The Urban Farm Podcast with Greg Peterson

Bonus Episode 31: Seed Saving Class September 2019.  In This Bonus Podcast: This is the September 2019 episode of a live Seed Saving Class discussing genetic modification, the current advances, what that means for our food, the truth behind the scientific studies, hand pollination, and so much more. There is always a bounty of information available in conversations with Bill McDorman. Vi...

Discovering the wonders of harvesting native and urban trees, weeds, and cacti. In This Podcast: What would you eat if all the grocery stores in your area closed? Peggy Sorensen has found her answer in the native trees, shrubs, weeds, and cacti of the southwest! Hear how she got into foraging edible desert plants, which southwest plants are her favorite to harvest, and some of the ways to pro...

Honoring a family heritage or nurturing neighbors. In This Podcast: Most people in Arizona are familiar with Hickman's eggs, but there is so much more to this family-run business than eggs! Clint Hickman shared with us the evolution of egg farming, and how his family business grew enough to feed Phoenix. He also explains all the side businesses that came out of egg farming: organic fertilizer...

Creating a full circle food system that connects family and community . In This Podcast: Wholistic living has taken on a whole new meaning for Jolene Kuty! Through learning about health, she went from eating cheese infused hot dogs to working as a chiropractic physician surrounded by her half-acre urban farm. She created a full circle system using compost, chickens, mealworms, and contributions fr...

Helping others understand and create food forests. In This Podcast: Eco-edible landscaping sounds like a cool new method, but it incorporates many of the tried and true methods of permaculture. Kristie Kapp educates on building a food forest and how to incorporate 7 layers, supporting plants, mineral accumulators, and beneficial insects. She teaches stacking plant functions and how to build the id...

Moving from dreaming about it, to doing what it takes to grow a farm. In This Podcast: How does an adventurous spirit, practicing yoga and following your intuition lead someone to start a farm? As Tiffany Panaccione learned, those experiences teach you to follow your heart and try new things! Listen in to learn how she plans to turn her dream of farming into a profitable business. She discusses he...

Enhancing our connection to the earth and each other. In This Podcast: Learning about permaculture can be life changing, and Michael Gettens shares about his experience taking a permaculture design course, how to take on a production mindset instead of simply consuming resources, and how the current food system is degenerative instead of regenerative. Rainwater harvesting, sectors, zones, and sola...

Building soil quality through carbon management. In This Podcast: Biochar can improve your soil and help the environment at the same time! We visited with Dr. Rivka Fidel from the University of Arizona to learn all about biochar and carbon farming. Listen in for how you can make it, use it, and the science behind adding it to your compost. She also shares about her journey into the field of s...

Bonus Episode 30: Seed Saving Class August 2019.  In This Bonus Podcast: Once again we join a conversation with Bill McDorman and Greg Peterson to learn about growing from seed, growing for seed, and why our seeds are so important in these changing times. This is the replay of the August 2019 Seed Saving Class  In this class, he covers the Art of Seed Saving, and of course a fe...

Experimenting with living off existing food sources for difficult times. In This Podcast: We followed up with Kevin Espiritu to hear the results of his Apocalypse Survival Challenge. Could you survive for a whole month only eating what you grow, fish, barter, or forage? Hear how Kevin used his 200 square foot gardening space, community foodscapes, and trade - to nourish himself for an entire month...

How to get creative with 80 pounds of fruit. In This Podcast: We are back with returning guest and team member, Katie Fiore to talk about getting creative when your yard gives you an excess of food. While many people fear abundance, she embraces the creativity it allows and shares a different way to look at cooking with apples in both the long and short term. You’ll also learn about the conce...

Transforming ordinary spaces into beautiful, food-producing landscapes. In This Podcast: Entering college without much direction, a life-changing experience in Paraguay helped Matt Lebon find his place in the global food system. Now, he runs a custom foodscaping company making spaces beautiful and edible. He share about hands-on education in permaculture and farm school as well the magical food mo...

Conveying observations from the kitchen, the dining room, and the garden. Journalism and food have been major themes all throughout Joe Yonan's life. In this podcast, learn about how he got involved with food at a very young age, his journey to food editor, and what a food editor actually does. Joe also shares about learning to homestead, succession planting, and what he's growing in his garden. H...

Inspiration through nature’s bounty of nourishing plants. In This Podcast: Working in a desk job and knowing that it was not a good fit, it still took Kimberly Kling a little while to build up the courage to do something different.  Eventually she found herself on a path to learning about herbalism and has finally found her passion. As a devoted learner, she is learning as much as she can, bu...

Farming for a local restaurant and a rapidly growing community. In This Podcast: It was not a direct path to this destiny for David Barrow, but running a sustainable urban farm in Austin Texas has been his biggest success. With many regenerative and sustainable practices in use on the farm it is no wonder the soil is healthy and the crops are productive. Working hand-in-hand with a restaurant onsi...

Taking an everyday vegetable to the table in delicious new ways. After Amy Lacey’s health took a downturn and she wanted to bring some normalcy back to her family’s routine, she tried a recipe for a vegetable she did not really like. Little did she know how a bland vegetable could make such a difference for so many people. Combine that with her passion for doing good things and paying it forward,...

Expanded growing options through hydroponics. In This Podcast: When Kevin Espiritu started gardening he quickly became interested in hydroponics, and as he tried to learn how, he found that most articles and books were focused on only one well-known plant and he wanted to grow food. He started documenting his experiences to help others, and now Kevin has several platforms to share information for...

Focusing on sustainable growing practices on 20-acres down under. In This Podcast: We meet Angela Neyland as she tells us why an old TV comedy series influenced her and how she found permaculture. With this foundation, she shares the journey that led her and her husband to start a permaculture based homestead. She describes her property and some of the challenges they have overcome so far as...

Bonus Episode 29: Seed Saving Class July 2019.  In This Bonus Podcast: Once again we join a conversation with Bill McDorman and Greg Peterson to learn about growing from seed, growing for seed, and why our seeds are so important in these changing times. This is the replay of the July 2019 Seed Saving Class  In this class he covers Extreme Seed Saving, and of course a few more t...

Digging into the reasons plants flourish. In This Podcast: We delve deeper into the relationship between plant roots and healthy soil with Jake Mowrer. He explains why the soil changes when plant roots extend through it's layers, and lessons learned from the dustbowl times regarding soil degradation. Through his simple explanations, it is easier to understand the nature of soil make-up. And,...

Getting serious about the microscopic life in soil. In This Podcast: Retired after years of leadership in Monsanto, David Stark was asked to mentor a young company making what was essentially compost tea. Reluctantly and with some concerns over the science, he agreed and now is excited to share what he has learned about soil science and plant health. Grateful for not turning down the request,...

Creating resilience in an urban community. In This Podcast: It was after spending some time out of the country that Francey Slater woke to the poor American relationship with food.  This motivated her towards food justice and making a difference in her community.  With a belief that healthy food is a right for everyone, she co-founded a non-profit that is creating community and school ga...

Fascination with an underappreciated vegetable. His first introduction to okra did not go over well, but years later Chris Smith was given okra seeds as a gift and he felt responsible to do his best with them.  This prompted him to research, learn, and experiment with many varieties and recipes. He learned a lot and he shares part of his journey becoming fascinated with this often discounted...

Having WAY too much fun with worms! In This Podcast: Watching his coworker through her lunch scraps into a large bin under her desk was just too exciting for Bentley Christie and soon he was on his way to becoming the Compost Guy with a popular blog and website about worm composting.  He shares his excitement and admiration for the legless wonders that produce a valued garden soil amendment....

Bringing residents, local government, and businesses together to build an epic garden and so much more. In This Podcast: The area Shannon McBride grew up in had experienced a tumultuous change when the Phoenix light rail was built right down the middle. Instead of getting angry, she decided to start a collaboration for the area. Building around a vision for a safe, walkable community, she sta...