Can you really start homesteading in the middle of a city? Absolutely. In this episode, Andres Arango—biomedical engineer turned homesteading innovator—shares how anyone, anywhere can begin building a sustainable, self-sufficient lifestyle.

From balcony gardens to full-scale food forests, Andres breaks down the core principles of homesteading, busts common myths, and offers practical tips for beginners. Learn how to optimize your space, conserve resources, and connect with a growing community of eco-conscious growers.

🌱 Topics Covered:

• Urban vs. Rural Homesteading
• Starting small with composting, herbs, and rainwater collection
• Designing efficient, resilient food systems
• Joining the Grow a Food Forest community for free
• Overcoming common beginner challenges

Whether you're a city dweller, sustainability enthusiast, or curious beginner, this episode will inspire you to take the first step toward self-sufficiency—no matter where you live.

🔗 Follow Andres:
 Instagram: @growfoodhomestead

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Due to the ongoing federal funding freeze, we must redirect our efforts to other FOG programs. But we need your help to keep programs like Fresh Take and other FOG initiatives alive!

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What does regenerative agriculture really mean—and why does it matter? In this episode of Fresh Take, host JC Rodriguez sits down with Dr. Kendra Klein, Deputy Director for Science at Friends of the Earth, to unpack the science, stories, and social impact behind one of the most talked-about movements in food and farming.

We explore:

• The true definition of regenerative agriculture
• How it differs from organic and sustainable practices
• The hidden cost of pesticides on soil health
• Real-world techniques and success stories from farmers
• The role of policy, advocacy, and consumer action in shaping the future of food

Whether you're a farmer, foodie, or climate-conscious citizen, this episode offers a grounded and inspiring look at how soil can be a solution to some of our biggest environmental challenges.

Support the show

Due to the ongoing federal funding freeze, we must redirect our efforts to other FOG programs. But we need your help to keep programs like Fresh Take and other FOG initiatives alive!

Become a sponsor today! Your sponsorship is crucial for us to continue providing essential programs, including this podcast. Visit our sponsor page now to learn more and join our community of supporters. Together, we can make a significant impact!

In this episode, nursery manager and vegetable farmer Robert Lommerse shares his journey from citrus horticulture to running a family-owned nursery and sustainable farm in Sanford, Florida. Discover how flowers and nurseries play a vital role in supporting pollinators, reducing environmental impact, and strengthening local food systems.

Whether you're a beginner gardener or a food system advocate, you'll gain practical tips for growing in small spaces, learn how nurseries foster community resilience, and explore sustainable practices that make gardening accessible and impactful.

Topics include:

• The role of flowers in biodiversity and food production
• Tips for beginner gardeners
• How nurseries reduce environmental impact
• Building community through gardening
• Sustainable practices for everyday growers

Farmer Rob's Veggies

Support the show

Due to the ongoing federal funding freeze, we must redirect our efforts to other FOG programs. But we need your help to keep programs like Fresh Take and other FOG initiatives alive!

Become a sponsor today! Your sponsorship is crucial for us to continue providing essential programs, including this podcast. Visit our sponsor page now to learn more and join our community of supporters. Together, we can make a significant impact!

In this inspiring episode of Fresh Take, we dig into the soil—literally and figuratively—with Gen Z farmer and sustainability advocate Dawson Amico, founder of Hospitable Harvests. From growing native milkweed to support monarch butterflies to managing over 15 front yard microfarms in Orlando, Dawson shares his journey of turning passion into purpose.

Discover how the pandemic sparked his composting journey, why biochar became a game-changer in his soil health strategy, and how he's helping others grow greener through hands-on education and garden coaching. Whether you're a beginner composter, urban gardener, or just compost-curious, this episode is packed with practical tips, Florida-specific advice, and heartfelt stories of regeneration and resilience.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to start composting (even in a small space!)
• The role of biochar in soil health and carbon sequestration
• Tips for composting in Florida’s warm, humid climate
• How composting supports habitat restoration and biodiversity
• Dawson’s vision for empowering Gen Z to grow sustainably

Connect with Dawson:
Instagram: @hospitableharvests
Facebook: Hospitable Harvests
LinkedIn: Dawson Amico
Website: www.hospitableharvests.com

Tune in and get inspired to turn your food scraps into fertile soil and your front yard into a flourishing farm. Let’s grow a more sustainable future—one compost pile at a time.

Support the show

Due to the ongoing federal funding freeze, we must redirect our efforts to other FOG programs. But we need your help to keep programs like Fresh Take and other FOG initiatives alive!

Become a sponsor today! Your sponsorship is crucial for us to continue providing essential programs, including this podcast. Visit our sponsor page now to learn more and join our community of supporters. Together, we can make a significant impact!

What exactly is the Farm Bill—and why should you care? In this episode of Fresh Take, we demystify one of the most influential pieces of legislation shaping our food system. Host Lana Chehabeddine sits down with Billy Hackett, a passionate policy specialist from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, to break down the Farm Bill’s history, structure, and far-reaching impact on farming, food access, environmental health, and rural communities.

Billy shares insights on how the bill affects everything from food prices to conservation programs, and why equitable reform is essential for farmers and communities. Learn about common misconceptions, current challenges, and how grassroots advocacy can drive meaningful change.

Whether you're a grower, policymaker, or simply someone who eats, this episode will empower you with the knowledge and tools to engage with the Farm Bill and support a more sustainable, just food system.

Support the show

Due to the ongoing federal funding freeze, we must redirect our efforts to other FOG programs. But we need your help to keep programs like Fresh Take and other FOG initiatives alive!

Become a sponsor today! Your sponsorship is crucial for us to continue providing essential programs, including this podcast. Visit our sponsor page now to learn more and join our community of supporters. Together, we can make a significant impact!

Daniel Miranda is Director of Sales at Legacy Greens, a microgreen farm located in Tallahassee, Florida. In this episode, Daniel joins us for a conversation about his experience completing two On Farm Readiness Reviews (OFRRs). 

Hear about: 

- Why Legacy Greens decided to request each OFRR 

- Participating in the Produce Safety Alliance Training  

- The OFRR process and how it was beneficial for the farm  

Resources: 

Learn more about On Farm Readiness Reviews on the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Website: https://www.fdacs.gov/Agriculture-Industry/Fruit-and-Vegetables/Food-Safety-Modernization-Act-Produce-Safety-Rule/On-Farm-Readiness-Review 

Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Schedule in Florida: https://www.fdacs.gov/Agriculture-Industry/Fruit-and-Vegetables/Food-Safety-Modernization-Act-Produce-Safety-Rule/FSMA-Produce-Safety-Training 

Learn more about FOG’s upcoming food safety-related podcast, events and webinars on our website: https://foginfo.org/food-safety-for-producers/ 

 
For the latest news on FSMA, visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Website:
https://www.fda.gov/food/guidance-regulation-food-and-dietary-supplements/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma 

Learn more about Legacy Greens: http://www.legacygreens3.com/ 

Support the show

Due to the ongoing federal funding freeze, we must redirect our efforts to other FOG programs. But we need your help to keep programs like Fresh Take and other FOG initiatives alive!

Become a sponsor today! Your sponsorship is crucial for us to continue providing essential programs, including this podcast. Visit our sponsor page now to learn more and join our community of supporters. Together, we can make a significant impact!

Billy Mitchell, experto en inocuidad de alimentos, habla con nosotros sobre las auditorías de inocuidad alimentaria y las preguntas más frecuentes que tienen los agricultores. 

Damos la bienvenida a Billy Mitchell, Coordinador de Capacitación de FSMA para la Unión Nacional de Agricultores, para una conversación sobre las preguntas que comúnmente escucha de los agricultores sobre la seguridad alimentaria. 

Sintoniza para escuchar sobre: 

- Por qué la certificación de seguridad alimentaria se ha vuelto más común 

- ¿Esta certificación es voluntaria para productores orgánicos certificados y pequeñas fincas? 

- Cuánto tiempo lleva preparar una granja para una auditoría 

- El costo promedio de una auditoría de seguridad alimentaria 

Aprenda más en nuestro sitio web: https://foginfo.org/food-safety-for-producers-spanish/ 

Aprenda sobre el Sindicato Nacional de Agricultores (en inglés, National Farmers Union) en su página web: https://nfu.org  

Encuentre información sobre la inocuidad de alimentos en la pagina web de la Alianza de Inocuidad de Frutas y Verduras (en inglés, Produce Safety Alliance): https://producesafetyalliance.cornell.edu 

Obtenga más información sobre la inocuidad de alimentos en el sitio web de the U.S. Food and Drug Administration:https://www.fda.gov/food/guidance-regulation-food-and-dietary-supplements/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma 

Support the show

Due to the ongoing federal funding freeze, we must redirect our efforts to other FOG programs. But we need your help to keep programs like Fresh Take and other FOG initiatives alive!

Become a sponsor today! Your sponsorship is crucial for us to continue providing essential programs, including this podcast. Visit our sponsor page now to learn more and join our community of supporters. Together, we can make a significant impact!

Kirby Quam, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Produce Safety Outreach Coordinator, speaks with us about the On Farm Readiness Review (OFRR) process for farmers. 

In this episode, hear about: 

- What is the On Farm Readiness Review 

- Who manages and participates in the On Farm Readiness Reviews in Florida 

- What farmers can expect prior, during and after an OFRR 

- Some common issues inspectors often see on farms 

- Where to sign up and find resources 

Resources: 

FDACS On Farm Readiness Review Website: https://www.fdacs.gov/Agriculture-Industry/Fruit-and-Vegetables/Food-Safety-Modernization-Act-Produce-Safety-Rule/On-Farm-Readiness-Review 

For the latest news on FSMA, visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Website:
https://www.fda.gov/food/guidance-regulation-food-and-dietary-supplements/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma 

Support the show

Due to the ongoing federal funding freeze, we must redirect our efforts to other FOG programs. But we need your help to keep programs like Fresh Take and other FOG initiatives alive!

Become a sponsor today! Your sponsorship is crucial for us to continue providing essential programs, including this podcast. Visit our sponsor page now to learn more and join our community of supporters. Together, we can make a significant impact!

In this episode, Dr. Keith Schneider, Professor and Extension Specialist in the Food Science and Human Nutrition Department at the University of Florida, introduces the Preventive Controls for Human Consumption Rule and its connection to Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HAACP).

Learn about: 

- The history of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HAACP)  

- What the Preventive Controls for Human Consumption Rule establishes 

- The Food Safety Preventive Control Alliance (FSPCA) 

- Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) Training  

Resources: 

FSMA Final Rule for Preventive Controls for Human Food: https://www.fda.gov/food/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma/fsma-final-rule-preventive-controls-human-food  

Food Safety Preventive Control Alliance (FSPCA): www.ifsh.iit.edu/fspca 

For the latest news on FSMA, visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Website:
https://www.fda.gov/food/guidance-regulation-food-and-dietary-supplements/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma 

Support the show

Due to the ongoing federal funding freeze, we must redirect our efforts to other FOG programs. But we need your help to keep programs like Fresh Take and other FOG initiatives alive!

Become a sponsor today! Your sponsorship is crucial for us to continue providing essential programs, including this podcast. Visit our sponsor page now to learn more and join our community of supporters. Together, we can make a significant impact!

 In this episode, we speak with Dr. Keith Schneider about the FSMA Agricultural Water Rule and the proposed changes that farmers need to be aware of.  

Hear about: 

- What proposed changes are being debated  

- Enforcement of current and proposed changes to the rule  

- What farmers need to do in the meantime 

- Common questions from farmers  

Resources: 

FDA Agricultural Water Assessment Builder: https://www.fda.gov/food/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma/agricultural-water-assessment-builder 

For the latest news on FSMA, visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Website:
https://www.fda.gov/food/guidance-regulation-food-and-dietary-supplements/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma 

Support the show

Due to the ongoing federal funding freeze, we must redirect our efforts to other FOG programs. But we need your help to keep programs like Fresh Take and other FOG initiatives alive!

Become a sponsor today! Your sponsorship is crucial for us to continue providing essential programs, including this podcast. Visit our sponsor page now to learn more and join our community of supporters. Together, we can make a significant impact!