In this episode, we explore the tradition of rendering animal fats, focusing on tallow and lard and their unique uses in cooking and beyond. We discuss the role of animal fats in human history, why they fell out of favor, and their modern revival. Plus, Lindey shares her experience with homemade tallow soap, highlighting its skin benefits.

Episode Overview:

• The differences between tallow and lard, including texture, cooking applications, and smoke points
• A brief history of animal fats in the human diet and their role in traditional societies
• How animal fats fell out of favor in the U.S. due to the rise of seed oils and industrial marketing
• Methods for rendering fat: water rendering vs. dry rendering
• The nutritional benefits of grass-fed animal fats and the impact of rendering methods on nutrient retention
• Wild game fats: unique characteristics and handling tips for bear and deer fat
• Practical uses for rendered tallow beyond cooking, like making tallow soap and skincare products

Use code “yearofplenty” (all lower case) for 15% OFF at www.mtblock.com

MY ULTIMATE FORAGING GEAR LIST - Check it out

Leave a review on Apple or Spotify and send a screenshot to [email protected] to receive a FREE EBOOK with my favorite food preservation recipes.

Watch the Video Podcasts on Youtube:
https://youtu.be/CwBiA3OAGbs?si=YAImrlnFe6wA-9g5

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This episode is a conversation with Danielle Prewett. Danielle is the founder of Wild + Whole and a Wild Foods Contributing Editor for MeatEater. Danielle believes that every meal should tell a story, and that sustainable eating starts by reawakening our connection to food and relying on the seasons and the inherent rhythms of nature to guide our choices.

Episode Overview:

• Why are food system is broken and how eating consciously is the answer
• How you can start to eat and cook more seasonally
• Common mistakes people make when cooking wild game meat
• How to mask the gamey flavor of wild game meat
• Meat differences between wild game birds
• How to cook wild game bird organs
• Advice for smoking wild game meat
• Wild truffle foraging and truffle oil
• And more!

Use code “yearofplenty” (all lower case) for 15% OFF at www.mtblock.com

Buy the Wild + Whole Cookbook on Amazon:
https://amzn.to/4eKoQxU

MY ULTIMATE FORAGING GEAR LIST - Check it out

Leave a review on Apple or Spotify and send a screenshot to [email protected] to receive a FREE EBOOK with my favorite food preservation recipes.

Watch the Video Podcasts on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H5cwGtL3Eg

Support the podcast via donations:
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Connect with Danielle:
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As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Today’s guest is Matt Skoglund, a first-generation bison rancher and the owner of North Bridger Bison in Montana. Matt is passionate about raising bison regeneratively, using holistic methods that improve biodiversity and soil health on the land. In this episode, we dive into his journey into bison ranching, why bison are so vital to the landscape, and how regenerative farming can reshape our food system.

Episode Overview:

• Matt Skoglund's story as a first generation bison rancher in Montana
• Why bison are important animals for the landscape
• The role of bison in regenerative agriculture
• Regenerative ranching methods that improve biodiversity and soil health
• The power of bison meat and the best ways to cook bison
• Why rural food economies are vital for a sustainable food system
• And more!

Use code “yearofplenty” (all lower case) for 15% OFF at www.mtblock.com

MY ULTIMATE FORAGING GEAR LIST - Check it out

Leave a review on Apple or Spotify and send a screenshot to [email protected] to receive a FREE EBOOK with my favorite food preservation recipes.

Watch the Video Podcasts on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUMERQR1Yf4

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Connect with Matt:
https://www.northbridgerbison.com/
https://www.instagram.com/northbridgerbison/

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In this episode of the Year of Plenty Podcast, I sit down with Orion Aon, an expert wild food forager and founder of Forage Colorado. Orion shares his vast experience in foraging, focusing on late summer to fall mushrooms. We dive into identifying, foraging, and preparing some of the best edible mushrooms you can find in the wild during this season. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced forager, Orion's insights on mushroom habitats, sustainable harvesting, and cooking wild mushrooms will enhance your foraging skills and appreciation for nature's bounty.

Episode Overview:

• Orion’s background in wild food foraging and how his upbringing in New Mexico introduced him to the world of plants, trees, and wild edibles
• Some of the mushroom species we talk about include: Porcini, Chanterelles, Matsutake, Hedgehog, Hawk’s Wing, Oysters, and more
• Orion’s approach to foraging mushrooms safely, including the importance of 100% confidence in identification before consuming wild foods
• Best habitats and conditions for foraging late summer to fall mushrooms in the Mountain West
• The influence of weather patterns, especially rainfall and moisture, on mushroom fruiting and foraging success
• How to use digital tools like OnX and NOAA's precipitation estimator to e-scout for ideal foraging locations
• Mushroom cooking tips and preservation techniques
• Q&A with questions from the Year of Plenty Podcast audience

Use code “yearofplenty” (all lower case) for 15% OFF at www.mtblock.com

MY ULTIMATE FORAGING GEAR LIST - Check it out

Leave a review on Apple or Spotify and send a screenshot to [email protected] to receive a FREE EBOOK with my favorite food preservation recipes.

Watch the Video Podcasts on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8VjxtYricw

Support the podcast via Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/yearofplenty

Sign up for the newsletter:
www.theyearofplenty.com/newsletter

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Connect with Orion:
https://www.foragecolorado.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@OrionAon
https://www.instagram.com/foragecolorado/
https://www.patreon.com/foragingwithorion
https://discord.gg/CkjJtchHFc (invite link)

Episode Resources:
https://water.noaa.gov/
https://boletes.wpamushroomclub.org/

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In this episode, I chat with Kyle Kamp, the expert nutritionist behind Valley to Peak Nutrition, about the critical aspects of backcountry nutrition for hunters and other backcountry enthusiasts. Whether you're gearing up for a multi-day backcountry hunt or hiking trip, dialing in your nutrition can make all the difference. Kyle shares practical tips on how to fuel your body efficiently, manage calorie intake, and ensure proper hydration and meal timing while in the backcountry.

Episode Overview:

• Kyle's journey into the world of nutrition and how his personal experiences shaped his approach
• Importance of a well-planned nutrition strategy for backcountry hunting
• The role of calories: How to calculate and adjust your intake for the backcountry
• Managing calorie deficits: Recognizing symptoms and staying fueled during long trips
• Meal timing and macronutrient balance for sustained energy during your trips
• Hydration strategies: How much water you really need and the role of electrolytes
• Adjusting nutritional strategies as you age: From your 20s to your 40s and beyond
• Tips for planning and packing your meals for backcountry trips
• Practical advice on using whole foods, supplements, and maintaining a consistent nutrition plan

Use code “yearofplenty” (all lower case) for 15% OFF at www.mtblock.com

MY ULTIMATE FORAGING GEAR LIST - Check it out

Leave a review on Apple or Spotify and send a screenshot to [email protected] to receive a FREE EBOOK with my favorite food preservation recipes.

Watch the Video Podcasts on Youtube:
https://youtu.be/QY11obCnWRg?si=D01D17iJP2cBdm-T

Connect with Kyle Kamp:
https://www.v2pnutrition.com/

Link to Kyle's Calorie Planning Template:
https://www.v2pnutrition.com/product-page/backcountry-pack-planner

Support the podcast via Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/yearofplenty

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In this episode, Poldi chats with Ken Thrall all about how you can increase your odds for success in the elk woods. Ken works for Kifaru Gear and has hunted elk for over a decade.

Episode Overview:

• Tips for better e-scouting to find locations on the map that might hold elk
• How Ken’s e-scouting methodology changes from elk archery to rifle season
• What a typical glassing session looks like for Ken when he is scouting for elk
• A brief lesson on elk behavior, how elk move throughout the day, and how hunters can use this information to their advantage
• How to hunt elk in thick, dense bedding areas
• Tips for the archery set up when you are calling in an elk during archery season
• How to speed up the elk field dressing process
• Community Q & A where we answer questions from Year of Plenty listeners

 
Use code “yearofplenty” (all lower case) for 15% OFF at www.mtblock.com

MY ULTIMATE FORAGING GEAR LIST - Check it out

Leave a review on Apple or Spotify and send a screenshot to [email protected] to receive a FREE EBOOK with my favorite food preservation recipes.

Watch the Video Podcasts on X:
https://x.com/yearofplentypod/status/1827105186692890912

Connect with Kenneth:
https://www.instagram.com/kenneththrall/

Support the podcast via Patreon:
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This Year of Plenty Podcast episode is a conversation with Randy Newberg. Randy is a passionate hunter and the voice of the public land hunter in America. With decades of experience on public lands, he’s become a leading advocate for self-guided hunters and others who appreciate public lands. Randy hosts two popular TV shows, 'Fresh Tracks' and 'On Your Own Adventures,' and the Hunt Talk Podcast, where he speaks unfiltered about hunting and conservation.

Episode Overview:

• Randy Newberg's Journey: Discover Randy's childhood experiences with wild food in rural Minnesota and how it shaped his love for hunting and public lands.
• Wild Food Traditions: The cultural and traditional importance of wild foods in Randy's life and his love for the wild food sharing economy.
• Foraging Adventures: Randy shares memories of foraging for wild rice and other wild edibles during his younger years.
• Favorite Wild Game: Learn about Randy's favorite wild game meats, including his passion for wild bison.
• Elk Conservation: Important insights on elk conservation and what hunters can do to ensure sustainable hunting for future generations.
• Grouse Hunting: Explore Randy's special connection to grouse and the significance of this bird in his hunting experiences.
• Meat Processing Tips: Valuable advice on choosing the right meat processors and things to consider when doing it yourself.

Use code “yearofplenty” (all lower case) for 15% OFF at www.mtblock.com

MY ULTIMATE FORAGING GEAR LIST - Check it out

Leave a review on Apple or Spotify and send a screenshot to [email protected] to receive a FREE EBOOK with my favorite food preservation recipes.

Watch the Video Podcast Episode on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fA486yxo5l8

Connect with Randy:
https://randynewberg.com/
https://www.instagram.com/randynewberghunter/?hl=en

Support the podcast via Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/yearofplenty

Sign up for the newsletter:
www.theyearofplenty.com/newsletter

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Ryan is a dedicated marketing director with a solid 20-year career in media development within the hunting and outdoor markets. He was the marketing director at Mystery Ranch for a long time and fractionally helped out as VP of Marketing at LandTrust. Above all, Ryan is deeply passionate about hunting, climbing, health and photojournalism.

Episode Overview:

• How Ryan got into hunting and what it means to be an outdoorsman
• His journey working at Mystery Ranch, a premier backpack company
• Ryan’s health and nutrition routine that helps him thrive in his outdoor endeavors
• What trends Ryan is seeing in the outdoor gear world and which ones he thinks are fads
• His experience at LandTrust, a company that lets you book private land for outdoor experiences like hunting, and their mission

Use code “yearofplenty” (all lower case) for 15% OFF at www.mtblock.com

MY ULTIMATE FORAGING GEAR LIST - Check it out

Leave a review on Apple or Spotify and send a screenshot to [email protected] to receive a FREE EBOOK with my favorite food preservation recipes.

Watch the Video Podcast Episode on Youtube:
https://youtu.be/hOkNYB2kYWY?si=9pz571Ux2ao0eQz0

Connect with Ryan:
https://www.instagram.com/ryan__holm/?hl=en
https://www.youtube.com/@OverlandHunting

Support the podcast via Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/yearofplenty

Sign up for the newsletter:
www.theyearofplenty.com/newsletter

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X: https://x.com/yearofplentypod

I want to hear from you! Take the LISTENER SURVEY: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KZW53RT

This episode is a conversation with Tim Frost (aka Hoosier Forager) all about oyster mushroom foraging. Tim is a wild edible mushroom identification expert and educator. His content covers edible & medicinal mushroom and plant identification, cooking & storing wild foods, as well as general foraging tips.

Episode Overview:

• How Tim started his mushroom foraging journey
• Why we love oyster mushrooms and foraging for them
• Unique fun facts about wild oyster mushrooms
• How to identify some of the abundant oyster mushroom varieties here in the US
• The habitat wild oyster mushrooms grow in and when you can harvest them
• Best ways to harvest oyster mushrooms and how to preserve them for later use
• Fun culinary applications of oyster mushrooms and their nutritional value
• And more

Use code “yearofplenty” (all lower case) for 15% OFF at www.mtblock.com

MY ULTIMATE FORAGING GEAR LIST - Check it out

Leave a review on Apple or Spotify and send a screenshot to [email protected] to receive a FREE EBOOK with my favorite food preservation recipes.

Watch the Video Podcast Episode on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6rjXFuiSJ0

Connect with Tim:
https://www.instagram.com/hoosierforager/
https://www.youtube.com/@hoosierforager
https://www.foraged.com/foragers/hoosier-forager/outpost

Support the podcast via Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/yearofplenty

Sign up for the newsletter:
www.theyearofplenty.com/newsletter

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Resources/Studies:
Nutritional Analysis of Oyster Mushrooms
Oyster Mushroom Antimicrobial Activity Study

This episode is Part 2 of our conversation with James Mann (aka Spicebush Woodcraft). James if a foraging educator, homesteader, and chef.

Episode Overview:

• Why James built a thermal greenhouse to get more out of his homestead
• What his thermal greenhouse looks like and how he built it (including the budget)
• How the greenhouse allows him to grow plants during cold seasons
• How he collects rainwater to water the plants in his thermal greenhouse
• The benefits of a thermal greenhouse for homesteading
• And so much more!

Use code “yearofplenty” (all lower case) for 15% OFF at www.mtblock.com

MY ULTIMATE FORAGING GEAR LIST - Check it out

Leave a review on Apple or Spotify and send a screenshot to [email protected] to receive a FREE EBOOK with my favorite food preservation recipes.

Watch the Video Podcast Episode on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Njubrq9OtsI

Connect with James:
https://www.instagram.com/spicebushwoodcraft?igsh=MThzdGl1d3ZvNWlkYg==

Support the podcast via Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/yearofplenty

Sign up for the newsletter:
www.theyearofplenty.com/newsletter

Do you follow the podcast on social media yet?
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X: https://x.com/yearofplentypod

I want to hear from you! Take the LISTENER SURVEY: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KZW53RT