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
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
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.