Mary & Emma are on a brief hiatus and plan to return next spring. Please enjoy this episode that was originally aired on 11/10/2023.

Our guest for today is Jill Winger, creator of The Prairie Homestead who over the last 10 years has influenced thousands of people in rediscovering some of the simpler ways of life–helping people grow their own food, cook healthy meals, raise chickens, bake bread—and SO many other things. And yes, she confesses that an old fashioned life can include modern technology, especially in teaching others through online content creation. But Jill’s mission is more than about teaching skills, it’s about guiding others into slowing down and creating a healthier, more centered, balanced lifestyle that includes our modern realities.

Jill started out on a neglected farmstead 40 miles away from the nearest grocery store, and has grown with her passion for practicing this way of life and teaching others how to find it for themselves. She is the author of The Prairie Homestead Cookbook and her latest release: "Old-Fashioned on Purpose: Cultivating a Slower, More Joyful Life". Jill lets Mary and Emma in on her process of content creation for homesteading, running an online business, finding writing once again, and what challenges she's faced in trying to do it all. This episode is for anyone who wants to strike a healthier balance between old-fashioned living and life in the modern world.

Topics Discussed

• Being a Homesteader

• Getting Started without a Background in Farming or Ranching

• Finding an Alternative to the Suburban-White-Picket-Fence Dream

• Sparks of Inspiration & Knowing

• Balancing Old-Fashioned Living with Modern Demands

• How Jill's Support System Helps Her "Do It All"

• Jill's Team & Task Delegation

• How to Get People to Consume Your Content

• The Consumer-Creator Relationship

• Dealing with Technology Addiction as an Online Business

• Creator Sustainability

• Boundaries & Intentionality

• The Pros and Cons of Homesteading's Growing Popularity

• Writing Old-Fashioned on Purpose

• Community

• Raising Kids in a Homestead Lifestyle

• Owning a Restaurant

• Outsourcing Where You Can

• Herbicide Long-Term Damage and Aminopyralid Poisoning

Episode Resources:

• Join Us in The ALMANAC 

• The Prairie Homestead "how to use eggshells" Blog

• The Prairie Homestead "I Think I Poisoned My Garden" Blog

• "Old-Fashioned on Purpose: Cultivating a Slower, More Joyful Life" by Jill Winger

• "The Prairie Homestead Cookbook: Simple Recipes for Heritage Cooking in Any Kitchen" by Jill Winger

• Listen to The Good Dirt "Reclaiming Our Food from Field to Kitchen with CSA Farmer Mo Moutoux of Moutoux Orchard"

Connect with Jill Winger:

• Website: https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/

• Follow Jill on IG @jill.winger https://www.instagram.com/jill.winger/

• YouTube: https://youtube.com/theprairiehomestead

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theprairiehomestead

• Links: https://meet.theprairiehomestead.com/IGlinks

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🌻 About Lady Farmer:

• Our Website

• Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram

• Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC

• Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!

Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

Mary & Emma are on a brief hiatus and plan to return next spring. Please enjoy this episode that was originally aired on 11/17/23.

Our guest today is Baron Wormser, award winning poet, professor and author of "The Road Washes Out in Spring: A Poet's Memoir of Living Off the Grid". In this episode, Baron shares stories from his experience living and raising a family off the grid in rural Maine for 23 years, as well as his insight into connecting poetry with how we live, the value of simple living, and how we connect more deeply with the earth. We hear about his journey from the beginning in the mid 1970s, the day-to-day logistics of an off-grid life, raising children in that setting, and the eventual reentry into the contemporary world. Baron has been an example of slow and sustainable living throughout his life and career, and brings his gift of storytelling and poetry to this inspiring conversation.

Topics Discussed

• "Convenience" by W.S. Merwin

• Membership Pledge Drive

• Why Choose to Live Off the Grid

• The Logistics of the Day-to-Day

• Historical Precedence of Living without Electric Power

• Living Through the Mid 70s

• Needs vs. Wants

• Defining Hardship

• Living Off the Grid Then vs. Living On the Grid Now

• Human Adaptability

• Do We Truly Need the Internet?

• Raising Children in an Off the Grid Lifestyle

• Neighbor Stories

• The Recognition of Hard Work

• Money & Rural Towns

• Deconstruction the Romanticization of an Off the Grid Lifestyle

• Finding Your Ordinary

• Reentry to the Grid

• Baron's View on Hope

• Falling in Love with the World

Episode Resources:

• Join Us in The ALMANAC 

• "Convenience" by W.S. Merwin

• Listen to The Good Dirt "151. 'Lawns into Meadows' with Author Owen Wormser on Regenerative Agriculture"

• "The Road Washes Out in Spring: A Poet's Memoir of Living Off the Grid" by Baron Wormser

Connect with Baron Wormser:

• Website: https://baronwormser.com/

• Books: https://baronwormser.com/books.html

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🌻 About Lady Farmer:

• Our Website

• Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram

• Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC

• Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!

Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

Mary & Emma are on a brief hiatus and plan to return next spring. Please enjoy this episode that was originally aired on 12/8/2023.

We’re talking to Christina Schindler, who after spending 20 years in public education as a teacher and administrator, has embarked on a business venture with her family as the CEO of the Modern Stone Age Kitchen, a restaurant in Chestertown, MD that optimizes nutrition in modern foods through ancestral techniques–creating healthy food for the community. 

Christina also serves as President of the Eastern Shore Food Lab, a non-profit that is focused on creating a nourishing, ethical and sustainable food system through education, outreach and research. Most importantly, Christina is a mother of three busy teenagers and is married to Dr. Bill Schindler, author of Eat Like a Human.

In this conversation, we’ll be talking about the extraordinary adventures of this enterprising family, from living and traveling abroad to serving their community through this very unique restaurant, and their work with the non-profit. We’ll hear about their food journey as a family, practical tips for healthy eating in a busy modern world with kids, their years long quest for gaining knowledge about ancestral foods–and how you can live in a suburban neighborhood and still accomplish things that most people would think you need to live on 20 acres to do. 

This is a wonderful conversation for anyone interested in embracing ultimate health through ancestral food ways –and a great story of how this family has brought it into the context of modern family life and business. Prepare to be inspired by the end of the episode to start eating like a human.

Topics Discussed

· Living & Traveling Abroad

· Having a Family-Owned Community-Oriented Restaurant

· Being a Former Educator

· Cottage Food Operation 

· Commercial Food Production

· The Sourdough Process

· What It Means to Eat like a Human

· Employing a Team of 25

· Food Processing Then & Now

· Traveling Abroad with Family

· The Origin of Maize (aka Corn)

· Being a Former Vegetarian

· Hunting as a Food Source

· Food Education

· Old Bay Seasoning & Pumpkin Spice

· Raising 3 Teenagers: Fast Food, Snacks, and House Rules

· The Nutritional Pressure of Feeding a Family

· Living in Ireland

· Kefir

· Ancestral Nutrition Knowledge

Episode Resources:

• Join Us in The ALMANAC 

• Listen to the Discover Ag Podcast!

• Read the Eat Like A Human Book

• Learn More About Homemade Sourdough

• Seed Oil Scout: Healthy Dining App

• 12 Spoons - The Weston A. Price Foundation

Connect with Christina:

• Website: www.modernstoneagekitchen.com

• IG @modernstoneagekitchen: https://www.instagram.com/modernstoneagekitchen/

• Eat Like a Human Website: https://eatlikeahuman.com/start-here/

• Eastern Shore Food Lab @esfoodlab: https://www.instagram.com/esfoodlab/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/modernstoneagekitchen

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🌻 About Lady Farmer:

• Our Website

• Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram

• Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC

• Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!

Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:

• Wendy Gray

In this episode, Mary & Emma conclude their 'Intro to Slow Living' series by reflecting on the evolution of the slow living concept in their experience over the past eight years. They discuss the importance of intentionality, how slow living has transformed from a term to a mindset, and personal experiences with slow living in areas like fashion and daily choices. They announce a hiatus over the winter to rest and reassess their future direction, emphasizing the need for balance and space to let new ideas emerge organically. Mary and Emma encourage listeners to reflect on their own slow living journeys, and to share any feedback or suggestions while enjoying replays of past interviews.

