NOFA Podcast
63 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 months ago - ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsOrganic farming, sustainability and equitable food systems. For those who care about food, where it comes from and how it’s grown. Brought to you by the Massachusetts chapter of the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA/Mass).
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Episodes
Season 6 Ep. 2 Closing the Mushroom Production Loop
November 26, 2023 19:00 - 34 minutes - 47.7 MBClosing the Mushroom Production Loop: Evaluating Soil Microbe Changes Following Field Application of Compost Inoculated with Spent Mushroom Substrate with host, Tony Kennette, Ruben Parilla Soil Tech Coordinator and Education Dir NOFA MASS and Elizabeth Almeida of Fat Moon Farm. In this episode we discuss the use of compost inocullated with "spent" mushroom substrate, and the scientific discoveries found regarding increased fungal activity in the soil when applied. This podcast episode ...
Season 6 Ep. 1 Grass-Fed Cattle Are Solving Problems
July 26, 2023 16:55 - 53 minutes - 48.7 MBIn this episode I am joined by Central Massachusetts cattle farmer, Ridge Shinn to discuss the amazing possibilities that good management of cattle can have on soils and land as a whole. Ridge Shinn is the founder of Big Picture Beef in Hardwick Mass. Big Picture Beef is an aggregator of grass-fed cattle and an educational resource for cattle farmers interested in a Grass-Fed paradigm. Ridge is also frequent and long time contributor with us at NOFA and most recently co-author with Lynn...
Season 5 Ep. 11 Clover As Living Mulch
December 22, 2022 15:04 - 1 hour - 59 MBIn this episode I am joined by my colleague Ruben Parilla our NOFA/Mass Soil Tech Coordinator and together we interview Lincoln Fishman of Sawyer Farm in Worthington, MA. Lincoln is presenting at our upcoming NOFA/Mass Winter Conference happening the weekend of January 14th & 15th, 2022. Lincoln Fishman is co-owner/operator of Sawyer Farm. In 2010 they started raising vegetables and livestock, and using only draft power. In 2020, Sawyer Farm started experimenting with no-till systems an...
Season 5 Ep. 9 Farming for Biodiversity
December 22, 2022 14:56 - 1 hour - 60.2 MBIn this episode I interview Mary Sage Napolitan and Evan Abramson about their collaborative work on re-establishing ecologically diverse landscape to the properties of Island Grown Initiative in the town of Vineyard Haven on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. Mary Sage and Evan are presenting their work on this project at our upcoming NOFA/Mass Winter Conference happening the weekend of January 14th & 15th 2022. Mary Sage Napolitan is the Regenerative Landscape Manager at Island Grown In...
Season 5 Ep. 9 Winter Cover Crop Killing Strategies
November 09, 2022 16:30 - 28 minutes - 26 MBNOFA/Mass Winter Conference Highlight - When and How To Kill (Winter) Cover Crops With Arthur Siller In this episode we’re drawing another highlight from our annual NOFA/Mass Winter Conference that happened remotely in January 2022. We join University of Massachusetts at Amherst PhD student Arthur Siller as he outlines four different cover crop killing strategies that we can employ, and he also overviews our primary winter cover crops and their management strategies. Arthur Siller is a...
Season 5 Ep. 8 Bioremediation Project Update
September 30, 2022 20:01 - 36 minutes - 33.7 MBIn this episode I interview my colleague Andrew Laurion to discuss the bioremediation project underway in Springfield, MA. We talk about the changes in the soil, the properties and the community now that this project has been underway for two years. Andrew Laurion is the Bioremediation Project Coordinator for NOFA/Mass and the Youth Program Coordinator of the food justice organization Gardening the Community (GTC) in Springfield, Massachusetts. Andrew is also an avid urban grower, a woodw...
