The Urban Farm Podcast with Greg Peterson

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.