Episode Details

In this special live episode, Mary and Emma talk with Ellen Polishuk, an organic vegetable farmer for 25 years and now a teacher and consultant for those in the farming business. Ellen speaks from years of experience as both a grower and a consumer on food sustainability, including topics such as organic certification, composting, GMO's, soil basics, eating locally, community supported agriculture and the potential for a world in which everyone is well fed and farmers can earn a living. This episode is full of great information for anyone who grows or eats food! 

Let’s get into the interview!

8:40 - Ellen introduces herself

13:50 - Changes in the organic agricultural industry 

18:40 - What is organic certification?

29:00 - What is non GMO, what is GMO?

33:00 - Importance of healthy soil

42:00 - Local or Organic?

45:30 - Growing your own food and Composting

51:50 - Are animals worth the cost for labor on your farm?

01:02:00 - Advice for aspiring farmers

Things Mentioned:

• The Almanac
• Potomac Vegetable Farms
• Correction @ 25:45 - Glyphosate was patented as an antibiotic in 2010, not 2014
• Start Your Farm by Ellen Polishuk
• Plant To Profit website
• Ellen’s Instagram
• Growing for Market magazine