Surviving Hard Times

Wild rice isn’t just uniquely delicious: it’s highly nutritious and takes a lot of careful work to grow.

Learn the ins and outs of breeding and cultivating wild rice in Minnesota from Jennifer Kimball, Assistant Professor in the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics at the University of Minnesota.

Tune in to explore:

• Environmentally responsible practices in wild rice breeding and cultivation
• The purpose and importance of “...

If you had the opportunity to innovate your farm, would you take it? The challenges that come with 21st-century agriculture are very unique, and inventive minds like Jonathan Dysinger are committed to innovating this process for both small and large farmers alike…

Jonathan is the Owner and CEO of Farmers Friend, a company that develops tools and supplies to make small farms more efficient and profitable. With years of experience in...

Where you live affects the quality of your food and water. A big reason for this has to do with watershed hydrology – the way water moves across agricultural landscapes.

Matthew Helmers’ work revolves around this topic, and he shares his knowledge today.

Tune in to explore:

• What tile drainage is, and how it improves crop health and production
• Why slowing water movement across the land is critical for crops and can decrease pol...

Could aquaponics sustainably feed and fund the world? Josh Imhoff, the founder and director of Emerge Aquaponics is on a mission to find out. As someone who grew up traveling around the world, Josh was exposed to the immense “need” that many people have – and he has made it his goal to alleviate this.

Determined to help feed and fund people, Josh decided that aquaponics may be the answer that he and many other individuals have been...

Today, we discuss all things sustainable agriculture with Joshua Earl Arnold. Joshua is a Professor of Sustainable Agriculture at Warren Wilson College where he educates his students on subjects such as entomology, agriculture, agroecology, and soil science. As someone that considers himself a “science, practice, and movement” agroecologist, Joshua is here to offer his unique perspective on urban agriculture as a whole.

Joshua disc...

In this episode, we sit down with horticulturist Dr. Eric Thomas Stafne to discuss fruit and nut crop production. As an Extension and Research Professor at Mississippi State University and the Coastal Research and Extension Center, Dr. Stafne is both an educator and researcher focused on understanding and optimizing crops such as blueberries, blackberries, grapes, and muscadines.

Dr. Stafne’s professional background began in urban ...

As fires continue to scorch the Western U.S., it can be hard to imagine a way to tame such extreme events. Wildfires have always been a natural environmental occurrence. Still, scientists are exploring management practices that may be able to mitigate these repercussions – while simultaneously helping the forests tolerate fire in general…

Dr. Brandon M. Collins joins the podcast to discuss his work in fire dynamics and forest manag...

“All life begins in the soil, and it translates all the way to human life and human health,” said the soil agronomist whose nutrition advice helped Blaine Hitzfield’s mother find life-changing relief from crippling arthritis.

Farmers have a significant role to play in the health of society, and as the CEO of distributions at Seven Sons Farms (and one of the seven sons!), Hitzfield understands this well. He’s come to appreciate the ...

What does it take to successfully manage a large-scale dining operation? Glenn Loughridge joins us today to discuss how he accomplishes just that as Auburn University's Director of Campus Dining and Athletics Concessions. Since 2012, Glenn has been responsible for delivering local, fresh food to the campus community in a creative and collaborative manner.

As a graduate of Auburn University himself, Glenn has a long history with cre...

Dawn Gallop and her husband were homesteading before they even knew “homesteading” was a term – they were just doing what they needed to survive.

They’ve managed a 30-acre farm complete with goats, bees, chickens, quail, and more, and recently moved to a new farm.

They’re also the creators of a popular YouTube channel called Dawn Gallop of #9 Farms, where they put out a ton of information and resources for anyone looking to build t...

How can massive amounts of water be saved and reused in a sustainable way?

That’s the question at the center of Anacleto Rizzo’s work as a hydraulic civil engineer who focuses on the design and research & development of sustainable water projects.

Tune in to learn about the details of his work and discover:

• How green boards can be used for treating and reusing greywater
• The three pillars of sustainable water management
• Why toi...

If you’re a new mother navigating the world of breastfeeding, pumping, or both … Or if you know someone who is, this episode is for you.

Unlike most lactation consultants, Allison Tolman is also a breast pump expert who focuses on helping mothers combine these methods for the best outcomes.

Press play to learn:

• Problems that come with having an oversupply of breast milk
• Why there has been a recent influx of mothers wanting to ...

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How would you handle moving from a city in the Northeast to the country of Texas? In this episode, JD and Matt from The Texas Boys describe how their family did just that 8 years ago, and how it has drastically changed their lives for the better…

The Texas Boys are not only a family homesteading in the heart of Texas, but an online presence that offers a variety of goods and educational resources to their audience. In thi...

Farm From a Box is a sustainable, regenerative, environmentally friendly, and efficient way to build your own personal garden filled with nutrient-dense, culturally affirming foods.

Meag Sargent believes everyone deserves this. She’s a horticulturist, farmer, artist, and a member of the sales team at Farm From a Box. She joins the show to share her insights from over a decade of experience growing food.

Tune in to learn:

• The p...

Is green energy really the solution, or just a false promise?

Press play to explore:

• Whether electric vehicles are truly a better choice than gas-powered vehicles
• How cobalt is obtained and what it’s used for
• A clear way to make dramatic energy improvements now, and why these changes aren’t being implemented
• The problem of being overly dependent on one energy source
• What energy policies might look like in the coming years

Today we sit down with Emma Torbert to discuss her distinctive approach to sustainable farming practices. Emma is the Market Garden Manager and Educator for the Student Farm at UC Davis. Started in 2020, the Student Farm is a nine-acre mixed vegetable farm and adjacent hedgerow that familiarizes UC Davis students with agriculture and teaches them how to grow organic crops.

With a passion for community-supported agriculture, Emma is...