Official release of the Modern Farm and Artisan Co-Op Podcast trailer, featuring the winner of our theme music contest and southern Utah local, Jake Shepard!

This podcast was created as a resource for inspiration and education. Our mission is to connect you to the lives and stories of our local farmers, makers, and educators that all are dedicating themselves to positively and powerfully impact our southern Utah community. Through these stories we hope to connect you to food in an entirely new way, inspire you to possibly start producing your own food, step into a new creative path, and understand the importance of voting with your dollar and strengthening the local economy.

We will be launching our first five episodes on March 17th 2020 and will continue to release new episodes every two weeks! Until then, we'll see you at the farmers market!

Kat Puzey is the founder of the Modern Farm and Artisan Co-Op. Kat is also the owner of the Downtown Farmers Market in Ancestors Square and of the monthly, year round market at West Village, both of which are in Saint George, Utah. To top it all off, she is co-hosting this podcast. If you are a regular at the markets you probably know Kat and if you are not a regular yet, this is your chance to get to know the woman is transforming the way we support our local economy here in Southern Utah.

Episode two of the Modern Farm and Artisan Co-Op Podcast is an introductory episode for podcast co-host Anna Lytle. Anna, a military veteran and Texas native, moved to Utah with her husband, who is originally from Saint George, about five years ago. After the birth of their daughter, Anna started learning more about the human impact on the environment and it quickly became a passion for her and she began attempting to live as low waste and environmentally conscious as possible. Anna quickly realized that making a positive environmental impact went hand in hand with supporting the local economy by creating connections with local farmers and artisans. Shortly after Anna and Kat met, the idea of the podcast was born in hopes of creating a resource for the southern Utah community to create incredible local connections and support the local economy.

In episode 3, we are talking with Robert and Jodi Bronner of Cherith Brook Farms in Enterprise, Utah. They sustainably raise lamb, chicken, and goat and for the first time this year, pig. All their animals are pasture raised and free of synthetic hormones, vaccines and antibiotics and they are able to raise their animals this way because of the careful and loving way that Robert, Jodi and their three kids manage their animals. They tend to the land in a way that heals the earth and creates an incredibly healthy animal protein. In the interview we’ll be talking about Robert’s background, how he got started raising animals for meat and delve into the why and how he and his family raise their animals in line with the principles of Regenerative Agriculture, as well as get a glimpse of what its like running a family business. We hope you enjoy the conversation and can learn as much as we did! 

Jaclyn Pace is the founder of DiversiTEACH, a local organization committed to creating meaningful, interactive, educational experiences that celebrate diversity, promote sustainability and foster community in southern Utah. DiversiTEACH hosts free activities for all ages at the West Village Artisans Market on the first Wednesday of every month and at the Downtown Farmers Market at Ancestors Square every Saturday from May-October. In the episode we learn about Jaclyn's background and what formed her educational philosophy and what motivates and inspires her to run DiversiTEACH.

Meg Nelson is the owner of Circle Moon, a local brand that uses natural dyes and natural fibers to create heirloom quality products. Meg refers to Circle Moon as a process based company and focuses on the idea of slow crafting. One of the key values of her company is using the purest sources possible and keeping it as close to home as possible and she lives these values by using a local pattern maker and local seamstresses for all the sewing. Meg is also working on creating a bee, butterfly and bird garden that will serve a dual purpose in helping the pollinators and other important local species and by producing local dye plants for her products!

In episode 6 we get to know Lauren, the artist and owner behind the creative company, The Doodling Nomad, a brand that offers prints and unique travel-centric stickers. In this interview we learn more about Lauren's background, her Alaskan adventures and how she got started with stickers and then turning it into a full time business. Lauren also gives insight into her creative process and tools she uses to bring her stickers to life!

Due to increased interest in gardening during the COVID-19 pandemic, we decided to create a bonus episode that will give you some ways to get your garden started! In this bonus episode, podcast co-host Anna goes in to how to start composting, where to place your beds, how to set up your beds, buying seeds and transplants, companion planting and soil amendments. If anyone has questions or would like Anna to go more in detail on other gardening topics in future bonus episodes, send us an email at podcast@mofacoutah.com!