Several hundred acres in SW Vermont and adjacent New York State are being managed by Russell Wallack and others at Breadtree farms. As their name suggests, chestnut flour is a versatile gluten-free product that can be grown in the Northeastern US as it has been historically in temperate regions around the world. He is planting blight-resistant hybrids, along with hickory (for oil) and seaberry. The show was recorded in June 2025. The interview begins around 6 minutes in and ends 50 minutes in. After the interview are updates on biodiverse gardening, using multiple harvests from each bed that include wild plants.

Megafauna until ten thousand years ago maintained soil health and the water cycle by trampling and feeding savannas. Since humans drove these to extinction on most continents, it is up to graziers with large animals (cattle, sheep, etc.) to mimic this effect by moving the animals frequently as predators would have done, so they get the freshest grazing and do not overgraze. Animals can actually restore water cycles and sequester carbon and be a climate solution rather than a problem – if they are grazed properly, Siobhan Griffin once lived in the Northeastern US and now lives in New Zealand and helps ranchers all over the world to do it right. Show recorded in April 2025.

We interviewed West Stockbridge, Pittsfield, and Sheffield market managers. The Pittsfield interview discussed the Roots Rising program which empowers youth to work on farms as well as run the market.

Jaye and I discuss growing native plants and restoring the strained ecosystem in the Berkshire-Taconic region using ecologically sound methods of propagation such as using their community of plants to select the best genetics, organic methods in soil mixes, etc.  Helia Native Nursery continues her 20 years of experience and provides plants and expertise to landscape design clients and the public.  We also touch on using invasive plants instead of overharvesting medicinal native plants with similar properties.

Jaye and I had a stimultating discussion with farmer Ted Dobson, founder of the first Western Massachusetts organic farm, Equinox Farm.  Broadcasted Feb. 17, 2025 at berkshireradio.org, WBCR-LP 97.7 FM Great Barrington MA.  Here is a link:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ROLJ6gdMtiDHPOLXx3MxSeRcnDjPsADq/view?usp=sharing

Above right here is the latest Farm and Garden Show which will broadcast on berkshireradio.org this Monday January 27 from 10-11 AM eastern time, and a few more Mondays in the coming weeks (you can also listen to the archive there anytime within 2 weeks after each broadcast).  Dr. Don Huber speaks about glyphosate and the many detrimental effects it has on our and the soil microbiome, chronic diseases, autism, cancer, creating nutrient deficiencies as it is a mineral chelator, antibiotic, and broad spectrum herbicide all in one.  Contrary to industry spin, it is not a safe chemical.

Here is a mix of Regenerate, Heal, Cool, a chamber music piece about monoculture and biological farming, contrasting killing versus working with natural systems.  Look in the OOT program notes file for that title for more words about that piece.  Also in the notes is a preview of additional music that will be in a forthcoming album “Of These Times”.  The music is all recorded and will be mixed and mastered.  Donations appreciated to complete this major project!  OOT program notes

Here is the link to a mix (not final yet) with wonderfully sung lyrics by Jaye Alison Moscariello she recorded on January 20, 2025:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jv6LFm2pm7TeNywYNlLVOEodt2ddevi3/view?usp=drive_web

WBCR-LP’s January Farm and Garden Show will broadcast every Monday from 10-11 AM Eastern time.  We spent most of the hour with Elizabeth Keen, farmer at Indian Line Farm in South Egremont, MA.  She is the largest produce seller at the Great Barrington winter farmers’ market in Housatonic (1061  Main St Housatonic MA).  Then at the end of the show is a 6 or so minute excerpt about rhizophagy (root eating) where microbes are partially ingested by plants.  Below the Indian Line interview is the entire interview with Dr. James White whose excerpt is at the end of the first interview below.