Living Homegrown Podcast with Theresa Loe

LH 171: How to Add Vintage Blooms to a Modern Garden

It's a wonderful thing to add flowers to our vegetable gardens to attract pollinators. But it's also REALLY important to feed our souls as well as the pollinators when we're gardening.

Growing heirloom flowers is a way to do just that.

What is an “heirloom” flower and why are they so special?

That’s what host Theresa Loe sets out to answer on today’s podcast episode. She explores the many benefits of adding vintage blooms to our gardens with garden author, Chris McLaughlin. 

Chris shares her insights into these treasured plants, why we need to add more flowers to our veggie gardens, and why heirlooms hold a special place in our hearts.

Plus, Chris shares her recipe for making lavender-honey simple syrup, which is awesome in SO many different drink concoctions.      

As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/171 to get a full transcript, other links and resources AND the printable recipe mentioned in the episode.

Direct download: 171_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am PDT

LH 170: How To Create A Sacred Space To Unwind From The Busy World

Life is busy.

Life can be stressful.

It’s often too easy to get caught up in the noise of the world…which can lead to MORE stress.

As gardeners, we usually have a sense that reconnecting with nature is important, but what if you made that connection part of your regular routine?

What if you intentionally created a space that was just for you so that you could reconnect and slow down?

That’s what today’s episode is all about.

Host Theresa Loe brought on Jessi Bloom, who gives us her 5 steps for creating a sanctuary so you can recharge and reconnect to nature. Jessi also shares practical things that we can do to not only make our garden more beautiful, but to help us be better stewards of the earth.

You will learn:

  • Why creating a sanctuary is so important in our busy lifestyles
  • How to be a better steward of the earth with our gardens
  • The 5 most important steps to creating any ecological garden
  • What is smudging and why would we want to do it
  • How to sheet mulch to remove weeds or lawn
  • Why water is the most important element in any garden
  • How to create a wildlife habitat
  • What does it mean to build plant layers in a garden
  • And SO much more...

As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/170 to get more information, links and a full transcript of the show. 

Direct download: 170_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:44am PDT

LH 169: Easy Ideas for All-Natural Gifts From Your Garden

There’s something special about a homemade gift. But it becomes even more special when it includes a little piece of your garden as well.

It can be as simple as a dried flower or an herbal sprig. But that added touch means that you are sharing something that you nurtured with your own hands. And THAT can't be found in a store.

In today’s episode, host Theresa Loe brought back garden author, Stephanie Rose, to share her tips and insights into making extraordinary crafts that can be shared as gifts. And she has graciously included a recipe for Tub Tea that you can print out and make this holiday season…or any time of the year. Just got to our show notes at: www.LivingHomegrown.com/169 to print the recipe/instructions.

You will learn:

  • Why botanical gifts can be the best gifts of all
  • What type of equipment is needed when crafting at home
  • Why we should avoid chemicals on our skin
  • The difference between essential oils and fragrance oils
  • What a lotion bar is and how they are made
  • What are bath melts
  • The joys of Tub Tea
  • Tips for gift wrapping the things you make
  • How long homemade body products last
  • And SO much more...

 As always, you can get more links and resources at www.LivingHomegrown.com/169 as well as a full transcript of the show.

Direct download: 169_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:13am PDT

LH 168: How To Make Simple Infusions for Medicine and Skin Care

In this episode, we explore extracting the best healing properties from some of the common plants and culinary herbs we are likely growing in our own backyards using infusion.

Don't fret that this is some complicated process, or you don't have time for it.

Herbal infusions are incredibly easy to make – all you do is infuse fresh or dried herbs in a liquid to draw out the healing properties. And these infusions can be used on their own or as a base for other things such as moisturizing creams or salves.

Host Theresa Loe brought on author Colleen Codekas to chat about all the different ways we can make infusions and what to do with them after we create them.

There's a recipe for her Flower-Whipped Body Butter you can make at home below. Be sure you don't miss it!

You will learn:

  • The different liquids we can use as our base
  • Which liquid base includes extra beneficial bacteria
  • What we can create from oil infusions
  • Some of the safety considerations when make our own herbal medications
  • What is a patch test and why do we do it
  • How to make our own flower-whipped body butter
  • And SO much more...

 Be sure to go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/168 to print the PDF recipe for Flower-Whipped Body Butter.

Direct download: LH_168.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am PDT

LH 167: Tips for saving your backyard food garden seeds

Preserving the flavors of the season doesn't have to stop when that last canning jar lid has "popped."

If you know how to save seed from your own food garden, you are truly self-sufficient and can save your favorite plants to grow, harvest, and repeat again year after year without ever opening a seed catalog. 

Saving seed is also a great way to share your garden with others. By saving seed, you can give your favorite flavors and best producers to others by handing them a tiny envelope of potential. What a great gift for a fellow gardener, or a friend thinking about starting their own garden.

In today’s episode, host Theresa Loe interviews author Julie Thomson-Adolf about some of the best ways for us to save our own garden’s potential each year…in seed.        

You will learn:

  • The many benefits of saving seed
  • The difference between open-pollinated & hybrid seed
  • What is meant by the word “heirloom”
  • How to dry harvest
  • Why you would want to ferment some seed
  • The best way to dry a “wet” harvest seed
  • Tips for saving seed to prolong viability
  • And SO much more...

As always, you can get more free resources at www.LivingHomegrown.com/167 as well as a full transcript of the show. 

And you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/FRESH to get Theresa's Free Farm Fresh Resource Guide to help you live farm fresh without the farm.

Direct download: 167_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am PDT

LH 166: Simple tips and tricks to make backyard chicken keeping easier

On today's episode, we're going to be talking about chicken keeping hacks. A "hack" is a handy hint, or something that will help you do things faster or better. It usually involves reusing or re-purposing something that you already have on hand.

Sounds fun, right?

Host Theresa Loe brought on Lisa Steele from the popular blog Fresh Eggs Daily to share some of her favorite ways to "hack" chicken keeping so you can keep your flock healthy and happy - but with less work from you.

