The Thriving Farmer Podcast Michael Kilpatrick

Why has hemp, with its vast potential and numerous sustainable uses, faced so many challenges and misconceptions?
In this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael talks with Shawn Patrick House, CEO of Lancaster Trading House and creator of Hempzels, the original hemp pretzel. With over 30 years in the hemp industry, Shawn has pioneered innovative hemp products, from pretzels to dairy-free ice cream, and is a passionate advocate for sustainable agriculture and industrial hemp.
Tune in to hear about Shawn Patrick House's journey in the hemp industry.

Episode Highlights:
Introductions: Why Hemp? [0:54]
Full Potential: The History of Hemp [2:56] Multi-use: Different Types of Hemp and Their Uses [8:01] Road Blocks: Challenges Faced in the Hemp Industry [11:48] Polyculture: Hemp as a Rotation Crop [28:18] Sustainability: The Versatility of Hemp as a Sustainable Resource [34:23]
Products and Distribution: How to find Lancaster products [43:42]


Don't miss this episode on the exciting developments in the hemp industry and the future of hemp-based products with Shawn Patrick House.
 



About the Guest:
Shawn Patrick House is an old school hempentrepreneur and might be the Forest Gump of hemp. A political activist who ran for Congress in 2016, he's been advocating for true cannabis hemp almost half of his life. He has survived the government hemp food ban from 2000-2004 and he has quite an interesting story and angle when it comes to the future of hemp.
Connect with Shawn:
Website: Hempzels Instagram: Follow on Instagram Facebook: Like on Facebook  
The Thriving Farmer Podcast Team would like to thank our sponsor Growing Farmers!
Are you tired of guessing how to price your farm-fresh vegetables? Stop second-guessing and start maximizing your profits with our Vegetable Pricing Guide and Calculator.
Whether you sell at farmers markets, a farm store, or anywhere else, our resources and tutorials will help you set prices based on your production costs and desired profit margins.
Don’t let uncertainty dictate your pricing strategy. Join countless farmers who’ve transformed their pricing game with the Vegetable Pricing Guide.
Visit us now at growingfarmers.com/veggieguide and take control of your profitability!
 
 

How can diversifying a farm business lead to greater resilience and sustainability?
In this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael talks with Garrett Miller who is the owner behind Finger Lakes Cider House at Good Life Farm. Garrett is dedicated to organic practices, offering visitors artisan ciders, locally-sourced meals, and u-pick experiences in a vibrant, musical setting amidst New York’s beautiful apple country. 
Tune in to hear Garrett share his journey in organic apple farming, the challenges he faces, and how he diversifies his farm business to create a thriving community hub.
Episode Highlights: Farming Beginnings: How Garrett got started in farming [2:48]  Toughest Tasks: Starting with Bare Land and Building Infrastructure [12:17] Team Selection: Onboarding and Managing Employees [29:18]  Funding Methods: Financing and Borrowing for Farm Projects [35:05]  Visitor Numbers: Managing Visitor Traffic and Seasonal Variations [37:13]  Advice for Aspiring Farmers: Garrett’s advice for starting a small farm [49:22]


Don't miss this episode on the successes and challenges of apple cider farming with Garrett Miller, as he shares valuable insights into organic practices and building a diverse farm business!

 



About the Guest:
Garrett Miller is the owner and operator of the Good Life Farm and Finger Lakes Cider House in New York. He describes the farm and cider house as the sum total of his life’s work. He started the farm at 22 without much of a plan, with less experience than was responsible and basically no money. These initial challenges turned out to be some of their greatest strengths. With any luck, he hopes to leave this piece of land a little better than when he found it.
Connect with Garrett:
Website: Finger Lakes Cider House Instagram: Follow on Instagram Facebook: Like on Facebook  
The Thriving Farmer Podcast Team would like to thank our sponsor Growing Farmers!
Are you tired of guessing how to price your farm-fresh vegetables? Stop second-guessing and start maximizing your profits with our Vegetable Pricing Guide and Calculator.
Whether you sell at farmers markets, a farm store, or anywhere else, our resources and tutorials will help you set prices based on your production costs and desired profit margins.
Don’t let uncertainty dictate your pricing strategy. Join countless farmers who’ve transformed their pricing game with the Vegetable Pricing Guide.
Visit us now at growingfarmers.com/veggieguide and take control of your profitability!
 
 

How can homesteading and food sovereignty reshape our approach to personal and community resilience?
In this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael welcomes Lucy Brenton who is an activist dedicated to promoting freedom over our bodies and the food we eat. After running twice for the US Senate in Indiana, Lucy is now transforming 6 acres into a self-sufficient homestead and building a community of like-minded homesteaders focused on independence and sustainability.
Tune in to learn how Lucy Brenton combines homesteading and political advocacy to promote personal freedom and sustainability.


Episode Highlights: Homesteading Movement: How Lucy got into the homesteading movement [0:57]  Political Aspect: What got Lucy into the political aspect of food [4:45]  Private Land Contracts: How a private land contract operates [9:10]  Land Search: What Lucy was looking for in terms of land [15:47] 
Homestead Network: What is the Homestead Network [30:05]
 




Don't miss this episode where Lucy Brenton shares her journey into homesteading and political advocacy for food and body freedom.






About the Guest:
Lucy Brenton is an activist working for freedom in the areas it matters most... over our own bodies and the food we eat. Lucy ran for US Senate in 2016 and 2018, campaigning for medical and agricultural freedom, advocating for the right to grow and use hemp and cannabis products on the individual level. She moved her family from the 'burbs to the country and is transforming 6 acres into a self supporting homestead. Currently she is growing and selling edible, medicinal and culinary plants, building a community of homesteaders that want to be self-sufficient and independent of the system.
Connect with Lucy Brenton:
Lucy’s Website: Lucy Brenton Homestead Network: Homestead Network
LinkedIn: Follow Lucy

 
The Thriving Farmer Podcast Team would like to thank our sponsor Growing Farmers!
Are you ready to transform your strawberry growing skills? We want to share our 16 years of experience with growing and profiting from strawberries with you in our free 3-day Strawberry Workshop.
Learn proven techniques for boosting yield and flavor, tips for managing your harvest and even developing your own U-pick operation.
This workshop is perfect for farmers, homesteaders and gardeners looking to extend your strawberry growing season and make some money in return.
The 3-day online workshop is offered weekly but register now as it’s only available for a few more weeks. Sign up at www.strawberrysuccess.com

How can engaging the community through farming transform lives?
In this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael welcomes Gabe Madison who is the President of Bonton Farms, a transformative urban farm in South Dallas. Gabe provides strategic oversight for the farm's expanding operations and community programs, leveraging over two decades of corporate leadership experience to disrupt inequitable systems and foster community growth.

Tune in to hear how Gabe Madison leverages her corporate leadership experience to guide Bonton Farms' transformative urban farming initiatives and community programs in South Dallas.


Episode Highlights: Corporate Background: Gabe’s role before joining Bonton Farms [1:09]  Farm Overview: What Bonton Farms does [5:03]  The “Barndominium”: Its purpose and use [9:56]  Recent Changes: Updates on the farm since Gabe's arrival [13:17]  Staff Size: How big the Bonton Farms staff is [22:55]  Apprenticeships: How apprenticeships work at Bonton Farms [27:00]  Farmer’s Market: What’s happening with Bonton Farms’ farmer’s market [34:20]
Don’t miss this episode on the transformative power of community engagement through farming!


About the Guest:
Gabe Madison is the President of Bonton Farms, a South Dallas farm and community resource dedicated to disrupting inequitable systems. With over two decades of corporate leadership experience, Gabe provides strategic oversight to the farm's expanding operations and community initiatives. Prior to this role, she served as Director of Community Relations and HR Manager at Thomson Reuters. Gabe graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing, and currently lives in Frisco with her wonderful family.

Connect with Bonton Farms:
Website: Bonton Farms Instagram: Follow on Instagram Facebook:  Like on Facebook
 

The Thriving Farmer Podcast Team would like to thank our amazing sponsor, Growing Farmers!
Are you ready to transform your strawberry growing skills? We want to share our 16 years of experience with growing and profiting from strawberries with you in our free 3-day Strawberry Workshop.
Learn proven techniques for boosting yield and flavor, tips for managing your harvest and even developing your own U-pick operation.
This workshop is perfect for farmers, homesteaders and gardeners looking to extend your strawberry growing season and make some money in return.
The 3-day online workshop is offered weekly but register now as it’s only available for a few more weeks. Sign up at www.strawberrysuccess.com

What advice would a seasoned farmer give to those aspiring to start their own farm?
Find out in this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast where Michael is joined by Julie Rawson who is co-owner of Many Hands Organic Farm in Barre, Massachusetts. After growing up on a conventional farm in Illinois, Julie, along with her husband Jack, transitioned to organic farming in 1982, where she has become a pioneer in soil fertility and carbon sequestration.
Tune in to hear Julie Rawson's journey from conventional to organic farming and her insights on sustainable practices.


