Episode 30: Chereen Leong Schwarz talks local food, from raising to serving and more

Episode 30: Chereen Leong Schwarz talks local food, from raising to serving and more

Author: Hobby Farms May 25, 2022 Duration: 40:55

Chef and farmer Chereen Leong Schwarz is on this podcast episode to talk about "local" food from all perspectives. Hear about why Chereen has never eaten a McDonald's hamburger and how that ties in to her from-scratch, locally sourced food philosophy and her love of cooking and eating country-style food. Chereen tells us about farming in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, where they have just 59 frost- free days in the growing season. Listen in on the intimate details of what it's like for Chereen to help raise animals from birth to harvest and then, as a local-foods chef, to carefully prepare the meat and to be sure the people enjoying the meal understand the value of what they are eating.

Use this farm-kitchen hack: Chereen offers her best tips for using all parts of the food you're growing, including cabbage cores, carrot tops, and random vegetable scraps. 

Also hear about her Emerging Leader in Food & Ag Award, the community being built by young farmers, and what's giving her hope for food access and her local farming scene. And listen in until the end for Chereen's favorite meal and to learn a bit about her other socially conscious business.

Wilderbean Provisions

Wilderbean Provisions on Instagram

Smeeny Beanie Knits

Smeenie Beanie on Instagram

Community Agriculture Alliance


At the heart of Hobby Farms Presents: Growing Good are the conversations that happen over a fence line or at a farmers market, translated into audio. This podcast lives in the space where a personal passion meets practical purpose, featuring the voices of those who cultivate small plots, raise a few animals, or run a sustainable micro-farm. Host Lisa Munniksma doesn’t just interview her guests; she gets into the dirt with them, uncovering the personal journeys that led to a life rooted in the land. You’ll hear how a simple hobby evolved into a thriving side business, how families connect through daily chores, and how these growers are building resilience within their local communities far beyond the harvest. The discussions are grounded in real experience, tackling the challenges of soil health, animal husbandry, and market creativity alongside the profound satisfactions of self-reliance and stewardship. It’s a series for anyone who has ever felt the pull to grow something, whether that’s a backyard tomato plant or a fledgling farmstead business, offering relatable stories and tangible insights from people who are actually doing the work. Tune in for honest talk about the failures, the triumphs, and the quiet motivations that keep this community planting seeds season after season.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 88

Hobby Farms Presents: Growing Good
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