Season 5 Ep. 7 Microscopy of Soil and Compost
July 01, 2022 17:31 - 42 minutes - 39.1 MBIn this episode I am joined by two of my NOFA colleagues Monique Bosch from our CT NOFA chapter as well as Ruben Parilla of NOFA/Mass and they introduce us to the world of microscopy. We discuss the advantages of looking at your soil and compost under the microscope to determine the state of affairs and influence your soil management strategies. Monique Bosch, is the Organic Land Care Coordinator and the Soil Health Technician at CT NOFA and an avid microscopy enthusiast. Ruben Parilla...
Season 5 Ep. 6 Assessing Soil Health at Assawaga Farm
May 11, 2022 11:00 - 38 minutes - 35.5 MBIn this episode I am joined again by our NOFA/Mass Soil Tech Coordinator, Ruben Parilla. We interview Yoko Takemura of Assawaga Farm in Putnam, CT. This material is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program. Yoko Takemura owns and operates Assawaga Farm with her husband Alex Carpenter in Putnam, CT. Since 2016 they’ve grown organic vegetables with ...
Season 5 Ep. 6 Assessing Soil Health
May 11, 2022 11:00 - 38 minutes - 35.5 MBIn this episode I am joined again by our NOFA/Mass Soil Tech Coordinator, Ruben Parilla. We interview Yoko Takemura of Assawaga Farm in Putnam, CT. This material is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program. Yoko Takemura owns and operates Assawaga Farm with her husband Alex Carpenter in Putnam, CT. Since 2016 they’ve grown organic vegetables with ...
Season 5 Ep. 5 Compaction Mitigation Strategies
May 04, 2022 11:00 - 34 minutes - 31.3 MBIn this episode I am joined again by my NOFA/Mass colleague, Soil Health Projects Manager, Christine Manuck. We interview Meryl Latronica, Director of Farm Operations at Just Roots in Greenfield, MA. We continue our conversations with farmers working within our Compaction Mitigation grant as a collaboration with an MDAR 2020 Specialty Crop Block Grant titled Accelerating Soil Health Through Compaction Mitigation: A Data-Supported Peer-to-Peer Farmer Learning Project. Meryl Latronica is the...
Season 5 Ep. 4 IMOs and Mulch
April 25, 2022 11:00 - 27 minutes - 25.2 MBIn this episode we’re drawing more highlights from our annual NOFA/Mass Winter Conference that happened remotely in January 2022. First we join Natural Farmer, Marco Thomas for an introduction to the Natural Farming technique of collecting of Indigenous Micro Organisms (IMOs). Then, we join Richard Robinson of Hopestill Farm for a deep dive into mulching, and his impassioned reasons for using leaves as mulch as possible. Marco Thomas is a natural farmer in Central Virginia, and is the fo...
Season 5 Ep. 3 Invasive Jumping Worms
April 18, 2022 12:00 - 51 minutes - 46.9 MBIn this episode I am joined by our NOFA/Mass Soil Tech Coordinator, Ruben Parilla. We interview soil scientist, Dr. Justin Richardson, from University of Massachusetts Amherst, about the state of the invasive Jumping Worm in the Northeast. Dr. Justin Richardson is an Assistant Professor of Geosciences at UMass Amherst working in the field of Biogeochemistry. Dr. Richardson studies metals and metalloids, examining metals due to their role as essential nutrients for ecosystems and toxicity ...
Season 5 Ep. 2 Seed Sovereignty Means Land Sovereignty
April 04, 2022 18:31 - 30 minutes - 28 MBNOFA/Mass Winter Conference Highlight - Seed Sovereignty Means Land Sovereignty In this episode we’re drawing highlights from our Round Table discussion on Seed Sovereignty at this year’s annual NOFA/Mass winter conference. You will hear two inspiring opening statements that preceded the discussion from Amirah Mitchell and Luke Jeffries. You can find Amirah Mitchell at Sistahseeds.com and on Instagram at SistahSeeds. More information on Luke Jeffries and Kenhteke Seed Sanctuary can ...
Season 5 Ep. 1 Tools and Practices of Ocean Farming Kelp
March 28, 2022 21:56 - 47 minutes - 43.3 MBIn this episode I’m joined by Suzie Flores of Stonington Kelp to discuss her adventures in farming…the sea. We discuss the tools and practices of ocean farming as an introduction to what it takes to farm on the water, how an entire season of ocean farming progresses and the developing industry that is thriving in East Coast waters. You can learn more about and Suzie and Jay’s work at StoningtonKelpCo.com and also on Instagram as StoningtonKelpCo For additional information on upcoming w...
Season 4 Ep. 8 Compaction Mitigation Strategies with Julie Rawson
December 23, 2021 13:00 - 41 minutes - 38.2 MBIn this episode I’m joined by my colleague Christine Manuck, who leads our NOFA/Mass Soil Health Program and we interview Julie Rawson, owner of Many Hands Organic Farm in Barre, Massachusetts and formerly the executive director of NOFA/Mass. We discuss a variety of compaction mitigation methods that she employs in her management practices on her fully diversified farm and get a glimpse into her three decades of experience running Many Hands. You can find out more about the practices an...
Season 4 Ep. 7 Nutrient Density with Dan Kittredge
November 24, 2021 17:55 - 46 minutes - 42.6 MBIn this episode I interview Dan Kittredge, founder and Executive Director of the Bionutrient Food Association. We discuss both Dan’s and the BFA’s origins, soil health philosophy and practices and the bionutrient meter – a hand-held, non-invasive consumer-priced spectrometer that can be used to get relative nutritional scores off of food at point of purchase with a flash of light. Dan Kittredge has been an organic farmer for more than 30 years and is the founder and executive director of t...
Season 4 Ep. 6 Farmer Wellness
September 13, 2021 19:23 - 47 minutes - 43.2 MBIn this episode I sit down with Deb and Ricky to discuss the challenging endeavor of farming and we get into some methods they employ to keep their farming lifestyle vibrant and nourishing. https://seedsofsolidarity.org/ https://makinglovewhilefarming.org/ https://www.youtube.com/user/TheCardboardMethod
Season 4 Ep. 5 Closing Nutrient Cycles with Noah Kellerman
August 12, 2021 11:00 - 53 minutes - 48.7 MBNoah Kellerman and his partner Sophie run Alprilla Farm in Essex MA. They rotate four acres of storage vegetable crop for their winter CSA with two acres of grains for human consumption. The farm is run using a system of rotational tillage using a mix of tractor, ox and human power to care for the soil and grow the best crops they can. Noah is a tinkerer, striving to tighten nutrient cycling on his farm at every level from small scale no till equipment design to crop, tillage and cover cro...
NOFA Summer Conference
July 23, 2021 21:12 - 3 minutes - 3.5 MBThis year marks NOFA’s 50th year since the first summer meeting happened in June of 1971 and we celebrate with a fantastic NOFA Summer Conference program July 31 - August 6th.
Season 4 Ep. 4 Making Your Own Amendments For Plant and Soil Health
April 30, 2021 20:37 - 48 minutes - 44 MBIn this episode we discuss making your own amendments for the garden or farm with commonly available ingredients and simple recipes with author and gardener Nigel Palmer. Nigel Palmer is the author of “The Regenerative Growers Guide to Garden Amendments”, Nigel is a lifelong gardener relying on the amazing complexity of nature to inspire his gardening practices. We are all experimental gardeners given a new canvas each year. He develops curriculum for and instructs the Sustainable Regen...
Season 4 Ep. 3 Backyard Poultry and Egg Production
March 31, 2021 18:35 - 1 hour - 58.9 MBIn this episode, I interview Jim Schultz of Red Shirt Farm to discuss backyard birding on a small to medium scale. Jim helps us get started skilfully and gives us insights on what to be prepared for in caring for birds for the long haul. Jim Schultz runs Red Shirt Farm with his wife Annie. Red Shirt Farm is a small diversified farm in Lanesborough, Massachusetts and they are doing their part to preserve several heritage breeds; Buckeye and Australorp chickens and Standard Bronze turkeys....
Season 4 Episode 2 Tapping Trees and Making Syrup At Home
February 26, 2021 15:00 - 34 minutes - 31.3 MBIn this episode I interview Kate Whelley McCabe of the Vermont Evaporator Company. We dive into the world of maple syrup making at a hobby level. If you’ve been curious about what it takes to tap trees and make your own maple syrup, Kate’s practical approach will fill you in on how simple and rewarding an activity it can be. Maybe you can get started right away! To learn more about the Vermont Evaporator Company, please visit www.vermontevaporator.com or follow them on Instagram and Faceb...
Season 4 Ep. 2 Tapping Trees and Making Syrup At Home
February 26, 2021 15:00 - 34 minutes - 31.3 MBIn this episode I interview Kate Whelley McCabe of the Vermont Evaporator Company. We dive into the world of maple syrup making at a hobby level. If you’ve been curious about what it takes to tap trees and make your own maple syrup, Kate’s practical approach will fill you in on how simple and rewarding an activity it can be. Maybe you can get started right away! To learn more about the Vermont Evaporator Company, please visit www.vermontevaporator.com or follow them on Instagram and Faceb...
Season 4 Ep. 1 Five Hot Takes From Our Winter Conference
January 30, 2021 17:00 - 17 minutes - 15.8 MBIn this episode we drop into five workshop sessions from our recent Winter Conference for quick bits of wisdom and insight. Laura Davis runs Long Life Farm in Sunderland Mass and is a Soil Technical Assistant with NOFA/Mass. Her workshop was titled, Exploring The Outer Limits Post Soil Test. Apollo Catala is the Farm Manager for Oasis on Ballou and a graduate of the Urban Farming Institute’s Farmer Training Program. His WKSP was titled, IPM for Home and Garden Heather Darby is a farm...
Season 3. Ep 7. Demystifying Hemp
December 31, 2020 21:11 - 42 minutes - 39.2 MBIn this session I talk to Julia Agron of NOSHA, who demystifies the botany, history, culture, and policy of hemp production in the Northeast. We also take a deep dive into the complexities of Massachusetts specifically, which has the tightest regulations on hemp production, and then discuss how to support local hemp farmers. NOSHA https://www.northeastsustainablehemp.org/ More resources from Baystate Organic Certifiers: baystateorganic.org/hemp-production/ Here’s a link to our recen...
Season 3. Ep 6. Hedgerows - A Regional Strategy
December 22, 2020 18:46 - 45 minutes - 41.4 MBIn this episode we speak with Connor Stedman from AppleSeed Permaculture to discuss the ecological benefits of hedgerow usage across the landscape and envision a plan that extends beyond farm boundaries to a watershed level of application. Connor Stedman is Principal and lead designer with AppleSeed Permaculture and a farm planner and supply systems educator with Terra Genesis International. He is lead faculty for the Omega Institute’s Ecological Literacy Immersion Program and an affiliat...
Season 3. Ep 5. Bioremediation of Soil
November 30, 2020 18:26 - 36 minutes - 33.8 MBRemediation of soil is the work of re-establishing its healthy function. In this episode of the NOFA Podcast Nance Klehm and Willie Crosby delve into the work of revitalizing soil and the possibilities of restoring contaminated soils for food production. This episode’s guests are part of a collaborative, Springfield, MA-based project funded by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources to build community knowledge about ecological approaches to remediating contaminated soils. F...
Season 3. Ep. 4. Native Plants for Pollinators!
April 13, 2020 13:50 - 51 minutes - 118 MBThis week on the NOFA/Mass Podcast we are talking about how to get your garden space buzzing with native plants that attract and support our favorite little buddies pollinators! Caro is back as my co-host to chat with me about bringing in native plants and her experience with growing them. We will also interview Dan Jaffe, author of the book Native Plants for New England Gardens, all about why we should be planting the plants that grow naturally in our regions. We also have a call to action,...
Season 3. Ep. 3. Getting Nutty!
March 04, 2020 11:00 - 46 minutes - 107 MBThis week on the NOFA/Mass podcast we are going to get Nutty! Chesnuts that is! Caro Roszell is back as my co-host and we will be talking about the carbon sequestration possibilities of growing food from trees. Then we chat with Jono Niger about his farm Big River Chestnuts and his experience with markets, establishment strategies, integration with other crops and livestock and more. Plus another great question for our expert homesteaders in the ask a homesteader segment!
Season 3. Ep 2. Cows we loved!
February 05, 2020 11:00 - 53 minutes - 122 MBThis week on the NOFA/mass podcast we are going to be talking about how having a heard of heifers doesn’t have to hurt the soil. My co-host Suzy and I will discuss our experiences with grazing animals, remembering the cows we have loved! Then we will interview Sara Flack author of The Art and Science of Grazing. We will also be introducing a new segment “Homestead advice” where your questions are answered by some of the most experienced homesteaders in the commonwealth!
Season 3. Ep. 1. Glyphosate Stories
January 02, 2020 19:32 - 52 minutes - 119 MBWe are back for season 3 and this week on the NOFA Mass podcast we are going to be talking about glyphosate the ingredient in Roundup that has been making headlines and ending Monsanto in court. With my cohost Grant, we will discuss his personal journey with this harsh chemical that finds its way into our lives and then we will interview Carey Gillam author of White Wash and this years' Winter Conference keynote speaker. Plus, we play how many workshops can Lydia name in 30 seconds!
Season 2 Ep 12. HUMANURE
August 21, 2019 19:34 - 1 hour - 86.4 MBThis week on the NOFA/Mass podcast it’s a total shit show! I mean for real, we are talking all things poop, turds and more as Caro and I discuss the process of making compost from our own waste. We gross-out and nerd-out on this topic and then get to interview the author of the groundbreaking book The Humanure Handbook Joe Jenkins on how he came to be the expert on excrement.
Season 2. Ep. 11 Setting Up Your Space!
August 07, 2019 15:07 - 52 minutes - 72.4 MBThis week on the NOFA/Mass podcast we are going to be thinking about the setup, the beginning, the planning… of your garden or homesteading space! My co-host Anna Gilbert-Muhammad and I will discuss how we have thought about setting up garden and farm spaces in the past. Starting at conceptualizing all the way to our blunders in implementation. Then we will talk to permaculture expert and author Ben Falk about how he set up his farm and tips he can offer for people just starting out as well ...
Season 2. Ep 10 What our animals can teach us!
July 24, 2019 10:00 - 53 minutes - 73.6 MBThis week on the NOFA/Mass podcast we are going to be talking about how our livestock are smarter than we think they are and the lessons that they can teach us. My co-host will be Jack Kittredge of Many Hands Organic Farm in Barre MA and I will chat all about our own experiences with wise and often sassy livestock. Then we will interview Fred Provensia the author of Nourishment What Animals Can Teach Us about Rediscovering Our Nutritional Wisdom Fred Proenza and his book on the Chelsea Gre...
Season 2. Ep 9 Summer Con and the King of Kraut!
July 10, 2019 15:48 - 57 minutes - 79.6 MBThis week on the NOFA/Mass podcast we are giving you a sneak peek into what is going to be the most amazing NOFA Summer Conference ever! Joining me in the studio is Jason Valcort the NOFA Summer Conference Coordinator and we chat about all the things we are pumped about for this the 45th year of sustainable ag. fun in the sun. We also chat with this year's keynote speaker Sandor Katz the internationally renowned author of The Art of Fermentation. Grab your mason jars folks and stay tuned for...
Season 2. Ep 8. Getting your kids to eat the whole pig!
