GrowAbility

It's an end-of-season mini-episode, with Joe & Holly sharing some great news and some surprises to come. But while we're cooking up some new episodes of the podcast, be on the lookout for fresh ideas and even some cutting-room floor exclusives from the past season at our StoryHub, GrowAbilityPod.com . Make sure to sign up for all our exclusive subscriber-only content at GrowAbilityPod.com or f...

The tables turn! GrowAbility Co-host Joe flips the script and interviews his colleague Holly Pugsley . Holly shares her journey from a background in fashion and styling to discovering her passion for urban agriculture during COVID-19, which became a sanctuary for her mental health. She explains how her home grow room project evolved into her company " Just Keep Growing ." While initially focusing...

Kim Parker, President and CEO of Food Security Structures Canada joins hosts Joe and Holly to talk about new technologies helping to mitigate food insecurity both here in Canada and around the world (both literally and figuratively). Food Security Structures Canada, established six years ago, specializes in controlled environment agricultural structures that enable year-round food production regar...

Joe and Holly have a virtual hangout with Lia Babitch , co-manager of the Turtle Tree Seed Initiative at Camphill Village Copake, New York and discuss the ways in which seeds can nurture both plants and human potential . The Turtle Tree Seed Initiative, a non-profit operating within the Camphill community, grows and sells nearly 400 varieties of open-pollinated seeds using biodynamic practices. Wh...

Holly and Joe welcome Keisha Joseph, a food systems coordinator at Indwell, a nonprofit providing supportive housing across Ontario. With her background in nutrition and dietetics, Keisha shares insights into food security, food literacy, and community building. She explains how Indwell helps residents transition from homelessness to stable housing while addressing food insecurity through meal pro...

Holly and Joe speak via the Internet with Ian Armour, founder of Green Circle Gardens. Ian shares how his company developed accessible raised garden beds inspired by his grandmother's experience in a care home. The innovative design features a wheelchair recess and a 42-gallon water reservoir, making gardening possible for people with mobility challenges and in arid environments. While initially d...

In a GrowAbility first (but certainly not last), Holly joins Joe for an in-person interview with Dr. Jeff Preston, a disability studies professor, advocate, and self-proclaimed immortal who refuses to let ableism win. From his early days as a three-year-old fundraising speaker to his current role challenging systemic barriers, Jeff shares candid insights about disability rights, accessibility legi...

Joe and Professor Peggy O'Neil discuss how growing up on a farm shaped her worldview and career path. She shares insights about the intersection of agriculture, literature, and education, drawing connections between farming, food systems, and the humanities. As a professor teaching courses on food, design, and philosophy, O'Neil emphasizes the importance of helping students develop their own world...

It's that special time of year, and GrowAbility is going on Hiatus until 2025! We're cooking up some all new episodes and features, including some special blog posts and our very first newsletter. Follow us on socials at https://gapod.me/links Find out why you should subscribe to our free Fresh & Nutritious newsletter at https://gapod.me/newsletter And last but not least, from Joe, Holly and t...

This episode was recorded before the Ontario government passed new bike lane legislation. We'll offer Luis an opportunity to weigh in on this legislation in a future episode or a blog post at GrowAbilityPod.com. Sign up for our free "Fresh & Nutritious Newsletter" to stay up to date on this and other issues. Episode Synopsis One of Joe's favourite subjects is bicycles, and who better to discus...

Holly joins Joe and the pair dive into their first remote interview with Dr. Andrew Judge (Mkomose) , an expert in traditional Indigenous knowledge, ethno-medicine, and land-based learning. Dr. Judge shares his personal journey from an elite athlete to a scholar dedicated to ecological preservation and cultural restoration. He discusses the significance of his Anishinaabe heritage, including the p...

Urban Roots is an urban agriculture nonprofit that repurposes underused land inside the city boundary for growing fruits and vegetables. Executive Director Anna Badillo shares her journey from adopting the playful "Farmer Anna" persona during the pandemic to leading a community-driven organization addressing food security and sustainability. She discusses Urban Roots' innovative "model of thirds,"...

Episode Summary On this episode of GrowAbility, Joe speaks with Dr. Mike Courey, a farmer and academic, about his transformative journey from academia to farming at New Moon Community Homestead. Located on a 200-acre farm in Southern Ontario, Mike shares how he integrates sustainable agriculture, biodynamic farming, and social justice into his daily work. They explore the challenges of balancing f...

In this episode of GrowAbility , Joe sits down with Mystery Furtado, a registered nurse and founder of Type Diabeat-It , a BIPOC-led diabetes organization. Mystery shares her personal journey with diabetes, the impact of food insecurity on marginalized communities, and her efforts to promote culturally relevant healthcare in Canada. She discusses her work in urban agriculture, growing African dias...

Dr. Gabor Sass shares his passion for connecting people and ideas across various spheres of influence, emphasizing the importance of community involvement and sustainable practices. His insights into ecological planning and the impact of urban development on the environment, his work in permaculture principles and advocating for systems that respect nature and promote equitable sharing are firmly...

GrowAbility's usual host, Joe Gansevles , sits in the guest's chair on our very first episode. Producer Adam Caplan talks with Joe about the origins of this project and what you, our audience, can expect from GrowAbility. We want to hear from you. Joe's email is joe@growabilitypod.com or just use our Contact form. Follow our socials above, and find all our links, including the partner organization...

Curious about what you can expect from GrowAbility's podcast? Hosts Holly and Joe describe what GrowAbility is all about. From our StoryHub at GrowAbilityPod.com to a brief overview of the show's first guests, this episode explains it all. Plus, you can watch this episode in video. Just visit https://GrowAbilityPod.com/video-podcast-promo We've got great things in store, so be sure to subscribe to...