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The Urban Farm Podcast with Greg Peterson

Urban Farm Team
The Urban Farm Podcast with Greg Peterson
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  • The Urban Farm Podcast with Greg Peterson

    1004: Growing Epic Tomatoes with Craig LeHoullier

    28/08/2026 | 1h 11 mins.
    In this Episode Craig LeHoullier shares his lifelong journey from childhood gardening memories to becoming a renowned heirloom tomato grower, seed saver, and plant breeder. He explains the differences between heirloom, open-pollinated, and hybrid tomatoes and why preserving tomato genetics matters for future gardeners. Craig discusses the Dwarf Tomato Breeding Project, the story behind Cherokee Purple, growing tomatoes in containers and straw bales, and the importance of learning directly from your plants. He encourages gardeners to get their hands dirty, experiment, save seeds, and enjoy gardening as a lifelong journey.
    Our Guest: Craig is a North Carolina-based gardener, author, and plant breeder known for his deep expertise in heirloom tomatoes. With a PhD in chemistry from Dartmouth and a 25-year career in pharmaceuticals, he later shifted full-time into gardening and seed saving. Craig is a longtime advisor to Seed Savers Exchange, and is credited with helping popularize varieties like Cherokee Purple tomatoes. He co-leads the Dwarf Tomato Breeding Project and authored Epic Tomatoes, a widely respected guide for home growers.
    Key Topics & Entities
    Craig LeHoullier and his 40-year gardening journey
    Heirloom, hybrid, and open-pollinated tomatoes
    Seed Savers Exchange
    Tomato seed saving and preservation
    The Dwarf Tomato Breeding Project
    Cherokee Purple tomato
    Tomato breeding and genetics
    Epic Tomatoes
    Straw bale gardening
    Container tomato growing
    Victory Seed Company
    Gardening misinformation and experimentation
    Food systems and food deserts
    Gardening as community building

    Key Questions Answered
    What makes a tomato an heirloom?
    Craig defines an heirloom as a genetically stable variety that can be passed down through saved seed, with age and a meaningful history or story associated with it.
    What is the difference between heirloom and open-pollinated tomatoes?
    All heirlooms are open-pollinated, but not every open-pollinated tomato is an heirloom. Craig uses 1949, when Burpee's Big Boy was introduced, as a useful guidepost for distinguishing older heirlooms from newer open-pollinated varieties.
    Why are hybrid tomatoes valuable?
    Hybrids can combine desirable traits such as disease resistance, heat tolerance, growth habits, and productivity. Craig emphasizes that there are excellent hybrids, heirlooms, and open-pollinated varieties.
    How did the Dwarf Tomato Breeding Project begin?
    Craig and Patrina began crossing large, flavorful heirlooms with dwarf tomato varieties to create tomatoes that could be grown in smaller spaces while retaining excellent flavor and interesting characteristics.
    Why is Cherokee Purple important to Craig?
    Craig received seeds in 1990 from J.D. Green, who told him they came through a Cherokee family history in Tennessee. Craig grew the tomato, named it Cherokee Purple, and helped distribute it so the variety and its story could continue.
    What makes a tomato variety worth preserving?
    Beyond flavor and popularity, a variety may contain genetic traits that could become important for future challenges such as heat, drought, water scarcity, or emerging diseases.
    What is one of the biggest mistakes gardeners make with tomatoes?
    Craig says gardeners need to pay attention to their plants. Daily observation can reveal early signs of disease, nutritional problems, water stress, and other issues before they become serious.
    What is the key to successful straw bale gardening?
    A straw bale is conditioned with nitrogen, water, and fertilizer for roughly two weeks before planting. The bale heats up as it decomposes and provides a productive growing medium that eventually becomes useful organic matter.
    What tomatoes work well in small spaces?
    Craig recommends Sun Gold cherry tomatoes, dwarf tomatoes, and micro-dwarf varieties for containers and limited growing spaces. Cherry tomatoes can also perform well with less sunlight than many larger varieties.
    What is Craig's advice for beginning tomato growers?
    Get your hands dirty, start with good seedlings or learn to start your own seeds, and let the plants teach you. Gardening is an education and a journey rather than a rigid set of instructions.
    Episode Highlights
    Craig traces his love of gardening to childhood memories of working with his father and grandfather and describes how joining Seed Savers Exchange in 1986 sparked his passion for heirloom tomatoes.
    He explains how heirloom tomatoes preserve genetics, history, and stories—and why today's newer open-pollinated varieties may become tomorrow's heirlooms.
    Craig describes the Dwarf Tomato Breeding Project, which ultimately produced about 170 new varieties through collaboration among roughly 1,000 gardeners.
    He explains why preserving even ordinary tomato varieties can matter, since hidden genetic traits may provide future solutions for heat, drought, water shortages, and disease.
    Craig tells the remarkable story of how he received the tomato that became Cherokee Purple and how a chain of seed sharing kept the variety from disappearing.
    He explains why gardeners should observe their tomato plants every day and adjust their methods based on growing conditions rather than blindly following a fixed schedule.
    Craig describes straw bale gardening, including conditioning the bales, managing water and nutrients, and eventually reusing the spent straw as valuable growing material.
    He closes with a simple philosophy: get your hands dirty, grow something, turn off the distractions, and let gardening change your life.

    Resources
    Craig LeHoullier's Website — craiglehoullier.com
    Instagram — @nctomatoman
    Email Craig — nctomatoman@gmail.com
    Epic Tomatoes — Epic Tomatoes: How to Select and Grow the Best Varieties of All Time
    Victory Seed Company — victoryseeds.com
    Joe Gardener Organic Gardening School — Self-paced courses covering seed starting, organic vegetable gardening, and tomato growing.
    Seed Savers Exchange — Craig's longtime seed-saving community and an important part of his journey.

    Visit www.urbanfarm.org/EpicTomatoes 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 Urban Farm Podcast with Greg Peterson

    1003: Community Gardens Grow People and Relationships

    26/08/2026 | 36 mins.
    A Rosie On The House Replay w/ Jenny Beasley
    Jenny Beasley of Heart for the City shares how a barren dirt lot in Glendale, Arizona, became a thriving community garden serving families, schools, volunteers, and gardeners from eight different cultures. She explains how partnerships, raised beds, shared food, and educational programs helped transform the space into much more than a place to grow vegetables. The conversation explores how community gardens create belonging, purpose, friendships, healthier neighborhoods, and stronger connections between people. Jenny also offers practical advice for anyone interested in starting a community garden of their own.
    Key Topics & Entities
    Heart for the City Garden
    Jenny Beasley
    Community gardens
    Glendale, Arizona
    Raised garden beds
    Community partnerships
    City of Glendale
    School garden partnerships
    Eight different cultures
    Cucuzza squash
    Urban gardening in the desert
    Gardening education
    Food access
    Community building

    Key Questions Answered
    How did Heart for the City Garden begin?
    Jenny Beasley was challenged to transform a barren, partly asphalt-covered dirt lot into a community garden. The City of Glendale provided the property, while a community development grant helped fund the initial development.
    What made the raised beds such a game changer?
    The raised beds gave individual families and gardeners a sense of ownership. They also allowed people from different cultures to grow vegetables they remembered from childhood or from their home countries.
    How does the garden bring different cultures together?
    Gardeners from places including Jordan, Trinidad, China, Mexico, Hungary, and Peru grow alongside one another, sharing vegetables, recipes, gardening knowledge, and traditions.
    What is the biggest lesson Jenny learned about building community?
    People want to feel connected and be part of something. Growing side by side gives people a natural way to participate, contribute, and build relationships.
    How can someone begin creating a community garden?
    First determine what type of community garden you want to create, then visit and learn from gardens with similar goals. Jenny says learning from people who have already developed successful gardens can save enormous amounts of time.
    How does the garden operate in the Arizona heat?
    Heart for the City Garden grows year-round. During the hottest part of the year, peppers, okra, herbs, and other crops are growing, while tomatoes can be more challenging.
    How does the garden create purpose for people?
    Jenny describes a woman who unexpectedly retired and found purpose, friendships, activity, and a new routine through spending time at the garden.
    What happens beyond gardening at Heart for the City?
    The garden hosts cooking events, recipe sharing, educational activities, guest speakers, celebrations, and even weddings. Visitors may leave with seeds, plants, or planting calendars.
    How does the surrounding neighborhood participate?
    Neighbors walk to the garden with their children, donate gardening supplies, volunteer, and help one another. The garden has become a close-knit neighborhood resource rather than simply a place to grow food.
    What does Jenny consider the garden's greatest accomplishment?
    She is most proud of how the gardeners connect, help one another, care for their garden spaces, celebrate life's milestones, and continue learning. As another gardener put it, they are “growing people also.”
    Episode Highlights
    A barren dirt lot becomes a thriving community garden and food forest over roughly 12 years.
    Raised beds become a “game changer,” giving families ownership and encouraging participation from multiple cultures.
    Partnerships with the City of Glendale, schools, businesses, and volunteers help sustain the garden.
    The garden's cucuzza squash inspires a club, a giant trellis, shared recipes, and plenty of fun.
    Gardeners support one another with rides, meals, home check-ins, and friendship—creating what Jenny calls a “big garden family.”
    Cooking and food-sharing events help people learn what to do with the vegetables they grow.
    The garden welcomes people from throughout the area who want to learn about gardening or simply connect with others.
    Jenny's central message: community gardens don't just grow vegetables—they grow people and relationships.

