The Ruminant aims to share good ideas for farmers and gardeners via a podcast & photo based blog. Each week small-scale farmers, food experts, and innovative thinkers weigh in on a range of topics relating to your garden.
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e.99: Incubating & Hatching Eggs yourself
e.99: Incubating & Hatching Eggs yourself

You know you want to hatch your own chicks.

e.98: Breeding for better flavour and Row 7 Seeds
e.98: Breeding for better flavour and Row 7 Seeds

This ep: a new seed company, representing a collaboration between chefs and plant breeders, aims to improve the flavour and performance of our plant varieties.

e97: A quickie with Jean-Martin Fortier
e97: A quickie with Jean-Martin Fortier

This ep: Jean-Martin Fortier returns for a quickie. We talk about fame, semi-fortune, cocaine, compost tea, the tool he's most obsessed with at the moment, and a few other tidbits. 

e.96: A Critique of Compost Tea
e.96: A Critique of Compost Tea

This ep: WSU Extension Specialist Linda Chalker-Scott says that compost tea isn't steeped in good science.

e.95: The Farmers Aren't All Right, pt II
e.95: The Farmers Aren't All Right, pt II

This ep: another take on farmer mental health featuring Javan Berkanevitch.

e.94: Better GH Practices
e.94: Better GH Practices

This ep: GH expert Andew Mefferd on making the most out of caterpillar tunnels and Extension Specialist Judson Reid on avoiding and managing toxic levels of soil nutrients in greenhouses.

A new season of the podcast starts Friday!
A new season of the podcast starts Friday!

Coming Friday, March 2: the first episode of the next season of The Ruminant Podcast. To tide you over, I've produced a microsode. I hope you enjoy it!

e93: Stop Washing Your Children So Much!
e93: Stop Washing Your Children So Much!

The microbes that colonize us when we're in the womb and as infants have lasting impacts on our health later on. My conversation with Claire Arrieta, author of Let Them Eat Dirt.

e.92: The Farmers Aren't All Right
e.92: The Farmers Aren't All Right

Despair on the farm and what to do about it: this ep we explore mental health issues among farmers.

e.91: The Origins of Artisanal Food in America
e.91: The Origins of Artisanal Food in America

A conversation about food artisans as flavour preservationists. 

e.90: Our Agricultural Heritage is At Risk
e.90: Our Agricultural Heritage is At Risk

Simran Sethi on the slow loss of foods we love.

e.89: America Does Too Have a Food Culture!
e.89: America Does Too Have a Food Culture!

This ep: America's food culture does exist! Plus: tips for setting up a good CSA pick-up point

Just When you Need it: The Zone
Just When you Need it: The Zone

A new season of episodes launches in January. For now: enjoy this ode to productivity

e.88: Cut Flower Maintenance, Farm Internship Workshop
e.88: Cut Flower Maintenance, Farm Internship Workshop

Take better care of your flower garden through the season with these tips. Then learn about an upcoming workshop on the state of farming internships.

e.87: Insights on Leasing Farmland
e.87: Insights on Leasing Farmland

Two farmy gents with insights about setting up a solid farm lease and managing the landlord/tenant relationship

e.86: Antibiotic Use in Poultry Production & Antibiotic Resistance
e.86: Antibiotic Use in Poultry Production & Antibiotic Resistance

A conversation on antibiotic use in the livestock industry and the antibiotic resistance that has resulted. Tom Philpott is my guest.

e85: Building your Herd | Mobile Hoophouse Design
e85: Building your Herd | Mobile Hoophouse Design
A Mobile Hoophouse Design For Me and You
A Mobile Hoophouse Design For Me and You

To accompany the conversation with Hermann in podcast episode 85

e83: Pasturing your Pork and Selling Flowers to Florists
e83: Pasturing your Pork and Selling Flowers to Florists

This one is all about pigs and weddings.

e82: Media Training for Farmers
e82: Media Training for Farmers

Listen to this and your media savvy will blossom.

e81: Connected Apprentices=Happy Apprentices
e81: Connected Apprentices=Happy Apprentices
Roll out poly and remay by yourself!
Roll out poly and remay by yourself!

Roll out/Roll up in a hurry, on your own, without damaging the material.

Wheelbarrow becomes mobile irrigation cart
Wheelbarrow becomes mobile irrigation cart

Handy for areas where permanent irrigation is unfeasible

e80: Parasite Control for Small Ruminants
e80: Parasite Control for Small Ruminants

Susan Kerr on non-chemical forms of parasite control in small ruminants.

e79: What our Ancestors Ate and Why it Matters Today
e79: What our Ancestors Ate and Why it Matters Today

  A conversation with anthropologist Stephen Le

e.78: Affordable Farm Sensors | Layers vs Broilers
e.78: Affordable Farm Sensors | Layers vs Broilers

 Bob Siegfried of MidAtlantic Farm Sensors on wiring up your farm for better management, plus John McCauley of Chicken People returns to recommend the best bird to start with if you're new to pasturing livestock.

e.77: Smart High Tunnel Management
e.77: Smart High Tunnel Management

Adam Montri on the finer points of incorporating high tunnels into your market gardening. 

I built a 24'x81' hoophouse for $1500
I built a 24'x81' hoophouse for $1500

So far, so good.

e76: Winter Bale-Grazing, Biodegradable Mulch Research
e76: Winter Bale-Grazing, Biodegradable Mulch Research

In which we learn more about Winter bale-grazing livestock, the perils of biodegradable plastic mulches, and the merits of regular soil tests.

e75: Organic Ag in the 21st Century
e75: Organic Ag in the 21st Century

The sustainability of organic versus conventional systems, compared and discussed

                          For more episodes of the podcast, use the player below!