Ep 49 - Bitcoin, Farms & the Future of Green Energy with Carbon Country

This week host Sean Longstreet sits down with Joshua Phelps & Mark Smith, co-founders of Carbon Country, to bust the “Bitcoin-kills-the-planet” myth and show how mining can fund clean infrastructure, regenerative agriculture, and rural prosperity.What you’ll learn-How agrivoltaics turns pastures into dual-use solar farms that shelter sheep-Why Bitcoin miners are the perfect “energy buyers of last resort” for small-scale renewables-Biochar, sand-batteries & repurposed mining heat - innovations that lock up carbon and unlock new revenue-Using Stacks validators & Granite loans to turn mined BTC into working capital - without selling a single sat-A blueprint any family farm can copy to stay profitable & planet-positive⏱ Chapters00:00 - Bitcoin & the environment (myths vs. facts)04:03 - Carbon Country: vision & model05:13 - Where Bitcoin meets agriculture08:06 - Agrivoltaics explained13:16 - Founders’ backstory (Mark & Josh)18:37 - Building community & resilience23:45 - Energy stack: solar + mining + batteries27:21 - Inside a miner: power & incentives30:05 - Turning waste heat into value32:53 - Assembling a mission-driven team36:34 - Grass-roots partnerships & outreach37:26 - Plugging into the Stacks ecosystem44:14 - Scaling sustainable ag practices47:59 - Outro / Season 4 Q2The Leather Lounge is your go-to destination for conversations with the artists, builders, founders, and innovators shaping the future of Bitcoin.📲 Follow host Sean Longstreet on X: @Longstreet_BTC🧠 Follow Leather Wallet on X: @LeatherBTCYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@Leather-ioSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5HjKIf476w0HoWVU3cg0kW?si=gdZ9Acf4QWa1DoIYuXiclAApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leather-lounge/id1778092447👍 If you enjoyed this episode, hit the like button, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you don’t miss a single show. Drop your thoughts in the comments—we’d love to hear from you!Disclosure: Nothing in this episode is financial advice. Always do your own research.The Leather Lounge is your weekly dose of inspiration from the artists, founders, and innovators pushing Bitcoin forward.📲 Follow Sean Longstreet on X: @Longstreet_BTC🧠 Follow Leather Wallet on X: @LeatherBTCIf you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to follow, share it with a friend, and leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcastsit helps others discover the Lounge!