Forest Alchemy w/ Mike & Ally

What Does Community Mean to You? Voices from Pyro Music Festival

This episode takes you straight to the heart of the Pyro Music Festival in Grand Junction, Michigan, where we wandered through music, mud, and magic asking a simple but powerful question: What does community mean to you?
You’ll hear voices from musicians like Chase Makai, Willie from Pillars of Rome, and Amber Echo, festival friends, and fellow community builders from near and far. We talk about parenting in community, creative economies, sovereign living, school bus homes, soil building, and the soul-deep connections that emerge when the masks come off.
✨ This one’s filled with laughter, inspiration, a few squirrel tangents (naturally), and the kind of stories that remind us why we’re building Soul Fire Forest — so every day can feel a little more like Pyro.
🔥 Come gather ‘round the fire — and bring your bare feet, your weirdness, and your dreams.

Rooted in Wisdom: A Garden Tour with Keith Johnson🌲 Episode 4 from the Forest Edge

In this episode of Forest Alchemy, we sit down with legendary permaculture teacher and designer Keith Johnson, who’s been walking the permaculture path since 1978—the very year Mike was born. 🌱
Keith shares stories from the early days of the movement, his work with Permaculture Activist magazine, and how a life devoted to regeneration has shaped his world. We also get a personal tour of his lush gardens, food forest, orchard, and pond—complete with plant wisdom, practical tips, and a whole lot of heart.
This one’s both fun and super educational. Whether you’re a seasoned permie or just starting to dip your toes into the soil, you’ll walk away inspired.

Weirdos in the Garden: Soil, Soul, and Starting a Community with Liberty Bane 🌲 Episode 3 from the Forest Edge

This week, we plopped ourselves down in the garden with our dear friend (and fellow founding weirdo) Liberty Bane for a slightly rain-soaked conversation about how Soul Fire Forest came to be.
We talk about our separate paths to permaculture, how we found each other and this land, and why building soil is more important than building resumes.
We also dig into what it means to parent in community, why “normal” is a lie, and how beautiful life gets when you stop trying to fit into boxes that were never made for you.
There are tangents. There is laughter. There is one (ok maybe more than one) very enthusiastic monologue about soil. Welcome to the garden.

Poop, Preparedness & Power🌲 Episode 2 from the Forest Edge

In this episode of Forest Alchemy, we dig into what it means to live regeneratively—financially, emotionally, and ecologically. We talk about creative ways to make and save money, the real talk on composting toilets and humanure, and raising animals alongside young children. We also explore our evolving relationship with death, weather preparedness, and how to stay rooted in resilience while dreaming forward into alternative energy and more efficient living. It’s earthy, honest, and filled with both laughter and deep reflection.

Quacks, Compost, and Community 🌲 Episode 1 from the Forest Edge

In our very first episode, we dive into springtime homestead life — from raising ducklings to building compost and biochar. We reflect on the magic of land-based living and the joy (and chaos) of building community from the forest edge. Plus, a surprise visit from our community neighbor Keith brings a real-time taste of what it means to live with open doors and open hearts.