A Garden Chat with Don Titmus

Greg Peterson and Don Titmus reconnect for a November Garden Chat focused on reviewing the ethics and principles of permaculture and how they apply beyond gardening into daily life. Drawing from decades of hands-on experience in arid and temperate climates, they explore observation, working with nature, stacking functions, and regenerative design. The conversation weaves together philosophy, practical examples from Phoenix and North Carolina, and reflections on how a Permaculture Design Course (PDC) can fundamentally reshape how people think and live.

Our Guest: Don Titmus grew up in London and at age 16 spent 4 years being trained in horticulture through an apprenticeship and a college course. From there he continued landscaping in his hometown until he moved to Arizona in 1981, where he worked in landscaping and then starting his own business in garden maintenance. In 2003 he attended a Permaculture Design Course, which was life-changing for Don. He knew right away that this was the path he’d been waiting for, and later attended two Permaculture Teacher Trainings.

Key Topics & Entities

• Permaculture ethics
• Permaculture principles
• Observation and design
• Working with nature
• Elements and stacking functions
• Zones (including Zone 0 / self-care)
• Regenerative and edible landscapes
• Drylands permaculture
• Rainwater harvesting
• Perennial systems
• Permaculture Design Course (PDC)
• Bill Mollison
• David Holmgren
• Urban Farm Podcast
• Bee Oasis (Mesa, AZ)

Key Questions Answered

What is permaculture, in simple terms?

Permaculture is the art and science of working with nature—observing natural systems and designing human habitats that align with ecological patterns rather than fighting them.

What are the core ethics of permaculture?

Care for the earth, care for people, and care for the future (often expressed as sharing surplus). These ethics guide every design decision and ensure long-term sustainability and reciprocity.

Why is observation considered the foundation of permaculture design?

Spending time observing land, climate, wildlife, and human patterns prevents costly mistakes and reveals opportunities to work with existing energy flows rather than against them.

What does it mean that “the problem is the solution”?

Challenges—such as excess heat, water runoff, or waste—often contain the seeds of their own solutions when reframed through thoughtful design.

How do elements and stacking functions create resilience?

Each element in a system (trees, chickens, compost, water systems) should serve multiple functions, increasing efficiency, reducing waste, and strengthening connections across the whole system.

What is a Permaculture Design Course (PDC), and who is it for?

A PDC is a globally recognized 72-hour introduction to permaculture principles and design, tailored to local bioregions and intended to transform how participants think about land, community, and life systems.

Why take a PDC in your own bioregion and in person?

Local courses address climate-specific realities, and in-person learning builds community, shared experience, and deeper understanding through hands-on practice.

How can permaculture principles apply beyond gardening?

Permaculture offers a framework for life—informing health, relationships, work, energy use, and even practices like yoga—by emphasizing connection, care, and intentional design.

Episode Highlights

• Permaculture as a life framework, not just a gardening method
• The importance of long-term observation before making land changes
• How drought, heat, and salinity shape drylands permaculture strategies
• Zone 0 reframed as self-care and personal sustainability
• Stacking functions illustrated through trees, chickens, kitchens, and urban planning
• Regenerative landscapes that produce food with minimal ongoing input
• Information and imagination as key resources in resilient design
• How a PDC can permanently shift worldview and decision-making

Calls to Action & Resources

• Garden Chat Community — https://gardenchat.org
• Permaculture Design Course (Phoenix) — https://permaculture.net
• PDC Map (Permaculture Institute of North America) — https://pina.in
• Urban Farm Podcast — Explore past episodes on permaculture ethics and principles

Visit www.urbanfarm.org/923 for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!

Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg or choose one of the senior members of our Urban Farm team to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!

*Disclosure: Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

Seed Chat with Bill McDorman

Greg Peterson and seed expert Bill McDorman dig into the urgent need for climate-resilient seeds as global conditions shift. They explore how traditional varieties falter under heat, drought, flooding, and unpredictable weather—and why locally adapted, open-pollinated seeds are becoming essential tools for regional food security. Bill outlines practical pathways for gardeners and growers to build resilience through diversity, landrace gardening, and modern microbiome research. Together they offer a grounded, hopeful roadmap for anyone looking to future-proof their garden or local food system.

Key Topics

• Climate-resilient seeds
• Open-pollinated varieties
• Local adaptation
• Landrace gardening
• Soil microbiome & mycorrhizae
• Rizophagy (Dr. James White, Rutgers)
• Elliot Coleman
• John Jeavons
• Al Gore COP30 climate update
• Heritage grains & wheat diversity
• Seed libraries & seed exchanges
• National seed infrastructure concerns
• Joseph Lofthouse & Going to Seed
• Genetic diversity & heterosis
• Key Questions Answered

Why do traditional seed varieties fail under climate chaos?

Because they were bred for stable, narrow climate ranges with controlled inputs—conditions that no longer exist. Locally adapted seeds handle stress better and evolve alongside changing weather patterns.

How can home gardeners contribute to climate adaptation?

By introducing maximum genetic diversity into their gardens—mixing varieties, saving seeds, and participating in regional seed exchanges. This creates plant populations that actively adapt to local conditions.

What is landrace gardening and why does it matter now?

Landrace gardening mixes many varieties of the same crop and lets natural selection reveal the most resilient performers. It dramatically increases adaptability and requires less space and time than traditional trialing.

How do soil organisms like mycorrhizae and bacteria affect climate resilience?

They increase nutrient uptake, boost disease resistance, and help plants tolerate extreme conditions. Emerging rizophagy research shows plants actively cultivate microbes to meet stress.

What resources should new growers explore to build resilience?

Classics like The New Organic Grower (Elliot Coleman), How to Grow More Vegetables (John Jeavons), Joseph Lofthouse’s Landrace Gardening, and foundational seed-saving guides.

Episode Highlights

• Climate resilience requires local action, not waiting for national agricultural reform.
• Al Gore’s COP30 update emphasizes the urgency of transitioning agriculture.
• Soil microbiology breakthroughs (rizophagy) are reshaping how we understand plant roots.
• Most commercial varieties were never tested across wide climates—huge opportunity remains.
• Wheat alone has 400,000 documented varieties, yet only a handful dominate U.S. production.
• Diversity—not uniformity—is the foundation of resilience.
• Landrace gardening allows growers to trial hundreds of varieties in small spaces.
• Seed sharing and regional networks may become essential if national systems weaken.

Calls to Action & Resources

• Seed Chat Live — SeedChat.org
• Going to Seed Project — https://goingtoseed.org
• Urban Farm Podcast — https://urbanfarm.org
• Landrace Gardening (Joseph Lofthouse) — https://goingtoseed.org/landrace-gardening
• Basic Seed Saving (Bill McDorman) — GreatAmericanSeedUp.org
• Soil Microbiome Research (Dr. James White/Rutgers) — Search “rizophagy James White Rutgers” on YouTube

Visit UrbanFarm.org/922 for the show notes and links on this episode!

Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg, Janis or Ray to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!

Become an Urban Farm Patron and listen to more than 900 episodes of the Urban Farm Podcast without ads. Click HERE to learn more.

*Disclosure: Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

Chat with Carol Connare, Editor The Old Farmers Almanac

In this episode, Greg talks with Carol Connare, Editor-in-Chief of The Old Farmer’s Almanac, the oldest continually published periodical in North America. Carol shares her path from archival work at UMass Amherst back to her “dream job,” stewarding the 234-year-old institution.

She clarifies the recent confusion between The Farmer’s Almanac (which closed) and The Old Farmer’s Almanac (which is thriving), explains the Almanac’s origins, traditions, and editorial approach, and offers insight into how it continues to adapt to modern growers’ needs. The conversation touches on climate shifts, regional variability, moon-based planting, and the Almanac’s evolution from a simple calendar of the heavens to a robust gardening and seasonal guide.

Key Topics & Entities

• The Old Farmer’s Almanac (founded 1792)
• Carol Connare, 14th editor & lifelong gardener
• Robert B. Thomas, original founder
• Almanac history & competition
• Difference between The Farmer’s Almanac vs The Old Farmer’s Almanac
• Long-range weather forecasting
• Climate shifts & updated frost/planting tables
• Regionalized weather zones (18 U.S. regions)
• Moon-phase planting
• Archival content & historical continuity
• Diversification: calendars, guides, kids’ edition
• Almanac.com as a major content platform
• Hardiness zone recalibration
• Growing practices & resilience

Key Questions Answered

What is the difference between The Farmer’s Almanac and The Old Farmer’s Almanac?

The Farmer’s Almanac (founded 1818) was a separate publication that recently shut down. The Old Farmer’s Almanac, founded in 1792, is alive, healthy, and independent. Historically, multiple almanacs existed, often overlapping in name and content. Confusion persists because both shared similar naming and themes, but only The Old Farmer’s Almanac continues publication.

How did Carol become Editor-in-Chief of such a historic publication?

Carol “boomeranged” back to the organization after 20 years at UMass Amherst. Her archival and publications work there prepared her well, since the Almanac is essentially an evolving 234-year archive. As a lifelong gardener, she considers the role her dream job.

What does an almanac actually do today?

At its core, the Almanac remains a “calendar of the heavens”—tracking moon phases, sunrise/sunset, tides, and seasonal shifts. It layers this with planting guidance, long-range weather forecasts, reference tables, quirky curiosities, and everyday inspiration delivered “with a pleasing degree of humor,” following the founder’s charge.

How does the Almanac support readers in different climates like Arizona vs. North Carolina?

Weather forecasts and planting tables are region-specific across 18 U.S. zones. Frost dates, planting windows, and climate references are calibrated for local conditions, and updated continually—especially after recent hardiness zone shifts and warming trends.

Is the Almanac adapting to climate change?

Yes. Carol explains that warming patterns have required updated planting and frost guidance nationwide. The Almanac recalibrated its data after the 2022 hardiness zone update and continues to adjust based on reader feedback and on-the-ground observations.

How does long-range weather forecasting work, and why is it famous?

Though not fully explained in this segment, Carol highlights that long-range forecasting is a tradition dating back to the Almanac’s founding and remains one of its most used features. Its methodology incorporates astronomical cycles, historical patterns, and proprietary modeling, achieving roughly 80% accuracy.

Episode Highlights

• The Old Farmer’s Almanac is not shutting down; the confusion came from a different publication folding.
• Only 14 editors have stewarded the Almanac over 234 years—an average tenure of ~17 years.
• The publication began as a “calendar of the heavens,” helping agrarian families plan by moon phases and sun cycles.
• Early America once had over 500 almanacs; competition, content borrowing, and printer-led editions were common.
• The Almanac diversified early—calendars, guides, kids’ editions, regional weather coverage, and a robust website.
• Climate shifts have pushed many planting dates earlier; many growers now update their calendars by weeks.
• Almanac.com now drives record engagement, especially during moments of news confusion.
• The Almanac remains committed to human responses—no AI answers for reader questions.

Calls to Action & Resources

• The Old Farmer’s Almanac — almanac.com
• Planting Calendar (Low Desert) — plantingcalendar.org
• Old Farmer’s Almanac Books & Calendars — Available via almanac.com

Visit www.UrbanFarm.org/OldFarmersAmanac for the show notes and links on this episode!

Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg, Janis or Ray to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!

*Disclosure: Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

Today we’re joined by returning guest Joshua Thayer, permaculture designer, author, and founder of Native Sun Gardens in California. Joshua has helped communities across the U.S. and abroad design food forests that restore ecology and produce abundance. His new book, California Food Forests: Feeding the Future, distills decades of hands-on design into practical steps anyone can use—no matter where they live.

Whether you're in a Mediterranean climate, drought-prone region, or temperate landscape, Joshua brings strategies to help you turn your yard, homestead, or urban lot into a resilient, stacked, biodiverse food forest.

• What is Permaculture?

Joshua breaks down permaculture as “applied ecology”—designing edible and ecological systems that match the local site, climate, and natural patterns. In this episode we learn why permaculture is adaptive, not formulaic.

• What Exactly Is a Food Forest?

A food forest is more than an orchard. Joshua explains how layers—from canopy to shrubs to vines to roots to mycelium—work together to create resilience, fertility, pollinator habitat, and year-round harvests.

• Stacking Functions & Vertical Layering

Joshua details:

• How to place tall trees on the north side in the Northern Hemisphere
• How vertical stacking lets you grow way more in small spaces
• Why “meadow-style” mid-height diversity beats densely planting tall trees

• The 7 Layers of a Food Forest

We explore the classic permaculture layers:

1. Canopy trees
2. Sub-canopy trees
3. Shrubs & brambles
4. Herbaceous plants
5. Groundcovers
6. Root crops
7. Vines & climbers
8. (+ the mycelium layer!)

Joshua shares examples of plant combinations that thrive together and create symbiotic relationships.

• Mediterranean & Drought-Wise Design

Learn why California’s Mediterranean climate is a perfect teacher for:

• Water-wise food production
• Soils that need oxygen and drainage
• Selecting resilient varieties
• Planting drought-tolerant guilds
• Joshua also explains how these principles translated to a project in Virginia with soggy soil.

• How to Start a Food Forest in 100 Square Feet

Joshua’s favorite entry point:

• Start with a 10×10 ft “tile”
• One main tree (like apple, plum, avocado)
• Two supporting plants (berries + herbs)
• Add soil-building ground covers and root crops
• Make it simple, modular, repeatable.

• Top Mistakes New Growers Make

Joshua shares the big ones:

• Not starting because the project feels too big
• Planting too densely
• Creating too much shade too early
• Ignoring soil health
• Designing tall trees before establishing the mid-layer

He explains how “thinking like a meadow” helps avoid over-shading and keeps the system diverse and manageable.

Get Joshua’s New Book:

California Food Forests: Feeding the Future — packed with design tips, plant guilds, AutoCAD templates, and practical maps to build your first 100-sq-ft food-forest module.

Connect With Joshua:

• Native Sun Gardens – Food forest design, consulting, and permaculture education -  NativeSunGardens.com

Visit UrbanFarm.org/CaliforniaFoodForest for the show notes and links on this episode!

Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg, Janis or Ray to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!

Become an Urban Farm Patron and listen to more than 900 episodes of the Urban Farm Podcast without ads. Click HERE to learn more.

*Disclosure: Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

With Scott Murray

In This Podcast: In this episode, returning guest and 50-year organic agriculture veteran Scott Murray shares the remarkable story of how coffee is commercially being successfully grown in Southern California. Scott explains how a single houseplant sparked a multi-variety coffee trial, eventually producing a Geisha harvest that sold out in one day at $796 per pound. He walks us through polyculture design, coffee’s surprising climate tolerance, and how California could become a boutique coffee region.

Our Guest: Scott Murray has over 50 years of experience in organic agriculture across the U.S. and Mexico and has served as a California conservation official for 33 years. He specializes in farm creation, farmland preservation, and regenerative polyculture systems. Scott now leads pioneering research and consulting on California-grown coffee, managing multi-variety trials and agroforestry-based plantations.

1. Who is Scott Murray?

Scott Murray is a farmer, consultant, and conservation leader with 50 years of organic agriculture experience in the U.S. and Mexico. He has been a California conservation official for 33 years and specializes in farmland preservation, smart-growth planning, and farm creation. He has recently become a pioneer in growing coffee in Southern California.

2. Are people really growing coffee in California?

Yes! Scott and his collaborators have successfully grown multiple varieties of coffee in Southern California. Their first commercial harvest in 2018 sold out in one day at $796 per pound.

3. How did coffee production begin on Scott’s farm?

It started as a houseplant experiment when Scott’s son Sam bought a coffee plant from a nursery. When it produced cherries, it sparked curiosity. Later, Scott interplanted coffee into a rejuvenated avocado orchard, creating a thriving polyculture system.

4. Why grow coffee under avocado trees?

Coffee thrives with protection, partial shade, and companion plants. Avocado trees provide a microclimate that buffers wind, sun, and temperature swings. This intercropping also enhances biodiversity and farm resilience.

5. What is the difference between monoculture and polyculture?

• Monoculture: Growing only one crop (e.g., avocados alone).
• Polyculture: Multiple crops grown together (e.g., avocados + coffee + bananas).
• Polycultures support pollinators, beneficial insects, soil health, and long-term productivity.

6. How do they protect young coffee trees?

Scott developed a “coffee protection structure” using:

• A gopher basket
• A chicken-wire cage
• Agricultural shade fabric

This boosts early survival and results in fast, healthy establishment.

7. How many varieties of coffee are they testing?

Scott is currently trialing 48+ varieties, including rare and exotic types such as Geisha and Whoosh Whoosh.

8. What’s special about Geisha coffee?

Geisha is one of the highest-value coffees in the world, known for its floral, tea-like flavor profile. Scott’s California-grown Geisha fetched $796/lb—demonstrating the potential for a specialty coffee industry in California.

9. How does California’s climate affect coffee quality?

Because California coffee cherries often stay on the plant for up to 12 months, the beans can accumulate more complex flavor compounds, potentially elevating specialty coffee quality.

10. Why is biodiversity important in coffee farms?

More plant diversity means:

• Better pollination
• More predator insects to control pests
• Improved soil health
• Greater climate resilience
• Enhanced flavor complexity in coffee

11. What role do avocados play in the system?

Pruned avocado trees create space and light for coffee. Multiple avocado varieties also lengthen the harvest season and improve pollination, boosting overall grove productivity.

12. Where can people learn more or see these systems?

Scott has created short videos with NCAT/ATTRA showcasing the coffee-avocado polyculture. They are available at: EdgeOfUrbanFarm.com

Key search - California coffee, Scott Murray, organic farming, regenerative agriculture, agroforestry, polyculture, avocado grove, Geisha coffee, climate-resilient crops, specialty coffee, coffee varieties, on-farm experiments, Southern California farming

Visit UrbanFarm.org/919 for the show notes and links on this episode!

Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg, Janis or Ray to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!

Become an Urban Farm Patron and listen to more than 900 episodes of the Urban Farm Podcast without ads. Click HERE to learn more.

*Disclosure: Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

A Garden Chat with Don Titmus

In this garden chat, Greg and Don Titmus dive into permaculture's eighth principle, 'Information and Imagination Intensive,' highlighting its emphasis on multi-disciplinary approaches to problem-solving using both low and high-tech solutions. They delve into the importance of utilizing quality thought and data to maximize yields and share personal experiences about integrating various systems like passive solar heating, water filtration, and composting. The discussion also covers the concept of food forests, zone planning, and sustainable design strategies for reducing energy and resource consumption. They encourage community collaboration and innovation, reflecting on their own permaculture journeys and offering insights on creating self-sustaining environments. Upcoming events like the Phoenix Permaculture Design Course and the Great American Seed Up are also mentioned.

Our Guest: Don grew up in London and at age 16 spent 4 years being trained in horticulture through an apprenticeship and a college course. From there he continued landscaping in his hometown until he moved to Arizona in 1981, where he worked in landscaping and then starting his own business in garden maintenance. In 2003 he attended a Permaculture Design Course, which was life-changing for Don. He knew right away that this was the path he’d been waiting for, and later attended two Permaculture Teacher Trainings.

Visit www.urbanfarm.org/918 for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!

Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg or choose one of the senior members of our Urban Farm team to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!

Become an Urban Farm Patron and listen to more than 900 episodes of the Urban Farm Podcast without ads. Click HERE to learn more.

*Disclosure: Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

A Rosie On The House Replay

This episode is the replay pof our monthly 'Rosie on the House' radio show in Phoenix. It features host Romey Romero, Farmer Greg and guest Kari Spencer discussing backyard livestock, primarily chickens and goats, for urban farming. They chat about the benefits of keeping chickens and goats, including eggs, milk, garden pest control, and composting. They also delve into the logistics of raising these animals, such as the necessary supplies, housing, and regulations. The episode touches on the challenges and advantages of meat birds, ducks, turkeys, quail, and guinea hens, offering practical advice and sharing personal experiences for listeners interested in starting their own urban farm.

Visit www.UrbanFarm.org/917 for the show notes and links on this episode!

Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering Consults HERE over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg, Janis or Ray to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!

*Disclosure: Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

A Seed Chat with Bill McDorman

Register for our monthly Seed Chat at SeedChat.org

In This Podcast: In this Seed Chat episode, Greg Peterson and Bill McDorman unpack how a handful of global corporations came to control most of the world’s commercial seed supply—and what that means for biodiversity, farmers, and local food systems. Bill traces the history from small regional seed companies to mergers, patents, and Supreme Court decisions that turned living seeds into corporate assets. They also spotlight the grassroots resistance: seed libraries, landrace and adaptation gardening, community seed sharing, and regional networks working to “liberate diversity.” Listeners walk away with both a clear understanding of the problem and very practical ways to grow, save, and share seeds as an act of food freedom.

Key Topics

• Seed sovereignty and community control of seed
• Corporate consolidation and mergers in the seed industry
• Loss of agricultural biodiversity and its consequences
• Capitalism and the “free market” meeting biology
• Patents, intellectual property, and the Diamond v. Chakrabarty decision
• Chemical companies and private equity in global agriculture
• European common catalog and whitelist/blacklist dynamics
• Seed libraries and local seed-sharing networks
• Landrace gardening and adaptation gardening (Joseph Lofthouse)
• Going to Seed, Seed Library Network, ETC Group, Let’s Liberate Diversity
• Great American Seed Up and Seed Up in a Box as local seed strategies
• Local food economies, resilience, and community wealth

Key Questions Answered

• How did we get from thousands of small regional seed companies to just a few corporations controlling most commercial seed?
• The episode traces a decades-long process of mergers, acquisitions, and the pursuit of patentable seed “assets” that could be put on corporate balance sheets, turning diversity built over 10,000 years into a narrow set of owned varieties.
• Why does the intersection of free-market capitalism and biology create such problems for seeds and farmers?
• Bill explains that when profit-maximizing logic is applied to living systems, everything that doesn’t immediately generate revenue—like locally adapted varieties and genetic diversity—gets discarded, even though it’s what makes agriculture resilient.
• What role did patents and legal decisions like Diamond v. Chakrabarty play in this consolidation?
• Once the Supreme Court allowed life forms “invented by humans” to be patented, seeds could be owned like machinery. That shift unlocked new financing for takeovers and accelerated consolidation, often at the expense of traditional, community-developed seed diversity.
• How are people and communities around the world pushing back and rebuilding seed sovereignty?
• The conversation highlights European and global movements like Let’s Liberate Diversity, ETC Group, and numerous nonprofits and seed networks that are preserving and sharing open-pollinated, locally adapted seeds outside of corporate control.
• What can individual gardeners and local groups actually do that makes a real difference?
• Listeners are encouraged to grow and save their own seeds, increase diversity in their gardens, participate in or start seed libraries, and plug into grassroots projects and classes that teach adaptation gardening and community-level seed work.

Episode Highlights

• At 00:04 — Greg and Bill introduce the theme of seed sovereignty in an age where a small number of corporations dominate the global seed supply.
• At 01:16 — Bill describes how traditional success metrics in agriculture hide a deeper story of burnout, consolidation, and loss of diversity.
• At 02:14 — He shares his early journey searching for the “golden boulder” of answers in the seed world, only to learn there is no single authority—just persistent, patient investigation.
• At 03:16 — Bill frames the core issue: when capitalism and free-market thinking collide with biology, the system fails living diversity.
• At 04:13 — He explains how mergers and acquisitions reduced an estimated 20,000 small seed entities worldwide down to a handful of corporate giants, with diversity being thrown out in the process.
• At 05:54 — The conversation turns to time, showing how large companies systematically patented seeds and used that patentable material as financial leverage for further consolidation.
• At 07:28 — Bill highlights the ETC Group and their work tracking corporate power, as well as Philip Howard’s visual maps of seed industry consolidation.
• At 08:46 — They explore how European policies like the common catalog wiped out many traditional varieties and triggered a strong civil society response to protect local seeds.
• At 09:21 — Bill and Greg shift to practical action: grow as much diversity as you can now, learn landrace and adaptation gardening, and use emerging networks like Going to Seed to accelerate learning.
• At 11:32 — They share how the Great American Seed Up model and seed libraries can rapidly distribute open-pollinated seeds into communities, building resilience from the ground up.

Calls to Action & Resources

• Urban Farm Podcast — Listen to more conversations with Greg and Bill on seeds, soil, and urban agriculture: https://urbanfarmpodcast.com
• Seed Chat (Live Events) — Join future live Seed Chat sessions and ask your questions in real time: https://seedchat.org
• Great American Seed Up — Learn about the Phoenix-based, bulk seed-sharing event and how it supercharges local seed resilience: https://greatamericanseedup.org
• Seed Up In A Box — Host your own mini seed-up using bundled open-pollinated seeds, info cards, and bags: https://seedupinabox.com
• Going to Seed — Explore landrace and adaptation gardening resources, classes, and community seed projects: https://goingtoseed.org
• Seed Library Network — Start or support a local seed library and connect with others doing the same: https://seedlibrarynetwork.org
• Let’s Liberate Diversity — European network focused on on-farm conservation and community seed work: https://liberatediversity.org
• ETC Group — Research and updates on corporate control of seeds and genetic resources: https://etcgroup.org
• “First the Seed” by Jack Kloppenburg — A foundational book on the political economy of plant breeding and seed ownership. https://uwpress.wisc.edu/Books/F/First-the-Seed
• Michael Shuman’s Work on Local Investing — Learn how redirecting capital into local food and farm systems can strengthen community resilience. https://michaelhshuman.com/
• Shattering by Pat Mooney and Carrie Fowler
• Diamond Vs Chakbarty - https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/447/303/
• There’s an ongoing international survey hosted by Let’s Liberate Diversity https://seeds.ifoam.bio/seed-network-survey
• Seeds & Genetic Diversity - https://www.etcgroup.org/issues/seeds-genetic-diversity
• ETC Group- https://www.etcgroup.org/issues/corporate-monopolies
• Adaptation Gardening - https://goingtoseed.org/products/1406309

Visit UrbanFarm.org/916 for the show notes and links on this episode!

Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg or Ray to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!

*Disclosure: Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

with Charles Malki of IV Organics

In This Episode: Greg interviews Charles Malki, a multifaceted biologist, attorney, author, and inventor, about the innovative benefits of whitewashing trees. Charles details his journey from a passion for plant sciences during his childhood to a career in medicine and law, ultimately leading to the creation of Ivy Organic. He explains the importance of whitewashing for tree protection against weather extremes and pests, emphasizing the environmental benefits of using organic products. The discussion also covers the genesis of Ivy Organics, the science behind their product formulations, and their impact on both small-scale gardeners and commercial orchards. Charles shares valuable personal and professional anecdotes, highlighting the significance of setting clear goals, fostering beneficial relationships, and continually educating oneself and others about sustainable gardening practices.

Our Guest:  Charles Malki is a biologist, attorney, all American swimmer, philanthropist, inventor, entrepreneur, and author. He has been published in journals, including the Journal of Surgical Research and American Federation of Medical Research. At the heart of all of his successes is his love of life and his passion to educate others on the limitless topics that rotate to plant sciences, and it all benefits you, your family and friends, community, and our planet.

Connect with IV Organics - IVOrganics.com

Book recommendations -  Saving the World with the Home Garden by Charles Malki

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

Visit UrbanFarm.org/IVOrganics for the show notes and links on this episode!

Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg, Janis or Ray to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!

Become an Urban Farm Patron and listen to more than 900 episodes of the Urban Farm Podcast without ads. Click HERE to learn more.

*Disclosure: Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

Exploring lack soldier fly culture.

In This Podcast: Greg chats with Dr. Jeff Tomberlin about the remarkable benefits of black soldier flies in recycling organic waste. Jeff explains the global distribution and industrialization of black soldier flies, their life cycle, and their ability to convert waste into valuable resources like protein for animal feed and fertilizer. The conversation highlights community and individual efforts in utilizing black soldier flies for sustainability and reducing food waste, emphasizing the potential for large-scale impact through local actions. Jeff also offers practical advice for beginners interested in starting their own black soldier fly bins and stresses the importance of patience and community involvement.

Our Guest: Dr. Tomberlin is a Professor, AgriLife Research Fellow, & Presidential Impact Fellow in the Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University and Fellow of the Entomological Society of America. He is the principal investigator of the Forensic Laboratory for Investigative Entomological Sciences (F.L.I.E.S.) Facility at Texas A&M University..

Visit UrbanFarm.org/BSF for the show notes and links on this episode!

Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg, Janis or Ray to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!

Become an Urban Farm Patron and listen to more than 900 episodes of the Urban Farm Podcast without ads. Click HERE to learn more.

*Disclosure: Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

Garden Chat with Don Titmus

In this garden chat, Greg and Don Titmus dive into the Permaculture Principle Everything Gardens, focusing on the beneficial relationships within an ecosystem, particularly soil, food webs, and the role of different plants and animals. They explore how weeds, chickens as soil tillers, water as a sculptor, and the role of fungi, earthworms, and birds all lead back to gardening. They also tackle specific topics like the impact of wind, creating microclimates, and practical considerations for raising chickens and growing mushrooms. The session wraps up with audience questions on gardening tips, urban farming, and permaculture design courses. If you would like to attend live visit GardenChat.org to sign up for our monthly live chat.

Our Guest: Don grew up in London and at age 16 spent 4 years being trained in horticulture through an apprenticeship and a college course. From there he continued landscaping in his hometown until he moved to Arizona in 1981, where he worked in landscaping and then starting his own business in garden maintenance. In 2003 he attended a Permaculture Design Course, which was life-changing for Don. He knew right away that this was the path he’d been waiting for, and later attended two Permaculture Teacher Trainings.

Visit www.urbanfarm.org/913 for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!

For more info about the Phoenix Permaculture Design course visit UrbanFarm.org/PDC

Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg or choose one of the senior members of our Urban Farm team to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!

Become an Urban Farm Patron and listen to more than 900 episodes of the Urban Farm Podcast without ads. Click HERE to learn more.

*Disclosure: Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.