Episode 64: Reeba Daniel talks farm to school, land access, leadership in food systems and more

Episode 64: Reeba Daniel talks farm to school, land access, leadership in food systems and more

Author: Hobby Farms October 25, 2023 Duration: 52:53

Reeba Daniel talks farm to school, land access, leadership in food systems and more on this episode of Hobby Farms Presents: Growing Good.

Reeba talks about their business, Keep Growing Seeds, that allows them to create and manage school gardens, work with "learners" to grow and eat good food, and also examine culture and connection through food. They talk about the benefits and challenges of gardening and garden education in the Pacific Northwest climate of Portland, Oregon, and how they adjust their plans based on the weather. Reeba shares their dream for school gardens and garden education everywhere and why this could be important to all of us.

Hear about Reeba's own garden, growing and marketing culturally relevant crops from responsibly sourced seeds, and learning about the business side of farming from the Come Thru Market. They talk about the search for farmland, Black land loss and opportunities to create community partnerships for growing space. Learn about some of the value-added products Reeba creates—like vegan honey!—their R&AIRE botanical skincare line, Oregon's cottage-food laws, and why value-added products are a smart business idea.

Get to know the nonprofit Farmers Market Fund, which matches SNAP purchases at Oregon Farmers Markets. Reeba talks about their experience as a first-time board member—and podcast host Lisa Munniksma gives Reeba (and you!) a pep talk about why "we"—meaning everyday farmers and community members—are fully qualified to serve and actually must serve in leadership roles.


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
Podcast Episodes
Episode 17: Celize Christy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:08
Celize Christy talks poultry keeping with Hobby Farms Presents: Growing Good host Lisa Munniksma. Listen in for her tips for homeopathic care for our home flocks and the secret to the brightest egg yolks. Hear about her…
Episode 15: Tara Rodríguez Besosa [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:59
How does a farming community recover after a disaster? By coming together. Tara Rodríguez Besosa talks about Puerto Rico's agricultural and economic situation, including the role that the U.S. plays and, more importantly…
Episode 14: Nathan Harben [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:18
Nathan Harben is a farmer at Local Forage Farm in Glenora, British Columbia, a 2-acre homestead that grows ethically raised livestock, fruits and vegetables. He also works with the food recovery team of Cowichan Green Co…
Episode 13: Anita Ashok Adalja [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:37
Listen as farmer Anita Ashok Adalja lets us in on what it's like to grow okra in the Southwest, including how to "convince" neighbors to try a new-to-them vegetable. Learn about the Not Our Farm farmworker visibility pro…
Episode 12: Sinéad Fortune [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:41
Listen in as Sinéad Fortune, living in Scotland, explains how Brexit—Great Britain's exit from the European Union—has left farmers in the United Kingdom in a precarious place. Imagine not being able to purchase French ch…
Episode 11: Ariana Taylor-Stanley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:14
You asked, and we found your answer! Everyone is looking for funding for farm projects, and this episode's guest explains the ins and outs of popular and less-known USDA and NRCS grant programs. Ariana Taylor-Stanley tal…
Episode 10: Garth Kahl [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:25
What's it like to go from knowing nothing about farming to traveling around the world as a consultant to farmers? In this episode, organic farmer and farm consultant Garth Kahl tells us how that path unfolded in his life…
Episode 9: Nate Kleinman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:00
Farmer, seed developer and activist Nate Kleinman talks with Growing Good host Lisa Munniksma about his work in the food system and advice for growing some unusual perennial crops. Hear about Experimental Farm Network's…
Episode 8: Bonnetta Adeeb [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:33
This episode's guest, Bonnetta Adeeb, calls herself "an extended mom" as the advisor for youth programs and farmer support programs. As the director of Steam Onward and the Ujamaa Cooperative Farming Alliance, she foster…