The Good Dirt: Sustainability Explained

Latest Episodes:

104. Linen: The Once and Future Crop for an American Textile Economy with Heidi Barr and Emma DeLong of the PA Flax Project Aug 12, 2022

Show notes

Today’s guests are Heidi Barr of Kitchen Garden Textiles and Emma de Long of Knee High Farm, who have joined forces in the Pennsylvania Flax Project, aiming to revitalize the flax for linen industry in their region for the benefit of both urban and rural communities. Their goals are to create an industry built on the principles of radical inclusion, environmental stewardship and social justice, and to create clean jobs across the industries of farming, milling, weaving, cut and sew manufacturing.

Their story as a team begins on March 12, 2020 when the two met to have a conversation about a natural dye project. Their chat quickly turned into an enthusiastic musing about the possibilities of Pennsylvania grown linen and the Pa. Flax Project began. In this episode we chat about the history of linen in this country and the challenges of reinstating it as a viable domestic industry, creating connection in a globalized economy, and issues with product transparency and consumer awareness. Heidi and Emma are excited to expand their commitment to the local economy and textile supply chain, recognizing that local self reliance and choosing to produce natural fibers on regenerative farms is an important step towards a healthy future.

Topics Covered:

The history of textile production in the US
Heidi and Emma's journey to growing flax domestically
The process of turning flax in to linen fiber
How linen compares to other natural fibers, particularly hemp, and the impacts on our soils
PA Flax Project's process to regionalize flax seed varieties
Rethinking the wedding industry, and the desire for domestically-grown and sewn gowns
Consumption culture and the influence of social media
The next steps for PA Flax, and their crowdfunding goals

Resources Mentioned:

Connect with the PA Flax Project:

Their Website: https://paflaxproject.com/
Square Yard Project
Heidi's Company, Kitchen Garden Textiles
Emma's Farm, Kneehigh Farm
@paflaxproject on Instagram
PA Flax Project on Go Fund Me

About Lady Farmer:

Lady Farmer is a sustainable apparel and lifestyle brand, with education around sustainability and sustainable living at the forefront of our mission. Lady Farmer is proud to produce The Good Dirt podcast.

Our Website
@weareladyfarmer on Instagram
Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC
Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or tell us what the good dirt means to you.
Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com

Support your Good Dirt at home with BIOS Nutrients! Listeners of The Good Dirt podcast can enjoy 15% off BIOS Nutrients organic, natural fertilizers using the code LADYFARMER15 at checkout.

Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026

Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

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103. Our Fermented Lives: Bridging the Gap Between Modern People and Historic Food with Julia Skinner of Root Kitchens Aug 05, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, Mary and Emma are talking to Julia Skinner of Root: Historic Food for the Modern World. Root was born from Julia's deep love for community and a belief in the power of food to tell stories, connect us to place and to each other, and to build a bridge to the past.

Julia's work is all about food, history, food stories, where it comes from and the people behind it. She loves fostering connections with other people and with the earth around us. Julia is especially interested in learning and teaching about fermentation, demonstrating to people the ease and accessibility of preparing delicious and healthy food using this ancient and powerful food preservation technique.

Topics Covered:

Exploring historic cookbooks
Julia’s discovery of historical cooking traditions
Types of fermentation she has explored
How to start fermenting
The growing popularity of traditional foods
Shifting food interests during the pandemic
Food Access
Milk Kefir
Food as medicine

Resources Mentioned:

Julia's website--Root Kitchens
Our Fermented Lives. by Julia Skinner
The English Housewife by Gervase Markham
The Art of Fermentation by Sandor Katz
Free99Fridge, Atlanta
Umi Feeds
Goodr
Sowans Celtic Porridge
The Fermentation School
Son-Mat --(Korean) Hand taste, the unique quality and taste food has from an individual's touch, care, and experience; the way food tastes different when made by different people, often used to describe the taste of mom's cooking.

Connect with Julia:

Root Kitchens Website: https://root-kitchens.com/
@rootkitchens on Instagram
Julia's Books, Classes and Courses
Root Kitchens Newsletter on Substack

About Lady Farmer:

Our Website
@weareladyfarmer on Instagram
Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC
Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or tell us what the good dirt means to you.
Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com

Support your Good Dirt at home with BIOS Nutrients! Listeners of The Good Dirt podcast can enjoy 15% off BIOS Nutrients organic, natural fertilizers using the code LADYFARMER15 at checkout.

Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

102. Carbon Negative and Climate Beneficial: The Future of Sustainable Apparel with Edzard van der Wyck of Sheep Inc. Jul 29, 2022

Show notes

Edzard van der Wyck is the co-founder of Sheep Inc., a sustainable apparel company that creates carbon negative knitwear made from merino wool. Sheep Inc's revolutionary approach starts at the source - the farm! Their partnership with regenerative farms in New Zealand and innovative manufacturing processes allow them to maintain a carbon negative status from sheep to sweater.

In this episode, we talk about the impact of the fashion industry on our climate, how Sheep Inc was born, why they chose to start at the raw materials, regenerative sheep wool farms and how they work, and why carbon neutral goals are not enough. We also discuss how we can collectively shift to a more sustainable economy as a whole, and Edzard's hope for what the future of purchasing looks like.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, Youtube, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Topics Covered:

The impact of the fashion industry on our climate
Sheep Inc's innovative manufacturing process
Regenerative sheep farming in New Zealand
Why carbon neutral goals are not enough
How Sheep Inc maintains its carbon negative status
Sustainably dyeing their garments
How Sheep Inc avoids waste or deadstock in their manufaturing
The future of transparency and shopping sustainably
How social pressure may have a role in a more sustainable future
The true cost of fashion, and our perceived value of apparel
The durability of natural fibers
Why transparency is important, but may not be enough in the future

Resources Mentioned:

Lady Farmer ALMANAC Membership
ZQ Merino
Connected Dot
Sheep Inc’s Website: https://sheepinc.com/
On Instagram @sheepinc

About Lady Farmer:

Our Website
@weareladyfarmer on Instagram
Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC
Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share a shoutout.
Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com

Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

101. An Ecological Civilization for All with Andrew Schwartz of EcoCiv Jul 22, 2022

Show notes

What does it mean for humans to live sustainably on the earth? Andrew Schwartz, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of The Institute for Ecological Civilization, a non-profit promoting long-term solutions for the wellbeing of people and the planet, helps us pull apart that question. Andrew is also the Executive Director of the Center for Process Studies and Assistant Professor of Process and Comparative Theology at Claremont School of Theology. In this conversation, we’re talking about fundamental shifts in many of our most basic assumptions about our relationship with each other and the environment, and the role each of us plays in the way forward towards a worldwide, life-supporting community.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, Youtube, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Topics Covered:

How Andrew came to his interest in ecology through religion
How The Institute for Ecological Civilization came into being
Explanation of The Institute for Ecological Civilization and its mission
The Centrality of the Human Experience
Genesis as a directive for the human role in the web of creation
Deep Ecology
Are we fighting for human survival or earth's survival?
EcoCiv partners and programs
Where are the solutions? Does change happen from within the system, outside the system or from the top down?
Who is getting it right? Who do we support?

Resources Mentioned:

Rose of Sharon Sacred Harp Hymn 254
Don Shiva
David Corton
Jeremy Lent
Ishmael by Daniel Quinn
Aspen Institute
Philip Clayton
John Cobb
What is Ecological Civilization by Andrew Schwartz and Philip Clayton
Claremont School of Theology
Willamette University
Water for South Sudan
Wellbeing Economy Alliance

Connect with Andrew and the Institute for Ecological Civilization:

EcoCiv website: https://ecociv.org/
On Instagram @ecociv_
Listen to the EcoCiv Podcast

About Lady Farmer:

Our Website
@weareladyfarmer on Instagram
Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC
Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or tell us what the good dirt means to you.
Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com

Support your Good Dirt at home with BIOS Nutrients! Listeners of The Good Dirt podcast can enjoy 15% off BIOS Nutrients organic, natural fertilizers using the code LADYFARMER15 at checkout.

Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

100. 100th Episode Special! Thoughts, Reflections and Highlights from Past Episodes. What Does the Good Dirt Mean to You? Jul 15, 2022

Show notes

"What does the good dirt mean to you?" Join Mary and Emma as they celebrate this 100th episode milestone by reflecting on the two and a half years of their podcasting journey and by highlighting several of their past guests answering this question.

Things Mentioned:

Our Episode with Sherri Powell
“4,000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals” by Oliver Burkeman
Mary Oliver Poem - The Summer Day

Featured Guests

27:11 - Amy DuFault, Episode 1
27:28 - Liz Kimball, Episode 40
28:43 - Rebecca Burgess, Episode 38
29:28 - Lynn Cassells, Episode 79
30:54 - Justin West, Episode 72
31:28 - Julia Watkins, Episode 12 & 83
33:10 - Jason Fowler, Episode 84
35:01 - Eliza Greenman, Episode 86
35:33 - Amanda Agricola, Episode 87
36:14 - Ryan Mitchell, Episode 77
35:35 - Lisa Mitchell, Episode 91
36:54 - Bex Partridge, Episode 94
38:45 - Doug Phillips of Conscious Clothing, Episode 90
39:10 - Melissa K. Norris, Episode 99
39:40 - Jesse Golden, Episode 81
40:20 - Megan Borukhovsky of Sister Nettle, Episode 83
41:13 - Tony Cohen, Juneteenth Bonus Episode (June 19, 2021)

About Lady Farmer:

Our Website
@weareladyfarmer on Instagram
Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC
Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or tell us what the good dirt means to you.
Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com

Support your Good Dirt at home with BIOS Nutrients! Listeners of The Good Dirt podcast can enjoy 15% off BIOS Nutrients organic, natural fertilizers using the code LADYFARMER15 at checkout.

Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

99. Modern Homesteading Made Accessible with Melissa K. Norris of Pioneering Today Jul 08, 2022

Show notes

Want small, attainable steps you can take to begin your homesteading journey?

Melissa K. Norris is a fifth-generation homesteader who believes in keeping the old ways alive and that food shouldn't come from a box. She lives on a 15-acre farm in Washington state with her husband and two children, and together they raise 100% of their own meat and a majority of the fruits and vegetables they consume in a year.

Melissa doubled-down on her homesteading journey after a chronic health issue caused her to look at the foods she was eating every day. She decided she could save money and be healthier if she grew and preserved her own food rather than purchasing pre-packaged food items. From this, she’s built a homesteading empire, with a podcast, multiple books, and an online education platform with over a thousand members.

Melissa's passion is to teach others the skills of the homesteading and simple life movement, no matter where you live. In this conversation, we talk about the concept of convenience and how it is used against us - especially in the food industry - as well as small, attainable steps you can take to begin your homesteading journey. Join us for this inspiring conversation!

Topics Covered:

How Melissa healed her chronic health issues with food
Food fads of the nineties
Reframing what "convenience" means to you
Small steps to start homesteading
How Melissa created the Pioneering Today Academy
Herbalism and Natural Medicines

Resources Mentioned:

Connect with Melissa:

On Instagram @melissaknorris
On Facebook @melissaknorris
Melissa’s Youtube Channel
Melissa’s Website: https://melissaknorris.com/
Pioneering Today Podcast
Pioneer Today Academy

About Lady Farmer:

Our Website
@weareladyfarmer on Instagram
Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC
Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or tell us what the good dirt means to you.
Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com

Support your Good Dirt at home with BIOS Nutrients! Listeners of The Good Dirt podcast can enjoy 15% off BIOS Nutrients organic, natural fertilizers using the code LADYFARMER15 at checkout.

Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

98. Clothing with Soul: The Plant Dye Vibe with Allie Feldman and Sarah Arch of Rooted Botanics Jul 01, 2022

Show notes

After observing the waste and unsustainable practices while working in the fashion industry, Sarah Arch and Allie Feldman decided to do something about it by starting Rooted Botanics, a fashion brand that gives ethically sourced vintage pieces new life through natural dyes. Both Sarah and Allie are dedicated to thoughtful sourcing, purposeful education about the history of natural dye, and creating beautiful garments while developing a business model designed to remain at a human scale. The relationships they have forged with plant dyes continue to advance a paradigm shift in the fashion industry - a shift that ultimately downplays harm and amplifies joy.

Topics Covered:

Discovering Natural Dyes
Waste in the Fashion Industry
Greenwashing and Microplastics
Health Benefits of Natural Dyes and Fibers
Embracing the Beauty and Unpredictability of Natural Dye
Learning and Growing Into Slow Living

Resources Mentioned:

Connect with Rooted Botanics:

https://rootedbotanics.com/
Instagram: @rootedbotanics

About Lady Farmer:

Our Website
@weareladyfarmer on Instagram
Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC
Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or tell us what the good dirt means to you.
Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com

Support your Good Dirt at home with BIOS Nutrients! Listeners of The Good Dirt podcast can enjoy 15% off BIOS Nutrients organic, natural fertilizers using the code LADYFARMER15 at checkout.

Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

97. Bringing the Magic and Power of Plants Into Your Life with Herbalist and Chef Spencre McGowan Jun 24, 2022

Show notes

Herbalist, artist, and cookbook author Spencre McGowan tells us about her herbal allies and the ways that living in relationship with plants has shaped her slow living journey. After receiving informal training in cooking with herbs in Sweden and attending herb school in California, Spencre began exploring her own personal relationships to herbs through writing and creating zines, one of which became her first book (Blotto Botany, a guide to herbal infusions and cordials).

Spencre is passionate about the accessibility of herbal medicine, and encourages listeners to get to know a few herbs personally, whether or not they have access to their own garden. She also advocates for the use of herbs within their cultural context. Her honesty about her slow living journey has gained her a large following on TikTok, where she works to share openly about the difficulties and joys of living closely with herbs and plants.

Topics Covered:

Self-Expression Through Zines
Herbal Cordials and Infusions
The Beauty of Tulsi, or Holy Basil
Our Healing Relationships with Herbs
Getting to Know Our Herbal Allies
Cultural Responsibility In Herbalism
TikTok and Slow Living
Diverse Uses for Nettles

Resources Mentioned:

Blotto Botany
Forest + Home: Cultivating an Herbal Kitchen (Available for Pre-Order)
Verdant Feasts Workshop

Connect with Spencre McGowan:

About Lady Farmer:

Our Website
@weareladyfarmer on Instagram
Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC
Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share a shoutout. Submissions throughout the month of June will be entered to win a Slow Living Consult with Mary and Emma!
Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com

Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

96. Lessons from Life in Spain: Slow Food, Slow Living and Seasonal Eating with Chef Marti Buckley Jun 17, 2022

Show notes

Marti Buckley captivates us as she portrays the rich culinary traditions of the Basque country of Spain, where slow living and seasonal eating are key ingredients to community life. Marti fell in love with Basque culture when she studied abroad in college, and has now lived in San Sebastian, Spain, for over ten years, where she has written two cookbooks about Basque cuisine. She hopes to give visibility to the little-known food, history, and culture of Basque country.

Marti takes us on a journey through the way to eat in Basque country - from pintxos (similar to tapas) to dining societies, Basque traditions around eating provide inspiration and creativity to those of us looking for ways to slow down, eat closer to home, and delve deeply into community life.

Topics Covered:

Basque Culture and Cuisine
The American Food Industry and the Myth of Convenience
Slow Living and Long Lunches in Basque Country
The Art of the Pintxo
Connecting With Friends Through Traditional Basque DIning Societies
Relearning Seasonal Eating
Slow Living To Boost Nutrition and Well-Being

Resources Mentioned:

Basque Country (Marti’s First Book)
Auxiliares Program
Bottega Restaurant (Birmingham, AL)

Connect with Marti Buckley:

https://www.travelcookeat.com/
Email: geauxmarti@msn.com
Instagram:@martibuckley

About Lady Farmer:

Our Website
@weareladyfarmer on Instagram
Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC
Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share a shoutout. Submissions throughout the month of June will be entered to win a Slow Living Consult with Mary and Emma!
Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com

Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

95. Consumer Empowerment: Data for Informed Purchasing with Lizzie Horvitz of Finch Jun 10, 2022

Show notes

Lizzie Horvitz explores the subtleties and nuances of sustainability as she introduces us to Finch, a browser extension that rates products on their environmental and social impact as you shop online. Lizzie started Finch in order to empower customers to make informed, conscious choices as they consider the impact of what they buy. She is hopeful about the ways data and technology can address greenwashing and begin to shift our paradigm of unconscious over consumption.

Influenced by the data she works with at Finch, Lizzie takes a pragmatic approach to sustainability, recognizing that there are no perfect solutions or simple answers when it comes to mitigating climate change, improving welfare for manufacturing workers, or shifting the standards to which we hold our products. She advocates for small, simple steps towards improved buying choices by providing the information that customers need to choose a sustainable life.

Topics Covered:

Decoding Sustainability with Data
Choosing Progress Over Perfection
The Nuances of What Makes A Product Sustainable
Regenerative Agriculture and Alternatives to the Meat Industry

Resources Mentioned:

Connect with Lizzie Horvitz:

About Lady Farmer:

Our Website
@weareladyfarmer on Instagram
Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC
Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share a shoutout. Submissions throughout the month of June will be entered to win a Slow Living Consult with Mary and Emma! The winner will be announced in our 100th episode.
Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com

Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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