NOFA Podcast

This week on the NOFA/Mass podcast we are talking about the oldest trick in the book… gleaning! That's taking one farmer's trash and using for the treasure it is! The history, significance, some crazy things farmers have repurposed and why gleaning and dumpster diving is a great practice for low and no-till farmers. We will also be having an inspirational chat with Danny Botkin of Laughing Dog Farm in Gill all about how he uses the regenerative power of gleaning on his farm. And guess what guys I have a farm hack, for real!

This week on the NOFA/Mass podcast we are getting down and dirty and talking about soil...AGAIN! Some new takes on why healthy soil makes for healthier food and a healthier planet. The world of things under your feet making soil better and the top 5 ways to get more worms in your soil. We talk to Caro Rozell NOFA/Mass Soil Carbon Testing Technician about the amazing workshops she is doing all over MA teaching folks how to test the quality of their soil. And Farm Hacks and Fails are back with a trashy fail and a pumped up hack

This week on the NOFA/Mass podcast it's all about the farm bill baby! And that is because we are going to be joining Congressman Jim McGovern on his farm tour of the NOFA/Mass headquarters Many Hands Organic Farm in Barre MA! We will talk about what the farm bill is and why we need to have folks like McGovern in our corner. I will also be introducing a heroic new segment "Marty's Call to Action!" Stick around folks because we are only gonna talk about this bill every five years… Because it's an omnibus bill...The farm bill yah know? Heh

This week on the NOFA/Mass podcast we are going to be reliving the glory of the NOFA Summer Conference! This past weekend hundreds of farmers came together to learn for some amazing presenters. Including our keynote speakers Rowen White and Eric Holt-Giménez. In this episode, you will hear excerpts from those talks as well as a very seedy farm fail and a heartfelt farm hack.

This week on the NOFA/Mass podcast we are talking about farms where you would least expect them. In the city! I'll take you through some history of farming in cities and the amazing benefits of growing food that isn't just food. And we will hear my interview with NOFA/Mass's own Anna Gilbert-Muhammad about the work she has done building gardens up from scratch in Springfield Mass. And why she will always ask what your favorite food is first and maybe hire a dj! And as always our farm hacks and farm fails, but this week it's just those sweet sweet hacks! Stick around, because today is all about urban farms.

This week on the NOFA Mass podcast we are getting into the holiday spirit! Today is the fourth of July and as we celebrate our country's independence we are going to be talking about the often rebellious, sometimes problematic and always patriotic history of farming in the USA. And especially here in MA as we chat with Cathy Stanton of Tufts University about the very specific history of New England farming, how it is much more triumphant than we think and why she would want to be a fly on the wall of Shays rebellion! So, stand on up! Put your hand on your hearts and let's pledge allegiance to organic farming!

This week on the NOFA/Mass Podcast we are really gonna let ourselves go to seed. No, I don't mean that I'm going to grow out my hair and beard all Rip Van Winkle Style! We are actually talking about seed saving! I'll give you my hot takes on taking up seed saving and the top 5 reasons you should start saving your own seeds for your garden, homestead or farm. Plus my talk with Bill Braun of Ivory Silo Farm all about the politics and practices of his life as a seed saver. And as always our farm hacks and fails!

This week on the NOFA/Mass Podcast we are going to take a deep dive into a system of farm and garden design that aims to be a holistic approach to food production, land stewardship and even how we interact with other people. Permaculture! We will get into the history of this system, what it is and why so many Organic and sustainable growers love it. We will also hear my chat with Jono Niger the author of The Permaculture Promise and the main man at Regenerative Design Group all about the principals and the zones. Plus this week's Farm Hack that is a super space saver and our Farm Fail that is a craaaazy time waster! So, kick back, get ready to observe the patterns cuz we are going to get Permaculture-y!

This week on the NOFA/Mass podcast we are feeling the summertime vibes folks! I'm talking sunglasses, bare feet, swimming holes, singing around bonfires and of course the best part of summer that encompasses all these things AND is all about Organic Farming and sustainable living...what's that you ask? It's the 44th NOFA Summer Conference!! Because registration is OPEN Ya'll!

So we are going to get into just how great this year's con is going to be. What you can look forward to when it comes to workshops & keynotes. I'll also be having a chat with Julie Rawson the Executive Director of NOFA/MA all about the history of the Summer Conference and she shares some of her favorite (or not so favorite) memories of conferences of yore. So smear on your sunscreen and strap on your Tevas cuz it all about the Summer Con!

This week on the NOFA/Mass podcast we are going to be doing some Science Fiction-y stuff folks, we are bending space and time, we are manipulating plant biology, we are going to build a SPACESHIP!! Ok, maybe not that but the other stuff... sort of. We are talking season extension! Why we would want to extend the growing season, what season extension techniques you can use from tiny and homemade to huge and high tech, and what plant breeds are the best to try and extend the season with. Plus an interview with Jeremy Barker Plotkin of Simple Gifts Farm in Amherst MA about how season extension upped his CSA game and this week we only have a Farm Fail but boy it's a doozy! Don't go anywhere, we are going to boldly grow into a season no-one has grown in before!