Planting by the Signs and the Moon - A Visit With Author Dr. Sarah Hall

by Amy Campbell

S11:E22.06/22/2024

Sown in the Stars, Planting by the Signs by Sarah L. Hall. Published by University of Kentucky Press.

Amy interviews Author and Agricultural Professor Dr. Sarah Hall. This is a description from University of KY of her book - From University of KY Press - Sown in the Stars brings together the collective knowledge of farmers in central and eastern Kentucky about the custom of planting by the signs. Sarah Hall interviews nearly two dozen contemporary Kentuckians who still follow the signs of the moon and stars to guide planting, harvesting, canning and food preservation, butchering, and general farmwork. Hall explores the roots of this system in both astrology and astronomy and the profound connections felt to the stars, moon, planets, and the earth. Revealed in the personal narratives are the diverse interpretations of the practice. Some farmers and gardeners believe that the moon's impact on crop behavior is purely scientific, while others favor a much wider interpretation of the signs and their impact on our lives. Featuring photographs by Meg Wilson, this timely book bridges the past, present, and future by broadening our understanding of this practice and revealing its potential to increase the resiliency of our current agricultural food systems.

Purchase Book: https://www.kentuckypress.com/9780813197043/sown-in-the-stars/

Photo: Dr. Sarah L. Hall and Amy Campbell at Union Avenue Books, Knoxville. Photo: Kelly Smith Trimble. 2023. Use this link to order the book: https://www.kentuckypress.com/9780813197043/sown-in-the-stars/

Helping the Honey Bees with D and Jim Brown of Honey Rock Herb Farm, Louisville, TN

by Amy Campbell

S10:E10. 3/11/2023

Helping the Honey Bees with D and Jim Brown of Honey Rock Herb Farm, Louisville, TN

Helping the Honeybee with D & Jim Brown, Honey Rock Herb Farm owners, Louisville, Tennessee. This is their 36th year of growing the good life at Honey Rock Herb Farm, and they have raised bees for over 40 years. They share with us how important bees and pollinators are to all of us, how to attract them, and steps we can take to protect them. Also, in Fred Sauceman’s Pot Luck Radio series, he features Hot Slaw from Polk County, TN.

Honey Rock Herb Farm http://www.honeyrockherbfarm.com/

Fred Sauceman https://www.facebook.com/fred.sauceman

Emi Sunshine (sings the theme song) https://theemisunshine.com/

D and Jim sit at their farm table in the Herb House at their Honey Rock Herb Farm, Louisville, TN. Photo: Amy Campbell 2014.

Saving Seeds and Stories with John Coykendall

by Amy Campbell

S10:E9 3/4/2023

Saving Seeds and Stories with John Coykendall

Seed Saving & Stories with our seed-saving pal John Coykendall of Knoxville, TN. John tells us how he became a seed saver, some of the varieties he has saved, where to find old-time heirloom seed like the ones he saves, and shares plus some cute stories. John and I (Amy) worked together in the garden at Blackberry Farm together in 2007, where I learned from John the importance of this heirloom seed.

Many of the varieties that John has saved and referenced in the podcast can be purchased at http://www.seedsavers.org/

John Coykendall on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/john.coykendall.3


John Coykendall documentary: https://www.lpb.org/programs/deeply-rooted-john-coykendalls-journey-to-save-our-seeds-and-stories

John Coykendall book: https://lsupress.org/books/detail/preserving-our-roots/

Fred Sauceman “Pot Luck Radio”: https://www.facebook.com/fred.sauceman

Emi Sunshine (Sings our theme song): https://theemisunshine.com/

More heirloom seed sources:

Seed Savers Exchange : https://www.seedsavers.org/

Southern Exposure Seed: https://www.southernexposure.com/

Sow True Seed: https://sowtrueseed.com/

Rare Seeds: https://www.rareseeds.com/

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Rare Seed: https://www.rareseeds.com/

John Coykendall with Amy Campbell at the Blount County Public Library Seed Swap, January 2023. Photo: Amy Campbell.