Growing Mushrooms for Profit and Purpose: A Conversation with Cody Brown

Growing Mushrooms for Profit and Purpose: A Conversation with Cody Brown

Mushrooms are one of the most unique agricultural enterprises available to farmers and entrepreneurs. Unlike traditional crops, mushrooms are fungi that thrive on organic materials such as hardwood pellets, sawdust, straw, and agricultural byproducts, transforming low-value resources into nutritious food and profitable products. In this episode, Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Gabriella Soto-Velez sits down with fellow NCAT colleague and mushroom grower Cody Brown to explore the fascinating world of mushroom cultivation. Whether you're curious about growing your first oyster mushroom bucket or considering mushrooms as a farm business, this episode offers practical insights and real-world experience from two growers passionate about sustainable food production. Please complete a brief survey [https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/5711812/NCAT-Online-Materials-Follow-up-Survey] to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

Farmscaping to Enhance Biodiversity and Ecological Pest Management

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialists Rex Dufour, Audrey Kolde, and Nina Prater talk about the principles of farmscaping - a practice of integrating native and diverse plants into agricultural spaces. Rex has been championing farmscaping for decades as a way to enhance biological control of pests. Audrey and Nina convene with Rex to learn from the master.  Please complete a brief survey [https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/5711812/NCAT-Online-Materials-Follow-up-Survey] to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.  Resources: Alternative Pollinators: Native Bees [https://attra.ncat.org/publication/alternative-pollinators-native-bees/] Conservation Hedgerows for the Southwest [https://www.ncat.org/blog/conservation-hedgerows-for-the-southwest/] Farmscaping to Enhance Biological Control  [https://www.ncat.org/publication/farmscaping-to-enhance-biological-control/] Wild Farm Alliance [https://www.wildfarmalliance.org/] The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation [https://xerces.org/]

Planning for Farmland Succession

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialist Felicia Bell is joined by Alsie Parks, C0-Executive Director of SAAFON and Lindsey Richards, Texas Gulf Coast Outreach and Education Specialist with American Farmland Trust. Alsie and Lindsey share their different yet complimentary perspectives of the importance of planning for farmland succession through estate planning or land trusts, tips for starting hard conversations, and stories of successful farmland hand-offs to the next generation of farmers. Please complete a brief survey [https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/5711812/NCAT-Online-Materials-Follow-up-Survey] to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast. References: American Farmland Trust [https://farmland.org/] SAAFON [https://saafon.org/]

Episode 389. Successful Women in Agriculture - Gwen Cannon

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialist Felicia Bell continues her series on successful women in Agriculture. Felicia talks with Gwen Cannon of Cannon Family Farm, located just outside of Brandon, Mississippi. Gwen shares about what led her to living a life of farming with her spouse, and how the lessons she has learned along the way have helped her serve her community. Cannon Farm provides hands-on education through agritourism in addition to growing food for their region. Please complete a brief survey [https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/5711812/NCAT-Online-Materials-Follow-up-Survey] to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast. References: The Cannon Farm [https://autumncannon.wixsite.com/cannonfarm]

Successful Women in Agriculture - Marguerite Green

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialist Felicia Bell begins a new series highlighting successful women in agriculture. Felicia kicks of the series by interviewing Marguerite Green, Statewide Director of the Louisiana Food Policy Council. Marguerite shares what inspired her to begin farming and what led her to a career in agriculture advocacy and education. Please complete a brief survey [https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/5711812/NCAT-Online-Materials-Follow-up-Survey] to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast. References: Louisiana Food Policy Council [https://www.louisianafoodpolicy.org/]