"COVID cost me 25 million dollars"—how COVID caused California restaurants and farms to fail, the transition from vegan chef to regenerative rancher, and the reshaping of America's political landscape with Chef Mollie Engelhart

In this episode of the Homegrown Podcast, host Liz Haselmeyer speaks with Mollie Engelhart, a former vegan chef and restaurant owner who transitioned to regenerative farming after the COVID-19 pandemic forced her to close her successful restaurants in California. Mollie shares her journey of understanding the complexities of food production, the importance of a closed-loop supply chain, and the role of death in the food cycle. The conversation also delves into political ideologies surrounding food choices, the reshaping of liberal environmentalists, and the education of children about food and death.

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00:00 Introduction to Regenerative Farming and Personal Journey

08:06 The Impact of COVID-19 on Business and Community

11:15 Transition from Veganism to Regenerative Ranching

21:15 The Healing Power of Raw Milk and the Raw Milk Fast

27:54 Understanding Death and Its Role in Life

32:49 Teaching Children About Life and Death

35:39 The Value of Food and Its Cost: "cheap food is a privilege"

39:29 Political Perspectives on Health and Food

49:48 Finding Common Ground in Divisive Times

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