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The Psychedelic Entrepreneur - Medicine for These Times with Beth Weinstein
Roger is a pioneer in the field of Mycology, having dedicated over a decade of his life to perfecting the art and science of extraction, concentration, and product formulation. These medicinal mushrooms saved his life and led him on a personal journey of discovery, which he credits with transforming his life, and thus sparked a relentless pursuit of knowledge in mycology, alchemy, and sustainable agriculture. Holding a degree in Sustainable Agriculture and deeply immersed in the study of mycology since 2012, Roger combines cutting-edge scientific techniques with ancient wisdom from alchemy and the esoteric arts to craft the most potent and bioavailable mushroom products on the market. His passion for sustainability and quality is evident in every step of the process, from sourcing the finest ingredients to meticulously refining extraction methodologies.Ken has spent over 24 years immersed in holistic medicine, permaculture, and mycology. A visionary in the culinary and functional mushroom industry, he founded three mushroom companies, including the Chicago Mushroom Company where Ken raised the bar in culinary mushroom cultivation as the primary supplier of premium mushrooms for fine dining in Chicago before partnering with Roger Holden to focus on the healing power of medicinal fungi. Guided by fungi as his greatest teacher, Ken has studied with legends like Paul Stamets, Peter McCoy and Robert Rogers. His passion lies in cultivating mushrooms, educating others, and advancing the transformative potential of fungi to heal individuals and communities alike.Fruiting Bodies was born from passion, experience, and a shared vision to create the highest quality functional mushroom products. It is the culmination of two unique journeys that led Roger and Ken to a powerful partnership dedicated to health, sustainability, and the transformative power of mushrooms.Roger's path to functional mushrooms was deeply personal. As a child, he faced severe digestive issues and was prescribed a myriad of pharmaceutical drugs, only to see his health deteriorate further. In high school, he suffered from an extreme case of mononucleosis that left him bedridden for over a year, leading to depression, chronic fatigue, and a slew of other health complications. He struggled with ADHD, concussions, Lyme disease, and the side effects of prescription medications. It wasn't until he discovered functional mushrooms—starting with Reishi—that his life began to change. Seeking affordable and effective natural solutions, he started making his own tinctures, and soon, his symptoms began to fade. By the time he returned to college, he was in the best shape of his life. His journey led him to study sustainable agriculture and food production, work with industry leaders like Tradd Cotter, and eventually launch his own functional mushroom company, Mushroom Magic LLC, in 2020. With a mission to provide clean, ethical, and potent mushroom supplements, Roger dedicated himself to bridging ancient knowledge with modern applications.Ken's journey took a different but equally powerful route. For much of his early life, he struggled with unhealthy habits, chronic pain, and an overall disconnection from true wellness. He spent years caught in patterns of stress, poor health, and survival mode until a dramatic shift in his late 30s led him to rediscover himself. Through personal transformation, Ken became obsessed with health, wellness, and the interconnectedness of soil, food, and community. His studies in horticulture, permaculture, and sustainable agriculture deepened his appreciation for mushrooms—not just as food or medicine, but as a crucial component of ecological restoration. Ken started growing mushrooms, launched Chicago Mushroom Company, and worked with chefs, environmentalists, and urban agriculture pioneers to bring mushrooms to the forefront of sustainable food and medicine. His frustration with the low quality of many functional mushroom products on the market fueled his desire to find a partner who shared his commitment to potency, sustainability, and integrity.That's when Ken heard Roger's interview on the Mycopreneur Podcast. Immediately, he knew he had to reach out. Their first conversation lasted nearly seven hours—an in-depth discussion about mushrooms, health, sustainability, and their aligned visions for the future. They quickly realized they were not only kindred spirits but also the perfect partners to revolutionize the functional mushroom industry.From this meeting of minds and missions, Fruiting Bodies was born. Merging Mushroom Magic and Chicago Mushroom Company, Ken and Roger set out to create the most potent, effective, and ethically sourced mushroom products on the market. Every tincture, extract, and supplement they produce is rooted in science, tradition, and a commitment to people and the planet. Fruiting Bodies is more than just a brand; it is a movement dedicated to healing, education, and empowerment.Ken and Roger's story is one of resilience, discovery, and purpose. Together, they continue to push the boundaries of functional mushrooms, ensuring that the products they offer are not just good—but truly life-changing.Episode Highlights▶ How Roger's health struggles led him to discover mushrooms, while Ken transitioned from a corporate background to a passion for them▶ Why mushroom essences work on the shadow aspects of ourselves, and how trusting yourself is key in the healing journey▶ How mushrooms are safe, but introspection is important when using them for healing, which is both physical and emotional▶ How functional mushrooms are becoming mainstream in health products, with mushrooms being the original medicines, not alternatives▶ How mushroom essences enhance dream work and integration, and education is crucial for consumers to make informed choices.▶ How quality extraction methods are vital for mushroom efficacy, and mushrooms have the potential to heal both people and the environment▶ How the mushroom market is unregulated and chaotic, but how mushrooms can help with micro-remediation and environmental cleanup▶ Personalized approaches to mushroom use are essential for maximizing their benefitsKen Mycelium and Roger Holden's Links & Resources▶ Website: www.fruitingbodies.co▶ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fruitingbodies.co▶ Instagram: https://www.instgram.com/fruitingbodies.co Download Beth's free trainings here: Clarity to Clients: Start & Grow a Transformational Coaching, Healing, Spiritual, or Psychedelic Business: https://bethaweinstein.com/grow-your-spiritual-businessIntegrating Psychedelics & Sacred Medicines Into Business: https://bethaweinstein.com/psychedelics-in-business▶ Beth's Coaching & Guidance: https://bethaweinstein.com/coaching ▶ Beth's Offerings & Courses: https://bethaweinstein.com/services▶ Instagram: @bethaweinstein ▶ FB: / bethw.nyc + bethweinsteinbiz ▶ Join the free Psychedelics & Purpose Community: / psychedelicsandsacredmedicines
My guest for this episode is Tradd Cotter, a microbiologist, and mycologist who, along with his wife Olga, owns and operates Mushroom Mountain near Greenville, South Carolina. He is also the author of the book Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation from Chelsea Green Publishing. In this interview, we talk about his book, the science of microbiology and mycology, entrepreneurship, and also touch on the power of mushrooms for remediation.
Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/384 Presented By: FishHound Expeditions, Yellowstone Teton, Zoe Angling Group, Range Meal Bars Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Joe Jackson a.k.a Sgt. Bassfisher takes us on a wild ride through his journey around fly tying and fly fishing. We talk about how he ties some of these cartoonized flies that almost look like a keychain. We hear about his story of tying for symposiums and connecting with the greatest fly tyers and anglers around the country. Joe also talks about his recovery status after his recent heart attack and how he was able to get on the water again 2 weeks after. Show Notes with Sgt. Bass Fisher 05:20 - Joe learned much about fly-tying by watching Pat Cohen's fly-tying DVDs. Pat Cohen was on the podcast in episode 107. 06:30 - We noted Pat Cohen's Fugly Packer 07:05 - Joe talks about going to Afghanistan and Iraq for war 08:30 - We mentioned Project Healing Waters which was part of the process that helped Joe climb out of the place he was in. 12:45 - Joe Humphreys was on the podcast in episode 073 22:00 - Joe uses Partridge hooks 25:30 - Joe tells the story of when he had a heart attack after the show in Edison 34:30 - Joe's got a booth at the symposium 37:00 - He talks about tying Wendigo 38:55 - He did a baby Yoda fly 40:50 - Some of his most popular tied flies were the Kingfisher and the Hummingbird 46:30 - Joe caught a 9.3-pound smallmouth on the Indianapolis River. 51:20 - Joe is the CEO of 501C3 in his area - a nonprofit org that focuses on taking kids to camp and getting them engaged with nature. 55:20 - We chat about mushroom hunting 58:30 - Joe noted Tradd Cotter from MushroomMountain.com 1:00:00 - Joe's got a mini farm in his half-acre home Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/384
Wild Mushrooms: Mycology, Foraging, Cooking and Remediation Guests: Ryan Bouchard and Emily Schmidt, Co-Founders, Mushroom Hunting Foundation As children, we were cautioned about mushrooms, because some of them are poisonous to eat. Most of us avoided them altogether. This is unfortunate, because in truth, there are many wild mushrooms that are edible and provide both delicious and nutritious culinary value. So which ones are safe and which ones are unsafe? In this episode we explore mycology, which is the study of mushrooms and mycelium. Mycelium is the hidden dynamic mass of branching, thread-like hyphae that produce the visible fruiting bodies we call mushrooms. Mycelium is essential to maintaining a healthy forest ecosystem, which we will begin to investigate through a story walk through the woods. Our guests Ryan Bouchard and Emily Schmidt co-founded The Mushroom Hunting Foundation to educate people about wild mushrooms, safety and mycology. Ryan is the author of Gourmet Mushrooms of the Northeast, a combination book and calendar that details the annual progression of the mushroom seasons and focuses on species that are easiest for novices to identify as safe. Edible mushrooms can be found year round, with different species fruiting during different seasons, including the winter months. Both Ryan and Emily are experts in hunting, identifying, preparing and cooking mushrooms. In this episode, they delve into the health, nutrition and many uses of fungi, including the decontamination of polluted soil through a process called mycoremediation. Mycelium is capable of neutralizing soils contaminated with pollutants such as PCB chemicals, hydrocarbons, pesticides, heavy metals, bacterial pathogens, and even plastics. This fun episode will spark great curiosity and interest. INFORMATION RESOURCES Mushroom Hunting Foundation website - https://mushroomhunting.org/ Contact info@mushroomhunting.org Gourmet Mushrooms of the Northeast calendar and book combination by Ryan Bouchard - https://mushroomhunting.org/index.php/shop/ PhotoBlog: Mushroom Hunting - https://netwalkri.com/blog/f/mushroom-hunting Organic Farming and Mycoremediation by Tradd Cotter - https://www.chelseagreen.com/product/organic-mushroom-farming-and-mycoremediation/ Learn more at www.storywalking.com , https://netwalkri.com email wendy@netwalkri.com or call 401 529-6830. Connect with Wendy to order copies of Fiddlesticks, The Angel Heart or Storywalker Wild Plant Magic Cards. Subscribe to Wendy's blog Writing with Wendy at www.wendyfachon.blog. Join Wendy on facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/StoryWalkingRadio
In this episode, we not only deep dive into the queendom of Fungi but rediscover how to live a life driven with curiosity. Sharad is a self-taught multidisciplinary citizen scientist, researcher, and science communicator, with a keen interest in mycology and its applications. We talk about Fungi, mycology, biomaterials, the future of education, but this conversation is so much more. To read more about Sharad and complete show notes, click
Today on Mushroom Hour we are graced by the presence of Tradd Cotter, coming to us from Mushroom Mountain. Tradd Cotter is a microbiologist, professional mycologist, and organic gardener, who has been tissue culturing, collecting native fungi in the Southeast, and cultivating both commercially and experimentally for more than twenty-five years. In 1996 he founded Mushroom Mountain, which he owns and operates with his wife, Olga, to explore applications for mushrooms in various industries and currently maintains over 200 species of fungi for food production, mycoremediation of environmental pollutants, and natural alternatives to chemical pesticides. His primary interest is in low-tech and no- tech cultivation strategies so that anyone can grow mushrooms on just about anything, anywhere in the world. Mushroom Mountain is currently expanding to 42,000 square feet of laboratory and research space near Greenville, South Carolina, to accommodate commercial production, as well as mycoremediation projects. His masterwork and must-own mycology reference - "Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation" had a huge impact on my own relationship with mycology. Topics Covered: The Journey to Founding “Mushroom Mountain” Applied Mycology as a Multi-Generational Project of Discovery Pillars of Mushroom Mountain’s Business and Research Mushroom-Based Solutions in the Developing World Putting Myco-remediation Theory into Action The Key Concepts of Mycofiltration Future of Fungi in Medicine & Truly Personalized Treatments Reducing Pesticide Use with Fungal Solutions Patenting Ideas to Defend from the Dark Side Educating the Next Generation Disrupting the System, Waking People Up! Power of Growing Your Own Mushrooms “Blue Portal” Psilocybin Therapy in Jamaica Future of Mushroom Mountain Episode Resources: Mushroom Mountain website: https://mushroommountain.com/ Mushroom Mountain FB: https://www.facebook.com/MushroomMountainFarm Mushroom Mountain IG: https://www.instagram.com/sporeprints/ "Organic Mushroom Farming & Mycoremediation": https://www.amazon.com/Organic-Mushroom-Farming-Mycoremediation-Experimental/dp/1603584552 Mauritius Islands: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauritius Cordyceps (Mushroom): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cordyceps
Mushrooms, Molds and Mycorrhizae: Down the Rabbit Hole with Tradd Cotter.Today we are joined by an innovative, charismatic mycophile and good friend, Tradd Cotter. We talk about the many fungal projects going on at Mushroom Mountain, the comical stories throughout Tradd's journey, fungal antibiotics, fungal insecticides, psilocybin mushroom therapy, growing mushrooms in third world countries, foraging and IDing mushrooms, online mushroom education, mushroom spore ink, mycoremediation, a bit about his upcoming book and so mush more..Tradd Cotter is a microbiologist, mycologist, and organic gardener. He has been cultivating commercially and experimentally for over 28 years and in 1996 he founded Mushroom Mountain where he and his team cultivate fungi for food production and explore various applications for mushrooms. He is primarily interested in low-tech and no-tech cultivation strategies so that anyone in the world can grow mushrooms!
Tradd Cotter of Mushroom Mountain explores the untapped potential of mushrooms. Danny Fingeroth reflects on the life of Stan Lee, a true legend in the world of comic books. Sebastian Alvarado brings superheroes to the screen with cutting-edge science.
On this episode of Mushroom Hour we have the distinct privilege of interviewing Mr. Tony Shields of FreshCap Mushrooms. During this interview we follow the windy trail of Tony's personal exploration through kingdom fungi. This journey saw him build his own mushroom farm, teach people around the world about cultivation, and ultimately dive into the world of medicinal fungi with his company FreshCap Mushrooms - all with the his wife and partner in fungi, Tegan, by his side.Diving beneath the surface, we'll come to grips with some of the big questions surrounding medicinal mushrooms. Is there a difference between using the fruiting body of the mushroom vs. mushroom mycelium? What are the realities of sourcing the highest quality medicinal mushrooms and are all mushrooms from China bad? Thanks for listening and Mush Love!Directed, Recorded, Produced by: Mushroom HourMusic by: Ancient BabyEpisode ResourcesFreshCap MushroomsMedicinal Mushrooms: A Clinical Guide by Martin Powell (can also be found on Amazon)Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation by Tradd Cotter (can also be found on Amazon)
Tradd Cotter of Mushroom Mountain explores the untapped potential of mushrooms. Danny Fingeroth reflects on the life of Stan Lee, a true legend in the world of comic books. Sebastian Alvarado brings superheroes to the screen with cutting-edge science. Chip Walter shares the new advances in technology that might stop aging altogether. Ben Novak explains how scientists are using genetics to help combat the threats that many ecosystems are facing.
Author Richard Preston is an extreme tree climber and describes discoveries in the canopy. Author and journalist Adam Minter claims that the changing face of the second-hand market reflects shifting values. Author Paul Kahan recounts the revolutionary vision behind the famous and infamous Eastern State Penitentiary. Tradd Cotter of Mushroom Mountain explains the surprising uses of fungi. Roger Clemens of USC explains "fortified" food.
Listen as we discuss Mushroom Mountain, which Tradd Cotter owns and operates with his wife Olga, to explore applications in various industries including food production, mycoremediation of environmental pollutants, and natural alternatives to chemical pesticides. About Tradd: Tradd Cotter is a microbiologist, professional mycologist, and organic gardener, who has been tissue culturing, collecting native fungi in the Southeast, and cultivating both commercially and experimentally for more than twenty-two years. In 1996 he founded Mushroom Mountain, which he owns and operates with his wife, Olga, to explore applications for mushrooms in various industries and currently maintains over 200 species of fungi for food production, mycoremediation of environmental pollutants, and natural alternatives to chemical pesticides. In 2014 Tradd published the best-selling book Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation (2014), that is still one of the top ten releases with the publisher, Chelsea Green. Tradd has won numerous awards for his work including the prestigious Clemson University Entrepreneur of the Year Award (2013), the EPA GRO-U Fellowship Award (2011), and an expert lecturer on all topics related to fungi in agriculture and medicine. His primary interest is in low-tech and no-tech cultivation strategies so that anyone can grow mushrooms on just about anything, anywhere in the world. Mushroom Mountain is currently expanding to 42,000 square feet of laboratory and research space near Greenville, South Carolina, to accommodate commercial production, as well as mycoremediation projects. In 2018 Mushroom Mountain started a daughter company, MYCOMATRIX, that develops novel medicinal extracts for consumers and cobranding into consumer products. Currently the Cotters have opened Blue Portal, a psilocybin research and mediated session center, that is available in Jamaica and soon Costa Rica. Tradd, Olga, and their daughter, Heidi, live in Liberty, South Carolina. Links: Website: https://mushroommountain.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MushroomMountainFarm/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sporeprints/
Physicist and tech scientist Seamus Blackley visits with us about making bread from ancient yeast. Sheena Iyengar of the Colombia Business School discusses with us the downsides of having too much choice. Tradd Cotter of Mushroom Mountain and Mycomatrix visits with us about the many different uses of mushrooms. Frank Abagnale, author of "Scam Me If You Can," teaches us how we can recognize scams and avoid becoming victims.
In this episode, Joe and Kyle sit down to have a conversation about the 39th Annual Telluride Mushroom Festival, Healing the Mind, Healing the Planet. Joe attended the conference and heard from many amazing speakers. 3 Key Points: Joe attended The 39th Annual Telluride Mushroom Festival last weekend, a festival and conference that celebrates all things fungal and brings together a cohort of enthusiasts, experts, and scientists. There was a lot of talk on the topic of microdosing. Opinions ranged from the feeling that there isn't enough valid data to prove that microdosing is effective, to some testimony on how microdosing has helped relieve cluster headaches or help with traumatic brain injuries. There was some exciting news on innovative ways that mushrooms can be used medically to help fight disease or agriculturally to fight insects without using pesticides. Support the show Patreon Leave us a review on iTunes Share us with your friends – favorite podcast, etc Join our Facebook group - Psychedelics Today group – Find the others and create community. Navigating Psychedelics Trip Journal Integration Workbook Show Notes The Telluride Mushroom Festival took place August 14th - 18th This festival is is a placeholder Psychedelic conference In the mycology world, the psychedelic topic isn't typically included in events Attendees and Talks Brick Bunyard, who runs psychedelic magazine Tradd Cotter of Mushroom Mountain, an excitable mycologist Larry Evans of Blue Portal Teresa Egbert of Herbal Visionz, a Psychedelic enthusiast Peter Hendrix and Sara Lappan spoke on a study for using psychedelics to curb cocaine use David Nichols, chemist, was pretty optimistic about where the psychedelic movement is heading He gave a super scientific talk around receptor sites and LSD Music and Psychedelics Joe says that there is a long history of music and psychedelics Kyle mentions a podcast he listened to about someone bringing in their own music for a Ketamine therapy session Psychedelic Therapy There was someone at the conference that said psychedelic therapists should have psychedelic experiences and should be open about it It was an interesting conversation at the conference Joe says, “you don't need PTSD to treat someone with PTSD, it's not the most important factor. The most important factor is safety.” Scientist Conference Joe mentions a conference coming up in the fall in New Orleans that is a Scientist only conference If a scientist has published serious, quantitative data they are invited It'll be the first gathering of its kind where there is finally enough data Microdosing David Nichols shared his opinion on microdosing, that there isn't real data on it and that importance should be put toward medical uses Folks in the audience were making claims about microdosing for migraines and traumatic brain injuries, etc Are people taking sub-perceptual doses or a threshold dose? Joe says a macro dose is a dose you can see (maybe the size of an ant), micro dose is something you need a microscope to see The majority of people microdosing aren't educating themselves on dose size Interesting Moments from the Conference Joe was surprised was how charismatic Tradd Cotter was Tradd has plans to do mushroom retreats in Jamaica The most exciting news is a new method of pulling out the antibiotic resistant ‘stuff’ in a person, culturing it out and introducing it to sterilized/colonized grain bag and then reintroducing it to the person so they aren't antibiotic resistant anymore This would be a mushroom bi-product that fights disease in humans in less than 24 hours This same model could be used in cancer treatments or even agricultural applications, using mushrooms to fight disease or bugs that kill plants, etc There were mushroom foraging walks and mushroom identification tables at the festival Vendors included mushroom kombucha, mushroom jerky, festival clothing, etc There was a guy from outside of Arizona who casts real psilocybin mushrooms and makes detailed metal jewelry out of them The town is small and surrounded by super tall mountains, and the festival is dispersed around the town It's a small festival and a great way to make connections “This is where you quit your job and dedicate your life to mushrooms” - Tradd Cotter Mushroom farming is one of the few businesses you can start with under $5,000 Links Website About Kyle Kyle’s interest in exploring non-ordinary states of consciousness began when he was 16-years-old when he suffered a traumatic snowboarding accident. Waking up after having a near-death experience changed Kyle’s life. Since then, Kyle has earned his B.A. in Transpersonal Psychology, where he studied the healing potential of non-ordinary states of consciousness by exploring shamanism, plant medicine, Holotropic Breathwork, and the roots/benefits of psychedelic psychotherapy. Kyle has co-taught two college-level courses. One of the courses Kyle created as a capstone project, “Stanislav Grof’s Psychology of Extraordinary Experiences,” and the other one which he co-created, “The History of Psychedelics.” Kyle completed his M.S. in clinical mental health counseling with an emphasis in somatic psychology. Kyle’s clinical background in mental health consists of working with at-risk teenagers in crisis and with individuals experiencing an early-episode of psychosis. Kyle also facilitates Transpersonal Breathwork workshops. About Joe Joe studied philosophy in New Hampshire, where he earned his B.A.. After stumbling upon the work of Stanislav Grof during his undergraduate years, Joe began participating in Holotropic Breathwork workshops in Vermont in 2003. Joe helped facilitate Holotropic and Transpersonal Breathwork workshops while he spent his time in New England. He is now working in the software industry as well as hosting a few podcasts. Joe now coordinates Dreamshadow Transpersonal Breathwork workshops, in Breckenridge, Colorado.
Once in a rare while, you attend a presentation that leaves you speechless and amazed. A few years ago, internationally-acclaimed mycologist Tradd Cotter’s presentation at the University of North Carolina Botanic Garden in Charlotte had that effect on me. He was on stage describing the power of mushrooms, and what he shared blew me away.
Today we chat with Tradd Cotter from Mushroom Mountain about Mushrooms in Soil Building. In this episode we cover topics such as How Mushrooms Build Soil Best Edible Mushrooms for Garden The Importance of Mycorrhizae Fungi in seed starting Using mushrooms in your Orchards and Forest Gardening Should you use mushrooms that are NOT edible in your landscape? Gardening Practices to avoid Tradd Cotter and his wife Olga have taken their immense love and knowledge of mushrooms and made it their life goal to share it with the world as well as provide very high quality mushroom spore collected and cultivated at their own mushroom research facilities. They are involved in all areas of fungi including fungal solutions for pest control, disease, plant health, restoring degraded land, and increasing fertility to the soil. Tradd has also written an excellent book called Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation that gives an in-depth look at practical cultivation how-to's, strategies for mycoremediation, and fungi identification. Mushroom Mountain offers online classes, consulting, onsite mushroom tours and trails, and workshops. You can find them at a variety of speaking events as well as online at www.MushroomMountain.com. Additionally, you can purchase a wide variety of mushrooms and medicinal tinctures (mycomatrix) from their online store. Additional Show Notes: Mother Earth News Podcast, episode #60 Chickens in Permaculture To purchase Mushrooms discussed in this episode go to MushroomMountain.com
In this Best of DFB we dive into the archives for an episode that holds so much wisdom on how humans can partner with fungi to transform the world for the better. Get ready to get majorly inspired! We’re talking with mushroom whisperer Tradd Cotter of Mushroom Mountain. Tradd reveals how mushrooms and fungi are seemingly miraculous powerhouses that can solve some of the world’s most pressing problems. We talk about how to understand the needs and wants of organisms that use non-verbal language, and Tradd shares how he is growing mushrooms in a way that more closely mimics their natural environment while using less energy than traditional cultivation techniques. In this episode you’ll learn: The difference between a mycelium and a mushroom - and why it matters How we can work with fungi to reduce our waste as a society How fungi can play a key role in providing food, clean water and protection from mosquito-borne diseases in war-torn areas or in the aftermath of a natural disaster A couple of fun ways you can start partnering with fungi and mushrooms in your own backyard (using birds as stealth bombers) How commitment, observation and constant learning provide a solid foundation for your intuition to guide you in your life’s work "Think like a mushroom." -Tradd Cotter Links: Learn more about Tradd and growing mushrooms at www.mushroommountain.com Connect with Mushroom Mountain on Facebook. Watch Tradd's videos about mushrooms on Youtube. Learn more about what a spitzenkorper is here. Learn how to make a spore print here. Check out this photo of a "gladiator" match between fungi and a fire ant. [gallery size="medium" ids="493,492,490,489,488,487"]
In this Best of DFB we dive into the archives for an episode that holds so much wisdom on how humans can partner with fungi to transform the world for the better. Get ready to get majorly inspired! We’re talking with mushroom whisperer Tradd Cotter of Mushroom Mountain. Tradd reveals how mushrooms and fungi are seemingly miraculous powerhouses that can solve some of the world’s most pressing problems. We talk about how to understand the needs and wants of organisms that use non-verbal language, and Tradd shares how he is growing mushrooms in a way that more closely mimics their natural environment while using less energy than traditional cultivation techniques. In this episode you’ll learn: The difference between a mycelium and a mushroom - and why it matters How we can work with fungi to reduce our waste as a society How fungi can play a key role in providing food, clean water and protection from mosquito-borne diseases in war-torn areas or in the aftermath of a natural disaster A couple of fun ways you can start partnering with fungi and mushrooms in your own backyard (using birds as stealth bombers) How commitment, observation and constant learning provide a solid foundation for your intuition to guide you in your life’s work "Think like a mushroom." -Tradd Cotter Links: Learn more about Tradd and growing mushrooms at www.mushroommountain.com Connect with Mushroom Mountain on Facebook. Watch Tradd's videos about mushrooms on Youtube. Learn more about what a spitzenkorper is here. Learn how to make a spore print here. Check out this photo of a "gladiator" match between fungi and a fire ant. [gallery size="medium" ids="493,492,490,489,488,487"]
Thank You, DR Power, for Sponsoring this Episode! Visit DRpower.com/motherearth for huge discounts, to read reviews, or watch videos. In this episode Charlotte interviews a soil building dream team! Enjoy this lively conversation about soil featuring Jessi Bloom, Patricia Foreman, and Tradd Cotter. The come to this episode from different angles, but similar goals. Follow the links below for topics mentioned in the podcast that may have piqued your interest: Greater Life Force In the Garden: A Soil Fertility Manifesto Grow Cover Crops In your Garden Mycorrhizal Fungi: The Amazing Underground Secret to a Better Garden Probiotics For the Soil: Brew Your Own Local, Indigenous Microbes Understanding Active Soil Books by Jessi Bloom Free-Range Chicken Gardens Practical Permaculture Books by Patricia Foreman Chicken Tractor Day Range Poultry A Tiny Home To Call Your Own Books by Tradd Cotter Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation Other books that may pique your interests. Building Soils Naturally The Ultimate Guide to Soil Check out the MOTHER EARTH NEWS Bookstore for more resources that may pique your interests! To see more podcasts, visit our Mother Earth News and Friends page! Check out the MOTHER EARTH NEWS FAIR page for an opportunity to see our podcast guest live! The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast is a production of Ogden Publications.
Hi citizen! Welcome back to Fungi Town! This week, we focus on the amazing ability some fungi have to clean our environment. Lots of people enjoy growing and eating oyster mushrooms, but did you know that they can also clean diesel fuel and motor oil out of the soil? They're not the only species of fungi skilled at breaking down toxic materials. Since fungi don't have mouths and stomachs, they have to digest their food outside of their bodies and then reabsorb the nutrient soup that results. These digestive secretions, known as enzymes, are great at breaking big molecules (like petrochemicals) down into smaller, digestable ones. Join me as I talk to two mycoremediation experts about the great possiblilites and the challenges of cleaning our Earth with fungi. To read about how brown rot fungi can be used in the biofuel industry, go here. To learn more about dog waste and waterways, check out this pamplet by the Athens-Clarke County Transportation and Public Works Department. To find out more about Athens' chicken laws, check out this article in The Flagpole. Special thanks to my guests: Tradd Cotter of Mushroom Mountain in South Carolina. His book is Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation, published by Chelsea Green, contains several remediation projects you can do at home with a limited budget. And to Levon Durr of Fungaia Farm. If you like this podcast, please consider becoming a patron. To get access to special mini episodes and a sweet vinyl sticker, just visit www.fungitown.com and click the green "become a patron" button in the upper right corner of your screen. How about leaving a review? Leaving a review on Apple Podcasts will go a long way toward helping other listeners find their way to Fungi Town. New episodes are released every two weeks. Join me next time, when we talk about the fascinating relationship between fungi and orchids. Fungi Town is written, directed and produced by Jen Parrilli and hosted on Podbean. Theme Music was created using the Bandimal App from Yatatoy. Defunked theme music is Fminor_Funk_BassGroove_100bpm by GRD-music, sound effects were Chopping Onion by ObieDaz and Butter Sizzling by hmoosher, all used via Creative Commons license through Freesound. You can find Fungi Town on Facebook. Twitter, and Instagram: @fungitownpod or email at fungitownpod[at]gmail[dot]com.
TRADD COTTER‘S Mushroom Mountain is the coolest and largest privately owned mushroom research facility. It focuses on the needs of the planet, developing the possible uses for fungi; mycoremediation, medicinal, filtering water and antibiotics to name a few. Tradd’s 20 years collecting and cultivating mushrooms is shared in his book, Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation. […]
On this episode of MOTHER EARTH NEWS and Friends Charlotte Brunin and Robert Riley meet with Tradd Cotter to discuss all things mushrooms. You will learn how Tradd became a mushroom farmer, the importance of mushrooms to your diet and how mushrooms might be key in disaster relief! Follow the links below for topics mentioned in the podcast that may have piqued your interest: Organic Mushroom Farming & Mycoremediation Garden Giant 5 lb Bag The Wellness Garden Shiitake Mushroom Plugs 500 Pack North American Mycological Association - NAMACO The Plan to Mop Up the World's Largest Oil Spill with Fungus Check out the MOTHER EARTH NEWS Bookstore for more resources that may pique your interests! To see more podcasts, visit our Mother Earth News and Friends page! Check out the MOTHER EARTH NEWS FAIR page for an opportunity to see our podcast guest live! The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast is a production of Ogden Publications.
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TRADD COTTER‘S Mushroom Mountain is the coolest and largest privately owned mushroom research facility. It focuses on the needs of the planet, developing the possible uses for fungi; mycoremediation, medicinal, filtering water and antibiotics to name a few. Tradd’s 20 years collecting and cultivating mushrooms is shared in his book, Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation. […]
Tradd Cotter is a researcher and mycologist who's doing amazing things with mushrooms. Mushrooms can fight disease-causing bacteria, can purify water, help disaster victims...and they're delicious! (Not always the same ones, btw.) Mushrooms are also being studied now for treating end-of-life depression and PTSD. And then there are shamanic reindeer and eating the yellow snow... Get more Big Chew episodes at www.meetyourmyth.com. You can also find out how to contact Tradd, where to buy Tradd's book, Growing Organic Mushrooms, and how to subscribe to future episodes.
On this week’s episode we’re talking with mushroom whisperer Tradd Cotter of Mushroom Mountain. Tradd reveals how mushrooms and fungi are seemingly miraculous powerhouses that can solve some of the world’s most pressing problems. We talk about how to understand the needs and wants of organisms that use non-verbal language, and Tradd shares how he […]
On this week’s episode we’re talking with mushroom whisperer Tradd Cotter of Mushroom Mountain. Tradd reveals how mushrooms and fungi are seemingly miraculous powerhouses that can solve some of the world’s most pressing problems. We talk about how to understand the needs and wants of organisms that use non-verbal language, and Tradd shares how he […]
Tradd Cotter, author of Organic Farming and Mycoremediation: Simple to Advanced and Experimental Techniques for Indoor and Outdoor Cultivation In this episode we discuss Mushroom Production, Tradd's business Mushroom Mountain, and much more. Enjoy! View the Show Notes on Small Farm Academy Support the show on Patreon
Donate to The Permaculture Podcast Online: via PayPal Venmo: @permaculturepodcast Enjoy this episode? Become a Patron. Today I look at my recent visit to the Mother Earth News Fair in Seven Springs, PA. As I was only able to attend the event for one day, I didn't grab any live interviews this time around. Rather, I spent my time looking at the exhibitors on display, talked with folks along the way, and sat down to catch up with Tradd Cotter at the end of the day. Last year when I attended this event with Photographer John and his assistant Layne the focus was squarely on farm and family. This year the tone had plenty on farming and agriculture, but also included more related to the small homestead, prepping and off-grid living. Though I don't cover those last two topics much on the show, having a social-permaculture and re wilding bent lately, those are the places I came from when I first discovered ecological design and was looking for ways to weather the potential for both systemic and small-scale disasters. So when I saw many of the exhibitors for this year, a couple in particular grabbed my eye. The first was L.T. Wright Handcrafted Knives. Whatever we do, wherever we go, having a good sharp edge on hand is useful for a number of tasks, even in everyday work removed from field or forest. We cut food for dinner. Open packages. Cut string. Trim threads. Peel fruits and vegetables. As you spend more time wandering you are likely to use a knife to prepare game, breakdown larger pieces of wood into kindling or tinder, or shape materials into useful tools. Whether a folder in your pocket, a fixed blade on your hip, or a chef's in the kitchen block, having a dependable knife, or several, on hand is invaluable for making tasks easier around the house and homestead. L.T. is making some of the most durable knives available. I know that from personal experience, as I own a Woodsman Pro made from his first knife company, Blind Horse Knives. From the pieces I handled this weekend that quality not only continues, and for a price that represents a great value on a knife crafted by hand in Wintersville, Ohio from American steel. If you are in the line for a good knife, definitely check out his site, ltwrightknives.com. Another item in the preparedness vein are the range of solar rechargeable flashlights and lanterns from Hybrid Light. The light that stood out was the Journey 160, a 160 lumen waterproof flashlight that provides up to twelve hours of light and also includes a 5 volt, 2 amp USB port that allows you to recharge most cell phones and some tablets while on the go from the internal 2400mAh battery. I don't expect to rely on technology in the long run, but at the same time I don't see it going away anytime soon, and products like this can provide a sense of normality in time of crisis, allowing a family to use see, but also to recharge some of the common features of life and use them to maintain a sense of normality during a short-term disaster, such as a weather related power outage, but looking beyond the moment they allow us to choose how we transition away from the traditional grids of civilization and prepare for a smooth, soft energy descent. hybridlight.com The next exhibitor to catch my eye was Container Homes of Maryland, which hails from my hometown of Hagerstown, They are taking shipping containers and converting them into tiny homes. What stood out for me is that they are offering turnkey,off-grid solutions. The model on display used a 20' container and provides just under 150 sq ft of living space. This included a closet; a bathroom with stand-up shower and composting toilet; a kitchen area that included a sink, two-burner gas stove, and a small refrigerator; on the wall hung a high efficiency mini-split air conditioner and heat pump; two person dining-bar; and built-in full-size bed. As part of the display they also had two solar panels out front which were actively charging the included power system. To reduce the need for electricity and lights, there was also a large skylight. When the representative, Jon Gandy, was showing me around he turned all the light off to show the effectiveness of this feature, but also saw me cringe at the thought of a skylight. In my world, skylights leak, and Jon could tell I'd had that experience, so went on to describe how they install this giant, covered, hole in the roof, which they accomplish by creating a three layer roof system that fully and securely seals the skylight in place. For off-grid application they include six solar panels plus batteries for energy storage, and a water collection and filtration system. You can be completely off-grid with everything you need, based on the 20' design, for $60k. The same model, placed on a foundation and tied to the grid, is $35k. If you need some more space, there is a grid tied 40' model for $60k, though they do not have an off grid-model for this size at the moment due to the extra requirements for heating, cooling, and resource storage. As a custom container home builder, they are also able to design and build to suit your specific needs. They can be found at containerhomesofmaryland.com. Going with that idea of being off grid and supplying our own energy, I also spent some time talking with the folks from Three Rivers EVA, a chapter of the Electric Auto Association. In addition to all of the electric and plug-in hybrids on display, including a pair of Tesla sedans which one of the members said he charges regularly from home using roof installed solar panels, there was also an e-bike making trips around the fairgrounds, which is where I spotted the bright yellow frame and big tires rolling around. This model, from Sondors, was rather popular from all the people who gathered around it, including myself. Joining the circle the owner shared some information about the bike, which I was then able to fill in from some research on the web. Using a 36v battery and a 350watt motor mounted in the rear hub, the bike is capable of up to 20 miles an hour and has a range of 30 to 50 miles. Though the MSRP is around $1,200, the owner of this particular bike paid a bit over $1000 shipped from finding one on eBay, and Sondors is currently running a crowdfunding campaign on a new model allowing anyone to purchase a bike for a total price of $693, $499 for the bike and $194 for shipping. Compared to the cost of a new moped or scooter, even the full retail price is a pretty good value. Tack on the cost of a small solar system at your home and you have a vehicle that costs very little to operate after the initial investment and is just right for a short commute or heading around town when the distances are a little far to walk, and this bike fills the gulf between a cruiser and something that is fully powered all the time, giving you choices between pedaling all the time, using the motor for a boost, or just letting the battery power your whole journey. After seeing all the smiles when people saw this particular bike and interacted with the owner asking questions, I see E-Bikes like this and other innovations in this sphere as a viable way to bridge the gap where many might use a car, but not see a road bike as the way to get from one place to another, and provide security for those who would still like to use a bike, but for whatever reason no longer feel comfortable doing so over a longer distance. Even in the area where I live, that is relatively rural at 20 minutes from everywhere, this e-bike would meet the majority of my regular, personal, commuting needs in the area. While browsing the bookstore at Mother a listener, Eric, saw my badge and said hello. While we chatted for a few minutes he mentioned his daughter was showing her rabbits at the fair, so I went down and visited Elizabeth and we talked about what it was like breeding American Rabbits and helping the breed to recover from being at risk of going away. A delightful knowledgeable young woman, when Elizabeth handed me her card I realized we live fairly close to one another, so I want to grab photographer John and go record an interview with her live. At the moment she would be the youngest guest to appear by themselves on the show and, thanks to ongoing conversations with to Jen Mendez at PermieKids, I would like to include more young adults and teenagers on the podcast. Let me know if you aware of anyone under the age of 18 doing good work related to permaculture. One other younger person I ran into at Mother is a member of my local permaculture community, William Padilla-Brown. A budding mycologist quickly expanding his knowledge of how to identify, grow, and process mushrooms, he runs his business, Mycosymbiotics in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. He's one to watch, including his YouTube channel Apex Grower, as I expect in a few years to hear some interesting developments come out of his world and work. Speaking of mushrooms brings us back around to Tradd Cotter, mycologist and researcher at Mushroom Mountain in South Carolina, and author of the excellent book from Chelsea Green on all things fungi, Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremedition. I caught the end of his , which relates to his revelation this year. Last time I saw Tradd at Mother he shared with us his research into how he could use mycelium to create medicines against human pathogens. The conversation this year expanded on that with his latest exclusive: he discovered a mycelial metabolite capable of killing methicillin-resistant Staphlococcus aures, better known as MRSA. How incredible is that? If you get a chance go to an upcoming Mother Earth News Fair and meet the people and exhibitors in attendance. Check out some lectures, workshops, and demonstrations. There is a ton of opportunities to expand your knowledge and inspiration at these events. The next one is coming up in Topeka, Kansas, October 24-25, 2015, and then Belton, Texas, February 20-21, 2016. Expect to find me in Seven Springs next year, sometime in September. Along the way and until those events, if there is any way I can help you on your journey, get in touch. Give me a call: or email: The Permaculture Podcast. Next up Jason Godesky joins me discuss collaborative storytelling, culture, and myth-making in the context of his role playing game, The Fifth World. Until then, take care of Earth, your self, and each other.
For more than twenty years, Mushroom Mountain’s Tradd Cotter has been working to think like a mushroom as he worked to build a business based on his mycological adventures. Since 1996, South Carolina’s Mushroom Mountain has produced edible mushrooms and served as a laboratory for Tradd’s explorations into the use of mushrooms for everything from mycoremediation to personalized antibiotics. Tradd and Chris explore Tradd’s low-tech and no-tech strategies for growing mushrooms, including the fundamentals of mushroom production and strategies for fitting mushrooms into a vegetable operation, getting into the psychology and physiology of the fungal kingdom. The Farmer to Farmer Podcast is generously supported by Vermont Compost Company.
Donate to The Permaculture Podcast Online: via PayPal Venmo: @permaculturepodcast Like this podcast? Support it on Patreon. My guest for this episode is Penny Livingston-Stark. Penny is a long time permaculture practitioner and teacher who operates the Regenerative Design Institute in Bolinas, California. RDI is located at the 17-acre Commonweal Garden. I've been aware of Penny and her work since I started formally studying permaculture five years ago, and she has remained one of the most suggested guests for the show, often by her former students who have themselves appeared on the podcast. I think I've talked to more people who have studied with her than of any other permaculture instructor thus far. When this interview was originally scheduled Penny and I talked about using her work in international permaculture as a focus for our discussion, but instead turned towards the idea of peacemaking. Drawing from her experiences using permaculture and ceremony for conflict resolution we discuss the need for inner landscape work in order to build community and move the practice of permaculture forward. Or, to put it another way, how we have to get right with ourselves so that we can better our use of the ethics and principles to create lasting change that cares for this planet we call home and all the inhabitants. She is clear to point out, however, that permaculture as a design system is not a metaphysical one, nor does she include those ideas in her teaching, rather that a deep exploration into natural systems invites a further examination of our connection to the world around us and the nature of life and other living beings. These ideas set the overall tone for our conversation, but we also discuss the need for experimentation and the cultivation of useful skills. This interview, though not planned as such, serves as a buffer and connection about the discussion of right livelihood embodied in the two segments of the recent round table conversation recorded at Seppi Garrett's, of which the next piece is out on June 24, 2015. My only regret is that in this recording there is a bit of noise at some points, but they do not detract from the breadth or meaning of what Penny shares with us. You can find out more about Penny Livingston-Stark, the Regenerative Design Institute, and Commonweal Garden at regenerativedesign.org and commonweal.org. If you are interested in the Permaculture Institute of North America, that website is at pina.in. Penny also wanted me to share with you that she has an upcoming Permaculture Design Course that will be taught in cooperation with The Kul Kul Farm at The Green School in Bali from August 7 - 23, 2015. So that you might learn more about The Green School site, I've included a pair of videos below including one from John Hardy, a co-founder of this organization, and one from his daughter, Elora. https://kulkulfarmbali.com/bali-permaculture-design-course/ I'm still mulling over this conversation with Penny and the round table with Ben Weiss, Dave Jacke, and Charles Eisenstein. There is a thread here that touches on some of my own challenges as a changemaker, but there is still more to hear on this before I share my thoughts about everything at the end of next week's show. Until then get in touch and let me know about your journey and where you are. or email: The Permaculture Podcast. Coming up I'll be a guest instructor at Jude Hobb's Teacher Training, in cooperation with Beyond Organic Design, the evening of Sunday June 28, 2015, at the Commons in Brooklyn. There are still spaces available for this class that runs from June 24 - 30, 2015. More information about that is at beyondorganicdesign.org. August 20 - 23 I'll be at Radicle Gathering in Bowling Green, Kentucky, running a Permaculture question and answer session on Friday afternoon, a community vision workshop on Saturday morning, and delivering the Saturday night keynote address. If you are in the area come out and join in the fun of workshops, live music, and a whole bunch of people coming together to explore how to build resilient communities. radiclegathering.org. September 12, 2015 I'll be at the Riverside Project recording a live permaculture round table. September 18 I return to the Mother Earth News Fair in Seven Springs, Pennsylvania to check out this year's event and hang out with Tradd Cotter. More details on those two as I get closer to those events. If you are an organizer who would like me to come cover or speak at your event, drop me a line through the usual means. That gonna wrap this episode. I'll join you next week to close up that round table. Until then, take care of earth, your self, and each other. John Hardy's Ted Talk: My green school dream Elora Hardy's Ted Talk: Magical houses, made of bamboo
Donate to The Permaculture Podcast Online: via PayPal Venmo: @permaculturepodcast Like this podcast? Support it on Patreon. Hello and Welcome to The Permaculture Podcast with Scott Mann, a listener supported program. My guest for this episode is Dina Falconi, an herbalist from the Hudson Valley of New York and author of the gorgeous book Foraging and Feasting, which you'll find at botanicalartspress.com. During our conversation today Dina shares her background as a forager and herbalist, and her background as a permaculture practitioner which began with a design course taught by Geoff Lawton. We also discuss the plants she chose for the book, the difference between edible and culinary plants, and the distinction about historical and modern food safety. This interview is part of the ongoing series on rewilding and foraging. I have links to the earlier episodes in the show notes. Start with this interview and work your way back through theses podcasts to learn more about wild foods, edible plants, and how we can improve the gifts we receive from them and our relationships with those plants. As usual from an interview, I walk away with from this interview with more thoughts that build and expand my repertoire as a permaculture practitioner. The first is that I am adapting the recipes from the book into a series of lessons to use in my own cooking to teach my children a variety of basic formulas so they can be prepared to cook with whatever they have on hand, whether wild, picked from the garden, or bought at market. That leads to the moment that Dina and I talking about master skills. Cooking is definitely something that everyone should learn to some degree. To that we also include foraging. To that list of I would add creating fire, tool making, building, such as carpentry or masonry, and permaculture design. That is a very basic list, but I wonder what you would add to it based on where you live and what you do. What are the basic master skills you would teach to build a permaculture community? One that truly cares for earth, the individuals, and the culture? I wonder how teaching those skills now, to interested adults and children, can influence the way we live. Will we find greater personal and community freedom by having more self-reliance? How will that change the culture we create and live in? I'd like to hear your ideas. Get in touch. Email: The Permaculture Podcast Of write if you would prefer: The Permaculture Podcast The Permaculture Podcast You can also leave a comment in the show notes, send a tweet to @permaculturecst, or join in the conversations on facebook. Facebook.com/thepermaculturepodcast. From here, a few class announcements. Tradd Cotter contacted me about an event he's teaching at the end of the month. If you are near Keswick, Virginia, April 24 - 26, 2015, join him along with Mark Jones and Ethan Levesque, for a course called, “Cultivating Kingdom Fungi: Mushrooms for People and Planet.” Find out more about this at: https://www.sharondalefarm.com/workshops/ Ben Weiss and Wilson Alvarez begin teaching a new course on permaculture in an urban environment as well, in Harrisburg, PA. You can find this course on Facebook by searching for Downtown Harrisburg Permaculture Course, or through the link in the show notes. Ben and Wil are also looking for scholarship sponsors for this course. Contact susq.permaculture@yahoo.com if you would like to donate. Finally, as I draw this to a close, this show depends on your ongoing support to stay on the air. Though it looks like I'll be moving to a full time job this summer, as my life now requires that I have an income that can support a family, I'm going to do everything I can to keep the show going and continue to release new episodes and remain a resource for anyone who takes the time to email, call, or write a letter. You can help me keep going by using the paypal link on the front page of the show at thepermaculturepocast.com to make a one time, direct contribution, or by becoming a recurring member via Patreon at patreon.com/permaculturepodcast. Know that I am here with you, wherever your journey takes you. Until the next time, take care of earth, yourself, and each other. Resources: Botanical Arts Press Dina's Website Past Interviews on Foraging and Rewilding Peter Michael Bauer Violet and Steve Brill Dan De Lion Sam Thayer Arthur Haines 1 Arthur Haines 2 Wilson Alvarez and Ben Weiss Classes: Cultivating Kingdom Fungi with Tradd Cotter Downtown Harrisburg Permaculture Course
Donate to The Permaculture Podcast Online: via PayPal Venmo: @permaculturepodcast Like this podcast? Support it on Patreon. This episode is a look back over 2014 and the guests that garnered the most responses from listeners, as well as some of my favorites, and the guest who I have received the most comments in the history of the podcast. If you are someone new to the show or have been listening for some time, this is a good primer on episodes to go back and listen to and get a feel for what you will find in the back catalog. If you've been listening for a while you may have already heard some of these or, if you are like me and have listened to all the hundreds of episodes in the archives, you might can check out some of the great shows in the archives. I did not want to do a normal top five or top ten list, so left how many folks to feature up to chance and rolled two six-sided dice to see how many to select, then of the one most popular guests was actually a duo, leaving us with the top 9 most interviewees of this year. In no particular order, and with a brief description of the interview, they are: Marisha Auerbach who joined me to discuss urban permaculture and the role of preserving bio-diversity in that space. Ben Weiss and Wilson Alvarez were on the show several times and talked about their Rewilding efforts, and to answer listener questions about their 2013 interview “Restoring Eden”. You can hear more about the piece that started it all through this link: Restoring Eden Natasha Alvarez and I sat down to talk about Permaculture as Revolution and how, through her project The Year of Black Clothing, she found more love for the world and how to take action to protect Earth. Listen and find your own connections to this place we call home and how to make a difference in your own way. Eric Puro of ThePOOSH.org discussed the organization, natural building, and finding solutions from local resources. He also encourages anyone who wants to do this, or any other kind of permaculture work, to go out there, get your hands dirty, and get digging. Rhamis Kent (Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3) was the first guest in the Faith and Earthcare series. Through multiple episodes Rhamis provided an open perspective on Islam and the tenets of faith that leads us to understand how this religion implores the faithful to care for the earth and one another. If your main exposure to Islam is through the nightly news, give this one a listen and gain a better understanding of this faith. Adam Campbell (Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3) spent nearly three hours with me discussing permaculture and education and the operations at the Peace and Permaculture Center where he lives along with other members of the Possbility Alliance. Tradd Cotter joined me to discuss his latest book, Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation, an incredible work that demystifyies mushrooms and makes the practice of propagation and remediation more accessible for anyone interesting in playing with fungi. and finally that brings us to Mark Shepard (Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3) whose interview on a single day yielded nearly three hours of finished material spread across three episodes of the podcast. He shared with us his background and, through the lens of listener questions, the practices of restoration agriculture. My personal favorites from this year, excluding any that may have already been mentioned above, include Byron Joel, for having such an honest conversation with me and still allowing what became very personal and private to be made public. Rachel Kaplan, my first interview guest ever, for coming back onto the show after all these years for another great conversation. Two other interviews that really strike me are the ones with Karryn Olson-Ramanujan and Derrick Jensen. Both of those conversations challenged my perspectives in ways that I wasn't ready for, and I still reflect on how to make permaculture more accessible and diverse, while also fitting it into the larger context of protecting and repairing the earth. In looking back over 2014 there remains one final question. Who was the biggest guest of all time on the show? Was it someone from the past year? No. That was someone who has not appeared since 2013, Ethan Hughes (Part 1: Radical Possibilities) (Part 2: Practical Possibilities). His conversations then and in 2012 about the Possibility Alliance really inspired many listeners to make changes in their lives and reach out to let me know of the impact it had. The work of all the members of the Possibility Alliance and Stillwater Sanctuary to live without petrol or electricity speaks to an authenticity in living our lives that many desire to move towards. Those conversations with Ethan Hughes continues to influence my way of thinking and is one of the many reasons for moving the podcast and my online permaculture work towards a gift economy. If you are a student looking for a Permaculture Design Course, let me know. If you are a permaculture teacher organizing a class you want to spread the word about, let me know. If you are an organizer planning a permaculture convergence, a permablitz, or some other permaculture gathering or project, let me know. As I always say: I am here to help. Email: The Permaculture Podcast Send me a letter: The Permaculture Podcast The Permaculture Podcast If you are in a place to lend a hand of assistance to the show go to www.thepermaculturepodcast.com/support and make a one time or ongoing monthly gift to keep the interviews from people creating a better world on the air. I greatly appreciate your help in this work. I hope you are having a happy New Year in 2015. I'll join you next week with another interview. Until then, take care of earth, yourself, and each other.
Donate to The Permaculture Podcast Online: via PayPal Venmo: @permaculturepodcast This episode is a look forward to 2015 and where things are going. All in all 2014 was a pretty incredible year for this podcast. Over fifty interviews and fifty shorter episodes produced and released. In addition to that I took the show on the road to the Mother Earth News Fair in Seven Springs, PA, CHABACON in New Jersey, the Finger Lakes Permaculture Tour in New York, and a permaculture farm tour through Virginia. Yes, there were some rough spots in the beginning of the year, but things picked up and got flowing smoothly as time went on. As this year draws to a close, what is in store for the year ahead? First, on a personal level with some impact on the show, I'll be completing graduate school in May, 2015. As this episode goes up I am in the middle of my internship which wraps up my course of study. To finish out my education strong I need that to be main professional priority. I'm interning with a local non-profit as a grant writer and event organizer which in turn I want to bring to the permaculture community once I'm done. In order to focus on that I am going to continue with the current schedule of releasing one interview a week until such time as I am no longer a formal student, and to have a bit of downtime to enjoy the accomplishment of earning my Master's degree. Then in June I'll move to two shows a week on an ongoing basis, organized so that we have a better balance between practical, “how to practice permaculture in the landscape?” episodes and others that examine the more philosophical questions like, “how does all this fit together in a larger context?” Thanks to all the responses to a recent post on Facebook asking for guest suggestions, I have enough potential interviews to see us through until August or September if everyone says “Yes”. To keep that list growing please let me know if you have anyone in mind who you would like to hear on the show, including follow-ups with past guests. Second, I plan to continue to take the show on the road to tour sites and perform more in-person interviews. Tradd Cotter invited John, Layne, and I down to tour Mushroom Mountain so that is definitely on the list, as is going to Philadelphia to sit down with Pandora Thomas of EarthSeed Consulting and Robyn Mello of the Philadelphia Orchard Project. I am always looking for additional ideas of places to visit, as my time and budget allow, so let me know if you have any suggestions. Something else I really want to do is to sit down and record more round table discussions with groups of permaculture practitioners. Travel to a town, sit down with three or four people from the region or an organization and have a conversation that can later be released as an episode of the podcast. That could be something we do in front of a live audience, or as a fundraiser if you wanted to by collecting donations at the door. Let me know if you would like to host such an event and we can work out the details. Third, I'm moving my online permaculture work towards a gift economy, not just for listener support of the podcast proper, but also for sponsorships, class announcements, and any other service I can provide to the community. I feel that in order for others to know that a different way is possible we must try another way and show that the system that exists isn't the only way for us to live productive lives. I know for many of the permaculture courses and projects out there money is a barrier and a burden for many, so I want to lend a hand. We all have surpluses beyond the financial that can make a big difference in the world and I'd like to have those be a larger focus of my work moving forward. Let's work together and make something happen. More talking. More collaborating. More action. This idea of using a gift economy and more talking moving forward also applies to the online Permaculture Design Course I've been running over the last year and a half. I've been contacted by a number of individuals who want to take a PDC, but who do not, for whatever reason, have the financial means to do so. Through my own personal journey I have also discovered that I work best with small groups and one-on-one so am focus my educating of others through direct interaction via email, phone, and online meeting spaces. If you are interested in this kind of PDC experience, please let me know. That spirit of collaboration includes that thought of editing a 21st Century Designers' manual. I don't want to write it, but rather organize the collection of materials to go into it, perhaps as an annual digest. I've received feedback from several folks interested in the idea and want to hear from you if you want to get involved or know someone who you feel should contribute materials. I'm still setting up the ideas for this, and look to the fall of 2015 as the time when I put together the formal proposal, but would like input now so that the idea can mature with multiple inputs rather than just my own. With the idea of doing, one of my personal goals is to share more of my personal projects with you whatever those may be. As I work in an incremental fashion, picking away at something in pieces, we can explore different ideas as they develop over time. Another goal, that is a mix of personal and professional, is that I am looking to acquire several acres of land in 2015 that I can begin converting into a private permaculture center in central Pennsylvania to show working models of the different ideas we talk about grounded in a sense of place. I'd like use that space to host ongoing, regular events and gatherings for the community where we can come together and have face time in a place that embodies the work that we are doing. I find that time together, in person, really helps to build community. In turn we can get to know one another and work together to create solutions and try out different things. Some questions that come to mind that I would like to explore include: What is it like to coppice with a billhook or a pull saw? What about recharging batteries with a solar panel for an electric chainsaw? What are the best methods for establishing and raising mushrooms off the grid? What does a human scale site without heavy equipment look like? Because I have a particular bent when it comes to permaculture my thoughts on a human scale are not large like Mark Shepard, but also not totally without electricity or petrol like Ethan Hughes. Together we can ask and answer our own questions, add to the body of permaculture knowledge, and walk away with additional skills to take back to our own lives and communities. Get in touch with me of anytime along the way there is any way I can help you. I am here to assist you on your path in whatever way possible. Email: The Permaculture Podcast You can also send me a letter: The Permaculture Podcast The Permaculture Podcast And, as I wrap things up, if you are able, please support the podcast through a one-time or ongoing monthly gift so I can continue to release material openly for anyone to find and listen to. Find out how at: www.thepermaculturepodcast.com/support. Until the next time, take care of your self, the earth, and each other.
Mycologist Tradd Cotter. Go deep into the incredible world of fungi on a brand new episode of Sharp & Hot! Emily Peterson is joined by mushroom expert and author of Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation, Tradd Cotter. Tradd is a microbiologist, professional mycologist, and organic gardener, who has been tissue culturing, collecting native fungi in the Southeast, and cultivating both commercially and experimentally for more than twenty-two years. In 1996, he founded Mushroom Mountain, which he owns and operates with his wife, Olga, to explore applications for mushrooms in various industries and currently maintains over 200 species of fungi for food production, mycoremediation of environmental pollutants, and natural alternatives to chemical pesticides. This program was brought to you by Whole Foods Market. “When you put a mushroom outdoors and give it everything it wants and it gets rained on – it responds.” [11:00] “Mushrooms can stay alive for a year — dried!” [20:00] –Tradd Cotter on Sharp & Hot
Donate to The Permaculture Podcast Online: via PayPal Venmo: @permaculturepodcast Photographer John, Layne, and I had an incredible time at the Mother Earth News Fair. Thankfully we had three days to enjoy ourselves, from Friday, September 12th to Sunday September 14th, 2014, or we might have been a little overwhelmed, there was so much going on. During our time there we had a chance to meet with or talk to a number of people. If you have a chance to attend one of the Mother Earth News Fairs, as they are held in multiple locations throughout the country, please do. They are well worth your time. Here are some of, but by no means all, of the highlights. First up was Michael Judd, author of Edible Landscaping with a Permaculture Twist. We had a chance to interview him and hang out some throughout the show. Michael was very generous with his time and even more dynamic in person than when we sat down an interviewed in the past. If you are near Frederick, Maryland, he is someone worth looking up. As I live not too far from Michael, I want to go visit again and do another formal interview. You can checkout his design company and find more information at: Ecologia Design. Next we sat down with Tradd Cotter who was just as engaging in person as he was in the interview that came out in early September. We sat down for a while and talked about medicinal mushrooms, which was the second of our videos from the fair. Once the camera was shut off he hung out with us for another hour talking mushrooms and we dug deeper into why it's important for people to own the knowledge to change the world. He also joked with Layne and John when they showed up to photograph one of his presentations. If you get a chance to take a class with Tradd or see him speak at a conference, do it. It's well worth your time. John, Layne, and I also have an invitation from Tradd to go visit him in 2015 and tour the facilities at Mushroom Mountain. There were also Jason and Sera Drevenak of the North American Bushcraft School. Located in Hedgesville, West Virginia, they are not too far from my hometown of Hagerstown, Maryland. Together they offer a number of primitive skill workshops and classes which are right in line with the re-wilding that Ben Weiss and Wilson Alvarez advocate. Jason is a gifted and engaging teacher who lives this. Jason and Sera tan their own hides from road kill, and forge their own bushcraft knives. Of all the workshops I saw, Jason's on primitive firemaking drew one of the largest crowds I of any of the non-keynote events. People stood around the edges of the stage area four and five deep. I'm planning to go down and take some classes at the North American Bushcraft School sometime, or at least go visit. I also spoke with Matthew Goldfarb of Fruition Seeds. He and Petra Page-Mann (no relation to me that I know of), have one of the coolest plant breeding programs around that I know about. I heard about their work when talking with Matt Stillerman and Michael Burns at the Fingerlakes Permaculture Site Tour, and after seeing their company in the program wanted to grab them for a few minutes. Matthew and Petra are working to create open-pollinated heirloom varieties that are adapted and resilient in local conditions, unique to the bioregion in which they are developed. I purchased several packets of the Insectary Blend of seeds to plant next year as part of our 2015 garden. Three Rivers EVA – The Western PA Chapter of the Electric Auto Association – had a variety of electric vehicles on-site ranging from custom built cars, trucks, and bicycles, as well as factory products including a Tesla Model S. Sitting up near the electric vehicles was Tara Whitsitt of Fermentation on Wheels. This is a food and fermentation education project that travels the country teaching people about nutrition in a converted bus. If you've read any of the books by Sandor Katz, you have an idea of the jars and crocks filling the bus. She had kimchi, kombucha, water and dairy kefir grains, and many many others in a well-designed stable rack allowing everything to remain in the open and on display. Once she's settled into an area for a few days I want to sit down and have a chat with her. Uncle Mud was running ongoing cob and plaster natural building workshop that was very hands-on and kid friendly. One of the pictures I took here was of a small girl putting plaster on the wall. The man speaking to those around him encouraged her to pull and play while he talked with the other people around him. As a parent I liked the openness and willingness to allow her to learn and experiment. I also met some others folks along the way who are doing good work and I've reached out to them for interviews, including Dan Chiras, of The Evergreen Institute and author of the Natural Home, and Lloyd Kahn, author of numerous books on tiny houses and hand built homes, including the incredible Shelter. While at the fair I also had a chance to sit down with Jen Mendez of PermieKids.com and we talked about permaculture, education, and podcasting for a while. She'll be joining me on the show as a guest. Some interesting products and organizations from the event. Airhead Composting Toilet. I liked this unit for the small size and easy to empty liquids container. Compared to some other companies the price was rather reasonably at under $1,000. If I were going to purchase something for a tiny-home installation, of what I saw at the show, this is the one I'd go for. Brooder Bottle Cap. This is a simple ball valve design that fits to a plastic soda bottle, whether 20oz or 2 liter, to water chickens and other animals. It strikes me as an appropriate technology because of the simplicity and durability, I also have been reading about a move in commercial chicken operations to move towards bottle feeding and this is an inexpensive way to do so. Al, the owner, was generous with his time explaining the idea behind the products as well as how to train your chickens to use them. He also wants to create a 501©3 that can produce these watering bottle caps for distribution to developing countries and disaster areas. Retail at the show was $5.95 for a pair. Chatham University, located in Pittsburgh, PA, was onsite and handing out information regarding two interesting degree programs. A Bachelor and Master of Sustainability. If you are involved in permaculture and would like some additional education to support your work, something I've found useful in the credentialed society in the United States, this is a direction worth investigating. Another suggestion for a program is the one I'm enrolled in, which is a Master of Park and Resource Management at Slippery Rock University. Patrick and Matthew of Go Sun Stoves were there demoing products. I'd talked to Patrick last year so it was good to see him there and to meet Matthew. They both met at a Permaculture Design course and worked on developing their innovative solar oven. I want to pick one of these up and spend a year cooking with it through all seasons and conditions and see what living with this type of solar cooker is really like. With the idea of using natural and renewable resources, an interesting wood splitter onsite was the WoodOx Woodsman. Having watched my father put an axe into his foot, twice, as well as splitting wedges fly when struck off center, these three and four way splitters are tools that safely handle the task of preparing firewood for a self-sufficient homestead. Mushroom Sources: At the event were two purveyors of mushroom spawn and supplies. One was mentioned by Michael Judd when we sat down and spoke, which is Smugtown Mushrooms out of Rochester, NY. The other was Back Bone Food Farm in Oakland, MD. If you'd like to try someone else, here are other options. Finally, I'd like to give a personal thanks to Brandy Ernzen, the PR Manager for Ogden Publications. She made the entire experience of working the Mother Earth News Fair easy and simple. That ends the report from the Mother Earth News Fair by the crew at The Permaculture Podcast. We shot some other video along the way, which I'm working on as time allows. Keep checking out the YouTube channel for the show, as well as the Facebook page. If you enjoyed this type of show, help us create more like it by supporting the podcast. Find out how to make a one time or ongoing contribution by going to www.ThePermaculturePodcast.com/support. Until the next time, create a better world each day by taking care of Earth, your self, and each other. Get In Touch E-mail: The Permaculture Podcast The Permaculture Podcast with Scott Mann The Permaculture Podcast Facebook: Facebook.com/ThePermaculturePodcast Twitter: @permaculturecst (Episode: MENF2014)
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