Latest Ecological Podcast Episodes

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280. Hannah Breckbill on Collaborative Farm Ownership

The Thriving Farmer Podcast - April 23, 2024 12:00 - 34 minutes ★★★★★ - 283 ratings
Does a farm run by its workers affect its success and how it operates? In this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael talks with Hannah Breckbill, who helped start Humble Hands Harvest. This organic farm in Northeast Iowa is run by its workers. Now in her 12th year, Hannah and her team...

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279. Josh Holleb on Advancing Efficient Greenhouse Design

The Thriving Farmer Podcast - April 16, 2024 12:00 - 36 minutes ★★★★★ - 283 ratings
What are the key benefits of integrating advanced technology into greenhouse construction? On this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is joined by Josh Holleb who is the Systems Integration Specialist at Ceres Greenhouse Solutions. Josh combines his construction and farming expert...

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278. Bryce Loewen on the Sweet Success of Stone Fruits

The Thriving Farmer Podcast - April 09, 2024 12:00 - 41 minutes ★★★★★ - 283 ratings
What are the biggest challenges in fruit farming? On this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is joined by Bryce Loewen of Blossom Bluff Orchards as he shares his journey in agriculture and the challenges of organic fruit farming in California's Central Valley. He discusses the li...

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277. Paul Muller on Organic Farming's Past, Present and Future

The Thriving Farmer Podcast - April 02, 2024 12:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 283 ratings
How has organic farming evolved over the years and what might the future hold? On this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is joined by Paul Muller who is a part of the pioneering force at Full Belly Farm, a 450-acre certified organic farm in North Central California. For over four...

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276. Abram Bicksler on Empowering our World's Farmers with ECHO

The Thriving Farmer Podcast - March 26, 2024 12:00 - 47 minutes ★★★★★ - 283 ratings
How does the health of soil directly impact global hunger solutions? On this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is joined by Abram J. Bicksler, Ph.D., who is President and CEO of ECHO, a global Christian organization focused on empowering the undernourished through sustainable hun...

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275. Julia Bocchese on Sprouting Success: SEO Strategies for Farmers

The Thriving Farmer Podcast - March 19, 2024 12:00 - 24 minutes ★★★★★ - 283 ratings
How can SEO transform your farm's online visibility? On this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is joined by Julia Bocchese, a SEO Consultant for agriculture and horticulture businesses and founder of Homegrown Reach. With a deep passion for supporting local agriculture, Julia foc...

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274. Cole Mazariegos-Anastassiou on Navigating the Wholesale Market

The Thriving Farmer Podcast - March 12, 2024 13:00 - 42 minutes ★★★★★ - 283 ratings
How can small farms compete in a wholesale market dominated by large agricultural businesses? On this episode, Michael is joined by Cole Mazariegos-Anastassiou who co-runs Brisa Ranch in California's Pescadero area. Together with his farm partners, their farm offers a variety of crops grown re...

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273. Theresa Podoll on Sowing Resilience with Organic Seed Production

The Thriving Farmer Podcast - March 05, 2024 13:00 - 51 minutes ★★★★★ - 283 ratings
How many plants does it take to get a pound of tomato seeds? On this episode we’re joined by Theresa Podoll from Prairie Road Organic Seed in Fullerton, North Dakota. Since 1997, Theresa and her husband, Dan, have been passionate about providing resilient, organic seed varieties with a focus o...

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272. Jeremy Kaufman on t​​he Impact of Agroforestry on Farming

The Thriving Farmer Podcast - February 27, 2024 13:00 - 47 minutes ★★★★★ - 283 ratings
Can agroforestry boost farm profitability? On this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is joined by Jeremy Kaufman who is Chief of Operations at Propagate, a leader in Agroforestry. Along with his team, Jeremy is fully committed to integrating agroforestry into farming to increase ...

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271. Amy Fewell on Herbalism, Health and Homesteading

The Thriving Farmer Podcast - February 20, 2024 13:00 - 46 minutes ★★★★★ - 283 ratings
Are you looking for more community and education on homesteading? On this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is joined by Amy Fewell, who is the visionary behind Homesteaders of America. As a published author, herbalist, and modern-day milkmaid, Amy nurtures her passion for self-s...

