Mother Earth News and Friends

Story by Aden Tate, read by Jessica Mitchell. Listen in to understand a continuing seed supply problem from gardeners, farmers, and seed company owners and distributors. From the February/March 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 interested in works...

Story by Marissa Ames, read by Jessica Mitchell. With some careful planning, you can save on time and effort by incubating chicken and duck eggs together. From the February/March 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 interested in workshops about ever...

Story by Robert Pavlis, read by John Moore. To make the best plant selections, learn plants' preferred conditions and how they adapt to new environments. This story comes from the November/December 2022 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...

It may not feel like you can plant and grow much in wintertime, in comparison to the abundance of other seasons. But gardeners in colder climates can still dream, plan, and even cultivate cold-hardy crops. In this episode, Dr. Jeanne Osnas gives us a deep-dive into brassicas, including how to grow them and how to eat them. This is the first of several seasonal crop profile podcast episodes we'll b...

Story by Karen Kopf, read by Jessica Mitchell. The sale of over-the-counter livestock antibiotics will end soon. Learn more about how you can keep your animals healthy. This story comes from the January/February 2023 issue of Grit magazine. Thanks to Allivet for sponsoring this audio article. For more great articles on livestock and land management, large and small farming, and even bees, go to th...

For our very first episode of 2023, podcast team member Kenny Coogan chats with a very special guest to kick off the New Year: Dr. Temple Grandin. Dr. Grandin will be chatting with us about how to live more sustainably in the New Year. So, however you find yourself living right now, we hope Dr. Grandin's expertise will be an inspiration to find new ways to live well, with people, profit, and plane...

Story by Sherri Tallbot, read by Jessica Mitchell. Learn how to keep your rabbit colony safe and healthy, even in cold weather. This story comes from the January/February 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 soi...

Story by Genevieve Bardwell, read by Jessica Mitchell. This infamously pungent Appalachian bread might just become your new favorite. This story comes from the January/February 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...

In this episode of Mother Earth News and Friends, a new guest to the podcast, Dayna Colvin, joins us to share her story about how she transitioned into a healthier, more Earth-friendly lifestyle, and her passion for helping others do the same. She'll also be sharing some tips on green swap-outs for common household products and a few of her favorite recipes. To see more podcasts, visit our  Mother...

Story by Tom Oder, read by John Moore. Family bonds and traditional techniques form the foundation for this off-grid farm dedicated to producing naturally grown olives, almonds, and herbs in the Spanish countryside. 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 interested in workshops about everythi...

In this episode of Mother Earth News and Friends, Phil Holman-Hebert of Sweetlove Farm talks with us all about raising broiler chickens, including what defines a broiler, things to think about when buying your first broilers, how to care for your flock to ensure healthy birds and high-quality meat, and so much more. Thank you to Metzer Farms for sponsoring this episode! To see more podcasts, visit...

Story by Tom Oder, read by Jessica Mitchell. Take some lessons and advice from a passionate mosser. How does moss grow? What are some bryophytes examples? And is moss really that great? Mossin' Annie shares all this and more in her story of becoming a mosser. For more great articles on livestock and land management, large and small farming, and even bees, go to the MOTHER EARTH NEWS website . If y...

Colette Kenny always knew that she wanted to return to the country. And, after living for decades in the city, she set out to build her own eco-cabin and live self-sufficiently from the land. The journey took her years to plan, budget, and build, but now, she enjoys life on her Half-Acre Homestead. In this episode, Colette shares that journey – and how you, too, can find a way to create the rural...

Colette Kenny always knew that she wanted to return to the country. And, after living for decades in the city, she set out to build her own eco-cabin and live self-sufficiently from the land. The journey took her years to plan, budget, and build, but now, she enjoys life on her Half-Acre Homestead. In this episode, Colette shares that journey – and how you, too, can find a way to create the rural...

Story by Paul Bartlett, read by Jessica Mitchell. The majority of dairy cattle in the U.S. are now infected with Bovine Leukemia Virus (BLV). Virus control through BLV testing and infected animal segregation are among the next steps against BLV in cattle. 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...

Story by Meredith Leigh, read by Jessica Mitchell. Scrapple and Souse are both ingenious methods of stretching food scraps into delicious meals. Meredith Leigh digs into their history and shows you how to make these traditional meat-stretcher dishes. This is the audio version of an article from the August/September 2022 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS magazine. For more great articles on livestock and...

Story by Jenny Underwood, read by Jessica Mitchell. Forgot to soak your beans overnight? Try this technique for cooking beans without soaking, and learn a few other methods for how to prepare beans. 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 h...

Hunting is a lot more than just going outside to see if you can harvest an animal. It takes preparation, practice, sharpened skills, and a mindfulness to the ethical questions that arise. Dennis Biswell, a long-time outdoorsman and MOTHER EARTH NEWS staff member, shares his knowledge about honing your hunting skills before you head into the outdoors. We'll be covering scouting, placing your shot,...

Story by Andrea Lawrence, read by Jessica Mitchell. When is apple-picking season? When are apples ripe? Venture out in fall and try these apple-harvesting techniques to bring home the best fruits that apple trees have to offer. 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 interested in workshops ab...

Have you ever heard of therapy chickens? This is an up-and-coming field, where people of all ages and situations can enjoy the presence of hens. In this episode, we'll be learning about what therapy chickens do, the benefits people get from this service, and how you can become a certified therapy chicken-keeper yourself. Podcast team member Kenny Coogan chats with Gwenne Baile of Camden County Chi...

Story by Kirsten Lie-Nielsen, read by Jessica Mitchell. Looking for a side business for your farm, or profitable hobby farm ideas? Gain some tips and inspiration from these big and small farm income ideas. 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 s...

Story by Amanda Sorell, read by John Moore. Red Wattle hogs are among the struggling livestock breeds that a small group of dedicated farmers and ranchers are working to preserve. Join an editor on her visit to two local heroes (and relatives) who explain their efforts to revitalize one heritage hog breed. For more great articles on livestock and land management, large and small farming, and even...

Story by Bevin Cohen, read by John Moore. Easy to grow, harvest, and process, these venerable, versatile crops are nutritious as well as suitable for small-scale farms. Learn about how you can add these ancient grains into your garden and kitchen. For more great articles on livestock and land management, large and small farming, and even bees, go to our MOTHER EARTH NEWS website . If you're intere...

For many chicken-keepers, their backyard flock – no matter how big or small – is part of the family. And giving your feathered friends a home isn't just about getting fresh eggs, it can also be a way to live with better self-reliance, preserve heritage breeds, control where your food comes from, and more. In this episode, editor Jessica Mitchell sits down for a chat with Chrisie DiCarlo and Holly...

Horses have been long-time companions to humans, from transportation to work days on the farm. In this episode, Brett McLeod and Camille Goethals from Paul Smith's College join us to discuss the benefits of working with horses, how staff and students work with them at the college, and things to consider if you want to welcome these beautiful creatures onto your property. To see more podcasts, visi...