Farm Trouble - with Jennifer Fahy

Small family farms are critical to our food supply and our health.

In the news this week, Patti and Doug talk about PFAS chemicals in firefighting turnout gear, health problems for kids who get cell phones before age 12, and how tattoo ink travels through the body causing trouble. Then Jennifer Fahy, communications director for Farm Aid, talks about the work of the organization and why protecting small family farms is more important than ever! 

Farm Trouble - with Jennifer FahyGreen Street with Patti & Doug Wood

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Links from the Interview

The website of Farm Aid: https://www.farmaid.org/

Important issues for small farmers: https://www.farmaid.org/category/issues/

Links from the News

NYC firefighters may get PFAS-free turnout gear: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/02/nyc-firefighters-pfas-forever-chemicals-bill

Kids who get cell phones early may be a nigher risk for health problems: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/children-smartphones-increased-risk-of-health-problems-study/

Study shows tattoo ink travels through your body: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2510392122

Jennifer Fahy of Farm Aid

Every Bite You Take - with Dr. Zahra Kassam

Plant-based diets are not only better for you but could significantly change our trajectory on climate change.

This week on Green Street, Patti and Doug talk about the health hazards of wildfire smoke and how to stay safe, the effort by the United States to undermine a global plastics treaty ahead of the UN conference in Geneva, and the new report showing that Americans are getting a majority of their calories from ultra-processed foods. Then Dr. Zahra Kassam, radiation oncologist and founder of Plant Based Canada, talks about her work educating the public and her patients about the many health and environmental benefits of a plant based diet. 

Every Bite You Take - with Dr. Zahra Kassam

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Links from the Interview

The website of Plant Based Canada: https://www.plantbasedcanada.org/

Links from the News

Wildfire smoke is hazardous to everyone: https://www.npr.org/2025/08/04/nx-s1-5492448/health-michigan-canada-smoke-minnesota-air-quality-wildfire

The United States undermines a global plastic treaty: https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/trump-administration-memo-urges-countries-reject-plastic-production-caps-un-2025-08-06/

Most Americans are getting their calories from ultra-processed food: https://www.ehn.org/most-u-s-calories-now-come-from-factory-made-foods-cdc-report-finds

Dr. Zahra Kassam

Everything Has to Change - with Dr. Kyla Bennett

We can't continue on our current lifestyle trajectory and expect the human race to survive.

This week on Green Street, Patti and Doug talk about how painting roofs white can significantly reduce urban heat, and a new study showing that chemicals from tires are ending up in almost all of our lettuce and other parts of our food supply. Then Dr. Kyla Bennett, Science Policy Director for Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) talks about the fate of humans in a world challenged by climate change, plastic pollution, and chemical toxins. Her conclusion: everything has to change!

Everything Has to Change - with Dr. Kyla Bennett

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Links from the interview:

• Kyla Bennet and PEER:https://peer.org/author/kyla-bennett/

• Sewage sludge carrying PFAS:https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/2024/02/08/pfas-sewage-sludge/

• Wild mammals only make up 4% of mammals on earth:https://ourworldindata.org/wild-mammals-birds-biomass

  
  

Links from the news:

• Saving cities from extreme heat:https://www.route-fifty.com/infrastructure/2024/07/surprisingly-simple-way-cities-could-save-people-extreme-heat/398073/:~:text=So%20scientists%20and%20urban%20designers,more%20passive,%20simple%20cooling%20techniques.

• Car tires shedding dangerous chemicals and plastics:https://civileats.com/2024/07/16/tracking-tire-plastics-and-chemicals-from-road-to-plate/#:~:text=Tire%2Dderived%20microplastics%20are%20a,the%20environment%20via%20tire%20microplastics.