspapers and magazines and has hosted a weekly radio show for the past 14 years. Growing Under Cover, her latest book focuses on techniques for a more productive, weather-resistant, pest-free vegetable garden. 

Eddy Badrina on Growing vertically in greenhouses.Transforming industrial agriculture.In This Podcast: In This Podcast: Exploring the future of farming, we chat with Eddy Badrina about a new technology that can be a viable solution for creating a regenerative food system. Eddy shares his concerns the impacts traditional farming has on the environment and how the greenhouse technology at Eden Green can shrink down 35 acres of farming into just over an acre. Receiving international attention, he says that vertical farming could be the answer to providing local, healthy foods at commercial levels.Eddy is a graduate of Texas A&M University, and the Bush School for Government and Public Service. He has had mission-critical roles at the US Department of State, executive leadership at a White House Initiative, and director level positions at two successful startups. And, he is CEO of Eden Green Technology, a vertical farming technology company dedicated to changing the way we farm our food and feed our communiti

584: Where, When, & How to Start Saving Seeds.A chat with an expert on Seeds.In This Podcast: At least ten times a year we have a live Seed Saving Class with Bill McDorman. This is the February 2021 class discussing the importance behind creating systems for local seed viability, reclaiming ancient grains and heirloom seeds, and so much more on how to create fundamental changes to our food supply.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/2021/03/16/584-seed-chat/ for the show notes on this bonus episode, and access to our full podcast library!

Gregg Muller on Breeding Your Own Vegetables.Breeding vegetables for a unique variety that is well-suited to your climate.In This Podcast: Diving into the topic of breeding for genetic seed diversity, Gregg Muller’s curiosity led him to experiment with crossbreeding unique seed varieties. Gregg illustrates the epic vegetable breeds he has been creating from purple snow peas to ‘single serve’ melons. Living in the dry climate of Bendigo, Victoria in Australia, he discusses the importance of protecting open genetic resources in the face of changing environmental conditions.Gregg holds a Bachelor of Arts in pure mathematics and philosophy, diploma of teaching, a graduate diploma of outdoor education, a master’s degree in environmental science, and is currently enrolled in a PhD program examining the ecology of root-parastic trees. He has worked as a park ranger, Secondary school maths and science teacher, environmental planner, outdoor instructor, and spent the last 19 years as a natural history lecturer at univ