Common Ground Radio

Host: Holli Cederholm
Editor: Clare Boland

Common Ground Radio is an hour-long discussion of local food and organic agriculture with people here in the state of Maine and beyond.

This month:
Dairy farms are the backbone of Maine’s rural communities. In addition to maintaining working agricultural landscapes, organic dairy farms protect natural resources, and also act as economic drivers for their communities by creating jobs on the farm and for related agricultural businesses. But these farms are in crisis, with many farmers exiting the dairy industry due to a confluence of factors: from loss of contracts to lower pay prices in relation to soaring production costs. In this episode of Common Ground Radio, we’ll address these topics and others related to the state of organic dairy in the Northeast — as well as how communities can support local, organic dairy farms.

List of subjects:
– Organic dairy industry
– The state of organic dairy in Maine and the Northeast
– Origin of Livestock USDA organic rule
– Cost of organic dairy production
– Organic dairy pay price
– Where to buy local, organic milk
– Northeast Organic Family Farm Partnership
– Dairy breeding and genetics

Guest/s:
Jacki Martinez Perkins, MOFGA’s organic dairy and livestock specialist
Chris Grigsby, MOFGA Certification Services (MCS) director
Olga Moriarty, executive director of the Northeast Organic Family Farm Partnership (NOFFP)

FMI:
Find Local, Organic Farmers and Producers — mofgacertification.org/find-mofga-certified-organic-food-and-products
Northeast Organic Family Farm Partnership — saveorganicfamilyfarms.org
Pledge to Support Northeast Organic Family Farms — saveorganicfamilyfarms.org/pledge
Ways to Support Organic Dairy — mofga.org/advocacy/support-organic-dairy
Common Ground Radio 12/8/22: Maine Organic Dairy Farms Are In Trouble – How You Can Help — archives.weru.org/common-ground-radio/2022/12/common-ground-radio-12-8-22-maine-organic-dairy-farms-are-in-trouble-how-you-can-help

About the hosts:
Holli Cederholm has been involved in organic agriculture since 2005 when she first apprenticed on a small farm. She has worked on organic farms in Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, Scotland and Italy and, in 2010, founded a small farm focused on celebrating open-pollinated and heirloom vegetables. As the former manager of a national nonprofit dedicated to organic seed growers, she authored a peer-reviewed handbook on GMO avoidance strategies for seed growers. Holli has also been a steward at Forest Farm, the iconic homestead of “The Good Life” authors Helen and Scott Nearing; a host of “The Farm Report” on Heritage Radio Network; and a lo0ng-time contributor for The Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener, which she now edits in her role as content creator and editor at MOFGA.

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Host: Holli Cederholm
Editor: Clare Boland

Common Ground Radio is an hour-long discussion of local food and organic agriculture with people here in the state of Maine and beyond.

This month:
This episode of Common Ground Radio is an organic gardening Q&A with MOFGA’s crop specialist, Caleb Goossen. Listeners from around Maine submitted their questions in advance of the show. From soil testing and selecting potting soil for container growing to starting seedlings indoors and out, Goossen covers a wide range of topics related to organic gardening.

List of subjects:
– Organic gardening
– Soil testing
– Soil for container gardening
– Seed starting and planting dates
– Plastic reduction strategies in the garden
– Pest management
– Garlic planting

Guest/s:
Caleb Goossen, MOFGA’s crop and conservation specialist

FMI:
MOFGA’s Seed Planting Calendar — mofga.org/resources/gardening/seed-planting-calendar
Starting Garden Seeds Indoors — mofga.org/resources/gardening/starting-seeds-indoors
Spring Gardening Resources — mofga.org/spring-gardening
Certified organic seedling map — mofga.org/mofga-seedling-map
MOFGA’s Gardener Newsletter — mofga.org/newletter-sign-up-gardener
MOFGA’s Pest Report and Fact Sheets — mofga.org/farmer-resources/pest-reports

About the hosts:
Holli Cederholm has been involved in organic agriculture since 2005 when she first apprenticed on a small farm. She has worked on organic farms in Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, Scotland and Italy and, in 2010, founded a small farm focused on celebrating open-pollinated and heirloom vegetables. As the former manager of a national nonprofit dedicated to organic seed growers, she authored a peer-reviewed handbook on GMO avoidance strategies for seed growers. Holli has also been a steward at Forest Farm, the iconic homestead of “The Good Life” authors Helen and Scott Nearing; a host of “The Farm Report” on Heritage Radio Network; and a lo0ng-time contributor for The Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener, which she now edits in her role as content creator and editor at MOFGA.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Host: Holli Cederholm
Editor: Clare Boland

Common Ground Radio is an hour-long discussion of local food and organic agriculture with people here in the state of Maine and beyond.

