NOFA Podcast

This episode is a culmination of voices and stories of our NOFA community members that visited the in person Winter Conferences.  For those of you who don’t already know, most of the NOFA state chapters host an annual Winter Conference.  Some are jam packed single days, others are weekend long intensives, and others have been held in a more virtual online format.  None-the-less the Winter Conference is filled with workshops, presentations, and experiences for Farmers, Gardeners, Foodies, Chefs, and Agricultural and Environmental Policy advocates.  And it’s one of the greatest places to connect with other people who are equally, and sometimes even more passionate about the work we’re all doing.  Hear the stories and intentions of people like YOU from NY, NJ, CT, VT, MASS, RI, NH, PA and MA!

Closing the Mushroom Production Loop: Evaluating Soil Microbe Changes Following Field Application of Compost Inoculated with Spent Mushroom Substrate with host, Tony Kennette, Ruben Parilla Soil Tech Coordinator and Education Dir NOFA MASS and Elizabeth Almeida of Fat Moon Farm.  In this episode we discuss the use of compost inocullated with "spent" mushroom substrate, and the scientific discoveries found regarding increased fungal activity in the soil when applied. This podcast episode is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number ONE20-378. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. To find out more about Fat Moon Farm visit https://fatmoonmushrooms.com/ To find more information on the Northeast Organic Farming Association chapter in your state please visit us at https://nofa.org/  For additional information on upcoming workshops, articles and NOFA/Mass project updates, please follow our NOFA/Mass Facebook page and join our mailing list.  https://www.nofamass.org/    Music by Matt Jatkola https://mattjatkola.com/ https://mattjatkola.bandcamp.com/ https://jatk.bandcamp.com/ Music by Jason Valcourt https://www.jasonvalcourt.com/ JV on YouTube Music By Tony & The Trees https://tonyandthetrees.com/    NOFA Podcast produced and edited by Tony Kennette of https://nofanj.org/ and https://martenettefarms.com/       

Remediation of soil is the work of re-establishing its healthy function. In this episode of the NOFA Podcast Nance Klehm and Willie Crosby delve into the work of revitalizing soil and the possibilities of restoring contaminated soils for food production. This episode’s guests are part of a collaborative, Springfield, MA-based project funded by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources to build community knowledge about ecological approaches to remediating contaminated soils. For additional bioremediation workshops, articles and NOFA/Mass project updates, please follow our NOFA/Mass Facebook page and join our mailing list. Nofamass.org Nance Klehm is the Founder and Director of Social Ecologies in Illinois. Willie Crosby can be found at Fungially.com Chill acoustic guitar music provided by Jason Valcourt.

This week on the NOFA/Mass Podcast we are talking about how to get your garden space buzzing with native plants that attract and support our favorite little buddies pollinators! Caro is back as my co-host to chat with me about bringing in native plants and her experience with growing them. We will also interview Dan Jaffe, author of the book Native Plants for New England Gardens, all about why we should be planting the plants that grow naturally in our regions. We also have a call to action, so stay tuned!  Special thanks to the New England Biolabs Foundation for their support for this podcast and our North Shore Pollinators Project

This week on the NOFA/Mass podcast we are going to get Nutty! Chesnuts that is! Caro Roszell is back as my co-host and we will be talking about the carbon sequestration possibilities of growing food from trees. Then we chat with Jono Niger about his farm Big River Chestnuts and his experience with markets, establishment strategies, integration with other crops and livestock and more. Plus another great question for our expert homesteaders in the ask a homesteader segment!   

This week on the NOFA/mass podcast we are going to be talking about how having a heard of heifers doesn’t have to hurt the soil. My co-host Suzy and I will discuss our experiences with grazing animals, remembering the cows we have loved! Then we will interview Sara Flack author of The Art and Science of Grazing. We will also be introducing a new segment “Homestead advice” where your questions are answered by some of the most experienced homesteaders in the commonwealth!

We are back for season 3 and this week on the NOFA Mass podcast we are going to be talking about glyphosate the ingredient in Roundup that has been making headlines and ending Monsanto in court. With my cohost Grant, we will discuss his personal journey with this harsh chemical that finds its way into our lives and then we will interview Carey Gillam author of White Wash and this years' Winter Conference keynote speaker. Plus, we play how many workshops can Lydia name in 30 seconds!

This week on the NOFA/Mass podcast it’s a total shit show! I mean for real, we are talking all things poop, turds and more as Caro and I discuss the process of making compost from our own waste. We gross-out and nerd-out on this topic and then get to interview the author of the groundbreaking book The Humanure Handbook Joe Jenkins on how he came to be the expert on excrement.

This week on the NOFA/Mass podcast we are going to be thinking about the setup, the beginning, the planning… of your garden or homesteading space! My co-host Anna Gilbert-Muhammad and I will discuss how we have thought about setting up garden and farm spaces in the past. Starting at conceptualizing all the way to our blunders in implementation. Then we will talk to permaculture expert and author Ben Falk about how he set up his farm and tips he can offer for people just starting out as well as folks who have been at it for eva. Ben Falk and his book on the Chelsea Green website https://www.chelseagreen.com/writer/ben-falk/

This week on the NOFA/Mass podcast we are going to be talking about how our livestock are smarter than we think they are and the lessons that they can teach us. My co-host will be Jack Kittredge of Many Hands Organic Farm in Barre MA and I will chat all about our own experiences with wise and often sassy livestock. Then we will interview Fred Provensia the author of Nourishment What Animals Can Teach Us about Rediscovering Our Nutritional Wisdom Fred Proenza and his book on the Chelsea Green website https://www.chelseagreen.com/writer/fred-provenza/

This week on the NOFA/Mass podcast we are giving you a sneak peek into what is going to be the most amazing NOFA Summer Conference ever! Joining me in the studio is Jason Valcort the NOFA Summer Conference Coordinator and we chat about all the things we are pumped about for this the 45th year of sustainable ag. fun in the sun. We also chat with this year's keynote speaker Sandor Katz the internationally renowned author of The Art of Fermentation. Grab your mason jars folks and stay tuned for some wisdom from the kraut-master! Sandor Katz website https://www.wildfermentation.com/  

This week on the NOFA/Mass podcast we are talking about how to get your kids to better appreciate and eat the animals you raise though mindful butchering and creative recipes. My co-host Christy and I will discuss the importance of using the whole animal as well as have a chat with Katie Stillman of Stillman Quality Meats about her journey to being a butcher, how she is raising her kids to appreciate the animals she raises and some of the uncommon meats she sells. Katie Stillman and Stillman Quality Meats website https://www.stillmanqualitymeats.com/

This week on the NOFA/Mass podcast we are going to be getting into some self-care, some herbalism and some ideas about sustainability by talking all about herbal skin care at home. My co-host Christy Bassett and I will chat about our own experiences with at home remedies and soaps and then we will interview Amber Kennedy of Boheme Botanika Herbals about her favorite herbs for first aid and skin care. Stay tuned because this episode will leave you glowing! Amber Kennedy, Boheme Botanika Herbals FB page https://www.facebook.com/bohemebotanika/

This week on the NOFA/Mass Podcast we are digging deep into the topic of carbon farming. My guest host Caro Rozell is back to get nerdy with me about pulling CO2 out of the air and putting it in the soil. After talking about carbon farming here in New England we will be chatting with Jeff Creque who is a co-founder of the Marin Carbon Project and a Director at the Carbon Cycle Institute all about carbon farming on the other coast. Jeff Creque and the Carbon Cycle Institute website https://www.carboncycle.org Podcast Sponsored by: Chelsea Green Publishing Dr. Bronner's The Pfeiffer Center

This week on the NOFA/Mass podcast we are talking about something so gouda, we will be leaving you saying bre-visimo! Cheese! My co-host Noah Courser-Kellerman NOFA/Mass board member and farmer at Aprilla Farm in Essex Ma. will chat about what is arguably the best food invention ever, our experiments in cheese making and what cheese makes the best building block for an igloo. Then we will interview Clifford Hatch of Upinngill Farm all about making soft cheese. As Avery Aames, author of The Long Quiche Goodbye says “Life is great. Cheese makes it better.” let's get cheesy! Cliff Hatch and Upingil website https://upinngil.com/ Podcast Sponsored by: Chelsea Green Publishing Dr. Bronner's The Pfeiffer Center  

This week on the NOFA/Mass podcast we are going to be getting friendly with the fungus amungus… We are talking all about mycorrhizal fungi and growing mushrooms at home! I will be joined in the studio by NOFA/Mass Executive director as my guest co-host and together we will chat about the amazing lil’ beings mushrooms and then we will interview Willie Crosby of Fungi Ally about his journey to being a mushroom master and his upcoming workshop that will be all about how you can grow fungus at home! Willie Crosby and Fungi Ally website https://fungially.com/ Podcast Sponsored by: Chelsea Green Publishing Dr. Bronner's The Pfeiffer Center

This week on the NOFA/Mass podcast it's all about community! We are going to be talking about getting the community involved on farms by volunteering, farmers feeding their communities and how the community can be involved in CARBON FARMING! Caro is back as my co-host and we will talk about all sorts of community-related stuff. How to use volunteers on your farm, food access and the micro-communities in the soil. If all that isn’t cool enough we also will be interviewing Doug Wolchik of Gaining Ground Farm in Concord MA on how is farm balances all the ways you can engage the community. Stay tuned! Gaining Ground farm website https://gainingground.org/ Podcast Sponsored by: Chelsea Green Publishing Dr. Bronner's  

This week on the NOFA/Mass we are getting back into a topic that gives us quite a buzz.. BEES! My co-host this week is Jeremy Barker-Plotkin farmer at Simple Gifts Farm in Amherst MA and we know almost nothing about bees BUT fear not dear listener because we interview Angela Roell who is a beekeeper extraordinaire who is teaching a workshop on Natural Beekeeping on April 28th. They will school Jeremy and I on things like bee treatments and give us hope for the future regarding bee population decline. Angela Roell website https://angelaroell.com/about/ Podcast Sponsored by: Chelsea Green Publishing Dr. Bronner's  

We are back for Season 2! And we kick off this week on the NOFA/Mass Podcast by taking on a big question that so many farmers face… How to make the farm profitable. My co-host Caro and I will be discussing what it means for many farmers to produce food and a solid income. And we will be interviewing Paul and Sandy Arnold of Pleasant Valley Farm, Argyle, NY about how they farm on a smaller scale and how they make it work financially.   Paul and Sandy Arnold of Pleasant Valley Farm, website: http://pvfproduce.com/   Podcast Sponsored by: Chelsea Green Publishing Dr. Bronner's

This week on the NOFA/Mass podcast we are going to get you all pumped up for our Winter Conference! We will be talking all about the theme with some Lydia style history. We are also bringing back the crowd favorite segment of Workshops in 60 seconds and two doubled up farm fails and hacks! Plus my interview with John Kempf of Advancing Eco Agriculture who is this year's keynote speaker!