Mother Earth News and Friends

This episode of Mother Earth News and Friends discusses beekeeping best practices with Tara Dawn Chapman, author of the new book "For the Bees." Chapman emphasizes the importance of understanding honeybee biology for successful beekeeping. She discusses swarm prevention techniques and how to manage brood development frames within the hive. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine  The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

In this episode of Mother Earth News and Friends, Hank Will, Editor-at-Large for Grit and Mother Earth News chats with managing editor Carla Tilghman about chicken coops. What's the difference between brooders and coops? Between tractors and hoop houses? From two long time rural and urban chicken owners.

Welcome to this first episode of Hack's Hacks, a series of podcasts with Oscar "Hank" Will III, a man of many talents and a lifelong love of farming, animal husbandry, science, and DIY. Hank Will has farmed since childhood and been involved in innovative crop management, as well as earning a PhD in the bio-sciences.  He now runs Prairie Turnip Farm, a diversified livestock operation, with his wife Joanne in Osage County, Kansas.  Hank is and Editor-at-Large for Ogden Publications, former Editorial Director, and the former editor-in-chief of GRIT magazine.  He's  the author and co-author of eight books, including Plowing with Pigs and Other Creative, Low-Budget Homesteading Solution. Welcome to this series of podcasts with Hank about farming ideas and innovation. Additional Resources: www.Prairieturnipfarm.com   Our Podcast Team Podcast interviewer: Carla Tilghman Podcast Editor: Carla Tilghman Podcast Editorial Team: Jessica Mitchell Check out the MOTHER EARTH NEWS Bookstore for more resources that may interest you. To see more podcasts, visit our Mother Earth News and Friends page. Check out the MOTHER EARTH NEWS FAIR page for an opportunity to see our podcast guest live. The Mother Earth News Urban Homesteading Podcast is a production of Ogden Publications

In this audio article episode of Mother Earth News and Friends, join us as we explores the practical joys and challenges of using a traditional woodburning cookstove to achieve off-grid self-reliance in the modern age. Wren Everett's article teaches essential techniques for fire management, fuel selection, and wood-fired baking, proving that this 19th-century skill remains a powerful tool for independence today. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine 

In this episode brought to you by Homesteaders of Iowa (HOI), host Josh Wilder and Ana Skemp sit down with David Ford, a researcher, homesteader, and keynote at the upcoming HOI Expo and Midwest Conference who shares his journey of restoring degraded Iowa farmland using the principles of biomimicry. The conversation explores the vital role of mycorrhizal fungi in soil health, the importance of nutrient-dense food security, and how emulating nature's solutions can lead to a more resilient homestead. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine  The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

In this episode of the Mother Earth News and Friends podcast, host Josh Wilder speaks with Gianaclis Caldwell about her book, The Useful Goat, which explores a "nose-to-tail" approach to goat keeping. The conversation covers the practicalities of raising goats for milk and meat, offering expert advice on sustainable homesteading, humane processing, and the unique nutritional benefits of goat dairy.  More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine  The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

This episode of the Mother Earth News and Friends podcast features an annual editorial roundup where editors from Mother Earth News and Grit magazines share their favorite, most surprising, and most inspiring articles from 2025. The editors discuss a diverse range of topics, including food preservation techniques like freeze-drying, sustainable gardening and habitat restoration, DIY skills such as roof thatching, winter foraging, and the importance of protecting wildlife habitats. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine  The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

This episode of Mother Earth News and Friends features a conversation with Rosemary Gladstar, an acclaimed herbalist and author often called the "godmother of modern herbalism." She discusses the history of herbalism, the importance of reconnecting children with nature and plants, and provides guidance on sustainable harvesting and sourcing herbs. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine  The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

Comedian Tig Notaro joins the Mother Earth News and Friends podcast to share the story of her dedicated transition to a plant-based lifestyle following a series of health crises, a journey that led her to pursue a plant-based nutrition certification. She discusses the surprising health benefits she experienced, how she approaches nutrition with her family, and the importance of finding your personal motivation ("North Star") for making major lifestyle changes, all delivered with her trademark honesty and dry wit. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine  The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

Dr. Christine Wilkinson joins the podcast to discuss how homesteaders can achieve equitable and lasting coexistence with urban and suburban wildlife. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine  The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

This episode of Mother Earth News features an interview with Shelby Lucero from Growing Spaces about four-season gardening, even in challenging climates like Colorado. Shelby explains how the structures like their geodesic dome greenhouses which enable strength, combined with passive solar technologies like a thermal mass pond and under-soil ventilation, creates an energy-efficient, year-round growing environment. This episode was sponsored by Growing Spaces More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine  The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

Get ahead of the cold as poultry keeper and Mother Earth News Editor Audra Trosper shares practical tips for weatherproofing your coop from fall through spring, including balancing ventilation and insulation. Plus, learn why breeds like Silkies and Frizzles are at high risk in cold weather and how to prevent common issues like frostbite and bumblefoot. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine  The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

Join Alayna McDonald as she explains how she left her career in logistics to become a single-income, urban homesteader and how food preservation, specifically freeze-drying, has helped her save money. She delves into the technical process of freeze-drying, outlines the financial considerations of owning a freeze dryer, and shares her favorite freeze-dried foods, including a strange but successful zucchini bread mix. The episode is a great resource for anyone interested in homesteading, food preservation, and the practical economics behind it all. This episode is sponsored by Harvest Right Freeze Dryers. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine  The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

This podcast episode of Mother Earth News and Friends features chicken experts Holly Callahan-Kasmala and Chrisie DiCarlo of Coffee with the Chicken Ladies. They discuss essential tips for fall chicken care, from preparing coops for colder weather to understanding the natural molting process. The conversation aims to help both new and experienced chicken keepers ensure their flocks stay healthy and happy as the seasons change, all while sharing personal anecdotes and a laugh over endless cups of coffee. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine  The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays

Dive into the secrets of successful fall gardening with plant coach and urban gardener Nick Cutsumpas, also known as "Farmer Nick," as he shares his insights on preparing for winter and cultivating a thriving, low-impact garden. Learn how to protect your plants from frost, use natural resources like fallen leaves, and set yourself up for a bountiful harvest year after year. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine  The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

Learn with Jimmy DiResta in this episode of Mother Earth News and Friends to build with confidence and transform every project from a simple sandwich to a complex workshop into a creative opportunity.  We discuss everything from the evolution of his workshops and property to growing pawpaw trees and making everything from knives to chicken coops. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine  The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

Eric Stromberg shares the key benefits of raising quail, such as their small size, low noise, and prolific egg-laying capabilities. The conversation also covers topics like housing, feeding, and the process of raising quail for both meat and eggs. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine  The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

Delve into sustainable pest control and soil health in this episode of the Mother Earth News and Friends podcast with J.B. Williams, a chemical engineer. Williams shares insights on using natural, essential-oil based products as alternatives to synthetic chemicals, emphasizing their safety and effectiveness. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine  The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.

In her audio article and subsequent discussion, author Amanda Sorell encourages renters to embrace gardening wherever they are, regardless of their living situation. She shares practical tips for creating a movable garden, emphasizing the importance of salvaging materials, starting small, and planting both annuals and perennials in containers to maximize mobility and yield. Sorrell also highlights the value of learning from plants, other people, and the community, suggesting that gardening can be a powerful way to put down figurative roots and feel at home, even if you can't own the land. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine  The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays

On this episode of Mother Earth News and Friends, Catherine O'Brien, an AKC Bronze Breeder of Merit, discusses with Kenny Coogan the unique temperament, intelligence, and care of Anatolian Shepherd Dogs, highlighting their role as effective livestock guardians. She shares insights on breeding for instinct and sound temperament, as well as practical advice for new owners on training and integrating these powerful dogs into a farm environment . More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Store https://store.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motherearthnewsmag 🌳 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motherearthnewsmagazine  The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new episodes on Thursdays.