The Good Dirt: Sustainability Explained

This episode was initially published on April 21, 2023 under the title The Urgent Need for Restorative GardeningInternationally acclaimed landscape designer, activist and bestselling author of The Garden Awakening and her newly released title We are the Ark, Mary Reynolds discusses her efforts to restore the earth through her global ARK campaign, (Acts of Restorative Kindness). She launched her career by achieving a gold medal for garden design at the Chelsea flower show in 2002, the story of which was made into a 2016 movie called “Dare to be Wild”. She later founded the global movement “We are the ARK”, an organization advocating for more wild spaces and to raise awareness of our current extinction event.Topics Discussed Mary's new book We Are the Ark: Returning Our Gardens to Their True Nature Through Acts of Restorative Kindness with illustrations by Ruth Evans Mary's story of the pivotal moment that changed her career How Mary reframes the concept of gardens The ARK concept How the idea of feeding the world is greenwashing, when we should support the world to feed itself. Floral designer Amber Tamm @ambertamm Doug Tallamy, founder of Home Grown National Park - a grassroots organization regenerating local biodiversity Native species vs non-native plants and how they affect local eco-systems The 100th monkey syndrome Shifting Baseline Syndrome/ Daniel Pauly  How has Mary's mission evolved from The Garden Awakening to We Are the Ark Mary's project in Westport, County Mayo The difference between a garden and an ark is intention How can people become less afraid of the wildness? Where does Mary find hope that we will be able to save the planet and ourselves?  Spreading the message of The ARK all over the world From What is to What If written by Rob Hopkins The book Silent Spring  written by Rachel Carson Connect with Mary: Website: We Are the Ark Instagram: wildmarymary 🌻 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 GrayOriginal music by John Kingsley. Our technical partner for this series is CitizenRacecar, Post-Production by Alex Brouwer and José Miguel Baez, Coordinated by Gabriela Montequin and Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network.Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered 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.

CEO of Broken Ground Kareen Erbe has dedicated herself to helping people in cold climates grow their own food so they can eat healthier, live more sustainably and be more self-reliant. She delves into permaculture and how it applies not only to growing food and helping the earth , but also creating community. Kareen helps her clients by designing integrated edible landscapes and encourages them in cultivating community alongside the cultivation of their gardens. She goes into her permaculture design principles for families, those in cold climates, and those who live in urban environments. You will also hear about integrating gardens into lawns, creating beneficial relationships between plants and people, and the benefits of including your neighbors to help with gardening tasks. This episode is about gardening, sustainability, building stronger, more self-sufficient communities and the wider ranging significance of permaculture principles.Topics Discussed· Low Waste Gardening· Growing Food in Cold Climates· Kareen’s Grandmother’s Diaries· Permaculture Hot Takes· Pollinator Gardens· Taking Before/After Photos· Kareen’s Most Impactful Books· Weeds & Welcoming Wildness· Raising Kids in Nature· Herbal Lawns· Quackgrass· Growing Zones· Montana Growing Seasons· Cultivating Lawns & Community· Permaculture in Urban Spaces· Embracing Diversity in Gardens· Hope and Regeneration in Agriculture· Adapting to Climate Challenges· Resources and Programs for Permaculture EnthusiastsEpisode Resources:· Listen to The Good Dirt “151. "Lawns into Meadows" with Author Owen Wormser on Regenerative Agriculture”· Listen to The Good Dirt “138. The Urgent Need for Restorative Gardening with Mary Reynolds”· Listen to The Good Dirt “163. Sailors for Sustainability Searching for Solutions: A Journey Around the World”· Listen to The Good Dirt “110. An Ecological Civilization for All with Andrew Schwartz”· Listen to The Good Dirt “156. Pathways Toward an Ecological Civilization with Phillip Clayton of EcoCiv”· Read Gorillas in the Mist by Dian Fossey· Read Jane Goodall’s Books· Read "Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture" by Toby Hemenway· Read "Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants" by Robin Wall Kimmerer· Read “Earth User's Guide to Teaching Permaculture” by Rosemary Morrow· Read "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle - Tenth Anniversary Edition: A Year of Food Life" by Barbara Kingsolver· Read "Nature's Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard" by Douglas W Tallamy”· Read "We Are the Ark: Returning Our Gardens to Their True Nature Through Acts of Restorative Kindness" by Mary ReynoldsConnect with Kareen Erbe:· Website: https://brokengroundpermaculture.com/· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brokengroundmt/· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/brokenground━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌻 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

Tune in to celebrate the many joys of June--the beautiful weather, carefree childhood memories, the miracle of fireflies and all the berries! Also, hear Mary's reflection on the summer solstice and all the tips for planting by the signs of the moon for the month.Read more about Slow Living Through the Seasons HEREhttps://ladyfarmer.substack.com/t/seasonal-livingPINE TREE GARDEN SEEDS Order their seeds today from superseeds.com and use our promo code: GOODDIRT2024 for 20% off your entire order!NEPTUNE'S HARVEST ORGANIC FERTILIZERS Use code GOODDIRT at checkout for 5% off your order for products from the ocean to set your plants in motion 🌊━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌻 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

On the other side of the interview this week, we're sharing the episode we did with Bailey Van Tassel of Garden Culture Podcast! We'll be back next week with another interview from The Good Dirt! ______________________________________________________________________________________Emma and Mary Kingsley are the mother-daughter duo behind Lady Farmer, a brand that began with a sustainable clothing line and now is a successful podcast (The Good Dirt) around slow and conscious living. Emma and Mary talk about each of their childhoods and how it informed their current path together. They chat about what moved them to do a Kickstarter campaign which led to where they are now, on a sustainable path and how they live within that ethos. This chat is a great peek into how it takes nothing other than a passion and interest to move into a life that you're inspired by and proud of. They share about plastic in our clothing, where they shop, and what we all can think about to start getting more intentional.Emma and Mary's Fave Books:Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall KimmererWe are the Ark by Mary ReynoldsLove, Nature, Magic by Maria RodaleFor more info on Bailey Van Tassel go to www.baileyvantassel.com and join her monthly gardening membership here: www.thekitchengardensociety.com

In this episode, Mary and Emma sit down with a longtime listener Nathalie Girod, a designer with a rich multicultural background, who shares her journey and experiences in slow and sustainable living. Nathalie discusses how her upbringing in a family with French and Bolivian roots has influenced her sustainable practices, her professional career in fashion design, and her commitment to living a life that minimizes environmental impact.Key Takeaways Cultural Influences on Sustainability: Nathalie talks about how growing up with French and Bolivian grandparents who valued resourcefulness and minimal waste deeply impacted her lifestyle choices. Sustainable Fashion: Nathalie shares insights from her career in fashion, emphasizing the importance of custom-made, slow fashion as opposed to mass-produced, fast fashion. Daily Sustainable Practices: Nathalie outlines her daily habits and choices that contribute to a sustainable lifestyle, from cooking seasonal food to making her own cleaning products. Independent Thinking: Embracing slow living requires courage and independent thinking, especially in a world driven by consumerism and convenience. Topics Discussed Differences in sustainable practices between Europe and the United States Nathalie's journey in the fashion industry and her focus on slow, custom-made fashion Practical sustainable living tips, including: Cooking seasonal and homemade food Making homemade cleaning products Using reusable and low-waste products The importance of independent thinking in adopting a sustainable lifestyle Resources Mentioned Karen Logan's Book: Clean House Clean Planet – A guide for making homemade cleaning products. Mary Reynolds' Wildlife Sanctuary: Nathalie mentions being inspired by Mary Reynolds to create a wildlife sanctuary. Sustainable Fashion Tips: Insights on slow fashion and custom-made clothing from Nathalie's experience. Connect with Nathalie: @isa.maisa on Instagram_______________________________________🌻 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

Osprey Orielle Lake is back in Part 2 of our conversation about women's roles in healing the land and the work for environmental justice. We discuss the myth of whiteness and hear her discuss how we can reconnect with nature by looking to the earth for our indigenous roots. Osprey discusses the work that WECAN is doing in lifting up Black and indigenous voices in the environmental space. She speaks on how harmful practices like fracking, fossil fuel extraction, and deforestation on indigenous lands and communities of color in the United States is a reflection of systemic racism. In this conversation, we come to a better understanding of how race and poverty are linked to climate injustices by drawing connections between the degradation of land and the targeting of marginalized communities.Topics Discussed· The Myth of Whiteness· Reconnecting to the Land· Addressing the Problems of the Land· Reconnecting Ancestral Roots & Practices· White Supremacy’s Stain on Environmentalism· Race & Identity· Disproportionate Impact on BIPOC communtities· Destroying Lands· The Desire of Community and Identity· The Emptiness of Wanting to Belong· Consumerism & Imbalance· Separation from the Earth· Dismantling Oppression· Centering Women· Practicing Mindfulness· The Joy of Rebuilding Our Connection to NatureEpisode Resources:· Listen to The Good Dirt “194. Empowering Women in Environmentalism with WECAN Founder Osprey Orielle Lake (Part 1)”· Read “The Story Is in Our Bones: How Worldviews and Climate Justice Can Remake a World in Crisis” by Osprey Orielle Lake· Listen to The Good Dirt “191. Paul Hawken on Carbon, Climate and Connection”Connect with Osprey Orielle Lake:· Website: http://www.ospreyoriellelake.info/OspreyOrielleLake/Home.html· Instagram @ospreyoriellelake: https://www.instagram.com/ospreyoriellelake/· WECAN International: https://www.wecaninternational.org/who-we-are━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌻 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

The earth is in so much pain right now — but how can we reconnect with our place in nature to help her? Osprey Orielle Lake, founder of WECAN (Women’s Earth & Climate Action Network, International, has just published “The Story Is in Our Bones: How Worldviews and Climate Justice Can Remake a World in Crisis”. In this conversation, she talks about the importance of women's leadership in climate solutions, detailing how gender inequality exacerbates climate vulnerability and how women's involvement is crucial for sustainable outcomes. Osprey's work emphasizes the need for a just transition to clean energy, touching on the detrimental effects of patriarchy and racism on the environment. She takes us through some of her successes as a leader advocating for systemic change to address root causes of environmental degradation.Topics Discussed· The Rights to Nature Movement· Founding of the Women's Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN)·· How Women Create Balance and Healing in Society· Balance and Harmony with Nature· Environmental Degradation· Climate Justice· Dismantling Systems of Oppression· Reciprocity with the Earth· How to Live in Balance· Environmental Laws & Justice System· Speaking Language, Memory, and a Storied Living Landscape· Healing Relationships· The Impact of Women-led Movements· Damage of the Patriarchy on Our Relationship to the Earth· Growing Up in the Countryside· Humanity’s Destructive Imprint on the World· Colonization· The Pain of TransformationEpisode Resources:· Read “The Story Is in Our Bones: How Worldviews and Climate Justice Can Remake a World in Crisis” by Osprey Orielle Lake· Listen to The Good Dirt “191. Paul Hawken on Carbon, Climate and Connection”Connect with Osprey Orielle Lake:· Website: http://www.ospreyoriellelake.info/OspreyOrielleLake/Home.html· Instagram @ospreyoriellelake: https://www.instagram.com/ospreyoriellelake/· WECAN International: https://www.wecaninternational.org/who-we-are━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌻 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

Join us for this special Mother's Day episode as mother and daughter team Mary and Emma share what it's like running a business and producing a weekly podcast together. They also have family news to share—both joyful and sad. You can read about Jeanne's beautiful life here.In the episode, they talk about the privilege and delight of working together, the division of labor and expertise, and the importance of setting boundaries. They also touch on the challenges and frustrations that come with running a business and the need to separate personal and work lives. Overall, they emphasize the joy and fulfillment they find in their collaboration. and how it has forced them to grow and work on communication skills.Mary and Emma are also taking this opportunity to announce that Emma is going to be a mom, and they discuss their plans for the podcast during Emma's maternity leave. They touch on the challenges and decisions involved in becoming a parent and the consumer pressures that can come at this time. They emphasize the importance of removing judgment from parenting choices and the need for support and understanding in navigating the entrance to parenthood.In bringing the discussion to a close, Mary and Emma remind us that Mother's Day can be a difficult day for some people, and they encourage others to acknowledge their own feelings and associations around this time and to practice self care where it's needed. They also acknowledge Mother Earth as the mother of all, and as the ultimate source of life and sustenance.Topics Discussed:• In an intro, Mary announces the passing of her mother on May 1st after the recording of this episode.• Working with family can be a privilege and a delight, bringing a unique dynamic to the business.• Setting clear roles and boundaries can help maintain a healthy working relationship.• Separating personal and work lives is important for maintaining balance and avoiding burnout.• Challenges and frustrations are a normal part of running a business, but finding joy and fulfillment in the work can make it all worthwhile.• Working with family can be a privilege and provide flexibility, but it also requires growth and communication skills.• Becoming a parent involves making challenging decisions and facing pressure and guilt, but it's important to remove shame and judgment from parenting choices.• Mother's Day can be a difficult day for some people, and it's important to offer support and understanding.• Let's celebrate Mother Earth on Mother's Day, as the ultimate source of life and sustenance🌻 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

