The Good Dirt: Sustainability Explained

Lady Farmer
  • 4.6 (149)
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  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Start living more sustainably. The Good Dirt podcast explores all aspects of a sustainable lifestyle with healthy soil as the touchpoint and metaphor for the healing of our relationship with the planet. Mother and daughter team Mary & Emma bring you weekly interviews with farmers, artists, authors, and leaders in the regenerative and sustainable living space.

  1. 1D AGO

    235. The Cost of Slow Living: How to Align Your Values Without Burning Out

    What happens when a listener writes in with the very questions your community is wrestling with? You invite her on the show. Emily Hillman has spent 14 years in the fashion industry — from the artisan workrooms of Midtown Manhattan to the fast fashion corporate world. After purchasing a 19th-century farmhouse in rural New Jersey and becoming a mother, she found that her priorities had quietly shifted. Finding herself at a crossroads, Emily reached out to Mary and Emma, not looking for all the answers so much as a grounded, honest conversation. . This is The Good Dirt's first interview back after a hiatus. Here we’re talking about the real tension so many of us feel: I want to live more simply, more slowly, more intentionally — but how do I actually do that in the life I'm already living? If you've ever felt the push and pull between the values you hold and the demands of the world you live in, this episode will speak to you. In this episode, we cover: Emily's journey from Vermont roots to New York City fashion workrooms — and what she learned firsthand about the difference between artisan craftsmanship and fast fashion productionThe "painful catch-22" of slow living: wanting a simpler life that costs money, while earning less because you're stepping back from the corporate grindWhy removing moral judgment from your daily purchasing decisions can actually free you to make more sustainable choicesPractical, accessible approaches to buying secondhand clothing for kids (and why our audience is already well ahead of the curve)The economics of slow food: buying in bulk, finding local sources, joining a CSA, and why embracing constraints actually sparks creativityComposting as one of the most powerful individual acts for the planet — and tips for making it work even in bear countryHow small, cumulative changes add up — and why you're probably further along than you thinkBook recommendations: Redefining Rich by Shannon Hayes, The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, and Jen Sincero's You Are a Badass seriesThe concept of "blue sky thinking" — letting yourself imagine the life you want before the budget anxiety kicks inReconnecting with nature and the seasons as a compass for finding your authentic calling Books & Resources Mentioned: Redefining Rich by Shannon Hayes — [listen to our interview with Shannon here]The Artist's Way by Julia CameronYou Are a Badass and You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen SinceroFibershed — a network for regional fiber systems and slow fashionLocal Harvest (for finding CSAs near you): localharvest.org Want to chat with us? If Emily's story resonates with you — if you're somewhere in the middle of this same journey — we'd love to hear from you. Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at 443-459-1950. And if you're interested in joining our free, casual Slow Living Through the Seasons cohort, reach out to mary@ladyfarmer.com for the signup link. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & CommunityVisit Our WebsiteFollow @weareladyfarmer on InstagramEmail us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Lady Farmer. The Good Dirt podcast is proudly part of the Connectd Podcasts network. 🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: Wendy Gray Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    1 hr

  2. MAR 20

    Mary & Emma: Rethinking Slow Living

    Mary and Emma return to the podcast after over a six-month hiatus, reflecting on the evolution of Lady Farmer as a brand and their own experiences within it. They discuss how the cultural context around sustainability has shifted, how they don't want to present themselves as experts or frame sustainability in moral terms, and how systemic forces limit individual impact even as daily habits still matter. They aim to focus more on finding meaning, creativity, and defining “the good life". They share personal updates (babies! work! gardening!) and discuss plans for how they want to continue to unfold into The Good Dirt and the Lady Farmer project. 00:00 Welcome Back Check In 01:11 Meet Mary And Emma 02:12 Lady Farmer Origin Story 04:16 Slow Living Then And Now 08:17 Beyond Individual Responsibility 10:37 Morality Free Sustainability 13:24 Decluttering And Landfill Guilt 15:34 Meaning Emotions And The Good Life 17:16 Creativity Work And Money 19:52 Grandma Life And Restorative Gardening 21:13 Reopening The Marketplace 25:52 Listener Requests And Wrap Up Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    28 min

  3. 08/22/2025

    234. A Conversation with Janna Hockenjos of Earth Friends —and an Announcement!

    In this episode of The Good Dirt Podcast, Emma and Mary welcome back Janna Hockenjos, founder of We Are Earth Friends, an environmental education organization designed for children ages 3-8. Jana discusses the program’s impact on young learners' understanding of the interconnectedness of all of life on our planet and provides an update on the progress and expansion of the program. She also offers insights from the suburban food forest project. that she and her husband have been cultivating over the last few years. In addition, Emma and Mary make the announcement that the podcast will take a sabbatical until next year to allow time for rest and the development of new ideas. In the meantime, they will be continuing with articles, ideas and inspiration in The ALMANAC, the online newsletter and community of Lady Farmer. See the Substack link below! 00:00 Reflecting on Slow Living Amidst Chaos 00:30 Embracing the Present Moment 01:35 Nature's Simple Joys 02:27 Recording Together and Taking a Sabbatical 04:10 Podcast Evolution and Future Plans 08:13 Introducing Jana and Earth Friends 12:25 Jana's Journey and Environmental Education 15:19 Earth Friends Curriculum and Impact 32:14 Making Environmental Education Accessible 36:33 Challenges in Implementing Earth Friends in Schools 37:04 Making Earth Friends Accessible to All 38:57 Homeschool Groups and Marketing Strategies 41:22 The Importance of Patience and Letting Go 42:00 Personal Reflections and Yoga Insights 51:23 Suburban Food Forest Project 54:09 The Healing Power of Growing Your Own Food 01:06:03 The Significance of Good Soil 01:10:33 Conclusion and Final Thoughts ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & CommunityVisit Our WebsiteFollow @weareladyfarmer on InstagramEmail us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Lady Farmer.  The Good Dirt podcast is proudly part of the Connectd Podcasts network.  🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: • Wendy Gray Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    1h 14m

  4. 08/15/2025

    Encore: Creating a Backyard Microfarm with Leah Webb, Author of "The 7 Step Homestead"

    This episode was originally published on August 18th, 2023 In this episode we're talking to Leah Webb, author of The Seven Step Homestead about how to turn any yard into a primary food source with vegetables, fruits, chickens, pollinator plants and medicinal herbs. A mother of two children with unique medical needs, Leah utilizes food grown in her own backyard garden as an important part of her children's integrative care. She sees herself as a solutions-based Family Food and Garden Coach, with a goal of guiding families in making small yet impactful steps towards sourcing their own nutrition and achieving long term dietary, cooking, and gardening goals. She is also the author of The Grain-Free, Sugar-Free, Dairy-Free Family Cookbook. In this conversation, we delve into the challenges and benefits of growing and preparing nutrient dense food, and the practicalities of creating your own microfarm in the space you already have. If you are one of many with a goal to connect with the land and create more independence from the industrial food system, Leah can guide you through, step-by-step. Topics Discussed • A Stormy Week in the DC Area • Leah's Background in Nutrition Education and Her Path to Creating a Microfarm in her own Backyard. • Being a Mom to Kids with Unique Medical Needs and the Role of Gardening and Home Grown Food in their Integrative Care. • Learning the Basics of Gardening for Food • Eating Home Grown Vegetables • Food Preservation • Convenience Foods • Priorities & Food • Investing in Homesteading • Start Small for the Long Haul • Which Plants to Start With • Planting Charts • Using, Measuring, and Creating Compost • The Difference Between Homesteading and Gardening • Homesteading , Self Sufficiency and Community • Finding an Alternative to the Industrial Food Industry • Consumer Awareness of Food • Regenerative Growing Practices Episode Resources: •"The Grain-Free, Sugar-Free, Dairy-Free Family Cookbook: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Cooking with Whole Foods on a Restrictive Diet" by Leah Webb •"The Seven-Step Homestead: A Guide for Creating the Backyard Microfarm of Your Dreams" by Leah Webb •Listen to The Good Dirt Reclaiming Our Food from Field to Kitchen with CSA Farmer Mo Moutoux of Moutoux Orchard Connect with Leah Webb: • Website: https://www.leahmwebb.com/ • Instagram @leah_m_webb https://www.instagram.com/leah_m_webb/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeahMWebbWellness/ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: •Our Website •Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram •Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC •Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    1h 4m

  5. 08/08/2025

    233. Embracing Our Medicine: A Conversation with Two Spirit Sister Madison Murphy Barney

    In this episode, Madison Murphy Barney, a two-Spirit Hoopa and Shoshone sister, author, doula, and public health storyteller, discusses the significance of the two-Spirit identity, historical roles, and the importance of maintaining cultural traditions. Madison delves into personal experiences growing up in North Dakota, the impact of indigenous boarding schools, and the generational transmission of pride and cultural knowledge. She also talks about the nature of stewardship, reconnecting with one's ancestry, and practical ways to slow down and embrace a more connected, mindful lifestyle. Highlighting the importance of personal and collective healing, Madison's insights offer deep wisdom and helpful guidance on how to engage with land, personal identity, and community. 00:00 Introduction to Madison Murphy Barney 04:01 Understanding Two-Spirit Identity 05:11 Historical Context and Personal Background 07:35 Family Heritage and Cultural Pride 11:17 Impact of Residential Schools 14:55 Journey to Vermont and Community Building 18:22 Stewarding the Land and Personal Growth 21:59 The Role of Humans in Healing the Earth 23:40 Madison's Upcoming Book and Its Themes 25:33 Final Reflections on Connection and Responsibility 30:44 Exploring the Concept of 'Away' 30:55 Connecting with Our Own Medicine 34:42 Practical Steps to Reconnect with Ancestral Wisdom 39:36 Astrology and Past Lives 43:20 Navigating Challenging Times on Earth 47:04 The Importance of Slowing Down 50:46 Offerings and Final Thoughts ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & CommunityVisit Our WebsiteFollow @weareladyfarmer on InstagramEmail us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Lady Farmer.  The Good Dirt podcast is proudly part of the Connectd Podcasts network.  🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: • Wendy Gray Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    55 min

  6. 08/01/2025

    Our Fermented Lives: Bridging the Gap Between Modern People and Historic Food with Julia Skinner of Root Kitchens

    This is an ENCORE EPISODE, originally published on August 5, 2022 In this episode, Mary and Emma are talking to Julia Skinner of Root: Historic Food for the Modern World. Root was born from Julia's deep love for community and a belief in the power of food to tell stories, connect us to place and to each other, and to build a bridge to the past. Julia's work is all about food, history, food stories, where it comes from and the people behind it. She loves fostering connections with other people and with the earth around us. Julia is especially interested in learning and teaching about fermentation, demonstrating to people the ease and accessibility of preparing delicious and healthy food using this ancient and powerful food preservation technique. Topics Covered: Exploring historic cookbooksJulia’s discovery of historical cooking traditionsTypes of fermentation she has exploredHow to start fermentingThe growing popularity of traditional foodsShifting food interests during the pandemicFood AccessMilk KefirFood as medicine Resources Mentioned: Julia's website--Root KitchensOur Fermented Lives. by Julia SkinnerThe English Housewife by Gervase MarkhamThe Art of Fermentation by Sandor KatzFree99Fridge, AtlantaUmi FeedsGoodrSowans Celtic PorridgeThe Fermentation SchoolSon-Mat --(Korean) Hand taste, the unique quality and taste food has from an individual's touch, care, and experience; the way food tastes different when made by different people, often used to describe the taste of mom's cooking. Connect with Julia:  Root Kitchens Website: https://root-kitchens.com/@rootkitchens on InstagramJulia's Books, Classes and CoursesRoot Kitchens Newsletter on Substack About Lady Farmer: Lady Farmer is a sustainable apparel and lifestyle brand, with education around sustainability and sustainable living at the forefront of our mission. Lady Farmer is proud to produce The Good Dirt podcast. Our Website@weareladyfarmer on InstagramJoin The Lady Farmer ALMANACLeave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or tell us what the good dirt means to you.Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    58 min

  7. 07/25/2025

    232. The Year of the Dress: Growing and Crafting Linen from Scratch with Eve Schaub

    In this episode, Mary is talking with Eve Schaub, an internationally published author and humorist. Known for her year-long experiments, such as 'Year of No Sugar' and 'Year of No Clutter,' Eve’s latest endeavor is 'The Year of the Dress,' where she attempts to grow, harvest, spin, and weave flax into a wearable linen dress in her backyard. The conversation covers the challenges of growing flax, the environmental impact of fast fashion, and the importance of community and sustainability in textile production. Listen to Eve’s inspiring journey towards slow living and sustainable crafting, and learn about resources such as Fibershed and the Pennsylvania Flax Project that support local textile production. 00:00 Introduction to Big Ideas and Projects 00:33 Guest Introduction: Eve Shaw 01:07 Personal Projects and Sustainable Gardening 04:30 Long-Term Planning and Sustainability 05:52 Eve Shaw's Year-Long Experiments 08:02 The Year of the Dress: Growing a Linen Dress 11:42 Challenges and Inspirations in Sustainable Fashion 21:32 Community and Resources for Flax Growing 29:18 Overcoming Initial Challenges in Sustainable Clothing 32:10 The Thrill of Thrift Shopping 35:06 The Spirituality of Handmade Items 37:02 Starting the Flax Growing Journey 41:05 Learning and Experimenting with Flax 46:15 Community and Resources for Sustainable Living RESOURCES: Eve O Schaub Website and Books Cindy Conner, Homegrown Flax and Cotton Website and Book Fibershed Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum PA Flax Project Chesapeake Fibershed ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & CommunityVisit Our WebsiteFollow @weareladyfarmer on InstagramEmail us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Lady Farmer.  The Good Dirt podcast is proudly part of the Connectd Podcasts network.  🌿 The Good Dirt Producers: • Wendy Gray Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    52 min

  8. 07/18/2025

    Seeking Real Solutions to Plastic Pollution with Smruti Aravind of The Story of Stuff

    This is an ENCORE EPISODE, originally published on July 7, 2023 In this episode, Emma and Mary sit down to talk to Smruti Aravind, who oversees fundraising, donor communications, and grants at the Story of Stuff Project. Smruti brings over a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector, with an emphasis on digital storytelling and network-building to drive systemic change. Prior to joining the Story of Stuff, she led communications at Faith in Action East Bay, a federation of the largest faith-based organizing network in the U.S. Smruti shares about her work and her perspective on creating meaningful social impact, as well as the campaign work that Story of Stuff is doing in order to create policy change. She introduces the Bottle Bill project as well as the Reuse Revolution, and why burning plastic is not the solution that you may believe it to be. Smruti also touches on what other countries are doing to deal with their waste, the impact on The Global South, and how we can all flex our citizen muscles and advocate for plastic reduction laws to be codified. Topics Discussed •Smruti's Work in the Nonprofit Sector •How the Story of Stuff Came to Be •Using the Power of Media to Influence Policy Change •Content Creation & Advocacy •The Story of Microbeads & The Story of Plastic •Founder Annie Leonard's Inspiration for the Documentary •Increasing BIPOC Voices in the Search of a Solution •Systems Thinking for the General Public •The Break Free From Plastic Movement Treaty •How Millennials and Gender Z Approach Environmental Activism •Shifting From Individual Responsibility to Systemic Change •Real Solutions vs. False Solutions •The Great Pacific Plastic Patch  •Why Burning Plastic & Buying Plastic Clothes Doesn't Work •Stopping the Tap with Campaign Work: The Bottle Bill & The Reuse Revolution •What Other Countries Are Doing •The Impact of Waste on the Global South •Flexing Our Citizen Muscles •What Corporations are Able to Change •Moving to Florida & the Way that Different States Handle Plastic Waste •Cloth Diapers •Slow Living in a Big City •The Impact of the Individual Episode Resources: •Watch The Story of Stuff Documentary •The California Plastic Incinerator Connect with Smruti Aravind: •Website: https://www.storyofstuff.org/blog/people/smruti-aravind/ •YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/storyofstuffproject •Instagram: @storyofstuff https://instagram.com/storyofstuff/ •Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/storyofstuff •Links: https://linktr.ee/storyofstuff ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌻 About Lady Farmer: •Our Website •Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram •Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC •Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you! Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    1h 4m
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4.6
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About

Start living more sustainably. The Good Dirt podcast explores all aspects of a sustainable lifestyle with healthy soil as the touchpoint and metaphor for the healing of our relationship with the planet. Mother and daughter team Mary & Emma bring you weekly interviews with farmers, artists, authors, and leaders in the regenerative and sustainable living space.

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