1 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:08,920 Speaker 1: Hey, Romsey, Yes, So what are some of the sillier 2 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:11,479 Speaker 1: animals he might have on his farm? I don't know 3 00:00:11,800 --> 00:00:17,520 Speaker 1: from like ducks on the land often zeros. Let me 4 00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:25,000 Speaker 1: see giraffes. What sound is a giraffe? Mick m It's 5 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:30,880 Speaker 1: clear you've never seen. Oh you aren't either. Are you 6 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:36,280 Speaker 1: going to send the original version of all McDonald for me? Yeah? What? Two? 7 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 1: What to three for? Oh? My Donald turned off phone 8 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:48,680 Speaker 1: e E A O. And with that farm he had 9 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:54,960 Speaker 1: a chicken he a a you with a cluck cluck 10 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:58,840 Speaker 1: here and a cluck cluck. They've here a cluck, their 11 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:07,759 Speaker 1: cluck every cluck cluck. Old McDonald had a weird farm. 12 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:10,039 Speaker 1: My mom was a preschool teacher, so I've heard a 13 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:13,360 Speaker 1: lot of Old McDonald in my lifetime, and like many 14 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 1: of you, I know all about the ducks over here 15 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 1: and the cows over there, and how his animals are 16 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:22,120 Speaker 1: you know, everywhere. But recently I wanted to know more 17 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 1: about this farmer and his growing practices. I mean, the 18 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:26,960 Speaker 1: song says he's old, so he's probably got plenty to 19 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:30,840 Speaker 1: teach us, right, But despite that, there's not much history 20 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:33,760 Speaker 1: about the original Mickey d or his farming practices on 21 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:37,080 Speaker 1: the Internet. And while Old McDonald hasn't changed much over 22 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:41,400 Speaker 1: the years, the population and growing practices of farmers has. 23 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:45,039 Speaker 1: In fact, over the last decade, we've seen a trend 24 00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:48,520 Speaker 1: of young millennials ditching their city lives for a simpler, 25 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 1: more sustainable way of living on small farms of their own. 26 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:56,600 Speaker 1: According to US Census data, this trend of millennials abandoning 27 00:01:56,640 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 1: their desk jobs for working the fields began in two 28 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 1: thousand twelve, when we saw the number of Gen X 29 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:05,840 Speaker 1: and Baby Boomer farmers starting to decline and the number 30 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:09,720 Speaker 1: of farmers from age twenty five to thirty four increased 31 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:13,800 Speaker 1: by two and millennials are bringing new ideas and approaches 32 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 1: to growing with them, while focusing on sustainable agriculture, the 33 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:20,800 Speaker 1: stuff that gives back to the earth rather than depleting it. 34 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:25,680 Speaker 1: This is so important because traditional agriculture produces a significant 35 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:29,519 Speaker 1: amount of methane and nitrous oxide. In fact, according to 36 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:32,840 Speaker 1: the e p A, agriculture and forestry contributed to more 37 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 1: than ten percent of greenhouse gas emissions in two thousand eighteen. 38 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:39,440 Speaker 1: What's also troubling is the fact that over farming and 39 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 1: tilling contribute to land degradation. And desertification. But with this 40 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:48,240 Speaker 1: new generation of farmers integrating practices like regenerative farming, which 41 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:52,680 Speaker 1: sustains biodiversity and restores nutrients in the soil, I feel 42 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:55,920 Speaker 1: hopeful that these little green farms can make really big 43 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 1: and positive changes to our environment. So let's dig in. 44 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:05,440 Speaker 1: Hey there, I'm Mongis Articular, co host of Part Time Genius, 45 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:08,360 Speaker 1: one of the founders of Mental Flaws, and this is 46 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:11,760 Speaker 1: Humans Growing Stuff, a collaboration from My Heart Radio and 47 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:15,079 Speaker 1: your Friends and Miracle Grow. Our goal is to make 48 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 1: this the most human show about plants you'll ever listen to. 49 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:22,400 Speaker 1: Along the way, we'll share inspiring stories, tips and tricks 50 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:25,440 Speaker 1: to nurture your plan addiction, and just enough science to 51 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 1: make you sound like an expert. On this episode, we're 52 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:32,919 Speaker 1: taking a farming approach to the backyard, and specifically regenerative farming. 53 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 1: We'll dive into the latest sustainable farming techniques and learn 54 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 1: how to apply them to our own gardens to make 55 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 1: our yards a little greener with the Greater Good Mind. 56 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:49,480 Speaker 1: Chapter twelve gardens our tiniest Farms. For most of my 57 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:52,120 Speaker 1: interviews on this show, I start by asking our guess 58 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:55,200 Speaker 1: how they got into gardening. Or plant care. It doesn't 59 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:57,800 Speaker 1: always make it into the final cut, but I always 60 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:01,640 Speaker 1: love hearing our guests answer this question. Sometimes it's because 61 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 1: they watched their parents or grandparents garden. Sometimes it's because 62 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 1: they threw some popcorn seeds into the ground and we're 63 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 1: surprised something grew from them and just found wondering at all. 64 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 1: But one of the most common answers I've heard is 65 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:19,240 Speaker 1: this pull to nature. That they discovered the stronger connection 66 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:21,720 Speaker 1: to the earth when they got their hands dirty and 67 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:25,560 Speaker 1: started growing things, and they just had to keep exploring it. 68 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:28,320 Speaker 1: But when I heard about the growing number of millennials 69 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:32,200 Speaker 1: starting small farms, I immediately wanted to learn more about 70 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:35,359 Speaker 1: who they are and what their motivations for growing seem 71 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:39,040 Speaker 1: to be. According to the National Young Farmer Coalition, this 72 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:43,200 Speaker 1: group of young farmers is more diverse than ever, college educated, 73 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:46,680 Speaker 1: optimistic about the future of farming, and dedicated to more 74 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:51,520 Speaker 1: sustainable agriculture like regenerative farming. From the articles I've read 75 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:55,160 Speaker 1: and documentaries I've watched, their motivations aren't so different from 76 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:58,040 Speaker 1: the friends we've talked to here on the podcast from 77 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:01,640 Speaker 1: Millennial Farmers. It's about creating a deeper connection to the earth, 78 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:05,560 Speaker 1: but it's also about changing agriculture for the better in 79 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:08,280 Speaker 1: a way that gives back. I wanted to learn more 80 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:11,840 Speaker 1: about life on a small farm and regenerative farming, so 81 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:15,880 Speaker 1: I called up Hannah Gongola. Within a week of graduating college, 82 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:18,919 Speaker 1: Hannah became one of the many millennials who decided to 83 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:22,800 Speaker 1: side step of career in corporate America and buy a farm. 84 00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:26,120 Speaker 1: Since then, she's dedicated her work to reconnecting people with 85 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:29,039 Speaker 1: their food and using these farming strategies to grow the 86 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:36,840 Speaker 1: most densely nutritious foods she can. Hey, Hannah, are you there? Yeah? 87 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:40,159 Speaker 1: Oh great, Well, it is so wonderful to have you 88 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:43,600 Speaker 1: on our podcast. The work you're doing is so inspiring. 89 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:46,200 Speaker 1: So so tell me. You get on this farm in 90 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 1: college and you haven't done this even work before. Was 91 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:52,800 Speaker 1: it surprising to you? Where were there things that you did? 92 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:54,880 Speaker 1: You have this romantic vision of farming and then and 93 00:05:54,920 --> 00:05:57,679 Speaker 1: then suddenly you have to work a different way. So 94 00:05:58,279 --> 00:06:00,400 Speaker 1: I grew up in a small town in West Virginia, 95 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:02,440 Speaker 1: So I mean, I'm surrounded by you know, mountains and 96 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:04,720 Speaker 1: wildlife all the time. But I grew up in the 97 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:08,360 Speaker 1: center of a small town, so we had, you know, 98 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:12,279 Speaker 1: we could walk everywhere, but I didn't grow up knowing 99 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 1: how to use any kind of like tools, like like 100 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 1: a lawnmower. So first day they were going through all 101 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:20,200 Speaker 1: the tools we would be using, like string trimmers, lawnmowers, 102 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:24,279 Speaker 1: just like basic things. And they were going through this 103 00:06:24,279 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 1: this weed eater and they were like, yeah, so you 104 00:06:26,279 --> 00:06:28,240 Speaker 1: just like started just like a mower. They're like, okay, 105 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 1: everyone good, and then they're like yeah, yeah, And then 106 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:31,279 Speaker 1: I raised my hand. I was like, I don't know 107 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:33,720 Speaker 1: how to run a lawnmower. You clearly fell in love 108 00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 1: with farming, Like what what about that experience did you 109 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:39,880 Speaker 1: really enjoy? There's something about going out in a field 110 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:43,240 Speaker 1: just in the morning and it being so quiet and 111 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:46,240 Speaker 1: you can just hear birds chirping. It's not hot, it's 112 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 1: not cold. It's just pleasant. And you go and you 113 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:51,680 Speaker 1: just harvest a bunch of squash, or you just go 114 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:55,200 Speaker 1: sit and you just handweed, or you know, whatever it 115 00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 1: is you're doing, if it's fixing, irrigation or something you 116 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:00,640 Speaker 1: don't really enjoy doing, and it's just kind of like 117 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:05,480 Speaker 1: the solitude of being out in the space alone. It's 118 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:10,080 Speaker 1: it's it's spiritual almost. Yeah, it sounds really beautiful. I 119 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 1: think what's so remarkable about you is that you're a 120 00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:16,760 Speaker 1: first generation farmer. Was that at all daunting? Like like, 121 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:19,120 Speaker 1: what what do your parents think of this? Um? So, 122 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 1: I like to say I'm a first generation farmer by choice. 123 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 1: Someone someone wasn't like threatening me saying like you have 124 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 1: to go into agriculture because I mean people don't choose 125 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 1: agriculture to like make money. That's definitely not something you do. 126 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:35,720 Speaker 1: My parents are just kind of I guess, on board 127 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:37,560 Speaker 1: with anything if I'm like this is what I'm or 128 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:39,080 Speaker 1: if I'm changing a little bit of a direction, or 129 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:41,800 Speaker 1: I'm like, hey, I'm starting this new product. There like okay, 130 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:43,400 Speaker 1: is it proud of me? They're proud of me? Of 131 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:47,200 Speaker 1: course yeah. And I mean it's gorgeous, right, like the 132 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:51,440 Speaker 1: property you have, your your Instagram, the work you do 133 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:54,680 Speaker 1: is is really really cool. But I am curious, like 134 00:07:54,760 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 1: what was the learning curve like for you to to 135 00:07:57,600 --> 00:07:59,720 Speaker 1: be a farmer, because it feels like you're you're doing 136 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:01,920 Speaker 1: this on your own? Do you do you have friends? 137 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:03,920 Speaker 1: You have resources? How how do you pick up things 138 00:08:03,960 --> 00:08:07,320 Speaker 1: along the way? I learned every single day. I wouldn't 139 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:12,240 Speaker 1: I wouldn't even say that I've learned, Like there's there's 140 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:17,240 Speaker 1: no completion of learning something, especially in this in this field. 141 00:08:17,840 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 1: Every season you learn, you know, a new trick to 142 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:23,280 Speaker 1: something else. I learned about raising animals and little tweaks 143 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:27,920 Speaker 1: to make them healthier or stronger. But I have a 144 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 1: great community of women behind me. So there I want 145 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:35,760 Speaker 1: to say, I have a group of twelve women that 146 00:08:35,800 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 1: I have We have kind of a message board. For example, 147 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:41,320 Speaker 1: the other day one of my calves um had pink 148 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:42,920 Speaker 1: I and I've never dealt with that, and so I 149 00:08:42,920 --> 00:08:44,400 Speaker 1: was like, guys, like, I need your help. What do 150 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 1: I do? Immediately everyone chimed in and like sent me 151 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:49,200 Speaker 1: what product to get there? Like you could do this, 152 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:51,120 Speaker 1: Like you could do an herbal remedy like this, that 153 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 1: and the other thing. And so I don't know what 154 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:56,160 Speaker 1: I would do without them. And they're the kindest people 155 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:58,360 Speaker 1: I've ever met. They're the strongest women I've ever met. 156 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:02,679 Speaker 1: That's incredible. And and so tell us about regenerative farming 157 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:05,520 Speaker 1: and and why you've chosen to pursue those practices on 158 00:09:05,559 --> 00:09:08,680 Speaker 1: your farm. There are a lot of reasons behind the 159 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:14,720 Speaker 1: kind of regenerative movement. One is soil erosion, building healthy soil, 160 00:09:15,520 --> 00:09:18,760 Speaker 1: and I think that is a major one for me, 161 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:22,679 Speaker 1: so natural natural sunlight, being in the ground. I'm grown 162 00:09:22,679 --> 00:09:26,160 Speaker 1: in soil because you get so many nutrients, most of 163 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:27,959 Speaker 1: them from the soil. And so if it's if it's 164 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:31,160 Speaker 1: not grown on soil, what's what's the point. And so 165 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:34,080 Speaker 1: the first step is to make sure you have healthy soil, 166 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:38,920 Speaker 1: and most places don't. Through you know, conventional agriculture, tilling 167 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:41,840 Speaker 1: is is huge, and so and so digging um which 168 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:45,680 Speaker 1: destroys soil and the soil health and the microbes in 169 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:48,320 Speaker 1: the soil and pretty much all the nutrients and everything 170 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:52,960 Speaker 1: that that creates a healthy system. And so through permaculture 171 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:56,280 Speaker 1: practices and and no till, no dig, I hope to 172 00:09:57,000 --> 00:10:01,760 Speaker 1: someday produce the most nutrient dense food that you can 173 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:04,280 Speaker 1: get in this area. That's really cool. And and and 174 00:10:04,360 --> 00:10:08,000 Speaker 1: so explain what um prima culture is for for a second, 175 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:12,719 Speaker 1: Perma culture is permanent culture. So trees, shrubs, anything that's 176 00:10:12,720 --> 00:10:16,440 Speaker 1: gonna continue to come back or never leave year after year, 177 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:20,040 Speaker 1: corn and wheat they're absolutely not prima culture. And most 178 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:23,120 Speaker 1: most cash crops aren't because you dig them up when 179 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:26,280 Speaker 1: they're done and then usually the way they're disposed of 180 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:29,720 Speaker 1: is there may be made into feed, and then that 181 00:10:29,720 --> 00:10:32,400 Speaker 1: that kind of leads into a whole another realm of 182 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:35,800 Speaker 1: things that people disagree with, but they should be you know, 183 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:39,200 Speaker 1: left on the ground for for composting or you know, 184 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:42,280 Speaker 1: green manure just a way to give the soil a 185 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:45,840 Speaker 1: little break um and have a natural pasture um which 186 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:48,839 Speaker 1: then you can graze, of course, but but it needs 187 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:51,439 Speaker 1: it needs time to heal, and it doesn't get that time. 188 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:54,760 Speaker 1: And so so what is the um this process of 189 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:58,240 Speaker 1: regenerating the soil, like like like what what exactly um 190 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:00,880 Speaker 1: does that mean for for our listeners. So the way 191 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:04,560 Speaker 1: I'm doing it, there are several several, probably tons of 192 00:11:04,559 --> 00:11:07,400 Speaker 1: different approaches to it. The way I'm doing it is 193 00:11:07,559 --> 00:11:12,400 Speaker 1: I'm cover cropping. Cover cropping is essentially planting or in 194 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:15,960 Speaker 1: this case, scattering different varieties of seeds that have deep 195 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:20,480 Speaker 1: root systems. They'll bring up essential nutrients to the top. 196 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:24,480 Speaker 1: And so I'll cover crop the entire pasture and then 197 00:11:24,520 --> 00:11:27,440 Speaker 1: I'll graze it. And then I'll plant tons of trees 198 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:29,920 Speaker 1: and so I'll harvest and then what I'll do is 199 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:32,600 Speaker 1: I'll chop them down and let them totally compost on 200 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:37,160 Speaker 1: the ground, um, rather than dig them up and uproot 201 00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:40,679 Speaker 1: their their healthy soil. That's really cool. So one of 202 00:11:40,679 --> 00:11:43,079 Speaker 1: the things we were wondering about is like climate change 203 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:47,440 Speaker 1: feels so overwhelming and kind of hopeless, and you know, 204 00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:49,240 Speaker 1: it must feel good to be a part of that 205 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:52,040 Speaker 1: positive change that you see, Like do you feel that, 206 00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:55,040 Speaker 1: like in in the processes and things that you're doing 207 00:11:55,040 --> 00:12:01,120 Speaker 1: on your farm? So I I don't yet. So sometimes 208 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:03,360 Speaker 1: people people ask me, they're like they're like, wow, like 209 00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:07,040 Speaker 1: what you're doing is is awesome, Like this is so cool, 210 00:12:07,160 --> 00:12:12,439 Speaker 1: And it doesn't feel like I've accomplished anything yet anyway, 211 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 1: And so I feel like the only way I can 212 00:12:16,080 --> 00:12:18,720 Speaker 1: can make any kind of change is just by doing 213 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:21,400 Speaker 1: exactly what I'm doing. And when my little my little 214 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:24,760 Speaker 1: farm make any difference in the climate, like maybe a small, 215 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:30,599 Speaker 1: tiny minute percentage, but hopefully its more encourages and and 216 00:12:30,679 --> 00:12:33,800 Speaker 1: kind of educates and in a way that's different than 217 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:38,199 Speaker 1: than what we see in in kind of like mainstream agriculture. Um. 218 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:40,760 Speaker 1: I saw it that you have an Etsy shop, and 219 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:44,040 Speaker 1: I love the Coffee than Cows t shirt, which I'm 220 00:12:44,040 --> 00:12:46,599 Speaker 1: really tempted by. Though I'm nervous because I feel like 221 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:49,520 Speaker 1: I might have to get cows next. But I'm curious. 222 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:52,560 Speaker 1: You know, you have so many sweet videos of all 223 00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:55,560 Speaker 1: your animals. What do they bring to your farm? For you? 224 00:12:56,080 --> 00:12:57,920 Speaker 1: It's just when you look out at the field and 225 00:12:57,920 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 1: you're like, yeah, that's a that's a nice that's a 226 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:02,559 Speaker 1: nice pasture. You know, the grass is green. You might 227 00:13:02,559 --> 00:13:05,320 Speaker 1: see a bird or a bee, you know, fly away, 228 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:08,079 Speaker 1: and you're like, yeah, it's not a stagnant piece of 229 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:11,400 Speaker 1: land anymore slant, just green grass. It's like there's life 230 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:14,280 Speaker 1: seeing them graze and seeing them as happy cows and 231 00:13:14,320 --> 00:13:17,240 Speaker 1: happy chickens, and you know those are those are my animals, 232 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:20,200 Speaker 1: and they're happy and and they're just grazing on on 233 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:23,200 Speaker 1: my land. And I mean it's joyous. Oh man. I 234 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:25,800 Speaker 1: just I sit outside and I just in the morning 235 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:29,000 Speaker 1: sometimes and drink coffee, and I watched them just just 236 00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:32,360 Speaker 1: lay lay down. That is a good feeling. That's a 237 00:13:32,480 --> 00:13:37,240 Speaker 1: very good feeling. So do you see regenerative farming and 238 00:13:37,320 --> 00:13:40,559 Speaker 1: eco conscious practices as the future of agriculture and and 239 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:43,760 Speaker 1: does that give you a sense of hope? Yes, absolutely. 240 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:48,200 Speaker 1: I think the way farms are so mostly conventional farms 241 00:13:48,679 --> 00:13:52,080 Speaker 1: even beef farming, it all gets a bad rep and 242 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:55,000 Speaker 1: it's because the management of it and in the practices. 243 00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:59,000 Speaker 1: So when beef is poorly grazed, that affects the climate. 244 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:01,400 Speaker 1: Beef and cattle, they're they're not bad that they're just 245 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:05,320 Speaker 1: not supporting the climate that we need. And I think 246 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:08,640 Speaker 1: if we get those practices under control, people can still, 247 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:11,800 Speaker 1: you know, continue to to eat beef the way they want, 248 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:16,640 Speaker 1: and they could actually be a positive change for climate change. Overall, 249 00:14:17,080 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 1: it will create healthier soil, it'll create healthier food, and 250 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:24,640 Speaker 1: it will create healthier people. Um. And so it's it's 251 00:14:24,640 --> 00:14:28,000 Speaker 1: all one system. Everything affects everything, So I think it 252 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:30,400 Speaker 1: should be treated as such. And I hope other people 253 00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:32,560 Speaker 1: see it like that too. Yeah, I mean, I think 254 00:14:32,880 --> 00:14:36,080 Speaker 1: with greater awareness there'll be more appreciation for it. Right 255 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:38,640 Speaker 1: do you think do you think you have to be 256 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:41,760 Speaker 1: an optimist to be a farmer. That's a very good question. 257 00:14:43,360 --> 00:14:47,920 Speaker 1: I don't know. I never met my fellow farmer friends 258 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:51,400 Speaker 1: before they were farmers. I don't know what their upbringing 259 00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 1: was like. I don't know them pre farm Before I 260 00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:57,960 Speaker 1: was I would say that I was an optimist. I 261 00:14:57,960 --> 00:15:02,000 Speaker 1: don't know. I think it helped for sure, because you 262 00:15:02,040 --> 00:15:04,080 Speaker 1: can see the light at the end even when it's 263 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:07,080 Speaker 1: really dark. I don't know, that's a that's a great question. 264 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:09,040 Speaker 1: What do you think I think I think you do. 265 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:13,000 Speaker 1: I think you need to believe that your patients will 266 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:15,320 Speaker 1: bear out. And and I think you have to believe 267 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:18,920 Speaker 1: in the earth and and the seeds you're planning and 268 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:22,200 Speaker 1: and expect that things at the end of the day 269 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:25,200 Speaker 1: will will go right. Even if they go hey, why 270 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:27,680 Speaker 1: a little bit, You're still going to have a bounty, 271 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:30,040 Speaker 1: you know, if not this year, next year, And and 272 00:15:30,440 --> 00:15:35,760 Speaker 1: I think it is an optimistic practice. I think you're right. Well, Hannah, 273 00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:37,480 Speaker 1: thank you so much for being on the program and 274 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:40,400 Speaker 1: talking about your farm. It's it's really inspirational and and 275 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:43,160 Speaker 1: I can't wait to order one of these T shirts. 276 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:50,720 Speaker 1: Definitely definitely get one of those T shirts. Humans growing 277 00:15:50,760 --> 00:16:01,080 Speaker 1: stuff will be right back after a short break. So 278 00:16:01,480 --> 00:16:04,160 Speaker 1: here's a little tangent. When I was a freshman in 279 00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:06,280 Speaker 1: high school, I made the Quiz Bowl team, and I 280 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:08,240 Speaker 1: was so excited because I got to go on TV. 281 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:13,120 Speaker 1: And when I did, the questions were so hard. There 282 00:16:13,160 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 1: was a spotlight and cameras. I mean, I was supposed 283 00:16:15,840 --> 00:16:19,120 Speaker 1: to be good at trivia, and you know, the host 284 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:22,120 Speaker 1: kept asking things and I didn't know one of them. 285 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:26,520 Speaker 1: And finally he asked this question, what national student club 286 00:16:26,680 --> 00:16:29,640 Speaker 1: goes by the initials f F A. And in my head, 287 00:16:29,640 --> 00:16:31,680 Speaker 1: I'm thinking, this is my shot. Right, here's what I 288 00:16:31,720 --> 00:16:34,920 Speaker 1: actually know, the future farmers of America. After a whole 289 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:37,760 Speaker 1: night under the spotlight and not knowing answers to things, 290 00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:41,880 Speaker 1: I was gearing up to confidently press the buzzer. But 291 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:46,120 Speaker 1: did I buzz in in time? No, I was so nervous. 