How We Grow

In this episode of How We Grow, Chad talks with Dr. Arianna Torres, Associate Professor at Purdue University, about the business decisions behind specialty crop farming.Arianna explains why growing is only half the job. The other half is knowing whether the crop, market, labor, technology, and investment decisions actually make financial sense.They discuss:🌱 Why horticultural economics matters for growers💰 How to think about profitability, break-even price, ROI, and payback period👩‍🌾 Why labor is often the biggest cost in specialty crop operations🏗️ When investments like high tunnels, greenhouses, and automation make sense📊 How the HORE Calculator helps growers model real financial decisions🛒 Why consumer behavior and willingness to pay should influence what growers produce🌍 The role of sustainability, organic, and market segmentation in pricing decisionsArianna’s message is clear: the most expensive decision a grower can make is the one they don’t analyze.

🌱 Justin “Jules” Giuliano, Lead Soil Researcher at Rosy Soil, joins How We Grow to talk about what it really takes to build better soil.From school gardens and vermicompost to cannabis cultivation, Rodale Institute, urban farming, and Rosy’s soil lab, Jules brings a hands-on perspective to soil science. 🧪In this episode, he breaks down biochar, microbes, living soil, peat-free potting mix, and why great soil takes trial, failure, and a lot of plant testing.We also get into why raw biochar can cause problems, how compost-inoculated biochar works, what growers should look for in their soil, and why the future of biochar may involve new feedstocks and “designer chars.” 🔥🌿 Rosy Soil:https://rosysoil.com🧪 Rosy Soil Science:https://rosysoil.com/pages/science👤 Justin “Jules” Giuliano on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-giuliano-1719ab189🔥 American Biochar Institute:https://biochar.org🌱 Intro to Biochar:https://biochar.org/introduction-to-biochar🚜 Rodale Institute:https://rodaleinstitute.org🥕 Gardeneers:https://gardeneers.org🪱 Nature’s Little Recyclers:https://www.natureslittlerecyclers.com♻️ Healthy Soil Compost:https://healthysoilcompost.com🌱 Jules’ path from garden educator to soil researcher🪱 Vermicompost, microbes, and living soil🔥 What biochar actually does in soil⚠️ Why raw biochar can cause problems🧪 How Rosy tests peat-free soil mixes🌿 Why great soil takes trial, failure, and patience🌾 The future of new biochar feedstocks and “designer chars”

What is soil really doing beneath the surface?In this episode of How We Grow, Chad talks with Dr. Andrew McGowan, a soil scientist, agronomist, and member of Rosy Soil’s Soil Advisory Board. Andrew also works at Terradot, where he helps lead field trials and deployments focused on enhanced rock weathering and carbon removal.Andrew breaks down why soil is much more than “dirt,” how growers can make better sense of soil tests, and why simple observations — like digging a hole — can reveal so much about plant performance.They also talk about where growers can overcomplicate soil data, how to test new products without jumping in too fast, and why replicated field trials are so important for separating real value from hype.Later, Andrew explains enhanced rock weathering: how crushed rock can help remove CO2 from the atmosphere while potentially supporting soil pH, calcium, magnesium, and silica levels.A practical conversation on soil health, smarter growing decisions, and the future of carbon removal in agriculture.Links & ResourcesRosy Soil: https://www.rosysoil.com/Terradot: https://terradot.earth/Kansas State Agronomy: https://www.agronomy.k-state.edu/USDA NRCS Web Soil Survey: https://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/

What does it actually mean for soil to be “alive”?In this episode of How We Grow, Chad sits down with Garver Akers, regenerative farmer, ecological horticulturalist, consultant, and longtime advisor to Rosy Soil, for a deep conversation on living soil, organic growing, earthworm castings, biochar, and the real-world challenges of farming with integrity.A few of the big ideas from this conversation:Soil structure comes first. Before chemistry or biology can do their job, air, water, and roots need room to move.“Organic” does not automatically mean regenerative, ecological, or even truly alive.Earthworm castings and casting teas can be powerful tools for reducing plant stress and supporting soil biology.Sustainability only works when it is both ecological and economic.Great growing requires both science and art.This is a thoughtful, grounded episode for anyone interested in soil health, regenerative growing, sustainable agriculture, or simply learning how to pay closer attention to the living systems beneath our feet.

What is biochar really — and how do you actually use it well?In this episode of How We Grow, Chad sits down with Kelpie Wilson, biochar educator, author of The Biochar Handbook, and creator of the Ring of Fire Biochar Kiln.Kelpie has spent nearly two decades helping growers, gardeners, composters, farmers, landowners, and forest managers understand biochar in a practical way — not as a buzzword, but as a real tool for healthier soil, better compost, manure management, water retention, nitrogen conservation, and more resilient growing systems.Whether you are a home gardener, grower, composter, homesteader, soil nerd, or just biochar-curious, this episode is a practical look at how carbon, compost, microbes, and soil resilience all connect.Links MentionedLearn more about Kelpie Wilson / Wilson Biochar:https://wilsonbiochar.com/Get The Biochar Handbook:https://www.chelseagreen.com/product/the-biochar-handbook/Ring of Fire Biochar Kiln:https://wilsonbiochar.com/ring-of-fire-kilnPractical Biochar Course:https://www.regenerativeliving.online/course/biochar-self-pacedThe Biochar Prepper newsletter:https://biocharprepper.substack.com/Kelpie Wilson’s YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@KelpieWilsonWilson Biochar resources:https://wilsonbiochar.com/resources/Biochar in the Woods:https://wilsonbiochar.com/f/biochar-in-the-woods-workshopRosy Soil:https://rosysoil.com/

What makes someone trust a bag of soil before they ever open it?In this episode of How We Grow, Chad sits down with Griffin Creech, founder and co-creative director of Creech, the creative studio behind Rosy’s recent repackaging work. Griffin has helped shape brands across food, agriculture, wellness, and consumer goods, including work connected to Row 7, AG1, and Rosy.Together, Chad and Griffin dig into what modern gardeners are looking for, why gardening products can feel intimidating at the shelf, and how better language, packaging, and brand strategy can help people feel confident enough to grow.What You’ll Learn:🌱 Why great soil still needs a clear story🪴 How Rosy’s rebrand tried to make biochar soil easier to understand🛒 What gardeners are really looking for at the shelf🎨 Why words matter just as much as design in branding🌿 How brands like Row 7 and AG1 simplify complex ideas🔥 Why biochar has the potential to feel both ancient and modern💡 Griffin’s advice for founders building in food, agriculture, soil, or horticultureLinks: Company: https://www.creech.co/IG: https://www.instagram.com/griffincreech/

Biochar is getting more attention as a peat alternative, but as Dr. Ping Yu explains in this episode, not all biochar works the same way. Feedstock, production temperature, texture, pH, and application rate all change how biochar performs in a growing mix.In this episode of How We Grow, Chad Massura sits down with Dr. Ping Yu, assistant professor and ornamental extension specialist at the University of Georgia, to talk through what biochar actually is, how it differs from ash, what her research found in ornamental and container crop production, and what growers should think about before adding biochar to a mix.They get into the practical side of biochar: how it can support peat alternatives, why consistency matters, how different chars behave differently, and why the future of growing media may be more customized than one-size-fits-all.What You’ll Learn:🌱 Why biochar is not the same thing as ash🧪 How feedstock and production temperature change biochar performance🪴 What Dr. Yu’s research found when testing biochar in peat-based mixes💧 How biochar may help with drought and salt stress📉 Why cost and consistency are still major barriers for commercial adoption🔬 What growers should look for when evaluating biochar products🌿 Why biochar may become a bigger part of future soilless media systemsYou can connect with Dr. Ping Yu on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ping-yu-865aa2191 or reach her through her professional email at [email protected]

What if the reason your plant failed had less to do with the plant and more to do with the place you put it? In this episode of How We Grow, Chad sits down with Linda Langelo, a horticulture specialist with Colorado State University Extension, to talk about the real-world decisions that make landscapes healthier, more resilient, and easier to maintain.Linda works across the Golden Plains region of northeastern Colorado, helping homeowners, communities, landscapers, arborists, master gardeners, and local leaders solve practical landscape problems. In this conversation, she breaks down why soil testing matters, why xeric gardening is not just rocks, how native plants fit into a modern yard, and why sustainability can also save money.What You’ll Learn🌱 Why soil testing should come before planting💧 How to think about watering based on soil texture, not just temperature🌼 Why native plants are in demand, and why they can be harder for nurseries to produce🦋 How pollinator-friendly planting affects gardens, farms, and backyard yields🔥 What firewise landscaping means in practical terms🏡 How reducing lawn space can make a property more sustainable and lower maintenance🌿 Why “easy gardening” still requires observation, planning, and the right plant in the right placeLinks mentioned: 🌿 Plant Select: https://plantselect.org/🌼 Garden the Plains / CSU Golden Plains Horticulture: https://goldenplains.extension.colostate.edu/horticulture-and-garden/📘 Landscape for Life: https://landscapeforlife.colostate.edu/🎓 Landscape for Life Online Course: https://online.colostate.edu/certificates/landscape-for-life/🏡 CSU Extension Garden & Landscape Resources: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic/garden-landscape/🌾 PlantTalk Colorado: https://planttalk.colostate.edu/

Biochar gets talked about a lot in soil health, but here’s the problem: not all biochar is created equal.In this episode of How We Grow, Chad sits down with John Satterfield and Tomas Zukowski from WonderChar to break down what biochar actually is, why feedstock matters, and how growers can tell the difference between a high-quality carbon input and something that may not deliver real value in the soil.WonderChar produces pecan shell biochar, turning a recycled agricultural material into a practical input for growers, soil blenders, fertilizer manufacturers, landscapers, and horticultural operations. Chad also shares why Rosy Soil has been using their pecan shell biochar in its own mixes.This conversation gets into the details growers actually need: ash content, moisture content, density, particle size, lab analysis, field trials, and how to test biochar without risking an entire crop.✅ What biochar actually is in plain English✅ Why pecan shell biochar is different from wood-based or ash-heavy char✅ What growers should look for in lab results✅ Why ash content, moisture, density, and particle size matter✅ How biochar can support fertilizer and nutrient efficiency✅ Why biochar is not a silver bullet, but can be a powerful tool✅ How to trial biochar in a real growing operation✅ Where WonderChar sees the future of biochar, fertilizer, and growing media going nextJohn Satterfield and Tomas from WonderChar are working to bring high-quality pecan shell biochar to growers and horticultural operations as a consistent, practical soil and fertilizer input. WonderChar focuses on using recycled pecan shells to create a biochar product designed for soil health, nutrient utilization, and grower-ready applications.WonderChar Website: https://www.wonderchar.com/WonderChar LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wonderchar-inc/

Biochar gets talked about like it can do everything.Fix soil. Hold water. Store carbon. Improve crops. Save inputs. Solve climate. Maybe even make your neighbor like you again.But in this episode of How We Grow, Chad sits down with Karl Strahl of Oregon Biochar Solutions to bring the conversation back to earth. Karl works every day on the commercialization, production, specs, and real-world use cases for biochar, and his take is refreshingly practical: biochar is not one product. It is a class of carbon materials. And whether it works depends on the char, the soil, the application method, the economics, and the problem you are actually trying to solve.Chad and Karl get into what growers should look for before running a biochar trial, why feedstock may matter less than people think, how co-composting can improve early performance, and where the market is heading next, from potting mix and field applications to stormwater, remediation, and even asphalt.

🌱 What happens when growers try to reduce peat, test wood fiber, add biochar, or rethink their growing media supply chain? According to Dr. Brian Jackson, the biggest mistake is expecting a new substrate to behave exactly like the old one. Brian is a horticultural scientist at NC State University whose work focuses on soilless growing media, substrate performance, and how different media choices affect real production outcomes. He has studied engineered wood fibers since his PhD work and is known for helping translate substrate science into practical decision-making for growers, from water behavior and fertility shifts to pH management and safe trialing strategies. ⚠️In this episode of How We Grow, Chad talks with Brian about the past, present, and future of soilless growing media — from peat alternatives and supply chain pressure to water behavior, fertility, pH, regional sourcing, and how to trial new mixes without putting an entire crop at risk. 🌿The big takeaway? Don’t risk the crop. Start small, compare against what already works, learn how the new mix behaves, and manage it on its own terms. ✅Links🔗 Follow Brian’s work:Brian Jackson / NC State Wood Substrates (https://woodsubstrates.cals.ncsu.edu/)🔗 Connect with Brian on LinkedIn:Brian Jackson - North Carolina State University(https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-jackson-ncsu/)

🌱 In this first episode of How We Grow, I share why I started this show, how I went from being a lifelong soil nerd to building Rosy, and why I believe growers need better answers as costs, water pressure, and input challenges keep rising.I also get into what pushed me to question traditional peat-based media, why I became obsessed with biochar, and why I think performance has to come first if we want real sustainability to scale.On this show, I want to bring on researchers, growers, operators, and industry leaders to have honest, practical conversations about what’s actually working in horticulture today and where growing is headed next. 🌿✨ In this episode:* Why growing is getting more complex* What made me rethink peat and traditional media* How biochar became central to Rosy* Why performance-first matters* What you can expect from *How We Grow*🔗 Follow along:[Rosy Soil](https://rosysoil.com/)[X](https://x.com/PodcastsRosy)IG: @howwegrowpodTikTok: @howwegrowpod

Growing plants is getting harder. It’s more expensive, more complex, and the rules keep changing.I’m Chad Massura, CEO and founder of Rosy, and this is How We Grow. At Rosy, we’re focused on helping growers navigate what it takes to grow at scale, especially when margins are tight and input costs keep climbing.This podcast is for real conversations with the people shaping the future of horticulture and agriculture. Growers, nursery operators, soil scientists, researchers, founders, and operators.We’ll get in the weeds on what’s working and what’s not. Soil substrates and soil health. Water and nutrient management. How decisions get made when the stakes are high.New episodes are coming soon. Subscribe wherever you listen and follow along on YouTube.