The Urban Farm Podcast With Greg Peterson

Benjamin Page on Interacting with The Earth.Building a relationship with your soil.In This Podcast: In today’s society, we as humans are provided with various ways to virtually connect with each other. However, Benjamin Page, recent author of two books, points out one key area humans lack a connection with: The Earth. Listen in to learn about the importance of building a relationship with earth, Ben’s definition of healthy soil, and why playing in the dirt can support overall human health and wellbeing. Benjamin is a chiropractic physician and avid urban gardener who works in the wellness paradigm. Going beyond spinal care, he uses a holistic approach as he helps his patients return to health by encouraging nutrition through chemical-free food grown in fertile soils, adequate rest, sufficient movement, and the development of proper internal dialogue. Benjamin is the author of The 4 Pillars of Health: Your Health and Well-being Made Simple, and Playing in the Dirt: The key to Sustainable Health. He is also the

Frances Parsons on Farming, Fitness, and Finance.Helping a community find a healthy balance.In This Podcast: Food choices, fitness routines, and spending habits can be difficult to manage. However, Frances Parsons has discovered the importance of balancing these key areas and is on a mission to help others embrace those everyday challenges that will better support a healthy life. Listen in to learn about her inspiration behind forming her nonprofit organization, the correlation between health and finances, and how she is broadening horizons for her community at Spaces of Opportunity. Frances had a cosmetology license while being a flight attendant with a major airline. Her life was great – she traveled the world doing hair. Then she went to Australia to be with her brother who was dying of cancer during his final months and learned that food could keep you alive or kill you. Changing his diet extended his life a little and her crusade began to learn about healthy food.She moved to Arizona to open a hair

Ben Kilbride on The Garden Guide and More.Time-tested and trusted planting resources from the Old Farmer’s Almanac.In This Podcast: The Old Farmer’s Almanac has been used as a guide mainly by farmers to aid in predicting weather patterns. Ben Kilbride, who is the editorial assistant for the Old Farmer’s Almanac discusses the variety of publications and guides available to all types gardeners from novice to expert. Listen in to learn about the history of the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the prediction methods used, and the various gardening guides covering topics from growing techniques to battling pests.Benjamin is an editorial assistant with The Old Farmer’s Almanac. While he doesn’t own any land, he gets creative gardening every year in pots, in small mobile green houses, and under lights in his pantry.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2020/09/29/560-ben-kilbride/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!

559: Seed Saving Class August 2020.In This Podcast: At least ten times a year we have a live Seed Saving Class with Bill McDorman. This is the August 2020 class discussing various seed exchange resources, finding heirloom seeds, supporting organizations, and so much more on how to connect people to local seed sources.Bill McDorman is past 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/2020/09/22/seed-saving-class-august-2020/ for the show notes on this bonus episode, and access to our full podcast library!

Jason Johns on Saving Our Bees.Creating a relationship with tiny garden workers.In This Podcast: Bees are an essential worker in our agricultural ecosystems, yet their habitats are threatened everyday. Jason Johns is the author of several books, including his new book Save Our Bees, which shares valuable insights on how home gardeners can enhance bee populations. Listen in to learn about the importance of biodiversity, planting native flowers, urban impacts, and the inspiration behind Jason's new book.Jason is the author of Save Our Bees: Your guide to creating a bee friendly environment, as well as seventeen other gardening books on everything from greenhouse gardening to growing giant pumpkins. Jason is passionate about gardening, having grown his own produce for over twenty years.  He started with a secondhand greenhouse and an 8’ by 6’ patch of his mother’s garden, and since then has worked his way through various allotments and gardens, growing everything from radishes to carrots to giant

Kim Eierman on Pollinator Victory Gardens.Calling bees, butterflies, and more to your landscape.There is a lot of focus on the importance of pollinators, yet there is still a concerning decline in populations. Kim Eierman, author of The Pollinator Victory Garden, specializes in environmental horticulture, and is encouraging gardeners to enhance pollinator pathways. Listen in to learn about the various types of pollinators, understanding native ecosystems, and how to connect your yard to a pollinator pathway. Kim is an Environmental Horticulturist specializing in ecological landscapes and native plants. She is the founder of EcoBeneficial LLC in New York. Kim teaches at the New York Botanical Garden, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, The Native Plant Center in NY, Rutgers Home Gardeners School and several other institutions. She is an active speaker nationwide and also provides horticultural consulting to homeowners and commercial clients. In addition to being a Certified Horticulturist through the American S

Bringing bulk seed sharing to every community.In This Podcast: The Great American Seed Up is a project designed to improve resilience through local seed saving and sharing. With the events of 2020, seed sharing cannot be done in large events so Greg, Janis, Bill & Belle chat about a new way for neighbors and groups to share seeds through the Seed Up In a Box Program. Listen in to learn about how this new bulk seed shopping works, how anyone can participate, how the savings is shared, and ideas on ways to promote seed sharing with friends and family.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2020/09/03/556-seed-up-in-a-box/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library! AND check out the article Eleven Ways to Share Seeds by Kari Spencer the fourth founder of Great American Seed Up.Greg, Janis, Bill and Belle on Seed Up in a Box.

