Best Eric Scott Bendfeldt Podcasts (2025)

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S5 - E9: Soil Health is Attainable with Anthony Beery of Beery Farms, Part I 16:16

9d ago16:16

16:16

Soil health is attainable. Anthony Beery of Beery Farms and Cumberland Hay and Straw LLC shares that message with Mary Sketch Bryant and Jeff Ishee based on his farming experience and journey. Anthony grew up in the Shenandoah Valley where he and his father Danny raised dairy cows and poultry. Anthony benefitted from his father's mentorship and enc…

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S5 - E8: Ins and Outs of Compost Tea with Nicky Schauder of Permaculture Gardens, Part II 18:40

23d ago18:40

18:40

In this episode, Nicky Schauder of Permaculture Gardens continues the conversation about permaculture and the ins and outs of compost tea with Mary Sketch Bryant, Marian Dalke, and Jeff Ishee. Nicky received two USDA-Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Producer Grants to specifically research the benefits of compost tea and its ef…

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S5 - E7: Grow-It-Yourself (GIY) with Nicky Schauder of Permaculture Gardens, Part I 16:37

1M ago16:37

16:37

Nicky Schauder and her family started Permaculture Gardens to make permaculture and growing food accessible to everyone - especially families and children. Nicky shares her story and experience with learning, researching, and growing food with Mary Sketch Bryant, Marian Dalke, and Jeff Ishee. Nicky is constantly learning by experiment. Nicky is a t…

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S5 - E6: Education first and foremost with Nicole Shuman of Cornerstone Farm, Part II 18:04

2M ago18:04

18:04

Nicole Shuman is a community agriculturalist and educator at Cornerstone Farm at Fairfield Middle School in Henrico County, VA. Nicole shares that education is the first and foremost goal of Cornerstone Farm. As a functioning farm, students and the school community learn what and how food is grown, while also gaining hands-on knowledge and experien…

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S5 - E5: Hands-On Community Agriculture Work with Nicole Shuman of Cornerstone Farm, Part I 18:13

2M ago18:13

18:13

Context is foundational to authentic, experiential learning, and understanding how to build soil health within a landscape context. Hands-on educational activities and programs help students of all ages better understand the context and real-life application of learning objectives, principles, and practices. Nicole Shuman is a community agricultura…

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S5 - E4: Cultivating Wellness from the Soil Up with Farmer Cee of Green Heffa Farms, Part II 18:23

3M ago18:23

18:23

Clarenda "Farmer Cee" Stanley of Green Heffa Farms is someone who does not take health and wellness for granted but actively seeks to catalyze and cultivate wellness from the soil up. Farmer Cee is the founding CEO and owner of Green Heffa Farms, a black woman-owned Certified B Corporation, wellness brand, and herb farm based in North Carolina. Far…

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S5 - E3: Defying Obstacles, Bringing Voices to Sustainability with Farmer Cee of Green Heffa Farms, Part I 17:18

3M ago17:18

17:18

Defying obstacles, honoring the land, and giving voice to sustainability and business ethics requires commitment and dedication to a vision. Clarenda "Farmer Cee" Stanley is a visionary entrepreneur, farmer, herbalist, and advocate for ethical business and sustainable living. Known affectionately as "Farmer Cee," she is the founding CEO of Green He…

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S5 - E2: Understanding Context, Establishing Baselines with Rick Clark of Farm Green, Part II 19:08

4M ago19:08

19:08

Understanding context and establishing baselines are critical for developing systematic approaches to change for the right reasons. Rick Clark of Clark Land & Cattle and Farm Green Consulting is a fifth-generation farmer who farms 6,000 plus acres of certified organic crops in Warren County, Indiana. In addition to cash, oilseed, and cover crops, R…

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S5 - E1: Commitment and System Balance with Rick Clark of Farm Green, Part I 18:30

4M ago18:30

18:30

Building soil health and finding system balance requires commitment, fortitude, adaptability, and working with Mother Nature. Rick Clark of Clark Land & Cattle and Farm Green Consulting is a fifth-generation farmer in Warren County, Indiana. Rick farms corn, soybeans, wheat, milo, cover crops, small grains, and other oilseed crops using regenerativ…

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S4 - E26: A Regional Food System Perspective with Maureen and Mo of LEAP, Part II 19:14

5M ago19:14

19:14

Our conversation with Maureen McNamara Best and Maureen "Mo" McGonagle on regional food system development and networks continues this week with a specific focus on food as medicine. Maureen McNamara Best is the executive director of LEAP (Local Environmental Agriculture Project) and Maureen "Mo" McGonagle is the director of the Roanoke Foodshed Ne…

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S4 - E25: A Regional Food System Perspective with Maureen and Mo of LEAP, Part I 18:21

5M ago18:21

18:21

What does a regional food system network look like? Maureen McNamara Best is the executive director of LEAP (Local Environmental Agriculture Project) and Maureen "Mo" McGonagle is the director of the Roanoke Foodshed Network. Maureen and Mo provide a perspective lens into food system relationships and community collaborations emerging and developin…

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Episode 24 - 24: Flavor and Sustainability with Nate Sloan of Bloom Restaurant and Wine Bar, Part II 17:04

6M ago17:04

17:04

Nate Sloan, executive chef and owner of Bloom Restaurant and Wine Bar in Roanoke, Virginia shares with Jeff, Mary, and Eric how restaurants can be a conduit of flavor, sustainability, health, and food security. Nate grew up on his parents' farm in Franklin County, Virginia and these roots inspired his vision as a restaurateur and commitment to loca…

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Episode 24-23: From Soil to Ingredient to Plate with Nate Sloan of Bloom Restaurant and Wine Bar, Part I 17:42

6M ago17:42

17:42

In this episode, we journey from soil to plate with Nate Sloan, the visionary owner and executive chef of Bloom Restaurant and Wine Bar in Roanoke, Virginia. Nate speaks with Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt about his journey from his roots in farming in Franklin County, Virginia to being a restaurateur committed to farm-to-table …

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Episode 24 - 22: Finding Your Agroecological Voice and Lens with Nicole Masters of Integrity Soils Part II 19:52

7M ago19:52

19:52

Are you interested in community collaboration and finding your agroecological voice and lens? Nicole Masters, founder of Integrity Soils and author of For the Love of Soil, discusses how an agroecological lens is used to view entire farm systems and value human dynamics with Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt. Nicole has a love and …

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Episode 24 - 21: A Love and Fascination for the Soil with Nicole Masters of Integrity Soils Part I 18:48

7M ago18:48

18:48

How do we create a love and fascination for the soil to better fit into the landscape? Nicole Masters, founder of Integrity Soils and author of For the Love of Soil, shares with Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt how central people are to agroecology. Nicole grew up in New Zealand and developed an early love and fascination with soi…

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Episode 24 - 20: The Promise and Potential of Biochar with Dr. Wayne Teel of James Madison University Part II 16:41

8M ago16:41

16:41

Are you interested in improving the water and nutrient-holding capacity of your soil? Have you heard about biochar as a soil amendment? Dr. Wayne Teel of James Madison University has studied and researched biochar for more than 15 years. Wayne discusses the promise and potential of biochar with Mary Sketch Bryant and Jeff Ishee as a follow-up to th…

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Episode 24 - 19: Reconnecting through Stories and Agroforestry with Dr. Wayne Teel of James Madison University Part I 17:20

8M ago17:20

17:20

We all could benefit from reconnecting to soil, land, trees, and where our food comes from and how food is produced. Dr. Wayne Teel is a professor of geography at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. He shares with Mary Sketch Bryant and Jeff Ishee how he works with his students at JMU to connect them to a farmer or field experience …

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Episode 24 - 18: Volunteering and Getting Your Hands Dirty with Tim Ohlwiler of VCE Fauquier Part II 16:37

9M ago16:37

16:37

Do you like to volunteer, dig in the soil, and get your hands dirty? Planting and harvesting vegetables, experimenting with cover crops, and reducing tillage can be great fun as well. Virginia Cooperative Extension's Master Gardener program and the Fauquier Education Farm offer two tangible ways to volunteer, dig in the soil, get your hands dirty, …

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Episode 24 - 17: Horticultural Realities and Soil Health with Tim Ohlwiler of VCE Fauquier Part I 18:16

9M ago18:16

18:16

What are the realities for building soil health in orchards and vineyards? Tree fruit and grapes require different strategies for reducing competition from other woody perennials and weeds. Tension can exist between balancing crop needs and building soil health in orchards and vineyards. Tim Ohlwiler is an extension agent for horticulture with Virg…

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Episode 24 - 16: Managing Risks, Beginning a Movement with Robert Waring of Brandon Farms Part II 17:19

9M ago17:19

17:19

Farming and market gardening require continually learning and appropriately managing risks. Robert "Bob" Waring of Brandon Farms in Essex County, Virginia is a proponent of cover crops, soil health, and on-farm research. Bob states he sees the beginning of a movement, particularly as farmers learn from other farmers. He has embraced cover crops, an…

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Episode 24 - 15: Growing Fertilizer and Farm Profitability with Robert Waring of Brandon Farms Part I 17:30

10M ago17:30

17:30

The economics of farming are always tenuous and subject to many market and climatic forces. Robert "Bob" Waring of Brandon Farms of Dunnsville, Virginia describes himself as a return-on-investment (ROI) kind of guy. With the tenuous, volatile nature of farming, Bob is constantly evaluating Brandon Farms' cropping system as a whole and looking for s…

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Episode 24 - 14: A Farmer's Approach to Artisanal Baking with Nicolas Melas of Mill Song Bakery Pt. II 18:05

10M ago18:05

18:05

To know where our food comes from, we are encouraged to know the farmer who grew our food. Nicolas "Nico" Melas of Mill Song Bakery approaches his craft as a farmer-miller-baker in the tradition of the artisans he apprenticed to in France. Nico emphasizes that you should know your local baker to fully understand and appreciate the quality of wheat …

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Episode 24 - 13: Artful, Healthy Grains and Bread with Nicolas Melas of Mill Song Bakery Pt. I 17:11

11M ago17:11

17:11

Nicolas "Nico" Melas of Mill Song Bakery is a thought leader within Virginia's regional food systems and a catalyst with the expanding Common Grain Alliance. Nico and his family, along with a growing network of farmers, millers, bakers, and food businesses in Virginia and the greater Mid-Atlantic Region, are working through artful farming, milling,…

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Episode 24 - Special: Soil Health and Music for Everyone with Ennis and Phil Carter of the FlipCharts Part II 17:08

11M ago17:08

17:08

Ennis and Phil Carter of Flip Charts and Social Impact Studios bring together their expertise in social sciences and education to amplify a simple message that soil health and music are for everyone. We can all "literally" dig soil health and music in a multitude of ways. In part II, Ennis and Phil explain how memories and stories help us find comm…

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Episode 24 - National Soil Health Day Special: Music, Culture, and Action with Ennis and Phil Carter of the FlipCharts Part I 19:16

11M ago19:16

19:16

In anticipation of National Soil Health Day, Ennis and Phil Carter of Flip Charts and Social Impact Studios composed a fun 4 The Soil song to celebrate and emphasize how we can all take action for the soil and planet. Ennis and Phil bring together more than forty years of life and creative work. Their collaboration and creativity integrate music, c…

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Episode 24 - 12: A Freshly Milled Perspective with Madelyn Smith of the Common Grain Alliance Part II 16:48

11M ago16:48

16:48

The aroma of freshly milled and ground grain is distinct and inviting whether in preparing bread, pizza, or a vat of beer. Madelyn Smith of the Common Grain Alliance offers a freshly milled perspective on a range of topics needed to strengthen the regional food system and build the supply of regional grains to meet consumer demand. Madelyn says tha…

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Episode 24 - 11: Reinvigorating the Local Grain Economy with Madelyn Smith of the Common Grain Alliance Part I 19:20

12M ago19:20

19:20

How can we reinvigorate the local and regional grain economy? What is possible if grain farmers, millers, maltsters, bakers, brewers, pasta makers, educators, and researchers dream and work together? Why are local, high-quality, sustainably raised small grains like rye, oats, and others not more easily available in the Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic…

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Episode 24 - 10: Emulating Nature: The Soil Health Puzzle with Ray Archuleta and Dr. Heather Coiner 16:09

1y ago16:09

16:09

Can we emulate nature with our soil health-building systems? Where do local small grains fit in the soil health puzzle? Ray Archuleta of the Soil Health Academy and retired soil health educator with USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service discusses why working in concert with nature is important to farming. Ray is a big proponent of no-till far…

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Episode 24 - 9: Community, Dung Beetles, and a Good Steady Rain with Dr. Elizabeth Heilman of Wichita State University Part II 18:48

1y ago18:48

18:48

Have you ever been on a walk and observed a dung beetle or two rolling a bit of dung down the path? Have you wondered what conditions make a good steady rain? While many things are out of our control, we can control some things if we are willing to learn and work together as a community. Dr. Elizabeth Heilman, Professor of Education at Wichita Stat…

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Episode 24 - 8: Calm Your Lizard Down with Dr. Elizabeth Heilman of Wichita State University Part I 18:53

1y ago18:53

18:53

Are you resistant to change or risk averse? You may need to calm your lizard down and understand how important safety and security are to change, risk aversion, and the adoption of new behaviors. Dr. Elizabeth Heilman, Professor of Education at Wichita State University, talks with Mary Sketch Bryant, Jeff Ishee, and Eric Bendfeldt about how our "li…

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Episode 24 - 7: A Passion for Gardening with Bill "Pops" Patterson of Virginia USDA-NRCS Part II 16:38

1y ago16:38

16:38

A passion for gardening and tasty, flavorful tomatoes, cucumbers, and hot peppers continues to drive Bill Patterson's experimentation with crop rotations, mulching, composting, and winter and summer cover crops in his home garden. Mary Sketch Bryant and Eric Bendfeldt talked previously with Bill about his conservation work with soil health and graz…

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Episode 24 - 6: For the Love of Soil with Bill "Pops" Patterson of Virginia USDA-NRCS Part I 16:59

1y ago16:59

16:59

A love and curiosity for soil sparked a fifty-year career in soil and natural resources conservation. Mary Sketch Bryant and Eric Bendfeldt talk with Bill Patterson, retired district conservationist and present grazing specialist with Virginia USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, about his career and to hear his insights on soil health and …

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Episode 24 - 5: The Unintended Consequences of Deep Tillage with Dale Strickler of Regenerative Wisdom Part II 18:54

1y ago18:54

18:54

Are we there yet? Have we arrived at the intended destination? Have we reached the goal we set out for improving soil health and how soil functions? Have our good intentions of attempting to loosen the soil resulted in negative unintended consequences? In part one of our conversation with Dale Stricker of Regenerative Wisdoms, Dale stated that till…

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Episode 24 - 4: Drought Resilience: Does Subsoiling Pay? with Dale Strickler of Regenerative Wisdom Part I 19:19

1y ago19:19

19:19

How functional and drought-resilient is your soil? Is your soil a week away from a drought and an hour away from a flood? Dale Strickler of Regenerative Wisdom talks with Jeff Ishee and Eric Bendfeldt about ways to increase drought resilience moving forward. Dale draws on his experience and expertise as a farmer, cattle rancher, college soil scienc…

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Episode 24 - 3: A Purposeful Soil Health Mindset with Rebekah Slabach of Virginia Tech Part II 18:03

1+ y ago18:03

18:03

How does a purposeful mindset contribute to soil health and rebuilding soil fertility? What can we learn from culture, history, and mindset in storing our farm landscapes? Rebekah Slabach recently became the associate director for the Alliance to Advance Climate-Smart Agriculture within Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Form…

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Episode 24 - 2: Fueling Agricultural and Community Change with Rebekah Slabach of Virginia Cooperative Extension Part I 19:48

1+ y ago19:48

19:48

What are the ingredients of change? How can you fuel and be an agent of change in your community? Rebekah Slabach serves as an extension agent of agriculture and natural resources with Virginia Cooperative Extension in Halifax County. Rebekah shares her early involvement with 4-H and Youth Conservation Camp as two educational opportunities growing …

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Episode 24 - 1: The Power of Observation and A Receptive Mind with Dr. Stuart Grandy of UNH Part II 18:43

1+ y ago18:43

18:43

The power of observation and a receptive mind are critical to farming, soil health, research, and all discoveries. Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt start the New Year and third season of the 4 The Soil podcast with another conversation with Dr. Stuart Grandy, Professor of Natural Resources and the Environment, at the University of…

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Episode 23 - 26: What's Happening in the Soil Food Web with Dr. Stuart Grandy of UNH Part I 18:55

1+ y ago18:55

18:55

How does one measure and monitor what's happening below the ground in the soil food web? Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt caught up with Dr. Stuart Grandy, Professor of Natural Resources and the Environment, at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) to discuss the diversity of soil life and emerging sensor technologies to probe soi…

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Episode 23 - 25: A Healthy, Fertile Celebration of World Soils Day 2023 19:32

1+ y ago19:32

19:32

Since October 2021, Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt have had sixty conversations about the health and fertility of soil as part of the podcast. To celebrate World Soils Day 2023, we are sharing three recaps of conversations that were quite memorable with Dr. David R. Montgomery and Anne Bikle authors of What Your Food Ate and Gro…

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Episode 23 - 24: Balancing Community and Natural Resource Needs with Nelson Muiru of KENVO Part II 19:26

1+ y ago19:26

19:26

How do we identify community and natural resource needs? What are people doing to thrive as well as survive? Executive Director Nelson Muiru of Kijabe Environment Volunteers (KENVO) talks with Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt for a second episode on how they seek to balance the everyday social and financial needs of people and com…

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Episode 23 - 23: Maximizing Biodiversity and Food Security with Nelson Muiru of KENVO Part I 19:26

1+ y ago19:26

19:26

How do you work with communities and individual farmers to build trust and achieve multiple social, financial, and ecological goals? Executive Director Nelson Muiru of Kijabe Environment Volunteers (KENVO) talks with Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt about how their organization seeks to maximize biodiversity, ecosystem services, a…

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Episode 23 - 22: The Give and Take of Lawn and Soil Health with Dr. Mike Goatley of Virginia Tech Part II 19:03

1+ y ago19:03

19:03

How do we improve lawn soil health by adjusting mower deck height? Can adjusting your lawnmower deck from three inches to four or more inches save you time and energy? Is genetically modified turfgrass in the future of your lawn? Extension Turfgrass Specialist Dr. Mike Goatley of Virginia Tech (Dr. Turf) talks with Jeff Ishee and Eric Bendfeldt abo…

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Episode 23 - 21: Every Blade of Grass is a Study with Dr. Mike Goatley of Virginia Tech Part I 19:45

1+ y ago19:45

19:45

President Abraham Lincoln stated in 1858 that "Every blade of grass is a study; and to produce two, where there was but one, is both a profit and a pleasure." The profit and pleasure of turfgrass still require observation, care, and ongoing research. Extension Turfgrass Specialist Dr. Mike Goatley of Virginia Tech (Dr. Turf) talks with Jeff Ishee a…

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Episode 23 - 20: Knowing Your Why for Farming and Soil Health with Daniel Austin of Green Sprig Ag Part II 18:19

1+ y ago18:19

18:19

Like author Simon Sinek, Daniel Austin of Green Sprig Ag and Little Hen Farm encourages people to start with their “why.” Doing so will help people understand their motivation and refine their purpose in life and work. Knowing both the “why” and the “how” of farming and building soil health is critically important to economic viability, community w…

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Episode 23 - 19: From Picking Rocks to Marketing Local Grains with Daniel Austin of Green Sprig Ag 18:44

1+ y ago18:44

18:44

What are the resource concerns and aspirations for your farm and land? Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt catch up by phone with farmer, entrepreneur, and soil health champion Daniel Austin of Little Red Hen Farm and Green Sprig Ag. Daniel is a fifth-generation farmer in Franklin County and shares the history of how his interest and…

1
Episode 23 - 18: Hope from the Garden with Kate Bracken and Craig Fracker of Goochland-Powhatan Master Gardener Association 19:50

1+ y ago19:50

19:50

What is your passion? Where do you experience a sense of wonder and hope? Jeff Ishee and Mary Sketch Bryant talk with Kate Bracken and Craig Fracker of the Goochland-Powhatan Master Gardener Association about how they empower communities with research-based garden education from the soil up, and specifically about their HOPE (Helping Our Planet End…

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Episode 23-17: Sowing the Next Generation of Stewards with Kathy Yoder of Vine & Fig, Part II 20:20

1+ y ago20:20

20:20

How do we encourage stewardship of the land and our communities in the next generation? In this episode, Jeff Ishee, Eric Bendfeldt, and Sarah Koth continue their conversation with Kathy Yoder, the Education Outreach Program Director at Vine and Fig in Harrisonburg, Virginia, about the organization’s work to get youth outdoors and experience nature…

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Episode 23-16: Seeds of Change: Enhancing Food Access, Local Food Systems, and Childhood Education with Kathy Yoder of Vine and Fig 20:06

2y ago20:06

20:06

Healthy soil means healthy plants which means healthy people and a healthy planet. In this episode, Jeff Ishee, Eric Bendfeldt, and Sarah Koth speak with Kathy Yoder, the Education Outreach Program Director at Vine and Fig in Harrisonburg, Virginia, about the nonprofit’s local programs to strengthen local food systems, ensure access to wholesome nu…

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Episode 23-15: Soil as Infrastructure and Learning by Doing with Carl Stafford of VCE Culpeper County 19:10

2y ago19:10

19:10

Soil is important infrastructure on our landscapes and in our communities. Jeff Ishee, Eric Bendfeldt, and Mary Sketch Bryant talk with Carl Stafford of Virginia Cooperative Extension in Culpeper County about the George Washington Carver Center, a food and business incubator and agricultural service center serving communities in and around Culpeper…

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Episode 23-14: Grazing with Intent with Carl Stafford of VCE Culpeper County 19:24

2y ago19:24

19:24

What does the health of plants and animals have to tell us about life underground? In this episode, Jeff Ishee, Eric Bendfeldt, and Mary Sketch Bryant talk with Carl Stafford of Virginia Cooperative Extension in Culpeper County about the importance of grazing with intent for the benefit of plants, animals, and the soil. Carl is the Agricultural and…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Eric Scott Bendfeldt Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen