The Urban Farm Podcast With Greg Peterson

Making a Little Side Income Growing Citrus in the Pacific NorthwestIn This Podcast:Do you wish you could grow citrus but live outside of California or Florida?  Donna Balzer is growing lemons in Canada and she loves to teach others how she does it.  She and Greg discuss all the juicy details, covering topics from the roots to the leaves.  Donna explains how she cares for her citrus trees in the harsher climate using some unique methods to protect them from frost.  In return, they give her a delicious harvest that is not easily found in her area, and even a little bit of income. Don’t miss an episode!visit UrbanFarm.Org/blog/podcast Donna Balzer is the co-host of the internationally aired HGTV show “Bugs & Blooms", a regular guest on CBC radio in Alberta, a very popular and inspirational public speaker around gardening, and the bestselling author of No Guff Vegetable Gardening.  She lives with her adoring husband in Qualicum Beach, B.C. with their puppy. She has two green

Teaching people of all backgrounds about sustainably growing food (at the Guelph Centre for Urban Organic Farming)In This Podcast:Mike Smith studied political science with the intention of changing agricultural policy and making a difference from the top down.  As important as that s, he eventually discovered that he could make a bigger impact on the ground – literally, with his hands in the earth.  Now he works at the Guelph Centre for Urban Organic Farming in Canada, actually growing food and teaching others how to do the same.  In this episode, Mike talks about the positive impact this has had on his life and on the local food economy. Don’t miss an episode!visit UrbanFarm.Org/blog/podcast Mike Smith manages day-to-day farm operations, including planning and preparing materials for the cropping season, at the Guelph Centre for Urban Organic Farming, a one-hectare (that is 2.47 acres) learning and research facility within the Department of Agriculture at the University of Guelph. He

Having the right tools in the right condition for our farming jobIn This Podcast:Gardening can be hard work, but it doesn’t have to be.  Chris Sabbarese explains how the right tool not only makes the job easier, but it also makes it safer for you and your plants.  He describes the difference between a bypass pruner and an anvil pruner, what to look for when choosing tools, and some easy things you can do to keep your tools in tip top shape.  Chris also shares his gift for storytelling, taking this inspiring episode much deeper than the humble gardening tool. Don’t miss an episode!visit UrbanFarm.Org/blog/podcast Chris Sabbarese is the marketing, communications and social media director for Corona Tools, a leading global brand and manufacturer of quality garden and landscape tools since 1928.  He joined the organization in 2010, and manages the brand experience with end-users across all forms of digital & print media.  Chris also serves as the executive director of Garden

Researching the Changes Occurring in Our Food SystemsIn This Podcast:The grocery aisle appears to provide a whole buffet of choices, but who are the companies behind those choices?  Phil Howard has studied our current food system and discovered that there are a surprisingly small number of companies who are in control.  Who are these companies?  How much power do they have and what are they doing to keep it?  More importantly, what can be done about it?  Phil lifts the lid on the industry to reveal the fragility of our modern food system. Don’t miss an episode!visit UrbanFarm.Org/blog/podcast Phil Howard is a member of the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems and a professor at Michigan State University. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in Community, Food and Agriculture, and a graduate course in The Political Ecology of Food. Phil’s research focuses on the “food system” which involves all of the steps required to produce food and get it to

Picking the best indoor garden for your needsIn This Podcast:Angelo Kelvakis demystifies the hydroponic garden.  The right garden can be a great investment in your health and wellbeing.  Angelo helps take the guesswork out of choosing the garden that best fits your lifestyle.  He’ll teach you how to ask the right questions, identify the most important components, and research a system before you make a purchase, so you will continue to enjoy your garden and reap many benefits from it for years to come. Don’t miss an episode!visit UrbanFarm.Org/blog/podcast Angelo Kelvakis is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago where he studied environmental science and published research on nutrient uptake for plants. During this time, he also managed the Eco-Dome lab where he ran the aquaponics system which supplied fresh produce and fish to the Loyola Farmers Market. After graduating, he worked for several indoor farm companies helping them get start up, and finally was an early employee of Rise

Growing and Saving SeedsIn This Podcast:Hassena Kassim returns to talk about the recent growth she is experiencing since moving from Arizona to North Carolina about 5 years ago.  She explains how growing and saving seeds for Sow True Seeds led her to the Organic Seed Alliance seed school and what she learned from completing the program.  Hassena admits to a newfound appreciation for beans as she shares interesting facts from their long and colorful history.  Don’t miss the fantastic seed resources mentioned in this episode!Don’t miss an episode!visit UrbanFarm.Org/blog/podcast Hassena Kassim is a mother and a newish farmer in Hot Springs NC.  She works the land with honeybees, chickens, dairy goats, gardens and several composting methods.  Hassena is a grower of seeds for Sow True Seed in Asheville, North Carolina and has recently completed the Organic Seed Alliance seed school. Visit www.UrbanFarm.org/Podcast-by-episode-titles for the show notes on this episode, and access to ou

Staying Open to PossibilitiesIn This Podcast:In this special episode, Greg Peterson shares an update from his new home in North Carolina.  There are lots of exciting possibilities created by starting from scratch in a completely new and different place and Greg is taking the time to explore them all.  He also confirms that the Urban Farm programs are not going anywhere, and he replays the very first episode of the Urban Farm Podcast.Don’t miss an episode!visit UrbanFarm.Org/blog/podcast Visit www.UrbanFarm.org/Podcast-by-episode-titles for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!The Future of the Urban Farm and 000 Relaunch.

715: What is Happening in the World of Seeds.A Chat with an Expert on Seeds.In This Podcast:This is the December 2022 Seed Saving Class with Bill McDorman discussing what is happening in the world of seeds.  Bill recently returned from the 9th Session of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in New Delhi. He shares what he learned about how the world is protecting the genetic resources of smallholder farmers in the global south who contribute so much to the diversity and genetic pool of our precious seeds. At least ten times a year we have a live Seed Saving Class. Join the class! Register anytime for the next event.Register Here for the Seed Saving Class with Live Q&ABill McDorman is the co-founder of Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance, Seedsave.org, Seed School and the Great American Seed Up.  Bill has been teaching seed saving for decades and is dedicated to educating communities about the value of seed saving and local seeds as a foundation for a l

Integrating the "P" Word Into Everyday LifeIn This Podcast:Doreen Pollack took a permaculture course nearly 20 years ago and she has never looked back.  In this episode she explains how those concepts learned so long ago still influence every part of her life today.  She points out the positive impacts, not only on her garden, but on her thoughts, her actions, and especially on her daily interactions with the earth and the community of people around her.  Always eager to expand that community, Doreen shares her nuggets of wisdom and gently encourages everyone she meets to experience permaculture for themselves. Don’t miss an episode! visit UrbanFarm.Org/blog/podcast Doreen Pollack has been a Master Gardener for over 18 years and has turned her urban lot in downtown Phoenix into a living example of what she teaches.  Her front yard now houses an edible garden where a bermuda grass lawn used to be.  Rainwater harvesting systems channel and store rainwater, compost piles supply

Promoting Biodiversity in Our Gardens and Farms.In This Podcast:Kathy Jentz started National Seed Swap Day to officially celebrate and encourage something farmers and gardeners have been doing for hundreds of years – trading seeds.  She chats with Greg about the origins of the event, what happens at a modern swap, and what the many benefits are for both new and experienced gardeners.  (HINT: It’s not just about the seeds!)  Kathy provides valuable information for anyone thinking of attending or organizing a seed swap.Don’t miss an episode! visit UrbanFarm.Org/blog/podcastKathy Jentz is editor and publisher of the award-winning Washington Gardener Magazine, based in Washington, DC.  She is also the editor of three plant society journals: the Water Garden Journal, The Azalean, and Fanfare, and she hosts the popular GardenDC Podcast, which was recently named Best DC Podcast.  Kathy is co-author of The Urban Garden: 101 Ways to Grow Food and Beauty in the City and has a new book, Groundco

