Evan Harrison, the visionary CEO of Kiss the Ground—a nonprofit powerhouse that's igniting the regenerative agriculture movement through storytelling. Evan unpacks the transformative power of regenerative agriculture, from boosting nutrient density in our food to fueling the farm-to-table movement that's reconnecting us with nature's bounty. We'll also explore the cultural ripple effects of Kiss the Ground's groundbreaking films: the award-winning film Kiss the Ground (narrated by Woody Harrelson), which has inspired millions and even influenced USDA policy with its call to regenerate soils for climate stability; and its even more impactful sequel documentary film Common Ground (featuring narrators Laura Dern, Jason Momoa, Rosario Dawson, and Donald Glover), a Tribeca and Cinema for Peace winner exposing the politics behind our broken food system while spotlighting real-world solutions from regenerative farmers. With a background in digital media, Evan pioneered music platforms at iHeartRadio and AOL. Now Evan brings his passion for environmentalism (sparked by his lifelong love of surfing and board service at Surfrider Foundation) to lead the charge against climate, water, and health crises through soil regeneration. Donate to help convert land to regenerative practices at  www.kisstheground.com Common Ground Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFIHqbStxpU&t=6  

Keith Bearden, CEO of Alter Eco Foods, makes chocolate. REALLY GOOD chocolate. His company takes chocolate to a whole new level, for the whole ‘ecosystem’ from producer to manufacturing to finished product. We discuss growing, transportation, processing, manufacturing, packaging, and more. You’ll walk away from this knowing a LOT more about chocolate and caring very much what’s in it, why, and where it came from. According to Keith, if you eat an Alter Eco bar you’re helping to improve the planet one chocolate bar at a time.  https://www.alterecofoods.com/

Josh Dorfman is a climate entrepreneur, author, and media personality. As CEO and host of Supercool, he hosts the SUPERCOOL podcast spotlighting real-world climate solutions that cut carbon, boost the bottom line, and improve modern life. Previously, Josh co-founded and was CEO of Plantd a carbon-negative building materials manufacturer named to Fast Company’s 2024 list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies. Josh has founded two modern design sustainable furniture startups, launched and led Vine.com, an Amazon business for natural and organic products, and served as CEO of The Collider, the nation’s first innovation center for climate resilience and adaptation. Earlier in his career, Josh was executive producer and host of The Lazy Environmentalist, an award-winning media brand he developed into a Sundance Channel television series, a daily SiriusXM radio show, and two books. 

Over 17,000 ranches fail annually, a trend persisting for 40 years. The average rancher is 58, with 89% of ranches under 100 cows (average herd: 22). Most are family-run, with off-farm jobs. For every retiring rancher, fewer than one replaces them, threatening agriculture’s future. Joel and the crew at Smoke River Ranch are experts in history, economics, and agriculture, are reversing this decline. Their proof-of-concept farm grew from 15 to over 400 head in three years, pioneering digital localism, community-building, ultra-high-density grazing, and advanced cattle genetics. 
https://www.smokeriverranch.com/ X: UntappedGrowth

A new and ancient story about perennial nut trees, our ecological role as humans, and the future of food. Feed Us with Trees is Elspeth's hopeful manifesto about a new and ancient food system centered on  perennial nut trees: oaks, chestnuts, and hazelnuts. Elspeth is an Author, creator of the Local Food Report, and proponent of place-based living. Deeply immersed in her own local-food system, Elspeth’s work focuses on food, the environment, and the people, places, and ideas that feed us.www.elspethhay.com  IG: Elspeth Hay (@elspethhay)

Louis de Jaeger is a permaculturist, author, and award-winning documentary filmmaker from Bruges, Belgium. He’s pro Team Humanity and deeply passionate about soil regeneration. He's on a mission to regenerate 550 million hectares of land through his work. Louis sees a path forward for our species as stewards on this Earth. We discussed his brand new critically acclaimed book "Save Our Soils." To quote Alan Savory on Louis' writing:"he puts his ego aside with humility to listen to what nature is saying, with the courage to challenge his own beliefs."  https://louisdj.com/linkedin.com/in/louisdejaeger

Sam Baker is a chemist who started a company with his friends while he was at University. Wrigglebrew is a unique little company solving fertilizer runoff, algal blooms, increasing nutrient density in foods, all by creating a shelf-stable organic fertilizer from earthworm manure tea. He tells his tale of Perionyx Excavatus earthworms, Teddy the worm guy, the magic of enzymes in natural processes, the great problems of growing 10x every year, and the latest project he is working on – his own discovered process using a series of worms to successfully ingest and consume nonrecyclable dirty polystyrene and related plastics and then making tea from it!  www.wrigglebrew.com www.instragram.com/wrigglebrewwww.Facebook.com/PRAGwrigglebrewhttps://x.com/llcprag  www.linkedin.com/company/wrigglebrewhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPzJEBVwHWJzbmc15QN5TcQ

Skeptical of hydroponics claiming to be regenerative? Meet Connor Tidd CEO of Just Vertical. Right out of the gate Judith challenges Connor to make the case that hydroponics can indeed be regenerative and even the best option in certain places on earth where us humans live.  Just Vertical is a small company out of Ontario Canada that's starting to get a lot of attention. www.justvertical.com and on IG: just.vertical  

Van Carlson is the Founder & CEO of SRA 831(b) Admin and has over 25 years of experience within the risk management industry. In 2008, he saw the Great Recession hit his commercial business clients hard, and just like them, he was also affected by the sharp downturn in our economy. During this time, he realized there must be a better way to manage risk overall. From that desire to improve business operations for both himself and his clients, along with his extensive background in insurance, risk management, and finance, a mission to educate others about 831(b) Plans began. It continues today with his steadfast commitment to empowering trusted advisors and entrepreneurs through innovative risk solutions, Carlson has been a guest on more than 75 podcasts in a myriad of industries and has presented at conferences across the country. He also spearheaded SRA to new heights, earning a spot on the Inc 5000 among other prestigious awards. https://www.831b.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/vancarlson/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/sra-831b/

Meet Andrew Millison, permaculture educator at Oregon State University, and owner of the largest permaculture channel on YouTube. He’s known for his instructional videos covering massive projects like greening the Sahara Desert and several different national level projects in India to restore entire watersheds and make rivers flow again. Andrew talks about a series of projects around the world he's covered, things he's learned and lessons for us all.  Andrew seeks solutions and then highlights them to spark understanding and seeing the inner connection between the earth, food, health, and society… he finds the places where things are working and he studies them then elevates and shares these success stories, all across the globe.  Youtube Channel: Andrew Millison 

Meet Janelle Anderson, the striking tall iconic farmsteading milkmaid and cattle guru. She’s in lots of homesteading videos in her wide brimmed hat flashing her million dollar smile and sharing a TON of knowledge. She and her husband founded The Haven Farmstead in Tennessee where they live with their children. Janelle examines the critical importance of planning, mentors, support networks and community, touching on the differences between plans and the flow of life circumstances, and how to be both flexible and resilient in the face of unexpected events and setbacks. We also talk about biodiversity in pasture management, nerd out on native grasses. Janelle talks candidly about hard choices and the temptation of adding too much livestock, and touches on having a Plan B in case of adversity – and how she ended up using her own small crisis and turned it into a blessing for others. Her big heart and deep wisdom shines through. It’s no wonder that she’s gracing stages nationwide in homesteading circles. To take advantage of Janelle’s classes, workshops, livestock consulting and mentoring, and to learn about her upcoming book on beef cattle on the farmstead, visit www.TheHavenFarmstead.com   IG: JanelleLynnAnderson

Billy Nelson, custom knifemaker and founder of ELEVEN KNIVES COMPANY – (soon to be XIRO knives).  is a hard-charging craftsman, driven by his ambition, entrepreneurism, and relentless pursuit of quality. He creates knives from special-purpose American industrial steel that is being discarded, wooden waste materials, and a special proprietary process for making visually stunning handles in a regenerative process turning waste to heirlooms. He talks about the timeless resilient beauty of carbon steel heirloom cleavers and his bestselling vegetable workhorse – the timeless Japanese Nakiri. I’ve held his knives. Not only are they perfectly balanced and perfectly fashioned, but they are drop-dead GORGEOUS. Check out his stellar craftsmanship at http://www.elevenknives.com    

Lindy Elston, owner of Lindy’s Designs and a 24-year old entrepreneur, specializing in upcycling items, adding Pendleton Wool patterns, and giving things a new life.  She’s a 4th generation farmer in Pennsylvania sharing knowledge and experience with her own generation, Gen Z / Post Millennials, in today’s uncertain world. From Lindy’s designs upcycled items to Lindy’s Field Notes where she teaches canning, homesteading skills, hunting, gardening,  and and old things new again. See her inspired designs, named after influential women in her life:  www.Lindy-design.com  and on instagram:  _lindydesign_  

From catching a wild swarm to horizontal hives, listen to how to shed the 'factory beekeeping' paradigms and raise super healthy bees, naturally, with minimal physical effort, happier bees, fewer stings, and zero chemical inputs. Adam lays it all out sequentially in this must-listen-to episode. Adam is the founder of http://www.beekept.com and the author of Bee Kept with Wild and Free Honeybees. Adam and his wife Leslie keep bees in Culleoka, Tennessee and build horizontal hives, give classes, run an online mentor-mentee beekeeping club, and much more.   

Iconic cattleman Will Harris spends an hour talking about regenerative ranching and raising 10 species of grassfed meats on his 2000 acre farm in Bluffton Georgia. He leases and grazes an additional 3000 acres and has created nearly 200 jobs in his town, entirely reversing the downward trajectory that his town was in. Will discusses the positive ripple effect and benefit in the surrounding county. Author of "A Bold Return to Giving a Damn; One Farm, Six Generations and the Future of Food" he's the driving force behind www.whiteoakpastures.com  where he and his daughters and a stellar staff of dedicated hardworking people bring education, outreach, and top quality food to the surrounding areas and thousands of families.

Support for the West End Bakery, they're feeding hundreds of families every day out of their own pocket, running a bakery with no power, just gas, serving up hearty healthy sourdough bread. They need supplies and support - you can contribute to them at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-west-end-bakerys-effort-to-feed-asheville   Additional agencies who are on the ground and doing great work are the Cajun Navy, Samaritan's Purse, and Mercury One.  

Straight talk about what happened, why, what's going on and how people can help. Discussion about general preparedness follows. Specific ways to help: The Funny Farm: A small business that is leading grassroots efforts to get supplies to those that were cut off from everything by the Nolichucky River. Venmo @FunnyFarmTN (3632) put “floods” in the description.  Follow @FunnyFarmTN on Instagram and Facebook for updates.  Run by Tammy Stanton, one of the speakers that was at The East Tennessee Homestead Alliance Festival  River of Life / Michael & Deirdre Hefflin: Making meals for those in urgent need; Venmo @riveroflifemiracles CashApp:$riveroflifemiracles  Follow River of Life (River of Life Miracles) on Facebook Samaritan's Purse - Headquartered in Boone, NC, one of the cities that were hit extremely hard.  Currently helping in 5 sites.   https://www.samaritanspurse.org/ Grindstone Ministries: non-profit organization that provides disaster relief and construction services to those affected by devastating storms.  They will be helping in Tennessee and North Carolina  www.grindstoneministries.com Local Churches:  Our local churches are playing a HUGE role in recovery efforts.  If your local church is collecting monetary or physical donations to send to a sister church in Appalachia, that would be a great option as our supply chains are currently very stressed.  Needs (NOT CLOTHES): Living Essentials: non-perishable food, water, tents, flashlights, gas cans, propane tanks (large and small), portable grills (with propane or charcoal), can openers, baby food and formula, diapers Cleaning and Sanitizing: buckets, bleach, gloves,n-95  masks, paper towels, trash bags

Another installation of This Month I Learned, group chat with Wendi Bergen and Greg Peterson. Last month we laughed about Chicken Juice. This month we discover the spinach tree and Pea-Trees. We discuss freeze drying the harvest, deterring deer and what to do when big tomatoes fail three years in a row- grow lots of little ones! We discuss the decline of Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar, APEEL, and then cover a whiz bang app that helps people make healthier decisions in the grocery store, the niftiest pickle jar ever, and how to reuse/recycle canning seals. Prominently mentioned in this episode: https://permapasturesfarm.com/products/billys-bone-sauce   

Chad Johnson, protegee of Sepp Holzer, permaculture designer at Kingdom Come Permaculture, is pushing the boundaries of what we consider possible. He ‘unfolds the earth’ to create microclimates and sacred spaces for humans, designing with nature for the delight of humans. He has a special affinity for water and earthworks, creating crown gardens, connecting human hearts to nature and feeding the soul, and connecting through dreams in a process he calls imagineering, planting "raspbarriers", and continuously experimenting. www.kingdomcome.earth  

Water on the mind because there's not enough here.  Worst drought in 35 years. Getting philosophical on water handling and sharing the golden observations of what drought looks like on my farmstead. PS: Rainmaker needed.