Send us Fan Mail

Can farmers become more self-sufficient while producing better food, reducing waste, and creating alternatives to an increasingly complex agricultural system?

In Part 2 of this Harvesting Wisdom episode, Mike McMahon and Bulgarian farmer and entrepreneur, Philip Harmandzhiev, continue their discussion about regenerative farming, food production, agricultural regulations, consumer choice, and the future of small and diversified farms.

Philip explains how his operation combines pasture-raised livestock, dairy production, a kitchen, a butchery, and a syntropic food forest while processing as much of the farm's production as possible. He discusses the advantages and challenges of vertical integration, including the additional expertise and regulatory requirements that come with processing food on the farm.

The conversation also examines how regulations can affect small producers, why Philip believes consumers may be one of the most powerful forces for agricultural change, and how reconnecting people with high-quality food can help preserve knowledge and create demand for better farming systems. Philip and Mike also explore the importance of experimentation, learning from mistakes, and sharing knowledge with other farmers. 

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:

🐄 How pasture-based livestock can fit into a diversified farm
 🌳 What a syntropic food forest is and how it fits into Philip's operation
 ♻️ Why processing agricultural byproducts can reduce waste
 🏭 The advantages and challenges of processing food on the farm
 📋 How regulations can create challenges for small agricultural businesses
 🛒 How consumers can influence agricultural systems through their purchasing choices
 🌱 Why experimentation and "safe to fail" projects can help farmers innovate
 🤝 Why farmers benefit from sharing both their successes and their mistakes
 🌍 Why education, innovation, and consumer demand can contribute to agricultural change
CHAPTERS
01:42 – Bulgaria's agricultural transition and lost markets
02:36 – How the transition affected wine production and agricultural knowledge
03:28 – The legacy of Bulgaria's large-scale wineries
05:01 – Rebuilding processing infrastructure for smaller producers
06:55 – Moving from quantity toward quality
09:07 – Philip's diversified and regenerative farm model
10:51 – Why regulation is one of the biggest challenges for small farms
14:16 – How policy can influence agricultural innovation
17:27 – Why consumers may be the strongest force for agricultural change
20:40 – Food, energy, and the possibility of greater agricultural self-sufficiency
24:14 – Why farmers should share knowledge and experiences
25:20 – The value of starting small and experimenting
25:59 – Turning agricultural waste into useful products
29:47 – Why education and involvement are essential to agricultural change

Interested in learning more about Philip's farm, its wines, agricultural practices, and products? Visit the Damianitza website to explore the farm and learn more about its work in Bulgaria: https://www.damianitza.bg/en/?utm_source

Subscribe to Harvesting Wisdom for more conversations with farmers, researchers, educators, and innovators working to create healthier communities, more resilient food systems, and a more sustainable future.

Send us Fan Mail

Can a farm produce food, recycle its own resources, reduce waste, and create a stronger connection between farmers and consumers?

In Part 1 of this Harvesting Wisdom episode, Mike McMahon speaks with Bulgarian farmer and entrepreneur, Philip Harmandzhiev, about regenerative agriculture, diversified farming, food production, and the idea of creating a more complete agricultural cycle.

Philip shares how his farm combines livestock, perennial and annual crops, food processing, and direct relationships with consumers. They discuss why diversification can help farmers create more value from their land, how processing food on the farm can expand opportunities, and why agriculture has the potential to reuse resources rather than constantly bringing in outside inputs.

The conversation also explores the limitations of monoculture, the importance of building a holistic agricultural system, and Bulgaria's complicated agricultural history. Philip explains how decades of centralized agricultural production, followed by the rapid dismantling of that system, affected land ownership, farming infrastructure, food production, and Bulgaria's wine industry.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:

🌱 Why diversification can strengthen a farm's economic resilience
 🐄 How livestock can become part of a larger agricultural cycle
 🥛 Why on-farm processing can create more value for farmers
 ♻️ How agriculture can reduce waste by reusing resources within the farm
 🌾 Why monoculture as a system that struggles to complete the agricultural cycle
 🍅 How soil, climate, and regional conditions influence what farmers can produce
 🍷 How Bulgaria's history shaped its wine and agricultural industries
 🏭 How centralized agricultural production affected food processing and distribution
 🌍 What happened when Bulgaria transitioned away from its centralized agricultural system
 🍇 How the breakup of Bulgaria's wine industry affected vineyards, wineries, and markets
 🚜 Why agricultural infrastructure is essential to successful farming
 🏡 How land fragmentation continues to create challenges for farmers today

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Introduction to Philip and his farm in southwestern Bulgaria
02:07 – How soil, climate, and geography shape agriculture
04:43 – Why diversification matters to farmers and consumers
07:03 – How livestock can contribute to a farm's nutrient cycle
07:36 – Why agriculture has the potential to become a closed-loop system
08:21 – The limitations of monoculture
10:36 – Bulgaria's agricultural history and the Ottoman Empire
12:05 – Bulgaria's role in the Eastern European economic system
13:22 – Bulgaria's agricultural specialization in tomatoes, grapes, and tobacco
14:49 – Life and agricultural restrictions along the Bulgarian-Greek border
16:00 – Industrial agriculture and the legacy of centralized farming
17:14 – The nationalization of Bulgaria's wine industry
18:17 – How centralized production affected food quality and creativity
20:53 – Land consolidation and agricultural infrastructure
22:07 – The rapid dismantling of Bulgaria's agricultural system
23:18 – What happened to Bulgaria's wine brands and international markets
25:19 – The challenges created by a loss of institutional knowledge
27:31 – Land fragmentation and the challenges of inheritance
29:11 – Why permanent crops require long-term land security
29:51 – The hidden costs of fragmented land and infrastructure

Interested in learning more about Philip's farm, its wines, agricultural practices, and products? Visit the Damianitza website to explore the farm and learn more about its work in Bulgaria: https://www.damianitza.bg/en/?utm_source

Subscribe to Harvesting Wisdom for more conversations with farmers, researchers, educators, and innovators working to create healthier communities, more resilient food systems, and a more sustainable future.

Send us Fan Mail

What if regenerative agriculture is more than restoring what we've lost, and instead means continually improving the living capacity of our farms, communities, and ecosystems?

In Part 2 of this Harvesting Wisdom podcast, Mike McMahon and Bulgarian regenerative agriculture advocate, Petya Ivanova, take a broader look at what it means to create lasting change in agriculture and society.

The conversation begins with Bulgaria's diverse soils and long agricultural history before expanding into the larger systems that influence farming, including economics, food prices, government policy, education, and consumer awareness.

Petya explains why she sees regeneration as a universal principle. One that can apply not only to agriculture, but also to economic and social systems. She discusses why meaningful change must begin at the individual level and how farmers, consumers, educators, nonprofits, and communities can work together to move sustainable practices into the mainstream.

Mike and Petya also discuss the importance of education and storytelling and student-focused agricultural education. The conversation concludes with Petya's goals for the future, including reducing pesticide and fertilizer dependence among no-till farmers and reaching the agricultural tipping point where regenerative and conservation practices become increasingly widespread.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:

🌱 Why regeneration means more than simply restoring damaged land
🌎 How regenerative principles can apply beyond agriculture
💰 How economic pressures influence farming decisions
🚜 Why farmers often face difficult short-term versus long-term choices
📚 Why education can be a powerful driver of agricultural change
🤝 How farmer networks and communities can accelerate the transition
🌾 Why no-till, regenerative, and organic farmers can contribute to a larger movement
♻️ How reducing external inputs can support more resilient agricultural systems
🧠 Why meaningful change starts with awareness and individual decisions
🌍 Why reaching a tipping point could help regenerative practices become a broader movement

LEARN MORE ABOUT ABNT

The Association of Bulgarian No-Tillers (ABNT) works to support the development and understanding of no-till, conservation, and regenerative agricultural practices in Bulgaria through farmer education, knowledge sharing, community building, and initiatives supporting agricultural transition.

Learn more about ABNT, their mission, and their initiatives:
https://abnt.bg/

CHAPTERS
00:00 – Bulgaria's soils and agricultural history
02:13 – Soil degradation, sustainability, and farming economics
03:42 – Regenerative capitalism and systems thinking
04:18 – Regeneration as a universal principle
05:09 – Korean Natural Farming and closed-loop systems
09:10 – Economic pressures and the challenge of changing agriculture
12:02 – Why change needs to come from the bottom up
19:43 – Petya's vision for the next three years
20:15 – Reducing pesticide and fertilizer dependence
20:29 – The agricultural tipping point
21:26 – Why success stories can accelerate change
22:35 – Looking toward the future of regenerative agriculture

If you’re interested in regenerative agriculture, sustainable farming, soil health, agricultural education, food systems, or community-driven environmental change, this conversation offers a hopeful look at how individual decisions can contribute to larger systemic change.

Subscribe to Harvesting Wisdom for more conversations with farmers, researchers, educators, and innovators working to create healthier communities, more resilient food systems, and a more sustainable future.

Send us Fan Mail

What can we learn from farmers and agricultural leaders working to build healthier, more sustainable food systems in Bulgaria?

In this Bulgaria recap episode of Harvesting Wisdom, Mike McMahon reflects on his journey through Bulgaria and the farmers, researchers, educators, and regenerative agriculture advocates he met along the way.

From Sofia to Plovdiv and the countryside beyond, Mike explores the people and ideas shaping Bulgaria's agricultural future. He speaks with advocates for no-till farming, researchers focused on soil and ecosystem restoration, farmers experimenting with regenerative growing systems, and producers working to reconnect consumers with high-quality local food.

The episode highlights the importance of soil health, low-impact agriculture, biodiversity, education, farmer-to-farmer knowledge sharing, and finding practical ways to make sustainable farming economically viable. Mike also reflects on Bulgaria's agricultural history, including the legacy of centralized farming during the Soviet era and the challenges that followed the transition to a more fragmented agricultural system.

Throughout the trip, one theme continues to emerge: farmers around the world may work with different soils, climates, crops, and regulations, but many are asking the same fundamental questions about how to produce food while protecting the resources that make agriculture possible.

GUESTS & RESOURCES

Petya Ivanova – Association of Bulgarian No-Tillers (ABNT)
Learn more about ABNT and its work supporting no-till and regenerative agriculture in Bulgaria:
https://abnt.bg/youtubekanal/

Ivelin (Ivo) Tonchev – Blizkata Ferma
Learn more about Ivo and Nearby Farm:
https://blizkataferma.com/

Asen Nenov – Regenerati
Co-founder and Board Member of Regenerati, an organization focused on regenerative agriculture and ecosystem restoration:
https://regenerati.org/

Nikolay Genov – Hrankoop Cooperative / Plovdiv Farmers' Market
Agriculture professor and chairman of the Hrankoop Cooperative:
https://www.hrankoop.com/hrankoop/sofia/

Philip Harmandzhiev – Damianitza
Learn more about Damianitza and its winery:
https://www.damianitza.bg/en/vinarnata/

Send us Fan Mail

Can farmers improve soil health, reduce agricultural inputs, and build more resilient farming systems without completely changing everything overnight?

In Part 1 of this Harvesting Wisdom conversation, Mike McMahon speaks with Bulgarian regenerative agriculture advocate Petya Ivanova about the growing movement toward no-till farming, conservation agriculture, and regenerative practices in Bulgaria.

Petya shares how her background in ecological engineering led her to explore the environmental impacts of modern agriculture and eventually work with farmers transitioning toward practices that rebuild soil function, improve resilience, and reduce environmental impacts.

The conversation explores Bulgaria's agricultural history, the challenges farmers face when transitioning away from conventional practices, and how the Association of Bulgarian No-Tillers supports farmers through education, training, workshops, and community building.
Petya also explains what regenerative agriculture can look like at different scales, from smaller farms to grain operations spanning thousands of hectares, and why successful regeneration begins with reducing soil disturbance, protecting the soil surface, rebuilding soil biology, and working with natural processes rather than fighting against them.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:

🌱 How Petya's journey into regenerative agriculture began
🚜 Why no-till and conservation agriculture can improve soil health
🌎 How Bulgaria's agricultural history has shaped its current farming systems
🌾 How regenerative practices can work on large-scale grain farms
💧 Why moisture retention is an important benefit of no-till farming
🦠 Why rebuilding soil biology is central to regenerative agriculture
🌿 How cover crops and crop residues can protect and feed the soil
♻️ Why transitioning away from pesticides and fertilizers is a gradual process
🐝 How healthier crops can support beneficial insects and biodiversity
🐄 How livestock and grazing cover crops can fit into regenerative systems
🌳 Why natural areas, windbreaks, and biodiversity can benefit farms
🧠 Why changing the farmer's mindset is essential to long-term agricultural change

LEARN MORE ABOUT ABNT

The Association of Bulgarian No-Tillers (ABNT) works to support the development and understanding of no-till, conservation, and regenerative agricultural practices in Bulgaria through farmer education, knowledge sharing, community building, and initiatives supporting agricultural transition.

Learn more about ABNT, their mission, and their initiatives:
https://abnt.bg/

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Introduction to regenerative agriculture in Bulgaria
02:04 – Petya's journey from ecological engineering to regenerative agriculture
04:25 – What is ecological engineering?
06:14 – Bulgaria's agricultural history and the post-Soviet transition
07:03 – Land ownership, investment, and the changing agricultural system
09:18 – Supporting farmers through education, training, and community
12:56 – Early results from no-till farming
14:17 – Reducing fuel, equipment, and production costs
15:51 – Can regenerative agriculture work at large scale?
17:05 – What does "regenerative agriculture" really mean?
19:16 – The first step: reducing soil disturbance
20:18 – Protecting soil with mulch and crop residues
21:00 – Rebuilding soil biology and improving plant health
23:10 – Why regenerative practices must fit the farm
24:38 – The challenges of reducing chemical inputs
26:58 – A Bulgarian farmer's no-till success story
28:32 – What makes an agricultural system truly regenerative?
29:39 – Integrating livestock and grazing cover crops
32:09 – Land leases and the challenge of long-term stewardship
33:15 – Biodiversity, natural areas, and changing the farmer's mindset
37:36 – Episode conclusion

If you’re interested in regenerative agriculture, no-till farming, soil health, sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, or the future of farming, this conversation offers a practical look at how farmers can begin rebuilding healthier agricultural systems while adapting to the realities of modern farming.

Subscribe to Harvesting Wisdom for more conversations with farmers, researchers, educators, and innovators working to create healthier communities, more resilient food systems, and a more sustainable future.

Send us Fan Mail

What does it actually take to build a regenerative farm from bare, depleted soil?

In this episode of Harvesting Wisdom, host Mike McMahon travels to the Šiauliai district of Lithuania to visit Lornus, a farmer who moved onto his grandfather's land in 2015 with his wife and, eventually, three kids. What started as a plant-based homesteading dream turned into a hands-on education in soil science, rotational grazing, and the real economics of raising food.

Lornus shares how a video on permaculture reshaped his thinking during university, and how early attempts at market gardening ran into hard truths about poor soil and short growing seasons. That struggle led him back toward raising animals, starting with movable chicken coops and eventually a herd of cattle managed through mob grazing and holistic pasture management.

The conversation covers practical details of running a small regenerative operation: managing calving season, finding a slaughterhouse suited to grass-finished beef, improving pasture health without tilling, and navigating regulations that limit which animals small farmers can raise. Lornus is candid about the setbacks, the learning curve, and the deeper motivation that keeps the family going even when the margins are thin.

This episode is a grounded look at what it really means to build a resilient, self-sufficient food system from the ground up, one paddock, one mistake, and one season at a time.

👉 Subscribe to Harvesting Wisdom for more conversations on agriculture, sustainability, and the people building resilient food and farming systems.

Why Listen?

This episode is a candid, on-the-ground account of what regenerative farming actually looks like in practice, not just in theory. Lornus doesn't gloss over the failures: poor soil, a failed vegetable venture, and the steep learning curve of managing livestock. For anyone interested in rotational grazing, soil regeneration, homesteading, or simply curious what it takes to build food independence from scratch, this conversation offers honest, practical insight. It's especially worthwhile for aspiring farmers, homesteaders, or anyone rethinking their relationship with where their food comes from.

00:00 – Introduction to Lornus and the farm in Šiauliai, Lithuania
 02:01 – From studying plant science to discovering permaculture
 04:01 – Moving onto family land and starting a plant-based homestead
 05:27 – Testing the soil and discovering it couldn't support crops
 06:40 – Why the market garden idea didn't work out
 07:47 – Shifting toward animals: movable chicken coops and goats
 08:28 – Taking on a herd of 12 cows through a regional park program
 09:28 – Managing breeding season and calving timing
 11:17 – Water management and natural water sources
 12:36 – Raising bulls for beef and timing the harvest
 14:02 – Finding a slaughterhouse for grass-finished cattle
 16:10 – Why poultry is "for the feast" and beef is for every day
 17:52 – Chickens surviving harsh winters outdoors
 17:52 – Regulations preventing pastured hogs due to swine flu concerns
 20:17 – Plans to grow berries without chemical inputs
 23:12 – Tracking farm data and calculating input costs
 25:05 – Improving pasture health through grazing management
 28:02 – What it takes to stick with this way of life long-term
 29:00 – Raising kids on the farm and hopes for the next generation

Send us Fan Mail

What does it take to keep a 200-year-old vineyard thriving as the climate shifts beneath it?

In this episode of Harvesting Wisdom, host Mike McMahon travels to Burgundy, France to sit down with Christophe, who oversees field operations for the historic Louis LaTour estate. Their conversation unfolds right in the vineyard, walking the rows while discussing soil, biodiversity, and the realities of farming some of the most celebrated land in the world.

Christophe shares how growers across small, centuries-old plots are working together to restore biodiversity at a landscape scale — leaving native forest edges intact, replanting hedgerows, and creating wildlife corridors between tiny parcels owned by dozens of different families. He also explains Burgundy's dry-farming approach, on-site composting practices, and why shallow, mineral-rich soils have historically defined the region's wines.

A major thread throughout the episode is climate change. Christophe walks through decades of harvest data showing dates shifting earlier and earlier, and describes the long-term work being done — from testing new rootstocks and grape clones to reconsidering vine density — to help vineyards stay resilient for future generations.

The conversation closes with reflections on tradition, terroir, and what it really means to make wine as part of a multi-generational, cooperative system rather than a solo pursuit.

If you care about regenerative agriculture, soil health, or how traditional farming systems are adapting to a changing climate, this is a conversation worth your time.

👉 Subscribe to Harvesting Wisdom for more conversations on agriculture, sustainability, and the people working to build resilient food and farming systems.

Why Listen?

This episode offers a rare, ground-level look at how one of the world's most tradition-bound wine regions is confronting climate change in practical, hands-on ways. Whether you're into regenerative agriculture, soil health, biodiversity, or simply curious about how generations-old farming systems adapt under pressure, Christophe's perspective is grounded, honest, and full of specifics — from composting methods to root depth to why cooperation between growers matters more than competition. It's a great watch for gardeners, farmers, sustainability students, or anyone who wants to understand agriculture through the lens of place, patience, and long-term thinking.

00:00 – Introduction to Christophe and Louis LaTour
 02:40 – Native forest edges and natural biodiversity buffers
 04:22 – Multi-generational cooperation among Burgundy growers
 09:16 – Clone diversity and building resilience through genetics
 11:10 – Dry farming and on-site composting practices
 12:39 – Managing vine disease without synthetic sprays
 16:32 – Harvest date data and visible signs of climate change
 19:08 – Shallow soils, root depth, and water reserves
 21:02 – Cover crops and managing competition for water
 32:55 – The "Terroir de Corton" biodiversity project
 36:13 – Long-term adaptation: rootstocks, density, and old varieties
 44:00 – Advice for wine lovers exploring Burgundy
 45:34 – Closing thoughts and appreciation

Send us Fan Mail

Can healthier soil produce better wine? What happens when a family vineyard spends generations working with nature instead of against it?

In this episode of Harvesting Wisdom, host Mike McMahon visits Château Nodot in the Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux appellation to speak with vineyard owner Jessica Aubert. Her family has cared for the estate for more than 200 years, and for the past 16 years Jessica has continued their commitment to organic practices while leading the vineyard's transition into biodynamic farming.

Jessica explains how biodynamic agriculture has improved soil health, strengthened biodiversity, increased resilience to climate change, and enhanced the quality of their wines. From cover crops and herbal preparations to forest conservation and natural pest management, this conversation highlights how healthy ecosystems create healthier farms.

You'll also learn about:

•  The differences between organic, biodynamic, and regenerative agriculture 
•  How living soil supports healthier vines 
•  Biodiversity, pollinators, and natural pest control 
•  Climate change challenges facing vineyards today 
•  Biodynamic preparations and seasonal farming practices 
•  Why protecting forests and natural habitat matters for agriculture 

Whether you're a gardener, farmer, wine enthusiast, or simply interested in sustainable food systems, this episode offers practical insights into farming with nature while preserving the land for future generations.

Subscribe to Harvesting Wisdom for more conversations exploring agriculture, sustainability, food systems, environmental stewardship, and the people helping shape a more resilient future.

Healthy soil is the foundation of resilient agriculture, and this episode offers a real-world look at what that means in practice. Jessica Aubert shares how biodynamic farming has helped her family vineyard improve soil biology, protect biodiversity, and adapt to changing environmental conditions. Whether you're interested in regenerative agriculture, sustainable gardening, or simply curious about how great wine begins in the vineyard, you'll come away with valuable insights that extend far beyond wine.

00:00 – Welcome to Harvesting Wisdom & introduction to Château Nodot

00:41 – Meet Jessica Aubert and her family's 200-year-old Bordeaux vineyard

01:15 – The grape varieties grown at Château Nodot

03:10 – Why the vineyard transitioned to biodynamic farming

04:04 – Jessica's journey from banking to vineyard management

05:03 – Managing a vineyard year-round and today's wine market challenges

06:01 – Why wine consumption is changing around the world

07:00 – Shipping wine internationally and Bordeaux's unique terroir

08:28 – How biodynamic farming transformed the vineyard's soil

09:39 – Biodynamic farming vs. regenerative agriculture

10:37 – Does the moon influence plant growth?

11:17 – Biodynamic preparations explained

14:06 – Using herbs and natural teas to prevent vineyard diseases

15:26 – Creating natural soil amendments

16:06 – How biodynamic preparations are made and applied

18:15 – Best conditions for applying biodynamic treatments

19:04 – Climate change and its impact on grape production

20:31 – Managing vine growth for healthier grapes

22:23 – Building resilience through soil biology

23:59 – Organic matter, water retention, and healthier soils

24:57 – Why biodiversity matters below the surface

25:33 – Cover crops, clover, and supporting pollinators

26:07 – Bees, biodiversity, and natural ecosystems

27:03 – Preserving forests around the vineyard

29:03 – The economics of organic and biodynamic farming

29:49 – Future plans for grazing sheep in the vineyard

31:10 – Managing weeds without herbicides

32:32 – Why biodynamic grapes produce richer wines

33:13 – Working alongside conventional vineyards

35:27 – Jessica's vision for biodiversity and the future of wine

36:32 – Closing thoughts & thanks for watching

Send us Fan Mail

What would happen to our food supply if honeybees disappeared?

In this episode of Harvesting Wisdom, Dr. Joe Roselle speaks with Arizona State University Bee Lab researcher Dr. Cahit Ozturk about the essential role honeybees and other pollinators play in food production, biodiversity, and healthy ecosystems.

Dr. Ozturk explains what declining bee populations could mean for agriculture, how pesticides and monoculture farming affect bee health, and why honeybees are especially valuable pollinators. He also shares insights from his research into bee genetics, hygienic behavior, fungicide exposure, and Varroa mites.

Thinking about starting a backyard beehive? This conversation also covers practical beekeeping basics, including providing water, protecting hives from Arizona’s extreme heat, and identifying mite problems before they spread.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:

🐝 Why honeybees are critical to our food supply
🌱 How pollination affects crop quality and biodiversity
🚜 Why monoculture farming can harm bee nutrition
🧪 How pesticides and fungicides affect bee health
🍯 What gives honey its unique regional flavor
🔬 What researchers are discovering about bee genetics and behavior
🏡 What you need to begin backyard beekeeping
☀️ How Arizona beekeepers manage extreme heat and limited water
⚠️ How to recognize and manage Varroa mites

ABOUT DR. CAHIT OZTURK

Dr. Cahit Ozturk is a research technologist and associate researcher at Arizona State University with more than three decades of experience in honeybee research, education, breeding, and colony management.

He began working with honeybees in 1989 and earned his master’s degree studying royal jelly production. He later received his Ph.D. in bee genetics and breeding from Cukurova University in Turkey.

Before joining the ASU Bee Lab in 2014, Dr. Ozturk worked as a lecturer and researcher and served as the head of a government beekeeping research department in Turkey. His areas of expertise include honeybee breeding and management, queen bee rearing, bee genetics, hygienic behavior, royal jelly production, instrumental insemination, and honeybee learning and behavior.

He currently contributes to honeybee research projects and teaches basic through advanced beekeeping courses at the ASU Bee Lab.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Meet Dr. Cahit Ozturk
01:26 – Why bees matter to our food supply
02:35 – What happens if bee colonies collapse?
04:19 – Bumblebees, mason bees, butterflies, and other pollinators
07:18 – How chemicals and monoculture farming affect bees
11:00 – The connection between bees and biodiversity
12:58 – How pollination affects food quality and quantity
14:51 – What gives honey its regional flavor?
17:52 – Honey and human health
21:23 – Current research at the ASU Bee Lab
23:45 – Protecting bees from pesticides and fungicides
26:34 – How to begin backyard beekeeping
28:35 – Managing water and extreme heat in Arizona
30:05 – Detecting and treating Varroa mites
34:14 – Surprising facts about honeybees
36:38 – Final advice for future beekeepers

If you care about sustainable agriculture, food security, biodiversity, gardening, or beekeeping, this conversation is for you.

Subscribe to Harvesting Wisdom for more conversations with the researchers, farmers, educators, and innovators working to create healthier communities and more resilient food systems.

Send us Fan Mail

Episode Summary

Part 2 continues the conversation with Philippe Drouhin, diving deeper into rootstock science including a mysterious rootstock disease that emerged in France 20 years ago and ongoing collaborative testing among growers. Philippe and Mike explore the philosophical heart of Burgundy winemaking: the difference between "style" and true "terroir," why a great taster should be able to identify a wine's origin blind, and how his father used old vintages to teach the next generation what a wine "should" taste like. The discussion broadens into shifting consumer habits declining alcohol consumption, the rise and fall of trends like non-alcoholic and vegan wine, and why younger drinkers are choosing less but better. Philippe also shares a hands-on experiment reducing soil compaction with modified tractor routes, and closes with reflections on how growers now cooperate more than compete in the face of a shared enemy: climate change.

Why Listen

Listen if you want to understand what separates a wine that merely tastes good from one that's authentically true to its land, and how a historic estate is adapting old traditions to new environmental realities. Great for wine enthusiasts, sustainable agriculture followers, and anyone interested in how tradition, science, and changing consumer culture intersect in the modern wine industry.

Highlight Timestamps

• 00:27 – Rootstock varieties, disease outbreaks, and ongoing regional testing
• 02:30 – Where rootstocks originally came from and how they were crossed
• 03:42 – What a phylloxera-style total vineyard loss would mean today
• 04:40 – Vine planting timelines, legal harvest ages, and early yields
• 07:03 – How a winery keeps its flavor consistent year after year
• 08:29 – Learning terroir from your father: knowledge passed through generations
• 10:16 – Terroir vs. style: why a wine should be recognizable blind
• 13:51 – Élevage and tasting sessions used to teach "what's right"
• 15:49 – Did Philippe ever consider a different path? Life in the family business
• 16:03 – The unpredictability of organic farming, year to year
• 17:38 – The "40 Chances" idea — a farmer's limited shots at getting it right
• 19:24 – Passing the vineyard down: family, teaching, and staying local
• 20:12 – Storytelling through old vintages (1961, 1962) at family dinners
• 21:32 – Why younger generations are drinking less but choosing better wine
• 24:15 – Non-alcoholic and vegan wine trends, and how far they'll go
• 27:55 – A hands-on soil experiment: reducing tractor compaction row by row
• 30:51 – Compaction, water retention, and long-term soil health
• 32:39 – Why growers now cooperate more than compete
• 32:53 – Climate change and emerging disease threats as the shared enemy
• 34:34 – Closing thoughts: trading wine and community among growers