smallfarmsustainability's podcast

In this episode, Olivia interviews Adam Janke, Associate Professor and Extension Wildlife Specialist for Iowa State University. Tune in to learn more about different invasive species around Iowa, whether that's plants, animals, or bugs, Adam is full of knowledge!   Episode Links :  • Invasive Species in Iowa: https://naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu/invasives   • Chemical Control of Unwanted...

In this episode, Olivia interviews Secretary Mike Naig about their Choose Iowa Program. Tune in to learn more about how you can become a member and/or if you could take advantage of the Choose Iowa Grant opportunity!   Episode Links :  • Choose Iowa Homepage: https://www.chooseiowa.com/   • Become a Member: https://www.chooseiowa.com/user/register  

In this episode, Olivia interviews Dan Fillius, Commercial Vegetable and Specialty Crop Specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Listen in as they discuss the eighth annual Greenhouse Short Course that will be held September 13, 2023, in the Garden Room at Reiman Gardens in Ames!   Episode Links :  • Registration: https://www.aep.iastate.edu/greenhouse/index.html   • Dan Filli...

In this episode, Olivia interviews Christa Hartsook, Small Farms Program Coordinator with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the State Coordinator for the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SARE). Listen in as they discuss the grant opportunities SARE offers, who is eligible, where to apply, and when applications are due!   Episode Links :  • North Central Sustai...

In this episode, Olivia interviews Suzanne Slack, Fuit Crop Specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Tune in as they discuss the Iowa State University Fruit and Vegetable Field day happening August 8, 2023, at the Iowa State University Horticulture Research Station (55519 170th St, Ames, IA 50010 from 2:00 pm until 5:30 pm with supper to follow!   Episode Links :  • Registrati...

In this episode, Olivia interviews Dr. Jean Contina, Research Director with the Rodale Institute Midwest Organic Center. Tune in as they discuss the Rodale Institute Midwest Organic Center Field Day coming up in august!   Episode Links :  • Registration:  https://rodaleinstitute.org/midwest-organic-center-field-day/  

In this episode, Olivia interviews Maury Wills, Iowa Specialty Crop Growers Association (ISCGA), Board President and Benji Deal, ISCGA Board Member and Head Cider Maker at Deal's Orchard. Tune in as they discuss the upcoming ISCGA Field Day that will be held July 27, 2023, and what participants can expect from the day!   Episode Links :  • Registration Link: https://www.iowaspecialtycrop.org/event...

What are your favorite flowers? In this episode, Olivia interviews Dan Brabec, Assistant Professor of Practice with Iowa State University Horticulture Department. Tune in as they discuss cut flower arrangements, how to make them last longer, and what you can find outside here in Iowa to create your own!   Episode Links :  • Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Master Gardener Program: http...

In this episode, Olivia interviews Adam Janke, Wildlife Specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Tune in as they share some sounds that may or may not be familiar to you, and learn how you can identify some common sounds of summer here in Iowa! Episode Links: Iowa State Extension Natural Resources Iowa State University Habitat How To

In this episode, Olivia interviews Ajay Nair, Commercial Horticulture Specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Tune in as the discuss what some of the benefits may be with tarping your vegetable plots, and what Ajay and his team are doing to research this topic!   Episode Links :  • Sustainable Vegetable Poduction Website: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/vegetablelab/   • Aj...

Tune in as Olivia interviews Aaron Steil, Consumer Horticulture Specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. In this episode, they discuss a few different spring garden crops, including rhubarb, asparagus, and horse reddish!   Episode Links :  • Horticulture and Home Pest News: https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/  

In this episode, Christa interviews Matt Russell, State Executive Director of the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Iowa. Tune in as they talk about the USDA FSA, the importance of having a relationship with your local FSA, and what opportunities they offer.   Episode Links :  • USDA Website:  https://www.usda.gov/   • USA Jobs: https://www.usajobs.gov/  

If you have a private water well, do you get it tested every year? Did you know Iowa has a water well program that allows private well owners to have their private well water tested for free? Tune in as Olivia interviews Catherine DeLong, Water Quality Program Manager for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. In this episode, they discuss the importance of having your private well water te...

