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 Feb 23, 2026
Monday Feb 23, 2026
Recording date: February 18, 2026
Welcome to the second season of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world! Episode nine features Kalan Redwood of Redwood Seeds as we discuss:
Rejuvenating during the “off-season”
Appreciating the potential of seeds
Choosing traditional schooling and homeschooling
Building a seed business from the ground up
Much, much more!
You will love this inspiring and informative farmer!
#IYWF2026
About Kalan:
Kalan didn’t choose farming—farming chose her! In her mid-twenties, she met her husband, which started a journey of garden curiosity. After several years growing seeds under contract for other companies, Redwood Seeds was born. They specialize in certified organic, heirloom, and open-pollinated varieties adapted to diverse climates.
Connect with Kalan at:
Website: https://www.redwoodseeds.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redwoodorganicseeds/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redwoodseeds/?hl=en
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 Feb 20, 2026
Friday Feb 20, 2026
Recording date: February 3, 2026
Welcome to the second season of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world! Episode seven features beginning farmer Amber Toombs of Rustic Roots Heritage Homestead as we discuss:
The joys and triumphs of farm cats
The “farming gene”
Creating hands-on agricultural education
Livestock as soil amendments
Much, much more!
You will love this energetic and collaborative farmer!
#IYWF2026
About Amber:
Amber was born and raised in the city. Her grandmother, a resilient woman who grew up during the Depression era, experienced the harsh realities of self-sufficiency firsthand. Determined to provide a different life for her family, Amber's grandmother moved to the city, distancing herself from the lifestyle she once knew. This city upbringing shaped Amber's early years, but the stories and skills passed down from her grandmother ignited a spark within her—a desire to rediscover and embrace a life more connected to nature and tradition.
Special opportunity for Food, Flowers, & Fun listeners:
Attend Amber’s Sovereign Health Summit: From Soil to Soul October 27-31, 2026 (both virtual and in person options). Sign up now at https://www.sovereignhealthsummit.com/?ref=womenfarm5. Use the coupon code womenfarm5 to get 5% off your tickets.
Connect with Amber at:
Website: https://www.rusticrootsheritagehomestead.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RusticRootsHeritageHomestead
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RusticRootsHeritageHomestead
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rusticrootsheritagehomestead/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rusticrootswnc?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
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 Feb 16, 2026
Monday Feb 16, 2026
Recording date: February 3, 2026
Welcome to the second season of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world! Episode seven features beginning farmer Amber Toombs of Rustic Roots Heritage Homestead as we discuss:
The joys and triumphs of farm cats
The “farming gene”
Creating hands-on agricultural education
Livestock as soil amendments
Much, much more!
You will love this energetic and collaborative farmer!
#IYWF2026
About Amber:
Amber was born and raised in the city. Her grandmother, a resilient woman who grew up during the Depression era, experienced the harsh realities of self-sufficiency firsthand. Determined to provide a different life for her family, Amber's grandmother moved to the city, distancing herself from the lifestyle she once knew. This city upbringing shaped Amber's early years, but the stories and skills passed down from her grandmother ignited a spark within her—a desire to rediscover and embrace a life more connected to nature and tradition.
Special opportunity for Food, Flowers, & Fun listeners:
Attend Amber’s Sovereign Health Summit: From Soil to Soul October 27-31, 2026 (both virtual and in person options). Sign up now at https://www.sovereignhealthsummit.com/?ref=womenfarm5. Use the coupon code womenfarm5 to get 5% off your tickets.
Connect with Amber at:
Website: https://www.rusticrootsheritagehomestead.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RusticRootsHeritageHomestead
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RusticRootsHeritageHomestead
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rusticrootsheritagehomestead/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rusticrootswnc?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
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 Feb 13, 2026
Friday Feb 13, 2026
Recording date: January 29, 2026
Welcome to the second season of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world! Episode seven features behavioral health professional Roberta Bellamy of Medical Family Therapy and Consulting, PLLC as we discuss:
Watching stress and mental health challenges end farming
Managing fear
Breaking out of relational triangles
Speaking truth kindly
Much, much more!
You will love this wise and compassionate ag service provider!
#IYWF2026
About Roberta:
Since 2015, Roberta has worked collaboratively with agricultural and health care entities to provide behavioral health services to North Carolina family farms across the state. She works with farm families, farm workers, and the entities that serve and support the agricultural population, to help farms manage and reduce stress. Roberta grew up on a small, multi-generational family farm in Kittrell, NC. During the turbulent farming years of the early 80’s, her father was hospitalized with a stress-induced, psychotic breakdown, and her family’s life of farming ended. As an adult, she set her professional goals toward becoming a therapist for farming families.
For additional support, visit the North Carolina Agromedicine Institute at https://ncagromedicine.org/ .
Connect with Roberta at:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roberta-bellamy-phd-lmft-359174209/
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 Feb 09, 2026
Monday Feb 09, 2026
Welcome to the second season of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world! Episode seven features behavioral health professional Roberta Bellamy of Medical Family Therapy and Consulting, PLLC as we discuss:
Watching stress and mental health challenges end farming
Managing fear
Breaking out of relational triangles
Speaking truth kindly
Much, much more!
You will love this wise and compassionate ag service provider!
#IYWF2026
About Roberta:
Since 2015, Roberta has worked collaboratively with agricultural and health care entities to provide behavioral health services to North Carolina family farms across the state. She works with farm families, farm workers, and the entities that serve and support the agricultural population, to help farms manage and reduce stress. Roberta grew up on a small, multi-generational family farm in Kittrell, NC. During the turbulent farming years of the early 80’s, her father was hospitalized with a stress-induced, psychotic breakdown, and her family’s life of farming ended. As an adult, she set her professional goals toward becoming a therapist for farming families.