Can there be too much organic matter in your garden?.Growing a healthy garden requires a good balance of healthy soil. Mykl Nelson had studied agriculture for several years and conducted soil analyses of multiple organic farms. What he discovered was a shocking truth about soil health. Listen in to learn about what is over-enrichment, acknowledging diverse soil conditions, and Mykl’s unbelievable solution that turns food waste back into high quality protein.Mykl grew up in a military family and has been stationed around the world. The longest he’s lived anywhere was six years in Colorado and six years in Oregon. His paternal grandparents were commodity farmers in Wyoming who ‘hoped their kids would be too smart to become farmers.’ Of their four children and nine grandchildren, Mykl is the only one in agriculture. Mykl is an instructor of urban agriculture at Oregon State University, and is pursuing research into controlled environment agriculture. He has clusters of houseplants from different biomes on his wi

An invitation to an online fruit tree education event.In This Podcast: It is that time of year for the upcoming annual Urban Farm fruit tree education launch. Greg Peterson and Janis Norton discuss the highlights of the Urban Farm fruit tree program and share an invitation to the first virtual kick-off event. Listen in to learn about when the live online event is hosted, where to sign up, special bundle deals, and and some quick tips on selecting the best fruit trees for your backyard.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2020/08/27/554-fruit-tree-program/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!Greg Peterson and Janis Norton on The 2020 Fruit Tree Program.

Jamming in the garden with healthy, tasty, fruits and vegetables.In This Podcast: Berries and brassicas come from two different plant families, and like many plants, they have some unique environmental requirements. Jason Johns has experimented in the garden and written books that share his secrets on how to bring these health-bearing edible plants to the back yard. Listen in to learn about growing berries and brassicas, the surprising facts about soil management for growing berries, and how to avoid unexpected pests in the garden. Jason is the author of Growing Brassicas and Berry Gardening, as well as many other gardening books hoping to inspire people to take up gardening themselves and successfully grow their own delicious fresh fruit and vegetables. Jason is passionate about gardening, having grown his own produce for over twenty years.  He started with a secondhand greenhouse and an 8’ by 6’ patch of his mother’s garden, and since then has worked his way through various allotments and gardens, grow

552: Seed Saving Class July 2020. In This Podcast: This is the July 2020 episode of a live Seed Saving Class discussing the current status of world seeds, utility patents, community based seed systems, and so much more on building diversity and resilience back into the garden.There is always a bounty of information available in conversations with Bill McDorman. 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/2020/08/18/552-seedchat/ for the show notes on this bonus episode, and access to our full podcast library!

Chloe Lieberman on farming corn and other small-scale staple crops.In This Podcast: When one thinks of staple crops, what usually comes to mind is corn, wheat, and soybeans, yet Chloe Lieberman has worked with community farms around the world and discovered that there is an abundance of underutilized, calorie-dense types of crops. Listen in to learn about the value of staple crops, the processes of growing corn and wheat, and even learn how to make tortillas as Chloe shares the varieties of ancient grain corn that make the best tortillas.Chloe homesteads near Asheville, NC. She also writes and teaches for Wild Abundance, a school of permaculture, natural building, and homesteading that’s just down the road from Chloe’s farm. She and her partner raise dairy goats, ducks, a milk cow, vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, and herbs. One of Chloe’s great loves is growing staple crops: the kinds of plants that can be center stage during a meal. Along with growing food, Chloe is passionate about cooking and nutrition.&nbs

Recognizing herbs for their many essential benefits.In This Podcast: Herbs can be the easiest plants to grow, at the same time, they can be the most expensive item in the produce section of the store. Josephine DeFalco became inspired to educate others on how to grow herbs and the many benefits that arise from herbs aside from enhancing culinary flare. Listen in to learn about the importance of herbs in the garden, the best ways to process herbs, and how they can be a great alternative to salt with a focus on the value of herbs that improve overall health and well-being.Retired nurse and living by the Hippocratic belief that food is our best medicine, Josephine’s present mission as a registered dietitian is to encourage everyone to grow their own organic, chemical-free food, and develop skills for food preservation. In this way she shares how we can all be responsible for our own families, our own health, and our own well-being.She is the author of two books on gardening and food preservation: The B

549: Seed Saving Class June 2020.This is the June 2020 episode of a live Seed Saving Class discussing difficult seeds to save, avoiding cross pollination, and so much more on creating a self-reinforcing breeding system for seed families.There is always a bounty of information available in conversations with Bill McDorman.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2020/07/28/549-seedchat/ for the show notes on this bonus episode, and access to our full podcast library!

