Show
Jupiter's Almanac
Generations of Farming Wisdom
Jupiter’s Almanac is a podcast about growing and producing the food we eat, featuring the hard-earned wisdom of chef and farmer Matthew Raiford. Matthew is the great-great-great grandson of Jupiter Gilliard, who bought farmland in Coastal Georgia in 1874, following his emancipation. Matthew and his family still farm that land today, nearly 150 years later, while promoting organic practices and sharing their Gullah-Geechee heritage through food.
In this series, Matthew is sharing what he’s learned from his inheritance, plus he’s inviting other farmers from Georgia and across the country to share their tips and stories, too. Jupiter’s Almanac is a show for everyone who is interested in growing their own food and reconnecting with the land – whether you are just starting out with a square foot garden or a seasoned farmer.
Matthew Raiford headshot by Alex Boerner
Hosted by
Matthew Raiford
Matthew Raiford grew up breaking the dirt and trading crookneck squash for sweet potatoes, raising hogs and chickens, and only going to the grocery store for sundries. After a military career then graduation from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, Raiford returned to the farm in 2011 to continue the traditions of his Gullah-Geechee heritage and to create an authentic farm-to-fork experience for locals. He received certification as an ecological horticulturalist from the University of California’s Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems.
He served until recently as the program coordinator and associate professor of culinary arts at the College of Coastal Georgia. In 2015, Raiford, the former executive chef at Little St. Simon’s Resort, and his partner, Jovan Sage, a food alchemist, opened The Farmer and the Larder on Newcastle Street, helping jumpstart the revival of Brunswick’s historic downtown. Raiford has appeared in Southern Living, Golden Isles, Paprika Southern, and Savannah magazines, and is a frequent presenter at food and wine festivals throughout the country.
