Amber Waves Farmcast: Growing Better Every Day Through Food, Farming and Community

Did you know a single handful of healthy soil contains more living microorganisms than there are humans who have ever lived on Earth? In this episode, we break down the fundamentals of soil texture (clay, silt, sand, and gravel) and why our local Bridgeampton silt loam is so unique. Discover the secret to regenerative farming: feeding the trillions of microbes in the soil rather than just the plants. Learn how we manage acidic soil with lime, utilize cover crops and leaf mulch, and why true plant nutrition comes from the ground up—not a synthetic "IV drip".00:00 - Introduction: The Power of Soil00:17 - Soil Types: The Bridgeampton Silt Loam01:07 - Soil Texture and Aggregates01:53 - The Soil Ecosystem and Microbial Life02:38 - Benefits of Healthy Soil03:18 - Regenerative Farming and Human Health03:46 - Managing Soil pH and Organic Matter04:33 - Cover Crops and Leaf Mulch: Feeding the Microbes05:07 - Fertilizer vs. Soil Health: The IV Analogy

Garlic is the absolute rockstar crop of the farm! In this episode, we dive deep into the poetry, cultivation, and absolute love of growing one of our all-time favorite crops. Whether you are a small-scale farmer or a home gardener, garlic is a "hero crop" that offers incredible flavor and complete seasonal sustainability.We break down the complete 9-month garlic crop cycle, sharing the methods we use to plant, cultivate, and eventually harvest 25,000 heads of garlic every single year!Don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the Notification Bell to stay updated on all our farming adventures!#Garlic #HomeGardening #OrganicFarming #SeedSaving #GrowYourOwnFood00:00 - Garlic Scapes00:14 - Cultivation Overview01:27 - Planting Depth01:37 - Winter Protection01:47 - Green Garlic Phase01:56 - Edible Stages02:12 - Seed Saving Evolution02:25 - Growing Scapes in Water02:40 - Harvesting Small Cloves02:55 - Home Garden Benefits

This episode breaks down three of the most important—and frequently misunderstood—words in modern agriculture: cultivate, harvest, and regenerate.First, we explore what "cultivation" actually means on an organic farm. While textbook definitions refer to general crop production, in our fields, cultivation is the big umbrella term used for weeding. Because chemical sprays are not utilized, the farm relies on a mix of hand hoing and mechanical tractor cultivation to eliminate weed competition so crops can focus on resources like sun and water.Next, we look at "harvesting". While monoculture grain operations treat a harvest as a singular annual event, a biodiverse farm functions on rolling schedules. From daily tomato picking to continuous "cut and come again" crops like kale and broccolini, harvesting is a constant, dynamic cycle tailored to each plant's life stage.Finally, we tackle the latest buzzword in agriculture: regenerative. Moving past "organic" and "sustainable" practices, true regenerative farming centers completely on soil health and biodiversity. We discuss non-extractive methods like cover cropping to feed soil microorganisms, reducing tillage, and managing water conservation to sequester carbon and grow healthy food.00:00 - Introduction to Farm Lingo00:27 - Defining Cultivation01:14 - Organic Weeding Methods01:54 - Why We Cultivate (Removing Competition)02:44 - Defining the Harvest03:14 - Monoculture vs. Continuous Harvesting03:48 - Daily Tomato and Leafy Green Harvests04:45 - What Does Regenerative Mean?05:46 - Focus on Soil Health and Sequestration07:00 - The Orchestration of Sustainable Farming

And we're back! In this episode, we dive into Amber Waves 101 to discuss what it truly means to operate a production-scale teaching farm. We also share insights into our rigorous apprentice selection process, how our unique coastal climate shapes our extended harvest season, and why more young people than ever are choosing to step away from screens to build tangible skills in agriculture.**Chapters:**00:00 - The Importance of Attitude on the Farm00:16 - Welcome Back & Amber Waves 101: What is a Teaching Farm?01:49 - Selecting the Crew: Our Farming Apprenticeship Program03:56 - Building Farm Culture and Team Morale05:00 - Place-Based Work: Orienting New Farmers05:50 - Geography and Coastal Climate of Long Island07:22 - Addressing the Heritage of Farming in the Hamptons09:05 - Glacial History and Bridgeampton Silt Loam Soil10:02 - Proximity to the City and Why Apprentices Choose Us11:24 - Finding Career Security and Connection Away from Screens

In this episode, Amber Waves co-founders Katie Baldwin and Amanda Marrow kick off the International Year of the Woman Farmer with a wide-ranging conversation on the “invisible work” of agriculture and why getting closer to your food can bring more joy, agency, and resilience.They share how Amber Waves’ apprenticeship program trains the next generation of farmers (overwhelmingly women), why crop rotation and plant families matter, and how moments like COVID made our regional food system suddenly visible.Plus: a brand-new recurring segment, MVP (Most Valuable Produce), featuring winter greenhouse arugula and how to grow it at home in days.**Learn more + support Amber Waves**- Donate / subscribe monthly: https://www.amberwavesfarm.org/giving- CSA info: https://www.amberwavesfarm.org/csa- Website: https://www.amberwavesfarm.org/#AmberWaves #Farmcast #WomenInAgriculture #LongIsland #RegenerativeAgriculture

00:00 - The Long-Term Experiment of Farming00:19 - Welcome to the Farmcast at Amber Waves00:53 - The Concept of Season Review01:19 - Crop Review: Winners and Losers02:25 - "Chef's Choice" Tomatoes and Contentious Conversations03:31 - Emotional Attachments to Tomato Varieties04:40 - Matt's Wild vs. Jasper Cherry Tomatoes05:30 - Long-Term Farm Experiments: Garlic Plastic Trials06:12 - Challenges with Crop Planning Variables06:58 - The Speckled Roman Tomato07:48 - Choosing Crops for Flavor and Biodiversity08:52 - Financial and Intrinsic Value of Crops09:20 - Celery Passion09:42 - Celery and Parsley: Preventing Mistakes11:03 - Celery: The Hardest Crop to Grow12:44 - Systems Review and Apprentice Feedback13:55 - The Apprenticeship Rotation Program14:56 - Inefficiency of Training and Efficiency of Long-Term Ag16:41 - The Future of Farming and Financial Risk18:34 - Success and the Amber Waves Family19:32 - Fundraising: Paying for the Apprenticeship Program21:32 - The Workforce Crisis in Agriculture23:03 - Removing Barriers with Paid Training24:37 - The Scholarship Model25:14 - The Conductor of Plants and PeopleIn this episode of the Amberwaves Farm Cast, farm manager **Amelia** takes you inside one of the most important (and least seen) parts of farming: the **season review**.On our 35‑acre vegetable, grain, herb, and flower farm on Eastern Long Island, season review is where the team gets brutally honest about what worked, what failed, and what needs to change before next year.👩‍🌾 About the Amberwaves ApprenticeshipAmber Waves runs a **paid, housed apprenticeship program** designed to train the next generation of farmers. Apprentices rotate through all parts of the farm: seeding, transplanting, harvest, flowers, wash/pack, CSA, markets, equipment, and more.The goal: graduates who can step into meaningful roles on other farms or start their own operations with real-world skills, not just theory.**Learn more / apply:**https://www.amberwavesfarm.org/jobs **Amberwaves Farm** is a **501(c)(3) nonprofit educational farm** in Amagansett, NY. Your support helps train new farmers and strengthen regional food systems.**👉 Join the CSA / visit the farm:**Subscribe for more conversations with the people growing our food—and the systems behind what ends up on your plate.

At Amber Waves Farm on the eastern end of Long Island, hiring season is more than sorting résumés. It is a window into who wants to become a farmer in 2026—and what they are running toward.In this episode of the Amber Waves Farmcast, farm manager and hiring lead Amelia sits down in the greenhouse to talk through:- The difference between 9‑month apprenticeships and short‑term field crew roles.- Why applicants are leaving office jobs, marketing agencies, and graduate programs to work in the dirt.- How climate anxiety is pushing 20‑ and 30‑somethings toward hands‑on climate solutions.- What it really looks like to manage a crew of 20+ people, 12 tractors, and 45 acres.- How Amber Waves is building a work culture that’s sustainable for bodies and minds, not just the soil.If you have ever wondered:- Could I really make farming my career?- What does an apprenticeship on a teaching farm actually look like?- How are small farms part of a climate solution?…this episode is for you.👉 Learn more about Amber Waves Farm and the apprenticeship program: https://www.amberwavesfarm.org/👉 Support farmer training and local food access: https://amberwavesfarm.networkforgood.com/projects/261881-2025-end-of-year-gift?hid=NTYxNDk4MDc%3D&utm_campaign=dms_email_blast_4325715👉 Subscribe for more stories from women farmers during the International Year of the Woman Farmer: https://www.youtube.com/@amberwavesfarmNY#InternationalYearOfTheWomanFarmer #WomenInAg #AmberWavesFarm #Farmcast #FarmingApprenticeships

