The Good Dirt: Sustainability Explained

Latest Episodes:

33. All About Natural Plant Dyes with Kathy Hattori of Botanical Colors Mar 12, 2021

Show notes

In today's episode, Mary and Emma talk with Kathy Hattori of Botanical Colors about natural plant dyes, and how she created a business from her desire to connect herself and others to the natural world. She talks about a personal wake-up call that led to her decision to quit her corporate job in pursuit of a more creative and personally fulfilling career, despite her fears around the uncertainties of such a move. Though at the time, Kathy couldn't imagine the career potential in the world of plant dyes, Botanical Colors is now the premier source for all things related to dyeing with plants, including sustainably sourced materials, supplies, information and education.

1:30 - Come join us in The ALMANAC for the Spring season!

6:15 - Sign up now for the Grow Your Own food Intensive

Let’s get into the interview!

6:46 - Kathy introduces herself

11:50 - What is Botanical Colors and how did it get started?

20:00 - How does working with dye companies look like?

30:00 - Living with natural vs synthetic goods

41:00 - The effect of the pandemic on Botanical Colors

45:50 - Natural dyes and the good dirt

50:15 - What is it that Kathy wants us to come away with most?

Things Mentioned:

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32. Emma's 30th Birthday Special with Lindsey and Krista of Almost 30! Mar 05, 2021

Show notes

For this special birthday episode of "The Good Dirt," Emma goes solo as host, talking with Lindsey and Krista from the "Almost 30" podcast. Emma reflects on her twenties and discusses her feelings about this passage in her life. Krista and Lindsey share some of their own journey through their twenties and the transition into their thirties, and give their advice on seeking your own true path. In this episode we talk about how the good dirt of experience is fertile ground for growing your most authentic life!

1:40 - Mary and Emma reflect on the significance of this day.

Let’s get into the interview!

15:00 - Get to know Krista and Lindsey

18:00 - Emma opens up about her dreams of a career in acting.

24:50 - What is turning 30 like?

35:50 - Emma’s favorite things about being involved in theatre.

38:30 - How do you feel "rooted" in your life?

47:00 - What does "good dirt" mean to you?

50:12 - What to come away with from Krista and Lindsey about transitioning through this significant phase of life.

Things Mentioned:

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31. Preserving the History of the Underground Railroad with Tony Cohen Feb 26, 2021

Show notes

This week we spoke with historian, nonprofit founder, and author Tony Cohen, who operates Button Farm, Maryland’s only living history center depicting 19th-century slave plantation life and the heroic story of the Underground Railroad. Tony has dedicated his studies and work to preserving the Underground Railroad’s history, historic sites and environments. In this episode, he shares with us stories of his own travels along the Underground Railroad on foot, in an effort to recreate some of the original travelers' sensory experience of the landscape and the monumental physical challenges they endured in the pursuit of freedom. Tony also shares the story of meeting Oprah Winfrey and working with her in preparation for her starring role in the film, BELOVED, based on the book by Toni Morrison. Tony is founder and director of the Menare Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to the creation of cutting edge educational programs, including an Underground Railroad immersion experience based on the work he did with Oprah Winfrey.

1:20 - Mary and Emma check in with the Slow Living Challenge

7:10 - The Spring Grow Your Own Food Intensive

Let’s get into the interview!

8:40 - Tony introduces himself and The Menare Foundation

12:50 - Why start a nonprofit?

17:00 - Tony’s experience walking the route of The Underground Railroad

20:00 - Mary’s land and its connection to The Underground Railroad

27:00 - Tracking down your roots along The Underground Railroad

36:00 - Tony’s connection to the Harriet Tubman Museum

38:00 - How Tony got involved with Oprah Winfrey

49:00 - What is Button Farm?

