Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world

Recording date: September 17, 2026

Welcome to the second season of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world! In episode thirty-nine, host K Castrataro indulges in a heart-to-heart chat with YOU, her farm family, about:

These straight-from-the-heart solo episodes give you an opportunity to hear K’s thoughts on the biggest issues you face as farmers and as people.

Let us know what you think of this new one-monthly format in the comments below.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with a farmer (or farmer fan) that you know.

#IYWF2026

A GIFT FOR LISTENERS:

Are you looking for a more purposeful farm life rich in time, energy, and abundance? Here are some steps you can take today…it’s your time to grow!

About K:

Kristen “K” Castrataro is a farm life advisor with nearly five decades’ experience in livestock, fruit, and vegetable production, harvesting, and marketing, including agritourism. (At six months old, she was in a play pen in the cornfield. At six years old, she was running the farm stand!)

In addition to her practical background as a producer, she served as the Sustainable Agriculture Extension Agent for the University of Rhode Island, providing whole-farm consulting services for the state’s commercial land agriculture producers.

K’s formal training in education, therapeutic writing, and mediation combined with a decade of work in child protection and mental health and psychosocial support allow her to go beyond farm business planning to addressing the whole farmer’s unique needs at individual, family, and community levels.

K specializes in:

Driving her work is K’s deeply held belief that the people who feed our bodies and souls should not feel as if they are starving themselves.

Connect with K at: 

Recording date: September 17, 2026

Welcome to the second season of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world! In episode thirty-nine, host K Castrataro indulges in a heart-to-heart chat with YOU, her farm family, about:

These straight-from-the-heart solo episodes give you an opportunity to hear K’s thoughts on the biggest issues you face as farmers and as people.

Let us know what you think of this new one-monthly format in the comments below.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with a farmer (or farmer fan) that you know.

#IYWF2026

A GIFT FOR LISTENERS:

Are you looking for a more purposeful farm life rich in time, energy, and abundance? Here are some steps you can take today…it’s your time to grow!

About K:

Kristen “K” Castrataro is a farm life advisor with nearly five decades’ experience in livestock, fruit, and vegetable production, harvesting, and marketing, including agritourism. (At six months old, she was in a play pen in the cornfield. At six years old, she was running the farm stand!)

In addition to her practical background as a producer, she served as the Sustainable Agriculture Extension Agent for the University of Rhode Island, providing whole-farm consulting services for the state’s commercial land agriculture producers.

K’s formal training in education, therapeutic writing, and mediation combined with a decade of work in child protection and mental health and psychosocial support allow her to go beyond farm business planning to addressing the whole farmer’s unique needs at individual, family, and community levels.

K specializes in:

Driving her work is K’s deeply held belief that the people who feed our bodies and souls should not feel as if they are starving themselves.

Connect with K at: 

Recording date: September 8, 2026

Welcome to the second season of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world! Episode thirty-eight features Diane McKenzie of McKenzie Hereford Farms Ltd. as we discuss:

You will love this inspiring and investigative farmer!

#IYWF2026

A GIFT FOR LISTENERS:

Are you a farmer looking for an opportunity to connect with other farmers just like you? Join Midweek Refuel, where we focus on increasing the time, energy, and abundance in your purposeful farm life. Try us today.

Use code PODCAST to receive a 10% discount: https://www.penlightfarmers.com/service-page/midweek-refuel?referral=service_list_widget

About Diane:

Diane McKenzie is a family farmer from Southern Aberta. She brings an insider view to her studies about how women participate in the intergenerational transfer of family farms. As she pursues her doctoral degree at the University of Regina, she is exploring how the historical reproduction of gender norms impede and/or facilitate women’s participation in the intergenerational transfer of the family farm.

Diane takes a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding how women participate in the agriculture industry, drawing on Psychology, History, Sociology, and Women and Gender Studies. Her aim is to further understand women’s contributions to the agriculture industry and bring those conversations to the agriculture community.

Connect with Diane at: 

Connect with K at: 

Recording date: September 8, 2026

Welcome to the second season of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world! Episode thirty-eight features Diane McKenzie of McKenzie Hereford Farms Ltd. as we discuss:

You will love this inspiring and investigative farmer!

#IYWF2026

A GIFT FOR LISTENERS:

Are you a farmer looking for an opportunity to connect with other farmers just like you? Join Midweek Refuel, where we focus on increasing the time, energy, and abundance in your purposeful farm life. Try us today.

Use code PODCAST to receive a 10% discount: https://www.penlightfarmers.com/service-page/midweek-refuel?referral=service_list_widget

About Diane:

Diane McKenzie is a family farmer from Southern Aberta. She brings an insider view to her studies about how women participate in the intergenerational transfer of family farms. As she pursues her doctoral degree at the University of Regina, she is exploring how the historical reproduction of gender norms impede and/or facilitate women’s participation in the intergenerational transfer of the family farm.

Diane takes a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding how women participate in the agriculture industry, drawing on Psychology, History, Sociology, and Women and Gender Studies. Her aim is to further understand women’s contributions to the agriculture industry and bring those conversations to the agriculture community.

Connect with Diane at: 

Connect with K at: 

Recording date: August 28, 2026

Welcome to the second season of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world! Episode thirty-seven features Kathy Puffer of The Biogas Education Hub as we discuss:

You will love this curious and observant farmer!

#IYWF2026

A GIFT FOR LISTENERS:

Are you a farmer looking for an opportunity to connect with other farmers just like you? Join Midweek Refuel, where we focus on increasing the time, energy, and abundance in your purposeful farm life. Try us today.

Use code PODCAST to receive a 10% discount: https://www.penlightfarmers.com/service-page/midweek-refuel?referral=service_list_widget

About Kathy:

Kathy Puffer is an award-winning educator and advocate for small-scale biogas systems, committed to advancing sustainable, community-driven energy solutions. A certified permaculture designer and lifelong educator based in Tillson, NY, she founded the Biogas Education Hub to make biogas knowledge accessible across cultures and climates. Kathy teaches in the US, Haiti, and Belize, and leads online programs with participants from several African countries, including Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, and beyond.

In 2023, she received the Women in Biogas Award from the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) and the World Biogas Association (WBA) for her global leadership in biogas education. At home, Kathy cooks using biogas and solar cookers—transforming household waste into clean, self-sustaining, and emission-free cooking energy. She works closely with others, especially women, to reclaim food, waste, and energy as tools for regenerative living and climate resilience.

She is also co-founder of the Northeast Biogas Initiative, which promotes safe, affordable small-scale biodigesters to help Northeastern US communities reduce fossil fuel impacts and build a regenerative, carbon-neutral economy.

Are you “biogas curious”? If so, sign up for Kathy’s class, “Biogas Curious: Turn Waste into Energy & Fertility,” at https://www.biogaseducation.com/.

Connect with Kathy at: 

Connect with K at: 

Recording date: August 28, 2026

Welcome to the second season of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world! Episode thirty-seven features Kathy Puffer of The Biogas Education Hub as we discuss:

You will love this curious and observant farmer!

#IYWF2026

A GIFT FOR LISTENERS:

Are you a farmer looking for an opportunity to connect with other farmers just like you? Join Midweek Refuel, where we focus on increasing the time, energy, and abundance in your purposeful farm life. Try us today.

Use code PODCAST to receive a 10% discount: https://www.penlightfarmers.com/service-page/midweek-refuel?referral=service_list_widget

About Kathy:

Kathy Puffer is an award-winning educator and advocate for small-scale biogas systems, committed to advancing sustainable, community-driven energy solutions. A certified permaculture designer and lifelong educator based in Tillson, NY, she founded the Biogas Education Hub to make biogas knowledge accessible across cultures and climates. Kathy teaches in the US, Haiti, and Belize, and leads online programs with participants from several African countries, including Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, and beyond.

In 2023, she received the Women in Biogas Award from the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) and the World Biogas Association (WBA) for her global leadership in biogas education. At home, Kathy cooks using biogas and solar cookers—transforming household waste into clean, self-sustaining, and emission-free cooking energy. She works closely with others, especially women, to reclaim food, waste, and energy as tools for regenerative living and climate resilience.

She is also co-founder of the Northeast Biogas Initiative, which promotes safe, affordable small-scale biodigesters to help Northeastern US communities reduce fossil fuel impacts and build a regenerative, carbon-neutral economy.

Are you “biogas curious”? If so, sign up for Kathy’s class, “Biogas Curious: Turn Waste into Energy & Fertility,” at https://www.biogaseducation.com/.

Connect with Kathy at: 

Connect with K at: 

Recording date: July 22, 2026

Welcome to the second season of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world! Episode thirty-six features Nicola Westlake of Westy and Worzel as we discuss:

You will love this persistent and adaptable farmer!

#IYWF2026

A GIFT FOR LISTENERS (FROM NICOLA):

Homeopathy for the Stressed-Out Farmer: Natural Remedies for Mental and Emotional Well-being (No cost to attend)

‘Homeopathy for the Stressed-Out Farmer’ is a 1.5-hour webinar presented by experienced homeopath Sara Kernohan and retired dairy farmer Rafe Nauen. The webinar provides guidance on selecting appropriate remedies for various life and farm stresses, self-prescribing, managing your own case, recognizing when professional medical help is needed, and exploring additional support options. The webinar includes lifetime access to the recording and downloadable course notes. Access the webinar here: https://learning.wholehealthag.org/webinar-homeopathy-for-the-stressed-out-farmer

About Nicola:

From a career in training and development for conservation, nature and culture, Nicola met her husband, who was farming with his brother on the south Devon "Jurassic Coast" in the UK. They met in 2004, and Nicola became increasingly involved in the farming business, which is currently a 250-acre organic beef farm with around 50 breeding cows and followers. The farm is mostly permanent pasture of fairly high nature conservation value owned by the National Trust. In the past couple of years, they have had to focus on succession and planning for the future, which has presented challenges. Throughout this, it has been important for her to retain her identity and connection to the land.

Connect with Nicola at: 

Connect with K at: 

Recording date: July 22, 2026

Welcome to the second season of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world! Episode thirty-six features Nicola Westlake of Westy and Worzel as we discuss:

You will love this insightful and personable farmer!

#IYWF2026

A GIFT FOR LISTENERS (FROM NICOLA):

Homeopathy for the Stressed-Out Farmer: Natural Remedies for Mental and Emotional Well-being (No cost to attend)

‘Homeopathy for the Stressed-Out Farmer’ is a 1.5-hour webinar presented by experienced homeopath Sara Kernohan and retired dairy farmer Rafe Nauen. The webinar provides guidance on selecting appropriate remedies for various life and farm stresses, self-prescribing, managing your own case, recognizing when professional medical help is needed, and exploring additional support options. The webinar includes lifetime access to the recording and downloadable course notes. Access the webinar here: https://learning.wholehealthag.org/webinar-homeopathy-for-the-stressed-out-farmer

About Nicola:

From a career in training and development for conservation, nature and culture, Nicola met her husband, who was farming with his brother on the south Devon "Jurassic Coast" in the UK. They met in 2004, and Nicola became increasingly involved in the farming business, which is currently a 250-acre organic beef farm with around 50 breeding cows and followers. The farm is mostly permanent pasture of fairly high nature conservation value owned by the National Trust. In the past couple of years, they have had to focus on succession and planning for the future, which has presented challenges. Throughout this, it has been important for her to retain her identity and connection to the land.

Connect with Nicola at: 

Connect with K at: 

Recording date: July 20, 2026

Welcome to the second season of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world! Episode thirty-five features Kate Bowen of Meadowdale Farm as we discuss:

You will love this persistent and adaptable farmer!

#IYWF2026

A GIFT FOR LISTENERS:

Are you a farmer looking for an opportunity to connect with other farmers just like you? Join Midweek Refuel, where we focus on increasing the time, energy, and abundance in your purposeful farm life. Try us today.

Use code PODCAST to receive a 10% discount: https://www.penlightfarmers.com/service-page/midweek-refuel?referral=service_list_widget

About Kate:

Kate is a Tennessee poultry farmer and agriculture program specialist working at the intersection of food systems, infrastructure, and land-based enterprises. She operates a growing poultry farm specializing in pastured holiday turkeys, with a focus on seasonal production, direct marketing, and efficient farm logistics.

Connect with Kate at: 

Connect with K at: 

Recording date: July 20, 2026

Welcome to the second season of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world! Episode thirty-five features Kate Bowen of Meadowdale Farm as we discuss:

You will love this persistent and adaptable farmer!

#IYWF2026

A GIFT FOR LISTENERS:

Are you a farmer looking for an opportunity to connect with other farmers just like you? Join Midweek Refuel, where we focus on increasing the time, energy, and abundance in your purposeful farm life. Try us today.

Use code PODCAST to receive a 10% discount: https://www.penlightfarmers.com/service-page/midweek-refuel?referral=service_list_widget

About Kate:

Kate is a Tennessee poultry farmer and agriculture program specialist working at the intersection of food systems, infrastructure, and land-based enterprises. She operates a growing poultry farm specializing in pastured holiday turkeys, with a focus on seasonal production, direct marketing, and efficient farm logistics.

Connect with Kate at: 

Connect with K at: