Living Homegrown Podcast with Theresa Loe

Fresh herbs are great in the kitchen, but they can also be used to add beauty and fragrance to your home. Learn how to reap the benefits of these wonderful plants with tips for getting the most flavor and fragrance from them. You can grow fresh herbs yourself or buy them at the farmer's market. But once home...what can you do with them. Host Theresa Loe shares tips on using herbs. You learn: Tips for growing herbs, How to judge the freshness when you buy herbs, How to keep them fresh, The substitution formula for fresh vs. dried, Which herbs are best for flavor, Which are best for fragrance, A simple trick for freshening a room with mint, Tips for scenting your linens and Why her teen son's shoes smell like lavender. LOL  As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/62 for links and resources mentioned in this episode. There is also a FREE bonus PDF of Theresa's Herb Plant Resource Guide. It has a full listing of all herbs mentioned (with botanical names) and a list of mail order sources for all the unusual herbs.

Direct download: 62_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:33pm PDT

Learn how to harness the flavor of this versatile herb. In this episode, host Theresa Loe shares the benefits of growing, harvesting and using lavender in the kitchen - both in your cooking and in your preserves. You learn: Which lavender has the best flavor, The basics of growing and harvesting lavender flowers, How to make lavender salt, A simple recipe of lavender sugar, How to make lavender honey, The important concerns of flavoring honey and how to do it safely, Two simple ways to add lavender flavors to your preserves and much more. Plus Theresa has a PDF tip sheet for how to use lavender in your canning projects that you can download for free. As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/61 to get more links, information, the PDF tip sheet and the full transcript of the show.

Direct download: 61_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:26pm PDT

There is a lot of confusion about two very different commercial products used in canning. This episode helps clears that up. Host Theresa Loe explains the difference between Clear Jel® vs. Sure Jell® and how you can "put up" pie filling now to enjoy later when the fruit season is over. You learn: What Clear Jel is and how it is used, How Sure Jell is used in canning, Where you can find both of these products, Do you even REALLY need them or can you work without them, and tips for making pie filling. Go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/60 to get all the related links, a PDF of an Apple Pie Filling recipe and a full transcript of the episode.

Direct download: 60_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:58pm PDT

Keeping your own bees may sound thrilling and romantic -- But actually, there is A LOT to this important hobby. If you ever thought about being a beekeeper OR if you would just like to learn more about the importance of bees and the people who keep them - then this episode is for you. Host Theresa Loe interviews experienced beekeeper Karla Delong of Mountain Feed and Farm Supply. Karla shares all the good, the bad and the exciting things that a beginning beekeeper should know and consider before diving in. You learn: The importance of bees and how backyard beekeepers are making a difference, Why local bees are superior (no matter where "local" is for you), Is it possible to be an "organic" beekeeper, The 4 areas of care in beekeeping, The special qualities every beekeeper should possess (or strive for), Is it really okay to keep bees in the city, Can bees be kept on a balcony, Why wine corks are so important for us to have in our gardens and so much more! As always, you can get all the links mentioned and more at www.LivingHomegrown.com/59 as well as a full transcript of this episode.

Direct download: 59_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:23pm PDT

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