Mother Earth News And Friends

Do pigeons make good pets? For thousands of years, pigeons have been companions to humans, and today, many people raise them and show them off in shows around the world. In this episode, John DeCarlo and Tim Heidrich of the National Pigeon Association discuss raising pigeons, why keep pigeons, building a pigeon loft, what do you feed pigeons, and more. Maybe pigeon-keeping is for you! More from Mother Earth News and Friends 

Whether you’re caring for livestock yourself or want to be a more informed consumer, you can learn about how antibiotics use plays a role in raising animals – and how antibiotics resistance can pose a challenge for animal and human health. In this episode, Steven Roach of Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT) answers some of the big questions when it comes to antibiotics use in livestock, including the risks of antibiotics overuse, antibiotics stewardship for people and animals, and how to choose producers that practice safe antibiotics use.  More from Mother Earth News and Friends 

Story by Erin Snyder, read by Kenny Coogan. Learn how to put your web-footed friends to work in the garden while keeping your crops safe. This story comes from the June/July 2024 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS magazine. More from Mother Earth News and Friends

You have a backyard flock – with an abundance of eggs. What can you do to make the most of them? For some, you may be able to sell them to family and friends. In this episode, Queren King-Orozco shares how to sell eggs as a home business, including selling chicken eggs requirements and best practices, marketing strategies, counting costs and income, and the benefits of making your egg business a family affair. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 

Story by Tamsin Cooper, read by Kenny Coogan. Why early experiences are important for your birds. This story comes from the April/May 2024 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS magazine. Read more at https://backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com/poultry-101/chick-and-duckling-imprinting/ More from Mother Earth News and Friends 

Have you ever wanted to add some fun-loving ducks to your property? In this episode, John, Mark, and Katie Metzer of Metzer Farms share how to care for baby ducks, including how to prepare for their arrival, what to feed ducklings, if ducks can go broody, and more. By the end of this episode, maybe you’ll want to welcome a few web-footed friends to your homestead! More from Mother Earth News and Friends 

Hatching baby chicks can be a great way to introduce kids to the world of incubation, poultry, and all the challenges and joys of homesteading – not to mention leadership and entrepreneurship. In this episode, Ann Accetta-Scott shares more about egg-hatching curriculum for children, whether using it as a family side project or a homeschooling lesson, and the ways children can grow through these chick-hatching ventures. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 

Story by Elizabeth Mack, read by John Moore. A new, peeping box of fluffy little chicks can be scary, but this excellent advice can help you. This story comes from the February/March 2024 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS magazine. Read more at https://backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com/chickens-101/bringing-new-chicks-home/ More from Mother Earth News and Friends

The word is out: Mushroom foraging is in. For those new to the world of mushroom hunting, we have a guide for you from author and mushroom hunter Frank Hyman. In this episode, we discuss with Frank some advice when out foraging for mushrooms, some popular edible mushrooms, and tips for avoiding toxic mushrooms. Plus, find out how you can order Frank’s excellent book, How to Forage for Mushrooms Without Dying.   More from Mother Earth News and Friends 

Spring hatching is around the corner! For those new to the world of incubating eggs and hatching chicks, we’re here to let you know it’s not as daunting as it may see. In this episode, Pascale Pearce of Brinsea joins us to discuss the basics of using an incubator and how to solve any challenges that may come your way, including when to stop turning chicken eggs, how to adjust humidity in an incubator, and candling. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 

It be may be cold for many of us, but it’s not too early to start dreaming about next season’s garden! In this episode, Benedict Vanheems, a contributor to MOTHER EARTH NEWS, a lifelong gardener, and presenter at GrowVeg, shares about how you can start planning and planting your next vegetable garden – from in-ground to raised bed gardening, to where to start your garden. He covers all the basics about growing vegetables for beginners, including some recommendations for the best vegetables to grow at home, as well as the worst. For more of this podcast, visit https://www.motherearthnews.com/podcast/growing-vegetables-for-beginners-zepz2401zawar/ Check out the MOTHER EARTH NEWS Garden Planner at GardenPlanner.MotherEartNews.com. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 

Making your own homemade batches of soap can be rewarding, therapeutic, and allows you to craft beautifully aromatic soaps tailored for your skin’s needs. In this episode, Melanie Teegarden, a soap-maker and business owner, shares the beneficial properties of homemade soaps and provides a simple recipe for you to get started making them at home. Once you've got a handle on the safety measures involved with making soap with lye, as well as general soap-making procedure and ingredients, you'll be able to fearlessly make your own! For more resources, view this podcast at https://www.motherearthnews.com/podcast/making-soap-with-lye-zepz2401zawar Order Melanie’s book, the MOTHER EARTH NEWS Guide to Soap-making More from Mother Earth News and Friends 

Story by Linda Bowen, read by John Moore. Make this nature-friendly pastime safer for you and your feathered neighbors. This story comes from the December 2023/January 2024 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS magazine. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 

Thinking about getting solar? Before jumping in, know the types of solar setups available to you, what it’ll cost you, the questions to ask solar-installation companies, and more. Hoss Boyd of TeraVolt Energy joins us on the podcast to discuss what you need to know before you set up solar energy for your home. For more resources, view this podcast at https://www.motherearthnews.com/podcast/solar-energy-pros-cons-zepz2312zawar. More from Mother Earth News and Friends 

Parasites, such as fleas and ticks, are tiny organisms that can pose a big threat to our animals. How can we look out for our furry and feathered friends? Dr. Caroline Sobotyk, assistant professor of clinical parasitology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, joins us to discuss parasite threats, behaviors, and how to prevent infestation in your pets and livestock. . For more resources, view this podcast at https://www.motherearthnews.com/podcast/external-parasite-prevention-zepz2312zawar/ More from Mother Earth News and Friends 

Story by Stacy Benjamin, read by Jessica Mitchell. A safe space for your flock means less stress on your birds and more peace of mind for you. This story comes from the June/July 2023 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS magazine. The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We’re passionate about helping people learn more about natural health, homesteading, sustainability, and more. You can catch new interviews and audio articles on Thursdays. To see more podcasts, visit www.MotherEarthNews.com/Podcast. Check out the MOTHER EARTH NEWS Bookstore at Store.MotherEarthNews.com for more resources to help you achieve your health and farming goals. Go to the MOTHER EARTH NEWS FAIR page at www.MotherEarthNewsFair.com for webinars and courses on everything, from gardening to livestock management.

Story by Jason Knight, read by John Moore. Construct a simple but effective sanctuary to keep you warm during a wilderness emergency. This story comes from the November/December 2023 issue of Grit magazine. This audio article is brought to you by the Mother Earth News and Friends podcast. We feature stories from leaders in sustainable and rural living so you can learn more about natural health, sustainability, homesteading, and more. Catch new interviews and audio articles from us on Thursdays. Listen to us wherever you listen to your podcasts, and check us out at www.MotherEarthNews.com/Podcast. For more great articles on livestock and land management, large and small farming, and even bees, go to www.MotherEarthNews.com.  If you’re interested in workshops about everything from cheesemaking to soil health to building around your property, check out our MOTHER EARTH NEWS Fairs at www.MotherEarthNewsFair.com. Grit’s sister publications include MOTHER EARTH NEWS, Backyard Poultry, and Countryside.

Story by Leah Smith, read by Kenny Coogan. Facilitate a love of the natural world with one of its smallest components: seeds. This story comes from the November/December 2023 issue of Grit magazine. This audio article is brought to you by the Mother Earth News and Friends podcast. We feature stories from leaders in sustainable and rural living so you can learn more about natural health, sustainability, homesteading, and more. Catch new interviews and audio articles from us on Thursdays. Listen to us wherever you listen to your podcasts, and check us out at www.MotherEarthNews.com/Podcast. For more great articles on livestock and land management, large and small farming, and even bees, go to www.MotherEarthNews.com.  If you’re interested in workshops about everything from cheesemaking to soil health to building around your property, check out our MOTHER EARTH NEWS Fairs at www.MotherEarthNewsFair.com. Grit’s sister publications include MOTHER EARTH NEWS, Backyard Poultry, and Countryside.

4-H programs can be an amazing way to introduce kids and teens to the world of agriculture, science, engagement, and more to help them grow into confident leaders. In this episode, we’re going to be jumping into 4-H poultry programs with Dr. Jacquie Jacob and Pam Watson to learn more about 4-H poultry projects nationwide, how kids and families can get involved, and the benefits these programs can offer to the leaders of tomorrow. For more resources, view this podcast at  https://www.motherearthnews.com/podcast/4-H-chicken-showmanship-zepz2311zawar/ More from Mother Earth News and Friends

Have you ever heard of cordyceps? For many of us, our knowledge of cordyceps – a category of fungi that includes hundreds of species - may be limited to video games or shows, where this fungi is the source of brain-altering apocalypses. And though it is parasitic to other insects and fungi, don’t worry, it doesn’t actually pose a threat to humans. In fact, cordyceps can be fascinating and helpful species! In this podcast episode, we’ll be talking with William Padilla-Brown, CEO and founder of MycoSymbiotics, on the work he’s doing to explore cordyceps, and discussing some questions and misconceptions about cordyceps along the way. We want to remind listeners to always exercise caution when foraging and introducing new medicinal plants and fungi into your routine. Do your research, consult and learn from fungi experts, and talk with your healthcare providers. The Mother Earth News and Friends podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. We’re passionate about helping people learn more