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.

A Rosie On The House Radio Show Replay

In This Podcast: 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......

Visit www.UrbanFarm.org/835-Rosie for the show notes and links on this episode!

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.

She is all about helping farmers in the back office.

In This Podcast: 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..

Our Guest: Kirsten began growing mixed vegetables in 2016 in Atlanta, and currently focuses her growing efforts on Yupik strawberries.

In 2022, she co founded Good Agriculture, where she and her team create products that manage the back offices for farmers..

Book - First Generation Farming by Chris Newman - Available Digitally Only

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

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.

Why we need to stay away from highly processed pet kibble!

In This Podcast: 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.

Our Guest: Jaron Lukas is the CEO and founder of Yum Woof, the air dried dog food brand. He is also the author of the canine cocoa mega effect that explores 162 studies on which fats are linked to a longer lifespan in dogs.

Previously, Jaron founded the VC backed fintech startup Coin Center, which he sold in 2016. He also started his career in investment banking at J. P. Morgan and graduated from Rice University on the president's honor roll. Besides dog nutrition, he's passionate about history, biochemistry, and daily meditation.

Jaron's Book: The Canine Cocomega Effect

Jaron's Book Recommendation: Dune by Frank Herbert

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

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 Podcast: 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, Gentry delves into her personal journey, reflecting on past challenges and successes in her mission to promote local agriculture and fair food systems.

Our Guest: Cindy Gentry is a founding member and the current manager for Sun Produce Cooperative in Phoenix, Arizona, which was established in 2017.

She brings more than 35 years experience with non profit hunger prevention and healthy food systems development. Cindy has worked statewide in Arizona to nurture local food production and distribution and to support local farmers markets, including spearheading the work to establish the Phoenix Public Market.

She helped create the Arizona Farmers Market Nutrition Program and the SNAP Market Project, which allows low income children, adults, and seniors, to access better nutrition by shopping for fresh vegetables at local farmers markets while bringing new income to Arizona producers.

Cindy's Book Recommendation: The Seed Keeper, by Diane Wilson

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

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.

Join Farmer Greg and Michael Judd, an expert in edible and ecological landscape design, for a discussion on growing gourmet mushrooms outdoors. They discuss 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.

Our Special Guest:

Michael has worked with agro-ecological and whole-system designs throughout the Americas for over two decades, focusing on applying permaculture and ecological design. His projects increase local food security and community health in both tropical and temperate growing regions. He is also the author of Edible Landscaping with the Permaculture Twist and For The Love of PawPaws.

Click HERE for his edible landscape eBook.

And use URBAN40 for a discount on Michael's Growing Gourmet Mushrooms mini course.

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.