Have you ever wanted to transform your organic gardening practice into something more? Are you interested in ecology, permaculture, or sustainability? This podc...
Regenerative Orcharding with Jonathan Carr of Carr's Ciderhouse
Join us for an engaging conversation with Jonathan Carr on the topic of regenerative orchard practices and a variety of other topics on the podcast today. To quote the writing on one of the hard cider bottles I've got on top of my fridge... "Preservation Orchard is the home of Carr's Ciderhouse, where we practice regenerative agriculture and evolutionary orcharding-- low input silvopasture for carbon sequestration, no spray for avian and pollinator habitat, and traditional and experimental cultivars for pest & disease resistance." If any of these topics interest you, tune in today to learn about how Jonathan, his family, friends, and cooperative farmers are putting regenerative principles into practice in Western Massachusetts.
Preservation Orchard Links:
https://www.carrsciderhouse.com/
https://www.instagram.com/carrsciderhouse/
https://www.meadowfedlamb.com/
https://www.instagram.com/meadowfedlamb/
https://pioneervalleyapiaries.com/
Lotta Crabtree Fund:
https://www.umass.edu/stockbridge/lotta-agricultural-fund
^And here's a UMass news article elaborating further.
Tree crop varieties Jonathan name drops in the episode:
Baldwin apple
Virginia crab, Hughes crabapple
Old Fashioned Limbertwig apple
Grimes Golden apple
Ralls Janet apple
English Apples:
Dabinette apple
Kingston Black apple
Yarlington Mill apple
White Jersey apple
Kokusu mulberry
Imshu heartnut from Grimo's Nut Nursery
P.S. this episode is a follow up of sorts to an interview we did with Matt Kaminsky a.k.a. Gnarly Pippins last year. Check out our "Feral Apples with Gnarly Pippins" episode if you haven't already.
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47:06
Black Walnut with Ben Bishop
Black Walnut in alley cropping systems is the topic of today's podcast episode. With a very special guest who you may have heard of. Join us to learn all about Ben's thesis research in a fun co-host interview that we've been meaning to record for many months now. This species is so much more than the juglone, get over it non believers! Don't forget to follow us on instagram @forestgardenpodcast
First chapter of Ben's thesis (published):
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10457-023-00909-0
Ben's thesis via Mizzou online archive:
https://mospace.umsystem.edu/xmlui/handle/10355/91489
Ben's instagram and youtube:
https://www.instagram.com/the.forest.gardener
https://www.youtube.com/@theforestgardener4011
Other relevant links:
https://centerforagroforestry.org/
Center for Agroforestry Youtube
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50:51
Medlars with Jane Steward
Medlar is the topic of today's podcast episode! We've talked about this unusual and delicious fruit on the podcast in snippets here and there, but today it gets the attention it deserves. Join us for an in-depth interview with Jane Steward, author of Medlars: Growing and Cooking, on the fascinating history of the medlar, cultivation and harvest tips, and best ways to process or cook this fantastic fruit.
Jane's business website: https://www.eastgatelarder.co.uk/
Jane recommends purchasing Medlars: Growing and Cooking from bookshop.org or from your local independent bookstore.
Jane can be found on instagram at @eastgatelarder
In this episode Jane name drops Scott Farm in Vermont and Hortus Gardens in NY.
If you're interested in watching the country life Medlar cheese ASMR video that Mike mentioned in the episode, it can be found here.
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1:03:08
Hazelnuts with Tom Molnar
Join us for a deep dive into the Hazelnut, a tree crop that has not been discussed enough on this podcast! Today we primarily talk about European hazelnuts (Corylus avellana) and hybrids (Corylus avellana x americana), and learn from Dr. Tom Molnar about the decades of germplasm collection, evaluation, and breeding research his lab has conducted at Rutgers University. In 2020, Rutgers released a handful of EFB resistant cultivars of european hazelnuts and a hybrid hazelnut called 'The Beast'. Tune in to learn all about them. We also discuss other hazelnut breeding programs in the U.S. involving both European and American hazelnuts, and how climate change may impact tree crop agriculture in the coming decades.
Tom recommends contacting him via email if you are interested in growing hazelnuts released by Rutgers: Tom's Contact Page
Tom also recommends checking out, and considering membership with, the Northern Nut Growers.
To acquire hazelnut cultivars released by Rutgers, Tom recommends:Foggy Bottom Tree Farm
Grimo Nut Nursery
Z’s Nutty Ridge
Burnt Ridge Nursery
Topics covered in our discussion on climate adaptation related to Hazelnuts was inspired by the climate change chapter of the book Growing Hybrid Hazelnuts by Phil Rutter
Listeners may be interested in learning more about the Oregon State University Hazelnut Research Program.
The Badgersett Research Farm is also mentioned in this episode.
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49:46
Forage, Harvest, Feast with Marie Viljoen
It's 2024 and we're back! Marie Viljoen is our first guest on season four of the podcast. Join us as we discuss some of the underutilized edibles featured in Marie's book Forage, Harvest, Feast: A Wild-Inspired Cuisine.
Marie Recommends:
https://integrationacres.com/ to find spicebush listed as "Appalachian Allspice"
Sam Thayer's Field Guide to Wild Edible Plants as a fantastic resource for foraging information.
Marie's Links:
Forage, Harvest, Feast + 66 Square Feet (Books)
https://www.instagram.com/marie_viljoen/
66 Square Feet (Blog)
Relevant literature regarding urban foraging and pollutants, particulates, etc:
Food safety considerations of urban agroforestry systems grown in contaminated environments
Particulate Matter Accumulation on Apples and Plums: Roads Do Not Represent the Greatest Threat
Have you ever wanted to transform your organic gardening practice into something more? Are you interested in ecology, permaculture, or sustainability? This podcast takes a deep dive into these topics, through in-depth commentary and relevant interviews with forest gardeners, permaculturalists, and regenerative system designers.
The Forest Garden Podcast is a joint venture between Ben Bishop and Mike Amato, two plant nerds who in the summer of 2020 realized they shared the same alma mater and the same interests in alternative solutions to our rapidly evolving climate.