Blending nutty flavors for healthy spread options.In This Podcast: When it comes to healthy food options, a common perception is that healthy doesn’t always taste good. After spending time in South America, Jeff Malkoon found inspiration to enter an untapped market and a mission to create all-natural spreads to cater to the health conscious while satisfying a sweet tooth. Listen in and learn about the origin of peanut butter and how it came to America. Then dive deeper into what inspired Jeff to form his own business blending some of the richest flavors without the guilt. It was obvious that Jeff had created an outstanding product when he completely sold out after attending his first farmers market.Jeff is the owner and developer of Peanut Butter Americano. The idea for this family owned business came about as Jeff was volunteering in Uruguay. He recognized that while peanuts grew abundantly in the area, people still preferred to consume sugary spreads such as dulce de leche. Inspired to find healthier altern

Supporting 4th generation farmers while making healthier chocolates.In This Podcast: We've all heard some of the benefits of chocolate, but Shari Flam is harnessing the medicinal benefits of cacao beans by using the fermented beans in her tasty treats. Listen in to learn about ethically sourcing cacao beans, the health benefits of eating raw cacao, the different processing methods, and some of the treats she makes using the unprocessed cacao beans. She also discusses the mineral and chemical components of chocolate and how it interacts with the nervous system.Shari began her endeavors in chocolate 15 years ago as a home-based business for family and friends. A dream finally blossomed 3 years ago with the start of communal Uprising chocolate driven by a passion to help the planet and spread awareness through the heart-opening benefits of the cacao. The treats are all free of white sugar, completely ethically and environmentally sound using no plastic and purchased through a South American Co-op. Communal Upris

Playing with seeds and making history.In This Podcast: When you treat your space like a nature sanctuary, sometimes you get botanical surprises! Neal Bringe teaches us about a new variety of Christmas Squash and the conditions he created to cross two varieties of squash to create this beautiful new vegetable that is pleasing to the eye and mouth. Also learn more about growing in Colorado, working with nature so your land comes alive, and allowing plants to go to seed so your garden regenerates itself each year!Neal is a dedicated listener we invited on the show after learning he has developed a beautiful new variety of squash.  Having a PhD in Food Science, and active in his community and church in Elizabeth CO, Neal works with a mind to educate and provide for his family by creating gardens for produce and butterflies.  His photos have earned him multiple awards, and it was by sharing photos of his recent squash crop that we are able to see just how cool it is to create new varieties in our own gar

Growing food and sharing it with a campus community.In This Podcast: College isn't always the time people choose healthy eating, but Matt Provost, the student farm manager for the University of Wisconsin Madison is bringing free fresh produce to the students on campus. Listen in to learn how they set up and fund the farm, support other campus programs, and educate others about farming. Matt also discusses some of the epic moments on the farm and how they adapt growing seasons to the school semesters. If only every college offered this experience!Matt is involved with a student organization called FH King Students for Sustainable Agriculture at the University of Wisconsin. He is one of two farm directors running the one-acre student farm on campus. They grow all sorts of vegetables, as well as fruit trees, berries, and hazelnuts. Every Friday during the growing season they harvest produce in the morning then truck it back to campus, set up a farm stand, and give the harvest to the student community for free.

544: Seed Saving Class May 2020.A chat with an expert on Seeds.In This Podcast: This is the May 2020 episode of a live Seed Saving Class discussing seed hoarding, providing seeds to a community in times of need, and so much more about growing and creating seed resilience.There is always a bounty of information available in conversations with Bill McDorman.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/2020/06/23/544-seedchat/ for the show notes on this bonus episode, and access to our full podcast library!

Learning how to use food and herbs as medicine.In This Podcast: From her clean food restaurant to her urban farm, Audrey Barron is helping people feel better. Listen in to learn about her journey as a holistic health chef, her philosophy on eating trends, various diets, and how to heal through food. On top of running her restaurant, she also farms her own urban farm using permaculture practices, composting, and involving the community. Audrey shares her knowledge of farming and cooking in her new Medicine Woman program on healing foods.Audrey is the creator and owner of Ezra’s Enlightened Café, in Indianapolis, established in 2014 with a focus on plant-based and gluten-free fare made with non-GMO and organic ingredients. Chef Audrey began her journey toward healing in her early 20’s when she was experiencing some significant health issues and was inspired by a family member to try plant-based eating. Eventually opening Ezra’s Enlightenment Café, she is bringing her experience and training into every aspect --