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.

Barnyard Gothic, Hilde's Goat Adventures.In This Podcast: Greg speaks with Hilde Festerling, a storyteller and small holder goat farmer, about her unique podcast, the Goat American Novel. The podcast is a Barnyard Gothic series inspired by Hilde's experiences with her goat herd and farming community. Hilde shares a compelling story about a challenging kidding event that led her to create the podcast. The conversation delves into the artistic and familial collaboration behind the podcast, the importance of storytelling, and the fascinating dynamics of goats. Hilde also discusses how her work aims to reconnect urban audiences with farming life and the potential for communal goat farming in urban settings.Our Guest:  Hilde Festerling is a storyteller and a small holder goat farmer. Her goat herd, and her farming community, are the inspiration for her current project, The Goat American Novel, a barnyard gothic podcast for families. In contrast to the superficial ways goats are often treated in popular media, The Goat American Novel podcast invites us deep into the ways of goats; it invites families to see themselves in herd dynamics, and to maybe dream about what it might be like to live close to them.Hilde's Books -  Goat Husbandry by David McKenzie & The Witches of Benevento by John Bemelmans MarcianoVisit UrbanFarm.org/GoatAmericanPodcast 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.

Building the Homegrown Collective.In This Podcast: Hayden Caraway shares his initiative, Homegrown Collective, a platform aimed at transforming the food system by connecting consumers with responsibly grown and locally sourced food. Hayden, who faced health issues due to processed foods, was inspired by food practices in places like Costa Rica and Italy. Through this nonprofit platform, local food producers can gain free online exposure and sell directly to consumers, making it easier for them despite limited marketing budgets. The platform is both a website and a mobile app, designed for user convenience and community support. The conversation covers the platform's development, its reception, upcoming plans, and Hayden's personal journey and motivations. Listeners are encouraged to quiet their minds, focus on their goals, and support local food systems.Our Guest:  Hayden Caraway is 31 years old and has been challenged with digestive and immune health issues. After much blood work and research, he realized it was due to the processing and food practices we use in the us. So he created homegrown collective to help consumers find responsibly grown and reasonably sourced food. He has dedicated his life to transforming our food system from processed to homegrown.Hayden's Book Recommendation - Switch on your Brain by Dr. Caroline LeafContact Hayden at HomegrownCollective.orgVisit UrbanFarm.org/HomeGrownCollective 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.

Celebrating 50 Years of Seed Saving.In This Podcast: Greg interviews Mike Bollinger, the Executive Director of Seed Savers Exchange, discussing his journey and work there. Mike shares his path from running a certified organic vegetable farm, to being involved with Seed Savers Exchange in various capacities since 2003. They delve into the history and mission of the organization on its 50th anniversary, which started in 1975 by Diane and Kent Whaley. Seed Savers Exchange focuses on preserving heirloom and open-pollinated seeds by fostering a community of gardeners dedicated to saving and sharing seeds. Mike explains the various initiatives, including their Exchange platform, seed bank, catalog, online store, and educational programs. They also explore the significance of seed diversity for food security and adaptability. Mike highlights their efforts to engage urban gardeners and the broader community, and shares a touching story about the preservation of Glen Goodall's Italian Bean. They conclude with Mike's reflections on community, biodiversity, and his belief in the power of growing food with intention.Our Guest: Mike is the Executive Director of Seed Savers Exchange and has a long-standing connection to the organization, previously serving as a member of the organizations garden crew and contracted as a seed producer. At Seed Savers Exchange, Mike is dedicated to the organization's mission of seed preservation, sharing, and education. He brings a wealth of experience in organic and sustainable growing practices to his role, along with a passion for addressing critical issues such as climate change and food security through agriculture.Visit UrbanFarm.org/SeedSaversExchange for the show notes and links on this episode! Mike's Book - What We Sow by Jennifer JewelContact Mike - SeedSavers.orgNeed 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 TitmusThis month Greg from Urban Farm and Don Titmus from Bee Oasis discuss the principle of working with nature rather than against it. They cover various permaculture techniques, such as building soil organically, harvesting rainwater, using polyculture, and incorporating animals for land management. The conversation highlights the importance of seed saving, biological pest control, and the benefits of a permaculture design course. They also share personal experiences and insights on creating sustainable and resilient ecosystems.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/889-garden 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 Rosie On The House ReplayIn this reply episode of 'Rosie on the House', Romey Romero and Farmer Greg host special guest Cactus Kelly, a master gardener and foraging educator. We explore foraging native edibles in Arizona, highlighting various plants like Palo Verde beans, mesquite, and Ironwood. Cactus Kelly shares valuable insights on how to harvest, prepare, and consume these native plants, often found in urban environments. We also delve into the uses of weeds, cacti such as prickly pear and barrel cactus, and other native flora. We dive into foraging techniques, the nutritional benefits of these plants, and how they support local ecosystems. The segment aims to educate and encourage sustainable harvesting practices while introducing traditional uses and modern applications of native desert plants. Cactus Kelly is a master gardener, a foraging educator at the Desert Botanical Garden, and the owner of Cactus Kelly Urban Foraging Institute. Her specialty is low desert plants around Phoenix, Arizona, where we only get about seven inches of rain annually. Bean trees, seasonal greens, weeds, and the cactus fruits are the primary, wild, edible foods that she has been exploring ways to harvest, store, make flour, bake, and cook with them for over 10 years. Visit www.UrbanFarm.org/888-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!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.