A Rosie On The House ReplayIn this episode of 'Rosie on the House,' hosted by Romey Romero, Farmer Greg is joined by Erin Erickson and her mother Elise Pitterle, who run a small urban farm in South Tempe called Tempe Garden Girls. Motivated by food scarcity during the COVID era, they expanded their gardening efforts into a full-fledged urban farm, growing various vegetables, flowers, and maintaining fruit trees and poultry. Greg & Romey chat about their journey, the challenges faced, and the learning process of adapting to Arizona's unique climate. They also highlight the importance of community, educational outreach, and providing season-appropriate plant starts to help others succeed in urban farming. The episode underscores the critical role of local farmers in creating a sustainable and self-sufficient food system.Erin and her husband, Todd raise their three daughters, maintain a thousand square foot garden, and care for various poultry. Erin grew up on a vineyard in Oregon, and loves passing on her passion for gardening to her kids and community. Her mother, Elise, is a certified master gardener with decades of experience dedicated to growing food and teaching others. Together, they sell produce at the Uptown Farmer's Market and are launching a region specific veggie start box to help local gardeners thrive In Arizona's unique climate.Visit www.UrbanFarm.org/882-Rosie for the show notes and links on this episode!Find them at TempeGardenGirls.comNeed 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!Become an Urban Farm Patron and listen to more than 850 episodes of the Urban Farm Podcast without ads. 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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881: Tom Spellman on Fruit Trees in Extreme Heat - A Tree Chat
In This Podcast: Greg Peterson from Urban Farm Fruit Tree Program and Tom Spellman, a seasoned nursery expert with Dave Wilson Nursery, discuss the intricacies of managing fruit trees in a changing climate. They provide an educational overview of effective fruit tree planting and maintenance techniques. Key topics include the importance of proper planting mix, establishing adequate basins with woody mulch, painting trunks for heat protection, and using cover crops like cow peas and sweet potatoes to maintain soil health. They also emphasize supplemental irrigation during high heat periods, the significance of rootstocks, and managing wind stress with natural windbreaks. The session includes practical advice on insect management, the benefits of companion planting, and ensuring optimal nutrient supply tailored to tree growth stages. The wrap with announcing the launch of Tom's new YouTube channel, 'Growing with Tom Spellman,' and a motivational note on personalizing one's garden space.Sign up for our monthly Tree Chat at FruitTreeChat.orgVisit UrbanFarm.org/881tree 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 or Ray to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!Become an Urban Farm Patron and listen to more than 900 episodes of the Urban Farm Podcast without ads. 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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880: Rachel Opio on Farming, Healing Soil and Growing Communities
Little Lighthouse Farm's Big ImpactIn This Podcast: In this heartfelt interview, Rachel Opio shares her journey from a career in HR tech to becoming the founder of Little Lighthouse Farm, an urban farm in Phoenix. She discusses her background in data analytics, her mother's inspiring legacy as an educator and gardener, and how her mother's battle with cancer spurred her shift to farming. Rachel details the challenges of urban farming, the benefits of regenerative agriculture, and her commitment to providing nutrient-dense food to her community. She talks about the importance of accessibility, community engagement, and her future plans for expanding her farming efforts across Phoenix. Rachel also opens up about her recent struggles and successes with beekeeping and shares her love for educating children about gardening. Her story highlights the transformative power of connecting with the land and nurturing a sense of community..Our Guest: Rachel Opio is a regenerative urban farmer, educator, and advocate based in Phoenix, Arizona. As the founder of Little Lighthouse Farm, she grows nutrient-dense, accessible food for her community, including pasture-raised eggs, produce, and specialty goods like tea blends and cookies. Born and raised in Phoenix, she lives and farms on the same property where she grew up. She is a Master Gardener, Master Beekeeper, and passionate community teacher, helping others connect with the land through sustainable practices. Her work is rooted in food equity, soil health, and empowering others to grow real food in urban spaces..Visit UrbanFarm.org/LittleLighthouseFarm 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!Become an Urban Farm Patron and listen to more than 850 episodes of the Urban Farm Podcast without ads. 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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43:53
879: Bevin Cohen on Growing Herbs in Every Season.
Exploring Nature's Herbal Bounty.In This Podcast: Greg welcomes returning guest Bevin Cohen, an award-winning author and owner of Small House Farm, to discuss Bevin's new book, 'Herbs in Every Season.' The conversation delves into Bevin's holistic approach to herbs, focusing on their various uses throughout the year—from medicinal to culinary applications. Bevin shares behind-the-scenes stories about writing the book, choosing which herbs to feature, and the fun yet intense experience of photographing the herbs and recipes included. The episode touches on specific herbs and their seasonal roles, such as parsley in spring and sunflower in autumn, as well as the versatile nature of herbs like mint and oregano. Bevin also recalls vivid personal anecdotes, including a touching story about canning tomatoes with his grandmother. The episode concludes with practical advice for listeners to get out and grow something, highlighting the accessibility and benefits of herbs.Our Guest: Bevin Cohen is an award-winning author, owner of Small House, farm, and host of the popular Seeds and Weeds podcast. Bevin offers workshops and lectures across the country on the benefits of living closer to the land through seeds, herbs, and locally grown food. He is a food and garden writer. Whose work has appeared in many national publications, and he's the author of more than 10 books, including The Artisan Herbalist, and his latest Herbs in Every Season.To acquire Bevin's Latest book - Herb in Every SeasonVisit UrbanFarm.org/SmallHouseFarmHerbs 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!Become an Urban Farm Patron and listen to more than 900 episodes of the Urban Farm Podcast without ads. 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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878: Matthew Geldin on Building Neighborhood Farms.
Let's change how far our food travels.In This Podcast: Host Greg Peterson interviews Matthew Geldin, head farmer at Farmscape in Southern California, about creating sustainable neighborhood food systems. Farmscape is the largest urban farming company in California, specializing in food-focused landscaping for various scales including backyard gardens, commercial campuses, and multi-family communities. Matthew shares his journey from landscape architecture to urban farming, explaining the challenges and successes of integrating food production into urban spaces. He emphasizes the importance of community-supported farms and discusses their work on notable projects like Levi's Stadium. Then he reflects on overcoming challenges such as urban tree root intrusion, the evolution of community farming, and the significance of designing spaces that are both productive and beautiful.Our Guest: Matthew Geldin has been the farmscape's head for farmer in Southern California since 2014, overseeing the weekly maintenance of hundreds of projects from backyard gardens to neighborhood farms. He is an expert in raised bed vegetable gardening and developed the company's farming service manual.Matthew's Book Recommendation - How to Prune Fruit Trees by Sanford R MartinVisit UrbanFarm.org/Farmscape 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!Become an Urban Farm Patron and listen to more than 850 episodes of the Urban Farm Podcast without ads. 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.
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!
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