00:00 Introduction to Amber Waves Farm00:19 Meet the Hosts: Katie and Amanda00:36 Interview with Amelia: From Art to Agriculture02:51 Amelia's Early Influences and Farming Journey05:38 Discovering Amber Waves and the Farming Community07:12 Building Bonds and Overcoming Challenges11:30 The Realities of Farm Work14:06 The Challenges of Farming in Harsh Conditions14:12 Memorable Moments with the Crew15:30 The Never-Ending Cycle of Farming Tasks16:25 The Unique Dynamics of an All-Women Farming Team18:16 The Importance of Emotional Support and Teamwork19:43 The Role of Retention and Management Style in Farming22:52 The Communal Culture of Lunchtime on the Farm25:44 Diverse Lunchtime Routines and Reflections26:31 Where to Find More Content Featuring AmeliaAmelia turned 30 in a New York City art‑world consulting job and realized she wanted a life that actually matched her values. On company time, she started Googling “farming apprenticeships near me”—and that search led her to Amber Waves, a 35‑acre teaching farm on Eastern Long Island.In this Farmcast episode, Amelia shares how she went from no agricultural experience to becoming a farm manager at Amber Waves, what it felt like to arrive as a 30‑year‑old apprentice, and how hard, physical days in the field forged lifelong friendships.You’ll hear:- How growing up with food‑photographer parents and being surrounded by vegetables planted early seeds of curiosity- The moment she realized that farmers at NYC greenmarkets were “real people with real jobs” she could imagine herself doing- The freezing, windy row‑cover day with Mari that turned into a “May 9th” story they celebrate every year- Why she says farming is mostly “moving things from one place to another over and over and over again”- How an all‑women management team at Amber Waves built a culture of emotional attunement, care, and conflict resolution- What peak‑season lunch really looks like when 22 people share one kitchen and everyone’s running on 4,000 calories and weird snacksThis story also lands as the United Nations prepares to observe **2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer**, highlighting how crucial women are in food systems and how often their contributions go unseen.[[1]]({{https://www.fao.org/woman-farmer-2026/en}})[[2]]({{https://www.fao.org/family-farming/detail/en/c/1682465/}}) Amelia’s experience at Amber Waves shows what happens when women farmers not only grow food, but also grow each other—through mentorship, shared work, and a culture that keeps people on the land.---👉 Learn more about Amber Waves Farm and the apprenticeship program: https://www.amberwavesfarm.org/👉 Support farmer training and local food access: https://amberwavesfarm.networkforgood.com/projects/261881-2025-end-of-year-gift?hid=NTYxNDk4MDc%3D&utm_campaign=dms_email_blast_4325715👉 Subscribe for more stories from women farmers during the International Year of the Woman Farmer: https://www.youtube.com/@amberwavesfarmNY#InternationalYearOfTheWomanFarmer #WomenInAg #AmberWavesFarm #Farmcast #FarmingApprenticeships

Join us for part two of our year-end conversation as we reflect on 16 years at Amber Waves Farm – from crawling with extension cords and a single outlet to training the next generation of farmers, building soil health, and proving that small farms have a vital place in our food system and our communities.In this episode, we dive into:- Our humble beginnings: one outlet, a toaster oven, and 300-foot garden hoses- The best early advice we got: "Don't spend money on anything" and "Do three things well"- Why we're "organic practicing" but not certified organic- What regenerative farming actually means (and how it differs from organic)- Carbon sequestration, soil health, and the challenge of low-till vegetable production- Why we grow 60 different crops (spoiler: it's like having 60 children)- Our partnership with Rodale Institute on farmer training curriculum- Small farms vs. large farms: the Main Street bookstore vs. Amazon analogy- Why only 1% of Americans are farmers – and how you can support the ones who are- What we're most grateful for after 16 yearsResources:- Apprenticeship program: Still accepting applications! https://www.amberwavesfarm.org/our-programs- Visit us: www.amberwavesfarm.org- Support our work: https://www.amberwavesfarm.org/giving-1Credits:Hosted by Katie and Amanda, co-founders of Amber Waves FarmProduced by Peconic PicturesAmber Waves Farm is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community farm in Amagansett, NY

In this special bonus episode, Katie and Amanda sit down in the teaching barn to talk about the bright shining elephant on the farm: our holiday lights display.For those driving by, you'll see tractors and equipment lit up in the fields, greenhouses framed in lights, and falling snow tube lights high up in the trees. It takes 200 human hours over two to three weeks to create this free display – but why do we do it?In this episode, we share:- Why we light up the farm every December (and it's about more than just holiday cheer)- What it takes to create a holiday light display: 200 hours, lifts, and pockets full of bulbs- The deeper meaning: bringing light during the darkest and sometimes saddest time of year- What "who's left" means as the farming season winds down- What we actually do all winter: seed catalogs, field planning, hiring apprentices, and tucking in the farm- Why December is when the real planning happens- Sneak peek: next week's conversation with Amelia about farm operationsResources:- Visit our holiday lights display (free!): Amber Waves Farm, Amagansett, NY- Lights are on a timer starting at 3pm- Apprenticeship program: Still accepting applications! https://www.amberwavesfarm.org/our-programs- Visit us: www.amberwavesfarm.org- Support our work: https://www.amberwavesfarm.org/giving-1Credits:Hosted by Katie and Amanda, co-founders of Amber Waves FarmProduced by Peconic PicturesSpecial thanks to 5th and Dune for the lift rentalAmber Waves Farm is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community farm in Amagansett, NY