 Welcome to May, the month that celebrates moms and flowers, wraps up the school year, launches graduates of all ages and stages, and inaugurates summer with its exit. May 1st, or May Day is the second cross-quarter day of the year, traditionally known as Beltane and celebrated as a time of fertility and growth. But beyond the cultural observances and celebrations, what is May? In this episode, Mary talks about low waste alternatives in a season of high consumption, bee swarm season, and gardening by the signs of the moon. She also talks about how all the celebrations of May can be complicated, stressful and sad for some people, how to embrace slow living through this busy time as a means of self care, and how to find your May, the one that brings you the joy of flowers and warmer days. Don't miss the recipe for strawberry kefir, a delicious probiotic treat. And don't forget to order your seeds and organic fertilizers using the discount codes below!Read more about Slow Living Through the Seasons HEREhttps://ladyfarmer.substack.com/t/seasonal-livingPINE TREE GARDEN SEEDS Order their seeds today from superseeds.com and use our promo code: GOODDIRT2024 for 20% off your entire order!NEPTUNE'S HARVEST ORGANIC FERTILIZERS Use code GOODDIRT at checkout for 5% off your order for products from the ocean to set your plants in motion 🌊━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌻 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

How do we nurture our plants and gardens with the best, most sustainable fertilizer around? One family’s quest for sustainability in their business led to the creation of Neptune’s Harvest, a full line of organic fertilizers that utilizes a by- product of the seafood industry. On today’s episode, we spoke with with Ann Molloy from this 5th generation family-run company in Gloucester, MA. We learn about the rich heritage of Gloucester in the fishing industry and how Neptune’s Harvest evolved from the family’s seafood business, pioneering a variety of organic fertilizers so that all parts of the harvested fish are used and not disposed of as waste. We also learn about Ann's personal journey from an art student who traveled with the Grateful Dead, to her pivotal role in marketing and sales at Neptune's Harvest. If you’re wondering what is so special about fish fertilizer, Ann shares all of the benefits that we can expect from Neptune’s Harvest and her favorite products. Get ready to make some good dirt!Topics Discussed:· The Grateful Dead· From Art Major to Sales and Marketing· Working in a Family Business & Passing it to the Next Generation· Chitin· Growing Squash Plants· Seed Starting and Sustainable Gardening· Organic Fertilizers· Ann’s Journey & The Fascinating History of Neptune's Harvest· The Benefits of Fish Fertilizer· Gardening Tips· Using Fish Waste· The Environmental Impact of Fish Waste Disposal· Soil Enhancers· Liquid Humate· Italian Heritage· Nutrients in Soil & Food· Combatting Garden Pests with Natural Solutions· The Importance of Sustainable and Organic Gardening· Addressing Climate Change and Its Effects on Fishing· Celebrating Gloucester's Rich Fishing History· Understanding Organic Labels and CertificationEpisode Resources:· April Slow Living Episode· Tomato & Vegetable Fertilizer· Liquid Crab & Lobster Fertilizer· Hydrolyzed Fish FertilizerConnect with Ann Malloy:· Website: https://www.neptunesharvest.com· Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-molloy-949a1a43/· Email: Ann@NeptunesHarvest.com· Neptune’s Harvest YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/neptunesharvest· Neptune’s Harvest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neptunesharvest/· Neptune’s Harvest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neptunesharvest/· Glouchester SALT: https://www.gloucestersalt.org━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌻 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