American Family Farmer and Host, Doug Stephan www.eastleighfarm.com begins with good news from some Family Pork Farmers that have actually seen their business increase during the pandemic. But, there's disappointing news that this year, Farmers are only receiving 11-cents on every consumer dollar spent on food. Next, Doug introduces us to A.yoni Jeffries and her mother Kisha Jeffries from Handèwa Farms. www.handewafarms.com Handèwa Farms is an indigenous-led farming collective that seeks to provide organic, healthy food to all. It is the ultimate goal of the collective for future generations to be inspired to connect with the Earth and its natural medicine. As a woman-led collective, many of our members have indigenous ancestry, including Occaneechi-Saponi, Cherokee, Blackfoot, and Lakota tribes. Kisha is Handèwa Farms’ Finance Director and A.yoni Jeffries is the Farms’ Business Development Director and a musician. Finally, Farmer Doug applauds talk about a new Farm Bill, hopefully with less emphasis on Industrial Farms.

American Family Farmer

11/26/20 - A Visit to A Minority Woman-Led Farm

American Family Farmer and Host, Doug Stephan www.eastleighfarm.com begins with news that the Long Horn Tick, from China, is on its way to attack humans and animals. Next, we meet 5th Generation Farmer and CEO of Kannaco CBD James Garmen. www.KannacoCBD.com Jim grew up on a farm, in Kansas and attended Kansas State University. His professional career centered around health, wellness, and fitness as well as internet marketing. In an unforeseen but exciting twist of events, he managed to launch a hemp startup in 2018, and by 2020 the entire Garman family are involved in the business, Kannaco. They have invested many months and considerable dollars in designing, developing, and refining CBD product formulations to help meet your mental and physical health objectives. Finally, Family Farmer Doug opines about corrupt pricing in the milk pricing system.

11/19/20 - 5th Generation Farmer Focusses on Growing Hemp

Host and American Family Farmer Doug Stephan www.eastleighfarm.com begins with news about how national food chain Panera is now indicating on their menus which items are certified Climate Friendly. Then, news about how New York State Dairy Farmers are helping boost dairy sales. Next, we meet Ryan Horawath of Sitka Salmon Shares. https://sitkasalmonshares.com Sitka Salmon Shares is a members-based organization that allows you to purchase a “share” of the harvest of a small-boat family fishermen. You have the option of paying for your share in full at the beginning of the season or spreading out your payments through monthly installments. One of their 20 fishermen-owners or partner fishermen then catch your fish and handle each one with care virtually unheard of in the world of large factory boats and corporate-owned fish farms. Finally, Farmer Doug opines about safety on the farm, especially with children and use of ATVs.

11/12/20 - Get Salmon Direct from The Fishermen

Host and American Family Farmer Doug Stephan www.eastleighfarm.com begins with news that the Paris Climate Agreement that President Trump backed out of, takes effect this week. Then, a damage report from last week's storms. Next, we meet Dan Erdmann - Farm Rescue Program Manager. https://farmrescue.org/ Farm Rescue's mission is to help family farms and ranches bridge crises, so they can continue as viable operations. They provide planting, haying, harvesting and livestock feeding assistance to farm and ranch families that have experienced a major injury, illness or natural disaster. They have assisted nearly 700 farm and ranch families since their inception in 2005. The upcoming virtual Farm Rescue benefit concert, in partnership between Farm Rescue and John Deere, takes place December 9th at Brooklyn Bowl Nashville with proceeds benefiting farmers affected by Covid-19. Finally, Family Farmer Doug Stephan opines about the need for and benefits of Organic Farming and Ranching.

11/05/20 - A New Farm Rescue Benefit Concert

Host and American Family Farmer Doug Stephan www.eastleighfarm.com begins with news that The Old Farmer's Almanac, The Farmer's Almanac and The Mother Nature Network all disagree on how severe our winter will be this year. The National Farmer's Union just conducted this year's event on Zoom. Next, we meet Christopher Vane co-founded of Little Bear Sanctuary, a nonprofit farm animal sanctuary in Punta Gorda, FL. www.littlebearsanctuary.org Christopher named the farm in honor of his late mother Ursula (which translates to “little bear” in Latin). They shared a common passion for animals and Ursula often dreamed of providing neglected, once-abused animals a safe haven. Chris and his husband Randy followed through on Ursula’s dream and established the Little Bear Sanctuary in 2017. Now, 160+ rescued farm animals call Little Bear Sanctuary home. They discuss Pigs as a Pet Pandemic and their current GoFundMe project. https://www.gofundme.com/c/heroes/chris-vane Finally, Farmer Doug opines that he's up-in-the-air about choosing a Presidential candidate, because neither has any regard for the small Family Farmer.

10/29/20 - Pigs As Pet's Pandemic

Host and American Family Farmer, Doug Stephan www.eastleighfarm.com begins with a report from The New York Times warning us how bad cattle are for the planet. Next, we meet Cornell University Graduate Student Morgan Irons. Morgan designed and performed a Mars agriculture experiment for her undergraduate thesis at Duke University. She also designed and patented a new model for a "quasi-closed, agroecological system" for extreme environment habitation on Earth and in space. Additionally, she co-founded the company, Deep Space Ecology Inc in her junior year at Duke based on the realization that no one was publicly working to answer food security questions and human sustainability in the space industry at the time. Her work is supported by the National Science Foundation through their Graduate Research Fellowship Program. https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8305 Finally, Farmer Doug encourages Farm Employers to set a good example for Farm Employees and Farm Guests by wearing and requiring the use of Face Masks.

10/22/20 - What Will Agriculture Be Like in Outer Space?

Host and American Family Farmer Doug Stephan www.eastleighfarm.com begins with Agriculture news. Leas story is that this is National Farmers Week. Next, Monsanto continues its battle to keep use of Round-Up on American Farms. Chinese Killer Hornets are destroying our Honey Bees. And last, the Presidential Candidates are using every trick they can to buy Farm Votes. Then, we meet chef and owner of Bulrush restaurant in St. Louis, Rob Connoley. WWW.BulrushSTL.com Through research of family journals and letters from the early 1800s, Rob has uncovered over 200 years of history. History that includes the families of indigenous people, enslaved residents, and Euro-Appalachian immigrants that tamed the wild lands of northern Arkansas and southern Missouri (and tips of Oklahoma and Kansas). These are the people who defined what was Ozark cuisine. Bulrush is rooted in this food that sustained these hardy people for generations. Finally, Farmer Doug opines that farmers have to come to grips with practices that the global market is rejection.

10/15/20 - Discovering Ozark Cuisine

American Family Farmer and Host Doug Stephan www.eastleighfarm.com begins with Agriculture News; leading off with 46-million eggs being donated to food banks by Egg Ranchers. Then, news of higher prices of hay and pumpkins, due to weather issues. Next, we meet Karin Taylor, who owns and operates the renowned animal sanctuary Mandalay Farms in Jupiter, Florida. https://www.mandalayfarms.com/ With over 250 animals it is home to a variety of furry, feathered and scaly friends including miniature horses, monkeys, miniature donkeys, horses, goats, tortoises, wallabies, llamas, turkeys, chickens, emus, pot-bellied pigs, rabbits and many more. Mandalay Farms provides a loving and pristine environment for animals, in turn providing a stable and nurturing environment for underprivileged and at-risk children and those with special needs. As COVID continues, she is reopening her farm for virtual tours and revolutionary animal therapy programs this month. Finally, Farmer Doug offers his opinion that that Farmers should encourage Farm Tourism and that Farmers adhere strictly to COVID guidelines.

10/08/20 - Visit A Place Where Forgotten Farm Animals Are Loved

A weekly look at trends in Family Farming and Healthy Eating.