    Calls to Action & Resources
    Heart for the City Garden — heartforthecityaz.org
    Contact Jenny Beasley — hftc.gardens@gmail.com
    Visit Heart for the City Garden — 69th Avenue, north of Bethany Home, behind the fire station in Glendale, Arizona.
    Support the Garden — Donations and community support help with ongoing expenses, including water and garden operations.
    In this episode we explore the concept of wicking bed gardens, hosted by Romey Romero & Farmer Greg, our guest is .
    Visit www.UrbanFarm.org/1003 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.
  • The Urban Farm Podcast with Greg Peterson

    1002: Compost, Fungi & The Living Soil w/ Landen Schaelling - A Seed Chat.

    21/08/2026 | 46 mins.
    In this July Seed Chat, Greg Peterson, Bill McDorman, and Landen Schaelling explore how compost, fungi, microbial life, and living plant roots work together to build healthier soil. Landen explains why keeping plants growing is more important for long-term soil carbon than simply adding organic matter, and why fungal-rich compost can help store the carbon plants produce. The conversation covers cover crops, composting methods, curing, moisture, carbon-to-nitrogen ratios, chop-and-drop, crimping, and compost extracts.
    Our Guests: Landen Schaelling is the founder of Sacred Soil Solutions. He is focused on bringing optimal and approachable microbe inputs to gardeners and homesteaders, while also teaching farmers in the American West how to implement soil building solutions at scale.
    And Bill McDorman has committed his life to community-based seed stewardship. In 1984, he started Seeds Trust High Altitude Gardens, a bioregional mail order seed company that he ran for 28 years. He authored the book Basic Seed Saving in 1994, and in 2010 Bill and his wife, Belle Starr, founded Seed School.
    Key Topics
    Compost and soil health
    Fungal-dominant compost
    Soil food web
    Cover crops and living roots
    Rhizophagy cycle
    Microbial fermentations
    Liquid carbon and soil carbon storage
    Thermophilic composting
    Johnson-Su composting
    Bokashi
    Carbon-to-nitrogen ratios
    Chop-and-drop and crimping
    Compost curing and moisture
    Landen Schaelling / Sacred Soil Solutions