Connect with Roberta at:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roberta-bellamy-phd-lmft-359174209/
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
Recording date: January 29, 2026
Friday Feb 06, 2026
Friday Feb 06, 2026
Recording date: January 27, 2026
Welcome to the second season of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world! Episode six features apple orchardist Sandra Barden of Barden Family Orchard as we discuss:
Marrying into the farm family
Growing organic apples
Listening to customers
Rebuilding after the death of the primary farmer
Much, much more!
You will love this positive and determined farmer!
#IYWF2026
About Sandie:
Sandra Barden is the owner/operator of Barden Family Orchard in Rhode Island. She managed the farm with her husband, Gil, for twenty-five years until tragedy struck in 2023, leaving her both a widow and the primary farm operator. Because the business had been set up as a sole proprietorship, Sandie had to set up a completely new business structure while navigating her grief…all during the beginning of the growing season.
Connect with Sandie at:
Website: https://bardenfamilyorchard.com/
Facebook: @bardenfamilyorchard
Instagram: @barden_family_orchard
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-barden-9a815831/
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 Feb 02, 2026
Monday Feb 02, 2026
Recording date: January 27, 2026
Welcome to the second season of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world! Episode six features apple orchardist Sandra Barden of Barden Family Orchard as we discuss:
Marrying into the farm family
Growing organic apples
Listening to customers
Rebuilding after the death of the primary farmer
Much, much more!
You will love this positive and determined farmer!
#IYWF2026
About Sandie:
Sandra Barden is the owner/operator of Barden Family Orchard in Rhode Island. She managed the farm with her husband, Gil, for twenty-five years until tragedy struck in 2023, leaving her both a widow and the primary farm operator. Because the business had been set up as a sole proprietorship, Sandie had to set up a completely new business structure while navigating her grief…all during the beginning of the growing season.
Connect with Sandie at:
Website: https://bardenfamilyorchard.com/
Facebook: @bardenfamilyorchard
Instagram: @barden_family_orchard
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-barden-9a815831/
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 Jan 30, 2026
Friday Jan 30, 2026
Recording date: 2025
Welcome to this special highlight edition of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world! Episode 5 features five of our most transformational guests from Season 1 as we discuss:
Making a difference right where we are
Supporting women farmers to have more purpose, community, and profitability
Engaging in boat-based advocacy
Nurturing the sea through kelp
Sharing the fun sides of farming with the next generation
If these bite-size snippets whet your appetite, be sure to check out the full episodes, listed below!
#IYWF2026
Listen to the Full Episodes Here:
Farming That Contributes with Azure Cygler: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-rew66-19a1352
Raising Chickens with Humanity and Integrity with Franchesca Duval: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-9c2ei-194a871
Women Discovering Purpose and Community through Cassava with Nancy Nalova: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-ti82k-196c43b
Each Farmer Matters with Toluwani Precious Ogunbiyi: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-dz53v-1959ef1
Grassroots Advocacy for Farmers on Land and Sea with Sarah Schumann: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-e4y6x-198067f
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 Jan 26, 2026
Monday Jan 26, 2026
Recording date: 2025
Welcome to this special highlight edition of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world! Episode 5 features five of our most transformational guests from Season 1 as we discuss:
Making a difference right where we are
Supporting women farmers to have more purpose, community, and profitability
Engaging in boat-based advocacy
Nurturing the sea through kelp
Sharing the fun sides of farming with the next generation
If these bite-size snippets whet your appetite, be sure to check out the full episodes, listed below!
#IYWF2026
Listen to the Full Episodes Here:
Farming That Contributes with Azure Cygler: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-rew66-19a1352
Raising Chickens with Humanity and Integrity with Franchesca Duval: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-9c2ei-194a871
Women Discovering Purpose and Community through Cassava with Nancy Nalova: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-ti82k-196c43b
Each Farmer Matters with Toluwani Precious Ogunbiyi: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-dz53v-1959ef1
Grassroots Advocacy for Farmers on Land and Sea with Sarah Schumann: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-e4y6x-198067f
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 Jan 23, 2026
Friday Jan 23, 2026
Welcome to the second season of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world! Episode 4 features no-dig vegetable farmer Lucía Cueto Kearney of Pea Shoot Farm, LLC as we discuss:
Farming to address climate change
Growing vegetables in a no-dig system
Sharing income in a communal living structure
Assigning appropriate value to the work of those who provide community services
Much, much more!
You will love this passionate and ideological farmer!
#IYWF2026
About Lucía:
Lucía Cueto Kearney is a first-generation farmer of Argentine and Irish descent. For the last decade and more, her twin passions have been cooperative living and small-scale sustainable agriculture. Lucía is a founding member of the Wolf Tree Cooperative, a rural housing coop in Foster, RI launched in 2022. After eight years of working for and learning from other farmers, Lucía was able to launch Pea Shoot Farm, LLC (Quinta Arvejita) at Wolf Tree in 2023, a no-dig, intensive market garden producing a variety of crops and homestead goods using farming practices that go beyond sustainability and actively work to build healthy soil. We believe that healthy, sustainably produced, culturally affirming food is a human right, and seek to serve the needs of our local community through the food we grow and access to the land we steward. We believe that small farms are key in reconnecting people to community and planet, and seek to be a part of a robust, sustainable, and just food system here in Rhode Island.
Connect with Lucía at:
Website: https://www.wolftreecoop.org/farm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563293259907
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pea.shoot.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
Recording date: January 15, 2026