The Urban Farm Podcast with Greg Peterson

Nikki Jabbour on Growing Under Cover.Protecting gardens from cold weather and pests and extending growing seasons.An intriguing conversation on how to garden year-round in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Niki Jabbour illustrates her growing techniques that she claims to be a ‘game-changer’ in her garden. Niki describes the different types of crop covers used for various plants that can allow you to garden during winter as well as maintaining resilience against pests. She also emphasizes the importance behind creating microclimates in her space to produce the best tasting vegetables.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. Niki writes for newspapers and magazines and has hosted a weekly radio show for the past 14 years. Growing Under Cover, her latest book focuses on techniques for a more productive, weather-resistant, pest-free vegetable garden.  Nikki gardens in zone 5B in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.  Has about 20 raised beds, assorted cold frames, and a polytunnel in her garden. She harvests year round without adding heat by using garden covers like row covers, shade cloth, mini hoop tunnels, cold frames, a 14 by 24 foot polytunnel and deep mulching. Her techniques not only allow her to enjoy a year-round harvest but they reduce pests. They also create a microclimate around her plants which allows growing heat loving veggies in a short season climate.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/03/30/586-niki-jabbour/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!

Eddy Badrina on Growing vertically in greenhouses.Transforming industrial agriculture.In This Podcast: In This Podcast: Exploring the future of farming, we chat with Eddy Badrina about a new technology that can be a viable solution for creating a regenerative food system. Eddy shares his concerns the impacts traditional farming has on the environment and how the greenhouse technology at Eden Green can shrink down 35 acres of farming into just over an acre. Receiving international attention, he says that vertical farming could be the answer to providing local, healthy foods at commercial levels.Eddy is a graduate of Texas A&M University, and the Bush School for Government and Public Service. He has had mission-critical roles at the US Department of State, executive leadership at a White House Initiative, and director level positions at two successful startups. And, he is CEO of Eden Green Technology, a vertical farming technology company dedicated to changing the way we farm our food and feed our communities.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/03/23/585-eddy-badrina/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!

584: Where, When, & How to Start Saving Seeds.A chat with an expert on Seeds.In This Podcast: At least ten times a year we have a live Seed Saving Class with Bill McDorman. This is the February 2021 class discussing the importance behind creating systems for local seed viability, reclaiming ancient grains and heirloom seeds, and so much more on how to create fundamental changes to our food supply.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/2021/03/16/584-seed-chat/ for the show notes on this bonus episode, and access to our full podcast library!

Gregg Muller on Breeding Your Own Vegetables.Breeding vegetables for a unique variety that is well-suited to your climate.In This Podcast: Diving into the topic of breeding for genetic seed diversity, Gregg Muller’s curiosity led him to experiment with crossbreeding unique seed varieties. Gregg illustrates the epic vegetable breeds he has been creating from purple snow peas to ‘single serve’ melons. Living in the dry climate of Bendigo, Victoria in Australia, he discusses the importance of protecting open genetic resources in the face of changing environmental conditions.Gregg holds a Bachelor of Arts in pure mathematics and philosophy, diploma of teaching, a graduate diploma of outdoor education, a master’s degree in environmental science, and is currently enrolled in a PhD program examining the ecology of root-parastic trees. He has worked as a park ranger, Secondary school maths and science teacher, environmental planner, outdoor instructor, and spent the last 19 years as a natural history lecturer at university. But his passion, as you will soon learn, is growing vegetables. He has grown vegetables for over 50 years, but now concentrates on breeding locally adapted vegetables, providing seeds for his local community and interested vegetable growers and breeders with climates similar to the dry, Mediterranean conditions of Central Victoria, Australia.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/03/09/583-gregg-muller/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!

Patti Milligan on Growing Healthier Eaters.Connecting childhood nutrition to gardening.In This Podcast: A fascinating chat with Patti Milligan lets us explore ways to help children crave healthier foods. Patti discusses how taste, smell, and environment are influential to what drives our diet preferences from a young age. She encourages parents to embrace sensory appreciation when introducing children to new and healthy foods that will shape their perceptions and better evolve maturing taste buds. Patti has been in the nutrition field for nearly 40 years. Her work and passion in the field of Neuroscience of Taste has led her to the field of saliva research and exploring the why behind the foods we like. Working in both clinical nutrition and integrative medicine/natural foods, Patti brings a unique blend of clinical, educational, holistic, consumer, and PR experience. She and her son created the Be Memorable foundation in which they support individuals making a difference in novel ways for kids’ nutrition (focusing on school gardens and childhood cancer). She is the author of Why is Shirley Unusual? an interactive children’s nutrition & gardening book, the proceeds of which go to sponsoring school gardens.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/03/02/582-patti-milligan/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!

