The Good Dirt: Sustainability Explained

You can begin healing the planet, improving your health and mitigating climate change right outside your door! On today’s episode of The Good Dirt we sit down with Justin West, the creative entrepreneur behind Thrive Lot – a marketplace platform on a mission to create food abundance by combining agroecology, landscape design and technology. Thrive Lot seeks to reimagine the lawn care industry by scaling permaculture and installing ecosystems into our very own yards. But to do so requires a shift in our collective idea of what we consider lawn care. We can create habitats for wildlife, regenerate the soil, reduce our carbon footprint and mitigate climate change by reimagining our lawns as a place where we grow our own food, produce medicinal herbs, fruit trees and vibrant ecosystems.With over 40 million acres of lawn in the United States - the largest single irrigated crop - it’s a concept ripe with potential, which is why we’re so excited to share our conversation with Justin as he dreams of a future where home agroecology is the norm, and where “good dirt” heals the world. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform.Topics Covered: Agroecology--is the application of ecological concepts and principals in farming, combined to create a type of farming that is sustainable and in cooperation with nature.  Permaculture--the development of agricultural ecosystems that are self-sufficient and sustainable, drawing from an observation and imitation of systems in nature and resulting in crop diversity, resilience, increased natural productivity, less human intervention and more sustainability.   Carbon sequestration is "...the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide. It is one method of reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere with the goal of reducing global climate change." Perennials vs Annuals  Resources Mentioned:  Thrive Lot Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) Food Forest at Brown Mills  The Museum of Discovery and Science  Guest InfoVisit the Thrive Lot websiteFollow Thrive Lot on  InstagramFollow Us: Our Website Instagram Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today we're talking to Cookie Washington, an African American quilting muralist and fourth generation needle worker, who addresses issues of race and social equality while celebrating the contributions of her African ancestral heritage and the  Divine Feminine in her work.  Cookie is the first in this long line of needle workers to take up art quilting, yet she feels her connection very deeply to her foremothers and her African-American history whenever a needle and bit of cloth is in her hands. Her passion for quilting is a way of communicating the African American woman’s experience. In our conversation, Cookie shares several  fascinating stories around her recent projects, You’ll hear about mermaids and goddesses, and how she was divinely inspired to do  a series of eight quilts depicting The Black Madonna as a way of bringing the healing energy of the Sacred Feminine into the world. She also shares the heartbreaking story of her friendship with Reverend Clementa Carlos Pinckney, a senior pastor at Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church  in Charleston who was murdered by a white supremacist terrorist in 2015, just days before they were to meet to plan an art exhibit in his church. Cookie also shares with us some ancestral wisdom that is communicated through the bees, and the upcoming Return of the Bees Multimedia Project, which is an exhibit that  celebrates the history, evolution, and futurism of southern Black agrarian material culture, including fiber arts and heritage quilt making. The show will be in Charleston, South Carolina at the City Gallery at Waterfront Park, opening January 17th and running through Black History Month.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Mentioned: Website The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd The Return of the Bees Multimedia Project Acres of Ancestry Follow Us: Our Website Instagram Credits: Original Music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today's guest is Sara Marie Massee, a lead interpreter at George Washington's Mount Vernon. She works with the historic trades department, teaching and actually doing many of the skills and trades that were being practiced around Washington's estate during his lifetime there.  She oversees Mount Vernon's cooking, baking, and textile living history demonstrations to illuminate daily life in the 18th century. Sara Marie has been in the field of living history for 16 years, 14 of them at George Washington's Mount Vernon. She spends her days talking to visitors about Washington's sustainable, innovative farming practices and demonstrating various trades that enslaved people and white, indentured workers would have done on the estate. Her favorite demonstrations are cooking and textile work (spinning, weaving, natural dyeing, and preparing wool, linen, and hemp fibers to be spun). In today’s episode, Dr. Massee shares anecdotes and stories that give us a glimpse of the the textiles industry in the 18th century and the role it played in the economy of George Washington's estate. Tune in to learn more!Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform.Topics Covered: The history of textile production at Mount Vernon.  18th-century clothing and linen Working in the field of living history Resources Mentioned:Mount VernonGuest InfoConnect with Dr. Massee on Mount Vernon’s websiteFollow Us: Our Website Instagram Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

You're in for something a little different this Friday...it's a solo show with Mary and Emma!At Lady Farmer, we're always thinking about ways to shift our thinking to live into a more slow and sustainable lifestyle, and today is a great opportunity to do just that. What if Black Friday became Slow Friday, and what would that look like?Join us on this week’s episode of The Good Dirt as we share a bit about our own Christmas memories and experiences with gift-giving as well as how we're thinking about being more mindful with our consumer habits during the holiday season.Enjoy this week's episode, let us know what you think, and we'll be back with another interview next week!Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform.Topics Covered: The negative impacts of consumerism and how to think differently about our consumer habits The importance that we have placed on gift-giving and receiving during the holiday season Slow Friday Challenge Resources: Unplug the Christmas Tree Christmas by Peter Spier Follow Us: Our Website Instagram Join us at the Lady Farmer Slow Living Retreat!Original Music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week we will hear from twin sisters Jess Boeke and Sarah Pottle of the Rust Belt Fibershed, a bioregional textile network growing hope and resilience through the use of local fibers. We speak with this dynamic duo on a multitude of topics, touching on ways to shift and expand our mindsets towards a more sustainable paradigm. Jess is an educator and fiber artist who has been working with natural dyes since 2008. Born and raised in Ohio, Cleveland, she is known for engaging and educating communities on the importance of local labor, dyes, and the carbon impacts of our soil-to-soil textile industry. In her teachings, she has inspired others on the promotion of ethical fashion and the importance of regenerative learning. Her twin sister, Sarah has personally coached hundreds of teachers through thousands of lessons in high-quality, equitable instruction. Her desire to create transformational systems change has led her on a daunting journey with her twin sister of slow living and sustainable fashion, spreading awareness on regenerative learning education in the Rust Belt Cities.Today we will learn more about how we can focus our relationships between people and the Earth in order to enable transformation in our society, explore the impact of the clothing and textile industry on climate change and incorporate more environmental teachings in the classroom. We will also speak to Sarah and Jess about what they envision for the future, their hopes and aspirations, and how we can continue to promote regenerative education learning in the classroom.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platform.Topics Covered: What is regenerative living for modern families? How we can incorporate more environmental teachings in the classroom.  The impact of the clothing and textile industry on climate change. Resources Mentioned & Guest Info: Drift Lab Dye Studios Rust Belt Fibershed Connect with Jess and Sarah on their company website. If you're involved in the educational system (teacher, substitute, principal, para, school counselor, involved parent) and you want to know more about how we're trying to shift the educational paradigm away from a mechanical one towards one that's filled with more life, you can check out their podcast Regenerative Ed. Check out their workshops here. Follow Sarah & Jess: @groundedteachingFollow Us: Our Website Instagram Credits:Original music by John Kingsley - @jkingsley1026 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Did you know that Gen Z is using fashion TikTok to fight climate change? Joining us on today’s episode is Sylar Saba, a Gen-Z influencer who shares her low waste sustainability tips by engaging online communities in small, fun, and meaningful ways. She shares her love for the outdoors and nature through her Instagram and TikTok platforms, engaging her community with #COOTD highlights (cute outfits of the day) and conscious outfit inspo, recipes, resources, and more.Skylar Saba is the Founder & CEO of Happy Earth Habits, a major supporter of mamma earth, mindful educator, & sustainability expert. She has grown a community of 40k+ changemakers around the world via Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. HEH has become a resource for sustainability education and low waste living. In addition, Skylar is the Founder and CEO of Skylar C Creative, a branding & social media agency for conscious businesses. She strives to connect individuals with the Earth and live more mindfully.Today we learn more about incorporating sustainable habits into our everyday lives, how perfectionism isn't necessary to live a low-waste life, as well as ways to share your favorite eco-friendly tips and tricks on social media. We will also be speaking to her about her hopes for the future and how we can take steps at the individual level to connect more deeply with the natural world. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platform.Topics Covered: Regenerative lifestyle from the perspective of Gen Z The difference between fast and slow fashion How to use social media to inform, educate and inspire Inspiring individuals to reconnect with the Earth and live more mindfully How low-waste living can help reduce carbon emissions Resources Mentioned & Guest Info: Overrated vs underrated Swedish Dish Cloths Happy Earth Habits Follow Skylar on Tik Tok @skysaba Follow Skylar on Instagram @happyearthhabits Follow Us: Our Website Instagram Credits:Original music by John Kingsley - @jkingsley1026 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week's episode is all about honeybees! Did you know that there are 4,000 different bee species native to North America? Honey bees, however, are not native to North America, but were brought here from Europe in the 17th century, and have since become are integral part of our ecosystem. They are efficient pollinators who, along with native bees, allow our food crops and the planet's flora to flourish. Factors in our environment such as climate change, habitat loss, and widespread usage of chemicals in modern-day agriculture are threatening to the bee population, and in turn, to our food supply. Bees have always been a part of Tierney Monahan’s life, and her fascination with them has been well-documented in her new book, Beyond Honey. She weaves together beautiful stories about the economic, entrepreneurial, and environmental impacts of bees on our society. Today we will be speaking to her about her fascination with bees and how she has documented them as a writer for the Georgetown Magazine, and as author of her book as an MBA candidate at Georgetown University. Tierney also shares with us her mission of educating individuals on the impact of honey bees on society.Join us on this week’s episode as we learn more about the importance of pollinators in ensuring our planet’s biodiversity, how to support local beekeepers and the global impact of Colony Collapse Disorder due to habitat loss and climate change. We will be speaking to her about her personal experiences in beekeeping, how it has enhanced her life and the lives of others, and how we can take steps as individuals to ensure the survival of these essential creatures.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform.Topics Covered: How has human activity and interventions affected bee populations? Why are bees important and what is the profound impact that bees have on our everyday lives? Washington DC’s healthy and robust bee population. The difference between honey bees and native bees Learn more about Colony Collapse Disorder Resources Mentioned: Tierney Monahan DC Beekeepers Beyond Honey Community Food Rescue Finding the Mother Tree The Overstory Kirsten Shockey @kirstenkshockey Christy Johnson @christijay Eva Kosmas Flores @evakosmasflores Original music composed, performed, and produced by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026. Guest InfoConnect with Tierney on Twitter @TierneyMonahanFollow Us: Our Website Instagram Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today we're talking with Heidi Hannapel, cofounder of the Bluestem Conservation Cemetery, about options for green burial. We're also taking a look at our modern approach to death and the practices that surround it. Heidi and her business partner Jeff Masten are land conservationists and conservation burial specialists, concerned with the degradation of our planet through wasteful burial practices. They are committed to offering an alternative to conventional burial, working on green burial initiatives specifically tied to land conservation, encouraging a way of caring for the dead with minimal environmental impacts. Through the establishment of Bluestem, Heidi and Jeff's vision is to establish the concept of conservation burial as a tool for protecting natural lands, wildlife and plant species, creating healing green spaces and increasing community connections to nature, and creating opportunities for those seeking green burial options for themselves and their loved ones. In addition, we talk to Heidi about her personal journey with death practices and conventions, inspired by the time she spent being present to her own mother's illness and death in 2015. This experience left her with the realization that death and loss are shared human experiences worthy of active participation, both before the passing of the loved one and in the sacred space between death and burial. Our modern customs often separate us not only from the process of dying itself, but also from the opportunity to experience the the hours and days after the passing as an opportunity for powerful healing. Modern burial procedures also separate us from the processes of nature, in which remains of the deceased continue to be part of the natural life cycle of the planet. The idea behind rethinking our cultural death practices and considering green burial, and as in the case of Bluestem Conversation Cemetery conservation burial, is that human death be honored and embraced as a sacred passage, "where nature is enough." Join us on this week’s episode as we learn more about green burials and how they can contribute to land conservation efforts and lessen our impact on the environment. Stay tuned to learn more!Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform.Topics Covered: Green burial options/reducing environmental impact Integration of life and death through conservation areas Death doulas Home funerals and home burials Hybrid cemeteries Resources Learning from Trees Green Burial Council Conservation Burial Alliance Bluestem Cemetery Green burial NYT article Original theme music for The Good Dirt composed and performed by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Guest Info Bluestem Conservation Cemetery Website Bluestem Resources Page LANDMATTERS Website Connect with Heidi on Twitter @hhannapel Follow Us: Our Website Instagram Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On today’s episode of The Good Dirt, we’re chatting with Angela Ferraro Fanning of Axe and Root Homestead, a six-acre farm in central New Jersey. Angela shares the story of how she went from being a graphic designer to a homesteader in 2012, when she told her husband she'd like to trade her job income for time outside growing food they would no longer have to buy. Now she finds herself balancing a life raising two boys with managing a working farm, as well as authoring a cookbook, a children's book series and hosting a homesteading podcast. In this conversation, we discuss not only the benefits of growing your own food, but the many options available to the modern homesteader. Though the concept of homesteading appeals to a lot of people, the reality of shifting to such a lifestyle is often intimidating and seemingly full of obstacles. Angela explains that homesteading doesn't look the same for everyone, and doesn't have to be defined by what you see when you look out your window. She encourages her followers to begin with the smallest task, such as growing one plant, and taking that longing for connection to food and nature just one step at a time. It doesn't have to involve raising and harvesting your own animals, or all of your food, baking artisan bread or keeping bees. There are likely others in your area that can do all of that. Instead, she says to focus on what interests you, and rely on your community for the rest. The homesteading mindset is about hands-on, local, seasonal living.Join us on today’s episode to hear more about the first steps that Angela took in growing her own food, how she got comfortable with the constant trial and error of homesteading, and how she’s slowly expanding her business through writing and online media.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform.Topics Covered: A day in the life of Angela  The joys and challenges of farm life Getting back to basics and not relying on machinery  Homesteading on a plant-based diet  Sharing her story and expertise through writing, podcasting, and online courses  Guest Info Website Instagram The Definitely Not Simple Life Podcast The Harvest Table: A Collection of Seasonal Plant- Based Recipes Inspired by the Home Garden Little Country Cottage: An Autumn Treasury of Recipes, Crafts and Wisdom Follow Us: Our Website Instagram Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On today’s episode of The Good Dirt, we’re speaking with Liz Riffle of Riffle Farm in Preston County, WV, which is a small bison farm raising grass-fed and finished animals.  Owner and Operator Liz is a U.S Navy Nurse Corps veteran and her husband, Jimmie, is currently still serving on active-duty as a Navy Nurse Corps Nurse Practitioner. Jimmie was born and raised in Grafton, WV. In their own words, Jimmie and Liz are homegrown and proud to now serve this great nation by feeding it!  After near extinction in the 1880s bison have made a comeback, and are now thriving on small operations such as Riffle Farm. Liz says she and her husband discovered bison burgers while traveling in Wyoming, and became interested in the idea of raising them. They eventually found a 64-acre spot where they could let bison roam and graze, and opened for business in 2017. Fast forward to today, and they’ve almost doubled their operation. Liz shares with us their journey from those beginnings until now, during which she’s learned much about regenerative agriculture, working with nature, slowing down and listening to the land. Liz believes that she has a responsibility to honorably raise as well as humanely harvest the bison on her farm. The regulatory system is set up for large-scale meat producers and sometimes makes it difficult for small scale farmers to accomplish their sustainability goals. Liz has started a new business, The Honest Carnivore, as a means of teaching other small farmers how to navigate that system, empowering them to continue providing sustainable meat solutions. Join us on this week’s episode to learn more about building trust and transparency in the food chain with bison farmer Liz Riffle. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform.Topics Covered: Daily life of a bison farmer  How bison grazing patterns help the local flora and fauna  Farming regulations and how they can work against small farmers  Certification processes and marketing strategies of large food corporations  Keeping it simple when it comes to buying food  Resources Mentioned:The Honest CarnivoreGuest InfoConnect with Liz Riffle on her website. Follow Us: Our Website Instagram Original intro music by John C Kingsley Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy