Seeds and the City

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams joins Elyssa + Alina to discuss urban agriculture through the lens of health and nutrition. In his new book, "Healthy at Last: A Plant-Based Approach to Preventing and Reversing Diabetes and Other Chronic Illnesses," Eric talks about his personal journey to a plant based diet and how to eat cheap, healthy, and local. He also shares his policies and vision for NYC, for his Mayoral run in 2021! Reach Eric Adams & BK Borough Hall at: www.brooklyn-usa.org ; @bkborohall Reach Elyssa + Alina at: www.seedsandthecity.com ; seedsandthecitypodcast@gmail.com ; @seedsandthecitypodcast

What is blockchain, and how does it apply to the future of farming and a more sustainable food system? The brilliant Dr. Daniel Beckmann explains all you ever wanted to know about traceability, and how Foodshed uses agtech to reduce friction in the food supply chain. His technology makes logistics more efficient to impact food safety, food waste, competitive pricing, and bring people and food closer together. (Episode recorded pre-pandemic.) Reach Dr. Dan & Foodshed at: www.foodshed.io ; @foodshed.io Reach Elyssa + Alina at: www.seedsandthecity.com ; seedsandthecitypodcast@gmail.com ; @seedsandthecitypodcast Thanks to Horti for sponsoring this episode. Get your indoor plant subscription at heyhorti.com and use code seedsandthecity for 10% off your first month.

Harlem Grown uses urban farming as a powerful medium for education, support and mentorship to community members in upper Manhattan. Tony Hillery, Executive Director, describes the impacts of  generational poverty, and why Harlem Grown’s approach encompasses students, teachers, workforce development, and community engagement to provide reliable and consistent programming. Tune in to learn how to go beyond the headlines, and become part of Harlem Grown’s “farm-ily” through curiosity, action, and your own skill set. Reach Tony & Harlem Grown at: www.harlemgrown.org ; @harlemgrown  Reach Elyssa + Alina at: www.seedsandthecity.com ; seedsandthecitypodcast@gmail.com ; @seedsandthecitypodcast Thanks to Horti for sponsoring this episode. Get your indoor plant subscription at heyhorti.com and use code seedsandthecity for 10% off your first month

Join Elyssa + Alina on a visit to the worlds first commercially viable rooftop vineyard! The 15K sq ft Brooklyn rooftop of Rooftop Reds is demystifying wine by providing access to anyone who wants to enjoy a non-presumptuous glass and check out the 168 growing grape vines. Learn about low intervention winemaking, the true essence of terroir, and why Clara is hearing voices. Reach Clara & Rooftop Reds at: http://www.rooftopreds.com ; @rooftopreds Reach Elyssa + Alina at: www.seedsandthecity.com ; seedsandthecitypodcast@gmail.com ; @seedsandthecitypodcast Thanks to Horti for sponsoring this episode. Get your indoor plant subscription at heyhorti.com and use code "seedsandthecity" for 10% off your first month *** QUARANTINE HOME DELIVERIES FROM ROOFTOP REDS Order NY state grown and produced wine from www.rooftopreds.com during your quarantine. Stay in, stay sane, and enjoy locally grown beverages delivered right to your door. Now shipping to 38 states.

Horti is a plant subscription service designed to build confidence in caring for houseplants. Horti Founder and full time #plantfluencer, Puneet, explains why Horti doesn’t just want to sell plants, he wants to inspire a community of gardeners that connect with nature and live cleaner, happier lives. We discuss mental health benefits of greenery, house plant supply chains, and how a curated kit of hardy plants with instructions for repotting and propagation may change your approach to urban living. Reach Horti at: www.heyhorti.com ; @heyhorti Reach Elyssa + Alina at: www.seedsandthecity.com ; seedsandthecitypodcast@gmail.com ; @seedsandthecitypodcast Get your indoor plant subscription at heyhorti.com and use code “seedsandthecity” for 10% off your first month.

NY Sun Works is a nonprofit that transforms classroom science labs into fully functioning hydroponic farms that educate students and teachers about local food. Executive Director, Manuela Zamora, and her team have revamped science class for grades K-12 to cover everything from photosynthesis and pollination, to community impact and global sustainability. Regardless of zip code, every single student gets a chance to bring home delicious, local produce they’ve grown and harvested, to share with friends and family.   Reach NY Sun Works at: www.nysunworks.org  @nysunworks Elyssa + Alina at: www.seedsandthecity.com seedsandthecitypodcast@gmail.com   @seedsandthecitypodcast

Charley St is a quick and casual cafe serving up local food recipes from celebrity chef, Dan Churchill. Dan’s expertise in wellness highlights the importance of food for body + mind, promoting soil health for taste and nutrition, eating seasonally, and the magic of the microbiome. Plus, learn about The Art of Toasting, and why you should never whisper to avocados. Reach Dan at:  www.danchurchill.com  www.charleyst.com  @dan_churchill  @charleyst Reach Elyssa + Alina at: www.seedsandthecity.com seedsandthecitypodcast@gmail.com @seedsandthecitypodcast Thanks to Horti for sponsoring this episode. Get your indoor plant subscription at heyhorti.com and use code seedsandthecity for 10% off your first month.

Today Elyssa + Alina have the honor of speaking with NYC farmer, advocate, and icon, Karen Washington. Karen is a fierce and compassionate leader, who gives a powerful voice to the fight for justice, resilience, and the end of food apartheid in communities of color. Sitting at Karen’s kitchen table (each with a cat on her lap) gave us a peek inside the warmth and humor of Karen’s character, that isn’t always divulged in her mighty public speaking. We visit The Garden of Happiness, a Bronx community garden, and listen to Karen (literally) sing her praises for Rise and Root farm. Don’t miss this one!  Reach Karen at : www.karenthefarmer.com   Karen@karenthefarmer.com  @karwasher Reach Elyssa + Alina at : www.seedsandthecity.com seedsandthecitypodcast@gmail.com  @seedsandthecitypodcast Thanks to Horti for sponsoring this episode. Get your indoor plant subscription at heyhorti.com and use code seedsandthecity for 10% off your first month.

This week we visit 10 hydroponic farms in Brooklyn, all thriving within individual shipping containers, permanently stationed in a parking lot. Square Roots started this operation as an urban agriculture training program for the next generation of farmers, and is bringing fresh local herbs and greens to grocery stores year round in NYC. We sit down with fashion icon and Farm Manager, Sarah Ann Horton, to learn how it all works, how to get involved, and the real deal with the Olsen Twins. www.squarerootsgrow.com @squarerootsgrow www.seedsandthecity.com seedsandthecitypodcast@gmail.com @seedsandthecitypodcast Thanks to Horti for sponsoring this episode. Get your indoor plant subscription at heyhorti.com and use code seedsandthecity for 10% off your first month.

Chair of NYC Council's Environmental Protection Committee, Costa Constantinides, invites Alina + Elyssa to his Astoria headquarters for a crash course on the Climate Mobilization Act. Learn the top 3 things everyone should know about this landmark legislation for the Green New Deal. Plus, hear why EVERY school in Astoria will have a hydroponic science lab by 2021, and the unknown impact that KB Toys has had on all of us. 

Thanks for listening to Season 1 of Seeds and the City! We had so much fun talking to experts and leaders in the world of urban ag, sustainability and technology. Most of all, we loved hearing from you! Thanks for all the comments, DMs, emails and suggestions for the pod.  We will be back in the fall with Season 2 of Seeds and the City, but in the meantime please let us know who you’d like us to interview, questions you’d like us to ask, and topics you want to know more about! You can check out what we’re up to and see where to visit us at events by stalking us on instagram - @seedsandthecitypodcast. We can’t wait to meet you! Until then - Have a green and delicious summer!

Season 1 Finale! Alan Burchell of Urbanstrong does a deep dive on green roofs, touching on: clean energy, food production, water conservation, and the irreplaceable importance of nature in our lives. Plus, everything you ever wanted to know (and probably more) about bidets, Indiana Jones, jatropha and... what's on Alina's face? Reach Alan at www.urbanstrong.com or @urbanstrong Reach Elyssa + Alina at www.seedsandthecity.com, seedsandthecitypodcast@gmail.com, @seedsandthecitypodcast

Did you hear that ? It was Elyssa + Alina chowing down on cricket protein granola! Come with us on a journey to get comfortable and excited about eating crickets, with Robyn Shapiro, founder of Seek Food. Robyn has uncovered the silver bullet for global hunger, food waste, sustainability, climate change, and water conservation with these little critters. Learn why Gramercy Tavern, the Black Ant, Dough Doughnuts and Van Leeuwen's Ice Cream have all joined the cricket wave with her.  Reach Robyn & Seek Food @ www.seek-food.com  Reach Elyssa + Alina @ www.seedsandthecity.com , seedsandthecitypodcast@gmail.com , @seedsandthecitypodcast (insta)

Hear about one of the most unique things growing in America, sourced from Australia and raised by Brits with roots in Japan and NYC: Rob Laing, founder of farm.one. Using hydroponics, farm.one grows specialty microgreens, herbs and edible flowers for restaurants in New York City with minimal food waste and hyper efficient systems. Plus, learn more about nutrition as a right, and how to crowdsource equity. Reach farm.one at www.farm.one or instagram @farm.one Reach Elyssa + Alina at www.seedsandthecity.com , seedsandthecitypodcast@gmail.com , @seedsandthecitypodcast

Yemi Amu sits down with Elyssa + Alina to discuss her urban aquaponic farm, designed to build community, educate the public, and create access to healthier food choices. Hear about her global journey to forge thoughtful food experiences through dedication to public service. Plus, hear about the next episode of Goat Insider, "The Dark Side of Goats". Reach Yemi & Oko Farms @ www.okofarms.com Reach Elyssa + Alina @ www.seedsandthecity.com , seedsandthecitypodcast@gmail.com , @seedsandthecitypodcast (insta)  

Andrew Carter of Smallhold takes us on a a virtual tour of his distributed farming model, with living mushroom installations throughout the restaurants and grocery stores of NYC. This fun-guy runs the first and only organic farm in NYC, all thanks to Daft Punk and 4 strings. Find out more at www.smallhold.co Get in touch with Elyssa + Alina: @seedsandthecitypodcast seedsandthecitypodcast@gmail.com  seedsandthecity.com 

Wen-Jay Ying of Local Roots NYC describes her innovative CSA model that lets you pick and choose a personalized farm share online. She eloquently explains how to reduce food waste, enhance community, boost nutrition, and topple the patriarchy, all while serving home made veggie broth and simultaneously starring in a docuseries for VICELAND. Plus, find out why Wen-Jay is just so darn intrigued by cheesecake.

City Council Member Rafael Espinal breaks down the politics of urban ag and the bills he's introduced in NYC to support community gardens, urban farmers, and plastic reduction. Plus, hear Rafael's spontaneous dubstep haiku.

Tinia Pina of Re-Nuble explains how nutrient solutions impact hydroponic growing systems, where food waste weighs in, and how closed-loop systems are the future. Plus, is Tinia really psychic? Is breadfruit real? Someone please fact check this episode.

Henry Gordon-Smith of Agritecture discusses cities as an eco-system, and why agricultural city planning is so important for resiliency, the environment, the economy and our own mental health. Plus, find out what makes Henry say, "you know you want it" and reference SimCity in the same sentence.

Elyssa + Alina are friends living in NYC and working in different aspects of urban agriculture. Our fields (no pun intended) put us face-to-face with innovations in tech, sustainability and city culture. Elyssa spends her days working on clean energy policy and finance, and her weekends serving as an Advisor to Brooklyn-based co-working lab, AgTech-X. In addition to being a registered dietitian nutritionist, Alina oversees marketing, product and nutrition at AeroFarms, the leading indoor agriculture company in the world based in Newark, NJ. Both are members of the NYC Urban Agriculture Collective, and both definitely eat their veggies.