How do we nurture our plants and gardens with the best, most sustainable fertilizer around? One family’s quest for sustainability in their business led to the creation of Neptune’s Harvest, a full line of organic fertilizers that utilizes a by- product of the seafood industry. On today’s episode, we spoke with with Ann Molloy from this 5th generation family-run company in Gloucester, MA. We learn about the rich heritage of Gloucester in the fishing industry and how Neptune’s Harvest evolved...

In this conversation with best selling author and activist Paul Hawken, we discuss the reframing of our relationship with nature by moving away from the concept of "othering" ourselves, and more towards the integration of our interconnectedness. Paul speaks of the cultural disconnect, the role of language in shaping our perception of the environment, and how crucial it is to engage directly with the natural world. Hawken's vast experience, including starting the first natural food company...

We all know about Earth Day, but when and how did it begin, and how has it evolved over it's 54 year history? In this special Earth Day episode, we are interviewing Emily Walker who is the education coordinator at the nonprofit that started it all: EarthDay.org. We are diving into the significance of Earth Day, its 1970 origin, and its evolution over the years towards addressing contemporary environmental issues. Each year they chose a new focus, and the theme for this year's Earth Day is...

In Part 2 of the Slow Kitchen Bonus, Mary and Emma discuss ideas for simple, real food prep and their favorite kitchen equipment. They cover the process of making one whole chicken into several nutritious meals, using dried garbanzo beans for a variety of different dishes, and simple but delicious salad ideas. You'll also hear about the use of fermenting for kefir, sourdough and a variety of vegetables. Their go-to kitchen tools include the immersion blender, the Chemex drip coffee maker, a...

How do you pursue your passions even as life throws you curveball after curveball? Los Angeles actor, Creator of One Broke Actress, owner of Fast Forward Productions, and Co-Owner of The Membership Sam Valentine comes on to share her story of learning to pivot to the next right thing for her in her career in her pursuit of her art. In this solo interview, Emma and Sam delve into their personal journeys, challenges, pivot points, and the nuances of leading a multi-hyphenate career in a rapidly...

This is a free preview of the full paid episode described below. To hear more, visit https://ladyfarmer.substack.com/t/seasonal-living ATTENTION GARDENERS! To get your safe, non GMO seeds, go to Pine Tree Garden Seeds at superseeds.com and use our promo code: GOODDIRT2024 for 20% off your entire seed order! In this PREVIEW, Mary discusses the arrival of spring and the human connection to nature. She highlights the disconnect between humans and the natural world, emphasizing the need to...

In part two of this episode the conversation with Danielle Schwab, creator of Illuminate Food, continues. Danielle discusses the influential role of policy and larger institutions in forming the public's food choices, emphasizing the importance of transparency in supply chains to combat climate change's negative effects. She delves into the benefits and challenges of transitioning to plant-based diets and expresses her advocacy for beans as a sustainable food source instead. We explore...

In this Episode, Danielle Schwab , founder of Illuminate Food discusses her journey from the corporate world to the food industry and her current work in the mushroom meat sector. She has dedicated her career to helping consumers understand our food system so as individuals making personal food decisions we can shift to a more sustainable way of feeding ourselves. In this discussion we explore the complexities of global supply chains and the need for more depth in consumer discussion and...

In the first of this two-part series on how to achieve a slow and sustainable kitchen, Mary and Emma discuss their own experiences with sustainable food sourcing, including tips for how to find local food and how to shop more sustainably in the grocery store when local food is less available. They also talk about packaging considerations as a guide for sustainable food shopping, and some unique ideas for low waste kitchen storage. More to come in Part 2! Topics Discussed There are many...

In this episode we welcome back Dave and Nicky Schauder to The Good Dirt to reconnect and update our listeners on what’s been happening with their business project, Permaculture Gardens. We talked to them almost four years ago now, in June of 2020, early in lockdown when the buzz about growing your own food was really getting ramped up. Nicky and Dave started Permaculture Gardens to make permaculture and growing food accessible to everyone - especially families! They specialize in education...

Spiritual Ecologist and Eco-Theologian Mary DeJong presents her perspective on how we can each reconnect with the sacred Earth through rewilding our inner selves. DeJong works with Waymarkers, guiding others through retreats and pilgrimages, with an emphasis on placing Earth first in each decision we make. In this conversation we explore Celtic tradition and the primacy of creation, how the language we use shifts the various hierarchical ladders in our society, and the way that different...

This is a free preview of the full paid episode described below. To hear more, visit https://ladyfarmer.substack.com/t/seasonal-living Welcome March and welcome spring! Even with the unpredictable and sometimes extreme weather, we can see life returning to the landscape. In this episode, we will hear the story of Demeter and Persephone, the ancient Greek myth that explains why we have four seasons. We'll also explore the cultural significance of St. Patrick's Day and consider the deeper...

We all have bodies that we carry with us throughout our entire lives, but how do we take care of ourselves as we get older? Educator, Business Mentor, Coach, and soon-to-be Physical Therapist Sharon Bailey is here to discuss how she approaches her body and her life as she ages, and her advice will apply in your 20s to your 90s. Here on International Women's Day, we are diving into Nature’s Rhythm of the female and menstruating body, and how we are each effected when we go into perimenopause...

We last saw Stephanie in Episode 110, “Designing the Life of Your Dream in a Consumer Culture with Stephanie O’Dea of The Slow Living Podcast” and it was an absolute hit with our listeners. Now a few years out of the pandemic, and dozens of episodes of the Slow Living with Stephanie O'Dea Podcast out, Stephanie comes back onto The Good Dirt to dive into how her definition of slow living has changed. She discusses the nostalgia her clients have felt for the slower pace of life during Covid-19...

Stanley Cups. We’ve all heard of it at this point. It’s impossible not to. When cars explode and ice remains and Target shelves are empty, it’s crowds seeking the latest edition of this product that was hyped on social media. But what does all of that hype get us? More and more products in production, leading to more waste. mary and Emma sit down to discuss the Stanley Quencher cup phenomenon and how it relates to slow living. They touch on how the cup is a status symbol more than it being...

Where does our food come from, and what will happen when we have no farmers coming in to take over the legacy of the farmers of today? In this conversation with business executive, homesteader, and consultant Judith Horvath, Judith speaks extensively on the benefits of regenerative agriculture, her experience in agri-entrepreneurism, and her vision for the development of agrihoods — communities centered around functional farms that provide food for the community. Judith encourages a close...

In this episode of The Good Dirt Podcast, Mary and Emma sit down for a deep dive as a duo into the concept of slow living and what their relationship is to it in 2024. We hear them discuss their philosophy and also the challenges they’ve faced in adopting a slow living mindset, and share how they’ve come to view it as a quest in life. They also answer some listener questions from Instagram, sharing their thoughts on slow living with full schedules, clutter, city living, cooking, and balancing...

Today's guest is Pamela Tanner Boll who is an artist, filmmaker, writer and activist. She is the Founder and CEO of Mystic Artists Film Productions, joining us to talk about her current project, a film called To Which We Belong which highlights farmers and ranchers leaving behind conventional agriculture and adopting regenerative practices that are improving the health of our soil and sea and saving our planet. Pamela shares with Emma and Mary the misconceptions regarding the climate impact...

Organic Farmer and herbalist Jane Hawley Stevens discovered the magic of natural remedies in her personal life before establishing Four Elements Organic Herbals and developing a complete herbal wellness line. Jane and her husband have a 130 acre farm where they have been certified organic since 1990, and take great care to cultivate their plants sustainably. In her new book “The Celestial Garden” Jane shares the wisdom of planting by the moon and by the zodiac, relying on the earth's natural...

Welcome to the cross-quarter between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, a time to celebrate the promise of spring through many cultural traditions. February 1st is the Feast of St Brigid and the Celtic Festival of Imbolc, which overlap with our Groundhog Day and Candlemas, each acknowledging the return of light and life that is beginning for all living things in this hemisphere. As for Gardening by the Signs this month, it's a perfect time for microgreens! Tune in to hear about this...

Hustle culture and pressures to accomplish, achieve and produce can result in personal and widespread burnout. Mary and Emma sit down for a deep dive discussion around the idea of "radical rest" and what that might look like in practice. They touch on their personal experiences with rest, acknowledging the exhaustion and burnout many people experience, especially in the wake of a challenging winter season. Together they explore ways to incorporate more resting into daily life through examples...

In this episode, Mary and Emma feature a conversation with Carley Lake and Tanya Dastyar, co-founders of Lucky Sweater, a tech platform designed for a slow fashion community. They share how Lucky Sweater works, allowing users to swap, gift, and trade clothing items, fostering a sustainable and connected community. Carley started out as one of the first 500 employees at Uber before becoming a digital strategist while Tanya was leading product for Microsoft News and Microsoft Managed Desktop...

Janna Hockenjos is a long-time listener of the podcast who was so inspired by what The Good Dirt stands for that she created Earth Friends Everywhere, an early education curriculum designed to enrich children’s connection and awareness of nature. Janna has been passionate about the environment every since she was a child, yet her career has taken her in many directions. She has a Masters Degree in Journalism from NYU, is a two-time published author, has owned a yoga studio, and is currently a...

Wool is one of the oldest known materials used for textiles. As a renewable resource with a potential for mitigating climate change, we love to highlight wool in our exploration of sustainable living here on this show. Our guest today is Jane Cooper whose passion for knitting led her to search for a rare-breed sheep and their distinctive wool. In her book, “The Lost Flock: Rare Wool, Wild Isles and One Woman's Journey to Save Scotland's Original Sheep”, Jane tells the story of the remarkable...