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I had the pleasure of interviewing Michele Merkel from Food and Water Watch. They are a nonprofit with a mission that "champions healthy food and clean water for all. We stand up to corporations that put profits before people, and advocate for a democracy that improves people’s lives and protects our environment." We dive into Michele's time at the EPA, what brought her to Food and Water watch, and discuss her TEDx Manhattan talk in March of 2015. The link below is to her segment. I strongly encourage to spend the 15 minutes to watch and watch all the other speakers from this TEDx event.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za1aWllWfWs To learn more about Food and Water watch visit their website: www.foodandwaterwatch.org  

Sandi Kronick founder of Eastern Carolina Organics joins us. ECO was born out of Carolina Farm Stewardship Association and 12 years later is a joint venture with the farmers that supply ECO and have voice in the wholesale market. We talk about food systems, the organic label, and how ECO has evolved over the years.  www.easterncarolinaorganics.com

This week we talk to Casey Toth who is in her final year at University of North Carolina. She is a Visual Journalist major and just went to Panama for a 10 day project called Under Current 360. We talk about journalism, her time in Panama, and what sustainability means to her. Please bare with my side of the audio we had some lag with it due to a technical issue. It is worth powering through to hear Casey talk about our passions.  Visit www.undercurrent360.com to view the project she was on. It is an interesting snap shot into the world of Bocas Del Torro. 

I took a week off but happy to be back. This week we talk with Esteban McMahan from TOPO Distillery in Chapel Hill, NC. TOPO is the only Organic distillery in the southeast. TOPO has been supporters of Carolina Farm Trust and Carolina Jubilee and happy to be associated with a corporation that takes sustainability seriously in how they run their business.  To learn more about TOPO Distillery: www.topodistillery.com Instagram: @toporganicspirits Twitter: @topodistillery    

This week we dive into hemp. I have a great conversation with Linda Booker, Patrique Veille, and Guy Carpenter. All 3 are hemp advocates and are working on establishing a Hemp Commission in NC. Linda Booker is a film maker and co-produced a documentary called Bringing it Home. A film that looks into how Hemp could impact the American economy and agriculture. For more information on the film please visit http://bringingithomemovie.com/ If you ever wondered what Hemp really is and the different uses check out this episode. 

We dive in the social aspect of sustainability this week with a conversation with Leah Shaw. Leah is a talented musician from Winston Salem, NC and now lives in NYC. She played at last years Carolina Jubilee and is scheduled to play this year as well. We talk about her inspirations, her move to NYC, playing in the Subway, and following/living her dreams of being a singer/songwriter.  http://leahshawmusic.com/ https://www.facebook.com/leahshawmusic https://twitter.com/LeahShawMusic https://www.instagram.com/leahshawmusic/ https://www.youtube.com/user/leahRshawmusic  

Eric Henry is the co-founder of TS Designs a T-shirt company out of Burlington, NC. We talk about his business, the impact of a little trade agreement called NAFTA, the commitment to Burlington and the Carolina's, and his dirt to shirt philosophy.  Social Media: Instagram: @TSDESIGNSNC @ERICMHENRY Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TSDesignsNC/ Twitter: @tsdesigns

I have a great conversation with Genell Pridgen from the SRAP Project (Socially Responsible Agriculture Project) Genell is also a 9th generation farmer from Snow Hill, NC which is in the north east part of NC.  We discuss: The mission of SRAP, CAFO's (Factory Farms) across the US and in NC, and her 9th generation farm called Rainbow Meadow Farm.  To learn more about SRAP, visit their website. www.sraproject.org

It's a long one! and well worth it. This week I talk to Amy Sliffe the owner of Blue Whistler Farm. If you have any interest in farming this is must listen. Amy is 25, farming a little over 5 acres, and doing a great job. She is an inspiration to the younger generation of farmers of how to just do it.  We talk about -The history of Blue Whistler Farm -Amy's Background -Working through the challenges of the USDA -What Sustainability means to her -All the comings and goings of small 5 acre farm Follow Amy on Social Media: www.facebook.com/bluewhistlerfarm Instagram: @bluewhistlerfarm Twitter: @bluewhistlernc   Photo Credit (Amy Sliffe)

This week we have an in-depth interview with Sean Wilson, the founder, of FullSteam Brewery out of Durham, NC. We discuss their plow to pint philosophy, The Southern Brew Style, and the challenges of running a sustainable brewery.    Full Steam Brewery & Tavern http://www.fullsteam.ag/ Check out their links to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc on the site!   Keywords for Twitter and Instagram #Brewery #Beer #Sustainable #Farms #NorthCarolina #Technology  

This week Bill and I discuss the Trans Pacific Partnership. We also have an interview with Karen Hansen-Kuhn from the Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy.  Please visit www.iatp.org to learn more about the great work that they do.  Please follow us on Social Media: Twitter: @ncscfarmtrust Instagram: @carolinafarmtrust Facebook: www.facebook.com/carolinafarmtrust  

Flying solo this week... I discuss an amazing event that Pam Taylor and Robert Johnson put on called LoveFest for Lisa on Valentines day. Pam is very involved with an organization called Girls Rock Charlotte where she met a talented young musician named Lisa Bettendorph. Lisa has had a heart defect since birth and just had a 4th successful heart surgery to repair a valve. LoveFest for Lisa was a benefit to help offset medical costs and brought together some great talent to come together and support Lisa and her family. We hope to have Lisa on the podcast in the near future. If you would like to support Lisa you can learn more at the following link: https://www.youcaring.com/lisa-bettendorf-469099 http://www.girlsrockclt.com/ http://www.stolenhearts.rocks/ Our interview this week is with Cheney Munson from Tacoma Narrows. We talk about the formation of the band; past, present, and future. The passion it takes to move the band forward in an evolving music industry. To learn more about Tacoma Narrows visit their website www.tacomanarrowsband.com. Please rate us on iTunes and follow us on Social Media: Twitter: @NCSCFARMTRUST @JUBILEECAROLINA Instagram: @carolinafarmtrust @jubileecarolina Facebook: www.facebook.com/carolinafarmtrust www.facebook.com/jubileecarolina  

Bill and Zack discuss how #Capitalism has progressed over the last 70 years and how important it is to support local and regional businesses. Zack interviews Diane Miller, the Town Manager, and Mayor Sally Balangia from Oriental, NC on how the recent Walmart closing has impacted their town.  We want to thank Tacoma Narrows and Stolen Hearts for letting us use their music for the show.   Please follow us on Social  Media Twitter: @ncscfarmtrust @jubileecarolina   Instagram: Carolinafarmtrust jubileecarolina   Facebook: www.facebook.com/carolinafarmtrust www.facebook.com/jubileecarolina  

We wanted to get a few episodes out all at once so here is Episode 3.  I do want to apologize on the quality of the audio. We broadcast from Primal Brewery and we had a flash mob in their doing a video to support the Carolina Panthers so they got a little loud at times during the show but it was all in good fun.  Bill and I touch on the Iowa Caucus and how it relates to agriculture. We discuss our thoughts on decision making on what we buy at the grocery store, GMO Labeling, and can we sustain this current world we live in.  Thanks for listening and please if you would like to donate to Carolina Farm Trust visit our website www.carolinafarmtrust.org. Please follow us on our Social Media Platforms: Facebook: www.facebook.com/carolinafarmtrust www.facebook.com/jubileecarolina Instagram: @carolinafarmtrust @jubileecarolina Twitter: @ncscfarmtrust @jubileecarolina  

On a roll with Episode 2!   Bill and I talk about the snow storm, our new relationship with Live Oak Communication and Elon University, a little Panther Super Bowl Love, and have a great interview with Rick Parker who owns Mary L. Farm in Mt Ulla, NC.  We give an update on Carolina Jubilee 2016. Dates are September 30th and October 1st, 2016.  Heirloom Restaurant is having their 2 year anniversary Feb 10th. To make reservations visit www.heirloomrestaurantnc.com If you would like to donate to Carolina Farm Trust please visit our website www.carolinafarmtrust.org.  Like our Facebook Pages: www.facebook.com/carolinafarmtrust www.facebook.com/jubileecarolina Instagram: carolinafarmtrust jubileecarolina Twitter: ncscfarmtrust jubileecarolina  

Welcome to Episode 1...This is How it Starts... We will be covering all things Sustainable, our efforts with Carolina Farm Trust, and updates on Carolina Jubilee. This episode we introduce the hosts Zack Wyatt and Bill McKenna and give an overview on what this show will be all about. Thanks so much to our friends Tacoma Narrows for letting us use their song as our intro. We will have them on in a few weeks so you can meet Cheney and hear their story. They will be playing at Carolina Jubilee this fall.  Thanks also to my co-host Bill McKenna who has is own show called Not Another Podcast. (www.notanotherpodcastusa.com) Bill is an awesome guy that you will get to know. For me this will be my rookie year so please be patient with me as I get better and feel free to leave comments on what you would like to see us cover or tell us how we are doing. To learn more about Carolina Farm Trust Click Here On to the show...