With Beatrice Nathan...Curious permaculture story

In This Podcast: Beatrice Nathan joins the podcast to explore how permaculture principles can be applied to family life, childcare, and community resilience. She shares her journey from home gardening to teaching permaculture, and launching a Village Roots childcare co-op. The conversation weaves together food production, social permaculture, and mutual aid as practical responses to modern parenting and systemic stress. This episode highlights slow, small solutions that build trust, connection, and long-term community health.

Our Guest:  Beatrice Nathan is a home gardener, permaculture teacher, turmeric farmer, and mom to two boys. She is passionate about reweaving the web of social support, empowering ordinary people to grow food and teaching practical design principles. She believes that we all have a part to play in creating a better future.

Key Topics & Entities

• Beatrice Nathan
• Permaculture ethics (Earth Care, People Care, Fair Share)
• Social permaculture
• Village Roots Childcare Co-op
• Babysitting co-ops / time-based exchange
• Front-yard food gardens
• Community resilience
• Parenting and childcare affordability
• Permaculture zones applied to time and energy
• Degrowth philosophy
• Permaculture Design Course (PDC)
• Ruby Ranch (Asheville, NC)

Key Questions Answered

What is permaculture beyond gardening?

Permaculture is a framework for living a good life, offering ethics and principles that can be applied to land stewardship, relationships, parenting, and community design—not just gardens.

How does a childcare co-op work without money?

Families exchange babysitting hours using a shared spreadsheet. Hours earned caring for one family’s children can be used with any family in the co-op, building trust and flexibility without cash.

Why is childcare so challenging for families today?

High costs, limited availability, misaligned schedules, and the emotional toll on young children make conventional childcare inaccessible or unsustainable for many families.

How does the Village Roots Childcare Co-op embody permaculture?

The co-op applies permaculture ethics and principles like slow and small solutions, stacking functions, feedback loops, and people care to meet real childcare and community needs.

How can permaculture help parents—especially mothers—avoid burnout?

By reframing priorities through concepts like zones of time and energy, permaculture helps parents let go of nonessential commitments and focus on connection during demanding life seasons.

What’s the value of front-yard food gardens?

Front-yard gardens invite conversation, sharing, and relationship-building with neighbors, turning food production into a social connector.

How can someone start a similar co-op in their community?

Start small, set a geographic boundary, clearly communicate expectations, onboard families personally, and use existing guides and templates to reduce friction.

Why is community-building increasingly important?

As larger systems become more fragile, hyper-local, trust-based networks like co-ops, time banks, and tool libraries help meet needs when institutions fall short.

Episode Highlights

• Permaculture as a life framework, not just a land design tool
• Applying permaculture ethics to childcare and family systems
• Designing a babysitting co-op using time instead of money
• Front-yard gardens as hubs for neighborhood connection
• Reframing permaculture zones around time, energy, and life seasons
• Degrowth, relocalization, and mutual aid as practical responses to system stress
• Teaching permaculture through lived, community-based examples

Calls to Action & Resources

• Village Roots show notes — urbanfarm.org/villageroots
• Grow & Harvest Asheville — https://growandharvestasheville.com
• Permaculture at Ruby Ranch (PDC) — https://growandharvestasheville.com
• Substack: Collapsing Into Permaculture — Collapsing Into Permaculture
• Substack guide referenced: Cramming for the Apocalypse
• Instagram: Grow & Harvest AVL — Grow_Harvest_AVL

Visit UrbanFarm.org/VillageRoots 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 us 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 Journey in Holistic Wellness

In This Podcast: Clinical herbalist Kimberly Kling returns to discuss regenerative health in a highly toxic modern world. Drawing from personal experience, clinical practice, and ecological awareness, she explains how petrochemicals, industrial agriculture, and environmental toxins disrupt human health—especially the gut microbiome, mitochondria, and detox pathways. The conversation moves from root causes to practical, accessible steps people can take, including food choices, herbs, lifestyle shifts, and community action. Throughout, the focus remains on empowerment, resilience, and reconnecting with plant wisdom rather than fear.

Our Guest: Kimberly is a clinical herbalist and the guiding force behind joyful roots in Southern Arizona where she helps her community locally and beyond cultivate inner wellness through earth centered herbal care, rooted in a deep reverence for the healing power of plants. Kimberly's journey began in childhood, crafting magical plant stews and foraging connections with Michigan's native flora. Her background in landscape architecture and engineering provided a foundation for understanding the intricate relationships between plants, people, and the land. However, it was motherhood and a personal health crisis that led to her clinical herbalism deepening her passion for holistic wellness. Now, Kimberly integrates traditional wisdom with modern herbal practices, empowering others to reconnect with plant wisdom for vibrant health and wellbeing.

Medical Disclaimer: In today's episode we are talking about our health. The information provided in this podcast is for general information and entertainment purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. We are not medical doctors and no medical doctor/patient relationship is formed. Always seek advice from your qualified medical doctor regarding questions you may have about your medical condition.

Key Topics & Entities

1. Kimberly Kling
2. Joyful Roots
3. Clinical herbalism
4. Environmental toxins
5. Petrochemicals
6. Haber-Bosch Process
7. Glyphosate, Diquat, Paraquat
8. Gut microbiome
9. Mitochondrial health
10. Autoimmune illness (lupus)
11. Antioxidants
12. Liver detoxification
13. Regenerative agriculture
14. Food forests

Key Questions Answered

Why are modern humans experiencing chronic illness earlier than previous generations?

Because exposure to synthetic chemicals, petrochemicals, pesticides, plastics, and food additives has rapidly increased over the last ~150 years, overwhelming biological systems that evolved alongside natural substances.

How do pesticides and herbicides affect the body if they’re “safe for humans”?

They often harm microbial cells rather than human cells directly, disrupting the gut microbiome, increasing oxidative stress, damaging mitochondria, and contributing to inflammation, fatigue, brain fog, and chronic disease.

What role does the microbiome play in detoxification and health?

Humans host more microbial cells than human cells, with vastly more genetic material; toxins that disrupt these microbes can cascade into immune dysfunction, autoimmunity, and neurological issues.

What personal steps can people take without becoming overwhelmed?

Start small: filter water, improve indoor air quality, reduce chemical cleaners, prioritize rest and sleep, and make gradual food upgrades rather than trying to change everything at once.

How can food and herbs support detox and mitochondrial health?

Antioxidant-rich foods and herbs reduce oxidative stress, while fiber, minerals, and liver-supportive plants help the body process and eliminate toxins more effectively.

Which foods are most important to buy organic?

Grains like wheat and oats, which are commonly sprayed with glyphosate as a desiccant, along with legumes such as garbanzo beans.

Why are bitter and “weedy” plants like dandelion so valuable?

They support liver function, digestion, detoxification, pollinators, and biodiversity—demonstrating how cultural perceptions often obscure ecological and medicinal value.

What does working with a clinical herbalist look like?

A deep intake, personalized care plan, herbal and lifestyle guidance, and follow-up sessions that address the whole person across multiple roots of wellness.

Episode Highlights

1. Environmental toxicity has accelerated dramatically since the mid-1800s with synthetic chemicals and industrial agriculture.
2. Most toxin exposure is cumulative and synergistic, not acute, quietly stressing the body over decades.
3. Mitochondrial damage links toxins to fatigue, brain fog, inflammation, and chronic illness.
4. Antioxidants from colorful plants and herbs are a frontline defense against oxidative stress.
5. Soluble fiber and mucilaginous plants may help bind and eliminate toxins and microplastics.
6. Liver-supportive foods like beets, dandelion, milk thistle, and burdock are foundational to detox.
7. Small, consistent lifestyle changes matter more than perfection or fear-based responses.

Calls to Action & Resources

1. Joyful Roots — https://www.joyfulroots.com
2. Work with Kimberly — https://www.joyfulroots.com
3. Remedy & Rhyme Podcast — Available on all podcast platforms
4. YUKA App — Food and product ingredient scanner

Visit UrbanFarm.org/JoyfulRoots 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 us 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 Rosie On The House Replay

In this episode we explore the concept of wicking bed gardens, hosted by Romey Romero & Farmer Greg, our guest is .

Farmer Greg joins Romey Romero on Rosie on the House to break down how to successfully grow fruit trees in the low desert, even during unusually warm winters. He explains why fruit trees are worth planting, how climate confusion affects citrus and deciduous trees, and the most common mistakes that kill young trees. The conversation covers proven planting methods, soil preparation, watering strategies, and long-term thinking for orchards that can produce for decades. This episode is a practical, experience-based guide for homeowners who want reliable fruit harvests in desert climates.

