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
Friday Sep 12, 2025
Friday Sep 12, 2025
In the seventh episode of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world, Toluwani Precious Ogunbiyi of Agridemy talks about:
Empowering small-scale farmers
Combining agriculture, creativity, and fun
Balancing competing needs and expectations
Staying connected to the Source
Much, much more!
You will love this enthusiastic and purpose-driven farmer!
Connect with Precious at:
Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toluwani-precious-ogunbiyi-215349168/
Facebook: @Agridemy
Instagram: @agridemy_
YouTube: @Agridemyy
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 08, 2025
Monday Sep 08, 2025
In the seventh episode of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world, Toluwani Precious Ogunbiyi of Agridemy talks about:
Empowering small-scale farmers
Combining agriculture, creativity, and fun
Balancing competing needs and expectations
Staying connected to the Source
Much, much more!
You will love this enthusiastic and purpose-driven farmer!
Connect with Precious at:
Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toluwani-precious-ogunbiyi-215349168/
Facebook: @Agridemy
Instagram: @agridemy_
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 05, 2025
Friday Sep 05, 2025
In the sixth episode of Food, Flowers, & Fun, Medefo Talom of One Home, One Pawpaw talks about:
A mother’s legacy
A passion for people and papaya
A mindset of openness
A love of singing
Much, much more!
You will love this energetic and visionary farmer!
Connect with Medefo at:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7308167761984118785-w6Gx/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAACuGnJABByBMEbotY9a2UXLn7XHEYRFTK2A
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 01, 2025
Monday Sep 01, 2025
The emergence of a papaya plant on her mother's grave was the inspiration for Cameroonian farmer Medefo Talom's journey into pawpaw production. Find out how a mindset of openness continues to guide her work for and with African farmers.
Learn more about Medefo's commitment to "One Home, One Pawpaw": https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7308167761984118785-w6Gx/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAACuGnJABByBMEbotY9a2UXLn7XHEYRFTK2A
The full episode airs September 5, 2025 on Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world: www.penlightfarmers.com/podcast.
Connect with host K Castrataro at www.penlightfarmers.com/contact.
Friday Aug 29, 2025
Friday Aug 29, 2025
In the fifth episode of Food, Flowers, & Fun, Franchesca Duval of Alchemist Farm talks about:
Connecting psychology, midwifery, and farming
Stepping forward in integrity
Viewing challenges as opportunities for growth and creativity
Rewriting our farm narratives
Much, much more!
You will love this nurturing and introspective farmer!
Connect with Franchesca at:
Website: https://www.alchemistfarm.com/
Facebook and Instagram: @alchemistfarm
Email: Support@alchemistfarm.com
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 Aug 25, 2025
Monday Aug 25, 2025
What happens when a psychology major transitions to chicken midwifery? A transformation in the lives of hatchery chicks and the farmers who raise them. Franchesca Duval is this week's guest on Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women around the world, August 29, 2025. Find it by visiting www.penlightfarmers.com/podcast.
Friday Aug 22, 2025
Friday Aug 22, 2025
In the fourth episode of Food, Flowers, & Fun, Grass Whisperer Troy Bishopp talks about:
Being a girl dad
Linger grazing
Grieving after loss
Creating joy
Much, much more!
You will laugh. You may cry. You will be glad you came.
Connect with Troy at:
Webpage: https://thegrasswhisperer.com/
Instagram: @thegrasswhisperer63
YouTube: @troybishoppthegrasswhisper3703
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/troy-bishopp-aka-the-grass-whisperer-6868972b/
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 Aug 18, 2025
Monday Aug 18, 2025
In the fourth episode of Food, Flowers, & Fun, Grass Whisperer Troy Bishopp will talk about:
Being a girl dad
Linger grazing
Grieving after loss
Creating joy
Much, much more!
You will laugh. You may cry. You will be glad you came.
Connect with Troy at:
Webpage: https://thegrasswhisperer.com/
Instagram: @thegrasswhisperer63
YouTube: @troybishoppthegrasswhisper3703
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/troy-bishopp-aka-the-grass-whisperer-6868972b/
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 Aug 15, 2025
Friday Aug 15, 2025
In the third episode of Food, Flowers, & Fun, Stesha Warren of Eliana's Garden talks about:
Honeymoon tomatoes
Time management
Learning from mistakes
Agroforestry practices
Much, much more!
You will love this inspiring and informative farmer!
Connect with Stesha at:
Webpage: https://www.elianasgarden.com/
Facebook and Instagram: @ElianasGarden
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stesha-warren-b54947197/
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 Aug 11, 2025
Monday Aug 11, 2025
In the third episode of Food, Flowers, & Fun, Stesha Warren of Eliana's Garden talks about:
Honeymoon tomatoes
Time management
Learning from mistakes
Agroforestry practices
Much, much more!
You will love this inspiring and informative farmer!
Connect with Stesha at:
Webpage: https://www.elianasgarden.com/
Facebook and Instagram: @ElianasGarden
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stesha-warren-b54947197/
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