• Ep. 240: The Future of Food with Jill Demers (Part 2)

    A few weeks ago, we sat down with Jill Demers and couldn't stop talking...so, we came back for part 2!

    In this episode, we dig into the economics of small farming in America, and why the deck has been stacked against it for decades. Jill lays out the numbers plainly — most small farms operate at a loss, propped up by off-farm income, in a system that was never designed to sustain them. We talk about commodity crops, genetically modified seed, the vertical integration of the food industry, and what "get big or get out" actually did to the farms that used to feed us directly.

    But this isn't a doom-and-gloom conversation. Jill's real subject is reconnection, what she calls "farm hospitality," and what we'd call remembering something our bodies never really forgot. Because underneath all of it is the same idea Jill's been chasing for over twenty years: food is our deepest connection to nature, and the fracture in that relationship is costing us more than we realize...in our health, our communities, and our sense of belonging to the land under our feet.

    In this episode:

    • Why 86% of U.S. farms are classified as "small" — and why most of them lose money every year
    • How the "get big or get out" model took hold after WWII, and what it replaced
    • What a commodity crop actually is (and why that field of corn you're driving past isn't headed to anyone's dinner table)
    • The vertical integration of seed, chemical inputs, and distribution — and why it locks small farmers out
    • Genetically modified corn, glyphosate, and what it means for our gut health
    • Jill's concept of "farm hospitality" as a way to reconnect people to their food — and why many farmers resist it
    • The disappearance of farmland to development and, increasingly, to solar leases
    • Food deserts and systemic inequity on reservation land in Montana
    • Why Jill encourages people to "start at the top of the food chain" (and what that means)
    • The cultural narrative that food should be cheap — and why that narrative is doing real damage
    • How much less of our income goes to food today than it did in the 1950s, and what filled that gap
    • The "60 harvests" figure from Kiss the Ground — and what it means for how much time we actually have
    • Why Jill believes consumer dollars, not policy, will be what shifts the system first


    Resources & Links Mentioned:

    • ReWild Ranch — Jill Demers' regenerative farm, glamping, and retreat space in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana
    • Kiss the Ground — documentary on regenerative agriculture and soil health, source of the "60 harvests" statistic
    • Listen to Part One: "Food As Our Deepest Connection to Nature with Jill Demers of ReWild Ranch" (Ep. 238)


    We'd love to hear from you.

    Has your own relationship to food or farming shifted this year, the way Mary's and Emma's has? Where do you land on "starting at the top of the food chain"? Send us a message or leave us a voicemail — we always love hearing what the good dirt means to you.

    🌻 About Lady Farmer:

    Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Lady Farmer. The Good Dirt podcast is proudly part of the Connectd Podcasts network.

    🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:

    • Wendy Gray


    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
    1h 4m - Aug 21, 2026
  • 239. Returning to Our Birthright Relationship with Nature: A Conversation with Julie Brams

    Our guest today on this week's episode is Julie Brams — an earth-centered psychotherapist, certified forest therapy guide, meditation teacher, and the author of The Nature-Embedded Mind: How the Way We Think Can Heal Our Planet and Ourselves. Julie states that her work is in helping restore the human mind to its rightful place within the living world. She is also co-founder of Elemental, an earth-centered learning community helping participants heal the division between humans and the rest of nature. This is a rich, unhurried conversation — the kind you might want to take on a walk, or sit with under a tree. We hope it meets you right where you are.

    In This Episode

    • Julie's path from 34 years as a licensed marriage and family therapist into earth-centered psychotherapy and forest therapy guiding
    • Why she moved away from the term "ecopsychology" to "earth-centered" and "re-rooting."
    • The idea of "the rest of nature" — and how this small language shift addresses the human/nature divide
    • How Western civilization's model of extraction and domination differs from cultures built on kinship and reciprocity
    • The historical roots of mind/body/earth separation — from ancient Greek philosophy through Descartes and the Enlightenment
    • Why our bodies "cannot be separate from Earth" — from the air we exchange with plants to the physiological toll of space travel
    • Gloria Steinem's phrase "linked, not ranked" as an alternative to hierarchy
    • The story of The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight and the moment it reshaped Julie's thinking about sustainability
    • What forest therapy actually looks like in practice — and Julie's own humbling first encounter with a tree
    • A story about a jumping spider that became an unexpected lesson in love versus ownership
    • Reflections on grief, reciprocity, and the idea that the more-than-human world may be missing us as much as we miss it
    • Language, indigenous wisdom, and the book Sand Talk as a guide to non-divisive ways of thinking
    • Why unlearning this division is, in Julie's words, "a group effort"

    Resources & Links Mentioned

    A Note From Mary

    If this conversation stirred something in you — a longing, a memory, a small ache of recognition — we'd love to hear about it. Send us a note or leave us a voicemail. And if you try Julie's simple invitation this week (find a tree, sit with it for twenty minutes, see what happens), tell us how it goes.

    🌻 About Lady Farmer:

    Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Lady Farmer. The Good Dirt podcast is proudly part of the Connectd Podcasts network.

    🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:

    • Wendy Gray


    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
    1h 7m - Jul 17, 2026
  • Encore: A History and Reflection on Emancipation with Tony Cohen

    This episode initially aired on June 19th, 2021


    We have a special bonus episode for you this week in celebration of our newest national holiday-- Juneteenth! Mary and Emma reunite with author, historian and farmer Tony Cohen for an exploration into the history of Juneteenth and the holiday’s complex folklore and origins. Tony takes us back in time to examine how this monumental declaration of freedom spread in a variety of ways depending on the geographic, economic and social landscape of the time.

    Mary, Emma and Tony pause to reflect upon what freedom means and looks like in the modern era and why society continues to resist a hard look at injustice. Tony points to how altering behavior can feel like giving up our own freedoms and comforts and reminds us that the fair trade movement has deeply historic roots. He also reflects upon the transition from enslavement to the tenant farming system and points to how that system affects us still today. The trio grapples with some hard truths about freedom itself and acknowledges the work still left to be done. 

    Tony shares how he celebrates Juneteenth at Button Farm and rejoices in community as he reflects upon the precious ability to gather and take new found enthusiasm into the world. 

     

    Let’s get into the episode:

    1:30 - Emma introduces this week’s special episode

    3:00 - Tony Cohen on the history of Juneteenth

    15:00 - The transition into freedom

    20:00 - The shift to “waged” labor and the evolution of slavery

    28:00 - Fair trade

    31:00 - Local emancipation

    41:00 - Celebrating Juneteenth

    42:30 - The happenings at Button Farm

    48:00 - Creating Community

     

    Things Mentioned: 


    Stay in touch & keep the conversation going:

    Have thoughts on this episode? A question for Mary and Emma? We'd love to hear from you — send us a message at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail at 443-459-1950. Tell us what the good dirt means to you.

    And stay tuned — Jill and Mary and Emma have so much more to explore together. Part Two is coming.

    🌻 About Lady Farmer:

    Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Lady Farmer. The Good Dirt podcast is proudly part of the Connectd Podcasts network.

    🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:

    • Wendy Gray


    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
    46m - Jun 19, 2026
  • 238. Food As Our Deepest Connection to Nature with Jill Demers of ReWild Ranch

    Jill Demers is the founder of ReWild Ranch in Montana, a one-of-a-kind regenerative farm, wellness destination, and educational space, rooted in the one question she's been asking for over two decades: Why are Americans so disconnected from their food — and at what cost? As a regenerative farmer and certified nutrition therapy practitioner, Jill has built ReWild as an answer to that question — a place where the farm is the center point, and guests leave changed in ways that they will never forget.

    This conversation is rich, wide-ranging, and deeply resonant with everything Lady Farmer stands for. It's also the kind of talk that makes you want to go outside and put your hands in the dirt.

    In this episode, you'll hear about:

    • Mary's return to growing her own vegetables — tomatoes, seeds, and all — as she and Emma transition away from their longtime CSA
    • Emma's reflections on joining a new CSA and what food rhythms look like in a young family
    • Jill's origin story: childhood memories of fresh-shucked corn, a lifelong obsession with food and ecology, and graduate school research on the Dust Bowl
    • What ReWild Ranch is — a regenerative farm, glamping destination, and women's retreat space in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana
    • The three ways guests can experience ReWild, from passive glamping to immersive hands-on workshops and women's retreats
    • How Jill's son Alder's autism diagnosis became the catalyst for her deep dive into nutrition therapy — and how dietary and lifestyle changes led to the eventual loss of his clinical diagnosis
    • The Dust Bowl: what caused it, what it revealed about soil health and industrial agriculture, and why Jill argues we may be living through something even more catastrophic today
    • Glyphosate, the gut microbiome, and the parallel between soil health and human health
    • The "60 harvests" statistic — where it comes from and what it means for the future of food
    • Why Jill believes feeding the world is not America's job — and what a "checkerboard" model of small-scale agriculture could look like instead
    • The concept of "accidental education" and why ReWild is designed to connect people to food, nature, and each other in ways they can't unlearn
    • Wendell Berry, John Steinbeck, and the long literary tradition of writing about humanity's relationship with the land
    • The genuine constraints of local, seasonal eating vs the cultural reality of a food system that allows almost limitless food choices — and how to navigate that without guilt or rigidity

    Resources & Links Mentioned:

    • ReWild Ranch — Jill's regenerative farm, glamping, and retreat space in Montana
    • Kiss the Ground — documentary film on regenerative agriculture and soil health
    • The Nature-Embedded Mind by Julia Plevin — mentioned by Mary; a psychotherapist's exploration of humanity's innate connection to nature
    • Zach Bush, MD — physician and researcher who speaks extensively on the shikimate pathway and glyphosate's effects on the microbiome
    • Wendell Berry — essayist and farmer whose writing on agriculture and community Mary has been revisiting
    • The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck — Jill's graduate thesis subject; discussed as an early work of ecological criticism
    • My Story as Told by Water by David James Duncan — mentioned by Jill as a formative read

    Stay in touch & keep the conversation going:

    Have thoughts on this episode? A question for Mary and Emma? We'd love to hear from you — send us a message at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail at 443-459-1950. Tell us what the good dirt means to you.

    And stay tuned — Jill and Mary and Emma have so much more to explore together. Part Two is coming.

    🌻 About Lady Farmer:

    Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Lady Farmer. The Good Dirt podcast is proudly part of the Connectd Podcasts network.

    🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:

    • Wendy Gray


    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
    1h 11m - Jun 6, 2026
  • 237. Composting as a Cultural Shift with Ben Parry of Compost Crew

    This week, in honor of International Compost Awareness Week, we're joined by Ben Parry, CEO of Compost Crew — a small but mighty business in the DC metropolitan area helping thousands of households and businesses turn their food waste into something good for the soil. Ben's story is a quiet revolution in itself: a journey from renewable energy to regenerative soil, from powering the grid to feeding the ground beneath our feet.

    In this conversation, we dig into how composting is transforming what we throw away into a vital resource, the very real challenges of scaling community-based systems, and what it takes at the household, neighborhood, and policy level to shift our cultural relationship with food waste. Ben shares Compost Crew's growth from a small food-scrap hauler with a handful of customers to a regional force serving thousands of homes, the partnerships with local farms that bring composting full circle, and his vision for a future where dropping your food scraps into a compost bin is as ordinary as not littering on the highway.

    It's a hopeful, grounded conversation about the patient work of building better systems one bucket, one alley, one farm at a time.

    Main topics covered:

    • The evolution of composting in the Washington, DC metro area
    • The role of systemic infrastructure and community engagement in waste recycling
    • Strategies to overcome perceived barriers to food scrap composting
    • The importance of local, transparent food systems and grassroots momentum
    • Future developments in composting technology and policy

    In this episode:

    • Ben introduces Compost Crew and its mission to keep food waste out of the landfill
    • The story of DC's curbside composting pilot and the ambitious plans to expand it citywide
    • Why systemic infrastructure and visibility matter when it comes to building participation
    • How social perception, education, and regulation shape compost adoption
    • The Compost Outpost model — bringing composting to local farms like One Acre Farm in Dickerson, MD
    • The ripple effects of crises like COVID-19 and global conflicts on recycling supply chains and the case for local self-reliance
    • The cultural shift needed to treat composting as everyday normalcy — much like the "Don't Be a Litterbug" campaigns of decades past
    • Future opportunities: composting in schools, hospitals, and wedding venues

    Resources & Links Mentioned:


    Connect with Compost Crew:

    Listen, Subscribe & Share

    If this episode stirred something in you, share it with a friend who's curious about composting — or who's still on the fence about that bucket on the counter. We'd love to hear your own composting story: email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail line at 443-459-1950 and tell us what the good dirt means to you. Your voice might just end up on a future episode.

    🌻 About Lady Farmer:

    Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Lady Farmer. The Good Dirt podcast is proudly part of the Connectd Podcasts network.

    🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:

    • Wendy Gray



    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
    55m - May 8, 2026
  • 236. Earth First Gardening with Melanie Cotillo of Lazy Dirt Wildflower Farm

    Spring has a way of pulling us back to the soil — and this season, Mary sat down with someone who has made the health of the soil and the well being of the pollinators and wildlife in her local ecosystem her first priority. Melanie Cutillo is the self-described Plant Wrangler in Chief at Lazy Dirt Wildflower Farm in Mexico, New York, a backyard nursery nestled just east of Lake Ontario, where she grows native and wildflower plants entirely without plastic, peat, or synthetic inputs of any kind.


    It was a cold January morning walk to the mailbox and a chance encounter with a dried circle of New England aster in the snow that sent Melanie on a quest to grow native plants. The result is a farm, a philosophy, and a way of tending the earth that she calls "Earth First Gardening."


    This conversation is for every gardener who has ever come home from the nursery with a carload of beauty and a pile of plastic waste—wondering if there's a better way.


    Melanie and Mary talk about what it really means to be not just a gardener, but a guardian of the earth’s abundance. Whether you have many acres or simply a front porch, a city window or a community garden plot, this episode will remind you that what matters is how we tend to the land we have.


    In this episode, Mary and Melanie talk about:

    • What makes Lazy Dirt Wildflower Farm different from a conventional nursery — small scale, field-grown plants, zero plastic, and a focus on local ecotype native species
    • The January morning that started it all: a circle of New England aster in the snow and a pair of tracks that changed everything
    • Why Melanie ditched plastic entirely — and how a 10-by-25-foot barn full of collected pots finally pushed her over the edge
    • The alternatives she found and invented: soil blocking, wool pots, burlap wrapping, and growing in native soil without bagged amendments or peat
    • Why avoiding peat matters and what's lost when we use it: carbon sequestration, living soil, and a non-renewable resource extracted from ancient bogs
    • The difference between a native plant and a nativar — and why it matters enormously to the pollinators and wildlife that depend on them
    • How to ask better questions at your local nursery: Where does the seed come from? Can I bring back my plastic pots? Do you grow from seed on site?
    • The concept of "tending" — and why you don't need land to do it. A street tree, a park path, a porch container can all be a place of care and relationship
    • Native hydrangeas, dahlias, echinacea, monarda, jewel weed, sweetgrass, and tulsi — stories of plant relationships that illuminate the beauty and intelligence of the natural world
    • Melanie's best tip for gardeners: make your seed list in July, at the height of the season, when you can see clearly what you have and what you truly need — then recycle the January catalog
    • The new paradigm: from consumer to guardian, from transaction to relationship, from gardener to grower of community


    Resources & Links Mentioned:

    • Lazy Dirt Wildflower Farm — Melanie's website, where you can also find wool pots for sale
    • Lazy Dirt Wildflower Farm on YouTube: youtube.com/lazydirtwildflowerfarm
    • Melanie's Substack: So Wild Garden — behind-the-scenes of growing a four-acre habitat garden
    • Garden Circles — Melanie's monthly Zoom gathering for gardeners; third Tuesdays at 6:30pm, with in-person farm gatherings during the growing season (find the link on her website)
    • Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
    • The Wild Seed Project — native seed sourcing
    • Ernst Seeds — native seed supplier
    • Blossom and Branch Farm / Brianna Groh — inspiration for Melanie's no-till, native-soil approach
    • Mount Cuba Center — research on native plants and their relationship to wildlife
    • Mary Reynolds, previous Good Dirt guest, on the shift from "gardener" to "guardian"
    • Wool Pots — available on Melanie's website; made in Britain from wool that would otherwise be discarded


    We'd love to hear from you!

    Has this episode inspired you to try something different in your garden this season — a native plant, a plastic-free swap, or a new relationship with a tree on your street? We'd love to know. Send us an email at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com, or leave us a voicemail at 443-459-1950. Tell us what you're tending this spring.

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    🌻 About Lady Farmer:

    Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Lady Farmer. The Good Dirt podcast is proudly part of the Connectd Podcasts network.

    🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:

    • Wendy Gray


    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
    1h 14m - Apr 24, 2026
  • 235. The Cost of Slow Living: How to Align Your Values Without Burning Out

    What happens when a listener writes in with the very questions your community is wrestling with? You invite her on the show.

    Emily Hillman has spent 14 years in the fashion industry — from the artisan workrooms of Midtown Manhattan to the fast fashion corporate world. After purchasing a 19th-century farmhouse in rural New Jersey and becoming a mother, she found that her priorities had quietly shifted. Finding herself at a crossroads, Emily reached out to Mary and Emma, not looking for all the answers so much as a grounded, honest conversation. .

    This is The Good Dirt's first interview back after a hiatus. Here we’re talking about the real tension so many of us feel: I want to live more simply, more slowly, more intentionally — but how do I actually do that in the life I'm already living?

    If you've ever felt the push and pull between the values you hold and the demands of the world you live in, this episode will speak to you.

    In this episode, we cover:

    • Emily's journey from Vermont roots to New York City fashion workrooms — and what she learned firsthand about the difference between artisan craftsmanship and fast fashion production
    • The "painful catch-22" of slow living: wanting a simpler life that costs money, while earning less because you're stepping back from the corporate grind
    • Why removing moral judgment from your daily purchasing decisions can actually free you to make more sustainable choices
    • Practical, accessible approaches to buying secondhand clothing for kids (and why our audience is already well ahead of the curve)
    • The economics of slow food: buying in bulk, finding local sources, joining a CSA, and why embracing constraints actually sparks creativity
    • Composting as one of the most powerful individual acts for the planet — and tips for making it work even in bear country
    • How small, cumulative changes add up — and why you're probably further along than you think
    • Book recommendations: Redefining Rich by Shannon Hayes, The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, and Jen Sincero's You Are a Badass series
    • The concept of "blue sky thinking" — letting yourself imagine the life you want before the budget anxiety kicks in
    • Reconnecting with nature and the seasons as a compass for finding your authentic calling


    Books & Resources Mentioned:


    Want to chat with us? If Emily's story resonates with you — if you're somewhere in the middle of this same journey — we'd love to hear from you. Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at 443-459-1950.

    And if you're interested in joining our free, casual Slow Living Through the Seasons cohort, reach out to mary@ladyfarmer.com for the signup link.

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    🌻 About Lady Farmer:

    Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Lady Farmer. The Good Dirt podcast is proudly part of the Connectd Podcasts network.

    🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:

    • Wendy Gray


    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
    1h 0m - Apr 3, 2026
  • Mary & Emma: Rethinking Slow Living

    Mary and Emma return to the podcast after over a six-month hiatus, reflecting on the evolution of Lady Farmer as a brand and their own experiences within it. They discuss how the cultural context around sustainability has shifted, how they don't want to present themselves as experts or frame sustainability in moral terms, and how systemic forces limit individual impact even as daily habits still matter. They aim to focus more on finding meaning, creativity, and defining “the good life". They share personal updates (babies! work! gardening!) and discuss plans for how they want to continue to unfold into The Good Dirt and the Lady Farmer project.

    00:00 Welcome Back Check In

    01:11 Meet Mary And Emma

    02:12 Lady Farmer Origin Story

    04:16 Slow Living Then And Now

    08:17 Beyond Individual Responsibility

    10:37 Morality Free Sustainability

    13:24 Decluttering And Landfill Guilt

    15:34 Meaning Emotions And The Good Life

    17:16 Creativity Work And Money

    19:52 Grandma Life And Restorative Gardening

    21:13 Reopening The Marketplace

    25:52 Listener Requests And Wrap Up



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    28m - Mar 20, 2026
  • 234. A Conversation with Janna Hockenjos of Earth Friends —and an Announcement!

    In this episode of The Good Dirt Podcast, Emma and Mary welcome back Janna Hockenjos, founder of We Are Earth Friends, an environmental education organization designed for children ages 3-8. Jana discusses the program’s impact on young learners' understanding of the interconnectedness of all of life on our planet and provides an update on the progress and expansion of the program. She also offers insights from the suburban food forest project. that she and her husband have been cultivating over the last few years.

    In addition, Emma and Mary make the announcement that the podcast will take a sabbatical until next year to allow time for rest and the development of new ideas. In the meantime, they will be continuing with articles, ideas and inspiration in The ALMANAC, the online newsletter and community of Lady Farmer. See the Substack link below!


    00:00 Reflecting on Slow Living Amidst Chaos

    00:30 Embracing the Present Moment

    01:35 Nature's Simple Joys

    02:27 Recording Together and Taking a Sabbatical

    04:10 Podcast Evolution and Future Plans

    08:13 Introducing Jana and Earth Friends

    12:25 Jana's Journey and Environmental Education

    15:19 Earth Friends Curriculum and Impact

    32:14 Making Environmental Education Accessible

    36:33 Challenges in Implementing Earth Friends in Schools

    37:04 Making Earth Friends Accessible to All

    38:57 Homeschool Groups and Marketing Strategies

    41:22 The Importance of Patience and Letting Go

    42:00 Personal Reflections and Yoga Insights

    51:23 Suburban Food Forest Project

    54:09 The Healing Power of Growing Your Own Food

    01:06:03 The Significance of Good Soil

    01:10:33 Conclusion and Final Thoughts


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    🌻 About Lady Farmer:



    Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Lady Farmer. 

    The Good Dirt podcast is proudly part of the Connectd Podcasts network. 



    🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:


    • Wendy Gray



    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
    1h 13m - Aug 22, 2025
  • Encore: Creating a Backyard Microfarm with Leah Webb, Author of "The 7 Step Homestead"

    This episode was originally published on August 18th, 2023


    In this episode we're talking to Leah Webb, author of The Seven Step Homestead about how to turn any yard into a primary food source with vegetables, fruits, chickens, pollinator plants and medicinal herbs. A mother of two children with unique medical needs, Leah utilizes food grown in her own backyard garden as an important part of her children's integrative care. She sees herself as a solutions-based Family Food and Garden Coach, with a goal of guiding families in making small yet impactful steps towards sourcing their own nutrition and achieving long term dietary, cooking, and gardening goals. She is also the author of The Grain-Free, Sugar-Free, Dairy-Free Family Cookbook. In this conversation, we delve into the challenges and benefits of growing and preparing nutrient dense food, and the practicalities of creating your own microfarm in the space you already have. If you are one of many with a goal to connect with the land and create more independence from the industrial food system, Leah can guide you through, step-by-step.

    Topics Discussed

    • A Stormy Week in the DC Area

    • Leah's Background in Nutrition Education and Her Path to Creating a Microfarm in her own Backyard.

    • Being a Mom to Kids with Unique Medical Needs and the Role of Gardening and Home Grown Food in their Integrative Care.

    • Learning the Basics of Gardening for Food

    • Eating Home Grown Vegetables

    • Food Preservation

    • Convenience Foods

    • Priorities & Food

    • Investing in Homesteading

    • Start Small for the Long Haul

    • Which Plants to Start With

    • Planting Charts

    • Using, Measuring, and Creating Compost

    • The Difference Between Homesteading and Gardening

    • Homesteading , Self Sufficiency and Community

    • Finding an Alternative to the Industrial Food Industry

    • Consumer Awareness of Food

    • Regenerative Growing Practices


    Episode Resources:

    •"The Grain-Free, Sugar-Free, Dairy-Free Family Cookbook: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Cooking with Whole Foods on a Restrictive Diet" by Leah Webb

    •"The Seven-Step Homestead: A Guide for Creating the Backyard Microfarm of Your Dreams" by Leah Webb

    •Listen to The Good Dirt Reclaiming Our Food from Field to Kitchen with CSA Farmer Mo Moutoux of Moutoux Orchard


    Connect with Leah Webb:

    • Website: https://www.leahmwebb.com/

    • Instagram @leah_m_webb https://www.instagram.com/leah_m_webb/

    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeahMWebbWellness/


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    🌻 About Lady Farmer:

    •Our Website

    •Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram

    •Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC

    •Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!

    Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.



    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
    1h 4m - Aug 15, 2025
  • 233. Embracing Our Medicine: A Conversation with Two Spirit Sister Madison Murphy Barney

    In this episode, Madison Murphy Barney, a two-Spirit Hoopa and Shoshone sister, author, doula, and public health storyteller, discusses the significance of the two-Spirit identity, historical roles, and the importance of maintaining cultural traditions. Madison delves into personal experiences growing up in North Dakota, the impact of indigenous boarding schools, and the generational transmission of pride and cultural knowledge. She also talks about the nature of stewardship, reconnecting with one's ancestry, and practical ways to slow down and embrace a more connected, mindful lifestyle. Highlighting the importance of personal and collective healing, Madison's insights offer deep wisdom and helpful guidance on how to engage with land, personal identity, and community.


    00:00 Introduction to Madison Murphy Barney

    04:01 Understanding Two-Spirit Identity

    05:11 Historical Context and Personal Background

    07:35 Family Heritage and Cultural Pride

    11:17 Impact of Residential Schools

    14:55 Journey to Vermont and Community Building

    18:22 Stewarding the Land and Personal Growth

    21:59 The Role of Humans in Healing the Earth

    23:40 Madison's Upcoming Book and Its Themes

    25:33 Final Reflections on Connection and Responsibility

    30:44 Exploring the Concept of 'Away'

    30:55 Connecting with Our Own Medicine

    34:42 Practical Steps to Reconnect with Ancestral Wisdom

    39:36 Astrology and Past Lives

    43:20 Navigating Challenging Times on Earth

    47:04 The Importance of Slowing Down

    50:46 Offerings and Final Thoughts


    ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━


    🌻 About Lady Farmer:



    Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Lady Farmer. 

    The Good Dirt podcast is proudly part of the Connectd Podcasts network. 



    🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:


    • Wendy Gray



    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
    54m - Aug 8, 2025
  • Our Fermented Lives: Bridging the Gap Between Modern People and Historic Food with Julia Skinner of Root Kitchens

    This is an ENCORE EPISODE, originally published on August 5, 2022


    In this episode, Mary and Emma are talking to Julia Skinner of Root: Historic Food for the Modern World. Root was born from Julia's deep love for community and a belief in the power of food to tell stories, connect us to place and to each other, and to build a bridge to the past.

    Julia's work is all about food, history, food stories, where it comes from and the people behind it. She loves fostering connections with other people and with the earth around us. Julia is especially interested in learning and teaching about fermentation, demonstrating to people the ease and accessibility of preparing delicious and healthy food using this ancient and powerful food preservation technique.

    Topics Covered:

    • Exploring historic cookbooks
    • Julia’s discovery of historical cooking traditions
    • Types of fermentation she has explored
    • How to start fermenting
    • The growing popularity of traditional foods
    • Shifting food interests during the pandemic
    • Food Access
    • Milk Kefir
    • Food as medicine


    Resources Mentioned:


    Connect with Julia:


    About Lady Farmer:

    Lady Farmer is a sustainable apparel and lifestyle brand, with education around sustainability and sustainable living at the forefront of our mission. Lady Farmer is proud to produce The Good Dirt podcast.



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    58m - Aug 1, 2025
  • 232. The Year of the Dress: Growing and Crafting Linen from Scratch with Eve Schaub

    In this episode, Mary is talking with Eve Schaub, an internationally published author and humorist. Known for her year-long experiments, such as 'Year of No Sugar' and 'Year of No Clutter,' Eve’s latest endeavor is 'The Year of the Dress,' where she attempts to grow, harvest, spin, and weave flax into a wearable linen dress in her backyard. The conversation covers the challenges of growing flax, the environmental impact of fast fashion, and the importance of community and sustainability in textile production. Listen to Eve’s inspiring journey towards slow living and sustainable crafting, and learn about resources such as Fibershed and the Pennsylvania Flax Project that support local textile production.


    00:00 Introduction to Big Ideas and Projects

    00:33 Guest Introduction: Eve Shaw

    01:07 Personal Projects and Sustainable Gardening

    04:30 Long-Term Planning and Sustainability

    05:52 Eve Shaw's Year-Long Experiments

    08:02 The Year of the Dress: Growing a Linen Dress

    11:42 Challenges and Inspirations in Sustainable Fashion

    21:32 Community and Resources for Flax Growing

    29:18 Overcoming Initial Challenges in Sustainable Clothing

    32:10 The Thrill of Thrift Shopping

    35:06 The Spirituality of Handmade Items

    37:02 Starting the Flax Growing Journey

    41:05 Learning and Experimenting with Flax

    46:15 Community and Resources for Sustainable Living


    RESOURCES:

    Eve O Schaub Website and Books

    Cindy Conner, Homegrown Flax and Cotton Website and Book

    Fibershed

    Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum

    PA Flax Project

    Chesapeake Fibershed

    ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━


    🌻 About Lady Farmer:



    Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Lady Farmer. 

    The Good Dirt podcast is proudly part of the Connectd Podcasts network. 



    🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:


    • Wendy Gray



    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
    51m - Jul 25, 2025
  • Seeking Real Solutions to Plastic Pollution with Smruti Aravind of The Story of Stuff

    This is an ENCORE EPISODE, originally published on July 7, 2023



    In this episode, Emma and Mary sit down to talk to Smruti Aravind, who oversees fundraising, donor communications, and grants at the Story of Stuff Project. Smruti brings over a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector, with an emphasis on digital storytelling and network-building to drive systemic change. Prior to joining the Story of Stuff, she led communications at Faith in Action East Bay, a federation of the largest faith-based organizing network in the U.S. Smruti shares about her work and her perspective on creating meaningful social impact, as well as the campaign work that Story of Stuff is doing in order to create policy change. She introduces the Bottle Bill project as well as the Reuse Revolution, and why burning plastic is not the solution that you may believe it to be. Smruti also touches on what other countries are doing to deal with their waste, the impact on The Global South, and how we can all flex our citizen muscles and advocate for plastic reduction laws to be codified.


    Topics Discussed

    •Smruti's Work in the Nonprofit Sector

    •How the Story of Stuff Came to Be

    •Using the Power of Media to Influence Policy Change

    •Content Creation & Advocacy

    •The Story of Microbeads & The Story of Plastic

    •Founder Annie Leonard's Inspiration for the Documentary

    •Increasing BIPOC Voices in the Search of a Solution

    •Systems Thinking for the General Public

    •The Break Free From Plastic Movement Treaty

    •How Millennials and Gender Z Approach Environmental Activism

    •Shifting From Individual Responsibility to Systemic Change

    •Real Solutions vs. False Solutions

    •The Great Pacific Plastic Patch 

    •Why Burning Plastic & Buying Plastic Clothes Doesn't Work

    •Stopping the Tap with Campaign Work: The Bottle Bill & The Reuse Revolution

    •What Other Countries Are Doing

    •The Impact of Waste on the Global South

    •Flexing Our Citizen Muscles

    •What Corporations are Able to Change

    •Moving to Florida & the Way that Different States Handle Plastic Waste

    •Cloth Diapers

    •Slow Living in a Big City

    •The Impact of the Individual

    Episode Resources:

    •Watch The Story of Stuff Documentary

    •The California Plastic Incinerator

    Connect with Smruti Aravind:

    •Website: https://www.storyofstuff.org/blog/people/smruti-aravind/

    •YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/storyofstuffproject

    •Instagram: @storyofstuff https://instagram.com/storyofstuff/

    •Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/storyofstuff

    •Links: https://linktr.ee/storyofstuff

    ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

    🌻 About Lady Farmer:

    •Our Website

    •Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram

    •Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC

    •Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!


    Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.



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    1h 3m - Jul 18, 2025
  • 231. Exploring Ancestral Diets: A Conversation with Dr. Bill Schindler, Author of Eat Like a Human

    In this episode, Dr. Bill Schindler discusses the impact of modern diets on health and the importance of ancestral dietary practices. He shares the journey of the Modern Stone Age Kitchen, a restaurant dedicated to using ancestral approaches to make nutritious and sustainable food accessible, and his family's personal evolution in food preparation and consumption. Dr. Schindler also highlights the significance of seasonal eating, shares fascinating stories from his global travels to learn traditional food practices, and provides practical advice for people looking to improve their health and relationship with food. He emphasizes the necessity of flexibility in diets, understanding cultural and emotional connections to food, and making small, manageable shifts towards more nourishing eating habits.


    00:00 The Best Diet Myth

    00:27 Seasonal Eating Made Easy

    04:34 Introducing Dr. Bill Schindler

    07:19 Understanding Ancestral Foods

    17:52 The Impact of Technological Revolutions on Diet

    18:37 The Cold Chain Revolution

    26:02 Personal Journey and Aha Moments

    43:31 The Birth of the Sourdough Bread Company

    49:11 The Reluctant Restaurant Owners

    50:25 Struggles of Homemade Nourishment

    52:26 Community and Outreach

    53:52 The Food Lab and Educational Programs

    55:31 Documenting Indigenous Food Practices

    57:56 Traditional Cheese Making in Norway

    01:01:34 Exploring Manioc Processing in the Amazon

    01:04:38 Adventures in Kenya: The Ash Yogurt Story

    01:14:35 Embracing Slow Living and Health Tracking

    01:17:52 The Philosophy of Good Dirt

    01:19:15 Advice for the Average Family

    01:26:33 Celebrating Birthdays with Healthy Desserts

    01:30:45 Conclusion and Final Thoughts


    Resources:

    Bill Schindler's Website modernstoneage.com

    Eat Like a Human: Nourishing Foods and Ancient Ways of Cooking to Revolutionize Your Health by Dr. Bill Schindler

    Fire the Spark that Ignited Human Evolution by Francis D Burton

    Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond

    The Worst Mistake in the History of the Human Race by Jared Diamond

    The Pulse Cure by Dr. Torkil Faero

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    🌻 About Lady Farmer:



    Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Lady Farmer. 

    The Good Dirt podcast is proudly part of the Connectd Podcasts network. 



    🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:


    • Wendy Gray



    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
    1h 32m - Jul 11, 2025
  • Trash Talk: The Truth About Compostables with Lauren Olson of WorldCentric

    This is an ENCORE EPISODE, originally published on July 9, 2021



    In this week’s episode, Mary and Emma dive deep into the world of plastic consumption and waste management with Lauren Olson, a Zero Waste Manager at World Centric, exploring the world of compostables and the use of plastic in our daily lives. The discussion covers several aspects of the topic, including the difficulties of “zero-waste," how plastic sneaks into our homes even when we are consciously trying to avoid it, and all the ways in which existing systems make it difficult to create true sustainability in our homes. 

    Lauren explains the science behind bioplastics, as well as the difference between industrial vs home compostables. She also shares how to determine genuinely compostable products and helps us imagine a cradle to cradle world where waste equals food for the earth, and not the other way around! 

    Mary and Emma ask the vital questions, what can we do to work through this monumentally large plastic problem, and is it really possible to achieve the ultimate goal of a zero-waste economy? Lauren gives practical tips for individual action, while encouraging all of us to use our voices as paying consumers to demand change from the top down.

    1:30 - Mary and Emma catch up and talk about plastic problem solving! 

    10:30 - World Centric 

    Let’s get into the episode:

    11:30 - Introducing Lauren & the world of World Centric 

    16:30 - Is zero waste really achievable?  

    22:00 - Bioplastics 

    30:00 - Landfills as coffins for waste 

    35:00 - What can we do? 

    36:00 - Greenwashing 

    43:00 - Facing this massive issue 

    50:00 - What does the Good Dirt mean to you? 

    USE CODE: "thegooddirt" for 10% off online at World Centric. Valid for 30 days. 

    Things Mentioned:



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    59m - Jul 4, 2025
  • 230. Embracing the Seasonal Cycles of Life & Women's Wisdom with Corinna Wood

    In this episode, Corinna Wood, a visionary teacher of women's wisdom, discusses her thirty year career with herbalism, teaching, and community building--all while embracing an earth-based, woman-centered approach to women's inner growth and healing. Corinna reflects on her early influences in herbal medicine and wise woman ways, her experiences founding the Southeast Wise Women Herbal Conference, her contributions to herbal medicine through Red Moon Herbs and her current work supporting women on their own healing journeys.


    00:00 Introduction to Radical Self-Care

    00:30 Catching Up with Emma

    01:13 The Evolution of Air Conditioning

    03:08 Reflecting on Hot Summers

    05:32 The Impact of Climate Change

    05:57 The History of Freezers and Ice

    08:20 Appreciating Agricultural Workers

    08:56 Introducing Corinna Wood

    10:31 Corinna's Journey into Herbal Medicine

    17:12 Founding the Southeast Wise Women Herbal Conference

    23:09 Memorable Moments at the Conference

    27:15 The Wise Woman Needs Wheel

    29:14 Teaching Tools for Inner Growth

    30:04 Introduction to the Wise Woman Needs Wheel

    31:55 Seasonal Needs and Human Connection

    38:30 Rituals and Herbal Practices

    42:59 The Journey of Red Moon Herbs

    47:29 Current Programs and Teachings

    51:13 Addressing the 'Not Enough' Belief

    55:18 Healing Through Earth-Based Practices

    01:00:57 Embracing Slow Living and Cycles

    01:06:17 Final Thoughts and Resources


    ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━


    🌻 About Lady Farmer:



    Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Lady Farmer. 

    The Good Dirt podcast is proudly part of the Connectd Podcasts network. 



    🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:


    • Wendy Gray



    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
    1h 12m - Jun 27, 2025
  • ENCORE: Seeking the Wisdom of the Earth with Maria Rodale, Author of Love, Nature, Magic: Shamanic Journeys into the Heart of My Garden

    This episode was originally published on June 23, 2023


    Meet Maria Rodale, an author and advocate for organic regenerative farming. An explorer in search of the mysteries of the universe, Maria is the author of "Love Nature Magic: Shamanic Journeys into the Heart of My Garden", "Organic Manifesto", "Scratch", and is the author of a children's book series called written by the under the pen name "Mrs. Peanuckle". Her book "Love Nature Magic" was featured as a part of the a recent selection for the Lady Farmer book club, so it was truly an honor to get to talk with her on The Good Dirt. Together, Mary, Emma, and Maria discuss her new book, her family legacy in the world of regenerative agriculture, as well as her evolution from a CEO to (in her own words) a “crazy gardener.” Maria is truly a voice for the power and magic of nature and a guide for all of us seeking to rekindle a meaningful connection to the earth.


    Maria is the former CEO and Chairman of Rodale Inc, and has served on multiple nonprofit boards including the Rodale Institute, Bette Midler’s New York Restoration Project, and the Pennsylvania Federal Reserve Advisory council. She has received awards for her lifetime of service and activism, including the National Audubon Rachel Carson Award and the United Nations Population Fund’s Award for the Health and Dignity of Woman Everywhere.


    Topics Discussed

    • Growing up on as 3rd Generation Farmer at the Rodale Institute

    • The Farming Systems Trial

    • Moving Out at 18 to Becoming CEO: Family Loss & Legacy

    • The Implosion of the Publishing Industry

    • Following Her Nose: How Maria Found Writing

    • The Making of "Love Nature Magic"

    • What is a Shamanic Journey? 

    • Dealing with Mugwort in Gardens

    • Decolonizing Our Relationship with Nature

    • A Garden's Desire to be Wild

    • Why the Biggest Changes Come from a Change in Behavior

    • Being Open to Hearing Nature's Message

    • Changing the Future by Modeling What Could Be Over What Is

    • Recovering from a Stroke

    •"Regenerative" over "Sustainability"


    Episode Resources:

    •The Rodale Institute: 75 Years of Organic Agriculture Leadership

    •"Love, Nature, Magic: Shamanic Journeys into the Heart of My Garden"

    •"Organic Manifesto: How Organic Food Can Heal Our Planet, Feed the World, and Keep Us Safe"

    •"Scratch: Home Cooking for Everyone Made Simple, Fun, and Totally Delicious: A Cookbook"

    •Mrs. Peanuckle's Books

    •Mindful Bear

    •The Good Dirt: "The Urgent Need for Restorative Gardens with Mary Reynolds"

    •Fried Dandelion TikTok


    Connect with Maria Rodale:

    • Website: https://www.mariarodale.com/

    • Mrs. Peanuckle Website: https://www.mrspeanuckle.com/

    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariarodale/ 

    ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

    🌻 About Lady Farmer:

    •Our Website

    •Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram

    •JSign up to join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC

    •Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!

    Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

    Read less



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    52m - Jun 20, 2025
  • Juneteenth: A History and Reflection on Emancipation with Tony Cohen (ENCORE)

    This bonus episode originally aired on June 19th, 2021


    We have a special bonus episode for you this week in celebration of our newest national holiday-- Juneteenth! Mary and Emma reunite with author, historian and farmer Tony Cohen for an exploration into the history of Juneteenth and the holiday’s complex folklore and origins. Tony takes us back in time to examine how this monumental declaration of freedom spread in a variety of ways depending on the geographic, economic and social landscape of the time.

    Mary, Emma and Tony pause to reflect upon what freedom means and looks like in the modern era and why society continues to resist a hard look at injustice. Tony points to how altering behavior can feel like giving up our own freedoms and comforts and reminds us that the fair trade movement has deeply historic roots. He also reflects upon the transition from enslavement to the tenant farming system and points to how that system affects us still today. The trio grapples with some hard truths about freedom itself and acknowledges the work still left to be done. 

    Tony shares how he celebrates Juneteenth at Button Farm and rejoices in community as he reflects upon the precious ability to gather and take new found enthusiasm into the world. 

     

    Let’s get into the episode:

    1:30 - Emma introduces this week’s special episode

    3:00 - Tony Cohen on the history of Juneteenth

    15:00 - The transition into freedom

    20:00 - The shift to “waged” labor and the evolution of slavery

    28:00 - Fair trade

    31:00 - Local emancipation

    41:00 - Celebrating Juneteenth

    42:30 - The happenings at Button Farm

    48:00 - Creating Community

     

    Things Mentioned: 


    🌻 About Lady Farmer:

    · Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community

    · Visit Our Website

    The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living

    · Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram

    · Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail!

    Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!

    Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

    🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:

    · Wendy Gray

    Read less



    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
    43m - Jun 19, 2025
  • Encore: Curiosity, Creativity and Community with Eva Kosmas Flores

    This episode was originally published on June 25th, 2021


    This week, Mary and Emma have a wonderful conversation with photographer, chef, cookbook author, educator and entrepreneur turned homesteader, Eva Kosmas Flores. Eva shares her journey to the slow living lifestyle, led by an ancestral pull and deep familial ties that have guided her back to a connection with home, the garden, food, family and community. Always leading with curiosity, Eva talks about her new adventures as a homesteader and what she’s learning from the land. 

    Throughout the episode, Mary, Emma and Eva talk about the pursuit of the creative life and how to make it work, native species, permaculture gardening and the complexity of our forest ecosystems. They also discuss their sustainable home projects, creating beautiful and enduring interiors, and the complicated decisions involved in the process. Eva reminds us that real life is an intersection of all the things we love, and we have permission to pursue all the parts of ourselves.

     

    1:25 - Mary and Emma catch up and talk berries! 

    5:00 - Eva Kosmas Flores 

    Let’s get into the episode:  

    6:20 - Eva introduces herself 

    15:50 - Finding and creating a homestead 

    21:00 - Forestry and restoring the soil 

    22:30 - The importance of native species 

    29:00 - Breaking ground 

    33:00 - A sustainable home  

    39:30 - Timeless, natural interiors  

    52:00 - Loving lots of things

    57:30 - What does the Good Dirt mean to you?  

     

    Things Mentioned:


     



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    1h 0m - Jun 13, 2025
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