Explore every episode of the podcast Nature's Neighbor - Growing From our Roots

In Episode 36 of Nature’s Neighbor, Melanie and Josh dive into the strange early heat, shifting seasonal patterns, and what those changes mean for gardening, farming, and everyday life.

From soil temperatures and late frost risks to seasonal planting, fresh eggs, and naturally raised chickens, this conversation highlights the deeper connection between weather, food, and understanding the land we live on.

Melanie also shares exciting updates from Nature’s Touch, including a new community gardening group, the arrival of baby emus, and reflections on legacy, hard work, and the generations of knowledge that shape how we grow, care, and live.

This episode asks the bigger questions:

What does unseasonably warm weather mean for local growers?

How do we reconnect with seasonal gardening and food awareness?

What can we learn from raising animals naturally and working with the land?

And how do legacy, community, and shared knowledge help us move forward?

This conversation is about more than gardening — it’s about resilience, stewardship, and passing something meaningful on to the next generation.

🌱 Grow with the seasons

🥚 Know your food

🌿 Learn your soil

🤝 Build community

❤️ Honor legacy

Produced by EZF Media, LLC

Website: ezfmedia.com

#NaturesNeighbor #Gardening #LocalFood #FoodSystems #SeasonalGardening #FarmLife #CommunityGrowth #KnowYourFood #BackyardChickens #CaliforniaFarming #GrowLocal #Legacy

In Episode 35 of Nature’s Neighbor, Melanie and Josh tackle one of the biggest questions facing communities today: what is the real cost of food, farming, and living locally?

From rising fuel prices and regulatory challenges to the realities facing farmers, small businesses, and young people entering agriculture, this conversation explores the complicated systems shaping our food supply and local economies.

Melanie shares firsthand experiences working with farmers and small businesses across California, while Josh dives into the importance of localization, ecological thinking, and rebuilding community through food and land stewardship.

The discussion also takes an unexpected turn into something deeper: how disconnected many people have become from food itself — from knowing how to cook, to understanding where food comes from, to recognizing what real nourishment looks like.

This episode asks the hard questions:

What is the true cost of “cheap” groceries?

Why are farmers and small businesses struggling to survive?

How did we lose basic food knowledge in our communities?

And how can we rebuild stronger, more resilient local food systems?

This conversation isn’t about politics — it’s about accountability, resilience, and reconnecting people to the land and to each other.

If we want stronger communities and healthier food systems, it starts with how we grow, cook, share, and support food locally.

🌱 Grow local

🥕 Support farmers

🌎 Reconnect with the land

🤝 Rebuild community

Produced by EZF Media, LLC

Website: ezfmedia.com

#NaturesNeighbor #LocalFood #FoodSystems #SupportLocal #SmallFarms #CaliforniaFarming #CommunityResilience #KnowYourFarmer #FarmToTable #SustainableLiving #RegenerativeAgriculture #LocalEconomy #FoodEducation #GrowYourOwnFood

In Episode 34 of Nature’s Neighbor, Melanie and Josh dig deeper than ever before — moving beyond gardening tips into the bigger systems shaping our food, economy, and communities.

From food regulations and hidden ingredients to corporate consolidation, tariffs, local farming, and the fragility of modern supply chains, this episode explores what happens when small farms are overregulated while big corporations expand.

What is the real cost of “cheap” groceries?

Are we too dependent on outside distribution?

What happens when local knowledge leaves our communities?

And how do we rebuild trust — neighbor to neighbor?

This conversation isn’t about political sides.

It’s about resilience, accountability, food integrity, and strengthening local communities from the ground up.

If we want stronger neighborhoods and healthier food systems, it starts with what we grow, what we buy, and how we support each other.

