The Regenaissance Podcast

The Regenaissance
  • 4.7 (13)
  • EARTH SCIENCES

Hosted by @Regenaisanceman with the mission of reconnecting us back to where our food is grown & exposing everything that is wrong with our broken food system. We are more disconnected from our food than we ever have been. I sit down with ranchers and farmers to give them a voice and hear their stories, helping paint a picture of what it really looks like to support humanity with food. I also will be talking to others involved in the agriculture space as there is a lot that goes into it all. My hope is that from hearing this podcast you will begin to question what you eat and where from.

  1. Vermont 4th Gen Maple Farm: Syrup Quality, Tree-tapping, Forest Management, & Vermont's Unique History (Live Farm Tour) - Baird Farm | #106

    6D AGO

    Vermont 4th Gen Maple Farm: Syrup Quality, Tree-tapping, Forest Management, & Vermont's Unique History (Live Farm Tour) - Baird Farm | #106

    This one was fun. Jacob and Jenna tour us through Baird Farm, a fourth-generation Vermont maple farm operating since 1918. They walk me through the sugarbush, tubing systems, and sugarhouse, and how its all made/stored/sold and its history. Fascinating stuff - hope you get something out of it.  Key Topics Modern maple syrup production vs traditional bucket methodsThe maple sugaring season and weather dependenceReal maple syrup vs imitation and blended productsForest management, biodiversity, and tree healthGenerational farming and maintaining a family-run operationWhat You’ll Learn Why maple syrup is produced in a short late-winter window, not year-roundHow modern maple syrup is collected using tubing and vacuum systemsWhat tapping a maple tree involves and how trees are protected long-termHow much sap is required to make real maple syrupWhy Vermont consistently produces some of the highest maple yieldsConnect with Jason & Baird Farm: WebsiteInstagramFollow the tour on YouTube Connect with Regenaissance:Website & MerchInstagramXSubstack (Ag News & History) Timestamps:  00:00:00 – Introduction and farm history 00:04:40 – Buckets vs modern maple tubing systems 00:07:10 – What maple syrup actually is (and isn’t) 00:12:00 – How maple tubing and vacuum systems work 00:16:40 – Tapping trees and protecting long-term tree health 00:22:00 – The maple syrup production window and season length 00:25:10 – Why Vermont dominates U.S. maple production 00:31:00 – Forest management, biodiversity, and resilience 00:38:20 – Labor, infrastructure, and modern maple realities 00:45:30 – Generational farming and transitioning the farm forward

    1h 36m
  2. How Ranches Stay Profitable Without Compromising Animal Welfare (Live Farm Tour) - Wrich Ranches | #105

    FEB 6

    How Ranches Stay Profitable Without Compromising Animal Welfare (Live Farm Tour) - Wrich Ranches | #105

    A walk-through tour of Wrick Ranches in western Colorado with rancher Jason Wrick, covering calf weaning, water systems, drought realities, regenerative grazing decisions, and how a working ranch stays financially viable through direct-to-consumer beef, on-farm retail, and diversified income streams. Key Topics Calf weaning and animal welfare in real ranching conditionsWater rights, irrigation, and farming during long-term droughtHay reserves, soil fertility, and nutrient cycling through cattleRegenerative grazing within economic and regional constraintsDirect-to-consumer beef and building resilient rural businessesWhat You’ll Learn Why calves must be weaned and how it’s managed responsiblyHow irrigation systems actually work on a western cattle ranchWhat drought means in practice for hay, water, and stocking ratesHow regenerative grazing must adapt to local climate and economicsWhy direct consumer support is critical for small ranch survivalConnect with Jason:WebsiteInstagram Check out the farm tour episode on our YouTube  Timestamps  00:00:00 Introduction to Rick Ranches and the ranch tour 00:01:45 Calf weaning and animal welfare misconceptions 00:07:45 Irrigation systems and on-farm water infrastructure 00:12:30 Colorado water rights and drought realities 00:14:45 Hay management and nutrient cycling strategy 00:18:15 Regenerative agriculture and regional context 00:21:30 Consumer support and direct-to-consumer beef 00:31:00 Farm store, trust-based sales, and community 00:38:30 Weddings, rentals, and diversified ranch income 00:41:00 Grazing management and closing reflections

    45 min
  3. The Maudes and the US Forest Service: How a Fence Line Dispute Almost Tore a Family Apart - Charles & Heather Maude | #104

    JAN 28

    The Maudes and the US Forest Service: How a Fence Line Dispute Almost Tore a Family Apart - Charles & Heather Maude | #104

    Charles and Heather Maude are fifth-generation ranchers in South Dakota who farm home raised beef and pork direct-to-consumer. In this episode they describe their family history on the land, their early lives in agriculture, and the events that led to a criminal indictment by the United States Forest Service over a disputed boundary fence. The episode documents their personal background, the mechanics of Western land use, and a detailed account of how a civil land issue escalated into a federal criminal case. Key Topics Federal criminal indictment over a land disputeHow the case escalated from civil to criminalLegal strategy and case dismissalImpact on family, finances, and rightsPrecedent for ranchers and landownersWhat You'll Learn How a ranching family faced and beat a federal criminal indictmentHow a routine land boundary issue escalated into criminal chargesHow federal land enforcement works in practice for ranchersThe personal, financial, and legal costs of a criminal caseWhy this case matters for landowners and producersConnect with Charles & Heather WebsiteInstagramFacebook Timestamps 00:00:00 Why this story matters 00:03:00 Heather’s ranch upbringing 00:09:00 Charles’s family land history 00:15:00 Growing up ranching 00:24:00 Marriage and the Atlas Blizzard 00:33:00 Ranch community and shared labor 00:35:00 Forest Service fence dispute begins 00:41:00 Meetings with federal officials 00:52:00 Civil dispute turns criminal 01:05:00 Impact of the indictment 01:22:00 Washington D.C. and case dismissal 01:27:00 Media and political pressure 01:34:00 Precedent for landowners 01:50:00 Land stewardship and politics 02:08:00 Final reflections

    2h 10m
  4. Inside a 1,200-Acre Regenerative Operation (Live Farm Tour) - Rucker Farm | #103

    JAN 21

    Inside a 1,200-Acre Regenerative Operation (Live Farm Tour) - Rucker Farm | #103

    In this episode, we tour through Rucker Farm with Garrett Heydt to see how a large, leased regenerative operation actually works; covering hay, turkeys, water systems, minerals, and grazing decisions that shape animal health and land outcomes over time. Key Topics  Rotational grazing on large, leased propertiesPasture-based turkey production and managementWater infrastructure, exclusion fencing, and environmental impactHay economics vs standing winter forageRegeneration as a long-term land ethicWhy You Should Listen Clear explanation of rotational grazing at scale (30+ paddocks, leased land)Practical breakdown of hay vs standing forage economicsRare detail on pasture-raised turkey management and behaviorInsight into water systems, mineral strategy, and soil-and-water fundingA grounded philosophy of regeneration over sustainabilityConnect with Rucker Farm WebsiteInstagram Follow the tour on YouTube Timestamps 00:00 Hay production and second cutting 02:00 Pasture-raised turkeys and grazing behavior 05:00 Predators, electric netting, and night radio strategy 06:30 Raising turkeys: brooders, socialization, survivability 07:45 Turkey processing timelines and sizing 12:00 Mobile brooders and farming on leased land 16:30 Cattle water systems and exclusion fencing 23:00 Minerals, salt, and late-pregnancy cow health 29:30 Hay costs vs grazing saved forage 37:30 Regeneration vs sustainability and rebuilding soil 48:00 Leaving the city and choosing farm life

    50 min
  5. Soil-Health Principles And Adaptive Stewardship In Practice (Live Farm Tour) - Otter Creek Farm | #102

    JAN 14

    Soil-Health Principles And Adaptive Stewardship In Practice (Live Farm Tour) - Otter Creek Farm | #102

    Otter Creek Farm is located in upstate New York. First-generation farmer Elizabeth Collins walks through how herself and 5th generation farmer  Brad Wiley rebuilt a former conventional dairy into a small, regenerative, animal-welfare-driven operation. The conversation moves from soil-health principles and rotational grazing to the practical realities of feed decisions, omega-3/6 tradeoffs, infrastructure design, and why consumer responsibility is central to fixing the food system. Key topics  Soil-health principles and adaptive stewardship in practicePig rotation systems, wallows, and regeneration timelinesPastured poultry design, predator pressure, and welfare tradeoffsFeed sourcing, omega-3/6 ratios, and testing meat qualityConsumer power, decentralization, and reconnecting with farmersWhy listen See how soil-health principles translate into daily, on-farm decisionsLearn how pigs, chickens, and cows are rotated to regenerate land without scaleUnderstand the real cost and nutritional tradeoffs of grain, minerals, and feed sourcingHear why labels fail—and what questions consumers should actually askGet an honest look at mistakes, losses, and learning in regenerative farmingWebsiteCome Stay At Otter Creek...InstagramFollow the tour on YouTube Timestamps 00:00:00 – Otter Creek Farm overview 00:04:30 – Animal welfare over scale 00:08:30 – Rotational pigs and regeneration 00:14:00 – Feed choices and omega-6s 00:18:10 – Meat testing results 00:22:40 – Limits of food labels 00:27:30 – Farm stays and education 00:33:40 – Mobile chickens and predators 00:40:10 – Breeding and epigenetics 00:46:30 – Farming mistakes and learning

    1h 50m
  6. Touring a Modern Regenerative Farm & It's Multi-Species Infrastructure (Live Farm Tour) - J&L Green Farm | #101

    JAN 7

    Touring a Modern Regenerative Farm & It's Multi-Species Infrastructure (Live Farm Tour) - J&L Green Farm | #101

    This live farm tour back in August 2025 was at J&L Green Farm in Virginia, where Jordan Green walks us through the operational heart of the farm. From on-farm poultry processing and cold storage to multi-species shelter design and silvopasture development, the conversation is delves into why certain farming infrastructures and layouts exist, how animals are rotated, on-farm problems with certain infrastructure, and how design iterations have helped him reduce labor, improved animal welfare, and increased land productivity. Key Topics On-farm poultry processing layout and cold-chain controlMulti-species shelter systems and labor efficiencyPasture poultry genetics, heat stress, and shelter designMulti-species grazing: pigs, cattle, poultry, and soil healthSilvopasture development and long-term land productivityWhy You Should Listen Hear how a regenerative farm works in practice.Learn how J&L Green Farm designs systems to reduce labor and scale.Understand real-world multi-species grazing.Hear lessons learned through trial and error.Gain a clear view of resilient land management.WebsiteInstagram Follow the tour on YouTube Timestamps 00:00:00 – Arrival at J&L Green Farm and overview of the hub property 00:09:30 – Poultry processing setup, layout logic, and food safety flow 00:18:45 – Ice, chill-down, freezer capacity, and cold storage strategy 00:28:15 – Farm store setup, permits, and limited-hours retail model 00:37:45 – Customer ordering, fulfillment, shipping, and efficiency tradeoffs 00:47:00 – Brooder containers, chick cycles, and feed formulation 00:56:30 – Poultry genetics, growth rates, and pasture vs conventional models 01:06:00 – Mobile multi-species shelter system design and iteration process 01:15:30 – Heat management, airflow, labor efficiency, and daily moves 01:25:00 – Grazing rotation with poultry, cattle, and pigs on shared ground 01:34:30 – Silvopasture development, pigs as land-management tools 01:44:00 – Soil health outcomes, resilience, mistakes learned, and long-term vision

    1h 54m
  7. Inside a High-Elevation Colorado Pinot Noir Vineyard (Live Farm Tour) – Peony Lane Wine | #100

    12/31/2025

    Inside a High-Elevation Colorado Pinot Noir Vineyard (Live Farm Tour) – Peony Lane Wine | #100

    Ben Justman takes me inside Peony Lane Wine in Paonia, Colorado for a live farm tour of one of America’s highest-elevation vineyard regions.  He educates me on how grapes are grown, how vines survive harsh winters, how low-intervention wine is made, and why true place-based winemaking creates a totally different drinking experience.  It’s interesting to see how he constantly adapts to the seasons, soil, weather, and other farming variables to keep the operation productive and high quality. Key Topics High-elevation Colorado vineyard conditionsHow Pinot Noir grows in the West Elks AVATraditional vs modern wine pressingNeutral oak philosophy & fermentation choicesFreeze events, die-back, retraining, & resilienceWater, irrigation strategy, and soil connectionWhat You’ll Hear in This Farm Tour Vineyard walkthrough and climate explanationOld basket press vs modern bladder press demonstrationStainless tanks, oak barrels, and aging philosophyVine die-back, retraining, and freeze recoveryHow irrigation, soil depth, and vineyard management shape flavorHonest discussion of additives, hangovers, and “natural” wineWhy Colorado wine deserves far more recognitionWebsiteInstagramX 00:00:00 — Colorado vineyard & climate 00:01:00 — Old basket press 00:02:30 — New bladder press 00:03:30 — Tanks & barrels 00:05:00 — Pressing process 00:06:30 — Vineyard origin story 00:07:30 — Why this wine feels better 00:09:00 — Additives & labeling truth 00:10:30 — Wine, place & meaning 00:11:30 — Commodity vs real wine 00:14:30 — Vine growth & maturity 00:17:30 — Freeze damage & recovery 00:21:30 — Training vines 00:23:30 — Irrigation & soil depth 00:27:00 — Cutting back growth 00:28:30 — Lessons, learning, & commitment

    29 min
  8. Inside a First-Generation Sheep Ranch Operation (Live Farm Tour) - Michael Greco | #99

    12/24/2025

    Inside a First-Generation Sheep Ranch Operation (Live Farm Tour) - Michael Greco | #99

    This on-the-ground episode explores Michael Grecos first-generation regenerative sheep operation, run entirely on leased land in New York’s Hudson Valley. We walk the pastures with Michael as he explains stocking strategy, grazing philosophy, shade management, lambing, predator protection, mineral systems, on-farm slaughter, and why sheep can make regenerative agriculture viable on smaller landscapes. Key Topics Why Michael chose sheep and how leased land shapes his operationDaily rotational grazing, density, rest periods, and pasture responseLambing, weaning, animal stress, shade, and heat managementGuardian dogs, predators, minerals, biochar, and health managementEthics, transparency, local food, and on-farm harvest philosophyWhat You’ll Learn Why sheep economics differ from cattle and fit smaller northeastern landscapesHow paddock design, net fencing, and daily moves build soil and resiliencePractical realities of lambing, natural weaning, and dealing with rejection casesHow to think about ticks, rainfall, heat stress, shade, and pasture densityWhy buying local matters and why ranchers care deeply about animal welfareConnect with Michael:WebsiteInstagramFollow the tour on YouTube Timestamps  00:00:00 – Meet Michael & the Hudson Valley Sheep Ranch 00:01:00 – Why Sheep? Cost, Scale, & Land Fit 00:03:00 – Leased Land & Grazing Philosophy 00:05:00 – Natural Weaning vs Forced Weaning 00:07:30 – Daily Moves, Density & Pasture Impact 00:10:00 – What a “Good” Grazed Paddock Looks Like 00:15:00 – Lamb Count, Losses & Culling Logic 00:17:30 – Guardian Dog & Predator Control 00:19:30 – Minerals, Biochar & Health Support 00:21:00 – Rumination & What Calm Sheep Look Like 00:23:00 – Lambing Timing & Spring Nutrition 00:28:00 – Shade, Heat Stress & Summer Management 00:30:30 – On-Farm Harvest & Ethics 00:36:00 – Visiting Farms & Transparency 00:37:30 – Rest Periods, Regrowth & Stockpiling 00:44:00 – Milkweed, Pollinators & “Poison Plant” Myth 00:47:00 – Mowing vs Not Mowing 00:48:00 – Scaling Plans & Future Growth

    49 min
See All (122)

Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Hosted by @Regenaisanceman with the mission of reconnecting us back to where our food is grown & exposing everything that is wrong with our broken food system. We are more disconnected from our food than we ever have been. I sit down with ranchers and farmers to give them a voice and hear their stories, helping paint a picture of what it really looks like to support humanity with food. I also will be talking to others involved in the agriculture space as there is a lot that goes into it all. My hope is that from hearing this podcast you will begin to question what you eat and where from.

Information

  • Creator
    The Regenaissance
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    122
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Regenaissance
  • Show Website
    The Regenaissance Podcast

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