The Good Dirt: Sustainability Explained

Ever dream about moving to a Homestead? In today's episode, we're talking to Jade Miles of Black Barn Farm. Jade is the author of FUTURESTEADING, a practical and inspirational guide to living in a way that values tomorrow and the host of a podcast by the same name. Futuresteading is grounded in a slower, simpler, steadier existence as the first step – one that’s healthier for humans and the planet. In addition, Jade runs Black Barn Farm with her husband and their three children, inspired by their belief in building a localized fair food system.Topics Discussed: Jade tells us about her background and journey to Black Barn Farm Jade and her husband Charlie's commitment to land stewardship and local food systems Experiencing the 2019-2020 fires in Australia Governmental vs. individual responsibility in addressing the global environmental issues Diversity and Permaculture at Black Barn Farm as a “beyond organic” orchard, an educational resource, a nursery, a local food provider and a working homestead for Jade and her family Farm Scale permaculture Futuresteading is about “...assessing whether or not the decision that you make will have an outcome that is regenerative, sustainable or degenerative.”  Growing Mountain Pepper, an indigenous bush food Connecting with the indigenous First Nations people of the land Educational opportunities at Black Barn Farm include school and upskilling workshops  Sustainable Table Futuresteading the book  Futuresteading the podcast More information on the indigenous tribes discussed: Pallanganmiddang people Pangerang Learn more about the Mad Agriculture program!More information on StewardCheck out our podcast with Dan Miller and Spike Gjerde of Steward!Connect with Jade:InstagramFacebook This Episode is Sponsored by Ettitude: ettitude.com/thegooddirt^Use code THEGOODDIRT for $25 off your first order!About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com Original music by John Kingsley. Our technical partner for this series is CitizenRacecar, Post-Production by Alex Brouwer and José Miguel Baez, Coordinated by Gabriela Montequin and Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network.Statements 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. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today's discussion is with Lauren Haynes, founder of Wooden Spoon Herbs, a company providing products and education to help you build your routine of herbal support. Lauren's goal is to make earth-grown, time-tested herbal formulas accessible for the health of ourselves and our planet. In this conversation, we discuss Lauren's background in Appalachia and her education as an herbalist, the challenges of regulations around herbal products, educating consumers about product use, and the role of herbalism in healing the broken relationship between humans and earth.Topics Discussed: Lauren's journey to Wooden Spoon Herbs How Lauren was first drawn to herbalism The issue of compliance in the utilization of herbalism  The Appalachian Center for Natural Health Phyllis D. Light Green Comfort School of Herbal Medicine Candice Pert, Your Body is Your Subconscious Mind Molecules of Emotion Herbalism is NOT a replacement for professional health care, but it can be a compliment What is unique about Wooden Spoon Herbs The challenge of regulations around herbal products and education The DSHEA Act Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act  Wooden Spoon Herbs sourcing Lauren's background growing up in Appalachia Isaias Hernandez @queerbrownvegan The role of herbalism in healing the broken relationship between humans and earth How can slow living be accessible to everyone? Stephanie O'Dea Jessie Inchauspe @theglucosegoddess @tartvinegar Connect with Lauren: @woodenspoonherbs on Instagram Wooden Spoon Herbs Website This Episode is Sponsored by Ettitude: ettitude.com/thegooddirt^Use code THEGOODDIRT for $25 off your first order!About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com Original music by John Kingsley. Our technical partner for this series is CitizenRacecar, Post-Production by Alex Brouwer and José Miguel Baez, Coordinated by Gabriela Montequin and Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network.Statements 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. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today's episode is about Brigid, saint and legend, known for her skills at the hearth, the loom, midwifery, healing, poetry and animal husbandry. Kathy Spaar, spiritual director, pilgrimage leader and nature educator shares many of the folklore and stories of this legendary figure from Celtic tradition. As a figure of feminine wisdom and power who presides over the land and the homestead, we consider Brigid the quintessential Lady Farmer, our guide, protector and inspiration for slow living through the seasons.Intro:Follow Kesslyn @gemwellnessofficial for more about her journey as a midwife and her exploration of St. Brigid.Episode Reprise: Imbolc is here! Mary and Emma introduce Kathy and Brigid Kathy introduces herself Brigid's Feast Day Kathy's favorite stories of Brigid Brigid - the quintessential Lady Farmer How does Brigid relate to the times we are in now The most important thing Brigid has taught Kathy Mentions:The Almanac Brigidine Sisters Children's Book “Brigid’s Cloak: An Ancient Irish Story” by Bruce Milligan. "Symbols of Plenty" by Ruth Bidgood "Rekindling the Flame " by Rita MinehanAbout Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com Original music by John Kingsley. Our technical partner for this series is CitizenRacecar, Post-Production by Alex Brouwer and José Miguel Baez, Coordinated by Gabriela Montequin and Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network.Statements 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. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Looking for a natural insulation option? Look no further than the world's oldest...wool! In today's episode, Mary & Emma chat with Andrew Legge, founder of Havelock Wool to discuss wool insulation, how it differs from more conventional insulation methods, and why you might want to consider it for your tiny home, van conversion, or even full home renovation!Topics DiscussedJoin the Lady Farmer Slow Living Challenge! (Starts 2.6.23)Interview: Andrew discusses his background and the path to Havelock Wool  The shift in consumer knowledge and demand for alternative building projects Wool as a dynamic fiber The contrast between wool and synthetic fibers as insulation Design obsolescence, how consumers are conditioned to expect the need to replace products The power of the consumer in choosing alternatives Build better, build less, build slower. Don't build space that you don't need As shelter from the elements, the building's key feature is insulation.  Common sense in the construction industry If wool is a natural product, why is it more expensive? Wool insulation manufacturing as a sustainable and low waste process Embodied vs operational carbon Biophilic design Sourcing wool from New Zealand Why not source the wool in the US or other places?  Havelock as the go-to insulator for van conversions Connect with Havelock Wool: Website Instagram This Episode is Sponsored by Ettitude: ettitude.com/thegooddirt^Use code THEGOODDIRT for $25 off your first order!About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com Original music by John Kingsley. Our technical partner for this series is CitizenRacecar, Post-Production by Alex Brouwer and José Miguel Baez, Coordinated by Gabriela Montequin and Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network.Statements 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. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today's guest is Kyle Lybarger, a forester and conservationist from north Alabama. His passion is identifying, protecting, and managing the overlooked grassland ecosystems in his region and educating the public about the environmental value and climate benefits of these native plants. Most people don't realize that so many of our forested areas were once actually native grasslands that were maintained by the grazing of native animal life and the management practices of the native people. In this conversation, Kyle also explains the importance of fire in land management, both the naturally occurring fires and those that indigenous people practiced to sustain local food systems. Tune in to hear Kyle's take on Smokey the Bear, rewilding and the "no-mow" movement, how our domestic landscape has shifted here in the United States and what we can all do to reinvigorate our land and secure our food system. Topics Discussed:Join the Lady Farmer Slow Living Challenge! (Starts 2.6.23) How Kyle got to the Native Habitat Project and how that evolved Grassland ecosystems The need for education about native plants The ecological role of grasslands Why the grasslands have disappeared Kyle discusses "rewilding" Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee  The role of burning in maintaining grasslands How Native Americans utilized the grassland ecosystems How Smoky the Bear and growing populations changed land management practices Porter's Goldenrod Hartselle Sandstone Barren How Kyle established an outdoor classroom in his hometown How forestry competes with biodiversity Grasslands are valuable for sequestering carbon Birds for Beef Jenny Harris of White Oak Pastures Grazing Gone Native with The American Forage Council Discretionary use of sprays to restore grasslands Restoring lawns to native habitats for wildlife diversity and for creating reliable food sources Connect with Kyle: Native Habitat Project's website Kyle's FB page, Native Habitat Managers On Tik Tok @nativeplanttok On Instagram @nativehabitatproject The Native Habitat Podcast This Episode is Sponsored by Havelock Wool: Visit https://havelockwool.com/gooddirt to learn all about wool insulation!About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com Original music by John Kingsley. The Good Dirt podcast is edited and engineered by Aleksandra van der Westhuizen and produced by Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network.Statements 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. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today's episode is with Julia Blandford, a recent graduate from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a BFA in Fashion Marketing and Management, and host of the Seeking Sustainability Podcast. Join us for this fun and refreshing conversation with one of the younger voices within our community. Julia identifies herself as on the cusp of the Millennial and Gen Z generations, openly sharing about her passion as a self-proclaimed environmentalist as well as the doubts and frustrations along her own sustainable living journey. We find it hopeful and enlightening to hear how Julia and her contemporaries are approaching the challenges that face us in our world today.Topics Discussed:Join the Lady Farmer Slow Living Challenge! (Starts 2.6.23) Julia's story as a Gen Z environmentalist How she started her podcast--Seeking Sustainability ESG: Environmental Sustainable Governance Environmentalism in hard times How Julia's personal struggles informed her environmentalist views  Privilege and sustainability  How Julia felt like she