Given the uncertainties surrounding the re-opening of schools in the fall of 2020, many parents are considering the transition to full time homeschooling. Others don't feel confident in taking that step, and are going with the "schooling-at-home" programs that their own schools are offering. What's the difference in these approaches, how can they encompass slow living, and what are all the possibilities in between the two? Wherever you are on the spectrum of options for the school year, we hope you'll tune in to our conversation with veteran homeschooler Rebecca Gallop (@adailysomething) to discuss these distinctions and all that this situation has to offer. Yes, without a doubt there are challenges, but we think this episode with Rebecca will help you gain a new perspective, and will leave you excited and inspired to explore this unique opportunity for you and your family. If you are one of many parents across the country right now, uncertain of what "back-to-school" means for you and your child this fall, this episode is for you!

Today we’re talking to slow living enthusiast Julia Watkins, creator of the Instagram account @simply.living.well and author of the book by the same name. Julia begins this episode talking about the three phases of her life that most influenced the slow living lifestyle that she now espouses and demonstrates to a large following—her childhood spent closely tied to her grandparents and their rich but simple lifestyle, her years spent in a remote village in West Africa, immersed in a life centered around community and nature, and her own entry into motherhood. We cover a lot of great topics in this conversation, including the challenges of balancing an authentic, scaled-back lifestyle along with an active social media presence, the sustainability and zero-waste movements, the realities of constant stress in our present day culture, motherhood in the absence of a communal village, and the value of recognizing what’s most important to each of us in the cultivation of our slow living goals. Come along with us in this lovely conversation, as we hear Julia’s own story unfold and learn from her experience as well.

In this episode, Mary and Emma talk to husband/wife duo Nicky and Dave Schauder, Northern Virginia-based home permaculture garden consultants and coaches. We hear about how they came to growing their own food through their kids' allergies and other family health issues, and how they grow 500 lbs of food in 500 square feet of growing space with 6 kids and one parent working full-time outside the home!

In this episode of The Good Dirt, Mary and Emma talk to longtime friends Eileen and Amy of Herb Girls, an herby duo based in Athens, GA. Both certified herbalists and nutritional therapists, they began their company with a desire to make herbalism more accessible and fun. We hear a bit about both of their journeys into herbalism, some common misconceptions, supply chain issues in a time of global pandemic, and some of their personal favorite herbs. We hope you enjoy this fun and informative chat!

How will Lady Farmer move forward from this moment? What can we do, as a small company and as individuals, to help create positive change in our broken systems? What actions will we take against the scourge of inequality and racism in our society? Here is a declaration of our commitment to a better world, from Lady Farmer and The Good Dirt Podcast.

In this episode, Mary and Emma sit down with renowned photographer Jamie Beck. Jamie joins us as a New York expat chatting from Provence, France, where she now lives with her husband Kevin and baby Eloise, the three of them living slowly, creatively, and more closely to nature. During the COVID19 pandemic lockdown in France, Jamie created one piece of art for each day to make up the #isolationcreation series. We chat about her life shifts, her #isolationcreation project, and we bond over some of our favorite (and not so favorite) cultural differences between France and America. It was a delightful conversation - hearing Jamie talk about her process is illuminating and inspiring. We hope you enjoy!

In today's episode, we sit down with Doniga Markegard, regenerative rancher, mother, wildlife tracker, and author of this month's Lady Farmer Book Club pick, "Dawn Again". Listen to Doniga's story as she tells us about how a near-death experience changed her entire life. We also hear a few of her favorite lessons from the wildnerness, and get a glimpse into her life as a regenerative rancher just outside Silicon Valley.

Mary and Emma sit down with Lee & Zina Bennion, the incredible women behind Mom's Stuff Salve, their favorite skincare company based out in Utah. They talk all things business with family, sustainability, and even openly process adjusting to the current quarantine situation.

Should we be worried about "blue light"? What impact does light have on our health, if any? In this episode we talk to Greg Yeutter, the young entrepreneur behind the Bedtime Bulb, a simple, science backed, highly effective tool for fighting circadian disruption. When he realized that his passion for light could be used to solve the problem of sleep deprivation and positively impact people, he knew he’d found his career path. What he didn’t know was how timely and relevant this product would become, when so many people are looking to embrace the fundamentals of good health. Tune in to this informative conversation and learn about how light and solid sleep patterns are so interconnected, and what you can do to optimize your body’s natural defenses against disease.

In this episode, we talk to career farmers Arden Jones and Michael Grantz who run a vegetable CSA and bakery in Forest, VA. We talk all things farming, regenerative agriculture, grains, and what it means to go after something meaningful. In times of pandemic, we feel honored to know such great people doing the great work of bringing good food to our plates, and healing the soil while they're at it.

Our talk with artist & inspiration Anna Brones touched on so many things that are important to us - slow living, sustainability, and creativity. We bring up questions such as, “Is the slow living movement just a trend?”, “Where do sustainability and privilege intersect? Where does choice become a responsibility?”, and “How can we reclaim our creative time in an accomplishment oriented society?”

Joy is a designer, an artist, and a visionary focused on advancing the human spirit through meaningful and creative design solutions. During this episode, we will discuss the importance of play, the concept of biophilia, the necessity for including nature in our surroundings and the role of light, color and objects in how we feel.

Rachel Armistead is co-owner of The Sweet Farm in Frederick, MD. They make delicious sauerkraut & ginger beer, as well as pasture-raised pork. Rachel gives one of the best explanations ever of what fermented foods are and how they benefit our health. We get into some fun facts about vinegar, our industrial food system and some things to watch out for when reading labels. She also shares with us what it’s like living in a tiny house with her husband and two small children, where the romantic vision of minimalism meets a real family. She reflects on consumer issues, what constitutes “enough” in our society versus the need for more, and what we can teach the next generation about want vs. need, quality of life, and how to balance conscious choices in the real world. We hope you enjoy!

Amy has been a sustainable fashion writer for the past 13 years for media including Ecouterre, Participant Media, and The Guardian. Currently, she’s the Sustainability and Communications Director for Botanical Colors and she consults for sustainability minded folks like Elizabeth Cline (author of Overdressed and The Sustainable Closet), Buffy Bedding, and TS Designs. We cover a number of topics as Amy shares her current work with the Southeastern New England Fibershed. Along the way, the discussion touches on the many ways that care of the soil and slow living overlap, the concept of patience, of waiting, of working with nature instead of trying to control it, and of taking the opportunity to witness and heal our addictive behaviors as we do so. Whether we are farmers or not, every consumer decision we make somehow relates back to the soil, and we all have our part to play in regenerating a healthy world.

In this intro episode, Mary & Emma tell a bit of the backstory behind Lady Farmer and the idea for this podcast, as well as answer some audience questions.

Meet Mary & Emma of Lady Farmer and hear about what's in store for The Good Dirt podcast!