Managing a family-based, full-participation farmers market. In This Podcast: We meet Kathy Mortensen who manages a community market from an entirely different state. The health focused market in Naperville, Illinois is growing with big events, strategic booth placement, and fun vendor-involved themes. We find out what she is doing to make it a successful event for the local community. Don’t miss an episode! visit UrbanFarm.Org/blog/podcast Kathy grew up with nine siblings and had family meals every night.  Her mom was very sustainable and on an extremely tight budget, yet only purchased meat from the local butcher; and fresh fruits and vegetables were the norm.  Kathy’s husband started running the Naperville Farmers Market when the founder passed it on to him. Kathy took it over when he left his position at work, never expecting it to develop into what it is today. Visit www.UrbanFarm.org/Podcast-by-episode-titles for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library! Kathy Mortensen on N

710: Grain Culture. A Chat with an Expert on Seeds. In This Podcast: This is the November 2022 class discussing Grain Culture! Heritage and ancient grains are taking center stage in all kinds of gardening programs and on tables across the country. Find out why these grains are easier on bellies, easy to grow and a lot easier to process than you may think. At least ten times a year we have a live Seed Chat. Some links from this class: The Grain Bundle at GASU Breadlab.wsu.edu HeritageGrains.org Drip Tape Class - replay SeedSchoolOnline.com Join the class! Register anytime for the next event.Register Here for the Seed Saving Class with Live Q&A Bill McDorman is the former Executive Director of Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance, Ketchum, Idaho. He got his start in the bio-regional seed movement while in college in 1979 when he helped start Garden City Seeds. In 1984, Bill started Seeds Trust/High Altitude Gardens, a mail order seed company he ran successfully until it sold in 2013. Visit www.urbanfarm.org/seeds2

A chat with Greg, Janis, and Doreen.  In This Garden Chat: The holidays are just around the corner, and we all love to share gifts from our heart with our friends and family. Join us as we share our ideas for some cool gardening gifts both from and for the garden. This is sure to be an inspiration filled class. Our team members Janis Norton and Doreen Pollack joined Greg in this fabulous brainstorming session. On the last Tuesday every month we host The Urban Farm Garden Chats where Greg Peterson has a relaxed conversation in a Zoom room with a special guest (or two) to cover useful gardening topics, and they answer questions from the live listening audience. To join us for the next event, go to www.GardenChat.org or Click HERE to register for the Monthly Garden Chat with Live Q&A Our Special Guest:Doreen Pollack is a member of the Urban Farm Team. She has been a Master Gardener for over 16 years. She has also turned her own urban plot in a downtown Phoenix Historic District into a living example of wha

Balancing the energies around us to create sanctuaries that we love. In This Podcast: Greg chats with Kathryn Wilking to discover how feng shui concepts can be used in our home and gardens to enhance and beautify our spaces. She introduces three core concepts of this practice that she uses to help people and discusses the five earth elements giving us examples on how to bring the energies in for positive results. Finding balance in our spaces is key to boosting our productivity. Don’t miss an episode! visit UrbanFarm.Org/blog/podcast  Since 2012, Kathryn has been working exclusively as a Feng Shui Coach helping homeowners and businesses take charge of their space and learn to thrive, not just survive! Author of Practical Feng Shui For the Office, and host of the podcast “Feng Shui Your Day!” she teaches that Feng Shui is easy and practical while helping us create function & flow, boost productivity, and find the work-life balance.   Visit www.UrbanFarm.org/Podcast-by-episode-titles for the show notes o

Using Nutrition To Prevent And Reverse Disease In This Podcast: ITP Don’t miss an episode! visit UrbanFarm.Org/blog/podcast  Joel Fuhrman, M.D. is a board-certified family physician, seven-time New York Times bestselling author and nutritional researcher who specializes in preventing and reversing disease through nutritional methods.  At his Eat to Live Retreat in San Diego, CA, and through his books, television specials, and virtual speaking engagements, Dr. Fuhrman shares his life-saving nutritional protocols with hundreds of thousands of people around the world seeking to recover from obesity, food addictions, diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune disease, cancer, and other serious health concerns. Visit www.UrbanFarm.org/Podcast-by-episode-titles for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!  Dr. Joel Fuhrman on Eating for Life.

