Tn Magic Moments

Did you know that Americans throw out more than twenty-five percent more trash during the Holidays? Christmas may be the time for presents and decorations, but it doesn't all have to end up in a trash bag December 26. We teamed up with some creative ladies at the UT Institute of Agriculture to find unique ways to give the Holidays that extra sparkle without the waste. Listen to find gift ideas, sustainable decorations, creative gift wrapping, and so much more.

In honor of Veterans Day, we are learning about one group that many are calling the future of agriculture. That is our veteran farmers. These are individuals who have served America on the battlefield and are continuing to serve on a different type of field. Meet two farmers from East Tennessee who are rolling up their sleeves to feed their community.

This month we are hearing from several students at the UT Institute of Agriculture about their experiences pursuing degrees and future careers in the broad realm of agriculture. Hear about bat research in the jungles of Belize, and how one student is working to make sure our food is safe from pathogens. Whether they are studying equine reproduction in Florida or teaching fishing to 4-H campers, these students are representing UT well as the next generation of ag leaders.

Did you know half of Tennessee is covered by forest land? The care and protection of that land is overseen by Tennessee’s State Forester, David Arnold. Arnold was just recently appointed to the position by Governor Bill Haslam and he has some new goals for one of the state’s most important resources. Also, wildfire season is just a few months away. Meet the state’s new wildland fire chief, Wade Waters.

Tune in to this month's TN Magic Moments podcast for a sit-down chat with Charlotte Tolley, Executive director and leader of the Market Square Farmers' Market in downtown Knoxville. Join us, as we highlight the progressive and preservative efforts of the landmark, rural market that just so happen to make its way downtown. Listen now.      

Do you have a business idea? Are you trying to expand an existing business? If it involves agriculture you may want to give the Tennessee Department of Agriculture a call. Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Jai Templeton talks with Samantha Jean on the many services the state offers, including an exciting, fresh, new focus on agriculture business.

Tune in to this month's TN Magic Moments podcast for a sit-down chat with Samantha and Shelby, two young women with a passion for farming and an empowering global vision. Join us, as we highlight the progressive efforts of youth in today's agricultural world and the call for its hand in preserving the values of tomorrow.

Karen McCully is owner of Amazin' Acres of Fun in Sparta, Tennessee. The McCullys were second generation dairy and tobacco farmers, but when the market took a turn they found other ways to diversify. That includes strawberries! Karen shares with listeners how Amazin' Acres protected their crop from several early cold snaps and how pick-your-own farms are the perfect place to reconnect with community, food, and family.  

April showers may bring May flowers, but what do you do if urban sprawl takes away your blooms? Rain gardens are a solution to a problem created by modern life. At the University of Tennessee, the Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Sciences paired up with Facilities Services to find unused patches of dirt among concrete and create several rain gardens on campus to capture water runoff and improve campus aesthetics. However, rain gardens are a solution that can be incorporated just about anywhere. Listen to learn more.

Getting lost isn’t always a bad thing. Just ask Paul and Elizabeth Lassiter of Lost Weekend Farms in Madison, Tennessee. They’ve been getting “lost” in their backyard garden for nearly two decades. Their weekend hobby has now bloomed into a full-time career. In this podcast episode they sit down with Samantha Jean from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to discuss the importance of community supported agriculture and community farmers markets.

So you care about the environment and how your food is produced. Do farmers and ranchers share your desire for sustainability? The UT Institute of Agriculture is launching the Sustainable Beef Initiative to make it easier for producers and consumers to make sustainable decisions. How will the Sustainable Beef Initiative create a better world from farm to table? We sat down with Gary Bates from the UT Institute of Agriculture to find out.

The farm is becoming a special destination for a very unique reason. Couples are flocking to Tennessee barns to get MARRIED! Stephanie Allen and her husband have been organic produce farmers for seven years. This past year they added a new piece to their business - an event space especially tailored for the booming wedding business. Tennessee Department of Agriculture's Samantha Jean sat down with Stephanie to learn more about "The Barn" at Allenbrooke Farms and how farmers are introducing ag into a bride and groom's magical day.

Flavor is integral to how we celebrate holidays. The taste of cinnamon and nutmeg evoke memories of celebrations with friends and loved ones. Flavor is tied to so many of our five senses. How exactly do food companies create the flavors we have come to love? Curtis Luckett gave us an inside look at UT's Center for Sensory Science. Listen to learn a bit of the science behind flavor.

Did you know that shopping local or visiting a farm can help ease stress around the holidays? This month we caught up with Pick Tennessee's Cynthia Kent to talk artisan-made soap, apple orchards, tree farms, and more. A locally made gift can be a more sentimental/personal gift...especially for those on your list who "have everything." Learn how you can start your own holiday traditions while supporting your local farmer or artisan.

There is a lot of hard work that goes into your favorite cotton T-shirt or summer dress. And that is even before the sewing machine cranks to life. Learn how one of Tennessee's former top crops is still making an economic impact in the state ... and across the world. Learn how cotton is fighting to highlight its connection to the environment and is taking on the synthetic fibers industry.

Chef Allen Cain has worked in some of the best restaurants in Knoxville and Nashville during his thirty-five-year career. During that time, he has learned the importance of fresh ingredients and developed an appreciation for agriculture. However, his newest gig is taking that connection to a whole new level. Lone Oaks Farm in Hardeman County is dedicated to agriculture and education. Find out why Chef Allen left the city for the farm and how it has impacted his culinary creations.

011: Cul2vate Nutrition and a Brighter Future

Summer means ice cream. For Colleen Cruze Bhatti, that ice cream is slow-churned and freshly milked from her family's Knoxville dairy farm. While Cruze Farm and Colleen have become known for their delicious ice cream and buttermilk,

A Tennessee city is reducing the waste going into local landfills, and in the process, creating an agricultural product. UT’s Institute of Agriculture works with Lebanon’s Gasification plant to convert waste into energy and a substance known as “...

Avian Influenza has been making headlines, but what is it? We talked with Dr. Lew Strickland, who is an Extension veterinarian at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, to cut through the science. Don't worry,