Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world
This podcast celebrates the stories of women farmers around the world who are engaged in food production, ornamentals, and agritourism. Join us for some honest farm talk--and lots of laughter--about the unique challenges faced by female farmers as they try to balance their farm and personal lives, support their mental health and well-being, and sustain healthy relationships on and off the farm.
The first season’s guests include a cassava grower from Cameroon, an agroforester from North Carolina, a ”chicken midwife” from California, the Grass Whisperer, and many, many more. You won’t want to miss an episode!
Your host, Kristen ”K” Castrataro, is a fifth-generation farm kid from Rhode Island. She has a rich agricultural background as a producer, Extension Agent, and farm consultant. She is driven by the conviction that the people feeding our bodies and souls should NOT be starving themselves. K is the founder of Pen Light for Farmers, a business that helps farmers (especially farm women) build a farm life and relationships that meet their deepest needs and values. You can find her at www.penlightfarmers.com.
Listen on:
Episodes
Monday Oct 13, 2025
Monday Oct 13, 2025
Episode twelve of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world features Gail Hunsberger of Tumble-Tails as we discuss:
Using soap derby skills to restore a condemned property
Creating a judgment-free safe haven
Healing bodies, minds, and hearts
Letting go
Much, much more!
You will love this nurturing and energizing farmer!
Connect with Gail at:
Website: https://www.tumble-tails-farm.com/
Instagram: @tumbletails_farm
Facebook: @TumbleTailsFarm22
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ghunsberger/
Connect with K at:
Website: https://www.penlightfarmers.com
YouTube: @k.castrataro3466
Facebook and Instagram: @penlightfarmers
Podcast (audio): https://www.penlightfarmers.com/podcast
Podcast (video): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIVBn53rrIsTwS4ag6hH4DHnxG_Lxqt7x
Friday Oct 10, 2025
Friday Oct 10, 2025
In the eleventh episode of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world, Sara Prefontaine of Choiniere Family Farm talks about:
Being a first-generation farmer
Playing to your strengths
Maximizing your farm team
Staying open-minded and willing to learn
Much, much more!
You will love this indomitable and no-holds-barred farmer!
Connect with Sarah at:
Instagram: @choinierefarmilyfarmri
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572795255980#
Connect with K at:
Website: https://www.penlightfarmers.com
YouTube: @k.castrataro3466
Facebook and Instagram: @penlightfarmers
Podcast (audio): https://www.penlightfarmers.com/podcast
Podcast (video): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIVBn53rrIsTwS4ag6hH4DHnxG_Lxqt7x
Monday Oct 06, 2025
Monday Oct 06, 2025
In the eleventh episode of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world, Sara Prefontaine of Choiniere Family Farm talks about:
Being a first-generation farmer
Playing to your strengths
Maximizing your farm team
Staying open-minded and willing to learn
Much, much more!
You will love this indomitable and no-holds-barred farmer!
Connect with Sarah at:
Instagram: @choinierefarmilyfarmri
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572795255980#
Connect with K at:
Website: https://www.penlightfarmers.com
YouTube: @k.castrataro3466
Facebook and Instagram: @penlightfarmers
Podcast (audio): https://www.penlightfarmers.com/podcast
Podcast (video): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIVBn53rrIsTwS4ag6hH4DHnxG_Lxqt7x
Friday Oct 03, 2025
Friday Oct 03, 2025
In the tenth episode of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world, Sarah Schumann of Fishery Friendly Climate Action Campaign talks about:
Protecting your physical and emotional safety
Advocating from within the industry
Creating your own definition of success
Managing careerism
Much, much more!
You will love this determined and value-driven (ocean) farmer!
Connect with Sarah at:
Website: fisheryfriendlyclimateaction.org
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-schumann-fisheries/
Facebook: @fisheryfriendlyclimateaction
Connect with K at:
Website: https://www.penlightfarmers.com
YouTube: @k.castrataro3466
Facebook and Instagram: @penlightfarmers
Podcast (audio): https://www.penlightfarmers.com/podcast
Podcast (video): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIVBn53rrIsTwS4ag6hH4DHnxG_Lxqt7x
Monday Sep 29, 2025
Monday Sep 29, 2025
In the tenth episode of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world, Sarah Schumann of Fishery Friendly Climate Action Campaign talks about:
Protecting your physical and emotional safety
Advocating from within the industry
Creating your own definition of success
Managing careerism
Much, much more!
You will love this determined and value-driven (ocean) farmer!
Connect with Sarah at:
Website: fisheryfriendlyclimateaction.org
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-schumann-fisheries/
Facebook: @fisheryfriendlyclimateaction
Connect with K at:
Website: https://www.penlightfarmers.com
YouTube: @k.castrataro3466
Facebook and Instagram: @penlightfarmers
Podcast (audio): https://www.penlightfarmers.com/podcast
Podcast (video): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIVBn53rrIsTwS4ag6hH4DHnxG_Lxqt7x
Friday Sep 26, 2025
Friday Sep 26, 2025
In the ninth episode of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world, Candace Clavin of Water Way Farm talks about:
Protecting your physical and emotional safety
Distilling lavender
Flipping rams
Educating the next generation on agriculture
Much, much more!
You will love this versatile and multi-talented farmer!
Connect with Candace at:
Website: https://www.waterwayfarm.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candace-clavin-8252668/
Facebook: @WaterWayFarm
Instagram: @water_way_farm
Connect with K at:
Website: https://www.penlightfarmers.com
YouTube: @k.castrataro3466
Facebook and Instagram: @penlightfarmers
Podcast (audio): https://www.penlightfarmers.com/podcast
Podcast (video): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIVBn53rrIsTwS4ag6hH4DHnxG_Lxqt7x
Thursday Sep 25, 2025
Thursday Sep 25, 2025
Check out this behind-the-scenes look at a first meeting between K and podcast guest Candace Clavin of Water Way Farm. Candace had some white lavender distilling at the time of her pre-screening call...and you get to watch!
Monday Sep 22, 2025
Monday Sep 22, 2025
In the ninth episode of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world, Candace Clavin of Water Way Farm talks about:
Protecting your physical and emotional safety
Distilling lavender
Flipping rams
Educating the next generation on agriculture
Much, much more!
You will love this versatile and multi-talented farmer!
Connect with Candace at:
Website: https://www.waterwayfarm.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candace-clavin-8252668/
Facebook: @WaterWayFarm
Instagram: @water_way_farm
Connect with K at:
Website: https://www.penlightfarmers.com
YouTube: @k.castrataro3466
Facebook and Instagram: @penlightfarmers
Podcast (audio): https://www.penlightfarmers.com/podcast
Podcast (video): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIVBn53rrIsTwS4ag6hH4DHnxG_Lxqt7x
Friday Sep 19, 2025
Friday Sep 19, 2025
In the eighth episode of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world, Nancy Nalova of NAN-AGRIC Cameroon talks about:
Returning to your roots
Learning innovative value-added processes
Giving back to the community
Farming “natural” and “real”
Much, much more!
You will love this innovative and forward-thinking farmer!
Connect with Nancy at:
Website: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076715023709
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-nalova-b1801514b/
Facebook: @nancy.nalova.2025
Instagram: @nalovanancy
Connect with K at:
Website: https://www.penlightfarmers.com
YouTube: @k.castrataro3466
Facebook and Instagram: @penlightfarmers
Podcast (audio): https://www.penlightfarmers.com/podcast
Podcast (video): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIVBn53rrIsTwS4ag6hH4DHnxG_Lxqt7x
Monday Sep 15, 2025
Monday Sep 15, 2025
In the eighth episode of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world, Nancy Nalova of NAN-AGRIC Cameroon talks about:
Returning to your roots
Learning innovative value-added processes
Giving back to the community
Farming “natural” and “real”
Much, much more!
You will love this innovative and forward-thinking farmer!
Connect with Nancy at:
Website: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076715023709
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-nalova-b1801514b/
Facebook: @nancy.nalova.2025
Instagram: @nalovanancy
Connect with K at:
Website: https://www.penlightfarmers.com
YouTube: @k.castrataro3466
Facebook and Instagram: @penlightfarmers
Podcast (audio): https://www.penlightfarmers.com/podcast
Podcast (video): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIVBn53rrIsTwS4ag6hH4DHnxG_Lxqt7x