Episode #131: Spiral Ridge Permaculture

Posted on February 14, 2012 by

Frank is joined by Cliff Davis of Spiral Ridge Permaculture.  Cliff begins by breaking down the natural history, forest composition, soil types, and topography of his permaculture farm in central Tennessee.  The topic then shifts to permacultural strategies for success in this challenging environment, and concludes with a discussion of the political challenges of a establishing a permanent culture in a damaged society.

Spiral Ridge Permaculture

7th Annual Permaculture Design Course in Belize

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Posted in English, Farmers, Permaculture | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Episode #130: For the Listeners

Posted on January 31, 2012 by

Frank dedicates this episode to the listeners of the podcast for their patience and encouragement over a six month period in which the site agroinnovations.com was broken and no new material was forthcoming.  He discusses changes in his personal life that made new installments difficult, and then goes on to discuss the new, streamlined Agroinnovations.com site.  He continues with more news on Monsanto’s war against the biosphere, and concludes with a preview of what’s to come in subsequent episodes.

Links mentioned in the show:

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Posted in English, Podcast News | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Episode #129: Merry Christmas, Monsanto

Posted on December 26, 2011 by
Monsanto stock price 2000–2010.

Monsanto's Stock Price; Image via Wikipedia

This episode of the Agroinnovations Podcast salutes everybody’s favorite biotechnology company Monsanto by wishing them a Merry Christmas. We begin by noting some of the successes of governments in resisting transgenetic engineering, and continue with a discussion of three key vulnerabilities of the biotech giants; these weaknesses are summarized as labeling policy, agronomic failure, and financial instability.  Each is discussed in turn, with concrete examples and formulas for continuing the information war against Monsanto.

Useful links below:

Articles with additional information not mentioned in the podcast:

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Posted in Economics, English, Food | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Episode #128: Biodynamic Agriculture

Posted on June 28, 2011 by

We are joined by Hugh Courtney of the Josephine Porter Institute for Applied Biodynamics. We discuss the life and ideas of Rudolph Steiner, the life and practice of Josephine Porter, biodynamic preparations and how they are made, the application of these preparations on the land, results one can expect to see, and ways to preserve biodynamic techniques.

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Posted in English, Soil | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Episode #127: Peak Moment Television

Posted on June 20, 2011 by

Frank Aragona is joined by Janaia Donaldson, host and producer of Peak Moment Television.  Topics of discussion include the production of Peak Moment TV, geodesic domes in Colorado, the strengths and weaknesses of the relocalization movement, Peak Oil as a marginal idea in American society, relocalization as an apolitical phenomenon, and the future of Peak Moment TV.

Peak Moment TV (website)

Peak Moment TV (YouTube)

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Posted in English, Permaculture, Politics, Transition | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Episode #126: The Paicines Ranch

Posted on May 31, 2011 by

Frank is joined by Sallie Calhoun, Owner/Executive Director of the Paicines Ranch.   Sallie is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors at Holistic Management International, and is a passionate practitioner of and advocate for Holistic Management.  Please visit their website at www.holisticmanagement.org.

Topics of discussion include the ecology and wildlife of central California, the invasion of exotic annual grasses to the detriment of native perennials, oak regeneration in California, perceptions and realities of wild pigs, and the need for greater human capital on the North American land base.

The Paicines Ranch (website)

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Posted in English, Farmers, Holistic Management | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Episode #125: Holistic Management in Saskatchewan

Posted on May 24, 2011 by

Frank is joined by Blain Hjertaas, farmer, rancher, and Holistic Management Practitioner in Saskatchewan, Canada. Blain tells what is now the familiar tale of a high input farmer making the transition to low-input, holistic agriculture and seeing vast improvements in land health, farm diversity, income, and quality of life. Topics of discussion include multi-species management, transitioning from grain farmer to animal husbandry, convincing the neighbors, and the future of agriculture in Saskatchewan.

Agroinnovations Podcast Facebook Page

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Posted in English, Farmers, Holistic Management | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Episode #124: Back in the Saddle

Posted on May 9, 2011 by

The Agroinnovations Podcast is back after a hiatus of several weeks.  I begin by sharing an article by Tara Lohan entitled Vision: How Small, Mostly Conservative Towns Have Found the Trick to Defeating Corporations.  I then continue by sharing listner comments, and conclude by sharing another article by Jill Richardson about farm subsidies and the 2012 Farm Bill.

Vision: How Small, Mostly Conservative Towns Have Found the Trick to Defeating Corporations (By Tara Lohan, via Alternet)

Are All Farm Subsidies Giveaways to Corporate Farmers? (by Jill Richardson, via Alternet)

The Agroinnovations Podcast (Facebook Page)

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Posted in Economics, English, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Episode #123: Vocational Permaculture

Posted on April 5, 2011 by

We are joined by Robyn Francis of the Permaculture College of Australia. The conversation begins with a breakdown of how permaculture has become a certified vocation in Australia. We then discuss the curriculum at the Permaculture College, the process of certification, the job market for graduates, local government in Australia embracing permaculture, obstacles to adoption in the United States, and strategies for accelerating the process in local communities.

Permaculture College of Australia

The Agroinnovations Podcast on Facebook

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Posted in Education, English, Permaculture | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Episode #122: Inadvertently Organic

Posted on March 28, 2011 by

Rancher and Holistic Management Practitioner Walt Davis joins us to talk about his transition from a high, input technology intensive cattle rancher to an observation-based, ecological holistic manager. Topics of discussion include the economics of input-intensive agriculture, controlling parasites through observation and management, techniques for gauging animal health and performance, and attempts to develop software for grazing planning.

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Posted in English, Farmers, Holistic Management | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments