In this second part of the Dairy Diaries we travelled to New York State to chat to Tom McGrath at Family Farmstead Dairy. We would like to have had him round the table for part one but the time differences didn’t work and it turns out Dairy Farmers work really hard!!The farm is nestled in the rolling hills of central New York, where Tom and his family currently milk 45 cows on their 158 acre farm. They both come from farming backgrounds and it has taught them to appreciate the land, animals and instilled good work ethics.Along with their own farm, they also support six other small family farms in their region. All the farms are certified organic, and all cows are 100% grass-fed and have been tested to carry the A2/A2-casein protein gene.In this episode of Six Inches of Soil, Tom McGrath, founder of Family Farmstead Dairy, discusses the journey of transforming a conventional dairy farm into a certified regenerative and organic operation. He highlights the importance of nutrient density in dairy products, the impact of pasteurization on milk quality, and the significance of A2 milk for consumer health. Tom shares insights into the challenges faced by small family farms in the dairy industry, the mission-driven approach of his business, and the importance of animal welfare and sustainable practices. He emphasizes the need for consumer education and the role of informed purchasing decisions in supporting regenerative agriculture.Website: https://www.familyfarmsteaddairy.com/Insta: @familyfarmsteaddairyCertified with: https://regenified.com/https://organicfarmersassociation.org/https://www.usda.gov/farming-and-ranching/organic-farming Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Uncurdled: Dairy Diaries
EPISODE 7 PART 1 UNCURDLEDThis is the first time we have featured the dairy industry. We decided to start with two family farms in the UK, one producing for their local community and the other running a highly successful yoghurt business. They both have a deep connection to their soils and are caring for their land and communities. James Robinson: James farms at Strickley Farm, a 300-acre organic dairy farm that has been free from artificial fertilisers or pesticides for the past 16 years. James’ approach to supporting nature includes planting woodland, leaving areas of grassland ungrazed, maintaining sensitive hedgerow management and fencing off watercourses to improve water quality, so there is less silt and soil from his cattle on the banks. His farm’s hedgerows are seven miles long, some 20-22ft tall.Website: https://www.strickleydairy.co.uk/Instagram:@jrfromstrickley @strickleydairy@nffnukL’in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-robinson-7a2816273/Tim Mead: Tim was born into a dairy-farming family in 1963. He lives with his wife Sarah on the original farm in the Yeo Valley on the edge of Blagdon Lake, Somerset. After qualifying as a chartered accountant in London, Tim joined the Yeo Valley business in 1987, Yeo Valley Organic is the UK’s largest organic brand and celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2024.The business is still family controlled, with 20% held by an employee benefit trust. In 2017 after 30 years as a yogurt maker, Tim turned his attention to the farming side of the business and is still learning…..Website: https://www.yeovalley.co.uk/Instagram: @yeovalleySponsored by Fielden:The discount code is SOIL10 and gives 10% off all whisky on fielden.com.Six Inches of Soil film - find links here to watch it: https://www.sixinchesofsoil.org/ Six Inches of Soil book: https://www.sixinchesofsoil.org/bookFinally if you have enjoyed listening to this podcast please do rate it - many thanks! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Unearthed: Joys of Soil
Episode 6 - Unearthed Host, producer: Richard TuftonCo-host, producer: Claire MackenzieEditor: Meg Chatham In the episode we are finally bringing us all back down to earthANDY NEAL : Andy is a Soil Microbiologist at Rothamsted Research. He is interested in understanding the feedback between plant primary productivity, soil structure and soil microbial metabolismTwitter @microbass1 Research papers: Andrew Neal on Google ScholarANDIE MARSH is a soil health specialist, science communicator, and founder of Rhizos LLC - a Soil Food Web certified lab. More than that, she is a human building relationship with land in a suburban context. Website:https://www.rhizos.science/ @soilissexy instaSoil is Sexy is the newsletter Carefully crafted accounts of the wonders beneath our feet, plus insights from a woman building a career in soil health - that’s me, Andie! RAY ARCHULETA - Ray’s mission is to teach a framework of ecological and spiritual renewalRay the soil GuyFilm: https://kissthegroundmovie.com/KAREN JOHNSON is a professor in the Department of Engineering, University of DurhamShe is all about rebuilding soils for climate change mitigation and adaptation. Resources/Papers: Smart Soils Video: Royal Society Rosalind Franklin lecture on soil health and the Embracing our wastes video. Xiao, K-Q, et al. (2023) Introducing the soil mineral carbon pump. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment. You can also watch our animations about soil exploring the links between soil degradation and flooding +links between soil health (SDG15) and climate change (SDG13)A nation that rebuilds its soils rebuilds itself - an engineer's perspective and watch our COP26 video https://vimeo.com/639855822 Sponsored by Fielden:The discount code is SOIL10 and gives 10% off all whisky on fielden.com.Six Inches of Soil film - find links here to watch it: https://www.sixinchesofsoil.org/ Six Inches of Soil book: https://www.sixinchesofsoil.org/bookFinally if you have enjoyed listening to this podcast please do rate it - many thanks! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Unbred: Heritage Grains
