The Urban Farm Podcast with Greg Peterson

636: How to let your garden go to seed.In This Podcast:This is the August 2021 Seed Saving Class with Bill McDorman discussing brassicas.  Take the best seeds from this year’s garden and save them for the next. When you adapt and save seeds from plants that were hardy, and exhibited characteristics you like (disease and insect resistance for example) those seeds will work better in your garden the following year because after all, that is where they learned their new tricks. Join us and we’ll show you how to select the best seed for your best 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. He is one of the creators of The Great American Seed Up.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/09/21/636-seed-chat/ for shownotes and links.How to Let Your Garden Go to Seed.

A Farmer Friday Interview with Vicki Hird.In This Farmer Friday Podcast on Rebugging Your Farm and Garden:Vicki Hird reminds us that it is possible to have bugs without having a bug problem.  In fact, when it comes to bugs, the more you have in your garden the better!  Vicki provides information about the beneficial roles that bugs play and she tells how to nurture and protect them.  Learn what to do to encourage (and live with!) a healthy bug population in your own garden as well as how to advocate for them in your community.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 whttps://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/09/17/635-farmer-friday/ for shownotes and links.Rebugging Your Farm and Garden.

Turning Homesteading Skills Into a New Business Venture.In This Podcast:Anyone who has ever had chickens knows that feeding poultry is a messy business.  Erik Diedrichsen found a better way, and in the process, he found his way into a new business venture.  Erik shares his experience of growing a product from idea to market and explains what he believes it takes to be a successful inventor. Hear about the challenges he faced and the lessons he learned, and of course get the scoop on what Erik and Greg call the “best chicken feeder on the market”.Erik lost his main trade show business due to Covid.  He turned to the skills he knew as a part-time homesteader and designed, patented, and produced the “best chicken feeder on the market” and started his new business PoultryProFeeder.com.  Aside from wanting to provide a proven superior product, Erik is using the opportunity to learn the business process.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/09/14/634-erik-diedrichsen/ for shownotes and links.Developing a New Poultry Feeder.

A Farmer Friday Interview with Mike Biltonen.In This Farmer Friday Podcast on Soil Is Not Dirt:Though the words are often used interchangeably, soil and dirt are not the same thing.  Mike Biltonen explains that we must know the distinction before we can truly appreciate the treasure that is our soil.  Once we realize its true worth, we will want to nurture and protect this most valuable resource, to preserve both the life in it and the life that comes from it.  Mike gives details about specific ways we can do just that.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.urbanfarm.org/2021/09/10/633-farmer-friday/ for shownotes and links.Soil Is Not Dirt.

Don’t Let Yard Size Determine Your Harvests.In This Podcast:Are your fruit trees an investment or an experiment?  Christy Wilhelmi talks about the steps needed to ensure that the fruit trees you plant in your yard are an investment that bears fruit.  She covers every stage of the process, including planning your harvest, planting trees in suitable soil, and pruning to keep your trees a manageable size.  Christy also explains why these steps are different from what you might hear in classes or read in agricultural textbooks. Christy is founder of Gardenerd, the ultimate resource for garden nerds, where she publishes newsletters, her popular blog, top-ranked podcasts, and YouTube videos. She also specializes in small-space, organic vegetable garden design, consulting, and classes.  She is author of Gardening for Geeks (Fox Chapel Publishing), 400+ Tips for Organic Gardening Success (Amazon Digital), Grow Your Own Mini Fruit Garden published by our friends at Cool Springs Press, and her upcoming novel Garden Variety (William Morrow/Harper Collins) will be sprouting in April 2022.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/09/07/632-christy-wilhelmi/ for shownotes and links.Growing Fruit in Small Spaces.

A Farmer Friday Interview with Nicole Gennetta.In This Farmer Friday Podcast on Feeding Chickens:What do chickens eat?  Nicole Gennetta explains that they are omnivores and can eat just about anything, so she answers that question by providing an important list of foods to avoid.  She discusses how to safely prepare specific foods and prevent food-related problems.   Listen and learn how to grow chicks into healthy adults by considering their special nutritional needs, and even how to show your chickens some love with healthy treats they’ll appreciate.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.urbanfarm.org/2021/09/03/631-farmer-friday/ for shownotes and links.Feeding Chickens.

A chat with Niki Jabbour.  In This Garden Chat: Great things come in small packages, even in gardening!  Niki Jabbour’s enthusiasm for corners, windowsills, and balconies will have you reconsidering the growing potential of your tiniest spaces.  Niki tells us what makes a good space, giving examples of some places that are often overlooked.  Learn how to decide which foods to grow and where, how to plant them, and how to ensure your plants thrive in their small space.  You’ll never look at a driveway the same way again! 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: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. She writes for newspapers and magazines and has hosted a weekly radio show for the past 14 years.  Niki gardens in zone 5B in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/08/31/630-garden-chat/ for shownotes and links.Small Space - Big Potential.

A SPECIAL Farmer Friday Interview with Jeffrey Smith.In This Farmer Friday Podcast on Wrap Up of Roundup:Jeffrey Smith joins us to discuss the astonishing news that Bayer will discontinue sales of Roundup to residential consumers in the US.  Jeffrey is a passionate advocate for people and nature in the fight against Roundup and GMO’s.  He explains the significance of this announcement by discussing both the history leading up to it and the opportunities created by it. There is still much work to do to protect our health and safety, but this is a monumental step forward! 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.urbanfarm.org/2021/08/27/629-farmer-friday/ for shownotes and links.Wrap Up of Roundup.

628: Brazen Brassicas.In This Podcast:This is the July 2021 Seed Saving Class with Bill McDorman discussing brassicas.  Sassy, unpretentious and unapologetic, the brassica family covers some of the easiest and trickiest plants to grow, and from which to save seeds.  Break through the mystery, the challenge, and myths and learn how to grow and save seeds from this family of diverse species which includes kale, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, arugula and broccoli. 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/2021/08/24/628-seed-chat/ for shownotes and links.Brazen Brassicas.

A Farmer Friday Interview with Zach Loeks.In This Farmer Friday Podcast on Ecosystem Mimicry and Layering:Greg welcomes back Zach Loeks to discuss how to simplify the process of ecosystem design by observing and mimicking the natural layers and patterns of existing ecosystems.  Zach details what to look for when observing.  He also explains how to create a more complete ecosystem by using layering to fill a space vertically and patterns to fill it horizontally.  You will enjoy the fun examples he gives.  Don't miss hearing Zach explain how to jazz up your design!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.urbanfarm.org/2021/08/20/627-farmer-friday/ for shownotes and links.Ecosystem Mimcry and Layering.