The Good Dirt: Sustainability Explained

Lotta grew up in Sweden and began her career as a journalist before immigrating to the US in the ’80s. After settling in Charlottesville, Virginia, she transitioned into graphic design, bringing the Nordic design aesthetic of simplicity, elegance, and clear lines into her work. Like many artists, Lotta dreamed of the creative work she would like to pursue outside of the requests of her clients, and started combining her interests in gardening and natural materials as inspiration. She began leaning away from working with synthetic dyes and paints, aware of both the health and environmental effects of working closely with these toxins. What started as a hobby developed into a production line of linen household items including pillows, napkins, and runners, all using leaves and natural plant materials found outside in her immediate environment.Lotta soon discovered that the natural dyes had benefits beyond the lack of toxic chemicals, finding that she was able to realize colors she could never achieve with the synthetic dyes. Her artwork now extends beyond just textiles to printmaking and book arts, and features an eco-printing technique called "botanical contact printing." Lotta carries her sustainable principles through every part of the artistic process from composting old leaves used in the printing to creating her own processing solution from iron scraps.So much of Lotta’s art and life revolves around the slow principles we espouse at Lady Farmer. She reflects on how growing up in Sweden with the ability to wander freely and explore the natural world has fostered within her a deep, personal connection with nature. When she isn’t in the studio, she is outside cultivating her naturalist garden, tending to the trees and plants grown on her property that will be translated into the design and colors of her artwork. She also incorporates the meditative practice of hand stitching into her art. On this episode of The Good Dirt, Lotta encourages us to find beauty in the natural world all around, and experience the wonder that is everywhere. Join us on this week’s episode to find out more.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Captivate, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform.Topics Covered: Art being informed by one’s personal principles  Lotta’s sustainable and biodegradable dyeing process using linen, silk, and wool The Swedish concept of Allemansrätten, or right of public access Society’s pressure to be constantly producing The meditative practice of hand stitching Finding beauty in the simple and common natural world around us Resources Mentioned: India Flint The School of Nomad Arts Sewanee Wheesht: Creative Making in Uncertain Times Guest Info:Connect with Lotta on her website.Follow Us: Our Website Instagram

In Kate Kilmurray’s experience, weaving is one of the best practices for mindfulness, grounding ourselves in nature, and returning to who we really are. As our hands get involved with each thread, our mind is free to rest from our conscious stream. In this stillness, we are able to ground ourselves and find our inner center within our tumultuous and chaotic surroundings. Join us on today’s episode as we gain more insight into Kate’s journey and how she teaches weaving as a form of meditation to realign with our inner selves. After graduating with a degree in Art History from the University of Pennsylvania, Kate ran a small textile business and worked for several years at Swan Gallery in Philadelphia. Faced with health challenges, she discovered yoga and meditation, and found herself called to the path of conscious and contemplative living. Kate received a certification in Mindfulness Meditation, and for fifteen years ran the Mystic River Yoga Studio in Medford, MA with her husband, Arthur, helping students slow down, find freedom in movement, and reconnect to their true nature.After a move from the east coast to California, Kate became inspired to begin teaching and presenting her visual art with others. She has developed a line of handwoven potholders and textiles made from a simple 7 x 7 inch metal handloom, which she uses in teaching her “Weaving As Meditation” classes. Kate teaches women the principles of hand weaving, while guiding them to slow down, connect to the breath, and tap into their creative channels. "Women leave my workshops with a new set of skills to create their own inner calm and beauty in their corner of the world," she says. Kate has sold her products at over 100 lifestyle stores across the United States, as well as shops in Canada, Denmark, and Japan. Listen to this week’s episode as we explore how the visual arts can be harnessed as a powerful tool of meditation and mindfulness!Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Captivate, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform.Topics Covered: Interconnectedness and how it nurtures one’s creativity Nourishing ourselves and growing from healthy soil  Reconnecting with our breath Using weaving as a form of meditation  Resources Mentioned: The Great Work Dream of the Earth Guest Info:Connect with Kate on her website.Follow Us: Our Website Instagram

