Know Your Food

Learning from the Land: Martin Ping on Biodynamics, Education, and Regeneration | Know Your Food #17

In this episode of Know Your Food, we sit down with Martin Ping, longtime executive at Hawthorne Valley Association, to explore how decades of community-centered work, biodynamic farming, and deep relationship-building have shaped one of the Hudson Valley’s most enduring food and education hubs. Hawthorne Valley’s influence stretches from regenerative agriculture to farm-based learning and vibrant local economies, all grounded in a commitment to land and community. We dig into what it really takes to sustain a place like Hawthorne Valley. Martin talks about the interconnected systems behind their work, the importance of biodynamics today, and the ongoing effort to grow not only food but culture. His perspective on leadership, resilience, and long-term stewardship offers a rare look at how a regional food system can truly thrive. If you care about local farms, ecological farming practices, or the future of community-rooted agriculture in New York, this episode is for you. This episode was recorded live as part of our Know Your Food event series at our warehouse in Bushwick. Keep up with our mission to support regenerative agriculture and slowly change how New York eats. Follow us for exclusive updates, future events, and more on Instagram at @farmtopeople, and visit farmtopeople.com to learn how you can get the farmers market delivered to your door.

Rebuilding Regional Flour: Heidi Dolnick, Makayla Bunce & Thor Oechsner | Know Your Food #16

In this episode of Know Your Food, we sit down with three people at the heart of New York’s regional grain renaissance: Heidi Dolnick of Unified Mills, Makayla Bunce of Farmer Ground Flour, and Thor Oechsner of Oechsner Farms. Together, they unpack why real flour begins long before the millstones start spinning. We explore what makes local grains different: how regenerative farming strengthens soil from the roots up, why stone milling preserves flavor and nutrition that industrial flour strips away, and how rebuilding a local grain economy puts value back into farms and communities. This is the story of flour as food, not filler. This conversation was recorded live as part of our Know Your Food event series at our warehouse in Bushwick. Keep up with our mission to support regenerative agriculture and slowly change how New York eats. Follow us for exclusive updates, future events, and more on Instagram at @farmtopeople, and visit farmtopeople.com [http://farmtopeople.com/] to learn more about how you can get the farmers market delivered to your door.

Mycology at Work: Cory Nellissen

In this episode of Know Your Food, Tivoli Mushrooms farm director Cory Nellisen joins us to share his path from experimenting with fungi in a garage to managing daily operations at one of New York’s leading mushroom farms. We explore the realities of mushroom cultivation—balancing the science of mycology with production demands, the patience it takes to keep mushrooms thriving year-round, and how trust and teamwork shape life on the farm. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to grow mushrooms for a city like New York, this conversation pulls back the curtain. This conversation was recorded live as part of our Know Your Food event series at our warehouse in Bushwick. Keep up with our mission to support regenerative agriculture and slowly change how New York eats. Follow us for exclusive updates, future events, and more on Instagram at @farmtopeople—and visit farmtopeople.com to learn more about how you can get the farmers market delivered to your door.

Soil to City: Regenerative Farming with Simon Ziegler of Sun Sprout Farm

In this episode of Know Your Food, we sit down with Simon Ziegler, co-founder of Sun Sprout Farms, to explore how a lifelong passion for growing food—and a commitment to ecological stewardship—has shaped one of the Hudson Valley’s most trusted organic produce distributors. Sun Sprout connects small farms to the restaurants, markets, and communities that rely on them, making local food accessible while keeping sustainability at the heart of their work. We dive into the nuts and bolts of running a local food hub, the delicate balance between scale and integrity, and the ways Simon and his team support regenerative farming practices across the region. From managing seasonal abundance to building strong farmer relationships, Simon shares what it really takes to nourish a resilient food system. If you care about local farms, sustainable supply chains, or the future of fresh food in New York, you won’t want to miss this conversation. This episode was recorded live as part of our Know Your Food event series at our warehouse in Bushwick. Keep up with our mission to support regenerative agriculture and slowly change how New York eats. Follow us for exclusive updates, future events, and more on Instagram at @farmtopeople — and visit farmtopeople.com to learn how you can get the farmers market delivered to your door.

Simpli's Ecosystem Pantry: Sarela Herrada

In this episode of Know Your Food, Sarela Herrada, co-founder of Simpli, joins us live in Brooklyn to talk about how her roots in Peru—and her career in mission-driven food—led her to build a pantry brand that’s anything but ordinary. Simpli sources beautiful beans and grains directly from smallholder farmers in Latin America, prioritizing transparency, traceability, and equity every step of the way. We get into how Simpli is reshaping the conversation around everyday staples, the challenges and rewards of building a values-based supply chain, and how food can be both deeply personal and radically transformative. If you care about food systems, women-led businesses, or pantry staples with a purpose, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. This conversation was recorded live as part of our Know Your Food event series at our warehouse in Bushwick. Keep up with our mission to support regenerative agriculture and slowly change how New York eats. Follow us for exclusive updates, future events, and more on Instagram at @farmtopeople [https://www.instagram.com/farmtopeople] — and visit farmtopeople.com [http://farmtopeople.com/] to learn more about how you can get the farmers market delivered to your door.