Raising swans isn't like raising chickens; caring for these beautiful birds comes with its own sets of unique challenges and rewards. In this episode, Chris Fritzen of Grand Swan Farm covers some essential info you'd need to know before raising swans as pets or raising swans for profit. Learn about what to feed swans, how to keep swans from flying …

Shogun Farms says you can definitely eat wild boar. In this episode, Pamela Fay of Shogun Farms in Florida shares with us about how they're trapping and farm-finishing invasive wild boars and selling them as high-quality foods to a variety of restaurants -- a win for both culinary endeavors and sustainable efforts to minimize food waste and curb de…

What can you do with all the abundance that comes out of your garden? In this episode, Bevin Cohen of Small House Farm joins us to discuss his new book, The Heritage Pantry, and all the ways you can preserve your harvest, including best vegetables for canning, how to can fruits and vegetables, canning equipment, and more. More from Mother Earth New…

Story by Marissa Ames, read by Kenny Coogan. Who knew that chickens were so good at raising ducklings? This story comes from the January/February 2024 issue of Grit magazine. For more resources, view this podcast https://BackyardPoultry.IAmCountryside.com/Eggs-Meat/Can-Chickens-Hatch-Ducks/ More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https:/…

In this episode, Jeannette Beranger of The Livestock Conservancy joins us for our annual heritage breed update. Jeannette shares more about the importance of breed conservation, a deep dive of the Livestock Conservancy list, and we discuss rare chicken breed and duck breed updates. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.moth…

At one point, there were only 22 California condors left in the world. But, things are changing for the better. In this episode, Chris Parish of The Peregrine Fund shares about the work being done to reintroduce growing condor populations to the wild and how people are creating positive change in hunting and animal-management practices to reduce le…

Do pigeons make good pets? For thousands of years, pigeons have been companions to humans, and today, many people raise them and show them off in shows around the world. In this episode, John DeCarlo and Tim Heidrich of the National Pigeon Association discuss raising pigeons, why keep pigeons, building a pigeon loft, what do you feed pigeons, and m…

Whether you’re caring for livestock yourself or want to be a more informed consumer, you can learn about how antibiotics use plays a role in raising animals – and how antibiotics resistance can pose a challenge for animal and human health. In this episode, Steven Roach of Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT) answers some of the big questions when it c…

Story by Erin Snyder, read by Kenny Coogan. Learn how to put your web-footed friends to work in the garden while keeping your crops safe. This story comes from the June/July 2024 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS magazine. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com…

You have a backyard flock – with an abundance of eggs. What can you do to make the most of them? For some, you may be able to sell them to family and friends. In this episode, Queren King-Orozco shares how to sell eggs as a home business, including selling chicken eggs requirements and best practices, marketing strategies, counting costs and income…

Looking for some tips for your next gardening project? In this episode, Alyssa Warner, Audra Trosper, and Ana Skemp discuss their garden layouts, gardening goals, challenges in the garden, and tips for what works for them (and what doesn’t) when cultivating their plants. We hope it inspires you to try some new things in your garden! More from Mothe…

Feeling wary of predators around your birds? You’re not alone. In this episode, Tomia MacQueen of Wildflower Farm share how to protect your poultry and waterfowl from predators, notably in urban and suburban spaces. We’ll cover ways of protection, predator-proofing your coop, guard animals for chickens and other birds, how to protect ducks from haw…

Story by Tamsin Cooper, read by Kenny Coogan. Why early experiences are important for your birds. This story comes from the April/May 2024 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS magazine. Read more at https://backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com/poultry-101/chick-and-duckling-imprinting/ More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthn…

Have you ever wanted to add some fun-loving ducks to your property? In this episode, John, Mark, and Katie Metzer of Metzer Farms share how to care for baby ducks, including how to prepare for their arrival, what to feed ducklings, if ducks can go broody, and more. By the end of this episode, maybe you’ll want to welcome a few web-footed friends to…

Hatching baby chicks can be a great way to introduce kids to the world of incubation, poultry, and all the challenges and joys of homesteading – not to mention leadership and entrepreneurship. In this episode, Ann Accetta-Scott shares more about egg-hatching curriculum for children, whether using it as a family side project or a homeschooling lesso…

Story by Elizabeth Mack, read by John Moore. A new, peeping box of fluffy little chicks can be scary, but this excellent advice can help you. This story comes from the February/March 2024 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS magazine. Read more at https://backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com/chickens-101/bringing-new-chicks-home/ More from Mother Earth News an…

The word is out: Mushroom foraging is in. For those new to the world of mushroom hunting, we have a guide for you from author and mushroom hunter Frank Hyman. In this episode, we discuss with Frank some advice when out foraging for mushrooms, some popular edible mushrooms, and tips for avoiding toxic mushrooms. Plus, find out how you can order Fran…

Spring hatching is around the corner! For those new to the world of incubating eggs and hatching chicks, we’re here to let you know it’s not as daunting as it may see. In this episode, Pascale Pearce of Brinsea joins us to discuss the basics of using an incubator and how to solve any challenges that may come your way, including when to stop turning…

It be may be cold for many of us, but it’s not too early to start dreaming about next season’s garden! In this episode, Benedict Vanheems, a contributor to MOTHER EARTH NEWS, a lifelong gardener, and presenter at GrowVeg, shares about how you can start planning and planting your next vegetable garden – from in-ground to raised bed gardening, to whe…

Making your own homemade batches of soap can be rewarding, therapeutic, and allows you to craft beautifully aromatic soaps tailored for your skin’s needs. In this episode, Melanie Teegarden, a soap-maker and business owner, shares the beneficial properties of homemade soaps and provides a simple recipe for you to get started making them at home. On…

Story by Linda Bowen, read by John Moore. Make this nature-friendly pastime safer for you and your feathered neighbors. This story comes from the December 2023/January 2024 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS magazine. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 🌳 Podcasts https://www.motherearthnews.com/Podcast/ 🌳 Articles https://www.motherearthnews.com/ 🌳 St…

Thinking about getting solar? Before jumping in, know the types of solar setups available to you, what it’ll cost you, the questions to ask solar-installation companies, and more. Hoss Boyd of TeraVolt Energy joins us on the podcast to discuss what you need to know before you set up solar energy for your home. For more resources, view this podcast …

Parasites, such as fleas and ticks, are tiny organisms that can pose a big threat to our animals. How can we look out for our furry and feathered friends? Dr. Caroline Sobotyk, assistant professor of clinical parasitology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, joins us to discuss parasite threats, behaviors, and how to pre…

Story by Stacy Benjamin, read by Jessica Mitchell. A safe space for your flock means less stress on your birds and more peace of mind for you. This story comes from the June/July 2023 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS magazine. The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We’re passionate about h…

Story by Jason Knight, read by John Moore. Construct a simple but effective sanctuary to keep you warm during a wilderness emergency. This story comes from the November/December 2023 issue of Grit magazine. This audio article is brought to you by the Mother Earth News and Friends podcast. We feature stories from leaders in sustainable and rural liv…