Dawn's Dirt

About Dawn's Dirt

In Dawn's Dirt Podcast, seasoned farmer-turned-coach Dawn brings you the raw, unfiltered truth about everything from the ground up. From soil science and homestead self-sufficiency to the complexities of food freedom, Dawn dives into every gritty detail to help you grow your own food and create a sustainable homestead that breaks free from the grocery store chains. Guided by the mantra "No Farmers, No Food," Dawn sheds light on why growing our own food and building a homestead lifestyle matters, connecting us to the earth—and each other. Join Dawn each week as she digs into conversations with farmers, homestead experts, wellness coaches, and voices from all walks of life. From gardening, homestead living, and sustainable practices to discussions on religion, politics, and society, no topic is off the table. Here, "dirt" goes beyond soil; it's about uncovering the deeper truths and resilience that come with homesteading and independent living. So roll up your sleeves, get your hands in the dirt, and let Dawn inspire you to reclaim your independence, one seed—and one homestead story—at a time.

Publisher

Dawn Buschert

Category

education · leisure

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

13 Nov 2024

Latest episode

18 Mar 2026

Latest episodes

67 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   18 Mar 2026

   Why Small Farms Are The Future of Food with Greg | EP 67

   In this episode of Dawn's Dirt, I sit down with Greg from Sunshine and Green Farms in Suffolk, England, and we get into what it really takes to build a profitable small-scale vegetable farm. We talk about growing food as a real business, not just a hobby, and why direct-to-consumer sales are giving farmers more power in a broken food system. Greg shares how he started with almost nothing, built a four-acre farm from the ground up, and created a model that works without depending on big retailers or government handouts. We also unpack why local food matters, how decentralized food systems create resilience, and why young farmers need to get back on the land. If you care about food freedom, profitable farming, and taking back control of what ends up on your plate, this conversation will light a fire under you. ______________________________________________ Episode Highlights: small-scale farming, profitable vegetable farming, local food systems, food freedom, direct-to-consumer sales, decentralized agriculture, young farmers, farm profitability, community-based food, breaking supermarket dependence, resilient farming models, sustainable local food Takeaways: Small farms can be profitable when they focus on direct sales and smart marketing A decentralized food system is more resilient than relying on a handful of massive players Farmers gain more control when they sell to people instead of selling into commodity markets Profitability comes from the whole farm business, not just one crop Young farmers do not need to start big to build something meaningful Government subsidies can disappear quickly, but strong local markets create stability Convenience, quality, and trust are key to getting people to buy local food consistently ______________________________________________ Links & Resources Mentioned Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/sunshineandgreen/ Website | https://sunshineandgreen.co.uk/ Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SunshineandGreen/ ______________________________________________ Love what you're hearing on Dawn's Dirt? Don't keep it to yourself—help us grow! Share the show with your friends, like this episode, and leave a quick 5-star rating. Your support means the world and helps us keep bringing you the content you love! ______________________________________________ Want to turn your homestead into more than just a hobby? I've been there. As a former farmer, I built a profitable business from my land, selling out at local markets, preserving food through canning, and earning hundreds of thousands of dollars from what I grew and raised. Now, I help others do the same. Whether it's garden coaching, raising animals, selling eggs, or turning your harvest into income through canning, I'll show you practical ways to bring real value from your homestead. Let's talk about your goals and how we can make your land work for you. Book a free call today using the link below, let's get started! Book Your FREE Call Today! Visit Dawn's Website | https://www.dawnsdirt.ca/ Dawn Dirt's Instagram |  https://www.instagram.com/dawns_dirt/ Dawn's Dirt Podcast Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dawnsdirtpodcast/ ______________________________________________ Produced by Carley Butler Media – Helping podcasts elevate their voice and reach the world. Learn more at www.carleybutlermedia.com

2. 

   11 Feb 2026

   This "Traceability" Plan Could Wipe Out Small Ranchers with Lance Neilson EP 66

   In this episode of Dawn's Dirt, I sit down with Alberta beef producer Lance Neilson of Nielsen Beef to talk about the CFIA's proposed cattle traceability changes and why so many ranchers are saying "absolutely not." Lance breaks down the current system (brands, manifests, RFID) and explains how the new proximity reporting would add a pile of cost, tech, and paperwork to cow-calf producers with zero clear economic upside. We get into how these rules could quietly push small operations out, scare folks away from 4-H and cattle shows, and speed up consolidation in rural Canada. Then Lance brings receipts from the UK, where similar systems have meant surprise inspections, more red tape, and yes, fewer small farmers. If you care about food freedom, farm-to-table beef, and keeping entry-level farming possible in Canada, this one's a must-listen. ______________________________________________ Episode Highlights: CFIA traceability changes explained, cow-calf producers vs feedlots impact, proximity reporting and the "wider net" problem, costs of tag readers and extra labor, risks to 4-H and cattle shows, rodeo paperwork burden, why "trade expansion" claims don't add up, boxed beef vs live cattle trade reality, BSE timeline and border closure truth, UK cattle passport cautionary tale, consolidation and loss of small farms, farm-to-table marketing through social media Takeaways: If there's no clear economic benefit, the burden is just bureaucracy Proximity reporting can punish good farmers years after a single event More reporting requirements usually favors big operations over small ones "Trade protection" arguments need to separate boxed beef from live trade BSE showed traceability speed doesn't guarantee borders reopen faster The UK is a real-world case study of how regulation can trigger consolidation Social media + direct-to-consumer sales can help small farms survive and grow ______________________________________________ Links & Resources Mentioned Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/neilsonbeef/ Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/neilsonbeef TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@neilsonbeef Website | https://albertabbqbox.com/ ______________________________________________ Love what you're hearing on Dawn's Dirt? Don't keep it to yourself—help us grow! Share the show with your friends, like this episode, and leave a quick 5-star rating. Your support means the world and helps us keep bringing you the content you love! ______________________________________________ Want to turn your homestead into more than just a hobby? I've been there. As a former farmer, I built a profitable business from my land, selling out at local markets, preserving food through canning, and earning hundreds of thousands of dollars from what I grew and raised. Now, I help others do the same. Whether it's garden coaching, raising animals, selling eggs, or turning your harvest into income through canning, I'll show you practical ways to bring real value from your homestead. Let's talk about your goals and how we can make your land work for you. Book a free call today using the link below, let's get started! Book Your FREE Call Today! Visit Dawn's Website | https://www.dawnsdirt.ca/ Dawn Dirt's Instagram |  https://www.instagram.com/dawns_dirt/ Dawn's Dirt Podcast Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dawnsdirtpodcast/ ______________________________________________ Produced by Carley Butler Media – Helping podcasts elevate their voice and reach the world. Learn more at www.carleybutlermedia.com

3. 

   4 Feb 2026

   CFIA Forced 550 Deer Dead Then Zero Tested Positive with Jason Smith EP 65

   In this episode of Dawn's Dirt, I sit down with Jason Smith, a farmer-rancher from Eckville, Alberta, who lived through the kind of CFIA nightmare you pray never lands on your gate. Jason shares how he built a deer operation from the late 90s, followed every rule, tracked every tag, double-fenced his farm, and still ended up forced to destroy his entire herd after CFIA claimed Chronic Wasting Disease was present. Here's the gut punch: after it was all done, every single animal tested negative. We also dig into what this means for cattle producers right now as new traceability rules push toward government databases, more paperwork, and more pressure on small, family farms. If you care about food freedom, farm-to-table, and keeping farmers on the land, you need to hear this one. ______________________________________________ Episode Highlights: CFIA enforcement, chronic wasting disease explained, deer farming and hunting industry, quarantine and compensation process, government overreach in agriculture, paperwork and expanding regulations, traceability vs control, small farms under pressure, big ag consolidation concerns, Alberta-led solutions, farm-to-table importance, rebuilding community and family connection Takeaways: Traceability is not the issue, government control and creeping requirements are A "rule change" often becomes layers of paperwork that producers never agreed to Small farms get crushed first when systems require constant computer reporting Biosecurity and good husbandry do not guarantee fair treatment by regulators Local farm-to-table systems strengthen trust, transparency, and community When communication breaks down, families pay the price not bureaucrats Protecting food freedom starts with producers organizing locally and loudly ______________________________________________ Love what you're hearing on Dawn's Dirt? Don't keep it to yourself, help us grow! Share the show with your friends, like this episode, and leave a quick 5-star rating. Your support means the world and helps us keep bringing you the content you love! ______________________________________________ Want to turn your homestead into more than just a hobby? I've been there. As a former farmer, I built a profitable business from my land, selling out at local markets, preserving food through canning, and earning hundreds of thousands of dollars from what I grew and raised. Now, I help others do the same. Whether it's garden coaching, raising animals, selling eggs, or turning your harvest into income through canning, I'll show you practical ways to bring real value from your homestead. Let's talk about your goals and how we can make your land work for you. Book a free call today using the link below, let's get started! Book Your FREE Call Today! Visit Dawn's Website | https://www.dawnsdirt.ca/ Dawn Dirt's Instagram |  https://www.instagram.com/dawns_dirt/ Dawn's Dirt Podcast Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dawnsdirtpodcast/ ______________________________________________ Produced by Carley Butler Media – Helping podcasts elevate their voice and reach the world. Learn more at www.carleybutlermedia.com

Who has been a guest on Dawn's Dirt

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Chef Mikey
• Mackenzie Warford
• Mary Lewis
• Brandie Denard
• Nina Baker

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

15,407

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Podcast Authority Score: 69 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

91

Social presence

94

YouTube

72

Engagement

0

Contact Dawn's Dirt

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Dawn's Dirt