The Good Dirt: Sustainability Explained

Join Mary and Emma as they discuss a slow living Halloween, the second largest consumer season in the US. From the ancient traditions of the Celtic Samhain celebrations, to the modern day spook fest that dominates this time of year, you'll hear how you can embrace the special beauty and magic of nature during this time, letting go of much of the waste and frenzy but keeping all of the fun! Things...

In this episode, Mary welcomes back Krista Arias and her daughter, Fia, from Tierra Soul, a homestead and learning space in Magdalena, New Mexico. They catch up on their conversation from a year ago, discussing ongoing and new projects at Tierra Soul, such as the community cafe project and plans for their first holistic homesteading festival. They also discuss their signature 8 week holistic homes...

In this episode, Mary & Emma begin their discussion on consumerism by reflecting on a recent social media trend dubbed "underconsumption', and how that idea overlaps with the fundamentals of slow living. They ask the questions, are we drawn to the true ideals of a lifestyle or the visual aesthetics as represented on social media, and how likely are we to feel compelled to "buy" into it due to...

How do you pursue homesteading while honoring the wildness of the nature around you? The flowers, animals, and flora that live on the land can impact the way you approach your garden. Julie Stonefelt, a full-time park ranger and co-founder of Wild Homestead Living with her husband Kevin, has sought to live off the land while preserving the natural ecosystem of her 2 acre property in the state of W...

In the second of this episode series, Emma and Mary discuss some obstacles that may come up in trying to live more slowly and sustainably, as well as addressing a few frequently asked questions. They discuss how slow living often seems so out of reach to many of us given all of the distractions of modern life, and offer ways to make it seem a little more accessible. They also talk about how the co...

Chwynyn Vaughan is the creator of Slow Botanicals, and for over 30 years she has been blending science and wise woman wisdom to create a sustainable lifestyle. With her background in midwifery and conventional healthcare, Chwynyn found a deep love for botanicals and plants that prompted her to create her fully certified-organic skincare line. Full of fresh ingredients and essential oils, Chwynyn t...

In the first of this bonus episode series, Emma and Mary discuss the concept and meaning of slow living. Using the quote from The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living , they discuss slow living in terms of making conscious choices in how we live our lives, paying attention to how we spend our time, money, and resources, and stepping back from industrialized systems that have come to provide our daily...

Alexia Allen is a suburban homesteader. She and her husband Daniel are transforming their own corner of suburbia into a permaculture paradise. They spent all of 2017 doing a hand harvested food challenge, which meant they were eating only hand harvested food right down to salt from the ocean. Daniel and Alexia are long time educators with a passion for authentic earth based skills. As Suburbia gre...

This episode originally aired on August 23, 2022. What aspects of the back-to-school season are tapping into core memory making, and how much is just consumer hype? Listen in as Mary & Emma peel away the marketing from the emotion, and discuss ideas for reframing this season in a more sustainable way for kids AND parents. Things Mentioned: Episode 135 with Wisdom Supply Co. Michael Pollan, aut...

Ellen Gordon of the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve in Maryland is an environmental activist spearheading an effort to help transition local farmland to regenerative farming practices. She joins Mary in this episode to discuss the benefits of regenerative farming, including the improvement of soil health, enhancing biodiversity, reducing costs and sequestering carbon. Ellen shares her journ...

Heidi is a multi-disciplinary artist based in Austin, Texas. She works in multiple media including clay and watercolor, striking a balance between classical and intuitive painting. For the past 10 years, she has sought to reduce the waste from art supplies in her own work by creating dyes that use the Earth’s soil, insects, and plants. She discusses her journey of learning about natural pigments,...

Brittany Felton is a writer, editor, producer, baker, crafter, restauranteur, and host of the “Yeah, I’d Hang Out with Her” Podcast . Her mother and Mary have been friends since the 90's and participated in an early Artist’s Way group together. Brittany’s connection with Lady Farmer led her to invite Mary and Emma onto the podcast, and today we're sharing that interview here with all of you. You’l...

Natalie Leon is a British Japanologist with a Master’s Degree in Japanese Studies who has dedicated her life and career to sharing Japanese culture with the world and with the United Kingdom. Her passion lies in seasonality, and celebrating every day. She recently published “The Japanese Art of Living Seasonally” which is her love letter to seasonal living in Japan. Natalie shares her deep passion...

This episode originally aired on November 4th, 2022. Today's guest is Claire Dunn, here with us to dive deeply into the mysteries of nature and psyche through the pathways of deep nature connection. Speaking to us from Melbourne, Australia, Claire is a writer, speaker, barefoot explorer, rewilding facilitator, and founder of Nature’s Apprentice, a platform for education and guidance in rewilding o...

Angela Ferraro Fanning built and runs the Axe and Root Homestead in New Jersey. After suffering from postpartum depression, Angela wanted to remove herself from modern day hustle culture and return to nature, growing as much of her own food as possible. She grew from her own private garden to a fully functioning farm, and shares the empowerment that comes along with homesteading with our audience...

In this special episode, Emma and Mary are catching up with their first guest ever featured on the podcast, Amy DuFault. A writer on sustainable textiles for 15 years, Amy has dedicated her next chapter to reconnecting with the roots of her home on Cape Cod. Amy brings us along from her career in various aspects of sustainability in fashion and textiles to her current focus on water quality. She h...

Tune in to the July episode of Slow Living Through the Seasons, in which Mary highlights the nostalgic soundtrack of July flies, the societal and physical impact of air conditioning, gardening by the signs in midsummer, and a simple recipe for fermented cucumbers. With the 12th episode in this series, we've now completed a full journey around the sun with seasonal reflections, memories, gardening...

In this thought-provoking episode, Emma and Mary delve into the concept of eco-spirituality, discussing its origins, significance, and their personal experiences with it. They reflect on various interviews they've conducted with guests who have touched on this topic, exploring the integration of spirituality with a love for the earth and nature. The episode is a deep dive into how eco-spirituality...

*This episode is a replay of Episode 64, initially published on October 22, 2021 under the title Homesteading is What You Make It On today’s episode of The Good Dirt, we’re chatting with Angela Ferraro Fanning of Axe and Root Homestead, a six-acre farm in central New Jersey. Angela shares the story of how she went from being a graphic designer to a homesteader in 2012, when she told her husband sh...

Leah Rampy, author, educator and retreat leader, discusses her work and recent book release “Earth and Soul: Reconnecting Amid Climate Chaos” . She emphasizes how facing the reality of climate change and loss can help us open our hearts and "come to our senses" , allowing our grief to empower us in reconnecting to the living world. Leah integrates ecology, spirituality and personal practices in gu...

This bonus episode originally aired on June 19th, 2021 We have a special bonus episode for you this week in celebration of our newest national holiday-- Juneteenth! Mary and Emma reunite with author, historian and farmer Tony Cohen for an exploration into the history of Juneteenth and the holiday’s complex folklore and origins. Tony takes us back in time to examine how this monumental declaration...

This episode was initially published on April 21, 2023 under the title The Urgent Need for Restorative Gardening Internationally acclaimed landscape designer, activist and bestselling author of The Garden Awakening and her newly released title We are the Ark , Mary Reynolds discusses her efforts to restore the earth through her global ARK campaign, (Acts of Restorative Kindness). She launched her...

CEO of Broken Ground Kareen Erbe has dedicated herself to helping people in cold climates grow their own food so they can eat healthier, live more sustainably and be more self-reliant. She delves into permaculture and how it applies not only to growing food and helping the earth , but also creating community. Kareen helps her clients by designing integrated edible landscapes and encourages them in...

Tune in to celebrate the many joys of June--the beautiful weather, carefree childhood memories, the miracle of fireflies and all the berries! Also, hear Mary's reflection on the summer solstice and all the tips for planting by the signs of the moon for the month. Read more about Slow Living Through the Seasons HERE https://ladyfarmer.substack.com/t/seasonal-living PINE TREE GARDEN SEEDS Order thei...

On the other side of the interview this week, we're sharing the episode we did with Bailey Van Tassel of Garden Culture Podcast ! We'll be back next week with another interview from The Good Dirt! ______________________________________________________________________________________ Emma and Mary Kingsley are the mother-daughter duo behind Lady Farmer, a brand that began with a sustainable clothin...