Real Organic Podcast

James Cassidy: Soil, Civilization + The Future Of Farming

#286: Soil scientist and educator James Cassidy explains why the ground beneath us is far more than a medium for growing crops. Soil stores water and nutrients, supports biological communities, shapes regional food cultures, and has influenced the rise of nations and civilizations. Cassidy explores how grasslands and grazing animals created some of the world’s richest agricultural soils, how microbes make atmospheric nitrogen available to plants, and why farmers need both scientific measurements and direct observation of their land. He also challenges rigid prescriptions around no-till farming, organic matter, biological testing, and soil amendments, arguing that healthy agriculture depends on understanding the particular soil, climate, crop, and community involved. https://realorganicproject.org/james-cassidy-soil-civilization-future-farming The Real Organic Podcast is hosted by Dave Chapman and Linley Dixon, engineered by Brandon StCyr, and edited and produced by Jenny Prince. The Real Organic Project is a farmer-led movement working towards certifying 1,000 farms across the United States. Our add-on food label distinguishes soil-grown fruits and vegetables from hydroponically-raised produce, and pasture-raised meat, milk, and eggs from products harvested from animals in horrific confinement (CAFOs - confined animal feeding operations). To find a Real Organic farm near you, please visit: ⁠https://www.realorganicproject.org/directory⁠ We believe that the organic standards, with their focus on soil health, biodiversity, and animal welfare were written as they should be, but that the current lack of enforcement of those standards is jeopardizing the ability for small farms who adhere to the law to stay in business. The lack of enforcement is also jeopardizing the overall health of the customers who support the organic movement; customers who are not getting what they pay for at market but still paying a premium price. And the lack of enforcement is jeopardizing the very cycles (water, air, nutrients) that Earth relies upon to provide us all with a place to live, by pushing extractive, chemical agriculture to the forefront. To read our weekly newsletter and get firsthand news about what's happening with organic food, farming and policy, please subscribe here: ⁠https://www.realorganicproject.org/email/⁠

Amy Westervelt: Think Tanks, Greenwashing + The War On Reality

#286: "Drilled" host Amy Westervelt shares her deep knowledge of corporate propaganda, climate politics, and how the hidden systems that influence our consent as a society or as an entire population have been constructed. Pretty alarming stuff to say the least! She shows us how industries protect themselves by shaping not only markets, but the very terms of public debate - using think tanks, amicus briefs, and strategic greenwashing campaigns. https://realorganicproject.org/amy-westerveldt-think-tanks-greenwashing-war-on-reality The Real Organic Podcast is hosted by Dave Chapman and Linley Dixon, engineered by Brandon StCyr, and edited and produced by Jenny Prince. The Real Organic Project is a farmer-led movement working towards certifying 1,000 farms across the United States. Our add-on food label distinguishes soil-grown fruits and vegetables from hydroponically-raised produce, and pasture-raised meat, milk, and eggs from products harvested from animals in horrific confinement (CAFOs - confined animal feeding operations). To find a Real Organic farm near you, please visit: ⁠https://www.realorganicproject.org/directory⁠ We believe that the organic standards, with their focus on soil health, biodiversity, and animal welfare were written as they should be, but that the current lack of enforcement of those standards is jeopardizing the ability for small farms who adhere to the law to stay in business. The lack of enforcement is also jeopardizing the overall health of the customers who support the organic movement; customers who are not getting what they pay for at market but still paying a premium price. And the lack of enforcement is jeopardizing the very cycles (water, air, nutrients) that Earth relies upon to provide us all with a place to live, by pushing extractive, chemical agriculture to the forefront. To read our weekly newsletter and get firsthand news about what's happening with organic food, farming and policy, please subscribe here: ⁠https://www.realorganicproject.org/email/⁠

Mark Doudlah: From Glyphosate + Cancer To Real Organic

#285: Mark Doudlah shares his story of being a proud chemical farmer who fully transitioned to organic after a devastating family loss. He reflects on his father’s cancer, the culture of “feeding the world” that influences so many Midwestern growers and how the glyphosate he once relied on to farm still poisons his family's drinking water. He also celebrates he tools, cover crops, and growing methods that helped his farm find a different path. https://realorganicproject.org/mark-doudlah-glyphosate-cancer-real-organic-farming The Real Organic Podcast is hosted by Dave Chapman and Linley Dixon, engineered by Brandon StCyr, and edited and produced by Jenny Prince. The Real Organic Project is a farmer-led movement working towards certifying 1,000 farms across the United States. Our add-on food label distinguishes soil-grown fruits and vegetables from hydroponically-raised produce, and pasture-raised meat, milk, and eggs from products harvested from animals in horrific confinement (CAFOs - confined animal feeding operations). To find a Real Organic farm near you, please visit: https://www.realorganicproject.org/directory We believe that the organic standards, with their focus on soil health, biodiversity, and animal welfare were written as they should be, but that the current lack of enforcement of those standards is jeopardizing the ability for small farms who adhere to the law to stay in business. The lack of enforcement is also jeopardizing the overall health of the customers who support the organic movement; customers who are not getting what they pay for at market but still paying a premium price. And the lack of enforcement is jeopardizing the very cycles (water, air, nutrients) that Earth relies upon to provide us all with a place to live, by pushing extractive, chemical agriculture to the forefront. To read our weekly newsletter and get firsthand news about what's happening with organic food, farming and policy, please subscribe here: https://www.realorganicproject.org/email/

Nicola Shirley-Phillips : Growing Organic in Jamaica

#284: Nicola Shirley-Phillips joins us to explore the crossroads facing Jamaican agriculture. She reflects on Ital food traditions, the spread of Green Revolution farming, the pressure of exports and imported processed foods, and the need to reconnect farmers, consumers, and policymakers to a more ecological, organic vision. Along the way, she introduces her idea of “organic intelligence” and describes why Jamaica could become a regional force for cleaner food if more people start asking where their food comes from and how it is grown. https://realorganicproject.org/nicola-shirley-phillips-growing-organic-jamaica The Real Organic Podcast is hosted by Dave Chapman and Linley Dixon, engineered by Brandon StCyr, and edited and produced by Jenny Prince. The Real Organic Project is a farmer-led movement working towards certifying 1,000 farms across the United States. Our add-on food label distinguishes soil-grown fruits and vegetables from hydroponically-raised produce, and pasture-raised meat, milk, and eggs from products harvested from animals in horrific confinement (CAFOs - confined animal feeding operations). To find a Real Organic farm near you, please visit: https://www.realorganicproject.org/directory We believe that the organic standards, with their focus on soil health, biodiversity, and animal welfare were written as they should be, but that the current lack of enforcement of those standards is jeopardizing the ability for small farms who adhere to the law to stay in business. The lack of enforcement is also jeopardizing the overall health of the customers who support the organic movement; customers who are not getting what they pay for at market but still paying a premium price. And the lack of enforcement is jeopardizing the very cycles (water, air, nutrients) that Earth relies upon to provide us all with a place to live, by pushing extractive, chemical agriculture to the forefront. To read our weekly newsletter and get firsthand news about what's happening with organic food, farming and policy, please subscribe here: https://www.realorganicproject.org/email/

State of Seed Ep 1: How Seeds Feed the World

We have a special episode to share with you this week from our friends at the State of Seed podcast, produced by the International Seed Federation and the podcast team at Foreign Policy magazine: https://foreignpolicy.com/podcasts/state-of-seed/ Hosted by Laura Rosbrow-Telem, State of Seed focuses on how seeds feed and sustain the planet. Each episode features sound-rich explorations with innovative players advancing this vital resource, including leaders of multinational companies and NGOs, UN and government officials, national seed associations, scientists, and of course, farmers. You’ll hear about the key concerns keeping them up at night. To introduce you to their great show, we’re sharing their series premiere titled “How Seeds Feed the World,” where they travel to the Netherlands to attend the centennial World Seed Congress and their annual gathering of seed leaders, including Beth Bechdol, Deputy Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN. Bechdol comes from a grain farming family going back seven generations, and she has great insights into what the policy world misunderstands about agriculture and the key barriers farmers face in accessing quality seed. If you enjoy today’s episode, be sure to check out State of Seed, available on your favorite podcast app. And tell them, Real Organic Podcast sent you!