Key Topics & Entities

• Low desert fruit tree growing
• Citrus varieties (navel, Cara Cara, Trovita, Minneola, Gold Nugget)
• Deciduous fruit trees (apple, peach, apricot, plum, jujube, mulberry)
• Low-chill requirements
• Rootstock selection
• Bare root trees
• Urban Farm Fruit Tree Program
• Six-Six Basin Rule
• Desert soil organic matter
• Mycorrhizae and soil biology
• Irrigation and deep watering
• Mulch and microclimates

Key Questions Answered

Why plant fruit trees instead of relying on store-bought fruit?

Homegrown fruit has superior flavor, freshness, and nutritional value, and a single tree can produce for decades with proper care.

What makes fruit trees struggle during warm winters in the desert?

Low-chill trees may not receive enough cold hours to set fruit consistently, causing irregular growth, dormancy confusion, or skipped production years. Therefore, we need to make sure we plant low chill fruit trees.

What are the three non-negotiables when buying fruit trees for the low desert?

Choose low-chill varieties, ensure the correct rootstock for desert conditions, and select soft-flesh fruit that ripens before July 1.

What are the most common ways people accidentally kill fruit trees?

Planting in hot microclimates, allowing grass to compete with roots, and relying on shallow daily drip irrigation.

How should fruit trees actually be watered in the desert?

Deep, infrequent watering—about once a month in winter and every 10–14 days in summer—allowing soil to dry between waterings.

Why are bare root trees preferred for deciduous fruit?

They’re planted while dormant, establish faster, and adapt better long-term than potted trees when planted correctly.

How long does it take for a fruit tree to really produce?

Year one focuses on roots, year two on shoots, year three begins fruiting, and years four to five bring full production.

Episode Highlights

• Fruit trees thrive when planted for climate, not convenience
• Citrus can be harvested across six months with smart variety selection
• The Six-Six Basin Rule dramatically improves survival and growth
• Desert soil must be rebuilt with organic matter and biology
• Overwatering and under watering look the same—but both can kill trees
• Bare root planting in January sets trees up for lifelong success
• A single well-planted tree can produce for 50–100 years

Calls to Action & Resources

• Urban Farm Fruit Tree Program — https://www.fruittrees.org
• Free Desert Fruit Tree Master Course — https://www.fruittrees.org
• Questions or tree photos — [email protected]

Visit www.UrbanFarm.org/962 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.

Our monthly Seed Chat at SeedChat.org

In This Podcast: Greg Peterson and Bill McDorman explore the idea of the seed commons—seeds as shared cultural, ecological, and community wealth rather than private commodities. They discuss how market-driven seed systems have eroded biodiversity and why community-based models are essential for resilience in the face of climate, economic, and social uncertainty. Through stories, examples, and lived experience, they show how seed co-ops, exchanges, libraries, and grassroots experimentation restore abundance, adaptability, and human connection. The conversation frames seed saving as both a practical survival skill and a deeply human act of stewardship.

Key Topics & Entities

• Seed commons
• Shared wealth
• Biodiversity loss
• Climate change adaptation
• Seed co-ops
• Appalachian Seeds
• Snake River Seed Cooperative
• Seed exchanges
• Seed libraries
• Seed Library Network
• Seeds in Common
• Open-pollinated seeds
• Indigenous and community seed stewardship

What does it mean to treat seeds as part of the commons?

• Seeds are framed as shared wealth—like air or water—meant to circulate freely so they can keep adapting, carrying cultural memory, and supporting future generations rather than being locked behind patents or profit motives.

Why is the current market-based seed system failing biodiversity?

• Large-scale commercial systems prioritize uniformity and profit, leading to the extinction of many traditional varieties and reducing the genetic diversity needed to adapt to climate and ecological change.

How do seed co-ops work in practice?

• Regional growers collaborate to grow, clean, package, and distribute seeds together, sharing labor and profits while keeping ownership local and ensuring regionally adapted varieties remain available.

What role do seed exchanges and seed libraries play in communities?

• They provide accessible, low-cost ways for people to share seeds, stories, and growing knowledge, strengthening trust, local resilience, and intergenerational learning.

What is unique about the Seeds in Common model?

• Instead of preserving varieties separately, Seeds in Common mixes many varieties together and distributes them widely, prioritizing real-world adaptation and survival over strict categorization or commercial naming.

Can individuals really name and steward new plant varieties?

• Yes—historically, many important crops came from backyard growers. Naming and caring for a variety is an act of responsibility, not ownership, rooted in long-term stewardship rather than profit.

Episode Highlights

• Seeds as shared wealth are essential for resilience, adaptability, and cultural continuity.
• Seed co-ops like Appalachian Seeds and Snake River Seed Cooperative keep control local and varieties alive.
• Seed exchanges offer efficient, story-rich ways to share seeds and knowledge within communities.
• Seed libraries have rapidly grown worldwide, each shaped by local values and creativity.
• Mixing and growing diverse seeds reveals what truly works under local, low-input conditions.
• Naming and saving seeds is a deeply human tradition that predates modern agriculture.
• Abundance thinking emerges naturally when people engage directly with growing and saving seed.

Calls to Action & Resources

Join live Seed Chats — https://seedchat.org

Explore regional seed co-ops — https://snakeriverseeds.com | https://www.utopianseed.org

Learn about seed libraries — https://seedlibrarynetwork.org

Participate in seed sharing experiments — https://seedsincommon.org

Visit UrbanFarm.org/961 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 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.

Don Tipping's Legacy of Regenerative Farming

In This Podcast: Greg reconnects with returning guest Don Tipping to explore nearly a decade of evolution at Seven Seeds Farm and Siskiyou Seeds. The conversation dives deep into regenerative farming, bioregional seed stewardship, on-farm ecology, and the long arc of plant breeding as climate adaptation. Don shares practical insights from 30 years of full-time farming, from pest resilience without chemicals to compost, livestock integration, and the vision for a decentralized bioregional seed bank. The episode emphasizes patience, systems thinking, and seed saving as both a practical skill and a cultural act.

Guest Bio: Don has been farming and offering hands on, practical workshops at Seven Seeds Farm since 1997. Seven Seeds is a small, certified organic family farm in the Siskiyou Mountains of SW Oregon that produces fruits, vegetables, seeds, flowers and herbs, while raising sheep, poultry and people. The farm has been designed to function as a self-contained, life regenerating organism with waste products being recycled and feeding other elements of the system. Lauded as one of the best examples of a small productive Biodynamic and Permaculture farms in the northwest by many, Seven Seeds helps to mentor new farmers through internships and workshops. In 2009 they began Siskiyou Seeds, a bioregional organic seed company that grows and stewards a collection of over 700 open pollinated flower, vegetable and herb seeds and is constantly breeding new varieties.

Key Topics & Entities

1. Don Tipping
2. Seven Seeds Farm
3. Siskiyou Seeds (Siskiyou Seeds)
4. Regenerative agriculture
5. Bioregional seed stewardship
6. Open-pollinated seeds
7. Seed saving
8. Garden ecology
9. Plant breeding
10. Permaculture systems
11. Compost and soil fertility
12. Livestock integration
13. Climate adaptation
14. Cascadia Seed Bank

Key Questions Answered

How has Don’s farm and seed work evolved over the last nine years?

The seed company has grown into the core of the farm’s work, with most annual and perennial crops now grown specifically for seed. Don has shifted toward contracting with a wider network of growers while focusing his own energy on plant breeding, research, and education.

What makes bioregional, farmer-grown seed different from industrial seed?

Unlike industrial seed—often brokered globally with little transparency—bioregional seed is selected under local climate, pest, and disease pressures. Over time, this results in crops that are better adapted, more resilient, and better suited to regional food systems.

Why doesn’t Seven Seeds Farm rely on row covers or chemical inputs?

By allowing natural selection to occur—such as letting cucumber beetles eliminate weaker plants—the farm selects for stronger genetics over time. This approach is paired with whole-system ecology that supports predators and beneficial insects.

Why should gardeners save their own seed?

Seed saving is empowering, abundant, and adaptive. One plant can produce years’ worth of seed, while gradually adapting to a gardener’s microclimate and conditions, even without advanced technical knowledge.

How does Don manage seed purity when growing multiple crops?

By understanding plant species and their pollination rules, Don grows only one variety per species when crops are close together. Knowing botanical Latin and species boundaries is key to effective seed saving.

What role do animals play in the farm’s regenerative system?

Livestock act as ecological equalizers—cycling nutrients, selecting diverse forage, and converting plants into fertility, fiber, and food. Sheep, poultry, and other animals help close nutrient loops and reduce off-farm inputs.

Why is manure sourcing such a critical issue for organic farms?

Persistent herbicides can survive composting and contaminate soil for years. Sourcing manure from known organic dairies ensures transparency, protects soil health, and maintains organic integrity.

What is the vision behind the Cascadia Seed Bank?

The goal is a decentralized, fireproof, nonprofit bioregional seed bank designed as a living backup for regional food systems—paired with on-farm trials, education, and community engagement.

Episode Highlights

1. The shift from crop protection to crop selection as a pest-management strategy
2. Seed saving as “the original magic penny” that multiplies abundance
3. Garden ecology as a diagnostic lens for pest and disease problems
4. Compost as the foundation of soil, seed, and long-term fertility
5. Livestock hides becoming more valuable than meat in evolving farm economics
6. Plant breeding as a long-term response to climate change
7. The need for regional seed sovereignty beyond global seed vaults

Calls to Action & Resources

1. Siskiyou Seeds — https://www.siskiyouseeds.com
2. Siskiyou Seeds YouTube Channel — https://www.youtube.com/@SiskiyouSeeds
3. The Agrarian Renaissance Podcast — Available on YouTube and podcast platforms

Visit UrbanFarm.org/SevenSeeds 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 us 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 Mary and Andrew from EdgePerma.com

In This Podcast: Andrew Tuttle and Mary Marshall, co-founders of Edge Perma and Redtail Edge Design, share how they’re using immersive technology to transform regenerative agriculture education. Drawing from backgrounds in permaculture, ecological design, and lived experiences of healing through land stewardship, they explain how virtual farm tours can make regenerative systems accessible to anyone, anywhere. The conversation explores permaculture as a pathway to peace, community resilience, and personal healing, while highlighting the power of relationship-building, service, and inclusive learning. This episode weaves together technology, ethics, and heart-centered education to reimagine how people connect with land and food systems.

Episode Highlights

1. Immersive virtual tours as a tool to “copy and paste” regenerative systems
2. Permaculture as a framework for peace, food security, and climate resilience
3. Using technology to expand access to farm-based learning
4. The emotional and healing power of land stewardship
5. Teaching ethics, design, and systems thinking through lived examples
6. Shifting from rejection to resonance through service and community care
7. Education designed for inclusion, not gatekeeping

Key Questions Answered

How did Andrew and Mary’s journey lead them to permaculture and regenerative agriculture?

Their path began with questioning systems of conflict and scarcity, combined with personal grief and a search for healing. Permaculture offered a framework where humans could become restorative forces within ecosystems and communities.

What problem do virtual farm tours solve in regenerative education?

Most people never get to visit functional regenerative farms. Virtual tours bring these spaces to students, growers, and communities, removing barriers of geography, mobility, time, and cost.

How do Edge Perma’s virtual farm tours work?

They combine 360° video, drone footage, aerial panoramas, 3D models, and clickable learning elements to show farms from every angle, including system evolution over time.

What makes virtual tours different from in-person farm visits?

They add layers of understanding—like aerial views, topography, and system mapping—that aren’t possible on foot, while complementing (not replacing) real-world visits.

How does this approach support different learning styles?

The immersive, visual format supports neurodiverse learners and people who struggle with traditional classroom-based education, helping more people feel seen and included.

What role does community and service play in their success?

Andrew and Mary describe a shift from self-promotion to service, relationship-building, and listening—an ethic that unlocked trust, collaboration, and new opportunities.

What does success mean to them beyond business growth?

Success is measured in meaningful human impact—healing landscapes, supporting grief and remembrance, and creating spaces that nurture both people and the planet.

Key Topics & Entities

1. Edge Perma
2. Redtail Edge Design
3. Virtual farm tours
4. Regenerative agriculture
5. Permaculture design
6. 360° video and drone technology
7. Accessible education
8. Inspiration Farm
9. Alderleaf Wilderness College
10. Dave Boehnlein
11. WSU Extension
12. Edmonds College
13. Healing landscapes

Calls to Action & Resources

1. Edge Perma virtual tours — https://edgeperma.com
2. Follow Edge Perma on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/edgeperma
3. Contact Andrew Tuttle — [email protected]
4. Show notes & episode page — https://www.urbanfarm.org/EdgePerma

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 us 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

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.