Harvesting Wisdom Podcast with Mike McMahon

Mike McMahon

Discover insights that grow a greener world with Harvesting Wisdom Podcast hosted by Mike McMahon. 🌱🎙️ Leading experts share wisdom on agriculture, sustainability, and education in Arizona and beyond. Policy makers, industry experts, and international outreach champions – we cover it all! Tune in for a harvest of knowledge. 🌍🌾

  1. Jul 30

    How This Family Rebuilt Depleted Soil into a Working Regenerative Farm

    Send us Fan Mail What does it actually take to build a regenerative farm from bare, depleted soil? In this episode of Harvesting Wisdom, host Mike McMahon travels to the Šiauliai district of Lithuania to visit Lornus, a farmer who moved onto his grandfather's land in 2015 with his wife and, eventually, three kids. What started as a plant-based homesteading dream turned into a hands-on education in soil science, rotational grazing, and the real economics of raising food. Lornus shares how a video on permaculture reshaped his thinking during university, and how early attempts at market gardening ran into hard truths about poor soil and short growing seasons. That struggle led him back toward raising animals, starting with movable chicken coops and eventually a herd of cattle managed through mob grazing and holistic pasture management. The conversation covers practical details of running a small regenerative operation: managing calving season, finding a slaughterhouse suited to grass-finished beef, improving pasture health without tilling, and navigating regulations that limit which animals small farmers can raise. Lornus is candid about the setbacks, the learning curve, and the deeper motivation that keeps the family going even when the margins are thin. This episode is a grounded look at what it really means to build a resilient, self-sufficient food system from the ground up, one paddock, one mistake, and one season at a time. 👉 Subscribe to Harvesting Wisdom for more conversations on agriculture, sustainability, and the people building resilient food and farming systems. Why Listen? This episode is a candid, on-the-ground account of what regenerative farming actually looks like in practice, not just in theory. Lornus doesn't gloss over the failures: poor soil, a failed vegetable venture, and the steep learning curve of managing livestock. For anyone interested in rotational grazing, soil regeneration, homesteading, or simply curious what it takes to build food independence from scratch, this conversation offers honest, practical insight. It's especially worthwhile for aspiring farmers, homesteaders, or anyone rethinking their relationship with where their food comes from. 00:00 – Introduction to Lornus and the farm in Šiauliai, Lithuania  02:01 – From studying plant science to discovering permaculture  04:01 – Moving onto family land and starting a plant-based homestead  05:27 – Testing the soil and discovering it couldn't support crops  06:40 – Why the market garden idea didn't work out  07:47 – Shifting toward animals: movable chicken coops and goats  08:28 – Taking on a herd of 12 cows through a regional park program  09:28 – Managing breeding season and calving timing  11:17 – Water management and natural water sources  12:36 – Raising bulls for beef and timing the harvest  14:02 – Finding a slaughterhouse for grass-finished cattle  16:10 – Why poultry is "for the feast" and beef is for every day  17:52 – Chickens surviving harsh winters outdoors  17:52 – Regulations preventing pastured hogs due to swine flu concerns  20:17 – Plans to grow berries without chemical inputs  23:12 – Tracking farm data and calculating input costs  25:05 – Improving pasture health through grazing management  28:02 – What it takes to stick with this way of life long-term  29:00 – Raising kids on the farm and hopes for the next generation

  2. Jul 28

    Inside Louis LaTour: Sustainable Farming in the World's Most Storied Vineyards

    Send us Fan Mail What does it take to keep a 200-year-old vineyard thriving as the climate shifts beneath it? In this episode of Harvesting Wisdom, host Mike McMahon travels to Burgundy, France to sit down with Christophe, who oversees field operations for the historic Louis LaTour estate. Their conversation unfolds right in the vineyard, walking the rows while discussing soil, biodiversity, and the realities of farming some of the most celebrated land in the world. Christophe shares how growers across small, centuries-old plots are working together to restore biodiversity at a landscape scale — leaving native forest edges intact, replanting hedgerows, and creating wildlife corridors between tiny parcels owned by dozens of different families. He also explains Burgundy's dry-farming approach, on-site composting practices, and why shallow, mineral-rich soils have historically defined the region's wines. A major thread throughout the episode is climate change. Christophe walks through decades of harvest data showing dates shifting earlier and earlier, and describes the long-term work being done — from testing new rootstocks and grape clones to reconsidering vine density — to help vineyards stay resilient for future generations. The conversation closes with reflections on tradition, terroir, and what it really means to make wine as part of a multi-generational, cooperative system rather than a solo pursuit. If you care about regenerative agriculture, soil health, or how traditional farming systems are adapting to a changing climate, this is a conversation worth your time. 👉 Subscribe to Harvesting Wisdom for more conversations on agriculture, sustainability, and the people working to build resilient food and farming systems. Why Listen? This episode offers a rare, ground-level look at how one of the world's most tradition-bound wine regions is confronting climate change in practical, hands-on ways. Whether you're into regenerative agriculture, soil health, biodiversity, or simply curious about how generations-old farming systems adapt under pressure, Christophe's perspective is grounded, honest, and full of specifics — from composting methods to root depth to why cooperation between growers matters more than competition. It's a great watch for gardeners, farmers, sustainability students, or anyone who wants to understand agriculture through the lens of place, patience, and long-term thinking. 00:00 – Introduction to Christophe and Louis LaTour  02:40 – Native forest edges and natural biodiversity buffers  04:22 – Multi-generational cooperation among Burgundy growers  09:16 – Clone diversity and building resilience through genetics  11:10 – Dry farming and on-site composting practices  12:39 – Managing vine disease without synthetic sprays  16:32 – Harvest date data and visible signs of climate change  19:08 – Shallow soils, root depth, and water reserves  21:02 – Cover crops and managing competition for water  32:55 – The "Terroir de Corton" biodiversity project  36:13 – Long-term adaptation: rootstocks, density, and old varieties  44:00 – Advice for wine lovers exploring Burgundy  45:34 – Closing thoughts and appreciation

  3. Jul 23

    How Biodynamic Farming Builds Healthier Soil, Better Wine & Stronger Ecosystems

    Send us Fan Mail Can healthier soil produce better wine? What happens when a family vineyard spends generations working with nature instead of against it? In this episode of Harvesting Wisdom, host Mike McMahon visits Château Nodot in the Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux appellation to speak with vineyard owner Jessica Aubert. Her family has cared for the estate for more than 200 years, and for the past 16 years Jessica has continued their commitment to organic practices while leading the vineyard's transition into biodynamic farming. Jessica explains how biodynamic agriculture has improved soil health, strengthened biodiversity, increased resilience to climate change, and enhanced the quality of their wines. From cover crops and herbal preparations to forest conservation and natural pest management, this conversation highlights how healthy ecosystems create healthier farms. You'll also learn about:  The differences between organic, biodynamic, and regenerative agriculture  How living soil supports healthier vines  Biodiversity, pollinators, and natural pest control  Climate change challenges facing vineyards today  Biodynamic preparations and seasonal farming practices  Why protecting forests and natural habitat matters for agriculture Whether you're a gardener, farmer, wine enthusiast, or simply interested in sustainable food systems, this episode offers practical insights into farming with nature while preserving the land for future generations. Subscribe to Harvesting Wisdom for more conversations exploring agriculture, sustainability, food systems, environmental stewardship, and the people helping shape a more resilient future. Why Listen?Healthy soil is the foundation of resilient agriculture, and this episode offers a real-world look at what that means in practice. Jessica Aubert shares how biodynamic farming has helped her family vineyard improve soil biology, protect biodiversity, and adapt to changing environmental conditions. Whether you're interested in regenerative agriculture, sustainable gardening, or simply curious about how great wine begins in the vineyard, you'll come away with valuable insights that extend far beyond wine. 00:00 – Welcome to Harvesting Wisdom & introduction to Château Nodot 00:41 – Meet Jessica Aubert and her family's 200-year-old Bordeaux vineyard 01:15 – The grape varieties grown at Château Nodot 03:10 – Why the vineyard transitioned to biodynamic farming 04:04 – Jessica's journey from banking to vineyard management 05:03 – Managing a vineyard year-round and today's wine market challenges 06:01 – Why wine consumption is changing around the world 07:00 – Shipping wine internationally and Bordeaux's unique terroir 08:28 – How biodynamic farming transformed the vineyard's soil 09:39 – Biodynamic farming vs. regenerative agriculture 10:37 – Does the moon influence plant growth? 11:17 – Biodynamic preparations explained 14:06 – Using herbs and natural teas to prevent vineyard diseases 15:26 – Creating natural soil amendments 16:06 – How biodynamic preparations are made and applied 18:15 – Best conditions for applying biodynamic treatments 19:04 – Climate change and its impact on grape production 20:31 – Managing vine growth for healthier grapes 22:23 – Building resilience through soil biology 23:59 – Organic matter, water retention, and healthier soils 24:57 – Why biodiversity matters below the surface 25:33 – Cover crops, clover, and supporting pollinators 26:07 – Bees, biodiversity, and natural ecosystems 27:03 – Preserving forests around the vineyard 29:03 – The economics of organic and biodynamic farming 29:49 – Future plans for grazing sheep in the vineyard 31:10 – Managing weeds without herbicides 32:32 – Why biodynamic grapes produce richer wines 33:13 – Working alongside conventional vineyards 35:27 – Jessica's vision for biodiversity and the future of wine 36:32 – Closing thoughts & thanks for watching

  4. Jul 21

    What Happens to Our Food If Bees Disappear? | Dr. Cahit Ozturk

    Send us Fan Mail What would happen to our food supply if honeybees disappeared? In this episode of Harvesting Wisdom, Dr. Joe Roselle speaks with Arizona State University Bee Lab researcher Dr. Cahit Ozturk about the essential role honeybees and other pollinators play in food production, biodiversity, and healthy ecosystems. Dr. Ozturk explains what declining bee populations could mean for agriculture, how pesticides and monoculture farming affect bee health, and why honeybees are especially valuable pollinators. He also shares insights from his research into bee genetics, hygienic behavior, fungicide exposure, and Varroa mites. Thinking about starting a backyard beehive? This conversation also covers practical beekeeping basics, including providing water, protecting hives from Arizona’s extreme heat, and identifying mite problems before they spread. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN: 🐝 Why honeybees are critical to our food supply 🌱 How pollination affects crop quality and biodiversity 🚜 Why monoculture farming can harm bee nutrition 🧪 How pesticides and fungicides affect bee health 🍯 What gives honey its unique regional flavor 🔬 What researchers are discovering about bee genetics and behavior 🏡 What you need to begin backyard beekeeping ☀️ How Arizona beekeepers manage extreme heat and limited water ⚠️ How to recognize and manage Varroa mites ABOUT DR. CAHIT OZTURK Dr. Cahit Ozturk is a research technologist and associate researcher at Arizona State University with more than three decades of experience in honeybee research, education, breeding, and colony management. He began working with honeybees in 1989 and earned his master’s degree studying royal jelly production. He later received his Ph.D. in bee genetics and breeding from Cukurova University in Turkey. Before joining the ASU Bee Lab in 2014, Dr. Ozturk worked as a lecturer and researcher and served as the head of a government beekeeping research department in Turkey. His areas of expertise include honeybee breeding and management, queen bee rearing, bee genetics, hygienic behavior, royal jelly production, instrumental insemination, and honeybee learning and behavior. He currently contributes to honeybee research projects and teaches basic through advanced beekeeping courses at the ASU Bee Lab. CHAPTERS 00:00 – Meet Dr. Cahit Ozturk 01:26 – Why bees matter to our food supply 02:35 – What happens if bee colonies collapse? 04:19 – Bumblebees, mason bees, butterflies, and other pollinators 07:18 – How chemicals and monoculture farming affect bees 11:00 – The connection between bees and biodiversity 12:58 – How pollination affects food quality and quantity 14:51 – What gives honey its regional flavor? 17:52 – Honey and human health 21:23 – Current research at the ASU Bee Lab 23:45 – Protecting bees from pesticides and fungicides 26:34 – How to begin backyard beekeeping 28:35 – Managing water and extreme heat in Arizona 30:05 – Detecting and treating Varroa mites 34:14 – Surprising facts about honeybees 36:38 – Final advice for future beekeepers If you care about sustainable agriculture, food security, biodiversity, gardening, or beekeeping, this conversation is for you. Subscribe to Harvesting Wisdom for more conversations with the researchers, farmers, educators, and innovators working to create healthier communities and more resilient food systems.

  5. Jul 16

    Terroir, Time, and Tradition: Inside Domaine Drouhin with Philippe Drouhin Part 2

    Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary Part 2 continues the conversation with Philippe Drouhin, diving deeper into rootstock science including a mysterious rootstock disease that emerged in France 20 years ago and ongoing collaborative testing among growers. Philippe and Mike explore the philosophical heart of Burgundy winemaking: the difference between "style" and true "terroir," why a great taster should be able to identify a wine's origin blind, and how his father used old vintages to teach the next generation what a wine "should" taste like. The discussion broadens into shifting consumer habits declining alcohol consumption, the rise and fall of trends like non-alcoholic and vegan wine, and why younger drinkers are choosing less but better. Philippe also shares a hands-on experiment reducing soil compaction with modified tractor routes, and closes with reflections on how growers now cooperate more than compete in the face of a shared enemy: climate change. Why Listen Listen if you want to understand what separates a wine that merely tastes good from one that's authentically true to its land, and how a historic estate is adapting old traditions to new environmental realities. Great for wine enthusiasts, sustainable agriculture followers, and anyone interested in how tradition, science, and changing consumer culture intersect in the modern wine industry. Highlight Timestamps 00:27 – Rootstock varieties, disease outbreaks, and ongoing regional testing02:30 – Where rootstocks originally came from and how they were crossed03:42 – What a phylloxera-style total vineyard loss would mean today04:40 – Vine planting timelines, legal harvest ages, and early yields07:03 – How a winery keeps its flavor consistent year after year08:29 – Learning terroir from your father: knowledge passed through generations10:16 – Terroir vs. style: why a wine should be recognizable blind13:51 – Élevage and tasting sessions used to teach "what's right"15:49 – Did Philippe ever consider a different path? Life in the family business16:03 – The unpredictability of organic farming, year to year17:38 – The "40 Chances" idea — a farmer's limited shots at getting it right19:24 – Passing the vineyard down: family, teaching, and staying local20:12 – Storytelling through old vintages (1961, 1962) at family dinners21:32 – Why younger generations are drinking less but choosing better wine24:15 – Non-alcoholic and vegan wine trends, and how far they'll go27:55 – A hands-on soil experiment: reducing tractor compaction row by row30:51 – Compaction, water retention, and long-term soil health32:39 – Why growers now cooperate more than compete32:53 – Climate change and emerging disease threats as the shared enemy34:34 – Closing thoughts: trading wine and community among growers

  6. Jul 14

    Terroir, Time, and Tradition: Inside Domaine Drouhin with Philippe Drouhin Part 1

    Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary In this episode of Harvesting Wisdom, Mike McMahon travels to Burgundy's Clos des Mouches to speak with Philippe Drouhin of the historic Joseph Drouhin estate. Philippe traces his family's winemaking story back to 1880, including the accidental discovery that led to Clos des Mouches' celebrated white wine, and explains how four generations have shaped the domaine's vineyards. The conversation moves into the fine details of terroir — how soil composition can shift dramatically within just a hundred meters, how compost and cover crops are tailored plot by plot, and why root depth (sometimes reaching 20 meters) plays a critical role in surviving drought without irrigation, which is prohibited in Burgundy. Philippe and Mike also discuss the accelerating effects of climate change, water availability, and how the estate manages three separate vineyard sites across the region. Why Listen Listen if you want a grounded, detail-rich look at what it actually takes to farm a multi-generational vineyard through changing climate conditions. This episode is ideal for wine lovers, growers, soil science enthusiasts, and anyone curious how a family business preserves both land and legacy across a century of change. Highlight Timestamps Intro — Meeting Philippe Drouhin at Clos des Mouches Family history: Joseph Drouhin founds the company in 1880 1921 the first vineyard purchase and the birth of Clos des Mouches The accidental discovery of Clos des Mouches white wine Four generations: from Joseph to today's four siblings running the estate The oldest surviving vines (1935, 1945) and why vine age is hard to track Limestone, clay, and silt: how soil changes every 100 meters Tailoring compost and cover crops to each micro-plot Managing three vineyard estates and the role of vineyard managers Why irrigation is banned in Burgundy — and how vines adapt Roots reaching 20 meters deep as a natural drought buffer Climate change: heat waves and droughts not seen 15 years ago A detour: growing grapes in the Arizona desert and heat-driven veraison issues Rootstock selection, clones, and preserving vineyard genetic diversity

  7. Jul 9

    From Business to Farming: Building a Circular Food System from Scratch Part 1

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when a successful entrepreneur decides his last mission should be healing soil instead of building companies? In this two-part episode of Harvesting Wisdom, host Mike McMahon sits down with Niels, a Danish businessman who built and sold companies in construction, windows, and bicycles before moving to Lithuania and eventually acquiring a 650-hectare farm. What started as an interest in better food led to "Farmer Circle," a farm built around organic, regenerative practices, and a growing network of connected businesses, including a slaughterhouse, bakery, butcher shop, brewery, and even a vertical farm. Part one covers Niels' path from a small organic-by-necessity childhood farm in Denmark, through decades in business, to his decision to buy a run-down Lithuanian farm and commit to regenerative agriculture. He's candid about the hard years, what he calls "the valley of dead soil," when the land got worse before it got better after removing chemical inputs. Part two goes deeper into the economics and systems side: crop rotation, cattle as the centerpiece of the operation, cooperating with neighboring farms, and the challenges of scaling regenerative practices while staying profitable. The conversation also widens out into broader themes, including industrial agriculture's history, soil degradation, population and food demand, and the connection between food quality and long-term health. This is a wide-ranging, honest conversation about what it actually takes, financially and personally, to rebuild a farm from the ground up. 👉 Subscribe to Harvesting Wisdom for more conversations on agriculture, sustainability, and the people building resilient food systems. Why Listen? This two-part conversation is a rare, detailed look at regenerative farming from someone who approaches it like the business turnaround it is. Niels doesn't sugarcoat the early years of declining yields and financial losses, and he's equally direct about the systems that eventually made the farm work: cattle-centered rotation, farmer cooperation, and building markets for surrounding small farms. It's a great watch for aspiring farmers, agribusiness owners, or anyone curious about the real economics behind regenerative agriculture, along with the bigger-picture questions about soil health, food policy, and long-term health that come up along the way. 00:00 – Introduction to Niels and his path to Lithuania  01:48 – Growing up on a small organic-by-necessity farm in Denmark  03:07 – Building and selling a window manufacturing company  05:19 – Moving to Lithuania and shifting focus to food  08:43 – First venture into food: opening a restaurant  10:09 – Realizing there was no organic food market in Lithuania  11:12 – Acquiring the 650-hectare farm near Vilnius  14:24 – Naming "Farmer Circle" and its dual meaning  17:02 – Entering "the valley of dead soil" after removing chemicals  19:27 – Bringing biology back through compost and animals  21:19 – Introducing cattle, hens, and sheep to the farm  22:39 – Building an on-farm slaughterhouse and meat processing  24:39 – The wider business network: bakery, butcher shop, wine bar, brewery  25:19 – A vertical farm in Vilnius and a microbrewery in Copenhagen  27:21 – Internal trade between the businesses  29:19 – Why vegetables remain the hardest part of the system  34:13 – The history of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture

  8. Jul 9

    From Business to Farming: Building a Circular Food System from Scratch Part 2

    Send us Fan Mail Can a regenerative farm actually turn a profit, and how long does it take to get there? In part two of this Harvesting Wisdom conversation, host Mike McMahon continues talking with Niels, a Danish entrepreneur who built a 650-hectare regenerative farm in Lithuania called Farmer Circle. This half of the conversation goes deeper into the numbers, the setbacks, and the bigger systems needed to make regenerative farming work long-term. Niels traces the decline of his father's farm in Denmark back to the shift toward industrial monoculture in the 1970s, and compares it to how his own farm is slowly rebuilding carbon and soil structure through grazing and rotation. He also talks about launching a trading company to help neighboring farms reach the market, and running a shared slaughterhouse that benefits smaller producers nearby. The conversation covers where technology fits into regenerative farming, from satellite and drone monitoring to virtual fencing, along with the regulatory hurdles that come with using new tools on an organic-certified farm. Niels is direct about the financial reality too, including a costly herd management mistake and the multi-year path from losses toward profitability. The discussion widens further into food policy, population growth, farm subsidies, and the connection between processed food and long-term health, tying the farm-level story back to bigger questions about how food systems are built. 👉 Subscribe to Harvesting Wisdom for more conversations on agriculture, sustainability, and the people building resilient food systems. Why Listen? This half of the conversation is especially valuable for anyone wondering whether regenerative farming actually pencils out financially. Niels walks through real losses, a costly mistake with the herd, and a genuine path toward profitability, without glossing over the difficulty. He also raises thoughtful points about technology, farm subsidies, and food policy that go beyond the farm gate. It's a strong watch for farmers weighing the transition to regenerative practices, agribusiness owners, or anyone interested in how food policy and soil health connect to long-term public health. 00:00 – Comparing childhood soil in Denmark to the Lithuanian farm  01:23 – How industrial monoculture degraded his father's farm  03:14 – Building carbon back into the soil through grazing  04:39 – Building "Farmers and Company" to help neighboring farms reach market  06:47 – Running a shared slaughterhouse for local farmers  08:32 – Considering new technology, including virtual fencing  09:00 – Satellite and drone monitoring for precision fertilizer use  10:56 – Regenerative ranching and its effects on livestock and land  12:28 – Regulatory conflicts around new grazing technology  15:25 – Comparing grazing pressures in Central Asia and Mongolia  18:26 – The real economics: losses, mistakes, and a path to profit  21:35 – Farm subsidies, food pricing, and consolidation of farmland  23:18 – Agriculture's role in addressing climate change  27:33 – A costly mistake with the herd and lessons learned  29:41 – Population growth, food demand, and women's education  33:47 – Long-term soil regeneration and historical warnings ignored  38:14 – Processed food, chemical exposure, and long-term health  39:47 – EU organic farming targets and pesticide reduction goals  44:05 – Closing thoughts

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Discover insights that grow a greener world with Harvesting Wisdom Podcast hosted by Mike McMahon. 🌱🎙️ Leading experts share wisdom on agriculture, sustainability, and education in Arizona and beyond. Policy makers, industry experts, and international outreach champions – we cover it all! Tune in for a harvest of knowledge. 🌍🌾

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