Surviving Hard Times

Can beekeeping enrich your life and the environment around you? Tanya Phillips, a Director at Texas Honey Bee Farm based in Austin, Texas would certainly say so… Tanya joins the podcast today to discuss her work as a beekeeper and educator. Her dedication to the preservation and cultivation of bee colonies has led her to not only be a central figure at Texas Honey Bee Farm, but also write Beekeeping: Everything You Need to Make Your Hive Thrive! – a book that illustrates how to foster and support healthy, vibrant colonies. Jump in now to discover: Essential tips on how to cultivate your own bee colony.The roles that different bees play in their respective colonies.How bee preservation impacts the environment as a whole. Are you interested in taking your self-sufficiency to the next level by learning how to take care of bees? Tune in now to find out how to get started! To find out more about Texas Honey Bee Farm, click here now! Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3bO8R6q

When you head to the grocery store's produce section, what are you looking for? The ripest bananas? The juiciest tomatoes? The largest oranges? Whatever your answer, you might be surprised to learn what dictates the taste, ripeness, and nutritional quality of fruits and vegetables. Angelos Deltsidis shares interesting details of his unique area of expertise: post-harvest ripening. Tune in to learn: Interested in learning more? Press play to hear the entire conversation and visit Angelos Deltsidis - People | Horticulture (uga.edu). Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3bO8R6q

Cover crops have been around for over 10,000 years. It wasn’t until about 50 years ago that they started being replaced with chemical fertilizers, which many farmers saw as a more modern, efficient method. But the tide may be turning again – back to the (cover crop) roots. And this time, there may be loads of economic opportunity and environmental sustainability to gain. Press play to explore: Mitch Hunter is an Assistant Professor and Associate Director of the Forever Green Initiative at the University of Minnesota. This interdisciplinary initiative is dedicated to helping farmers and the environment by developing comprehensive crops, cropping systems, and supply chains for novel crops. The ultimate goal is to keep soils covered all year long, preventing fertilizer from washing into bodies of water, maintaining soil quality, and boosting overall productivity. Tune in and visit Home | Forever Green (umn.edu) to learn more. Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3bO8R6q

Today, we sit down with Rob Avis, the Owner, Lead Instructor, and Engineer at Verge Permaculture. Rob is an expert in regenerative business and eco-entrepreneurship, and he is using his skills to lead the next wave of permaculture education – covering everything from building science to agroecology. In this episode, you will uncover: Why the energy return on fossil fuel may be dwindling. The limitations of our world’s current energy sources. Why the nutrient density of our food is steadily declining. What’s the future of energy and food production on our planet? Experts like Rob are determined to find out… Want to find out more about Rob and his work? Click here now! Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3bO8R6q

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: Press play to hear the full conversation and learn more about Kimball’s work at Jennifer A Kimball | Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics (umn.edu). Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3bO8R6q

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 the industry, he is intent on changing the world through regenerative agriculture. How? By equipping, educating, and inspiring fellow growers… Click play now to uncover: You can learn more about Jonathan and his work with Farmers Friend by visiting www.farmersfriend.com! Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3bO8R6q

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: Helmers is the Director of the Iowa Nutrient Research Center at Iowa State University of Science and Technology. Learn more about his work at Iowa Nutrient Research Center (iastate.edu) and visit Iowa Learning Farms for weekly webinars and info by more experts. Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3bO8R6q

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 looking for. With this at the forefront of his mind, he started building and designing aquaponics systems 12 years ago with Emerge in order to provide people in need with food and income… Tune in now to discover: Want to learn more about Josh and his important work with Emerge? Click here now! Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3bO8R6q

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 discovered his fascination with food systems during his undergraduate studies at UC Berkeley – specifically the sociology of how people interact with these systems. This interest ultimately led him to study insects and their role in agricultural ecosystems… In this episode, you will learn about: Want to learn more about Joshua and his outlook on sustainable agriculture? Click here now! Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3bO8R6q

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 forestry, which blossomed into a fascination with horticulture – specifically fruit crops. With over 17 years of experience in this field, his knowledge surrounding fruit and nut crops has led him to some fascinating discoveries… Join the conversation now to hear Dr. Stafne talk about: You can find out more about Dr. Stafne and his work by clicking here! Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3bO8R6q

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 management. Brandon is an adjunct professor at UC Berkeley and the lead scientist at Berkeley Forests, where he is confronted with the daunting task of reducing increased susceptibility to wildfire and drought. He aims to do all this while also minimizing impacts on other forest ecological components. Join the conversation now to explore: You can find out more about Dr. Collins by clicking here now! Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3bO8R6q

“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 value of healthy soil in growing healthy food, which has become his mission. Tune in to explore: Interested in learning more? Press play to hear the entire conversation, and check out Pasture-raised Meats & Organic Groceries - Seven Sons Farms for more info. Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3bO8R6q

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 creative food management practices. Now, he is on a mission to provide the most sustainable, nutritious, and enjoyable dining experiences possible for the students, faculty, and staff of his beloved alma mater… In this episode, we dive into: To find out more about Glenn and his work, click here now! Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3bO8R6q

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 their own homestead. Tune in to explore: Interested in learning more? Check out https://www.youtube.com/@dawngallop/featured. Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3bO8R6q

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: Learn more by listening to the full conversation and visiting www.iridra.eu/it/. Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3bO8R6q

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: Tolman is a nurse, lactation consultant, and breast pump expert. She has a successful YouTube channel that provides data on breast pumps and more, as well as a pumping program specifically for working moms. Tune in for the full conversation and visit Tolman’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/newlittlelifebyallison. Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3bO8R6q

How would 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 this conversation, they tell us what it took to reach their goals, and how they did it with the help of a supportive local community. Join the discussion now to discover: Being self-sufficient means being supportive of your neighbors, and The Texas Boys are perfect examples of how to show support with both a vision and conviction… To learn more about The Texas Boys, visit TheTexasBoys.com now! Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3bO8R6q 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 this conversation, they tell us what it took to reach their goals, and how they did it with the help of a supportive local community. Join the discussion now to discover: Being self-sufficient means being supportive of your neighbors, and The Texas Boys are perfect examples of how to show support with both a vision and conviction… To learn more about The Texas Boys, visit TheTexasBoys.com now! Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3bO8R6q

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: Interested in learning more? Press play for the full conversation and check out https://farmfromabox.com/. Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3bO8R6q

Is green energy really the solution, or just a false promise? Press play to explore: Andrew Morriss is a lawyer and economist who has been teaching for almost three decades. As a Professor of, Bush School of Government and Public Service and School of Law at Texas A&M University, he analyzes regulatory measures – investigating how they work, why we adopt the ones we do, and how they can be improved. Having heard about “green energy” since high school, and always being told it was the ultimate solution almost within reach, he decided to enter the field and dig into the topic himself. His work is data-driven above all else, which demands the attention of anyone who disagrees with it or follows the pervasive narrative of green energy. Tune in for all the details and find his work at https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/results.cfm. Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3bO8R6q

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 a foundational part of the UC Davis community. Using her position in this program, Emma facilitates experiential learning for students across all majors… Join the podcast now to learn more about: Farming is a valuable skill that can be challenging to learn without the proper resources. Fortunately, experts like Emma are passing this knowledge on to people from varying walks of life so that they can participate in this essential part of sustainability! You can find out more about Emma and her work with the Student Farm by clicking here! Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3bO8R6q