For this special birthday episode of "The Good Dirt," Emma goes solo as host, talking with Lindsey and Krista from the "Almost 30" podcast. Emma reflects on her twenties and discusses her feelings about this passage in her life. Krista and Lindsey share some of their own journey through their twenties and the transition into their thirties, and give their advice on seeking your own true path. In this episode we talk about how the good dirt of experience is fertile ground for growing your most authentic life!

This week we spoke with historian, nonprofit founder, and author Tony Cohen, who operates Button Farm, Maryland’s only living history center depicting 19th-century slave plantation life and the heroic story of the Underground Railroad. Tony has dedicated his studies and work to preserving the Underground Railroad’s history, historic sites and environments. In this episode, he shares with us stories of his own travels along the Underground Railroad on foot, in an effort to recreate some of the original travelers' sensory experience of the landscape and the monumental physical challenges they endured in the pursuit of freedom. Tony also shares the story of meeting Oprah Winfrey and working with her in preparation for her starring role in the film, BELOVED, based on the book by Toni Morrison. Tony is founder and director of the Menare Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to the creation of cutting edge educational programs, including an Underground Railroad immersion experience based on the work he did with Oprah Winfrey.

Mary and Emma chat with Farai Harreld, an herbalist and writer known as the Hillbilly African, who takes inspiration from both her African and rural American roots. Farai grew up in Botswana and came to America to go to college, where she encountered the challenges of an entirely different culture. Her journey into herbalism began as a struggle with her hair, and led her into a deeper knowledge of plants as a source of healing and support. Now as a mother, a writer, a doula and a folk herbalist, she inspires others as a champion of slow living, local engagement and community building.

Mary and Emma chat with Alissa Hessler, creator of Urban Exodus, a project highlighting people from a variety of backgrounds who have made the switch from urban to rural living. Alissa tells the story of her own life transformation, from chasing the career and paycheck to creating a more intentional life and more meaningful work in a rural setting. The message is not that you have to move to the country to have the life you desire, but about making choices in the direction of what you want, regardless of where you live or what you think is holding you back. Alissa encourages everyone to pay attention to those dreams. It's never too late to make a shift in your own life story!

In this special live episode, Mary and Emma talk with Ellen Polishuk, an organic vegetable farmer for 25 years and now a teacher and consultant for those in the farming business. Ellen speaks from years of experience as both a grower and a consumer on food sustainability, including topics such as organic certification, composting, GMO's, soil basics, eating locally, community supported agriculture and the potential for a world in which everyone is well fed and farmers can earn a living. This episode is full of great information for anyone who grows or eats food!

Today's episode is about Brigid, saint and legend, known for her skills at the hearth, the weaving loom, midwifery, healing, poetry and animal husbandry. Kathy Spaar, spiritual director, pilgrimage leader and nature educator shares many of the folklore and stories of this legendary figure from the Celtic tradition. As a figure of feminine wisdom and power who presides over the land and the homestead, we consider Brigid the quintessential Lady Farmer, our guide, protector and inspiration for slow living through the seasons.

Mary and Emma talk with Militza Maury, the creator of Little Green Dot, an educational space dedicated to natural skincare. In a world where the beauty industry is so often urging us to consume, Militza urges us to take a step back and consider not only what it is we are putting on our skin, but the messages we're getting about why we need all of these products. Combining her love of herbalism and cooking with her fascination with the skin, Militza shares with us her wealth of information and guidance on this topic so relevant to the sustainability conversation.

Mary and Emma sit down with Kip and Angelique, the founders of Smarter by Nature - an urban and rural farming business serving the community in Tallahassee, Florida. Their goal is to provide fresh produce and opportunities for economic sustainability through education as well as to take care of the soil and protect the natural environment. Kip and Angelique share their challenges, methods and aspirations for the future.

Mary and Emma sit down with Eric Henry from TS Designs who has been navigating sustainability through the fashion industry for the past 40 years. Henry discusses the effects of NAFTA on TS Designs and the process of rebuilding his business with the triple bottom line - People, Planet, Profit - in the forefront of operations. Eric pushes you to think about the impact of the goods you consume and the places you spend your money while considering that sustainability is a journey not a destination.

Mary welcomes in the New Year by sharing the story of Old Befana, a tale for Epiphany. However you're celebrating this year, we hope that this story brings you joy and light!

Mary and Emma sit down with Bridget Jones from Wildberry Farm. Bridget discusses how she and her husband Matt are keeping the family farm going by combining their marketing and graphic design backgrounds with traditional farming and agritourism. Agritourism provides innovative and creative experiences that bring visitors to the farm, and offers opportunities for the the community to come together. In this digital age, Bridget and Matt prove that growing crops and raising livestock aren't the only ways to have a successful farm enterprise.

Mary and Emma sit down to reflect on this past year of Lady Farmer - discussing their growth during the difficult year that was 2020. With the holidays around the corner, there’s a lot to think about. Mary and Emma share their tips to help balance your time when things may seem to be out of your control. From gift-giving to decorating to making time to connect with nature and getting plenty of rest, slowing down to make your own rules during this holiday season is essential - and of course, don’t forget to shop well, buy well and support small and local makers!

On this special, live episode, Mary and Emma talk with Natalie Chanin, the founder and creative director of Alabama Chanin, about sustainability in the clothing industry. Natalie shares with us how difficult it is to maintain a small business that has grown into something much bigger and the conversations she has to endure to create balance.

Mary and Emma sit down with Jason Schaefer from Holy Lamb Organics to discuss all things natural bedding. Jason talks us through the processing as well as the certifications and requirements the wool that is used for HLO must go through before it is used. The mattress industry is a 9 billion dollar industry and the majority of the companies produce a ton of waste and use a plethora of chemicals. Learn why better products cost more money and why we should support products and companies that are transparent to avoid greenwashing!

Mary and Emma sit down with one another at the farm to chat a bit about how Mary got started on her journey as a Lady Farmer. Anyone, anywhere can achieve a slower, more sustainable lifestyle, as it is an ongoing evolution - grounded in the decisions you make everyday. Mary discusses her love for the outdoors, the animals she has on the farm and how life in the city made her long for a farmhouse of her own.

Mary and Emma sit down with Elana Jedallah, a photographer, educator, marketing strategist and environmental advocate. From her time spent living in Hawaii, Elana eloquently shares her journey through raising awareness of the plastic pollution affecting our oceans through the awakening of the truth of her own contributions. Elena encourages listeners to realize that although you may be part of the problem, you can also be part of the solution by shopping locally and seasonally and consuming clothing made of raw materials.

Mary and Emma sit down with Julian, the Director of ANIMA Casa Rural - a B&B, artist residency and working farm located in the municipality of Tala in Jalisco, Mexico. ANIMA offers a space that emphasizes the importance of working with nature as opposed to against it. Through permaculture, Julian and his family’s shared ecological beliefs, sustainable design and focus on the elimination of processed foods, Julian wishes to create a working community amongst every person who visits ANIMA Casa Rural.

Lady Farmer sits down with Christine and Anca, the duo behind the Huckle & Goose cookbook and meal planning program, to talk about what it really means to cook, eat, and live seasonally. Their book is designed to speak to even the most intimidated home cooks, and the habit-forming plans and recipes that they offer make space for true transformation in your life.

Mary & Emma sit down with Sherri Powell of Yours Rurally (@yoursrurally), a conscious gifting company, for a lively chat about empowerment through thoughtful consumption. Sherri, with roots in rural Georgia, spent a good portion of her professional career on Capitol Hill working to advance rural sustainable economic development, and has now launched her own company that takes these ideas a bit further - into a tangible, gift-able, and receivable form. Sherri is painting a different story of rural America - and it is beautiful, educational, and moving.

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!