Propaganda By The Seed

Alan Bergo aka Forager Chef

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 17:18:00 +0000

This episode of Propaganda by the Seed we speak with Alan Bergo aka Forager Chef(www.foragerchef.com). Alan is a chef out of the midwest who is known for using wild ingredients to create unique gourmet dishes. He has been executive chef and run several kitchens, is the creator for the Apple TV show “Field, Forest, Feast,” and has published a new book, “Flora” which is discussed in this episode. We were struck by Alan’s humility and how much fun we had talking to him about his work.

In this episode we talk about cooking with and storing wild greens, his origin story, cooking with plants that have been labeled “toxic,” and his ethics and thoughts on foraging. For more information on Alan’s work visit foragerchef.com and check out his new book “Flora”

Oca with Eve Emshwiller

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 09:05:00 +0000

In today’s episode we talk with Eve Emshwiller about Oca (Oxalis tuberosa), a fascinating root crop from the Andes. Eve has spent many years studying Oca and was able to share tons of really interesting stuff with us about how and why Oca is grown in the Andes and why this plant doesn’t necessarily grow well in other regions. You can find Eve on instagram at @eveemshwiller, on google scholar or visit her page at The University of Wisconsen at Madison. If you want to try growing Oca, Cultivariable is a good source.

2022 Year End Wrap up with Zach Elfers, Davis Wang, Andy Prole and Mallory O'Donnell

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 07:35:00 +0000

In this episode Aaron and Tim talk a bit about what we learned this year, what are excited about for next year and some of our favorite tools. Rather then rambling on indefinitely we decided to check back with some previous guests about their year and well as checking in some other people who we think are doing interesting stuff.

- Zach Elfers ( @susq_woodlum on IG) was our 2^nd ever guest on PBTS, you can buy plants from him at Future Forest Plants or seeds at http://www.nomadseed.com/. He mentions a tool from Rebel Garden Tools.

-Davis Wang ( @humbleabodenursery on IG). Davis is a nurseryman from Ashfield, MA. His IG has some great content on plants, propagation and the occasional goofy video. Check out his video series on making a mist bed. You can buy plants from Davis at humbleabodenursery.com

- Andy from Poor Prole’s Almanac ( @poorprolesalmanac on IG). Aaron was a guest on Poor Prole’s Almanac awhile back. Check out Andy’s other podcast Tomorrow, Today and his new-ish project @PPAsites . For more info on Earthnut Pea breeding check out this facebook group.

- Mallory O'Donnell ( @mallorylodonnell on IG). Mallory was a guest on PBTS in spring of 2022. This section gets into some more political and philosophical topics.

Outro music is part of Dead Flag Blues by Godspeed You! Black Emperor.

Chestnuts w/ Sandy Anognostakis

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 14:49:00 +0000

In todays episode of Propaganda By The Seed we speak with “Dr Sandy” aka Sandra Anagnostakis. Dr. Sandy is a past-president of the Northern Nut Growers Alliance. She has been working on breeding blight resistant chestnuts since 1968 at the Connecticut Agricultural Station and has selected and named many of the cultivars currently in use. Her areas of expertise include Fungal genetics and physiology, Plant genetics and breeding, and Host-parasite interactions. We have a long ranging conversation speaking about growing, harvesting, and breeding chestnuts. Sandy talks about her experience working with chestnuts for over 40 years, all the challenges and benefits of this incredible plant and tons of fascinating historic anecdotes from her work over the years.

For more information on Dr Sandy and her work, check out her bio page on the Connecticut Agricultural Station or look her up on Google Scholar.

(Note: this podcast was recorded around March/April 2022)

Eastern Agricultural Complex with Natalie G. Mueller

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 07:00:35 +0000

In this episode we talk with Natalie G. Mueller about the Eastern Agricultural Complex. The EAC was a group of plants independently domesticated by Indigenous people of Eastern Turtle Island (aka North America) starting 7,000-8,000 years ago. Some of these plants, like the Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) we still know and love, but others are no longer commonly cultivated and are generally unfamiliar, like Sumpweed (Iva annua). Natalie mentions some of these resources in the interview: Lost Crops Grower’s Guides , Her paper on the differences between domestication/breeding/GMO work and Gayle’s paper on evidence of Sumpweed cultivation in the 1500s

Cornelion Cherries with Little John

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 11:24:03 +0000

In this episode we chat with Little John about his favorite plant obsession, Cornelian Cherries (Cornus mas). We cover propagation, maintenance, harvest and a few of the hundreds of uses for the fruit (and other parts of the plant!). After a few heavy topics, it’s nice to take a little break and just shoot the shit about a fascinating plant.

Little John is a prolific maker of memes, which you can find at https://tinyurl.com/cornusmemes

He is also the founder of North American Scion Exchange Facebook Group and a admin of the Cornelian Cherry Growers group.

If you are looking to purchase Cornelian Cherry trees you might try: One Green World, Fedco Trees, Cricket Hill Garden, Whitman Farms or Hidden Spring Nursery

Propagating by cuttings: Jay Grace has had very good rates of success rooting dormant cuttings in the fall with mist and bottom heat. He says rooting hormone is not needed

Herbal Abortion & Fertility Control Pt 2 W/ Mischa Schuler

Fri, 22 Jul 2022 15:03:20 +0000

In part two of our Herbal Abortion and Fertility Control series, we chat with Mischa Schuler. Mischa is the director of Wild Carrot Herbs. In this episode Mischa discusses various herbal, homoeopathic and over-the-counter methods for fertility control, some of their uses and limitations.

If you missed it, check out the first part of this series with August Sender.

Show Notes:

Excellent free book put out by Sage-Femme Collective covering aspects of what we discussed.

Wild Carrot and Conscious Contraception interview with Mischa Schuler hosted by Kay'aleya Hunnybee on the Herbal Womb Wisdom podcast

Wild Carrot interview with Robin Rose Bennet (Mischa's Wild Carrot teacher) hosted by Robin La Cross of Holistic Sex Ed Radio

Music: Our Hero Is Gone "Like Weeds"

Herbal Abortion and Fertility Control with August Sender

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 07:18:48 +0000

This month we will be bringing you a two part episode on herbal abortion and fertility control. It’s a complicated and heavy topic, but our guests bring a lot of knowledge to the table and offer a nuanced but down to earth look at the information. In part one August focuses on the history and political context of herbal abortion and fertility control. Content warning: this discussion touches on a bunch of heavy subjects including racism, patriarchy, rape, slavery and others. August references or recommends these sources for further research:

Gossypium spp. (Cotton Root Bark): A Symbol of Herbal Resistance by Karen L. Culpepper

Caliban and the Witch by Silvia Federici and/or the podcast Book on Fire

The Red Door Collective

Holistic Abortions on Instagram

Molly Dutton-Kenny’s Blog and/or Instagram, especially these resources and this article about Queen Anne’s Lace

Indoor Mushroom Cultivation and DIY Mycology Labs

Mon, 30 May 2022 08:18:38 +0000

In this episode of Propaganda by the Spore, Aaron gets into the nitty gritty of indoor mushroom cultivation and DIY mycology labs. The first part of the show describes how to grow mushrooms using spawn purchased from a supplier, which is a quite easy and a great place to start. In the second part we talk about how to produce your own spawn from spores, cultures or even fresh mushrooms. This process is a bit complex, but if it’s something you are excited about there are simple and cheap ways to go about doing it. This PDF contains tons of useful links and additional info that wouldn’t fit in the show notes.

Solidarity Apothecary: Frontline Herbal Support for Ukraine, Calais, Prisoners & More

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 12:25:29 +0000

In todays episode of Propaganda By The Seed we talk with Nicole from Solidarity Apothecary who is currently in Poland supporting refugees from Ukraine with Herbal Medicines. From the website: The main focus of the Solidarity Apothecary is making and distributing plant medicines to people experiencing state violence and repression. This includes people being arrested, on trial, imprisoned, detained or recovering from these experiences, as well as prisoner families, frontline organisers and more. In this conversation we talk about the origins of this project, her experiences as a political prisoner, the experience of supporting refugees(both in Calais and Poland), and some of her favorite plant medicines to make. We also discuss Nicole’s good friend and former partner Anna Campbell who died in Rojava fighting with the YPG. In this interview we talk about her books “Overcoming Burnout,” “The Medicinal Herb Coloring Book,” The Prisoner’s Herbal Book and a course she offers on making herbal medicines with glycerin.

To support Solidarity Apothecary's current work supporting Ukranian Refugees and all the other ongoing work, donate here. and follow on the gram Cover: A Botannical Drawing of Valerian, an herbal sleep aid that has become nearly impossible to find in Ukraine due to Russia's invasion.

Music “Don't Burn The Witch” by OI POLLOI

Mycorrhizal Fungi with Michael Phillips

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 05:20:11 +0000

Propaganda by the Spore is back! In this episode we cover mycorrhizal fungi and their fascinating interactions with plants, along with some details about how to support that connection and manage fruit trees for maximum health. We are sad to report that our guest for this episode Michael Phillips suffered a fatal heart attack just a few days after recording this interview. He was a warm and humble person who really advanced the art and science of orcharding in a substantial way. We are joined in the introduction by Eliza “The Apple Queen” Greenman to reflect on Michael’s life and legacy for a few minutes before getting into depths of the mycorrhizal world.

You can purchase Michael’s books from his website, which we highly recommend, especially The Holistic Orchard.

To hear Michael talk on a broader range of orcharding topics we recommend this video, there is also a huge amount of info available at his Holistic Orchard Network.

You can support Michael’s family in staying on their farm by donating to their Go Fund Me

How To Cook A Weed w/ Mallory O'Donnell

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 14:23:33 +0000

In this episode we chat with forager, chef, writer and grower Mallory O'Donnell. Mallory has a working class yet gourmet approach to working with wild & unusual
ingredients to create unique dishes , ferments, and spice mixes with an emphasis on Georgian Cuisine. Mallory goes in depth their origins as a forager/cook, provides some perspective on how to interact/engage with wild plants and throws out dozens of inspiring ideas both for cooks and growers.

Some of the plants discussed in this episode:
-Spikenard (Aralia racemosa) and other Aralia family members
-Turkish Rocket (Bunias orientalis)
-Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica)
-Juniper berries (Juniperus spp.)
-Black Nightshade fruit (Solanum nigrum)
-Bee Balm (Monarda spp.)
-Spice bush (Lindera benzoin)
-Paw paw (Asimina triloba)
-Viburnium (Viburnum spp.)
-Acorns (Quercus spp.)
-Trifoliate Orange (Poncirus trifoliata)
-Cow Parsnip aka Pushki (Heracleum maximum )

To learn more about Mallory's work visit howtocookaweed.com or visit their Instagram

Mushroom Cultivation with Kate Roelke

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 07:00:00 +0000

In this episode we start our short tangent into the world of Fungi. We start off by talking with Kate Roelke, a lab mycologist at North Spore. She will tell us all about the life cycle of mushrooms along with lots information about various cultivation techniques and some specifics about a few different species. If you want to get in touch with Kate you can find her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kateroelke/ In the episode Kate recommends the book Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation by Trad Cotter. If you want to use hydrated agricultural lime for cold pasteurizing mushroom substrates, try using just over 1/3 cup of lime per 5 gallons water.

2021 Growing Season Wrap-up

Fri, 31 Dec 2021 17:54:46 +0000

In this episode of Propaganda By The Seed, we take a look back on the 2021 growing season on our homesteads. We talk about new plants & crops we grew this year, surprises, and what we learned growing in this year of collapsing empire, global pandemics and climate weirdness.

Aaron is about to release his 2022 Seed Catalogue, pick up seeds at edgewood-nursery.com

Seed Saving

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 08:00:00 +0000

In this episode Aaron goes into all the basics of seed saving. We cover the different kinds of plants and how they make seeds, how to collect, when to collect, and how to deal with dry and wet seeds. We also give an overview of different methods for processing seeds once collected, how to store them, and why its important to do such things in an alienated and collapsing world.

This episode has four video companions up on youtube. We will be uploading to instagram, detailing how to build a seed thresher, how to use various tools to process seeds and how to collect them. Peep em on our instagram... @propagandabytheseed

Accompanying Videos:
Propaganda by the Seed: Harvesting Dry Seeds
Propaganda by the Seed: Cleaning Dry Seeds
Propaganda by the Seed: Cleaning wet seeds

Produced by Chris Bergman from Listening House Media.

Hardy Kiwis with Jesse Stevens

Thu, 19 Aug 2021 05:00:00 +0000

In this episode we talk with Jesse Stevens of Sy's Trees about all things hardy Kiwi. We cover the ins and outs of propagating, cultivating and enjoying these vigorous and hardy vines. We also touch on a few other unusual crops Jesse is cultivating in his diverse orchard in Sweden, Maine.

If you would like to get in touch with Jesse to purchase plants or propagation materials you can email him at systrees*at*gmail.com

Figs w/ Miekal And of Beyond Vineyard

Fri, 28 May 2021 08:00:00 +0000

In this episode we talk to Miekal And of Beyond Vineyard talking about figs, and provide a basic tutorial on how to grow them and propagate them. We also talk about his work breeding Siberian Sea Peach. This conversation also gets into his back story as an anarchist visual artist, performer, writer, publisher, and now permaculturist and winemaker. For more information on Miekal's work or to buy some plants from him visit Beyond vineyard.

Paw Paws with Partisan Gardens

Fri, 30 Apr 2021 05:00:00 +0000

This episode is a collaboration with our friends at the Partisan Gardens Podcast. It's a little different style, with more voices and more production, we think you will like it! Our conversation is all about the Paw Paw (Asimina triloba), the largest native fruit on this continent! These amazing members of the Annonaceae family taste like a cross between a Mango and a Banana, but with a flavor all their own. As usual we talk about the botany, history, culture and cuisine of the plant. If you enjoy this episode be sure to check out more episodes of Partisan Gardens.

Hazelnuts w/ Andrew Fiori

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 12:35:39 +0000

In this episode of Propaganda By The Seed we speak with hazelnut & native plant breeder, Andrew Fiori of Campo Di Fiori. Andrew goes in depth on how to propagate, breed, care for and co-exist with Hazelnuts. Andrew talks about his ideas about human/plant relationships, his work designing native landscapes and developing food systems.

Eastern Woodlands Rematriation W/ Alivia Moore and Kessi Kimball

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 08:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Propaganda By The Seed we talk with Alivia Moore and Kessi Kimbal about their work with the Eastern Woodlands Rematriation Collective. The collective works across several tribal communities to support food / medicine sovereignty and to facilitate land access and the return of #landback to Indigenous people. We are really impressed with the work these folks are doing and hope
to continue the conversation in future episodes.

You can support the work of Eastern Woodlands Rematriation Collective at https://whyhunger.org/ewrematriation/
If you have access to land to share, or return, please contact Alivia at Livmoore16@gmail.com

Episode image copied from https://native-land.ca, check out their interactive map of Indigenous territories, languages and treaties.

Seaberries w/ Ben Falk

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 12:55:25 +0000

In this episode of Propaganda By The Seed we talk with Ben Falk, author of The Resilient Homestead on Chelsea Green. This discussion is mostly about seaberries(Hippophae rhamnoides) a nitrogen fixing plant that has 10 times more vitamin c than oranges and a range of other somewhat unique nutritional benefits. We also discuss how to grow them, breed them, and some uses for them. Ben also talks about different greenhouse practices he employs, beekeeping, rice and black walnuts.

If you appreciate our work, support this podcast on patreon and rate it in the I-tunes store.

Propagating Trees & Perennial Vegetables From Seed

Wed, 25 Nov 2020 15:28:30 +0000

In the season finale of Propaganda By The Seed, we look back on our first year of doing the podcast and what we’ve learned from it. We spend the bulk of the podcast detailing late fall activities that can be done to grow trees and perennial vegetables from seed. Aaron lays out multiple methods for growing nut trees, stone fruit trees (peach, cherry, paw paw, etc.), and perennial vegetables from seed. Starting a backyard forest garden or large scale planting can be very expensive and learning the methods of growing from seed is a fun and cheap way to save thousands of dollars. We talk about where to get these plants, how to store and stratify then, and how to fertilize them, take care of them and transplant them. Thanks for listening to Season One of Propaganda By The Seed. If you’ve enjoyed this podcast we’d love to hear from you, pop us an email at edgewoodlandscapes (at) yahoo or sole (at) soleone.org . If you want to support us financially you can pick up some plants from Edgewood Nursery or subscribe to the Sole patreon.

Eating Acorns w/ Lisa Willey

Tue, 29 Sep 2020 11:56:32 +0000

In this episode we met up at Edgewood Nursery with Lisa Willey to conduct an in person podcast on foraging and eating acorns. Lisa is an environmental scientist, educator and makes incredible foods using foraged ingredients. We’ll go over everything you need to know to harvest, collect, process and cook with acorns. Lisa discusses her technique for making (vegan) acorn cheeses, as well as (sourdough) breads, crackers, pancakes, muffins, etc. We also talk a bit about the history of humans eating acorns, some random foraging anecdotes, and an all around wholesome & informative talk on one of North America’s most plentiful food sources. Follow Lisa on instagram

Farming From Gambia to Maine w/ Ousman Ndure

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 15:57:59 +0000

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)

Rooftop Gardens w/ Mike Spade

Thu, 23 Jul 2020 05:00:00 +0000

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.

Mulberries w/ Eliza Greenman & Taylor Malone

Thu, 11 Jun 2020 15:17:59 +0000

In this episode of Propaganda By The Seed we talk with Eliza Greenman & Taylor Malone of the North American Fruit Explorers. We talk about Mulberries, their history , how to propagate them and the work they’ve done to uncover rare cultivars such as the Hicks Everbearing Mulberry. Mulberry leaves are surprisingly high in protein and an 8 year old tree can produce up to a quart of berries a day, making them one of the most prolific fruit bearers around. This episode covers a lot of ground, from the usage of mulberries in silvopasture (in conjunction with pigs or goats) to some of the more interesting things people do with them around the world.

Breeding Perennial Kale w/ Chris Homanics

Thu, 28 May 2020 13:50:22 +0000

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.

The Food Forest Network w Sweet Potato

Thu, 14 May 2020 14:23:45 +0000

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.

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

Thu, 07 May 2020 14:03:36 +0000

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.

A Good Time To Plant a Garden II: Soil, Water, Sun

Thu, 23 Apr 2020 15:02:55 +0000

Propaganda by the Seed Its a Good Time To Start a Garden II This episode of propaganda by the Seed is a follow up to “It's a Good Time To Plant a Garden." In this episode we cover: Seed starting / hardening off of plants Good crops for low light / urban environments Growing in containers / small spaces Pest control Creating/maintaining healthy soil Many of these topics are attempts to answer listeners questions, if you would like to see more episodes like this please let us know and submit questions for future episodes.

Joseph Lofthouse on the Cooperative Farming Commission

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 13:59:23 +0000

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

"Its a Good Time To Plant a Garden"

Thu, 26 Mar 2020 17:53:46 +0000

In today’s episode of Propaganda By The Seed we wanted to do a basic gardening episode to get people growing in these dark times. Considering that this year is already full of uncertainty and chaos learning to grow food can only be a positive thing. In this episode we talk about the basics of starting plants from seed, preparing a bed using sheet mulching,getting the plants in the ground, using compost to produce healthy plants and obtaining the things you need to get the whole project off the ground. We also talk about using cold frames and low tunnels for season extension and discuss some of our favorite perennial plants to grow. There is lots of information for new growers and experienced growers To follow this episode up, if people have questions we’ll be hosting a live Q&A on jitsi on Monday, March 30th 2020, 7PM EST here.

In this episode we mention the planting specifications from the Fedco Catalogue, you can view it here or check out the interactive version of the vegetable seed chart here.

To support this project you can pick up seeds, trees and plants from Edgewood Nursery(Use the code SOLECAST for 10% off) or support sole on patreon.

Music: Our Hero is Gone : "Like Weeds"

Elderberry (Culinary & Medicinal Uses)

Thu, 06 Feb 2020 07:54:00 +0000

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.

"Stinging Nettle"

Thu, 09 Jan 2020 07:44:00 +0000

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)

Turkish Rocket

Thu, 05 Dec 2019 05:24:00 +0000

Psyched to unveil “Plant of the Month…” A new podcast series w/ Aaron Parker of Edgewood Nursery focusing on perennial vegetables / unusual plants. For our first episode we’re gonna talk about Bunias Orientalis aka Turkish Rocket. Turkish Rocket is a perennial vegetable often used in forest gardens that produces small edible broccoli raab like flower buds and arugula/cabbage tasting leaves.

We also discuss Actinidia polygama aka “Silvervine Kiwi” which can also be purchased direct from Edgewood Nursery

Around The World in 80 Plants w/ Stephen Barstow

Thu, 23 May 2019 08:33:00 +0000

This episode of the Solecast I sit down with Stephen Barstow, aka The Extreme Salad Man to talk about his work documenting and popularizing rare edible plants. We are also joined by Aaron Parker from Edgewood Nursery who introduced me to Stephen's work and also grows and sells a lot of these plants.

In this conversation we talk about his book "Around the World In 80 Plants," his website Edimentals.com and his lifelong quest to research, catalogue, grow and experiment with thousands of rare edible plants from around the world. We get into his origin story as a vegetarian in meat-centric Norway uncovering the growing potentials in his region through foraging. He talks about his travels around the world learning about how these plants are grown, used and then bringing those plants home to cultivate. For anyone who is bored with growing the same old shit, or interested in permaculture/forest farming his work is inspiring, informative and coverers a much wider range of vegetables then are commonly discussed in permaculture and market farming.

Pick up his book "Around The World In 80 Plants" direct from Stephen and check out his website Edimentals.com

My guest co-host for this interview, Aaron from Edgewood Nursery sells a lot of the plants and seeds for the perennial plants that Stephen promotes, check out his website at EdgewoodNursery.com.