Chef Donna Prizgintas and farmer, artist Lonna Nachtigal explore their rural Midwestern food community with lively discussion and good humor. On the DonnaLonna Kitchen show, their long-running and award-winning radio production turned podcast, the ladies talk about food, farming, recipes, and also offer listeners their advice and opinions. Local and nationally known guests join Donna and Lonna around the kitchen table to discuss how farmers grow our food, what is nourishing and healthy, and what tastes good in which season. Chef Donna and Farmer Lonna are here to encourage simple home cooking.
S85 E122 · Tue, November 19, 2024
Donna and Lonna visit the Dot Cafe for lunch. Farmer Rob Faux shares some good turkey tales and talks about raising birds organically on pasture.
S85 E121 · Tue, November 12, 2024
Recipes and inspiration from food book authors: Jennifer McLagan, Camilla Wynne, and Nigel Slater.
S85 E119 · Tue, October 29, 2024
Very small things and very big things. The KHOI Science Bytes guys, Mike Meetz and Sam Wormley join us to talk about microbes, pandemics, food safety, asteriods, the moons of Jupiter, comets, and daylight saving time.
S85 E118 · Tue, October 29, 2024
We talk about the many joys of potatoes and onions. Varieties and recipes. We talk about cooking fat, an Onion Rabbit recipe, Leek and Apple Salad, Onion jam, and Sauerkraut Tart.
S85 E117 · Mon, October 28, 2024
Lockwood Cafe is a local treasure on the northwest edge of Ames, Iowa - located in a repurposed grain elevator. We talk to Sharon Stewart about the Cafe's startup, how she keeps it running and the application of kindness, courtesy, and patience as a successful business model.
S85 E116 · Mon, October 28, 2024
We talk with farmer Nick Wallace about making the most out of a small acreage. Beef, honey and more.
S1 E115 · Thu, October 03, 2024
Michael Perry is an accidental New York Times bestselling author, humorist, musician and amateur snowplow driver from New Auburn, Wisconsin. His work includes Population 485, Truck: A Love Story, Coop, Montaigne in Barn Boots, and The Jesus Cow. We talk with Michael about community, food, regional humor, French philosophy and blaze orange hunting caps.
S1 E86 · Thu, September 26, 2024
Lead found in cinnamon. Donna talks about the latest news. And we talk about apples, an applesauce poem by Ted Kooser, we consider the many kitchen variations on fruit jam, pumpkin peel research, an apple limerick, and five reasons to consider paying more for your food.
S1 E86 · Fri, September 20, 2024
Jacob Travesette shares his food adventures from growing up in Ames, Iowa to attending the Hoffman Institute - a highly acclaimed, Michelin starred culinary school in Barcelona, Spain. Donna and Jacob compare notes about knives, professional kitchens, Spanish ice cream flavors, shopping, and plums.
S1 E86 · Thu, September 05, 2024
Donna shares thoughts of work and household chores. Lonna makes a strange but tasty recipe: Okra Marshmallow Delights. How do we chew, taste, and digest our food? We explore mastication and the wide world of bitters.
S1 E86 · Thu, August 29, 2024
All things beans with Steven Cannon, geneticist and researcher for USDA and Associate Professor in the ISU department of Agronomy. Steven talks about the wide range of plants in the legume family and shares the joy of gardening and cooking with beans.
S1 E86 · Thu, August 08, 2024
Celebrate summer and fresh food. Donna and Lonna talk about farmer's markets, ice cream, tomatillos, eggplant. okra and lovage. Donna talks about Dicamba on our farm fields. Lonna reviews a good book: The Whole Okra by Chris Smith. And a good lovage sauce recipe to go with all your summer veggies.
S1 E86 · Thu, August 01, 2024
We taste a homemade Nocino (a black walnut liqueur). Tomatoes: so much to celebrate, so many varieties... seed saving, growing, harvesting, eating and processing for later. We talk about oven-candied tomatoes, gazpacho, green beans and an easy pickle recipe. Donna shares some news about PFA's. And we have fun with the list of new foods coming up at the Iowa State Fair.
S1 E86 · Thu, July 25, 2024
Hydrate! Donna talks about herbal drinks, watermelon, infusions, syrups, and mocktails. Lonna talks about carrot cake and the history of the carrot and the color orange. And we consider the elderberry.
S1 E86 · Thu, July 18, 2024
Who is taking care of our water? Carolyn Raffensperger joins us to talk about the quality, quantity, and the speed with which water moves through our state. Nitrate levels are at an all time high in our rivers. Agriculture and industry are putting extreme demands on our water resources. Is anyone keeping track of the common good?
S1 E106 · Thu, July 11, 2024
We take a light hearted look at backyard poultry with Cynthia McClure. Cynthia reports on her visit to the first ever Murray McMurray Chicken Festival, held in Webster City, Iowa. We talk about chickens, ducks, guinea hens and eggs. Cynthia shares her recipe for salt-preserved egg yolks.
S1 E86 · Thu, July 04, 2024
Kim Anderson has a way with blueberries. We talk about growing, managing and marketing at the organic, U-pick - Blueberry Bottom Farm in Brighton, Iowa. Kim talks about the challenges of local wildlife, her enthusiastic customers and the growing demand for her berries. We also talk about recipes and her PFI field day in July.
Thu, June 27, 2024
Donna and Lonna visit with a local farmer, Kate Solko about her farm, CSA, farmers market, organic certification, and the wide variety of food grown on Root to Rise Farm located just north of Ames, Iowa. We also share salsa recipes and some thoughts on summer shandies.
S1 E86 · Thu, June 20, 2024
Knowing what to eat is a tricky business. How do we learn to eat healthy food? Donna and Lonna are joined by Kamyar Enshayan, Director of the Center for Energy & Environmental Education at University of Northern Iowa. We explore the latest cancer study data for Iowa. We discuss Ultra Processed Food and health consequences of being able to access good food. Kamyar talks about the positive development of Iowa Food Systems and local action like the Garden in Every Lot project in Waterloo.
S1 E102 · Mon, June 17, 2024
A review of a Rhubarb Upsidedown Cake recipe, thoughts on banjos, groundhogs, gardens and Lime Pie. Donna reviews Kismet, a new recipe book... and we explore edible wild spring greens.
S1 E86 · Thu, June 13, 2024
How did humans figure out how to cook with fire? We talk to historian and grass fed meat marketer, Nick Land about the evolution of cooking, human development, the open hearth, the invention of matches, Henry Ford and charcoal briquets. And Nick talks about grilling techniques for grass fed meat.
S1 E100 · Thu, June 06, 2024
A celebration of summer: garlic and other good things from the allium family, some thoughts on garage sales, and a good brownie recipe. Donna also reviews a cookbook for kids.
S1 E99 · Thu, May 30, 2024
Donna and Lonna talk to Willa Colville and Maegan Bird about the Reliable Street Farmers Market in Ames, Iowa. Reliable Street is the site of many exciting community building activities: Lockwood coffee shop, a community garden, a thrift store, a community refrigerator, green space and playground. The new Farmers Market will host vendors and a free meal once a month during the summer. And Donna and Lonna talk about edible flowers.
S1 E98 · Thu, May 23, 2024
We talk about spring lawn care, basil, and mint. Donna gives us the history of switchel. Lonna talks about harvesting and drying golden oyster mushrooms and we explore nettle soup recipes from Alan Bergo's book Flora.
S1 E97 · Thu, May 09, 2024
We start the show with Lonna's review of food and festivities at the 33rd Annual Central Iowa Scottish Spring Ball: kilts, tartans, haggis and Scotch Eggs. Jacqueline Venner Senske joins Donna and Lonna to talk about Practical Farmers of Iowa and horticultural highlights of the upcoming Field Day season.
S1 E96 · Thu, May 02, 2024
Lonna talks about her visit to the Ames Repair Cafe and Ames Seed Library. Donna gives us an update on GMO corn, our health, the farm economy and our trade relationship with Mexico. We celebrate rhubarb season with growing and harvesting tips, and recipes: rhubarb orange jam, custard pie, rhubarb beet soup, chutney, syrups, and shrubs. We end with a poem to honor workers that built cathedrals with a thought for International Workers Day.
S1 E95 · Thu, April 25, 2024
The cost of producing our food affects all of us. Farmers are at the front line of price increases as big corporations take over the production of agricultural inputs. Donna and Lonna report on a Federal Trade Commission Listening Session event held in Nevada, Iowa where FTC chair, Lina Khan heard concerns from midwest farmers about the take over of the Iowa Fertilizer Co. by Koch Industries. The Iowa Fertilizer Co. received $545 million in local, state and federal tax dollars to provide more competition. Now that competitive element is threatened. We also review a book and hear a lecture by Austin Frerick, author of "Barons: Money, Power and Corruption of the American Food Industry". Frerick provides an eye-opening history of big money and big corporations that shape our food system.
S1 E94 · Thu, April 18, 2024
Celebrating foraging and the first green things of spring: Donna and Lonna talk about motherwort, bluebells, nettles, ground ivy, linden flowers, the alder tree and dandelions. Lonna bakes some yeast brown bread from the classic cookbook by Darian Allen. We learn about how to make comfrey tea plant fertilizer. Donna talks about ramps and ramp farming and we go out with a poem about our human microbiome.
Tue, April 09, 2024
Donna talks about milk, yoghurt, cheese, and frolicking cows. We revisit a past DLK interview with microbiologist Dr. Marc Rasmusson where he talks about what cows eat, e-flux pump inhibitors, and why ruminants can turn grass into meat and milk. And we talk about exploring products and producers at the second annual Iowa Eats Food and Drinks Festival in Waterloo, Iowa.
S1 E92 · Thu, April 04, 2024
Falling down a rabbit hole, a salute to snakes, Donna talks about eggs, Lonna talks about gingerbread, we talk about the fish kill on the Nishnabotna River in Iowa. Lonna shares some spring suggestions for the garden and a reads a poem by Mary Oliver about a bear waking up after a long winter.
S1 E91 · Thu, March 28, 2024
Dr. Jan Flora joins us at the DonnaLonna Kitchen table to talk about immigrant workers. Dr. Flora is professor emeritus at Iowa State University in the College of Agriculture. His recent opinion piece is entitled "Immigrants Serve the Common Good, Including in Iowa: Those are the Facts". We also talk about planting onions.
S1 E90 · Thu, March 21, 2024
DonnaLonna Kitchen talks to Cara Miller and Jay Goodvin from the Silos and Smokestacks organization about the upcoming Iowa Eats Food and Drink Festival. This is the second year for the event. It will be held April 6, 2024 in Waterloo. Cara Miller talks about vendors, cooking demonstrations, and a pork cook-off. Jay Goodvin shares reviews of Iowa food favorites. Donna closes out the show with some words of wisdom on cabbage.
S1 E89 · Thu, February 29, 2024
Good things have been happening at Mustard Seed Farm since it began in 2008. We talk with Alice McGary and Ami Adams about the MSF's commitment to community service, educational outreach and the growing of good food. Mustard Seed Farm provides food for a local medical clinic, Food at First and Romero House, in Ames. They thrive with support from volunteer workers and staff. Alice and Ami invite listeners to get involved with MSF events such as the annual "FunRaiser", a Seed Library, a "Swap-aloooza" celebration at Iowa State University and also many classes and work-share opportunities on the farm.
S1 E88 · Thu, February 22, 2024
Donna returns from a month in New Zealand with her report on food and farming. Sometimes it's nice to see how things are going in other places besides Iowa. Lonna welcomes Donna back into the studio and hears about New Zealand's dairy and beef production, water quality, the price of groceries, rich farmers, raw milk, a visit to a cider maker and a visit to a chocolate factory.
S1 E87 · Thu, February 15, 2024
Conservation is often the "elephant in the room" that doesn't get talked about very much. Conservation agronomist Ruth McCabe shares her insights about the state of agriculture around the globe. Ruth studied farming systems in Australia, Canada, the Chesapeake Bay, Brazil and other locations as part of an international Nuffield Scholarship. She works with Heartland Cooperative in Iowa. Contrasting her observations about farmers' needs for short-term gains vs. long- term conservation efforts makes a lively and informative discussion.
S1 E86 · Thu, February 08, 2024
Much depends on breakfast. Donna and Lonna explore pancakes and biscuits and gravy at a local Ames restaurant. We talk about the history of breakfast cereals, buckwheat crepes, waffles, brioche and French toast with a small detour into Donna's love affair with pudding.
S85 E85 · Thu, January 18, 2024
Pesticides and herbicides are all over Iowa. These things have consequences. Donna and Lonna talk to farmer, Rob Faux about the lasting effects of pesticide drift on his farm and his work with the Pesticide Action Network to address the problem.
S1 E84 · Thu, January 04, 2024
Donna refuses to use the word "resolution," but we talk about good food, good habits and thoughts that are good to heal the excesses of the holidays and set the pace for a good new year. We talk about soups, collagen, miso, kefir, kitchen remedies for the common cold and a broader look at hopeful actions for earth care and people care.
S1 E83 · Thu, December 21, 2023
We explore tastes and memories of many holidays past with Mike Murphy and Mike Meetz (friends from our community radio family). The discussion includes: Christmas music, the lemony taste of Yuzu, eggnog, cat ice, big snow and wet wool snowsuits, Donna's mother's oyster casserole, Lonna's winter chicken maintenance, opossum teeth, Mike Meetz's memory of the good luck German pickle ornament, and the ins and outs of the Christmas goose.
S1 E82 · Thu, December 14, 2023
Donna and Lonna talk to special guest, Monika Tucker about her experiences working in Antarctica. We consider (very) southern food and culture at the bottom of the world. Monika shares recipes from her German heritage: Rouladen, Rot Kohl, German Cheesecake and memories of her time spent working in a German Bakery. Monika also talks about her kitchen experiences at various Buddhist Retreat Centers. We learn about mindful eating, kitchen work as a Yogic discipline and her recipes for Tempeh Marbella and Change-Your-Life Bread.
S1 E81 · Thu, December 07, 2023
Author Joseph Geha joins us to talk about his new book: Kitchen Arabic, How My Family Came to America and the Recipes We Brought With Us. The book is a story of family, food and the story of the Geha family immigration to America from Lebanon. Delightful stories and many recipes make this a fun read and a labor of love. Joe's wife Fern Kupfer, also a writer joins the discussion with many helpful insights and news of the Fern and Joe substack project. Lentils, Aleppo pepper, garlic, lamb, zaatar and many other food memories are added to the mix.
S1 E80 · Thu, November 30, 2023
Donna talks about make-ahead holiday ingredients: candied citrus peel, sugared cranberries and the ins and outs of her famous fudge. We explore the development of organic Christmas sprinkles. Donna gives much good advice on liquors and flavorings for cakes, candies, and traditional plum pudding. And we end with a poem about summer peaches.
S1 E79 · Thu, November 23, 2023
Side dishes and pie thoughts for the holiday table. Donna and Lonna talk about fun and fancy things to do with potatoes: brown butter/sage and spiralized baked potatoes. Donna gives her recipe for candied fresh cranberries and pumpkin cobbler. Lonna talks about pie crust and reads a poem about being thankful for locally baked bread.
S1 E78 · Thu, November 09, 2023
We talk turkey with farmer, Rob Faux from Genuine Faux Farm. Donna has the opportunity to show off her turkey calling skills while Rob teaches us about the ins and outs of turkeys. We talk about raising, marketing and cooking the holiday bird and learn about jakes, jennys, free range birds, and how to get turkeys into a pickup truck.
S1 E77 · Thu, November 02, 2023
Donna and Lonna celebrate fall and Halloween with thoughts of sweet things. Ben Hoksch joins us to tell us about his experience making sorghum. Ben enjoys working with sweet things. He is a botanist, a beekeeper and local maker of maple syrup. Donna talks about gingerbread and taffy. Lonna shares a poem by Alice Walker for the old women, wise women, grandmothers and witches in all of us.
S1 E76 · Thu, October 26, 2023
The Farm Bill sets priorities for our nation's farms, food systems, environment and communities. donna and Lonna talk with Aaron Lehman from the Iowa Farmers Union. The IFU has been advocating for farms and rural communities since 1915 and is a voice for conservation, education, research, and sustainable farm policy that affect us all.
S1 E75 · Thu, October 19, 2023
Squash, pumpkins and the tastes of fall! Donna moves way beyond pumpkin spice mix with an exploration of cinnamons, ginger, anise and a wide variety of tasty spice mixtures. These spices are not just for pumpkin pie. Use them for cakes, cookies, stews, coffee and more. Lonna shares a poem about Weiners and a recipe for Spicy Paprika Tomato Jam. We end the show with advice for storing fall vegetables.
S1 E74 · Thu, October 12, 2023
Donna and Lonna get to know some local nuts with Joe Lynch, farmer, forager, and long time partner with Lonna at Onion Creek Farm. We celebrate the joy of tree crops: black walnuts, butternuts, hickory nuts and acorns. Donna talks about her long time love of chestnuts. Joe also talks about his homemade version of an apple cider press using a garbage disposal and a hydraulic jack.
S1 E73 · Thu, October 05, 2023
Explore what the nose knows. Donna and Lonna discuss the book Nose Dive: A Field Guide to the World's Smells by Harold McGee. We find out about the chemistry, anthropology and environmental factors that influence how we experience our world. We talk about the importance of smell in the kitchen, herbs, wine tasting and the science behind it all.
S1 E72 · Thu, September 28, 2023
A birthday cake for Lonna and a good frosting recipe from Donna. Barry McDonald joins us at the kitchen table to talk about his life in Australia. We talk about frogs, colorful language, kangaroo meat and the history of the Granny Smith apple. It's jam and jelly season. Tips and tricks including preparing fruit, jelly bags, pectin, the joy of using a maslin pan and hot packing. Donna shares her recipe for Oriental Plum Sauce.
S1 E71 · Thu, September 21, 2023
Salt! An important part of our lives. Donna and Lonna talk about the book The Miracle of Salt by Naomi Duguid . We talk about weight, density and what constitutes 'saltiness'. We share salt harvesting stories and recipes. Also we talk about the book All the Presidents' Pastries: Twenty-Five Years in the White House by master pastry chef Roland Mesnier. Peaches and pine trees are also part of the mix.
S1 E70 · Thu, September 14, 2023
What do we know about food? We talk to Kate Gilbert from the Iowa State University Food Science department about the current state of food literacy in academia and on our plates. Kate talks about her family farm, her career and her passion for good, local food. We also explore the Iowa Food Systems Coalition, Iowa food hubs, a Local Food celebration on the Iowa State University campus, the nutritional value of Ramen noodles and how we all learn to feed ourselves.
S1 E69 · Thu, September 07, 2023
Wendy Johnson joins us at the kitchen table to talk about her farm ( Joia Food Farm ) her farm journey and her joy of growing local food. We explore Kernza, the new, perennial grain that Wendy is trialing on her farm and helping to introduce to the market. Donna gives a history of perennial grain breeding at the Land Institute by Wes Jackson and her experience in baking with Kernza. Wendy talks about her sheep flock, how sheep are integrated into the crop and grazing rotation at Joia Farm and her marketing of the wool through her company Counting Sheep Sleep Company.
S1 E68 · Thu, August 31, 2023
A potpourri of food topics! Donna talks about attending the annual Niman Ranch Farmer Appreciation Dinner. Tips for preserving the summer harvest, Lonna visits a local food potluck/picnic and shares a recipe for fermenting hot peppers and raw okra salad. Writer, cook and world traveller Gheeta Iyer joins Lonna at the DonnaLonna Kitchen table. She shares her thoughts on Indian food and explains why curry is a verb.
S1 E66 · Thu, August 17, 2023
Donna and Lonna visit with Carmen and Maja Black, farmers at Sundog Farm and Local Harvest CSA in Solon, Iowa. Sundog Farm grows vegetables, flowers, sheep, goats, and chickens for the local market. The farm has spread across five locations thanks to creative cooperation with other farmers and innovative use of season extension. The Black sisters talk about scaling up their farm with size-appropriate tools, tractors and good humor.
S1 E65 · Thu, August 10, 2023
Donna and Lonna talk with Jennifer Knox, co-owner of the business Saltlickers located in Nevada, Iowa. With great skill and good humor, Jen and her husband, Collin Switzer, bring salt and herb blends to the farmers markets of central Iowa and also retail outlets and mailboxes across the nation. We talk about creating a product, selling an idea and tickling taste buds across the state and beyond.
S1 E65 · Thu, July 27, 2023
Tomatoes and sweet corn - fresh from the garden. We look ahead to the Iowa State Fair and DLK's upcoming cooking demonstration at the fair. Donna reviews the recipes. We celebrate Iowa food with polenta with candied tomatoes and lard pound cake with berries and whipped cream. Also some thoughts on gazpacho, zucchini, carrot top pesto and elderberries. Lonna reads about the Automat, a short food history from the book Food of a Younger Land.
S1 E64 · Thu, July 20, 2023
The summer garden is a good time to resolve to eat healthy. Get away from processed food and be cautious about using the sweetener, aspartame. We talk about garlic and beets with recipe advice from Donna. Lonna talks about bush beans, pole beans, the first garden tomatoes of the season, harvesting and drying herbs and some of the science behind breeding the Cherry Plum. We explore edible flowers and Donna gives her sure-fire recipe for keeping squirrels out of her nasturtiums.
S1 E63 · Thu, July 13, 2023
From a 2018 interview with Fred Kirchenmann, we revisit a talk about the state of modern agriculture: What we have done, what we have learned, and what we can learn to do better. Fred Kirchenmann is the past director of the Leopold Center, board member of the Stone Barns Center for Renewable Agriculture, organic grain farmer, philosopher and proponent of thoughtful choices regarding our relationship to our world.
S1 E62 · Thu, June 29, 2023
The DonnaLonna Kitchen show talks about everything cherry: harvesting cherries, pitting cherries, cherry pie, and a very good cherry ice cream recipe. Pitting cherries can be quite a messy adventure but as Donna says, it is well worth the effort. We also explore the book Pulp: A practical guide for cooking with fruit written by Abra Behrens. We explore sweet, savory and unexpected recipes for fruit.
S1 E61 · Thu, June 22, 2023
Shelley Buffalo is The Colonial Pathfinder for the Meskwaki Tribe. She is an advocate for local food sovereignty, food justice and rematriation. Donna and Lonna talk with her about the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge in Iowa, indigenous management of the prairie, food ways and thoughts on colonization. Join Shelley at her upcoming Practical Farmers of Iowa field day on June 28, 2023: Rematriating Iowa’s Historical Prairie: Combining Historical Management Techniques to Foster Modern Conservation
S1 E60 · Thu, June 15, 2023
We start our podcast with talk about honey berries and a recipe for Creamy Sorrel soup. Then our guest Diana Smith from Simple Life Farms in Winterset, Iowa, joins us to tell us about dairy goats. Diana talks about making great goat cheese, soap and lotions.
S1 E59 · Thu, June 08, 2023
Ahh, summer! Garlic scapes, picnics, potato salad, summer food safety, Donna's latest ice cream flavors, a lemon mint cake recipe from the book Gateau by Alexandra Crapanzano and a radio drama featuring thoughts on lawn care. Donna and Lonna also review the book Food of a Younger Land by Mark Kurlansky including a recipe for cooking 'possum.'
S1 E58 · Thu, June 01, 2023
Squatters on Red Earth from Iowa writer Mary Swander is an important new play telling the story of historical cooperation and respect between the Amana Colonies and the Meskwaki Indigenous people. Artist and food sovereignty advocate, Shelley Buffalo also joins us to talk about her involvement in the production and her thoughts on re-introducing rematriation of the land in Iowa to better reflect an indigenous earth ethic.
S1 E57 · Thu, May 25, 2023
We celebrate the 2023 Practical Farmers of Iowa field day season with Jacqueline Venner Senke who share stories and highlights about upcoming on farm events.
S1 E56 · Thu, May 18, 2023
The Supreme Court support of the California law banning gestation crates for farm animals paves the way for a more humane way to raise pork. We talk about how this affects Iowa farmers. We celebrate good news from the Brazilian rainforest. It's time to talk about rhubarb: how to grow it, harvest it and use it in the kitchen. Donna shares a recipe for Beet, Rhubarb and Ginger Soup. We talk about finding Morel mushrooms and the concern that a new variety of Golden Oyster mushrooms may be a threat for native fungus.
S1 E55 · Thu, May 11, 2023
Donna shares information about one of her favorite subjects: milk! Spring grass makes happy cows. Cows on pasture make good milk. We talk about pasteurization, homogenization, organic milk, and raw milk. Donna talks about raw milk cheeses, goats, and grocery store labels in the dairy aisle. We celebrate butter with a poem by A.A. Milne and contemplate some words of farming wisdom from the Kentucky author Wendell Berry.
S1 E54 · Thu, May 04, 2023
Donna and Lonna talk about the month of May and the joys of spring. LoJean Peterson from the Ames Main Street Farmers Market gives us a taste of good things to come this season. We also explore May Day traditions, May Apples, International Workers Day and the "May Day-May Day" radio distress call... Also baby chicks, ramps, garlic chives, and ticks.
S1 E52 · Thu, April 20, 2023
We talk to Marlene Ehresman and Jenna Maag from the Iowa Wildlife Center about human-animal conflict and coexistence. Bats, squirrels, foxes, raccoons, deer, songbirds and raptors. How can we help our animal neighbors? The Iowa Wildlife Center provides professional wildlife rescue, medical treatment, rehabilitation and education in Central Iowa.
S1 E51 · Thu, April 13, 2023
Donna and Lonna talk to Ray Schmidt of Farm Story Meats located near Williamsburg, Iowa about heritage pigs, pork cheeks, pigs feet and marketing. To celebrate the early tastes of spring - forager, Ben Hoksch talks about cordials and a surprisingly green cake made from nettles along with nettle harvesting tips. Donna gives her favorite take on asparagus and radishes.
S1 E50 · Thu, April 06, 2023
Donna and Lonna celebrate spring and the Easter season with talk about eggs, chicks, hens, roosters, Easter bonnets, a crustless quiche recipe, how to cook a rabbit, Welsh Rarebit, many bad bunny jokes, hot cross buns and Finnish Easter bread.
S1 E49 · Thu, March 30, 2023
Donna and Lonna talk to Kate Solko, farmer of Root to Rise Farm north of Ames, Iowa, about starting the garden. Topics include germination tips, favorite varieties, soil, timing, growing for the farmers market, thoughts on organic certification and a buckwheat pancake recipe. Word of the day: graupel.
S1 E48 · Thu, March 23, 2023
Masa! Donna & Lonna explore the joy of corn masa with the book - "Masa" by Jorge Gaviria, food entrepreneur and founder of the Masienda Company. Donna & Lonna talk about traditional corn landraces, nixtamalization, the development of masa harina and modern corn chips and the joy of making your own tortillas. Donna shares recipes for a tasty taco dinner including a good dessert to end any meal: Maple Walnut Ice Cream.
S1 E47 · Wed, March 22, 2023
Peter Biechler talks about his experience in the hospitality business. Donna and Lonna talk to Pete about restaurant trends, the impact of COVID-19 and the concept of food system sustainability and employee equity. Donna and Lonna also talk about Peter's world travels, tipping, food service work structure, gardening and making a great breakfast. Peter now lives in Ames, IA, where he helps to run the family farm and Bed & Breakfast.
S1 E46 · Thu, March 09, 2023
Farmer, Steve Strasheim from Twisted River Farm in Mitchell, IA, grows greens all year. We talk about his growing practices including his new geothermal greenhouse. Spinach, kale, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and now cut flowers are all part of his operation. Steve gives seed starting advice and some words of encouragement for beginning farmers. Donna and Lonna also share some sweet news items.
S1 E46 · Thu, March 02, 2023
Donna and Lonna celebrate Black History Month by exploring the work of Jessica Harris, author and food historian and also talk about the cookbook "Jubilee: Recipes from Two Centuries of African American Cooking" by Toni Tipton-Martin. The Black diaspora has brought many ingredients and diverse culinary skills to our modern plates. And they talk about Glenn Roberts, the founder of Anson Mills. Biscuits, waffles, Carolina Gold Rice, Thirteen Colonies flours, okra and deep fat frying.
Bonus · Thu, February 23, 2023
The content of this DLK show was originally aired in February 2019. Donna and Lonna give their thoughts on cabin fever, discuss the history of CSAs, talk about an onion jam recipe, winter greens, backyard edibles and share some insect news.
S1 E44 · Thu, February 16, 2023
To celebrate Valentine's Day (and love in general) we talk about "sweets for your sweet". Donna presents the latest bad news about the lead and cadmium to be found in chocolate. Donna also talks about some of her favorite chocolate recipes, Lonna has a recipe for Thumbprint cookies and we also share some poems and thoughts on love.
S1 E43 · Thu, February 09, 2023
Donna and Lonna talk to Jan Libbey from the Iowa Food System Coalition and James Nisley farmer at Organic Greens LLC and champion of providing local foods in schools talk about getting local food from the field to the plate. Keeping food local and available year round is good for the farmer, good for eaters and good for the Iowa economy.
S1 E42 · Thu, February 02, 2023
Donna and Lonna talk about the wonderful world of lard, cooking with gas, and black garlic.
S1 E41 · Thu, January 26, 2023
Celebrating foods to nourish us during the dark days of a Midwest winter. Donna shares favorite recipes for potatoes, radicchio, carrots, celeriac and many other familiar and not so familiar winter offerings. We also talk about the variety of offerings at the Practical Farmers of Iowa Pickles and Preserves PotLuck.
S1 E40 · Thu, January 19, 2023
Tom Philpott is a journalist, investigative food reporter and author of the book Perilous Bounty. This show features a lecture by Mr. Philpott given at the Ames Public Library in the fall of 2022. Topics include: Atmospheric rivers in California, soil loss in Iowa and how catastrophic weather events impact two of the major 'bread baskets' of American agricultural production.
S1 E38 · Thu, January 05, 2023
Donna & Lonna give some good advice for the new year, including a list of things to do less of and things to do more of. Donna and Lonna talk about processed food, PFAS, being good to yourself, reading food labels, black eyed peas, garden carrots in December, bone broth, cooking your own food and brownies.
S1 E37 · Thu, December 29, 2022
Donna and Lonna review the Christmas Season and take a look forward to the New Year. Donna gives her review of a robotic cocktail machine, Lonna talks about cookies, we talk about some new flavors for baking, bird feeders, and Donna suggests some savory treats. And we talk about Champagne and other holiday bubbles with Anne Kinzel.
S1 E36 · Thu, December 15, 2022
Food prices keep rising. Ag business seems to grow larger every day. Where does the farmer fit into this puzzle? In this episode, Donna and Lonna talk to Aaron Lehman, Iowa farmer and president of the Iowa Farmers Union. They talk about the Farm Bill, the price of groceries, the politics of food policy and the farmer's voice at the table. We find out that 'politics is the way we allocate resources'. Perhaps now is a good time to define a better vision for agriculture.
S1 E35 · Fri, December 09, 2022
Donna and Lonna talk with author, Beth Howard about pies, world travel and the power of peace and goodwill in the kitchen. Beth is the author of "World Piece: A Pie Baker's Global Quest for Peace, Love, and Understanding." Rolling pins, pie crust, sweet and savory pies, mincemeat, French Silk pie, Cornish Pasties and more.
S1 E34 · Thu, December 01, 2022
A look ahead to the holiday season. Red and green, deck the halls, fa la la... Donna and Lonna talk to Christmas tree and apple grower Chris Deal from Deal's Orchard near Jefferson, Iowa about tree management, harvest and sales. Also great tasting apple varieties, fresh and hard ciders and the holiday spirit at the Deal's farm store and tasting room. We also talk to Kenny McCabe about poinsettias.
S1 E33 · Thu, November 10, 2022
Donna and Lonna talk with local forester, Luke Gran about the history, management, growing and harvesting of chestnuts. Donna has good advice about how to prepare and enjoy chestnuts.
S1 E32 · Thu, November 03, 2022
Here is another one: Farming the Soil with Amber Anderson. DonnaLonna Kitchen takes a look at the ingredients in the soil. We interview Amber Anderson, a soil expert from the Iowa State University Agronomy department. Donna and Lonna talk about fertilizer, additives, nutrients and nitrogen. What goes into the growing of our food? Are these good things? Are they not so good things? Why do farmers make the decisions they do?
S1 E31 · Thu, October 27, 2022
Donna and Lonna take a look at Halloween tips and traditions with recipes - Popcorn, Nut Brittles, a giant pumpkin and review of a book for the season "Dancing in the Streets: a History of Collective Joy" by Barbara Ehrenreich.
S1 E30 · Thu, October 20, 2022
On this episode of the Donna Lonna Kitchen podcast, Donna and Lonna talk about hog confinement, gestation crates, pasture-raised pork and the controversy over California Proposition 12 that was approved by a majority of state voters. John talks about raising pork on his Iowa farm according to the Niman Ranch protocols: humanely, on pasture, and with a focus on fair prices for producers and support for rural communities. We explore why Cal Prop 12 is being challenged by 'big pork' producers all the way to the United States Supreme Court. Donna also gives a report on her fermented/pickled tomato experiment.
S1 E29 · Thu, October 13, 2022
Donna and Lonna discuss recipes and ruminations about fall favorites including: squash, sage, pumpkins, buckwheat, leeks and new take on Rice Krispy Treats.
S1 E27 · Thu, October 06, 2022
Nick Wallace is a farmer with 20 years of experience in direct marketing. He has a vision for marketing regenerative, humanely raised beef, pork and chicken. The 99 Counties project hopes to impact Iowa agriculture and culture by bringing back small business, independent farms, and thriving communities. https://www.99counties.com/
S1 E27 · Thu, September 29, 2022
Donna and Lonna encourage listeners to explore and enjoy the often forgotten flavors left on the back shelf. Black lime, fennel seed, fish sauce, ghee, lard, miso, nduja, sumac, tamarind, yuzu and more. And a bit of food history with the story of the Jenny Lind melon.
S1 E26 · Thu, September 22, 2022
Many herbs come from the backyard garden. But there is a whole world of tastes to explore. Donna takes us through the familiar and not so familiar world of herbs and spices. In this episode, Donna and Lonna discuss lemon grass, black lime, star anise, bayleaf, hyssop thyme, sumac powder, and a wide variety of peppers. Guest Ben Hoksch, Iowa naturalist and forager, introduces us to the surprising taste of Prickly Ash berries. (Quite an adventure for the taste buds.) Lonna gives a short lesson on saving tomato seeds.
S1 E25 · Thu, September 08, 2022
What's in your pantry? Donna and Lonna de-mystify kitchen ingredients that may be sitting on your shelf. They also talk about the cookbook: No Recipe Recipes by Sam Shifton. Lonna does a jam and jelly overview and they visit some exciting kitchen/food disasters, both in their own kitchens and elsewhere.
S1 E24 · Thu, September 01, 2022
Donna and Lonna get excited about all the good food from the garden at the end of summer. They give recipes for eating and preserving melons, tomatoes, corn, eggplant and cucumbers. And forager/naturalist Ben Hoksch talks about his work with butterflies and how to eat and propagate milkweed.
S1 E23 · Thu, August 25, 2022
Donna and Lonna talk with farmer, cook and author Angela Tedesco about her new book - "Finding Turtle Farm: My Twenty Acre Adventure in Community Supported Agriculture" Angela talks about starting a farm, transitioning to organic, dealing with neighbors and introducing folks to the joys of vegetables. https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/finding-turtle-farm
S1 E22 · Thu, August 18, 2022
Donna and Lonna talk to author Beth Hoffman about her book Bet the Farm: The Dollars and Sense of Growing Food in America. This book is a clear-eyed view of farming. Beth has a long career as a journalist writing about food issues and is now farming with her husband on Whippoorwill Creek Farm in southern Iowa.
S1 E21 · Thu, August 11, 2022
Donna and Lonna talk to Jenny Quiner, the farmer, business woman and creative spark behind Dogpatch Urban Gardens in Des Moines,Iowa.
S1 E20 · Thu, August 04, 2022
Donna and Lonna celebrate tomatoes fresh from the garden: varieties, recipes, cultivation and all-time favorites. They also talk about cucumbers, basil, Skittles, Norman Lear, vichyssoise, borscht and gazpacho.
S1 E19 · Thu, July 28, 2022
Meredith Nunnikhoven established Barnswallow Flowers & Produce in 2018 near Oskaloosa, Iowa. Following a career in the film industry, Meredith came home to re-engage with the family farm in a way that feeds her passions, reflects her environmental ethic and exercises her creativity and strategic thinking. On this episode, flower farmer Meredith Nunnikoven talks with Donna & Lonna about developing long-term diversity and resilience on her farm near Oskaloosa, Iowa. Meredith also talks about having flowers as part of a traditional Iowa row-crop farm, her farm store, marketing flowers, and her on-farm bed & breakfast. We'll learn about growing techniques for chemical-free, Iowa-hearty flowers with information on growing dahlias and suggestions for a 'cut and come again' flower garden. Learn more about Barnswallow Flowers on their website: https://barnswallowflowers.com/ Connect with Barnswallow Flowers on social media: Facebook | Instagram
S1 E18 · Thu, July 21, 2022
Donna and Lonna celebrate the midsummer garlic harvest and talk about the history, myth, health properties and kitchen applications for one of our favorite vegetables. They also talk about zucchini...Lonna likes it, Donna - not so much. "I say zucchini, you say courgette."
S1 E17 · Thu, July 14, 2022
On this episode of the Donna Lonna Kitchen Podcast, Donna and Lonna talk to author Hannah Lewis about her new book, "Mini-Forest Revolution Using the Miyawaki Method to Rapidly Rewild the World." This book studies how forests really work and describes new planting and nurturing methods to make forests grow in places that seem improbable but not impossible. Hear about how small groups of people all over the world can use this method to make a big difference. https://www.chelseagreen.com/product/mini-forest-revolution/ https://www.chelseagreen.com/product/mini-forest-revolution/
S1 E16 · Thu, June 30, 2022
What's in our local water? Why should we care? What are PFAs? Joining Donna and Lonna at the kitchen table is Pat Schlarbaum, a retired career conservationist, to talk about the science and ethics of how we are interacting with our environment. Donna also shares a tasty summer recipe for Clafouti. Donna and Lonna also discuss an article from Scientific American on forever chemicals, an article about microplastics in human bodies and the recent ISU Extension production of "Water Rocks", the musical.
S1 E15 · Mon, June 27, 2022
Donna talks about the summer solstice. In a visit to the DLK archives, Donna and Lonna explore some of the joys of summer for a show about cicadas, trains, cucumbers, corn, and a flourless chocolate cake.
S1 E14 · Mon, June 06, 2022
Donna and Lonna talk about fruit to harvest and enjoy. They explore the many possibilities for strawberry shortcake and talk to Judy Henry from the Berry Patch Farm about blueberries, raspberries, and currants. Donna and Lonna also discuss recipes and preservation tips.
S1 E13 · Thu, May 26, 2022
Iowa agriculture produces a lot of food. World events seem to be the cause of high prices at the grocery store. In this episode, Donna and Lonna talk about pork production, the food supply, slaughterhouse workers, and the rising costs of meat. Joining us at the kitchen table is Dr. Jan Flora - Emeritus Professor of Sociology at Iowa State University. He studies rural communities and has a special focus on Latino farmworkers in Iowa.
S1 E12 · Fri, May 13, 2022
Donna and Lonna take a road trip to Panora, Iowa to visit Early Morning Harvest Farm and Earl and Jeff Hafner's grain milling operation. Early Morning Harvest is also celebrating the expansion of its new on-farm store. The selection of Iowa-grown products is impressive. We continue our thoughts of grain mills and flour by discussing the ins and outs of pie crust. And it's rhubarb season!
S1 E11 · Thu, May 05, 2022
Good things are growing wild! Donna makes a Turkish Nettle Salad. Donna and Lonna talk about dandelions, Good King Henry, mint, sorrel, lambs quarter, purslane and more. Donna and Lonna learn about the herb motherwort from author Ava Chin and how local vegetable farmer, Kate Solko, is preparing for farmers market season.
S1 E10 · Fri, April 29, 2022
In this episode, Donna and Lonna talk to author Timothy Wise about climate change, feeding the world, Agroecology vs. the Green Revolution and resilient alternatives to current farm policy. Timothy Wise is the author of the book "Eating Tomorrow: Agribusiness, Family Farmers, and the Battle for the Future of Food" https://www.timothyawise.com/book
S1 E9 · Thu, April 21, 2022
Neil Hamilton is our guest this week on the DonnaLonna Kitchen Podcast. Neil has much to say about food, land, and environmental regulation of agriculture. Neil retired from a long career as the Director of the Drake University Agricultural Law Center. His latest book is "The Land Remains: A Midwestern Perspective on our Past and Future".
S1 E8 · Thu, April 14, 2022
Donna and Lonna celebrate spring and the Easter season. In this episode, they talk about chickens, eggs, hot cross buns, early ramps and asparagus. We also look at some food news items and some give some advice for healthy vegetable purchases in the grocery store.
S1 E7 · Thu, April 07, 2022
Donna and Lonna have a conversation with farmer and founder of Niman Ranch Pork, Paul Willis. Paul Willis created a pork raising, antibiotic-free protocol that works for farmers better than a confined pork operation. Paul talks about raising pigs on pasture, marketing with Niman Ranch, and cooking pork belly. Niman Ranch has created a market for crate-free, humanely-raised pigs. In this system, more dollars go to farmers and stay in local economies. Learn more about Niman Ranch: Website | Instagram | Facebook
S1 E6 · Thu, March 31, 2022
John Wesselius from The Cornicopia farm near Sioux Center, Iowa joins us to talk about growing a garden into a farm, meeting customers at farmers markets, CSA deliveries, Berkshire Pigs, climate and weather challenges, and four season growing in his hoop houses. Cornicopia farm provides fresh vegetables, pastured chickens, eggs and pork through farmers markets and their Community Supported Agriculture program. Learn more about the Cornucopia Farm: Website | Facebook
S1 E5 · Thu, March 24, 2022
We talk about pickled eggs, microplastics (in our soil, water, and food), the latest findings and possible legislation on neonicotinoids. Donna recaps an article she wrote for a cookbook called "The Tyranny of the Recipe".....some wise advice for learning to cook.
S1 E4 · Thu, March 17, 2022
Irish Soda Bread...Donna explores a favorite, Irish recipe book and talks about soda bread basics and variations. We have a poem for Saint Patrick's day. Time for thoughts of spring with a look at seeds, soil, and suggestions for handy herbs to plant for the kitchen garden. Lonna shares a Cocoa Brownie recipe....so we can all end on a sweet note.
Bonus · Tue, March 15, 2022
We talk about how to catch and prepare many of the fish found in Iowa's ponds, lakes, rivers including commercial fishing on the Mississippi ...and...Lonna tells her 'ice fishing joke." Learn more about Ben: Website
S1 E3 · Thu, March 10, 2022
We continue our 'cookbook travel 'adventures by visiting the Ukraine. Donna brings us two Ukrainian cookbooks by author/chef Olia Hercules - 'Mamushka' and 'Summer Kitchens'. Food brings us together. Borch, dumplings, kvas, a variety of ferments, rye bread, mushrooms, black currants, garlic .....Let's dive into some Ukrainian recipes. Learn more about Olia Hercules: Website | Facebook | Instagram Links to her cookbooks: Mamushka: Recipes from Ukraine and Eastern Europe Summer Kitchens
Trailer · Wed, March 09, 2022
Chef Donna Prizgintas and farmer, artist Lonna Nachtigal explore their rural Midwestern food community with lively discussion and good humor. On the DonnaLonna Kitchen show, their long-running and award-winning radio production turned podcast, the ladies talk about food, farming, recipes, and also offer listeners their advice and opinions. Local and nationally known guests join Donna and Lonna around the kitchen table to discuss how farmers grow our food, what is nourishing and healthy, and what tastes good in which season. Chef Donna and Farmer Lonna are here to encourage simple home cooking. This podcast is produced in partnership with Practical Farmers of Iowa. Practical Farmers of Iowa equips farmers to build resilient farms and communities. Check them out at practicalfarmers.org
S1 E2 · Thu, March 03, 2022
Let us consider the magic of the apple. Donna and Lonna talk to Paul Rasch, (he calls himself owner and head poobah) of Wilson's Orchard near Iowa City, Iowa. Wilson's Orchard includes a large orchard, farm market, smokehouse, bakery and restaurants. We discuss their local cider - both hard and fresh. We do some on-air tasting and find out how cider gets from tree to table. Learn more about Wilson’s Orchard: Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube This podcast is produced in partnership with Practical Farmers of Iowa. Practical Farmers of Iowa equips farmers to build resilient farms and communities. Check them out at practicalfarmers.org
S1 E1 · Tue, March 01, 2022
Joining us today on the Donna Lonna Kitchen Podcast is Jill Beebout. Jill and her husband Sean Skeehan farm and steward 40 acres of land near Chariton, Iowa in southern Marion County. In this episode, we'll find out how their hard work gets food from farm to table. Jill, Donna and Lonna discuss the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model, Blue Gate Farm's VegEmail service, Jill's plethora of farm enterprises and more. Learn more about Blue Gate Farm: Website | Facebook | Instagram | CSA | Blog This podcast is produced in partnership with Practical Farmers of Iowa. Practical Farmers of Iowa equips farmers to build resilient farms and communities. Check them out at practicalfarmers.org
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