Raw Dairy, Glyphosate & Other Uncomfortable Truths EP 26
Release Date: 04/02/2025
How Do You Turn a Farm Into a Business? with Brooke Vanderkley EP 48
Dawn's Dirt Podcast
In today’s episode of Dawn’s Dirt, I sit down with Brooke Vanderkley from Vanderkley Valley Farm, a mama of four, farmer, and full-tilt entrepreneur about building a profitable, values-driven homestead without burning out. We jam on seasons over “balance,” scaling from 30 to 600 meat birds, pricing eggs like a pro, pivoting after hail wipes you out, and turning a farm into a family-powered brand with agritourism, Airbnb and (yup) shampoo sales. If you’re ready to stop dabbling and start designing a farm-to-table business that actually pays, this one’s your marching orders. ...
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Why Are We Letting Small Farms Die? EP 47
Dawn's Dirt Podcast
In today’s episode of Dawn’s Dirt, I’m pouring my heart out about food freedom, the farmer’s mindset, and why small-scale agriculture just might save the world. We’re talking grit, government overreach, and how the heck we got from homemade buns to preservative-filled grocery store shelves. I share wild stories from my farming days—broken bones, tornadoes, angry sheepdogs—you name it. But more importantly, I’m sounding the alarm (again!) that small farmers are being pushed out, and now is the time to rise. Whether you’ve got a backyard garden or a quarter section, you’ve...
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Dawn’s Hot Seat: The Hard Truth About Homesteading with Hayley EP 46
Dawn's Dirt Podcast
In this episode of Dawn’s Dirt, I’m in the hot seat and my friend Hayley is firing off the questions—no sugarcoating, just real dirt. We dig into the myths about homesteading (spoiler: those pretty colored eggs aren’t paying the bills), why vegetables are the most overlooked cash crop, and the brutal truth about making your acreage profitable. I share how women can crush it in farm-based businesses, the one mindset shift hobby farmers must make to go pro, and why community is at the heart of everything I do. We talk failures, firing stories, black markets in Cuba, and my dream for more...
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Canning Secrets for Serious Money EP 45
Dawn's Dirt Podcast
In today’s episode of Dawn’s Dirt, I’m spilling my hard-earned secrets on turning canning into cold, hard cash. From humble beginnings as the “Pickle Partners” at age 15 to raking in $150K a year in canned goods, I’m breaking down exactly how you can turn extra zucchini, tomatoes, or fruit into high-value products your customers will line up for. I’ll share the best low-risk items to start with, why beautiful displays sell more, and how to price for profit. We’ll talk canning tips, smart marketing, navigating those pesky health regulations, and how even city-dwellers can run a...
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Dawn’s Hot Seat: Bird Flu, Bullshit, and Backyard Eggs with Jamie Stewart EP 44
Dawn's Dirt Podcast
In this episode of Dawn’s Dirt, I get grilled by none other than Jamie Stewart—the poop queen herself! Jamie flips the script and puts me in the hot seat with questions about pesticides, glyphosate, raw milk, GMOs, soil health, and the messed-up reality of food regulations. We talk about how farmers actually make decisions, what’s realistic vs. ideological, and why the truth often lies somewhere in the muddy middle. We cover everything from butterfly worms in your cabbage to bird flu conspiracies, raw goat milk in my coffee, and why I’d never call the CFIA. If you’ve ever wondered...
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The Backyard Garden Q&A That You NEED To Hear with Rebecca Croden EP 43
Dawn's Dirt Podcast
In this episode of Dawn’s Dirt, I sit down with Rebecca Croden, a backyard gardening queen right in the heart of Toronto. We get into everything from shady yard solutions to tomato troubles and even how to use rabbit poop as plant food. Yes, you read that right. Whether you’re a city slicker with a patch of grass or just garden-curious, this one’s for you. Rebecca shares how her grandpa’s farm sparked her passion and how growing a few heads of lettuce can lead to major satisfaction (and salad victories). We chat compost, crop choices, pests, and why you might want to grow microgreens...
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Raw Milk, Orange Yolks & Ethical Meat with Abey Scaglione EP 42
Dawn's Dirt Podcast
In today’s episode of Dawn’s Dirt, I sat down with Abby Scaglione from Ruckle Heritage Farm and holy smokes, this one is a gem. Abby went from California vegetarian to regenerative meat and dairy farmer on Salt Spring Island. We got into everything, raw milk (yes, the illegal kind), orange-yolked eggs, pastured chickens, garden scraps, and how animals are vital to real sustainability. Abby shares her full-circle story of reclaiming her health, getting back to the land, and raising animals with deep reverence. We dive into the real meaning of local, the illusion of grocery store...