June 26, 2019 19:15 - 52 minutes - 120 MBThis week on the NOFA/Mass podcast we are talking about how to get your kids to better appreciate and eat the animals you raise though mindful butchering and creative recipes. My co-host Christy and I will discuss the importance of using the whole animal as well as have a chat with Katie Stillman of Stillman Quality Meats about her journey to being a butcher, how she is raising her kids to appreciate the animals she raises and some of the uncommon meats she sells. Katie Stillman and Stillm...
Season 2. Ep 7 Herbal Skin Care at Home!
May 29, 2019 10:00 - 47 minutes - 108 MBThis week on the NOFA/Mass podcast we are going to be getting into some self-care, some herbalism and some ideas about sustainability by talking all about herbal skin care at home. My co-host Christy Bassett and I will chat about our own experiences with at home remedies and soaps and then we will interview Amber Kennedy of Boheme Botanika Herbals about her favorite herbs for first aid and skin care. Stay tuned because this episode will leave you glowing! Amber Kennedy, Boheme Botanika Her...
Season 2. Ep. 6 More Advanced Carbon Farming!
May 15, 2019 10:00 - 47 minutes - 110 MBThis week on the NOFA/Mass Podcast we are digging deep into the topic of carbon farming. My guest host Caro Rozell is back to get nerdy with me about pulling CO2 out of the air and putting it in the soil. After talking about carbon farming here in New England we will be chatting with Jeff Creque who is a co-founder of the Marin Carbon Project and a Director at the Carbon Cycle Institute all about carbon farming on the other coast. Jeff Creque and the Carbon Cycle Institute website https://...
Season 2 Ep.5 We are so cheesy!
May 01, 2019 10:00 - 54 minutes - 50.4 MBThis week on the NOFA/Mass podcast we are talking about something so gouda, we will be leaving you saying bre-visimo! Cheese! My co-host Noah Courser-Kellerman NOFA/Mass board member and farmer at Aprilla Farm in Essex Ma. will chat about what is arguably the best food invention ever, our experiments in cheese making and what cheese makes the best building block for an igloo. Then we will interview Clifford Hatch of Upinngill Farm all about making soft cheese. As Avery Aames, author of The L...
Season 2. Ep 4. Becoming Friends with Fungus!
April 17, 2019 10:00 - 54 minutes - 49.8 MBThis week on the NOFA/Mass podcast we are going to be getting friendly with the fungus amungus… We are talking all about mycorrhizal fungi and growing mushrooms at home! I will be joined in the studio by NOFA/Mass Executive director as my guest co-host and together we will chat about the amazing lil’ beings mushrooms and then we will interview Willie Crosby of Fungi Ally about his journey to being a mushroom master and his upcoming workshop that will be all about how you can grow fungus at h...
Season 2. Ep 3. All About Community!
April 03, 2019 09:00 - 46 minutes - 106 MBThis week on the NOFA/Mass podcast it's all about community! We are going to be talking about getting the community involved on farms by volunteering, farmers feeding their communities and how the community can be involved in CARBON FARMING! Caro is back as my co-host and we will talk about all sorts of community-related stuff. How to use volunteers on your farm, food access and the micro-communities in the soil. If all that isn’t cool enough we also will be interviewing Doug Wolchik of Gain...
Season 2. Ep 2. Natural Beekeeping!
March 20, 2019 10:00 - 44 minutes - 102 MBThis week on the NOFA/Mass we are getting back into a topic that gives us quite a buzz.. BEES! My co-host this week is Jeremy Barker-Plotkin farmer at Simple Gifts Farm in Amherst MA and we know almost nothing about bees BUT fear not dear listener because we interview Angela Roell who is a beekeeper extraordinaire who is teaching a workshop on Natural Beekeeping on April 28th. They will school Jeremy and I on things like bee treatments and give us hope for the future regarding bee population...
Season 2. Ep.1 Profitability on the Farm!
March 06, 2019 23:15 - 45 minutes - 83.5 MBWe are back for Season 2! And we kick off this week on the NOFA/Mass Podcast by taking on a big question that so many farmers face… How to make the farm profitable. My co-host Caro and I will be discussing what it means for many farmers to produce food and a solid income. And we will be interviewing Paul and Sandy Arnold of Pleasant Valley Farm, Argyle, NY about how they farm on a smaller scale and how they make it work financially. Paul and Sandy Arnold of Pleasant Valley Farm, website:...
Episode. 20: NOFA/Mass Winter Conference!
November 28, 2018 16:39 - 40 minutes - 37.2 MBThis week on the NOFA/Mass podcast we are going to get you all pumped up for our Winter Conference! We will be talking all about the theme with some Lydia style history. We are also bringing back the crowd favorite segment of Workshops in 60 seconds and two doubled up farm fails and hacks! Plus my interview with John Kempf of Advancing Eco Agriculture who is this year's keynote speaker!
Episode 17: Foraging Frenzy!
November 14, 2018 15:06 - 42 minutes - 98.7 MBThis week on the NOFA Mass podcast we are talking getting back to our hunter-gatherer roots...Well, the gatherer part anyway! We are going to explore the wicked cool world of foraging. What is easiest to find and identify here in MA? Plus what livestock are the best foragers, a call to action from Marty and my interview with Marie Viljoen author of the book Forage, Harvest, Feast about how she forages year-round in New York City!
Episode 18 Agroforestry!
October 31, 2018 14:36 - 42 minutes - 96.6 MBThis week on the NOFA mass podcast we are going into the forest… But not in a spooky scary story way. This week we are talking all about Agroforestry! We will cover what agroforestry is, how it is used and why it is important. We will also get into what type of crops you can plant in Mass and have actually grow and thrive! Plus an interview that will have you in awe of just how far one company will go to implement agroforestry practices when I talk to Ryan Zinn of Dr Bronners. Plus a long-a...
Episode 17: Critters and Climate Change
October 10, 2018 14:09 - 40 minutes - 92.4 MBThis week on the NOFA/Mass Podcast we are talking all about critters and climate change. We go over the facts versus the myths of what livestock have to do with climate change and how some farmers are helping to heal the planet. Plus another rousing call to action from Marty and my interview with Ben Goldfarb the author and beaver believer who shares with us all about how beavers may save the world! I’m not even kidding…
Episode 16: Gleaning, dumpster diving and using what you’ve got!
September 26, 2018 13:33 - 39 minutes - 90.6 MBThis week on the NOFA/Mass podcast we are talking about the oldest trick in the book… gleaning! That’s taking one farmer's trash and using for the treasure it is! The history, significance, some crazy things farmers have repurposed and why gleaning and dumpster diving is a great practice for low and no-till farmers. We will also be having an inspirational chat with Danny Botkin of Laughing Dog Farm in Gill all about how he uses the regenerative power of gleaning on his farm. And guess what g...
Episode 15: Earthworms, Fungi and Aggregates, OH MY!
September 12, 2018 13:22 - 41 minutes - 94.2 MBThis week on the NOFA/Mass podcast we are getting down and dirty and talking about soil...AGAIN! Some new takes on why healthy soil makes for healthier food and a healthier planet. The world of things under your feet making soil better and the top 5 ways to get more worms in your soil. We talk to Caro Rozell NOFA/Mass Soil Carbon Testing Technician about the amazing workshops she is doing all over MA teaching folks how to test the quality of their soil. And Farm Hacks and Fails are back wit...
Season 1. Episode 14 Farm Bills and Tours!
August 29, 2018 16:58 - 29 minutes - 68.4 MBThis week on the NOFA/Mass podcast it’s all about the farm bill baby! And that is because we are going to be joining Congressman Jim McGovern on his farm tour of the NOFA/Mass headquarters Many Hands Organic Farm in Barre MA! We will talk about what the farm bill is and why we need to have folks like McGovern in our corner. I will also be introducing a heroic new segment “Marty’s Call to Action!” Stick around folks because we are only gonna talk about this bill every five years… Because it’s...