832: Cindy Gentry on Food Coop’s Impact on Local Food

Cindy discusses her extensive work in food co-ops, hunger prevention, and healthy food systems development. She shares her experiences in establishing the Phoenix Public Market and various farmers market programs to support local farmers and improve food accessibility. Cindy outlines the origins and goals of the Sun Produce Cooperative and its impact on local food distribution. Additionally, she delves into her personal journey, reflecting on past challenges and successes in her mission to promote local agriculture and fair food systems.

831: Growing Gourmet Mushrooms – A Garden Chat

A Garden Chat with Michael Judd. – Farmer Greg and Michael Judd, an expert in edible and ecological landscape design, discuss growing gourmet mushrooms outdoors. They cover the three easiest mushrooms to grow: shiitake, oyster, and wine cap mushrooms, along with their preferred growing conditions and necessary preparations. Michael shares practical advice on sourcing the right wood, maintaining moisture, and utilizing permaculture principles for effective mushroom cultivation. He also offers insights into his mini course and other resources available for those interested in further learning

830: Seed Starting Essentials Explained – A Seed Chat

A Seed Chat with Bill McDorman. – In June 2024’s Seed Chat, Greg Peterson and Bill McDorman discuss key aspects of nurturing seed starts for a thriving garden. They emphasize the importance of proper seed starting mediums, suggesting lightweight, aerated materials like perlite and cocopeat over regular garden soil. They also highlight the need for adequate light, recommending artificial light setups if natural light is insufficient. Proper watering techniques are crucial, ensuring the soil remains moist without over-watering. They advocate for hands-on gardening and learning through observation and experimentation to achieve the best results. Come Chat with Us!

829: Extreme Tree Care for our Extreme Weather – a Rosie Replay

A Rosie on the House Radio Show Replay. Romey Romero and Farmer Greg and guests Derek Zellers and Anthony Dominguez from HyKreations discuss extreme weather tree care. They introduce their all-natural Wisdom product line, which enhances tree care during extreme heat periods by using ingredients like fish, kelp, and mined minerals. Their products, designed to support microbial life in the soil, help trees reach their genetic potential and produce larger yields. Various application methods, such as foliar and drench feeding, are detailed, alongside the benefits of feeding trees continuously.

Scott Murray irrigation

828: Scott Murray on Nurturing Future Farmers

Returning guest Scott Murray, with 50 years of organic agriculture experience, discusses his involvement with the MESA program on a podcast. The MESA program, approved by the U.S. State Department, hosts international agricultural interns to promote sustainable agriculture. Scott shares his experiences with interns from France and Kenya and highlights the value of global knowledge exchange. He also talks about his current projects, including a successful coffee farm in Southern California. The program provides a valuable opportunity for hosts in the U.S. to learn from agricultural practices around the world.

827: Farmer Karl Ebeling on The Declaration of Common Ground

Farmer Karl, with 33 years of corporate experience, transitioned to farming to uplift communities by founding Eden Streets in 2020. He worked with women facing homelessness in Salt Lake City and now runs Grow Ogden Farm in Utah, integrating job training and social missions for vulnerable individuals. His initiative connects people with agriculture, fostering self-sufficiency and reducing homelessness. Additionally, through his Declaration of Common Ground, Karl aspires to unite global community-based farming efforts to address societal challenges.

825: Selecting for Good Seed Stock

A Seed Chat with Bill McDorman. – In June 2024’s Seed Chat, Bill McDorman and Greg Peterson delve into the art of cultivating optimal seed stock straight from your garden. Discover the satisfaction of hand-selecting seeds that thrive in your unique microenvironment. Bill and Greg explore the importance of observing characteristics of your plants for selecting what you want and looking for obvious factors such as disease and insect resistance. Learn how to enhance your garden’s resilience by selecting seeds adapted to local conditions in your garden or farm. Bill and Greg will present a green-thumb guide on curating seed stock that reflects your garden’s personality and promises seasons of success. Come Chat with Us!

824: Matt FritzMiller on Backyard Gardening in the Southwest

Matt FritzMiller shares his journey of transforming his backyard in Chandler, Arizona, into an urban homestead with 20-25 fruit trees and multiple garden beds. Matt, the creator of Renaissance Dad, discusses his trial-and-error approach to gardening in the Southwest, the importance of deep fruit tree irrigation, and the joys and challenges of raising chickens. He emphasizes the health benefits, the satisfaction of growing fresh produce, and the involvement of his family in their gardening projects. The conversation also touches on composting, the practical aspects of gardening, and the rewarding experience of sharing homegrown produce with the community.

823: Getting your Garden watered- A Rosie Replay

A Rosie on the House Radio Show Replay. Farmer Greg and Janis Norton discuss various methods for watering gardens. Key topics include flood irrigation, rainwater harvesting, stormwater, and gray water use along with the benefits of drip tape systems over traditional drip irrigation. The show also delves into soil types (sandy, loamy, clay) and their impact on water absorption. Practical advice is provided on setting up efficient irrigation systems, including the use of shutoff valves, pressure reducers, and chlorine filters.