The Good Dirt: Sustainability Explained

Happy Holidays!2023 has been a rollercoaster of a year, and we here at The Good Dirt thank you for everything over the past few months. For our Day 1 fans to our New Listeners, we welcome you. To celebrate, Mary and Emma reflect on the top three episodes of the past year and share what their big takeaways were from each one. From Mary Reynolds, a reformed landscape designer advocating for restorative gardening, and Owen Wormser, who shares his expertise on transforming lawns into meadows, to the Maria Rodale's wisdom in Love, Nature, Magic. They also delve into the enlightening conversation with Floris Van Hees and Ivar Smits, Dutch sailing partners on a mission to document positive environmental actions around the world. Join Mary and Emma as they reflect back on the year and look forward to a new beginning.Support The Good Dirt Pledge Drive Here!Topics Discussed · New Years Weekend· Looking Back on 2023· Mary & Emma's Top Three Episodes of 2023· "The Urgent Need for Restorative Gardening with Mary Reynolds"· Acts of Restorative Kindness to the Earth· How to Change the Paradigm· "'Lawns into Meadows' with Author Owen Wormser on Regenerative Agriculture"· "Sailors for Sustainability Searching for Solutions: A Journey Around the World"· "Seeking the Wisdom of the Earth with Maria Rodale, author of Love, Nature, Magic: Shamanic Journeys into the Heart of My Garden"· Looking Ahead to 2024· Returning to the BeginningEpisode Resources:• Join Us in The ALMANAC • "We Are the Ark: Returning Our Gardens to Their True Nature Through Acts of Restorative Kindness" by Mary Reynolds• "Lawns Into Meadows, 2nd Edition: Growing a Regenerative Landscape" by Owen Wormser • "Love, Nature, Magic: Shamanic Journeys Into the Heart of My Garden by Maria Rodale• Sailors for Sustainability• Kiss the Ground Documentary • The Rodale Institute ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌻 About Lady Farmer:• Our Website• Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram• Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC• 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. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Did you catch Emma's song from last Friday's episode? Wanting more music? We've got more for you today! While Mary & Emma are on a break from interviews for the holidays, we wanted to share something fun from the Lady Farmer Archives. Tune in for Missing Sister Band, recorded in Seneca, MD November, 2020.Covers:White Flag - JosephHelplessly Hoping - Crosby, Stills, and NashStrangers - The KinksBaby Where You Are - Ted LucasDogs Laying Around Playing - My BubbaLong Time Traveller - Sacred Harp vocals: Anna GlennCharlotte HendersonShannon Beston (guitar) Caitlin RobinsonEmma Kingsleyguitar: Cameron Palmeraudio/visuals: David SmithEmma KingsleyMary Kingsleyediting: Emma Kingsley Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today we have something a little different from Mary & Emma...you can think of it as a holiday surprise from us to you!We start out with a story from Mary and wrap up with a song from Emma - performed, recorded, mixed, and edited all by Emma herself.Happy Holidays to all!Story- A Christmas Miracle by Mary E KingsleySong - Cover of "Sister Winter" by Sufjan StevensGuitar - Cam PalmerVocals - Emma Kingsley━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌻 About Lady Farmer:• Our Website• Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram• Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC• 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 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

With microplastics and toxic chemicals all around us, what can we do as consumers to make more informed choices for the benefit of our planet? Mary and Emma sit down with Janette Spiezio, the founder of Sustainable Haus Mercantile, to discuss the concept of zero waste living and the importance of making those sustainable, educated choices for ourselves and the planet. As a first generation American with a corporate background, Janette became determined to make better choices for her daughters and their future. Now, she runs refillable zero-waste businesses in Summit, NJ, and she shares her journey towards her zero-waste lifestyle while providing valuable insights into the world of sustainable living. From reducing plastic waste to composting and making mindful consumer choices, Janette's passion for the environment shines through as she offers practical advice and encourages listeners to make small changes towards a more sustainable future.Support The Good Dirt Pledge Drive Here!Topics Discussed · The Winter Solstice· Wax Paper, Parchment Paper, and Gift Wrap: An Update from Our "Embracing a Good Dirt Holiday" Episode· Healthy People, Healthy Home, Healthy Planet· Coming from a Corporate Background· Understanding Ingredients in Everyday Items· The Zero Waste Movement· Trust But Verify· BPAs & Other Chemicals in Our Food· Microplastics· Running a Zero Waste Shop: The Origin of Sustainable Haus Mercantile · Refilling Products vs. Buying Brand New· Being a Naturist in a Modern World· The Value of Environmental Education· Creative Ideas for Plastic Alternatives at the Supermarket· The Problem with Laundry Pods & Strips· Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA)· "Soil, not oil, holds the future for humanity” - Vandana Shiva Quote· How Corporations Mishandle Our Trust· Phenol in Receipt Paper· Biodegradable vs. Compostable· Janette's HopeEpisode Resources:• Join Us in The ALMANAC • Listen to The Good Dirt's Slow Living Through the Seasons: December Episode! • Listen to The Good Dirt's Talking Trash with Eve Schaub• Think Dirty• Listen to The Good Dirt Seeking Real Solutions to Plastic Pollution with Smruti Aravind of The Story of Stuff• The Environmental Working Group• Beth Terry's My Plastic Free Life • Read Eve Schaub's A Year of No Garbage Connect with Janette:• Website: https://www.sustainablehaus.com/• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janette-filbert-spiezio-05960212• Sustainable Haus TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sustainablehaus?lang=en• Sustainable Haus IG @sustainablehaus: https://www.instagram.com/sustainablehaus/━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌻 About Lady Farmer:• Our Website• Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram• Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC• 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 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this special December episode of "Slow Living Through The Seasons," Mary & Emma delve into the topic of Christmas trees, exploring traditions, personal experiences, and ways to approach this festive symbol with a slow living mindset.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌻 About Lady Farmer:• Our Website• Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram• Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC• 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 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We’re talking to Christina Schindler, who after spending 20 years in public education as a teacher and administrator, has embarked on a business venture with her family as the CEO of the Modern Stone Age Kitchen, a restaurant in Chestertown, MD that optimizes nutrition in modern foods through ancestral techniques–creating healthy food for the community. Christina also serves as President of the Eastern Shore Food Lab, a non-profit that is focused on creating a nourishing, ethical and sustainable food system through education, outreach and research. Most importantly, Christina is a mother of three busy teenagers and is married to Dr. Bill Schindler, author of Eat Like a Human.In this conversation, we’ll be talking about the extraordinary adventures of this enterprising family, from living and traveling abroad to serving their community through this very unique restaurant, and their work with the non-profit. We’ll hear about their food journey as a family, practical tips for healthy eating in a busy modern world with kids, their years long quest for gaining knowledge about ancestral foods–and how you can live in a suburban neighborhood and still accomplish things that most people would think you need to live on 20 acres to do. This is a wonderful conversation for anyone interested in embracing ultimate health through ancestral food ways –and a great story of how this family has brought it into the context of modern family life and business. Prepare to be inspired by the end of the episode to start eating like a human.Support The Good Dirt Pledge Drive Here!Topics Discussed · Living & Traveling Abroad· Having a Family-Owned Community-Oriented Restaurant· Being a Former Educator· Cottage Food Operation · Commercial Food Production· The Sourdough Process· What It Means to Eat like a Human· Employing a Team of 25· Food Processing Then & Now· Traveling Abroad with Family· The Origin of Maize (aka Corn)· Being a Former Vegetarian· Hunting as a Food Source· Food Education· Old Bay Seasoning & Pumpkin Spice· Raising 3 Teenagers: Fast Food, Snacks, and House Rules· The Nutritional Pressure of Feeding a Family· Living in Ireland· Kefir· Ancestral Nutrition KnowledgeEpisode Resources:• Join Us in The ALMANAC • Listen to the Discover Ag Podcast!• Read the Eat Like A Human Book • Learn More About Homemade Sourdough• Seed Oil Scout: Healthy Dining App• 12 Spoons - The Weston A. Price FoundationConnect with Christina:• Website: www.modernstoneagekitchen.com• IG @modernstoneagekitchen: https://www.instagram.com/modernstoneagekitchen/• Eat Like a Human Website: https://eatlikeahuman.com/start-here/• Eastern Shore Food Lab @esfoodlab: https://www.instagram.com/esfoodlab/• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/modernstoneagekitchen━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌻 About Lady Farmer:• Our Website• Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram• Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC• 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 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Whatever we’re celebrating in December, whether it’s the birth of the Christ child, or the miracle of light in the darkness, cultural heritage or family tradition— the urge to gather together in feasting and celebration, seeking warmth and light, is something that connects us to the common human experience of being vulnerable to nature. In this episode, Mary reflects on the winter solstice, what we perhaps share in common with our ancestors’ experience in the darkest and coldest days of the year, and how our cultural celebrations can separate us further from the rhythms of the natural world. Also, what’s behind the tradition of hanging a wreath on the door? Here’s a story you might not have heard before. Topics discussed• The holiday season and Yuletide• Our connection to our human ancestors• The winter solstice as a common experience to all humans, regardless of culture, religion, or tradition• The meaning of the wreath on the door• The December moon• Peppermint Hot Chocolate Recipe• The Good Dirt Pledge DriveEpisode Resources:• Raising With the Moon: The Complete Guide to Gardening--and Living--by the Signs of the Moon by Taylor Reese and Jack Pyle• Some of the linked articles will only be available to current members of The ALMANAC. If you are not currently a member and are interested in subscribing, check out this page for more information.Support this podcast and get your own downloadable planting by the moon calendar by becoming a member of The Good Dirt Supporters!━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌻 About Lady Farmer:• Our Website• Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram• Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC• 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 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Did you know that honeybees increase the yield in our food supply by 30% in our current agricultural system? Master Beekeeper and "Bee Whisperer" Michael Jordan tells us all about it from his perspective as a small scale commercial beekeeper, educator and mead maker. A master in beekeeping, Michael is the CEO and Founder of A BEE Friendly Company, INC. in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where he produces honey, tends to his hives, and educates others on how to properly keep and care for bees. In this episode, he dives into the history of bees, the challenges of organic and treatment-free beekeeping, the impact of human practices on bee colonies, and the role of bees in our ecosystem. We also learn about the art of mead making and Michaels' accomplishments as creator of The King's Mead. Whether you're a seasoned beekeeper or simply curious about the intricate world of bees and how they help keep us fed, this episode will leave you with a deeper appreciation for the role of bees in our lives.Support The Good Dirt Pledge Drive Here!Topics Discussed • Welcoming December• Becoming a Beekeeper• Mead/Honey Wine• Managing 60 hives & Multiple Apiaries • Backyard Beekeeping vs. Commercial Beekeeping• Pricing Honey by the Pound• Apiaries, Colonies, and Hives• Resting Haven for Bees• Why Bees are Important & Worth Saving• Achieving a Nice, Natural Honeycomb• Honeybees Being Imported to America• How Food Production Changed due to Bees• Mead Making at Weddings & Private Events• Resoiling the Earth & Permaculture• Preventative Measures to Save Bees• Organic and Organic Practices• "Raw" Honey• Bee Focused Education ProgramsEpisode Resources:• Join Us in The ALMANAC • A "Bee Friendly" Company Inc. Facebook• Michael's TikTok @michaeljordanbeeman• The Survival PodcastConnect with Michael Jordan:• Website: https://www.facebook.com/abeefriendly/• Michael's IG @michaeljordan_bee_whisperer https://www.instagram.com/michaeljordan_bee_whisperer/?hl=en• Michael's TikTok @michaeljordanbeeman: https://www.tiktok.com/@michaeljordanbeeman?lang=en• The Survival Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-survival-podcast/id284148583• Got more bee-related questions for Michael? Email him at abeefriendlycompany@gmail.com━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌻 About Lady Farmer:• Our Website• Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram• Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC• 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. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Welcome to our November Bonus episode of The Good Dirt Podcast! With the holidays right around the corner, the consumerism capitalistic market is about to ramp up to full speed. You are going to be bombarded by a message to buy, buy, buy. But what if there was another way? Mary and Emma sit down to present an alternative to diving into the world of holiday celebrations and the concept of a "Good Dirt" holiday. They discuss the importance of thoughtful gift-giving, alternative gift ideas, and the joy of giving gifts that align with the recipient's interests and values. The holiday season doesn't have to be perfect - small shifts towards a more sustainable and mindful holiday experience make all the difference over time. Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season filled with joy, connection, and Good Dirt!Support The Good Dirt Pledge Drive Here!Topics Discussed • Having a Good Dirt Holiday• Regenerative vs. Degenerative Celebrations• Wasteful Practices & Traditions During the Holidays• Decorations• Family Meals• Textile Materials• Responsible Thrifting• Plastics, Wax Paper, and Parchment Paper• Gifting Books• Gift Alternatives• Budgeting Your Resources, Time, and EnergyEpisode Resources:• Join Us in The ALMANAC ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌻 About Lady Farmer:• Our Website• Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram• Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC• 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. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Topsoil nutrition continues to decline, plastics in our foods are on the rise, and governments all around the world are taking too long to solve the impending crisis on the horizon. So what can we do?In this episode, regenerative farmer, mother, speaker, chef, restauranteur, producer, and writer Mollie Engelhart shares her moment of realization that food composting is key to turning this around. She believes that the hope for Earth's future falls to what we can each do individually because collective action and community can change the future. Mollie shares her expertise and passion for sustainable practices in farming and the importance of healthy eating and holistic family life. As a board member of Kiss the Ground, a nonprofit focused on regenerative agriculture, Mollie emphasizes the potential of regenerative practices in stabilizing Earth's ecosystems. Join Emma and Mary as they delve into Mollie's inspiring journey and learn about the power of good dirt in healing our planet. This episode will leave you feeling inspired by the prospect of regenerative farming and the transformative potential of conscious purchasing decisions.Support The Good Dirt Pledge Drive Here!Topics Discussed • Black Friday/Cyber Monday• Being a Mother, Chef, and Farmer• The Danger of Carbon & Methane• The Forever Chemicals Being Sprayed on Our Food• What We’ve Lost in Our Efficiency• Why We Can’t Rely Solely on Regenerative Energy Sources• Over-Regulation & Bureaucracy• Returning to Collaboration & Community• Climate Change & Cities• Future Fertility Rates• Survival of the Family Farm• Self-Sufficiency & Individualism is Not the Answer• California vs. Texas• Hyper-polarization in Politics• Processed Foods• Eating for Sustenance• Microbial in Top Soil• Seasonality of Food• Mollie’s Rescue Parrots• Being a Poet and a Producer• How Mollie Sees the Revolution• Slow Living & Full Living• PersimmonsEpisode Resources:• Join Us in The ALMANAC • Sage Plant Based Bistro and Brewery • Mollie's Hot Sauce• Kiss the Ground's Stories of Regeneration with Mollie Engelhart Connect with Mollie:• Website: https://kisstheground.com/• Sage Plant Based Bistro Links: https://linktr.ee/thekindsage• Sovereignty Ranch: https://www.sovereigntyranch.com• Instagram @chefmollie: https://www.instagram.com/chefmollie/?hl=en• Sow a Heart Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sowaheart/?hl=en• The Kind Sage Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekindsage/?hl=en• IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1917633/• Mollie's Links: https://linktr.ee/chefmollie━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌻 About Lady Farmer:• Our Website• Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram• Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC• 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. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy