Best Ben Bishop & Mike Amato Podcasts (2024)

1
Regenerative Orcharding with Jonathan Carr of Carr's Ciderhouse 47:06

4M ago47:06

47:06

Join us for an engaging conversation with Jonathan Carr on the topic of regenerative orchard practices and a variety of other topics on the podcast today. To quote the writing on one of the hard cider bottles I've got on top of my fridge... "Preservation Orchard is the home of Carr's Ciderhouse, where we practice regenerative agriculture and evolut…

1
Black Walnut with Ben Bishop 50:51

4M ago50:51

50:51

Black Walnut in alley cropping systems is the topic of today's podcast episode. With a very special guest who you may have heard of. Join us to learn all about Ben's thesis research in a fun co-host interview that we've been meaning to record for many months now. This species is so much more than the juglone, get over it non believers! Don't forget…

1
Medlars with Jane Steward 1:03:08

5M ago1:03:08

1:03:08

Medlar is the topic of today's podcast episode! We've talked about this unusual and delicious fruit on the podcast in snippets here and there, but today it gets the attention it deserves. Join us for an in-depth interview with Jane Steward, author of Medlars: Growing and Cooking, on the fascinating history of the medlar, cultivation and harvest tip…

1
Hazelnuts with Tom Molnar 49:46

5M ago49:46

49:46

Join us for a deep dive into the Hazelnut, a tree crop that has not been discussed enough on this podcast! Today we primarily talk about European hazelnuts (Corylus avellana) and hybrids (Corylus avellana x americana), and learn from Dr. Tom Molnar about the decades of germplasm collection, evaluation, and breeding research his lab has conducted at…

1
Forage, Harvest, Feast with Marie Viljoen 1:30:13

5M ago1:30:13

1:30:13

It's 2024 and we're back! Marie Viljoen is our first guest on season four of the podcast. Join us as we discuss some of the underutilized edibles featured in Marie's book Forage, Harvest, Feast: A Wild-Inspired Cuisine. Marie Recommends: https://integrationacres.com/ to find spicebush listed as "Appalachian Allspice" Sam Thayer's Field Guide to Wil…

1
Pawpaws with Neal Peterson 1:14:50

10M ago1:14:50

1:14:50

It's pawpaw season! So today we have a very timely episode for you all, an interview with Neal Peterson of Peterson Pawpaws. Neal has spent decades working with Asimina triloba, collecting fruits from orchards across the Eastern United States and improving the largest tree ripened fruit of North America into the seven named cultivars that we know s…

1
Hybrid Chestnuts with Dick Jaynes 1:04:18

10M ago1:04:18

1:04:18

With the chestnut harvest season approaching, we have our annual chestnut themed episode today with a true living legend in the field of tree crops research, Dick Jaynes. On today’s episode we discuss Dick’s decades of research on hybrid chestnuts, specific cultivars that emerged from his breeding work, limitations to commercial chestnut growing, N…

1
Feral Apples with Gnarly Pippins 51:42

1y ago51:42

51:42

Today's episode is all about the pomes! Tune in for our discussion with Matt Kaminsky, aka Gnarly Pippins, on the topic of wild/feral/seedling apples. Matt is a fruit explorer and orchardist who specializes in feral trees that kick it on the sides of highways, edges, and other forgotten places without any management from humans. Why are these trees…

1
Oikos Tree Crops with Ken Asmus 55:38

1y ago55:38

55:38

In today's episode we consider ourselves very lucky to be interviewing Ken Asmus of Oikos Tree Crops. A mail order plant nursery specializing in seedling populations of a wide range of edible plants including trees, shrubs, herbaceous perennials, and tuber crops. Join us as we learn about the many selections that Ken has made over the past forty ye…

1
Boston Food Forest Coalition with Nellie Ward & Alex Alvanos 49:33

1y ago49:33

49:33

Welcome back podcast listeners, today we have Nellie Ward & Alex Alvanos of the Boston Food Forest Coalition on the podcast. Boston Food Forest Coalition is a non profit organization that works to transform vacant lots across Boston into community orchards and edible parks. Nellie is a steward at the Eggleston Community Orchard in Jamaica Plain, an…

1
Groundcovers in Edible Forest Gardens with Dave Jacke 1:05:25

1y ago1:05:25

1:05:25

You spoke up and we listened! Responding to a survey we put out earlier this year on our instagram page, which is @forestgardenpodcast, we decided to do an episode on ground covers in the forest garden. And who better to talk about this topic than the man who wrote the book on forest gardens in North America, Dave Jacke (with co-author Eric Toensme…

1
Food Access & Community Fridges with Reggy of Fridgeport 40:45

1y ago40:45

40:45

Today's episode dives into the community fridge model, a concept that became common in the U.S. during the Covid-19 pandemic as more and more people in urban areas across america became food insecure. Join us today, as we learn about the origins of Fridgeport, the community fridge project based in Bridgeport, CT. Be sure to check out the links belo…

1
Four Season Farming with Dakota of River Ridge Farm 48:14

1y ago48:14

48:14

Today's episode is all about the winter harvest, and the reality of starting a farm in New England where land is not affordable. Tune in for our interview with Dakota Rudloff-Eastman of River Ridge Farm to learn about what the land acquisition process looks like for a new farmer trying to set their roots, leasing vs. owning, how four season farming…

1
Kernza & Perennial Agriculture with Tessa Peters of The Land Institute 36:54

1y ago36:54

36:54

How many of y'all have heard of the long root ale? Climate smart honey oats cereal? How about Kernza? The main ingredient in these products, and the perennial grain that has the potential to revolutionize our modern agricultural system. Tune in today for a deep dive into Kernza and the other perennialization projects taking place at the land instit…

1
Forest Farming with Linh Aven of Dandelion Forest Farm 43:37

1+ y ago43:37

43:37

Join us for our discussion with Linh Aven, regenerative farmer and chef extraordinaire. Linh has a fascinating background in both molecular biology and gastronomy, which she applies to her current practice as a regenerative farmer. Today we learn about her story and how it brought her to forest farming in Nottingham, New Hampshire. In today's episo…

1
Tree Crops with Buzz Ferver of Perfect Circle Farm 1:04:58

1+ y ago1:04:58

1:04:58

Welcome back podcast listeners! This episode is jam packed with information about fruit and nut trees. We consider ourselves very lucky to have Buzz Ferver of Perfect Circle Farm on the podcast today, sharing his wealth of knowledge with us. Tune in to learn about Buzz's backstory, his introduction to tree crops and regenerative systems, the histor…

1
The Cohousing Model with Henry Lappen of Cherry Hill Cohousing 32:42

1+ y ago32:42

32:42

Hey there podcast listeners. Today we have a very interesting interview for you with Henry Lappen, a member of the Cherry Hill Cohousing community based in Amherst, Massachusetts. Henry has been a part of this unique community in western Massachusetts for the past thirty years - ever since its establishment in the early 1990's. For those who aren't…

1
Winter Gloom Survival pt. 2: Our Favorite YouTube Channels 37:15

1+ y ago37:15

37:15

Welcome back podcast listeners. In todays episode we are continuing our series on overcoming winter gloom, with some forest garden (or forest garden-adjacent) streamable content. Tune in to hear about some of our favorite youtube channels. Our hope is that you'll discover something new! Maybe a channel that inspires you to try something different t…

1
Documentaries to get you through Winter Gloom 49:03

1+ y ago49:03

49:03

Happy New Year podcast listeners, and welcome to season three of the podcast! We have a winter themed episode today featuring many documentaries that we have curated into a list separated by topic. Some of you may remember our interview with Lisa Fernandes from last season. In that interview Lisa mentioned how The Resilience Hub of Portland, Maine …

1
Specialty Plant Nurseries for Next Year's Food Forest 25:28

1+ y ago25:28

25:28

It's December and winter is nearly here! For many of us, it probably feels like it has already started. Some might wonder what a plant nerd does in the cold winter months, at least for us - we start planning. What new trees are going in the ground in the spring, where will they be planted, and more importantly where will we get them from? Today's e…

1
From Food Forest to Table: Holiday Recipes 34:57

1+ y ago34:57

34:57

Well folks the growing season is coming to an end, cold weather and family gatherings are quickly approaching. Or for many of us they're already here! Tune in today for some timely commentary on the dishes we make for our holiday family gatherings. If you're interested in medlars, pecans, chestnuts, or persimmons - and how they can make their way o…

1
Kernza: Perennial Grain of the Future (Guest Episode) 29:45

1+ y ago29:45

29:45

Hey there podcast listeners, Today we're running an episode from a podcast called Hot Farm. It's from our friends at the Food & Environment Reporting Network. The podcast is about what farmers are doing – or could be doing – to take on the climate emergency. In this episode, you’ll hear about a grain called Kernza, which might one day be a staple i…

1
A Lifetime of Chestnut Research with Dr. Sandra Anagnostakis 1:02:40

1+ y ago1:02:40

1:02:40

With chestnut harvest season in full swing in North America, we have a very timely episode for y'all today. Tune in for our discussion with Dr. Sandra Anagnostakis who for many years was a lead researcher in the department of plant pathology and ecology at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven, CT. If someone has ever passed …

1
Yardwork: Gardening is Heavy Metal (Guest Episode) 24:44

2y ago24:44

24:44

Hey there podcast listeners, today we have a special treat for you - featuring voices other than our own! Tune in for a fantastic guest episode from the folks at Outside/In, a show from New Hampshire Public Radio. We chose to feature this guest episode because it poses a very important question for us (and probably for you too) "is the soil in my b…

1
Forage & Feast! Mushroom Hunting & Notes from the Russian Diaspora with Dan Bensonoff 54:55

2y ago54:55

54:55

Fall is nearly upon us podcast listeners! Cooler temperatures and rainy days will soon bring a bounty to the forest floor. In other words, it's mushroom hunting season. Tune in today for our conversation with Dan Bensonoff, director of the Permaculture Initiative at UMASS Amherst. Dan has been collecting mushrooms for the majority of his life, havi…

1
Outdoor Mushroom Cultivation with Field and Forest Products 58:23

2y ago58:23

58:23

It's September! This sweltering summer is coming to a close, and thank the heavens it's been raining a bit more in the past few weeks. (At least in our neck of the woods). With the coming drops in temperature and increased precipitation, we over here at The Forest Garden have our foraging baskets all set and ready for the weeks to come. But did you…

1
Carbon Farming Solutions & The Nutritional Value of Perennial Vegetables with Eric Toensmeier 51:48

2y ago51:48

51:48

Welcome back podcast listeners! Tune in today to learn from one of our personal heroes Eric Toensmeier, author of Paradise Lot, Perennial Vegetables, The Carbon Farming Solution (and co-author of Edible Forest Gardens written by Dave Jacke). We cover quite a bit in todays episode, prepare yourself for in depth descriptions of agroforestry practices…

1
Establishing a Regenerative Community Network: The Resilience Hub with Lisa Fernandes 59:28

2y ago59:28

59:28

Welcome back podcast listeners! Today we have a really good one for y'all, a deep dive into the in's and out's of how The Resilience Hub got started. If you have never heard of it, The Resilience Hub is 'a 501c3 organization dedicated to regenerating land, growing healthy food, and building strong, resilient communities.' But it didn't necessarily …

1
Food Forests in Public Spaces: Mount Joy Community Orchard with Aaron Parker 1:03:08

2y ago1:03:08

1:03:08

Today we have an extra special episode! We're lucky to be hosting Aaron Parker of Edgewood Nursery, Propaganda by the Seed, and most importantly - the Mount Joy Community Orchard Project. Mt. Joy is a food forest/community orchard located on Munjoy Hill in Portland, Maine. I first discovered it completely by accident. I stumbled into this magical l…

1
Ten Lesser Known East Asian Edibles with Kyle Dougherty 1:11:37

2y ago1:11:37

1:11:37

The title says it all! Tune in today to learn about perennial vegetables and woody plants that are very undervalued in the U.S. and the west as a whole. Mmmm they're tasty, stick with us to the end to figure out where to acquire these highly nutritious but often hard to source plants! And as always, if you want to get in touch - find us @forestgard…

1
Permaculture isn’t Perfect: Ethics, Problems, & Solutions 36:52

2y ago36:52

36:52

The title says it all! Tune in today for commentary on the ethical questions surrounding permaculture, some of its shortfallings, and problems you may encounter as a 'practicioner' designing with the permaculture toolkit. Today's episode sadly is a solo act, as Ben is busy moving again. We'll be back again soon enough with our long form podcast epi…

1
Passiflora: Liliko'i, Maypops, and More! 39:55

2y ago39:55

39:55

Coming to you live from the back of Palolo valley on the Island of O'ahu - we have quite and exciting episode for you today. Passiflora is a genus that Ben and I are obsessed with. Back home, the Maypop (Passiflora incarnata) vines I have spread throughout my forest garden are likely just starting to pop up in the landscape. Until I get back to the…

1
Spring Foraging: Ramps, Morels, & Exciting Alternatives 28:00

2y ago28:00

28:00

It's foraging season! Time to grab ye olde foraging basket, a friend, a field guide, and hit the trails! Fill up those baskets to the brim with native wild edibles and then come home to... wait, should we really be doing this? Today's episode delves into spring foraging with tips and tricks for beginners, some thoughts about population decline in r…

1
Propaganda By The Seed: Breeding Perennial Kale with Chris Homanics (Guest Episode) 1:56:42

2y ago1:56:42

1:56:42

It's our first ever guest episode! We're pleased to host an episode from a podcast that is very similar to our own, Propaganda by the Seed. Tune in to learn about how Brassica breeder extraordinaire Chris Homanics developed the Homesteader's Kaleidoscopic Perennial Kale Grex. Not sure what a grex is? Well stay tuned to find out! Today's episode is …

1
Yellowbud Hickory Nut Oil with Jesse Marksohn of Yellowbud Farm 1:15:36

2+ y ago1:15:36

1:15:36

Spring is springing and we're back again with another informative interview. Jesse Marksohn of Yellowbud Farm (and Fungal Forest Farm) joins us today to introduce us to a tree that has been wholly overlooked by modern society; the Yellowbud Hickory (Carya cordiformis). You may have heard of this tree referred to as bitternut, due to its highly tani…

1
Perennial Tree Collards & Kales with Sequoiah of Project Tree Collard 48:09

2+ y ago48:09

48:09

Spring is here podcast listeners! It's time to dust off ye olde gardening cap to prune those trees, get those bare root plants in the ground, and start planning that summer vegetable garden you've always dreamed of. In today's episode, prepare to delve into the world of perennial tree collards. Most people are familiar with collards that grow in yo…

1
Silvopasture & Community Food Security with Lisa Depiano of the UMASS Carbon Farming Initiative 41:12

2+ y ago41:12

41:12

On today's episode of The Forest Garden, we have the pleasure of interviewing Lisa Depiano. Lisa has many years of experience teaching permaculture in the Northeast, where her practice is informed by a background in regional planning and ecological social justice. I was first introduced to Lisa's work through a documentary called Inhabit: A Permacu…

1
Beyond Paradise Lot with Jonathan Bates of Food Forest Farm 47:19

2+ y ago47:19

47:19

On today's episode, we have the pleasure to host Jonathan Bates who several years ago, with his friend Eric Toensmeier, designed and stewarded a food forest made up of over 300 species of edible and medicinal plants on a 1/10th acre lot in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Join us as we talk to Jonathan about his experience living at Paradise Lot, and learn …

1
Rare Fruit Tree Crops for Northern Homesteads with Dan Furman of Cricket Hill Garden 53:57

2+ y ago53:57

53:57

Our interview with Dan Furman of Cricket Hill Garden, a specialty plant nursery based in Thomaston, Connecticut that specializes in uncommon edible tree crops and ornamental tree peonies. Way back in the Spring of 2021, I stopped by Dan's nursery on a random Wednesday to inquire about some mulberry scion. I was absolutely blown away by the diversit…

1
Hardy Perennial Vegetables with Dave Scandurra of Food Forest Initiative of Cape Cod & Edible Landscapes of Cape Cod 57:12

2+ y ago57:12

57:12

Well listeners it's winter here at The Forest Garden, and now that the days are getting longer we are looking forward to the warmer days ahead. Cozying up by the fireside with a cup of hot cider with our favorite podcast playing through the speakers has been keeping us going lately. Today we're giving you that very same opportunity via our intervie…

1
Urban Forest Gardens with Matt Lebon of Custom Foodscaping & The Foodscaper 45:13

2+ y ago45:13

45:13

Happy New Year everyone! Welcome to Season 2 of the podcast! We are super stoked to be here, and we hope you are too. On today's episode of The Forest Garden, we are lucky enough to talk to Matt Lebon. Matt is the owner of Custom Foodscaping based out of St. Louis, Missouri, and director of The Foodscaper, a community network of edible landscaping …

1
Ethical & Sustainable Seed Sources 52:18

2+ y ago52:18

52:18

Happy Winter Solstice! On today's episode, we cover the various seed companies and organizations that we care about most. Or maybe just the ones that stood out to us in the moment, if we wanted to talk about all of our favorite places to source plant material - we would be making an episode that might be four hours long... Some of the organizations…

1
The New Normal: Our Everchanging Climate 1:10:53

2+ y ago1:10:53

1:10:53

It goes without saying that 2021 has been a year of climate extremes. Record rainfall and extended periods of drought really have been throwing our gardens through a loop. We can't help but ask ourselves, what strategies should we be taking to plan for our uncertain future? In other words, how can we take a more active role in mitigating climate ch…

1
Tropical Permaculture with Adam Crowe of ʻĀina Exotics 1:17:55

2+ y ago1:17:55

1:17:55

Prepare to be transported to the Big Island of Hawaiʻi! Adam Crowe of ʻĀina Exotics, based in Pāpaʻaloa, Hawaiʻi, joins us today to discuss the trials and tribulations of establishing a tropical forest garden system on the slopes of the shield volcano that is Hawaiʻi Island. Tune in for an exciting episode where we discuss swales in tropical system…

1
Propagation Methods for the Backyard Food Forest 1:15:02

2+ y ago1:15:02

1:15:02

On this episode we cover all things sexual & asexual plant propagation. Are you interested in grafting techniques, air layering, or taking cuttings of woody perennial plants? Do you have a four year old hosta or rhubarb plant that is crowding out surrounding plantings? Consider dividing up the plant during the appropriate season this year, on this …

1
Invasives: this is not my beautiful plant! 1:09:22

2+ y ago1:09:22

1:09:22

And you may tell yourself, invasive plants are the boogeyman. We tend to think they're mostly misunderstood. Today's episode is a mish-mash of us each playing devil's advocate, and sharing some of our personal experiences with plants that should potentially be avoided in Food Forest Systems. Not all invasives are evil, but some of them sure can be …

1
The Four Season Harvest: Fall & Winter in the Forest Garden 1:08:49

2+ y ago1:08:49

1:08:49

Hark! The crisp air has cometh! Our water hath not turned into wine but into Pumpkin Spice! It's Fall y'all, and it's in full swing. Here in New England, the trees are putting on quite the display. Pumpkins are being picked, winter squash are ready for harvest, and the ground beneath the trees is covered in nuts and soon to be rotting fruit. The ha…

1
Fall Sowing: Broadcasting, Innoculating, and Preparing for a Four Season Harvest! 52:02

3y ago52:02

52:02

Who says you can't have a Four-Season Garden? It might be October, but there are still lots of things to do in the backyard Food Forest. Join us as we contemplate different strategies for best practice in stewardship of your landscape during the Fall. And don't forget to follow our Instagram page @forestgardenpodcast! If you have any questions or c…

1
Fall Abundance: Composting in The Four Season Garden 50:30

3y ago50:30

50:30

Well podcast listeners, today marks the first day of Fall in the Northern Hemisphere. Soon enough, the leaves will drop in our cold climate landscapes. Fall is a team to spruce up your garden, build soil, and upgrade your composting game! The four season compost is possible, and can be bountiful. In this episode we describe some ways you can make i…

1
Nut Tree Crops in Food Forest Systems 1:21:57

3y ago1:21:57

1:21:57

On this episode of The Forest Garden, we discuss the importance of Nut Trees in food forests, edible landscapes, and natural systems. With Fall fast approaching, the time of year to reap the rewards of nut producing tree crops is upon us. Nuts are usually the last stop on the journey for permaculture enthusiasts, often being second or third to frui…

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Ben Bishop & Mike Amato Podcasts

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