Episodes

What if a visit to the farmer's market could totally revolutionize your life? Do you think that's possible? For Julie Friend, the farmer's market changed hers -- her health, her outlook, and her profession. And what she learned on her journey includes the discovery of a new "buzzword" you haven't heard yet -- one like grass-finished, regenerative, free-range, but way more meaningful. What's different about this one? Listen to find out.

Ever wonder what's behind the label on the milk in your grocery store? Sabrina Servais knows. She's a 5th generation dairy farmer in Wisconsin who farms dairy with her family for Organic Valley, along with 1700 other farmers. Sabrina tells it straight, with a big tall glass of milk. When you take a bite (or a sip) here, you will connect directly with the health of the product and the cows, what's going on with farms, carbon, and the environment, and how the economics of this co-op works for farmers and for you. And you definitely want to know how Organic Valley compares to the other milk cartons on the dairy shelf. Organic Valley is farmer-owned. Are the others?

Can one bite from a carrot change your life? What do you think? Sounds farfetched, I know. But let's dig in and see how a single carrot can be connected to your tastebuds, your environment, the knitting together of communities and so much more. Betsey Zarko of Arrowleaf Prairie Farm in Illinois lets us in on the secrets of producing and eating nutrient-dense food, close to home, and sorting out how to do that economically. We all want food like that, right?

The Dahlia wars are alive and thriving! With a combination of grit, passion, and a sprinkle of serendipity, Merrie Avalone of Dreamland Flower Farm quite literally dreamt up and created her farm against all odds, and is now at the center of the Dahlia craze! Merrie’s chance encounter with a generous landlord spearheaded her passion for flowers that just didn’t seem to let up, and still hasn’t. After bartering for patches of land to grow and sell flowers, then being told by every agronomist that...

Imagine this, you are completely self-sufficient and growing every single ingredient you need to cook dinner every night. Olivia Kingery, founder of Pileated Farms, and a fellow advocate of joy, followed the signs the universe left for her to do just that. Olivia is growing nutritious, seasonal, food for her family and community while also participating in and spreading the word about community supported agriculture programs. Once a writer, looking for work, Olivia stumbled upon farming in the most serendipitous way, finding her joy in farming and food, but more importantly, creating a community in her little corner of the world. Growing and eating nutrient dense food that is in season has become Olivia’s greatest passion, while also making it a point to slow down more and take in all life has to offer. We have become so accustomed to getting what we want when we want it, not considering what it takes to produce what is being consumed. In our fast paced life, where quantity trumps qua…

"One Bite is Everything" host Dana DiPrima introduces you to the universe where everyday food, fuel, fiber, and flowers (the 4 Fs) emanate from the center of your proverbial plate to its broader impact on health, the environment, community, and the economy. Here, with One Bite, you have to opportunity to explore the countless decisions involved in how our food reaches us and connect these choices to bigger, critical life issues. This unique approach sparks a broader conversation on the interplay between our choices and societal well-being.

Healthy food should not be a privilege, yet more than 23 million Americans don't have access to fresh food. Maura "Mac" Russell is working to change this statistic, all while balancing her career as a consultant, and being a mom of four. Through Ad Astra Farms, Mac takes on food justice in the community, healthy food production and education, and the persisting trauma that many Black Americans associate with farming. This first episode of One Bite is Everything takes on personal health, community well-being, the environment, and more. Tune in until the end for some funny surprises you will relate to! Follow/Subscribe to the show. Leave a review.

On today’s episode of Talk Farm To Me, we hear from first generation farmer Kelley Babbin, owner and operator of Howling Flats Farms in Canaan, Connecticut. Kelley has made it her mission to create an environment of sustainable agriculture, while nurturing the land she grows on. Using sustainable practices to give her animals the utmost love and care, making for happy animals that live harmoniously with the land, Kelley has created an online marketplace to sell her meat to consumers that are loo...

We believe in farmers being taken seriously. They are the backbone of our society after all, right? Then why are more and more farmers becoming silenced and marginalized? To answer this question and spread awareness about this topic, we have invited podcast host, author, and law and government teacher, Sharon McMahon, to shed light on how America is failing its farmers, and what we can do to change that. Sharon has a deep knowledge of the monster farmers are up against when it comes to legislation, farm bills, and the oligopoly of big ag phasing out small family farms. She brings the conversation back to the American government and law makers to enforce checks and balances so the farmers get the respect they deserve, with the health of the consumers in mind. This is an important conversation with tons of information about the way the government and laws are structured that will put the farming industry and the direction it is going into perspective. Something we all need to pay attent…

Sal Gilbertie has had some luck -- good luck and bad luck -- that catapulted him into a career in growing organic herbs. Sal’s love for healthy soil and organic farming shines through in this episode, where he details his experience of deciding to grow organically when it wasn’t as common or popular as it is now. Sal has a deep knowledge of what it takes to be 100% organic, in a world where pesticides are still very much being used as the easier, cheaper option, yet making people very sick. Thi...

When you think of farming, Alaska isn’t the first place that comes to mind. However our guest on today’s episode is an Alaskan dairy farmer on Kodiak island, who is an advocate for small farms staying small, especially in Alaska where most of the food that is consumed is grown elsewhere and shipped in. Kelli Foreman grew up on a small farm in Nebraska, so she has always been familiar with the benefits of small family farms, but it wasn’t until she started a small farm herself, on a remote islan...

