Citizen Farmers Daron "Farmer D" Joffe

In this episode, Farmer D and Laura Turner Seydel take a holistic look at what a regenerative society would look like. They reflect on educating and inspiring the next generation of advocates, regenerating landscapes, and moving towards a brighter future through equity and kindness.

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Show Notes:


Captain Planet Foundation

Mothers and Others for Clean Air

Environmental Working Group

Chattahoochee Riverkeeper

Additional Resources:


Citizen Farmers Resources 


Citizen Farmers Book


Credits:

Co-Produced and Recorded by Daron Joffe and Ben Bernstein

Audio Editing by Sarah Milligan

Music by Ben Bernstein

About Farmer D:

Farmer D is a nationally recognized biodynamic farmer, designer, speaker, entrepreneur and educator.

He is the author of the acclaimed book "Citizen Farmers: The Biodynamic Way to Grow Healthy Food, Build Thriving Communities and Give Back to the Earth" and has spent the past 25 years designing and building community farms and gardens all over the country.

Farmer D has worked on a wide range of public and private farm development projects ranging from residential “agrihood” communities like Serenbe and Rancho Mission Viejo to non-profit projects such as Coastal Roots Farm and Camp Twin Lakes.



About Laura Turner Seydel:

Laura Turner Seydel is an international environmental advocate and eco-living expert dedicated to creating a healthy and sustainable future for our children. Laura is chairperson of the Captain Planet Foundation, which promotes hands-on environmental education projects worldwide. She is a director of and works with the Environmental Working Group to limit the toxic chemicals in food, air, water and consumer products. In 2004, she co-founded and is Board Chair of Mothers and Others for Clean Air, an official program of the American Lung Association Southeastern Region. In 1994, she and her husband co-founded Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. Laura serves on the boards of her family’s foundations:  the Turner Foundation, Jane Smith Turner Foundation, the Turner Endangered Species Fund, and Ted’s Montana Grill. She is vice chair of the League of Conservation Voters Education Fund and sits on the national boards of the League of Conservation Voters, Defenders of Wildlife, Waterkeeper Alliance and the Carter Center Board of Councilors; she also serves on the advisory board for the Ray C. Anderson Foundation and board of directors of the Rotary Club of Downtown Atlanta.


Laura lives with her husband and her three children in Atlanta. Their home, EcoManor, is the first LEED-certified Gold residence in the southeastern United States.


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In this episode, Clayton Garrett and Farmer D get down to business discussing the ins and outs of running a farm in an agrihood.

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Show Notes:
Harvest Green

Agmenity

Urban Land Institute

Additional Resources:
Citizen Farmers Resources 
Citizen Farmers Book
Credits:

Co-Produced and Recorded by Daron Joffe and Ben Bernstein

Audio Editing by Sarah Milligan

Music by Ben Bernstein

About Farmer D:

Farmer D is a nationally recognized biodynamic farmer, designer, speaker, entrepreneur and educator.

He is the author of the acclaimed book "Citizen Farmers: The Biodynamic Way to Grow Healthy Food, Build Thriving Communities and Give Back to the Earth" and has spent the past 25 years designing and building community farms and gardens all over the country.

Farmer D has worked on a wide range of public and private farm development projects ranging from residential “agrihood” communities like Serenbe and Rancho Mission Viejo to non-profit projects such as Coastal Roots Farm and Camp Twin Lakes.


About Clayton Garrett:

In addition to practicing law for a number of years, Clayton has started, grown and lead multiple businesses.  He continues to lead a small group of companies operating in the direct-to-consumer and service business models.  For the past four years, Clayton has worked along-side developers, landscape architects, architects, and engineers to create unique and exceptional agricultural amenities. Clayton is a member of a number of community organizations including the Urban Land Institute and most recently contributed to their 2018 ULI Agrihood Report.
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In this episode, Farmer D and Tyler Brown discuss a Chef's vision for an agrarian future inspired by the past where farms and restaurants unite to
foster curiosity, passion and learning. 

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Show Notes:


Southall Farms


The Almanac


www.growbetterveggies.com


Jeff Poppen "The Barefoot Farmer"


Land Trust For Tennessee

Collard Kimchi Recipe

Southern Foodways Alliance

Additional Resources:


Citizen Farmers Resources 


Citizen Farmers Book


Credits:

Co-Produced and Recorded by Daron Joffe and Ben Bernstein

Audio Editing by Sarah Milligan

Music by Ben Bernstein

About Farmer D:

Farmer D is a nationally recognized biodynamic farmer, designer, speaker, entrepreneur and educator.

He is the author of the acclaimed book "Citizen Farmers: The Biodynamic Way to Grow Healthy Food, Build Thriving Communities and Give Back to the Earth" and has spent the past 25 years designing and building community farms and gardens all over the country.

Farmer D has worked on a wide range of public and private farm development projects ranging from residential “agrihood” communities like Serenbe and Rancho Mission Viejo to non-profit projects such as Coastal Roots Farm and Camp Twin Lakes.


About Tyler Brown:
 
Tyler Brown understood early on how food and community intertwine, as his family always felt the evening meal was sacred time. It was at the dinner table where the personal exchange happened. That experience stuck with him as he looked toward his career.
 
After high school, he took a kitchen position at the Wild Dunes Resort in Isle of Palms, South Carolina, outside of his hometown of Charleston. Brown was drawn to the cadence, the order, the process of the kitchen, and soon enrolled in culinary school at Johnson & Wales University.
 
He completed a three-month cooperative at the Keystone Resort in Colorado as part of the degree program, where he learned large-format kitchen production at a high level. Back in Charleston, he joined Peninsula Grill as a line cook – and ultimately sous chef. It was where he first felt the power of the French brigade order, and where he formed a friendship with Chef Sean Brock that would shape his future path.
 
Later, Brown went to work as chef de cuisine with Brock at Capitol Grille in the Hermitage Hotel. He became executive chef in 2006 and began implementing seed-to-plate sourcing that  culminated in the creation of the three-acre Garden at Glen Leven and 150 head of red poll cattle at Double H Farms.
 
In 2015, Brown joined the team at Southall outside Franklin, Tennessee, as Senior Vice President of Agriculture and Culinary.


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In this episode, Farmer D and Dan Fillius discuss the many aspects of creating, activating and sustaining a farm in the middle of a community. Dan and Farmer D worked together to start Middlebrook Farms in Cumming, Iowa. They explore the challenges and opportunities that come with starting a farm, growing the enterprise, practicing food safety and engaging community.   

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Show Notes:

Middlebrook Farm

Food Safety Modernization Act

Iowa State University Extension & Outreach

Additional Resources:
Citizen Farmers Resources 
Citizen Farmers Book
Credits:

Co-Produced and Recorded by Daron Joffe and Ben Bernstein

Audio Editing by Sarah Milligan

Music by Ben Bernstein

About Farmer D:

Farmer D is a nationally recognized biodynamic farmer, designer, speaker, entrepreneur and educator.

He is the author of the acclaimed book "Citizen Farmers: The Biodynamic Way to Grow Healthy Food, Build Thriving Communities and Give Back to the Earth" and has spent the past 25 years designing and building community farms and gardens all over the country.

Farmer D has worked on a wide range of public and private farm development projects ranging from residential “agrihood” communities like Serenbe and Rancho Mission Viejo to non-profit projects such as Coastal Roots Farm and Camp Twin Lakes.
About Dan Fillius:

Dan Fillius grows 4 acres of organic vegetables at Middlebrook Farm and helps Iowa's produce growers comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act through work with Iowa State University Extension & Outreach. He has been an organic vegetable farmer for 13 years, including stints managing the Michigan State university Student Organic Farm and 140 acres of vegetables at Featherstone Farm. His favorite vegetable to grow is winter squash, and he enjoys biking with family and birding in his spare time.
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In this episode, Farmer D and Christine Sperber dig deeper into community partnerships, exploring how we can co-create with communities. Through thoughtful reflection, Christine discusses how important it is to define your values and show up with humility to foster trust and collaboration in community building.

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Show Notes:

Modern Elder Academy

Additional Resources:
Citizen Farmers Resources 
Citizen Farmers Book
Credits:

Co-Produced and Recorded by Daron Joffe and Ben Bernstein

Audio Editing by Sarah Milligan

Music by Ben Bernstein

About Farmer D:

Farmer D is a nationally recognized biodynamic farmer, designer, speaker, entrepreneur and educator.

He is the author of the acclaimed book "Citizen Farmers: The Biodynamic Way to Grow Healthy Food, Build Thriving Communities and Give Back to the Earth" and has spent the past 25 years designing and building community farms and gardens all over the country.

Farmer D has worked on a wide range of public and private farm development projects ranging from residential “agrihood” communities like Serenbe and Rancho Mission Viejo to non-profit projects such as Coastal Roots Farm and Camp Twin Lakes.
About Christine Sperber:

Christine is a seasoned entrepreneur and powerful team builder whose authenticity and passionate engagement create community wherever she focuses her attention.

It was finding and falling in love with snowboarding that changed her life and led her to Colorado. During the heyday of the early 90’s snowboard culture explosion, Christine was lucky enough to compete as a World Cup halfpipe competitor.

By 24, Christine was running High Cascade Snowboard Camp in Oregon as General Manager where she helped build a remarkable team and community; exhibiting a knack for leadership, dependability and getting shit done. While honing her leadership skills as both as a coach and trainer, she embraced yoga as a means to control injury, pain and a racing mind. She has been practicing yoga for 30 years and remains grateful to all her teachers.

She then pivoted to transport some of camp’s mojo to Colorado's Copper Mountain, serving as it's first Minister of Culture as progressive resorts were on the cusp of recognising the power of embracing the emerging youth culture. She rounded out her sales experience with Burton Snowboards as the Rocky Mountain representative on team Damiano Inc. After several years building a multi-million dollar territory, Christine later branched out into adjacent opportunities in real estate.

Then Baja called. Recognized as a powerful igniting force for new ideas, Christine was invited to help found the award-winning hotel Rancho Pescadero. Her ability to recognize and develop talent and ride roughshod over challenges were a perfect combination for this venture.Within a year, she helped turned 12 rooms into 29 and landed the hotel on the Conde Nast Hot List. She next launched Casa Tota, which quickly became a must-visit hotel in Todos Santos.
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In this episode, Farmer D and Jeff Hamoui explore what it takes to build a truly equitable and regenerative community. Through his work with the Modern Elder Academy and their satellite projects, Jeff explores the relationships we have with ourselves, nature and the people who make up our communities.

Join Our Community!

Show Notes:

Modern Elder Academy

Additional Resources:
Citizen Farmers Resources 
Citizen Farmers Book
Credits:

Co-Produced and Recorded by Daron Joffe and Ben Bernstein

Audio Editing by Sarah Milligan

Music by Ben Bernstein

About Farmer D:

Farmer D is a nationally recognized biodynamic farmer, designer, speaker, entrepreneur and educator.

He is the author of the acclaimed book "Citizen Farmers: The Biodynamic Way to Grow Healthy Food, Build Thriving Communities and Give Back to the Earth" and has spent the past 25 years designing and building community farms and gardens all over the country.

Farmer D has worked on a wide range of public and private farm development projects ranging from residential “agrihood” communities like Serenbe and Rancho Mission Viejo to non-profit projects such as Coastal Roots Farm and Camp Twin Lakes.
About Jeff Hamoui:

Husband, father, innovation and sustainability guy turned teacher, hospitality guy, developer and wannabe farmer. 
Support the show