Do you know the best practices when mushroom foraging? Tune in as Olivia interviews Chelsea Harbach, Plant Disease Diagnostician in Iowa State University's Plant & Insect Diagnostic Clinic. They discuss tips when it comes to foraging for mushrooms and even growing your own at home. Chelsea also gives some great resources you can use!   Episode Links :  • Iowa Mushroom Calendar: https://naturalreso...

Do you have coyotes or foxes around your farm? Or maybe you even see/hear them around town! Tune in as Olivia interviews Andy Kellner, Wildlife Biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. They discuss why you may see these creatures around, what steps you can take if they become a problem, and some of the great benefits they can actually provide for us!   Episode Links :  • Andy Kelln...

We're happy to share a podcast from our friends, Dan Fillius, ISU Extension Horticulture Field Specialist, and Dr. Justin Glisan, Iowa's State Climatologist.  This episode is the pilot episode and gives a recap of weather this past winter, how it stacks up against past winters, and provides a climate outlook for the coming growing season. Typically this podcast will be for those who want to learn...

In this episode of the Beginning Fruit Farm Series, Suzanne Slack, Assistant Professor of Horticulture at Iowa State University specializing in perennial fruit crops, Brandon Carpenter, Agriculture Specialist with Iowa State Horticulture Research Station, and Liv Meyer, a graduate student in the department of Horticulture at Iowa State University talk about getting your small fruit farm ready for...

Do you have a backyard garden, or maybe a flower bed or two? Do you know what you should do in the spring to get them cleaned up and ready for planting? In this episode, Olivia interviews Aaron Steil, Consumer Horticulture Specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Aaron gives us great advice and insight on best spring practices to get your gardens and flower beds ready!   Episo...

In this episode of the Beginning Fruit Farm Series, Suzanne Slack, Assistant Professor of Horticulture at Iowa State University specializing in perennial fruit crops, Randall Vos, Commercial Fruit Crop Specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, and Liv Meyer, a graduate student in the department of Horticulture at Iowa State University are discussing grape pruning. Tune in to le...

We're bringing you a very special episode with guest host Dr. Kathleen Delate. Tune in as she interviews 4 organic farmers and an organic researcher engaged in organic technologies that may offer some value in organic operations. As with all technology, the benefits of technological innovations must be evaluated along with any trade-offs, which are explored in this podcast.   Seth Harbecke is a st...

In this episode of the Beginning Fruit Farm Series, Suzanne Slack, Assistant Professor of Horticulture at Iowa State University specializing in perennial fruit crops, Brandon Carpenter, Agriculture Specialist with Iowa State Horticulture Research Station, and Liv Meyer, a graduate student in the department of Horticulture at Iowa State University are discussing Apple Tree pruning. Tune in to learn...

In this episode of the Beginning Fruit Farm Series, Suzanne Slack, Assistant Professor of Horticulture at Iowa State University specializing in perennial fruit crops, Brandon Carpenter, Agriculture Specialist with Iowa State Horticulture Research Station, and Liv Meyer, a graduate student in the department of Horticulture at Iowa State University discuss all things bramble (mainly raspberries and...

Are you considering buying an acreage? You should keep a handful of things in mind before doing so! There are also plenty of resources you can research before committing to a property. In this episode, Olivia interviews Ann Johanns, Extension Program Specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Ann gives us some great advice and questions to ask ourselves before we make an acreage...

Olivia is again joined by Suzanne Slack, Assistant Professor of Horticulture at Iowa State University specializing in perennial fruit crops, Brandon Carpenter, Agriculture Specialist with Iowa State Horticulture Research Station, and Liv Meyer, a graduate student in the department of Horticulture at Iowa State University and on this episode of our Beginning Fruit Farm Series, they discuss grape tr...

Have you been noticing more Bald Eagles in Iowa lately? In today's episode, Olivia interviews Heidi Anderson, a Naturalist with Polk County Conservation, and we're talking about Bald Eagles! Where can we go to see them, what should we do if we see them, and what are some ways we can attract them?!