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Building an Earthbag Dome and Vanirah Farm with Pawan and Marloes

Tiny Farm Friends - February 18, 2024 12:30 - 46 minutes
How wonderful is finding a partner who shares your dreams and values? Pawan and Marloes are the founders of Vanirah Farm, a permaculture farm on the top of the Himalayan mountain in Uttarakhand, India. In this conversation, we trace their journey from finding land and building an earthbag dome t...

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270. Tim Joseph on the Grass-fed Dairy Revolution

The Thriving Farmer Podcast - February 13, 2024 13:00 - 45 minutes ★★★★★ - 283 ratings
How long do you think it takes to get a cow from grain fed to fully grass-fed? On this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is joined by Tim Joseph, the pioneering founder of Maple Hill Creamery, the largest 100% regenerative, grass-fed organic dairy farm in the U.S. After leaving h...

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269: Alexis Dragovich on Milling a New Path in Grain Farming

The Thriving Farmer Podcast - February 06, 2024 13:00 - 20 minutes ★★★★★ - 283 ratings
What are the unique challenges of growing and milling your own grains?  On this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is joined by Alexis Dragovich, co-operator of Mud Run Farms in northeast Ohio. What started out as a 1st generation dairy farm has turned into a father daughter team ...

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268. Jodi Roebuck on Mastering the Elements on a New Zealand Market Farm

The Thriving Farmer Podcast - January 30, 2024 13:00 - 52 minutes ★★★★★ - 283 ratings
How does your local climate influence your agricultural decisions?  On this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is joined by Jodi Roebuck who is the trailblazing market gardener and mentor at Roebuck Farm in Taranaki, New Zealand.  With over two decades of experience, Jodi guides...

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267. Brad Russell on Reviving Chestnut Farming in the US

The Thriving Farmer Podcast - January 23, 2024 18:00 - 29 minutes ★★★★★ - 283 ratings
What unique challenges and rewards come with chestnut farming? On this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is joined by Brad Russell of Chestnuts in the Ozarks in Omaha, Arkansas. Brad’s lifelong respect for nature along with his dedication to sustainable agriculture has guided him ...

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Red Earth House - Tattooing, Snakes, & Starting a Commune with Corrie and Abhishek

Tiny Farm Friends - January 23, 2024 12:40 - 45 minutes
Abhishek Shirsat and Corrie Foreman Shirsat are the founders of Red Earth House, a place of exploration, rewilding, creativity, and initiative in a village near Chiplun in the Konkan region of India. Abhishek has lived his life in the forests, researching and rescuing snakes. Corrie is an artist...

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266. Ann Accetta-Scott on Embracing Homesteading and Food Preservation

The Thriving Farmer Podcast - January 16, 2024 13:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 283 ratings
How do you take your homestead from beginner to profitable?    On this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is joined by Ann Accetta-Scott, a dedicated first-generation homesteader and the author behind "The Farm Girl's Guide to Preserving the Harvest." While managing her family far...

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265. Michael Kilpatrick on his Top Takeaways from the Vegetable Summit

The Thriving Farmer Podcast - January 09, 2024 13:00 - 22 minutes ★★★★★ - 283 ratings
Are you ready to take your vegetable farming to the next level?     On this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael shares about this year’s Thriving Farmer Summit and this year is all about Vegetables. The Summit is a free event happening January 12-14th and features a lineup of expe...

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264. Michael and Savannah Kilpatrick on a Farm Year in Review

The Thriving Farmer Podcast - January 02, 2024 13:00 - 50 minutes ★★★★★ - 283 ratings
Do you take the time to reflect on the past year of your farm?    On this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is joined by his wife, Savannah. Together, they chat about how this past year went at their farm in Ohio called The Farm on Central. From building a farm store to strawber...

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263. Melissa Smith on the Delights and Demands of Growing Dahlias

The Thriving Farmer Podcast - December 26, 2023 13:00 - 56 minutes ★★★★★ - 283 ratings
What lessons can Southern gardeners learn from Melissa Smith's experience with dahlias?  On this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is joined by Melissa Smith of Fraylick Farm who is a passionate gardener, dahlia enthusiast, and experienced flower farmer. As a Clemson certified Ma...

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Building resilience with Christina Ransbury

Tiny Farm Friends - December 25, 2023 06:30 - 45 minutes
Christina Ransbury is an interior and architecture designer, who strives to use low-carbon building methods that not only stand the test of time but prioritize the health of our planet. She is also an artist and a dreamer who wants to make this world a beautiful example of what humans are capabl...

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262. Jeff Bednar on Building a Successful Food Hub

The Thriving Farmer Podcast - December 19, 2023 13:00 - 45 minutes ★★★★★ - 283 ratings
What can you learn from a food hub model of connecting local producers with chefs and consumers?   On this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is joined by Jeff Bednar, the innovative force behind Profound Foods in North Texas. Since 2014, Jeff and his wife, Lee, have been revoluti...

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Creating Abundance with Sudhanshu

Tiny Farm Friends - December 18, 2023 02:11 - 46 minutes
Meet Sudhanshu Verma, a passionate Cyclist and a Filmmaker. He is known for choosing the road less traveled, literally and metaphorically. He has bikepacked across India and now dreams of seeing the world on his bicycle. In this conversation, he shares his story of overcoming scarcity and creati...

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261. Laura Fernandez on Sowing Seeds of Sustainability with Garden Design

The Thriving Farmer Podcast - December 12, 2023 13:00 - 42 minutes ★★★★★ - 283 ratings
In what ways can transforming our front yards into edible landscapes impact our local food systems and communities?   On this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is joined by Laura Fernandez who is the visionary behind Front Yard Foods in South Carolina. Laura's journey began with ...

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260. Megan Neubauer on Transforming Farms with U-Pick Agritourism

The Thriving Farmer Podcast - December 05, 2023 13:00 - 44 minutes ★★★★★ - 283 ratings
Ever thought about shifting your farm to a U-Pick model?  On this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is diving into the world of agritourism with Megan Neubauer of Pure Land Farm located in McKinney, Texas. Megan literally wrote the book on pick-your-own farming and her farming jo...

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259. Billy Bond on Value-Added Farming and Permaculture Practices

The Thriving Farmer Podcast - November 28, 2023 13:00 - 36 minutes ★★★★★ - 283 ratings
How does the concept of value-added thinking apply to both farming and our daily lives?  On this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is joined by Billy Bond, owner of Perma Pastures Farm, located in North Carolina. From hands-on workshops to online education, Billy and his family s...

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258. Jacob Towe on Building a Community-Focused Farm

The Thriving Farmer Podcast - November 21, 2023 13:00 - 38 minutes ★★★★★ - 283 ratings
What challenges and opportunities arise when starting a farm and retail venture from scratch? On this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is joined by Jacob Towe of Jubilee Farms in Pauline, South Carolina. After helping with his family’s Christmas tree farm from an early age, Jaco...

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Why Are Creatives Choosing Rural Life? with Karen Rosenkranz

Tiny Farm Friends - November 17, 2023 08:55 - 37 minutes
Meet Karen Rosenkranz, the trend forecaster, ethnographer, and author behind 'City Quitters: Creative Pioneers Pursuing Post-Urban Life.' 📚 Join us on a journey as we explore the motivations behind creatives leaving cities for rural pastures. What's life like in the countryside, and what are the...

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257. Suzanne Karreman on the Grass-Roots of Sustainable Dairy Farming

The Thriving Farmer Podcast - November 14, 2023 13:00 - 53 minutes ★★★★★ - 283 ratings
Is it the grass or the genetics that helps most with grass-fed dairy farming? On this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is joined by Suzanne Karreman of Reverence Farms in North Carolina.  Along with her veterinarian husband, Dr. Hubert, they run a 400-acre, 80-cow grass-fed dair...

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256. Julie Olberding on Growing Award-Winning Garlic

The Thriving Farmer Podcast - November 07, 2023 13:00 - 52 minutes ★★★★★ - 283 ratings
Do you know what all goes into garlic growing? On this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is joined by Julie Olberding of Rustic Roots Farm in Alexandria, Minnesota. Their farm balances natural resources with a blend of innovative techniques and traditional methods to produce the ...