Host, producer: Richard TuftonCo-host, producer: Claire MackenzieEditor: Meg Chatham Episode 5 - Unbred - Heritage Grains - this episode takes us back to the arable fields, this time we are focussing on crops that are closely related to the first-ever cultivated grasses. Our guests are working with these varieties to bring them to our plates and glasses, “these fields full of life” benefit our soil, health, and the planet. Guests: Luke Jones, Impact Family Farms, IllinoisLuke and his family operate a diverse livestock and cropping operation in western Illinois. He now values diversity and bringing life back to the acres he manages along with making a profit. https://www.facebook.com/share/12Mn7pBnpCS/?mibextid=wwXIfrhttps://understandingag.com/team/luke-jones/Dave Smith, Fielden Whisky Dave Smith is Fielden’s CEO. With over thirty years of experience, Dave has worked internationally with both mature and challenger brands. https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-smith-69120513?originalSubdomain=ukhttps://fielden.com/Samuel Taylor, Longtable PancakesSamuel Taylor is the founder of Long Table Pancakes, a company dedicated to creating artisan pancake mixes that celebrate local and sustainably sourced ingredients. http://linkedin.com/in/pancakesamuelhttps://longtablepancakes.com/pages/aboutFred Price, Gothelney Farm, Somerset Fred is a farmer reimagining his practices and place within our food system. He’s a passionate advocate for agroecology, working with UK Grain Lab and the South West Grain Network to reimagine our food system.Instagram: @gotheleyfarmer @fieldbakery @swgrainnetwork @uk_grain_labWebsites: https://www.gothelneyfarmer.co.uk/https://www.fieldbakery.com/https://www.ukgrainlab.com/https://www.southwestgrainnetwork.co.uk/Sponsored by Fielden:https://fielden.comThe discount code is SOIL10 and gives 10% off all whisky on fielden.com.Finally, if you have enjoyed listening to this podcast please rate it - many thanks! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Unground: The World of Coffee (Part Two)
EPISODE 4 PART 2SHOW NOTES:Host, producer: Richard Tufton Co-host, producer: Claire Mackenzie Editor: Meg Chatham Unground Part 2 - World of Coffee, in Part 2 we meet Marcus McCombe who is the Director of Routes Coffee who aims to: 🌍 Building a Better Coffee Industry, One Roast and One Cup at a TimeGuest: Marcus McCombe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-mccombe/Director at Routes Coffee Insta: https://www.instagram.com/routescoffee/As the Director of Routes Coffee, they are committed to reshaping the way specialty coffee is sourced, roasted, and experienced. Their mission goes beyond exceptional coffee—they strive to regenerate coffee farms, nurture soil health, and enhance biodiversity, ensuring that every step in their supply chain contributes to sustainability and long-term prosperity for farmers.Sponsored by Fielden:https://fielden.comMost grains in whisky are grown industrially, with chemicals: same grain, same height, same flavour. Not on our farms. We’re regenerating England’s fields with heritage grains, grown in clover (we never, ever use chemicals). It’s a more sustainable way of farming that’s better for the soil, the grain, and the wildlife. And it makes a whisky full of flavour.The discount code is SOIL10 and gives 10% off all whisky on fielden.comSix Inches of Soil The Documentary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to the Six Inches of Soil PodcastHave you watched Six Inches of Soil the Documentary?We’re digging deep—literally and figuratively—into the real stories behind the soil, livestock, plants, and people working to fight climate change and restore our planet. This isn’t just about farming; it’s about producing truly nourishing food, rebuilding our rural communities, and showing that it is possible to grow in a way that gives back. It’s simpler than you might think, fully traceable, and 100% verified.Through our film and now this podcast, we’re starting conversations, building community, and sharing the healing power of regenerative agriculture. We’d love for you to be part of it.So… who is Richard Tufton?We’re thrilled to introduce Richard Tufton as the host of the Six Inches of Soil Podcast. Richard has been championing the project since day one and has helped us explore some of the trickier questions around food and farming.With a background in agriculture from Newcastle University and over two decades of experience in the food industry—starting in the UK and now based in Austin, Texas—Richard brings a global perspective and a deep-rooted commitment to doing good. His journey has led him to regenerative farming, and is part of Regenified (founded by Gabe Brown), helping shape the future of truly sustainable food systems.From his unique vantage point across the Atlantic, Richard will be bringing in voices from both the UK and the US—connecting dots across the food supply chain and sparking conversations that just might challenge what you think you know.We’d love to hear what you think too. Join the conversation over on Instagram @sixinchesofsoil, and let’s grow something better together.Tune in. Dig deep. Let’s get our hands in the soil.Supported by:Six Inches of SoilDragon Light Colin RamsayClaire MackenzieMeg Chatham Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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