Hands in the Soil

In this episode of Hands in the Soil, we’re joined by Jasmine and Joseph Wiens, the founders of Lost Ranch Winery in Temecula Valley. Since launching Lost Ranch in 2020, Jasmine and Joseph have been pioneering regenerative agriculture and low intervention winemaking on their working ranch. Their vision? To produce beautiful wines while deeply honoring the land, environment, and community.

Lost Ranch grows and sources grapes from org...

In this episode of Hands in the Soil, we’re joined by Chris Burroughs, founder of Garden 31, a San Diego County-based nonprofit dedicated to transforming lives through regenerative agriculture and life skills training. Chris's work focuses on empowering at-risk youth, formerly incarcerated individuals, and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities by providing opportunities for growth, healing, and connection to the Earth.

Chris s...

In this episode, we’re joined by Peter Sargent, founder of Longroots Ranch in Boulder County, Colorado. Peter grew up on horse and cattle operations in Pennsylvania and Wyoming and spent a decade as an environmental organizer before combining those two worlds in a regenerative agrivoltaic operation.

We explore Peter’s journey into farming, the concept of agrivoltaics—which merges agriculture with solar energy—and how this practice b...

In this episode of Hands in the Soil, we sit down with Bianca and Ethan Nati, the passionate growers behind The Growers Grange. Over the past three years, they built their small-scale farm from the ground up outside of Portland, Oregon. However, they are now in the process of closing their farm business, and this conversation takes an honest look at the challenges of making farming a financially and emotionally sustainable career.

B...

In this episode of Hands in the Soil, we’re excited to dive back in with Ian McSweeney, a dedicated land steward and advocate for equitable farmland access. Ian’s work centers on the human connection to land and each other, viewing food and agriculture as both separating and connecting forces. As Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of The Farmers Land Trust, he has helped protect over 12,000 acres of farmland, securing land access...

In today’s episode, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on 2024 and express my deep gratitude for the time you’ve spent alongside me over the last 33 episodes of Hands in the Soil. I also share some personal and professional updates, as I’m gearing up to close a chapter and beginning a new one. I look back on my growth-filled year working at the Farm Lab in Encinitas, and give you a glimpse into what’s next for me. And in 2025, I’...

In today’s mini episode, we’re exploring soil cultivation practices — what tilling is, the different methods of soil disturbance, and how they affect soil health. We’ll also look at no-till agriculture as an alternative, examining both its advantages and challenges.

Tune in to learn more about…

• What soil cultivation is and how it's commonly used in conventional farming

• The different types of soil disturbance practices, fro...

In today’s mini episode, I dive into the thing that’s on everyone’s mind this week - the election. More specifically, I focus on how the food system might be impacted by the new administration. 

Tune in to learn more about…

• The policies that give me hope

• The ways that Donald Trump’s promises are in direct opposition to the platform that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran on

• How fossil fuel and immigration policies are all intrins...

In today’s mini episode, we dive into the topic of “regenerative agriculture.” If you’ve been listening to this podcast, you’ve heard us mention this several times - but what exactly are we talking about? 

Tune in to learn more about…

Rachael Cohen is a Nature based spiritual life coach, plant connector, intuitive medium and author. When her experiences as an environmental educator, wild animal specialist and mother left her anxious and distraught over society’s destruction of Nature, Rachael cultivated a creative relationship with plants that awakened her spiritual gifts and transformed her life. She first founded Infinite Succulent, specializing in plant art c...

In today’s mini episode, we explore some fun facts about seeds! Each tiny seed holds within it the blueprint for life—whether it's a plant, a tree, or even an entire ecosystem— and I wanted to highlight some interesting information that I’ve learned over the years. 

Tune in to learn more about… 

• The shelf life of seeds and how “dormant seeds” work 
• The story of the 2000-year-old date seed
• Why wildfires are ecologically imp...

Many people want to make the switch from grocery store chains to local farmers markets, but experience some barriers that have prevented them from doing so. In today’s mini episode, we’ll be exploring tips for navigating your local market. 

Tune in to learn more about…

• Normalizing the confusion that comes along with familiarizing yourself with the culture of farmers markets 

• The feeling of distrust in what’s being sold...

Laura Baum, a former clinical herbalist, is a holistic business development coach who works to strengthen holistic healthcare by strengthening holistic healthcare service-based businesses. She offers businesses a holistic lifestyle coaching framework to assist patients and clients get improved health results at home to enhance the benefits of practitioner services. Laura also helps these businesses market and sell this offer and st...

Asher Cloran is the Director of Life Rocks, a not-for-profit aimed at protecting childhood by connecting children to Nature. Asher is a passionate advocate for Earth Science Education for Kids and having Earth sciences and Nature studies at the heart of the curriculum. Asher has authored the book 'connecting children with nature' and is the co-creator of 'The Soil Education Kit' and "The Soil Book,". Asher...

Sequoia was born in New Zealand and raised in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada in California. She got her masters in Soil Science from UC Davis in the Gaudin Agroecology lab, and is currently a livestock operator in Petaluma, California, working with Coastal Land and Livestock, implementing targeted grazing with sheep and goats.

We start by discussing soil, from a detailed breakdown of what soil is made up of, to a discussio...

Jamie Balesteri is the Farm Production Manager at Coastal Roots Farm, managing the crop production fields, propagation house, food forest, laying hen flocks, and compost operation. Prior to joining Coastal Roots Farm in 2021, she worked with several farms and farmers markets in the Phoenix area while earning a degree in Food and Nutrition Management with a focus on Sustainability. She also has a certificate in Permaculture Design a...

In today’s mini episode, we explore the question of how to get started on your path towards working in food systems. I discuss my own non-linear path to getting to where I am today, and offer advice for steps to take to getting involved in this ever-evolving landscape. 

Tune in to learn more about… 

• The many examples of non-farming jobs in the food systems sector, from activism and policy-making to education and food was...

Today we’re joined by Morgan-Lea Fogg, Co-Founder of Nautical Farms. Morgan set out to change the world and disrupt food systems by building a modern farm that promotes sea greens and creates sustainable food & bath goods that are just as healthy for consumers as they are for the planet. With a background in community building at Summit- a thought leadership event series, Morgan-Lea also is focused on building sustainable ocean...

Today we’re joined by Zach Benavidez of Terra Hava, who has designed a turn-key microalgae production platform that focuses on cultivating fresh Spirulina as a nutrient rich sustainable protein for human consumption. 

In this episode, we discuss the ins and outs of spirulina, from its surprising nutritional profile to the complex logistics behind creating a high quality product. We also explore Zach’s vision of building a network o...