Ecogal the curious consumer Ashleigh Prince

Jeff Poppen, a Midwestern farm boy, helped develop an organic farm and Tennessee homestead in the mid-1970s, and ten years later began applying biodynamic principals and making the preparations to do so. His livelihood comes primarily from vegetable and cattle grown on the 250-acre Long Hungry Creek Farm, where cows, compost, and community keep the land vibrant and productive. Jeff advocates for a more peaceful agriculture by mentoring young farmers and gardeners, along with a bit of lecturing, consulting, hosting events, and facilitating a few new farm enterprises. His style of old-time farming comes from paying close attention to what elder farmers thought, felt, and did, and by studying how farms were managed before agricultural chemicals were first manufactured on a large scale over one hundred years ago. Like his animals, he gets his food from the farm.

The theme for this year's summit (2023) ~ Cultivating Cooperation
a few panels to participate in:
Starting a cooperative business in TennesseeLunchtime keynote panel, Dec 2nd, moderated by the co-director of Southeast Center for Cooperative Development. Building a Seed Commons
Keynote panel Friday, Dec. 1st - Building a Seed Commons from an Indigenous Peoples Lens.

As we enter into the holiday's here are some ideas on ways to reduce your footprint while still being festive and merry!

Jeremy Lekich was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee by two hippy parents who fostered a sense of reverence in him for the more-than-human world. In 2010, Jeremy founded Nashville Foodscapes and in 2021, transitioned the company to a worker-owned cooperative. In 2014, Jeremy co-founded Compost Nashville. Jeremy's journey as an entrepreneur and forest lover has inspired his work to leverage our current economic model (and lawns!) to create new ones that are more equitable and harmonious.

Natalie Ashker Seevers from Tennessee Local Food joins me in the ecogal studio to talk about food, grown locally. Why it's important to support local farmers, how one can access food directly by joining a community supported Agriculture (CSA) and how to go about finding the right fit for you.

Rachel Werbal, conservationist and sustainability consultant joins me in discussing what Earth Day means to her, learning about its origin, and sharing some ideas to celebrate this beautiful planet that provides everything for us to thrive and what we can give back to contribute to the well-being of Mother Earth.