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Real Homesteading is Messy as Hell w/ Becky Frame EP 41
Dawn's Dirt Podcast
In today’s episode of Dawn’s Dirt, I sat down with Becky from Toby Way Farm and oh baby, did we go there. We’re talking raw, real farm life: goat guts, chicken math, and why your organic ideology might be killing your animals (not to mention your wallet). Becky and I don’t sugarcoat things because life on a homestead isn’t Pinterest-perfect, it’s dirty, hard, heartbreaking, and 100% worth it. We dig into goat parasites, feed decisions, farm math, and what it really means to be a modern homesteader with integrity. We even get into government overreach, raw milk laws, and why you can...
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How He Made $100K in His Backyard with Chef Mikey EP 40
Dawn's Dirt Podcast
In today’s episode of Dawn’s Dirt, I sit down with Chef Mikey from Chef’s Harvest Farm—a total character and an absolute legend in the urban farming world out of Knoxville, Tennessee. Y’all, this man turned his backyard into a full-blown vegetable empire and is making a six-figure living growing salad greens. From slinging veggies under his cubicle desk to supplying top-tier resorts and chefs, Mikey breaks down exactly how he did it with grit, strategy, and heart. We talk community, soil, seasonal eating, and why lettuce from Peru just ain’t it. This episode will light a fire under...
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How Hydroponic Lettuce is Saving a Province with Mackenzie Warford aka Papa’s Farm | EP 39
Dawn's Dirt Podcast
In today’s episode of Dawn’s Dirt, I’m talking lettuce—but not just any lettuce. I sat down with the incredibly passionate and slightly wild Mackenzie Warford of Papa’s Farm in Newfoundland, where he’s growing top-tier romaine lettuce year-round using a hydroponic system that puts most operations to shame. We dive into his “hippie greenhouse,” his geothermal setup, his zero-pesticide practices, and why he’s dead set on feeding his family and community the highest-quality food possible—without a dime of government funding. We go deep on why Canada’s food system is broken...
info_outlineIn today’s solo episode of Dawn’s Dirt, I’m diving headfirst into the gritty, messy, beautiful truth behind ideologies in farming, food systems, and homesteading. People love to tell farmers how to farm—but unless you’ve pulled a calf in a snowstorm or had your whole crop threatened by hail, maybe zip it. I get real about glyphosate, organics, raw dairy, and the bureaucratic nonsense that’s choking out small farms. I share my own journey from running a greenhouse and market business to selling it all to protect my legacy—and feed my kids. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by food choices, government rules, or the fight between “right” and “wrong” in agriculture, this episode is your breath of fresh air. It’s about freedom of choice, love for the land, and trusting people over systems. Whether you’re a homesteader, a grocery-store shopper, or somewhere in between, this one’s for you.
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Episode Highlights: farming ideologies, homesteading truth, food freedom, glyphosate debate, raw dairy advocacy, government overreach, organic vs conventional, regenerative agriculture, farmer’s markets reality, freedom of choice, small farm survival, bureaucracy in food systems
Takeaways:
- You can’t fix a broken system with the people who broke it
- Most farmers are doing their best with what they’ve got
- Regenerative agriculture is a long game, not a quick fix
- Bureaucracy is killing the small farm and the real farmer’s market
- Raw dairy can be safe when handled properly
- Freedom of choice must include all choices—even ones we wouldn’t personally make
- You can be the change by growing even a single plant
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Links & Resources Mentioned
Visit Dawn’s Website: https://www.dawnsdirt.ca/
Dawn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dawns_dirt/
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Have you ever started a garden that didn’t go as planned? Feeling overwhelmed by all the conflicting gardening advice and unsure what’s right for you? Imagine having a personal guide to walk you through the process, helping you create a thriving garden no matter your space or experience level. That’s where I come in! With years of experience growing vegetables, I’ll help you understand your plants, tackle challenges, and find solutions tailored to your unique garden. Let’s talk about your gardening goals and how I can help you grow more food at home. Book a free call today using the link below, and let’s get growing together!
https://www.dawnsdirt.ca/book-online
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