In this episode of The Good Dirt Podcast, Emma and Mary welcome back Janna Hockenjos, founder of We Are Earth Friends, an environmental education organization designed for children ages 3-8. Jana discusses the program’s impact on young learners' understanding of the interconnectedness of all of life on our planet and provides an update on the progress and expansion of the program. She also offers insights from the suburban food forest project. that she and her husband have been cultivating over the last few years.

In addition, Emma and Mary make the announcement that the podcast will take a sabbatical until next year to allow time for rest and the development of new ideas. In the meantime, they will be continuing with articles, ideas and inspiration in The ALMANAC, the online newsletter and community of Lady Farmer. See the Substack link below!

00:00 Reflecting on Slow Living Amidst Chaos

00:30 Embracing the Present Moment

01:35 Nature's Simple Joys

02:27 Recording Together and Taking a Sabbatical

04:10 Podcast Evolution and Future Plans

08:13 Introducing Jana and Earth Friends

12:25 Jana's Journey and Environmental Education

15:19 Earth Friends Curriculum and Impact

32:14 Making Environmental Education Accessible

36:33 Challenges in Implementing Earth Friends in Schools

37:04 Making Earth Friends Accessible to All

38:57 Homeschool Groups and Marketing Strategies

41:22 The Importance of Patience and Letting Go

42:00 Personal Reflections and Yoga Insights

51:23 Suburban Food Forest Project

54:09 The Healing Power of Growing Your Own Food

01:06:03 The Significance of Good Soil

01:10:33 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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🌻 About Lady Farmer:

• Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community
• Visit Our Website
• Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram
• Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!

Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Lady Farmer. 

The Good Dirt podcast is proudly part of the Connectd Podcasts network. 

🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:

• Wendy Gray

This episode was originally published on August 18th, 2023

In this episode we're talking to Leah Webb, author of The Seven Step Homestead about how to turn any yard into a primary food source with vegetables, fruits, chickens, pollinator plants and medicinal herbs. A mother of two children with unique medical needs, Leah utilizes food grown in her own backyard garden as an important part of her children's integrative care. She sees herself as a solutions-based Family Food and Garden Coach, with a goal of guiding families in making small yet impactful steps towards sourcing their own nutrition and achieving long term dietary, cooking, and gardening goals. She is also the author of The Grain-Free, Sugar-Free, Dairy-Free Family Cookbook. In this conversation, we delve into the challenges and benefits of growing and preparing nutrient dense food, and the practicalities of creating your own microfarm in the space you already have. If you are one of many with a goal to connect with the land and create more independence from the industrial food system, Leah can guide you through, step-by-step.

Topics Discussed

• A Stormy Week in the DC Area

• Leah's Background in Nutrition Education and Her Path to Creating a Microfarm in her own Backyard.

• Being a Mom to Kids with Unique Medical Needs and the Role of Gardening and Home Grown Food in their Integrative Care.

• Learning the Basics of Gardening for Food

• Eating Home Grown Vegetables

• Food Preservation

• Convenience Foods

• Priorities & Food

• Investing in Homesteading

• Start Small for the Long Haul

• Which Plants to Start With

• Planting Charts

• Using, Measuring, and Creating Compost

• The Difference Between Homesteading and Gardening

• Homesteading , Self Sufficiency and Community

• Finding an Alternative to the Industrial Food Industry

• Consumer Awareness of Food

• Regenerative Growing Practices

Episode Resources:

•"The Grain-Free, Sugar-Free, Dairy-Free Family Cookbook: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Cooking with Whole Foods on a Restrictive Diet" by Leah Webb

•"The Seven-Step Homestead: A Guide for Creating the Backyard Microfarm of Your Dreams" by Leah Webb

•Listen to The Good Dirt Reclaiming Our Food from Field to Kitchen with CSA Farmer Mo Moutoux of Moutoux Orchard

Connect with Leah Webb:

• Website: https://www.leahmwebb.com/

• Instagram @leah_m_webb https://www.instagram.com/leah_m_webb/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeahMWebbWellness/

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🌻 About Lady Farmer:

•Our Website

•Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram

•Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC

•Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!

Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

In this episode, Madison Murphy Barney, a two-Spirit Hoopa and Shoshone sister, author, doula, and public health storyteller, discusses the significance of the two-Spirit identity, historical roles, and the importance of maintaining cultural traditions. Madison delves into personal experiences growing up in North Dakota, the impact of indigenous boarding schools, and the generational transmission of pride and cultural knowledge. She also talks about the nature of stewardship, reconnecting with one's ancestry, and practical ways to slow down and embrace a more connected, mindful lifestyle. Highlighting the importance of personal and collective healing, Madison's insights offer deep wisdom and helpful guidance on how to engage with land, personal identity, and community.

00:00 Introduction to Madison Murphy Barney

04:01 Understanding Two-Spirit Identity

05:11 Historical Context and Personal Background

07:35 Family Heritage and Cultural Pride

11:17 Impact of Residential Schools

14:55 Journey to Vermont and Community Building

18:22 Stewarding the Land and Personal Growth

21:59 The Role of Humans in Healing the Earth

23:40 Madison's Upcoming Book and Its Themes

25:33 Final Reflections on Connection and Responsibility

30:44 Exploring the Concept of 'Away'

30:55 Connecting with Our Own Medicine

34:42 Practical Steps to Reconnect with Ancestral Wisdom

39:36 Astrology and Past Lives

43:20 Navigating Challenging Times on Earth

47:04 The Importance of Slowing Down

50:46 Offerings and Final Thoughts

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🌻 About Lady Farmer:

• Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community
• Visit Our Website
• Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram
• Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!

Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Lady Farmer. 

The Good Dirt podcast is proudly part of the Connectd Podcasts network. 

🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:

• Wendy Gray

This is an ENCORE EPISODE, originally published on August 5, 2022

In this episode, Mary and Emma are talking to Julia Skinner of Root: Historic Food for the Modern World. Root was born from Julia's deep love for community and a belief in the power of food to tell stories, connect us to place and to each other, and to build a bridge to the past.

Julia's work is all about food, history, food stories, where it comes from and the people behind it. She loves fostering connections with other people and with the earth around us. Julia is especially interested in learning and teaching about fermentation, demonstrating to people the ease and accessibility of preparing delicious and healthy food using this ancient and powerful food preservation technique.

Topics Covered:

• Exploring historic cookbooks
• Julia’s discovery of historical cooking traditions
• Types of fermentation she has explored
• How to start fermenting
• The growing popularity of traditional foods
• Shifting food interests during the pandemic
• Food Access
• Milk Kefir
• Food as medicine

Resources Mentioned:

• Julia's website--Root Kitchens
• Our Fermented Lives. by Julia Skinner
• The English Housewife by Gervase Markham
• The Art of Fermentation by Sandor Katz
• Free99Fridge, Atlanta
• Umi Feeds
• Goodr
• Sowans Celtic Porridge
• The Fermentation School
• Son-Mat --(Korean) Hand taste, the unique quality and taste food has from an individual's touch, care, and experience; the way food tastes different when made by different people, often used to describe the taste of mom's cooking.

Connect with Julia:

•  Root Kitchens Website: https://root-kitchens.com/
• @rootkitchens on Instagram
• Julia's Books, Classes and Courses
• Root Kitchens Newsletter on Substack

About Lady Farmer:

Lady Farmer is a sustainable apparel and lifestyle brand, with education around sustainability and sustainable living at the forefront of our mission. Lady Farmer is proud to produce The Good Dirt podcast.

• Our Website
• @weareladyfarmer on Instagram
• Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC
• Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or tell us what the good dirt means to you.
• Email us at [email protected]

In this episode, Mary is talking with Eve Schaub, an internationally published author and humorist. Known for her year-long experiments, such as 'Year of No Sugar' and 'Year of No Clutter,' Eve’s latest endeavor is 'The Year of the Dress,' where she attempts to grow, harvest, spin, and weave flax into a wearable linen dress in her backyard. The conversation covers the challenges of growing flax, the environmental impact of fast fashion, and the importance of community and sustainability in textile production. Listen to Eve’s inspiring journey towards slow living and sustainable crafting, and learn about resources such as Fibershed and the Pennsylvania Flax Project that support local textile production.

00:00 Introduction to Big Ideas and Projects

00:33 Guest Introduction: Eve Shaw

01:07 Personal Projects and Sustainable Gardening

04:30 Long-Term Planning and Sustainability

05:52 Eve Shaw's Year-Long Experiments

08:02 The Year of the Dress: Growing a Linen Dress

11:42 Challenges and Inspirations in Sustainable Fashion

21:32 Community and Resources for Flax Growing

29:18 Overcoming Initial Challenges in Sustainable Clothing

32:10 The Thrill of Thrift Shopping

35:06 The Spirituality of Handmade Items

37:02 Starting the Flax Growing Journey

41:05 Learning and Experimenting with Flax

46:15 Community and Resources for Sustainable Living

RESOURCES:

Eve O Schaub Website and Books

Cindy Conner, Homegrown Flax and Cotton Website and Book

Fibershed

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum

PA Flax Project

Chesapeake Fibershed

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🌻 About Lady Farmer:

• Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community
• Visit Our Website
• Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram
• Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!

Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Lady Farmer. 

The Good Dirt podcast is proudly part of the Connectd Podcasts network. 

🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:

• Wendy Gray

This is an ENCORE EPISODE, originally published on July 7, 2023

In this episode, Emma and Mary sit down to talk to Smruti Aravind, who oversees fundraising, donor communications, and grants at the Story of Stuff Project. Smruti brings over a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector, with an emphasis on digital storytelling and network-building to drive systemic change. Prior to joining the Story of Stuff, she led communications at Faith in Action East Bay, a federation of the largest faith-based organizing network in the U.S. Smruti shares about her work and her perspective on creating meaningful social impact, as well as the campaign work that Story of Stuff is doing in order to create policy change. She introduces the Bottle Bill project as well as the Reuse Revolution, and why burning plastic is not the solution that you may believe it to be. Smruti also touches on what other countries are doing to deal with their waste, the impact on The Global South, and how we can all flex our citizen muscles and advocate for plastic reduction laws to be codified.

Topics Discussed

•Smruti's Work in the Nonprofit Sector

•How the Story of Stuff Came to Be

•Using the Power of Media to Influence Policy Change

•Content Creation & Advocacy

•The Story of Microbeads & The Story of Plastic

•Founder Annie Leonard's Inspiration for the Documentary

•Increasing BIPOC Voices in the Search of a Solution

•Systems Thinking for the General Public

•The Break Free From Plastic Movement Treaty

•How Millennials and Gender Z Approach Environmental Activism

•Shifting From Individual Responsibility to Systemic Change

•Real Solutions vs. False Solutions

•The Great Pacific Plastic Patch 

•Why Burning Plastic & Buying Plastic Clothes Doesn't Work

•Stopping the Tap with Campaign Work: The Bottle Bill & The Reuse Revolution

•What Other Countries Are Doing

•The Impact of Waste on the Global South

•Flexing Our Citizen Muscles

•What Corporations are Able to Change

•Moving to Florida & the Way that Different States Handle Plastic Waste

•Cloth Diapers

•Slow Living in a Big City

•The Impact of the Individual

Episode Resources:

•Watch The Story of Stuff Documentary

•The California Plastic Incinerator

Connect with Smruti Aravind:

•Website: https://www.storyofstuff.org/blog/people/smruti-aravind/

•YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/storyofstuffproject

•Instagram: @storyofstuff https://instagram.com/storyofstuff/

•Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/storyofstuff

•Links: https://linktr.ee/storyofstuff

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🌻 About Lady Farmer:

•Our Website

•Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram

•Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC

•Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!

Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

In this episode, Dr. Bill Schindler discusses the impact of modern diets on health and the importance of ancestral dietary practices. He shares the journey of the Modern Stone Age Kitchen, a restaurant dedicated to using ancestral approaches to make nutritious and sustainable food accessible, and his family's personal evolution in food preparation and consumption. Dr. Schindler also highlights the significance of seasonal eating, shares fascinating stories from his global travels to learn traditional food practices, and provides practical advice for people looking to improve their health and relationship with food. He emphasizes the necessity of flexibility in diets, understanding cultural and emotional connections to food, and making small, manageable shifts towards more nourishing eating habits.

00:00 The Best Diet Myth

00:27 Seasonal Eating Made Easy

04:34 Introducing Dr. Bill Schindler

07:19 Understanding Ancestral Foods

17:52 The Impact of Technological Revolutions on Diet

18:37 The Cold Chain Revolution

26:02 Personal Journey and Aha Moments

43:31 The Birth of the Sourdough Bread Company

49:11 The Reluctant Restaurant Owners

50:25 Struggles of Homemade Nourishment

52:26 Community and Outreach

53:52 The Food Lab and Educational Programs

55:31 Documenting Indigenous Food Practices

57:56 Traditional Cheese Making in Norway

01:01:34 Exploring Manioc Processing in the Amazon

01:04:38 Adventures in Kenya: The Ash Yogurt Story

01:14:35 Embracing Slow Living and Health Tracking

01:17:52 The Philosophy of Good Dirt

01:19:15 Advice for the Average Family

01:26:33 Celebrating Birthdays with Healthy Desserts

01:30:45 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Resources:

Bill Schindler's Website modernstoneage.com

Eat Like a Human: Nourishing Foods and Ancient Ways of Cooking to Revolutionize Your Health by Dr. Bill Schindler

Fire the Spark that Ignited Human Evolution by Francis D Burton

Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond

The Worst Mistake in the History of the Human Race by Jared Diamond

The Pulse Cure by Dr. Torkil Faero

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🌻 About Lady Farmer:

• Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community
• Visit Our Website
• Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram
• Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!

Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Lady Farmer. 

The Good Dirt podcast is proudly part of the Connectd Podcasts network. 

🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:

• Wendy Gray

This is an ENCORE EPISODE, originally published on July 9, 2021

In this week’s episode, Mary and Emma dive deep into the world of plastic consumption and waste management with Lauren Olson, a Zero Waste Manager at World Centric, exploring the world of compostables and the use of plastic in our daily lives. The discussion covers several aspects of the topic, including the difficulties of “zero-waste," how plastic sneaks into our homes even when we are consciously trying to avoid it, and all the ways in which existing systems make it difficult to create true sustainability in our homes. 

Lauren explains the science behind bioplastics, as well as the difference between industrial vs home compostables. She also shares how to determine genuinely compostable products and helps us imagine a cradle to cradle world where waste equals food for the earth, and not the other way around! 

Mary and Emma ask the vital questions, what can we do to work through this monumentally large plastic problem, and is it really possible to achieve the ultimate goal of a zero-waste economy? Lauren gives practical tips for individual action, while encouraging all of us to use our voices as paying consumers to demand change from the top down.

1:30 - Mary and Emma catch up and talk about plastic problem solving! 

10:30 - World Centric 

Let’s get into the episode:

11:30 - Introducing Lauren & the world of World Centric 

16:30 - Is zero waste really achievable?  

22:00 - Bioplastics 

30:00 - Landfills as coffins for waste 

35:00 - What can we do? 

36:00 - Greenwashing 

43:00 - Facing this massive issue 

50:00 - What does the Good Dirt mean to you? 

USE CODE: "thegooddirt" for 10% off online at World Centric. Valid for 30 days. 

Things Mentioned:

• World Centric 
• The Ecology Center 
• Nature Works
• Polystyrene
• BPI 
• Compost Manufacturers Alliance (CAM)  
• ASTM 6400 or 6868
• Findacomposter.com
• World Centric’s Giving Program

In this episode, Corinna Wood, a visionary teacher of women's wisdom, discusses her thirty year career with herbalism, teaching, and community building--all while embracing an earth-based, woman-centered approach to women's inner growth and healing. Corinna reflects on her early influences in herbal medicine and wise woman ways, her experiences founding the Southeast Wise Women Herbal Conference, her contributions to herbal medicine through Red Moon Herbs and her current work supporting women on their own healing journeys.

