Episodes

Last episode we dove into deep water with Aubrey Bettencourt -- the president and CEO of California's Almond Alliance -- about nuts. That's what you think we would talk about, but we covered water policy (ok, relevant) and endangered species management (is that relevant? yes... listen to see how) and ended up with a better understanding of the complex systems we are a part of as consumers, farmers and environmentalists. This week, lucky you, we get a second go with Aubrey on those ships that we...

Meet Aubrey Bettencourt. She's nuts. For almonds and almond farmers, shellers and hullers. She's not blind to water shortages, politics, pollinators or problems with endangered species. She makes short work of the complexities that swirl around the 3.2 billion pounds of almonds produced each year in the California almond groves. Dive in, but fasten your seatbelt and see if you can keep up. Aubrey Bettencourt is a 4th generation farmer, a water expert with very unique experience, a political ope...

In three short decades between 1987 and 2007, the US lost nearly 100,000 small commercial dairy farms. The trend continues. In New Jersey, where the Lynesses now farm dairy, only 37 dairies remain. But there they are -- Dan and Sarah -- forging ahead with a love for Holsteins and Jerseys, and a passion for the dairy industry plus a new on-farm creamery to drive local sales. Find out how this dairy princess met her prince and hear her powerful insights on what is clearly at the heart of Talk F...

From "hocus pocus," to focus, herbalist and farmer Shannon Mayernik and I discuss farming herbs, the most sought-after remedies and the important role of the kitchen in the farm to table movement. Don't miss this holistic conversation about your own wellbeing. xo, Farm Girl www.mayernikkitchen.com and on IG @mayernikkitchen Interview: Dana DiPrima, Farm Girl / Make Hay Productions @xoxofarmgirl Sound Design: Asher Griffith / Cicada Radio One Bite is Everything is the podcast formerly known as...

What if a flower farm is more than just that? Flower farms grow flowers and the ones in the US -- big and small -- are making a resurgence in an industry that is mostly imports. How does that change things? Flowers that don't ship well are yours for the picking -- hyper locally -- for instance. And what if a flower farm breeds connection? In a community that needs it. A de-stressor. What about teachers reeling from a school shooting? Can flowers help? Come and meet big-pharma turned little fa...

Want some beer with your burger? 🍺 🍔 Meet Rob. He puts a little beer IN your burger. For real. But with Barley Beef in Bend, OR and rancher Rob Rastovich, the beef in the beer is only a small part of the story. Are you interested in technology? Business acumen? What it really takes to put a burger on your table? This episode is rich with the intersection of all of that. Plus beer. And conservation. This is Talk Farm to Me, where farmers take center stage. xoxo, Farm Girl Find out more about...

All farms have day to day problems. But then other serious problems crop up and throw a wrench in everything. No matter your current understanding of farms, this is an episode that sheds a light on what can happen to big or small farms if there's an interruption in the processing chain. Follow along with Carrie and her farm @blackwillowpondfarm on Instagram. To listen to the episode featuring sustainable farming pioneer Joel Salatin referenced by Carrie you can find the episode here. For more...

Sharon Burns-Leader is the co-owner of Bread Alone, a pioneering organic bakery that sells its baked goods at the Union Square Greenmarket in New York City. She serves on GrowNYC’s (the organization that oversees the market) Farmer and Community Advisory Committee. That’s where we start, but quickly you will see Sharon leads us through her evolution as a person, the evolution of the market and the evolution of grain in the region. Even though this story is centered on this NYC marketplace, it r...

A new series of episodes will feature the Union Square Greenmarket in New York City and the farmers and other producers who sell there. What an interesting combination — one of the biggest and most famous cities in the world and farmers and producers from within 250 miles. Here Talk Farm to Me dives in to how it operates, how it’s governed. Meet Grow NYC's Director of Greenmarkets, Michael Hurwitz and the Union Square Greenmarket manager, Aquilino Cabral. They know so much and share it all. Co...

Farmer Will Harris transformed his third generation family farm from a monoculture factory farm to a regenerative multi-species farm that is no longer dependent on commodity structures or industrial fertilizer. He learned a thing or two along the way that he's willing to share. Farmer Will Harris wrote an open letter to billionaire Bill Gates whose status as the largest owner of US farmland recently came to light. We discuss what many are calling a "land grab" by Gates and what the technology m...

Farmer Franchesca Duval of Alchemist Farm in Northern California is pioneering humane practices for poultry hatcheries. She is working with her community to make sure the rooster chicks are going to good use for food. She thinks about the whole ecological and humane spectrum of raising birds. Alchemist Farm raises 13 different breeds of chickens that are bred for temperament and egg color. You can order chicks from farmer Franchesca Duval to give you the most beautiful egg rainbow. This episod...

Hold on to your mushroom caps, folks. We are going straight into the mushroom world today. Mushroom farmer Matt Hall really wears a scientist hat in his work growing Maitake and Shiitake mushrooms for restaurants and retail outlets. But he's got a lot more going on in the laboratory that just might break the mold on mushroom cultivation -- especially with morels. But there's more. Just wait until you hear about what he's got planned with mycelium. I had no idea the world of mushrooming could be ...

Meet farmer Nicole Vernon of Vernon Family Farm in Newfields, New Hampshire where she and her husband, Jeremiah, are raising pastured meats and three young daughters. The Vernons produce 20,000 pastured hens a year and that is not even enough to keep up with demand. Join me -- your host, Farm Girl -- to meet Nicole, to find out what personality traits are necessary to be a farmer, the pros and cons of raising kids on a farm and how they have envisioned and implemented a farm store right on the ...

Maria Stewart is a dairy goat farmer. At Gorgeous Goat Creamery she processes her goats' milk, makes cheese and soap. She sells her products off the farm and at seasonal farmers markets. She welcomes visitors for farm tours. Maria is a 24-7, 365-day a year farmer AND also a scientist with a full-time off farm job. More than 80% of farm families rely on income and insurance from off farm jobs, but a far smaller percentage actually talk about it. What does this mean? It is hard to make a living a...

Farmer Kamal Bell and your host, Farm Girl, go back in history to Kamal's farming roots and look forward into what could be. Instead of food deserts and discrimination, a more sustainable world where young people lead the charge. Sankofa Farms in Efland, NC is supremely conscious of the depth of the issues the community faces and is making strides in connecting them to healthy foods by "going back to get it" from African traditions. Farmer Kamal has some sage advice for legislators too. You can...

This episode is the first in a series of several about the dairy industry, dairy farmers and their bovine producers. It's a 101 of sorts. In this episode you'll meet a lifelong dairy farmer from New York state, Rich Dirie of Dirie's Dairy Farm. Rich speaks frankly about his farm, how it started and how it got to where it is today. His commentary on his own farm is insightful to what's happening in the industry. You'll also meet dairy industry expert Mark Stephenson from the University of Wisco...

Meet Sam Lustig, a jack of all trades on the business side of Swanton Berry Farm in Santa Cruz, California. Sam talks drippy, sweet, red-in-the-middle strawberries, why it's important that they are organic and why it's just as important as the fact that Swanton Berry Farm's Latino farmworkers are treated with respect and honored with fair labor practices. Swanton Berry Farm is a pioneering farm -- it was the first commercial berry farm to go Organic in 1988 and the first to join the United Farm...

Meet vegetable and cannabis farmer Ashton Zubal of Farmstock Farm in Kingston, NY. Ashton dishes on working with friends (the not so good side!), growing 365 days a year, the challenges of finding a consistent marketplace (and what he's doing to fix that), new products, the dream of autonomy and what CBD is really good for. Five LIVE is recorded from a live interview on Instagram Live. It's 5 questions for one farmer! To participate live or to watch this interview, follow Farm Girl, your host, ...

It's a deeply American story. Two veterans raising American Bison. Join your host, Farm Girl, in a spirited conversation with Liz about her majestic herd, how her service prepared her for farming, her seriously straight talk on harvesting animals and how to be an honest carnivore. You will fall in love with Liz, her fierce spirit and her one-ton compatriots. One Bite is Everything is the podcast formerly known as Talk Farm to Me (2019 to 2024) One Bite is Everything Resources Write a Review We...

Meet Kune Kune pig farmer Jessica Kirksey of Little D's Farm in Grand Saline, Texas. Jessica dishes on pig breeds, breeding, harvesting, pig personalities and more. She really knows her stuff and shares her passion for pork! I’m pretty sure she could convince pretty much anyone of the benefits of taking on two pigs of their own! Watch the full interview on the Five LIVE host’s IGTV @xoxofarmgirl or listen to the interview here. Stay tuned for Five LIVE, Thursdays at noon with @xoxofarmgirl on I...

Meet Welsh sheep farmer Joe Evans who, together with his wife, raises sheep and lamb in the hills of Andes, NY. Joe tells us about the best and worst of farming, how to sequester carbon through rotational grazing, what misconceptions about farmers he'd like to change, what government can do for farmers (or not do) and, guess what, he sings! Plus after a long day of tending sheep and fattening lambs, Joe prefers... a cookie or a cocktail?? Find out here! You can watch the live interview on Insta...

Meet 5th generation dairy farmer Kyle Clark who farms dairy in Delhi, New York with his father and with wisdom from his grandfather. Kyle dishes on working with family, feeding cows, taking care of the land, starting a creamery and what he'd do differently if he could. And after a tough day, what do you think he'd choose: cookies or cocktails? Listen and find out. You can watch the interview on Instagram @xoxofarmgirl under the IGTV tab just above the pictures. You can follow all Talk Farm to M...

Dairy farmers are dumping milk. Do you know why? In this episode we meet two dairy farmers -- from Wisconsin and Florida -- to explore the root causes of the dairy crisis and to find out what we can do about it. Along the way we do milk math, have a few laughs (actually!) and learn that headlines sometimes distract us from the real issue. One Bite is Everything is the podcast formerly known as Talk Farm to Me (2019 to 2024) One Bite is Everything Resources Write a Review Website YouTube Conne...

Farmer Joel Salatin of Polyface Farm -- the gold standard in sustainable agriculture -- dishes on what's wrong with big business farms, supermarket supply chains and what's right with small entrepreneurial farms. Find out what you can do to get in on the food security action and reap the benefits of thinking ahead. xoxo One Bite is Everything is the podcast formerly known as Talk Farm to Me (2019 to 2024) One Bite is Everything Resources Write a Review Website YouTube Connect with Host, Dana ...