What it means to advocate for organic certificationIn This Podcast: Greg interviews Linley Dixon from The Real Organic Project to discuss the organization's efforts to maintain the true integrity of organic farming. Linley recounts her journey from farming in Colorado to working with the National Organic Standards Board and witnessing regulatory battles that compromised organic standards. She explains the foundation of The Real Organic Project as an add-on certification emphasizing soil health and traditional organic practices. The conversation covers issues such as the inclusion of hydroponics in organic certification, the influence of large corporations, and the need for better enforcement of organic standards. Linley also shares insights into the project's conference, podcast, and community initiatives aimed at educating consumers and supporting local farmers. The discussion highlights the importance of consumer awareness, local farming support, and continued advocacy for robust organic regulations..Our Guest: Linley Dixon has been farming organic vegetables in southwest Colorado since 2010, specializing in soil grown greenhouse tomatoes. In 2018 she helped launch the Real Organic Project’s certification program and is now the Co-Director of the non-profit with Vermont organic farmer Dave Chapman. For over a decade she has worked with the organic movement to achieve greater transparency and integrity in USDA Organic. She holds a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from the University of Florida and a Masters in Soil Science from West Virginia University’s Organic research farm.Email Linley at -  Linley@RealOrganicProject.orgCheck out their website at  RealOrganicProject.org Visit UrbanFarm.org/RealOrganic for the show notes and links on this episode! Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg, Janis or Ray to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!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.

For the Greatest Impact, A Garden Chat with Don TitmusIn this garden chat, Greg and Don Titmus dive into the Permaculture Principle of 'making the least change for the greatest possible effect'. The discussion covers various techniques such as composting, leveraging points in the system, and creating sustainable urban gardens. Additionally, they talk about water management using swales, energy efficiency with solar ovens, and designing regenerative systems. The conversation also touches on the significance of creating edge in gardens and the impact of the permaculture design course on personal and community gardening practices.Our Guest: Don grew up in London and at age 16 spent 4 years being trained in horticulture through an apprenticeship and a college course. From there he continued landscaping in his hometown until he moved to Arizona in 1981, where he worked in landscaping and then starting his own business in garden maintenance. In 2003 he attended a Permaculture Design Course, which was life-changing for Don. He knew right away that this was the path he’d been waiting for, and later attended two Permaculture Teacher Trainings.Visit www.urbanfarm.org/901 for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg or choose one of the senior members of our Urban Farm team to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!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 Seed Chat with Bill McDormanSign up for our live monthly Seed Chat at SeedChat.orgIn This Month's Seed Chat: Greg and Bill discuss the fundamentals of seed saving, emphasizing the importance of observation in the garden to identify the healthiest plants for seed collection. They share their experiences and techniques for selecting seeds, such as paying attention to plant resilience, disease resistance, and environmental adaptation. The conversation covers practical stories and advice, such as mixing diverse varieties to find resilient crops and focusing on the qualities needed in specific environments. They also encourage engagement in local seed exchanges and seed libraries to promote genetic diversity and resilience in community gardens. The session includes audience interaction, with participants sharing their seed-saving practices and asking questions about optimizing seed selection.Visit UrbanFarm.org/900 for the show notes and links on this episode! Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg or Ray to get permaculture based feedback.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 ReplayIn this episode Romey Romero chats with Farmer Greg about the many iterations of composting. urban farming and composting. They discuss Farmer Greg's journey, his urban farm in central Phoenix, and his involvement in promoting sustainable and regenerative food systems. Emphasis is laid on the critical elements of composting, including the use of woody mulch, leaves, chicken manure, and food scraps. Greg walks listeners through different composting methods such as worm composting, using chickens, and black soldier flies. The episode covers both beginner-friendly and advanced techniques, emphasizing a circular food system and the importance of local food production. Various composting methods, including traditional thermophilic composting and simpler alternatives like pit composting and using a garden tower system, are discussed.Visit www.UrbanFarm.org/899 for the show notes and links on this episode!Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering cohttps:///nsults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg, Janis or Ray to get permaculture based feedback.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.

On Growing Tea and EntrepreneurshipIn This Podcast: Steve Lorch, founder and CEO of Table Rock Tea Company in Pickens, South Carolina, shares his journey from a surgical nurse and serial entrepreneur to becoming a leading expert in growing tea in the United States. Steve recounts how his experience with Hydro Missions International led to his fascination with tea during a water project in Kenya. He shares how he started growing tea and eventually founded Table Rock Tea Company. Steve discusses the rarity of US-grown tea, the differences between true tea and herbal infusions, and the consortium he started to support other tea growers. He also touches on the challenges, significant accomplishments, the importance of knowing one's business limits, and his efforts in creating 'Good Faith Grown,' an initiative for honesty in labeling. The episode highlights his entrepreneurial spirit, dedication to sustainable farming, and passion for tea.Our Guest: Steve is the founder/CEO of Table Rock Tea Company in Pickens, South Carolina. He is a former surgical nurse of 33 years in the OR, a serial entrepreneur and multi-published author. Steve is considered a leading expert on growing tea in the United States and is frequently asked to present and consult on the topic. Having worked in multiple industries, Steve professionally coaches entrepreneurs and leaders of diverse backgrounds.Steve's Books - The Bible and The Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine by Andrew ChevallierContact Steve - TableRockTea.com &  GoodFaithGrown.com Visit UrbanFarm.org/TableRockTea for the show notes and links on this episode! Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg, Janis or Ray to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!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.

From semipro basketball to permaculture...here's a story!In This Podcast: Ryan Blosser shares his inspiring journey from being a basketball player to becoming a leading figure in permaculture. Ryan moved from his hometown in Waynesboro, Virginia, to Hawaii, where he discovered a deep connection to nature through surfing, which eventually led him to permaculture. He co-founded the Shenandoah Permaculture Institute and runs the Waynesboro Education Farm, integrating K-12 public school curricula with organic farming. Ryan shares about his book 'Mulberries in the Rain,' that he co-authored with Trevor Piersal, and details his path to bringing permaculture into mainstream education through university partnerships. He emphasizes the importance of resilience, community, and the design process in achieving personal and professional success.Our Guest: Ryan is a writer, educator, and farmer living in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. He is a nonprofit leader and market gardener. Currently he runs the Waynesboro Education Farm through Waynesboro Public Schools where he is tasked with integrating the K-12 public school curriculum into a functioning mixed vegetable organic farm. He also is a cofounder and lead teacher with Shenandoah Permaculture Institute. Ryan's Book - Sand Talk, How Indigenous Thinking can Save the World by Tyson YunkaportaContact Ryan - ShenandoahPermaculture.comVisit UrbanFarm.org/ShenandoahPermaculture for the show notes and links on this episode! Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg, Janis or Ray to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!Become an Urban Farm Patron and listen to more than 900 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.

Building a Farm Model with a Regenerative VisionIn This Podcast: Dave Boehnlein studied natural resources and environmental studies at the University of Minnesota which lead him to becoming an educator and leader in permaculture design and implementation. He co-authored the book 'Practical Permaculture' and is now leading a project called Rooted Northwest, a co-housing and regenerative agriculture community in Arlington, Washington. This project aims to combine farmland preservation, community living, and education using a permaculture approach. Rooted Northwest is currently looking for home buyers and social impact investors to join the initiative and help support their mission.Our Guest: Dave Boehnlein is originally from Wisconsin and found his way to Washington State to learn about permaculture. Now he’s a leader in both permaculture design and education having co-authored the book Practical Permaculture while teaching at Bastyr University and other institutions. When learning about permaculture, he lived at the Bullock’s Permaculture Homestead and got to experience education in both land care and community living. That’s a huge part of his reason for being involved with building Rooted Northwest. He’s super excited to work on regenerative agriculture projects by day and then share meals and play cribbage in the evening!Dave's Book - Practical PermacultureDave's Book Recommendation - The Transition HandbookContact Dave for more information about Rooted NW - RootedNW.orgVisit UrbanFarm.org/RootedNW for the show notes and links on this episode! Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg, Janis or Ray to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!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 Garden Chat with Don TitmusIn this garden chat, Greg and Don Titmus dive into the Permaculture Principle 'The problem is the solution,' using examples like managing excess lemons and wetland areas to illustrate the concept. They also talk about water harvesting techniques, such as swales and curb cuts, and offer solutions for gardening in small spaces, like using tower gardens and partnering with neighbors. The session concludes with an explanation of what a permaculture design course entails and the benefits of taking it in-person. Participants are encouraged to drop questions in the Q&A, and the next month's topic will be 'Make the least change for the greatest possible effect or yield.'Our Guest: Don grew up in London and at age 16 spent 4 years being trained in horticulture through an apprenticeship and a college course. From there he continued landscaping in his hometown until he moved to Arizona in 1981, where he worked in landscaping and then starting his own business in garden maintenance. In 2003 he attended a Permaculture Design Course, which was life-changing for Don. He knew right away that this was the path he’d been waiting for, and later attended two Permaculture Teacher Trainings.Visit www.urbanfarm.org/895 for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg or choose one of the senior members of our Urban Farm team to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!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.

Our monthly Seed Chat at SeedChat.orgIn This Podcast: Greg and Bill McDorman explore why seed saving virtually disappeared. They reveal how, historically, seed saving was an integral practice for gardeners and farmers, promoting more resilient and adaptable crops. However, the industrialization of agriculture and commercialization of seeds in the 20th century led to a decline in this practice due to economic pressures and the introduction of laws favoring seed patents and protections. Bill recounts the historical developments, including the idea of patenting of plants in the 1930s and the eventual patenting of seeds in the 1980s. The conversation also highlights success stories like the revival of Sonoran White Wheat in Arizona, demonstrating how communities can reclaim and share seeds to build local resilience. They encourage listeners to engage in seed saving and participate in seed libraries to foster a sustainable and abundant agricultural system.Visit UrbanFarm.org/894 for the show notes and links on this episode! Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg or Ray to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!Become an Urban Farm Patron and listen to more than 900 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 ReplayIn this episode of Rosie on the House, Romey Romero and Farmer Greg welcome Brad Lancaster, a renowned expert in water harvesting. They discuss Brad's journey in water harvesting starting from his childhood in Tucson, the practices he developed over the years, and the techniques mentioned in his book. Brad elaborates on practical methods to harvest rainwater efficiently in urban settings, including the creation of basins, curb cuts, and the use of rain gardens. He shares his experiences from global travel, particularly from Zimbabwe and Saudi Arabia, which influenced his work and techniques. Brad also highlights the profound community and ecological benefits of rainwater harvesting, such as creating food forests, improving local climates, and revitalizing neighborhoods. The episode underscores the importance of making the most out of minimal rainfall, even in desert areas, and offers practical advice for homeowners and communities. Brad Lancaster is the author of Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond Volumes one and two. The creator of harvestingrainwater.com and is co-founder of neighborhoodforesters.org. He and his brother's family amazingly harvest about 100 Thousand gallons of rainwater each year in Tucson on an eighth of an acre urban lot and adjoining right away where just 11 inches of rain falls each year. This harvested rainwater is then turned into living air, conditioners of food bearing shade trees and understory plants, not just at home, but throughout his neighborhood where he and his neighbors have expanded the harvest To millions of gallons of stormwater each year, helping recharge the hydrology for all by giving back more than we take.Visit www.UrbanFarm.org/893-Rosie for the show notes and links on this episode!Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering cohttps:///nsults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg, Janis or Ray to get permaculture based feedback.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.