In the first episode of Season 2, we talk with Deb Stansbery of Radix Farm about her transition to certified organic and delve into the importance of signage and labels in farm business marketing. Then we get the opportunity to chat with Colleen Donovan of the Washington State Farmers Market Association about all things farmers markets, including building trust and other reasons it’s important to make truthful claims.

In this episode of the Farm Walks Podcast, we have the pleasure of talking with Rachael Taylor-Tuller of Lost Peacock Creamery in Olympia, WA. Rachael shares her inspiring story of transition and transformation from an Air Force service member to being a full time farmer and how working with animals was her key to mental health and wellness. Later in the episode, we connect with Grant Weber of Vets on the Farm - a Veteran focused farm created by the Spokane Conservation District, aiming to support a new mission and a way for veterans to transition back into civilian life through careers in agriculture and farming.

David Bill and Faith Van De Putte of Midnight’s Farm on Lopez Island run a Department of Ecology “farm exempt" aerated static pile compost facility, raise pork and cattle, run a farm stay, and have a no-till market garden. We talk with them about their biochar research and elements of a safe on-farm compost system. Later in the episode, we check in with Nate Stacey, soil scientist and Farm Program Director at Tilth Alliance and delve into more things compost!

Bradley and Lisha Newhall run Windy N Ranch, a certified organic diversified livestock operation and an on-farm butcher shop. We get to talk to them about their reasoning for going certified organic and how slaughter and wrap and pack challenges pushed them to pursue processing their own meat. Later in the episode, we talk with Matthew Cox of Green Bow Farm where we learn more about the USDA FSIS exemption and how they are now processing and marketing their meats through their own farmstand.

Chelsey and Ben Mesman are a fifth generation husband/wife farming team and, with Ben’s father Alan, are running Mesman Farm, a certified organic dairy operation and Organic Valley Co-op Member in La Conner, WA. We get to chat about how they run their operation, what it takes to be a dairy farmer these days, and learn about their robotic milker! Later in the episode, we connect with Ellie Stone, who works in the Marketing and Sales department at Organic Valley. She shares more about the beginnings of the Organic Valley Co-op and how it’s grown to support 1800 farm families throughout the nation.

In this episode, we talk with Val Wall at Whitehorse Meadows Farm about her most significant pest and wildlife issues and how she protects her crops from animal intrusion and mitigates contamination issues when they arise. You’ll gain direct insight into her trials and tribulations and how she built an effective netting structure, ultimately increasing her marketable yield. Later, Karen Ullmann at the Washington State Department of Agriculture will discuss what animal mitigation practices FDA (the Food and Drug Administration) requires under the Produce Safety Rule, one of seven rules under FSMA or the Food Safety Modernization Act. The rule establishes federal, scientific-based standards for minimizing microbial contamination and the risk of foodborne illness linked to fruits and vegetables.

In this episode, we are joined by Isaac Jahns of Big Sage Organics, Brian Estes of LINC Malt, and Matthew Hoffman of Westland Distillery and we follow the journey of a barley crop along the organic grain supply chain from farm to malthouse to distillery. We cover a lot of ground in this episode, discussing the formation of a valuable partnership, barley and its role in soil health, and elements that contribute to unique flavors in craft whiskey.

Bryan Mesa of De La Mesa Farms runs a 2.5 acre no-till, regenerative market garden in Tacoma, WA with his family. In this episode, we talk with Bryan about moving their farm all the way from Hawaii during the pandemic and the food safety factors he considered when setting up the farm on the new property. Later in the episode, we connect with Anita Adalja of Ashokra Farm who is a farmer and trained USDA GAP Auditor and also works on food safety trainings for small growers. Anita brings up important considerations for wash/pack spaces and tips for making farms more food safe.

Hilario Álvarez y su familia dirigen Alvarez Organic Farms, una granja de vegetales diversificados orgánicos certificados en Mabton, WA, donde cultivan 200 variedades de pimientos y 300 variedades de verduras. Han estado en el negocio agrícola durante más de 30 años y hablamos con ellos sobre cómo su granja ha cambiado recientemente, incluso durante la pandemia de COVID-19, específicamente en lo que respecta a la gestión y las ventas de los empleados. Más adelante en el episodio hablamos con Davis Blasini y Ricardo Orellana de la Alianza de la Inocuidad Alimentaria (Produce Safety Alliance) sobre la importancia de la inocuidad alimentaria, las nuevas regulaciones y cómo puede abrir puertas para nuevos mercados.