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4 The Soil: A Conversation - Podcast

4 The Soil: A Conversation

Soil. What is it, really? It’s more than the dirt under our feet and the ground we stand on.

Soil is living and life-giving.

Listen as we unlock the mysteries of soil by speaking with people at the forefront of the soil health movement.

“4 The Soil: A Conversation” is part of the 4 The Soil Awareness Campaign led by Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Virginia Soil Health Coalition. The campaign’s purpose is to raise awareness of soil as an agricultural and natural resource critical to social, economic, and environmental health.

Hear and learn from farmers, agricultural professionals, conservation leaders, master gardeners, and many more on how and why to be 4 The Soil.

The podcast is a collaboration of Virginia Tech's School of Plant and Environmental Sciences and Center for Food Systems and Community Transformation, Virginia Cooperative Extension, On The Farm Radio, USDA-NRCS, and the Virginia Soil Health Coalition with specific funding from the Agua Fund, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and Virginia Tech’s Department of Agriculture, Leadership, and Community Education’s Community Viability grant program.

Stay tuned for the release of our first episode in October!

Science Life Sciences Education
Update frequency
every 13 days
Average duration
18 minutes
Episodes
109
Years Active
2021 - 2025
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S4 - E25: A Regional Food System Perspective with Maureen and Mo of LEAP, Part I

S4 - E25: A Regional Food System Perspective with Maureen and Mo of LEAP, Part I

What does a regional food system network look like? Maureen McNamara Best is the executive director of LEAP (Local Environmental Agriculture Project) and Maureen "Mo" McGonagle is the director of the…
00:18:21  |   Tue 03 Dec 2024
Episode 24 - 24: Flavor and Sustainability with Nate Sloan of Bloom Restaurant and Wine Bar, Part II

Episode 24 - 24: Flavor and Sustainability with Nate Sloan of Bloom Restaurant and Wine Bar, Part II

Nate Sloan, executive chef and owner of Bloom Restaurant and Wine Bar in Roanoke, Virginia shares with Jeff, Mary, and Eric how restaurants can be a conduit of flavor, sustainability, health, and foo…
00:17:04  |   Tue 19 Nov 2024
Episode 24-23: From Soil to Ingredient to Plate with Nate Sloan of Bloom Restaurant and Wine Bar, Part I

Episode 24-23: From Soil to Ingredient to Plate with Nate Sloan of Bloom Restaurant and Wine Bar, Part I

In this episode, we journey from soil to plate with Nate Sloan, the visionary owner and executive chef of Bloom Restaurant and Wine Bar in Roanoke, Virginia.  Nate speaks with Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch…
00:17:42  |   Tue 05 Nov 2024
Episode 24 - 22: Finding Your Agroecological Voice and Lens with Nicole Masters of Integrity Soils Part II

Episode 24 - 22: Finding Your Agroecological Voice and Lens with Nicole Masters of Integrity Soils Part II

Are you interested in community collaboration and finding your agroecological voice and lens? Nicole Masters, founder of Integrity Soils and author of For the Love of Soil, discusses how an agroecolo…
00:19:52  |   Tue 22 Oct 2024
Episode 24 - 21: A Love and Fascination for the Soil with Nicole Masters of Integrity Soils Part I

Episode 24 - 21: A Love and Fascination for the Soil with Nicole Masters of Integrity Soils Part I

How do we create a love and fascination for the soil to better fit into the landscape? Nicole Masters, founder of Integrity Soils and author of For the Love of Soil, shares with Jeff Ishee, Mary Sket…
00:18:48  |   Tue 08 Oct 2024
Episode 24 - 20: The Promise and Potential of Biochar with Dr. Wayne Teel of James Madison University Part II

Episode 24 - 20: The Promise and Potential of Biochar with Dr. Wayne Teel of James Madison University Part II

Are you interested in improving the water and nutrient-holding capacity of your soil? Have you heard about biochar as a soil amendment? Dr. Wayne Teel of James Madison University has studied and rese…
00:16:41  |   Tue 24 Sep 2024
Episode 24 - 19: Reconnecting through Stories and Agroforestry with Dr. Wayne Teel of James Madison University Part I

Episode 24 - 19: Reconnecting through Stories and Agroforestry with Dr. Wayne Teel of James Madison University Part I

We all could benefit from reconnecting to soil, land, trees, and where our food comes from and how food is produced. Dr. Wayne Teel is a professor of geography at James Madison University in Harrison…
00:17:20  |   Tue 10 Sep 2024
Episode 24 - 18: Volunteering and Getting Your Hands Dirty with Tim Ohlwiler of VCE Fauquier Part II

Episode 24 - 18: Volunteering and Getting Your Hands Dirty with Tim Ohlwiler of VCE Fauquier Part II

Do you like to volunteer, dig in the soil, and get your hands dirty? Planting and harvesting vegetables, experimenting with cover crops, and reducing tillage can be great fun as well. Virginia Cooper…
00:16:37  |   Tue 27 Aug 2024
Episode 24 - 17: Horticultural Realities and Soil Health with Tim Ohlwiler of VCE Fauquier Part I

Episode 24 - 17: Horticultural Realities and Soil Health with Tim Ohlwiler of VCE Fauquier Part I

What are the realities for building soil health in orchards and vineyards? Tree fruit and grapes require different strategies for reducing competition from other woody perennials and weeds. Tension c…
00:18:16  |   Tue 13 Aug 2024
Episode 24 - 16: Managing Risks, Beginning a Movement with Robert Waring of Brandon Farms Part II

Episode 24 - 16: Managing Risks, Beginning a Movement with Robert Waring of Brandon Farms Part II

Farming and market gardening require continually learning and appropriately managing risks. Robert "Bob" Waring of Brandon Farms in Essex County, Virginia is a proponent of cover crops, soil health, …
00:17:19  |   Tue 30 Jul 2024
Episode 24 - 15: Growing Fertilizer and Farm Profitability with Robert Waring of Brandon Farms Part I

Episode 24 - 15: Growing Fertilizer and Farm Profitability with Robert Waring of Brandon Farms Part I

The economics of farming are always tenuous and subject to many market and climatic forces. Robert "Bob" Waring of Brandon Farms of Dunnsville, Virginia describes himself as a return-on-investment (R…
00:17:30  |   Tue 16 Jul 2024
Episode 24 - 14: A Farmer's Approach to Artisanal Baking with Nicolas Melas of Mill Song Bakery Pt. II

Episode 24 - 14: A Farmer's Approach to Artisanal Baking with Nicolas Melas of Mill Song Bakery Pt. II

To know where our food comes from, we are encouraged to know the farmer who grew our food. Nicolas "Nico" Melas of Mill Song Bakery approaches his craft as a farmer-miller-baker in the tradition of t…
00:18:05  |   Tue 02 Jul 2024
Episode 24 - 13: Artful, Healthy Grains and Bread with Nicolas Melas of Mill Song Bakery Pt. I

Episode 24 - 13: Artful, Healthy Grains and Bread with Nicolas Melas of Mill Song Bakery Pt. I

Nicolas "Nico" Melas of Mill Song Bakery is a thought leader within Virginia's regional food systems and a catalyst with the expanding Common Grain Alliance. Nico and his family, along with a growing…
00:17:11  |   Tue 25 Jun 2024
Episode 24 - Special: Soil Health and Music for Everyone with Ennis and Phil Carter of the FlipCharts Part II

Episode 24 - Special: Soil Health and Music for Everyone with Ennis and Phil Carter of the FlipCharts Part II

Ennis and Phil Carter of Flip Charts and Social Impact Studios bring together their expertise in social sciences and education to amplify a simple message that soil health and music are for everyone.…
00:17:08  |   Tue 18 Jun 2024
Episode 24 - National Soil Health Day Special: Music, Culture, and Action with Ennis and Phil Carter of the FlipCharts Part I

Episode 24 - National Soil Health Day Special: Music, Culture, and Action with Ennis and Phil Carter of the FlipCharts Part I

In anticipation of National Soil Health Day, Ennis and Phil Carter of Flip Charts and Social Impact Studios composed a fun 4 The Soil song to celebrate and emphasize how we can all take action for th…
00:19:16  |   Thu 13 Jun 2024
Episode 24 - 12: A Freshly Milled Perspective with Madelyn Smith of the Common Grain Alliance Part II

Episode 24 - 12: A Freshly Milled Perspective with Madelyn Smith of the Common Grain Alliance Part II

The aroma of freshly milled and ground grain is distinct and inviting whether in preparing bread, pizza, or a vat of beer. Madelyn Smith of the Common Grain Alliance offers a freshly milled perspecti…
00:16:48  |   Tue 04 Jun 2024
Episode 24 - 11: Reinvigorating the Local Grain Economy with Madelyn Smith of the Common Grain Alliance Part I

Episode 24 - 11: Reinvigorating the Local Grain Economy with Madelyn Smith of the Common Grain Alliance Part I

How can we reinvigorate the local and regional grain economy? What is possible if grain farmers, millers, maltsters, bakers, brewers, pasta makers, educators, and researchers dream and work together?…
00:19:20  |   Tue 21 May 2024
Episode 24 - 10: Emulating Nature: The Soil Health Puzzle with Ray Archuleta and Dr. Heather Coiner

Episode 24 - 10: Emulating Nature: The Soil Health Puzzle with Ray Archuleta and Dr. Heather Coiner

Can we emulate nature with our soil health-building systems? Where do local small grains fit in the soil health puzzle? Ray Archuleta of the Soil Health Academy and retired soil health educator with …
00:16:09  |   Tue 07 May 2024
Episode 24 - 9: Community, Dung Beetles, and a Good Steady Rain with Dr. Elizabeth Heilman of Wichita State University Part II

Episode 24 - 9: Community, Dung Beetles, and a Good Steady Rain with Dr. Elizabeth Heilman of Wichita State University Part II

Have you ever been on a walk and observed a dung beetle or two rolling a bit of dung down the path? Have you wondered what conditions make a good steady rain? While many things are out of our control…
00:18:48  |   Tue 23 Apr 2024
Episode 24 - 8: Calm Your Lizard Down with Dr. Elizabeth Heilman of Wichita State University Part I

Episode 24 - 8: Calm Your Lizard Down with Dr. Elizabeth Heilman of Wichita State University Part I

Are you resistant to change or risk averse? You may need to calm your lizard down and understand how important safety and security are to change, risk aversion, and the adoption of new behaviors. 

Dr.…
00:18:53  |   Tue 09 Apr 2024
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