850: Winter Growing in the Desert with Jordan StejskalA Rosie On The House Radio Show ReplayIn This Podcast: This episode of Rosie on the House features Farmer Greg, Romey Romero and guest Jordan Stejskal discussing desert winter gardening. They include the benefits of growing plants from October to May and the variety of plants suitable for this season, such as brassicas, lettuces, and root vegetables and emphasize the importance of soil preparation using compost and fertilizers, and the considerations when sourcing manures. The team also explores bioregional herbalism, promoting the use of local plants for medicinal and culinary purposes, and the benefits of wild foraging in the desert. About our guest: Jordan Stejskal is a second generation Phoenix native and a lifelong plant lover. Jordan is a gardener, a home cook, a permaculturist, an educator, and a bioregional herbalist. She has studied plants, people, and their relationships with one another at Phoenix College, the Desert Botanical Gardens, The School of Evolutionary Herbalism, The Urban Farm, and Revis Mountain School of Self Reliance.She has worked for The Urban Farm for almost four years and helps to run the fruit tree program every winter and the permaculture design course every spring.Visit www.UrbanFarm.org/850-Rosie for the show notes and links on this episode!Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg, Janis or Ray to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!Become an Urban Farm Patron and listen to more than 850 episodes of the Urban Farm Podcast without ads. Click HERE to learn more.*Disclosure: Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

849: Meghan Baker on Navigating Cooperative Extension Programs.Helping farmers find success.In This Podcast horticultural professional Meghan Baker discusses the intricacies of small farm management and the vital role of Cooperative Extension agents. Meghan shares her journey from a childhood fascination with nature to her current role as a small farms extension agent. She describes the key duties of a Cooperative Extension agent, including bringing university research to the local farming community, providing technical assistance, and supporting sustainable and regenerative farming practices. Meghan highlights the role of community partners such as the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project in transforming the agricultural landscape from tobacco to diversified farming. The episode also covers the importance of soil testing, disease and pest identification resources, and the benefits of forest farming. Meghan emphasizes her passion for continuous learning and the significance of slow, attentive observation in agriculture. She concludes by encouraging farmers to utilize the resources and expertise provided by Cooperative Extension services.Our Guest: Meghan Baker is a horticultural professional based in Asheville and currently serves as the Small Farms Extension Agent in Buncombe County for the NC Cooperative Extension Service. Meghan holds a MS degree in Plant & Environmental Studies from Clemson University.As an outreach educator and technical consultant, she helps farmers navigate production and business challenges with crops ranging from vegetables to herbs to forest products. An avid naturalist and outdoor enthusiast, Meghan also holds certifications as a North Carolina Environmental Educator, a Southern Appalachian Naturalist and an Interpretive Guide. A native of Western North Carolina, Meghan is deeply committed to sustaining the agricultural heritage and productive lands in the region.Meghan's recommended Book - Wildflowers and Plant Communities of the Southern Appalachian Mountains by Timothy Spira. Visit UrbanFarm.org/CoopAgent for the show notes and links on this episode! Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg, Janis or Ray to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!Become an Urban Farm Patron and listen to more than 850 episodes of the Urban Farm Podcast without ads. Click HERE to learn more.*Disclosure: Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

Bill McDorman, former Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance and an expert in seed saving, shares insights on the benefits of ancient grains for gut health and sustainable gardening. They discuss nutritional advantages of grains like spelt and einkorn, as well as the impact of modern agriculture on digestive well-being. Bill highlights practical tips for growing grains in small spaces, the communal joy of sourdough baking, and the innovative approach of creating a 'Grex' to enhance grain resilience. A fascinating conversation for food enthusiasts!

847: Jessie Dean on Farm to Teacup Tea.And Hurricane Helene and the her business recovery.In This Podcast: We chat with Jessie Dean from Asheville Tea Company, about her farm to teacup business approach and the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in September 2024. This episode was originally recorded in July 2024 prior to the hurricane. The storm led to the complete destruction of their building, resulting in the loss of inventory, equipment, and office space. Despite the shock, the company has been actively rebuilding with immense support from their community, local farmers, and collaborating tea businesses.Jesse discusses the transition from her career in outdoor education to starting the tea company in 2016, combining her passion for tea with sustainable business practices. She emphasizes connecting consumers with the origins of their tea, supporting local farmers, and promoting regenerative agricultural methods. Jesse also shares insights on overcoming challenges, the importance of networking, and the rewarding journey of entrepreneurship.Additionally, they have launched a holiday tea trio and initiated a fundraiser to aid their recovery efforts. More details and donation options are available on their website.Our Guest: Jesse Dean is the founder and CEO of Asheville Tea Company. Where they believe in creating delicious cups of tea by using a farm to teacup approach to ingredient sourcing by having direct involvement with the plants and farmers who grow their herbs.They support the local food economy and regenerative growing methods along the way, telling the story of each ingredient. So the consumer can experience what's in their cup from seed to sip.Jessie's Book Recommendation: Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeownGuest Website: AshevilleTeaCompany.comVisit UrbanFarm.org/AshevilleTeaCompany for the show notes and links on this episode! Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg, Janis or Ray to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!Become an Urban Farm Patron and listen to more than 850 episodes of the Urban Farm Podcast without ads. Click HERE to learn more.*Disclosure: Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

846: Exploring Ancient Grain Traditions with Don GuerraA Rosie On The House Radio Show ReplayIn This Podcast: In this episode replay of 'Rosie on the House,' the Urban Farming Hour features Don Guerra, founder of Barrio Bread in Tucson, Arizona. Don is an award-winning baker who began his community-supported bakery in his garage in 2009. Greg and Romey learn from Don about the importance of using ancient and local grains in bread-making, highlighting the cultural and nutritional benefits of these practices. He explains the history and significance of grains like Sonoran white wheat and the impact of slow fermentation techniques on gluten reduction. Don's journey from anthropology to baking, his collaborations with local farmers, and his vision of sustainable, community-supported bread production. Lastly, Don offers insights into bread education and invites listeners to explore his methods through his website and online courses.Visit www.UrbanFarm.org/846-Rosie for the show notes and links on this episode!Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg, Janis or Ray to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!Become an Urban Farm Patron and listen to more than 850 episodes of the Urban Farm Podcast without ads. Click HERE to learn more.*Disclosure: Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

845: Keri Evji's Regenerative JourneyDesigns for Ecological ChangeIn This Podcast: Greg interviews Keri Evji, founder of Healing Roots Design LLC, a regenerative landscaping company in Asheville, North Carolina. Keri shares her journey of integrating nature's principles into her life and business, emphasizing a holistic approach to social and ecological change. She discusses her personal experiences and the inspiration behind her book, 'Regenerative Life Design Playbook,' which offers a multimedia toolkit for living a more connected and resilient life. Keri explores the concept of permaculture, its applications beyond gardening, and the importance of embracing our inner ecology for personal and cultural growth.Our Guest: Keri is the founder of Healing Roots Design LLC, a regenerative landscaping company in Asheville, North Carolina. She is a creative entrepreneur, teacher, permaculture designer, author, musician, and community revitalist, committed to the healing of people and planet. Her goal is to empower others to be proactive agents of social and ecological change, building resilience, ecological integrity, and beauty. Keri is the author of the Regenerative Life Design Playbook, a multimedia decision making toolkit that applies nature's principles to lead a more integrated life.Visit UrbanFarm.org/HealingRoots for the show notes and links on this episode! Keri's Book Recommendation: Creating a Life Together, Practical Tools to Grow Echo Villages and Intentional Communities by Diana Leaf ChristianHow to reach Keri: HealingRootsDesign.comNeed a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg, Janis or Ray to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!Become an Urban Farm Patron and listen to more than 850 episodes of the Urban Farm Podcast without ads. Click HERE to learn more.*Disclosure: Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

844 - Greg & Heidi's Hurricane Helene ExperienceGreg Peterson and Heidi Lichte share their recent experiences dealing with Hurricane Helene, emphasizing the importance of community resilience and preparedness. They discuss their methods for surviving without power for seven days, such as using a rocket stove for cooking and a composting toilet, and highlight the significance of community support and resource sharing during crises. Additionally, they detail some successes and learnings from their farm, including growing elderberries, raspberries, sweet potatoes, and maintaining a resilient garden amidst climate challenges. Heidi also shares her ongoing passion for teaching online yoga classes, which she has adapted since March 2020.Our Guest: Heidi has had the joy and honor of teaching yoga for 24 years. Personally, yoga has helped her to be more conscious and present in my life and has taught her to be with the whole picture of what it means to be human: love, loss, illness, aging, vulnerability, growth and change. The physical aspects of alignment based yoga began to stabilize her injury prone body and improve her posture. The introspective practices helped create a healthier relationship internally and with the world around her. The beauty of teaching what she is passionate about is knowing that there is always more to experience. She is never bored and it's always evolving.Our Guest: Heidi has had the joy and honor of teaching yoga for 24 years. Personally, yoga has helped her to be more conscious and present in my life and has taught her to be with the whole picture of what it means to be human: love, loss, illness, aging, vulnerability, growth and change. The physical aspects of alignment based yoga began to stabilize her injury prone body and improve her posture. The introspective practices helped create a healthier relationship internally and with the world around her. The beauty of teaching what she is passionate about is knowing that there is always more to experience. She is never bored and it's always evolving. Heidi's Website: www.YogaWithHeidi.orgVisit www.urbanfarm.org/844-garden for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg or choose one of the senior members of our Urban Farm team to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!Become an Urban Farm Patron and listen to more than 850 episodes of the Urban Farm Podcast without ads. Click HERE to learn more. *Disclosure: Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

