In this episode brought to you by Homesteaders of Iowa (HOI), host Josh Wilder and Ana Skemp sit down with David Ford, a researcher, homesteader, and keynote at the upcoming HOI Expo and Midwest Conference who shares his journey of restoring degraded Iowa farmland using the principles of biomimicry. The conversation explores the vital role of mycorrhizal fungi in soil health, the importance of nutrient-dense food security, and how emulating nature's solutions can lead to a more resilient homestead.

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The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

In this episode of the Mother Earth News and Friends podcast, host Josh Wilder speaks with Gianaclis Caldwell about her book, The Useful Goat, which explores a "nose-to-tail" approach to goat keeping.

The conversation covers the practicalities of raising goats for milk and meat, offering expert advice on sustainable homesteading, humane processing, and the unique nutritional benefits of goat dairy.

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The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

This episode of the Mother Earth News and Friends podcast features an annual editorial roundup where editors from Mother Earth News and Grit magazines share their favorite, most surprising, and most inspiring articles from 2025. The editors discuss a diverse range of topics, including food preservation techniques like freeze-drying, sustainable gardening and habitat restoration, DIY skills such as roof thatching, winter foraging, and the importance of protecting wildlife habitats.

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The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

This episode of Mother Earth News and Friends features a conversation with Rosemary Gladstar, an acclaimed herbalist and author often called the "godmother of modern herbalism."

She discusses the history of herbalism, the importance of reconnecting children with nature and plants, and provides guidance on sustainable harvesting and sourcing herbs.

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The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

Comedian Tig Notaro joins the Mother Earth News and Friends podcast to share the story of her dedicated transition to a plant-based lifestyle following a series of health crises, a journey that led her to pursue a plant-based nutrition certification. She discusses the surprising health benefits she experienced, how she approaches nutrition with her family, and the importance of finding your personal motivation ("North Star") for making major lifestyle changes, all delivered with her trademark honesty and dry wit.

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The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

Dr. Christine Wilkinson joins the podcast to discuss how homesteaders can achieve equitable and lasting coexistence with urban and suburban wildlife.

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The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

This episode of Mother Earth News features an interview with Shelby Lucero from Growing Spaces about four-season gardening, even in challenging climates like Colorado. Shelby explains how the structures like their geodesic dome greenhouses which enable strength, combined with passive solar technologies like a thermal mass pond and under-soil ventilation, creates an energy-efficient, year-round growing environment.

This episode was sponsored by Growing Spaces

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The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

Get ahead of the cold as poultry keeper and Mother Earth News Editor Audra Trosper shares practical tips for weatherproofing your coop from fall through spring, including balancing ventilation and insulation. Plus, learn why breeds like Silkies and Frizzles are at high risk in cold weather and how to prevent common issues like frostbite and bumblefoot.

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The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

Join Alayna McDonald as she explains how she left her career in logistics to become a single-income, urban homesteader and how food preservation, specifically freeze-drying, has helped her save money. She delves into the technical process of freeze-drying, outlines the financial considerations of owning a freeze dryer, and shares her favorite freeze-dried foods, including a strange but successful zucchini bread mix. The episode is a great resource for anyone interested in homesteading, food preservation, and the practical economics behind it all.

This episode is sponsored by Harvest Right Freeze Dryers.

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The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

This podcast episode of Mother Earth News and Friends features chicken experts Holly Callahan-Kasmala and Chrisie DiCarlo of Coffee with the Chicken Ladies. They discuss essential tips for fall chicken care, from preparing coops for colder weather to understanding the natural molting process. The conversation aims to help both new and experienced chicken keepers ensure their flocks stay healthy and happy as the seasons change, all while sharing personal anecdotes and a laugh over endless cups of coffee.

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The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays