“Healthy soil equals healthy food, equals healthy people, equals a healthy planet”. It’s the mantra of J.I. Rodale, the founder of the Rodale Institute in 1941.
Rodale Inc. CEO, Maria Rodale, enjoying a few laughs during a break from the interview with host and executive producer, Joe Lamp’l (photo credit: Courtenay Vanderbilt)
In her interview with Joe Lamp’l, Rodale Chairman and CEO Maria Rodale, granddaughter of J I, gives her frank, research-based opinion about the far-reaching effects of chemicals and pesticides so prevalent in our lives today.
Nurtured by four generations of the Rodale family, today the Institute resides on a 333-acre farm. Among many notable findings attesting to the effectiveness of organic gardening, their research has proven that organic yields match or surpass those of conventional farming methods.
The GGW crew goes over the soil demonstration before filming with Maya Rodale. (photo credit: Courtenay Vanderbilt)
Next Joe speaks with Maya, Maria’s daughter and fourth generation Rodale who by design, worked her way up in the organization. (At the time of filming, Maya was Director, Communications of Rodale Institute) and is an author in her own right. They discuss the Rodale Institute Farming Systems Trial®, begun in 1981 when few institutions were seriously studying organic farming methods. It is the longest running side-by-side comparison of organic and conventional farming methods in the U.S.
Rodale Press continues to pioneer the organic movement through research and it’s books and magazines.
For more information:
Joe’s podcast with Maria Rodale continues the discussion that started on TV. Hear what Maria couldn’t say on the show.
Organic Manifesto is one of Joe’s must-read books of all times if you care about organic.
Maria’s Farm Country Kitchen blog
Founder J I Rodale bio
About GGWTV
Growing A Greener World is a national gardening series on Public Television that features organic gardening, green living and farm to table cooking. Each episode focuses on compelling and inspirational people making a difference through gardening. This gardening series covers everything from edible gardening and sustainable agriculture to seasonal cooking and preserving the harvest.
I purchased Organic Manifesto about a month ago. It is such a well written book.
I really enjoy this show and enjoy learning about new things in the gardening world. Last year was the first year I got into gardening and it has changed so much in my life. 🙂
Glad to hear it Jamin. I agree with you assessment of Organic Manifesto. It is one of my favorite books and consider it such an important book for us all to read.