Advertise on podcast: Digging In The Dirt with Kevin Gallagher

Welcome Judith Enck who is  a Professor at Bennington College in Vermont. She is the President of Beyond Plastics and former EPA Regional Administrator, appointed by President Obama. Professor Enck is author of the new book "The Problem with Plastic: How to Save Ourselves and Our Planet Before It’s Too Late”

Today's guest is Mary Ellen Lemay. She is the "Conservation Director for the Aspetuck Land Trust", providing outreach, education and engagement to encourage people to improve biodiversity on their land by adding native plants and avoiding pesticides.  Lemay's recent work includes designing and installing nature-based, climate smart projects in the City of Bridgeport, including the planting of 8 Miyawaki Forests at public schools and Seaside Park, as well as waterside buffers along rivers and coastal properties in the city. Her 25 years of conservation work was recognized as Winner of the Aquarion Connecticut Environmental Champion Award in 2022. 

   My guest today is Eliot Coleman. Eliot is an American farmer, author, agricultural researcher, educator, and proponent of organic farming. In 1989 he wrote the highly influential "The New Organic Grower". A master’s Manual of Tools and Techniques for the Home and Market Gardener. His latest book is "The Self-Fed Farm and Garden", A Return to the Roots of the Organic Method, on Chelsea Green Press.  Then I speak with Eliot's wife Barbara Damrosch about her recent book,"A life in the garden".  Barbara is a professional in the field of horticulture and a writer. Her book The Garden Primer is a classic manual of horticulture. For 14 years she wrote a weekly column for The Washington Post called A Cook’s Garden. Finally Long Islanders, my regular contributor to DITD Gloria Frazee of RewildLongIsland.org drops in to fill us in on many of the amazing events Rewild has going on this spring.

First up on Digging in the Dirt is Dana Jackson, who is the Director of Communications and Development for CT Northeast Organic Farming Association. Prior to joining CT NOFA, he published Edible Nutmeg, a regional magazine focused on western Connecticut’s food community, including farmers, chefs, and locally produced food of all kinds. He also worked for more than a decade as a certified organic farmer in Connecticut, an experience that led him to believe that local food production is the key to building stronger, more resilient communities in our state. Dana is coming here today to tell you about this weeks CT NOFA 44th annual Winter Conference.  My 2nd guest is Sarah Layton Agricultural Programs Coordinator At the Connecticut Resource Conservation & Development Area She is a Certified Compost Operator, steering  committee member of the CT Compost Alliance and the New CT Farmers Alliance, she is also a  member of the Deep River Garden Club, and owner of a micro flower farm, Wild Hill Farm, in Deep River CT.She is here today to talk about the 2026 CT Compost Conference March 19, at Wesleyan University sponsored by the CT COMPOST alliance. Finally continuing with the subject of composting From the aforementioned Park city compost initiative, (PCCI), I have with me Tim O’Connor  Executive Director of Park City Compost Initiative.  Since then Tim has secured certification for Solid Waste Facility operations from CT DEEP, the  Master Composter certification from UCONN and the Compost Operations Course by US Compost Council. As Executive Director of Park City Compost Initiative, Tim is all about PCCI's mission to Educate and Activate around aerobic composting. Tim has served for the past two years on the organizing committee of the CT Compost Alliance who have planned and arranged the March 19th 2026 Ct Compost Conference at Wesleyan University.

It's a great honor for me to host my next guest on Digging the Dirt, Bill McKibben.  Bill is an American environmentalist, author and journalist who has written extensively on the impact of global warming . He has spearheaded many projects to address the climate crisis that faces our planet.  Most significantly he founded 350.org  and Third Act which focuses on  making legislative progress state by state. Bill has a new book out called “Here comes the Sun”. My second guest on this episode of Digging the Dirt is the Executive Director of Biodiversity for a livable climate, Beck Mordini. Bio4climate states right upfront on their website that Nature is Climate. Biodiversity loss is not just the result of climate change, it is a primary driver of climate change.  Only solutions that prioritize this web of life will create a truly livable climate for all.

It’s my distinct pleasure to have as my guest now Reverend Sara D. Smith, President/CEO and Founder Of nOURish BRIDGEPORT, a volunteer-powered, food-centered, and community-anchored not-for-profit, she founded in 2010, providing direct service programs to the people of Bridgeport.  These programs include a SUPER FOOD PANTRY serving 3,000 individuals each week, a BABY CENTER providing diapers and formula to 400 babies each month, a HOT MEAL Program feeding 300 hot healthy meals each week, English as a Second Language classes for 100 immigrants weekly, and the first non-profit INDOOR HYDROPONIC FARM in the state of Ct. with the exclusive purpose of distributing fresh healthy produce to the food insecure.  In its first three years of production, nOURish has distributed 17 tons of fresh produce from its Farm all over the City of BPT.   In addition Reverend Sara is also Senior Minister of the United Congregational Church of Bridgeport A 330 Year Old Open and Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ and is the Protestant Chaplain Of Sacred Heart University Office of Mission Integration, Ministry, & Community  Engagement.

First up this episode is Peter Linderoth, director of science and watersheds for Save the Sound's Healthy Waters Institute. Save the Sound is doing so many good things to take care of our fragile ecosystem the Long Island sound. He joins me today to tell us about the results of the 2025 bacteria monitoring season in the western Sound. Then I talk to Tom Anderson, who is Director of communications at CT Audubon Society and editor of the Connecticut state of the birds report We discuss the key issues that the Connecticut Audubon Society is concerned about.

 Dr. Michael E. Mann Returns to "Digging in the Dirt ", for his 5th visit, to talk about his new book called, "Science Under Siege: How to Fight the Five Most Powerful Forces that Threaten Our World":  it is cowritten with Dr. Pete Hotez the Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine and professor of virology and microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine. Much of this book points fingers very explicitly at some of the bad actors shaping the narratives around Climate Change and Vaccinations. The authors call them the different P's, plutocrats, petro-states, propagandists, pro’s and the press.  Secondly, I’m pleased to welcome to "Digging in the Dirt" the Co-director of the film "The little things that run the world ", Doug Hawes-Davis The film delves into the story of how insects face unprecedented decline, their fate becomes a stark warning: that without them, neither we, nor the planet can endure. Even still, there is hope!  The film is a survey of what E.O. Wilson, the man behind the half earth concept called, “THE LITTLE THINGS THAT RUN THE WORLD”, Insects.

This "Digging in the Dirt" starts off with Tom Anderson, who is Director of communications at CT Audubon Society and editor of the Connecticut state of the birds report. We talk about all the threats that our birds are facing.  Habitat loss, pesticides, windows and feral cats. Then joining me is Megan Clendenan  author of The book Just in Case: Saving Seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault  A recent review said of her book,  "This tale has an unusual ecological theme that makes seed preservation not only an essential task, but a sacred one. A must-have story."

My first guest is Kelpie Wilson  author of The Biochar  Handbook, Kelpie researches and teaches techniques for using biochar in compost and manure management and presents many biochar workshops each year to farmers, foresters, and landowners. Then Michael Garman the Development Coordinator at the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters joins me. The CTLCV's is a nonpartisan, nonprofit environmental organization that works across the state of CT on a myriad of environmental issues.  Then I talk to Allison Rugila Associate Soundkeeper for Save the Sound. Allison covers the western half of Long Island Sound (basically the Bridgeport-Port Jefferson line west into the western narrows of the city).  Allison has  been deeply involved with shellfish restoration.

First up this episode is Emily Sanders the senior reporter for ExxonKnews, a project of the Center for Climate Integrity covering fossil fuel industry practices……disinformation, lobbying, and dark money spending -- as well as efforts to hold major oil and gas companies accountable.    ExxonKnews is a partner of the Covering Climate Now journalism collaborative, and Emily's climate accountability reporting has been co-published with other outlets including The Lever, Grist, DeSmog, and HEATED.  (Emily wants you to know that the actual fine levied against Greenpeace was $660 million dollars) Second, Allison Rugila has joined Save the Sound as Associate Soundkeeper, to cover the western half of Long Island Sound (basically the Bridgeport-Port Jefferson line west into the western narrows of the city.  Allison has  been deeply involved with shellfish restoration and has a PhD. In Ecology and Evolution from Stony Brook, where she studied the resilience of shellfish, such as Long Island Sound blue mussels, Shinnecock Bay quahog clams and bay scallops. Focusing on environmental stressors like sea water acidification and warming, and low dissolved oxygen conditions. Next up Linley Dixon serves as a Farmer representative and Co-Director of the Real Organic Project.  Linley owns a vegetable farm in Durango, Colorado, with her husband and daughter.  Linley works tirelessly for quality real organic standards with the Real Organic Project. She is here to tell us about the Real Organic Projects upcoming conference in NY called "Saving Real Organic: Antitrust & Food".

My guests on my next  Digging the dirt start with Eric Sepenoski.   Eric is a fourth-generation farmer at Seps Farm in East Marion, NY, on Long Island's North Fork. He’s also is  an elementary school teacher and serves as an elected Trustee for the Town of Southold—where he focuses on stewarding wetlands and protecting coastal features. Then regular contributor to DITD Gloria Frazee of Rewild Long Island joins me to talk  composting on  Long Island.  Finally, Author Melissa Stewart joins me to talk about her new children's book about the mighty carbon atom. It's called  From BAM! to BURP! .

Jeff Masters meteorologist of the Yale climate connections  talks about the heartbreaking tragedy of the recent Texas floods. It's A deeper look at how this happens and what is in store in the future .  Then I rebroadcast an interview with Wilton, Connecticut fire chief and emergency management Director James Blanchfield on what to do if you encounter swift running floodwaters while in your car, amongst other useful advice for emergency situations.  

Rita Valley is an artist and gardener living in Southbury Connecticut. Her passion for gardening started at an early age, nurtured by her Polish grandmother who tended an impressive vegetable garden. Valley’s love of gardening has persisted and blossomed into a penchant for writing about her gardening exploits as well.Rita seems to have the same arrangement that my wife and I have: her husband's the veggie guy and she's the flower lady.  She maintains that a good sense of humor is every bit as important as a nice shovel or a sharp pair of pruners.  Welcome to DITD Greg Lowenthal,   Greg is President of The Long Island Native plant initiative and has served on the Initiatives board for over 4 years. The Long Island Native Plant Initiative (LINPI) is an all-volunteer cooperative effort of over 30 non-profit organizations, governmental agencies, nursery professionals, and citizens. The native plant initiative strives to preserve Long Island's biodiversity by cultivating ethically sourced ecotypic plants to ensure commercial availability of native plants for nurseries, communities, and habitat restorations.

First up Peter Linderoth, the director of healthy waters and lands for Save the Sound comes to “Digging in the Dirt” with the publication of Save The Sounds 2025 LONG ISLAND SOUND BEACH REPORT.  How does your local beach in CT. or Long Island rate? Then Sandy Wilson joins me. Sandi is employed with the University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension System. She is the Fairfield County Master Gardener Program Coordinator based out of the Extension office in Bethel.  She has been involved with the Master Gardener program for 25 years.  Then a little bit about tomatoes.