The Good Dirt: Sustainability Explained

In this episode of The Good Dirt Podcast, Mary & Emma discuss Fashion Revolution Week and its significance, referencing the Rana Plaza disaster as a catalyst for the movement.The episode features Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, who discusses the impact of fast fashion on the environment, her advocacy for slow fashion, and the creation of the Congressional Slow Fashion Caucus. Chellie delves into her personal journey from local government to Congress, highlighting her efforts in sustainable and organic farming. The conversation explores bipartisan efforts to address environmental issues, the importance of soil health, and Pingree’s ongoing initiatives to promote sustainable practices in fashion and agriculture.00:00 Introduction to Fashion Waste01:30 Welcome to the Good Dirt Podcast01:35 Fashion Revolution Week02:33 Lady Farmer's Journey03:49 Introducing Shelly Pingree06:40 Shelly Pingree’s Background15:08 The Slow Fashion Movement22:03 The Role of Congressional Caucuses28:30 Bipartisanship in Sustainable Policies34:05 Shelly Pingree’s Farm and Regenerative Practices37:46 Closing Remarks and Contact InformationFoxfireThe Good Life by Helen and Scott NearingDC Climate Week-April 28th-May 2nd, 2025━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌻 About Lady Farmer:Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & CommunityVisit Our WebsiteFollow @weareladyfarmer on InstagramEmail 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 Mary & Emma KingsleyThe Good Dirt podcast is proudly part of the Connectd Podcasts network. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:• Wendy GrayAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This episode was originally published on April 23, 2021For updates on Elizabeth Cline's advocacy and policy work since this episode was recorded, go to her website at www.elizabethclinebooks.comOur guest this week is Elizabeth Cline, a New York-based author, journalist, and expert on consumer culture, fast fashion, sustainability and labor rights in the apparel industry. She is the author of Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion, which was published in 2012, and which laid the foundation for the modern global ethical and sustainable fashion movement. Her most recent book, The Conscious Closet, published in 2019, describes how consumers can transform the apparel industry and change the world for the better by making more informed decisions about what they wear every day. In this episode, Elizabeth inspires slow fashion enthusiasts to move beyond the response of merely modifying their purchasing decisions, to come together with other individuals in the wider community to impact policy change through social activism. Elizabeth discusses campaigns such as Pay Up Fashion for direct relief for garment workers that have not been paid by American companies during the pandemic, and the Garment Workers Protection Act that will provide minimum wage for garment workers in California. Elizabeth encourages consumers to embrace their civic right in bringing the malpractices and inequities of the fashion industry to light, holding brands accountable for their unethical practices and therefore affecting real change in this broken system.1:30 - It’s Fashion Revolution week!10:00 - Elizabeth introduces herself11:00 - Has there been much change in the last two decades in the fashion industry?20:00 - Why are corporations not paying their factories?28:00 - The problems in your own closet38:00 - The PayUp Campaign 42:00 - What does The Good Dirt mean to you?50:00 - How Farmers in West Texas inspired ElizabethThings Mentioned: Fashion Revolution  Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion by Elizabeth Cline The Conscious Closet by Elizabeth Cline Lady Farmer Essential Collection Line and Tow Line at Lady Farmer Grace Brian The Twilight of the Ethical Consumer article PayUp Fashion SB 62 - The Garment Worker Protection Act Elizabeth Cline Instagram PayUp Fashion Instagram Greenwashing article for Patagonia Another Tomorrow The ALMANAC 🌻 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

Shannon Hayes, Chef and CEO of Sap Bush Hollow Farm and author of 'Radical Homemakers', joins the conversation to redefine wealth beyond monetary measures. She discusses her journey in slow living and holistic farming, emphasizing intentionality in life choices. Shannon’s insights reveal the rich value of non-monetary income, community connections, and cultivating meaningful experiences. The discussion also touches on the impact of public perception and the evolution of personal authenticity, urging listeners to embrace a life-serving economy.

This episode was originally aired March 25, 2022Join this "fruitful" and enlightening conversation with tree crops specialist, horticultural historian and agroforestry practitioner Eliza Greenman as she explains the evolution of the apple, horticultural tree crop history and shares her love for fruit exploring. A creator of niche products, Eliza is passionate owner of charcuterie company, HogTree, and is working towards the goal of creating orchard systems that function symbiotically with livestock to replace costly livestock feed. After a time pruning apple trees on an island off the coast of Maine, paired with her time abroad in Germany in apprenticeship with an apple grower and a formative research trip to Asia, the homeland of fruits and nuts, Eliza found her calling and became single- mindedly obsessed with apples. Now she is an advocate for natural wildlife practices and indigenous systems, stressing the importance of eating in season and shying away from global commodities. The conversation includes various types of fruit and nut trees such as pawpaws, mulberry trees, hickory walnuts, acorns, autumn olive and the infamous Bradford Pear, exploring all the ways these beautiful gifts can be nurtured and enjoyed. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform.Topics Covered: Agroforestry  Agroecology Permaculture  Food Forests  Perennials  Fruit and Nut Trees  Bradford Pear  Red Delicious  Fire Blight  Heart Rot  Pollarding Autumn Olive Silvopasture agroforestry  Resources Mentioned:  US Apple - Lobbying  Back River Market  “Of New York” Series - Catalog of Fruit Varieties  The National Soil Fertility League  North American Fruit Explorers - NAFEX  John Bunker, Fedco Trees Francis Fenton  Silvopasture is the deliberate integration of trees and grazing livestock operations on the same land. These systems are intensively managed for both forest products and forage, providing both short- and long-term income sources.  Source: https://www.fs.usda.gov/nac/practices/silvopasture.php  Guest Info Connect with Eliza at elizaapples.com  HogTree charcuterie company  Fruit and Fodder  Instagram @elizaapples  🌻 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. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:• Wendy Gray Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode of The Good Dirt Podcast, Mary & Emma discuss the common struggles of clutter and its impact on daily life with special guest Dana K. White, author of 'Decluttering at the Speed of Life.' Dana shares her unique five-step decluttering method tailored for creative minds who often find themselves overwhelmed by clutter. She emphasizes the importance of understanding one's personal clutter threshold, the distinction between organizing and decluttering, and the mental freedom gained from consistent decluttering habits. Dana also discusses the emotional challenges tied to sentimentality and inherited items, offering practical, guilt-free strategies for managing household clutter. Tune in to learn actionable steps for creating a more functional and joyful living space.00:00 Introduction to Creativity and Clutter01:29 Excitement for Today's Episode02:06 The Impact of Clutter on Life05:04 Introducing Dana White06:12 Dana's Journey to Decluttering12:26 The No Mess Decluttering Process17:59 Emotional Challenges of Decluttering26:48 Finding Your Clutter Threshold30:53 Sustainable Decluttering Practices35:08 Maintaining a Functional Home35:27 The Five-Minute Pickup Strategy36:06 Understanding Clutter Thresholds37:12 Effective Decluttering Techniques38:14 Dealing with Sentimental Items41:25 The Container Concept51:16 Sustainability and Slow Living58:47 Final Thoughts and Reflections━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌻 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 was originally aired April 26, 2024 In this conversation with best selling author and activist Paul Hawken, we discuss the reframing of our relationship with nature by moving away from the concept of "othering" ourselves, and more towards the integration of our interconnectedness. Paul speaks of the cultural disconnect, the role of language in shaping our perception of the environment, and how crucial it is to engage directly with the natural world. Hawken's vast experience, including starting the first natural food company (Erewhon) in the U.S. and working with Martin Luther King Jr., as well as his involvement in founding Regeneration and NEXUS, are all a result of a lifetime of pursuing solutions to our climate crisis. He shares how he views carbon and climate change through a lens of interconnectedness and flow rather than as isolated problems. He also talks about his upcoming book, 'Carbon, the Book of Life,' the significance of soil regeneration, societal shifts and the connection between joy and sustainability as well as the power of individual and community action in the face of environmental challenges.🌿 This episode is sponsored by Neptune’s Harvest Organic Fertilizer. Use code GOODDIRT at checkout for 5% off your order for products from the ocean to set your plants in motion 🌊Topics Discussed· Opening Reflections: Embracing Nature and Conversations on Disconnection· Insights from Paul Hawken: Bridging the Gap Between Humanity and Nature· Organic Food Pioneer· Finding Your Environmental Voice· Exploring the Language of Nature and Indigenous Wisdom· The Power of Language in Healing Our Relationship with the Planet· Redefining Success and the Essence of Soil· The Transformation of Soil and Agriculture· Ultra Processed Food· Soil's Organism and Its Impact on Plant Health· The Haber-Bosch Process· Exploring Soil Acoustics and Its Significance· The Power of Community and Individual Action· Reconnecting with Nature Outside of the Internet· Sensationalism in Media· Indigenous Voices & Decolonizing Our Perspectives· Innovative Solutions for a Sustainable Future· Joy and Sustainability· Carbon & The Myth of Carbon Neutral· Empowering Actions Through Nexus and Regeneration.orgEpisode Resources:· Listen to The Good Dirt Podcast “Reimagining Our Place in the Landscape: Eco-Spirituality and Rewilding with Mary DeJong”· Listen to The Good Dirt Podcast “The Urgent Need for Restorative Gardening with Mary Reynolds”· Read “Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation” by Paul Hawken· Read “Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming” by Paul Hawken· Read The Guardian’s Article “Vegetables are losing their nutrients. Can the decline be reversed?”· Read “Ultra-Processed People: The Science Behind Food That Isn't Food” by Chris Van Tulleken· InventWoodConnect with Paul Hawken:· Website: https://paulhawken.com/· Climate One Website: https://www.climateone.org/people/paul-hawken· Project Regeneration Website: https://regeneration.org/about/paul-hawken· Instagram @paulhawken: https://www.instagram.com/paulhawken/· Paul’s Newsletter: https://regeneration.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=ebb591cd0ef4ad186dcf2cd3f&id=8f12b90f3e· Nexus: https://regeneration.org/nexus━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌻 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 episode of the Good Dirt Podcast, hosts Emma and Mary return from winter break with a special interview featuring repeat guest Paul Hawken, the acclaimed environmentalist, author, and activist. They discuss Hawken's new book, 'Carbon, the Book of Life,' which explores the multifaceted role of carbon in our universe, challenging the prevailing view of carbon as merely a climatic culprit. Hawken shares his profound insights on the interconnectedness of all life and how shifting our perception of carbon can foster a deeper understanding of our relationship with where we live. Key themes include the limitations of current climate messaging, the emotional and intellectual journey of understanding carbon, and the need for a holistic approach to resolving environmental crises.📖 Preorder Carbon:The Book of Life → Click here (Available in the U.S. on March 18, 2025)00:00 Introduction to Carbon and Climate Messaging01:50 Welcome Back to Good Dirt Podcast03:56 Introducing Paul Hawken and His New Book06:29 Paul Hawken on the Inspiration Behind His Work07:37 The Role of Carbon in Climate Change12:48 Challenges in Climate Messaging17:21 The Interconnectedness of Life and Carbon24:06 Stories of Connection in the Natural World29:29 Elephant Mourning Rituals29:45 The Intelligence of Animals30:20 Understanding Our Place in the World31:41 The Interconnectedness of Trees33:33 Indigenous Knowledge and Environmental Awareness35:59 The Role of Science in Rediscovering Nature46:35 AI and Environmental Impact54:01 The Importance of Grief and Heartbreak01:00:48 Final Thoughts and ReflectionsBooks/ArticlesBill McKibben/ Global Warming's Terrifying New MathLawrence Anthony/ The Elephant WhispererFrans De Waal/ Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? Karen Bakker/ The Sounds of LifeZoe Schlanger/ The LIght EatersSuzanne Simard/ Finding the Mother TreeDara McAnulty/ Diary of a Young NaturalistEd Conway/ Material World 📖 Preorder Carbon: The Book of Life → Click here (Available in the U.S. on March 18, 2025)🌎 Connect with Paul:🔗 Website: paulhawken.com📘 Facebook | 📷 Instagram | 💼 LinkedIn | 🐦 Twitter━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌻 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. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:• Wendy Gray Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mary & Emma are on a brief hiatus and plan to return next spring. Please enjoy this episode that was originally aired on March 3rd, 2023This week we are talking to writer, creator and self proclaimed life-long learner, Hillarie Maddox, founder of Black Girl, Country Living. Hillarie preaches the idea that slow living in a lifestyle anyone can live, and focuses her encouragement specifically on the BIPOC community. She climbed the big tech corporate ladder, then ditched the city for slow living and finding her love of nature, and she found herself in the process.Topics discussed How Hillarie and her family went from city to rural living What was the new way of being that Hillarie discovered? When you live in an urban environment, many things are made "invisible" A feeling of disconnection might lead to excess consumerism Seeking a slower and more sustainable lifestyle is like peeling an onion How a vision board helped Hillarie and her husband make the shift The shift to slow living does not always mean a move to the country Hillarie speaks to her intention and mission on the land, beginning with gardening Hillarie's gardening experience and desire to share the knowledge Rewilding workshops launching next year, helping particularly bipoc people develop a relationship with nature Hillarie talks about the slow living movement and what that means for people of color  The value of mentors and community in this lifestyle Hillarie's family connection to the original Homesteading Act The changes of agriculture in America in the last century Wendall Berry, The Unsettling of America Hillarie explains what "rewilding" means to her The indigenous people of the region where Hillarie now lives The biggest challenges and rewards of this lifestyle shift for Hillarie's family Connect with Hillarie Maddox Website: Black Girl Country Living Instagram About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com Original 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 as 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. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mary & Emma are on a brief hiatus and plan to return next spring. Please enjoy this episode that was originally aired on 07/22/22.What does it mean for humans to live sustainably on the earth? Andrew Schwartz, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of The Institute for Ecological Civilization, a non-profit promoting long-term solutions for the wellbeing of people and the planet, helps us pull apart that question. Andrew is also the Executive Director of the Center for Process Studies and Assistant Professor of Process and Comparative Theology at Claremont School of Theology. In this conversation, we’re talking about fundamental shifts in many of our most basic assumptions about our relationship with each other and the environment, and the role each of us plays in the way forward towards a worldwide, life-supporting community.  Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, Youtube, or on your favorite podcast platform.Topics Covered: How Andrew came to his interest in ecology through religion How The Institute for Ecological Civilization came into being Explanation of The Institute for Ecological Civilization and its mission The Centrality of the Human Experience Genesis as a directive for the human role in the web of creation Deep Ecology Are we fighting for human survival or earth's survival? EcoCiv partners and programs Where are the solutions? Does change happen from within the system, outside the system or from the top down? Who is getting it right? Who do we support? Resources Mentioned:  Rose of Sharon Sacred Harp Hymn 254 Don Shiva David Corton Jeremy Lent Ishmael by Daniel Quinn Aspen Institute Philip Clayton John Cobb What is Ecological Civilization by Andrew Schwartz and Philip Clayton Claremont School of Theology Willamette University Water for South Sudan Wellbeing Economy Alliance Connect with Andrew and the Institute for Ecological Civilization: EcoCiv website: https://ecociv.org/ On Instagram @ecociv_ Listen to the EcoCiv Podcast 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 Support your Good Dirt at home with BIOS Nutrients! Listeners of The Good Dirt podcast can enjoy 15% off BIOS Nutrients organic, natural fertilizers using the code LADYFARMER15 at checkout.Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as 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. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mary & Emma are on a brief hiatus and plan to return next spring. Please enjoy this episode that was originally aired in June, 2023Emma and Mary are back from Emma's wedding, and they are spreading the joy with The Good Dirt. This episode features Maureen "Mo" Moutoux of Moutoux Orchards in Purcellville, VA. Mo has a Masters Degree in Anthropology, and farms with her husband Rob Moutoux, a 3rd generation farmer at Moutoux Orchards. They currently live on the family farmland with their two children, continuing the over 50 year legacy of the Moutoux family. In 2011, they opened their first CSA program, growing vegetables for dozens of family members (including Mary's household), and it has continued to grow each year. Their mission is to feed wholesome and nutrient-dense farm food to their community, because good food comes from good dirt. Mo shares her journey to becoming a farmer and reclaiming food from field to kitchen. She also discusses what a CSA is, how it has evolved over the years to reduce waste while providing a living wage for her family and team members, and the benefits of eating locally for both nutritional value and the environment as a whole.Topics Discussed• Slow Living Consult• Journey to Becoming a Farmer• Anthropology & Farming• Creating a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Program• Investing in Your Local Farmers• Sustainable & Regenerative Growing Methods• How Systems Favor Multinational Corporations over Local Growers• Romanticization of Farm Life vs. Reality of Running an Farm• Commodity Farming vs. Sustainable Farming• Reclaiming Food from Field to Kitchen• The Food Offered in a CSA• The Exploitation Behind the Cost of Affordability at Supermarkets• Removing Guilt Around “Perfect” Sustainable Practices• Food and Livestock Throughout the Seasons• Reducing Waste in a CSA Program• Transparency of Cost • Pesticides, Choosing Not to Be USDA Organic Certified, and Outsourcing For Specific Products • Preservation of Soil Throughout Every Harvest• The Economics of Running a Farm• Knowing Your Food Comes From• A Farmer's Good Dirt• Social Justice & Farming• Maintaining Optimism as a Farmer Episode Resources:• Mo's Interview with "Grounded Women: Stories of Women who Farm"• Moutoux Farm's Whole Diet CSA Membership• Rob and Mo's Story & the History of Moutoux Farm• Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan• Food, Inc. (2008)• Arcadia Center for Sustainable Agriculture• The Rodale Institute• Essex Farm• CSA DirectoryConnect with Maureen "Mo" Moutoux:• Website: https://www.moutouxorchard.com/• Instagram: @moutouxorchard━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌻 About Lady Farmer:• Our Website• Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram• Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC• 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. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy