#35 George Houston: Finding His Voice, Breaking Boundaries, and Living Through Music

Dean Blackwood grew up “reared on the River Faughan” – now he’s one of the most persistent voices fighting to stop it being poisoned. From childhood mornings fishing with his great‑uncle Albert to uncovering one of Europe’s biggest illegal landfills at Mobuoy, his life tracks the story of how Northern Ireland treats its rivers and lakes.

Ireland has a national park called *Glenveagh* – “Glen of the Birches” – where most visitors never notice there are almost no birch trees. Emmett Johnston thinks that gap between language and landscape says a lot about how *Ireland* lost, and is slowly rebuilding, its relationship with nature.

Most farmers are taught to fight weeds, feed the soil with chemicals and maximise yield. Paul Moorhead went the opposite direction – and the land responded. This conversation explores how regenerative farming, soil biology and biodynamic principles are quietly reshaping how some Irish farmers think about their land, their food and their role in the wider ecosystem. If you grow food, eat food or just wonder why modern farming feels so broken, this one is worth your time. --- What we get into • What regenerative farming actually means in practice on an Irish farm – beyond the buzzword. • How soil microbes, fungi and bacteria form the real foundation of healthy food, and why chemical fertilisers can disrupt that system silently over years. • Why “weeds” are indicators, not enemies – what they’re actually telling you about the health of your soil. • Biodynamic principles: how Paul uses rhythms, preparations and observation to work with nature rather than against it. • The emotional and cultural weight of changing how you farm in a system that rewards yield and punishes deviation. • What’s possible when Irish land is treated as a living ecosystem rather than a production unit. --- Who this episode is for • Farmers, smallholders and growers curious about regenerative and biodynamic methods. • Anyone who eats food and wants to understand where the current model is heading. • People feeling the pull toward a different relationship with land, nature and growing. --- Why this conversation might help This isn’t about perfect farming or utopian ideas. Paul speaks from real experience on real Irish land – what shifted, what was hard, and what he now sees differently when he walks his fields. --- Micro‑FAQ What is regenerative farming? A set of practices focused on rebuilding soil health, biodiversity and ecosystem function rather than just extracting yield – covering crop diversity, minimal tillage, composting and working with natural cycles. What is biodynamic farming? A holistic approach to agriculture developed by Rudolf Steiner that treats the farm as a living organism, using natural preparations, lunar rhythms and deep observation of natural cycles. Are weeds really useful? Yes. Different “weed” species indicate specific soil conditions – compaction, mineral deficiencies, pH imbalances. Learning to read them is one of the fastest ways to understand what your soil needs. Is this practical for Irish farms? Paul answers this directly from Irish conditions – climate, culture, subsidies and all.

Fungi, mycelium, floods, fire and food systems – what if the quiet stuff under our feet is holding far more together than we realise?

Natural immune shots, turmeric, garlic, cholesterol and arthritis – why did nobody tell us this at 25? Paddy Diver went from a 20‑something in construction who thought he just had a “bad back” to barely bending down to put on his socks – then built Pat’s Powerful Bottle out of desperation. If you’re living with inflammation, fatigue or “I’ll sort my health later” thinking, this one’s for you.