This month:
This episode of Common Ground Radio explores garden planning for seasonal eating and food preservation. With Roberta Bailey of Seven Tree Farm in Vassalboro, Maine, we discuss gardening in Central Maine, including her tried and true planting calendar, as well as how she plans her garden for food preservation. Each year, Bailey fills a pantry with canned and dried goods, a root cellar and four freezers. Later in the show, Stephanie Wang of Le Rizen, a farm in Quebec, Canada, discusses growing Asian vegetables in a northern climate. Her book, “Asian
Vegetables: Gardening, Cooking, Storytelling” features delicious recipes as well as information about how to grow 15 Asian vegetables organically.

Guest/s:
Roberta Bailey, Seven Tree Farm
Stephanie Wang, Le Rizen

FMI:
“How to Plan Your Harvests for Food Preservation” by Roberta Bailey — mofga.org/resources/canning/how-to-plan-your-harvests-for-food-preservation
“Asian Vegetables: Gardening, Cooking, Storytelling” by The Wang Sisters — houseofanansi.com/products/asian-vegetables
Le Rizen in Quebec — growers.co/blogs/news/the-roots-of-le-rizen
MOFGA’s Seed Planting Calendar — mofga.org/resources/gardening/seed-planting-calendar
Starting Garden Seeds Indoors — mofga.org/resources/gardening/starting-seeds-indoors
Spring Gardening Resources — mofga.org/spring-gardening
Certified organic seedling map — mofga.org/mofga-seedling-map

About the hosts:
Holli Cederholm has been involved in organic agriculture since 2005 when she first apprenticed on a small farm. She has worked on organic farms in Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, Scotland and Italy and, in 2010, founded a small farm focused on celebrating open-pollinated and heirloom vegetables. As the former manager of a national nonprofit dedicated to organic seed growers, she authored a peer-reviewed handbook on GMO avoidance strategies for seed growers. Holli has also been a steward at Forest Farm, the iconic homestead of “The Good Life” authors Helen and Scott Nearing; a host of “The Farm Report” on Heritage Radio Network; and a lo0ng-time contributor for The Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener, which she now edits in her role as content creator and editor at MOFGA.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Host: Holli Cederholm
Editor: Clare Boland

Common Ground Radio is an hour-long discussion of local food and organic agriculture with people here in the state of Maine and beyond.

This month:
In advance of MOFGA’s annual Seed Swap & Scion Exchange, held in Unity, Maine, the February 2024 episode of Common Ground Radio explores saving seeds and fruit tree grafting, both of which are useful skills for the garden, farm and homestead. With Will Bonsall, author of “Will Bonsall’s Essential Guide to Radical Self-Reliant Gardening,” we talk about the importance of saving seed, as well as seed saving basics for beginners. Later in the show, we are joined by C. J. Walke, MOFGA’s orchard program manager, to discuss fruit tree propagation via grafting, including bench grafting, top working, and bud grafting techniques.

Guest/s:
Will Bonsall
C.J. Walke

FMI:
MOFGA’s Seed Swap & Scion Exchange — www.mofga.org/trainings/annual-events/seed-swap-and-scion-exchange
“Will Bonsall’s Essential Guide to Radical Self-Reliant Gardening” by Will Bonsall —
chelseagreen.com/product/will-bonsalls-essential-guide-to-radical-self-reliant-gardening
“Seed to Seed” by Suzanne Ashworth — chelseagreen.com/product/seed-to-seed
“Seed Saving: An Introduction” by Roberta Bailey — mofga.org/resources/seeds/saving-seed
“A Spring Grafting Primer” by Roberta Bailey — mofga.org/resources/orcharding/grafting-primer
Maine Heritage Orchard — mofga.org/our-community/the-maine-heritage-orchard
MOFGA apple database — mofga.org/maineheritageorchard

About the hosts:
Holli Cederholm has been involved in organic agriculture since 2005 when she first apprenticed on a small farm. She has worked on organic farms in Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, Scotland and Italy and, in 2010, founded a small farm focused on celebrating open-pollinated and heirloom vegetables. As the former manager of a national nonprofit dedicated to organic seed growers, she authored a peer-reviewed handbook on GMO avoidance strategies for seed growers. Holli has also been a steward at Forest Farm, the iconic homestead of “The Good Life” authors Helen and Scott Nearing; a host of “The Farm Report” on Heritage Radio Network; and a lo0ng-time contributor for The Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener, which she now edits in her role as content creator and editor at MOFGA.

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Host: Caitlyn Barker
Editor: Clare Boland

Common Ground Radio is an hour-long discussion of local food and organic agriculture with people here in the state of Maine and beyond.

This month:
Seasonal eating in Maine in the colder months, preparing local foods, preserving foods.

Guest/s:
Cheryl Wixson, local foods advocate and community health educator. www.rabbithillfarmmaine.com/

FMI Links:
Healthy Island Project
Maine Cooperative Extension

About the hosts:
Holli Cederholm has been involved in organic agriculture since 2005 when she first apprenticed on a small farm. She has worked on organic farms in Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, Scotland and Italy and, in 2010, founded a small farm focused on celebrating open-pollinated and heirloom vegetables. As the former manager of a national nonprofit dedicated to organic seed growers, she authored a peer-reviewed handbook on GMO avoidance strategies for seed growers. Holli has also been a steward at Forest Farm, the iconic homestead of “The Good Life” authors Helen and Scott Nearing; a host of “The Farm Report” on Heritage Radio Network; and a long-time contributor for The Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener, which she now edits in her role as content creator and editor at MOFGA.

Caitlyn Barker has worked in education and organic agriculture on and off for the last 17 years. She has worked on an organic vegetable farm, served on the Maine Farm to School network, worked in early childhood education and taught elementary school. She currently serves as the community engagement coordinator for MOFGA.

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Host: Holli Cederholm
Editor: Clare Boland

Common Ground Radio is an hour-long discussion of local food and organic agriculture with people here in the state of Maine and beyond.

This month:

The December 2023 episode of MOFGA’s Common Ground Radio explores seaweed, a source of food, fertilizer, and carbon sequestration off the coast of Maine. The majority of the episode is a panel discussion on seaweed — called “Is Seaweed the Solution to Climate Change?” — that was recorded at the 2023 Common Ground Country Fair in September. The panel was organized and facilitated by Bridget Huber from FERN, the Food and Environment Reporting Network. The guests were: Nichole Price, a benthic marine ecologist with Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in East Boothbay, Maine; Aurora Burgess, seaweed aquaculture coordinator at Atlantic Sea Farms in Biddeford; and Severine von Tscharner Welcome, of Smithereen Farm in Pembroke, who is also a co-founder of Seaweed Commons.

Guest/s:
Aurora Burgess, seaweed aquaculture coordinator at Atlantic Sea Farms in Biddeford.
Bridget Huber, a staff writer with FERN, the Food and Environment Reporting Network.
Nichole Price, a benthic marine ecologist with Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in East Boothbay, Maine.
Severine von Tscharner Welcome, of the Greenhorns and Smithereen Farm in Pembroke.

FMI Links:
“A Precautionary Approach to Seaweed Aquaculture in North America: A Position Paper by the Seaweed Commons” — seaweedcommons.org
Atlantic Sea Farms — atlanticseafarms.com
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences — bigelow.org
“Climate savior or ‘Monsanto of the sea’?” by Bridget Huber — thefern.org/2023/06/climate-savior-or-monsanto-of-the-sea
Food and Environment Reporting Network — thefern.org
MOFGA Certification Services’ “Guidelines for Organic Sea Vegetables” — mofgacertification.org
Running Tide — runningtide.com
Seaweed Commons — seaweedcommons.org
Smithereen Farm — smithereenfarm.com

Tags:
Seaweed cultivation and wild harvest
Seaweed propagation/seed sourcing
Seaweed for carbon sequestration
Climate change
Opportunities and challenges in cultivating seaweed for carbon storage
Marine ecology
PFAS/arsenic uptake of seaweed

About the hosts:
Holli Cederholm has been involved in organic agriculture since 2005 when she first apprenticed on a small farm. She has worked on organic farms in Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, Scotland and Italy and, in 2010, founded a small farm focused on celebrating open-pollinated and heirloom vegetables. As the former manager of a national nonprofit dedicated to organic seed growers, she authored a peer-reviewed handbook on GMO avoidance strategies for seed growers. Holli has also been a steward at Forest Farm, the iconic homestead of “The Good Life” authors Helen and Scott Nearing; a host of “The Farm Report” on Heritage Radio Network; and a long-time contributor for The Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener, which she now edits in her role as content creator and editor at MOFGA.

Caitlyn Barker has worked in education and organic agriculture on and off for the last 17 years. She has worked on an organic vegetable farm, served on the Maine Farm to School network, worked in early childhood education and taught elementary school. She currently serves as the community engagement coordinator for MOFGA.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Host: Caitlyn Barker
Editor: Clare Boland

Common Ground Radio is an hour-long discussion of local food and organic agriculture with people here in the state of Maine and beyond.

This month:

Beginner beekeeping strategies, winter beekeeping in cold climates, pest control, resources for beekeepers, climate change and how it impacts beekeeping.

Guest/s:
Peter Cowin
Amy Nickerson

FMI Links:
Upcoming beekeeping workshop: www.beekeeping247.com/beginner-beekeeping-workshop-nov-2023
Beekeeping 24/7 website: www.beekeeping247.com/
The Bee Whisperer Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/thebeewhispererandthequeenbee

About the hosts:
Holli Cederholm has been involved in organic agriculture since 2005 when she first apprenticed on a small farm. She has worked on organic farms in Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, Scotland and Italy and, in 2010, founded a small farm focused on celebrating open-pollinated and heirloom vegetables. As the former manager of a national nonprofit dedicated to organic seed growers, she authored a peer-reviewed handbook on GMO avoidance strategies for seed growers. Holli has also been a steward at Forest Farm, the iconic homestead of “The Good Life” authors Helen and Scott Nearing; a host of “The Farm Report” on Heritage Radio Network; and a long-time contributor for The Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener, which she now edits in her role as content creator and editor at MOFGA.

Caitlyn Barker has worked in education and organic agriculture on and off for the last 17 years. She has worked on an organic vegetable farm, served on the Maine Farm to School network, worked in early childhood education and taught elementary school. She currently serves as the community engagement coordinator for MOFGA.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Host: Holli Cederholm
Editor: Clare Boland

Common Ground Radio is an hour-long discussion of local food and organic agriculture with people here in the state of Maine and beyond.

This month:

The episode of MOFGA’s Common Ground Radio explores natural dyeing of fibers and textiles with plants and minerals with two Maine artists. With Jude Hsiang, a knitter, weaver and former shepherd, we talk about how to dye plant and animal fibers using plants, many of which she grows in her dye garden or forages for in the local landscape. Later in the show, we are joined by Samantha Verrone, an artist focused on regenerative design. Verrone discusses bundle dyeing, sustainability and experimenting with iron and rust in the dye pot.

Guest/s:
Jude Hsiang
Samantha Verrone

FMI Links:
Versicolor, Jude Hsiang’s Facebook page with events and workshops
Samantha Verrone Textiles
“How to Bundle Dye Using Plant Materials” by Samantha Verrone

About the hosts:
Holli Cederholm has been involved in organic agriculture since 2005 when she first apprenticed on a small farm. She has worked on organic farms in Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, Scotland and Italy and, in 2010, founded a small farm focused on celebrating open-pollinated and heirloom vegetables. As the former manager of a national nonprofit dedicated to organic seed growers, she authored a peer-reviewed handbook on GMO avoidance strategies for seed growers. Holli has also been a steward at Forest Farm, the iconic homestead of “The Good Life” authors Helen and Scott Nearing; a host of “The Farm Report” on Heritage Radio Network; and a long-time contributor for The Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener, which she now edits in her role as content creator and editor at MOFGA.

Caitlyn Barker has worked in education and organic agriculture on and off for the last 17 years. She has worked on an organic vegetable farm, served on the Maine Farm to School network, worked in early childhood education and taught elementary school. She currently serves as the community engagement coordinator for MOFGA.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download