Soil Life Podcast

In this episode, recorded in April 2020, T. McLeod and I talk about his early days of farming, the inspiration and creation of McLeod Organics, his business philosophy and vision, and the current state of local food and the world. I ramble incessantly and somewhat incoherently at times and T is kind enough to put up with me and give great insight and thoughtful responses to my meandering line of questioning. Oh yeah, and I confess to having a dream about T shortly before our interview!? Happy New Year!

Well, we've done it! 21 Days and 21 Podcasts! We didn't outlast the Stay At Home order, but we reached our initial goal. On this Final episode, we read The Farmer, the Son and the Donkey, talk about Rick Hanson and his "Just One Thing" newsletter and talk about relationships with an expiration date. Plus, my favorite song of the series, Westward Bound. It's the closest thing to radio friendly that I may ever get. Enjoy yourselves and thanks for listening. SoilLifePodcast.com - SoilLifePodcast@gmail.com 

Lotta soul searching in this episode! We discuss Buddhism For Everyone with JoAnn Fox and thoughts on going back and righting past wrongs. Plus, I switch it up and perform a cover song! One of my favorite songs, by one of my favorite artists. 

Welcome to Day 19. We talk winter squash, palindromes, my Grammy hopes and a little Covid 19. New song, co-written by Matt Conroy. Check him out at MattConroy.site! 

Baby chicks are the new toilet paper and peeps in microwave! Happy Easter! We also discuss frost damage to plants and circumstances surrounding that. I reminisce about a decade of farming...and hopefully at least a couple more still to come. Another love song and we can call it a night! See you on Day 19!

Tax Day is coming...and I forgot to say Happy Easter! Some random politician called to check on me today. We talk about some behind the scenes podcasting tricks and GIF's. What are they anyway!? I perform the song, This Old Empty House. Let's keep it moving!

Aesop's Fables, Neuroplasticity, Meditation and the gut/brain connection. Plus, a sad, drunken, country, love song. I lose track of what day it is...Day 16 I think!? Try to be the country mouse!

Well, it's all farming tonight! Cover crops, pest control, stories from the trenches and past successes and failures. Plus, I claim to grow the best strawberries of all time!? And then the song is called Thank You, Jesus! It's a funny, light hearted tune about not knowing how to repay the big man upstairs for the loves of my life...whiskey and women! 

We made it 2 weeks! Congrats everyone! The first 8 minutes of this episode are a blur to me. Attachment, telemarketers, DMV conspiracy theories. Then we talk about soil conditions on the farm and I tell you about a few encounters with wildlife. The song is called Slow Motion (Feather & Stone) and is about a man trying to convince a woman to trust him and fall in love! Dangerous game huh!? For some reason the song Gangsters Paradise and Michele Pfeiffer just popped into my head!?! That's weird! See ya!

Unlucky Day 13! And boy was it, I struggled to get this song recorded, but ultimately prevailed. We talk about listeners, ratings and the media, a farm update, the joy of not knowing what day it is or having to shower or change clothes and our new friends in Spain and Norway. Then another song of mine! Tomorrow is a big one...two week milestone...I'll try not to suck so much! Stay Classy!

Nice and quick tonight! I give a few farm updates, talk about a great song by Chris Knight and then sing Lovers & Liars. We'll see what Day 13 has in store for us!? Be safe!

Well, here we go again! I'm all over the place in this episode. Divorce, parenthood, love, buddhism, new music recommendation, maple tree propeller seeds, barefoot walks, yoga balls, running and crying. So much beauty and such despair. All in one episode. And, another song...not really sad, but not happy either. Not sure what it is!? Thanks!

It's Day 10! We did it. Double digits. In this compelling episode we talk about the opportunities this Stay At Home order could give us for personal growth, another music recommendation and a restaurant recommendation. We talk about camping and hiking around Asheville and going to see shows. Then I play a song I wrote about a total stranger. Kinda creepy right!? Thanks for listening!  

These things are either getting so much better...or a lot worse!? Day 9. We talk some about farming, Canada, David Attenborough, Cinnamon and the troubles between men and women. I may have ended the battle of the sexes! Plus, we put a positive spin on this whole quarantine thing. And then I sing another song. And it's NOT sad, but it's totally a sappy, love song. I don't know what's wrong with me? See ya tomorrow!

WOW, Day 8! Ummm, I'm not really sure what I said on this episode!? I talked about Buddha, why I always get in trouble with women and the greatest country song by David Alan Coe. So, at least I covered the basics. BUT, I did play "Heart Broken Home", which I think may be the saddest, country and western, Christmas song of all time.  Just remember, in a few weeks when they lift the Stay At Home order, this series will end. Something to hope for, right!?

Today we talk a little about farming, give some music and comedy recommendations and mourn the loss of some great upcoming shows. I wish for April Fools pranks and tell you about the "greatest" one I ever did!? Pony Express and an Oregon Trail reference! Then a country song with lyrics like "the truck broke down, the dog ran off!" SO GOOD!Enjoy! Maybe!?!

This is a roller coaster ride of an episode! Love and loss and apple cider vinegar. A moment of Zen, a podcast recommendation and me grasping at meaning in this crazy world. And of course another song...day 7 here we come!Be Well!

Short and sweet today folks! We talk about a classic country song and then I sing a song called Columbus. Mullets, Blake Shelton and long distance relationships come up as well. 

We have a special guest, special stories, bonus music and so much more in this very special episode. Not at all how I expected this to go, but I love it. Plus, another sad love song...there may be a theme forming. Be careful out there.

Day 3 is upon us! I hope you're all hanging in there!? A little talk about farming, some more insight into this buddhist story and another original song. Plus, I share some good and bad news at the end of the episode."If you ain't first, you're last" - Ricky Bobby

More rambling, more singing, a music recommendation and a buddhist allegory...all in under 20 minutes. Not bad for a days work. Well, it didn't really take me a day, but you know what I'm saying. SoilLifePodcast@gmail.com if you wanna get in touch!?"Be excellent to each other!" - Bill & Ted

With a "Stay At Home" order in place for millions of people around the world and no access to a podcast studio or guests for me...I've decided to sing some songs to pass the time. We've got at least 21 days of lockdown ahead and I've written about 30 songs over the last few months...so why not sing a song a day!? Right!? And of course I'll talk some trash and try and philosophize. BUT, I want to hear from you too. Send me songs, poems, spoken word, whatever you've got and I'll get some of them included in upcoming episodes. SoilLifePodcast@gmail.comHang in there and take care of yourselves and each other!

This episode is everything I hoped this show could be. We take a deep dive into Freshlist and their mission, as well as into Jesse's life and the human condition itself. We are so much more than just the work and businesses we create and there are so many layers to keeping ourselves, our relationships and our farms, businesses, etc. strong. I love Jesse's openness and honesty. And of course, I over share and then kind of regret it later...but that's part of the fun right?! Oh, and we talk about taking baths. Thanks for listening!

On this episode, we sit down and talk to Katherine (Peanut) Belk of Wild Hope Farm. We talk about the challenges of starting a farm, infrastructure headaches and hurdles, the importance of business planning and investment and having goals for the growth of a farm business. Plus, we talk about crying on the farm (which probably happens more than we all want to admit) and being a female in a male dominated industry. AND, Wild Hope is hiring! Check out www.wildhopefarm.com for details.

On this episode, we talk with Alisha Pruett, the founder of The Bulb Gallery. A non-profit organization that is saving 2000 lbs of food a day from the landfill and getting it in the hands and mouths of food insecure communities through a series of mobile farmers markets. We talk about how pervasive the problem is, partnerships that are helping The Bulb make a difference and ways we all can help. Alisha is an inspiring lady, and pretty funny. Plus, she calls Joe out for a wayward cringe!

This week we talk with Aaron Newton of Steward, author of A Nation of Farmers and former director of the Lomax Research and Education Farm. We discuss his book that called for 100,000,000 new farmers and what that looks like 10 years later, beginning farmers, incubator farms and the challenges facing growers in the Southeast compared to the rest of the country. We touch on Loofa, Derrick Jensen and so much more, in this extra long episode.

In this episode, we speak with Clark Barlowe, an acclaimed chef and the owner/operator of Heirloom, a Farm to Fork restaurant in Charlotte, focused on hyper local food. He discusses the challenges of sourcing almost every product in the restaurant from NC, what it's like to work with so many different farmers, the role of a chef in society and kitchen culture. Plus, Clark drops some news on us that may surprise you!

In the first ever episode of the Soil Life Podcast, we speak with organic, market farmer Ben Street about starting and operating a farm and all things local food and sustainable agriculture. Plus, we wax philosophical and act like 12 year old boys.