Episode Highlights: Conventional Farming: Julie’s journey from conventional to organic [1:04] Farm Goals: Julie’s objectives with her Massachusetts farm [4:28] Orchard Details: More about her farm's orchards [13:14] Tree Mulching: Learn about how Julie mulches her fruit trees [20:44] Medicinal Plants: Hear about the medicinal plants Julie grows [25:29] Tomato Varieties: Julie’s favorite tomatoes [30:20] Educational Offerings: The types of education offered at Julie's farm [45:26]
Advice for New Farmers: Julie’s advice for newer farmers [50:39]
Don't miss this episode about the journey from conventional to organic farming, where Julie Rawson shares her insights on soil fertility, carbon sequestration, and sustainable farming practices.
About the Guest:
Julie has been farming at Many Hands Organic Farm since 1982 with her husband, Jack, her kids, many employees, apprentices, volunteers and working shareholders over the years. Their farm is certified organic, no-till, run a CSA since 1992, and also raises chicken, turkey and pork. 
 
Connect with Julie’s Farm:
Website: Many Hands Organic Farm Instagram: Follow on Instagram Facebook:  Like on Facebook
YouTube: Subscribe on YouTube  

The Thriving Farmer Podcast Team would like to thank our amazing sponsor, Growing Farmers!
Are you ready to transform your strawberry growing skills? We want to share our 16 years of experience with growing and profiting from strawberries with you in our free 3-day Strawberry Workshop.
Learn proven techniques for boosting yield and flavor, tips for managing your harvest and even developing your own U-pick operation.
This workshop is perfect for farmers, homesteaders and gardeners looking to extend your strawberry growing season and make some money in return.
The 3-day online workshop is offered weekly but register now as it’s only available for a few more weeks. Sign up at www.strawberrysuccess.com

Has the homesteading movement finally peaked?
In this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael explores this question and more with Melissa K. Norris who is a fifth-generation homesteader, author and educator in Washington state. Melissa inspires and guides thousands of fellow homesteaders through her website, podcast, and books on creating a self-sustaining home and kitchen to help further preserve the old ways of farm-to-table living. 
Tune in to hear about the transformational power of sustainable living and the value of a supportive homesteading community. 


Episode Highlights:
Five Generations: More on Melissa’s family history in homesteading [1:05] Health Challenges: The Impact of Food Choices on Health and Holistic Living [7:59] Sharing with Others: About Melissa’s journey to educating others [15:21] Homestead Living: Learn about the magazine Melissa co-founded [17:45] Community Sufficiency: Melissa’s take on the importance of community [21:14] Spousal Support: Getting the Spouse on Board with Homesteading [32:38] Inspiring Others: Melissa’s advice to a new or aspiring homesteaders [42:16]
About the Guest:

Melissa K. Norris helps hundreds of thousands of people each month raise their own food and create a homemade and homegrown kitchen, home, garden and barnyard through her website, popular Pioneering Today Podcast, the Pioneering Today Academy and her books. She is a co-founder of the Modern Homesteading Conference as well as owner of Norris Farmstead.
Melissa is a 5th generation homesteader and lives with her husband and two kids in their own little house in the big woods in the foothills of the North Cascade Mountains. 
 
Connect with Melissa:
Website: Melissa K. Norris
Instagram: Follow on Instagram
Facebook:  Like on Facebook
YouTube: Subscribe on YouTube  
 

The Thriving Farmer Podcast Team would like to thank our amazing sponsor, Growing Farmers!
Are you ready to transform your strawberry growing skills? We want to share our 16 years of experience with growing and profiting from strawberries with you in our free 3-day Strawberry Workshop.
Learn proven techniques for boosting yield and flavor, tips for managing your harvest and even developing your own U-pick operation.
This workshop is perfect for farmers, homesteaders and gardeners looking to extend your strawberry growing season and make some money in return.
The 3-day online workshop is offered weekly but register now as it’s only available for a few more weeks. Sign up at www.strawberrysuccess.com