failed at sustainability  There's no formula for what it means to be an environmentalist  Julia's experience with being a vegan Small steps to getting around degenerative systems Accountability and empathy Sustainability and consumerism Intersectional environmentalism Cottage core Gen Z and sustainability  "Trends don't exist outside of social media for my generation." What does slow living mean outside of social media? Julia's slow-living stew Connect with Julia: On Instagram @seekingsustainability.pod Seeking Sustainability Podcast This Episode is Sponsored by Havelock Wool: Visit https://havelockwool.com/gooddirt to learn all about wool insulation!About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com Original music by John Kingsley. The Good Dirt podcast is edited and engineered by Aleksandra van der Westhuizen and produced by Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network.Statements 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. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode, Mary and Emma discuss the meaning of January 6th as the Feast of Epiphany. According to the Christian Liturgical Calendar, this day commemorates the three Magi's visit to the scene of the nativity and marks the end of the Christmas season. In the Appalachian tradition, Epiphany was known as "Little Christmas" or "Old Christmas," hearkening back to Old World traditions of extending the Christmas season over 12 days as an extended period of celebration and rest, ending with "Little Christmas" on January 6th. This episode concludes with Mary's telling of an Epiphany story from Italy, the Legend of Old Befana, which is a replay from two years ago.Topics Discussed: Epiphany Little Christmas or Old Christmas The Legend of Old Befana About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com Original music by John Kingsley. The Good Dirt podcast is edited and engineered by Aleksandra van der Westhuizen and produced by Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network.Statements 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. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Tune in as Mary and Emma each discuss and review their picks for the most impactful episodes from 2022. The year has been so full of fun, informative and inspiring interviews, it's hard to narrow it down, but here are just some of the conversations that stand out as they look back on another year of The Good Dirt.Episodes Discussed: #101 Andrew Schwartz of EcoCiv #104 Heidi Barr and Emma DeLong of the PA Flax Project #80 Lincoln Smith, Forested LLC #96 Marti Buckley #88 Rose and Doug Phillips #110 Stephanie O'Dea #94 Bex Partridge #84 Eliza Greenman About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com Original music by John Kingsley. The Good Dirt podcast is edited and engineered by Aleksandra van der Westhuizen and produced by Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network.Statements 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. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Tune in for this special winter episode, featuring a holiday reflection and a favorite traditional song, sent to you with love from Mary and Emma. Happy Holidays everyone!Special thank you to The Longest Johns for sharing their cover of Bright Morning Star. About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com Original music by John Kingsley. The Good Dirt podcast is edited and engineered by Aleksandra van der Westhuizen and produced by Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Our guest today is Christa Norman, a fine artist whose photographic medium is cyanotype. Her work reflects seasons and explores seasons of the human experience. Christa creates floral artwork with flowers grown in her own garden and conceptual collections inspired by her personal life seasons. We covered a number of topics in this interview, including the dilemma that comes up so often in our conversations regarding the conflict between pursuing our creative passions and making a living, a common theme for creatives in our current economic system. Christa points out that one of our fundamental roles as humans is to be creators of things, but to a certain extent, we've forgotten that role and we've defaulted into our role as consumers. Join us in this conversation as we discuss, among other things, how this affects us as individuals and in our culture as a whole.Topics Covered: Christa's journey with photography, and the path to cyanotype Bringing together creative passion with the need to make a living  What is cyanotype? Louis-Jacques Daguerre Floret Flowers  Our phones, capturing the present moment or taking us out of it? The cost of fine art How Christa's patronage works/ Creating sustainability as an artist Sustainability of Cyanotype as an art medium Cyanotype as a seasonal art What is culture? The role of art in our culture Rae Dunn pottery New York Magazine/ The Cut Article on Rae Dunn Julia Watkins of Simply Living Well Creativity as fundamental to all human Connect with Christa Christa's Website, christanormanstudio.com On Instagram @christanormanstudio This episode is Sponsored by True Leaf Market:Use our promo code: TGD10 - for $10 off an order of $50 or more (expires June 15th. Limit to one use per customer) at https://www.trueleafmarket.com/About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com Original music by John Kingsley. The Good Dirt podcast is edited and engineered by Aleksandra van der Westhuizen and produced by Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network.Statements 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. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy