The Good Dirt: Sustainability Explained

In the first of this bonus episode series, Emma and Mary discuss the concept and meaning of slow living. Using the quote from The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living, they discuss slow living in terms of making conscious choices in how we live our lives, paying attention to how we spend our time, money, and resources, and stepping back from industrialized systems that have come to provide our daily needs. They also highlight the importance of observing our own consumer habits and how they intersect with our quality of life. The conversation encourages questioning, reflection, and making small shifts towards a more sustainable and intentional lifestyle.A Sampling of Related Episodes: Episode 88: Conscious Clothing Episode 86: Loving the World Through Simple Living with Danielle Alvarado of Sustainably Kind Living Episode 186: Grow Your Own Food with Nicky and Dave Schauder of Permaculture Gardens 🌻 About Lady Farmer:· Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community· Visit Our WebsiteThe Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living· Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram· Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail!Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:· Wendy Gray Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Alexia Allen is a suburban homesteader. She and her husband Daniel are transforming their own corner of suburbia into a permaculture paradise. They spent all of 2017 doing a hand harvested food challenge, which meant they were eating only hand harvested food right down to salt from the ocean. Daniel and Alexia are long time educators with a passion for authentic earth based skills. As Suburbia grew up around them, it made sense to share these skills with people eager to learn. In this conversation with Alexia, we hear about the organic growth of their community, their experience with the hand harvested food challenge, and the importance of fostering nature connection through personal grounding practices and educational programs. With help from an amazing "farm-ily, the small community of people that live and work together on the homestead, and a lively crew of program helpers, Hawthorn Farm has offered learning opportunities for the past 15 years.Topics Discussed· Alexia's Journey to Homesteading· Multigenerational Communal Living· Balancing Public and Private Spaces· Age Diversity· Suburban Living· Dealing with the Perception of Time· Social Ecology· The Underappreciation of Farming· Making Money as a Homesteader· Being a “Farm Grandma”· Nurturing Healthy, Happy Humans· Lifelong Educators· The Ups and Downs of Intentional Community· Grounding Practice — All You Have to do is Sit!· The Hand Harvested Food Challenge· Consistency over Decades· Allowing Change· Reconnecting with Your Environment· Finding Your Strengths and Leaning on Others for TheirsEpisode Resources:· Listen to The Good Dirt “191. Paul Hawken on Carbon, Climate and Connection”· Nature Connection Mentors· Wilderness Connection SchoolConnect with Alexia Allen:· Website: https://www.hawthornfarm.org· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hawthornfarm/?hl=en· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hawthornfarmheals/━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌻 About Lady Farmer:· Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community· Visit Our Website· Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram· Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail!Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:· Wendy Gray Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This episode originally aired on August 23, 2022. What aspects of the back-to-school season are tapping into core memory making, and how much is just consumer hype? Listen in as Mary & Emma peel away the marketing from the emotion, and discuss ideas for reframing this season in a more sustainable way for kids AND parents.Things Mentioned: Episode 135 with Wisdom Supply Co. Michael Pollan, author of In Defense of Food - An Eater's Manifesto Lady Farmer Marketplace Wool Lunchbox Jute Sandwich Bag Jackalo Clothing 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 Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ellen Gordon of the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve in Maryland is an environmental activist spearheading an effort to help transition local farmland to regenerative farming practices. She joins Mary in this episode to discuss the benefits of regenerative farming, including the improvement of soil health, enhancing biodiversity, reducing costs and sequestering carbon. Ellen shares her journey from studying biology and working in ocean and coastal issues to her involvement with a local nonprofit and becoming an advocate for sustainable farming methods. The conversation also explores the challenges and rewards of regenerative agriculture and the importance of reconnecting with indigenous farming practices, the need to change the way we view and interact with the land, and the potential of regenerative agriculture in the mitigation of climate change.Topics Discussed· Sustainable Farming· Regenerative Agriculture· The Importance of Regenerative Agriculture· Challenges and Resistance in Transitioning to Regenerative Farming· Education on Sustainable Practice· Green Revolution· How to Grow New Soil· The Value of Biodiversity· Creating Resilient Food Systems· From Ocean Studies to Regenerative Farming· The Difficulties of Open Land· Indigenous Practices· Modern Hurdles to Farming· Supporting Healthy Soil, Water, and Air· Handling Resistance to Change· Plans for the FutureEpisode Resources:· The Montgomery County Maryland Agriculture Reserve· Sugarloaf Citizens Association· The Montgomery Countryside Alliance· Read "Dirt to Soil: One Family's Journey Into Regenerative Agriculture" by Gabe Brown· Rockland’s Farm Winery· White Oak PasturesConnect with Elle Gordon:· Website: The Montgomery County Maryland Agriculture Reserve━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌻 About Lady Farmer:· Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community· Visit Our Website· Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram· Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail!Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:· Wendy Gray Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Heidi is a multi-disciplinary artist based in Austin, Texas. She works in multiple media including clay and watercolor, striking a balance between classical and intuitive painting. For the past 10 years, she has sought to reduce the waste from art supplies in her own work by creating dyes that use the Earth’s soil, insects, and plants. She discusses her journey of learning about natural pigments, her artistic process, and the influences of science and nature on her work. We explore the intersection of art, environmental stewardship and education, especially as it comes to Heidi's commitment to sustainability and her efforts to inspire others to connect with the natural world. Learn to celebrate the peaceful and messy aspects of the natural world with Heidi, so you can also celebrate those same aspects in yourself.Topics Discussed· Oil and Acrylic Paints· Being a Multidisciplinary Artist· Paint in the Past· The Ingredients in Paint· Heidi's Journey to Natural Paints· The Art of Making Natural Paints· Foraging and Creating Paints· Challenges and Discoveries in Paint Making· Heidi's Artistic Background and Inspirations· Environmental Advocacy Through Art· Community Reactions and HOA Challenges· Creative Projects and Future Plans· Collecting and Painting with Ashes and Biochar· Exploring Soil Colors· Art Supplies and Environmental Impact· Composting Adventures· Touch Grass Movement· Soil Science· Where Science and Art IntersectEpisode Resources:· Earth Native Wilderness School· The Art of Soil· Listen to The Good Dirt “138. The Urgent Need for Restorative Gardening with Mary Reynolds”· Terry Tempest Williams· Listen to The Good Dirt “199. Coming to our Senses with Author and Retreat Leader Leah Rampy”Connect with Heidi Lowell:· Website: https://heidilowell.art· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidilowellart/· Links: https://linktr.ee/heidilowellart━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌻 About Lady Farmer:· Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community· Visit Our Website· Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram· Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail!Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:· Wendy Gray Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Brittany Felton is a writer, editor, producer, baker, crafter, restauranteur, and host of the “Yeah, I’d Hang Out with Her” Podcast. Her mother and Mary have been friends since the 90's and participated in an early Artist’s Way group together. Brittany’s connection with Lady Farmer led her to invite Mary and Emma onto the podcast, and today we're sharing that interview here with all of you. You’ll hear all about Mary and Emma’s deep-seated connection to the land, their journey towards a more sustainable lifestyle and the inspiration for Lady Farmer. Mary shares her long quest to find the land she now calls home and some glimpses into the writing of “The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living”. Meanwhile, Emma recounts her experience in creative freelancing and how it ultimately led to the Lady Farmer initiative. This episode encapsulates the essence of Lady Farmer, highlighting its evolution from a clothing line to a broader community advocating for slower, more intentional living.Topics Discussed· Introduction to the Podcast· Meet the Hosts: Mary and Emma· Brittany's Backstory and Connection· Mary's Origin Story· Emma's Journey to Lady Farmer· The Birth of Lady Farmer· The Magic of the Farm· Understanding Slow Living· Consumer Habits and Sustainability· The Pandemic's Impact on Slow Living· The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living· Sustainable Fashion and Climate Change· The Good Dirt Podcast· Community and Support Systems· Personal Slow Living Journeys· Daily Routines and Reflections· Mary & Emma’s Creative PursuitsEpisode Resources:· “Yeah, I’d Hang Out with Her” Podcast· Read “The Artist's Way: 30th Anniversary Edition” by Julia Cameron· Read “The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living” by Mary E. KingsleyConnect with Brittnay Felton:· Website: https://www.brittanyfelton.com/myfilms· Instagram @brittfelt: https://www.instagram.com/brittfelt/?img_index=1· Substack: https://brittanyfelton.substack.com/· Links: https://linktr.ee/brittanyfelton━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌻 About Lady Farmer:· Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community· Visit Our Website· Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram· Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail!Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:· Wendy Gray Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Natalie Leon is a British Japanologist with a Master’s Degree in Japanese Studies who has dedicated her life and career to sharing Japanese culture with the world and with the United Kingdom. Her passion lies in seasonality, and celebrating every day. She recently published “The Japanese Art of Living Seasonally” which is her love letter to seasonal living in Japan. Natalie shares her deep passion for Japanese culture, a journey that began with a childhood fascination with a kimono. The conversation explores various aspects of seasonality in Japan, such as the concept of 'shun' (eating what's in season), 'kisetsukan' (awareness of the seasons), and 'kasane' (color layering). Natalie also delves into the folklore and spirituality of Japan, illustrating how these traditions are interwoven with everyday life. If you enjoy this episode, Natalie's new book, “The Japanese Art of Living Seasonally: An Invitation to Celebrate Every Day” is out now and serves as a loving invitation to incorporate these enriching practices into our daily lives.Topics Discussed· Japanology· Seasonality· The unique· Kimonos, Tea Ceremony, Matsuri, and other Annual Ritual Festivals· Japanese Textiles & Symbolism· The Idea of Vintage· Art & The Connection and Elevation of Nature· John Ruskin the Art Critic· The Mingei Art Movement· William Morris Designs· Kisetsukan (季節感)· Shun (旬)· Takanoko / Bamboo Shoots· Western Culture’s Impact on Japan· Kasane no Irome (襲の色目)· The Significance of Cherry Blossoms· Dealing with Rituals, Spirituality, and the Supernatural· Shintoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism· The 4 Japanese Seasonal Goddesses· The Climate & Ecosystem of Japan· Forest Bathing in Yakashima· Marie Kondo & Minimalist, Zero-Waste Culture· Furoshiki (風呂敷)· Kamikatsu - Japan’s Zero Waste TownEpisode Resources:· Read “The Japanese Art of Living Seasonally: An Invitation to Celebrate Every Day” by Natalie LeonConnect with Natalie Leon:· Website: https://www.natalie-leon.co.uk/· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_natalie_leon/· Newsletter: https://natalieleon.substack.com· Links: https://linktr.ee/sakura_sister_━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌻 About Lady Farmer:· Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community· Visit Our Website· Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram· Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail!Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:· Wendy Gray Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This episode originally aired on November 4th, 2022.Today's guest is Claire Dunn, here with us to dive deeply into the mysteries of nature and psyche through the pathways of deep nature connection. Speaking to us from Melbourne, Australia, Claire is a writer, speaker, barefoot explorer, rewilding facilitator, and founder of Nature’s Apprentice, a platform for education and guidance in rewilding our souls and the planet. For the last 15 years, Claire has been facilitating individuals in ancestral earth skills, deep ecology, ecopsychology, soul-centric nature-based practice, village building, dance, ceremony, and contemporary wilderness rites-of-passage. Claire is the author of the memoir, My Year Without Matches, which tells the story of her year living wild – and the recently released memoir Rewilding the Urban Soul exploring how we might embody wild consciousness even while living in the setting of a city.Topics Covered: Rewilding as a new human movement Cultivation of a "Wild Mind" Claire's childhood and background in the environmental movement  How Claire's introduction to primitive earth skills led her more deeply into the human nature relationship  Richard Lou The Last Child in the Woods Vitamin N (Nature)  Tom Brown's Tracker School in New Jersey Australia's first Independent Wilderness Studies Program Claire's one-year self-initiated deep nature immersion The sacred order of survival Bill Plotkin Claire's emergence from her immersion, and sharing the immersion experience with the world Nature's Apprentice Rewilding the Urban Soul - Claire Dunn My Year Without Matches Jon Young's Core Routines of Nature Common threads of people who come to Claire for instruction What is a vision quest?  The urgency of climate change Bringing back the species of the wild human Active Hope by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone Connect with Claire: Her website, naturesapprentice.com.au/ Claire's Books: Rewilding the Urban Soul My Year Without Matches Follow her on Instagram @_natures_apprentice_ Claire's Facebook 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community Visit Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:• Wendy Gray Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Angela Ferraro Fanning built and runs the Axe and Root Homestead in New Jersey. After suffering from postpartum depression, Angela wanted to remove herself from modern day hustle culture and return to nature, growing as much of her own food as possible. She grew from her own private garden to a fully functioning farm, and shares the empowerment that comes along with homesteading with our audience today. Sitting down with Emma and Mary in this follow-up to her original episode “Homesteading is What You Make It”, we catch up with Angela’s progress in running her farm a few years later after she was certified as a permaculturist by Cornell University. Angela shares insights about the evolution of her farm, managing a variety of plants and animals, and implementing permaculture principles into her lifestyle. She talks about publishing her books “The Sustainable Homestead” and the “Little Homesteader” series , growing protein-rich crops as a vegetarian, and raising a family on a farm. She leaves us all with why she believes it is vitally important to remember the legacy we leave for the people who take over the land after we’re gone.Topics Discussed· Eco-friendly Permaculture Homesteading· Maintaining Geese, Ducks, Apiary, Sheep, Orchard, and Garden· Being a Vegetarian Homesteader· Leaving Graphic Design and Web Design for Nature· Food Allergies & Pesticide Pain· Pros and Cons of Eating According to the Season· Compromises for Family· Finding a Flexible Sustainability Sustain that Works For YOUR Lifestyle· Mary’s Raspberry Story· Preserving Your Food· A Mugwort Invasion· Growing Strawberries· Working with Horses· Raising Kids on a Farm· Spending Time Outdoors· Compromises, Saltwater Pools, and Honeybees· Cultural Shifts Post-Pandemic· Writing “The Sustainable Homestead: Create a Thriving Permaculture Ecosystem with Your Garden, Animals, and Land" by Angela Ferraro-Fanning· The Little Homesteader Books· Seitan· Growing Beans, Garbanzos, and Quinoa· Impact of COVID on HomesteadingEpisode Resources:· Listen to The Good Dirt “Homesteading is What You Make It with Angela Ferraro Fanning of Axe & Root Homestead”· Listen to The Good Dirt “Homesteading is a Mindset with Angela Ferraro Fanning”· Read Angela’s Books including “The Sustainable Homestead”, “The Harvest Table”, “Design for Change”, and the “Little Homesteader” series· Listen to Vox Media’s “Today Explained: Honey, We Saved the Bees”Connect with Angela :· Axe & Root Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/axeandroothomestead/· Website: https://www.axeandroothomestead.com· Angela’s Photography Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angferrarofanning_photography/· The HOMESTEADucation Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/homesteaducation/id1593301801━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌻 About Lady Farmer:· Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community· Visit Our Website· Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram· Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail!Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:· Wendy Gray Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this special episode, Emma and Mary are catching up with their first guest ever featured on the podcast, Amy DuFault. A writer on sustainable textiles for 15 years, Amy has dedicated her next chapter to reconnecting with the roots of her home on Cape Cod. Amy brings us along from her career in various aspects of sustainability in fashion and textiles to her current focus on water quality. She has dedicated her next chapter to reconnecting with the roots of her home on Cape Cod and is now working as communications director at the Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center.  You will hear about Amy's work with growing natural dye plants in wastewater and innovative solutions for water sustainability. Finding her “why” was key to Amy’s journey as her drive to heal the earth is directly tied to her late father's environmental awareness, and a deep longing for the return of the environment she remembers as a child. Topics Discussed· Fibershed· The “Why” Behind Your Sustainability· Your Personal Toolkit & How to Use it to Change· Sustainable Fabrics and Clothing Practices· Determining Your Value System· Working with the Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Tech Center· The Fear Around Eco-conscious Businesses· The Umbrella of Sustainability· Where Our Clothing’s Color Comes From· Natural Dye Farmers· The Priceless Value of Waters· Sanitation Practices· Experiments for Optimal Flower Growing· NOFA: Northeast Organic Farming Association· Septic Tank Issues· Saltwater Intrusion· Exploring Wastewater Fertilization· Revitalizing Septic Systems and Destroyed Bodies of Water· The Cape Cod AquiFund· Pasteurized Urine· Restoring Your Home· Eco-grief for the Way the Environment Was· Government Support and Funding· Water Quality· Preserving Our Ground WaterEpisode Resources:· Listen to The Good Dirt’s 1st Episode with Amy DuFault· PROJECT: Wastewater’s Impacts On Natural Dye Plant Growth & Color· Botanical Colors· Feedback Friday Videos· Read “The Three Ages of Water: Prehistoric Past, Imperiled Present, and a Hope for the Future” by Peter Gleick· The Rich Earth Institute· Read "Everybody Poops!" by Justine Avery· Read "Everybody Pees!" by Justine AveryConnect with Amy DuFault:· Website: amydufault.com· Instagram: @amytropolis· Links: https://linktr.ee/amytropolis· Southeastern New England Fibershed━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌻 About Lady Farmer:· Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community· Visit Our Website· Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram· Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail!Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:· Wendy Gray Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy