Farm Walks

This episode is the second part of the WA Meat Up Double Feature!In this episode of the Farm Walks Podcast, we sit down with Shelley Muzzall of 3 Sisters Family Farm on Whidbey Island and her butcher Travis Stockstill of Island Grown Farmers Cooperative (IGFC). We cover a lot of ground from the unique Island Grown Farmers Co-op model (the first ever USDA Mobile processing unit of its kind!) and how it has impacted its members and the local meat economy. IGFC was recently awarded a Local...

Osman Ruiz Amador, propietario de Amador Farms, dirige una operación con su familia de mercado directo de frutas y verduras diversificadas. Su granja se enfoca en vender directamente a los consumidores a través de los mercados de agricultores en todo el estado. Osman explica sus experiencias en la agricultura y cómo capacita a todos los que trabajan en la granja y en los mercados, sobre los estándares y prácticas de inocuidad de productos. Más adelante en el episodio, Jacqui Gordon Núñez...

Haley Olson-Wailand and Zach Wailand, owners of Dharma Ridge Farm, run a certified organic, diversified, wholesale produce operation. Their farm is Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certified, and they recently underwent their first WSDA Produce Safety Rule inspection. Haley and Zach discuss land access, produce safety improvements, and how they’ve scaled up their farm business over time. Later in the episode, Connie Fisk, manager of the WSDA Produce Safety Program, describes what farms ...

Hilario Álvarez y su familia dirigen Alvarez Organic Farms, una granja de vegetales diversificados orgánicos certificados en Mabton, WA, donde cultivan 200 variedades de pimientos y 300 variedades de verduras. Han estado en el negocio agrícola durante más de 30 años y hablamos con ellos sobre cómo su granja ha cambiado recientemente, incluso durante la pandemia de COVID-19, específicamente en lo que respecta a la gestión y las ventas de los empleados. Más adelante en el episodio hablamos con ...

Bryan Mesa of De La Mesa Farms runs a 2.5 acre no-till, regenerative market garden in Tacoma, WA with his family. In this episode, we talk with Bryan about moving their farm all the way from Hawaii during the pandemic and the food safety factors he considered when setting up the farm on the new property. Later in the episode, we connect with Anita Adalja of Ashokra Farm who is a farmer and trained USDA GAP Auditor and also works on food safety trainings for small growers. Anita brings up...

In this episode, we are joined by Isaac Jahns of Big Sage Organics, Brian Estes of LINC Malt, and Matthew Hoffman of Westland Distillery as we follow the journey of a barley crop along the organic grain supply chain from farm to malthouse to distillery. We cover a lot of ground in this episode, discussing the formation of a valuable partnership, barley and its role in soil health, and elements that contribute to unique flavors in craft whiskey.The Farm Walks Podcast is collaboratively or...

In this episode, we talk with Val Wall at Whitehorse Meadows Farm about her most significant pest and wildlife issues, and how she protects her crops from animal intrusion and mitigates contamination issues when they arise. You’ll gain direct insight into her trials and tribulations and how she built an effective netting structure, ultimately increasing her marketable yield. Later, Karen Ullmann at the Washington State Department of Agriculture will discuss what animal mitigation pr...

Chelsey and Ben Mesman are a fifth generation husband/wife farming team who, with Ben’s father Alan, are running Mesman Farm: a certified organic dairy operation and Organic Valley Co-op Member in La Conner, WA. We get to chat about how they run their operation, what it takes to be a dairy farmer these days, and learn about their robotic milker! Later in the episode, we connect with Ellie Stone, who works in the Marketing and Sales department at Organic Valley. She shares more about...

Bradley and Lisha Newhall run Windy N Ranch, a certified organic diversified livestock operation and an on-farm butcher shop. On this episode of Farm Walks we talk to them about their reasoning for going certified organic, and how slaughter and wrap and pack challenges pushed them to pursue processing their own meat. Later in the episode, we talk with Matthew Cox of Green Bow Farm where we learn more about the USDA FSIS exemption and how they are now processing and marketing their m...

David Bill and Faith Van De Putte of Midnight’s Farm on Lopez Island run a Department of Ecology “farm exempt" aerated static pile compost facility, raise pork and cattle, run a farm stay, and have a no-till market garden. We talk with them about their biochar research and elements of a safe on-farm compost system. Later in the episode, we check in with Nate Stacey, soil scientist and Farm Program Director at Tilth Alliance and delve into more things compost!**NOTE** When David explains ...

This episode is recorded with military Veterans and contains content related to experiences and mental health that some may find uncomfortable or disturbing.In this episode of the Farm Walks Podcast, we have the pleasure of talking with Rachael Taylor-Tuller of Lost Peacock Creamery in Olympia, WA. Rachael shares her inspiring story of transition and transformation from an Air Force service member to being a full time farmer and how working with animals was her key to mental health and wellne...

In the first episode of Season 2, Nicole talks with Deb Stansbery of Radix Farm about her transition to certified organic, and delving into the importance of signage and labels in farm business marketing. Then, Colleen Donovan of the Washington State Farmers Market Association fills us in about all things farmers markets, including building trust and other reasons it’s important to make truthful claims.

Farm Walks Podcast is back for Season 2! We have a whole new lineup of farmers and farm topics ready to get you through the rest of the growing season. Episodes drop every other Monday beginning September 6th.GIVEAWAY ALERT! Every Season 1 evaluation you complete will count as one entry in our Farm Walks Giveaway. Prizes generously sponsored by Osborne Quality Seeds, Chelsea Green Publishing, and the Greenhorns. Visit farmwalks.org to fill out evaluations and learn more about upcoming intervi...

In this bonus episode, we talk about niche meat-marketing with life-long farmer Tina Timmerman of Oberg Brothers Natural Beef in Tonasket, WA. Tina shares the thought process behind transitioning some of their processing to USDA Inspection and outlines important tips to building a positive relationship with your processor. We also go into some of the challenges and opportunities of selling beef at farmers markets. Later in the episode, we talk with Kira Olsen of Smokey Ridge Meats about the p...

Join host Nicole Witham along with producers Erin Murphy and Teri Rakusin as they take a look back on Season 1 of The Farm Walks Podcast.And stay tuned for a special announcement!

In this episode of the Farm Walks Podcast, we get to sit down with Ryan Lichttenegger of Steel Wheel Farm in Fall City, WA to talk about developing COVID-specific employee training protocols and discuss recent updates to their wash/pack facility to help prepare them for GAP/FSMA compliance. Ryan will also share about his love of vintage farm equipment and Steel Wheel Farm’s approach to completing infrastructure projects on leased land and some of the marketing pivots they’ve made during COVID...

In this episode of the Farm Walks Podcast, we have the opportunity to talk with Bil Thorn of Sky Island Farm in Humptulips, WA about low-risk marketing outlets and food safety best practices for direct-to-consumer marketing and wholesale outlets. Bil also addresses innovative ways to find farmland and his approach to scaling up their business by expanding their market reach. To close out this episode, we get to chat with Laura Raymond, WSDA Regional Markets Program Manager. Laura shares about...

In this episode of the Farm Walks Podcast, we catch up with Emily Asmus of Welcome Table Farm in Walla Walla, WA to talk about their direct-to-consumer marketing channels including their customizable CSA, farm stand, and online shop. Emily also addresses farming over 40 and her lessons learned for managing body care, mechanization, hiring, vacation, and working with a spouse after two decades of labor. Later in the episode, we have a chance to chat with Simon Huntley, CEO and founder of the o...

In this episode of the Farm Walks Podcast, we dive into direct-to-consumer marketing with Emily Tzeng of Local Color Farm and Fiber in Puyallup, WA. We talk about developing marketing channels, building a brand, and the ways she adapted her CSA and farmers market approach during COVID. We then chat with Matt Kelly, Executive Director of the Queen Anne Farmers Market about farmers market operations during COVID and what’s in store for the 2021 season. Local Color Farm and Fiber is owned and op...

En este episodio del podcast Farm Walks las presentadoras Marilú Fernandez Silva y Kate Smith de WSU Extensión platican con Pablo Silva de Silva Family Farm de cómo pudieron operar de manera segura su granja de arándanos U-Pick la temporada pasada y cómo han superado los desafíos de manejar una pequeña granja durante COVID. Más adelante en el episodio escuchamos a Karen Ullmann, coordinadora de educación del Programa de inocuidad de productos agrícolas de WSDA, quien ofrece una actualiza...

In this episode of the Farm Walks Podcast, we chew through all things organic certification with Heidi and Mike Peroni of Boistfort Valley Farm in Curtis, WA. We learn why they decided organic certification was right for them, and break down the certification process by covering everything from required farming practices and record keeping strategies to annual inspections and helpful resources. We then hear from Brenda Book, WSDA Organic Program Manager as she shares the history of the W...

Casey Smith is a fifth-generation sheep producer in Winthrop, WA. Together with his fiancée, mom, and dad, Casey grows forage crops on irrigated pasture that are harvested with sheep. Casey sells grass-fed lamb meat, wool hats, wool blankets, yarn, sheep skins, dog treats and is beginning to sell grass-fed beef. All of the products are sold directly to consumers, stores and restaurants. Casey works with over 25 land-owners to create a network of pastures that are utilized through adaptive mul...

Tune in to the Farm Walks Podcast, conversations for farmers, by farmers about organic, sustainable, regenerative, and direct marketing agricultural production in Washington State. For more than 17 years, Tilth Alliance and Washington State University Food Systems Program have been collaboratively organizing the traditional Farm Walks that, pre-COVID-19, were happening - well, on-farm… So, Farm Walks are going Podcast! In each episode of the Farm Walks Podcast, Farmer Ni...