🌱 Grow local

🏡 Support small farms

♻️ Reduce waste

🤝 Rebuild community

Produced by EZF Media, LLC

Website: ezfmedia.com

#NaturesNeighbor #LocalFood #FoodSystem #SupportLocal #SmallFarm #CommunityResilience #GrowYourOwnFood #Permaculture #FoodIntegrity #CaliforniaFarming #SustainableLiving #KnowYourFarmer #FarmToTable #ResilientCommunities

Live 2.16.2026

Live 2.2.2026

Live 1.26.26

Live 1.19.2026

First Live of 2026

Live 12.15.2025

Live 12/08/2025

Live 11.24.2025

Live 11.17.2025

Live with CRFG Central Coast Chapter

Live 11.3.2025

Live 10.27.2025

Live 10.20.2025 at Nature's Touch

Live 10.13.2025

Live 10.6.2025

Live 9.29.2025

Live 9.22.2025

Live 9.15.2025

Live 9.9.2025 with Central Coast Feather Fanciers

Live with John Tucker

Live 8.11.2025

Podcast with Jesse Trace

Live 7.28.2025

Live 7.21.2025

Live 7.14.2025

Laura Brooks is president of the Templeton Historical Society. Neil Roberts is a board member of the Historical Society and a fellow member of the Templeton Rotary with Melanie.

Live 6.30.2025

Live 6.23.2025

Live 6.16.2025

LIVE 6.9.2025

Live 6.2.2025

On location at Nature's Touch in Templeton, CA

Live recording from YouTube on 5.12.2025 with Melanie Blankenship and Josh Carmichael. Produced by Paso Robles Podcast Studio.

LIVE FROM YOUTUBE

Live from YouTube.

Live recording from YouTube.

LIVE from YouTube

Live recording from YouTube.

Let's start the conversation of local food. The real conversation. Not just the want, let's talk the realization of what is takes and how it works.

This is a way for our community to help finance Nature's Neighbor - Growing From Our Roots. 

This a video / Audio Podcast that Melanie created many years ago.  With the help of many community members it has blossomed into what it is today .  From 2007 -2009, Earth Talk Radio broadcasting our of KVEC in San Luis Obispo, California to 2009- 2021 the show named changed to Nature's Neighbor - Growing From Our Roots.  Broadcasting live from KPRL in Paso Robles, California.  2021 to present it has been a Podcast.  Now with the opportunity to make this a video / audio live show.  Where we as a community have  A show where we talk everything about Food, Farming, Family and Home. Home is always the Central Coast Of California. Always, using methods and practices to mimic nature as close as possible. Hoping to stimulate the conversation of how we eat our politics everyday. With the biggest political act we do everyday is what we put on our in our mouth.   To always remember, what we stand for is what we stand on. BUY, EAT, LIVE LOCAL. EVERYDAY. To have the conversation of health through food and environment.  To understand the feelings of seasons and understanding what weather really is.  It is not just a raining day, what does this really mea?  What moon phase are really in?  so many questions that we as a community will get to answering all these questions.

Support our show.  The seed money planted here will help this program grow. 

Sponsorships are available - Call Melanie 805-712-3478

Donations are appreciated  

www.naturestouchnurseryandharvest.store 

www.naturestouchnurseryandharvest.store

We are back!!  Erik and I to help get the conversation going about the confusion of what season we are really in and or how has the new world of marketing, media and wall street work together and making it confusing in order to help sell their brand.  

Tune in

Go to naturestouchnurseryandharvest.store and share comments and topics.

You want to continue this conversation, go to Naturestouchnurseryandharvest.store and sign up to be notified of upcoming shows, events and much more.  Or just use our message box there to carry this and any-other conversations on.  

Eric and I are back at it.  Talking about the inconsistency of the weather and understanding we can not fear it, we have to learn it and manage it.

What do I do this time of the year?  Water More or Less?  It is going to over a 100 degrees, does that meat water more.  NO!!!!  

Tune in and hear the advice we share to help bring us together in the understanding of Soil.

Also,  go to our website naturestouchnurseryandharvest.store and sign up for text message notifications, to be notified when we upload a new podcast.  

Finally able to do a check in.  My first podcast in a little while.  Listen in.. 

What defines being from here?

New compliancy of No food waste starting January 1, 2022, why would we need to have government tell us what we should natural know Not to do?  Erik and I talk about knowing resources and being creative with what we have instead of always thinking we need something so, we never create waste.  

Thinks simple.  Recycle and reuse in anyway we can.

Would you like to be added to our list to be notified of new podcast?  Text Melanie @ 805-712-3478 and let me know you want to be added to our text message notifications.