999: Tales with Taylor interviews Greg Peterson

Growing Food, Building Abundance, and Working with Nature In a unique twist, Greg is interviewed by Taylor Luke of the Tales with Tayler Podcast. In this Episode Greg Peterson shares the philosophy and practical systems that have guided more than four decades of growing food in the desert and beyond. From creating an old-growth food forest in Phoenix to building local seed resilience through the Great American Seed Up, he explains how anyone can begin producing food at home. The conversation explores permaculture, fruit trees, seed saving, local food economies, and why understanding where food comes from is one of the most important skills of our time. I've spent a lot of time thinking about what I was going to do for my 1000th episode of the Farm podcast. And was recently interviewed by Tayler Wellman of tales with Tayler. After listening to the episode, I thought it would be a great jumping off point for my 1000th narrative episode. This tells some of my story and she did a really great job with the interview so I asked and she said yes, play it on your podcast. This will give you two opportunities, first to experience a new podcast and second to hear some of my backstory leading into the next 1000 episodes. Enjoy! Our Guest: Taylor hosts "Tales With Taylor," a spirited interview podcast where successful entrepreneurs and business owners share their most captivating stories from childhood to future goals. Each episode blends life-changing advice, nostalgic reflections, and playful humor, as guests open up about the best advice they've ever received, the lessons they wish they'd known sooner, and the legacy they hope to leave behind. Part business wisdom, part storytelling adventure, Tales With Taylor offers a genuine, personal connection to the highs, lows, and hard-won insights of inspiring people in the business world. Taylor is the owner and operator of Financial Potion, a video marketing company based in Mesa, Arizona. Taylor helps businesses and organizations make swift, lasting impressions through tailor-made video marketing, personally guiding every step from scriptwriting to production, editing, and video SEO. Clients consistently praise the process as stress-free and genuinely enjoyable. Key Topics Greg Peterson Urban Farm Urban Farm Podcast Permaculture Food forests Fruit trees and perennial food production The Great American Seed Up Seed saving and home seed banks Local food economies Desert gardening Asheville, North Carolina Tower Gardens Farmers markets Regenerative systems Key Questions Answered What was Greg Peterson's favorite harvest? His favorite harvest is food that returns naturally year after year without replanting. Self-seeding crops like basil, parsley, cilantro, kale, nasturtiums, and sweet potatoes transformed his Phoenix property into an old-growth food forest that largely cared for itself. Why are fruit trees such an important investment? Fruit trees are planted once and can provide fresh food for decades. Greg shares stories of century-old citrus trees and explains why fruit trees offer one of the highest long-term returns for home gardeners. What is permaculture? Permaculture is the art and science of working with nature instead of against it. Greg explains how designing landscapes that mimic natural ecosystems creates resilient, productive gardens with less work over time. Why should every household maintain a seed bank? Seeds are the foundation of food security. Greg explains how storing seeds at home strengthens local resilience and inspired the creation of the Great American Seed Up, helping thousands of people build personal seed reserves. Do seeds really expire? Not necessarily. Most expiration dates reflect packaging regulations rather than biological limits. When stored cool, dark, and dry, many seeds remain viable for years—even decades. How can beginners successfully start growing food? Start small with crops you already enjoy eating. Herbs like basil are inexpensive, productive, and easy to grow—even on a sunny windowsill. What if someone doesn't have a yard? Greg recommends Tower Gardens, container gardening, windowsill herbs, and visiting local farmers markets. Food production is possible even in apartments and condos. Why is understanding our food system so important? Knowing where food comes from reconnects people with healthier eating, stronger local economies, and more resilient communities. Growing even a small amount of food changes the way people think about nutrition and sustainability. How can individuals help address climate change? Focus on regenerative practices that work with nature. Growing food, improving soil, supporting local farmers, and creating resilient food systems are practical actions anyone can take. Which book most influenced Greg's thinking? Ishmael by Daniel Quinn profoundly shaped Greg's worldview by challenging assumptions about humanity's relationship with nature and inspiring his lifelong mission of transforming food systems. Episode Highlights Greg explains how self-seeding plants transformed his yard into an old-growth food forest that produces food with minimal maintenance. Fruit trees are presented as one of the easiest long-term investments for home food production. The story behind the creation of the Great American Seed Up and its mission to build community seed resilience. Why seeds stored properly can remain viable for decades despite printed expiration dates. Lessons learned growing food in both the Arizona desert and the mountains of North Carolina. How Tower Gardens make food production possible for apartment and condo dwellers. The philosophy that nature is regenerative while most human systems are degenerative—and why that must change. Greg's lifelong mission: helping people understand where their food comes from by inspiring them to grow even a small portion themselves. Calls to Action & Resources Urban Farm — https://urbanfarm.org Urban Farm Podcast — https://urbanfarmpodcast.com Great American Seed Up — https://greatamericanseedup.org Fruit Trees Program — https://fruittrees.org Free Desert Planting Calendar — https://plantingcalendar.org Learn about Permaculture — Explore local Permaculture Design Courses (PDCs) at Permaculture.net Visit Your Local Farmers Market — Meet local growers and buy seasonal food directly. Read: Ishmael by Daniel Quinn Tales with Taylor Podcast on podcast platforms and HERE on YouTube Tales with Taylor Website - https://taleswithtaylor.com Visit www.urbanfarm.org/999 for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library! Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden? The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg or choose one of the senior members of our Urban Farm team to get permaculture based feedback. Click HERE to learn more! *Disclosure: Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.