Finding Purpose in the Hoop House

Friendship in Two Parts

Friendship isn’t always easy—but it’s worth fighting for. In this episode, Ebony, Tish and Tonya explore the ups and downs of maintaining meaningful relationships, with honesty, laughter, and a whole lot of love. Part 1: Ebony & Lea Hutson on the FarmEbony reconnects with her longtime friend, Lea Hutson. The two first met during student teaching in undergrad, where they weren’t even supposed to be friends. But when Ebony got her “A,” their bond became unshakable—at least until a miscommunication pulled them apart for three long years. This summer, by chance, they ran into each other at Busy Beaver and were able to begin healing the rift. They talk candidly about what went wrong, what it took to find forgiveness, and why communication is key to keeping their 20+ year friendship alive. Lea shares wisdom on practicing grace, setting examples for their daughters, and why Black women in particular need to have the hard conversations to hold on to each other. Part 3: Eb, Tish & Tonya on Friendship The conversation broadens as Tish and Tonya join Ebony to talk about the evolving nature of friendship. From high school days and teenage motherhood to navigating adulthood, the trio reflects on how their bonds have shaped their lives. Tish recalls how Ebony showed up for her when she least expected it, and how their friendship became a lifeline through hard times. Together, they talk about the trust, growth, and peace they find in each other—and how Black women can set examples for their families by showing grace and working through differences. They also recognize the importance of modeling healthy relationships for their daughters, showing them what it looks like to forgive, to support one another, and to grow together. From forgiveness and communication to babies, farms, cooking, Gucci, and even home ownership, this episode is an honest and heartfelt exploration of friendship’s twists and turns. Image:  ⁠ [https://www.outoftheendinc.com/] https://www.outoftheendinc.com/⁠ [https://www.outoftheendinc.com/] ⁠https://www.farmergirleb.com/⁠ [https://www.farmergirleb.com/] ⁠https://www.facebook.com/p/Farmer-Girl-Eb-100070127213464/⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/p/Farmer-Girl-Eb-100070127213464/] Hoop House Talk is Produced, Edited and Mixed by With Bowl and Spoon, LLC Background music: Fractal of Light by Chris Haugen Connect with Lea Hutson 📌 Facebook: Lea Hutson 📌 Instagram: @DefinitelyLea [https://instagram.com/DefinitelyLea]

Back to School, Back to the Land

Tish and Eb reflect on the turning of the seasons—from the hustle of back-to-school days to the cool air of fall settling into the farm. They share what it’s like to get kids off to college (with Cocoa heading out on her next adventure), and Tish offers heartfelt advice for parents experiencing that milestone for the first time. The conversation flows from family to farming: fall flowers and bouquets, pumpkins, snapdragons, zinnias, and lavender, and how even herbs (and sometimes weeds!) can earn their place in a bouquet. Eb and Tish also talk about herbs as a “secret weapon” in the kitchen, adding flavor and depth to recipes. Together they explore what it means to grow food year-round with the help of a hoop house, but also what it means to grow resilience as Black farmers in an urban landscape. At the heart of this conversation is a deeper reflection: wealth isn’t just money—it’s the ability to create value for others. For Tish and Eb, farming is a way to do exactly that: to solve problems, share abundance, and build community. Image: Farmer Girl Eb with her wild bouquet from the farm. ⁠https://www.outoftheendinc.com/⁠ [https://www.outoftheendinc.com/] ⁠https://www.farmergirleb.com/⁠ [https://www.farmergirleb.com/] ⁠https://www.facebook.com/p/Farmer-Girl-Eb-100070127213464/⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/p/Farmer-Girl-Eb-100070127213464/] Hoop House Talk is Produced, Edited and Mixed by With Bowl and Spoon, LLC Background music: Fractal of Light by Chris Haugen

Cookbooks & Conversation

Season 1, Episode 2 Eb’s friend Dana stops by the farm, bringing big energy and The Black Family Dinner Quilt Cookbook—a favorite in her shift to vegetarian eating. One recipe sparks a deeper conversation about cultural ownership, knowing your audience, and when it’s time to just listen. From red and green okra to Harriet Tubman’s unexpected style, it’s all on the table. Dana gets curious about Tish, asking what a perfect farm day looks like. Tish describes the kind of focus and flow that makes time disappear—learning, growing, fully in it. A visit full of food, stories, and the joy of learning about each other. Image:Harriet Tubman Quilt. Quilted by: Negro History Club of Marin City and Sausalito, CA https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=8-5-436 ⁠https://www.outoftheendinc.com/⁠ [https://www.outoftheendinc.com/] ⁠https://www.farmergirleb.com/⁠ [https://www.farmergirleb.com/] ⁠https://www.facebook.com/p/Farmer-Girl-Eb-100070127213464/⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/p/Farmer-Girl-Eb-100070127213464/] Hoop House Talk is Produced, Edited and Mixed by With Bowl and Spoon, LLC Background music: Fractal of Light by Chris Haugen

Finding Purpose in the Hoop House

In this very first episode of Hoop House Talk, hosts Ebony Evans and Latisha “Tish” Branch-Nalls sit down to share how this podcast came to life. They trace the roots of One Sound Farm, the farm that started as part of Ebony’s personal journey to discover her purpose, and the friendship with Tish that helped bring it all together. Along the way, listeners get a glimpse into their relationship and the shared vision that planted the seeds for both the farm and this new podcast. The conversation then moves out to the farm, where Ebony, Tish, and Tonya gather inside the hoop house. Ebony reflects on her evolving relationship with tomatoes—how they went from being her least favorite food to one of her favorite crops to grow. “I’m growing up my taste buds,” she laughs, as the group talks about how farming itself can expand not just what you grow, but also what you crave. Tonya joins in the fun by surprising everyone with a dish made from fresh-picked greens, sparking a lively exchange about recipes, appetite, and the joy of eating straight from the land. This pilot sets the stage for what Hoop House Talk is all about: real conversations about farming, food, friendship, and finding purpose. For anyone interested in the scripture that Cocoa based her tattoo on, it's Ephesians 4:31 - "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” Episode cover photo: Tonya's greens https://www.outoftheendinc.com/ [https://www.outoftheendinc.com/] https://www.farmergirleb.com/ [https://www.farmergirleb.com/] https://www.facebook.com/p/Farmer-Girl-Eb-100070127213464/ [https://www.facebook.com/p/Farmer-Girl-Eb-100070127213464/] Hoop House Talk is Produced, Edited and Mixed by With Bowl and Spoon, LLC Background music: Fractal of Light by Chris Haugen