Listening to Farmers - Our New Podcast Updates the Stories Hoosiers Tell About Food and Farming
We interviewed sixteen farmers around the state - folks you might not always hear from. These farmers are raising a diversity of veggies, livestock, mushrooms, flowers, and more. They're focused on healing the land and nourishing their communities, all while making a living farming. Our podcast aims to amplify a diversity of voices. We're striving to listen to, center, and amplify the voices and stories of under-heard groups in our state. That includes a wide range of underserved farmers, including farmers who are Black, indigenous, and people of color, as well as female-identifying farmers, first generation farmers, veteran farmers, and beginning farmers. We hope you will dive into their stories, and really listen to what's driving these incredible farmers. Then talk about these episodes with friends and neighbors, and let us know what you think (email us at [email protected]).
Meet the Farmers in the Podcast
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Juan Carlos Arango - Sobramesa Farm - Monroe, Indiana
Sobramesa Farm is part of the farm to table movement. They practice regenerative growing methods that result in the finest produce available. They also collaborate with local experts on organic and permaculture practices, enhancing the long term value of the farm and its impact on the local and regional landscape. Their mission is to add greater value to the local food link and to create multi-cultural events, and gatherings. Click here to check out the farm. |
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Megan Ayers - Unvarnished Farm - Deputy, Indiana Unvarnished Farm is a small, no-spray, bio-diverse 11 acres supporting over 70 varieties of fruits, vegetables, & herbs, with pastured eggs, honey, and maple syrup. Click here to check out the farm. |
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Daniel Garcia - Garcia's Gardens - Indianapolis, Indiana
Garcia’s Gardens is a small but mighty urban farm providing healthy food to central Indiana. They're beginning farmers who grow a variety of fresh produce using organic methods and invite customers and neighbors to join the local food system. Click here to check out the farm. |
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Frieda Graves - Faith Farms - Gary, Indiana
Faith Farms is owned and operated by Faith CDC or FAMILIES Anchored in Total Harmony. The farm grows fruits and vegetables year round. Frieda is the farm administrator. Faith Farms' goal of the local food movement is to create thriving community-based food systems that will make high quality local food available to everyone. Click here to check out the farm. |
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Tracy Jaeger - Jaeger Farms
After dairy farming in Ohio for 18 years, Tracy and husband Ken Jaeger purchased 169 acres in Liberty Indiana. With a love for outdoor natural living they are transitioning 26 acres to produce. Tracy hopes to retire in a few years and enjoy her time on the farm “where she belongs” |
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Sibeko Jywanza - Flanner Farms - Indianapolis, Indiana
Flanner Farms provides an abundance of healthy, affordable, culturally appropriate produce for the community through Cleo’s Bodega. As a moving part of the greater Food Justice Program at Flanner House, the farm operation is also working towards empowering the local community to become more self-sufficient and providing employment opportunities. Flanner Farms is proud to be a part of a growing network of resurgent urban farms in the community that is all working to combat food insecurity through education, empowerment, and accessibility. Click here to check out the farm. |
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Nicci Keaton - The Flying Pig Farm - Spencer, Indiana The Flying Pig Farm is a regenerative focused livestock farm on 150 acres in Southern Indiana raising heritage breed pigs, Navajo Churro sheep, chickens and turkeys all on pasture. Click here to check out the farm. |
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Ann Merritt - Atom Acres Family Farm - Ft. Wayne, Indiana
Atom Acres Family Farm works to create local food for the enrichment of the human bodythrough year-round vegetable production. Click here to check out the farm. |
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Sharrona Moore - Lawrence Community Gardens - Indianapolis, Indiana
Lawrence Community Gardens is growing food to be donated to the pantries, senior homes, and community organizations on 7.5 acres of land donated to us by Monarch Beverage. Our 6 acre garden is located in Lawrence and our vision is to provide fresh, affordable produce to our community and support local food pantries. Click here to check out the farm. |
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Dan and Julie Perkins - Perkins Good Earth Farm - Demott, Indiana
Perkins Good Earth Farm practices regenerative, bio-intensive farming practices that preserve and improve our local land and community. Their farm stand features certified organic veggies & greens, bedding plants and soil amendments, local farm foods, and grab-and-go soups & salads from their farm kitchen. Click here to check out the farm. |
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Joyce Randolph and Vivian Muhammad - The Elephant Gardens - Indianapolis, Indiana
The Elephant Gardens is a family owned and operated urban farm, run by the mother-daughter duo of Joyce Randolph and Vivian Muhammad. They grow all organic produce in an Indy food desert. They established their farm for the purpose of promoting healthy diets, engaging and training the youth of the community to grow organic vegetables and fruit, and fostering a positive community environment in which to raise families. Click here to check out the farm. |
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Armonda and Ben Riggs - Four Flags Farm - Bloomfield, Indiana
Armonda and Ben are regenerative agriculture practitioners. They grow a wide variety of mostly heirloom produce, and produce maple syrup, shiitake mushrooms, and more. They grow veggies from seed & are beginning seed savers. Additionally, they are readying themselves & their farm for farm animals. They are part of the Homegrown by Heroes program that highlights military veterans who farm. Click here to check out the farm. |
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Mardean and John Roach - Roach Family Farm - Switzerland County, Indiana
Roach Family Farm offers the sale of meats, eggs, produce, and other farm products. They practice rotational grazing and raise their animals on pasture. They sell their food from the farm and the Madison, Indiana year-round farmers market. All their products are certified through the Homegrown by Heroes program. Click here to check out the farm. |
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Clare Trost - Bent Arrow Acres - Russiaville, Indiana
Bent Arrow Acres is a small family farm that specializes in pasture-raised meats and sustainable agriculture practices. They use organic, animal friendly practices to produce chicken, pork, turkey, beef, eggs and vegetables. Click here to check out the farm. |
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Kristi Schulz - Countryside Orchard - Evansville, Indiana
Countryside Orchard (formally Engelbrecht’s Orchard) specializes in growing delicious and nutritious fruit on close to 50 acres north of Evansville, IN. A teacher by training, Kristi is passionate about helping people connect with agriculture through school field trips, informal farm tours and U-pick opportunities. Guests are invited to come to the orchard during the season to buy pre-picked fruit or to pick their own strawberries, peaches, apples, and pumpkins. Photo by Audra Straw. Click here to check out the farm. |
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David Sims - Heirloom Acres - Greenwood, Indiana Heirloom Acres is a small produce farm using all organic practices with a focus on heirloom varieties. They sell at the Bargersville and Garfield Park Farmers Markets. Click here to check out the farm. |
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Mary & Roger Winstead - Beautiful Edibles Grow - Paradise, Indiana
Beautiful Edibles grows fresh local produce for our community through sustainable practices by partnering with organizations to promote volunteerism and education in our regional food markets. They are dedicated to bringing great products to our markets and providing consistent quality products. Click here to check out the farm. |
If you know of a podcast, local radio station or other outlet where we should air our episodes, please email us to let us know.
The podcast was produced by Alex Chambers. This project is possible because of generous support from Indiana Humanities and Valparaiso University. Brought to you by the Hoosier Young Farmers Coalition and partners across the state including:
The podcast was produced by Alex Chambers. This project is possible because of generous support from Indiana Humanities and Valparaiso University. Brought to you by the Hoosier Young Farmers Coalition and partners across the state including:
