Raising Connections

Send us Fan Mail Say you've found the farm you want to purchase. How do you finance it? Kelsey Maslin of Mid-Atlantic Farm Credit talks with Rachann about what you need to finance the purchase of an agricultural property. Support the show www.raisingconnections.com

Send us Fan Mail Have your ever thought about owning a farm? Rachann talks with local realtor and Howard County native Tracy Diamond, who specializes in agricultural properties in Central Maryland. From small acreage flower farms to larger horse farms, Tracy can help you find the perfect property for you! Support the show www.raisingconnections.com

Send us Fan Mail Rachann talks with Tyler Van Wingerden of Catoctin Mountain Growers in Keymar, Maryland. Started in 1985, Catoctin has 18 acres of under-glass greenhouse and 15 acres of outdoor growing space, providing top quality annuals, perennials, mums, and poinsettias to retail partners across the mid-Atlantic region. Tyler and his three siblings all work in the family business. Support the...

Send us Fan Mail Why do horses' teeth need to be "floated"? Listen as Rachann talks with Joel Nupp, an equine dentist, about his second career and his love of horses. Support the show www.raisingconnections.com

Send us Fan Mail Rachann talks with Rachel Lipman, a fifth-generation wine maker at Loew Vineyard. Rachel's grandparents, Willian and Lois Loew, started the Maryland Vineyard in 1982. Support the show www.raisingconnections.com

Send us Fan Mail Rachann talks with Brooke Hagerty about the long-running Downtown Westminster Farmer's Market, which is held on Saturday mornings during the growing season. They have fresh local produce, baked goods, cheeses, and much more.  Find out what it takes to be a vendor at the market. Support the show www.raisingconnections.com

Send us Fan Mail Rachann talks with Eric from the Lancaster Farming Industrial Help Podcast about the history of hemp farming and the difference between hemp and marijuana. Hemp has been used in a variety of products over many years including rope, canvas sails, clothing, building materials, and so much more. Support the show www.raisingconnections.com

Send us Fan Mail Virginia Feeks is a member of the Navy SEAL Foundation that provides support to the families of fallen Navy SEALS. Virginia fund-raises through the Tampa Bay Frogman Swim in memory of her son, Patrick, who was killed in Iraq when the helicopter he was riding in was shot down by an RPG. Support the show www.raisingconnections.com

Send us Fan Mail Janice Stillman of the Old Farmer's Almanac is Rachann's guest on this episode of Raising Connections. They talk about the history of almanacs and all the fascinating things you can learn from them, from the phases of the moon and the best times to plant crops, to weather predictions for the year. Support the show www.raisingconnections.com

Send us Fan Mail Rachann talks with Dan MacNeal, owner of MISCellaneous Distillery in downtown Mount Airy, Maryland. The actual name is MacNeal Independent Spirit Creators, or MISCellaneous Distillery, where Dan makes a variety of ryes and rums. Support the show www.raisingconnections.com

Send us Fan Mail Rachann talks with Jeff Newman, coordinator of the new Maryland 5 Star. The three-day equestrian event will make its debut this October at Fair Hill in Cecil County, Maryland. The consists of three components - dressage, cross country, and show jumping. Support the show www.raisingconnections.com

Send us Fan Mail Rachann talks with Alice Raskin, manager of the Mount Airy Main Street Farmer's Market, about the weekly market held every Wednesday mid=May through September.  Support the show www.raisingconnections.com

Send us Fan Mail Rachann talks with Derek Patrick, owner of Sunflowers of Lisbon. They talk about how Derek got interested in growing sunflowers and the many activities that they offer during the blooming season. Support the show www.raisingconnections.com

Send us Fan Mail Rachel Tropeman, 4H mom, 4H leader, and a member of the Howard County 4H Livestock Committee, talks with Rachann about the Howard County Fair going on this week, and especially about the llivestock auctions. Support the show www.raisingconnections.com

Send us Fan Mail Rachann talks with Shannon Dill of the University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. She's based out of the Talbot County Extension Office. They discuss Women in Ag and Annie's Project, two programs that bring information and research from the college out into the community. Support the show www.raisingconnections.com

Send us Fan Mail Rachann talks with Rene Bondi-Shifler, owner of Blossom and Basket Boutique in Mount Airy, Maryland, about her love for flowers, starting the shop at the age of 19, and how Covid affected her business. Support the show www.raisingconnections.com

Send us Fan Mail Rachann talks with Todd Johnson, horse trainer and owner of JBIT Ranch in Berryville, Virginia, and inventor of Quikstem, a revolutionary new way to replace valve stems on cars, trucks, and all types of farm equipment. Support the show www.raisingconnections.com

Send us Fan Mail Rachann talks with Phil Gruber of Lancaster Farms, an agricultural newspaper based in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Support the show www.raisingconnections.com

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever ridden in a hot air balloon? Rachann talks with Ron Broderick of Friendship Hot Air Balloon Company about the annual Carroll County Hot Air Balloon Festival. You can take that ride, and enjoy vendors, music, and good food! Support the show www.raisingconnections.com

Send us Fan Mail Rachann's guests are Val and Cheryl of Little Long Ears, a non-profit donkey rescue. They talk about the difference between donkeys, mules, and horses, and about how caring for them is different. Support the show www.raisingconnections.com

Send us Fan Mail Rachann talks about the Great Lisbon Feed the Hungry Christmas Parade taking place that afternoon. The parade has holiday-decorated tractors and other farm equipment, antique cars, and horses, and is held every year to raise food and money for the Howard and Carroll County Food Banks, the Lisbon Fire Department, and Hunters and Farmers Feed the Hungry. Support the show www.raising...

Send us Fan Mail Rachann talks with Doug Zepp about the Christmas tree farm and what it takes to grow and maintain various fir and pine trees for sale at Christmas. Support the show www.raisingconnections.com

Send us Fan Mail Rachann and Marta discuss the books of James Herriot, a real English veterinarian who wrote novels about his veterinary adventures in the countryside. Support the show www.raisingconnections.com

Send us Fan Mail Rachann talks with Stacy Ventura of Bee Blends located in Ellicott City, Maryland about the clean, natural, organic products that she makes and sells in her store. Support the show www.raisingconnections.com

Send us Fan Mail ​In 2019, the Community Ecology Institute purchased a 6.4-acre organic farm in Columbia, Maryland. They have protected this land from housing development and are restoring the farm using regenerative agriculture, a vibrant place of common ground where diverse people come together to learn through hands-on experiences about how to lead happier, healthier, more connected and sustain...