Challenging the way our food is grown.

In This Podcast: In this podcast episode, we interview Austin Frerick an expert in agricultural and antitrust policy, discussing his book 'Barons: Money, Power, and the Corruption of the American Food Industry.' 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.

Our Guest: Austin Frerick is an expert on agricultural and antitrust policy. He has worked at the open markets Institute, the U S department of treasury and the congressional research service before becoming a fellow at Yale university. He is a seventh generation Iowan and a first generation college graduate with degrees from Grinnell College and the University of Wisconsin Madison. His latest work is a book called Barron's Money, Power, and the Corruption of the American Food Industry.

Visit UrbanFarm.org/Barons for the show notes and links on this episode!

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*Disclosure: Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

Join Farmer Greg and Mike Biltonen, Exploring Biodynamics. Biodynamics is an advanced farming method that views the farm as a single, self-sustaining organism. It incorporates cosmic and lunar influences, along with organic farming practices, to enhance plant, animal, and soil health. Special preparations made from herbs, minerals, and manure are used to stimulate soil fertility and plant growth. Biodynamics also emphasizes the interconnectedness of all living systems and seeks to create harmony between them..

Our Special Guest:

Mike Biltonen has a rich background in sustainable agriculture with decades of experience in orchards, vineyards and specialty crops. His work focuses on the integration of biodynamic principles into farming, which aligns with the with his commitment to ecological sustainability and farming practices. His involvement with the Josephine Porter Institute for Biodynamics and Know Your Roots LLC showcases his dedication to advancing sustainability and biodynamic farming methods.

Visit www.urbanfarm.org/837-garden for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!

Become an Urban Farm Patron and listen to more than 850 episodes of the Urban Farm Podcast without ads. Click HERE to learn more.

*Disclosure: Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

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..

Visit www.urbanfarm.org/836-seed for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!

What is the Seed Chat?

At least ten times a year we have a live Seed Saving Class with Bill McDorman, the former Executive Director of Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance, Ketchum, Idaho. He got his start in the bio-regional seed movement while in college in 1979 when he helped start Garden City Seeds. In 1984, Bill started Seeds Trust/High Altitude Gardens, a mail order seed company he ran successfully until it sold in 2013.

Come join us for the next live class, or catch up on our previous classes through our podcast episodes. Either way you will expand your seed knowledge and gain new perspectives on your food system.

Register anytime for the next event.

Register Here for the Monthly Seed Saving Class with Live Q&A

Become an Urban Farm Patron and listen to more than 850 episodes of the Urban Farm Podcast without ads. Click HERE to learn more.

*Disclosure: Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.