This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is joined by wealth of guests to discuss the issue of hydraulic fracturing, better known as hydrofracking. Erin talks with Heather Carlucci-Rodriguez and Alissa Westervelt of Chefs for the Marcellus, a group of New York City chefs and food purveyors raising awareness about the harmful health effects of fracking. Joining via the phone lines is Greg Swartz of Willow Wisp Farm, talking about how hydrofracking circumvents the Clean Water Act via exceptions granted by the Bush-Cheney administration. Also calling in is Luce Guanzini of Highwood Farm. She discusses the "No Surface Rights" lease that prevents gas companies from entering private properties. How do these technologies impact our food systems? This episode has been brought to by Hearst Ranch.

"It [fracking] directly impacts our watershed. You can't do anything without water, namely grow food. It doesn't relegate itself to farm-to-table...but it really affects everything - industrial food and fast food." --Heather Carlucci-Rodriguez on The Farm Report

"If hydrofracking safe, why do they need an exemption from basic environmental legislation?" --Greg Swartz on The Farm Report

George Weld and Evan Hanczor truly embody the farm-to-table movement through their enterprises: Goatfell Farm, Parish Hall, and Egg. This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks digs deeper into the connection between restaurants and farmers with George and Evan. Learn why Parish Hall operates seasonally and locally, and how that affects the consistency of the menu at the Williamsburg restaurant. Find out why George decided to start his own farm, and how visits to the farm remind the staff at Egg and Parish Hall about the sanctity of food. Hear George and Evan talk about sustainability in terms of the environment and business, and why it's important to consider all elements of the waste stream in trying to create an efficient model of operation. Tune into this week's episode of The Farm Report to learn how chefs and farmers cooperate! This program has been sponsored by Cain Vineyard & Winery. Thanks to EULA for today's music.

"When I'm thinking about dishes, visiting the farm lets me know when we are going to get a certain product." [9:45] -- Evan Hanczor on The Farm Report

"When you bring certain items into the kitchen, you realize what an illusion consistency is." [21:10] -- George Weld on The Farm Report

If you are a farmer, a farm enthusiast, shop at farmers markets of just simply care where your food comes from, Real Time Farms is for you! Tune in to this week's episode of The Farm Report as Erin Fairbanks sits down with the women behind the forward thinking website, Corrina Borden & Lindsay Partridge. Find out what The Food Warriors do and how you can help in their mission to help farmers and consumers bridge the gap between farm and table. Check their website for more! This episode was sponsored by Whole Foods Market.

"The underlying assumption of our website is that you are a farmer who wants to tell your story."

--Corrina Borden on The Farm Report