580: Seed Saving Class December 2020.  A chat with an expert on Seeds.In This Podcast: At least ten times a year we have a live Seed Saving Class with Bill McDorman. This is the December 2020 class discussing the highlights of seed saving topics from the year, from proper seed storage to seed viability, and so much more about why plants thrive better from saved seeds.Come join us for the next live class, or catch up on our previous classes through our podcast episodes. Either way you will expand your seed knowledge and gain new perspectives on your food system.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/2021/02/23/581-seedchat/ for the show notes on this bonus episode, and access to our full podcast library!

Jessica Smith on Healthy Soil and Healthy Plants.How healthy soil supports healthy plants and how growing food can solve many of the world’s.An inspiring conversation with Jessica Smith on the importance of healthy soil, an overlooked resource that could solve many of the world’s problems. Jessica shares the story of her journey towards understanding life within soil and how nurturing plant life is the same as nurturing the human body. Her Mission: Encouraging the world to understand that our role in nature is to support it, not control it. Jessica is a Certified Ecological Farmer and Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. With a B.S. in Sustainable Living and Living Soils, and a Masters in Soil Science, she combines her passions to encourage the earth and its inhabitants back into a state of balance and vitality. She teaches regenerative and ecological gardening and farming in hopes to improve soil health, ecosystem health, environmental health, and human health. Jessica also co-created & co-produced the movie Grow Food found at GrowFoodFilm.comVisit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/02/16/580-jessica-smith/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!

Michael Kilpatrick on Starting a New Farm.Helping others navigate the challenges of starting a new farm.Farming is often perceived as a career that requires long hours, little leisure and profit. However, Michael Kilpatrick spends every day working towards his vision working with farmers to create sustainable farming systems that generate profit and provide the ability to enjoy life. Listen in to learn about his ideas on how to build a profitable farm, the most important aspects of farming, as well as sound advice for someone who is looking to start a new farm.   Michael is a farmer, presenter, host, inventor and online entrepreneur who lives to help farmers apply business principles and practical, proven solutions to grow their businesses and de-stress their lives. He has managed large certified organic farms and businesses, consulted for industry experts, and spoken at dozens of industry conferences. He is the host of the Thriving Farmer Podcast and Summit series, Visionary and educator at Growing Farmers, and farmer at The Farm on Central.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/02/09/579-michael-kilpatrick/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!

Zack Greene on Running a Quail Farm.Raising Coturnix Quail and distributing their eggs.Self-sufficiency is steadily trending to be the new lifestyle where people are reverting back to homesteading practices of the past. However, Zack Greene followed a slightly different path of self-sufficiency that turned out to be the best decision of his life. Listen in to learn about the benefits of quail farming, how quail production results in quality and quantity, as well as why raising quail is perfect for self-sufficiency.Zack is a former multistore restaurant manager for a turned homesteader that specializes in coturnix quail. His family has been switching to self-sufficiency over the past 10 years through gardening, canning, raising animals and more. His quail journey has led him to 5,000 birds and a self-started company that now ships 500,000 hatching eggs a year.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/02/02/578-zack-greene/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!

Quita Jackson on Off-Grid Container Homes.Building small homes using thrifty resources.In This Podcast: Our ancestors were the pioneers of the past that lived off the land and as society advanced, so did our way of life. Currently, we are living life unsustainably and creating waste along the way. However, Quita Jackson had a vision to revert back to living like the mothers before her and decided to follow her dreams of living off-grid. Listen in to learn about how she built her container home, the challenges along the way, and the importance of mimicking mother nature.Nature Lover, Mom and Wife, Producer, Storyteller, and Educator are just some of the words that describe Quita. She is the founder and host of GreenDesert.org; a site dedicated to leaving less of a carbon footprint by mimicking nature. From helping build school gardens, to building off-grid shipping container homes, to sharing backyard-to-kitchen recipes, She truly lives a sustainable lifestyle and strives for zero waste. Her GreenDesert TV page has more than 100 videos sharing her lifestyle. Quita also produced and created shows for ABC News in Phoenix for the last 20 years.Visit https://www.urbanfarm.org/2021/01/26/577-quita-jackson/ for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!