Growers Daily

My guest is Jerry Toth of To'AK Chocolate, a luxury chocolate brand. Jerry studied economics at Cornell University and was a Hansard scholar at the London School of Economics. After very briefly working as an investment banker, he switched gears and relocated to South America in his 20s and then nomadically roamed the continent for several years, working as a foreign correspondent first for Adbusters magazine and taking other odd jobs. But during that time, he witnessed an era of unrestrained economic growth, an ecological decline in Latin America, and he ultimately set out on a mission to demonstrate what sustainable economic development can look like in real life. In 2007, Jerry laid roots in the Pacific Forest of Ecuador, where he co-founded a rainforest conservation organization called TMA, and created multiple rainforest preserves, became a food forest farmer, resurrected an ancient cacao variety from the brink of extinction, and launched this luxury chocolate company called To'AK, and is now building a regenerative cacao growers association across a 100 ,000 acre conservation corridor. Jerry's work has been featured in hundreds of media outlets across six continents, including National Geographic, Forbes, Vice, Smithsonian Magazine and Modern Farmer, among others... Folks who make the show possible... Farmhand is the only all-in-one virtual assistant built by and for farmers. Sign up for a free trial with the link in the show notes, because NOW is the best time to dial in those systems for the next growing season. ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) will offer the Business of Farming Conference on Saturday, February 22, in Asheville, North Carolina. Find out more at asapconnections.org. Since 1972 Ohio earth food has been the go-to source for soil testing, consulting, fertilizers, seed starting soils, foliar sprays and disease and insect controls. Visit them at ohioearthfood.com. ... and, as always, our work is powered by the individual growers who support us every month over at patreon.com/notillgrowers. You can pick up a copy of The Living Soil Handbook if you don't have one already, as well as a No-Till Growers hat or other merch, check out our YouTube channel, and you can ask you questions or share your insights into ecological market gardening on our free growers forum at notillgrowers.community.chat

Welcome to episode 70 of Growers Daily! We cover: Feedback Friday + Your soil blocking questions answered + a human-powered compost spreader. Links from this episode: Landzie tools: https://landzie.com Support our work (👊) at https://www.notillgrowers.com/support or https://www.Patreon.com/notillgrowers Show Sponsors: Harnois Greenhouses: https://www.harnois.com/en/ and Peaceful Heritage Nursery: https://peacefulheritage.com CODE: NOTILL MY BOOK! The Living Soil Handbook 📕 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook French copy of The Living Soil Handbook: https://amzn.to/4h2bYot Italian Copy https://www.terranuovalibri.it/libro/dettaglio/jesse-frost/il-manuale-del-suolo-vivente-9788866819967-236828.html German Copy: https://www.oekom.de/buch/das-grosse-boden-handbuch-9783987261374 Other stuff and ways to support stuff like this 👇 5% off Neptune's Harvest Fish Fertilizers and More (offer Code: NOTILL) 👀: https://store.turbify.com/cgi-bin/clink?yhst-20803342241356+tt4W2F+shop.html+NOTILL🚨 ORDER Dan Brisebois' Seed Book! 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook The Living Soil Handbook 📕 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook Hats 🧢 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook Forum 💬 👉 https://notillgrowers.community.chat Music 🎵 👉 via www.empidemicsound.com 👕 MERCH 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook Support our work (👊) at www.notillgrowers.com/support or www.Patreon.com/notillgrowers

Welcome to episode 69 of Growers Daily! We cover: Growing onions from seed, do you need to trim onions before planting, and a passive potting mix? Maybe! Links from this episode: Trimming onions study: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/8213/9e1802c8f5b57f434f5b0a751a71cbbffdcd.pdf reduced fertilizer and pesticide applications and onions study https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/6/1292 Support our work (👊) at https://www.notillgrowers.com/support or https://www.Patreon.com/notillgrowers Show Sponsors: Harnois Greenhouses: https://www.harnois.com/en/ and Peaceful Heritage Nursery: https://peacefulheritage.com CODE: NOTILL MY BOOK! The Living Soil Handbook 📕 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook French copy of The Living Soil Handbook: https://amzn.to/4h2bYot Italian Copy https://www.terranuovalibri.it/libro/dettaglio/jesse-frost/il-manuale-del-suolo-vivente-9788866819967-236828.html German Copy: https://www.oekom.de/buch/das-grosse-boden-handbuch-9783987261374 Other stuff and ways to support stuff like this 👇 5% off Neptune's Harvest Fish Fertilizers and More (offer Code: NOTILL) 👀: https://store.turbify.com/cgi-bin/clink?yhst-20803342241356+tt4W2F+shop.html+NOTILL🚨 ORDER Dan Brisebois' Seed Book! 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook The Living Soil Handbook 📕 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook Hats 🧢 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook Forum 💬 👉 https://notillgrowers.community.chat Music 🎵 👉 via www.empidemicsound.com 👕 MERCH 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook Support our work (👊) at www.notillgrowers.com/support or www.Patreon.com/notillgrowers

Hey Compost Lovers, I just booked my flights to Phoenix for USCC Compost Conference 2025. Join me, January 27th to 30th for compost enthusiasts from all over the globe unite to celebrate all things soil, sustainability, and innovation. What's in store? Workshops galore. Dive into fresh ideas, techniques, and discussions that'll make your Compost games stronger. The trade show. I'll be hanging at booth 501 checking out Viably's latest Komptech innovations and so much more. The demo day on the last day, get ready to watch those big machines do their thing. Full flex mode guaranteed. And my favorite part? Connections. Meeting you. Whether you're a composter, researcher, or equipment guru, this is where our global soil-loving squad comes together. Let's share. Last year was incredible. Check out the following stories from past attendees...

Welcome to episode 68 of Growers Daily! We cover: why I'm Dropping Organic certification and bailing on the farmers market and also, thoughts on recycling waste water from washing vegetables. Links from this episode: Sanidate label: https://cdn.commercev3.net/cdn.arbico-organics.com/downloads/sanidate-5_sds_20200729.pdf Sage Hill Ranch Video: https://youtu.be/ipNv8yo8uoY Foop Video: https://youtu.be/yqfExLFPixY Support our work (👊) at https://www.notillgrowers.com/support or https://www.Patreon.com/notillgrowers Show Sponsors: Harnois Greenhouses: https://www.harnois.com/en/ and Peaceful Heritage Nursery: https://peacefulheritage.com CODE: NOTILL MY BOOK! The Living Soil Handbook 📕 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook French copy of The Living Soil Handbook: https://amzn.to/4h2bYot Italian Copy https://www.terranuovalibri.it/libro/dettaglio/jesse-frost/il-manuale-del-suolo-vivente-9788866819967-236828.html German Copy: https://www.oekom.de/buch/das-grosse-boden-handbuch-9783987261374 Other stuff and ways to support stuff like this 👇 5% off Neptune's Harvest Fish Fertilizers and More (offer Code: NOTILL) 👀: https://store.turbify.com/cgi-bin/clink?yhst-20803342241356+tt4W2F+shop.html+NOTILL🚨 ORDER Dan Brisebois' Seed Book! 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook The Living Soil Handbook 📕 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook Hats 🧢 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook Forum 💬 👉 https://notillgrowers.community.chat Music 🎵 👉 via www.empidemicsound.com 👕 MERCH 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook Support our work (👊) at www.notillgrowers.com/support or www.Patreon.com/notillgrowers

Welcome to episode 67 of Growers Daily! We cover: Soil Blocks Vs The World + Our Lost Relationship with Fire + can you grow popcorn and sweet corn together Links from this episode: Swiftblocker: https://www.swiftblocker.com Winstrips: https://neversinktools.com/collections/winstrip-trays All About the Garden cell trays: https://allaboutthegarden.com/collections/long-lasting-seed-trays Book: An Idigenous Poeple's History of the United States: https://amzn.to/4hcv36P Paperpot vid : https://youtu.be/R53jNXK2-qw NYtimes Article about US Forest Service member arrest: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/28/us/oregon-prescribed-burn-boss-arrested.html New Mexico Fire: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/21/us/new-mexico-wildfire-forest-service.html Support our work (👊) at https://www.notillgrowers.com/support or https://www.Patreon.com/notillgrowers Show Sponsors: Harnois Greenhouses: https://www.harnois.com/en/ and Peaceful Heritage Nursery: https://peacefulheritage.com CODE: NOTILL MY BOOK! The Living Soil Handbook 📕 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook French copy of The Living Soil Handbook: https://amzn.to/4h2bYot Italian Copy https://www.terranuovalibri.it/libro/dettaglio/jesse-frost/il-manuale-del-suolo-vivente-9788866819967-236828.html German Copy: https://www.oekom.de/buch/das-grosse-boden-handbuch-9783987261374 Other stuff and ways to support stuff like this 👇 5% off Neptune's Harvest Fish Fertilizers and More (offer Code: NOTILL) 👀: https://store.turbify.com/cgi-bin/clink?yhst-20803342241356+tt4W2F+shop.html+NOTILL🚨 ORDER Dan Brisebois' Seed Book! 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook The Living Soil Handbook 📕 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook Hats 🧢 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook Forum 💬 👉 https://notillgrowers.community.chat Music 🎵 👉 via www.empidemicsound.com 👕 MERCH 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook Support our work (👊) at www.notillgrowers.com/support or www.Patreon.com/notillgrowers

Welcome to episode 66 of Growers Daily! We cover: How Farming is Already Futuristic, how much every tray of seedlings is worth, What the next few months look like on the farm. Links from this episode: Support our work (👊) at https://www.notillgrowers.com/support or https://www.Patreon.com/notillgrowers Show Sponsors: Harnois Greenhouses: https://www.harnois.com/en/ and Peaceful Heritage Nursery: https://peacefulheritage.com CODE: NOTILL MY BOOK! The Living Soil Handbook 📕 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook French copy of The Living Soil Handbook: https://amzn.to/4h2bYot Italian Copy https://www.terranuovalibri.it/libro/dettaglio/jesse-frost/il-manuale-del-suolo-vivente-9788866819967-236828.html German Copy: https://www.oekom.de/buch/das-grosse-boden-handbuch-9783987261374 Other stuff and ways to support stuff like this 👇 5% off Neptune's Harvest Fish Fertilizers and More (offer Code: NOTILL) 👀: https://store.turbify.com/cgi-bin/clink?yhst-20803342241356+tt4W2F+shop.html+NOTILL🚨 ORDER Dan Brisebois' Seed Book! 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook The Living Soil Handbook 📕 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook Hats 🧢 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook Forum 💬 👉 https://notillgrowers.community.chat Music 🎵 👉 via www.empidemicsound.com 👕 MERCH 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook Support our work (👊) at www.notillgrowers.com/support or www.Patreon.com/notillgrowers

On today's show, Alex Ball of Old City Acres sits down -again- with Jordan Schiebel of Middle Way Farm to discuss his newest project, Grinnell Farm to Table located in Grinnell, Iowa. We dig deep on managing a multi-farm food hub, Justins's sales in the farm and diversifying your food business to be more resilient. Jordan is a wealth of knowledge and someone I've really enjoyed watching as he's evolved his food business over the last couple of years. Folks who make the show possible... Farmhand is the only all-in-one virtual assistant built by and for farmers. Sign up for a free trial with the link in the show notes, because NOW is the best time to dial in those systems for the next growing season. ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) will offer the Business of Farming Conference on Saturday, February 22, in Asheville, North Carolina. Find out more at asapconnections.org. Since 1972 Ohio earth food has been the go-to source for soil testing, consulting, fertilizers, seed starting soils, foliar sprays and disease and insect controls. Visit them at ohioearthfood.com. ... and, as always, our work is powered by the individual growers who support us every month over at patreon.com/notillgrowers. You can pick up a copy of The Living Soil Handbook if you don't have one already, as well as a No-Till Growers hat or other merch, check out our YouTube channel, and you can ask you questions or share your insights into ecological market gardening on our free growers forum at notillgrowers.community.chat

Welcome to episode 65 of Growers Daily! We cover: Feedback Friday, How to keep bed width, and what to plant and what to transplant Links from this episode: Soil test variation research: https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/saj2.20280 Soil test variations research 2: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00103624.2019.1709488 Ten Mothers Bed Flip Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdH3rhiGIl8&t=248s Why rates of tobacco use have declined so dramatically https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3894634/#:~:text=Improved%20understanding%20of%20the%20health,report%20on%20smoking%20and%20health. Support our work (👊) at https://www.notillgrowers.com/support or https://www.Patreon.com/notillgrowers Show Sponsors: Harnois Greenhouses: https://www.harnois.com/en/ and Peaceful Heritage Nursery: https://peacefulheritage.com CODE: NOTILL MY BOOK! The Living Soil Handbook 📕 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook French copy of The Living Soil Handbook: https://amzn.to/4h2bYot Italian Copy https://www.terranuovalibri.it/libro/dettaglio/jesse-frost/il-manuale-del-suolo-vivente-9788866819967-236828.html German Copy: https://www.oekom.de/buch/das-grosse-boden-handbuch-9783987261374 Other stuff and ways to support stuff like this 👇 5% off Neptune's Harvest Fish Fertilizers and More (offer Code: NOTILL) 👀: https://store.turbify.com/cgi-bin/clink?yhst-20803342241356+tt4W2F+shop.html+NOTILL🚨 ORDER Dan Brisebois' Seed Book! 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook The Living Soil Handbook 📕 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook Hats 🧢 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook Forum 💬 👉 https://notillgrowers.community.chat Music 🎵 👉 via www.empidemicsound.com 👕 MERCH 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook Support our work (👊) at www.notillgrowers.com/support or www.Patreon.com/notillgrowers

Welcome to episode 64 of Growers Daily! We cover: Solar Panels on Farms + The Market Garden in The Dead of Winter, bird flu, cancer warnings on alcohol, LA fires, Links from this episode: The CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html Innovative Solar Practices Integrated with Rural Economies and Ecosystems: https://openei.org/wiki/InSPIRE Jack's Solar Garden https://www.instagram.com/jackssolargarden/ A good Agrivoltaics summary: https://www.nrdc.org/stories/made-shade-promise-farming-solar-panels INspire: https://openei.org/wiki/InSPIRE/ASTRO Agrivoltaic Raspberry farm in the netherlands : https://www.baywa.com/en/about/electricity-heating-mobility/europes-largest-fruitvoltaic-project#:~:text=A%20Roof%20for%20Raspberries%3A%20How,be%20enough%20for%202%2C810%20households. German cost comparison: https://www.pv-magazine.com/2021/03/26/cost-comparison-between-agrivoltaics-and-ground-mounted-pv/ Support our work (👊) at https://www.notillgrowers.com/support or https://www.Patreon.com/notillgrowers Show Sponsors: Harnois Greenhouses: https://www.harnois.com/en/ and Peaceful Heritage Nursery: https://peacefulheritage.com CODE: NOTILL MY BOOK! The Living Soil Handbook 📕 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook French copy of The Living Soil Handbook: https://amzn.to/4h2bYot Italian Copy https://www.terranuovalibri.it/libro/dettaglio/jesse-frost/il-manuale-del-suolo-vivente-9788866819967-236828.html German Copy: https://www.oekom.de/buch/das-grosse-boden-handbuch-9783987261374 Other stuff and ways to support stuff like this 👇 5% off Neptune's Harvest Fish Fertilizers and More (offer Code: NOTILL) 👀: https://store.turbify.com/cgi-bin/clink?yhst-20803342241356+tt4W2F+shop.html+NOTILL🚨 ORDER Dan Brisebois' Seed Book! 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook The Living Soil Handbook 📕 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook Hats 🧢 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook Forum 💬 👉 https://notillgrowers.community.chat Music 🎵 👉 via www.empidemicsound.com 👕 MERCH 👉 https://www.notillgrowers.com/livingsoilhandbook Support our work (👊) at www.notillgrowers.com/support or www.Patreon.com/notillgrowers