The Good Dirt: Sustainability Explained

Join 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  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.

Step into the world of collaborative art, natural textiles, plants, botanicals and slow fashion with owner entrepreneur and artist Megan Borukhovsky of Sister Nettle. As a mother and artist living in the hills of Tennessee, Megan’s work centers around natural textiles using botanicals, creating slow fashion with a “collaboration over competition” mindset. Sister Nettle strives to offer products that are fulfilling to both the makers and the recipients, creating a beautiful and reciprocal relationship that honors all of the women a part of the process. A community minded business woman, Megan discovered block printing and natural dyeing as an accessible, inclusive and sustainable art form. After a time living off grid as a homesteader, Megan found herself called to a return back to self and to the natural world and continues to embrace the values of slow living in her life and her work. Valuing her fellow artists and makers, Megan believes in sourcing from people who feel valued and called to the work that they do. The end product results in a beautifully slow garment that is created from a place of passion and positivity that sustains both planet and people. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform.Topics Covered: Natural Textiles  Slow Fashion  Local Sourcing  Embroidery  Entrepreneurship  Women Artisans and Makers  Stinging Nettle  Oeko-tex Linen  Hemp  Resources Mentioned: Events Sunchaser Retreats, violaine.orban@gmail.com Books Our Wild Farming Life Pre-Order and Author Meet and GreetAdditional Resources: Cinnamon Ginger Oat Cookie Recipe inside The ALMANAC  The ALMANAC Online Community Membership  Sister Nettle  TS Designs Solid State Clothing Guest Info Connect with Megan at sisternettle.com Instagram @sister.nettle  Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram 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.

Discover the power of the potluck as a community forum for the New Agrarian Revival, a movement based in the Bedford, Va. area that offers inspiration for deeply rooted living, cultivating the local food economy and community connection. Our guest today, Jason Fowler, is founder and organizer of Land and Table, an organization that sponsors a monthly potluck event for farmers and like-minded local food enthusiasts, and offers a unique opportunity to gather for a shared meal in an evermore disconnected world. Jason found that not only were these gatherings great opportunities to eat delicious local food, but were formative community building events. Ten years on and the tradition is alive and well, and functions as a time for meaningful connection in reverence for the land, local food, and one another. Throughout the episode, Jason tells his own story of seeking a different way of life for himself and his family, his journey back to the land and his role as community leader in the New Agrarian Revival.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform.Topics Covered: Local Food Local Food Movement  Agrarian Philosophy  Community Building  Resources Mentioned: Books “The Omnivore's Dilemma” by Michael Pollan “Farming as a Spiritual Discipline”  “Making Peace with the Land”  "The Art of the Common Place" by Wendell Berry  Podcast Episodes Great Day Gardens - The Good Dirt Episode 5Other: Mountain Run Farm  Terra Numa - Nonprofit Organization The Parable of the Good Soil  The Stone Soup Story  New Agrarian Revival Guest Info: Connect with Jason at landandtable.com  @land_and_table on Instagram  Merch shop: @newagrarianrevival Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join 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.

Discover author Julia Watkins' light and loving approach to gardening and to slow living as she shares her perspective on parenting, work, and finding joy and compassion in the midst of it all. As an author, photographer, fellow slow living enthusiast, and Lady Farmer friend, Julia has a wealth of knowledge about how to cultivate a slow and beautiful life in a way that is honest and approachable. Her new book, Gardening for Everyone is a beautiful guide to planning, planting and playing in the garden, that is sure to be a foundational reference for gardening year after year. During this catch-up conversation, Mary and Emma discuss with Julia how life has unfolded during the pandemic, how to find balance as a parent and as a creative, and how to use social media in ways that bring light and connection. In this honest and joyful conversation, Julia inspires an approach to life filled with happiness, grace and grounded in a love for good dirt.Topics Covered: Slow Living Social Media  Gardening  Perennials  Parenting during a Pandemic  Small Space Gardening  Resources Mentioned:  Pre-Order, Gardening for Everyone  Simply Living Well  Subscribe to the Lady Farmer Newsletter  The ALMANAC  Alys Fowler, "The Edible Garden"  The Fisherman and His Wife, Brothers Grimm  Julia Watkins Episode 31  Guest Info: Connect with Julia at simplylivingwell.com  @simply.living.well on Instagram  Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram The Lady Farmer ALMANAC, our online community 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.

This week we spoke with historian, nonprofit founder, and author Tony Cohen, who operates Button Farm,  Maryland’s only living history center depicting 19th-century slave plantation life and the heroic story of the Underground Railroad. Tony has dedicated his studies and work to preserving the Underground Railroad’s history, historic sites and environments. In this episode, he  shares with us stories of his own travels along the Underground Railroad on foot, in an effort to recreate some of the original travelers' sensory experience of the landscape and the monumental physical challenges they endured in the pursuit of freedom. Tony also shares the story of meeting Oprah Winfrey and working with her in preparation for her starring role in the film, BELOVED, based on the book by Toni Morrison. Tony is founder and director of the Menare Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to the creation of cutting edge educational programs, including an Underground Railroad immersion experience based on the work he did with Oprah Winfrey.  1:20 - Mary and Emma check in with the Slow Living Challenge7:10 - The Spring Grow Your Own Food IntensiveLet’s get into the interview!8:40 - Tony introduces himself and The Menare Foundation12:50 - Why start a nonprofit?17:00 - Tony’s experience walking the route of The Underground Railroad20:00 - Mary’s land and its connection to The Underground Railroad27:00 - Tracking down your roots along The Underground Railroad36:00 - Tony’s connection to the Harriet Tubman Museum38:00 - How Tony got involved with Oprah Winfrey49:00 - What is Button Farm?57:00 - Tony’s work in relationship to Good Dirt Mentions:  Slow Living Challenge Grow Your Own Food Intensive Workshop The ALMANAC Button Farm Living History Center The Menare Foundation The Underground railroad in Montgomery County, Maryland: A history and driving guide Chesapeake Tours The Chesapeake Fibershed Beloved by Toni Morrison Mentioned in this episode:Join The ALMANAC CommunityALMANAC TGD Discount

Discover the wonders of forest agriculture and agroecology with our guest Lincoln Smith, founder of Forested, an edible food forest devoted to sharing research and knowledge surrounding forest gardens through tours, classes and forest to table dinners. As a champion of good dirt, Lincoln believes that growing forest gardens as a form of environmentalism can reintegrate our lives with nature, and reestablish a connection to the forest as a food source. Having trained in landscape design, Lincoln brings his expertise to food forest projects in and around the DC area, and has seen first hand the effects an edible forest garden can have on a community. Forest agroecology is a slow but rewarding process, that can produce vibrant, delicious and often overlooked foods from native species. He knows that like the forest, humans are interconnected and when we rethink our approach to food and to nature, we can rethink our approach to life. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform.Topics Covered: Edible Food Forests  Forest Gardens  Agronomic Science  Agroecology  Sustainable Landscape Design  Regenerative Agriculture  Rapid Land Development  Permaculture  Resources Mentioned:  Lady Farmer Slow Living Challenge  Forested   University of Maryland The US Botanic Garden  Maryland Master Gardeners Conference  Groundnut  Black tea chamomilla  Yaupon Holly  Yerba Mate Holly  Trugreen ChemLawn  Hyattsville Public Works, Emerson Street Food Forest Langley Elementary School Food Forest  Capital City Public Charter School Food Forest  Ddot  The Conway School  Yarrow  Nature by Design  American Native Plants  Chesapeake Natives  Persimmon Spice Latte - sub the pumpkin for persimmon! Guest Info Connect with Lincoln at Forested, LLC  Instagram @forested.us Newsletter  Youtube  Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The 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.

Tune in today for a brief check-in & wrap up from Mary & Emma on the progress of the Lady Farmer 2022 Slow Living Challenge, and to discuss this week's final focus and theme.Sign up for the Slow Living Challenge HERE.Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026Sowing seeds of slow living is our mantra at Lady Farmer. Simplifying our belongings, prioritizing good choices in food and clothing, and choosing sustainable habits wherever we can all have a positive impact on ourselves, our community and our planet. Every winter for the past few years we’ve taken on a Slow Living Challenge together as a community to bring these ideas into action little by little, day by day, week by week.This year, we’re excited to offer this free challenge for four weeks, kicking off Monday, January 31st. Each week you will receive a downloadable calendar in your email inbox that includes daily prompts centered around a theme. We’ll be able to share our experiences together in community, with all of us walking alongside you, through #slowlivingchallenge on Instagram or within our private online membership, The ALMANAC. If you’re not yet a member, participation in the challenge gets you a free trial in this community!

Join us for this conversation with author, mother, model and beauty entrepreneur Jesse Golden of The Golden Secrets, as she shares her story of creating a sustainable skincare product line, and her tools for creating self love and healing, all while living with chronic illness. As founder and CEO, Jesse has created a multifaceted career with integrity by embracing natural products, ancient folklore and a sensorial and soulfully slow approach to beauty. From seed to skin, Jesse fostered a brand around making the most conscious choices possible at every stage of her business and sees her products as a tool to tune in with one's self, and cultivate rituals of self love and self affirmation. Utilizing her own health crisis and struggle with rheumatoid arthritis as her greatest teacher, Jesse has learned to embrace her hardships and built a soulful life and business full of light and inspiration. Jesse’s “golden secrets” are beacons of hope in a an industry full of toxin and false promises. When it comes to beauty, Jesse believes, nature is enough. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform.Topics Covered: Rheumatoid Arthritis  Osteoarthritis Clean Beauty  Natural Beauty  Chronic Illness Retinol  Sustainable Packaging  Resources Mentioned:  The Golden Secrets Skincare Line Lady Farmer Slow Living Challenge  Dr Zach Bush  The Farmers Footprint  NRDC  The Loveland Foundation  USDA certified  Leaping Bunny Eco cert  FSC Forest Stewardship Certified  Plaine Products  “Our Wild Farming Life” Pre-Order  Lynn Cassells Podcast Interview  EWG - Environmental Working Group  Guest Info Connect with Jesse at The Golden Secrets  Instagram @jessegolden @thegoldensecrets Twitter @thegoldenglow Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram 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.Mentioned in this episode:Join The ALMANAC CommunityALMANAC TGD Discount

Tune in today for a brief check-in from Mary & Emma on the progress of the Lady Farmer 2022 Slow Living Challenge, and to discuss this week's focus theme.Sign up for the Slow Living Challenge HERE.Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026Sowing seeds of slow living is our mantra at Lady Farmer. Simplifying our belongings, prioritizing good choices in food and clothing, and choosing sustainable habits wherever we can all have a positive impact on ourselves, our community and our planet. Every winter for the past few years we’ve taken on a Slow Living Challenge together as a community to bring these ideas into action little by little, day by day, week by week.This year, we’re excited to offer this free challenge for four weeks, kicking off Monday, January 31st. Each week you will receive a downloadable calendar in your email inbox that includes daily prompts centered around a theme. We’ll be able to share our experiences together in community, with all of us walking alongside you, through #slowlivingchallenge on Instagram or within our private online membership, The ALMANAC. If you’re not yet a member, participation in the challenge gets you a free trial in this community!

Step back in time with living history fellow and historical baker, Justin Cherry, founder and owner of Half Crown Bakehouse, as he shares his love for nutrient rich ancient grains and 18th century bread baking methods. With his 18th century reproduction clay oven in tow, Justin travels to historic sites along the east coast of North America sharing his expertise on period correct methods and flavors, as well as, educating his patrons on the history and evolution of ancient grains and their uses in hopes of keeping this part of our history alive. A maker deeply committed to his craft, Justin seeks to restore the baker and the hearth to a central part of our homes and lives. He started Half Crown Bakehouse out of a deep love for heritage grains and landrace grains and an awe and respect for this naturally slow process. For Justin, baking bread using historic methods is a way to return to tradition and to a way of life dependent upon community - a rekindling of a beautifully slow practice with a deep sense of place.  Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform.Topics Covered: Heritage Grains LandRace Grains - often referred to as heritage or heirloom grains, are ancient, pre-hybridized varieties of wheat, barley, oats, rye and other grains that flourished naturally for centuries throughout the world where they adapted to local environmental conditions. Source here  Living History  Potassium Bromate  Bromated Flour Local Grain Windmills Waterwheel Gristmills Barley Wheat Spelt Einkorn  Haudenosaunee People  Seneca  Iroquios White Corn  Amaranth  Pink Lady’s Thumb  Red May Flour Resources Mentioned:  The Washington Library  Anson Mills New Ebenezer Settlement  George Washington's Mount Vernon  American Heritage Chocolate The Lady Farmer Slow Living Challenge  Lynn Cassell’s Good Dirt Podcast Episode  Pre-order “Our Wild Farming Life” inside the Lady Farmer Marketplace Sarah Marie Massee Episode  King Arthur Baking Company  Migrash Farm Fort Frederick 18th Century Market Fair  Revolutionary War Weekend  Connect with Justin: Half Crown Bakehouse  Instagram @halfcrownbakehouse Follow Us: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The ALMANAC, our private online community. 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.Mentioned in this episode:Join The ALMANAC CommunityALMANAC TGD Discount