    Key Questions Answered
    Why are living plants more important than simply adding compost for long-term soil improvement?
    Living plants act as the soil's “income earners,” putting liquid carbon into the soil through their roots. Compost can support that system, but keeping roots in the ground is what continually feeds the soil food web.
    What makes compost truly valuable?
    The goal isn't simply the solid organic material. High-quality compost provides a living community of fungi and other soil food web organisms that can interact with plant roots and help store plant-derived carbon.
    How can you encourage fungal growth in compost?
    Landen recommends a high-carbon pile, roughly 60–70% carbon, along with consistent moisture. Chunkier wood chips can help encourage fungal activity, and the compost needs a long curing period for the microbial community to develop.
    How long should compost cure?
    After the heating phase, Landen recommends roughly nine to 12 months of curing with consistent moisture around 50–60%. He describes seeing a significant increase in fungi, protozoa, and other soil food web organisms as the compost matures.
    Should compost be sifted?
    Landen strongly recommends against sifting mature compost because it adds oxygen, dries the material, and can damage fungal hyphae. The living organisms on the compost matter more than producing a perfectly fine, crumbly product.
    Can weeds function as cover crops?
    Some weeds can contribute positively when they are temporarily left growing, but not all weeds provide the same benefits. Landen specifically notes that context matters and that some weeds can be less supportive of fungal relationships.
    What is the difference between chop-and-drop and crimping?
    Chop-and-drop can create a rapid release of nitrogen, while crimping breaks the stems without completely severing them, allowing nutrients to move more slowly into the root system. Either approach works best when another crop is ready to capture the released nutrients.
    How often should microbial fermentation sprays be applied?
    Landen says plants can benefit from very frequent, even daily, applications because they respond well to small amounts delivered consistently. However, he emphasizes that less frequent applications can still provide significant benefits when time is limited.
    What should consumers look for when buying compost?
    Landen recommends asking compost producers for microscope analysis. He argues that microscopy provides important evidence about the biological quality of the finished compost.
    Episode Highlights
    Living plants, not dead organic matter, are the primary “income earners” that build soil carbon.
    Cover crops keep roots in the ground and continually support the soil food web.
    Fungal-rich compost helps capture and store the carbon produced by plants.
    A compost pile with roughly 60–70% carbon can encourage strong fungal development.
    Thermophilic composting is only part of the process; long-term curing is critical.
    Maintaining 50–60% moisture for nine to 12 months allows fungi and other soil organisms to develop.
    Sifting compost can damage fungal hyphae and reduce biological quality.
    Crimping can provide a slower nutrient release than chop-and-drop.
    The goal of compost is not simply decomposition—it is developing and applying microbial life.
    A fungally dominant compost can be extracted into water and applied directly rather than aerated like a bacterial tea.

    Calls to Action & Resources
    Attend future live Seed Chats — https://seedchat.org
    Listen to previous Seed Chats — https://urbanfarmpodcast.com
    Learn about Sacred Soil Solutions — Contact Landen Schaelling directly for information on Microbe Master Mix and educational resources. Instagram: @sacredsoilsolutions
    Facebook: Landen Schaelling
    Email: Landen.schaelling@protonmail.com

    Our monthly Seed Chat at SeedChat.org
    In This Podcast: In this month's Seed Chat Greg Peterson and Bill McDorman, discuss .
    Visit UrbanFarm.org/1002 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.
  • The Urban Farm Podcast with Greg Peterson

    1001: Turning Garden Abundance Into Delicious Food

    14/08/2026 | 40 mins.
    A Chat with Wendi Bergin
    Greg Peterson and Wendi Bergin explore the “harvest mindset” and how to prepare for abundance before the garden starts producing more food than you can eat fresh. They discuss practical ways to preserve tomatoes, including freezing, canning, dehydrating, steam juicing, tomato powder, salsa, sauce, and tomato water. The conversation expands into zucchini preservation, fresh-milled grain, homesteading, preparedness, and the idea that being prepared can bring peace rather than fear. Throughout, Greg and Wendi emphasize experimenting, sharing ideas, and finding joy in growing and preserving local food.
    Key Topics
    Harvest mindset and preparing for garden abundance
    Preserving large tomato harvests
    Freezing tomatoes whole
    Water bath canning vs. pressure canning
    Safe, tested canning practices
    Tomato sauce, salsa, tomato juice, and tomato water
    Steam juicing and tomato powder
    Zucchini preservation, relish, fritters, and zucchini lasagna
    Fresh-milled grain and home baking
    Azure Standard bulk buying club
    Homesteading and self-reliance
    Preparedness as a source of peace
    Local food economies and growing your own food
    Basil preservation and pesto

    Key Questions Answered
    • What is a “harvest mindset,” and why is it important?
    A harvest mindset means expecting abundance instead of being overwhelmed by it. If you plant 20 tomato plants, you may get very little—or you may get pounds and pounds of tomatoes. Preparing ahead of time allows you to enjoy that abundance rather than scrambling to figure out what to do with it.
    • What is the biggest mistake people make when harvest season begins?
    Not being prepared. Wendi recommends having your preservation equipment, jars, lids, and other supplies ready before the large harvest arrives.
    • What is a simple way to preserve tomatoes before the harvest gets really large?
    Wash the tomatoes, place them in bags, and freeze them whole. As the harvest grows, the frozen tomatoes can later be taken out and canned.
    • Why does tomato canning require added acid?
    The discussion explains that modern tomato varieties may not be acidic enough for safe water-bath canning without additional acid. Lemon juice is discussed as a way to increase acidity when canning tomatoes.
    • What is the difference between water-bath and pressure canning?
    Water-bath canning uses boiling water and is intended for sufficiently acidic foods. Pressure canning reaches temperatures above the boiling point of water and is used for lower-acid foods such as meats and vegetables.
    • What can you do with tomato water from a steam juicer?
    Instead of throwing it away, Wendi cans tomato water and uses it in stews, goulash, chili, and for cooking pasta.
    • What are some ways to use tomato powder?
    Dehydrated tomatoes can be blended into powder and used to thicken spaghetti sauce, flavor broths, add to roasts, make tomato paste or sauce, create spice blends, and make tomato soup.
    • How can you preserve a large zucchini harvest?
    Zucchini can be shredded, have its excess water removed, and frozen. It can also be made into relish or pickles, fritters, bread, and even a lasagna using sliced zucchini instead of pasta.
    • What is the larger lesson behind food preservation?
    Preparedness can bring peace and help people live above fear. Whether facing an emergency or simply an overwhelming garden harvest, preparation makes it possible to respond confidently and joyfully.
    Episode Highlights
    The harvest mindset starts before you have 50 pounds of tomatoes or zucchini.
    Freeze smaller tomato harvests as they arrive, then process them later when the volume increases.
    Being prepared means having jars, lids, equipment, and a preservation plan ready ahead of time.
    Preserve tomatoes simply by canning them as pure tomato sauce and adding herbs and spices later when cooking.
    Steam juicing can separate tomato juice from the solids, creating useful tomato water and concentrated tomato material.
    Dehydrated tomatoes can become tomato powder with dozens of potential uses.
    Zucchini can become relish, pickles, fritters, frozen shreds, or even pasta-free lasagna.
    Preparedness isn't about fear—it can create peace, self-reliance, and joy in abundance.

    Calls to Action & Resources
    Azure Standard — azurestandard.com
    Homesteading Made Simple / Joyfully Prepared Podcast — Search for “Homesteading Made Simple” or “Joyfully Prepared”
    Homesteading Made Simple on YouTube — Search for “Homesteading Made Simple”
    Urban Farm Podcast — Listen to the Urban Farm Podcast for more conversations about growing food, local food economies, and self-reliance.
    Grow your own food — Visit your local farmers market, grow herbs and vegetables, and find ways to participate in your local food economy

    Content Advisory
    Food preservation safety is discussed, including water-bath and pressure canning. The guests strongly recommend following prescribed, tested canning recipes and established safety guidelines rather than using unverified preservation methods.
    Visit www.urbanfarm.org/1001 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 Urban Farm Podcast with Greg Peterson

    1000: The Richest Payment You'll Never Deposit

    07/08/2026 | 36 mins.
    What 1,000 Conversations Taught Me About Real Wealth
    In this milestone 1,000th episode, Greg Peterson reflects on more than 50 years as an entrepreneur, 34 years of building regenerative food systems, and nearly 11 years of consistently publishing The Urban Farm Podcast. Rather than measuring success solely in dollars, he explores the deeper forms of wealth created through knowledge, community, resilience, and food sovereignty. Through stories of listeners whose lives were transformed by growing food, Greg makes the case that every garden, fruit tree, and saved seed becomes part of the infrastructure for a stronger local food economy.
    Our Guest: “What if there was a garden and fruit tree in every yard?” This is a question that Greg ponders every day. For over 32 years he created of one of Phoenix's first environmental showcase homes for urban farming. The 1/4-acre yard featured a primarily edible landscape with over 80 fruit trees, rainwater and greywater harvesting, solar applications, and extensive use of reclaimed and recycled building materials. What we now call an Old Growth Food Forest. He is the co-founder of Great American Seed Up an educational organization designed to energize local seeds. He is also the founder of UrbanFarm.org and the host of The Urban Farm Podcast that has 1000 episodes and over 5 million listens. The podcast is designed to help fulfill Greg’s passion of spreading the word about growing your own food and sharing new and seasoned gardeners epic stories.
    Key Topics & Entities
    The Urban Farm Podcast's 1,000-episode milestone
    Local food economy as community infrastructure
    Regenerative agriculture and permaculture
    Food sovereignty and household resilience
    Urban Farm Phoenix food forest
    Asheville food forest project
    Fruit tree education for desert climates
    Seed saving as community infrastructure
    Building knowledge archives through podcasting
    Entrepreneurial purpose beyond financial success
    Community gardens and food access
    Parallel food systems and resilience
    Consistency as a long-term investment
    Transforming the global food system one backyard at a time

    Key Questions Answered
    Why does Greg believe he was "paid twice" without receiving money?
    He describes receiving recognition from ChatGPT for the long-term impact of the podcast and a handwritten letter with saved seeds from a listener who started a community garden at a Chicago homeless shelter. Both affirmed that meaningful work creates value beyond financial income.
    What is a local food economy?
    A local food economy is more than farmers markets. It is the infrastructure that enables communities to produce, preserve, share, and distribute food locally, making them less dependent on fragile global supply chains.
    Why is growing food an act of resilience?
    Every garden, fruit tree, and saved seed strengthens local knowledge, increases food security, and builds community resilience against disruptions in centralized food systems.
    Why has consistency mattered more than revenue?
    Publishing every Friday for nearly 11 years created a searchable teaching archive that continues helping new listeners long after each episode was released. Greg argues that knowledge compounds just like healthy ecosystems do.
    What does Greg mean by "payment in multiple currencies"?
    He defines wealth as the accumulation of knowledge, confidence, relationships, healthier communities, seed saving, and transformed lives—not simply financial profit.
    How can anyone begin participating in a local food economy?
    Start small by growing one plant, planting a fruit tree, joining a community garden, learning seed saving, visiting farmers markets, and sharing knowledge with others. Every action strengthens the larger network.
    Episode Highlights
    Greg reflects on reaching 1,000 podcast episodes and the unexpected recognition that confirmed the long-term impact of his work.
    A listener's community garden at a Chicago homeless shelter demonstrates how knowledge creates lasting change beyond the original conversation.
    The Urban Farm in Phoenix serves as a decades-long proof of concept for regenerative food production in the desert.
    Local food economies are built through relationships, education, and community infrastructure—not simply food sales.
    Showing up consistently for nearly 11 years transformed individual podcast episodes into a permanent knowledge archive.
    Every saved seed, backyard garden, and farmers market vendor contributes to resilient parallel food systems.
    Real wealth includes confidence, skills, community, and the ability to feed yourself and others.
    Greg challenges listeners to become active participants in rebuilding local food systems by simply growing something.

    Resources
    Listen to the Urban Farm Podcast — Search the archive of 1,000+ episodes for practical gardening, permaculture, fruit tree, and food system education. UrbanFarmPodcast.com
    Grow Something — Start with one tomato, herb, or fruit tree and experience your first harvest.
    Save Seeds — Learn to preserve and share locally adapted seeds for future generations. GreatAmericanSeedUp.org
    Support Your Local Food Economy — Visit farmers markets, community gardens, and local growers.
    Share What You Learn — Teach someone else to grow food and help expand the network of local resilience.

    Visit www.urbanfarm.org/1000 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.
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About The Urban Farm Podcast with Greg Peterson
Welcome to The Urban Farm Podcast, your partner in the Grow Your Own Food revolution! This audio only podcast features special guests like Rosemary Morrow, Zach Loeks, and Andrew Millison as we discuss the art and value of growing food in urban areas. We'll explore topics such as gardening basics, urban beekeeping and chicken farming, permaculture, successful composting, monetizing your farm, and much more! Each episode will bring you tips and tricks on how to overcome common challenges, opportunities to learn from the experience of people just like you, and plenty of resources to ensure you're informed, equipped, and empowered to participate more mindfully in your local food system... and to have a great time doing it! Support our Podcast and listen Ad-Free! Visit www.urbanfarm.org/patron for more information and see what else we include.
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