Mother Earth News and Friends shares the stories of the leaders in sustainable and rural living. We’re passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, and sustainability.
Ready to learn about the best bedding for your backyard chickens? This episode of the Mother Earth News and Friends podcast dives into "The Pros and Cons of Chicken Coop Bedding," an article by Kenny Coogan originally featured in Backyard Poultry Magazine. Join the conversation as they explore the various options available to keep your feathered friends happy and healthy. Plus, don't miss out on a special offer from Home Fresh Poultry Feeds to give your flock the superior nutrition they deserve! More from Mother Earth News and Friends
This podcast episode features Bruce and Elaine Ingram as they read the "7 Foraging Finds" article and clafouti recipe. The Ingrams delve into the world of foraging for wild edibles, highlighting nutritious and delicious foods that can be found in the wild. They also share tips on identifying, harvesting, and preparing wild foods like watercress, dandelions, berries, and mushrooms, while also emphasizing sustainable foraging practices and offering a blackberry clafouti recipe. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
In this episode, Patrice Lewis, a self-sufficiency expert, discusses her article "Is Gardening Financially Worth It?" with Mother Earth News Lead Editor Ana Skemp and offers advice on making gardening economically worthwhile, from selecting high-yield plants to employing cost-saving strategies. They share their experiences and tips on successful gardening, emphasizing the importance of factors like choosing the right crops, managing costs, and protecting against pests, while extolling the joys of gardening and food preservation. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
In this episode we discuss preventing various predators from harming poultry, including chickens, ducks, and geese. Expert Erin Snyder identifies both daytime and nighttime threats, offering practical advice on securing coops, protecting waterfowl, and understanding predator behavior. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
In this podcast episode of "Mother Earth News and Friends" Darryl and Patty Ward, the owners of Sow Right Seeds, an heirloom seed company, discuss sustainable seed sourcing and gardening practices with Mother Earth News Lead Editor Ana Skemp. The conversation delves into the benefits of heirloom and open-pollinated seeds, practical advice for home gardeners on topics like seed saving, cover crops, and growing in small spaces, and the importance of supporting pollinators. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
Listen as Bruce Ingram reads his article on foraging for wild edibles like mushrooms, nuts, and fruits, highlighting the importance of accurately identifying edible species to avoid poisonous look-alikes. He details specific examples of edible plants and their toxic counterparts, offering tips for safe foraging and emphasizing the need for caution and expert verification. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
This episode is brought to you by Home Fresh Poultry Feeds. On this episode of Mother Earth News and Friends Kenny Coogan reads his article on preventing poultry illnesses, focusing on spring-related issues like avian influenza and parasites. He then further discusses the article with Audra Trosper and Alyssa Warner, including disinfectant options for coops and equipment, and addresses egg-binding prevention and treatment. The crew also discusses predator deterrence and the importance of veterinary care for poultry. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
On this episode of Mother Earth News and Friends, we talk to Kevin McCray from Safe Catch and Angelina Skowronski from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) about sustainable fishing practices, emphasizing the importance of third-party certifications like the MSC Ecolabel to assure consumers that seafood is sustainably sourced. It highlights the evolution of sustainability definitions, moving from basic catch methods to a holistic view that includes ecosystem health and global environmental impact. The conversation also explores the differences between wild-caught and farm-raised seafood, the need for mercury testing, and emerging trends in sustainable fishing. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
In this episode of the Mother Earth News and Friends podcast John Metzer of Metzer Farms and Stephen Horst of Fifth Day Farm offer advice on the temperatures needed for incubating guinea, goose, and duck eggs., how to prepare the eggs for incubation, how long to incubate them, and at what point to assist the hatching process. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
On this episode of Mother Earth News and Friends podcast Jean-Martin Fortier, a farmer, author, educator, and advocate for regenerative, human-scale, profitable agriculture, discusses his book, "The Market Gardener," and his newest book, "Microfarms," which covers the art of sustainable small-scale farming. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
This podcast episode of Mother Earth News and Friends features Nikola Alexandre and Nick Schwanz discussing the concept of rewilding properties. They explore the differences between rewilding and regeneration, emphasizing the importance of human involvement in ecosystem health and the need to shift from a "fortress conservation" mindset. The conversation also touches on the role of fire in land regeneration, the challenges of encouraging community acceptance of rewilding aesthetics, and practical first steps for homeowners looking to begin the regenerative process. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
Discover the perfect chicken breed for your first backyard flock with expert advice from Eric Stromberg of Stromberg's Chickens. Learn about friendly breeds, top egg layers, and predator-savvy tips to help new chicken keepers navigate the world of poultry. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
This episode of Mother Earth News and Friends discusses beekeeping best practices with Tara Dawn Chapman, author of the new book "For the Bees." Chapman emphasizes the importance of understanding honeybee biology for successful beekeeping. She discusses swarm prevention techniques and how to manage brood development frames within the hive. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
In this episode of the Mother Earth News and Friends podcast, herbalist Kami McBride shares her expertise on the wonderful world of herbal teas. Learn about the health benefits of various herbs, from calming chamomile to energizing dandelion root. Discover simple recipes and tips for creating delicious and therapeutic herbal infusions at home, including how to make a refreshing summery rose hip tea and a soothing blend for stress relief. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
Learn about regenerative agriculture and its impact on wellness and the environment from this episode of Mother Earth News and Friends with Evan Harrison, CEO of Kiss the Ground. Explore the connection between soil health, food quality, and human health. Support regenerative practices by seeking out sustainably sourced products. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
Today's year-end episode features editors from Mother Earth News, Grit Magazine, and Goat Journal, discussing listener questions about rural living, homesteading, and sustainability. They cover topics including homesteading and gardening, agritourism and rural entrepreneurship, fermented foods for gut health, perennial edibles for cold climates, raising meat birds, overwintering fig trees, plants for pollinators, medicinal herbs, bountiful edible weeds, and goat care! More from Mother Earth News and Friends
Story by Angela Greenroy, read by Kenny Coogan. Hatching guinea fowl eggs under a broody chicken can result in quieter keets. This story comes from the March/April 2024 issue of Grit magazine. For more resources, view this podcast at https://backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com/poultry-101/hatching-guinea-keets-under-broody-hens/ More from Mother Earth News and Friends
This episode of Mother Earth News and Friends discusses how to winterize vehicles for storage. Mark Mederski, editor in chief of Motorcycle Classics Magazine, shares tips on preventing corrosion, preserving old rubber parts, and maintaining batteries. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
Sandor Ellix Katz, a fermentation revivalist, discusses the art and science of home fermentation. He emphasizes the simplicity and accessibility of the process, highlighting the benefits of fermenting vegetables like cucumbers, radishes, and cabbages. Katz provides insights into various techniques, including dry salting and brine fermentation, and encourages experimentation with different flavors and ingredients. He also delves into the world of fermented beverages, such as kombucha and wild soda, explaining the basic principles and potential variations. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
Interested in raising pheasant chicks? Listen to this discssion covering the optimal time to start, the ideal brooder environment, and essential feeding practices. Explore the transition from brooder to outdoor environments, emphasizing the importance of providing adequate cover and open space in flight pens. Consider the factors involved in raising pheasants for profit, such as market demand, facility requirements, biosecurity measures, and financial considerations. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
Are you interested in homesteading but don't have a lot of space? This episode is for you! We'll talk to Asia Spratley from Yellow Door Urban Homestead about how to grow your own food, raise chickens and quail, and more, even if you live in an apartment. You'll learn about the best vegetables to grow in small spaces, how to design a small homestead layout, and other tips for getting started with apartment homesteading. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
What makes a good egg layer? On this episode of Mother Earth News and Friends, we chat with Audra Trosper, Lead Editor of Goat Journal and Associate Editor of Backyard Poultry magazines. Learn about what to look for in the best egg layers, and how to support and nourish your layer hens through their annual cycles of laying and molting. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
Story by Erin Snyder, read by Jessica Anderson. Prepare for next year's growing season with help from your backyard flock. This story comes from the October/November 2024 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS magazine. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
Are you prepared for extreme weather? On this episode of Mother Earth News and Friends, we chat with Ed Brotak, meteorologist and long-time contributor to Grit magazine, about how to stay safe and prepared for when the weather takes a turn. Understand your area and its weather threats, learn some severe-weather safety tips for the home, and more. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
Raising swans isn't like raising chickens; caring for these beautiful birds comes with its own sets of unique challenges and rewards. In this episode, Chris Fritzen of Grand Swan Farm covers some essential info you'd need to know before raising swans as pets or raising swans for profit. Learn about what to feed swans, how to keep swans from flying away, how to care for swans in winter, and more. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
Shogun Farms says you can definitely eat wild boar. In this episode, Pamela Fay of Shogun Farms in Florida shares with us about how they're trapping and farm-finishing invasive wild boars and selling them as high-quality foods to a variety of restaurants -- a win for both culinary endeavors and sustainable efforts to minimize food waste and curb destructive invasive species. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
What can you do with all the abundance that comes out of your garden? In this episode, Bevin Cohen of Small House Farm joins us to discuss his new book, The Heritage Pantry, and all the ways you can preserve your harvest, including best vegetables for canning, how to can fruits and vegetables, canning equipment, and more. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
Story by Marissa Ames, read by Kenny Coogan. Who knew that chickens were so good at raising ducklings? This story comes from the January/February 2024 issue of Grit magazine. For more resources, view this podcast https://BackyardPoultry.IAmCountryside.com/Eggs-Meat/Can-Chickens-Hatch-Ducks/ More from Mother Earth News and Friends
In this episode, Jeannette Beranger of The Livestock Conservancy joins us for our annual heritage breed update. Jeannette shares more about the importance of breed conservation, a deep dive of the Livestock Conservancy list, and we discuss rare chicken breed and duck breed updates. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
At one point, there were only 22 California condors left in the world. But, things are changing for the better. In this episode, Chris Parish of The Peregrine Fund shares about the work being done to reintroduce growing condor populations to the wild and how people are creating positive change in hunting and animal-management practices to reduce lead poisoning in condors. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
Do pigeons make good pets? For thousands of years, pigeons have been companions to humans, and today, many people raise them and show them off in shows around the world. In this episode, John DeCarlo and Tim Heidrich of the National Pigeon Association discuss raising pigeons, why keep pigeons, building a pigeon loft, what do you feed pigeons, and more. Maybe pigeon-keeping is for you! More from Mother Earth News and Friends
Whether you're caring for livestock yourself or want to be a more informed consumer, you can learn about how antibiotics use plays a role in raising animals – and how antibiotics resistance can pose a challenge for animal and human health. In this episode, Steven Roach of Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT) answers some of the big questions when it comes to antibiotics use in livestock, including the risks of antibiotics overuse, antibiotics stewardship for people and animals, and how to choose producers that practice safe antibiotics use. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
Story by Erin Snyder, read by Kenny Coogan. Learn how to put your web-footed friends to work in the garden while keeping your crops safe. This story comes from the June/July 2024 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS magazine. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
You have a backyard flock – with an abundance of eggs. What can you do to make the most of them? For some, you may be able to sell them to family and friends. In this episode, Queren King-Orozco shares how to sell eggs as a home business, including selling chicken eggs requirements and best practices, marketing strategies, counting costs and income, and the benefits of making your egg business a family affair. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
Looking for some tips for your next gardening project? In this episode, Alyssa Warner, Audra Trosper, and Ana Skemp discuss their garden layouts, gardening goals, challenges in the garden, and tips for what works for them (and what doesn't) when cultivating their plants. We hope it inspires you to try some new things in your garden! More from Mother Earth News and Friends
Feeling wary of predators around your birds? You're not alone. In this episode, Tomia MacQueen of Wildflower Farm share how to protect your poultry and waterfowl from predators, notably in urban and suburban spaces. We'll cover ways of protection, predator-proofing your coop, guard animals for chickens and other birds, how to protect ducks from hawks, predator identification, and more. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
Story by Tamsin Cooper, read by Kenny Coogan. Why early experiences are important for your birds. This story comes from the April/May 2024 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS magazine. Read more at https://backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com/poultry-101/chick-and-duckling-imprinting/ More from Mother Earth News and Friends
Have you ever wanted to add some fun-loving ducks to your property? In this episode, John, Mark, and Katie Metzer of Metzer Farms share how to care for baby ducks, including how to prepare for their arrival, what to feed ducklings, if ducks can go broody, and more. By the end of this episode, maybe you'll want to welcome a few web-footed friends to your homestead! More from Mother Earth News and Friends
Hatching baby chicks can be a great way to introduce kids to the world of incubation, poultry, and all the challenges and joys of homesteading – not to mention leadership and entrepreneurship. In this episode, Ann Accetta-Scott shares more about egg-hatching curriculum for children, whether using it as a family side project or a homeschooling lesson, and the ways children can grow through these chick-hatching ventures. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
Story by Elizabeth Mack, read by John Moore. A new, peeping box of fluffy little chicks can be scary, but this excellent advice can help you. This story comes from the February/March 2024 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS magazine. Read more at https://backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com/chickens-101/bringing-new-chicks-home/ More from Mother Earth News and Friends
The word is out: Mushroom foraging is in. For those new to the world of mushroom hunting, we have a guide for you from author and mushroom hunter Frank Hyman. In this episode, we discuss with Frank some advice when out foraging for mushrooms, some popular edible mushrooms, and tips for avoiding toxic mushrooms. Plus, find out how you can order Frank's excellent book, How to Forage for Mushrooms Without Dying. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
Spring hatching is around the corner! For those new to the world of incubating eggs and hatching chicks, we're here to let you know it's not as daunting as it may see. In this episode, Pascale Pearce of Brinsea joins us to discuss the basics of using an incubator and how to solve any challenges that may come your way, including when to stop turning chicken eggs, how to adjust humidity in an incubator, and candling. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
It be may be cold for many of us, but it's not too early to start dreaming about next season's garden! In this episode, Benedict Vanheems, a contributor to MOTHER EARTH NEWS, a lifelong gardener, and presenter at GrowVeg, shares about how you can start planning and planting your next vegetable garden – from in-ground to raised bed gardening, to where to start your garden. He covers all the basics about growing vegetables for beginners, including some recommendations for the best vegetables to grow at home, as well as the worst. For more of this podcast, visit https://www.motherearthnews.com/podcast/growing-vegetables-for-beginners-zepz2401zawar/ Check out the MOTHER EARTH NEWS Garden Planner at GardenPlanner.MotherEartNews.com. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
Making your own homemade batches of soap can be rewarding, therapeutic, and allows you to craft beautifully aromatic soaps tailored for your skin's needs. In this episode, Melanie Teegarden, a soap-maker and business owner, shares the beneficial properties of homemade soaps and provides a simple recipe for you to get started making them at home. Once you've got a handle on the safety measures involved with making soap with lye, as well as general soap-making procedure and ingredients, you'll be able to fearlessly make your own! For more resources, view this podcast at https://www.motherearthnews.com/podcast/making-soap-with-lye-zepz2401zawar Order Melanie's book, the MOTHER EARTH NEWS Guide to Soap-making More from Mother Earth News and Friends
Story by Linda Bowen, read by John Moore. Make this nature-friendly pastime safer for you and your feathered neighbors. This story comes from the December 2023/January 2024 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS magazine. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
Thinking about getting solar? Before jumping in, know the types of solar setups available to you, what it'll cost you, the questions to ask solar-installation companies, and more. Hoss Boyd of TeraVolt Energy joins us on the podcast to discuss what you need to know before you set up solar energy for your home. For more resources, view this podcast at https://www.motherearthnews.com/podcast/solar-energy-pros-cons-zepz2312zawar. More from Mother Earth News and Friends
Parasites, such as fleas and ticks, are tiny organisms that can pose a big threat to our animals. How can we look out for our furry and feathered friends? Dr. Caroline Sobotyk, assistant professor of clinical parasitology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, joins us to discuss parasite threats, behaviors, and how to prevent infestation in your pets and livestock. . For more resources, view this podcast at https://www.motherearthnews.com/podcast/external-parasite-prevention-zepz2312zawar/ More from Mother Earth News and Friends
Story by Stacy Benjamin, read by Jessica Mitchell. A safe space for your flock means less stress on your birds and more peace of mind for you. This story comes from the June/July 2023 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS magazine. The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We're passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new interviews and audio articles on Thursdays. To see more podcasts, visit www.MotherEarthNews.com/Podcast. Check out the MOTHER EARTH NEWS Bookstore at Store.MotherEarthNews.com for more resources to help you achieve your health and farming goals. Go to the MOTHER EARTH NEWS FAIR page at www.MotherEarthNewsFair.com for webinars and courses on everything, from gardening to livestock management.
Story by Jason Knight, read by John Moore. Construct a simple but effective sanctuary to keep you warm during a wilderness emergency. This story comes from the November/December 2023 issue of Grit magazine. This audio article is brought to you by the Mother Earth News and Friends podcast. We feature stories from leaders in sustainable and rural living so you can learn more about natural health, sustainability, homesteading, and more. Catch new interviews and audio articles from us on Thursdays. Listen to us wherever you listen to your podcasts, and check us out at www.MotherEarthNews.com/Podcast. For more great articles on livestock and land management, large and small farming, and even bees, go to www.MotherEarthNews.com. If you're interested in workshops about everything from cheesemaking to soil health to building around your property, check out our MOTHER EARTH NEWS Fairs at www.MotherEarthNewsFair.com. Grit's sister publications include MOTHER EARTH NEWS, Backyard Poultry, and Countryside.
In this episode of Mother Earth News and Friends, we're talking with Erin Hamilton of the Mushroom Conservatory all about how to cultivate mushrooms at home. In this special video podcast, learn about growing mushrooms in coffee grounds and in straw, explore the best grain for mushroom spawn, get a mushroom liquid culture recipe, and more. You can also get one of the best mushroom-growing kits for beginners from the Mushroom Conservatory and start your mushroom-growing journey today – we can't recommend them enough! This episode is sponsored by All American. For more resources, view this podcast at https://www.motherearthnews.com/podcast/cultivating-mushrooms-at-home-zepz2311zawar More from Mother Earth News and Friends
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