Corn breeder and researcher Walter Goldstein traces the long arc of corn’s evolution, from its Indigenous origins to modern breeding challenges. He explores corn’s deep history on the American continent, a story of the living relationship between people and plants. Walter describes his work at the Mandaamin Institute, where he breeds corn for organic farming with desirable qualities: high nutritional value, nitrogen-fixing capability through a relationship with bacteria, and resistance to GMO pollination. These excerpts are taken from Walter’s 2016 presentation at the American Dream Conference, hosted by the MaaViva Institute.

Lifelong seed-saving advocate Bill McDorman discusses the centralization of the seed industry, its impact on biodiversity, and the loss of traditional seed-saving practices. He explains the historical role of farmers in breeding resilient crops and how corporate patents have restricted seed-saving. Bill advocates for local seed-saving, regional food systems, and grassroots movements to reclaim agricultural sovereignty and biodiversity.

Calcium is a central and often overlooked crop nutrient. Using examples to illustrate how it works, soil consultant Jon Frank introduces Carey Reams’ Biological Theory of Ionization as a framework to provide full-spectrum plant and animal nutrition. These improvements have huge implications for food quality and farm profitability.

Joe Scrimger connects the dots between nitrogen use on the farm, soil health and water quality. Day two.

Rancher Sally Witkowski describes how she and her husband Jim Witkowski got their entire family into grass-fed, grass-finished organic cattle ranching. Includes a look at regenerative practices, humane animal care, revenue streams, market trends, and the importance of a mission-driven mindset.

Organic grower Jim Koan reflects on the mindset needed to succeed with perennial crops like apples that require longer-term investments of labor and capital.

Joe Scrimger connects the dots between nitrogen use on the farm, soil health and water quality.

Amanda Sweetman describes how a small farm on the hospital campus of Trinity Health St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor is having a big impact on food, medicine, community health, and local agriculture. Cultivating relationships (in addition to vegetables, flowers, and hay), The Farm at Trinity Health features a CSA that connects people with fresh produce from local farms.

Imagine a year-round, 7-day farmers market that sells only locally produced foods. With the opening of Argus Farm Stop in 2014, Kathy Sample and Bill Brinkerhoff made that happen, creating a win-win for the whole community: Customers have convenient access to fresh local food supplied by over 200 producers while producers receive 75 cents on every dollar sold by Argus on consignment. Listen to Kathy and Bill share about the farm stop model, which is now being replicated in other communities.

When an exceptional piece of farmland became available in Scio Township, Michigan, longtime land conservation specialist Barry Lonik and township officials found a way to protect it through an innovative “Buy-Protect-Sell” transaction strategy.