The Good Dirt: Sustainability Explained

Latest Episodes:

219. Embracing Slow Style: Creating Beauty in Your Home with Zandra Zuraw Nov 22, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, Zandra Zuraw, founder of Slow Style Home, shares her insights on interior design. Slow Style Home is an interior design coaching platform for people looking to create a beautiful, meaningful home without breaking the bank, hiring a designer, or hurting the planet to get one. Zandra discusses her step-by-step framework, the importance of a vision for your space, and offers tips for decluttering and balancing aesthetics with functionality. Zandra also touches on the broader concept of slow living. She encourages everyone to find a personal and meaningful approach to home decoration and stresses the emotional satisfaction that comes from using and transforming what we already have. Listeners are inspired to appreciate and design their living spaces mindfully, focusing on beauty and personal expression.She's currently writing a book about her Slow Style approach to design, to be released in Spring 2025 .and is also the host of the popular podcast, Slow Style Home.

00:00 Introduction to Slow Style Home

01:23 Zandra Zuraw's Personal Journey

02:17 The Concept of Slow Style

02:54 Navigating Interior Design Challenges

06:37 Creating a Vision for Your Space

19:25 Balancing Sentimentality and Practicality

22:09 The Impact of Disposable Decor

26:18 The Emotional Weight of Objects

26:51 Struggles with Waste and Disposal

30:29 Decluttering Strategies and Challenges

37:18 The Concept of a Slow Home

40:04 Balancing Organization and Livability

46:56 The Importance of Good Dirt

49:17 Final Thoughts and Resources

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🌻 About Lady Farmer:

Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community
Visit Our Website
Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram
Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!

Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:

• Wendy Gray

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

218. Mulch Matters: Fostering Community and Connection with Tree Recycling Nov 15, 2024

Show notes

In this conversation, Casey and Brooke Oberg from Detroit Mulch Company share their journey of transforming tree waste into mulch in the urban landscape of Detroit. They discuss their backgrounds, how they came to the project, various types of mulch, the significance of topsoil and the role of composting in community engagement. The conversation highlights the community impact of their work repurposing organic materials into beneficial mulch, a product that provides environmental sustainability and circularity into the local economy. The discussion also touches on the concept of slow living and how it relates to their work, culminating in a reflection on the meaning of good dirt and its impact on the environment and local communities.

Topics Discussed:

・The beginnings of Detroit Mulch Company

・Sustainable practices in Mulching

・Benefits of Mulch Gardening

・Addressing concerns about tree waste

・Community Impact

・The role of mulch in urban revitalization

・The future of tree waste management

・Encouraging sustainable practices beyond Detroit

・The importance of mulch and compost for top soil

・Composting practices and community engagement

・Embracing slow living and the idea of 'the good dirt'

Connect with Brooke and Casey:

Detroit Mulch Company Website

Instagram: @detroitmulch

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🌻 About Lady Farmer:

Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community
Visit Our Website
Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram
Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!

Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:

• Wendy Gray

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

217. Sustainability in Spirits with Harrison Holditch of Half Shell Vodka Nov 08, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of The Good Dirt, Mary & Emma explore sustainability in the spirits industry with Harrison Holditch of Half Shell Vodka. At just 33 years old, Harrison has pioneered innovative sustainable practices in producing vodka, including using recycled materials and local partnerships. Among Half Shell Vodka's noteworthy achievements is its revolutionary 100% recyclable cardboard bottle made from 94% recycled materials. The discussion covers Harrison's journey, the company’s sustainable practices, and innovations like their unique filtration system using oyster shells and coconut carbon. The episode also highlights the challenges and benefits of adopting sustainable methods in distilling.

00:00 Welcome to The Good Dirt

01:34 Introducing Half Shell Vodka

03:21 Harrison Holditch's Journey

09:11 Sustainability Practices at Half Shell Vodka

17:26 The Innovation of the Paper Bottle

26:05 Sustainability and Glass: A Complex Relationship

27:07 The Global Supply Chain and Carbon Footprint

29:43 Exploring Alternatives: Paper Bottles and Beyond

32:40 Challenges and Innovations in the Spirits Industry

37:48 Living the Slow Life: A Personal Perspective

39:57 Navigating Natural Disasters: Life on the Gulf Coast

41:55 The Good Dirt: What It Means to Us

42:58 Where to Find Half Shell Vodka

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🌻 About Lady Farmer:

· Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community

· Visit Our Website

· Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram

· Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail!

Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!

Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:

· Wendy Gray

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

216. A Sustainable Death: Rethinking End Of Life Practices with Hunter Beattie of Endswell Cremation Nov 01, 2024

Show notes

What are more sustainable death practices that we can can consider as alternatives to the expensive and consumptive services offered in the modern funeral industry? CEO of Endswell Cremation Hunter Beattie is our guest today, here to discuss the green burial movement, the problems with our current death rituals and practices and how the process of aquamation offered by his company is another choice over cremation or burial. Hunter shares his honest emotional personal journey with death, the founding of Endswell and the philosophy behind providing thoughtful, compassionate end-of-life services.

Topics Discussed

· The Good Death Movement

· The Green Burial Movement

· Misconceptions About Cremation

· The Deal with Spreading Ashes

· Death Cafe, Death Doulas, and Death Conferences

· End of Life Care with Your Parents

· Living with Grief

· Neurodegenerative Conditions

· The Predatory Nature of the Funeral Industry

· The History of the Modern Funeral Industry

· Working with Hospice Workers

· Understanding Aquamation

· Green Burial Movement

· Community Involvement

· Burying On Your Own Land

· Reclaiming Death Rituals Rituals and Eco-Friendly Death Care

· Eco-Friendly Death Care

Episode Resources:

· Listen to The Good Dirt “Episode 65 | Where Nature is Enough: Rethinking Death Practices with Heidi Hannapel of Bluestem Conservation Cemetery

· Listen to The Good Dirt “Creating Sustainability in the Death Care Industry with Tom Harries of Earth Funeral”

· WorkAway

· Final Exit

· Read Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond

· NPR Article “A plain pine coffin and eco-friendly cremation are the last acts of Desmond Tutu” on Desmond Tutu’s Aquamation

· Order of the Good Death

Connect with Hunter Beattie:

· Website: https://endswellcremation.com

· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/endswellaquamationandgallery/

· Farewell Earth Network: https://farewellearth.org

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🌻 About Lady Farmer:

· Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community

· Visit Our Website

· Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram

· Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail!

Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!

Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:

· Wendy Gray

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

Mary and Emma Talk About Halloween: Less Waste, More Fun! (Reprise) Oct 25, 2024

Show notes

Join Mary and Emma as they discuss a slow living Halloween, the second largest consumer season in the US. From the ancient traditions of the Celtic Samhain celebrations, to the modern day spook fest that dominates this time of year, you'll hear how you can embrace the special beauty and magic of nature during this time, letting go of much of the waste and frenzy but keeping all of the fun!

Things Mentioned:

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 what the good dirt means to you!
Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com

Original music by John Kingsley. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network.

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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215. Exploring Holistic Homesteading: A Conversation with Krista and Fia Arias of Tierra Soul Oct 18, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, Mary welcomes back Krista Arias and her daughter, Fia, from Tierra Soul, a homestead and learning space in Magdalena, New Mexico. They catch up on their conversation from a year ago, discussing ongoing and new projects at Tierra Soul, such as the community cafe project and plans for their first holistic homesteading festival. They also discuss their signature 8 week holistic homesteading online program,"Lazy Lady Living," which provides an overview of multiple topics such as soulful permaculture, sustainable economy, biodynamics, traditional food, cultivated ecology and more. Tierra Soul is now offering "Lazy Lady Living" at a reduced price. Enroll HERE during their fall sale beginning October 15th!

Tierra Soul Website

Enroll in Lazy Lady Living for $500 off

00:36 Welcoming Krista and Fia from Tierra Soul

04:34 Updates from Tierra Soul Homestead

09:25 The Evolution of Tierra Soul's Cafe

12:34 Challenges and Philosophies of Running a Cafe

25:50 The Future of Tierra Soul: Events and Gatherings

28:52 Bridging the Gap Between Presenters and Attendees

29:51 Influence of Indigenous Ceremonies

32:10 Holistic Homesteading Festival: Gather and Give

32:22 Introduction to Lazy Lady Living

37:11 The Philosophy Behind Lazy Lady Living

40:59 The Importance of Connection in Farming

45:22 The Feminine Perspective in Permaculture

50:15 The Adaptive Nature of Plants and Earth

53:43 Concluding Thoughts on Slow Living

🌻 About Lady Farmer:

· Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community

· Visit Our Website

· Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram

· Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail!

Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!

Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Lady Farmer

🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:

· Wendy Gray

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

214. Intro to Slow Living | Part 3 | Thoughts on Consumerism with Mary and Emma Oct 11, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, Mary & Emma begin their discussion on consumerism by reflecting on a recent social media trend dubbed "underconsumption', and how that idea overlaps with the fundamentals of slow living. They ask the questions, are we drawn to the true ideals of a lifestyle or the visual aesthetics as represented on social media, and how likely are we to feel compelled to "buy" into it due to feelings of lack in our own lives? Mary and Emma also discuss personal vulnerabilities in consumer habits, referencing their own experiences with fashion, skincare, and digital consumption. The conversation addresses the impact of social media on consumer behavior, emphasizing awareness and conscious decision-making in a consumer-driven society. They conclude by encouraging listeners to balance needs and desires within the context of appropriate consumption as part of a slow living lifestyle.

00:00 Introduction to Simple Living

00:51 Life Updates and New Beginnings

02:01 Exploring Conscious Consumerism

02:48 The Trend of Underconsumption

03:56 Media Influence on Consumption

14:37 Personal Vulnerabilities in Consumerism

23:54 Navigating Consumer Habits

27:02 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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🌻 About Lady Farmer:

Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community
Visit Our Website
Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram
Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!

Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Lady Farmer

🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:

• Wendy Gray

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

213. Wild Homestead Living: From Suburbia to Self-Sufficiency with Park Ranger Julie Stonefelt Oct 04, 2024

Show notes

How do you pursue homesteading while honoring the wildness of the nature around you? The flowers, animals, and flora that live on the land can impact the way you approach your garden. Julie Stonefelt, a full-time park ranger and co-founder of Wild Homestead Living with her husband Kevin, has sought to live off the land while preserving the natural ecosystem of her 2 acre property in the state of Washington. Despite a suburban upbringing, Julie has spent decades honoring a dream she first had with her childhood best friend. Julie is also a breast cancer survivor, and shares her compelling story of discovery and resilience on her journey "from cancer to country living." Her goal is to support others in moving in the direction of a more sustainable lifestyle, regardless of their location, while understanding and respecting the wildness around us all. Julia emphasizes respecting nature in homesteading, creating resilient, conflict-free gardens, and forming symbiotic relationships with wildlife.

Topics Discussed

· Experiencing Fresh Food

· Being a Full Time Park Ranger

· Enforcement Rangers vs Interpretive Rangers

· Having a Spouse with Type 1 Diabetes

· Surviving Breast Cancer

· Reviving Old Dreams

· Living in Snoqualmie Valley

· Gardening with Nature in Mind

· The Human-Animal-Nature Connection

· Holding Space for Animal’s Natural Habitats

· Beavers, Bears, and Coyotes

· Creating Your Dream Life

· Dealing with Envy Towards Others

· Do You Need to Grow all Your Own Food to be a Homesteader?

· Challenges of Being an Online Creator

· Facing Your Grief

· Starting Wild Homestead Living

· Reaching Harmony with Wildlife

· Resources and Courses for Homesteading

· Cancer Journey and Its Impact on Julie’s Approach to Homesteading

Episode Resources:

· Listen to The Good Dirt “166. The Human-Animal Connection with Alison Zak, author of "Wild Asana"

· Read "Wild Asana: Animals, Yoga, and Connecting Our Practice to the Natural World" by Alison Zak

· Hawthorn Farm

· Read "Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest" by Suzanne Simard

· Read "The New Organic Grower: A Master's Manual of Tools and Techniques for the Home and Market Gardener" by Eliot Coleman

Connect with Julie Stonefelt:

· Website: https://wildhomesteadliving.com

· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildhomesteadliving/

· Courses: https://courses.wildhomesteadliving.com/connect

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🌻 About Lady Farmer:

· Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community

· Visit Our Website

· Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram

· Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail!

Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!

Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:

· Wendy Gray

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

212. Intro to Slow Living | Part 2 | Overcoming Slow Living Obstacles & FAQ Sep 27, 2024

Show notes

In the second of this episode series, Emma and Mary discuss some obstacles that may come up in trying to live more slowly and sustainably, as well as addressing a few frequently asked questions. They discuss how slow living often seems so out of reach to many of us given all of the distractions of modern life, and offer ways to make it seem a little more accessible. They also talk about how the concept of convenience often gets in the way of more conscious living, giving examples of some practices that have worked in their own lives and offering ideas they've gotten from others as well. Mary and Emma also respond to the idea that slow living is expensive, and therefore not an option for many. As always, the conversation will help you reflect on the possibilities that are already available to you, and encourage those small shifts that make all the difference!

🌻 About Lady Farmer:

· Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community

· Visit Our Website

The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living

Episodes mentioned:

Episode # 110 Designing the Life of Your Dreams with Stephanie O'Dea

Episode #150 One Family's Journey in Sustainable Living with Jamilla Edwards

Episode # 183 Manifesting the Life You Want with Stephanie O'Dea

Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram

Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail!

Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!

Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:

· Wendy Gray

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

211. Where Science Meets Wise Woman Wisdom, with Chwynyn Vaughan of “Slow Botanicals” Sep 20, 2024

Show notes

Chwynyn Vaughan is the creator of Slow Botanicals, and for over 30 years she has been blending science and wise woman wisdom to create a sustainable lifestyle. With her background in midwifery and conventional healthcare, Chwynyn found a deep love for botanicals and plants that prompted her to create her fully certified-organic skincare line. Full of fresh ingredients and essential oils, Chwynyn takes advantage of her herbal knowledge to make botanical skin creams, shampoos, shave soaps, and bars that all come from her organic regenerative garden. Chwynyn discusses her lifestyle and business, as well as the quarter-acre plot where she lives along with her husband and children, taking inspiration from the earth and seasonal living.

Use Code “GOODDIRT” to get 10% off at Slow Botanicals!

Topics Discussed

· Growing Your Own Herbs

· Creating High-Quality Organic Skincare

· Living in a Commune

· Herbal Medicine

· Being a Midwife

· The Gardening Industry

· The Life Cycle of a Garden

· Starting Seeds and Peat-Free Potting Mix

· Favorite Natural Skincare Products

· Collagenase