Growing flax and processing it into linen is one of the oldest methods of clothing manufacturing on the planet. Sandy Fisher and Durl Van Alstyne have prided themselves in reviving this old craft here in the United States through their company, The Chico Flax Project. Through their work, they are bringing a new industry and social enterprise for fiber production of flax to Northern California in collaboration with local community members, farmers, artisans, and institutions. For Sandy, weaving has always been an important part of her life—beginning as a young child when she learned how to knit. In 2012, a phone call during the Bangladesh fires inspired her to grow flax on her plot to use for weaving clothes. Durl is equally drawn to using natural fibers for clothing, his background coming from teaching at public schools for the past 35 years. Now, he works alongside his wife as a regenerative agricultural flax farmer. In this week’s episode, we will discuss how garments made from flax fibers will create opportunities for employment and for meaningful craft, the process of designing clothes from natural fibers, and how they began The Chico Flax Project. Interested in learning more about Sandy’s and Durl’s story? Join us on this week’s episode to find out more. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform.Topics Covered: Weaving with flax seeds Process of designing clothes from natural fibers Impact of Covid-19 on agriculture Increasing the market of domestically grown linen Resources Mentioned: Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems 2021 Field Day The Big Book of Flax by Christian and Johannes Zinzendorf Guest InfoConnect with Sandy and Durl on their website.Follow Us: Our Website Instagram

Separately, Dan Miller and Spike Gjerde knew that they needed to find a way to support regenerative farmers and producers using their own natural talents and expertise. Dan’s family had been farming in the Chesapeake Bay since the late 1800s, but he never understood how a region could have what appears to be a thriving agricultural system while also struggling economically. Meanwhile, Spike wanted to start a new restaurant concept that focused on growing seasons and local sourcing. It wasn’t until Dan created Steward, a platform that enables people to fund regenerative agriculture, that the two found each other and realized their shared passion. Dan and Spike define regenerative agriculture as a system of farming principles and practices that seeks to rehabilitate and enhance the entire ecosystem of the farm by placing a heavy premium on soil health. The benefits of this kind of farming practice seem obvious, but individuals and families running regenerative farms often achieve such small profit margins that they can’t invest in the equipment, training, and labor that allows them to scale. Dan hopes Steward will change that by allowing people to make small or large contributions to regenerative farms in their area. In turn, investors receive all of the environmental benefits while also making a competitive return on their investment. When your local farms are thriving, you can taste the difference. That's why Spike has broken with traditional restaurant conventions and plans his menu with the seasons. You won't find lemons in your water at Woodberry Kitchen, but what you will get is food that supports everyone in the production chain. He encourages us to ask "How much does this really cost?" when we are tempted to question the high prices of local goods. Join us in this week’s episode of The Good Dirt Podcast to learn more.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform.Topics Covered: Regenerative Agriculture Human Scale Farming Community-Supported Agriculture(CSA) Sustainable Agriculture Grower Lending Resources Mentioned: Steward Woodberry Kitchen Aggie Bond Program - Business Oregon Chesapeake Bay Program Fisheye Farms Roundup (herbicide) - Wikipedia Guest InfoConnect with Dan Miller on LinkedIn and Twitter.Connect with Spike Gjerde on LinkedIn and Instagram.Follow Us: Our Website Instagram

The greatest secret to mastering the art of cooking? It's' not the recipes, but in using the freshest ingredients that are indigenous to the land. In France, this means buying locally grown, in-season fruits and vegetables from the nearest farmer's market. This is a long-held practice in Gascony, a rural province of southwestern France where "the good dirt" is prized and protected for the preservation of its culinary heritage. The culture of food in Gascony has its own unique flavors and methods. Kate has been collecting recipes for years, gathered from friends and neighbors and even from knocking on the doors of strangers to learn how to cook something new. Kate teaches methods such as oven roasting, braising, emulsifying sauces, and has recently been featured on a "Cooking with Wine" series streaming on Somm TV. But it doesn’t stop there, Kate also intertwines these culinary lessons with in-person road trips in France and Spain. Kate masterfully wears multiple hats in her personal life and profession. She is a cook, teacher, mentor, and wonderful storyteller. In “A Culinary Journey in Gascony: Recipes and Stories from My French Canal Boat'," she tells the story of how she first discovered the region while floating slowly down the Canal de Garonne, and subsequently purchased the 18th-century farmhouse in the area which has been her home and culinary inspiration for the past thirty years.  Interested in learning more about Kate and her personal story? Join us on this week’s episode to find out more. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform.Topics Covered: French gastronomy and its influence on French culture Buying fresh, locally grown food The culture of food in Gascony Appreciating the experience and processes of cooking The role of food in human culture Resources Mentioned: A Culinary Journey in Gascony: Recipes and Stories from My French Canal Boat Cooking with Wine Gascony, France Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen French Dirt by Richard Goodman Jamie Beck on The Good Dirt Guest Info:Connect with Kate on her website.Follow Us: Our Website Instagram

