Category: Podcast – Free

843: Planting the Fall Garden – A Rosie Replay

A Rosie on the House Radio Show Replay. Romey Romero, Farmer Greg and special guest Nika Forte discuss urban farming and the importance of fall gardening. Nika details her role as the Urban Farms Director at St. Vincent de Paul’s Urban Farm and their efforts in combating food insecurity through sustainable practices. They also emphasize the significance of healthy soil, appropriate garden placement, and choosing crops that are both enjoyable and cost-effective, with insights into seed preservation. Additionally, Nika introduces her children’s book series aimed at promoting diversity in agriculture

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841: Wendi Bergin on being Joyfully Prepared

Wendy Bergen, founder of Joyfully Prepared, shares her expertise and journey in gardening, homesteading, and preparedness, inspired by her family’s sustainable living heritage. In her podcast, she offers practical advice on food storage, emergency readiness, and the importance of gratitude. The script underscores the value of practical skills, community service, and continual learning through storytelling and personal anecdotes. Wendy also provides resources for skill-building and emphasizes the joy and growth that comes from embracing intentional living and moving past perfectionism

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840: Harvesting and Storing Seeds – A Seed Chat

A Seed Chat with Bill McDorman. – In this episode, we discuss methods of dry and wet harvesting, particularly for tomatoes and squashes, and emphasize the importance of understanding plant families in seed collection. Various methods to ensure seed viability, such as proper drying and cool storage, are explored, along with the significance of seed diversity and the role of local seed libraries. The conversation also highlights the need for more individuals to start saving seeds to adapt to changing climates and revitalize local agriculture.

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839: Jeremy Chevallier on Food Forest Innovations

The podcast features Jeremy Chevallier, a Phoenix native and serial entrepreneur, who is pioneering urban food forest initiatives with his charity, Homegrown, aiming to combat food shortages by promoting regenerative agriculture and self-sufficient communities. Jeremy discusses his journey from a conventional career to founding Homegrown, influenced by his community experiences and discoveries in soil health and permaculture. His initiatives include permaculture-based landscape services, a soil-focused real estate project, and a local food system in Phoenix that encompasses gleaning and urban farming. The conversation highlights the importance of community engagement in transforming urban landscapes into food-producing areas while addressing the logistical challenges of distributing harvested produce.

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838: Austin Frerick on The Food Barons of our Time

Austin shares his personal and professional journey that shaped his insights on the food system, highlighting the consolidation and exploitation in the industry through the profiles of various ‘food barons.’ The conversation explores the systemic issues related to the industrialization of agriculture, including environmental impacts and labor exploitation, and emphasizes the importance of returning to more sustainable, local food systems. Austin’s narratives provide a critique of current policies and suggest actionable steps to challenge the status quo in favor of a more equitable and regenerative food future.

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836: Seed Saving Secrets – A Seed Chat

A Seed Chat with Bill McDorman. – In this episode, Greg Peterson from Urban Farm U and Bill McDorman discuss the fundamentals of seed saving, techniques for collecting and preparing seeds from various plants, and the benefits of maintaining genetic diversity. They also address specific audience questions about harvesting and storing seeds, and the effects of cross-pollination. The conversation emphasizes the importance of home-based seed saving for adapting plants to local conditions and mitigating the impacts of climate change.

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835: Growing Wild Food in Your Yard – A Rosie Replay

A Rosie on the House Radio Show Replay. In this episode of Rosie on the House, hosts Romey Romero and Farmer Greg discuss growing wild food in in your yard. They emphasize the benefits of planting food-producing plants and using permaculture principles like composting, chickens and layering plants. Greg also highlights the importance of observing microclimates, proper water management, utilizing open-pollinated seeds and having chicken workers in your yard. Additionally, he touches on community involvement, local ordinances, and the Permaculture Design Course for creating sustainable, food-producing landscapes……

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834: Kirsten Simmons on Streamlining Farmers’ Busy Work

We follow the journey of Kirsten Simmons. After experiencing farm failures, she co-founded Good Agriculture in 2022, a company that manages administrative tasks and provides financial, marketing, and grant-writing support for farmers. Kirstin shares how the company has grown, helped farmers become more profitable, and developed manual and automated tools to support farm operations. Good Agriculture aims to streamline back-office tasks, enabling farmers to focus on farming, with services tailored to small and large farms.

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833: Jaron Lukas on Healthy Nutrition for Dogs

Jaron Lukas, CEO and founder of Yum Woof, a brand specializing in air-dried dog food, discusses his journey from tech to pet nutrition, driven by personal experiences with food allergies. He emphasizes the importance of avoiding dry kibble, highlighting the benefits of more natural dog food options for canine health and longevity. Jaron also delves into insights from his book, ‘The Canine CocoMega Effect,’ which explores the synergistic benefits of combining coconut oil and omega-3s in dog diets.

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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.

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