In this episode, we take a moment to reflect on the importance of rest, both in our bodies and within the ecosystems we care for. As winter settles in, it’s vital to remember that this season naturally invites us to slow down, retreat inward, and regenerate, even as our culture encourages the opposite. Through the lens of gardening and seasonal wisdom, I examine how our industrial food system has all but eliminated rest, and what that teaches us about imbalance in ourselves.

Whether you’re feeling stretched thin by holiday demands or simply craving permission to pause, this episode offers a gentle reminder that it’s okay to slow down.

Tune in to learn more about:

• Why winter invites us to slow down and go inward
• How cultural expectations clash with natural seasonal rhythms
• The value of rest in the garden, and why abundance depends on it
• What the industrial food system reveals about exhaustion and extraction
• Recognizing your body’s cues for rest
• Why I don’t celebrate the “new year” on January 1st
• How creating spaciousness nurtures creativity and clarity

And on that note, we’ll be taking a break from the podcast until January 2026. Happy holidays, and we'll see you on the other side!

Connect with Hannah:

• Instagram: @hannahkeitel

In this episode, we explore one of the most common and complex questions I hear: Can organic agriculture really feed the world?

With so much skepticism surrounding sustainable farming, we take a data-informed look at what this question really means, and what’s hidden between the lines. I break down why the data often appears skewed, how conventional yields decline over time, and why the conversation about global food supply must include issues of distribution, waste, and sovereignty.

I encourage you to expand your perspective beyond yield numbers to the deeper systems that determine how food is produced, valued, and shared. What kind of food are we really talking about when we ask whether organic agriculture can “feed the world”? And could it be that we already grow more than enough?

Tune in to learn more about:

• Why skepticism around organic agriculture persists
• How to read between the lines of agricultural data
• The difference between productivity and true sustainability
• Why conventional yields decline over time
• The importance of biodiversity and soil health
• The global reality of food waste and inequitable distribution
• How efficiency in the current system hides deep inefficiency

• What food sovereignty really means, and why it matters
• Why regenerative and organic agriculture aren’t just possible, but essential

... And so much more!

Connect with Hannah:

• Instagram: ⁠@hannahkeitel

In this special milestone episode of Hands in the Soil, we celebrate 50 episodes of the podcast (and my birthday!), and reflect on my journey through farming, community, and personal transformation. We’re joined by my best friend, Shannon, who steps in as guest interviewer.

Our conversation touches on identity, purpose, and the evolving meaning of sustainability. I share how getting my hands in the soil has shaped my worldview, the importance of building community through generosity, and why growing food is one of the most profound ways to reconnect with life itself.

Whether you’re tuning in for the first time or if you’ve been here since the beginning, I want you to know how grateful I am for your support. Thank you for joining me!

Tune in to learn more about:

• Reflections on 50 episodes and the journey of the Hands in the Soil podcast
• My connection to nature, and what farming has taught me
• Navigating imposter syndrome and self-doubt in the agricultural space
• The real meaning of sustainability, and how it’s often misunderstood
• How growing food transforms relationships with nourishment and self
• Building community through generosity and shared abundance
• Simple ways to start your own connection with the land

… And so much more!

Connect with Shannon:

• Website: https://www.shannonkeating.com/

Connect with Hannah:

• Instagram: @hannahkeitel