Nature provides the greatest elixirs: sunshine, water, air, and plants. By harnessing that power and bringing these elements into our everyday beauty routines, we can embrace a simpler, more natural concept of beauty that is free from the questionable ingredients in many commercially available products, allowing these elements to revive the spirit and body.  Nadine Artemis has used plants as her teachers her entire life. Her curiosity and ingenuity led her into this exploration of ingredients at an early age, and since then, she has been challenging conventional notions of beauty and wellness by creating natural beauty products that are supported by extensive research into current science. In 1992, Nadine opened the first North American full concept aromatherapy store namedOsmosis. She now runs Living Libations, a company that provides organic and pure renegade beauty products that honor human health and beauty. Nadine is also the author of Renegade Beauty: Reveal and Revive Your Natural Radiance and Holistic Dental Care: The Complete Guide to Healthy Teeth and Gums, in which she shares her story and message of rethinking conventional notions of wellness. Curious to learn more? Join us on this week’s episode to learn more about Nadine’s story.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform.Topics Covered: Rethinking conventional notions of beauty and wellness Using natural remedies to  enhance health Becoming discerning regarding commercial products Allowing the elements of nature to revive the body Synthetic vs. plant-based ingredients Resources Mentioned: Renegade Beauty: Reveal and Revive Your Natural Radiance Holistic Dental Care: The Complete Guide to Healthy Teeth and Gums Living Libations Guest InfoConnect with Nadine on her website Living Libations. (Use code LADYFARMER for 10% off!)Follow Us: Our Website Instagram

Where can you find nearly one hundred thousand acres of land protected for food and outdoor recreation this close to a metropolitan area? Not many, except for Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve. It is the hidden gem of the Washington DC Metropolitan Area, as it continues to provide economic services, food resilience networks, and environmental services for the region. It has also been heralded as one of the best examples of land conservation policies in the country, and encompasses almost a third of the county’s natural resources.  Caroline Taylor, today’s guest and executive director of the non -profit organization Montgomery Countryside Alliance, shares with us the potential of the Ag Reserve in local food production, climate change mitigation and as a resource for people to experience and enjoy natural spaces. The Agricultural Reserve has also served to inform and influence the formation of land-use policies across the country, and has helped to shape the United States’ suburban landscape in a positive way . According to Caroline, more connection with nature and relationship to our open spaces will lead to increased general wellness, awareness and momentum in seeking meaningful solutions to climate change. Curious to find out more? Join us on this week’s episode to learn all about the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve, a national model in land use planning for a sustainable future.  Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform.Topics Covered: Environmental stewardship and creating preservation goals Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve Producing food within the urban and suburban footprint Preservation programs and competing interests Regenerative solutions to combat climate change Resources Mentioned: Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve Montgomery Countryside Alliance Washington DC Defenders of Wildlife Guest InfoConnect with Caroline on LinkedIn.Follow Us: Our Website Instagram

Linen is a woven and durable fabric that gets pulled out of the closet when summer rolls around or spread across one’s bed as a soft blanket or duvet cover. But the big question remains: how sustainable is linen? We speak to Heidi Barr about how she has worked with reclaimed fabrics to reduce textile waste in the industry. She noticed the need for more sustainable solutions when she saw the urgency for making these changes in order to build a healthy, vibrant future with kitchen products that you will want to use every day.Heidi Barr is the founder of The Kitchen Garden Textiles, a line of kitchen textiles made with natural and reclaimed materials sold to support urban agriculture. Her business began by making napkins out of the backs of second-hand men’s shirts and selling them to support her local urban CSA farm. Now, her company has gained significant traction in the textile industry and is used by some of Philly’s top chefs including Ari Miller, co-owner and chef at Musi BYOB, and by Judy Wicks, environmental activist, author, and founder of the White Dog Cafe.As a former dancer turned costume designer, her business combines her love for the environment, fabric, and sewing. Heidi uses this passion to continue to inspire other individuals to live a more environmentally conscious and plastic-free lifestyle. Join us on this week’s episode as we dive into the topics of ethically sourced products, environmental stewardship, and Heidi’s personal journey as an entrepreneur.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform.Topics Covered: Replacing single-use plastics with sustainable solutions Environmental stewardship Ethical business practices Affordability and sustainable products Greenwashing in the textile industry Resources Mentioned: The Kitchen Garden Textiles Weavers Way Farms Henry Got Crops The Flax Project  Guest InfoConnect with the guest on Heidi’s website or by email at hello@kitchengardentextiles.comFollow Us: Our Website Instagram

In this week’s episode, Mary and Emma talk with Amanda Cather from The Million Acre Challenge, a nonprofit organization that helps Maryland farmers build soil health, increase farm profitability, and improve water quality – while making farms resilient and active in the face of climate change. Their farmer-focused collaborative uses soil health science, economics, education, and incentives to achieve their mission. Amanda's early training in pre-med led her from an interest in equitable food access to a career path in urban agriculture, and ultimately to running her own farm raising grass-fed livestock. Now, alongside the team at Million Acre, the goal is to achieve one million agricultural acres in Maryland using healthy soil techniques by 2030, while sharing best practices and making healthy soil connections throughout the Chesapeake watershed. Throughout the episode, Amanda shares her knowledge surrounding the effort. She educates us on the industrial versus ecological models, and introduces us to the multiple factors that affect the way farmers must approach soil improvement. She stresses the importance of listening to farmer’s voices and supporting their journey, as well as, fighting for systems that reward good stewardship and value biodiversity. She explains there are multi-pathways to healthy soil and no one way to achieve the goal. The key to progress in this effort is maintaining curiosity and communication along the way, and remembering that healthy soil (good dirt!) is the foundation of everything.   1:30 - Mary and Emma check in to see how Plastic Free July is going! 4:00 - Amanda Cather of Million Acre Challenge Let’s get into the episode:5:45 - Amanda introduces herself 11:00 - What is the Million Acre Challenge? 20:30 - Connecting to the issues 23:30 - Incentivising soil health and funding the transition 27:00 - Nutritional quality of crops 34:00 - Equity 43:00 - Lobbying to change 48:00 - Engaging with farmers 50:00 - What does the Good Dirt mean to you? Things Mentioned:  Million Acre Challenge  IG: @soilchallenge The Land Institute  Plow and Stars Farm Guidelight / Patagonia Report  Pasa Sustainable Agriculture Soil Health BenchMark Study UMD Organic Grains Transition Project  American Farmland Trust Soil Health Institute   Maryland Department of Agriculture USDA FFAR The Farm’s Project  Regen1 The Real Food Project  The Agriculture Resilience Act Fair Farms Pledge Lady Farmer  The ALMANAC

In this week’s episode, Mary and Emma dive deep into the world of plastic consumption and waste management with Lauren Olson, a Zero Waste Manager at World Centric, exploring the world of compostables and the use of plastic in our daily lives. The discussion covers several aspects of the topic, including the difficulties of “zero-waste," how plastic sneaks into our homes even when we are consciously trying to avoid it, and all the ways in which existing systems make it difficult to create true sustainability in our homes. Lauren explains the science behind bioplastics, as well as the difference between industrial vs home compostables. She also shares how to determine genuinely compostable products and helps us imagine a cradle to cradle world where waste equals food for the earth, and not the other way around! Mary and Emma ask the vital questions, what can we do to work through this monumentally large plastic problem, and is it really possible to achieve the ultimate goal of a zero-waste economy? Lauren gives practical tips for individual action, while encouraging all of us to use our voices as paying consumers to demand change from the top down.1:30 - Mary and Emma catch up and talk about plastic problem solving! 10:30 - World Centric Let’s get into the episode:11:30 - Introducing Lauren & the world of World Centric 16:30 - Is zero waste really achievable?  22:00 - Bioplastics 30:00 - Landfills as coffins for waste 35:00 - What can we do? 36:00 - Greenwashing 43:00 - Facing this massive issue 50:00 - What does the Good Dirt mean to you? USE CODE: "thegooddirt" for 10% off online at World Centric. Valid for 30 days. Things Mentioned: World Centric  The Ecology Center  Nature Works Polystyrene BPI  Compost Manufacturers Alliance (CAM)   ASTM 6400 or 6868 Findacomposter.com World Centric’s Giving Program