The Good Dirt: Sustainability Explained

On today’s episode of The Good Dirt, we’re chatting with Angela Ferraro Fanning of Axe and Root Homestead, a six-acre farm in central New Jersey. Angela shares the story of how she went from being a graphic designer to a homesteader in 2012, when she told her husband she'd like to trade her job income for time outside growing food they would no longer have to buy. Now she finds herself balancing a life raising two boys with managing a working farm, as well as authoring a cookbook, a children's book series and hosting a homesteading podcast. In this conversation, we discuss not only the benefits of growing your own food, but the many options available to the modern homesteader. Though the concept of homesteading appeals to a lot of people, the reality of shifting to such a lifestyle is often intimidating and seemingly full of obstacles. Angela explains that homesteading doesn't look the same for everyone, and doesn't have to be defined by what you see when you look out your window. She encourages her followers to begin with the smallest task, such as growing one plant, and taking that longing for connection to food and nature just one step at a time. It doesn't have to involve raising and harvesting your own animals, or all of your food, baking artisan bread or keeping bees. There are likely others in your area that can do all of that. Instead, she says to focus on what interests you, and rely on your community for the rest. The homesteading mindset is about hands-on, local, seasonal living.Join us on today’s episode to hear more about the first steps that Angela took in growing her own food, how she got comfortable with the constant trial and error of homesteading, and how she’s slowly expanding her business through writing and online media.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform.Topics Covered: A day in the life of Angela  The joys and challenges of farm life Getting back to basics and not relying on machinery  Homesteading on a plant-based diet  Sharing her story and expertise through writing, podcasting, and online courses  Guest Info Website Instagram The Definitely Not Simple Life Podcast The Harvest Table: A Collection of Seasonal Plant- Based Recipes Inspired by the Home Garden Little Country Cottage: An Autumn Treasury of Recipes, Crafts and Wisdom Follow Us: Our Website Instagram Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On today’s episode of The Good Dirt, we’re speaking with Liz Riffle of Riffle Farm in Preston County, WV, which is a small bison farm raising grass-fed and finished animals.  Owner and Operator Liz is a U.S Navy Nurse Corps veteran and her husband, Jimmie, is currently still serving on active-duty as a Navy Nurse Corps Nurse Practitioner. Jimmie was born and raised in Grafton, WV. In their own words, Jimmie and Liz are homegrown and proud to now serve this great nation by feeding it!  After near extinction in the 1880s bison have made a comeback, and are now thriving on small operations such as Riffle Farm. Liz says she and her husband discovered bison burgers while traveling in Wyoming, and became interested in the idea of raising them. They eventually found a 64-acre spot where they could let bison roam and graze, and opened for business in 2017. Fast forward to today, and they’ve almost doubled their operation. Liz shares with us their journey from those beginnings until now, during which she’s learned much about regenerative agriculture, working with nature, slowing down and listening to the land. Liz believes that she has a responsibility to honorably raise as well as humanely harvest the bison on her farm. The regulatory system is set up for large-scale meat producers and sometimes makes it difficult for small scale farmers to accomplish their sustainability goals. Liz has started a new business, The Honest Carnivore, as a means of teaching other small farmers how to navigate that system, empowering them to continue providing sustainable meat solutions. Join us on this week’s episode to learn more about building trust and transparency in the food chain with bison farmer Liz Riffle. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform.Topics Covered: Daily life of a bison farmer  How bison grazing patterns help the local flora and fauna  Farming regulations and how they can work against small farmers  Certification processes and marketing strategies of large food corporations  Keeping it simple when it comes to buying food  Resources Mentioned:The Honest CarnivoreGuest InfoConnect with Liz Riffle on her website. Follow Us: Our Website Instagram Original intro music by John C Kingsley Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Under A Tin Roof is a mother-daughter company created by today's guest, Kayloa Lobermeier and her mother Jill Haupt, inspiring others, as their motto says, in living a wholesome, simple, historical life by the seasons. Demonstrating the ways of a slower, more intentional lifestyle, Kayla helps others in bringing the best of domestic history and tradition forward to fit the needs of the present day. As a family-owned and operated business, Under a Tin Roof has much to offer both on site and online, including goods from their small handmade shop and their flower farm, to instruction in traditional recipes and food preservation methods on social media and through Kayla's blog, and even providing intimate dining experiences at their farm. Her love for cooking meals from scratch with homegrown and local ingredients continues to be her main passion and motivation.Kayla's shares her love of 18th-19th century homesteading through her hand made goods such as embroidery, soaps, apothecary items and the historic clothing we see her wearing. As a busy mom of two boys, Kayla still finds time to write articles for her blog sharing with subscribers historically inspired country recipes, resources for growing and preserving your own food organically, information on herbal and botanical skincare and remedies, and low waste home ideas.  Join us In this week’s episode, as we discuss with Kayla the joys, challenges, and contradictions in living a simple, historical lifestyle along with the pros and cons of growing a business through social media. It's a great conversation! Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform.Topics Covered: Learn more about 18th and 19th-century homestead living Impact of social media on lifestyle What it takes to expand and grow a business Living life at a slower pace on a family farm Growing and preserving your own food organically Resources Mentioned: Under a Tin Roof Beekman Boys Sustainable Documentary The Year 1000 by Valerie Hansen Garden Visit: Secrets of Another Century at Colonial Williamsburg Foodways at Colonial London Town The Food Timeline: History Notes--Colonial America and 17th and 18th Century France Guest InfoConnect with Kayla on Instagram.Follow Us: Our Website Instagram Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

For today's guest Jenny Freeman, what sprouted as an idea to tackle food insecurity during the pandemic has now grown into a fully registered 501(c)(3) organization that offers individuals and organizations the ability to get involved in the local food movement. Her organization, Community FarmShare, is a community-based initiative that connects food-insecure families with local produce farmers in Montgomery County. This organization works by way of donation and is completely volunteer-run, all of the money is put towards purchasing Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm shares. These shares are then used to purchase weekly bags and boxes of organically grown produce at one of seven local participating vegetable farms. CSA programs have recently received widespread attention for their ability to provide unique benefits to communities, environments, and economies. In a nutshell, CSAs directly connect consumers and producers to help create a more profitable and transparent local food system. This helps in reducing food insecurity among families that cannot afford organically grown foods. Jenny is passionate about tackling this issue by providing a solution that links families experiencing food insecurity with local vegetable and fruit growers. Jenny shares this mission with the rest of her community in order to create transformative change in her local community. In this week’s episode, we will discuss Jenny’s journey creating Community FarmShare and how you can get involved with her organization. Join us on this week’s episode to find out more about Jenny’s story and learn how you can implement a similar project in your community!Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform.Topics Covered: What is a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and how does it work? Learn more about Community FarmShare and Jenny’s story as its founder Supporting Afghan refugees in the United States Resources Mentioned: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change  Community FarmShare Community Cheer Community Food Rescue Finding the Mother Tree The Overstory Guest InfoConnect with Jenny on LinkedIn.Follow Us: Our Website Instagram Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Located in a small town in New England, Wing & A Prayer Farm began as an idea sparked during a trip to England in 2000. Inspired by the many sheep farms dotting the countryside, Tammy and her children decided to start their own sheep farm with a few Shetland rescues. It is now a flourishing farm with a variety of animals and avenues of business.  It is home to Clun Forest, Poll Dorset, Colored Merino, Cotswold, Wensleydale, Teeswater, and Cormo sheep. It is also home to Vermont’s first Valais Blacknose Sheep. Currently, the farm sells fiber for yarn, which is derived from registered Shetland, Cormo, Cotswold, and Merino sheep, registered Angora goats, and alpacas. Along with the fiber, Wing & A Prayer sells fresh eggs, chickens, turkeys, honey, homemade soap and homemade pies! It must be noted, Farmer Tam is more than a fiber farmer. She also has a passion for the making arts--creating unique wood products, naturally hand dyed fiber products and home baked goods on her farm. Her passion as a teacher has also led her to run classes teaching fiber farming and sheep rearing.In this week’s episode, we will discuss Tammy’s journey building a successful business and the hilarious stories of the animals living on her farm. Interested in learning more about Tammy’s 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: Farming and sheep rearing What is fiber farming? Agriculture and sustainable practices Animal caretaking  Resources Mentioned:Wing & A Prayer FarmGuest InfoConnect with Tammy on her website.Follow Us: Our Website Instagram Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy