The Power of Flour: The Many Benefits of Local Grain Economies with Heather Coiner of the Common Grain Alliance The Good Dirt: Sustainability Explained

Have you ever wondered where the ingredients for your bread come from...like really wondered? And why should you care? Today's guest is here to tell us all about how a local grain supply supports local economies, a more resilient supply chain, better quality staple foods for the consumer and better soil health for the region. Heather Coiner is a plant physiological ecologist and co-founder of the Common Grain Alliance, an organization striving for a more connected grain economy in the Mid-Atlantic.
The Common Grain Alliance envisions an integrated grain economy of local and regional businesses that produce nutritious, flavorful and consistent regional grain products for the communities they serve, and helps drive regional interest in— and demand for — regional grain through events, workshops and marketing
Heather, holds a PhD in plant physiological ecology from the University of Toronto and co-owns Little Hat Creek Farm, an ecological vegetable farm and wood fired bakery in central Virginia where she lives with her husband and two children. 
Topics discussed:

Heather's background as an academic and a bread baker

How the Common Grain Alliance came to be

Michael Grantz of Great Day Gardens


How does the CGA operate as a membership organization?


Carolina Ground (a similar grain operation out of Asheville)

Jennifer Laps

Why should we care about local grain?

Nutrition

Supply

Local economies

Soil improvement

Challenges in creating a local grain economy

Some solutions to the issue of accessibility

sliding scale prices

equipment pools for farmers

businesses that provide traveling services for planting and processing

Creating an awareness of the importance of local grains

Little Hat Creek Farm

The idea of horizontal vs vertical integration


Significant accomplishments of CGA 


Foggy Mountain Pasta 

Next Step Produce

Migrash Farms

Purple Mountain


Moutoux Orchards CSA

The Grain Stand pilot program

What are the alternatives if you can't access local grain? 


King Arthur Organic Flour is a good alternative to locally grown grain

Restaurants in the Area that support the local grain economy

Albemarle Baking Co 

Seylou Bakery

Slice Versa

MarieBette Cafe and Bakery


Connect with Heather Coiner:

Website: Common Grain Alliance



Instagram @commongrainalliance



This Episode is Sponsored by Frank and Oak: Frank & Oak

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Original music by John Kingsley. Our technical partner for this series is CitizenRacecar, Post-Production by Alex Brouwer and José Miguel Baez, Coordinated by Gabriela Montequin and Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network.
Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.