4 The Soil: A Conversation
Eric Bendfeldt
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About This Podcast
Soil is living and life-giving.
Listen in as we unlock the mysteries of soil by speaking with people at the forefront of the soil health movement.
“4 The Soil: A Conversation” is part of the 4 The Soil Awareness Campaign led by Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Virginia Soil Health Coalition. The campaign’s purpose is to raise awareness of soil as a critical agricultural and natural resource for social, economic, and environmental health.
The podcast is a collaboration of Virginia Tech's School of Plant and Environmental Sciences and Center for Food Systems and Community Transformation, Virginia Cooperative Extension, On The Farm Radio, USDA-NRCS, and the Virginia Soil Health Coalition with specific funding from the Agua Fund, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and Virginia Tech’s Department of Agriculture, Leadership, and Community Education’s Community Viability grant program.
Hear and learn from farmers, agricultural professionals, conservation leaders, master gardeners, and many more on how and why to be 4 The Soil.
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Recent Episodes
S6E12 S6 - E12: From Biosolids to Artificial Intelligence (AI) with Lauren Hines-Acosta of the Chesapeake Bay Journal, Part II
Lauren Hines-Acosta of the Chesapeake Bay Journal returns to talk with Jeff, Mary, and Eric about emerging issues that affect regional agriculture and the Bay ecosystem. Laura's scientific research…
S6E11 S6 - E11: Small and Expansive Wonders with Lauren Hines-Acosta of the Chesapeake Bay Journal, Part I
The Chesapeake Bay watershed is a national treasure with many small and expansive wonders. Lauren Hines-Acosta is a scientific journalist and staff writer with the Chesapeake Bay Journal's Virginia…
S6E10 S6 - E10: Cover Crops, Wind Erosion, and Snirt with Kim Melton of the Red River Basin Commission, Pt. II
Soil loss and erosion can occur by rainfall or wind. Kim Melton, the soil health coordinator for the Red River Basin Commission, emphasizes that soil loss by wind erosion is farmers' and soil…
S6E9 S6 - E9: Moving Agriculture Forward with Kim Melton of the Red River Basin Commission, Pt. I
Keeping soil on the land is a sound way to grow and move agriculture forward. Kim Melton is the soil health coordinator for the Red River Basin Commission. Kim coordinates soil health education and…
S6E8 S6 - E8: Healthier Communities, Stronger Economies, and Hippos with Jeff, Mary, and Eric
Soil health is a foundation for healthier communities, stronger economies, and more resilient landscapes. And yes, hippos can be major pests. During this episode of 4 The Soil: A Conversation, Jeff…
S6E7 S6 - E7: Vegetable Farming as a Food and Health Business with Bob Jones, Jr., of The Chef's Garden, Part II
Vegetable farming is a food and health business that requires dogged persistence, curiosity, and a no-quit attitude. Bob Jones, Jr., is a second-generation vegetable farmer and the chief executive…
S6E6 S6 - E6: Love What You Do: Vegetable Farming with Bob Jones, Jr. of The Chef's Garden, Part I
Bob Jones, Jr., is a second-generation vegetable farmer and the chief executive officer of The Chef's Garden in Huron, Ohio. Bob co-owns the vegetable farm and business with his brother Lee. Bob and…
S6E5 S6 - E5: Managing Change, Building Cover Cropping Systems with Doug Fifer of Fifer Family Farms, Pt. II
Doug Fifer of Fifer Family Farms joins Jeff, Mary, and Eric for a second episode to discuss how Doug manages change, inputs, and tighter margins with his farming and cover cropping systems. Doug…
S6E4 S6 - E4: From Picking Up Rocks to Successful No-Till Farming with Doug Fifer of Fifer Family Farms, Pt. I
Where do you need to go with your farming? Doug Fifer of Fifer Family Farms joins Jeff, Mary, and Eric to talk about his experience and journey with no-till crop farming over the past fifteen years.…
S6E3 S6 - E3: Growing Heirloom Mums, Building Healthy Soil with Jessica Hall of Harmony Harvest Farm, Pt. II
What priorities excite you? Heirloom Chrysanthemums, soil health, and contributing back to the community are exciting priorities for Harmony Harvest Farm. In the previous episode, we learned the…
S6E2 S6 - E2: Living a Beautiful Life through Fresh Flowers with Jessica Hall of Harmony Harvest Farm, Pt. I
How can we live and enjoy a better life? Harmony Harvest Farm began with a lofty dream in 2011 and a vision of helping people to live and experience a better life through fresh flowers. Jessica Hall…
S6E1 S6 - E1: Rooted in a Passion for the Earth, Soil, and the Bioeconomy with Ms. Fatema Mohajir
A desire and passion for caring for the earth, soil, and the natural environment can start at a young age.Fatema Mohajir and her family are from the Bamyan province in central Afghanistan. As a…
S5E26 S5 - E26: Flowers, Pollinators, Health, and Peace with Dr. Christine Mahoney, Pt. II
How can we care for the soil and farm for better health outcomes? Dr. Christine Mahoney of the University of Virginia's Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy and Wayflowering Flower…
S5E25 S5 - E25: Social Enterprises, Systems-Thinking, and Flower Farming with Dr. Christine Mahoney, Part I
How can social entrepreneurship help build soil health and achieve ecological goals?Mary and Eric explore this question with Dr. Christine Mahoney of the University of Virginia's Frank Batten School…
S5E24 S5 - E24: Health and Nutrition Start with the Soil with Dr. Robin "Buz" Kloot, Part II
Health and nutrition start with caring for the soil. Food can and should be our medicine. Dr. Robin "Buz" Kloot of the University of South Carolina's Arnold School of Public Health and Soil Health…
S5E23 S5 - E23: A Fundamental Overhaul and Paradigm Shift in Soil Science with Dr. Robin "Buz" Kloot, Part I
Changing course is never easy, especially if the change requires a complete overhaul at the most basic, fundamental level. Dr. Robin "Buz" Kloot of the University of South Carolina's Arnold School of…
S5E22 S5 - E22: Encouraging a Hospitable Habitat for Soil Microorganisms with Dr. Ashley Jernigan of Virginia Tech, Pt. II
Did you know soil microorganisms of all sizes and shapes need water, air, shelter, and care to function and thrive? Dr. Ashley Jernigan, assistant professor and director of Virginia Tech's…
S5E21 S5 - E21: Regenerating Worn Out Soils with Dr. Ashley Jernigan of Virginia Tech, Pt. I
Does your garden soil just fall apart in your hands? How do you regenerate and bring back life to worn-out soils? Dr. Ashley Jernigan, assistant professor and director of Virginia Tech's Sustainable…
S5E20 S5 - E20: Soil Health beyond the Economic Rationale with Kasper Krabbe of Aarhus University, Pt. 2
Is the economic rationale of soil health always the top priority for farmers? Or, do other soil values rise to the top of farmers' minds, for example, having a healthy habitat for soil fungi? Kasper…
S5E19 S5 - E19: Agroecological Dynamics of Soil Health with Kasper Krabbe of Aarhus University, Pt. I
When you close your eyes, how do you envision your farm and soil ecosystem? What ideals, values, and priorities are part of your vision and farm business model? Kasper Krabbe, a doctoral student at…
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4 The Soil: A Conversation has published 128 episodes since October 2021, covering topics in Education, Life Sciences.
4 The Soil: A Conversation is currently highly active with new episodes every 2 weeks. Average episode length is 18m.
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