Talkin' Dirt

In this episode of Talkin’ Dirt, I sit down with Nat Bletter, a PhD botanist, chocolate maker, and plant-grafting wizard in Honolulu. We dive into high-density urban farming, the art of grafting dozens of varieties onto a single tree, and the surprising ways food, science, and community come together in his garden.

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Website: ⁠⁠⁠TalkinDirt.farm

In this episode of Talkin’ Dirt, I sit down with Darren Story, the founder of Coastal Sun Farm in Watsonville, California. Coastal Sun is a regenerative cannabis and blueberry farm that uses living soil and biodiversity to grow in harmony with nature. Darren shares his vision for farming that goes beyond products, focusing on healing the land and raising the standard for the industry.

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@Talkin.Dirt⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠TalkinDirt.farm

In this episode of Talkin’ Dirt, I visit a Seattle farm that turned a simple idea into a thriving pumpkin patch. You’ll hear how a young entrepreneur’s dream grew into a community tradition, bringing families together each fall. From the challenges of starting out, to the joy of seeing kids pick their first pumpkins, this story is all about passion, perseverance, and a love for farming.

🌱 Connect with Talkin’ Dirt

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@Talkin.Dirt⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠TalkinDirt.farm

In this episode of Talkin’ Dirt, I sit down with Shannon from Headwind Farm in North Saanich, British Columbia. Shannon is running a small organic farm on about half an acre—and she’s doing it largely on her own.

We talk about how a lifestyle change unexpectedly led her into farming, what it takes to make a living from such a small piece of land, and the constant balancing act of deciding what to grow, when to plant, and how to get the most out of limited space. Shannon also gets into some of the realities behind the work: crop failures, pest pressure, access to land, the cost of farming, and the organization and resilience it takes to keep everything moving.

We also talk about her experience as a woman in agriculture, the community of female farmers she’s found along the way, and what she hopes Headwind Farm might eventually become.

Shannon’s got a ton of passion for what she does, and after spending a couple hours working alongside her before we recorded, it was pretty easy to see why farming has become such a big part of her life.

You can follow Shannon and her work on Headwind Farm's instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/headwindfarm/

This was actually the very first interview I ever recorded for Talkin’ Dirt, and it’s where this whole thing started. If you enjoy the conversation, follow Talkin’ Dirt, leave a rating or review, and share the show with somebody who might enjoy it. It really does help the show grow.

🌱 Connect with Talkin’ Dirt

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@Talkin.Dirt⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠TalkinDirt.farm