Episodes
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Chwynyn Vaughn is the creator of Slow Botanicals, and for over 30 years she has been blending science and wise woman wisdom to create a sustainable lifestyle. With her background in midwifery and conventional healthcare, Chwynyn found a deep love for botanicals and plants that prompted her to create her fully certified-organic skincare line. Full of fresh ingredients and essential oils, Chwynyn takes advantage of her herbal knowledge to make botanical skin creams, shampoos, shave soaps, and bars that all come from her organic regenerative garden. Chwynyn discusses her lifestyle and business, as well as the quarter-acre plot where she lives along with her husband and children. You will walk away inspired by her approach to planting by the season, taking inspiration from the Earth, and the beauty of using natural products to heal our bodies.
Use Code “GOODDIRT” to get 10% off at Slow Botanicals!
Topics Discussed
· Growing Your Own Herbs
· Creating High-Quality Organic Skincare
· Living in a Commune
· Herbal Medicine
· Being a Midwife
· The Gardening Industry
· The Life Cycle of a Garden
· Starting Seeds and Peat-Free Potting Mix
· Favorite Natural Skincare Products
· Collagenase
· Manufacturing Certified Organic Products
· Packaging Products sustainably
· Protecting your Peace
· Gardening Techniques and Philosophy
· The Journey to Herbal Medicine and Skincare
· Creating a Personal Connection with Your Garden
Episode Resources:
· Floret Flower Farm
· Back to the Roots Organic All-Purpose Peat-free Premium Potting Mix
Connect with Chwynyn Vaughan
· Website: slowbotanicals.com
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slow.botanicals/?hl=en
· Threads: https://www.threads.net/@slow.botanicals?xmt=AQGzClLZvasxn2Du8hsDGSaOiv4nKM46-NJus9dC2XAkjR8
· Newsletter: https://slowbotanicals.ck.page
· Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chwynyn-vaughan-2171a1281?
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🌻 About Lady Farmer:
· Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community
· Visit Our Website
· Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram
· Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail!
Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!
Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.
🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:
· Wendy Gray -
In the first of this bonus episode series, Emma and Mary discuss the concept and meaning of slow living. Using the quote from The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living, they discuss slow living in terms of making conscious choices in how we live our lives, paying attention to how we spend our time, money, and resources, and stepping back from industrialized systems that have come to provide our daily needs. They also highlight the importance of observing our own consumer habits and how they intersect with our quality of life. The conversation encourages questioning, reflection, and making small shifts towards a more sustainable and intentional lifestyle.
A Sampling of Related Episodes:
Episode 88: Conscious Clothing
Episode 86: Loving the World Through Simple Living with Danielle Alvarado of Sustainably Kind Living
Episode 186: Grow Your Own Food with Nicky and Dave Schauder of Permaculture Gardens
🌻 About Lady Farmer:
· Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community
· Visit Our Website
The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living
· Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram
· Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail!
Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!
Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.
🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:
· Wendy Gray -
Missing episodes?
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Alexia Allen is a suburban homesteader. She and her husband Daniel are transforming their own corner of suburbia into a permaculture paradise. They spent all of 2017 doing a hand harvested food challenge, which meant they were eating only hand harvested food right down to salt from the ocean. Daniel and Alexia are long time educators with a passion for authentic earth based skills. As Suburbia grew up around them, it made sense to share these skills with people eager to learn. In this conversation with Alexia, we hear about the organic growth of their community, their experience with the hand harvested food challenge, and the importance of fostering nature connection through personal grounding practices and educational programs. With help from an amazing "farm-ily, the small community of people that live and work together on the homestead, and a lively crew of program helpers, Hawthorn Farm has offered learning opportunities for the past 15 years.
Topics Discussed
· Alexia's Journey to Homesteading
· Multigenerational Communal Living
· Balancing Public and Private Spaces
· Age Diversity
· Suburban Living
· Dealing with the Perception of Time
· Social Ecology
· The Underappreciation of Farming
· Making Money as a Homesteader
· Being a “Farm Grandma”
· Nurturing Healthy, Happy Humans
· Lifelong Educators
· The Ups and Downs of Intentional Community
· Grounding Practice — All You Have to do is Sit!
· The Hand Harvested Food Challenge
· Consistency over Decades
· Allowing Change
· Reconnecting with Your Environment
· Finding Your Strengths and Leaning on Others for Theirs
Episode Resources:
· Listen to The Good Dirt “191. Paul Hawken on Carbon, Climate and Connection”
· Nature Connection Mentors
· Wilderness Connection School
Connect with Alexia Allen:
· Website: https://www.hawthornfarm.org
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hawthornfarm/?hl=en
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hawthornfarmheals/
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🌻 About Lady Farmer:
· Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community
· Visit Our Website
· Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram
· Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail!
Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!
Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.
🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:
· Wendy Gray -
This episode originally aired on August 23, 2022.
What aspects of the back-to-school season are tapping into core memory making, and how much is just consumer hype? Listen in as Mary & Emma peel away the marketing from the emotion, and discuss ideas for reframing this season in a more sustainable way for kids AND parents.
Things Mentioned:
Episode 135 with Wisdom Supply Co.
Michael Pollan, author of In Defense of Food - An Eater's Manifesto
Lady Farmer Marketplace
Wool Lunchbox
Jute Sandwich Bag
Jackalo Clothing
About Lady Farmer:
Lady Farmer is a sustainable apparel and lifestyle brand, with education around sustainability and sustainable living at the forefront of our mission. Lady Farmer is proud to produce The Good Dirt podcast.
Our Website
@weareladyfarmer on Instagram
Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC
Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or tell us what the good dirt means to you.
Email us at [email protected]
Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 -
Ellen Gordon of the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve in Maryland is an environmental activist spearheading an effort to help transition local farmland to regenerative farming practices. She joins Mary in this episode to discuss the benefits of regenerative farming, including the improvement of soil health, enhancing biodiversity, reducing costs and sequestering carbon. Ellen shares her journey from studying biology and working in ocean and coastal issues to her involvement with a local nonprofit and becoming an advocate for sustainable farming methods. The conversation also explores the challenges and rewards of regenerative agriculture and the importance of reconnecting with indigenous farming practices, the need to change the way we view and interact with the land, and the potential of regenerative agriculture in the mitigation of climate change.
Topics Discussed
· Sustainable Farming
· Regenerative Agriculture
· The Importance of Regenerative Agriculture
· Challenges and Resistance in Transitioning to Regenerative Farming
· Education on Sustainable Practice
· Green Revolution
· How to Grow New Soil
· The Value of Biodiversity
· Creating Resilient Food Systems
· From Ocean Studies to Regenerative Farming
· The Difficulties of Open Land
· Indigenous Practices
· Modern Hurdles to Farming
· Supporting Healthy Soil, Water, and Air
· Handling Resistance to Change
· Plans for the Future
Episode Resources:
· The Montgomery County Maryland Agriculture Reserve
· Sugarloaf Citizens Association
· The Montgomery Countryside Alliance
· Read "Dirt to Soil: One Family's Journey Into Regenerative Agriculture" by Gabe Brown
· Rockland’s Farm Winery
· White Oak Pastures
Connect with Elle Gordon:
· Website: The Montgomery County Maryland Agriculture Reserve
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🌻 About Lady Farmer:
· Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community
· Visit Our Website
· Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram
· Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail!
Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!
Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.
🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:
· Wendy Gray -
Heidi is a multi-disciplinary artist based in Austin, Texas. She works in multiple media including clay and watercolor, striking a balance between classical and intuitive painting. For the past 10 years, she has sought to reduce the waste from art supplies in her own work by creating dyes that use the Earth’s soil, insects, and plants. She discusses her journey of learning about natural pigments, her artistic process, and the influences of science and nature on her work. We explore the intersection of art, environmental stewardship and education, especially as it comes to Heidi's commitment to sustainability and her efforts to inspire others to connect with the natural world. Learn to celebrate the peaceful and messy aspects of the natural world with Heidi, so you can also celebrate those same aspects in yourself.
Topics Discussed
· Oil and Acrylic Paints
· Being a Multidisciplinary Artist
· Paint in the Past
· The Ingredients in Paint
· Heidi's Journey to Natural Paints
· The Art of Making Natural Paints
· Foraging and Creating Paints
· Challenges and Discoveries in Paint Making
· Heidi's Artistic Background and Inspirations
· Environmental Advocacy Through Art
· Community Reactions and HOA Challenges
· Creative Projects and Future Plans
· Collecting and Painting with Ashes and Biochar
· Exploring Soil Colors
· Art Supplies and Environmental Impact
· Composting Adventures
· Touch Grass Movement
· Soil Science
· Where Science and Art Intersect
Episode Resources:
· Earth Native Wilderness School
· The Art of Soil
· Listen to The Good Dirt “138. The Urgent Need for Restorative Gardening with Mary Reynolds”
· Terry Tempest Williams
· Listen to The Good Dirt “199. Coming to our Senses with Author and Retreat Leader Leah Rampy”
Connect with Heidi Lowell:
· Website: https://heidilowell.art
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidilowellart/
· Links: https://linktr.ee/heidilowellart
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🌻 About Lady Farmer:
· Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community
· Visit Our Website
· Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram
· Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail!
Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!
Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.
🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:
· Wendy Gray -
Brittany Felton is a writer, editor, producer, baker, crafter, restauranteur, and host of the “Yeah, I’d Hang Out with Her” Podcast. Her mother and Mary have been friends since the 90's and participated in an early Artist’s Way group together. Brittany’s connection with Lady Farmer led her to invite Mary and Emma onto the podcast, and today we're sharing that interview here with all of you. You’ll hear all about Mary and Emma’s deep-seated connection to the land, their journey towards a more sustainable lifestyle and the inspiration for Lady Farmer. Mary shares her long quest to find the land she now calls home and some glimpses into the writing of “The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living”. Meanwhile, Emma recounts her experience in creative freelancing and how it ultimately led to the Lady Farmer initiative. This episode encapsulates the essence of Lady Farmer, highlighting its evolution from a clothing line to a broader community advocating for slower, more intentional living.
Topics Discussed
· Introduction to the Podcast
· Meet the Hosts: Mary and Emma
· Brittany's Backstory and Connection
· Mary's Origin Story
· Emma's Journey to Lady Farmer
· The Birth of Lady Farmer
· The Magic of the Farm
· Understanding Slow Living
· Consumer Habits and Sustainability
· The Pandemic's Impact on Slow Living
· The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living
· Sustainable Fashion and Climate Change
· The Good Dirt Podcast
· Community and Support Systems
· Personal Slow Living Journeys
· Daily Routines and Reflections
· Mary & Emma’s Creative Pursuits
Episode Resources:
· “Yeah, I’d Hang Out with Her” Podcast
· Read “The Artist's Way: 30th Anniversary Edition” by Julia Cameron
· Read “The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living” by Mary E. Kingsley
Connect with Brittnay Felton:
· Website: https://www.brittanyfelton.com/myfilms
· Instagram @brittfelt: https://www.instagram.com/brittfelt/?img_index=1
· Substack: https://brittanyfelton.substack.com/
· Links: https://linktr.ee/brittanyfelton
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🌻 About Lady Farmer:
· Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community
· Visit Our Website
· Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram
· Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail!
Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!
Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.
🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:
· Wendy Gray -
Natalie Leon is a British Japanologist with a Master’s Degree in Japanese Studies who has dedicated her life and career to sharing Japanese culture with the world and with the United Kingdom. Her passion lies in seasonality, and celebrating every day. She recently published “The Japanese Art of Living Seasonally” which is her love letter to seasonal living in Japan. Natalie shares her deep passion for Japanese culture, a journey that began with a childhood fascination with a kimono. The conversation explores various aspects of seasonality in Japan, such as the concept of 'shun' (eating what's in season), 'kisetsukan' (awareness of the seasons), and 'kasane' (color layering). Natalie also delves into the folklore and spirituality of Japan, illustrating how these traditions are interwoven with everyday life. If you enjoy this episode, Natalie's new book, “The Japanese Art of Living Seasonally: An Invitation to Celebrate Every Day” is out now and serves as a loving invitation to incorporate these enriching practices into our daily lives.
Topics Discussed
· Japanology
· Seasonality
· The unique
· Kimonos, Tea Ceremony, Matsuri, and other Annual Ritual Festivals
· Japanese Textiles & Symbolism
· The Idea of Vintage
· Art & The Connection and Elevation of Nature
· John Ruskin the Art Critic
· The Mingei Art Movement
· William Morris Designs
· Kisetsukan (季節感)
· Shun (旬)
· Takanoko / Bamboo Shoots
· Western Culture’s Impact on Japan
· Kasane no Irome (襲の色目)
· The Significance of Cherry Blossoms
· Dealing with Rituals, Spirituality, and the Supernatural
· Shintoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism
· The 4 Japanese Seasonal Goddesses
· The Climate & Ecosystem of Japan
· Forest Bathing in Yakashima
· Marie Kondo & Minimalist, Zero-Waste Culture
· Furoshiki (風呂敷)
· Kamikatsu - Japan’s Zero Waste Town
Episode Resources:
· Read “The Japanese Art of Living Seasonally: An Invitation to Celebrate Every Day” by Natalie Leon
Connect with Natalie Leon:
· Website: https://www.natalie-leon.co.uk/
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_natalie_leon/
· Newsletter: https://natalieleon.substack.com
· Links: https://linktr.ee/sakura_sister_
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🌻 About Lady Farmer:
· Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community
· Visit Our Website
· Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram
· Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail!
Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!
Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.
🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:
· Wendy Gray -
This episode originally aired on November 4th, 2022.
Today's guest is Claire Dunn, here with us to dive deeply into the mysteries of nature and psyche through the pathways of deep nature connection. Speaking to us from Melbourne, Australia, Claire is a writer, speaker, barefoot explorer, rewilding facilitator, and founder of Nature’s Apprentice, a platform for education and guidance in rewilding our souls and the planet. For the last 15 years, Claire has been facilitating individuals in ancestral earth skills, deep ecology, ecopsychology, soul-centric nature-based practice, village building, dance, ceremony, and contemporary wilderness rites-of-passage. Claire is the author of the memoir, My Year Without Matches, which tells the story of her year living wild – and the recently released memoir Rewilding the Urban Soul exploring how we might embody wild consciousness even while living in the setting of a city.
Topics Covered:
Rewilding as a new human movement
Cultivation of a "Wild Mind"
Claire's childhood and background in the environmental movement
How Claire's introduction to primitive earth skills led her more deeply into the human nature relationship
Richard Lou The Last Child in the Woods
Vitamin N (Nature)
Tom Brown's Tracker School in New Jersey
Australia's first Independent Wilderness Studies Program
Claire's one-year self-initiated deep nature immersion
The sacred order of survival
Bill Plotkin
Claire's emergence from her immersion, and sharing the immersion experience with the world
Nature's Apprentice
Rewilding the Urban Soul - Claire Dunn
My Year Without Matches
Jon Young's Core Routines of Nature
Common threads of people who come to Claire for instruction
What is a vision quest?
The urgency of climate change
Bringing back the species of the wild human
Active Hope by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone
Connect with Claire:
Her website, naturesapprentice.com.au/
Claire's Books:
Rewilding the Urban Soul
My Year Without Matches
Follow her on Instagram @_natures_apprentice_
Claire's Facebook
🌻 About Lady Farmer:
Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community
Visit Our Website
Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram
Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!
Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.
🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:
• Wendy Gray -
Angela Ferraro Fanning built and runs the Axe and Root Homestead in New Jersey. After suffering from postpartum depression, Angela wanted to remove herself from modern day hustle culture and return to nature, growing as much of her own food as possible. She grew from her own private garden to a fully functioning farm, and shares the empowerment that comes along with homesteading with our audience today. Sitting down with Emma and Mary in this follow-up to her original episode “Homesteading is What You Make It”, we catch up with Angela’s progress in running her farm a few years later after she was certified as a permaculturist by Cornell University. Angela shares insights about the evolution of her farm, managing a variety of plants and animals, and implementing permaculture principles into her lifestyle. She talks about publishing her books “The Sustainable Homestead” and the “Little Homesteader” series , growing protein-rich crops as a vegetarian, and raising a family on a farm. She leaves us all with why she believes it is vitally important to remember the legacy we leave for the people who take over the land after we’re gone.
Topics Discussed
· Eco-friendly Permaculture Homesteading
· Maintaining Geese, Ducks, Apiary, Sheep, Orchard, and Garden
· Being a Vegetarian Homesteader
· Leaving Graphic Design and Web Design for Nature
· Food Allergies & Pesticide Pain
· Pros and Cons of Eating According to the Season
· Compromises for Family
· Finding a Flexible Sustainability Sustain that Works For YOUR Lifestyle
· Mary’s Raspberry Story
· Preserving Your Food
· A Mugwort Invasion
· Growing Strawberries
· Working with Horses
· Raising Kids on a Farm
· Spending Time Outdoors
· Compromises, Saltwater Pools, and Honeybees
· Cultural Shifts Post-Pandemic
· Writing “The Sustainable Homestead: Create a Thriving Permaculture Ecosystem with Your Garden, Animals, and Land" by Angela Ferraro-Fanning
· The Little Homesteader Books
· Seitan
· Growing Beans, Garbanzos, and Quinoa
· Impact of COVID on Homesteading
Episode Resources:
· Listen to The Good Dirt “Homesteading is What You Make It with Angela Ferraro Fanning of Axe & Root Homestead”
· Listen to The Good Dirt “Homesteading is a Mindset with Angela Ferraro Fanning”
· Read Angela’s Books including “The Sustainable Homestead”, “The Harvest Table”, “Design for Change”, and the “Little Homesteader” series
· Listen to Vox Media’s “Today Explained: Honey, We Saved the Bees”
Connect with Angela :
· Axe & Root Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/axeandroothomestead/
· Website: https://www.axeandroothomestead.com
· Angela’s Photography Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angferrarofanning_photography/
· The HOMESTEADucation Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/homesteaducation/id1593301801
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🌻 About Lady Farmer:
· Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community
· Visit Our Website
· Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram
· Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail!
Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!
Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.
🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:
· Wendy Gray -
In this special episode, Emma and Mary are catching up with their first guest ever featured on the podcast, Amy DuFault. A writer on sustainable textiles for 15 years, Amy has dedicated her next chapter to reconnecting with the roots of her home on Cape Cod. Amy brings us along from her career in various aspects of sustainability in fashion and textiles to her current focus on water quality. She has dedicated her next chapter to reconnecting with the roots of her home on Cape Cod and is now working as communications director at the Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center. You will hear about Amy's work with growing natural dye plants in wastewater and innovative solutions for water sustainability. Finding her “why” was key to Amy’s journey as her drive to heal the earth is directly tied to her late father's environmental awareness, and a deep longing for the return of the environment she remembers as a child.
Topics Discussed
· Fibershed
· The “Why” Behind Your Sustainability
· Your Personal Toolkit & How to Use it to Change
· Sustainable Fabrics and Clothing Practices
· Determining Your Value System
· Working with the Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Tech Center
· The Fear Around Eco-conscious Businesses
· The Umbrella of Sustainability
· Where Our Clothing’s Color Comes From
· Natural Dye Farmers
· The Priceless Value of Waters
· Sanitation Practices
· Experiments for Optimal Flower Growing
· NOFA: Northeast Organic Farming Association
· Septic Tank Issues
· Saltwater Intrusion
· Exploring Wastewater Fertilization
· Revitalizing Septic Systems and Destroyed Bodies of Water
· The Cape Cod AquiFund
· Pasteurized Urine
· Restoring Your Home
· Eco-grief for the Way the Environment Was
· Government Support and Funding
· Water Quality
· Preserving Our Ground Water
Episode Resources:
· Listen to The Good Dirt’s 1st Episode with Amy DuFault
· PROJECT: Wastewater’s Impacts On Natural Dye Plant Growth & Color
· Botanical Colors
· Feedback Friday Videos
· Read “The Three Ages of Water: Prehistoric Past, Imperiled Present, and a Hope for the Future” by Peter Gleick
· The Rich Earth Institute
· Read "Everybody Poops!" by Justine Avery
· Read "Everybody Pees!" by Justine Avery
Connect with Amy DuFault:
· Website: amydufault.com
· Instagram: @amytropolis
· Links: https://linktr.ee/amytropolis
· Southeastern New England Fibershed
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🌻 About Lady Farmer:
· Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community
· Visit Our Website
· Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram
· Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail!
Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!
Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.
🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:
· Wendy Gray -
Tune in to the July episode of Slow Living Through the Seasons, in which Mary highlights the nostalgic soundtrack of July flies, the societal and physical impact of air conditioning, gardening by the signs in midsummer, and a simple recipe for fermented cucumbers. With the 12th episode in this series, we've now completed a full journey around the sun with seasonal reflections, memories, gardening guidance, tips, and a whole year of planting and gardening by the signs of the moon. After taking a pause from this monthly program, Mary will be picking up this discussion again but in a different format moving forward, bringing it more directly into the community for sharing and conversation and adding more personal interaction into the experience.
Read more what's in store for Slow Living Through the Seasons HERE
https://ladyfarmer.substack.com/t/seasonal-living
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🌻 About Lady Farmer:
Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community
Visit Our Website
Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram
Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!
Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.
🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:
• Wendy Gray -
In this thought-provoking episode, Emma and Mary delve into the concept of eco-spirituality, discussing its origins, significance, and their personal experiences with it. They reflect on various interviews they've conducted with guests who have touched on this topic, exploring the integration of spirituality with a love for the earth and nature. The episode is a deep dive into how eco-spirituality informs their work with Lady Farmer and The Good Dirt podcast, and how it serves as a path to healing both personally and globally.
Key Points:
Introduction to Eco-Spirituality:
Eco-spirituality combines the study of ecology and spirituality.
Historically, spirituality and nature were never separate until modern times.
The separation between humans and nature is perceived, not real.
Personal Journeys:
Mary shares her spiritual journey and how it led to her interest in eco-spirituality.
Emma discusses her observations of environmental changes growing up and her connection with nature.
Influential Conversations:
Recap of impactful interviews with guests like Ian C. Williams, Paul Hawken, and Asia Suler.
Insights on how eco-spirituality involves healing oneself to heal the earth.
Themes and Reflections:
The importance of language in discussing eco-spirituality.
The challenge of integrating spirituality and ecology without perpetuating the idea of separateness.
How personal healing practices can contribute to environmental regeneration.
Practical Applications:
Encouragement to connect with nature daily as a form of grounding and healing.
Discussion on how eco-spirituality can be a response to climate change and environmental degradation.
Exploring ways to live with eco-spiritual principles in modern society.
The role of sacredness and reverence in how we treat the natural world.
Resources Mentioned:
Ian C. Williams' book, Soil and Spirit, Seeds of Purpose, Nature's Insight and the Deep Work of Transformational Change
Asia Suler's book, Mirrors in the Earth: Reflections on Self Healing from the Living World
Osprey Orielle Lake's work on climate justice and rights of nature
Claire Dunn's experience of living in nature for a year
The Good Dirt Episodes Mentioned:
Mary DeJong
Ian C Williams
Asia Suler
Leah Rampy
Osprey Orielle Lake Pt. 1 & Pt. 2
Claire Dunn
🌻 About Lady Farmer:
Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community
Visit Our Website
Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram
Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!
Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.
🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:
• Wendy Gray -
*This episode is a replay of Episode 64, initially published on October 22, 2021 under the title Homesteading is What You Make It
On today’s episode of The Good Dirt, we’re chatting with Angela Ferraro Fanning of Axe and Root Homestead, a six-acre farm in central New Jersey. Angela shares the story of how she went from being a graphic designer to a homesteader in 2012, when she told her husband she'd like to trade her job income for time outside growing food they would no longer have to buy. Now she finds herself balancing a life raising two boys with managing a working farm, as well as authoring a cookbook, a children's book series and hosting a homesteading podcast.
In this conversation, we discuss not only the benefits of growing your own food, but the many options available to the modern homesteader. Though the concept of homesteading appeals to a lot of people, the reality of shifting to such a lifestyle is often intimidating and seemingly full of obstacles. Angela explains that homesteading doesn't look the same for everyone, and doesn't have to be defined by what you see when you look out your window. She encourages her followers to begin with the smallest task, such as growing one plant, and taking that longing for connection to food and nature just one step at a time. It doesn't have to involve raising and harvesting your own animals, or all of your food, baking artisan bread or keeping bees. There are likely others in your area that can do all of that. Instead, she says to focus on what interests you, and rely on your community for the rest. The homesteading mindset is about hands-on, local, seasonal living.
Join us on today’s episode to hear more about the first steps that Angela took in growing her own food, how she got comfortable with the constant trial and error of homesteading, and how she’s slowly expanding her business through writing and online media.
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Topics Covered:
A day in the life of Angela
The joys and challenges of farm life
Getting back to basics and not relying on machinery
Homesteading on a plant-based diet
Sharing her story and expertise through writing, podcasting, and online courses
Guest Info
Website
Instagram
The Definitely Not Simple Life Podcast
The Harvest Table: A Collection of Seasonal Plant- Based Recipes Inspired by the Home Garden
Little Country Cottage: An Autumn Treasury of Recipes, Crafts and Wisdom
Follow Us:
Our Website
Instagram -
Leah Rampy, author, educator and retreat leader, discusses her work and recent book release“Earth and Soul: Reconnecting Amid Climate Chaos”. She emphasizes how facing the reality of climate change and loss can help us open our hearts and "come to our senses" , allowing our grief to empower us in reconnecting to the living world. Leah integrates ecology, spirituality and personal practices in guiding others to deepen this relationship. In this conversation, we also discuss the epidemic of loneliness, the importance of community, the concept of indigeneity and the challenges of finding one's place in a changing world. We hear all about the co-housing community in West Virginia where Leah lives with her husband, and her involvement with the Church of the Wild-Two Rivers, a place to find hope through community and connection with nature.
Topics Discussed
· Leah discusses her book
· Working with Al Gore & Biodiversity for a Livable Climate
· Eco-Anxiety and Eco Grief
· Older vs. Younger Generation Perceptions of Climate Loss
· The Loss of Spring
· How Being Busy Distances Us from the Earth
· The Paradigm of Human Superiority
· Our Language towards Nature
· Distance or Disconnection
· The Beauty of Worms
· The Co-housing Movement
· The Epidemic of Loneliness
· A Community of Like-minded People or Like-hearted People
· Indigeneity and Connection to the Land
· Active Listening to the World Around Us
· How Science Helps Us Understand Our World
· The Tricky Thing about Hope
· Age Diversity
· Retreats and Pilgrimages
Episode Resources:
· Read “Earth and Soul: Reconnecting Amid Climate Chaos” by Leah Rampy
· Biodiversity for a Livable Climate
· Shepherd Village
· The Church of the Wild
· Read the Lady Farmer Article "St Brigid The Lady Farmer”
· Listen to The Good Dirt “The History and Folklore of Bridgid: Saint, Legend and Lady Farmer with Kathy Spaar”
· Listen to The Good Dirt “185. Reimagining Our Place in the Landscape: Eco-Spirituality and Rewilding with Mary DeJong”
· Read "Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest" by Suzanne Simard
Connect with Leah Rampy
· Website: https://www.leahmoranrampy.com/
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahrampy/
· Join Leah’s Mailing List: https://www.leahmoranrampy.com/subscribe.html
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🌻 About Lady Farmer:
· Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community
· Visit Our Website
· Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram
· Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail!
Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!
Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.
🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:
· Wendy Gray -
This bonus episode originally aired on June 19th, 2021
We have a special bonus episode for you this week in celebration of our newest national holiday-- Juneteenth! Mary and Emma reunite with author, historian and farmer Tony Cohen for an exploration into the history of Juneteenth and the holiday’s complex folklore and origins. Tony takes us back in time to examine how this monumental declaration of freedom spread in a variety of ways depending on the geographic, economic and social landscape of the time.
Mary, Emma and Tony pause to reflect upon what freedom means and looks like in the modern era and why society continues to resist a hard look at injustice. Tony points to how altering behavior can feel like giving up our own freedoms and comforts and reminds us that the fair trade movement has deeply historic roots. He also reflects upon the transition from enslavement to the tenant farming system and points to how that system affects us still today. The trio grapples with some hard truths about freedom itself and acknowledges the work still left to be done.
Tony shares how he celebrates Juneteenth at Button Farm and rejoices in community as he reflects upon the precious ability to gather and take new found enthusiasm into the world.
Let’s get into the episode:
1:30 - Emma introduces this week’s special episode
3:00 - Tony Cohen on the history of Juneteenth
15:00 - The transition into freedom
20:00 - The shift to “waged” labor and the evolution of slavery
28:00 - Fair trade
31:00 - Local emancipation
41:00 - Celebrating Juneteenth
42:30 - The happenings at Button Farm
48:00 - Creating Community
Things Mentioned:
Button Farm
Oprah’s visit
The Menare Foundation
HipCamp - Camp at Button Farm
Anthony Cohen
The Good Dirt - Episode 31
The AG Reserve - Montgomery County
The Underground railroad in Montgomery County, Maryland: A history and driving guide
Juneteenth becomes a federal holiday
Lift Every Voice and Sing
DC Emancipation Day
Montgomery County Historical Society
13th Amendment
14th Amendment
15th Amendment
🌻 About Lady Farmer:
· Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community
· Visit Our Website
The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living
· Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram
· Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail!
Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!
Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.
🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:
· Wendy Gray -
This episode was initially published on April 21, 2023 under the title The Urgent Need for Restorative Gardening
Internationally acclaimed landscape designer, activist and bestselling author of The Garden Awakening and her newly released title We are the Ark, Mary Reynolds discusses her efforts to restore the earth through her global ARK campaign, (Acts of Restorative Kindness). She launched her career by achieving a gold medal for garden design at the Chelsea flower show in 2002, the story of which was made into a 2016 movie called “Dare to be Wild”. She later founded the global movement “We are the ARK”, an organization advocating for more wild spaces and to raise awareness of our current extinction event.
Topics Discussed
Mary's new book We Are the Ark: Returning Our Gardens to Their True Nature Through Acts of Restorative Kindness with illustrations by Ruth Evans
Mary's story of the pivotal moment that changed her career
How Mary reframes the concept of gardens
The ARK concept
How the idea of feeding the world is greenwashing, when we should support the world to feed itself.
Floral designer Amber Tamm @ambertamm
Doug Tallamy, founder of Home Grown National Park - a grassroots organization regenerating local biodiversity
Native species vs non-native plants and how they affect local eco-systems
The 100th monkey syndrome
Shifting Baseline Syndrome/ Daniel Pauly
How has Mary's mission evolved from The Garden Awakening to We Are the Ark
Mary's project in Westport, County Mayo
The difference between a garden and an ark is intention
How can people become less afraid of the wildness?
Where does Mary find hope that we will be able to save the planet and ourselves?
Spreading the message of The ARK all over the world
From What is to What If written by Rob Hopkins
The book Silent Spring written by Rachel Carson
Connect with Mary:
Website: We Are the Ark
Instagram: wildmarymary
🌻 About Lady Farmer:
· Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community
· Visit Our Website
· Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram
· Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail!
Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!
Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.
🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:
· Wendy Gray
Original music by John Kingsley. Our technical partner for this series is CitizenRacecar, Post-Production by Alex Brouwer and José Miguel Baez, Coordinated by Gabriela Montequin and Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network.
Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being. -
CEO of Broken Ground Kareen Erbe has dedicated herself to helping people in cold climates grow their own food so they can eat healthier, live more sustainably and be more self-reliant. She delves into permaculture and how it applies not only to growing food and helping the earth , but also creating community. Kareen helps her clients by designing integrated edible landscapes and encourages them in cultivating community alongside the cultivation of their gardens. She goes into her permaculture design principles for families, those in cold climates, and those who live in urban environments. You will also hear about integrating gardens into lawns, creating beneficial relationships between plants and people, and the benefits of including your neighbors to help with gardening tasks. This episode is about gardening, sustainability, building stronger, more self-sufficient communities and the wider ranging significance of permaculture principles.
Topics Discussed
· Low Waste Gardening
· Growing Food in Cold Climates
· Kareen’s Grandmother’s Diaries
· Permaculture Hot Takes
· Pollinator Gardens
· Taking Before/After Photos
· Kareen’s Most Impactful Books
· Weeds & Welcoming Wildness
· Raising Kids in Nature
· Herbal Lawns
· Quackgrass
· Growing Zones
· Montana Growing Seasons
· Cultivating Lawns & Community
· Permaculture in Urban Spaces
· Embracing Diversity in Gardens
· Hope and Regeneration in Agriculture
· Adapting to Climate Challenges
· Resources and Programs for Permaculture Enthusiasts
Episode Resources:
· Listen to The Good Dirt “151. "Lawns into Meadows" with Author Owen Wormser on Regenerative Agriculture”
· Listen to The Good Dirt “138. The Urgent Need for Restorative Gardening with Mary Reynolds”
· Listen to The Good Dirt “163. Sailors for Sustainability Searching for Solutions: A Journey Around the World”
· Listen to The Good Dirt “110. An Ecological Civilization for All with Andrew Schwartz”
· Listen to The Good Dirt “156. Pathways Toward an Ecological Civilization with Phillip Clayton of EcoCiv”
· Read Gorillas in the Mist by Dian Fossey
· Read Jane Goodall’s Books
· Read "Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture" by Toby Hemenway
· Read "Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants" by Robin Wall Kimmerer
· Read “Earth User's Guide to Teaching Permaculture” by Rosemary Morrow
· Read "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle - Tenth Anniversary Edition: A Year of Food Life" by Barbara Kingsolver
· Read "Nature's Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard" by Douglas W Tallamy”
· Read "We Are the Ark: Returning Our Gardens to Their True Nature Through Acts of Restorative Kindness" by Mary Reynolds
Connect with Kareen Erbe:
· Website: https://brokengroundpermaculture.com/
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brokengroundmt/
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/brokenground
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🌻 About Lady Farmer:
· Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community
· Visit Our Website
· Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram
· Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail!
Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!
Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.
🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:
· Wendy Gray -
Tune in to celebrate the many joys of June--the beautiful weather, carefree childhood memories, the miracle of fireflies and all the berries! Also, hear Mary's reflection on the summer solstice and all the tips for planting by the signs of the moon for the month.
Read more about Slow Living Through the Seasons HERE
https://ladyfarmer.substack.com/t/seasonal-living
PINE TREE GARDEN SEEDS
Order their seeds today from superseeds.com and use our promo code: GOODDIRT2024 for 20% off your entire order!
NEPTUNE'S HARVEST ORGANIC FERTILIZERS
Use code GOODDIRT at checkout for 5% off your order for products from the ocean to set your plants in motion 🌊
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🌻 About Lady Farmer:
Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community
Visit Our Website
Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram
Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!
Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.
🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:
• Wendy Gray -
On the other side of the interview this week, we're sharing the episode we did with Bailey Van Tassel of Garden Culture Podcast! We'll be back next week with another interview from The Good Dirt!
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Emma and Mary Kingsley are the mother-daughter duo behind Lady Farmer, a brand that began with a sustainable clothing line and now is a successful podcast (The Good Dirt) around slow and conscious living. Emma and Mary talk about each of their childhoods and how it informed their current path together. They chat about what moved them to do a Kickstarter campaign which led to where they are now, on a sustainable path and how they live within that ethos. This chat is a great peek into how it takes nothing other than a passion and interest to move into a life that you're inspired by and proud of. They share about plastic in our clothing, where they shop, and what we all can think about to start getting more intentional.
Emma and Mary's Fave Books:
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
We are the Ark by Mary Reynolds
Love, Nature, Magic by Maria Rodale
For more info on Bailey Van Tassel go to www.baileyvantassel.com and join her monthly gardening membership here: www.thekitchengardensociety.com - Show more
