The Good Dirt: Sustainability Explained

"What does the good dirt mean to you?" Join Mary and Emma as they celebrate this 100th episode milestone by reflecting on the two and a half years of their podcasting journey and by highlighting several of their past guests answering this question.Things Mentioned: Our Episode with Sherri Powell “4,000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals” by Oliver Burkeman Mary Oliver Poem - The Summer Day Featured Guests 27:11 - Amy DuFault, Episode 1 27:28 - Liz Kimball, Episode 40 28:43 - Rebecca Burgess, Episode 38 29:28 - Lynn Cassells, Episode 79 30:54 - Justin West, Episode 72 31:28 - Julia Watkins, Episode 12 & 83 33:10 - Jason Fowler, Episode 84 35:01 - Eliza Greenman, Episode 86 35:33 - Amanda Agricola, Episode 87 36:14 - Ryan Mitchell, Episode 77 35:35 - Lisa Mitchell, Episode 91 36:54 - Bex Partridge, Episode 94 38:45 - Doug Phillips of Conscious Clothing, Episode 90 39:10 - Melissa K. Norris, Episode 99 39:40 - Jesse Golden, Episode 81 40:20 - Megan Borukhovsky of Sister Nettle, Episode 83 41:13 - Tony Cohen, Juneteenth Bonus Episode (June 19, 2021) About Lady Farmer:Lady Farmer is a sustainable apparel and lifestyle brand, with education around sustainability and sustainable living at the forefront of our mission. Lady Farmer is proud to produce The Good Dirt podcast. Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or tell us what the good dirt means to you. Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com Support your Good Dirt at home with BIOS Nutrients! Listeners of The Good Dirt podcast can enjoy 15% off BIOS Nutrients organic, natural fertilizers using the code LADYFARMER15 at checkout.Original 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.

Want small, attainable steps you can take to begin your homesteading journey?Melissa K. Norris is a fifth-generation homesteader who believes in keeping the old ways alive and that food shouldn't come from a box. She lives on a 15-acre farm in Washington state with her husband and two children, and together they raise 100% of their own meat and a majority of the fruits and vegetables they consume in a year. Melissa doubled-down on her homesteading journey after a chronic health issue caused her to look at the foods she was eating every day. She decided she could save money and be healthier if she grew and preserved her own food rather than purchasing pre-packaged food items. From this, she’s built a homesteading empire, with a podcast, multiple books, and an online education platform with over a thousand members. Melissa's passion is to teach others the skills of the homesteading and simple life movement, no matter where you live. In this conversation, we talk about the concept of convenience and how it is used against us - especially in the food industry - as well as small, attainable steps you can take to begin your homesteading journey. Join us for this inspiring conversation! Topics Covered: How Melissa healed her chronic health issues with food Food fads of the nineties Reframing what "convenience" means to you  Small steps to start homesteading How Melissa created the Pioneering Today Academy Herbalism and Natural Medicines Resources Mentioned: Cream of Chicken Soup Recipe | Melissa K Norris Blog Michael Pollan Books Pioneer Today Academy Sourdough Starter Tutorial  Homesteaders of America Conference Connect with Melissa: On Instagram @melissaknorris On Facebook @melissaknorris Melissa’s Youtube Channel Melissa’s Website: https://melissaknorris.com/ Pioneering Today Podcast Pioneer Today Academy About Lady Farmer:Lady Farmer is a sustainable apparel and lifestyle brand, with education around sustainability and sustainable living at the forefront of our mission. Lady Farmer is proud to produce The Good Dirt podcast. Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or tell us what the good dirt means to you. Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com Support your Good Dirt at home with BIOS Nutrients! Listeners of The Good Dirt podcast can enjoy 15% off BIOS Nutrients organic, natural fertilizers using the code LADYFARMER15 at checkout.Original 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.

After observing the waste and unsustainable practices while working in the fashion industry, Sarah Arch and Allie Feldman decided to do something about it by starting Rooted Botanics, a fashion brand that gives ethically sourced vintage pieces new life through natural dyes. Both Sarah and Allie are dedicated to thoughtful sourcing, purposeful education about the history of natural dye, and creating beautiful garments while developing a business model designed to remain at a human scale. The relationships they have forged with plant dyes continue to advance a paradigm shift in the fashion industry - a shift that ultimately downplays harm and amplifies joy.Topics Covered: Discovering Natural Dyes Waste in the Fashion Industry Greenwashing and Microplastics Health Benefits of Natural Dyes and Fibers Embracing the Beauty and Unpredictability of Natural Dye Learning and Growing Into Slow Living Resources Mentioned:  Christie Dawn Podcast Episode Textiles 101: Fiber Content Maiwa natural dyes Connect with Rooted Botanics: https://rootedbotanics.com/  Instagram: @rootedbotanics About Lady Farmer:Lady Farmer is a sustainable apparel and lifestyle brand, with education around sustainability and sustainable living at the forefront of our mission. Lady Farmer is proud to produce The Good Dirt podcast. Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or tell us what the good dirt means to you. Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com Support your Good Dirt at home with BIOS Nutrients! Listeners of The Good Dirt podcast can enjoy 15% off BIOS Nutrients organic, natural fertilizers using the code LADYFARMER15 at checkout.Original 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.

Herbalist, artist, and cookbook author Spencre McGowan tells us about her herbal allies and the ways that living in relationship with plants has shaped her slow living journey. After receiving informal training in cooking with herbs in Sweden and attending herb school in California, Spencre began exploring her own personal relationships to herbs through writing and creating zines, one of which became her first book (Blotto Botany, a guide to herbal infusions and cordials).Spencre is passionate about the accessibility of herbal medicine, and encourages listeners to get to know a few herbs personally, whether or not they have access to their own garden. She also advocates for the use of herbs within their cultural context. Her honesty about her slow living journey has gained her a large following on TikTok, where she works to share openly about the difficulties and joys of living closely with herbs and plants.Topics Covered: Self-Expression Through Zines Herbal Cordials and Infusions The Beauty of Tulsi, or Holy Basil Our Healing Relationships with Herbs Getting to Know Our Herbal Allies Cultural Responsibility In Herbalism TikTok and Slow Living Diverse Uses for Nettles Resources Mentioned:  Blotto Botany Forest + Home: Cultivating an Herbal Kitchen (Available for Pre-Order) Verdant Feasts Workshop Connect with Spencre McGowan: https://www.gingertooth.com/ Instagram: @gingertooth TikTok: @spencrelinnea 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 a shoutout. Submissions throughout the month of June will be entered to win a Slow Living Consult with Mary and Emma!  Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com Original 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.

Marti Buckley captivates us as she portrays the rich culinary traditions of the Basque country of Spain, where slow living and seasonal eating are key ingredients to community life. Marti fell in love with Basque culture when she studied abroad in college, and has now lived in San Sebastian, Spain, for over ten years, where she has written two cookbooks about Basque cuisine. She hopes to give visibility to the little-known food, history, and culture of Basque country.Marti takes us on a journey through the way to eat in Basque country - from pintxos (similar to tapas) to dining societies, Basque traditions around eating provide inspiration and creativity to those of us looking for ways to slow down, eat closer to home, and delve deeply into community life.Topics Covered: Basque Culture and Cuisine The American Food Industry and the Myth of Convenience Slow Living and Long Lunches in Basque Country The Art of the Pintxo Connecting With Friends Through Traditional Basque DIning Societies Relearning Seasonal Eating Slow Living To Boost Nutrition and Well-Being Resources Mentioned:  Basque Country (Marti’s First Book)  Auxiliares Program Bottega Restaurant (Birmingham, AL) Connect with Marti Buckley:  https://www.travelcookeat.com/ Email: geauxmarti@msn.com Instagram:@martibuckley 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 a shoutout. Submissions throughout the month of June will be entered to win a Slow Living Consult with Mary and Emma!  Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com Original 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.

Lizzie Horvitz explores the subtleties and nuances of sustainability as she introduces us to Finch, a browser extension that rates products on their environmental and social impact as you shop online. Lizzie started Finch in order to empower customers to make informed, conscious choices as they consider the impact of what they buy. She is hopeful about the ways data and technology can address greenwashing and begin to shift our paradigm of unconscious over consumption.Influenced by the data she works with at Finch, Lizzie takes a pragmatic approach to sustainability, recognizing that there are no perfect solutions or simple answers when it comes to mitigating climate change, improving welfare for manufacturing workers, or shifting the standards to which we hold our products. She advocates for small, simple steps towards improved buying choices by providing the information that customers need to choose a sustainable life.Topics Covered: Decoding Sustainability with Data Choosing Progress Over Perfection The Nuances of What Makes A Product Sustainable Regenerative Agriculture and Alternatives to the Meat Industry Resources Mentioned:  Environmental Working Group Done Good Connect with Lizzie Horvitz: Finch Website Instagram @choosefinch Twitter @choosefinch or @lizzieh188 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 a shoutout. Submissions throughout the month of June will be entered to win a Slow Living Consult with Mary and Emma! The winner will be announced in our 100th episode. Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com Original 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.

Despite her life being as busy as ever, Bex Partridge tells us about the ways it feels full of better, more fulfilling things since she made the shift from a corporate job to working as a full-time flower farmer and floral designer. Bex is the founder of Botanical Tales, a dried flower installation business based in Devon, England, where she provides beautiful, low-waste floral designs to her community from her own garden. Since moving to Devon, her family has enjoyed being part of a close-knit community which supports local makers and growers. She encourages listeners to trust the process as they seek to pursue a more sustainable lifestyle, and to remember that we are not separate from nature - we all come from the good dirt.Topics Covered: Planting by the Moon The Winding Road of the Lady Farmer Lifestyle Floral Artistry and Dried Flowers The Benefits of Local Flowers Floral Design and the Wedding Industry World Events as Catalysts for Paradigm Shifts Rethinking Slow Living as “Full Living” Our Interconnectedness with Nature Resources Mentioned:  Bex’s First Book: Everlastings Bex’s Upcoming Book (Available for Pre-Order): Flowers Forever Guest Info: Bex's Instagram: @botanical_tales Botanicaltales.com Patreon Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Original 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.

In this bonus episode, Mary and Emma chat about greenwashing in food, fashion and cleaning products. What do we mean by greenwashing, and how does an informed consumer know when a so-called "green" product is really better for the planet, or when they're being pulled in by marketing strategies that don't tell the whole story? Listen in and see what we have to say about it, and let us know what you think! Notes & Resources: Podcast Episode on Cotton with Mairin Wilson Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com! Follow us on Instagram @weareladyfarmer Continue the conversation in our membership, The ALMANAC

Mairin Wilson talks about the ways that Christy Dawn, a dress company based in Los Angeles, California, is transcending sustainability and seeking to create garments that regenerate land, businesses, and communities from the soil up. Rather than being satisfied with a net-neutral outcome when it comes to their agricultural, manufacturing, and employment practices, Christy Dawn is working towards a positive impact through innovative fundraising campaigns, regenerative farming methods, and high standards for transparency throughout the entire process of making clothes.As the Director of Regenerative Practices at Christy Dawn, Mairin has the privilege of visiting and working alongside farm and textile partners in India who are returning to traditional methods of farming, printing, and dyeing cotton cloth. She loves the way her job allows her to connect with the abundant life present in healthy soil, and is excited to continue working towards increasingly positive outcomes through regenerative practices.Topics Covered: Rethinking Weeds Organic Cotton Regenerative Agriculture and the Fashion Industry Innovative Economic Practices in the Textile Industry The Dangers of Conventional Cotton Block Printing and Natural Dye Traditions Resources Mentioned:  Gardenkeeper Gus Oshadi Collective Christy Dawn’s Farm to Closet Collection Guest Info: Connect with Mairin Wilson and Christy Dawn Website: https://christydawn.com/ Instagram: @christydawn LinkedIn: Mairin Wilson Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Original 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.

April Gargiulo, founder of the skin-care company Vintner's Daughter, closes the loop between winemaking, soil health and sustainable skincare, as she tells the story of the slow beauty company she created to reflect her desire for quality, love for the earth, and production with an old-world mindset. April works from the foundation that fewer and better products are the remedy to a market built for overconsumption, and approaches skincare with the attitude of a winemaker: focusing on whole plants, active ingredients, quality sourcing, and soil health, resulting in a product made to an exacting standard of quality.For April, slow living means leaning into terroir, the unique flavor of a place that it carries due to the composition of the soil in which things are grown. Her intentionality and desire to engage with the details of the making process fuel her ability to serve her specific community, just as creators would have done in the pre-industrial age.Topics Covered: Slow Beauty Winemaking Holistic Skincare Routine Soil Health and Terroir from a Skincare Perspective Creating Products with a “Fewer, Better” Mindset Conscious Consumption Resources Mentioned:  Spirit Weavers Gathering Rosemary Gladstar Buddhist Economics Gargiulo Vineyards Guest Info: Connect with April Gargiulo Vintner’s Daughter Instagram @vintnersdaughter Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Original 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.