Mother Earth News and Friends

Get some seed-starting advice from Indy Officinalis! We'll be covering the benefits of seed-starting, which plants do better indoors vs. outdoors, common seed-starting challenges, and more. Plus, Indy discusses her new show, "Farm Dreams," streaming now! The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people le...

Get the scoop on coops in today's episode! Jessica Mitchell and Kenny Coogan talk about the essential features every coop needs to keep your chickens safe as well as some ways to build your coops that's economical, effective, and fun. The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natur...

Mushrooms are exploding in public interest –  from food to medicinal uses to fashion – so, we're taking a whole podcast episode to talk about just how valuable they really are. William Padilla- Brown, founder and CEO of MycoSymbiotics, joins us to talk about truffle mushrooms and answer some frequently asked questions about how to identify them, their benefits and potential, and how to use them. W...

In this episode of Mother Earth News and Friends, Kashava Holt of Akron Urban Agriculture joins us to discuss urban farming and gardening, answer some listener questions about growing food in an urban environment, and share some of the amazing projects his organization is working on. Get expert tips on selling microgreens, heating high tunnels, and more! The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast s...

Story by Keba Hitzeman, read by John Moore. Follow a farmer through a year of tending to her herd. This story comes from the September/October 2023 issue of Grit magazine. This audio article is brought to you by the Mother Earth News and Friends podcast. We feature stories from leaders in sustainable and rural living so you can learn more about natural health, sustainability, homesteading, and mor...

In this episode of Mother Earth News and Friends, we're talking with April Jones, who's been on the podcast before, and is one of the Mother Earth News Voices for 2023. We'll be talking about urban farming and ways communities can be more sustainable, including farmers markets and food systems. The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living....

Story by Marissa Ames, read by Jessica Mitchell. These answers to FAQs will help you learn how to keep chicks warm and healthy and when to transition them to outdoor coop life. This story comes from the April/May 2023 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS magazine. For more great articles on livestock and land management, large and small farming, and even bees, go to the MOTHER EARTH NEWS website . If you're...

We have a very special guest for this episode of Mother Earth News and Friends. Dave Holderread, author of Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks and The Book of Geese , has a decades-long, successful career in raising waterfowl, and we're so excited he joined us to talk about incubating and raising geese. Listen in to learn more about Dave, breeds of geese to consider raising, and how to care for them f...

Who's ready to learn about goats? Whether you're already a goat-owner or are dreaming about getting some of your own one day, this is the episode for you. Kenny Coogan talks with Jon Kain, a goat-owner and the co-host and creator of "Ringside: An American Dairy Goat Podcast." We'll be talking with Jon all about dairy goats, including raising and milking them. The Mother Earth News and Friends podc...

For decades, Dr. Jan Pol has been dedicated to helping animals. His hit show (you may have heard of it), "The Incredible Dr. Pol" on Nat Geo WILD, shows the daily operations and hard work of his vet practice in Michigan. And we're so excited this expert vet is joining us not just on this podcast episode, but also at the Mother Earth News Fair this year! So, before Dr. Pol joins us at the Fair, we'...

Story by Robert Turner, read by John Moore. In a new column for MOTHER EARTH NEWS, author Robert Turner explains how new biofuels could ease the energy crisis. This story comes from August/September 2023 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS magazine. The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about...

In this episode of Mother Earth News and Friends, we're excited to be speaking with Summer Rayne Oakes, a science communicator, conservation activist, and entrepreneur. We'll be discussing sustainability with Summer Rayne, including sourcing plants and mindful fashion, as well as some of the exciting projects she's been involved in. The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of l...

We're bringing you a special episode this week, recorded from our 2023 Mother Earth News Fair in Lawrence, Kansas. Six folks joined editor Jessica Mitchell for this episode to talk about the amazing work they're doing in their fields of self-sufficiency and sustainable living. We talked about what sustainability means to them in the context of community, what they're excited about, and so much mor...

One of the many beautiful things about nature is biodiversity -- more specifically, the diverse array of poultry breeds. It's becoming increasingly important to pay attention to the breeds that are struggling and finding ways to prevent losing them altogether. In this episode, a friend of the podcast, Jeannette Beranger of the Livestock Conservancy, returns to talk about rare and heritage poultry...

The world is full of aromatic, flavorful, medicinal, and powerful herbs, and we're taking a whole podcast episode to celebrate just a few of them. In this episode, our returning Mother Earth News Friend, Bevin Cohen of Small House Farm, highlights some herbs you can forage or cultivate around your area and incorporate into numerous dishes and products to enjoy. The Mother Earth News and Friends po...

Story by Andy Wilcox, read by John Moore. Learn how you can improve you soil's cation exchange capacity to grow healthier, more nutrient-dense crops. This story comes from the May/June 2023 issue of Grit magazine. This audio article is brought to you by the Mother Earth News and Friends podcast. We feature stories from leaders in sustainable and rural living so you can learn more about natural hea...

Demand for high-quality elk is on the rise in North America, but what's happening on the supply end of things? Jon Reed, president of the North American Elk Breeders Association, chats with podcast team member Kenny Coogan all about raising elk and provides a snapshot of the elk industry for those who are interested in getting involved. The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories...

Story by Robert Turner, read by Jessica Mitchell. If we all switch to driving electric vehicles, the market could drown in excess corn. Tobacco farmers offer solutions. Robert Turner unpacks agriculture's most intractable problems in a new column for MOTHER EARTH NEWS . This story comes from the June/July 2023 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS magazine.   For more great articles on livestock and land man...

As the second-tallest bird in the world, you may think raising emus would be a near-impossible feat. But these birds have plenty of advantages that come with raising them and can be an enjoyable addition to your farmstead. In this episode, Kymara Lonergan of the American Emu Association talks with us about the benefits of keeping emus on your property. The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast sha...

Profile episode to learning about spicy chile peppers. Whether we can handle their heat like a champ or break out in immediate sweats, many of us can agree these peppers offer unmatched flavors and excitement for numerous dishes. Danise Coon, a research specialist with more than two decades of experience researching chile peppers, joins Kenny Coogan for a conversation all about these plants that p...

What comes to mind when you think, "edible insects"? In this episode, we're going to address some of the concerns or aversions to eating insects people may have and talk about why and how you can incorporate edible insects into both your diet and your pet's diet. Podcast team member Kenny Coogan chats with entomologist Dr. Bill Kern and CEO Anne Carlson of the pet food and treat company Jiminy's....

Story by Keba M. Hitzeman, read by Jessica Mitchell. If you're considering organic certification for your farm, this expert advice can help you navigate the daunting process. This story comes from the May/June 2023 issue of Grit magazine. For more great articles on livestock and land management, large and small farming, and even bees, go to the Grit website . If you're interested in workshops abou...

Have you ever dreamed about building a home that's energy-efficient and built with natural materials, while being both beautiful and functional? In this episode, we're excited to be talking with Sigi Koko of Down to Earth Design, who founded a business that does exactly that. We'll be learning more about Sigi and the work she does for clients at Down to Earth Design, and what it means to build wit...

Story by Dana Benner, read by Jessica Mitchell. These powerful animals can provide modern farmers a fuel-efficient way to work the land. This story comes from the May/June 2023 issue of Grit magazine. For more great articles on livestock and land management, large and small farming, and even bees, go to the Grit website . If you're interested in workshops about everything from cheesemaking to soil...

Do you know that you can successfully keep ducks in urban and suburban spaces? If raising ducks is your dream, our guest today is here to show you that it's possible. In this episode, editor Jessica Mitchell chats with fellow podcast team member Kenny Coogan, who's spent years raising backyard ducks. We'll be learning about the benefits ducks bring, equipment to have on hand, and things to conside...