57:00 - Tony’s work in relationship to Good Dirt

Mentions:

Slow Living Challenge
Grow Your Own Food Intensive Workshop
The ALMANAC
Button Farm Living History Center
The Menare Foundation
The Underground railroad in Montgomery County, Maryland: A history and driving guide
Chesapeake Tours
The Chesapeake Fibershed
Beloved by Toni Morrison

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30. Folk Herbalism, Community and Culture with Farai Harreld Feb 19, 2021

Show notes

Mary and Emma chat with Farai Harreld, an herbalist and writer known as the Hillbilly African, who takes inspiration from both her African and rural American roots. Farai grew up in Botswana and came to America to go to college, where she encountered the challenges of an entirely different culture. Her journey into herbalism began as a struggle with her hair, and led her into a deeper knowledge of plants as a source of healing and support. Now as a mother, a writer, a doula and a folk herbalist, she inspires others as a champion of slow living, local engagement and community building.

3:00 - Grow Your Own Food Intensive Workshop

Let’s get into the interview!

6:00 - Farai explains her origin story

11:30 - Farai’s garden

16:00 - Farai’s love of the folklore of plants

25:40 - What does sustainability mean to you?

30:00 - What will you bring from 2020 into 2021?

35:00 - The importance of rest

39:00 - Good Dirt means good conversation

45:00 - The origin of Hillbilly African

Things Mentioned:

- Episode 11 with Nicky and Dave

- Grow Your Own Food Intensive Workshop

- Slow Living Challenge 2021

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29. Urban Exodus: Going to the Country with Alissa Hessler Feb 12, 2021

Show notes

Mary and Emma chat with Alissa Hessler, creator of Urban Exodus, a project highlighting people from a variety of backgrounds who have made the switch from urban to rural living. Alissa tells the story of her own life transformation, from chasing the career and paycheck to creating a more intentional life and more meaningful work in a rural setting. The message is not that you have to move to the country to have the life you desire, but about making choices in the direction of what you want, regardless of where you live or what you think is holding you back. Alissa encourages everyone to pay attention to those dreams. It's never too late to make a shift in your own life story!

1:40 - Use #ladyfarmerinthecity and share with us your posts!

5:40 - Let’s get into the interview!

9:00 - Alissa talks about her backstory

18:00 - Raising a child in the country

23:00 - Your worth is not based on your paycheck

26:00 - Things that hold people back from moving to a rural area

30:00 - Getting the benefits of rural living without making the move

34:00 - Learning from 2020

Things Mentioned:

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28. Understanding Organic: What You Need to Know About Food Sustainability with Ellen Polishuk Feb 05, 2021

Show notes

In this special live episode, Mary and Emma talk with Ellen Polishuk, an organic vegetable farmer for 25 years and now a teacher and consultant for those in the farming business. Ellen speaks from years of experience as both a grower and a consumer on food sustainability, including topics such as organic certification, composting, GMO's, soil basics, eating locally, community supported agriculture and the potential for a world in which everyone is well fed and farmers can earn a living. This episode is full of great information for anyone who grows or eats food!

Let’s get into the interview!

8:40 - Ellen introduces herself

13:50 - Changes in the organic agricultural industry

18:40 - What is organic certification?

29:00 - What is non GMO, what is GMO?

33:00 - Importance of healthy soil

42:00 - Local or Organic?

45:30 - Growing your own food and Composting

51:50 - Are animals worth the cost for labor on your farm?

01:02:00 - Advice for aspiring farmers

Things Mentioned:

The Almanac
Potomac Vegetable Farms
Correction @ 25:45 - Glyphosate was patented as an antibiotic in 2010, not 2014
Start Your Farm by Ellen Polishuk
Plant To Profit website
Ellen’s Instagram
Growing for Market magazine

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27. The History and Folklore of Brigid: Saint, Legend and Lady Farmer with Kathy Spaar Jan 29, 2021

Show notes

Today's episode is about Brigid, saint and legend, known for her skills at the hearth, the loom, midwifery, healing, poetry and animal husbandry. Kathy Spaar, spiritual director, pilgrimage leader and nature educator shares many of the folklore and stories of this legendary figure from Celtic tradition. As a figure of feminine wisdom and power who presides over the land and the homestead, we consider Brigid the quintessential Lady Farmer, our guide, protector and inspiration for slow living through the seasons.

1:20 - January is here!

1:50 - Mary and Emma introduce Kathy and Brigid

Let's get into the interview!

7:15 - Kathy introduces herself

10:00 - Brigid's Feast Day

12:30 - Kathy's favorite stories of Brigid

20:00 - Brigid - the quintessential Lady Farmer

27:00 - How does Brigid relate to the times we are in now

31:00 - The most important thing Brigid has taught Kathy

Things mentioned:

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26. Let's Talk About Your Skin! Herbal Skincare with Militza Maury Jan 22, 2021

Show notes

Mary and Emma talk with Militza Maury, the creator of Little Green Dot, an educational space dedicated to natural skincare. In a world where the beauty industry is so often urging us to consume, Militza urges us to take a step back and consider not only what it is we are putting on our skin, but the messages we're getting about why we need all of these products. Combining her love of herbalism and cooking with her fascination with the skin, Militza shares with us her wealth of information and guidance on this topic so relevant to the sustainability conversation. Militza has just released a book on how to make your own skincare from whole food ingredients, and teaches Skincare Herbalism classes.

1:15 - Mary and Emma discuss their own experiences with skincare

Let’s get into the interview!

9:00 - Militzia introduces herself

20:00 - Our skin connects us with the rest of the world

25:00 - A pivotal time when skincare shifted to include more chemicals

30:00 - The parasympathetic system and skincare

38:00 - Sourcing ingredients

41:00 - Trial and error when creating recipes

45:00 - How the pandemic has affected the natural skincare world

*Things Mentioned: *

-Little Green Dot

-Natural Homemade Skin Care, by Militzia Maury

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25. Growing With Nature: Meet Kip & Angelique of Smarter by Nature Jan 15, 2021

Show notes

Mary and Emma sit down with Kip and Angelique, the founders of Smarter by Nature - an urban and rural farming business serving the community in Tallahassee, Florida. Their goal is to provide fresh produce and opportunities for economic sustainability through education as well as to take care of the soil and protect the natural environment. Kip and Angelique share their challenges, methods and aspirations for the future.

1:30 - Catch- up with Mary and Emma

6:20 - Introducing Kip and Angelique

Now let’s get into the interview!

9:36 - K&A introduce their business

14:56 - K&A’s role as regenerative farmers

20:00 - Guiding principles of Smarter by Nature

25:00 - The magic of mycelium

30:00 - How to check the minerals in your soil

38:25 - Smarter by Nature’s business model

44:00 - Permaculture and microclimates

48:00 - Transitioning a food desert into an oasis

52:00 - Applying sustainability in every aspect of life

Things Mentioned:

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24. Who Made Your Clothes? Relationships & Good Dirt with Eric Henry of TS Designs Jan 08, 2021

Show notes

Mary and Emma sit down with Eric Henry from TS Designs who has been navigating sustainability through the fashion industry for the past 40 years. Henry discusses the effects of NAFTA on TS Designs and the process of rebuilding his business with the triple bottom line - People, Planet, Profit - in the forefront of operations. Eric pushes you to think about the impact of the goods you consume and the places you spend your money while considering that sustainability is a journey not a destination.

1:55 - Mary and Emma talk about the New Year in pandemic times

Let’s get into the interview!

7:10 - Eric introduces himself and TS Designs

13:30 - What is NAFTA and how did it affect business?

16:00 - How TS Designs facilitates their production

26:40 - The 10,000 pounds project

40:00 - The value of connecting to local food

41:00 - Hope for the future of the clothing industry with the impact of Covid

48:20 - The production of T-shirts and soil health

Things Mentioned: