Farm On

Deborah Niemann is the author of EcoThrifty, Raising Goats Naturally, Homegrown & Handmade, and the ebook Just Kidding: Stories and Reflections on Goats Giving Birth. That last topic comes up a lot in our conversation since Deborah has hundreds of goat births under her belt, and her trust in nature to do what it does best is refreshing. For this episode I try something a little different: blurting out random quotes by the turn-of-century mystic naturalist Henry David Thoreau and letting Deborah free-associate whatever comes to mind. Thoreau is one of her biggest influences in life and work, and his soundbites provide a nice spark for a multidimensional conversation on finding one's purpose, homeschooling, midwiffery, and stationary bikes. Check out Deborah's beautiful homestead Antiquity Oaks here: http://antiquityoaks.com, and more about her work here: http://thriftyhomesteader.com.

Co-hosted by VANESSA BECK. For this episode we were fortunate to share an hour with a true renaissance woman of the earth: NANCE KLEHM. Nance has been an ecological systems designer, landscaper, horticultural consultant, and permacultural grower for more than two decades. Her approach is centered on instigating change by activating already existent communities, and her work demonstrates her lifelong commitment to redefining the way human populations coexist with plant and animal systems on this planet. Vanessa and I discovered Nance's world through a new documentary film called WEEDEATER, which is a beautifully-produced slice of Nance and her universe. Learn more about Nance's film WEEDEATER, her summer camp PACHAMANKA, her social ecology project THE GROUND RULES, and much, much more here: spontaneousvegetation.net P.S. Farm On is currently seeking sponsors to help cover the cost of our web hosting and coffee intake. Message @FarmOnDharma to learn more.

Lavern Phillips was born and raised in Canton, Oklahoma - current population 615. He loves to tell stories about his Grandpa Andy, a hardscrabble second generation German immigrant who settled near the epicenter of the dust bowl to stake his claim as a farmer. Now 72, Lavern was the first person in his family to go to college. He went on to become a successful businessman and family man, but his heart remained on the farm. In this conversation, Lavern remembers what he calls the "good life": tasting home-brewed beer, waking with the summer breeze...and he even explains an oddity of telephone history called the Party Line. Oh, and did I mention that he's my dad? P.S. Farm On is currently seeking sponsors to help cover the cost of our web hosting and coffee intake. Message @FarmOnDharma to learn more.

Since 1979, Barbara Stone has used images of polar bears as a personal symbol in her art. She's done research in the Northwest Territories (not in the Yukon as I incorrectly stated in the podcast), has artwork included in the collection of the White House & Smithsonian, and has traveled the world collecting inspiration for new work. She's also a talented storyteller. For our conversation, I wanted to hear Barbra's personal stories about her current life: living in the remote grasslands of Northern Colorado raising sheep, llama, geese, turkeys and chickens, and becoming well versed in what she calls "non verbal communication" with the natural world. Learn more about Barbara work at her website: http://www.polarbeargallery.com/ P.S. Farm On is currently seeking sponsors to help cover the cost of our web hosting and coffee intake. Message @FarmOnDharma to learn more.

I caught up with the multifaceted artist Matt Willey to talk about his globetrotting initiative The Good of The Hive, which is raising awareness about the current struggle and population decline of honeybees while celebrating their incredible behaviors. How is he doing this, you ask? By painting murals around the world featuring no less than 50,000 bees of course! We geek out on Greek mythology, art as a true catalyst for social progress, and skateboarding. Catch the vibe of The Good of The Hive at thegoodofthehive.com

Joe speaks with his old friend Lindsay Steele about his Michigan homestead farm called Garden Fort. This talk covers a lot of ground including (but not limited to) "lean" farming, unschooling, and saving the world through empathy. Photos and video of Lindsay, his family and their beautiful farm @gardenfort.

Joe interviews the godfather of urban farming in Chicago: agriculture activist and philosopher Ken Dunn of City Farm and the Resource Center. They crammed into the front seat of a delivery truck to discuss Ken's Mennonite roots, his stint in the Brazilian Amazon, and his PhD studies at the University of Chicago that all led to his own radical action in food justice.