The Urban Farm Podcast with Greg Peterson

Harvesting, Milling, and Cooking with Arizona’s Native Superfood
In this episode we explore mesquites as a desert food source, hosted by Romey Romero & Farmer Greg. This episodes guests are Peggy Sue Creekmore and Mike Clow and we explore one of the Sonoran Desert’s most abundant and overlooked food sources: mesquite beans. The conversation covers how to identify quality mesquite trees, harvest pods safely, dry them properly, and turn them into nutritious mesquite flour using a community hammer mill. Listeners learn why mesquite has been a staple food for centuries, how it compares to conventional flour, and how to transform this free local resource into delicious baked goods, drinks, and snacks. The episode also highlights educational workshops, harvesting walks, and community milling opportunities.
Key Topics & Entities
Mesquite bean harvesting
Mesquite flour production
Community hammer mill project
Native desert food systems
Peggy Sue Creekmore
Mike Clow
Farmer Greg Peterson
Sonoran Desert edible plants
Palo verde beans
Carob pods
Ironwood seeds
Aflatoxin prevention
Bruchid beetles
Urban Farm mesquite milling events

Key Questions Answered
Why is mesquite considered a valuable food source?
Mesquite pods are highly nutritious, naturally sweet, gluten-free, and rich in protein. Indigenous peoples and desert communities have relied on mesquite as a staple food across the Southwest and northern Mexico for centuries.
Do all mesquite trees produce good-tasting pods?
No. While all mesquite pods are technically edible, flavor varies significantly from tree to tree. Some are sweet and pleasant, while others can be chalky or have an unpleasant aftertaste. Tasting pods before harvesting is essential.
What does mesquite flour taste like?
Mesquite flour has a naturally sweet flavor often compared to graham crackers, caramel, or malt. Many recipes require little or no additional sugar because of the flour’s natural sweetness.
When is mesquite harvesting season?
Mesquite pods typically begin ripening in June, although weather and elevation can shift timing earlier or later. Pods should be fully tan, dry, and free of green coloration before harvesting.
How should mesquite pods be harvested?
Harvest pods directly from the tree rather than from the ground. Many harvesters use a tarp and gently shake or tap branches to collect ripe pods.
Why shouldn't pods be collected from the ground?
Ground-harvested pods can develop mold and aflatoxins, which may contaminate community milling equipment and reduce food safety.
How can harvested pods be stored properly?
Pods should be dried thoroughly in shallow boxes, baskets, dehydrators, ovens, or even a parked vehicle. Moisture is the primary cause of spoilage and milling problems.
What is a mesquite hammer mill?
A hammer mill is a specialized machine that pulverizes entire mesquite pods, including seeds and pod walls, into flour. Traditional grain mills cannot process mesquite effectively because its natural sugars gum up the machinery.
What can be made with mesquite flour?
Mesquite flour can be used in cookies, muffins, crepes, breads, energy balls, beverages, and other baked goods. It works particularly well in low-temperature baking and gluten-free recipes.
What happens to the material that doesn't become flour?
The coarse material, often called "chunky bits" or chaff, can be used to make tea, brewing mash, and other food products.
Episode Highlights
Mesquite flour is naturally sweet enough to reduce or eliminate added sugar in many recipes.
Flavor quality varies dramatically between mesquite trees, making tasting an important step before harvesting.
A mature mesquite tree can produce more than 100 pounds of pods in a season.
Harvesters should only collect pods directly from the tree to prevent mold contamination.
Proper drying is the single most important factor for successful milling.
The Urban Farm community hammer mill converts harvested pods into food-grade flour.
Mesquite flour is gluten-free and requires binders such as eggs, chia, or applesauce when baking.
Desert trees such as palo verde, carob, ironwood, and mesquite offer significant edible resources often overlooked by modern food systems.

Calls to Action & Resources
Mesquite Harvesting Walks — https://urbanfarm.org/mesquite
Mesquite Milling Appointments — https://urbanfarm.org/mesquite
Urban Farm Educational Programs — https://urbanfarm.org
Desert Food Tree Guide — https://learn.desertkitchen.net/trees

Visit www.UrbanFarm.org/990 for the show notes and links on this episode!
Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges.You can chat with Greg, Janis or Ray to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!
*Disclosure: Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

In this Episode Beth Cole of Riverview Farms shares how local farms strengthen communities, preserve farmland, improve food security, and support healthier ecosystems. Drawing from her experience as a market gardener in Western North Carolina, Beth explains the value of Certified Naturally Grown certification, community-supported agriculture (CSA), farmers markets, and home gardening. She also reflects on lessons learned from Hurricane Helene, the challenges of starting a farm, and why growing food is one of the most important skills families can develop.
Our Guest: Beth Cole is a market gardener in Asheville, North Carolina. At their farm they grow a variety of certified naturally grown veggies and cut flowers, are passionate about preserving farmland in the region and growing real food that nourishes the community.
Key Topics
Beth Cole
Riverview Farms
Market gardening
Asparagus production
Certified Naturally Grown (CNG)
Local food systems
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
Farmers markets
Hurricane Helene recovery
Soil health and floodplain farming
Garden plant starts
Dirt Craft Living Soils
Food security and preparedness
Growing food in Western North Carolina

Key Questions Answered
What is market gardening?
Market gardening is small-scale intensive food production focused on growing a diverse mix of vegetables and flowers for local markets, restaurants, and consumers. Riverview Farms grows on roughly two acres while maintaining additional acreage for wildlife habitat, hay production, and floodplain preservation.
How does asparagus grow?
Asparagus is a long-term perennial crop typically started from crowns. Growers wait several years before harvesting heavily, with full production often beginning around year five. Well-maintained asparagus beds can remain productive for 15 years or longer.
What is Certified Naturally Grown?
Certified Naturally Grown follows standards similar to organic certification but is designed for smaller farms. The program emphasizes sustainability, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, and farmland preservation while relying on peer-to-peer farm inspections rather than third-party auditors.
Why does buying from local farms matter?
Purchasing from local farms helps preserve farmland, protect watersheds, support pollinators, strengthen local economies, and provide farmers with a sustainable livelihood. Local food purchases keep money circulating within the community.
What is a CSA?
Community Supported Agriculture allows customers to purchase a subscription to a farm's harvest. Members share both the risks and rewards of farming while providing farmers with critical early-season income.
What positive lessons came from Hurricane Helene?
Although the storm caused significant damage throughout the region, Beth observed that floodplain farmland acted as a natural sponge, reducing downstream impacts. In some areas, nutrient-rich sediments deposited by floodwaters improved soil quality and organic matter.
Why should gardeners buy plants locally?
Locally grown plant starts are better adapted to regional growing conditions and often outperform plants shipped long distances to big-box stores. Supporting local growers also strengthens the regional food economy.
Why do new gardeners struggle?
Gardening is a learned skill that requires time, observation, and experience. Success depends on understanding local conditions, improving soil health, and accepting mistakes as part of the learning process.
Why are farmers markets important?
Farmers markets provide the freshest possible produce, often harvested within 24 hours of sale. They create direct relationships between growers and consumers while supporting local agriculture.
What motivates Beth's farming work?
Beth is driven by concerns about chronic disease, declining food quality, and the disconnect between people and real food. She believes locally grown produce can improve both individual and community health.
Episode Highlights
Beth transitioned from humanitarian work and Montana grain farming into market gardening in North Carolina.
Riverview Farms shifted from primarily asparagus production to diversified vegetable and flower production.
Asparagus requires patience, often taking five years before reaching full harvest potential.
Certified Naturally Grown certification strengthens farmer-to-farmer learning through peer inspections.
Buying local food directly supports farmland preservation, pollinator habitat, and watershed protection.
Hurricane Helene highlighted the important role farms play in absorbing floodwaters and protecting communities.
Local plant starts provide gardeners with healthier, more resilient plants adapted to regional conditions.
Farmers markets offer unmatched freshness while building relationships between farmers and consumers.
Soil quality is one of the most important investments gardeners can make.
Gardening success comes from persistence, observation, and continuous learning.

