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 27, 2025
Monday Oct 27, 2025
Episode fourteen of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world features Laurel Witri of Land and Sea Together as we discuss:
Begging for farm work
Learning from refugee farmers
Planning successions that work (and don’t!)
Mediating farm conflict
Much, much more!
You will love this thoughtful farmer-turned-mediator!
About Laurel:
Starting with an urban rooftop garden, Laurel progressed to working as a farm apprentice, managing a farm, and ultimately running her own farm. A Farm Succession Program Specialist with Land & Sea Together, she helps farmers plan for their future by walking them through the process of succession planning. Laurel is a certified farm transition coordinator through the International Farm Transition Network (IFTN).
Connect with Laurel at:
Website: https://landandseatogether.org/about-us/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/landandseatogether/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurelwitri
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 24, 2025
Friday Oct 24, 2025
Episode thirteen of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world features Azure Cygler of Rhody Wild Sea Gardens as we discuss:
Raising sugar kelp and oysters
Thinking globally; acting locally
Knowing when to push on and when to lay off
Contributing versus extracting
Much, much more!
You will love this intuitive and purpose-driven aquaculture farmer!
About Azure:
Azure Cygler has been on the ocean her entire life, from playing in the ocean to commercial fishing in Alaska and American Samoa to working in science and outreach. She has a husband and 2 children who love being outside in all seasons. They live year-round in Narragansett, RI USA and strive to live lives of kindness, environmental and community service, and purpose. When the weather allows, Azure checks on her growing kelp with a kayak, enjoying the calm of the winter and the surprises that await when she pulls up a kelp line!
Connect with Azure at:
Website: https://rhodywildseagardens.com/
Instagram and Facebook: @RhodyKelp
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/azurecygler/
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 20, 2025
Monday Oct 20, 2025
Episode thirteen of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world features Azure Cygler of Rhody Wild Sea Gardens as we discuss:
Raising sugar kelp and oysters
Thinking globally; acting locally
Knowing when to push on and when to lay off
Contributing versus extracting
Much, much more!
You will love this intuitive and purpose-driven aquaculture farmer!
Connect with Azure at:
Website: https://rhodywildseagardens.com/
Instagram and Facebook: @RhodyKelp
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/azurecygler/
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 17, 2025
Friday Oct 17, 2025
Episode twelve of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world features Gail Hunsberger of Tumble-Tails Farm 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
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