It’s not uncommon that farmers are hit with financial issues constantly. Farming isn’t cheap and requires a lot of grit to push through the uncertainty that comes with farming. What non-farmers might not realize is that something as seemingly arbitrary as improper fencing can make or break a farm. This was the case for our guest on today’s episode, and she is here to tell her story! Rancher Charity Epperson from Wild Things Ranch in Sonoma County, California, raises specialty sheep, lamb, and p...

On this episode, we meet one of the 2023 For Farmers Grant awardees, Scott and Delissa Mainord of Mainord Family Farms, located in East Prairie, Missouri. Mainord Family Farms is a produce farm, where they mainly grow watermelon and pumpkins, after working their day jobs. Scott and Delissa were looking to expand their pumpkin varieties and needed an extra financial boost to grow specialty pumpkins, which they received through our For Farmers Grant after being nominated by a family member, and they are here to talk about it! Tune in to hear Scott and Delissa’s story, and how they manage to run a farm in their busy lives!

Rachael Stewart | Stewart Pastures On today’s episode of Talk Farm To Me, we are joined by an incredibly strong and brave, first generation farmer, who took a chance on herself, no matter the hurdles, to own and operate an off grid livestock farm in Arizona. Rachael Stewart went from a life in fitness to life on the farm, taking her passion for good nutrition and living a healthy lifestyle, and putting it into action by growing and processing her own livestock. Rachael’s story is nothing short ...

Did you know that 99% of poultry farmers don’t own their own birds? When we learned this statistic from our guest on today’s show, it completely shocked us. Unfortunately, many family farmers across the US have their arms tied due to financial constraints where large corporations have swooped in to take advantage of their situation and hire family farms on contract, leaving farmers with little to no control over their compensation, how they farm, and the longevity of their farms. Our guest on ...

What you need to know about your meat and the Prime Act with Liz Reitzig How often do we, as food consumers, think about how and who is cultivating, harvesting, and distributing our food? Or, on a deeper level, do we ever think about how our food choices and consumption is affecting the health of our soils? The answers to these questions are probably similar across the board, no or very little, but that’s what our guest on today’s episode wants to change, and she has been incredibly successful i...

On this episode of Talk Farm To Me, we invite farmers Laura & Mike Ellis from Mt. Hope Farms to talk to us about their fifth-generation farm in Oregon and how they have created a successful business by bridging the gap between the old ways and new ways of farming. Known for their award-winning Oregon fruit spreads, table grapes, and specialty crops, Mt. Hope Farms has gone through a substantial amount of evolution during their five generations of being on this farm, which historically isn't the...

In this episode, Charmaine La Fortune, a passionate urban farmer transformed two vacant city lots into a small garden that’s now a thriving center for community, education, and wellness. The Giving One Tenth Garden is not only reducing food insecurity in this Newark community, but addressing the needs of the community with a diverse selection of crops, health screenings, and more. Charmaine was the recipient of a For Farmers 2022 Grant, which allowed the garden to expand its impact and provide ...

In this episode, PJ Haynie, Virginia row crop farmer and founding member of the National Black Growers Council, escorts host Dana DiPrima on a journey through his agriculture industry experience to shed light on the unique challenges and triumphs of minority farming. The number of American farmers has been in decline for a long time but the number of Black farmers has dwindled at a much higher rate than white farmers. Why is that? PJ offers his insights on the factors hindering the Black farmin...

In this episode, Christmas tree farmer Ashley Latta of Tuckaway Tree Farms joins host Dana DiPrima with a look behind the scenes of the farm, including their selection of species and strategic pruning for health and aesthetics. Plus, she shares tips on how to keep Christmas trees fresh and options for recycling them after the holidays. Also, find out what the farm does when it’s not selling Christmas trees. At Tuckaway Tree Farms, it’s not just about growing crops but providing an experience pe...

If you care about preventing superbugs, like influenza or an epidemic where medicine is ineffective on humans, you are going to want to hear what Steve Roach of FACT, the Food Animal Concerns Trust, has to say. How your animals are raised and confined affects your health whether you eat meat or not! Have a listen and share the episode with everyone you know! The way we raise animals -- in CAFOS (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) and with systemic antibiotics -- has a bigger impact on you ...

Episode Summary In this episode, we explore the remarkable journey of a woman who has made groundbreaking contributions in animal welfare and autism advocacy. Discover Dr. Grandin's unique insights into farming, animal welfare, and breaking barriers in a male-dominated industry. Key Takeaways - Temple Grandin's pioneering work in animal behavior and welfare has revolutionized the livestock industry. - The importance of understanding and accommodating neurodiversity in the workplace and society...

In this episode, you meet Caitlin Arnold Stephano, Farm Aid's Hotline manager. She fields over 800 calls a year -- often 70 a month -- from farmers who want to talk about their struggles and find resources that can help. In this episode, we explore the current day edition of Farm Aid, a still annual concert initiative founded by Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, and Dave Matthews in 1985, which continues to raise funds and awareness for family farmers facing economic difficulties. Th...

In this episode of “Talk Farm to Me,” host Dana DiPrima sits down with Michaela Mann, a Nebraska rancher and co-owner of D&D Beef. Together, they explore the diverse practices of raising and feeding cattle, debunk common myths surrounding cattle farming, and discuss the challenges faced by ranchers in the agricultural industry. Michaela highlights that ranchers have different approaches to raising and feeding their cattle, which are influenced by location, climate, and available resources. List...