The Chocolate Botanist, Derek Haynes Ep 205

This conversation with Derek Haynes AKA The Chocolate Botanist was so fun! I "met" Derek as a participant of a workshop offered through the New England Botanical Gardens - they had him come talk about the Vanilla Orchid, and it was FASCINATING! Derek adds in some history we weren't (at least I wasn't) told, that opens up a whole different story...Derek has a Plant Biology degree and background, as well as experience working on plant-based vaccines and therapeutics, so he knows what he's saying. He enjoys de-bunking plant rumors on social media. He also is one of the Co-Hosts of The Dirt on Gardening podcast. I love that Derek isn't so serious, though he totally had me sucked in a couple of times...I loved this section of his Bio so much: "Plants offer so much more than home decor, and Derek wants to show you how. He understands that the ancient and the modern don’t need to compete, but rather can work together in harmony, offering viable solutions to pressing questions like food insecurity and mind-body-spirit holistic wellness."We talked about making chocolate, and when I settle somewhere, I'll definitely be inviting Derek to do a chocolate making workshop - just definitely not in the winter... I'm already looking forward to that day! Derek's website: https://thechocolatebotanist.com/He's on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/thechocolatebotanistAnd Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/thechocolatebotanistHis YouTube channel is here: https://www.youtube.com/c/thechocolatebotanistNew England Botanical Garden website (in case you want to become a member and attend in person or virtual workshops): https://nebg.org/Send me a message!Support the showLike this episode? Send me a message!Please follow the podcast on Instagram here YouTube channel Email me at [email protected] Amy's Garden Jam site (podcast has its own tab on this site!)Amy's email newsletter: How Do I Get There From Here by Jane Bolduc - hear more at https://www.janebolduc.com/Podcast cover by Becca Kofron- follow her on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/skate_cute_but_loud/ and check out her awesome art projects. Grounded in Maine Podcast is hosted by Buzzsprout, the easiest podcast hosting platform with the best customer service! Learn more at https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1851361 You can support this podcast one time (or many) with the Buy me a coffee/Hot Chocolate link here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/groundedinmaine Grounded in Maine Podcast is sponsored by ESG Review. Learn more about the good they're doing at https://esgr...

Omar Al Shafie, Co-Founder of Teregen Ag digs into regenerative agriculture (pun intended)— specifically how mineralized worm castings and biodynamic farming practices are helping growers rebuild soil health and make their crops more resilient to increasingly volatile weather. We cover what's actually happening at the soil-biology level, how micronutrients play into natural pest resistance, and the practical (and economic) realities farmers face when moving away from conventional methods.I love how this product is not just for farmers, but for backyard growers and house plants. And that farmers who are nervous about not using conventional fertilizers and pesticides can ease into Teregen Ag, and use both - though it's not necessary... I also love that they have a foliar spray, and the vision Omar gives of the veins in the leaves absorbing the nutrients and directing them to the roots and stem to strengthen the plant. He said he can see the plant is more vibrant in just 1 day! You can tell that Omar is excited about this product - and he's been researching for a long time, even before Teregen Ag, so this feels like a perfect pairing.. You can shop and learn more about Teregen Ag here: https://teregenag.com/They're on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/teregenag/They're on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/people/Teregen-Ag/61576042121212/Send me a message!Support the showLike this episode? Send me a message!Please follow the podcast on Instagram here YouTube channel Email me at [email protected] Amy's Garden Jam site (podcast has its own tab on this site!)Amy's email newsletter: How Do I Get There From Here by Jane Bolduc - hear more at https://www.janebolduc.com/Podcast cover by Becca Kofron- follow her on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/skate_cute_but_loud/ and check out her awesome art projects. Grounded in Maine Podcast is hosted by Buzzsprout, the easiest podcast hosting platform with the best customer service! Learn more at https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1851361 You can support this podcast one time (or many) with the Buy me a coffee/Hot Chocolate link here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/groundedinmaine Grounded in Maine Podcast is sponsored by ESG Review. Learn more about the good they're doing at https://esgr...

I loved getting to hear all about The Bloom Edit; a beautiful collaboration with Holly Berry's Floral Design Company, A Natural Design and Laura Grauer Photography to create a beautiful day of self appreciation! The Bloom Edit will be in person in the Seattle, WA area on July 17th - which is also around Lara's 50th birthday... Lara said she usually does a birthday selfie, and for her 50th she's sharing it with YOU if you're nearby! The main color of the day is purple, and the photography subjects will literally have their head as part of a flower bouquet. This is open to anyone who wants to feel special, because these ladies . Lara met Holly in a networking group and very quickly knew they were supposed to work together. I've known Holly for about a year and 1/2 - we met through The Passionistas Project, and have been talking about a farm since about that time. I aso attended a workshop Holly hosted through The Passionistas about NOR (Natural Organic Reduction - green burial - I didn't know what it was, either...). This pairing of flowers and photography seem just meant to be, don't they?Website for The Bloom Edit is here: https://www.laragrauerphotography.com/the-bloom-edit. Please go if you're in the area, and send me lots of photos - I'm so excited for this! July 17th!Lara's website: https://www.laragrauerphotography.com/Holly's website: https://anaturaldesign.com/Send me a message!Support the showLike this episode? Send me a message!Please follow the podcast on Instagram here YouTube channel Email me at [email protected] Amy's Garden Jam site (podcast has its own tab on this site!)Amy's email newsletter: How Do I Get There From Here by Jane Bolduc - hear more at https://www.janebolduc.com/Podcast cover by Becca Kofron- follow her on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/skate_cute_but_loud/ and check out her awesome art projects. Grounded in Maine Podcast is hosted by Buzzsprout, the easiest podcast hosting platform with the best customer service! Learn more at https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1851361 You can support this podcast one time (or many) with the Buy me a coffee/Hot Chocolate link here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/groundedinmaine Grounded in Maine Podcast is sponsored by ESG Review. Learn more about the good they're doing at https://esgr...

I know I've said this before, but being asked if cat overpopulation was a conversation I'd be interested in was an easy yes for me! I'm so happy to share this conversation I got to have with Deborah Felin Magaldi. Deborah works with Helen Sanders Cat Paws in the Los Angeles area, where they're making progress, and have learned a lot to be able to teach others (us). Deborah met Helen Sanders back in 2001, and Cat Paws became a legit non-profit in 2010; they've rescued/fostered around 5,000 cats and kittens, and if you think about how many might have reproduced, that number could be so much larger. She once took in 29 cats and newborn kittens! The numbers and stats she shares are hard to hear, but also are empowering. Fostering can be so rewarding if you have the right opportunity, and knowing that you're helping someone who is completely dependent on you gives all the warm fuzzies.Helen Sanders Cat Paws says that fostering cats and kittens has the highest impact for homeless cats, and that accessible spay/neuter is the single most powerful tool communities have to stop the cycle. They also have a "kitten kit" for rescuing newborn kittens with formula, bottles and instructions. On their website they show you how to DIY, which I thought would be a great group activity to have handy in communities. Deborah says that equipping communities makes everyone a first responder. She also said that we can help by lobbying to our local municipalities about ending backyard breeding. I'm really grateful for Deborah's experience, and that she's sharing what she's learned so freely. I'd love to foster some animals someday now. Have you fostered or rescued pets? tell me all about it, please!Learn more about Helen Sanders Cat Paws, and get the DIY Kitten Kit instructions at their website: https://helensanderscatpaws.com/Their YouTube channel is here: https://www.youtube.com/@CatPAWSRescueTheir Instagram page is here: https://www.instagram.com/helensanderscatpaws/Send me a message!Support the showLike this episode? Send me a message!Please follow the podcast on Instagram here YouTube channel Email me at [email protected] Amy's Garden Jam site (podcast has its own tab on this site!)Amy's email newsletter: How Do I Get There From Here by Jane Bolduc - hear more at https://www.janebolduc.com/Podcast cover by Becca Kofron- follow her on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/skate_cute_but_loud/ and check out her awesome art projects. Grounded in Maine Podcast is hosted by Buzzsprout, the easiest podcast hosting platform with the best customer service! Learn more at https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1851361 You can support this podcast one time (or many) with the Buy me a coffee/Hot Chocolate link here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/groundedinmaine Grounded in Maine Podcast is sponsored by ESG Review. Learn more about the good they're doing at https://esgr...

First, I want to give a big fat thank you to our friend Joan Kanner who hooked me up with Hazel, knowing this would be a great conversation! It's fun when things just line up really perfectly - for me, at least. Last week we heard from Austin French, of the More Than Outdoors podcast, and it was just chance that today we're learning from Hazel Stark, of The Maine Outdoor School - both in Maine, both focusing on outdoor activities. Seriously,  how fun is that? AND I had asked Austin what a State Guide does, because is co-host is a Maine Guide, but Hazel is as well, so I get to have my curiosity satisfied!Hazel, Naturalist Educator, Registered Maine Guide, and Wilderness First Responder is from Maine- she explored, as people do, and after studying in California for a year, she knew what she had to bring to Maine. Maine Outdoor school was born in 2016. Hazel's business partner left it to her after several years, and in 2025 Hazel became the sole Owner and CEO. The school offers classes for children and adults, but it is so much more - they offer public school programming, professional development, homeschool programs, virtual programming, outdoor adventures...Hazel shared some really profound things: one is a quote from Erin K Kenny "kids can't bounce off the walls if there are no walls." I've heard that many times, but it felt more meaningful in this container. She also says "If nature isn't being taught, it's being taught as not important." And also "Nature isn't a nicety, it's a NECESSITY."  SO much wisdom was shared here to note it all.I had a huge AHA talking with Hazel; growing up in a larger town in Maine, I didn't spend a lot of time outside - my sister and I watched a lot of Soap Operas after school instead of playing outside (insert shoulder shrug emoji), so I don't have a lot of experience, other than gardening - I said a few times here that I wonder if my life would be different now, had I had more of an outdoor influence...Learn even more about what's offered through the Maine Outdoor School here: https://www.maineoutdoorschool.org/Check out the Women for Healthy Rural Living site here: https://whrl.org/Maine Outdoor School on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maineoutdoorschool/Send me a message!Support the showLike this episode? Send me a message!Please follow the podcast on Instagram here YouTube channel Email me at [email protected] Amy's Garden Jam site (podcast has its own tab on this site!)Amy's email newsletter: How Do I Get There From Here by Jane Bolduc - hear more at https://www.janebolduc.com/Podcast cover by Becca Kofron- follow her on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/skate_cute_but_loud/ and check out her awesome art projects. Grounded in Maine Podcast is hosted by Buzzsprout, the easiest podcast hosting platform with the best customer service! Learn more at https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1851361 You can support this podcast one time (or many) with the Buy me a coffee/Hot Chocolate link here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/groundedinmaine Grounded in Maine Podcast is sponsored by ESG Review. Learn more about the good they're doing at https://esgr...

I want to just start by acknowledging that this is episode 200! If you've been here since the beginning of Grounded in Maine, bless you, and thank you! If you're new here, I'm so glad you're here!Let's learn to be better stewards of the land as we can!I only learned about Austin French and More than Outdoors podcast in March, I think, but I loved getting to know him. By chance, someone tagged the New England Podcasters Group on Linkedin, and I was tagged, because Austin is in Maine, and his podcast topic would fit perfectly with mine - so here we are!Austin is actually from New Jersey, but always vacationed in winter to New England with his family. One year they randomly met a lady who let him know you can go to college to ski, and he never considered anything else! Now he works for that college (UMaine Farmington) as the Director of Career and Employee Development. Austin and his co-host Sam started More than Outdoors almost a year ago, to show people just how being outdoors can be beneficial. They do almost all of their podcasts OUTSIDE and in person! He said many things that are simple, yet profound if you spend a moment thinking about it; here are a couple: "We are stewards of the resources and amenities that we use to recreate." He also said toward the end that part of that stewardship is of the earth and each other. He has great motivation for taking care of the earth - his first child was just born a month ago, his "future skiing buddy,"  and he needs to take good care of the earth for her."We talked a bit about GearShare, like a library for sports, etc, that he is a big fan of, and he describes a recent experience with a GearTrade in Maine, which is really cool! I did ask Austin about Maine Guides, because his Co-host is a Guide. Just hold on - next week's episode IS an actual Maine Guide, and we get to learn a little more about that topic. Do you have a Guide service where you are? What do you do outside?Find More than Outdoors podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHJAnmz8LNkLbS9QfdW9O2wSee where they end up next on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morethanoutdoorspodcast/Or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EUqjVmwmG/Send me a message!Support the showLike this episode? Send me a message!Please follow the podcast on Instagram here YouTube channel Email me at [email protected] Amy's Garden Jam site (podcast has its own tab on this site!)Amy's email newsletter: How Do I Get There From Here by Jane Bolduc - hear more at https://www.janebolduc.com/Podcast cover by Becca Kofron- follow her on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/skate_cute_but_loud/ and check out her awesome art projects. Grounded in Maine Podcast is hosted by Buzzsprout, the easiest podcast hosting platform with the best customer service! Learn more at https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1851361 You can support this podcast one time (or many) with the Buy me a coffee/Hot Chocolate link here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/groundedinmaine Grounded in Maine Podcast is sponsored by ESG Review. Learn more about the good they're doing at https://esgr...

I hadn't heard of Ethical Seafood Research until Wasseem Emam reached out to me, but I'm so grateful I know about it now! Drawing on his background in applied aquatic ecology, conservation, and sustainable aquaculture, Wasseem recognised a critical gap; aquatic animals are the most numerically exploited, and least protected animals in the food system.Wasseem started Ethical Seafood Research in 2021. He had an experience working on a fishing boat that fueled his need to work for the ethical fishing of aquatic animals- he tells the story better than I ever could, of course, so you'll have to listen. He talks about why it matters how fish are farmed, and we talked about the differences between wild caught and farmed fish. His goal is to improve the welfare of fish farms. Wasseem is bridging conservation and industry with practical, science based welfare improvements. The goal is not just to reduce suffering, but to demonstrate that fish welfare can — and should — be part of sustainable, resilient food systems worldwide.You can learn about Ethical Seafood Research here: https://ethicalseafoodresearch.org/Find Wasseem on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/ethicalseafoodresearch/Send me a message!Support the showLike this episode? Send me a message!Please follow the podcast on Instagram here YouTube channel Email me at [email protected] Amy's Garden Jam site (podcast has its own tab on this site!)Amy's email newsletter: How Do I Get There From Here by Jane Bolduc - hear more at https://www.janebolduc.com/Podcast cover by Becca Kofron- follow her on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/skate_cute_but_loud/ and check out her awesome art projects. Grounded in Maine Podcast is hosted by Buzzsprout, the easiest podcast hosting platform with the best customer service! Learn more at https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1851361 You can support this podcast one time (or many) with the Buy me a coffee/Hot Chocolate link here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/groundedinmaine Grounded in Maine Podcast is sponsored by ESG Review. Learn more about the good they're doing at https://esgr...

I loved this conversation with Blair Northen Williamson, aka The Island Writer. Blair is a sailing Captain, dive instructor, ocean activist, global traveler, author and speaker, and she is talking to us about raising curious, empathetic global citizens with care and curiosity, instead of fear. Blair has published 3 children's books so far about caring for the ocean: Island Girls, Birthday Bash and Ocean Protectors, to teach kids about the ocean, and encourage them to take care of it, and all who live there. She talks about coral reefs, which are really in danger as our ocean temperatures are rising; coral bleaching happens when the temps rise and become too warm and the algae leave for cooler water. She and her husband have been diving for many years, and have raised her 2 daughters traveling and diving. They are the inspiration for the Island Girls story, after an event where they all watched a plastic bag almost get eaten, mistaken for a jellyfish. The girls asked her what she was going to do about the plastic problem, and Island Girls was born. Her newest book, Ocean Protectors, focuses on coral reefs. There is another book in process, and she is also a writing coach now!Blair suggested a documentary called Chasing Coral; I'm adding a link to watch it here if you'd like to learn more about coral reefs: https://youtu.be/aGGBGcjdjXA?si=ZU1A1GdadTT2Vr14 Blair's website is beautiful, and there is SO much more to learn about her and all she's doing, because there is only so much space in show notes! https://www.theislandwriter.com/You can follow Blair on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/theislandwriter8/Blair offers a coloring sheet to download here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ziO0RF-pdgAVQ6DYVzkXvRQ3vlNhM8mp/viewSend me a message!Support the showLike this episode? Send me a message!Please follow the podcast on Instagram here YouTube channel Email me at [email protected] Amy's Garden Jam site (podcast has its own tab on this site!)Amy's email newsletter: How Do I Get There From Here by Jane Bolduc - hear more at https://www.janebolduc.com/Podcast cover by Becca Kofron- follow her on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/skate_cute_but_loud/ and check out her awesome art projects. Grounded in Maine Podcast is hosted by Buzzsprout, the easiest podcast hosting platform with the best customer service! Learn more at https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1851361 You can support this podcast one time (or many) with the Buy me a coffee/Hot Chocolate link here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/groundedinmaine Grounded in Maine Podcast is sponsored by ESG Review. Learn more about the good they're doing at https://esgr...

*Please forgive my echoey audio in this episode! I had cleared out my office to move, and it was - well - echoey.*Vale Siegrist won a year of Public Relations work from Publicity for Good, who has been sending some pretty great podcast guests my way lately! I was watching their contest, so curious to see who won - and while talking with Vale, she let me know it was her!Vale started Circular Mom Club after struggling post partum. One day she sent a  photo of her newborn in a cute outfit she had bought to some family and friends, and got very encouraging responses. Dressing her daughter up made her feel good, so she began buying outfits - and her daughter grew out of them quickly, of course. Vale couldn't justify continuing to buy new, and didn't want to buy super cheap and contribute to the textile waste problem, so she developed Circular Mom Club, to keep perfectly fine, cute clothes in rotation. Circular Mom Club memberships start at $29, including 5 pieces/month. I asked about clothing swaps, and her answer made so much sense after hearing her story: you don't get to choose, really, with a swap. Choice is something that has come up in several conversations I've had lately  - especially in the economy we're living in. When things are expensive, and we're told quality is better for us, but it's hard to afford - choice feels out of reach. We talked a lot about eco-guilt and guilt in general, as a parent and human.  The guilt conversation is so real, and I really appreciate Vale's vulnerability, and, of course, it fueled her need to do things right. She has really thought of everything in her planning, including gift cards, so if a parent is on the fence, maybe a family member or friend could get the process started...As someone who doesn't have children, I'm totally sold on the value of Circular Mom Club, and am so glad to have been Vale's first podcast interview, to learn all about this!You can check out the website here: https://circularmomclub.com/They're on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/circular___club/They're on TikTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/@circular___clubSend me a message!Support the showLike this episode? Send me a message!Please follow the podcast on Instagram here YouTube channel Email me at [email protected] Amy's Garden Jam site (podcast has its own tab on this site!)Amy's email newsletter: How Do I Get There From Here by Jane Bolduc - hear more at https://www.janebolduc.com/Podcast cover by Becca Kofron- follow her on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/skate_cute_but_loud/ and check out her awesome art projects. Grounded in Maine Podcast is hosted by Buzzsprout, the easiest podcast hosting platform with the best customer service! Learn more at https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1851361 You can support this podcast one time (or many) with the Buy me a coffee/Hot Chocolate link here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/groundedinmaine Grounded in Maine Podcast is sponsored by ESG Review. Learn more about the good they're doing at https://esgr...

I've been bugging Elizabeth Bruckner for months to come back on the podcast, because I've been listening to her other podcast guest episodes and feeling like we've been missing out, and I finally wore her down. I'm kidding - she's been wanting to go deep about Kefir with someone, and I've been interested in learning about it, and finding a fermented food I can actually ingest. And boy oh boy, did we get an education!Elizabeth was a guest in 2025 (episode 148) to talk about her book, The Homesteader Mindset, that had just published. We talked about homesteading and how you don't have to have a certain look or property to be a homesteader. Kefir is a part of Elizabeth's journey to health. She very vulnerably shares that she was bed bound for weeks, housebound for months, and unable to work for years, due to an illness.  She began to heal as she started researching herself; she is now an Oriental Medicine Practitioner and Acupuncturist. She learned about organic foods and fermented foods, among many other things. Elizabeth's message is to start small, and add on as you feel comfortable - with kefir, and homesteading, or any new habits. When talking to friends, someone asked for an easy step to take to make an impact, and her answer was quickly KEFIR. It's a really easy thing to add to your routine! I've been doing it for a few weeks now - not sure if I'm seeing benefits yet, but there definitely aren't any bad things. I have terrible eyesight, but my nose and ears make up for that - I had to trick my nose with a taste of jam or cranberry sauce with kefir to help it go down... I do like that it's not sweet - I'm not a yogurt person, because it's always very sweet (and I don't like the "tang" of plain yogurt).Access to Elizabeth's Kefir course: http://www.createwellnessproject.com/kefir - remember, use code Grounded for 25% off!Her website: https://createwellnessproject.com/Send me a message!Support the showLike this episode? Send me a message!Please follow the podcast on Instagram here YouTube channel Email me at [email protected] Amy's Garden Jam site (podcast has its own tab on this site!)Amy's email newsletter: How Do I Get There From Here by Jane Bolduc - hear more at https://www.janebolduc.com/Podcast cover by Becca Kofron- follow her on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/skate_cute_but_loud/ and check out her awesome art projects. Grounded in Maine Podcast is hosted by Buzzsprout, the easiest podcast hosting platform with the best customer service! Learn more at https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1851361 You can support this podcast one time (or many) with the Buy me a coffee/Hot Chocolate link here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/groundedinmaine Grounded in Maine Podcast is sponsored by ESG Review. Learn more about the good they're doing at https://esgr...