Propaganda By The Seed

In this episode Aaron goes into all the basics of seed saving.  We cover the different kinds of plants and how they make seeds, how to collect, when to collect, and how to deal with dry and wet seeds.  We also give an overview of different methods for processing seeds once collected, how to store them, and why its important to do such things in an alienated and collapsing world.  This episode has...

In this episode we talk with Jesse Stevens of Sy's Trees about all things hardy Kiwi. We cover the ins and outs of propagating, cultivating and enjoying these vigorous and hardy vines. We also touch on a few other unusual crops Jesse is cultivating in his diverse orchard in Sweden, Maine. If you would like to get in touch with Jesse to purchase plants or propagation materials you can email him at...

In this episode we talk to Miekal And of Beyond Vineyard talking about figs, and provide a basic tutorial on how to grow them and propagate them. We also talk about his work breeding Siberian Sea Peach. This conversation also gets into his back story as an anarchist visual artist, performer, writer, publisher, and now permaculturist and winemaker. For more information on Miekal's work or to buy so...

This episode is a collaboration with our friends at the Partisan Gardens Podcast . It's a little different style, with more voices and more production, we think you will like it! Our conversation is all about the Paw Paw (Asimina triloba), the largest native fruit on this continent! These amazing members of the Annonaceae family taste like a cross between a Mango and a Banana, but with a flavor al...

In this episode of Propaganda By The Seed we speak with hazelnut & native plant breeder, Andrew Fiori of Campo Di Fiori .  Andrew goes in depth on  how to propagate, breed,  care for and co-exist with Hazelnuts.   Andrew talks about his ideas about human/plant relationships, his work designing native landscapes and developing food systems.   

In this episode of Propaganda By The Seed we talk with Alivia Moore and Kessi Kimbal about their work with the Eastern Woodlands Rematriation Collective. The collective works across several tribal communities to support food / medicine sovereignty and to facilitate land access and the return of #landback to Indigenous people. We are really impressed with the work these folks are doing and hope to...

In this episode of Propaganda By The Seed we talk with Ben Falk, author of The Resilient Homestead on Chelsea Green.  This discussion is mostly about seaberries( Hippophae rhamnoides ) a nitrogen fixing plant that has 10 times more vitamin c than oranges and a range of other somewhat unique nutritional benefits.  We also discuss how to grow them, breed them, and some uses for them.  Ben also talks...

In the season finale of Propaganda By The Seed, we look back on our first year of doing the podcast and what we've learned from it.  We spend the bulk of the podcast detailing late fall activities that can be done to grow trees and perennial vegetables from seed.  Aaron lays out multiple methods for growing nut trees, stone fruit trees (peach, cherry, paw paw, etc.), and perennial vegetables from...

  In this episode we met up  at Edgewood Nursery with Lisa Willey to conduct an in person podcast on foraging and eating acorns.  Lisa is an environmental scientist, educator and makes incredible foods using foraged ingredients.  We'll go over everything you need to know to harvest, collect, process and cook with acorns.  Lisa discusses her technique for making (vegan) acorn cheeses, as well as (s...

  In this episode of Solecast we chat with Ousman Ndure.  Ousman is a farmer from Gambia who immigrated to Westbrook, ME.  We talk about his life in Gambia, and how he managed an independent market farm.   He goes in depth about growing cashews, peanuts, rice, millet,  mangos, cassava, and other interesting greens like sour sour(Roselle Hibiscus).  He also describes the techniques he used to dig w...

In this episode of Propaganda By The Seed we talk with rooftop gardener & permaculturist   Mike Spade of the Plant The Seed Project.  We talk about Mike's work in NY and Denver designing green roofs.  Mike talk about the differences between growing with rooftop gardens in various climates and the crops that work well.  We also get into some of the logistics to consider when building a rooftop gard...

In this episode of Propaganda By The Seed we talk with Eliza Greenman & Taylor Malone of the North American Fruit Explorers . We talk about Mulberries, their history , how to propagate them and the work they've done to uncover rare cultivars such as the Hicks Everbearing Mulberry. Mulberry leaves are surprisingly high in protein and an 8 year old tree can produce up to a quart of berries a day, ma...

  Today on Propaganda by the Seed we chat with Chris Homanics.  Chris is an freelance plant breeder /organizer   based out of the Pacific Northwest.  This conversation is mostly about Chris' Homesteader's Kaleidoscopic Perennial Kale Grex ; how he created it, some methods for adapting it and many of the other possibilities for breeding Brassica oleracea.  We also talk about bamboo, Sea Kale some r...

This episode of propaganda by the Seed we talk with Sweet Potato from The Food Forest Network . The Food Forest Network is a loose network of people sharing resources and developing food autonomy programs utilizing food forestry. Sweet Potato, AKA Yam currently resides at the Indian Bayou Food Forest, which was built in the direct path of the Line 6 pipeline to halt its construction. We talk about...

  In this episode of Propaganda By The Seed we talk with Zach Elfers, mostly about ground nut (apios americana), a north american native root crop and legume that has 3 times the protein content of potatoes.  Zach talks about the long history of indigenous use of ground nut as a staple crop in so called North America.  We also discuss how to cultivate them, where they are found, and its uses.   Za...

Propaganda by the Seed          Its a Good Time To Start a Garden II         This episode of propaganda by the Seed is a follow up to "It's a Good Time To Plant a Garden."     In this episode we cover:   Seed starting / hardening off of plants  Good crops for low light / urban environments  Growing in containers / small spaces  Pest control Creating/maintaining healthy soil   Many of these topics...

In todays episode of Propaganda By The Seed we chat with Joseph Lofthouse about the Cooperative Gardens Commission (formerly Coronavirus Victory Gardens Commission).  We talk about how to get involved with the Cooperative Gardens Commission and what they're doing to link experienced farmers, up with new growers and people with access to land to build up local food production.   Joseph is also a pl...

In today's episode of Propaganda By The Seed we wanted to do a basic gardening episode to get people growing in these dark times.  Considering that this year is already full of uncertainty and chaos learning to grow food can only be a positive thing.  In this episode we talk about the basics of starting plants from seed, preparing a bed using sheet mulching,getting the plants in the ground, using...

In this episode we talk about Elderberry (Sambucus species) .  Thier most commonly used today today to make a powerful herbal medicine.  We talk about how to identify them for foraging and how to propagate and cultivate Elderberry shrubs.  We discuss Elderberries' use throughout history to make everything from musical instruments to salves. With many uses, ease of cultivation and a native range co...

In this episode of the Solecast "plant of the month" series we will be talking about Stinging Nettle. While hated by many, Nettles are highly valuable to those that can appreciate their many positive attributes. Stinging Nettle is an herbaceous perennial that is found all over the world. They have been used throughout history as a medicine, a food source, for fiber, cordage and ceremonies. We talk...

Psyched to unveil "Plant of the Month…" A new podcast series w/ Aaron Parker of Edgewood Nursery focusing on perennial vegetables / unusual plants. For our first episode we're gonna talk about Bunias Orientalis aka Turkish Rocket. Turkish Rocket is a perennial vegetable often used in forest gardens that produces small edible broccoli raab like flower buds and arugula/cabbage tasting leaves. We als...

This episode of the Solecast I sit down with Stephen Barstow , aka The Extreme Salad Man to talk about his work documenting and popularizing rare edible plants. We are also joined by Aaron Parker from Edgewood Nursery who introduced me to Stephen's work and also grows and sells a lot of these plants. In this conversation we talk about his book "Around the World In 80 Plants," his website Edimental...