843: Planting in the Fall Garden - A Rosie ReplayA Rosie On The House Radio Show ReplayIn This Podcast: Romey Romero, Farmer Greg and special guest Nika Forte discuss urban farming and the importance of fall gardening. Nika details her role as the Urban Farms Director at St. Vincent de Paul's Urban Farm and their efforts in combating food insecurity through sustainable practices. They also emphasize the significance of healthy soil, appropriate garden placement, and choosing crops that are both enjoyable and cost-effective, with insights into seed preservation. Additionally, Nika introduces her children's book series aimed at promoting diversity in agriculture.Special Guest: Nika Forte is a wife and mother who loves spending time with family, serving others and working in her garden.  She served two years in the AmeriCorps program under Public Allies and is currently the Urban Farms Director at St. Vincent de Paul's Urban Farm where she worked for almost nine years. Her mission in life is to advocate for communities that are experiencing food insecurity, and to work every day to educate others on how to grow and give back to the environment in a sustainable and compassionate way.Visit www.UrbanFarm.org/843-Rosie for the show notes and links on this episode!Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg, Janis or Ray to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!Become an Urban Farm Patron and listen to more than 850 episodes of the Urban Farm Podcast without ads. Click HERE to learn more.*Disclosure: Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

842: Preserving food with Wendi BerginIn This Garden Chat:Join Farmer Greg and Wendi Bergin - Wendi and Greg present an insightful overview of food preservation methods, emphasizing the importance of various techniques in extending the shelf life of different food items. They explore traditional methods like canning and pickling, alongside modern practices such as vacuum sealing and freeze-drying. Wendi details the principles behind these processes and offer practical tips for successful food preservation at home. Their discussion highlights the benefits of preserving food, including reducing waste and ensuring nutritious, long-lasting meals.Our Guest: Wendy is a regular mom with a husband, a bunch of kids who she homeschools, some dogs, the founder of Joyfully Prepared, and the host of the Joyfully Prepared podcast.She is dedicated to teaching busy moms skills like gardening, food preservation, natural remedies, and more, so they can take care of themselves and their families through developing talents with confidence while saving money. She's rolled down the mountain of progress so many times that she's skinned her knees, has grass in her teeth, and sticks in her hair.All of these mistakes have actually allowed her to become more confident in her knowledge and skills. Whether it's canning, gardening, emergency preparedness, or anything else, she teaches others to feel confident in learning.Visit www.urbanfarm.org/842-garden for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg or choose one of the senior members of our Urban Farm team to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!Become an Urban Farm Patron and listen to more than 850 episodes of the Urban Farm Podcast without ads. Click HERE to learn more. *Disclosure: Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

Down on the Farm with Judith Horvath, Wendi Bergin & Farmer GregFor a chat about what we are doing on our farms.Join Farmer Greg, Wendi Bergin and Judith Horvath as we chat about the various challenges we face and techniques we use on our farms. In this episode we chat about growing tomatoes, from heirloom varieties to the more consistent cherry and grape tomatoes, and tackle climate issues, pests, and soil amendments. The conversation includes insights into permaculture practices, such as using Billy's Bone Sauce to deter deer and creating food forests with native plants. Sustainable gardening practices are explored with cassava, sweet potatoes, and mulch techniques. We further delve into food preservation, sharing methods and personal experiences with freeze-drying, dehydrating apples, and making apple cider vinegar, while addressing controversies such as 'Apeel.' This episode is filled with practical tips, cool tools like the 'Yuka' app for food labels, and creative hacks for jar sealing, culminating in resource sharing and the promise of future enlightening discussions.Our Special Guests:Our Guests: Check out Judith at https://www.fairhillfarm.com/ and Wendi at https://joyfullyprepared.com/Visit www.urbanfarm.org/DownOnTheFarm2 for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg or choose one of the senior members of our Urban Farm team to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!Become an Urban Farm Patron and listen to more than 850 episodes of the Urban Farm Podcast without ads. Click HERE to learn more. *Disclosure: Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.