Simplifying Vermicomposting And Making It Easy For Anyone To Start In This Podcast:A chance encounter at a farmers market led Greg to meet Steve Churchill, the creator of the worm bag he had recently bought. In this interview, Steve explains the reason he designed a new worm composting bag and explains many of the ins and outs of vermicoposting.Don’t miss an episode! visit UrbanFarm.Org/blog/podcast Steve Churchill is the owner of the Urban Worm Company, a vermicomposting-related blog, online store, and manufacturer of the Urban Worm Bag. Through the Urban Worm blog, social media, and e-mail interactions with his readers, Steve is a joyful promoter of vermicomposting as a means to turn household and commercial waste into a highly valuable soil amendment. Steve is also a retired military veteran and a pilot for Southwest Airlines.Visit www.UrbanFarm.org/Podcast-by-episode-titles for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!Worm Compo

A chat with Peter Burke.  In This Garden Chat: It makes sense to keep our herb gardens close to our kitchens for easy access, and for some people that means gardening indoors. There are a variety of culinary options to our inside gardens and this month Janis stepped in to chat with Peter Burke to get some useful and inspirational tips for practical gardening indoors - with a focus on growing a fresh salad in only seven days.On the last Tuesday every month we host The Urban Farm Garden Chats where Greg Peterson has a relaxed conversation in a Zoom room with a special guest to cover useful gardening topics, and they answer questions from the live listening audience.To join us for the next event, go to www.GardenChat.org or Click HERE to register for the Monthly Garden Chat with Live Q&AOur Special Guest:Peter has been teaching gardening classes since 2006 when he started presenting workshops on Indoor salad gardening. He also teaches about square foot gardening, extending the gardening sea

705: How Do You Store Your Seeds.A Chat with an Expert on Seeds.In This Podcast:This is the October 2022 Seed Saving Class with Bill McDorman discussing how to store your seeds. The most asked question we get in all our educational programs is “How do you store your seeds?” Our quick answer is the mantra: keep your seeds cool, dark, and dry. But there are a few other tricks of the trade to make sure that your seeds will germinate year after year and not necessarily what is indicated on your seed packet. We’ll cover that as well so you can understand why seed packets have an expiration date of between 15 to 18 months.  At least ten times a year we have a live Seed Saving Class. Join the class! Register anytime for the next event.Register Here for the Seed Saving Class with Live Q&ABill McDorman is the former Executive Director of Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance, Ketchum, Idaho. He got his start in the bio-regional seed movement while in college in 1979 when he helped start Garden City Seeds. In

Growing food while overcoming droughts, record rains and floods, and catastrophic fires.In This Podcast:Clara is a 31-year-old Amateur Mycologist, mushroom grower, Beekeeper, and Chicken lady who is passionate about animals and the environment.  She is Hungarian-Australian and currently living in Australia, where she is President of the local Permaculture Central Coast group.Learn more at www.UrbanFarm.org/clara

Educating about soil and planetary health with peat free planting mix.In This Podcast:Justin “Jules” Giuliano may be a relative newcomer to the garden, but his love of the outdoors and his willingness to make mistakes have grown into a lifelong passion for the soil.  Combining that passion with his roots in education, he is a natural advocate for keeping our soils healthy.  Jules inspires us to carefully consider what we put into the soil… and what we take out.  Even his language is infused with his love of gardening!Don’t miss an episode! visit UrbanFarm.Org/blog/podcast Justin "Jules" Giuliano is an organic farmer and educator with a background in vermicompost and natural farming. He is the lead soil researcher at Rosy Soil, a potting soil company based in Georgia. Prior to joining Rosy, Jules managed an urban farm in Atlanta, studied regenerative agriculture at the Rodale Institute and won a Cannabis Cup for his organic cannabis cultivation. In addition to Rosy, Jules manages the Tik To