Black Gold & Biogas: A Compost Deep Dive

Black Gold & Biogas: A Compost Deep Dive

What if your kitchen scraps fed the soil, not the landfill? In this episode, we dive deep into the world of compost, from the hidden microbiology inside the steaming piles to the surprising ways we can close the loop on waste. Learn about the the revolutionary UFSC thermophilic composting method we use at Las Bandurrias Food Forest & Homestead -- an innovative system developed over 25 years at the University of Santa Catarina in Brazil. It's low-labor, highly efficient, and it can turn all kinds of kitchen scraps (including meat and bones!) into rich, black gold. All WITHOUT the back-breaking work of turning piles! Plus, we put the spotlight on how Lorena & Renata are working with the city of Minas to compost on a larger scale, plus dry toilets, biodigesters, bokashi, earthworms, and why your pee might be the most underrated fertilizer on the planet! ======= Planting Change is MORE than just a podcast for homesteaders, organic gardeners and farmers… it's for ANYONE with a passion for a greener future! Want to help our Food Forest grow? Adopt a tree or have us plant one [https://patreon.com/lasbandurrias] in someone's honor!

Bioconstruction: Natural Building with Earth & Community

We're building a community center out of mud, straw, and a whole lot of volunteer spirit. In Episode 4, we take you inside the world of bioconstruction at Las Bandurrias Food Forest & Homestead and how we build with the earth beneath our feet – not against it!. Learn why we prefer lime over cement – and why the Romans figured this out 2,000 years ago… get the full story on "superadobe" – from Nader Khalili's NASA-approved designs to how Randy built his dome home here … plus Lorena's experience with "hyperadobe"! We also answer the question everyone asks: why on earth are we mixing fresh cow manure into our plaster? (Spoiler: it's not as crazy as it sounds!) We also look ahead to the future of construction: self-healing and self-replicating cement, mycelium bricks, and other living materials that could transform how the world builds. Join us on this episode of the Planting Change Podcast for a deep dive into foundations of the future! Click here for show notes, additional photos/videos, as well as links [https://www.patreon.com/posts/150850478] with more information to some of the topics we discussed in this episode ======= Planting Change is MORE than just a podcast for homesteaders, organic gardeners and farmers… it's for ANYONE with a passion for a greener future!

Your Edible Jungle: How to Grow Food Like a Forest

Randy and Lorena dig into the "food" part of their Food Forest! In this episode, they explore how to plan a productive, resilient garden within an agroforestry system. They share discoveries like a common velvety plant that tastes just like fried fish(!), discuss the importance of "PANC" (non-conventional edible plants), and explain how to use native and heirloom varieties to build food sovereignty. They also break down practical permaculture techniques: making raised garden beds for food forests, the magic of companion planting (like the "Three Sisters"—corn, beans, and squash), and how to integrate animals like chickens, cows, and pigs holistically into your edible ecosystem. Whether you have a balcony or a backyard, this episode is packed with ideas to make your own garden more abundant and regenerative! ======= Planting Change is MORE than just a podcast for homesteaders, organic gardeners, and farmers… it's for ANYONE with a passion for a greener future!

Our Story – From Dream to Food Forest

How do two women from Brazil and a gringo from the US end up building a food forest revolution together in Uruguay? This is more than a "how-we-met" story; it's a story about life redirecting you toward your purpose, one chance encounter at a time. Lorena and Randy pull back the curtain on their personal journey -- from what they did before planting thousands of trees (spoiler: nobody studied agriculture) all the way to the serendipitous meetings and leaps of faith that sparked the rustic beginnings of Las Bandurrias Food Forest and Homestead. Sometimes, the best projects and communities grow from seeds you didn't even intentionally plant. ============== Planting Change is MORE than just a podcast for homesteaders, organic gardeners, and farmers… it's for ANYONE with a passion for a greener future!

Food Forests 101 – How to Grow an Edible Ecosystem

Planting Change is MORE than just a podcast for homesteaders, organic gardeners, and farmers… it's for ANYONE with a passion for a greener future! In our debut episode, join hosts Lorena and Randy recording from Las Bandurrias Food Forest and Homestead in Uruguay, as we break down the "edible ecosystem"—what it is, why it's nature's ultimate climate solution, and how its seven layers of abundance work. Whether you're dreaming of a forest garden or just a more sustainable balcony, this is your first step toward growing hope, literally from the ground up. Want to be part of the NEW agricultural revolution? Let's dig in!