Why do I farm this way? Context, values, and passion are all part of the equation and reason. Becky Szarzynski of Mountain Glen Farm is a well-spoken, highly knowledgeable young, innovative farmer in the Shenandoah Valley. Becky shares specifically why she farms the way she does and emphasizes the importance of walking your land, observing what is happening in the ecosystem, and not being afraid to try something new because you might be surprised by a hawk, Bobwhite quail, or dung beetle.

Becky serves as a coordinator of the Virginia Forage and Grassland Council's and Virginia Soil Health Coalition's farmer-to-farmer mentor programs. Becky generously shares what she has learned through the years and the mentors who have shared their knowledge and experience with Becky and others.

To learn more about Mountain Glen Farm and the educational videos that Becky mentioned, please visit https://mountainglenfarm.com. The mentors that Becky mentioned included her parents, but also Greg Judy, Gabe Brown, Allen Savory, Dr. Elaine Ingham, and others.

Learn more about the Virginia Soil Health Coalition at https://www.virginiasoilhealth.org/ Please visit our new website with additional conversations and resources at https://www.4thesoil.org.

4 the Soil: A Conversation is made possible with funding support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and The Agua Fund. Other partners include the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Virginia Cooperative Extension; Virginia State University; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; and partners of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition.

Disclaimer: Views expressed on this podcast are those of each individual guest.

To download a copy of this, or any other show, visit the website 4thesoil.org. Music used during today’s program is courtesy of the Flip Charts. All rights reserved. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is produced by On the Farm Radio in collaboration with Virginia Tech. The host and co-hosts are Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt.