In today's episode, Dr. Akilah Martin shares about her journey with soil and agriculture. She also reflects on her experiences attending an an HBCU (Historically Black College & University) vs. a PWI (Predominately White Institution), her work with DePaul University, and her current projects in Chicago. Dr. Akilah Martin is a soil enthusiast, soil scientist and the author of 'Miseducation of a Farmer.' Miseducation of a Farmer: https://www.humansandnature.org/miseducation-of-a-farmer...
Nov 08, 2021•38 min•Season 4Ep. 5
In today’s episode, Maryan Abdinur shares childhood memories from growing up in Somalia. Maryan works with Hope Communities Inc as Food, Land and Community Program Lead, aka "the weird person that carries around plants and seeds." https://hope-community.org/
Sep 17, 2021•43 min•Season 4Ep. 4
In today's episode, Tiffany chats with KaZoua about her role with Minnesota Food Association, nonprofit farming, and the exclusivity of organic farming. KaZoua discusses her memories as a Hmong refugee and her life as the mother of mixed races (Black & Hmong) children. After the killings of George Floyd and Daunte Wright, KaZoua bravely used her voice to challenge white-led organizations to act against systemic racism and police brutality. Big River Farms: https://bigriverfarms.thefoodgroupm...
Aug 20, 2021•41 min•Season 4Ep. 3
In part II of Tiffany's conversation with Dani Pieratos, Dani talks about her connection to the earth and discusses the goals and challenges of the food, agriculture, and land access projects she's working on. Dani Pieratos is a mother, water protector, and advocate for Indigenous communal sufficiency, food sovereignty, and sustainable agriculture. She works with organizations such as Harvest Nation, The Land Access Alliance, Bois Forte Food Sovereignty, and the Sustainable Agriculture Community...
Aug 05, 2021•26 min•Season 4Ep. 2
Dani Pieratos is a mother, water protector, and advocate for Indigenous communal sufficiency, food sovereignty, and sustainable agriculture. She works with organizations such as Harvest Nation, The Land Access Alliance, Bois Forte Food Sovereignty, and the Sustainable Agriculture Community Advocacy Group. In this episode, Dani describes the harmful impacts of intergenerational trauma endured by the Indigenous Community, some of which she's seen manifest in her own life. Blog: White farmers block...
Jul 21, 2021•32 min•Season 4Ep. 1
We are pleased to present to you the new season of the In Her Boots podcast. The theme of this season, and the new direction of the show, is "Bootless." This shift is explained in this sneak peak of the first three episodes with new host Tiffany LaShae. Through Tiffany's conversations with her guests, the podcast shares and highlights the stories of Black and Brown women who traditionally have not had a platform to use their voice. Tiffany is a farmer, researcher, educator, and activist with a d...
Jun 25, 2021•15 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Today, we talk to Dr. JohnElla Holmes, executive director of the Kansas Black Farmers Association and part of the wheat farming community in Kansas. She shares a deep-rooted story of resilience from her family’s farming history and building the African American agricultural community in Nicodemus, Kansas. Hear how being proactive, asking questions, and cultivating community add up to strength to stay in farming for the long haul. JohnElla retired from Kansas State University in 2015 to come "hom...
Aug 28, 2020•30 min
Today for our "Resilience Boot Camp" series, Kelsey Ducheneaux shares how her Indigenous roots drive her work, building on the themes she talked about in her MOSES Conference workshop this past February. It’s all about connections for Kelsey, from observing and appreciating the diversity on our land to building awareness to know when soil is depleted. Kelsey Ducheneaux is a member of the Lakota Sioux Nation. She is the fourth generation at the DX Ranch on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation, of...
Aug 21, 2020•25 min
Mariann Holm of Holm Boys Dairy talks about the turning points in her life that cultivated grit—the courage and resolve to be a farmer. From taking the risk to leave a cushy corporate gig in California to start their organic dairy in Wisconsin to successfully battling thyroid cancer when the odds were not in her favor, Mariann inspires us all to change life’s curveballs into opportunities to make us stronger farmers and women. Mariann and her husband, Doran, own a grass-based organic farm in Dun...
Aug 14, 2020•27 min
For our Resilience series, today we connect with Molly Rockamann of EarthDance Farm to explore how she overcame burnout by taking a year sabbatical from the farm to travel, experience new things, and prioritize the in-person people connections in her life. Most importantly, she returned to her farming career recommitted and renewed—just in time to lead her organization through the COVID-19 pandemic. Molly is the Founding Director of EarthDance Organic Farm School in Ferguson, Missouri, and the v...
Aug 07, 2020•32 min
Today's episode in our Resilience series focuses on how to take care of the most important tool on our farms: our own bodies. Clinical massage therapist Laura Gosewisch shares her clinical knowledge alongside her own first-hand farming knowledge to help us "calibrate the compass of life" for holistic well-being. In her practice, Laura supports people recovering from complex injuries. She and a partner run Vital Ground Farm, growing and selling vegetables, fruit, and herbs along with preserved fo...
Jul 31, 2020•34 min
Our Resilience series continues as Cynthie Christensen shares her perspective on cultivating gratitude in the daily farming routine. Cynthie's resilience roots dig deep into her rural upbringing and childhood experiences, including the loss of the family farm and how that impacted her and inspired her role today as an advocate and educator in farmer mental health. Cynthie is both a farmer and a licensed therapist with a passion for rural mental health. She has a private practice, Oak Ridge Telet...
Jul 23, 2020•28 min
We continue our Resilience series this week with Venice Williams of Alice's Garden. She shares her insights and inspiration on keeping grounded and mindful while farming. "I have not met a woman farmer who is not passionate about her work," she says. "It's not a job. We're not going to a job. We're going to a vocation. Farming is a vocation that renews me every single day. It strengthens us. It excites us. We give ourselves way more tasks than we can ever accomplish in one season, which makes us...
Jul 16, 2020•31 min
We kick off our Resilience series with Meg Moynihan who knows a thing or two about resilience. She shares how her farm suddenly lost its milk buyer and the learnings she harvested through the experience. "Sometimes resilience is staying on the horse and in the saddle... Sometimes it’s getting up again after you fall off the horse. And, sometimes it’s knowing enough that, after you fall, you just need to lie there a while and regroup and recuperate before you can decide whether you run after the ...
Jul 10, 2020•31 min
Building resilience and supporting the mental and physical health of our women farmer community is a strong priority of the MOSES In Her Boots project. In today's episode, host Lisa Kivirist shares thoughts on what it means to be resilient in the face of the current public health crisis and, really, every day. She also shares a preview of upcoming episodes in our 8-week "Resilience Boot Camp." Listen in and decide if you're a carrot, egg, or coffee bean.
Jul 02, 2020•19 min
Today we wrap up our women caring for the land series with Lindsay Rebhan, taking a deep dive into regenerative agriculture—what it is and why it is important and how we as a community of women committed to sustainability can lead and champion the movement. As Lindsay points out, the important first step in permaculture is observing your land and seeing, understanding, and appreciating what the foundation you already have. Lindsay Rebhan is a co-owner of Ecological Design, a certified permacultu...
Jun 26, 2020•21 min
We continue our conversations with women landowners passionate about conservation today with Patti Schevers, who returned to her family farm to steward the land for future generations. Patti offers advice on how to learn and self-educate when you're new to conservation and, as in her case, do so in strong partnership with family. Patti is the 4th generation stewarding Schevers Farm, located outside of Green Bay, Wisconsin. The property has been in her family since 1914 and the original 113 acres...
Jun 19, 2020•18 min
We continue our series about women doing conservation work on their land, talking today with Deirdre Birmingham of The Cider Farm. She shares her land stewardship journey and offers tips for tapping into agency expertise and various funding opportunities. Deirdre Birmingham runs The Cider Farm with her husband, John Bondi, in Mineral Point Wisconsin. They raise organic English and French cider apples which are pressed into a variety of hard ciders and apple brandy, which you can sample at their ...
Jun 12, 2020•22 min
Today on our In Her Boots podcast, we’re talking about tools for land conservation with Jennifer Filipiak of the Driftless Area Land Conservancy. A champion for women landowners, Jen explains what a conservation easement is and how this can be an important tool to strategically preserve your land with your conservation goals in mind. Want to keep your farm in agriculture and protect it from development? Listen in for ideas and resources. Jennifer Filipiak serves as Executive Director of the Drif...
Jun 05, 2020•23 min
As part of our special "Women Caring for the Land" series, we're talking today with Thelma Heidel-Baker of Bossie Cow Farm in Wisconsin. Thelma shares how she detoured from an academic career in entomology—she’s actually a bug doctor with her Ph.D.—to return to her family farm to re-craft a livelihood for her young family. Thelma’s passion for conservation shines as she gives us practical advice on setting up conservation strategies, noting that land stewardship is a journey. She encourages us t...
May 29, 2020•24 min
Dr. Jean Eells talks about women landowners and their historic roles on farms, sharing tips based on her research into the best ways to help these landowners learn about conservation practices they can put into practice on their land. If you're a woman who owns land you farm or rent out or you work in conservation programs, listen in to hear about ways we can encourage conservation practices. Dr. Jean Eells operates E Resources Group, an evaluation and research business working with private busi...
May 22, 2020•21 min
The In Her Boots podcast now has more than 130 episodes featuring women who are changing the food system for the better. Today, host Lisa Kivirist takes a look at the focus of our In Her Boots programming and offers a glimpse of what to expect on the show in the coming weeks.
May 15, 2020•15 min
We are wrapping up our series with Betty Anderson talking about ways we can take care of themselves. She shares how serving in the military impacts her farming career and how she found healing for PTSD with her hands in the soil. Betty Anderson and her husband, Dane, are the current stewards at The Old Smith Place outside Brodhead, Wisconsin. Their 40-acre farm is home to goats, chickens, ducks, guinea fowl, and a Jersey "house" cow. Betty is a Navy veteran and a beginning farmer who sells her j...
May 08, 2020•19 min
Join us today for another conversation with farmer Betty Anderson of The Old Smith Place as she shares how she added an income stream for her farm by selling jams and jellies under Wisconsin’s cottage food law. Her signature creations have unique flavors (Ever try corn cob jelly?) that make good use of the produce she grows on the farm. Betty Anderson and her husband, Dane, are the current stewards at The Old Smith Place outside Brodhead, Wisconsin. Their 40-acre farm is home to goats, chickens,...
May 01, 2020•17 min
"A funny thing happened on my way to the supermarket...I became a farmer." On today’s episode, Wisconsin farmer Betty Anderson shares the role diversification plays in her farm operation. Hear her advice for strategically saying "no" to some things while amplifying what you've said "yes" to and taking care of yourself in the process. Betty Anderson and her husband, Dane, are the current stewards at The Old Smith Place outside Brodhead, Wisconsin. Their 40-acre farm is home to goats, chickens, du...
Apr 24, 2020•18 min
We kick off a new series with Betty Anderson of The Old Smith Place, a diversified farm in southern Wisconsin. Before starting her farm with her husband, Betty served as a cryptologist in the military and lived all over the world. She talks about the importance of finding your tribe and creating a “no judgment zone" when we connect with other women farmers. Betty Anderson and her husband, Dane, are the current stewards at The Old Smith Place outside Brodhead, Wisconsin. Their 40-acre farm is hom...
Apr 17, 2020•18 min
From the all-new MOSES Organic Farming Podcast, here's an episode with vegetable growers Katie Bishop and Rebecca Henderson on what they're doing in light of coronavirus, as well as online marketing expert Janelle Maiocco on how to quickly get started in online sales. Like this podcast? Subscribe to the MOSES Organic Farming Podcast wherever you get your podcasts or access it here: https://anchor.fm/moses-podcast
Apr 15, 2020•49 min
We are wrapping up our series with Inga Witscher of Around the Farm Table, talking today about communications strategies for women farmers to share our stories. Hear her tips and ideas to present your best barn boot forward when the media visit your farm and advice on feeling comfortable on camera from her seasoned experience hosting the TV show Around the Farm Table. Inga Witscher is a fourth-generation dairy farmer who owns and operates a micro-dairy in western Wisconsin, turning the milk from...
Apr 10, 2020•20 min
We’re continuing with Inga Witscher of Around the Farm Table and St. Isidore’s Farmstead Creamery as she shares her personal experience dealing with disaster when her barn and new creamery project burned to the ground. Listen to her inspiring story of resilience, self-care, and the importance of community support to heal and rebuild even stronger. Inga Witscher is a fourth-generation dairy farmer who owns and operates a micro-dairy in western Wisconsin, turning the milk from her 8 grass-fed cows...
Apr 03, 2020•18 min
Today, we dig into a topic near and dear to Inga Witscher: running a diversified farm business. Hear about enterprises she has tried—like a farmstay B&B and growing garlic—that turned out weren’t right for her but provided good lessons. Inga Witscher is a fourth-generation dairy farmer who owns and operates a micro-dairy in western Wisconsin, turning the milk from her 8 grass-fed cows into a raw milk cheddar. She is also the co-creator and host of the PBS series “Around the Farm Table,” high...
Mar 27, 2020•20 min
