1:04:49

S01 Aug 28, 2020

Farming From Gambia to Maine w/ Ousman Ndure

  In this episode of Solecast we chat with Ousman Ndure.  Ousman is a farmer from Gambia who immigrated to Westbrook, ME.  We talk about his life in Gambia, and how he managed an independent market farm.   He goes in depth about growing cashews, peanuts, rice, millet,  mangos, cassava, and other interesting greens like sour sour(Roselle Hibiscus).  He also describes the techniques he used to dig wells in the dry season.  Ousman is currently farming a plot at the Hurricane Valley Land Trust.  This is a wide ranging conversation that covers a ton of ground, from cooking ideas to growing.     (Editors note: after this interview I prepared some sorrel in the way he described making a drink with “sour sour leaves” and was blown away by how good it was)  

1:30:42

S01 Jul 23, 2020

Rooftop Gardens w/ Mike Spade

In this episode of Propaganda By The Seed we talk with rooftop gardener & permaculturist  Mike Spade of the Plant The Seed Project.  We talk about Mike’s work in NY and Denver designing green roofs.  Mike talk about the differences between growing with rooftop gardens in various climates and the crops that work well.  We also get into some of the logistics to consider when building a rooftop garden and the challenges that one might encounter when growing food on rooftops, from hail to heat to rain and the soil’s ability to hold water.     

1:56:40

S01 May 28, 2020

Breeding Perennial Kale w/ Chris Homanics

  Today on Propaganda by the Seed we chat with Chris Homanics.  Chris is an freelance plant breeder /organizer   based out of the Pacific Northwest.  This conversation is mostly about Chris’ Homesteader's Kaleidoscopic Perennial Kale Grex; how he created it, some methods for adapting it and many of the other possibilities for breeding Brassica oleracea.  We also talk about bamboo, Sea Kale some recent history of the perennial veggie movement and his work with the Agrarian Sharing Network.      

1:17:47

S01 May 14, 2020

The Food Forest Network w Sweet Potato

This episode of propaganda by the Seed we talk with Sweet Potato from The Food Forest Network. The Food Forest Network is a loose network of people sharing resources and developing food autonomy programs utilizing food forestry. Sweet Potato, AKA Yam currently resides at the Indian Bayou Food Forest, which was built in the direct path of the Line 6 pipeline to halt its construction. We talk about growing in the bayou, and geeked out on the extreme differences about its climate. Yam talks about their favorite food and polycultures to grow, such as Moringa, Banana Trees, Figs, Okra, and much more. Highly informative and fun conversation.

1:46:06

S01 May 7, 2020

Ground Nuts, Decolonizing Food & Controlled Burns w/ Zach Elfers

  In this episode of Propaganda By The Seed we talk with Zach Elfers, mostly about ground nut (apios americana), a north american native root crop and legume that has 3 times the protein content of potatoes.  Zach talks about the long history of indigenous use of ground nut as a staple crop in so called North America.  We also discuss how to cultivate them, where they are found, and its uses.   Zach also goes in depth about controlled burns, their usage by indigenous peoples and some applications for them to maintain land and build soil fertility.  Pick up Ground Nut Tubers from Edgewood Nursery here. To get 10% off your Edgewood Nursery order visit edgwood-nursery.com and enter Solecast at check out and/or support The Solecast on patreon. 

54:42

S01 Apr 1, 2020

Joseph Lofthouse on the Cooperative Farming Commission

In todays episode of Propaganda By The Seed we chat with Joseph Lofthouse about the Cooperative Gardens Commission (formerly Coronavirus Victory Gardens Commission).  We talk about how to get involved with the Cooperative Gardens Commission and what they’re doing to link experienced farmers, up with new growers and people with access to land to build up local food production.   Joseph is also a plant breeder who creates one-of-a-kind seeds he sells through the Experimental Farming Network.  We talk about his approach to creating landrace crops and the importance of saving seeds.     For more info on the cooperative Gardens Commission go to: https://www.CoopGardens.org You can support Joseph's work by buying his seeds at https://store.experimentalfarmnetwork.org/collections/lofthouse   Music: "Like Weeds" by His Hero Is Gone

53:39

S01 Feb 6, 2020

Elderberry (Culinary & Medicinal Uses)

In this episode we talk about Elderberry (Sambucus species) .  Thier most commonly used today today to make a powerful herbal medicine.  We talk about how to identify them for foraging and how to propagate and cultivate Elderberry shrubs.  We discuss Elderberries' use throughout history to make everything from musical instruments to salves. With many uses, ease of cultivation and a native range covering the lower 48 states and most of Canada, Sabucus nigra is a species that will find a place in almost any garden. This episode is sponsored by Edgewood Nursery, producing unusual edible plants in a regenerative permaculture system in so called Falmouth, Maine. Check out our online storefront at https://edgewood-nursery.com/shop and use the code "SOLECAST" at checkout for 10% off your order.

49:45

S01 Jan 9, 2020

"Stinging Nettle"

In this episode of the Solecast “plant of the month” series we will be talking about Stinging Nettle. While hated by many, Nettles are highly valuable to those that can appreciate their many positive attributes. Stinging Nettle is an herbaceous perennial that is found all over the world. They have been used throughout history as a medicine, a food source, for fiber, cordage and ceremonies. We talk about how they grow, how to propagate them, how to cook with the leaves and some of their other uses. For some nettle photos checkout the Edgewood Nursery instagram. This episode is sponsored by Edgewood Nursery, producing unusual edible plants in a regenerative permaculture system in so called Falmouth, Maine. Check out our online storefront and use the code "SOLECAST" at checkout for 10% off your order. While Nettle plants are not available at the time we release this episode, they are available any time the ground isn't frozen at the nursery and can be found at this page. Outro Music “Like Weeds” by Yacht Communism (Formerly His Hero Is Gone)