The Good Dirt: Sustainability Explained – Details, episodes & analysis

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 grew up around them, it made sense to share these skills with people eager to learn. In this conversation with Alexia, we hear about the organic growth of their community, their experience with the hand harvested food challenge, and the importance of fostering nature connection through personal grounding practices and educational programs. With help from an amazing "farm-ily, the small community of people that live and work together on the homestead, and a lively crew of program helpers, Hawthorn Farm has offered learning opportunities for the past 15 years. Topics Discussed · Alexia's Journey to Homesteading · Multigenerational Communal Living · Balancing Public and Private Spaces · Age Diversity · Suburban Living · Dealing with the Perception of Time · Social Ecology · The Underappreciation of Farming · Making Money as a Homesteader · Being a “Farm Grandma” · Nurturing Healthy, Happy Humans · Lifelong Educators · The Ups and Downs of Intentional Community · Grounding Practice — All You Have to do is Sit! · The Hand Harvested Food Challenge · Consistency over Decades · Allowing Change · Reconnecting with Your Environment · Finding Your Strengths and Leaning on Others for Theirs Episode Resources: · Listen to The Good Dirt “191. Paul Hawken on Carbon, Climate and Connection” · Nature Connection Mentors · Wilderness Connection School Connect with Alexia Allen: · Website: https://www.hawthornfarm.org · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hawthornfarm/?hl=en · Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hawthornfarmheals/ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: · Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community · Visit Our Website · Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram · Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: · Wendy Gray

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, author of In Defense of Food - An Eater's Manifesto Lady Farmer Marketplace Wool Lunchbox Jute Sandwich Bag Jackalo Clothing About Lady Farmer: Lady Farmer is a sustainable apparel and lifestyle brand, with education around sustainability and sustainable living at the forefront of our mission. Lady Farmer is proud to produce The Good Dirt podcast. Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or tell us what the good dirt means to you. Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026

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 informs their work with Lady Farmer and The Good Dirt podcast, and how it serves as a path to healing both personally and globally. Key Points: Introduction to Eco-Spirituality: Eco-spirituality combines the study of ecology and spirituality. Historically, spirituality and nature were never separate until modern times. The separation between humans and nature is perceived, not real. Personal Journeys: Mary shares her spiritual journey and how it led to her interest in eco-spirituality. Emma discusses her observations of environmental changes growing up and her connection with nature. Influential Conversations: Recap of impactful interviews with guests like Ian C. Williams, Paul Hawken, and Asia Suler. Insights on how eco-spirituality involves healing oneself to heal the earth. Themes and Reflections: The importance of language in discussing eco-spirituality. The challenge of integrating spirituality and ecology without perpetuating the idea of separateness. How personal healing practices can contribute to environmental regeneration. Practical Applications: Encouragement to connect with nature daily as a form of grounding and healing. Discussion on how eco-spirituality can be a response to climate change and environmental degradation. Exploring ways to live with eco-spiritual principles in modern society. The role of sacredness and reverence in how we treat the natural world. Resources Mentioned: Ian C. Williams' book, Soil and Spirit, Seeds of Purpose, Nature's Insight and the Deep Work of Transformational Change Asia Suler's book, Mirrors in the Earth: Reflections on Self Healing from the Living World Osprey Orielle Lake's work on climate justice and rights of nature Claire Dunn's experience of living in nature for a year The Good Dirt Episodes Mentioned: Mary DeJong Ian C Williams Asia Suler Leah Rampy Osprey Orielle Lake Pt. 1 & Pt. 2 Claire Dunn 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community Visit Our Website Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: • Wendy Gray

"Food as Medicine. Food as Culture. Food for our Future." is the slogan of Three Part Harmony Farm (TPH) owned and operated by Gail Taylor in northeast Washington, D.C.  Three Part Harmony Farm is a diversified vegetable operation using agroecology and sustainable growing methods. They prioritize growing real food for real people. Since 2012 they have cared for a 2-acre plot of land in northeast DC owned by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. The DC site has been in production since 2012 and has 64 permanent beds (1/2 acre of production) using a no-till system. The farm has been an important source of learning local food for the community and learning for aspiring farmers of color in the DMV, especially Black farmers. Taylor is a member of the Black Dirt Farm Collective (BDFC), a group of farmers, academics, organizers, builders, and food entrepreneurs who own 24.5 acres in Brandywine, MD. The land is being developed to increase their offerings of food and black agrarian educational opportunities to individuals and organizations that wish to reconnect with their roots as Afro-descendant agrarian people. The collective created a written curriculum as a companion guide to their signature Afroecology training program which they use during Afroecology Encounters. Topics discussed: How Three Part Harmony Farm was created in Washington, DC Land acquisition  soil remediation Gail's background and education, and her process in becoming a farming The intention and impact of Three Part Harmony Farm-- Gail's idea was to create a model to emulate a small farmer  Carrie Vaughn  The momentum in 2006--2010 encouraged young farmers to enter the industry The Black Dirt Farm Collective--land Acquisition and education in Afroecology The gentrification of the northwest DC in the area of TPH Farm Where do her CSA members come from and where do the newcomers get their food? How the food system has changed since Gail got into farming Where does TPH Farm fit into the local food supply? Gail's perspective on how we can create fair accessibility to healthy food, and what she's done at TPH Farm to address that issue.   How did Three Part Harmony Farm get its name? The story of the logo--the butterfly symbolizes migration, as a reminder of the movement of people across generations and the importance of creating habitat. What sustainable and regenerative practices are employed at TPH Farm? Gail talks about the TPH team TPH Farm CSA currently sustains 100 members, with hopes to expand in future years. There is currently a waiting list Connect with Gail: Website: Three-Part Harmony Farm Instagram: 3phfarm This Episode is Sponsored by Ettitude Use code THEGOODDIRT for $25 off your first order! About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. Our technical partner for this series is CitizenRacecar, Post-Production by Alex Brouwer and José Miguel Baez, Coordinated by Gabriela Montequin and Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

Our guest on this episode is the host of Generation Anthropocene, a science podcast that explores planetary change. So, what is the Anthropocene? "The Anthropocene is a statement: Humanity is a geologic force, reshaping the earth’s surface. We are on par with ice ages and tectonic plates. But who, or what, is really in control? What are the limits of our power as a species, or as a society? How did we get here, and what are the forces that will shape this humbling and awe-inspiring new geologic age?” (genanhtro.com) Michael Osborne is an academic and a digital content producer. As a graduate student at Stanford in 2012, he created Generation Anthropocene with fellow student Miles Traer as a response to the environmental crisis. Michael is both passionate and knowledgable, and brings a new and refreshing perspective to the topic of climate change. This was one of those zoomed out conversations where we got to talk about some really big questions with a really smart guy. So what is the Anthropocene, and what does it have to do with The Good Dirt? Tune in to this fun and fascinating episode to find out! Topics Discussed What is the Anthropocene?  How did Michael get so involved in the topic? The power of podcasts/ audio in communicating the issue of climate change Michael's assessment of where we're headed in the climate situation. Are we worried about the earth, or ourselves? Creating connectivity in a world of alienation and disconnection Humans as story tellers Alienation as driven by a materialistic lifestyle Environmentalism and misanthropy A discussion on capitalism, how the issues we're facing are about more than that The Good Ancestor by Roman Krznaric Marshmallow thinking vs acorn thinking "Weaponized despair" and mental health implications Awareness of the climate change crises has increased There is no place on earth that hasn't been touched by human influence Creating an aspirational future that we want to live in  The grief we feel in the climate crisis What will it feel like to live 50 years from now Generational empathy/ Michael's position on climate change as a parent The trap of nostalgia in thinking about the changing earth Mindfulness in environmentalism Michael talks about Famous and Gravy, another one of his podcasts Connect with Michael: Michael's Website This Episode is Sponsored by Ettitude Use code THEGOODDIRT for $25 off your first order! About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. Our technical partner for this series is CitizenRacecar, Post-Production by Alex Brouwer and José Miguel Baez, Coordinated by Gabriela Montequin and Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

The school supply industry is filling our oceans and landfills with megatons of TRASH and consumers CAN choose to refuse, thanks to the paradigm shifting innovations of people like these two creative and passionate entrepreneurs. This was another great conversation where our guests really tell it like it is. Heather Itzla and Nikki Kozlowski came together over their grave concern about plastic pollution. After many years of clean-ups, data collection and public education, they came to understand the scale of the problem. The amount of plastic produced annually outweighs all of humanity, and is now firmly documented in our air, soil, and water. Before they teamed up, Nikki was working to educate consumers on the massive amounts of waste coming from the restaurant industry. Heather, being a parent, and frustrated with the annual back-to-school prescription of cheap, disposable plastic supplies, had crowdfunded and stocked each classroom with plastic-free school supplies. The next step was to come together as co-founders of Wisdom Supply Co (B-Corp certified) to design Plastic-Free, Vinyl-Free + Spiral-Free School + Office supplies..." because the mass production of products creating permanent waste is outdated, shortsighted, and reckless." The more Wisdom Supply Co. grows, the more waste is prevented, and the more young minds are opened to an empowering new way of thinking about how everyday products are designed, and the absurdity of wasting / polluting the resources all life on earth depends on. This Episode is Sponsored by Ettitude Use code THEGOODDIRT for $25 off your first order! Topics Discussed: Transcendental Meditation Biodynamic Calendar The Artist's Way  What is a waste reduction company?  How Nikki and Heather witnessed and interrupted the disposability cycle  Naming the problem--encouraging our children to buy garbage for the landfill, teaching a disregard for the giant mess we have created  The Zero Waste Classroom Stocking Pilot Program, a strategy for waste elimination/ 3 Steps Set up a last plastic marker box Assemble the inventory in the classrooms and at home that already exists and create a student store. Having done steps 1 and 2, teachers and students together take stock of what they have and discuss what they really need, and what should be purchased moving forward How do Nikki and Heather get schools involved?  Students want to be part of the problem solving The mass production of spiral bound notebooks/ waste as a design flaw and the Wisdom Supply Solution of 100% recyclable notebooks and planners with fewer pages The 28 Ton Project--schools can sign up to participate  Equity in the classroom regarding school supplies Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard The "goody bag" mentality The albatross logo The power of young people in making the change Ida B Wells quote "The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them."  Connect with Heather and Wisdom Supply Co.: Website: www.wisdomsupplyco.com About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. Our technical partner for this series is CitizenRacecar, Post-Production by Alex Brouwer and José Miguel Baez, Coordinated by Gabriela Montequin and Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

In the first of this bonus series on sustainable weddings, Mary and Emma discuss the challenges of planning their family celebration without the excessive waste that is typical in the industry. With Emma’s big day coming up in a couple of months, Mary and Emma find themselves confronting the logistics behind their sustainable, low-waste goals for this event.  Topics Discussed How we reconciled our wedding dreams and visions with our desire for ease, enjoyment and sustainability Discussing the big issues in wedding planning through the lens of simplicity, cost, logistics, and low waste  The venue The dress Flowers Food & food waste The gift registry The Bridal party (or lack thereof) This episode is Sponsored by True Leaf Market: Use our promo code: TGD10 - for $10 off an order of $50 or more (expires June 15th. Limit to one use per customer) at https://www.trueleafmarket.com/ About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. Our technical partner for this series is CitizenRacecar, Post-Production by Alex Brouwer and José Miguel Baez, Coordinated by Gabriela Montequin and Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

Deep-dive into one brand's process in sourcing & developing responsible fashion. This week, Mary & Emma are chatting with Elisabeth de Gramont, Chief Brand Officer and Head of Impact at Frank And Oak. Combining style, design and technology since it was founded in Montreal in 2012, Frank And Oak offers collections of sustainable, durable clothing and accessories for men and women that are thoughtfully designed and well suited to the lifestyles of its customers. Inspired by responsible thinking and with an eye to the future, Frank And Oak believes that dressing with intention can inspire a more conscious lifestyle for all. They strive to inspire better living through thoughtfully designed products that care about you and the planet. Above all, they believe in helping communities to build a diverse and inclusive world that enriches our society, sustainably. Topics Discussed: Elisabeth's background and journey to FAO Unified Commerce Group   History of FAO brand started with the idea of community and collaboration 2017 FAO took a strong turn towards sustainability Elisabeth's current role with FAO What's the relationship between scalability and sustainability? How can sustainable brands scale up? Seawool How FAO screens and selects suppliers FAO's 100% Responsible Product announcement FAO denim SeaCell FAO's other sustainable product innovations Kapok Yak Wool as an alternative to cashmere Problems with cashmere  How Elisabeth's own experience and evolution with sustainable fashion, and how covid shifted her perspective  Consumer culture in the US is different than other cultures in its prioritization of price and appearance over source Guppy Friend washing bag for microplastic pollution Frank and Oak's updated progress report FOA's focus on end -of-life options for garments Consumer education on the issues with the recycled PET microplastics FOA has eliminated all virgin polyester from their production Connect with Frank And Oak: Website: Frank And Oak Instagram @frankandoak This Episode is Sponsored by Ettitude: ettitude.com/thegooddirt ^Use code THEGOODDIRT for $25 off your first order! About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. Our technical partner for this series is CitizenRacecar, Post-Production by Alex Brouwer and José Miguel Baez, Coordinated by Gabriela Montequin and Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