00:00 Introduction and Series Recap

02:14 Reflections on Slow Living

03:43 Evolving Concepts of Slow Living

06:21 Sowing Seeds of Intention

10:49 Taking a Break and Future Plans

14:01 Personal Goals and Slow Living

24:07 Technology and Slow Living

28:40 Listener Engagement and Hiatus Details

33:15 Conclusion and New Year Wishes

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🌻 About Lady Farmer:

• Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community
• Visit Our Website
• Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram
• Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!

Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Lady Farmer

🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:

• Wendy Gray

In this special episode, we're bringing back two cherished holiday-themed recordings from our archives. Whether it’s the miracle of light, the birth of a Holy Child, or the warmth of family traditions, December celebrations connect us to a shared human experience rooted in vulnerability to nature’s rhythms.

First, in this excerpt from the December episode of Mary's Slow Living Through the Seasons series from 2023, Mary reflects on the winter solstice and its significance across cultures, exploring what we share with our ancestors during the darkest days of the year. Discover the deeper meaning behind festive traditions and how modern celebrations can sometimes pull us away from the natural cycle of the seasons.

Then, we revisit a delightful musical performance from the Lady Farmer Archives. Recorded in Seneca, Maryland, in November 2020, this casual fireside set by the Missing Sister Band warms the soul with soulful harmonies.

Topics Covered:

• The winter solstice as a universal human experience, excerpted from Slow Living Through the Seasons
• Yuletide reflections and our connection to ancient traditions
• The story behind holiday symbols like the wreath
• A soulful musical set featuring holiday-inspired covers

Music Setlist:

• "White Flag" by Joseph
• "Helplessly Hoping" by Crosby, Stills, and Nash
• "Strangers" by The Kinks
• "Baby Where You Are" by Ted Lucas
• "Dogs Laying Around Playing" by My Bubba
• "Long Time Traveller" by Sacred Harp

Performed by the Missing Sister Band:

• Vocals: Anna Glenn, Charlotte Henderson, Shannon Beston (guitar), Caitlin Robinson, Emma Kingsley
• Guitar: Cameron Palmer
• Audio/Visuals: David Smith, Emma Kingsley, Mary Kingsley
• Editing: Emma Kingsley

Tune in for an episode that celebrates the beauty of gathering, the wonder of the solstice, and the joy of shared music. Happy Holidays! 🎶✨

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🌻 About Lady Farmer:

• Our Website

• Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram

• Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC

• Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!

Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:

• Wendy Gray

In today’s episode, we’re talking to Melissa and Jaci from Pinetree Garden Seeds, a family owned and operated business since 1979. Pinetree Garden Seeds was founded with the simple mission of offering low prices on quality seeds to the home gardener. Over the years offerings have expanded to include over 1300 varieties of seeds, including many heirlooms & organics, a huge assortment of tools and gardening gear, books, and live plants. Located in rural Maine, they operate out of a 300 year old farmhouse and strive to offer the best service and products with a personal touch. In 2011, the company was passed down from its founder, Dick Meiners, to his stepdaughter Melissa. She and her family are excited to continue the mission of supporting the home gardener by offering affordable, high quality seeds and goods. In this conversation we delve into the story of Pinetree Garden Seeds, the complexities of GMO's, heirloom seeds and the practices of the company. Melissa and Jaci share their passion for helping others succeed in gardening, emphasizing the simplicity and joy of growing food that promotes the health of humans and the planet.

🌿 Podcast listeners can use the code DIRTPGS20 for 20% their seed order at superseeds.com !

Topics

• Introduction to Pinetree Garden Seeds
• History of the company
• Seed Selection and Catalog Creation
• Work environment at Pinetree
• Seed Packing technology
• Seed Sourcing
• Gardening Practices and Trials
• Understanding the Safe Seed Pledge
• Understanding the types of seeds: heirloom, hybrid and GMO
• The value of heirloom seeds
• Seed longevity and germination
• The seasonal flow and Pinetree Garden Seeds
• The value of gardening in community and connection

03:20 Meet the Pine Tree Team

04:11 The History and Evolution of Pine Tree Seeds

05:53 Learning the Business of Seeds

08:47 The Art of Seed Catalogs

11:06 Gardening Experiments and Trials

17:49 Understanding Seed Types and Safety

20:31 Understanding GMO vs. Hybrid

22:15 Heirloom Seeds: Stories and Significance

25:00 Seed Longevity and Germination

28:38 A Day at Pine Tree Seeds

31:31 The Concept of Slow Living

34:29 The Good Dirt: Meaning and Metaphor

36:04 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

🌿 Podcast listeners can use the code DIRTPGS20 for 20% their seed order at superseeds.com !

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🌻 About Lady Farmer:

• Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community
• Visit Our Website
• Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram
• Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!

Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:

• Wendy Gray

In this episode of The Good Dirt Podcast, hosts Mary Kingsley and her daughter Emma talk with Florence Reed, founder of Sustainable Harvest International, a nonprofit that has worked with smallholder farmers in Central America for over 27 years in adopting regenerative farming practices. Florence tells the story of how Sustainable Harvest International got its start, and highlights the importance of healthy soil, biodiversity, and the role of local technical assistance in fostering long-term agricultural transformation. She points out how these practices alone applied to small farms the world over could significantly contribute to the United Nations' goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Florence tells us that there are many inspiring success stories, including one that she shares about a farmer who restored his land and sent both of his daughters to college as a result of his farming success following the SHI program. The conversation offers a hopeful message about the potential for individual and collective action in combating climate change.

,00:00 Introduction

00:31 Welcome to the Good Dirt Podcast

00:57 Guest Introduction: Florence Reed

03:25 Florence Reed's Background and Motivation

06:04 Early Challenges and Realizations

08:05 Founding Sustainable Harvest International

11:52 Initial Steps and Early Support

14:22 Challenges of Slash and Burn Farming

20:40 Sustainable and Regenerative Practices

27:42 Community Engagement and Program Implementation

30:48 Deciding Where to Work

31:32 Challenges and Demand

32:17 Global Impact of Small-Scale Farmers

33:40 Resistance to Change in Farming Practices

39:59 Success Stories and Long-Term Impact

46:02 Personal Reflections and Slow Living

49:16 Future Plans and Getting Involved

LINKS

Sustainable Harvest International

Roots of Renewal: A Film on Farming for a Hopeful Future

Eliot Coleman: The New Organic Grower

Barbara Damrosch: The Garden Primer

The Good Life: Helen and Scot Nearing's Sixty Years of Self Sufficient Living

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🌻 About Lady Farmer:

• Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community
• Visit Our Website
• Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram
• Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!

Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:

• Wendy Gray

In celebration of the holiday this week, and upcoming "Black Friday", we're re-airing our favorite slow-living take on the matter...Slow Friday!

RE-AIR FROM 11/26/21

You're in for something a little different this Friday...it's a solo show with Mary and Emma!

At Lady Farmer, we're always thinking about ways to shift our thinking to live into a more slow and sustainable lifestyle, and today is a great opportunity to do just that. What if Black Friday became Slow Friday, and what would that look like?

Join us on this week’s episode of The Good Dirt as we share a bit about our own Christmas memories and experiences with gift-giving as well as how we're thinking about being more mindful with our consumer habits during the holiday season.

Enjoy this week's episode, let us know what you think, and we'll be back with another interview next week!

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Simplecast, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Topics Covered:

• The negative impacts of consumerism and how to think differently about our consumer habits
• The importance that we have placed on gift-giving and receiving during the holiday season
• Slow Friday Challenge

Resources:

• Unplug the Christmas Tree
• Christmas by Peter Spier

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🌻 About Lady Farmer:

• Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community
• Visit Our Website
• Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram
• Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!

Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:

• Wendy Gray



In this episode, Zandra Zuraw, founder of Slow Style Home, shares her insights on interior design. Slow Style Home is an interior design coaching platform for people looking to create a beautiful, meaningful home without breaking the bank, hiring a designer, or hurting the planet to get one. Zandra discusses her step-by-step framework, the importance of a vision for your space, and offers tips for decluttering and balancing aesthetics with functionality. Zandra also touches on the broader concept of slow living. She encourages everyone to find a personal and meaningful approach to home decoration and stresses the emotional satisfaction that comes from using and transforming what we already have. Listeners are inspired to appreciate and design their living spaces mindfully, focusing on beauty and personal expression.She's currently writing a book about her Slow Style approach to design, to be released in Spring 2025 .and is also the host of the popular podcast, Slow Style Home.

00:00 Introduction to Slow Style Home

01:23 Zandra Zuraw's Personal Journey

02:17 The Concept of Slow Style

02:54 Navigating Interior Design Challenges

06:37 Creating a Vision for Your Space

19:25 Balancing Sentimentality and Practicality

22:09 The Impact of Disposable Decor

26:18 The Emotional Weight of Objects

26:51 Struggles with Waste and Disposal

30:29 Decluttering Strategies and Challenges

37:18 The Concept of a Slow Home

40:04 Balancing Organization and Livability

46:56 The Importance of Good Dirt

49:17 Final Thoughts and Resources

• Zandra's Website
• Slow Style Home Podcast
• Peter Walsh: Let it Go
• Tracy McCubbin: Making Space, Clutter Free
• Monica Leed: Simply Spaced

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🌻 About Lady Farmer:

• 
  
• Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community
• Visit Our Website
• Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram
• Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!

Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:

• Wendy Gray

In this conversation, Casey and Brooke Oberg from Detroit Mulch Company share their journey of transforming tree waste into mulch in the urban landscape of Detroit. They discuss their backgrounds, how they came to the project, various types of mulch, the significance of topsoil and the role of composting in community engagement. The conversation highlights the community impact of their work repurposing organic materials into beneficial mulch, a product that provides environmental sustainability and circularity into the local economy. The discussion also touches on the concept of slow living and how it relates to their work, culminating in a reflection on the meaning of good dirt and its impact on the environment and local communities.

Topics Discussed:

・The beginnings of Detroit Mulch Company

・Sustainable practices in Mulching

・Benefits of Mulch Gardening

・Addressing concerns about tree waste

・Community Impact

・The role of mulch in urban revitalization

・The future of tree waste management

・Encouraging sustainable practices beyond Detroit

・The importance of mulch and compost for top soil

・Composting practices and community engagement

・Embracing slow living and the idea of 'the good dirt'

Connect with Brooke and Casey:

Detroit Mulch Company Website

Instagram: @detroitmulch

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🌻 About Lady Farmer:

• Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community
• Visit Our Website
• Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram
• Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!

Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:

• Wendy Gray

In this episode of The Good Dirt, Mary & Emma explore sustainability in the spirits industry with Harrison Holditch of Half Shell Vodka. At just 33 years old, Harrison has pioneered innovative sustainable practices in producing vodka, including using recycled materials and local partnerships. Among Half Shell Vodka's noteworthy achievements is its revolutionary 100% recyclable cardboard bottle made from 94% recycled materials. The discussion covers Harrison's journey, the company’s sustainable practices, and innovations like their unique filtration system using oyster shells and coconut carbon. The episode also highlights the challenges and benefits of adopting sustainable methods in distilling.

00:00 Welcome to The Good Dirt

01:34 Introducing Half Shell Vodka

03:21 Harrison Holditch's Journey

09:11 Sustainability Practices at Half Shell Vodka

17:26 The Innovation of the Paper Bottle

26:05 Sustainability and Glass: A Complex Relationship

27:07 The Global Supply Chain and Carbon Footprint

29:43 Exploring Alternatives: Paper Bottles and Beyond

32:40 Challenges and Innovations in the Spirits Industry

37:48 Living the Slow Life: A Personal Perspective

39:57 Navigating Natural Disasters: Life on the Gulf Coast

41:55 The Good Dirt: What It Means to Us

42:58 Where to Find Half Shell Vodka

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🌻 About Lady Farmer:

· Subscribe to The ALMANAC, a Lady Farmer Newsletter & Community

· Visit Our Website

· Follow @weareladyfarmer on Instagram

· Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail!

Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!

Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:

· Wendy Gray