Calls to Action & Resources
Certified Naturally Grown
https://www.naturallygrown.org
Riverview Farms NC
Facebook: Riverview Farms NC
Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP)
https://asapconnections.org
Dirt Craft Living Soils
https://dirtcraftorganics.com
Recommended Book
Grow Great Vegetables in North Carolina — A practical guide for understanding regional growing conditions, soil, weather patterns, and crop selection.
Visit www.urbanfarm.org/RiverviewFarms for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!
Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg or choose one of the senior members of our Urban Farm team to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!

*Disclosure: Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

The Preserver's Garden: Featuring Staci and Jeremy Hill of Gooseberry Bridge Farm
In this Episode Staci and Jeremy share their journey from suburban living to operating an 11-acre farm in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri. What began as a small raised-bed garden evolved into a lifestyle centered on food production, preservation, agritourism, and self-sufficiency. In this conversation, they discuss how preserving food became a cornerstone of their family's food security strategy, why they intentionally grow crops for canning and freeze-drying, and how planning a "preserver's garden" differs from traditional gardening. They also share lessons learned from preservation failures, the economics of home food production, and the inspiration behind their book, The Preserver's Garden.
Our Guests: Stacy and Jeremy Hill are the owners of Gooseberry Bridge Farm, located in the Ozark Mountains of Southwest Missouri. They moved from the typical house at the end of a cul-de-sac in a subdivision to an 11-acre farm almost 10 years ago, and haven't looked back. In addition to producing and preserving as much of their own food by canning, freezing, dehydrating, and freeze-drying their garden harvests, they also operate a you-pick flower farm with different varieties of flowers throughout the year. Their goals are to share their farm with the community and to be as self-sufficient as possible within the boundaries of what is realistic in today's world.
Key Topics
Gooseberry Bridge Farm
Staci and Jeremy Hill
The Preserver's Garden
Food preservation strategies
Canning and water bath processing
Freeze-drying food for long-term storage
Growing for food security
Building a year-round pantry
Preserving tomatoes, peaches, beans, and zucchini
Family involvement in food production
Agritourism and farm experiences
Teaching lost homesteading skills
Foxfire books and traditional knowledge
Reducing grocery costs through food production

Key Questions Answered
How did Staci and Jeremy transition from suburbia to farming?
They began with a small raised-bed garden after getting married and gradually expanded their food production over two decades. After moving to an 11-acre property in Missouri, they increased their gardening, added livestock, and eventually turned the farm into their primary source of income through agritourism and value-added products.
What inspired them to focus on food preservation?
As their family grew, they became interested in preserving traditional skills they could pass on to future generations. Each year they learned a new preservation method, eventually mastering canning, dehydrating, freeze-drying, and food storage.
What does a well-stocked pantry look like?
A successful pantry is built around foods a family actually enjoys eating. Rather than preserving what is easiest, they recommend preserving crops you enjoy and grow well. Their pantry includes extensive stores of tomato sauce, salsa, green beans, soups, fruits, and freeze-dried foods.
What crops provide the biggest return for food security?
Their highest-performing crops include tomatoes, bush beans, zucchini, summer squash, and okra. They emphasize growing large quantities and "outplanting failure" rather than constantly battling pests.
Why do they freeze-dry food?
Freeze-drying dramatically increases shelf life, often up to 25 years, while preserving flavor and nutrition. It also expands the range of foods they can store compared to traditional canning.
How do they handle large harvests of tomatoes?
They harvest tomatoes at the blush stage, allow them to ripen indoors, process them in batches, and often freeze excess harvests for winter canning. This approach reduces summer workload and avoids heating the kitchen during hot weather.
Why was The Preserver's Garden written?
A publisher noticed a gap between gardening books and preservation books. The result was a book focused on planning a garden specifically for preservation goals rather than simply dealing with surplus produce after harvest.
How has preserving food impacted their household finances?
Despite having more children and growing teenagers, their grocery expenses have declined over the years while food quality has improved. Producing and preserving food has reduced their dependence on grocery stores.
What preservation failures taught them valuable lessons?
Experiments freeze-drying sweet hot sauce and banana puree resulted in spectacular messes due to sugar expansion during the freeze-drying process. These failures reinforced the importance of testing and learning through experience.
What advice do they give beginners?
Start small. Preserve one thing, grow one crop, and build confidence through small successes. Fear and misinformation often prevent people from getting started.
Episode Highlights
Staci and Jeremy moved from a suburban cul-de-sac to an 11-acre farm in the Ozarks nearly a decade ago.
Their farm now supports agritourism, a flower operation, livestock experiences, and food production.
A surprise harvest of 300–400 pounds of peaches led to a week-long experiment with new preservation recipes.
Their pantry functions as a personalized grocery store stocked with foods their family regularly eats.
They grow approximately 100 tomato plants and harvest up to 30–40 pounds of tomatoes per day during peak season.
Freeze-drying transformed their food preservation capacity and significantly expanded their pantry.
Their children actively participate in gardening, food preservation, and homesteading skills.
An Instagram post featuring their pantry went viral and helped inspire the creation of their book.

Calls to Action & Resources
Book: The Preserver's Garden — https://thepreserversgarden.com
Farm Website: Gooseberry Bridge Farm — https://gooseberrybridge.com
Instagram: Gooseberry Bridge Farm — https://www.instagram.com/gooseberrybridgefarm
Recommended Reading: Foxfire Book Series
Visit www.urbanfarm.org/PreserversGarden for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!
Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges.You can chat with Greg or choose one of the senior members of our Urban Farm team to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!*Disclosure: Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

Join our monthly Seed Chat at SeedChat.org
In This Podcast: In this monthly Seed Chat, Greg Peterson and Bill McDorman explore the global rules governing seed ownership, seed saving, biodiversity, and agricultural policy. The conversation dives into international treaties, plant patenting, farmers’ rights, and the growing tension between the Global North and Global South over control of genetic resources. Bill shares firsthand experiences attending United Nations treaty negotiations and working with Indigenous seed sovereignty issues through Native Seeds/SEARCH. The episode also highlights why everyday gardeners and farmers should become “seed citizens” by saving and sharing locally adapted seeds.
Bill McDorman is a renowned seed saver, educator, and advocate for agricultural biodiversity. He co-founded the Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance and has spent decades teaching gardeners and farmers how to grow, save, and share heirloom seeds. Through workshops, speaking, and mentorship, Bill inspires communities to strengthen local food systems, preserve regional seed diversity, and protect seed sovereignty for future generations.
Key Topics
Seed libraries and locally adapted seed sharing
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA)
UPOV and global plant variety protection laws
World Trade Organization (WTO) seed policy influence
Farmers’ rights and seed sovereignty
Plant patenting and intellectual property in agriculture
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
Nagoya Protocol and access-benefit sharing
Digital Sequence Information (DSI) and genetic ownership
Native Seeds/SEARCH and Indigenous seed stewardship
Organic Seed Alliance and seed policy debates
Global North vs. Global South agricultural power dynamics
Seed banks and the Multilateral System (MLS)
The importance of saving open-pollinated seeds
The future resilience of local food systems

Key Questions Answered
What is the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture?
The ITPGRFA is a legally binding international treaty created to govern the conservation, sharing, and equitable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. It officially entered into force in 2004 and now includes participation from more than 180 countries.
Why do global seed treaties matter to everyday gardeners and farmers?
These treaties influence who can save seeds, who profits from plant genetics, and how agricultural biodiversity is preserved. The policies affect food security, seed availability, farmer independence, and long-term resilience of local food systems.
What is UPOV and why is it controversial?
UPOV is an international agreement that grants intellectual property protections to plant breeders. Critics argue that newer versions of UPOV weaken farmers’ traditional rights to save and replant seeds while strengthening corporate control over agriculture.
How does the WTO influence seed laws around the world?
According to Bill McDorman, countries seeking participation in global trade systems often adopt UPOV-style protections as part of WTO-related trade expectations, creating pressure on smaller nations to align with industrial seed systems.
What is the Nagoya Protocol?
The Nagoya Protocol is an international agreement designed to ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources. It attempts to address historical exploitation of Indigenous and Global South biodiversity by pharmaceutical and agricultural corporations.
What is Digital Sequence Information (DSI)?
DSI refers to genetic sequencing data derived from crops and plant varieties. A major debate centers around who owns this information and whether communities that stewarded these crops for generations should share in the economic benefits created from their genetic data.
What are farmers’ rights in global seed policy?
Farmers’ rights include the ability to save, use, exchange, and sell farm-saved seed. These rights remain one of the most contested issues in international agricultural negotiations.
Why are seed libraries important?
Seed libraries help preserve locally adapted seed varieties while strengthening regional food resilience. They also create community networks for knowledge sharing and decentralized seed stewardship.
How did Native Seeds/SEARCH navigate Indigenous seed stewardship?
Bill shares stories from his time directing Native Seeds/SEARCH, including working with Zuni and Hopi communities to renegotiate relationships around seed stewardship, naming rights, and seed distribution.
Why does Bill McDorman encourage people to attend UN treaty meetings?
He believes participation in international seed policy discussions is critical for protecting biodiversity and farmers’ rights. Attending these events allows citizens, gardeners, and small farmers to directly engage with global agricultural policy.
Episode Highlights
Bill discovers a seed library inside a small-town New Mexico library and reflects on the importance of locally adapted seeds.
Greg and Bill explain how seed laws emerged alongside industrial agriculture and large-scale seed commerce.
Bill breaks down UPOV, WTO policy, and how plant patenting transformed global agriculture.
The conversation explores how Indigenous plant genetics were historically extracted and commercialized.
Bill recounts receiving a cease-and-desist letter regarding Zuni bean varieties while directing Native Seeds/SEARCH.
A deep discussion unfolds around Digital Sequence Information and the ownership of plant DNA data.
Bill explains why small farmers across Africa increasingly believe they no longer have the right to save seeds.
The episode concludes with a call for more “seed citizens” actively saving and sharing seeds locally.

Resources
Resource — Seed Chat Live Events — SeedChat.org
Podcast — Urban Farm Podcast
Organization — UPOV – International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants
Organization — World Trade Organization (WTO)
Organization — Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA)
Treaty — International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA)
Organization — Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
Resource — Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing
Community — Organic Seed Alliance
Organization — Native Seeds/SEARCH
Event — Great American Seed Up — First weekend in November in Phoenix, Arizona
Visit UrbanFarm.org/987 for the show notes and links on this episode!
Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges.You can chat with Greg to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!*Disclosure: Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

Raw Nutrition, Pawtrition, and the Future of Canine Health
In this episode, Greg speaks with entrepreneur and canine nutrition educator Ryan Cole about the hidden problems with highly processed dog food and the growing movement toward raw feeding for dogs. Ryan shares the personal story that launched his mission after rescuing a pit bull with severe allergies and discovering how dramatically diet impacted the dog’s health and quality of life.
The conversation explores kibble manufacturing, common ingredient red flags, raw feeding basics, portion control, canine obesity, treats, digestive health, and how personalized nutrition plans can improve a dog’s longevity. Ryan also introduces Pawtrition, an AI-powered dog meal planning platform designed to help dog owners create customized raw feeding plans based on breed, age, weight, and health goals.
Our Guest: Ryan Cole is an entrepreneur and founder of Lineage Premier, a canine-focused health and nutrition company dedicated to empowering dog parents with better feeding guidance and nutrition education. He is also the creator of Pawtrition, a Lineage Premier product and AI-powered dog meal planning app designed to help pet owners feed smarter with personalized nutrition plans tailored to each dog's breed, age, weight, and health goals. Through his work, Ryan bridges practical pet care with education, helping dog parents move beyond the guesswork toward informed decisions that support long-term canine health and vitality.
Key Topics & Entities
Ryan Cole
Pawtrition
Lineage Premier
Raw feeding for dogs
Highly processed kibble and canine health
Food allergies in dogs
Pit bull rescue stories
Canine nutrition education
Personalized dog meal planning
Bioavailable nutrients in raw diets
Portion control and canine obesity
Healthy dog treats and frozen fruit snacks
Breed-specific nutrition
Digestive health and stool quality in dogs

Key Questions
What inspired Ryan Cole to focus on canine nutrition?
Ryan’s journey began after rescuing a pit bull named Pops who suffered from severe allergic reactions to processed foods, shampoos, and synthetic materials. After switching to boiled chicken and rice and later researching raw feeding, Ryan saw dramatic health improvements that inspired him to dedicate his career to canine nutrition education.
Why does Ryan believe highly processed kibble is problematic?
Ryan explains that many kibble products are made from low-quality byproducts and heavily processed ingredients that are cooked at high temperatures, stripping away natural nutrients. Manufacturers then spray synthetic nutrients and fats onto the kibble after processing to improve flavor and nutritional labeling.
What ingredients should dog owners watch for on labels?
Ryan recommends paying close attention to the word “crude” on ingredient labels, especially crude proteins and crude fats. He also advises dog owners to read manufacturing warnings about cross-contamination from facilities processing allergens like nuts and grains.
What does a healthy raw diet for dogs look like?
A balanced raw diet includes raw meats, organ meats, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and oils. Ryan shares examples like chicken leg quarters, ground beef, chicken gizzards, green beans, duck eggs, and Alaskan fish oil.
How does Pawtrition help dog owners?
Pawtrition generates personalized 30-day meal plans based on a dog’s breed, age, weight, activity level, and health goals. The platform also includes budgeting tools, nutrition tracking, shopping assistance, veterinary checklists, and educational resources.
Are most dogs overfed or underfed?
Ryan says the bigger issue is often calorie-dense kibble rather than meal quantity itself. Because processed food is highly concentrated and less nutritionally bioavailable, dogs can gain weight even when owners believe they are feeding appropriate portions.
What are signs a dog’s diet may not be working?
Common warning signs include chronic itching, dull coats, digestive problems, inconsistent stool quality, scooting behavior, and excessive shedding or inflammation.
Should dog owners rotate proteins and foods?
Ryan recommends dietary variety whenever possible to improve nutrient diversity and prevent nutritional imbalances. Different proteins and vegetables offer different bioavailable nutrients and health benefits.
What treats does Ryan recommend?
Ryan prefers whole-food treats like frozen watermelon, blueberries, strawberries, and homemade fruit popsicles mixed with healthy fish oils instead of processed commercial treats.
What drives Ryan’s work today?
Ryan credits his mother’s work ethic and his lifelong passion for helping animals and people. He views Pawtrition and Lineage Premier as community-driven educational tools rather than simply businesses.
Episode Highlights
Ryan rescued his first pit bull, Pops, at age 17 after his father passed away.
Pops suffered severe reactions to processed foods and synthetic products before transitioning to a raw diet.
Ryan explains how kibble manufacturing prioritizes shelf life and profit margins over nutrition quality.
Greg shares a story about healing a rescued golden retriever through raw feeding after medications failed.
Pawtrition creates downloadable customized feeding plans for dog owners.
Ryan discusses why working breeds like heelers should remain lean to protect joints and hips.
The conversation highlights the importance of observing each individual dog rather than following generic feeding advice.
Ryan recommends the book The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom for its message about interconnectedness and purpose.

Resources
Personalized canine meal planning — Pawtrition
Raw feeding education and breed resources — Lineage Premier
Follow Ryan Cole on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube under “Lineage Premier”

Visit www.urbanfarm.org/Pawtrition for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!
Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges.You can chat with Greg or choose one of the senior members of our Urban Farm team to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!
*Disclosure: Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.