In today’s episode, I’m back with a short personal update with where I’m at now in my farming journey. I offer a window into my approach to starting a farm, and share what I’ve learned so far.

Tune in to learn more about:

• Navigating the back-end pieces of starting a farm, from infrastructure to business models
• The barriers between young farmers and land access
• The world of land trusts and mutually supportive farming models
• Why I don’t agree with the transactional nature of buying land
• The challenges of being a vegetable farmer
• How long it typically takes for farmers to make a profit

Connect with Hannah:

Instagram: @hannahkeitel

In this short episode, we explore the tagline of this show - the intricate connection between humans and the planet. I share about my life-changing journey through traditional organic agriculture in India, Nepal, and Europe. I reflect on the insights gained during my travels, and share a poem that encapsulates my experiences and the wisdom of nature.

Connect with Hannah:

• Instagram: @hannahkeitel

In today's episode, we dive into the rich world of permaculture, a holistic design system rooted in ecological principles and sustainable living. We’re joined by Josh Robinson: a father, partner, gardener, farmer, teacher, and ecological instigator with over 20 years of experience designing, installing, and teaching about ecologically abundant gardens, homes, farms, and businesses.

Josh is recognized throughout the Southwestern US as a leader in water harvesting and permaculture, and holds a Master’s Degree in Ecological Landscape Design. He is the co-founder of Ecology Artisans, a design and installation firm behind numerous farms and food forests across Southern California. Today, Josh shares his personal journey into permaculture, and reminds us that individuals can, and do, make a positive impact.

We explore how permaculture emphasizes observation, local adaptation, and biodiversity to solve complex problems in both agricultural and social systems. You’ll hear about the creation of a permaculture farm, the value of integrating diverse crops, and how intentional design allows humans to become positive contributors to ecosystems.

Whether you're a seasoned grower, a community organizer, or just beginning your sustainability journey, this episode offers tangible inspiration and insights for reconnecting with the land and living more in tune with ecological systems.

Tune in to learn more about:

• What permaculture is and how it functions as a holistic design system

• How observing local ecosystems informs sustainable land use

• The intersection of permaculture, agriculture, and social change

• Creating resilience through diversity in crops and practices

• How permaculture education and design courses empower local communities

• The importance of collaboration in successful permaculture projects

• Josh’s vision for ecological design and how individuals can create meaningful change

… And so much more!

Josh's Resources & Links:

• Website: www.ThePermacultureLab.com
• Instagram: @ThePermacultureLab

Connect with Hannah:

• Instagram: @hannahkeitel
  

In this solo episode, I encourage you to reimagine your relationship with weeds. Yep, those wild, inconvenient plants we pull from our gardens without a second thought.

After a morning of weeding at the farm, I reflected on the resilience and overlooked brilliance of plants like dandelions. What if we saw these plants as the generous healers and soil restorers that they are? Perhaps we’ve forgotten their role in the ecosystem?

This episode is a gentle reminder of the medicine, wisdom, and ecological function that weeds offer. From their deep taproots that dredge up vital micronutrients, to their presence in the most toxic soils, weeds are often regenerating the land beneath our feet, and showing us where balance is needed.

Tune in to learn more about:

• Why “weed” is more of a label than a true classification

• The ecological function of dandelions and other deep-rooted wild plants

• How weeds help loosen compacted soil and make nutrients available to other plants

• A new way to see wild plants as allies, not enemies

… And so much more!

Connect with Hannah:

• Instagram: @hannahkeitel
  

In this episode of Hands in the Soil, we speak with Claire Groebner, Associate Director at Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center, about the intersection of food justice, environmental realities, and grassroots solutions. Based in National City, California, Claire brings over a decade of experience in food systems work, resource organizing, and community-led advocacy.

Claire shares her journey from volunteer to organizational leadership and how Olivewood Gardens has become a hub for health education, environmental stewardship, and systemic change. The conversation explores food apartheid and the structural forces that shape access to nourishment, the impact of environmental and policy decisions on food equity, and how gardens can act as catalysts for empowerment.

We also dive into the transformative model of Community-Centric Fundraising, which reframes charity into justice and reimagines what sustainable, relational, and values-aligned fundraising can look like.

Tune in to learn more about:

• The difference between food justice and food charity

• Claire's personal journey into food systems and advocacy

• The history and ongoing impact of food apartheid

• How Olivewood Gardens integrates education, policy, and collective action

• Community-Centric Fundraising as a tool for equity and accountability

• The role of community voice and leadership in program design

• Why systemic change begins with collective care

… And so much more!

Guest Resources & Links:

• Visit Olivewood Gardens: olivewoodgardens.org
• Learn about Community-Centric Fundraising: communitycentricfundraising.org
• Follow Claire & Olivewood: @olivewoodgardens

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Connect with Hannah:

• Instagram: @hannahkeitel

In this episode of Hands in the Soil, we sit down with flower farmer and community visionary Cathryn Henning of Bee Worthy Farms for a deeply honest and hopeful conversation about what it really takes to make small-scale farming viable in today’s world. Now in her third year in business, and with nearly a decade of experience in non-profit farming, Cathryn is all about adapting her work in a shifting culture and climate, while growing community alongside crops.

We unpack the layers of burnout, joy, beauty, and strategy that go into running a land-based business that is both regenerative and financially sustainable. Cathryn shares her journey from milking goats to running a flower farm in San Diego, and how she’s redefined success through practices of reciprocity, seasonal alignment, and community care.

We explore how ease can be cultivated not by chasing external markers of success, but by building internal and relational systems that support longevity, on the land and within ourselves. You’ll also hear the origin story of Bloom Club, Cathryn’s newest community-supported model that invites people into direct, reciprocal relationship with her farm.

Whether you're a land steward, aspiring grower, or someone dreaming of a more connected way of living, this episode is a beautiful exploration of farming as lifestyle, livelihood, and love letter to the Earth.

Tune in to learn more about:

• Why Cathryn pivoted from vegetables to flowers, and the hidden hustle of each

• How reciprocity shows up in land stewardship and business decisions

• The myth of the “struggling farmer” and how to reframe it

• Building community into your business without losing yourself

• Aligning your farm operations with the seasons (and your nervous system)

• The vision behind Bloom Club and reimagining agritourism

• Practical ways farmers can invite support, set boundaries, and avoid burnout

Resources & Links:

• Bee Worthy Farms Website

• Follow Cathryn: @beeworthyfarms

• Bloom Club: Member-only access pass to the farm to reconnect—with nature, creativity, learning, and the quiet magic of seasonal rhythms

• Connect with Hannah: @hannahkeitel
  

In this solo episode of Hands in the Soil, we return to a commonly misunderstood topic in the food system: does certified organic mean pesticide-free? Building on a previous episode released a year ago, I dive deeper into the nuances of pesticide use in organic agriculture to clarify what the organic label really means—and what it doesn’t.

I explain the difference between organic and synthetic pesticides, how regulations work under organic certification, and why it's still essential to ask questions about where your food comes from. I also explore how integrated pest management and regenerative practices can help farms reduce or even eliminate pesticide use altogether.

Tune in to learn more about:

• Why certified organic doesn’t mean pesticide-free
• The difference between synthetic and organic pesticides
• How some synthetic pesticides are still allowed in organic certification (and why that matters)
• The loophole of EPA conditional registration and toxicity testing gaps
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and alternatives to pesticide use
• How farm scale, soil health, and biodiversity impact pest control
• Critiques of organic certification and the difference between small regenerative farms and large-scale organic monocultures
• Why knowing your farmer is often more valuable than any label
  

Resources & Links:

• Connect with Hannah: @hannahkeitel

In this episode of Hands in the Soil, we’re joined by Dr. Kaitlin Reed (Yurok/Hupa/Oneida), an enrolled member of the Yurok Tribe and associate professor of Native American Studies at Cal Poly Humboldt. Dr. Reed also serves as the Co-Director of the Rou Dalagurr Food Sovereignty Lab and Traditional Ecological Knowledges Institute - the first lab of its kind in the California State University system.

Dr. Reed shares the story behind this student-led initiative, which provides a groundbreaking space to engage with Indigenous sciences, collaborate with tribal nations, and amplify Indigenous bio-cultural sovereignty. We explore the meaning and depth of food sovereignty, why it matters beyond access and insecurity, and how the Lab is creating pathways for environmental justice, cultural revitalization, and community healing.

We also celebrate the Lab’s recent recognition as a 2025 James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award recipient - a $350,000 grant supporting the Lab’s continued work advancing Indigenous knowledge and food systems.

Tune in to learn more about:

• The Rou Dalagurr Food Sovereignty Lab and its student-led founding

• What sets this Lab apart in the CSU system and Western academia

• How Indigenous food sovereignty differs from mainstream food access models

• Cultural, ecological, and spiritual dimensions of traditional food systems

• How the Lab operates with grassroots support and community programming

• The significance of receiving the James Irvine Foundation Award

• Future visions for the Lab, including an Indigenous Food Network

• How students, communities, and allies can get involved

… And so much more!

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about the Food Sovereignty Lab: nasp.humboldt.edu/fsl

Connect with Hannah:

• Instagram: @hannahkeitel