Propaganda By The Seed

A podcast about perennial plants and trees associated with food forests, permaculture, and restorative agriculture.

Psilocybe Mushrooms with Inti Garcia Flores and Alan Rockefeller 07/31/2024

Psilocybe Mushrooms with Inti Garcia Flores and Alan Rockefeller In this episode of Propaganda By The Spore, we’re talking ! This episode has been in the works since early 2021, we hit lots hiccups and logistical snags along the way, but we’re happy to finally get this episode out into the world. We start off with a short interview with Mazatec historian and archivist Inti Garcia Flores about the role of Psilocybe mushrooms in Mazatec culture. and check out his project () Next we’re onto a longer interview with freelance scientist Alan Rockefeller that covers Psilocybe taxonomy, biology, genetic fingerprinting and many other topics. You can follow Allan’s work a many different platforms including , , and thers. /episode/index/show/propagandabytheseed/id/32372267

Polyploid Breeding with The Savanna Institute 05/28/2024

Polyploid Breeding with The Savanna Institute In this episode we chat with 3 time PBTS guest Eliza Greenman and her co-worker Kathleen Rhodes at The about polyploid plant breeding. Polyploidy is a genetic condition where an organism has extra copies of it's genome in it's cells. Inducing polyploidy or breeding with existing polyploids can be a useful tool to gain traits such as larger fruit, larger leaves, seed sterility along with many other possibilities. is a non-profit focusing on researching and implementing improvements in agroforestry in the midwest. You can follow or read /episode/index/show/propagandabytheseed/id/31488047

Experimental Farm Network with Dusty and Nate 02/29/2024

Experimental Farm Network with Dusty and Nate In this episode we talk with Dusty and Nate about their project, . The project is both a platform to support open-source, collective plant breeding and other on farm experiments as well as a seed store, which focuses on unusual varieties and genepools suitable for further selection. We cover how they started the project, how it's going and some the many plants they are excited about. Follow them on , or check out their or /episode/index/show/propagandabytheseed/id/30152378

Seaside Foraging w Rachel Alexandrou 01/31/2024

Seaside Foraging w Rachel Alexandrou In this episode of propaganda by the seed we sit down with Rachel Alexandrou. Rachel is a forager, educator and artist based out of the Midcoast Maine region. The focus oof this conversation is seaside foraging, plants such as saltwort, sea brassicas, sea plantain, common seaweeds and more. Rachel also talks about some of her favorite wild plants to work with, how she uses them and the thinking that informs her practices. This is highly informative & inspiring and lots of laughs. Check out Rachel’s work at or on instagram We also name drop SoyMilkMaid a few times in this episode you can check her work out . /episode/index/show/propagandabytheseed/id/29735623

Siberian Peashrub with Melissa Hoffman 12/29/2023

Siberian Peashrub with Melissa Hoffman In this episode we talk with Melissa Hoffman of and about . Siberian Peashrub is a large, multi-stemmed shrub from northern Asia. They are somewhat familiar in landscaping and as a nitrogen fixer, but the seeds remain underutilized by most people growing them around here. Melissa shares her experiences growing, harvesting and above all cooking with this plant. We also chat about several fermentation techniques including water kefir. Be sure to check out on this topic for some beautiful photos and additional info. Some other resources that are mentioned are the book and the website Update: after publishing this episode I got a email from Jack Kertesz with some extra info to share. Rather than tarps, he now uses a wide piece of row cover material, slit to the middle and gathered around the trunk. This helps avoid excess moisture from collecting on the sheet. Before laying out the collecting sheet he mows the area. The sheet should be weighted down around the edges, or it may blow away. He also noted occasional chance seedlings from Pea shrubs if adjacent areas have freshly tilled, open soil, although it hasn’t presented a problem. /episode/index/show/propagandabytheseed/id/29262888

Koji w/ Nicholas Repenning of Goen Foods 11/13/2023

Koji w/ Nicholas Repenning of Goen Foods In this episode of propaganda by the seed we sit down with Nick from Goen Foods. Goen Foods is primarly known as a Miso producer in Maine, but also produces a wide range of koji based products. Nick also is an all around promoter of fermented foods/practices and helps to organize Maine’s Fermentation Fair. This conversation is an incredible glimpse into the world of Koji, some pointers and ideas for how to use it, how to grow it, some information about its history, traditional uses and a wide ranging conversation about fermentation, wild foods and (where applicable) where they cross over with Koji. For many people Koji can seem like a daunting medium to work with and hopefully this conversation helps demystify it. Learn more about Goen Fermented Foods by visiting their website https://www.goenfermentedfoods.com or the gram /episode/index/show/propagandabytheseed/id/28616903

Gardening for Habitat 08/31/2023

Gardening for Habitat This month we talk about gardening for habitat, especially in the North-East. This episode is adapted from a workshop that Aaron presents sometimes, so it comes with a and a , the podcast stands up well without them, but those extras are there if you want them. We cover what habitat gardening is, why it’s important, ecological context, some steps for creating a habitat garden and/or improving the quality of habitat in your garden. Like most topics, we cover a good amount of material… but only scratch the surface of the possibilities. /episode/index/show/propagandabytheseed/id/27898614

Repodcast: Around the World in 80 Plants with Stephen Barstow 07/31/2023

Repodcast: Around the World in 80 Plants with Stephen Barstow We didn't get around to making a new episode this month, but here is a good one you might not have heard! This is a episode of Tim's old podcast the where he invited Aaron on a guest co-host, it's basically Propaganda by the Seed before it was called that. In this episode of the Solecast we sit down with , aka to talk about his work documenting and popularizing rare edible plants. We are also joined by Aaron Parker from who introduced me to Stephen's work and also grows and sells a lot of these plants. In this conversation we talk about his book "Around the World In 80 Plants," his website Edimentals.com and his lifelong quest to research, catalogue, grow and experiment with thousands of rare edible plants from around the world. We get into his origin story as a vegetarian in meat-centric Norway uncovering the growing potentials in his region through foraging. He talks about his travels around the world learning about how these plants are grown, used and then bringing those plants home to cultivate. For anyone who is bored with growing the same old shit, or interested in permaculture/forest farming his work is inspiring, informative and coverers a much wider range of vegetables then are commonly discussed in permaculture and market farming. Pick up his book "" direct from Stephen and check out his website /episode/index/show/propagandabytheseed/id/27607791

Northern Nuts and the genus Carya with Buzz Ferver 06/30/2023

Northern Nuts and the genus Carya with Buzz Ferver In this episode we talk with Buzz Ferver of . Buzz has been doing a ton of great work preserving fruit and nut genetics at his farm in VT, as well as pushing the boundaries of what tree crops can be grown in zone 4 in the north-east. He shares a ton of practical knowledge about the genus Carya (Hickories, Pecans and their hybrids) as well as some fascinating history of nut cultivation in the last hundred years. Buzz recommends these organizations and their archives: () () () As well as these books: /episode/index/show/propagandabytheseed/id/27325002

Sochan with Nico Albert Williams 05/01/2023

Sochan with Nico Albert Williams In today's episode we talk about Sochan with Nico Albert Willaims of . Sochan is a member of the Asteraceae family (Daisy family) and is an important plant in Cherokee cuisine. In addition to being a great perennial vegetable for humans to eat, thisplant offers leaves for the caterpillars of several moths and butterflies, flowers for many pollinators and seeds for migrating and overwintering birds. They are also tough enough to be planted in spots where invasive plants have recently been removed. You can purchase Sochan plants from Aaron’s nursery , with a portion of sales going to support Burning Cedar. You can follow Nico's work at or on / . You can support her work by In the interview we mention the study Nico mentions the Eastern Cherokee returning to harvesting Sochan in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park, which you can read about /episode/index/show/propagandabytheseed/id/26701026

Alan Bergo aka Forager Chef 03/07/2023

Alan Bergo aka Forager Chef This episode of Propaganda by the Seed we speak with Alan Bergo aka Forager Chef(). Alan is a chef out of the midwest who is known for using wild ingredients to create unique gourmet dishes. He has been executive chef and run several kitchens, is the creator for the Apple TV show “,” and has published a new book, “Flora” which is discussed in this episode. We were struck by Alan’s humility and how much fun we had talking to him about his work. In this episode we talk about cooking with and storing wild greens, his origin story, cooking with plants that have been labeled “toxic,” and his ethics and thoughts on foraging. For more information on Alan’s work visit foragerchef.com and check out his new book /episode/index/show/propagandabytheseed/id/26154600

Oca with Eve Emshwiller 01/23/2023

Oca with Eve Emshwiller In today’s episode we talk with Eve Emshwiller about Oca , a fascinating root crop from the Andes. Eve has spent many years studying Oca and was able to share tons of really interesting stuff with us about how and why Oca is grown in the Andes and why this plant doesn’t necessarily grow well in other regions. You can find Eve on instagram at , on or visit her page at . If you want to try growing Oca, is a good source. /episode/index/show/propagandabytheseed/id/25695537

2022 Year End Wrap up with Zach Elfers, Davis Wang, Andy Prole and Mallory O'Donnell 12/14/2022

2022 Year End Wrap up with Zach Elfers, Davis Wang, Andy Prole and Mallory O'Donnell In this episode Aaron and Tim talk a bit about what we learned this year, what are excited about for next year and some of our favorite tools. Rather then rambling on indefinitely we decided to check back with some previous guests about their year and well as checking in some other people who we think are doing interesting stuff. - Zach Elfers ( @ on IG) was our , you can buy plants from him at or seeds at . He mentions a tool from . -Davis Wang ( @ on IG). Davis is a nurseryman from Ashfield, MA. His IG has some great content on plants, propagation and the occasional goofy video. Check out his video series on You can buy plants from Davis at - Andy from Poor Prole’s Almanac ( @ on IG). Aaron was a guest on awhile back. Check out Andy’s other podcast and his new-ish project . For more info on Earthnut Pea breeding check out this . - Mallory O'Donnell ( @ on IG). Mallory was a guest on . This section gets into some more political and philosophical topics. Outro music is part of Dead Flag Blues by Godspeed You! Black Emperor. /episode/index/show/propagandabytheseed/id/25316796

Chestnuts w/ Sandy Anognostakis 11/16/2022

Chestnuts w/ Sandy Anognostakis In todays episode of Propaganda By The Seed we speak with “Dr Sandy” aka Sandra Anagnostakis. Dr. Sandy is a past-president of the Northern Nut Growers Alliance. She has been working on breeding blight resistant chestnuts since 1968 at the Connecticut Agricultural Station and has selected and named many of the cultivars currently in use. Her areas of expertise include Fungal genetics and physiology, Plant genetics and breeding, and Host-parasite interactions. We have a long ranging conversation speaking about growing, harvesting, and breeding chestnuts. Sandy talks about her experience working with chestnuts for over 40 years, all the challenges and benefits of this incredible plant and tons of fascinating historic anecdotes from her work over the years. For more information on Dr Sandy and her work, check out her or look her up on (Note: this podcast was recorded around March/April 2022) /episode/index/show/propagandabytheseed/id/25036431

Eastern Agricultural Complex with Natalie G. Mueller 09/01/2022

Eastern Agricultural Complex with Natalie G. Mueller In this episode we talk with about the . The EAC was a group of plants independently domesticated by Indigenous people of Eastern Turtle Island (aka North America) starting 7,000-8,000 years ago. Some of these plants, like the Sunflower () we still know and love, but others are no longer commonly cultivated and are generally unfamiliar, like Sumpweed (). Natalie mentions some of these resources in the interview: , and /episode/index/show/propagandabytheseed/id/24231897

Cornelion Cherries with Little John 08/01/2022

Cornelion Cherries with Little John In this episode we chat with Little John about his favorite plant obsession, Cornelian Cherries (Cornus mas). We cover propagation, maintenance, harvest and a few of the hundreds of uses for the fruit (and other parts of the plant!). After a few heavy topics, it’s nice to take a little break and just shoot the shit about a fascinating plant. Little John is a prolific maker of memes, which you can find at He is also the founder of and a admin of the group. If you are looking to purchase Cornelian Cherry trees you might try: , , , or Propagating by cuttings: Jay Grace has had very good rates of success rooting dormant cuttings in the fall with mist and bottom heat. He says rooting hormone is not needed /episode/index/show/propagandabytheseed/id/23902215

Herbal Abortion & Fertility Control Pt 2 W/ Mischa Schuler 07/22/2022

Herbal Abortion & Fertility Control Pt 2 W/ Mischa Schuler In part two of our Herbal Abortion and Fertility Control series, we chat with Mischa Schuler. Mischa is the director of Wild Carrot Herbs. In this episode Mischa discusses various herbal, homoeopathic and over-the-counter methods for fertility control, some of their uses and limitations. If you missed it, check out Show Notes: . Wild Carrot and Conscious Contraception interview with Mischa Schuler hosted by Kay'aleya Hunnybee on the Wild Carrot interview with Robin Rose Bennet (Mischa's Wild Carrot teacher) hosted by Robin La Cross of Music: Our Hero Is Gone "Like Weeds" /episode/index/show/propagandabytheseed/id/23826890

Herbal Abortion and Fertility Control with August Sender 06/14/2022

Herbal Abortion and Fertility Control with August Sender This month we will be bringing you a two part episode on herbal abortion and fertility control. It’s a complicated and heavy topic, but our guests bring a lot of knowledge to the table and offer a nuanced but down to earth look at the information. In part one August focuses on the history and political context of herbal abortion and fertility control. Content warning: this discussion touches on a bunch of heavy subjects including racism, patriarchy, rape, slavery and others. August references or recommends these sources for further research: and/or the podcast and/or , especially and /episode/index/show/propagandabytheseed/id/23419025

Indoor Mushroom Cultivation and DIY Mycology Labs 05/30/2022

Indoor Mushroom Cultivation and DIY Mycology Labs In this episode of Propaganda by the Spore, Aaron gets into the nitty gritty of indoor mushroom cultivation and DIY mycology labs. The first part of the show describes how to grow mushrooms using spawn purchased from a supplier, which is a quite easy and a great place to start. In the second part we talk about how to produce your own spawn from spores, cultures or even fresh mushrooms. This process is a bit complex, but if it’s something you are excited about there are simple and cheap ways to go about doing it. contains tons of useful links and additional info that wouldn’t fit in the show notes. /episode/index/show/propagandabytheseed/id/23257283

Solidarity Apothecary: Frontline Herbal Support for Ukraine, Calais, Prisoners & More 04/22/2022

Solidarity Apothecary: Frontline Herbal Support for Ukraine, Calais, Prisoners & More In todays episode of Propaganda By The Seed we talk with Nicole from Solidarity Apothecary who is currently in Poland supporting refugees from Ukraine with Herbal Medicines. From the website: The main focus of the Solidarity Apothecary is making and distributing plant medicines to people experiencing state violence and repression. This includes people being arrested, on trial, imprisoned, detained or recovering from these experiences, as well as prisoner families, frontline organisers and more. In this conversation we talk about the origins of this project, her experiences as a political prisoner, the experience of supporting refugees(both in Calais and Poland), and some of her favorite plant medicines to make. We also discuss Nicole’s good friend and former partner Anna Campbell who died in Rojava fighting with the YPG. In this interview we talk about her books To support Solidarity Apothecary's current work supporting Ukranian Refugees and all the other ongoing work, donate and follow on the Cover: A Botannical Drawing of Valerian, an herbal sleep aid that has become nearly impossible to find in Ukraine due to Russia's invasion. Music “Don't Burn The Witch” by OI POLLOI /episode/index/show/propagandabytheseed/id/22877009

Mycorrhizal Fungi with Michael Phillips 03/15/2022

Mycorrhizal Fungi with Michael Phillips Propaganda by the Spore is back! In this episode we cover mycorrhizal fungi and their fascinating interactions with plants, along with some details about how to support that connection and manage fruit trees for maximum health. We are sad to report that our guest for this episode Michael Phillips suffered a fatal heart attack just a few days after recording this interview. He was a warm and humble person who really advanced the art and science of orcharding in a substantial way. We are joined in the introduction by to reflect on Michael’s life and legacy for a few minutes before getting into depths of the mycorrhizal world. You can purchase Michael’s books , which we highly recommend, especially The Holistic Orchard. To hear Michael talk on a broader range of orcharding topics we recommend , there is also a huge amount of info available at his . You can support Michael’s family in staying on their farm by /episode/index/show/propagandabytheseed/id/22447004

How To Cook A Weed w/ Mallory O'Donnell 03/01/2022

How To Cook A Weed w/ Mallory O'Donnell In this episode we chat with forager, chef, writer and grower Mallory O'Donnell. Mallory has a working class yet gourmet approach to working with wild & unusual ingredients to create unique dishes , ferments, and spice mixes with an emphasis on Georgian Cuisine. Mallory goes in depth their origins as a forager/cook, provides some perspective on how to interact/engage with wild plants and throws out dozens of inspiring ideas both for cooks and growers. Some of the plants discussed in this episode: -Spikenard (Aralia racemosa) and other Aralia family members - - -Juniper berries (Juniperus spp.) -Black Nightshade fruit (Solanum nigrum) -Bee Balm (Monarda spp.) -Spice bush (Lindera benzoin) - -Viburnium (Viburnum spp.) - -Trifoliate Orange (Poncirus trifoliata) -Cow Parsnip aka Pushki (Heracleum maximum ) To learn more about Mallory's work visit or visit their /episode/index/show/propagandabytheseed/id/22296752

Mushroom Cultivation with Kate Roelke 01/18/2022

Mushroom Cultivation with Kate Roelke In this episode we start our short tangent into the world of Fungi. We start off by talking with Kate Roelke, a lab mycologist at North Spore. She will tell us all about the life cycle of mushrooms along with lots information about various cultivation techniques and some specifics about a few different species. If you want to get in touch with Kate you can find her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kateroelke/ In the episode Kate recommends the book Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation /episode/index/show/propagandabytheseed/id/21805379

2021 Growing Season Wrap-up 12/31/2021

2021 Growing Season Wrap-up In this episode of Propaganda By The Seed, we take a look back on the 2021 growing season on our homesteads. We talk about new plants & crops we grew this year, surprises, and what we learned growing in this year of collapsing empire, global pandemics and climate weirdness. /episode/index/show/propagandabytheseed/id/21642671

Seed Saving 10/11/2021

Seed Saving In this episode Aaron goes into all the basics of seed saving. We cover the different kinds of plants, how they make seeds, how to collect, when to collect, and how to deal with dry and wet seeds. We also give an overview of different methods for processing seeds once collected, how to store them, and why its important. /episode/index/show/propagandabytheseed/id/20768912

Hardy Kiwis with Jesse Stevens 08/19/2021

Hardy Kiwis with Jesse Stevens In this episode we talk with Jesse Stevens of Sy's Trees about all things hardy Kiwi. We cover the ins and outs of propagating, cultivating and enjoying these vigorous and hardy vines. We also touch on a few other unusual crops Jesse is cultivating in his diverse orchard in Sweden, Maine. /episode/index/show/propagandabytheseed/id/20190944

Figs w/ Miekal And of Beyond Vineyard 05/28/2021

Figs w/ Miekal And of Beyond Vineyard In this episode we talk to Miekel and of Beyond Vineyard talking about figs, and provide a basic tutorial on how to grow them and propagate them. We also talk about his work breeding Siberian Sea Peach. This conversation also gets into his back story as an anarchist visual artist, performer, writer, publisher, and now permaculturist and winemaker. For more information on Miekels work or to buy some plants from him visit Beyond vineyard. /episode/index/show/propagandabytheseed/id/19266632

Paw Paws with Partisan Gardens 04/30/2021

Paw Paws with Partisan Gardens This episode is a collaboration with our friends at the Partisan Gardens Podcast. It's a little different style, with more voices and more production, we think you will like it! Our conversation is all about the Paw Paw (Asimina triloba), the largest native fruit on this continent! These amazing members of the Annonaceae family taste like a cross between a Mango and a Banana, but with a flavor all their own. As usual we talk about the botany, history, culture and cuisine of the plant. /episode/index/show/propagandabytheseed/id/18916760

Hazelnuts w/ Andrew Fiori 03/18/2021

Hazelnuts w/ Andrew Fiori In this episode of Propaganda By The Seed we speak with hazelnut & native plant breeder, Andrew Fiori of Campo Di Fiori. Andrew goes in depth on how to propagate, breed, care for and co-exist with Hazelnuts. Andrew talks about his ideas about human/plant relationships, his work designing native landscapes and developing food systems. /episode/index/show/propagandabytheseed/id/18363140

Eastern Woodlands Rematriation W/ Alivia Moore and Kessi Kimball 02/17/2021

Eastern Woodlands Rematriation W/ Alivia Moore and Kessi Kimball In this episode of Propaganda By The Seed we talk with Alivia Moore and Kessi Kimbal about their work with the Eastern Woodlands Rematriation Collective. The collective works across several tribal communities to support food / medicine sovereignty and to facilitate land access and the return of #landback to Indigenous people. We are really impressed with the work these folks are doing and hope /episode/index/show/propagandabytheseed/id/17978987

Propaganda By The Seed

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