00:00 Introduction to Radical Self-Care

00:30 Catching Up with Emma

01:13 The Evolution of Air Conditioning

03:08 Reflecting on Hot Summers

05:32 The Impact of Climate Change

05:57 The History of Freezers and Ice

08:20 Appreciating Agricultural Workers

08:56 Introducing Corinna Wood

10:31 Corinna's Journey into Herbal Medicine

17:12 Founding the Southeast Wise Women Herbal Conference

23:09 Memorable Moments at the Conference

27:15 The Wise Woman Needs Wheel

29:14 Teaching Tools for Inner Growth

30:04 Introduction to the Wise Woman Needs Wheel

31:55 Seasonal Needs and Human Connection

38:30 Rituals and Herbal Practices

42:59 The Journey of Red Moon Herbs

47:29 Current Programs and Teachings

51:13 Addressing the 'Not Enough' Belief

55:18 Healing Through Earth-Based Practices

01:00:57 Embracing Slow Living and Cycles

01:06:17 Final Thoughts and Resources

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🌻 About Lady Farmer:

• Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community
• Visit Our Website
• Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram
• Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!

Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Lady Farmer. 

The Good Dirt podcast is proudly part of the Connectd Podcasts network. 

🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:

• Wendy Gray

This episode was originally published on June 23, 2023

Meet Maria Rodale, an author and advocate for organic regenerative farming. An explorer in search of the mysteries of the universe, Maria is the author of "Love Nature Magic: Shamanic Journeys into the Heart of My Garden", "Organic Manifesto", "Scratch", and is the author of a children's book series called written by the under the pen name "Mrs. Peanuckle". Her book "Love Nature Magic" was featured as a part of the a recent selection for the Lady Farmer book club, so it was truly an honor to get to talk with her on The Good Dirt. Together, Mary, Emma, and Maria discuss her new book, her family legacy in the world of regenerative agriculture, as well as her evolution from a CEO to (in her own words) a “crazy gardener.” Maria is truly a voice for the power and magic of nature and a guide for all of us seeking to rekindle a meaningful connection to the earth.

Maria is the former CEO and Chairman of Rodale Inc, and has served on multiple nonprofit boards including the Rodale Institute, Bette Midler’s New York Restoration Project, and the Pennsylvania Federal Reserve Advisory council. She has received awards for her lifetime of service and activism, including the National Audubon Rachel Carson Award and the United Nations Population Fund’s Award for the Health and Dignity of Woman Everywhere.

Topics Discussed

• Growing up on as 3rd Generation Farmer at the Rodale Institute

• The Farming Systems Trial

• Moving Out at 18 to Becoming CEO: Family Loss & Legacy

• The Implosion of the Publishing Industry

• Following Her Nose: How Maria Found Writing

• The Making of "Love Nature Magic"

• What is a Shamanic Journey? 

• Dealing with Mugwort in Gardens

• Decolonizing Our Relationship with Nature

• A Garden's Desire to be Wild

• Why the Biggest Changes Come from a Change in Behavior

• Being Open to Hearing Nature's Message

• Changing the Future by Modeling What Could Be Over What Is

• Recovering from a Stroke

•"Regenerative" over "Sustainability"

Episode Resources:

•The Rodale Institute: 75 Years of Organic Agriculture Leadership

•"Love, Nature, Magic: Shamanic Journeys into the Heart of My Garden"

•"Organic Manifesto: How Organic Food Can Heal Our Planet, Feed the World, and Keep Us Safe"

•"Scratch: Home Cooking for Everyone Made Simple, Fun, and Totally Delicious: A Cookbook"

•Mrs. Peanuckle's Books

•Mindful Bear

•The Good Dirt: "The Urgent Need for Restorative Gardens with Mary Reynolds"

•Fried Dandelion TikTok

Connect with Maria Rodale:

• Website: https://www.mariarodale.com/

• Mrs. Peanuckle Website: https://www.mrspeanuckle.com/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariarodale/ 

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🌻 About Lady Farmer:

•Our Website

•Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram

•JSign up to join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC

•Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!

Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

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