The Urban Farm Podcast With Greg Peterson

Honoring a family heritage or nurturing neighbors.In This Podcast: Most people in Arizona are familiar with Hickman's eggs, but there is so much more to this family-run business than eggs! Clint Hickman shared with us the evolution of egg farming, and how his family business grew enough to feed Phoenix. He also explains all the side businesses that came out of egg farming: organic fertilizer, recycling programs, and animal feed. They even formed a mutually beneficial program with local prisons that gives farm-work-release inmates a leg up.Clint is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Hickman’s Family Farms, the largest egg company in the Southwest United States and one of the top 20 nationwide. Truly family-run, Clint and his siblings have built up the business that his grandmother founded.  A graduate of the University of Arizona, he oversees the vast network of partners that Hickman’s maintains, and guides the company’s marketing efforts.   While growing up, Clint was inspi

Creating a full circle food system that connects family and community.In This Podcast: Wholistic living has taken on a whole new meaning for Jolene Kuty! Through learning about health, she went from eating cheese infused hot dogs to working as a chiropractic physician surrounded by her half-acre urban farm. She created a full circle system using compost, chickens, mealworms, and contributions from neighbors. Hear how she engages her kids and educates with no element overlooked as she creates a thriving space that allows her to get outside and engage with the world. Chiropractic physician and health educator, Dr. Jolene Kuty, built an idyllic sustainable urban farm as a role model for her patients and her family.  Her home and on-site chiropractic office is surrounded by 800 sq. ft. of raised organic vegetable gardens and over 20 Urban Farm fruit trees. They live, work, and play on a half-acre in the city where their five children swing beside seedlings and are surrounded by fresh growing fruit. They eat farm-

Helping others understand and create food forests.In This Podcast: Eco-edible landscaping sounds like a cool new method, but it incorporates many of the tried and true methods of permaculture. Kristie Kapp educates on building a food forest and how to incorporate 7 layers, supporting plants, mineral accumulators, and beneficial insects. She teaches stacking plant functions and how to build the ideal soil for your food forest in just one year. Listen in to learn these principles and how to start creating regenerative, resilient ecosystems. Kristie is the Founder and Executive Director of Resilient Roots. She has a master's in ecology from Yale School of Environmental Studies and over twenty years of farming experience. She decided to merge the two professions, completed a permaculture landscape design program, and has been designing landscapes since 2014.   Resilient Roots is a non-profit organization whose mission is to educate and promote awareness about permaculture landscapes that are p

Moving from dreaming about it, to doing what it takes to grow a farm.In This Podcast: How does an adventurous spirit, practicing yoga and following your intuition lead someone to start a farm? As Tiffany Panaccione learned, those experiences teach you to follow your heart and try new things! Listen in to learn how she plans to turn her dream of farming into a profitable business. She discusses her plans for her first crop, and how she plans to build a customer base. Healthy soil, drip tape, and saving seeds are all part of the strategy she discusses. Tiff is a Phoenix native with a gypsy soul. Her self-healing journey has sailed her around the world and right back home to her roots. With a strong craving and an inner calling to go deep within herself and simultaneously the dirt, she is now listening, learning, discovering, and planning to cultivate the gifts of the Sonoran Desert. After all, she wonders… is it really worth doing the “hard work” if it isn’t your heart’s work? Visit https://www.urbanfarm.o

Enhancing our connection to the earth and each other.In This Podcast: Learning about permaculture can be life changing, and Michael Gettens shares about his experience taking a permaculture design course, how to take on a production mindset instead of simply consuming resources, and how the current food system is degenerative instead of regenerative. Rainwater harvesting, sectors, zones, and solar cooking are all topics in this chat about working with the earth to connect with it and each other. Michael is a Permaculture student inspired by the diversity of plants and animals who call the Sonoran Desert home. Growing up in New Jersey, his Italian mother sparked an interest in nutrition, and thus the importance of fresh, local ingredients began his gardening journey. When he moved across the country in 2014 to Arizona, the unique climate presented an obvious focus on water to ensure a good harvest.  Michael took his first Permaculture Design Course in the Fall of 2017, l

Building soil quality through carbon management.In This Podcast: Biochar can improve your soil and help the environment at the same time! We visited with Dr. Rivka Fidel from the University of Arizona to learn all about biochar and carbon farming. Listen in for how you can make it, use it, and the science behind adding it to your compost. She also shares about her journey into the field of sustainable agriculture, why it's important for our future to create a carbon negative world, and highlights in carbon farming.Dr. Rivka Fidel is currently an Assistant Professor of Practice at the Department Environmental Science, University of AZ, teaching introductory level classes in Soil Science and Critical Zone Science. She received her PhD in Soil Science from Iowa State University and her B.S. in Environmental Science from Union College. Her research is in soil carbon and nitrogen cycling, specifically examining the efficacy of biochar for improving soil quality and mitigating climate change.Visit https://www.

Bonus Episode 30: Seed Saving Class August 2019. In This Bonus Podcast: Once again we join a conversation with Bill McDorman and Greg Peterson to learn about growing from seed, growing for seed, and why our seeds are so important in these changing times.This is the replay of the August 2019 Seed Saving Class  In this class, he covers the Art of Seed Saving, and of course a few more things as well.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/09/24/bonus30/ for more information and links on this bonus podcast, and to find our other great guests.

Experimenting with living off existing food sources for difficult times.In This Podcast: We followed up with Kevin Espiritu to hear the results of his Apocalypse Survival Challenge. Could you survive for a whole month only eating what you grow, fish, barter, or forage? Hear how Kevin used his 200 square foot gardening space, community foodscapes, and trade - to nourish himself for an entire month. He gets specific on identifying what foods to grow in the 90 days prior to the challenge, how he added protein using fishing and plants, and his surprising takeaways. His business Epic Gardening began as a way for Kevin to present gardening information in a more modern, updated way to friends and family. First came the website. Followed by YouTube, a daily podcast, and finally his social media presence on Instagram, and Facebook.  Kevin is the author of Field Guide to Urban Gardening from our friends at Quarto Publishing.  Like Greg, Kevin was a presenter on the recent Superfood Summit and loves to share

How to get creative with 80 pounds of fruit.In This Podcast: We are back with returning guest and team member, Katie Fiore to talk about getting creative when your yard gives you an excess of food. While many people fear abundance, she embraces the creativity it allows and shares a different way to look at cooking with apples in both the long and short term. You’ll also learn about the concept of a local "Cool Tool" community shed for lesser-used harvest tools, as well as saving seeds and succession planting for seasonal abundance. Katie  is an Arizona native who spent most of her life thinking she had a brown thumb. Five years ago, her first successful attempt at growing food was herbs grown in wine barrels. Since then she has become an Urban Farm junkie. In Spring 2018 she planted 15 fruit trees and bushes in the backyard and has started adding a few raised beds to her garden. Now, she is up to 21 fruit trees on her property, all with sweet potatoes planted under them.  A career cha

Transforming ordinary spaces into beautiful, food-producing landscapes.In This Podcast: Entering college without much direction, a life-changing experience in Paraguay helped Matt Lebon find his place in the global food system. Now, he runs a custom foodscaping company making spaces beautiful and edible. He share about hands-on education in permaculture and farm school as well the magical food moments his company helps to create. He gives insight into how gardens and orchards connect people to nature and how schools can use their foodscapes to teach science.Matt is a proud St. Louis native with over ten years of farming and gardening experience. He got his start with farming as a Peace Corps volunteer in Paraguay, later going to study permaculture and work on several farms in Israel and Brooklyn, NY.  Then he became a practitioner and instructor on edible landscaping, organic agriculture, orcharding, and permaculture design.  He is most passionate about creating magical food moments in the everyday

Conveying observations from the kitchen, the dining room, and the garden.Journalism and food have been major themes all throughout Joe Yonan's life. In this podcast, learn about how he got involved with food at a very young age, his journey to food editor, and what a food editor actually does. Joe also shares about learning to homestead, succession planting, and what he's growing in his garden. He has written two cookbooks and edited another called “America The Great Cookbook,” don't tell anyone else, but we smell a book giveaway cooking!Joe is the Food and Dining editor of The Washington Post, supervising all food coverage in the features department. He is also the editor of "America The Great Cookbook" and has written two cookbooks “Eat Your Vegetables: Bold Recipes for the Single Cook” (2013) and “Serve Yourself: Nightly Adventures in Cooking for One" (2011).Joe was a food writer and Travel section editor at the Boston Globe before moving to Washington in 2006 to edit The Post’s Food section. He writes The

Inspiration through nature’s bounty of nourishing plants.In This Podcast: Working in a desk job and knowing that it was not a good fit, it still took Kimberly Kling a little while to build up the courage to do something different.  Eventually she found herself on a path to learning about herbalism and has finally found her passion. As a devoted learner, she is learning as much as she can, but still finds time to share with others what she has learned so far.Kimberly is an herbalist, mother, part-time homesteader, gardener, and the creatrix behind Joyful Roots, a botanical wellness brand. Kimberly and her family live on a 4-acre mini farm in a rural ranching town in Southern Arizona. She finds immense enjoyment in getting to know the local wild plants, experimenting with gardening, making art, creating with food and herbs, and exploring the land around her.Through her business, Joyful Roots, her passions are channeled into to helping others cultivate their inner joy by amplifying their self-care rituals a

Farming for a local restaurant and a rapidly growing community.In This Podcast: It was not a direct path to this destiny for David Barrow, but running a sustainable urban farm in Austin Texas has been his biggest success. With many regenerative and sustainable practices in use on the farm it is no wonder the soil is healthy and the crops are productive. Working hand-in-hand with a restaurant onsite allows for the freshest of dishes in a unique way. He shares some key aspects about how sustainable farming is working in East Austin.David is the Farm Manager for Eden East Farm in East Austin. After 18 years of working in the film industry, he began managing Eden East and runs the farm in conjunction with a locally sourcing restaurant.Eden East Farm is a sustainable urban farm sitting three miles from the state capital building. They grow over 65 varieties of produce throughout the year, and service restaurants and the public alike. Formerly Springdale Farm, the property has served the community for ove

Taking an everyday vegetable to the table in delicious new ways.After Amy Lacey’s health took a downturn and she wanted to bring some normalcy back to her family’s routine, she tried a recipe for a vegetable she did not really like. Little did she know how a bland vegetable could make such a difference for so many people. Combine that with her passion for doing good things and paying it forward, and she is truly making a delicious impact in the world.Amy is the author of Cali’flour Kitchen: 125 Cauliflower-Based Recipes for the Carbs You Crave. She is the co-founder and CEO of Cali’flour Foods, and her Cali’flour products have been featured in Food & Beverage Magazine, GQ, and OK! Magazine. They were also named one of “Whoopi’s Favorite Things” on The View; and won Clean Eating magazine’s Clean Choice Award two years in a row.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/08/31/474-amy-lacey/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.This contest period has expired.474: Amy

Expanded growing options through hydroponics.In This Podcast: When Kevin Espiritu started gardening he quickly became interested in hydroponics, and as he tried to learn how, he found that most articles and books were focused on only one well-known plant and he wanted to grow food. He started documenting his experiences to help others, and now Kevin has several platforms to share information for new and beginning gardeners. Today he shares several tips about small space gardening, and how there is a way for anyone with a will. www.urbanfarm.org/epicgardening Living in a condo in 2011, Kevin didn’t have the space for a big backyard soil-based garden, so he got creative. Learning about urban gardening was eye opening for Kevin and as a self-admitted geek and someone with an obsessive personality, he got hooked. Living in a condo in 2011, Kevin didn’t have the space for a big backyard soil-based garden, so he got creative. Learning about urban gardening was eye opening for Kevin and as a self-admitted geek

Focusing on sustainable growing practices on 20-acres down under.In This Podcast: We meet Angela Neyland as she tells us why an old TV comedy series influenced her and how she found permaculture. With this foundation, she shares the journey that led her and her husband to start a permaculture based homestead. She describes her property and some of the challenges they have overcome so far as well as her future plans for the property.Angela is an Australian 34-year-old mother and part-time university research officer who holds a PhD in Australian Aboriginal archaeology. She and her husband Danial own Loganberry Forest, a permaculture homestead in rural Victoria Australia where she recently started a small heirloom seed business for her homegrown seeds online.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/08/24/472-angela-neyland/ for more information and links on this podcast, and to find our other great guests.472: Angela Neyland on Permaculture Homesteading in Australia.

Bonus Episode 29: Seed Saving Class July 2019. In This Bonus Podcast: Once again we join a conversation with Bill McDorman and Greg Peterson to learn about growing from seed, growing for seed, and why our seeds are so important in these changing times.This is the replay of the July 2019 Seed Saving Class  In this class he covers Extreme Seed Saving, and of course a few more things as well.Go to https://www.urbanfarm.org/2019/08/20/bonus29/ for more information and links on this bonus podcast, and to find our other great guests.

Digging into the reasons plants flourish.In This Podcast: We delve deeper into the relationship between plant roots and healthy soil with Jake Mowrer. He explains why the soil changes when plant roots extend through it's layers, and lessons learned from the dustbowl times regarding soil degradation. Through his simple explanations, it is easier to understand the nature of soil make-up. And, he shares simple tips on how to improve soil quality. Jake was raised on a farm in north Georgia where his family produced broiler chickens and beef cattle.  Growing up, the work was often hard, but the food was always good. Life on the farm is a good way to gain an appreciation for the connectivity of food production in our daily lives.Jake now works with farmers in Texas as a Texas A&M faculty member in the Soil and Crop Science Department, and as an Extension Specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension to communicate the importance of managing soil as a natural resource.Go to https://www.urbanfar

Getting serious about the microscopic life in soil.In This Podcast: Retired after years of leadership in Monsanto, David Stark was asked to mentor a young company making what was essentially compost tea. Reluctantly and with some concerns over the science, he agreed and now is excited to share what he has learned about soil science and plant health. Grateful for not turning down the request, he now can help teach about soil and plant health and explain about the various microbes in the soil and the essential roles they play.Dr. Stark is President of Holganix LLC where he leads the company’s efforts to expand its business into agriculture.  Dr. Stark spent over 25 years with Monsanto Company where he held various senior leadership roles in technology, corporate affairs and business operations. In 2015 he went to work for Holganix, sells a line of 100% natural bionutritional products for turf, ornamental and agriculture use. The product starts with a proprietary process for making and concentrati

Creating resilience in an urban community.In This Podcast: It was after spending some time out of the country that Francey Slater woke to the poor American relationship with food.  This motivated her towards food justice and making a difference in her community.  With a belief that healthy food is a right for everyone, she co-founded a non-profit that is creating community and school gardens, and building a stronger, resilient community as a result. Francey is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Mill City Grows in Lowell, MA. Her experience creating garden-based educational programming spans two decades, several continents, and youth through adult learners. Mill City Grows is an organization that fosters food justice by improving physical health, economic independence and environmental sustainability in Lowell through increased access to land, locally-grown food and education.Prior to founding Mill City Grows, she was the Education Director for CitySprouts, worked as a member of