292 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:49,480 Speaker 1: I didn't buzz in and I didn't answer one question 293 00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:52,920 Speaker 1: the whole night, and it was a total disaster. But 294 00:16:53,040 --> 00:16:55,760 Speaker 1: this week I was reading about farmers and I stumbled 295 00:16:55,760 --> 00:16:58,960 Speaker 1: into some facts about the future Farmers of America and 296 00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:02,080 Speaker 1: it made me smile wide. In Delaware, where I grew up, 297 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:04,480 Speaker 1: it's actually a pretty active club in the southern part 298 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:08,040 Speaker 1: of the state, and in their efforts to promote sustainable practices, 299 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:12,639 Speaker 1: they host an environmental and natural resources career development event 300 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:17,320 Speaker 1: every year, and using demonstrations on water testing, soil and 301 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:21,040 Speaker 1: environmental analysis, they're actually teaching the next generation of farmers 302 00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:23,920 Speaker 1: how to better grow while caring for the earth, which 303 00:17:23,920 --> 00:17:27,520 Speaker 1: I realized is exactly what Hannah's doing too. After my 304 00:17:27,560 --> 00:17:30,560 Speaker 1: call with Hannah, I felt so inspired that I decided 305 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:33,720 Speaker 1: to call up another farmed garden expert, Jamie Brennan, to 306 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:36,520 Speaker 1: hear how to take these ideas and implement them into 307 00:17:36,520 --> 00:17:40,560 Speaker 1: our own backyards. Jamie runs Gold Feather Gardens, which is Boise, 308 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:44,800 Speaker 1: Idaho's first kitchen garden, coaching and consulting business, and when 309 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 1: the pandemic began, Jamie traded in her full time job 310 00:17:47,840 --> 00:17:51,399 Speaker 1: as a travel writer and poured herself into gardening. And 311 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:54,000 Speaker 1: it wasn't long until Jamie found herself learning from farmers 312 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:56,560 Speaker 1: and then sharing what she learned with her clients who 313 00:17:56,560 --> 00:18:00,640 Speaker 1: wanted to create their own kitchen gardens. Just like Jamie's 314 00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:03,560 Speaker 1: goals are strongly rooted in connecting people to their own 315 00:18:03,640 --> 00:18:07,639 Speaker 1: food source and by doing so, deepening their connections to 316 00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:14,080 Speaker 1: the earth. Hey, Jamie, are you there? Hey man Gosh, 317 00:18:14,160 --> 00:18:16,479 Speaker 1: I am here. Well, I'm excited to chat with you 318 00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:20,000 Speaker 1: because I learned all about Gold Feather Gardens, and I 319 00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:23,200 Speaker 1: think your service is so wonderful because you're just there 320 00:18:23,240 --> 00:18:26,280 Speaker 1: to help at any stage. I am curious what is 321 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:29,840 Speaker 1: the difference between a sort of typical garden and a 322 00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:33,800 Speaker 1: sustainable one, especially for someone who's growing in their own home. 323 00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:37,480 Speaker 1: For me, a sustainable garden is all about the plants 324 00:18:37,480 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 1: and seeds that you put in your garden. When you 325 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:42,919 Speaker 1: really start to look into who's growing plants for your 326 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:47,919 Speaker 1: environment or who's growing seed especially, you untapped this whole 327 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:51,280 Speaker 1: potential for your garden in terms of you know, not 328 00:18:51,359 --> 00:18:57,000 Speaker 1: only it's genetic diversity, but also it's ability to adapt 329 00:18:57,240 --> 00:19:00,359 Speaker 1: to the environment that you're in. We're really ucky we 330 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:03,400 Speaker 1: have this wonderful seed co op invoice you called Snake 331 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:07,120 Speaker 1: River Seed that's just globally known for the wonderful work 332 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:10,720 Speaker 1: that they're doing to bring back heirloom varieties to support 333 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:13,680 Speaker 1: local farmers growing seeds. You'd be surprised how many local 334 00:19:13,720 --> 00:19:15,960 Speaker 1: farms don't just sell at the farmer's market. They grow 335 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:19,120 Speaker 1: food for seed, which is a huge income for them. 336 00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:21,679 Speaker 1: That's a lot more sustainable than you know, selling at 337 00:19:21,720 --> 00:19:26,040 Speaker 1: the farmer's market, which can depend on the weather. That's fascinating. So, yeah, 338 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:29,239 Speaker 1: seeds hold this incredible memory of where they're grown, and 339 00:19:29,320 --> 00:19:32,280 Speaker 1: so if you start saving those seeds, they become adapted 340 00:19:32,320 --> 00:19:36,080 Speaker 1: to the environment and as our climate changes as we 341 00:19:36,119 --> 00:19:39,080 Speaker 1: have hotter summers, things like that those seeds are just 342 00:19:39,080 --> 00:19:41,640 Speaker 1: going to do better in your garden because they remember 343 00:19:42,040 --> 00:19:44,560 Speaker 1: that growing season, um, and how they were able to 344 00:19:44,560 --> 00:19:47,960 Speaker 1: survive it. That's incredible. It's like genetics or something. Yeah, 345 00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:51,680 Speaker 1: it's crazy. So, so tell me what are some of 346 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:55,080 Speaker 1: the most challenging things about making that shift to these 347 00:19:55,200 --> 00:19:58,560 Speaker 1: organic practices and is it hard for someone to sort 348 00:19:58,560 --> 00:20:01,119 Speaker 1: of like change their mindset about these things. Yeah. I 349 00:20:01,119 --> 00:20:04,119 Speaker 1: would say the biggest challenge is probably convenience. Um. I 350 00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:07,280 Speaker 1: find that for most of my clients they have been 351 00:20:07,320 --> 00:20:10,399 Speaker 1: sourcing where they're sourcing just out of convenience, you know, 352 00:20:10,520 --> 00:20:12,040 Speaker 1: And I think a lot of it is just lack 353 00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:15,399 Speaker 1: of knowledge. And so for me, I think growing your 354 00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:19,040 Speaker 1: own food is something that's like super personal. All it 355 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:21,399 Speaker 1: takes is like a pot of soil and a seed. 356 00:20:21,760 --> 00:20:24,640 Speaker 1: It can start super small, and so I was like, Okay, 357 00:20:24,920 --> 00:20:26,760 Speaker 1: I'll just teach people how to do that, and then 358 00:20:27,440 --> 00:20:30,480 Speaker 1: as they grow, they will get more and more invested 359 00:20:30,520 --> 00:20:33,119 Speaker 1: in that local food community because that's how I started. 360 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:36,640 Speaker 1: It's a slippery slope in my opinion. Once you see 361 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:39,960 Speaker 1: how hard it is to grow good spinach or grow 362 00:20:40,119 --> 00:20:43,359 Speaker 1: a tomato, Um, it's one of those things you just 363 00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:46,560 Speaker 1: have more appreciation for the people who put that food 364 00:20:46,560 --> 00:20:50,680 Speaker 1: on your plate. In my opinion, No, I think that's true. 365 00:20:51,280 --> 00:20:53,640 Speaker 1: So you know, we were talking about these small spaces 366 00:20:53,800 --> 00:20:56,720 Speaker 1: and you said something about, like, I think seventy five 367 00:20:56,800 --> 00:21:00,399 Speaker 1: square feet outside of your home, what you do with 368 00:21:00,440 --> 00:21:03,359 Speaker 1: that amount of space, you can do so much. So 369 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:06,480 Speaker 1: I have a kind of a standardized planting plan that 370 00:21:06,560 --> 00:21:08,919 Speaker 1: I give my clients, and it starts at fifty square 371 00:21:08,960 --> 00:21:12,160 Speaker 1: feet UM. If you're new to gardening and you really 372 00:21:12,160 --> 00:21:14,560 Speaker 1: want to grow just a little of your own food, 373 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:17,439 Speaker 1: I think fifty square feet is a great place to start. 374 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:21,480 Speaker 1: So in my fifty square feet right now, we are 375 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:28,560 Speaker 1: growing spinach, salad mix, onions. I just bought some cabbage, broccoli, kale, 376 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:32,919 Speaker 1: Swiss shard, and I'm basically growing just i don't know, 377 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:36,199 Speaker 1: maybe fifty to a hundred pounds of food in that space. 378 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:39,800 Speaker 1: So just a ton of yield um in just a 379 00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:43,439 Speaker 1: really small space. So it's a way more active garden um. 380 00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:45,399 Speaker 1: But I also like to build it as sort of 381 00:21:45,440 --> 00:21:48,440 Speaker 1: more low maintenance because the more you plant, the less 382 00:21:48,440 --> 00:21:51,440 Speaker 1: weeds you get, less pest pressure that you get because 383 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:54,119 Speaker 1: you're constantly in your garden tending to it um So 384 00:21:54,200 --> 00:21:57,640 Speaker 1: I say, basically, budget about a minute and a half 385 00:21:58,119 --> 00:21:59,879 Speaker 1: per square foot in your garden. So if you have 386 00:21:59,880 --> 00:22:02,359 Speaker 1: a one minute to two minutes in your garden per 387 00:22:02,480 --> 00:22:06,240 Speaker 1: day at fifty square feet, that's like an hour a 388 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:09,800 Speaker 1: week hour and a half maybe of tending. So it 389 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:13,800 Speaker 1: really doesn't have to be uh that much time. It's 390 00:22:13,880 --> 00:22:15,879 Speaker 1: just kind of getting out there for fifteen minutes a 391 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:18,320 Speaker 1: day and just checking on things is really how you 392 00:22:18,359 --> 00:22:20,800 Speaker 1: take care of that amount of plants. I love that 393 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:23,440 Speaker 1: you have a formula for the amount of time it 394 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:25,880 Speaker 1: will take you, you you know, like, because I I feel like, 395 00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:30,359 Speaker 1: in addition to being intimidated by what to grow and 396 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:34,280 Speaker 1: all this knowledge, there's this unknown in terms of time commitment, right, 397 00:22:34,359 --> 00:22:36,080 Speaker 1: Like I'm going to get into this hobby, but I 398 00:22:36,119 --> 00:22:38,240 Speaker 1: have no idea what it will take. Or I want 399 00:22:38,280 --> 00:22:39,920 Speaker 1: food on my table, but I don't know what it'll take. 400 00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:42,359 Speaker 1: That that's really incredible and I've never seen that anywhere. 401 00:22:42,880 --> 00:22:45,800 Speaker 1: So what are some of the benefits of these sustainable 402 00:22:45,800 --> 00:22:49,520 Speaker 1: practices in the garden. The reason that I grow in 403 00:22:49,560 --> 00:22:52,800 Speaker 1: the most sustainable way possible. I don't really use plastic. 404 00:22:52,960 --> 00:22:55,639 Speaker 1: I try to use wood or metal, things that can 405 00:22:55,680 --> 00:22:58,280 Speaker 1: be recycled or go back to the earth. Is because 406 00:22:58,320 --> 00:23:00,960 Speaker 1: that I think that tending a garden and building a 407 00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:04,560 Speaker 1: garden is kind of a way that we can recreate nature. 408 00:23:05,240 --> 00:23:07,640 Speaker 1: I like to think of it in those terms of, 409 00:23:07,760 --> 00:23:12,240 Speaker 1: if we can create more gardens, we can create people 410 00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:17,240 Speaker 1: who are fostering the sense of local food and basically 411 00:23:17,320 --> 00:23:20,879 Speaker 1: creating this self sustaining environment, then we can rely less 412 00:23:21,520 --> 00:23:25,760 Speaker 1: on big farms, We can rely less on those things 413 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:30,000 Speaker 1: that otherwise we purchased to make us happy, kind of 414 00:23:30,040 --> 00:23:33,959 Speaker 1: fostering this really healthy lifestyle. For me, the garden is 415 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:38,600 Speaker 1: a holistic experience in terms of it touches my whole life. 416 00:23:38,680 --> 00:23:41,560 Speaker 1: And so and I don't know if you've seen that movie, 417 00:23:41,760 --> 00:23:45,560 Speaker 1: um Kiss the Ground, that new documentary that Woody Harrelson produced, 418 00:23:46,040 --> 00:23:47,919 Speaker 1: Oh my gosh, Okay, so if you like the Biggest 419 00:23:47,920 --> 00:23:51,440 Speaker 1: Little Farm, watch that movie again. I cried the entire 420 00:23:51,440 --> 00:23:54,159 Speaker 1: way through it. Um. I think that really speaks to 421 00:23:54,359 --> 00:23:58,800 Speaker 1: how we, as human beings who may or may not 422 00:23:58,880 --> 00:24:01,880 Speaker 1: have caused climate change depending on who you ask, can 423 00:24:01,960 --> 00:24:06,320 Speaker 1: really take control of this situation with our purchases and 424 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:10,520 Speaker 1: with our practices. So bringing that sustainable mindset into the 425 00:24:10,560 --> 00:24:14,000 Speaker 1: garden is it gives us that comfort of control. You know, 426 00:24:14,080 --> 00:24:17,440 Speaker 1: you feel like there's nothing you can do to conserve 427 00:24:17,520 --> 00:24:19,919 Speaker 1: the planet on your own. You feel a little bit 428 00:24:19,960 --> 00:24:22,720 Speaker 1: overwhelmed by the problem. And for me, my solution to 429 00:24:22,800 --> 00:24:26,280 Speaker 1: overwhelm is to take an action, and an action that 430 00:24:26,359 --> 00:24:28,840 Speaker 1: every single person can take is to start a garden 431 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:33,360 Speaker 1: and use sustainable methods to do it. I like that. So, 432 00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:35,880 Speaker 1: you know, we had this other farmer that we talked 433 00:24:35,920 --> 00:24:39,520 Speaker 1: to previously named Hannah um earlier on this episode, and 434 00:24:40,280 --> 00:24:43,320 Speaker 1: she was talking about cover cropping on the farm. Can 435 00:24:43,359 --> 00:24:45,160 Speaker 1: you tell us a little bit about what that looks 436 00:24:45,200 --> 00:24:49,159 Speaker 1: like in a backyard? Sure? So, I have a saying 437 00:24:49,320 --> 00:24:53,120 Speaker 1: that bare soil is bad soil. Um So that's why 438 00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:56,959 Speaker 1: I overplant in all of my beds in the garden. 439 00:24:57,920 --> 00:25:01,200 Speaker 1: I think, especially the way that I plant, I am 440 00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:06,960 Speaker 1: always looking for new places to plant a seed and 441 00:25:07,080 --> 00:25:10,080 Speaker 1: basically just kind of thin things out as you grow. 442 00:25:10,960 --> 00:25:13,600 Speaker 1: The other aspect of cover crops is their nutrition that 443 00:25:13,720 --> 00:25:17,280 Speaker 1: they add to the soil. Um So mustard is a 444 00:25:17,320 --> 00:25:21,080 Speaker 1: huge cover crop. Peas are a huge cover crop. Those 445 00:25:21,119 --> 00:25:25,879 Speaker 1: families contribute to the soil. There are basically three types 446 00:25:25,920 --> 00:25:29,160 Speaker 1: of feeders. When it comes to vegetables, there's heavy feeders, 447 00:25:29,359 --> 00:25:34,040 Speaker 1: light feeders, and then there's plants that actually add nutrition 448 00:25:34,119 --> 00:25:36,600 Speaker 1: to the soil. And those are two that do that 449 00:25:36,680 --> 00:25:38,960 Speaker 1: and they taste great. So it's one of those things 450 00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:42,840 Speaker 1: that if you think about cover cropping in those ways 451 00:25:43,119 --> 00:25:46,880 Speaker 1: of Okay, it's a new season, my soil needs some nutrition. 452 00:25:46,920 --> 00:25:49,760 Speaker 1: I'm gonna put down some compost, but I'm gonna basically 453 00:25:49,800 --> 00:25:53,040 Speaker 1: plant my peas on this trellis where my tomatoes are 454 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:54,960 Speaker 1: going to grow this summer. And so when I plant 455 00:25:54,960 --> 00:25:57,200 Speaker 1: those tomatoes, they're just going to be in this super 456 00:25:57,320 --> 00:26:01,359 Speaker 1: rich space. So planting that and then instead of pulling 457 00:26:01,359 --> 00:26:05,000 Speaker 1: the whole plant out, snippet at the rootline, um, so 458 00:26:05,040 --> 00:26:07,720 Speaker 1: that those at the soil level. Snippet at the soil level, 459 00:26:07,800 --> 00:26:10,160 Speaker 1: so that all those roots will kind of die back 460 00:26:10,200 --> 00:26:13,000 Speaker 1: and contribute to the soil in terms of their nutrition. 461 00:26:13,600 --> 00:26:16,320 Speaker 1: You know. Hannah the farmer also talked about the benefits 462 00:26:16,440 --> 00:26:20,960 Speaker 1: of having livestock uh and what it does for the soil. Obviously, 463 00:26:21,119 --> 00:26:23,680 Speaker 1: cows aren't something that are easy to keep in the 464 00:26:23,720 --> 00:26:28,760 Speaker 1: backyard in Brooklyn, but what kind of smaller livestock can 465 00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:31,200 Speaker 1: be bringing to our homes instead. So we got chickens 466 00:26:31,200 --> 00:26:34,919 Speaker 1: this year, which have been such a joy. They're like 467 00:26:35,040 --> 00:26:38,680 Speaker 1: little dogs. Um. Some of them are not so nice, 468 00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:41,119 Speaker 1: and some of them I want to bring into the house. 469 00:26:41,880 --> 00:26:44,800 Speaker 1: I was so surprised at how low maintenance they are 470 00:26:45,160 --> 00:26:47,240 Speaker 1: as long as they have kind of like a protected 471 00:26:47,359 --> 00:26:51,520 Speaker 1: area and food and water. Um, they are super happy. 472 00:26:51,720 --> 00:26:56,880 Speaker 1: Quiet and clean. Ducks are another good option. Rabbits are 473 00:26:57,440 --> 00:27:02,240 Speaker 1: awesome as well. Um. Rabbits knee very little space. They'll 474 00:27:02,240 --> 00:27:05,959 Speaker 1: eat all of your garden scraps, and their manure is 475 00:27:06,280 --> 00:27:09,120 Speaker 1: you can put it right into your garden without composting it. 476 00:27:09,119 --> 00:27:13,320 Speaker 1: It's super safe. And the pet that nobody talks about, 477 00:27:13,440 --> 00:27:16,280 Speaker 1: but that is my personal favorite is worms. I have 478 00:27:16,480 --> 00:27:18,800 Speaker 1: a worm bin in our garage. You can have a 479 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:23,320 Speaker 1: worm bin anywhere in an apartment, a kitchen, if you 480 00:27:23,359 --> 00:27:26,040 Speaker 1: have a garage. They're great if you do them right, 481 00:27:26,160 --> 00:27:30,040 Speaker 1: they don't smell. They you just have to feed them 482 00:27:30,080 --> 00:27:33,360 Speaker 1: once a week, once every two weeks with whatever compost 483 00:27:33,440 --> 00:27:36,080 Speaker 1: is in your compost bin. Um, and they give you 484 00:27:36,119 --> 00:27:38,320 Speaker 1: worm castings which you can put right into your garden, 485 00:27:38,359 --> 00:27:41,760 Speaker 1: which most farmers referred to as black gold. It is 486 00:27:42,480 --> 00:27:45,119 Speaker 1: seriously the best thing you can put in your garden. 487 00:27:45,160 --> 00:27:47,720 Speaker 1: To make it grow. And I am someone who buys 488 00:27:47,720 --> 00:27:51,000 Speaker 1: a ton of organic produce and I hate throwing it away. 489 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:52,840 Speaker 1: I don't even want to feed it to my chickens 490 00:27:52,840 --> 00:27:55,080 Speaker 1: because I paid good money for that stuff, and so 491 00:27:55,240 --> 00:27:58,159 Speaker 1: to turn it into something that I can use again 492 00:27:58,680 --> 00:28:01,320 Speaker 1: for me is just a no brainer. And yeah, like 493 00:28:01,359 --> 00:28:05,280 Speaker 1: I said, a workman, you can put it literally anywhere. Yeah, 494 00:28:05,359 --> 00:28:10,159 Speaker 1: my kid Ruby had worms as their class pet and 495 00:28:10,359 --> 00:28:12,720 Speaker 1: had fives, and they're like, we have more class pets 496 00:28:12,720 --> 00:28:18,040 Speaker 1: than anyone else. The teacher bought every kid in the class. 497 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:22,280 Speaker 1: Teacher that said, asked me about my worms. Yeah, we're 498 00:28:22,320 --> 00:28:25,840 Speaker 1: informing is a huge thing. And those little guys are 499 00:28:25,880 --> 00:28:30,400 Speaker 1: just workhorses. They do incredible work. So you know you've 500 00:28:30,400 --> 00:28:34,840 Speaker 1: gotten more and more into gardening into this world. Do 501 00:28:34,880 --> 00:28:37,600 Speaker 1: you feel like your relationship with the earth has changed 502 00:28:37,640 --> 00:28:41,719 Speaker 1: since you started? Yes? Absolutely. I I listened to a 503 00:28:41,720 --> 00:28:46,000 Speaker 1: lot of oprah Um and she talks a lot about 504 00:28:46,680 --> 00:28:50,479 Speaker 1: people relating to plants in this way of like we 505 00:28:50,560 --> 00:28:53,840 Speaker 1: are we started as seeds and we grew into plants, 506 00:28:53,880 --> 00:28:56,120 Speaker 1: and like we will one day go back to seed 507 00:28:56,840 --> 00:28:59,400 Speaker 1: and this like cycle sort of starts all over again. 508 00:28:59,440 --> 00:29:03,600 Speaker 1: And I think for me, especially in this time where 509 00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:07,200 Speaker 1: we're lacking a lot of hope for the future. I 510 00:29:07,240 --> 00:29:11,840 Speaker 1: think it's so refreshing and motivating to go outside and 511 00:29:11,960 --> 00:29:16,760 Speaker 1: see this cycle constantly repeating itself. Of these plants have 512 00:29:16,920 --> 00:29:21,160 Speaker 1: this incredible resilience and our earth has this incredible resilience 513 00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:24,520 Speaker 1: that if we, you know, tend to it just mindfully, 514 00:29:24,560 --> 00:29:28,720 Speaker 1: we can really help it get back to its natural 515 00:29:28,800 --> 00:29:32,080 Speaker 1: state just by planting a seed and so thinking about 516 00:29:32,120 --> 00:29:35,800 Speaker 1: seeds as they germinate, there this really tender young thing 517 00:29:35,920 --> 00:29:38,360 Speaker 1: like newborn babies, and then they grow into these super 518 00:29:38,360 --> 00:29:42,680 Speaker 1: strong plants that experience stress, they experienced weather and pests, 519 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:45,600 Speaker 1: and they have to really fight for their lives. And 520 00:29:45,600 --> 00:29:50,880 Speaker 1: then they create this wonderful fruit, this wonderful edible thing 521 00:29:51,160 --> 00:29:53,760 Speaker 1: for us to eat, and then they produce seeds and 522 00:29:53,760 --> 00:29:55,640 Speaker 1: they do it all over again. And so I think 523 00:29:55,880 --> 00:29:59,840 Speaker 1: for me, watching that life cycle has just been as 524 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:02,160 Speaker 1: helped me really get through, I guess, the darkest days 525 00:30:02,200 --> 00:30:05,000 Speaker 1: of this year, and it just gives me so much 526 00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:10,040 Speaker 1: hope for our planet and for um the future so much. So, Yeah, 527 00:30:10,080 --> 00:30:12,040 Speaker 1: I agree with you. I think I think bearing witness 528 00:30:12,120 --> 00:30:14,840 Speaker 1: to that process and and contributing to it too is 529 00:30:14,840 --> 00:30:17,320 Speaker 1: is just sort of a remarkable thing we can all do. 530 00:30:17,880 --> 00:30:21,040 Speaker 1: So what do you think makes you passionate or keeps 531 00:30:21,080 --> 00:30:25,320 Speaker 1: you passionate about sharing your knowledge with? Um? Not just 532 00:30:25,360 --> 00:30:30,120 Speaker 1: your customers, but with people. I mean, I am someone 533 00:30:30,320 --> 00:30:36,160 Speaker 1: I have discovered who really values authenticity and connection. UM. 534 00:30:36,240 --> 00:30:40,920 Speaker 1: I really have this endless hope for people. UM. I'm 535 00:30:40,960 --> 00:30:45,680 Speaker 1: a natural optimist, and so I do believe that everyone 536 00:30:45,800 --> 00:30:48,160 Speaker 1: is doing their best. UM. And so when I start 537 00:30:48,200 --> 00:30:50,760 Speaker 1: to talk about gardening, I swear I like blackout because 538 00:30:50,840 --> 00:30:57,000 Speaker 1: I just I am so inspired, honestly in what we 539 00:30:57,040 --> 00:31:00,560 Speaker 1: can create with our gardens gardens I am. Before I 540 00:31:00,600 --> 00:31:02,959 Speaker 1: was a gardener, I was a writer. I was a journalist. 541 00:31:03,120 --> 00:31:07,120 Speaker 1: I traveled, I worked with people and food in so 542 00:31:07,160 --> 00:31:10,760 Speaker 1: many different ways. When I got into journalism, I always 543 00:31:10,800 --> 00:31:12,840 Speaker 1: said I had a passion for people with passion. And 544 00:31:12,880 --> 00:31:15,959 Speaker 1: I swear you have never met people with more passion 545 00:31:15,960 --> 00:31:19,960 Speaker 1: than gardeners. And so I would say that's probably my 546 00:31:20,080 --> 00:31:24,960 Speaker 1: motivation is just being inspired by all these people creating things. Yeah, 547 00:31:25,080 --> 00:31:29,000 Speaker 1: it's it's easy to be evangelical about something like this, right, 548 00:31:29,120 --> 00:31:32,120 Speaker 1: So I'm thinking you're so passionate about It's funny you 549 00:31:32,120 --> 00:31:36,680 Speaker 1: were talking talking about optimism because um, Hannah the farmer 550 00:31:36,680 --> 00:31:38,480 Speaker 1: and I were talking about whether you had to be 551 00:31:38,480 --> 00:31:41,200 Speaker 1: an optimist to be a farmer, and I do think 552 00:31:41,200 --> 00:31:45,960 Speaker 1: there's something some certain amount of hopefulness and optimism. You 553 00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:48,840 Speaker 1: need to put a seed in the ground and believe 554 00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:51,600 Speaker 1: it will grow, you know. I I think there's something 555 00:31:51,640 --> 00:31:56,760 Speaker 1: to that, and I think that ritual keeps you optimistic totally. 556 00:31:56,760 --> 00:31:58,920 Speaker 1: And I think you're remembering to be kind to yourself 557 00:31:59,000 --> 00:32:02,720 Speaker 1: when things don't grower when things die. That's really just 558 00:32:02,840 --> 00:32:07,040 Speaker 1: part of our lives, is this kind of failure rate 559 00:32:07,320 --> 00:32:10,400 Speaker 1: and being okay with failure. I think that that's something 560 00:32:10,400 --> 00:32:12,240 Speaker 1: that I have learned a lot in the garden that 561 00:32:12,280 --> 00:32:14,640 Speaker 1: I did not learn in school and did not learn 562 00:32:14,680 --> 00:32:17,600 Speaker 1: in my family. It is okay to fail because you 563 00:32:17,600 --> 00:32:20,520 Speaker 1: can plant another seed, and you can take another step 564 00:32:20,560 --> 00:32:23,160 Speaker 1: and take another action because you have now learned you 565 00:32:23,160 --> 00:32:26,479 Speaker 1: know what works or doesn't work. Yeah, Jamie, this has 566 00:32:26,520 --> 00:32:29,280 Speaker 1: been so wonderful and so nice to chat with you, 567 00:32:29,560 --> 00:32:32,120 Speaker 1: and I love all the tips and I hope people 568 00:32:32,120 --> 00:32:34,160 Speaker 1: will go check out your side because of what you're 569 00:32:34,200 --> 00:32:36,240 Speaker 1: doing is really wonderful. Thank you so much. I feel 570 00:32:36,320 --> 00:32:39,640 Speaker 1: really grateful to have this opportunity and just be in 571 00:32:39,640 --> 00:32:45,680 Speaker 1: this place, so thank you so much. I am now 572 00:32:45,720 --> 00:32:50,680 Speaker 1: convinced that there's nothing cooler than owning small livestock. And 573 00:32:51,320 --> 00:32:53,080 Speaker 1: should I be online at three a m. In the 574 00:32:53,120 --> 00:32:56,440 Speaker 1: morning looking at how much baby Highland cows cost and 575 00:32:56,520 --> 00:32:59,000 Speaker 1: trying to convince my friends to go have these with me? 576 00:32:59,600 --> 00:33:02,880 Speaker 1: Probably doably not, But I'm dreaming big about a calf 577 00:33:02,880 --> 00:33:05,200 Speaker 1: in the big city. Could I take it on the subway? 578 00:33:05,280 --> 00:33:07,520 Speaker 1: Could I try to institute a bring your cow to 579 00:33:07,560 --> 00:33:10,960 Speaker 1: work day or pitch it as some sort of therapy animal. 580 00:33:11,840 --> 00:33:16,040 Speaker 1: After too many hours, I've decided to downgrade my goals 581 00:33:16,080 --> 00:33:20,040 Speaker 1: to ornamental chickens instead. And what sort of track suit 582 00:33:20,120 --> 00:33:23,200 Speaker 1: I might buy for one, because I actually found a 583 00:33:23,200 --> 00:33:26,560 Speaker 1: designer who makes track suits for chickens online. But other 584 00:33:26,600 --> 00:33:29,240 Speaker 1: than my obvious interest in having a pet I can 585 00:33:29,360 --> 00:33:32,600 Speaker 1: dress and walk around with, chickens actually have real value 586 00:33:32,600 --> 00:33:35,480 Speaker 1: in the backyard. They produce good manure that is an 587 00:33:35,520 --> 00:33:40,440 Speaker 1: excellent soil amendment once composted, and they're definitely photogenic. Just 588 00:33:40,600 --> 00:33:44,720 Speaker 1: ask Cody of the Instagram account Cody's chick Instagram. Cody 589 00:33:44,840 --> 00:33:46,720 Speaker 1: is a member of the f A and has nearly 590 00:33:46,800 --> 00:33:51,120 Speaker 1: seventy chickens. He's documented on Instagram to a very eager crowd. 591 00:33:51,600 --> 00:33:53,920 Speaker 1: If you're down the chicken hole like me, check out 592 00:33:53,920 --> 00:33:57,880 Speaker 1: the hashtag chickens of Instagram. You really won't be disappointed. 593 00:34:05,600 --> 00:34:09,120 Speaker 1: It's incredible the amount of optimism and hope that Jamie 594 00:34:09,120 --> 00:34:12,520 Speaker 1: and Hannah both have for growing as a relationship they've 595 00:34:12,520 --> 00:34:15,759 Speaker 1: forged with Earth. It actually reminds me a lot of 596 00:34:15,800 --> 00:34:18,680 Speaker 1: Brooke Burke, the TV host and founder of the fitness 597 00:34:18,719 --> 00:34:21,960 Speaker 1: app Brooke Brooke Body. Brooke is probably one of the 598 00:34:22,000 --> 00:34:26,239 Speaker 1: most positive people I've met, and she's an avid home gardener. 599 00:34:26,680 --> 00:34:28,600 Speaker 1: I wanted to share with her some of the lessons 600 00:34:28,640 --> 00:34:31,279 Speaker 1: I learned from Hannah and Jamie, but I also wanted 601 00:34:31,320 --> 00:34:34,880 Speaker 1: to find out how she's approaching sustainability in her own 602 00:34:34,920 --> 00:34:41,640 Speaker 1: backyard and home. Hey, Brooke, are you there? I'm here. Oh, 603 00:34:41,719 --> 00:34:43,759 Speaker 1: it's so great to have you on the show. You know, 604 00:34:44,080 --> 00:34:46,480 Speaker 1: it's funny, I think, if you have this incredible host 605 00:34:46,640 --> 00:34:50,399 Speaker 1: and dancer and personality and this fitness expert, but it's 606 00:34:50,400 --> 00:34:54,360 Speaker 1: only recently that I got to peek into your gardening 607 00:34:54,760 --> 00:34:57,280 Speaker 1: uh journey online and and see some of your gardens, 608 00:34:57,280 --> 00:34:59,439 Speaker 1: and so I was curious, how long have you been 609 00:34:59,600 --> 00:35:02,200 Speaker 1: into well? First of all, I have to say, since 610 00:35:02,239 --> 00:35:05,080 Speaker 1: you had a look inside, I'm surprised that we're still 611 00:35:05,200 --> 00:35:07,400 Speaker 1: doing the show together, because you know, it's a hot mess. 612 00:35:08,680 --> 00:35:11,279 Speaker 1: To be honest, I this whole year has been such 613 00:35:11,520 --> 00:35:14,240 Speaker 1: a conscious shift, and I feel like everyone is spending 614 00:35:14,239 --> 00:35:16,640 Speaker 1: more time at home. But you know, I'm I'm a 615 00:35:16,640 --> 00:35:18,640 Speaker 1: bit of a home chef, and I have four kids, 616 00:35:18,640 --> 00:35:20,880 Speaker 1: and I love to be outside, and so I do 617 00:35:20,960 --> 00:35:23,160 Speaker 1: so much. I spent so much time in my kitchen 618 00:35:23,160 --> 00:35:25,920 Speaker 1: that I wanted to create sort of a sustainable, you know, 619 00:35:26,000 --> 00:35:28,040 Speaker 1: project in my own backyard that I could plant with 620 00:35:28,080 --> 00:35:31,359 Speaker 1: my children and pick from. And I love spending time 621 00:35:31,360 --> 00:35:33,080 Speaker 1: at the farmer's market, and I go to all these 622 00:35:33,080 --> 00:35:36,319 Speaker 1: like bouge expensive organic grocery stores and I'm like, what 623 00:35:36,360 --> 00:35:38,920 Speaker 1: am I doing? Let me just take advantage of the 624 00:35:39,000 --> 00:35:41,279 Speaker 1: land and create what I have at home. And I 625 00:35:41,280 --> 00:35:45,560 Speaker 1: gotta tell you, I had no idea how difficult this 626 00:35:45,640 --> 00:35:48,160 Speaker 1: was going to be. I'm not proud of how my 627 00:35:48,200 --> 00:35:51,920 Speaker 1: garden looks. I'm proud that I have it, but I 628 00:35:51,960 --> 00:35:54,480 Speaker 1: am by no means a gardener. So I'm actually here 629 00:35:54,520 --> 00:35:57,000 Speaker 1: to learn and to and to do better, you know, 630 00:35:57,120 --> 00:35:59,239 Speaker 1: to get better at it. So you know, you talked 631 00:35:59,280 --> 00:36:01,640 Speaker 1: about ardening with your kids, which I really like, and 632 00:36:01,719 --> 00:36:03,879 Speaker 1: I'm curious what are the things that they've gotten excited 633 00:36:03,920 --> 00:36:06,360 Speaker 1: about in your garden. I think it's an opportunity for 634 00:36:06,440 --> 00:36:09,160 Speaker 1: us just to do something together as a family and 635 00:36:09,200 --> 00:36:11,960 Speaker 1: to have that project. I don't know that they get 636 00:36:11,960 --> 00:36:14,359 Speaker 1: the meaning of it like I do, but I think 637 00:36:14,440 --> 00:36:17,040 Speaker 1: they take the memories with them and it's just a 638 00:36:17,040 --> 00:36:20,040 Speaker 1: matter of going out there and doing something simple and natural. 639 00:36:20,160 --> 00:36:22,200 Speaker 1: And it's really hard, like you know, it's it's it's 640 00:36:22,239 --> 00:36:25,280 Speaker 1: hard with their generation. You know, it's a very digital world. 641 00:36:25,400 --> 00:36:28,240 Speaker 1: I celebrated, I respect it, but I also try to 642 00:36:28,280 --> 00:36:30,840 Speaker 1: maintain it for them. And also this year of the 643 00:36:30,880 --> 00:36:34,160 Speaker 1: digital classroom, my kids have missed an entire year. I've 644 00:36:34,200 --> 00:36:37,040 Speaker 1: had a daughter graduate from high school on a zoom. 645 00:36:37,280 --> 00:36:39,959 Speaker 1: I have a daughter graduating from college on a zoom 646 00:36:39,960 --> 00:36:42,759 Speaker 1: where you like click a button are graduated. It's like 647 00:36:42,800 --> 00:36:45,719 Speaker 1: what really? So it brings us back to a simplicity 648 00:36:45,840 --> 00:36:48,680 Speaker 1: I think of real life, and that's a really hard 649 00:36:48,800 --> 00:36:51,879 Speaker 1: thing to teach. So what's new in the garden and 650 00:36:51,960 --> 00:36:55,160 Speaker 1: what are you excited about now that it is spring? Um? 651 00:36:55,200 --> 00:36:59,279 Speaker 1: Sadly nothing, because I'm getting ready to plant. So I'm 652 00:36:59,280 --> 00:37:02,160 Speaker 1: looking in to you know, proper soil, which I really 653 00:37:02,160 --> 00:37:04,719 Speaker 1: don't know the science behind that, and again it's going 654 00:37:04,719 --> 00:37:07,520 Speaker 1: to be one big experiment. And you've also got roses, right, 655 00:37:07,520 --> 00:37:10,600 Speaker 1: I saw a photo of like, like a beautiful rose garden. 656 00:37:10,719 --> 00:37:13,040 Speaker 1: What do you love about that? And and are they perfumed? Like, 657 00:37:13,080 --> 00:37:15,080 Speaker 1: like do you does it smell amazing to walk through 658 00:37:15,080 --> 00:37:18,040 Speaker 1: that area? It does? I mean, one of my favorite 659 00:37:18,080 --> 00:37:20,520 Speaker 1: things to do is to pick garden roses, even though 660 00:37:20,560 --> 00:37:23,279 Speaker 1: sometimes they look funny, and every season develops, you know, 661 00:37:23,360 --> 00:37:26,320 Speaker 1: a new look. I love the color, I love the fragrance. 662 00:37:26,400 --> 00:37:29,480 Speaker 1: And an impossibly romantic little background story, you know, in 663 00:37:29,680 --> 00:37:32,480 Speaker 1: my ex husband David and I built the home that 664 00:37:32,560 --> 00:37:35,840 Speaker 1: I'm still in, he had a jeep that he was 665 00:37:35,880 --> 00:37:39,680 Speaker 1: his sixteen year old childhood jeep and he saved this 666 00:37:40,239 --> 00:37:43,879 Speaker 1: jeep for decades, and when it came time to start 667 00:37:44,000 --> 00:37:47,640 Speaker 1: landscaping our property, he traded the jeep in for I 668 00:37:47,640 --> 00:37:51,359 Speaker 1: think it was like three hundred rose bushes. And I 669 00:37:51,400 --> 00:37:53,479 Speaker 1: love that idea of gift giving to right, Like, there's 670 00:37:53,480 --> 00:37:56,879 Speaker 1: something really really lovely and special about giving something from 671 00:37:56,920 --> 00:38:00,720 Speaker 1: your backyard. So, you know, in addition to the story 672 00:38:00,880 --> 00:38:03,400 Speaker 1: of trading in the jeep for the roses being something 673 00:38:03,440 --> 00:38:07,440 Speaker 1: that's really romantic. There's also something strangely like ecological or 674 00:38:07,480 --> 00:38:10,880 Speaker 1: sustainable about that idea, right, trading in a car for plants. 675 00:38:11,320 --> 00:38:13,600 Speaker 1: I think so so, so tell me a little bit 676 00:38:13,600 --> 00:38:17,560 Speaker 1: about I love that you've moved these classes outside and 677 00:38:17,560 --> 00:38:20,200 Speaker 1: and that you feel this like real connection to the 678 00:38:20,239 --> 00:38:23,120 Speaker 1: earth and the land. And I'm curious, like does that 679 00:38:23,200 --> 00:38:26,200 Speaker 1: relationship feel more tangible than it did before? And and 680 00:38:26,320 --> 00:38:28,800 Speaker 1: uh and do your do the people in your classes 681 00:38:28,800 --> 00:38:32,120 Speaker 1: feel that connection as well? I? I think so. Opening 682 00:38:32,160 --> 00:38:34,600 Speaker 1: up my backyard was something that I never really thought 683 00:38:34,640 --> 00:38:38,080 Speaker 1: about doing. And I never thought about the possibility of 684 00:38:38,160 --> 00:38:40,360 Speaker 1: laying in my backyard with people like on the grass, 685 00:38:40,400 --> 00:38:42,600 Speaker 1: Like who would want to do that? I really thought 686 00:38:42,640 --> 00:38:45,040 Speaker 1: that who would want to come to a fitness class 687 00:38:45,080 --> 00:38:47,200 Speaker 1: and lay on the grass? You know? You want a 688 00:38:47,239 --> 00:38:50,640 Speaker 1: sound system your studio, That's how I've been teaching for years. 689 00:38:50,680 --> 00:38:53,279 Speaker 1: You want that visual experience. And I gotta tell you, 690 00:38:53,440 --> 00:38:55,040 Speaker 1: I don't know when I want to go back to 691 00:38:55,800 --> 00:38:58,840 Speaker 1: a classroom ever again. And I know we're going to 692 00:38:58,920 --> 00:39:01,839 Speaker 1: get back to type of normal whatever that looks like. 693 00:39:01,920 --> 00:39:06,160 Speaker 1: But I have seen people outside in my backyard cry 694 00:39:06,360 --> 00:39:10,000 Speaker 1: release fall asleep, stay longer. You know, there's usually you're 695 00:39:10,040 --> 00:39:12,319 Speaker 1: rushing out of a class and new classes coming in. 696 00:39:12,920 --> 00:39:15,120 Speaker 1: That's why I end with my sound bowls and with meditation, 697 00:39:15,120 --> 00:39:18,520 Speaker 1: because it gives people an opportunity to just stop and 698 00:39:18,640 --> 00:39:21,439 Speaker 1: check out of their head spice headspace rather and tap 699 00:39:21,480 --> 00:39:24,040 Speaker 1: into their body space and just lay there and look 700 00:39:24,080 --> 00:39:27,200 Speaker 1: at things that they haven't paid attention to. I really 701 00:39:27,239 --> 00:39:30,800 Speaker 1: appreciated that. Yeah, so we we've talked a lot about food, 702 00:39:30,840 --> 00:39:33,439 Speaker 1: and you mentioned that you visit local farmers markets. So 703 00:39:33,640 --> 00:39:36,880 Speaker 1: I'm guessing it's safe to say that eating organic is 704 00:39:36,920 --> 00:39:40,880 Speaker 1: important to you. But why has that been important and 705 00:39:40,880 --> 00:39:43,120 Speaker 1: and would you say it's been a driving force behind 706 00:39:43,160 --> 00:39:46,359 Speaker 1: your own gardening practices? Well, I think so. I mean, 707 00:39:46,400 --> 00:39:49,839 Speaker 1: I also love the experience of farmers markets because I'm 708 00:39:49,920 --> 00:39:53,560 Speaker 1: supporting our local farmers. But there's also certain things that 709 00:39:53,600 --> 00:39:55,080 Speaker 1: you just you're just not going to find in a 710 00:39:55,080 --> 00:39:56,960 Speaker 1: grocery store, like I learned when I go to the 711 00:39:56,960 --> 00:39:59,600 Speaker 1: farmer's market, because you're going to discover something or some 712 00:39:59,680 --> 00:40:02,719 Speaker 1: what's think funny or a different flavor. So but it's 713 00:40:02,719 --> 00:40:06,960 Speaker 1: such a great experience and I discover things. Yeah, I mean, 714 00:40:07,040 --> 00:40:09,400 Speaker 1: I we used to live in when I lived in Atlanta, 715 00:40:09,640 --> 00:40:12,239 Speaker 1: three blocks from the farmers market, and and we would 716 00:40:12,280 --> 00:40:15,080 Speaker 1: walk there every Sunday morning, and you know, the whole 717 00:40:15,080 --> 00:40:18,120 Speaker 1: community would come out. But but you'd come home with 718 00:40:18,120 --> 00:40:21,320 Speaker 1: this like bounty of strange vegetables, and there's excitement around 719 00:40:21,320 --> 00:40:23,279 Speaker 1: like what to do with them? Right, It's like it's 720 00:40:23,280 --> 00:40:25,160 Speaker 1: like being back from a candy shop or something right, 721 00:40:25,200 --> 00:40:28,960 Speaker 1: and everyone's you know, evangelizing about like how excited they 722 00:40:28,960 --> 00:40:31,319 Speaker 1: are about this new this new fruit, or this new 723 00:40:31,400 --> 00:40:33,880 Speaker 1: vegetable or this thing you've got to try or you know, 724 00:40:33,920 --> 00:40:35,759 Speaker 1: And and I love that. I love that. I mean 725 00:40:35,800 --> 00:40:38,640 Speaker 1: the visual. I'm very visual. So for me, if I 726 00:40:38,680 --> 00:40:42,080 Speaker 1: come home with all these beautiful things, first of all, 727 00:40:42,120 --> 00:40:44,799 Speaker 1: it makes me want to cook. It makes me want 728 00:40:44,840 --> 00:40:48,719 Speaker 1: to eat healthier, It makes me want to experiment with salads. 729 00:40:48,760 --> 00:40:53,680 Speaker 1: So makes me want to make a colorful food. And 730 00:40:53,960 --> 00:40:57,160 Speaker 1: that's a really simple visual that I wrote a blog 731 00:40:57,200 --> 00:40:59,960 Speaker 1: about it a long time ago and her mom about 732 00:40:59,840 --> 00:41:02,000 Speaker 1: eating the colors of the rainbow. You know, I did 733 00:41:02,000 --> 00:41:04,160 Speaker 1: this recipe of what I call it junk salad, and 734 00:41:04,200 --> 00:41:07,200 Speaker 1: it's literally like taking all the leftovers and everything that 735 00:41:07,239 --> 00:41:09,319 Speaker 1: you have that you're not going to waste, and make 736 00:41:09,360 --> 00:41:12,000 Speaker 1: a colorful and crunchy from nuts to seeds to different 737 00:41:12,040 --> 00:41:15,319 Speaker 1: vegetables and salads and different types of lettuce. And it's 738 00:41:15,360 --> 00:41:18,120 Speaker 1: really fun. And I feel like this was a year 739 00:41:18,239 --> 00:41:22,879 Speaker 1: of being aware of how much we waste figuring out 740 00:41:22,960 --> 00:41:25,920 Speaker 1: how to be creative and and make I mean, I 741 00:41:25,960 --> 00:41:30,680 Speaker 1: make these delicious we calm junk salads, and everybody loves them. 742 00:41:30,719 --> 00:41:32,840 Speaker 1: This year we did realize how much we waste, not 743 00:41:32,880 --> 00:41:36,200 Speaker 1: just because because of the pressures of the pandemic, but 744 00:41:36,360 --> 00:41:39,760 Speaker 1: also um composting stopped in New York, like the city 745 00:41:39,800 --> 00:41:42,960 Speaker 1: stopped composting, and so you suddenly realize how much more 746 00:41:43,120 --> 00:41:45,640 Speaker 1: trash you were throwing out without um, you know, with 747 00:41:45,680 --> 00:41:48,640 Speaker 1: all the food scraps in there. And and I was curious, 748 00:41:48,640 --> 00:41:51,600 Speaker 1: do you compost in in your gardener your yard? I 749 00:41:51,640 --> 00:41:53,680 Speaker 1: don't because I I but I'm going to this year, 750 00:41:53,800 --> 00:41:56,080 Speaker 1: and I really am going to do a little research 751 00:41:56,120 --> 00:41:59,880 Speaker 1: progress project with my family because you know, even recycling 752 00:42:00,080 --> 00:42:04,280 Speaker 1: takes time and discipline and it's super important. So I'm 753 00:42:04,320 --> 00:42:07,319 Speaker 1: in the process of doing all that and just learning. Rather, 754 00:42:07,360 --> 00:42:10,000 Speaker 1: I'm in the process of learning how it can be better. 755 00:42:10,080 --> 00:42:13,200 Speaker 1: And you know, at that whole that whole process Yeah. 756 00:42:13,600 --> 00:42:16,560 Speaker 1: We had um Thurston on the show and he was 757 00:42:16,560 --> 00:42:20,080 Speaker 1: saying that his mornings, he you know, metadates and journals 758 00:42:20,080 --> 00:42:21,520 Speaker 1: and then he gets a cup of coffee and goes 759 00:42:21,600 --> 00:42:25,480 Speaker 1: out and spins this cylinder he's got for compost and 760 00:42:25,480 --> 00:42:27,160 Speaker 1: it's just and then checks on his garden in the 761 00:42:27,160 --> 00:42:29,880 Speaker 1: mornings and there's something it's it's funny because you think 762 00:42:29,880 --> 00:42:31,920 Speaker 1: a compost and there's nothing romantic about it. And then 763 00:42:31,920 --> 00:42:35,160 Speaker 1: the way he described it was like it's like a ritual. 764 00:42:35,680 --> 00:42:39,799 Speaker 1: Now I'm in you know, we've been talking a lot 765 00:42:39,840 --> 00:42:42,040 Speaker 1: on the show about how about how the world needs 766 00:42:42,080 --> 00:42:44,879 Speaker 1: more empathy and whether or not caring for plants can 767 00:42:45,040 --> 00:42:47,600 Speaker 1: make us better humans, and I was wondering your thoughts 768 00:42:47,640 --> 00:42:50,920 Speaker 1: on that. Well, I think so. I I think it's 769 00:42:52,320 --> 00:42:55,359 Speaker 1: I mean, it's not not everybody can really really understand it. 770 00:42:55,400 --> 00:42:57,319 Speaker 1: I mean sometimes my friends come over there like, how 771 00:42:57,360 --> 00:42:59,600 Speaker 1: can your indoor plants are so amazing? I'm like, well, 772 00:42:59,640 --> 00:43:02,400 Speaker 1: I always play music in the house. It's not like 773 00:43:02,400 --> 00:43:04,440 Speaker 1: I'm walking around talking to my plants, but I might. 774 00:43:05,000 --> 00:43:07,400 Speaker 1: I'm like, I love them, you know, I mean I 775 00:43:07,480 --> 00:43:09,600 Speaker 1: dust the leaves on my on my fig trees in 776 00:43:09,680 --> 00:43:13,520 Speaker 1: my house because I know they need to breathe, you know. Um, 777 00:43:13,640 --> 00:43:16,000 Speaker 1: I see how they change shape because I know that 778 00:43:16,040 --> 00:43:21,200 Speaker 1: they're moving towards the light. So I think that experiences 779 00:43:21,560 --> 00:43:23,640 Speaker 1: is really important. And you know what if you neglect 780 00:43:23,719 --> 00:43:26,719 Speaker 1: your plants, yeah they're gonna die. Yeah they're gonna die. 781 00:43:26,800 --> 00:43:29,319 Speaker 1: But like bring that back to the center, right, So 782 00:43:29,400 --> 00:43:31,160 Speaker 1: are we like if we don't take care of our body. 783 00:43:31,160 --> 00:43:32,520 Speaker 1: And not to be more abid, but you don't take 784 00:43:32,520 --> 00:43:35,440 Speaker 1: care of your health, you don't get outside and you know, 785 00:43:35,600 --> 00:43:37,880 Speaker 1: get some fresh air or get some vitamin D. You know, 786 00:43:37,920 --> 00:43:39,719 Speaker 1: maybe you live somewhere where you don't have that that 787 00:43:39,800 --> 00:43:44,000 Speaker 1: often find something that feels good. Movement, rhythm, breath, those 788 00:43:44,000 --> 00:43:46,439 Speaker 1: are the things that change you, you know. And and 789 00:43:46,520 --> 00:43:50,680 Speaker 1: so I think we we need to take advantage and 790 00:43:50,719 --> 00:43:53,840 Speaker 1: kind of lean into that. You know, it's it's really important. 791 00:43:54,640 --> 00:43:56,880 Speaker 1: I love that, you know, Brook, It's been such a 792 00:43:57,040 --> 00:44:00,000 Speaker 1: pleasure talking to you. And I know that we're talking 793 00:44:00,120 --> 00:44:02,040 Speaker 1: about time being precious, but thank you so much for 794 00:44:02,080 --> 00:44:04,839 Speaker 1: spending time with us. Well, I appreciate it. And I'm 795 00:44:04,880 --> 00:44:08,799 Speaker 1: going to make you proud of me when you see 796 00:44:08,800 --> 00:44:11,280 Speaker 1: the new garden, the new garden that's about to take place. 797 00:44:11,320 --> 00:44:14,319 Speaker 1: I'm really excited about this season. That sounds wonderful. We're 798 00:44:14,320 --> 00:44:16,680 Speaker 1: looking forward to checking it out. Thank you so much. 799 00:44:16,719 --> 00:44:23,280 Speaker 1: I really enjoyed this time. If Old McDonald was rewritten today, 800 00:44:23,440 --> 00:44:27,680 Speaker 1: it would be less old McDonald and more millennial McDonald. 801 00:44:28,200 --> 00:44:30,320 Speaker 1: And if the women I spoke to on this episode 802 00:44:30,400 --> 00:44:33,239 Speaker 1: or any indication, we also wouldn't be so quick to 803 00:44:33,400 --> 00:44:37,279 Speaker 1: gender farmer McDonald as mail either. I'm a little too 804 00:44:37,280 --> 00:44:40,600 Speaker 1: old to be a millennial myself, but I do like 805 00:44:40,719 --> 00:44:45,040 Speaker 1: how this generation has broadly tackled the world. As Malcolm 806 00:44:45,040 --> 00:44:48,759 Speaker 1: Harris's book Kids These Days described it, they faced a 807 00:44:48,920 --> 00:44:53,640 Speaker 1: hostile job market, soaring tuitions and declines and wages, but 808 00:44:53,719 --> 00:44:58,080 Speaker 1: growing up connected and tapped into technology has imbued millennials 809 00:44:58,120 --> 00:45:01,120 Speaker 1: with a different sense of purpose and as a Goldman 810 00:45:01,160 --> 00:45:05,080 Speaker 1: Sachs survey showed their self starters. They care more about 811 00:45:05,200 --> 00:45:09,520 Speaker 1: exercise and wellness, They smoke less than previous generations. They 812 00:45:09,520 --> 00:45:14,319 Speaker 1: help spawn the sharing economy, valuing experiences over possessions, and 813 00:45:14,320 --> 00:45:18,319 Speaker 1: they're focused on solutions to community and global issues. And 814 00:45:18,360 --> 00:45:20,399 Speaker 1: while there's a whole lot of work to be done 815 00:45:20,520 --> 00:45:23,840 Speaker 1: to repair things like climate change, I have to admit 816 00:45:24,239 --> 00:45:28,000 Speaker 1: I find comfort in hearing about these movements of sustainable growers, 817 00:45:28,680 --> 00:45:32,280 Speaker 1: people like Hannah and Jamie, people who see the plants 818 00:45:32,320 --> 00:45:35,160 Speaker 1: we care for as our direct connection to Mother Nature 819 00:45:35,600 --> 00:45:38,400 Speaker 1: and a way to give back and make our footprints 820 00:45:38,440 --> 00:45:42,320 Speaker 1: just a little smaller. If millennials can make an entire 821 00:45:42,400 --> 00:45:46,480 Speaker 1: industry think more sustainably, imagine the model they're setting for 822 00:45:46,719 --> 00:45:50,160 Speaker 1: the next generations. When I hear about things like tree 823 00:45:50,200 --> 00:45:53,800 Speaker 1: planting campaigns reaching its goal to plant twenty million trees, 824 00:45:53,920 --> 00:45:57,320 Speaker 1: and and that ecosystem restoration camps are popping up around 825 00:45:57,360 --> 00:46:00,480 Speaker 1: the world with volunteers showing up to get her hands 826 00:46:00,520 --> 00:46:03,760 Speaker 1: dirty for a cleaner earth, I wonder what will Ruby 827 00:46:03,760 --> 00:46:07,440 Speaker 1: and Henry's generation do to build off this momentum. Will 828 00:46:07,480 --> 00:46:10,160 Speaker 1: they create their own organic kitchen gardens with the chicken 829 00:46:10,160 --> 00:46:13,319 Speaker 1: coop and compost bins out back? Will they figure out 830 00:46:13,360 --> 00:46:16,640 Speaker 1: new ways to farm and protect our earth? Or maybe 831 00:46:16,719 --> 00:46:23,080 Speaker 1: they'll rewrite the song completely? What two? What to for 832 00:46:23,600 --> 00:46:32,080 Speaker 1: Young McDonald is sustainable firm. Yeah, yeah, you and on 833 00:46:32,239 --> 00:46:39,120 Speaker 1: that phone he had organic milk, yeah, yeio, with healthy 834 00:46:39,160 --> 00:46:47,719 Speaker 1: soil here at happy cows there here yep, they're yeah everywhere, yep. Yeah. 835 00:46:48,160 --> 00:46:53,680 Speaker 1: Young McDonald had a sustainable form. Let's say the Earth. 836 00:46:53,840 --> 00:47:02,640 Speaker 1: I oh, that's a today's episode. Don't forget no matter 837 00:47:02,760 --> 00:47:05,000 Speaker 1: what season it is or where you're at in your 838 00:47:05,040 --> 00:47:08,960 Speaker 1: gardening journey, there's some incredible resources waiting for you on 839 00:47:09,000 --> 00:47:12,640 Speaker 1: the Miracle Grow website. Next time on our show, we're 840 00:47:12,640 --> 00:47:16,400 Speaker 1: exploring the world of tiny plants. If you like what 841 00:47:16,520 --> 00:47:18,879 Speaker 1: you heard, don't forget to rate and review the show 842 00:47:18,920 --> 00:47:22,399 Speaker 1: on Apple Podcasts. Also, we want to hear from you. 843 00:47:22,719 --> 00:47:27,680 Speaker 1: What are your inspiring plant stories, relatable struggles or growing questions? 844 00:47:28,080 --> 00:47:31,000 Speaker 1: Taggers in your post or tweet using the hashtag Humans 845 00:47:31,040 --> 00:47:33,640 Speaker 1: Growing Stuff, and don't be surprised if you hear your 846 00:47:33,680 --> 00:47:37,440 Speaker 1: story featured on an upcoming episode. Humans Growing Stuff is 847 00:47:37,440 --> 00:47:40,080 Speaker 1: a collaboration from My Heart Radio and your friends at 848 00:47:40,120 --> 00:47:42,720 Speaker 1: Miracle Grow. Our show was written and produced by Molly 849 00:47:42,800 --> 00:47:46,800 Speaker 1: Sosha and me Mongy Chatigler in partnership with Ryan Ovadia, 850 00:47:47,040 --> 00:47:52,000 Speaker 1: Daniel Ainsworth, Hayley Ericsson, and Garrett Shannon of Banter Until 851 00:47:52,040 --> 00:47:54,080 Speaker 1: next time, Thanks so much for listening.