Episodes

  • S5 - E9: Soil Health is Attainable with Anthony Beery of Beery Farms, Part I

    S5 - E9: Soil Health is Attainable with Anthony Beery of Beery Farms, Part I
    Apr 29 2025
    Soil health is attainable. Anthony Beery of Beery Farms and Cumberland Hay and Straw LLC shares that message with Mary Sketch Bryant and Jeff Ishee based on his farming experience and journey. Anthony grew up in the Shenandoah Valley where he and his father Danny raised dairy cows and poultry. Anthony benefitted from his father's mentorship and encouragement to be open to new ideas and experimenting.

    Anthony and his family moved to Cumberland County in 2018 to begin custom crop production and start Cumberland Hay & Straw LLC. Anthony received the 2024 Carl Luebben Soil Health and Water Quality Award at the Virginia Farm-to-Table Conference for his commitment, example, and mentorship of other farmers.

    If you are just starting your soil health journey, Anthony emphasizes taking a step and starting with the basics: learn the soil type and previous land use, test for nutrient content and pH, and understand the areas where nutrients are low and high. For Anthony, soil compaction was a limiting factor on his farm that started his commitment to earnest no-till farming, experimenting with diverse cover crop rotations, and continued devotion to core principles of soil health.

    As always, we encourage you to start your soil health journey and follow the four principles of soil health: 1) Keep the Soil Covered -- Cover crops are our friends; 2) Minimize soil disturbance -- Practice no-till or gentle tillage in your field or garden as much as possible; 3) Maximize living roots year-round -- to improve biodiversity and life in the soil; and 4) Energize with diversity -- through crop rotation and/or livestock integration. Yes, soil health is attainable and we can all be 4 The Soil!

    To enjoy the recent We Are 4 the Soil song created by the Flip Charts, please visit https://www.4thesoil.org/#we-are-4-the-soil-video. For questions about soil and water conservation practices and outdoor educational activities for youth, call or visit a USDA Service Center, a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office.
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    16 mins
  • S5 - E8: Ins and Outs of Compost Tea with Nicky Schauder of Permaculture Gardens, Part II

    S5 - E8: Ins and Outs of Compost Tea with Nicky Schauder of Permaculture Gardens, Part II
    Apr 15 2025
    In this episode, Nicky Schauder of Permaculture Gardens continues the conversation about permaculture and the ins and outs of compost tea with Mary Sketch Bryant, Marian Dalke, and Jeff Ishee. Nicky received two USDA-Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Producer Grants to specifically research the benefits of compost tea and its effects on plant growth, yield, soil biology diversity, and the stability of soil health. Nicky's research question was does compost tea make certain leafy vegetables grow bigger or not?

    To read the Permaculture Gardens blog and other resources about soil regeneration, compost tea, permaculture, and growing food yourself, please visit https://www.permaculturegardens.org/

    Bill Mollison's books Introduction to Permaculture and Permaculture: A Designer's Manual are available online or through your local independent bookstore. Information about USDA-Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education's (SARE) grant programs and their free publications are accessible at https://southern.sare.org/

    To learn about the Virginia Soil Health Coalition and join the Coalition's quarterly meetings, please visit https://www.virginiasoilhealth.org/. For questions about soil and water conservation practices and outdoor educational activities for youth, call or visit a USDA Service Center, a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office.

    As always, we encourage you to join the 4 The Soil movement at https://www.4thesoil.org/ and follow the four principles of soil health: 1) Keep the Soil Covered -- Cover crops are our friends; 2) Minimize soil disturbance -- Practice no-till or gentle tillage in your field or garden as much as possible; 3) Maximize living roots year-round -- to improve biodiversity and life in the soil; and 4) Energize with diversity -- through crop rotation and/or livestock integration. And please share your stories of how you are regenerating soil on your farm, in your garden, or backyard. Yes, we can all cheer "for" soil and be 4 The Soil!
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    19 mins
  • S5 - E7: Grow-It-Yourself (GIY) with Nicky Schauder of Permaculture Gardens, Part I

    S5 - E7: Grow-It-Yourself (GIY) with Nicky Schauder of Permaculture Gardens, Part I
    Apr 1 2025
    Nicky Schauder and her family started Permaculture Gardens to make permaculture and growing food accessible to everyone - especially families and children. Nicky shares her story and experience with learning, researching, and growing food with Mary Sketch Bryant, Marian Dalke, and Jeff Ishee. Nicky is constantly learning by experiment. Nicky is a two-time recipient of USDA-Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Producer Grants for Research and Experimentation with permaculture and compost tea.

    Permaculture Gardens' Grow-It-Yourself (GIY) program stems from Nicky's learning, experimentation, and efforts to debunk the idea that growing food is neither accessible nor possible. The Live Plant Your Pantry Challenge started this week March 31 - April 5 and can be joined at https://www.permaculturegardens.org/plant-your-pantry-challenge.

    To read the Permaculture Gardens blog and other resources about soil regeneration, compost tea, permaculture, and growing food yourself, please visit https://www.permaculturegardens.org/

    To learn about the Virginia Soil Health Coalition and join the Coalition's quarterly meetings, please visit https://www.virginiasoilhealth.org/. For questions about soil and water conservation practices and outdoor educational activities for youth, call or visit a USDA Service Center, a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office.

    As always, we encourage you to join the 4 The Soil movement and share your stories of how you are regenerating soil on your farm, in your garden, or backyard. Yes, we can all be 4 The Soil.
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    17 mins
  • S5 - E6: Education first and foremost with Nicole Shuman of Cornerstone Farm, Part II

    S5 - E6: Education first and foremost with Nicole Shuman of Cornerstone Farm, Part II
    Mar 18 2025
    Nicole Shuman is a community agriculturalist and educator at Cornerstone Farm at Fairfield Middle School in Henrico County, VA. Nicole shares that education is the first and foremost goal of Cornerstone Farm. As a functioning farm, students and the school community learn what and how food is grown, while also gaining hands-on knowledge and experience growing food for a farmstand cost-effectively.

    Nicole outlined the big picture and how the farm provides additional service learning opportunities and a place to learn about sound nutrition, environmental sustainability, food security, and ways to contribute to the community in tangible ways.

    To learn more about Cornerstone Farm and the context of the agricultural learning program at Fairfield Middle School, please visit https://henricogives.org/cornerstone-farm-a-context-for-authentic-learning/

    The video Nicole Shuman created about cover crops when Nicole worked as an extension agent with Virginia Cooperative Extension is accessible at https://www.facebook.com/VCEGoochland/videos/cover-crops/576420333030946/ The recent 4 The Soil blog post featuring the Soil for Water video series can be accessed at https://www.4thesoil.org/post/farmers-ranchers-and-creatives-behind-the-soil-for-water-case-studies

    To learn about the Virginia Soil Health Coalition and join the Coalition's quarterly meetings, please visit https://www.virginiasoilhealth.org/. For questions about soil and water conservation practices and outdoor educational activities for youth, call or visit a USDA Service Center, a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office.

    As always, we encourage you to join the 4 The Soil movement and share your stories of how you are building soil health on your farm, in your garden, or backyard. Yes, we can all be 4 The Soil.
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    18 mins
  • S5 - E5: Hands-On Community Agriculture Work with Nicole Shuman of Cornerstone Farm, Part I

    S5 - E5: Hands-On Community Agriculture Work with Nicole Shuman of Cornerstone Farm, Part I
    Mar 4 2025
    Context is foundational to authentic, experiential learning, and understanding how to build soil health within a landscape context. Hands-on educational activities and programs help students of all ages better understand the context and real-life application of learning objectives, principles, and practices. Nicole Shuman is a community agriculturalist with Henrico County Public Schools. Nicole shares her experience with Mary, Jeff, and Eric and how she became interested in soil health and agricultural education work, Nicole specifically talks about her community agriculture work at Cornerstone Farm at Fairfield Middle School and how the farm helps get the students outside and gives them hands-on experiences.

    Nicole offered the Soil Your Undies experiment and demonstration as one activity that provides context and experiential learning in a variety of settings on the farm. A 4 The Soil blog post that describes and further explains the Soil Your Undies activity and experiment can be accessed at https://www.4thesoil.org/post/featured-resource-soil-your-undies-challenge

    To learn more about Cornerstone Farm and the context of the agricultural learning program at Fairfield Middle School, please visit https://henricogives.org/cornerstone-farm-a-context-for-authentic-learning/

    To learn about the Virginia Soil Health Coalition and join the Coalition's quarterly meetings, please visit https://www.virginiasoilhealth.org/. For questions about soil and water conservation practices and outdoor educational activities for youth, call or visit a USDA Service Center, a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office.

    As always, we encourage you to join the 4 The Soil movement and share your stories and the context of your agricultural and soil health work on your farm, in your garden, or backyard. Yes, we can all be 4 The Soil.
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    18 mins
  • S5 - E4: Cultivating Wellness from the Soil Up with Farmer Cee of Green Heffa Farms, Part II

    S5 - E4: Cultivating Wellness from the Soil Up with Farmer Cee of Green Heffa Farms, Part II
    Feb 18 2025
    Clarenda "Farmer Cee" Stanley of Green Heffa Farms is someone who does not take health and wellness for granted but actively seeks to catalyze and cultivate wellness from the soil up. Farmer Cee is the founding CEO and owner of Green Heffa Farms, a black woman-owned Certified B Corporation, wellness brand, and herb farm based in North Carolina. Farmer Cee believes everyone can start on a path to wellness with care of the soil beneath their feet.

    In this episode, Farmer Cee shared with Mary, Jeff, and Eric what Green Heffa Farms does to care for the land, stay strategically competitive, promote transparency, and harness the power of nature and plants. Farmer Cee's values-based approach to farming includes working towards better health outcomes, less stress on people and the planet, more sustainable businesses, and healthier soil for everyone.

    To learn more about Farmer Cee and Green Heffa Farms, please visit https://www.greenheffafarms.com/farmer-cee.

    The “We Are 4 the Soil” song and video created by the FlipCharts and Social Impact Studios that Jeff mentioned is available on the 4theSoil.org homepage at https://www.4thesoil.org/#we-are-4-the-soil-video

    Additionally, the recent blog post about Mr. Elisha Barnes of Pop Son Farm and his single-origin redskin peanuts that he specially grows for Hubbard Peanut Company can be accessed at https://www.4thesoil.org/post/a-shocking-history-and-future-with-elisha-barnes-of-pop-son-farm

    To learn about the Virginia Soil Health Coalition and join the Coalition's quarterly meetings, please visit https://www.virginiasoilhealth.org/. Recent 4 The Soil blog posts resources can be accessed at https://www.4thesoil.org/. For questions about soil and water conservation practices, call or visit a USDA Service Center, a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office.

    As always, we encourage you to join the 4 The Soil movement and share your stories and photos of how you are honoring the land and soil on your farm, in your garden, or backyard. Yes, we can all be 4 The Soil.
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    18 mins
  • S5 - E3: Defying Obstacles, Bringing Voices to Sustainability with Farmer Cee of Green Heffa Farms, Part I

    S5 - E3: Defying Obstacles, Bringing Voices to Sustainability with Farmer Cee of Green Heffa Farms, Part I
    Feb 4 2025
    Defying obstacles, honoring the land, and giving voice to sustainability and business ethics requires commitment and dedication to a vision. Clarenda "Farmer Cee" Stanley is a visionary entrepreneur, farmer, herbalist, and advocate for ethical business and sustainable living. Known affectionately as "Farmer Cee," she is the founding CEO of Green Heffa Farms, a wellness brand and herb farm that celebrates the power of nature to heal and nourish.

    Beyond her work as an executive, farmer, and herbalist, Farmer Cee is also a passionate educator and community leader. Her farm has achieved the distinction of becoming the nation's premier Black-owned farm to earn the Certified B Corp credential, a significant recognition denoting Green Heffa Fams' commitment to social and environmental responsibility.

    Farmer Cee shared with Mary, Jeff, and Eric the obstacles she has defied and about caring for the planet's well-being, honoring the land, being devoted to prosperity and entrepreneurship, giving support to the least supported, and bringing more voices to conversations around sustainability and ethical living.

    To learn more about Farmer Cee and Green Heffa Farms, please visit https://www.greenheffafarms.com/farmer-cee. For more information and lists of certified B corporations, please visit B Lab Global at https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/

    To learn about the Virginia Soil Health Coalition and join the Coalition's quarterly meetings, please visit https://www.virginiasoilhealth.org/. Recent 4 The Soil blog posts resources can be accessed at https://www.4thesoil.org/. For questions about soil and water conservation practices, call or visit a USDA Service Center, a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office.

    As always, we encourage you to join the 4 The Soil movement and share your stories and photos of how you are honoring the land and soil on your farm, in your garden, or backyard. Yes, we can all be 4 The Soil.
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    17 mins
  • S5 - E2: Understanding Context, Establishing Baselines with Rick Clark of Farm Green, Part II

    S5 - E2: Understanding Context, Establishing Baselines with Rick Clark of Farm Green, Part II
    Jan 21 2025
    Understanding context and establishing baselines are critical for developing systematic approaches to change for the right reasons. Rick Clark of Clark Land & Cattle and Farm Green Consulting is a fifth-generation farmer who farms 6,000 plus acres of certified organic crops in Warren County, Indiana. In addition to cash, oilseed, and cover crops, Rick raises cattle and sheep using his system of regenerative organic stewardship with no tillage. Through the years, Rick has worked to reduce synthetic inputs on his farm and focused on the return on the investment of any input and how that affects overall profitability.

    In talking with Mary, Jeff, and Eric, Rick is adamant that farmers need to understand their context (i.e., geographic, financial, emotional, etc.) and establish sound baselines for every aspect of the farm operation. Regenerative agriculture is a journey and not a destination: you have to start slowly, keep working at it, and plan accordingly.

    Tune in wherever you get your podcasts.

    For additional thoughts and resources from Rick Clark on regenerative organic no-till farming, please visit https://www.farmgreen.land/. Other resource people that Rick mentioned included Gabe Brown of Brown's Ranch and John Kempf of the Regenerative Agriculture podcast.

    To learn about the Virginia Soil Health Coalition and join the Coalition's quarterly meetings, please visit https://www.virginiasoilhealth.org/. Recent 4 The Soil blog posts resources can be accessed at https://www.4thesoil.org/. For questions about soil and water conservation practices, call or visit a USDA Service Center, a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office.

    As always, we encourage you in your commitment to building soil health; understanding the context of your farm, garden, and community; and joining the 4 The Soil movement. Yes, we can all be 4 The Soil.
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    19 mins