180: Brian Smith on Biochar
Greg talks to Brian Smith, a transplant to Arizona who needed to improve his gardening results and found out about biochar. Brian explains the process that was used over 2000 years ago, to transform burned wood into a long lasting organic super buffet with nutrients galore. He tells how he was so interested in the results that he took his research to the point that he can now make his own biochar in his backyard.
179: Penn Parmenter on Passive Solar Greenhouses
Greg reconnects with Penn to talk about the greenhouse designs she and her husband create, sell and teach about. Penn tells how her husband Cord took passive solar concepts and implemented them into the first greenhouse they built from reclaimed and scrap materials, and how they have made many improvements over time.
176: Cory Williams on Tropical Fruit Trees
Greg meets Cory, a man who could not take ‘You can’t do that’ for an answer. Cory has transformed his home just outside of Phoenix to his own tropical fruit forest paradise using micro-climates, observation, experimentation, and frankly ignoring naysayers. His interest started with a few wine grapes and he got bit by the growing bug as he now has over 150 trees on his urban property and is not done trying new things.
174: Shaun Keesee on Bio-intensive Farming
Greg talks to a newer farmer, Shaun Keesee, who is having some success using biointensive farming techniques. Shaun shares how he reclaimed the land his family was leasing out to a hay farmer and starting growing crops to sell to markets and restaurants. He is applying the skills he has learned through his reading, internet and agriculture courses at his local college.
170: Don Tipping on Seeds and Plant Breeding
Greg chats with an organic seed farmer and educator Don Tipping who shares his story about how he started growing seeds. Don also explains how and why a couple cooperatives got started including the Open Source Seed Initiative. He has been able to open his farm to host intensive seed academy classes and he guides Greg through the topics that are covered.
165: Penn Parmenter on High Altitude Tomatoes
We hear an enthusiastic and fun guest as Penn chats with Greg about her passion for growing and saving seeds. Penn tells how she got started in the seed business and why she enjoys her job so much. Besides making the act of saving seeds sound really fun, she also explains why it is so important.
164: Jeff Moyer on Organic Farmers Association
Author Jeff Moyer chats with Greg about the importance of organic farming, the role and purpose of the Rodale Institute, and the new Organic Famers Association. Jeff has a great passion for a change in food production to a healthier method, and it is obvious as he explains the history of the Rodale Institute.
158: Andrew Millison on Scaling up Permaculture
Andrew catches up with Greg and brings him up to speed on what he has done since they took a permaculture class together 20 years ago. This is an inspiring and EPIC story of someone who was ready to take permaculture to the next level and beyond.
156: Keri Fox on SPIN Farming
Greg talks to Keri, a former electrician who quit to be a farmer because it was better for the planet. She tells why she left her successful business to run a small plot farm, and how she has developed that into quite the impressive and sustainable venture.
153: Forest Shomer on Seeds
Greg is enthralled by the story telling of Forest who brings us along on the adventures of a seedman. Forest felt the pull of his calling in the late 1960’s and has been actively gardening and harvesting seeds ever since. Moving through a few seed company projects over the years, he has also harvested skills, friends, experiences, and an appreciation for the importance of native seeds.
