Mother Earth News and Friends

Have you ever wanted to take that next step and profit from a backyard poultry business, but didn't know where to begin? In this episode, a longtime friend of Mother Earth News, Matt Wilkinson of Hard Cider Homestead, shares some advice and experience on profiting from your flock. We'll primarily be covering how to plan for a successful egg or meat bird business, and Matt will share some marketing...

Ever wonder what bees do in wintertime? In this episode, Leo Sharashkin, a natural beekeeper, joins us to share how to prepare your bees for winter. We'll be looking at what bees do when the temperatures drop and how beekeepers can prepare their swarms for success. To see more podcasts, visit our  Mother Earth News and Friends  page. Check out the  MOTHER EARTH NEWS Bookstore  for more resources t...

Today at Mother Earth News and Friends, we've "gone fishin'." In this episode, Dennis Biswell, MOTHER EARTH NEWS staff member and lifelong outdoors enthusiast, joins us with rods and lures in tow to discuss fishing best practices. We'll cover why someone would begin fishing, essential equipment and supplies, and how to practice good fishing techniques, outdoor etiquette, and preparedness when you...

Do you dream of keeping chickens but worry that you can't while living within city limits? With the proper preparation, becoming a chicken-keeper may be possible! Marissa Ames, editorial director for Ogden Publications, shares her own experience with raising poultry in all sorts of environments – and how you, too, can find a way to keep some feathered friends of your own. To see more podcasts, vis...

In this episode, Queren King-Orozco, Associate Producer for our MOTHER EARTH NEWS FAIRS and a chicken-keeper herself, shares some of her experiences and advice on preparing your poultry for winter, such as shelter considerations, food and water needs, and other challenges that come with raising birds in a cold climate. To see more podcasts, visit our Mother Earth News and Friends page . Check out...

In honor of National Farmer's Market week, we did several interviews with local market farmers, and folks from the National Farmer's Market Coalition. Listen to this version with excerpts from both long interviews. You can find the full interviews at www.motherearthnews.com/podcast or where you listen to your podcasts. To see more podcasts, visit our  Mother Earth News and Friends  page. Check out...

Podcast with Charlotte French and Zach Foley. Thank you to our sponsor,  Purina Mills for making this episode possible! In this episode, Zach and Charlotte explore different injuries that you should be aware of when raising chickens. They discuss signs, symptoms, and treatments to help you be better prepared. Read more about keeping and caring for chickens at Backyard Poultry magazine. To see more...

Interview with Dr. Kemba Marshall and Dr. Mike Schlegel Drs. Marshall and Schlegel discuss common poultry and small herd ruminant diseases, how to recognize them, prevent them, and how to work with your veterinarian to treat them. Thanks to Purina Mills for sponsoring this episode. To see more podcasts, visit our  Mother Earth News and Friends  page. Check out the  MOTHER EARTH NEWS Bookstore  for...

Interview with Kelly Bohling. If you live in a city, town, or suburbs, you may be wondering if it's possible to keep backyard quail where you live. Kelly Bohling joins us in this episode to discuss how to raise quail in urban and suburban spaces, including how to check local regulations and prepare your environment for your new flock. To see more podcasts, visit our  Mother Earth News and Friends...

Charlotte French and Zach Foley chat about chicken coops, what they are made of, essential features, and why have a coop. Thanks to Purina Mills for sponsoring this episode. To see more podcasts, visit our  Mother Earth News and Friends  page. Check out the  MOTHER EARTH NEWS Bookstore  for more resources to help you achieve your health and farming goals. Go to the  MOTHER EARTH NEWS FAIR  page fo...

Story by Ed Brotak, read by Carla Tilghman Heat waves and droughts have the same "meteorological parentage". Learn what to expect and what your can do on your property. For more great articles on livestock and land management, large and small farming, and even bees, go to www.grit.com If you're interested in workshops about everything from cheesemaking to soil health to building around your proper...

Story by Michael Feldmann, read by Carla Tilghman Everything you need to know about growing strawberries from planting to harvesting.  For more great articles on livestock and land management, large and small farming, and even bees, go to www.grit.com If you're interested in workshops about everything from cheesemaking to soil health to building around your property, you can take our online classe...

How many eggs does a chicken lay a day? What factors affect egg yield? And why do chickens stop laying eggs? Dr. Patrick Biggs is here to answer these questions and more in our episode all about chicken egg production in your backyard flock. To see more podcasts, visit our  Mother Earth News and Friends  page. Check out the  MOTHER EARTH NEWS Bookstore  for more resources to help you achieve your...

In this episode, Leah Webb joins us to share how to successfully plan and plant your fall garden. With an emphasis on small gardening spaces, Leah breaks down the kinds of plants that work well in smaller gardens and for beginning gardeners, when to plant fall garden crops, how to establish healthy soil, and more. To see more podcasts, visit our  Mother Earth News and Friends  page. Check out the ...

In this episode, Carrie Hardie chats with us about how to raise ducks. Whether you want to find duck breeds for eggs, meat, or pure enjoyment, Carrie outlines how to prepare a healthy habitat and shares helpful tips on caring for your birds. To see more podcasts, visit our  Mother Earth News and Friends  page. Check out the  MOTHER EARTH NEWS Bookstore  for more resources to help you achieve your...

In this episode, Dr. Patrick Biggs joins us to talk about keeping the layer hens in your flock well-fed and healthy. We'll be learning about the nutrients in chicken layer feed as well as some best practices when it comes to providing feed to your poultry and letting your hens forage.   To see more podcasts, visit our  Mother Earth News and Friends  page. Check out the  MOTHER EARTH NEWS Bookstore...

We will all experience both physical and emotional trauma in our lives. Learn how you can be prepared to deal with trauma and how to use herbs for healing along with holistic practices. Herbalist and community activist April Jones, and herbalist, chaplain, and healer Carolyn Jones share their wisdom and their go-to herbs with us. To see more podcasts, visit our  Mother Earth News and Friends  page...

Story by James Mahar, read by Jessica Mitchell. Harvest rainwater in a low-maintenance collection setup to water your garden and fill your stock tanks with this free, life-giving resource. For more great articles on livestock and land management, large and small farming, and even bees, go to www. Grit.com . If you're interested in workshops about everything from cheesemaking to soil health to buil...

Story by Ashleigh Krispence, read by Jessica Mitchell. Learn how to choose the best pony to help around the farm and herd your cows. For more great articles on livestock and land management, large and small farming, and even bees, go to www. Grit.com . If you're interested in workshops about everything from cheesemaking to soil health to building around your property, you can take our online class...

Interview with Patrick Biggs Ph. D. and editor Jessica Mitchell If you want to enjoy a diverse mix of birds in your backyard, then keeping a mixed flock may be the right move for you. In this episode, Patrick Biggs covers how to prepare for raising an array of birds side-by-side, from chickens to turkeys to game birds. Learn what you need to know and do to provide mixed-species flock care so that...

Interview with Kenny Coogan by editor Jessica Mitchell.   Thanks to Brinsea for sponsoring this episode. In this episode of Mother Earth News and Friends podcast we're asking the big questions about poultry eggs, and Kenny Coogan is here to answer them. Kenny shares some poultry egg facts – their nutrition, makeup, and how many you can expect from your birds – as well as how to identify and remedy...

In this episode, soil scientist and environmentalist Michelle Schuman chats with editor Carla Tilghman about her career in Alaska, climate change, and her new book The Understory: A Female Environmentalist in the Land of the Midnight Sun. To see more podcasts, visit our  Mother Earth News and Friends  page. Check out the  MOTHER EARTH NEWS Bookstore  for more resources to help you achieve your hea...

Are you a new or aspiring chicken owner? This episode is for you! Former Mother Earth News and Friends podcast producer Charlotte Brunin chats in-depth with Zach Foley about preparing for hatching chicks. This episode was originally released in 2018 as part of a mini series of chicken podcasts for Community Chickens , now part of our sister magazine  Backyard Poultry . Listen to this episode and f...

So, you have baby chicks – now what? In this episode, Patrick Biggs explores the ins and outs of caring for baby chicks, as well as other poultry, during their important first few weeks out of the egg. Learn how to gather supplies with success and see your brood to adulthood! Thank you to our sponsor,  Purina Mills for making this episode possible! To see more podcasts, visit our  Mother Earth New...

Leo Sharashkin is a natural beekeeper, raising locally captured swarms on his family's property in the Ozarks and passionately educating new and experienced beekeepers on how they can more sustainably keep healthy bees. In this episode, Leo talks about how he got started in natural beekeeping, the benefits and challenges that come with it, and natural beekeeping techniques that'll produce happy, h...