Phoebe Yu and Kat Dey are the cofounders of ettitude, an award-winning material science and lifestyle company innovating eco-textiles to fight climate change. Why does this matter? Listen to this conversation to hear why eco-textiles are so important, and what to look for when looking to purchase textiles for your home. With its proprietary technologies, ettitude offers sustainable bedding, bath essentials, apparel and a variety of textiles made with CleanBamboo.  Topics Discussed: The Old Farmer's Almanac Phoebe Yu and Kat Dey introduce themselves and their company ettitude, and describe their "aha" moments in getting behind sustainable textiles. The problems with plant-based textiles and the toxic processes used in their production A discussion of the different types of plant-based fibers, such as viscose, lyocell, Tencel, cotton, and bamboo Bamboo as a high-performance textile and it's advantages over cotton How does bamboo measure up to organic cotton?  The beneficial aspects of bamboo in regards to climate Eutrophication: a term to explain how many toxic chemicals are being released into the atmosphere or into the environment. Kiss the Ground Connect with ettitude: Website: ettitude Instagram @ettitudestore This Episode is Sponsored by Frank and Oak: Frank & Oak Use our code "gooddirt30" for $30 off orders over $99 on frankandoak.com! About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. Our technical partner for this series is CitizenRacecar, Post-Production by Alex Brouwer and José Miguel Baez, Coordinated by Gabriela Montequin and Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.

Have you ever wondered where the ingredients for your bread come from...like really wondered? And why should you care? Today's guest is here to tell us all about how a local grain supply supports local economies, a more resilient supply chain, better quality staple foods for the consumer and better soil health for the region. Heather Coiner is a plant physiological ecologist and co-founder of the Common Grain Alliance, an organization striving for a more connected grain economy in the Mid-Atlantic. The Common Grain Alliance envisions an integrated grain economy of local and regional businesses that produce nutritious, flavorful and consistent regional grain products for the communities they serve, and helps drive regional interest in— and demand for — regional grain through events, workshops and marketing Heather, holds a PhD in plant physiological ecology from the University of Toronto and co-owns Little Hat Creek Farm, an ecological vegetable farm and wood fired bakery in central Virginia where she lives with her husband and two children.  Topics discussed: Heather's background as an academic and a bread baker How the Common Grain Alliance came to be Michael Grantz of Great Day Gardens How does the CGA operate as a membership organization? Carolina Ground (a similar grain operation out of Asheville) Jennifer Laps Why should we care about local grain? Nutrition Supply Local economies Soil improvement Challenges in creating a local grain economy Some solutions to the issue of accessibility sliding scale prices equipment pools for farmers businesses that provide traveling services for planting and processing Creating an awareness of the importance of local grains Little Hat Creek Farm The idea of horizontal vs vertical integration Significant accomplishments of CGA  Foggy Mountain Pasta  Next Step Produce Migrash Farms Purple Mountain Moutoux Orchards CSA The Grain Stand pilot program What are the alternatives if you can't access local grain?  King Arthur Organic Flour is a good alternative to locally grown grain Restaurants in the Area that support the local grain economy Albemarle Baking Co  Seylou Bakery Slice Versa MarieBette Cafe and Bakery Connect with Heather Coiner: Website: Common Grain Alliance Instagram @commongrainalliance This Episode is Sponsored by Frank and Oak: Frank & Oak Use our code "gooddirt30" for $30 off orders over $99 on frankandoak.com! About Lady Farmer: Our Website @weareladyfarmer on Instagram Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Email us at [email protected] Original music by John Kingsley. Our technical partner for this series is CitizenRacecar, Post-Production by Alex Brouwer and José Miguel Baez, Coordinated by Gabriela Montequin and Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network. Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.