The Good Dirt: Sustainability Explained

This episode was originally published on May 6, 2022Learn about individual actions you can take to mitigate climate change and make sustainability attainable for everyone, with Stephanie Miller, author of Zero Waste Living the 80/20 Way and founder of Zero Waste in DC. Stephanie left her job as a climate change specialist for the World Bank in order to simplify her own life, confront the disconnect she felt between her life and her work, and to take personal steps toward sustainability. She now empowers others in her community to examine their waste practices and connect with local resources for low-waste living.Stephanie recognizes how paralyzing it can be to think about climate change, and encourages listeners to focus on what she calls the “magic three”: focus on food, ditching plastic, and recycling right, growing more confident and conscious with each choice. The joy and connection that result from low-waste living are paradigm shifting in themselves.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform.Topics Covered:The 80/20 Way - Perfection is not the answerSustainability in Food ChoicesThe greenwashing of “plant-based.” Sustainable meat production vs standard industrial CAFO operationsThe problem of food wastePurge Plastic / Easy AlternativesRecycle Right/ the problem of “Wish-Cycling”The community-building aspect of cultivating a more sustainable lifestyleFinding joy in sustainable living Resources Mentioned: Stephanie’s Book: Zero Waste Living the 80/20 Way Ernest Hemingway in The Sun Also RisesConnect with Stephanie Miller:Zero Waste in DCInstagram @zerowasteindcFollow Lady Farmer:Our Website@weareladyfarmer on InstagramThe Lady Farmer ALMANACOriginal music by John Kingsley, @jkingsley1026Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

This episode delves into the evolving art of ecological gardening and landscaping with Edwina von Gal, founder of the Perfect Earth Project. Edwina shares her journey from traditional landscape design to championing nature-based solutions, recounting her 'aha' moment with chemical-free gardening. The conversation broadens to discuss the cultural shifts in gardening aesthetics and the move towards living lands. Key topics include challenges and strategies for managing meadows and various invasive plants without chemicals, and the importance of community and professional education in ecological landscaping. Edwina also highlights upcoming events and resources offered by the Perfect Earth Project to support ecological land care.00:00 Introduction to Gardening Philosophy01:36 Exciting Symposium on Invasive Plants at Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture02:36 Understanding Restorative Landscaping06:14 Meet Edwina von Gal: Landscape Designer09:07 The Evolution of Gardening Practices13:05 Challenges and Realizations in Eco-Friendly Gardening16:39 Rewilding and Partnering with Nature29:25 Closing the Loop: Sustainable Gardening Practices34:48 Sustainable Seaweed Harvesting35:15 The Importance of Natural Leaf Decomposition36:23 Understanding Land Succession37:11 Maintaining Open Spaces39:10 Managing Invasive Species39:42 Effective Mugwort Control Techniques42:39 Event Announcement: Managing Meadows Symposium46:17 Perfect Earth Project Initiatives50:58 The Therapeutic Value of Gardening53:07 Embracing Slow Gardening55:28 Cultural Expectations and Natural Gardens59:01 The Future of Sustainable LandscapingThe Perfect Earth ProjectDoug Tallamy Nature’s Best Hope by Doug TallamyDiscovering the Spiritual Wisdom of Trees by Beth Norcross and Leah RampyWilding: Returning Nature to our Farm by Isabella TreeWe Are the Ark by Mary ReynoldsBad Naturalist by Paula WhymanCarbon: The Book of LIfe by Paul Hawken━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌻 About Lady Farmer:Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & CommunityVisit Our WebsiteFollow @weareladyfarmer on InstagramEmail us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Lady Farmer. The Good Dirt podcast is proudly part of the Connectd Podcasts network. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:• Wendy Gray

This episode was originally aired on May 13th, 2022. Visit A Fiber Life for shop and updates!Fiber farmer Lisa Mitchell encourages listeners to embrace a beginner’s mindset and connect to the earth through handwork and making as she tells us the story of her major life shift, from striving for success as an art therapist in the suburbs, to slow living on a guanaco farm in the Pacific Northwest. Guanacos, the undomesticated ancestors of the alpaca, produce a unique and high-quality wool, but are often challenging to work with, and are not commonly farmed in the United States. In the absence of mentors and educational resources, Lisa and her husband set about spending significant time learning how to care for these special animals through experience, trial, and error, resulting in a fiber farm producing the highest quality wool on the market. Lisa seeks to “live with her hands” as she creates, and to practice making as an act of love - for the animals she lives alongside, for other people, and for the earth.Topics Covered:Seeking a different lifeGuanacos and Guanaco WoolLearning to Work with Natural FibersWorking with Natural DyeEmbracing Beginner’s MindCreating as an Act of LoveConnecting with Reality Through Hand WorkGuest Info:Lisa Mitchell's Website and Online Store/ A Fiber LifeInstagram: @afiberlifePodcastFollow Us:Our Website: ladyfarmer.com @weareladyfarmer on InstagramThe Lady Farmer ALMANAC on SubstackOriginal music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.Read less

In this episode of The Good Dirt Podcast, Mary & Emma discuss Fashion Revolution Week and its significance, referencing the Rana Plaza disaster as a catalyst for the movement.The episode features Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, who discusses the impact of fast fashion on the environment, her advocacy for slow fashion, and the creation of the Congressional Slow Fashion Caucus. Chellie delves into her personal journey from local government to Congress, highlighting her efforts in sustainable and organic farming. The conversation explores bipartisan efforts to address environmental issues, the importance of soil health, and Pingree’s ongoing initiatives to promote sustainable practices in fashion and agriculture.00:00 Introduction to Fashion Waste01:30 Welcome to the Good Dirt Podcast01:35 Fashion Revolution Week02:33 Lady Farmer's Journey03:49 Introducing Shelly Pingree06:40 Shelly Pingree’s Background15:08 The Slow Fashion Movement22:03 The Role of Congressional Caucuses28:30 Bipartisanship in Sustainable Policies34:05 Shelly Pingree’s Farm and Regenerative Practices37:46 Closing Remarks and Contact InformationFoxfireThe Good Life by Helen and Scott NearingDC Climate Week-April 28th-May 2nd, 2025━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌻 About Lady Farmer:Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & CommunityVisit Our WebsiteFollow @weareladyfarmer on InstagramEmail us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Mary & Emma KingsleyThe Good Dirt podcast is proudly part of the Connectd Podcasts network. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:• Wendy Gray

This episode was originally published on April 23, 2021For updates on Elizabeth Cline's advocacy and policy work since this episode was recorded, go to her website at www.elizabethclinebooks.comOur guest this week is Elizabeth Cline, a New York-based author, journalist, and expert on consumer culture, fast fashion, sustainability and labor rights in the apparel industry. She is the author of Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion, which was published in 2012, and which laid the foundation for the modern global ethical and sustainable fashion movement. Her most recent book, The Conscious Closet, published in 2019, describes how consumers can transform the apparel industry and change the world for the better by making more informed decisions about what they wear every day. In this episode, Elizabeth inspires slow fashion enthusiasts to move beyond the response of merely modifying their purchasing decisions, to come together with other individuals in the wider community to impact policy change through social activism. Elizabeth discusses campaigns such as Pay Up Fashion for direct relief for garment workers that have not been paid by American companies during the pandemic, and the Garment Workers Protection Act that will provide minimum wage for garment workers in California. Elizabeth encourages consumers to embrace their civic right in bringing the malpractices and inequities of the fashion industry to light, holding brands accountable for their unethical practices and therefore affecting real change in this broken system.1:30 - It’s Fashion Revolution week!10:00 - Elizabeth introduces herself11:00 - Has there been much change in the last two decades in the fashion industry?20:00 - Why are corporations not paying their factories?28:00 - The problems in your own closet38:00 - The PayUp Campaign 42:00 - What does The Good Dirt mean to you?50:00 - How Farmers in West Texas inspired ElizabethThings Mentioned: Fashion Revolution  Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion by Elizabeth Cline The Conscious Closet by Elizabeth Cline Lady Farmer Essential Collection Line and Tow Line at Lady Farmer Grace Brian The Twilight of the Ethical Consumer article PayUp Fashion SB 62 - The Garment Worker Protection Act Elizabeth Cline Instagram PayUp Fashion Instagram Greenwashing article for Patagonia Another Tomorrow The ALMANAC 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community Visit Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:• Wendy Gray

Shannon Hayes, Chef and CEO of Sap Bush Hollow Farm and author of 'Radical Homemakers', joins the conversation to redefine wealth beyond monetary measures. She discusses her journey in slow living and holistic farming, emphasizing intentionality in life choices. Shannon’s insights reveal the rich value of non-monetary income, community connections, and cultivating meaningful experiences. The discussion also touches on the impact of public perception and the evolution of personal authenticity, urging listeners to embrace a life-serving economy.

This episode was originally aired March 25, 2022Join this "fruitful" and enlightening conversation with tree crops specialist, horticultural historian and agroforestry practitioner Eliza Greenman as she explains the evolution of the apple, horticultural tree crop history and shares her love for fruit exploring. A creator of niche products, Eliza is passionate owner of charcuterie company, HogTree, and is working towards the goal of creating orchard systems that function symbiotically with livestock to replace costly livestock feed. After a time pruning apple trees on an island off the coast of Maine, paired with her time abroad in Germany in apprenticeship with an apple grower and a formative research trip to Asia, the homeland of fruits and nuts, Eliza found her calling and became single- mindedly obsessed with apples. Now she is an advocate for natural wildlife practices and indigenous systems, stressing the importance of eating in season and shying away from global commodities. The conversation includes various types of fruit and nut trees such as pawpaws, mulberry trees, hickory walnuts, acorns, autumn olive and the infamous Bradford Pear, exploring all the ways these beautiful gifts can be nurtured and enjoyed. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform.Topics Covered: Agroforestry  Agroecology Permaculture  Food Forests  Perennials  Fruit and Nut Trees  Bradford Pear  Red Delicious  Fire Blight  Heart Rot  Pollarding Autumn Olive Silvopasture agroforestry  Resources Mentioned:  US Apple - Lobbying  Back River Market  “Of New York” Series - Catalog of Fruit Varieties  The National Soil Fertility League  North American Fruit Explorers - NAFEX  John Bunker, Fedco Trees Francis Fenton  Silvopasture is the deliberate integration of trees and grazing livestock operations on the same land. These systems are intensively managed for both forest products and forage, providing both short- and long-term income sources.  Source: https://www.fs.usda.gov/nac/practices/silvopasture.php  Guest Info Connect with Eliza at elizaapples.com  HogTree charcuterie company  Fruit and Fodder  Instagram @elizaapples  🌻 About Lady Farmer: Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community Visit Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:• Wendy Gray

In this episode of The Good Dirt Podcast, Mary & Emma discuss the common struggles of clutter and its impact on daily life with special guest Dana K. White, author of 'Decluttering at the Speed of Life.' Dana shares her unique five-step decluttering method tailored for creative minds who often find themselves overwhelmed by clutter. She emphasizes the importance of understanding one's personal clutter threshold, the distinction between organizing and decluttering, and the mental freedom gained from consistent decluttering habits. Dana also discusses the emotional challenges tied to sentimentality and inherited items, offering practical, guilt-free strategies for managing household clutter. Tune in to learn actionable steps for creating a more functional and joyful living space.00:00 Introduction to Creativity and Clutter01:29 Excitement for Today's Episode02:06 The Impact of Clutter on Life05:04 Introducing Dana White06:12 Dana's Journey to Decluttering12:26 The No Mess Decluttering Process17:59 Emotional Challenges of Decluttering26:48 Finding Your Clutter Threshold30:53 Sustainable Decluttering Practices35:08 Maintaining a Functional Home35:27 The Five-Minute Pickup Strategy36:06 Understanding Clutter Thresholds37:12 Effective Decluttering Techniques38:14 Dealing with Sentimental Items41:25 The Container Concept51:16 Sustainability and Slow Living58:47 Final Thoughts and Reflections━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌻 About Lady Farmer: Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community Visit Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:• Wendy Gray

This episode was originally aired April 26, 2024 In this conversation with best selling author and activist Paul Hawken, we discuss the reframing of our relationship with nature by moving away from the concept of "othering" ourselves, and more towards the integration of our interconnectedness. Paul speaks of the cultural disconnect, the role of language in shaping our perception of the environment, and how crucial it is to engage directly with the natural world. Hawken's vast experience, including starting the first natural food company (Erewhon) in the U.S. and working with Martin Luther King Jr., as well as his involvement in founding Regeneration and NEXUS, are all a result of a lifetime of pursuing solutions to our climate crisis. He shares how he views carbon and climate change through a lens of interconnectedness and flow rather than as isolated problems. He also talks about his upcoming book, 'Carbon, the Book of Life,' the significance of soil regeneration, societal shifts and the connection between joy and sustainability as well as the power of individual and community action in the face of environmental challenges.🌿 This episode is sponsored by Neptune’s Harvest Organic Fertilizer. Use code GOODDIRT at checkout for 5% off your order for products from the ocean to set your plants in motion 🌊Topics Discussed· Opening Reflections: Embracing Nature and Conversations on Disconnection· Insights from Paul Hawken: Bridging the Gap Between Humanity and Nature· Organic Food Pioneer· Finding Your Environmental Voice· Exploring the Language of Nature and Indigenous Wisdom· The Power of Language in Healing Our Relationship with the Planet· Redefining Success and the Essence of Soil· The Transformation of Soil and Agriculture· Ultra Processed Food· Soil's Organism and Its Impact on Plant Health· The Haber-Bosch Process· Exploring Soil Acoustics and Its Significance· The Power of Community and Individual Action· Reconnecting with Nature Outside of the Internet· Sensationalism in Media· Indigenous Voices & Decolonizing Our Perspectives· Innovative Solutions for a Sustainable Future· Joy and Sustainability· Carbon & The Myth of Carbon Neutral· Empowering Actions Through Nexus and Regeneration.orgEpisode Resources:· Listen to The Good Dirt Podcast “Reimagining Our Place in the Landscape: Eco-Spirituality and Rewilding with Mary DeJong”· Listen to The Good Dirt Podcast “The Urgent Need for Restorative Gardening with Mary Reynolds”· Read “Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation” by Paul Hawken· Read “Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming” by Paul Hawken· Read The Guardian’s Article “Vegetables are losing their nutrients. Can the decline be reversed?”· Read “Ultra-Processed People: The Science Behind Food That Isn't Food” by Chris Van Tulleken· InventWoodConnect with Paul Hawken:· Website: https://paulhawken.com/· Climate One Website: https://www.climateone.org/people/paul-hawken· Project Regeneration Website: https://regeneration.org/about/paul-hawken· Instagram @paulhawken: https://www.instagram.com/paulhawken/· Paul’s Newsletter: https://regeneration.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=ebb591cd0ef4ad186dcf2cd3f&id=8f12b90f3e· Nexus: https://regeneration.org/nexus━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌻 About Lady Farmer:· Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community· Visit Our Website· Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram· Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail!Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:· Wendy Gray

In this episode of the Good Dirt Podcast, hosts Emma and Mary return from winter break with a special interview featuring repeat guest Paul Hawken, the acclaimed environmentalist, author, and activist. They discuss Hawken's new book, 'Carbon, the Book of Life,' which explores the multifaceted role of carbon in our universe, challenging the prevailing view of carbon as merely a climatic culprit. Hawken shares his profound insights on the interconnectedness of all life and how shifting our perception of carbon can foster a deeper understanding of our relationship with where we live. Key themes include the limitations of current climate messaging, the emotional and intellectual journey of understanding carbon, and the need for a holistic approach to resolving environmental crises.📖 Preorder Carbon:The Book of Life → Click here (Available in the U.S. on March 18, 2025)00:00 Introduction to Carbon and Climate Messaging01:50 Welcome Back to Good Dirt Podcast03:56 Introducing Paul Hawken and His New Book06:29 Paul Hawken on the Inspiration Behind His Work07:37 The Role of Carbon in Climate Change12:48 Challenges in Climate Messaging17:21 The Interconnectedness of Life and Carbon24:06 Stories of Connection in the Natural World29:29 Elephant Mourning Rituals29:45 The Intelligence of Animals30:20 Understanding Our Place in the World31:41 The Interconnectedness of Trees33:33 Indigenous Knowledge and Environmental Awareness35:59 The Role of Science in Rediscovering Nature46:35 AI and Environmental Impact54:01 The Importance of Grief and Heartbreak01:00:48 Final Thoughts and ReflectionsBooks/ArticlesBill McKibben/ Global Warming's Terrifying New MathLawrence Anthony/ The Elephant WhispererFrans De Waal/ Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? Karen Bakker/ The Sounds of LifeZoe Schlanger/ The LIght EatersSuzanne Simard/ Finding the Mother TreeDara McAnulty/ Diary of a Young NaturalistEd Conway/ Material World 📖 Preorder Carbon: The Book of Life → Click here (Available in the U.S. on March 18, 2025)🌎 Connect with Paul:🔗 Website: paulhawken.com📘 Facebook | 📷 Instagram | 💼 LinkedIn | 🐦 Twitter━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌻 About Lady Farmer: Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community Visit Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:• Wendy Gray