Captivate Podcasts Archive

April 8, 2023

Electric Fencing Tips for Rotational Grazing Systems

This episode: you can’t run a successful rotational grazing system without good fencing! Rancher Tristan Banwell guest hosts to interview fencing expert Axle Boris of Fencefast about the crucial considerations […]

April 2, 2023

Limiting Nitrogen Pollution on your Farm

This episode I talk to Dru Yates of ES Crop Consult. Getting the right amount of nitrogen to our crops at the right time can be tricky, and if we over-apply […]

April 1, 2023

The Sexual Politics of Organic Farming

This episode, a frank conversation about the sexual politics of organic farming. You’ll hear perspectives from two farmers and one academic about a dynamic on many organic farmers that is […]

March 23, 2023

The Long Roots of Indigenous Agriculture with Jacob Beaton of Tea Creek Farm

This episode: farmer & entrepreneur Jacob Beaton joins guest host Tristan Banwell to discuss the Indigenous relationship with agriculture that has been largely ignored or even suppressed in mainstream discourse […]

March 16, 2023

Carbon’s A Quest

This episode: a primer on production practices that can reduce on-farm GH gas emissions via carbon sequestration. Joining us for this episode: Amy Norgaard, Climate Change Extension Specialist for the […]

March 9, 2023

Vital Tools, Cover-cropping, The R-Word & More with Steve & Annelise from Fresh Valley Farms

This episode: part one of a conversation with the owners of Fresh Valley Farms. Based in Armstrong, BC, owners Steve Meggait & Annelise Grube Cavers produce pasture-raised, organic beef, pork, […]

February 23, 2023

Managing a Pastured Livestock Operation with Steve & Annelise from Fresh Valley Farms

This episode: part one of a conversation with the owners of Fresh Valley Farms. Based in Armstrong, BC, owners Steve Meggait & Annelise Grube Cavers produce pasture-raised, organic beef, pork, […]

February 16, 2023

Plant Parasitic Nematode Biology and Their Horticultural Impacts

This episode: guest interviewer and orchardist Molly Thurston returns! This time her guest is Tom Forge, a research soil ecologist at the Summerland Research and Development Centre who specializes in […]

February 9, 2023

Low-input, high rotation potato production with Anna Helmer, pt 2

This episode features part two of my conversation with Anna Helmer of Helmer’s Organic Farm. This episode, we go into more detail about the five year rotation that the Helmers use […]

February 9, 2023

Low-input, high rotation potato production with Anna Helmer, pt 1

This episode: a conversation with Anna Helmer of Helmer’s Organic Farm. This conversation is meant to be a companion to a video that Organic BC produced about Helmer’s Organic Farm […]

February 2, 2023

Limiting nutrient pollution in organic cropping systems

This episode: a conversation about limiting nutrient pollution in organic cropping systems. Our guest is Sean Smukler, an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems at the […]

January 26, 2023

How Tree Fruit Breeders in BC Are Adapting to Climate Change

This episode, a conversation with two biologists from the Summerland Research and Development Centre about how climate change is impacting tree fruit production in BC, and how the breeding work […]

January 19, 2023

The Biofertilizers are Coming!

In this episode, host Jordan Marr interviews Manish Raizada, a Professor of Plant Agriculture at the University of Guelph. They discuss the role that biofertilizers can play in reducing our […]

December 16, 2022

Electrifying your farm equipment: a conversation with Reid Allaway

This episode: an inspiring conversation with Reid Allaway of Ferme Tournesol about his years-long commitment to electrifying various internal-combustion-powered machinery around his co-operative farm. There’s a lot of useful information […]

December 4, 2022

The Biopesticides Are Coming!

This episode features part two of my conversation with Manish Raizada, a Professor of Plant Agriculture at the University of Guelph. Herein, Manish talks about his lab’s efforts to develop […]

October 18, 2022

Farmers Reflect on 2021 Chaos

Originally produced for the 2022 BC Organic Conference This episode, five BC farmers (and your host) talk about the challenges of 2021’s chaotic weather events. With thanks to: Chris Bodnar […]

October 18, 2022

The BCCOP Then and Now

Originally produced for the 2022 BC Organic Conference This episode is all about the British Columbia Certified Organic Program (BCCOP), the first province-wide organic program that existed in BC, and […]

October 18, 2022

Navigating the Permitted Substances List

Originally produced for the 2022 BC Organic Conference This episode: farmer and verification officer (and BC Organic Conference planning committee member) Jolene Swain talks to host Jordan Marr about the […]

October 18, 2022

New Slaughter Regs & New Opportunities for Meat Producers in BC

Originally produced for the 2022 BC Organic Conference In this episode, BC Organic Rancher Tristan Banwell describes changes to BC’s slaughter regulations that took effect on October 1st, 2020. We […]

October 18, 2022

Canada GAP & Maintaining Access to Wholesale Markets for Small to Medium-scale Operations

This episode was inspired by concerns raised by Organic BC board member Brody Irvine. Brody is a part-owner of Discovery Organics, a BC-based organic food distributor that has traditionally purchased […]

October 18, 2022

Integrated Pest Management in a Changing Climate part 2

Originally produced for the 2022 BC Organic Conference In this episode, guest interviewer (and our sector’s Industry Specialist at the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Fisheries!) Emma Holmes interviews […]

October 18, 2022

Integrated Pest Management in a Changing Climate part 1

Originally produced for the 2022 BC Organic Conference In this episode, guest interviewer (and our sector’s Industry Specialist at the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Fisheries!) Emma Holmes interviews […]

October 18, 2022

Winter Grazing Strategies with Steve Kenyon

Originally produced for the 2022 BC Organic Conference In this episode, guest interviewer and rancher Tristan Banwell speaks with rancher Steve Kenyon about winter grazing strategies for the herd. Tristan […]

October 18, 2022

Organic Spotlight: Laughing Crow Organics part 2

Originally produced for the 2022 BC Organic Conference. This episode: a wide-ranging conversation with Kerry McCann and Andrew “Budgie” Budgell, co-owners of Laughing Crow Organics in Pemberton, BC. Laughing Crow […]

October 18, 2022

Organic Spotlight: Laughing Crow Organics part 1

Originally released for the 2022 BC Organic Conference This episode: a wide-ranging conversation with Kerry McCann and Andrew “Budgie” Budgell, co-owners of Laughing Crow Organics in Pemberton, BC. Laughing Crow […]

October 18, 2022

Codling Moth Management with Matthew Grieshop

Originally released for the 2022 BC Organic Conference One of our orcharding-focused Q&A sessions at last year’s conference brought a lot of questions about Codling Moth Management from participants, so […]

October 18, 2022

Sarah Mock on Big Team Farming & Ag Narratives that Impede Food System Progress

This episode: for the 2022 BC Organic conference, our conference coordinator, Michelle Tsutsumi, interviewed Sarah Mock, author of Farm & Other F-Words, a book that challenges many of our cherished […]

October 18, 2022

Transitioning to Organic Viticulture

In this episode: a conversation with Kurt Simcic, an organic viticulturist who works for the Mark Anthony Group. The company, which owns numerous wineries in the Okanagan including Mission Hill […]

March 7, 2022

UBC field trials: Using tarps as overwinter soil cover

In this episode, we’ll be learning about on-farm research trials that examined the role that silage tarps can play in managing agricultural soils in the winter months in British Columbia. […]

March 7, 2022

UBC field trials: Balancing nitrogen and phosphorus on organic vegetable farms

In this episode we discuss on-farm research trials that compared different combinations of organic amendments (composts and organic fertilizer) and their impact to crop yield, soil carbon, input costs, and […]

January 25, 2022

The Climate Crisis: Carbon Sources and Sinks in our Food System

Originally produced for the 2021 BC Organic Conference Podcast On this episode: guest interviewer Abra Bryne, who is a policy advisor with Farm Folk/City Folk, interviews Darrin Qualman in a […]

January 23, 2022

Maintaining Organic Integrity as your Livestock Heads Through the Abattoir

Originally produced for the 2021 BC Organic Conference This episode features a conversation between Guest interviewer Tristan Banwell and Anne Macey, who is the president of the Saltspring Abattoir Society […]

January 22, 2022

Et Tu, Organics? Studying the Carbon Footprint of Organic Farming in Canada (Research Roundup)

Originally produced for the 2021 BC Organic Conference This episode, another chapter in our research roundup. This time, I speak with Dr. Nathan Pelletier, the NSERC/Egg Farmers of Canada Industrial Research […]

January 21, 2022

Contemplating A Small Farm Future.

Originally produced for the 2021 BC Organic Conference This episode, my conversation with farmer, academic, and author Chris Smaje. Chris is the author of a new book called A Small Farm […]

January 20, 2022

Charles Massey, author of Call of the Reed Warbler

Originally produced for the 2021 BC Organic Conference This episode: guest interviewer Tristan Banwell interviews Dr. Charles Massey, Australian farmer, scientist, and author. His most recent book, Call of the Reed […]

January 19, 2022

The COABC Demystified

This episode: a COABC explainer that aims to help you understand the organization’s role in BC’s organic industry, and the relationship between certified organic operators, the province’s certifying bodies, and […]

December 4, 2021

Remembering Linda Edwards

In November of 2020, we lost someone who made many meaningful contributions to the organic farming movement in British Columbia and Canada, and who played a very important role in the […]

December 4, 2021

Organic Fruit Tree Management Manual: Its Past & Future

In 1994 the newly-formed Certified Organic Associations of British Columbia identified the lack of reliable information on organic crop production as an important obstacle to the growth of the organic agricultural industry. From […]

November 17, 2021

Wholesale Market Perspectives: Nature’s Fare Markets

This episode features an installment on the theme of wholesale buyer perspectives. This time, I talk to Nick Johnston of Nature’s Fare Markets. Nick manages the buying for the prepared […]

November 17, 2021

The 2020 Update to the Canadian Organic Standards

Every five years, the Canadian Organic Standards are updated to keep the standards current. Each update follows a multi-year process of review, during which anyone can submit requests for revisions. […]

October 28, 2021

The Soil Microbiome

This episode: BC Ministry of Agriculture Organic Industry Specialist Emma Holmes in conversation with Miranda Hart, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at UBC Okanagan. A good deal of Miranda’s work focuses on the biology […]

October 13, 2021

Biological Control of Wireworms

This episode, I speak with Todd Kabaluk, a research biologist for Agriculture and AgriFood Canada, about his research on the use of entomopathogens as a biological control for wireworms.

October 13, 2021

Bug Wars: A fun conversation about biological pest control

Brian Spencer was trained as a molecular biologist, but he found his way to biological pest control and never left. This episode, a conversation with Brian, who has devoted his […]

October 4, 2021

Can Berry Pomace Help Us Combat Antibiotic-Resistance in Salmonella?

Another chapter in our Research Roundup. This time, Dr. Kelly Ross, a researcher with Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, tells us about research on harnessing the antibiotic properties of berry pomace […]

October 2, 2021

Orchard Floor Management and More with David Granatstein

This episode features guest interviewer Molly Thurston’s interview with David Granatstein. Molly is a horticulturalist, agrologist, and co-owner of Claremont Ranch Organics, an organic orchard in Lake Country, BC. David […]

September 9, 2021

Wholesale Market Perspectives: Urban Harvest

This episode features an installment on the theme of wholesale buyer perspectives. This time, I speak with Lisa McIntosh of Kelowna-based grocery delivery service Urban Harvest. Lisa sources a LOT of […]

September 9, 2021

Seed Production Basics: Sal Dominelli of Sweet Rock Farm

This episode features a chapter in our miniseries on seed production. This time, my conversation with Sal Dominelli of Sweet Rock Farm on Gabriola Island. Sal has operated a small-scale […]

September 8, 2021

British Columbia’s Animal Health Centre

This episode is about the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Fisheries’ Animal Health Centre. Guest interviewer Tristan Banwell interviews Dr. Glenna McGregor, a veterinary pathologist at the centre, about […]

September 8, 2021

Parasitoid Wasps as Biological Pest Control

One major focus of the 2021 conference podcast series was what we called our research roundup. I sought participation from a few different research institutions across the country so that we […]

September 8, 2021

Regenerative Organic Certified

It was only a few years ago that I became aware of the term regenerative agriculture, and now, it’s everywhere. We definitely wanted to include something on regenerative ag in […]

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