And in the show notes is a GREAT recipe Lisa shared for making your own homemade chicken scratch. Go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/166 to download the PDF for free.

You will learn:

  • What the first step is when you want to keep backyard chickens
  • Why adding herbs to the nesting boxes helps reduce the pests & smell
  • What the benefits are of fermenting your feed
  • The simple trick for increasing your chicken’s water consumption
  • How to preserve eggs through winter
  • The ninja trick for peeling FRESH eggs
  • Can eggs be cooked on a grill
  • How to track the age of your fresh eggs
  • A great holiday gift idea using scratch & a Parmesan cheese lid
  • And SO much more...
Direct download: 166_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:10am PDT

LH 165: Helping Your Pet Live Closer to Their Food

An all NEW episode on a topic we've never covered before!

We talk a lot on the podcast about living closer to our food and making sure we know what’s IN the food we eat and serve our families. Well on today’s episode, host Theresa Loe has a discussion with Lynn Felici-Gallant of Paul's Custom Pet Food about doing the same thing for our pets...even if it means sharing produce from our garden!

For optimal nutrition, it can be just as important for our pets to avoid processed foods too.  And unfortunately, most of what we typically feed them…is junk food.

Now, this topic can be controversial. But keep in mind that this is NOT about having the time or money to make our own pet food or buy custom food. 

This is about having a better understanding about pet food so that we can make the best choices we can that is within our capacity.

And in this episode you'll not only learn what produce from your garden is GOOD for your pets -- But you'll also learn how you can make some wholesome snacks that don't take any time at all.

You will learn:

  •   A new way to look at what we are feeding our pets
  •  Why slow food and locally-sourced can make a difference in pet health
  •  The cancer story of one dog that shifted everything
  •  What’s really in some of our store bought pet foods
  •  Why some treats are worse than junk food
  •  What natural treats are safe for dogs and which are not
  •  Where to look for help with feeding your pet in a natural way
  • And SO much more...

 In the show notes, you can down load a free recipe for homemade dog treats. Just go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/165 and you'll find lots of links to more information on this topic. 

You can also go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/fresh to get Theresa's Farm Fresh Resource guide for all her go to sources for living a farm fresh lifestyle.

Direct download: 165_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:14am PDT

LH 164: How To Make Delicious Fresh Cheese in Under an Hour

 

Note: Host Theresa Loe has a special free workshop this month. See the end of this post for more info!

There’s something warm and inviting about homemade cheese.

Perhaps it's the ancient connection to tradition with each batch we make. Or maybe it's the mysterious way it transforms ordinary milk (as if by magic) into something so delicious.

Homemade cheese tastes amazing.

And if you've never made cheese before...or if you have secretly wished you could craft your own batch with your own hands...Then you are in for a treat!

This week’s podcast is a beginner cheese-making lesson!

But not just any lesson. This episode is about making cheese from scratch in under an hour!

No more excuses about how you don't have time. Give this a try and you won't be sorry!

Host Theresa Loe interviews cheesemaker, entrepreneur and author Claudia Lucero of Urban Cheesecraft. And she gives you the whole scoop on the amazing practice of making cheese at home – from the milk you need to the simple steps of creating your very first recipe.

It’s all here

Gift yourself this experience because cheese-making is incredibly fun. 

You will learn:

  • How it’s possible to make mozzarella, chevre and even burrata quickly
  • Which type of milks you can use
  • The possibilities of non-dairy cheese
  • The difference between pasteurized and ultra-pasteurized
  • The difference between pastured and pasteurized
  • The simple steps to making your first cheese
  • How to move on to other 1-hour cheeses
  • Why you might want to use vegetarian rennet
  • And SO much more...

In the show notes, you can download the recipe Claudia talks about and print it for easy use. Just go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/164 for the recipe and all the cheesemaking links mentioned in the episode.

Special note: Host Theresa Loe has a FREE live workshop on October 30, 2018 where she shares tips for living a more organic, farm-fresh lifestyle. You can chat with Theresa and learn simple (seasonal) ways to maximize the flavor and nutrition of your organic produce. Just go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/EVENT to learn more!

Direct download: 164_LivingHomegrown_Podcast_FINAL_V2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:39am PDT

LH 163: Use the KonMari Method to Organize Your Homestead

Today's episode is an ENCORE episode.

What is that you ask?

An encore episode is an episode that has been previously published, but it was SO long ago, you may have missed it. This episode is packed with info you will LOVE.

This episode is all about using the KonMari Method for organizing your home or homestead.

It is an encore episode from a few years ago, but as you'll hear in the updated intro...host Theresa Loe is happy to report she is still using it despite how skeptical she was about the method initially. Even her sons are still using the KonMari method for folding their clothes!

Hopefully this episode it brings a little less clutter to your life as well.

You Will Learn:

  • What the KonMari Method is and how to apply it to your homestead
  • Why Theresa was skeptical of the method at first despite its immense popularity
  • The basic principals of the method
  • How this approach differs from typical organization methods and why it works so well
  • The four key steps to follow to organize and transform all areas of your home
  • And SO much more...

As always, you can get all the related links at www.LivingHomegrown.com/163 as well as a full transcript of the show.

This episode was brought to you by the Living Homegrown INSTITUTE where you get access to a whole library of masterclasses that will help you live a farm fresh lifestyle. You can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/FRESH to learn more.

Direct download: 163_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am PDT

LH 162: How to Grow More Food In the Space You Have

Today's episode is an ENCORE episode.

What is that you ask?

An encore episode is an episode that has been previously published, but it was SO long ago, you may have missed it. This particular episode is packed with useful information that you'll love.

Do you ever wish you had more garden space in which to grow food?

If you're like most gardeners, you'll find yourself thumbing through seed catalogs, bummed out that you can't plant all that you want to grow.

Or maybe you end up with WAY too much zucchini and NOT enough salad greens. Right?

On this episode, host Theresa Loe interviews Colin McCrate about using high yield farming tricks (but on a smaller backyard-size scale) to get more food in our backyard space!

 

You Will Learn:

  • How just a little planning can make a huge difference
  • What it means to plant in succession
  • What is relay planting
  • How to calculate exactly how much to grow
  • How to double your crop storage time by harvesting correctly
  • And SO much more...

 As always, you can get ALL the related links by going to www.LivingHomegrown.com/162 and you'll find a full transcript there as well.

This episode was brought to you by the Living Homegrown Institute which is a membership site to help you live farm fresh without the farm. To learn more about the Institute and Theresa's free farm fresh resource guide, go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/FRESH to learn more.

Direct download: 162_LivingHomegrown_Podcast_2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am PDT

LH 161: Grow Landscape Plants that are Beautiful AND Delicious

As gardeners we grow tons of veggies and fruit, but there are many other landscape plants that are delicious as well as ornamental.

So let's think outside the box of planting our gardens in rows. In this episode, host Theresa Loe brings on author Mike Lascelle to discuss a unique mix of perennial plants that can beautify our gardens and fill our plates at the same time.

You CAN have your yard and eat it too.

You will learn:

  •      Why clove currant is often overlooked as an edible
  •      Why hops is a great conversation starter
  •      What is a Yuzu tree and why you want one
  •      Can you really eat a redbud
  •      How to grow your own tea
  •      What is the dry roasting process for green tea
  •      How to make a linden cordial
  •      And MUCH more…

 As always, you can get a full transcript of the show at www.LivingHomegrown.com/161 as well as links to related information. 

This episode was brought to you by Theresa's Living Homegrown Institute which is her membership site. You can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/courses for more information.

Direct download: 161_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:18pm PDT

LH 160:  How to preserve protein-packed foods with gourmet flavors 

In this episode, host Theresa Loe talks with author Karen Solomon about turning your kitchen counter into a deli counter by preserving your own meat with dry curing, brine curing, smoking, and drying.

Karen is the author of "Cured Meat, Smoked Fish and Pickled Eggs" and she shares the secrets to success with each of these techniques and how you can enhance the flavors of what you preserve.

You’ll Learn:

  • The ease of dry curing in your refrigerator
  • How brine curing works for things like pastrami and ham
  • If you can safely skip using nitrites and nitrates
  • The difference between hot and cold smoking in preservation
  • How to stay safe when curing meat
  • Why you don’t need a dehydrator to dry meats
  • The special safety recommendation when working with game meat
  • A simple trick for keeping your dry meats dry in storage
  • How to make ‘Sour Orange Beef Jerky’ for road trips
  • And SO much more..

For the printable recipe Karen shares on the show, go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/160 and you can also get links to everything mentioned. There are also more episodes in the show notes related to curing and smoking. 

This episode was brought to you by Theresa Loe's Living Homegrown Membership where you have access to an entire roster of food and garden experts, a library of classes and a farm fresh community for support of an organic, farm-to-table lifestyle. Go to www.livinghomegrown.com/path to learn more.

Direct download: 160_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:49pm PDT

LH 159: Using Science to Improve Flavor & Food Production

In this episode, host Theresa Loe brought back author Dr. Lee Reich to make us a better gardener…using science!

When we fully understand the reasons behind the gardening techniques, we are better equipped to handle any problems that come along. And in this discussion, you'll learn the real reasons behind why we need to do what we do. 

You will learn:

  • How ethylene really works to ripen our tomatoes
  • Why some fruits should never be picked early
  • The 3 benefits of organic matter in our soil
  • The real truth about drainage in flowerpots
  • How to improve the flavor of certain fruits
  •  The secret to keeping your seeds in long term storage
  • And SO much more...

 As always, you can get all the links mentioned at www.LivingHomegrown.com/159 as well as a full transcript of the episode.

This podcast episode was brought to you by the Living Homegrown Institute - which is Theresa's membership site. Here you have access to an entire library of classes on everything from growing heirloom tomatoes, straw bale gardening and raising chickens to fermenting food, beverages, making yogurt and more. To learn more about all of Theresa's classes and membership, go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/courses to join the waitlist.

Direct download: 159_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:42pm PDT

LH 158: Eating Local and Getting to Know Your Local Farmer

This week’s episode is about discovering INCREDIBLE flavors...locally.

Host Theresa Loe brought back organic, foodie-farmer Andrea Bemis of Tumbleweed Farm to discuss a national project she's spearheading that's all about exploring what it really means to eat local.

The premise is simple...

We may already be eating some locally-sourced fruits and veggies. But when we look at ALL the ingredients used to create our meals, there are probably many items we know nothing about.

Even Andrea (who is an organic farmer), didn't know the source of every ingredient in her pantry. So she decided to use herself and her farm team in an experiment. And it's opening up a whole new world for her.

And Andrea would love for all of us to join in this exploration of local flavor as well.

But don't worry...

This is not about being perfect or even feeling guilty about buying things from far away. The idea here is is be more AWARE of what we're putting on our table...even if it's only for a few weeks.

And by being more aware, we can be more intensional with our food choices going forward.

Andrea tells us about how her own surprising reality check when it came to food choices and how she is now discovering more amazing flavors right in her own area.

And you'll learn about the impact your own food choices has on the environment and food production going forward.

You will learn:

  • Why Andrea's pantry opened the flood gates on this idea
  • The three pillars of local food + what they mean
  • Why this awareness leads to so many new, incredible flavors
  • The top tips for eating local in your own backyard
  • How you can have a more local lifestyle all year long
  • Ideas for planning delicious meals with less waste
  • How to watch + track Andrea and her farm team go ALL in on this idea
  • How you can participate in your own Local Thirty Challenge
  • And SO much more

As always, you can get links to more information in the show notes at www.LivingHomegrown.com/158 as well as a full transcript of the show.

This episode was brought to you by Theresa's membership site: The Living Homegrown Institute where you get access to an entire library of masterclass on everything from growing organic food to making your own cheese, yogurt and fermented vegetables. Go to www.Livinghomegrown.com/PATH to learn more.

Direct download: 158_LivingHomegrown_Podcast_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:19pm PDT

LH 157: The Magic Of Vintage Books

Host Theresa Loe has been collecting vintage books since she was a kid. And on today's episode, she wants to share her tips and tricks for getting the best value from vintage garden books, cookbooks and even old canning books.

Vintage books are real treasures. And they're a great source of inspiration and ideas that you just can't find anywhere else.

On today's episode, you'll learn:

  • Why you might want to collect vintage books
  • What info can be used and NOT used from these books
  • How to find older books with inspiring ideas
  • Tips for proper care and storage
  • Why you need to use and ENJOY the books you have
  • Some of Theresa's favorite vintage authors
  • And SO much more...

 As always, you get a full listing of notes and resources at www.LivingHomegrown.com as well as a full transcript of the episode. 

This episode was brought to you by Theresa's Living Homegrown Institute which is a membership site to help you live farm fresh without the farm. Inside the Institute, you have access to an entire library of masterclasses for everything from organic gardening and raising chickens to fermenting food and making cheese and yogurt at home. Go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/PATH for more information

Direct download: 157_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:11pm PDT

156: Farm-Fresh Living Made Easier

Do you know how you feel when you get a new garden, or kitchen tool, and you love it so much you just have to tell everybody? That's what today's episode is ALL about!

I'm sharing my favorite things that make farm-fresh living easier.

This isn't one of those sponsored episodes where all the products I talk about were sent to me for free in exchange for an endorsement.

I would never do that.

Everything I'm sharing with you today was paid for with my own money, and I've used them for years. I just want to share them because some of these things you may not have heard of yet. And I really enjoy using them around my garden, in my kitchen, and at my farmstead.

I would love to hear about some of your favorite farm-fresh things. After you listen, tell me about them below in the comments, or over on my new Instagram account that's just for @LivingHomegrown.

You will learn:

  • How to efficiently harvest while on a ladder
  • Where to find unusual fruit trees
  • The BEST garden marker for long lasting garden tags
  • How to protect your arms from thorny brambles & roses
  • How to keep butter safe and soft on the counter
  • How to make fermenting easy
  • Why I switched to glass reusable bottles
  • How to turn your mason jar into a neat travel mug
  • What to use to rinse your garden harvest fast & thoroughly
  • And MUCH more...

 As always, you can get more information including a free PDF with ALL the links to the resources mentioned at: www.LivingHomegrown.com/156 as well as a full transcript of the episode.

This episode was brought to you by Theresa's membership site: The Living Homegrown Institute where you get access to an entire library of classes taught by experts in organic gardening, fermentation and farm-fresh living. Go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/courses for more info

Direct download: 156_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:02am PDT

Throwing A Party With Real Food

It's summertime and delicious flavor is EVERYWHERE right now.

There's yummy seasonal flavor at the farmer's market and it may even be in our own backyards (if we grow our own food).

What better way to enjoy that incredible flavor of in-season produce than by throwing a party with friends and family??

On today’s episode, host Theresa Loe brought back Ashley English to chat about simple seasonal eating - especially when we're throwing a party!

They chat about some fun and new ways to make throwing a party with organic food EASY and FUN.

This is NOT about you doing all the work and feeling overwhelmed. It’s about enjoying the people you invite over while you all enjoy the food.

Oh! And Ashley shares a recipe for making homemade plum liqueur.

Let's drink to that!

You will learn:

  • How to throw a party without doing all the work
  • What does it mean to “bump-up-against” a season
  • Why a crafting element can take your event to a new level
  • Simple themes that make decorating a snap
  • How to bring nature to your table with crowd-sourced centerpieces
  • How to make plum liqueur
  • Tips for turning any season into a memorable party idea

 As always, you can get all the links mentioned and the free PDF printout of the Plum Liqueur recipe and the full transcript over at: www.LivingHomegrown.com/155 

This episode was brought to you by Theresa's Living Homegrown Institute where you have access to a whole library of classes to live a farm fresh lifestyle. You can learn more about the institute and all of Theresa's other classes over at: www.LivingHomegrown.com/courses

 

Direct download: 155_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:43am PDT

LH 154: Big flavor in a waste free kitchen

You asked for it, so host Theresa Loe brought back author Alana Chernila for another episode!

This time, they chat about getting the very best flavors from our produce and how to use left over scraps so that nothing from our garden goes to waste!

They also talk about caring for our wooden kitchen tools and Alana shares a recipe for making a special cream (wood butter) that will help our wooden spoons last for a lifetime.

 

You will learn:

  • How to get the last bit of flavor from our produce
  • The trick to making the very best soup stock
  • Why strawberry hulls can be used in beverages
  • How to reduce waste in the kitchen
  • What is spoon butter
  • Why caring for our kitchen tools can make all the difference
  • What are the life lessons we can learn from cooking real food
  • Tips for slowing down to savor the day
  • And more…

As always, you can learn more, get ALL the links mentioned, and download a print out of the Wood Butter recipe at: www.LivingHomegrown.com and also get a full transcript of the episode. 

This episode was brought to you by Theresa's membership: The Living Homegrown Institute where you get access to a whole library of classes that help you live farm fresh without the farm. To learn more go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/PATH

Direct download: 154_LivingHomegrown.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:20am PDT

LH 153: How to make real, old-fashioned pickles

Summer is here and homegrown cucumbers are ripening on the vine. Let’s make REAL pickles - The old fashioned kind!

What's a “real” pickle?

It’s where you use natural fermentation (and NO vinegar) to change a cucumber into a crisp, sour treat. They are delicious and nutritious!

Host Theresa Loe interviews Karen Diggs who is Theresa's chief fermentation instructor inside her Living Homegrown Institute

You will learn:

  • Why fermented food is so good for you
  • How to use common kitchen tools as your vessel
  • Why fermentation is so safe
  • Which type of salt is best
  • The secret ingredient that will give you a crisp pickle
  • How to store your finished pickles
  • And MUCH more...

 As always, you can get a printable version of the recipe, special links for more fermentation information and a full transcript of the episode at: www.LivingHomegrown.com/153

This episode was brought to you by Theresa's monthly membership: The Living Homegrown Institute where you have access to a whole library of masterclasses teaching you how to live farm fresh without the farm.  Go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/PATH for more information.

Direct download: 153_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:43am PDT

152: Why Backyard Chickens Make Great Pets

Host Theresa Loe has been keeping chickens in her small Los Angeles backyard for about 10-11 years. Her family loves having chickens and her friends and neighbors enjoy the eggs.

Many people don't know just how easy it is to care for chickens! 

In today's episode, Theresa chats with author Melissa Caughey about all the considerations of starting your own flock, what you need for babies and adult chickens AND how it can be such a fun experience for children.

You will learn:

  • What makes backyard chickens so great
  • The first thing you need to check out before ever starting
  • What's involved in the day-to-day care
  • Which breeds are best for beginners
  • Why you never go to the feed store to just "look" at chicks
  • How to use the eggs of Bantam breeds
  • What are the requirements for baby chick care
  • And more...

As always, you can get all the links mentioned at www.LivingHomegrown.com/152 as well as a full transcript of the episode. 

This episode was brought to you by Theresa's Living Homegrown Institute which is her monthly membership site that gives you access to a whole library of masterclasses from food growing to cheese making. To learn more, go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/PATH to download her Farm Fresh Success Path PDF.

Direct download: 152_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:03am PDT

LH 151: A Peek Into A Farm Fresh Life

In this episode, host Theresa Loe has someone interview HER about her own farm fresh lifestyle. Guest interviewer, Bev Ross, digs deep to find out how Theresa juggles an urban homestead, the podcast, teaching courses,  her family and a restoration heirloom orchard project.

You will learn:

  • What sparked Theresa's interest in the farm fresh lifestyle
  • How she grows food on just 1/10th of an acre in Los Angeles
  • What unusual veggies she has growing (sources in show notes)
  • Why she's restoring an heirloom orchard in Northern California
  • How she became a canning expert
  • How she helps other "how-to" entrepreneurs grow their own businesses
  • What it takes to put together a typical episode of this podcast
  • Different ways we can make our days more productive
  • And so much more...

As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/151 to get a links and resources of everything mentioned (including the unusual veggies). You'll also find a full transcript of the show.

This episode was brought to you by Theresa's Living Homegrown Institute - which is her membership site where you get full access to a whole library of masterclasses to help you live a farm fresh lifestyle without the farm. Go to LivingHomegrown.com/PATH for her free PDF Success Path.

Direct download: 151_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:41pm PDT

LH 150: Getting The Best Flavor From Your Fresh Produce

Whether you're harvesting from an epic kitchen garden or supporting your local farmers' market, you want that fresh produce to SHINE when it hits the dinner table.

That's not always how it happens though, is it? Fresh vegetables can be tricky to properly cook. A less than stellar experience with a veggie can turn us and our family off of it completely.

Which is why host Theresa Loe brought on Alana Chernila to tell us about her latest cookbook that's all about how to prepare simple, perfect vegetables every time. It doesn't get much more "farm fresh" than that!

Plus, Alana shares a super simple (yet delicious) recipe with us. You can get a PDF print out of the recipe in the show notes. (see below)

You will learn:

  • What 4 types of ingredients to boost flavor
  • What is the most underappreciated veggie and why
  • The best way to prepare cauliflower everyone will LOVE
  • Why being courageous with ingredients can transform us as a cook
  • How one bad experience can ruin a veggie
  • Why roasting makes so many veggies taste magical
  • How to make a Fresh Corn & Stone Fruit side dish
  • And SO MUCH more...

As always, you can get more links, free resources and even a PDF recipe at www.LivingHomegrown.com/150 as well as a full transcript of the show.

This episode was brought to you by the Living Homegrown Institute, Theresa's monthly membership where you can learn how to live farm fresh without a farm. Go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/PATH for more info.

Direct download: 150_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:24pm PDT

LH 149: How to Cook Real Food with Real Ingredients

This episode is not just about Southern cooking, its about cooking from scratch using the freshest of produce and herbs. (Just like those we grow in our gardens)

And it's about preparing real, whole food where you know and can pronounce all of the ingredients.

Host Theresa Loe brought on nutritionist and author Ashley English to share her food journey and why she made her way back to her Southern cooking roots.

She offers tips about everything from biscuits and bacon to fruit desserts and local eating.

Oh! And there's also a Bourbon Bacon Jam recipe that you will LOVE. YUM!

You will learn:

  • Why you should use whole ingredients in your kitchen
  • How regional ingredients sumac and sorghum are used
  • What fats are part of a healthy diet
  • How Southern food can be healthy, flavorful, and fun
  • And so much more

To get a free PDF download of Ashley's Bourbon Bacon Jam Recipe, got to www.LivingHomegrown.com/149 and you'll also find links to more information (including Ashley's favorite Biscuit Recipe!). There is also other related episodes and full transcript of the show.

This episode was brought to you by Theresa's membership site: The Living Homegrown Institute where you have access to a whole library of masterclasses on everything from growing heirloom tomatoes to making cheese and fermenting veggies. To learn more, go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/PATH to get Theresa's Farm Fresh Success Path.

Direct download: 149_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:25am PDT

LH 148: Simple Ways To Prepare Food For An Emergency

Being prepared for emergencies is an important topic to cover because no matter where we live, we could face a weather event or community emergency that requires us to be on our own for a bit.

This is not about living in fear that at any moment there will be a zombie apocalypse. It's just about being ready for the unexpected...so that you DON'T have to worry.

Being prepared is so easy and so important.

In this episode, host Theresa Loe chats with preparation expert and author, Kathy Harrison, about how as gardeners and food preservers, we can plan ahead and be ready when these situations arise.

And here's the best part...They also chat about delicious ways to use and rotate out the food we store. You'll love it!

You will learn:

  • What types of food can be stored long term
  • How long it can be stored for
  • How to create a simple plan for food storage
  • Why you will want to rotate out that food
  • How to cook up your storage in super delicious ways
  • And much more

As always, you can get access to more episodes and info at www.LivingHomegrown.com/148 as well as a full transcript of the show.

This episode was brought to you by Theresa's membership: The Living Homegrown Institute where you have access to a whole library of masterclasses on skill building for food growing, artisan food crafts and more. Go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/PATH for more info.

Direct download: 148_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:19am PDT

LH 147: Saving Our Native Bees

With many of the foods we grow, bees are critcal. Without bees, we won't have much of a crop at all...or we have NO crop at all.

But when you hear about the importance of bees in the media or the struggle of bees in the news...all you hear about are the honeybees.

And yet...There are OTHER bees that may play an even more important role in our backyard food system. The native bee.

And they are struggling even more!

On this episode host Theresa Loe brings on author Paige Embry to dive into that struggle and what WE can do to help.

We love honeybees and Theresa has covered them on the podcast many times. So, they are part of this equation too!

But in this episode, you'll learn the plight of native bees and how our gardening efforts directly impact them as well.

You will learn:

  • The difference between a native bee and the honey bee
  • What makes native bees so essential to our garden
  • Why are these bees struggling & why don't we hear more
  • Why honey bees can't pollinate tomatoes
  • What simple steps we can do to help
  • What is the Great Sunflower Project
  • And more...

As always, all the links and more free information INCLUDING SEVERAL OTHER BEEKEEPING EPISODES are in the show notes at www.LivingHomegrown.com/147 and you will find a full transcript there as well.

This episode was brought to you by Theresa Loe's Living Homegrown Institute. In her membership, you have access to a whole library of skill building masterclasses. Go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/PATH to learn more.

Direct download: 147_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:03am PDT

LH 146: Canning Q&A With Theresa Loe

We're coming up on canning season again, so it's time to freshen up our knowledge! Host Theresa Loe receives a lot of wonderful questions from listeners that they would like to see covered on the podcast...especially about preserving the harvest.  So in this episode, she dives into some canning Q & A using questions submitted by listeners. 

You will learn:

  • What food preservation method is best for your priorities
  • Why preparing jam in large quantities is tricky
  • How to save that batch of overcooked jam
  • What's the shelf life of preserved jams
  • How to tell when it's time to throw away canned jam
  • And so much more..

As always, you can receive lots more free information and links at www.LivingHomegrown.com/146 as well as a full PDF transcript of the show. 

This episode was brought to you by Theresa's membership site: The Living Homegrown Institute where you have access to a whole library of Masterclasses on growing food and building your artisan skills in things like fermenting and cheesemaking. Visit www.LivingHomegrown.com/PATH for more information.

Direct download: 146_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:15am PDT

LH 145: Update on Beginning Homesteader Bev Ross

There’s SO much to learn when you are just starting out in homesteading. But the fun is in the journey of learning new homesteading skills as you go!

In today’s episode, host Theresa Loe brings back Bev Ross who was the guest on Episode 122: Lessons From A Beginner Homesteader.  Theresa wanted to catch up with Bev and have her share her newest adventure: Raising Baby Goats! (They are adorable)

Honestly, Bev isn't a beginner anymore. She has learned so much and grown so much in the last 10 months since her homesteading journey started.  

In this episode, Bev shares what’s happening in that journey and what’s up next.

You will learn:

  •      Why you might want goats some day
  •      What is REALLY involved with raising baby goats
  •      Why naming your farm animals can be so fun
  •      How these goats will co-exist with a chicken flock
  •      The ups and downs of homesteading
  •      The lessons in everyday moments on a working homestead
  •      How you can plant more perennial food sources
  •      What’s next for the homestead

As always, you can learn more and get all the links mentioned by going to the show notes for this episode at: www.LivingHomegrown.com/145 and you will also find a full transcript there.

This episode was brought to you by Theresa Loe's membership site: The Living Homegrown Institute where you get monthly masterclasses on how to live farm fresh without the farm. For more information, go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/courses 

Direct download: 145_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am PDT

LH 144: Cooking Through The Seasons with Foodie-Farmer Andrea Bemis

This week’s episode is a fun chat between host Theresa Loe and foodie-farmer Andrea Bemis.

If you don’t know Andrea, she is the brains behind the Dishing Up the Dirt Blog and the author of the book by the same name. Andrea is all about sharing the authentic journey of being an organic farmer who also happens to be a foodie.

In this episode, she shares the good, the bad, and the delicious meals in between!

You will learn:

  • What it’s really like to be a small-scale organic farmer
  • What it means to eat seasonally
  • Why beets are Andrea’s “spirit vegetable”
  • How to make “Beet Butter” and how to use it
  • The benefits of a buyer-farmer relationship
  • Advice for anyone considering the farming life
  • And so much more

As always, you can get more information and free links in the show notes at: www.LivingHomegrown.com/144 as well as a full (printable) transcript of the episode. 

This episode was brought to you by Theresa Loe's membership site: The Living Homegrown Institute where you get monthly lessons teaching you how to live farm fresh without having a farm. To learn more, go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/courses 

Direct download: 144_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am PDT

LH 143: Everything you want to know about chicken eggs - From color to preservation, safety and more

It doesn’t matter if you raise your own backyard chickens or if you’re a consumer of organic, farm-fresh eggs – there is always more to learn about eggs!

In this episode, host Theresa Loe brings on author Jennifer Sartell to discuss everything we might want to know about chicken eggs. From the colors we can have, to the best practices in egg storage...we get into it all!

You will learn:

  • Which breeds lay the most colorful eggs
  • What we are probably getting if buy an “Araucana” chick
  • Why Easter Eggers are a fun choice
  • Does ear-lobe color really determine egg color
  • How to test an egg for freshness without cracking it open
  • How to preserve eggs when you have too many
  • Should we wash our eggs or not
  • Will we die if we leave our eggs on the counter
  • And so much more…

 As always, links to everything mentioned is included in the show notes for today's episode. Just go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/143 for more info including a full downloadable transcript of the show.

This episode was brought to you by Theresa's Living Homegrown Institute - which is her farm fresh membership. If you'd like to learn more about how to live a farm fresh lifestyle no matter how small your garden space, go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/PATH to get her free PDF download of your farm fresh success path.

Direct download: 143_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:59pm PDT

142: Small Scale Farming on Just 5 Acres or Less

Listen, we all have to eat. Right?

And if you’re into consuming organic, sustainable food, you either have to grow it yourself or find reliable sources from people with the same values that you have.

Chances are…you’ll find those values in your local, small-scale farmer!

In today’s episode, host Theresa Loe interviews Josh Volk who is a small-scale farmer, farming consultant and an author. He wrote a book featuring 15 small-scale farmers from across the country. It showcases how they were making it in the compact farm world and it's fascinating.

So if you’ve ever thought about becoming a farmer, you’ll love this episode.

But...even you DON'T want to be a farmer, you'll love this episode. And that's because it really shows us how important the small organic farm is within our food system and how we need to support their efforts with our purchases.

You will learn:

  • Is it possible to start a farm as a “side gig” (part time)
  • What is bio-intensive food production
  • Are there advantages to farming in a small way
  • What are the 3 pillars of sustainability a farmer needs to follow
  • How is “success” as a farmer defined
  • What trait do most organic farmers share
  • How a “sampler share” CSA fits smaller families and smaller farms

 As always, you can get more links and info on this topic at: www.LivingHomegrown.com/142 and you will also find a full transcript of the show there.

This episode was brought to you by Theresa's membership - The Living Homegrown Institute where you learn how to live farm fresh without the farm through monthly masterclasses and community. To learn more, go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/courses 

Direct download: 142_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:45am PDT

LH 141: How to draw in beneficials and pollinators with flowers

There are huge rewards when you grow your vegetables and flowers in one space of your garden.

In this episode, host Theresa Loe brings on flower farmer Lisa Ziegler to explore exactly how we can use companioning planting to draw in beneficial insects, pollinators and so much more.

You will learn:

  •      Which flowers will help your tomatoes and why
  •      How your planting space determines sunflower height
  •      The difference between cool and warm season annuals
  •      How to prevent overwhelm when growing veggies
  •      Why native bees are so awesome for veggies
  •      A different way to do CSA farm memberships
  •      Lisa’s favorite sunflower for cut flower bouquets

As always, you can get all the links mentioned in the episode at www.LivingHomegrown.com/141 and you will also find a full transcript of the show and more articles and podcasts for Living Farm Fresh Without The Farm.

This podcast episode was brought to you by Theresa Loe's membership program - The Living Homegrown Institute where you learn the skills for a living farm-fresh lifestyle. Go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/PATH to get the free PDF outlining how to have success on your own farm fresh journey.

Direct download: 141_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:27am PDT

LH 140: Maximizing Flavor in Our Veggie Recipes

As seasonal eaters, foodies and even as gardeners, we understand the nuances of locally-sourced cucumbers, fresh picked herbs and heirloom tomatoes.

It doesn’t matter if we grow these foods ourselves or not.

We understand their value and we want to deliver the very best of their flavors to our dinner table.

Well, what better way to learn how to bring out the best flavors in seasonal produce than by talking to someone who is known for their delicious plant-based cooking?

And if that someone is also a gardener?  Well, then we are in for a TREAT!

Such is the case with this week’s podcast episode.

Host Theresa Loe invited on Laura Wright of "The First Mess" Blog to share her chef secrets to delicious vegan and vegetarian meals.

You do NOT need to be vegan or vegetarian to use these chef tricks. 

All that matters is that we learn new and exciting ways to showcase the wonderful flavors of our garden. And you’ll get that from this interview!

You will learn:

  • Where the name The First Mess comes from
  • Why we needn’t worry about protein in good vegan meals
  • What are “Flavor Savers”
  • Do we have to buy weird ingredients to eat plant-based foods
  • Which sweeteners work best
  • Which ingredients make the best egg substitutes
  • What makes whole spelt flour so special
  • A great way to use up chard from the garden

As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/140 to get all the links mentioned AND a free, printable PDF of Laura's Chard Soup recipe and links to more podcast episodes on growing cool veggies.

This episode was brought to you by Theresa's membership site: Living Homegrown Institute where you learn to live a farm fresh lifestyle without having a farm.

Direct download: 140_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:24am PDT

Episode 139: How to make delicious bread with one simple recipe

You’re busy. And you probably long for more delicious, wholesome food…made at home.

But you just don’t have the time to make things like homemade bread on a regular basis.

Good news!

Author Alexandra Stafford has the perfect bread recipe for people like us. It comes together in under 5 minutes, rises quickly and it bakes in a jiffy.

So simple, yet SO delicious!

The best part is…This one bread recipe can be turned into everything from focaccia and pizza to hamburger buns and even…dessert!

Host Theresa Loe has been baking her way through Ali’s book for the last few weeks and she LOVE'S IT.  She had to have Ali on the show to share her secrets.

 

You will learn:

  • How this closely guarded family recipe remained a secret for so long
  • The simple ingredients & steps to making the bread
  • The best tips for using the bread in other ways
  • How to get the right water temperature every, single time
  • The unusual vessel Ali recommends for baking & why
  • Ali’s favorite recipe for using up slices of bread
  •  Tips for making fresh and dried bread crumbs
  • How best to store bread crumbs for later use
  • And so much more

As always, you can get more information, links and resources at www.LivingHomegrown.com/139 as well as a full transcript of the episode. 


This episode was brought to you by Theresa Loe's Living Homegrown Institute - her membership site. If you want to see where you are on your own farm-fresh path, check out her free PDF at: www.LivingHomegrown.com/PATH for more info. 

Direct download: 139_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am PDT

#138: Busting Myths About Backyard Chicken Care

It doesn’t matter if you’re new to keeping backyard chickens or you’re a seasoned veteran – there’s always more to learn!

With each change in the weather, comes a whole new set of considerations about their care.

And dealing with extreme cold, extreme heat or even molting can make us worry about them…a lot!

To help us get a handle on seasonal care of adult chickens, host Theresa Loe brought on Kathy Shea Mormino – better known as The Chicken Chick®.  She gives it to us straight when it comes to what’s essential in backyard chicken care and what she believes we should absolutely NOT be doing at all.

Her recommendations might surprise you!

You will learn:

  • How to know if your coop is too cold or too hot
  • If you should ever heat your coop in winter
  • The best ways to add ventilation
  • The best way to break a broody hen
  • The truth about food-grade diatomaceous earth
  • The truth about adding vinegar to the chicken waterer
  • Tips for helping your chickens through their molt
  • And more...

As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/138 to get more resources, links to other chicken related episodes and a full transcript of the show in PDF format. 
This podcast episode was brought to you by Theresa Loe's membership site, Living Homegrown Institute.

Direct download: 138_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:27pm PDT

The basics of worm composting (Vermicomposting)

If you’re a gardener, you totally “get” that compost is awesome. But you may not have jumped on the DIY compost bandwagon because you either don’t have the space or you worry it’s too complicated to do well.

Fear not!

Vermicomposting may be the answer for you.

Also known as “worm composting”, it’s one of the easiest ways to compost kitchen scraps in a small space. And to be honest…the little worms feel more like pets than worms.

Yeah…sounds weird..but it's true!

But ask anyone with a worm bin and they'll probably admit that they develop a fondness for those little wigglers that they never expected.

On this week’s podcast, host Theresa Loe brought on author Michelle Balz to chat about everything vermiculture – which is the process of using worms to create compost.

You will learn:

  •      How composting benefits your garden & the earth
  •      Where you can set up a worm bin (hint: Inside your home is ok!)
  •      Why it won’t smell if you do it right
  •      Which worm is best and where to get them
  •      The step-by-step directions for setting up a bin
  •      How to care for and feed your worm bin
  •      What NOT to feed your worms
  •      And more…

As always you can get more links and free resources at www.LivingHomegrown.com/137 including a full transcript of the show. 
This week's episode is brought to you by Theresa Loe's membership, the Living Homegrown Institute.

Direct download: 137_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:06am PDT

Using Design Principles for Our Smaller Veggie Gardens

Just because we have an edible garden does NOT mean it can’t be beautiful. In fact, it should be even MORE beautiful than the average backyard.

In this episode, host Theresa Loe brought on garden designer Susan Morrison to talk about some simple design principles we can use to make our backyard space more usable and beautiful at the same time...even our veggie garden space!

You will learn:

  •      The biggest mistake most homeowners make these days
  •      Why we may not want a lawn if we have kids
  •      Create ways to make the backyard usable
  •      The 3 W’s of a good design philosophy
  •      The best 2 vegetables for dramatic color in a garden
  •      How to use containers to bring the design together
  •      And so much more

As always, you can get all the links mentioned and information about Susan's new book at www.LivingHomegrown.com/136 as well as a full transcript in PDF form. 

Direct download: 136_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:11am PDT

How one homesteader balances family life with raising farm animals and bees.

There's so much processing done to the food in our grocery stores today that much of that food is unrecognizable. And that processed food has certainly lost most (if not all) of it's nutritional value.

Homesteading is one way to take back control of the food that we eat. When we grow our own food, we know EXACTLY what's on our plate and where it came from.

 

This week, host Theresa Loe invited Kristina Urquhart, author of The Suburban Chickento talk about raising a young family on a homestead. They dive into the challenges of producing your own food, raising meat rabbits, and everything you could want to know about beekeeping.

Kristina shares the story of how she and her husband struggled at first to get a financial foothold on their dream, and how dedication, hard work, and some creativity made that dream a reality.

You will learn:

  • Why it’s so important for our kids to know where their food comes from
  • Which meat rabbit is good as a full service animal
  • Where should you start if you’re interested in keeping bees
  • Which books are best for beginning bee keepers
  • Why sometimes homesteading doesn’t always go as planned
  • What can keep you motivated to keep going
  • And there's some bloopers at the very, very end...LOL

As always, you can get more free information and all the links mentioned at www.LivingHomegrown.com/135 and you get a full PDF transcript as well.

This episode is brought to you by the Living Homegrown Institute - Theresa's online membership for living farm fresh without the farm.

Enjoy!

Direct download: 135_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:26am PDT

Learn how mead is made (in a sustainable way) with local honey and fruit

Mead is an old-fashioned drink that's been around for centuries. If you aren't familiar with mead, it's an alcoholic beverage made from fermenting honey and it can be DELICIOUS.

Host Theresa Loe invited Nick Lorenz of Nectar Creek Brewery on to talk about the art of crafting mead.

This drink is experiencing a resurgence thanks to companies like Nectar Creek. But they're doing WAY more than just producing a tasty beverage. They use locally sourced honey and educate their taproom guests about the importance of honey and bees.

We can all say 'Cheers' to that!

You will learn:

  • Why supporting the local farmer can support the bees and visa versa
  • The science and process of making mead
  • What fermentation science is and how it relates to sustainable agriculture
  • Why it's important to these brothers that their mead be farm to table
  • Which yeast gives the best results
  • How a mead is flavored and the nuances of those flavors

As always, you can learn more and get all the links at www.LivingHomegrown.com/134 including a full transcript of the episode.

Direct download: LH_134_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:36am PDT

Why Grow THIS, When You Can Grow THAT

Who wouldn't want to grow something like purple sugar magnolia peas, cape gooseberries, cucamelons, or dragon's egg? These unusual and heirloom varieties of vegetables add an element of fun in the garden and flavor to the table. Plus, they make our veggie gardens more magical...especially if we have kiddos.

So let's change what we grow this year and dive into the HUGE variety of tasty, exotic looking vegetables that honestly take very little effort.

Host Theresa Loe invited Niki Jabbour, author of Veggie Garden Remix, to share her tips on getting experimental with our vegetable varieties this year.

You will learn:

  • Why amaranth beautifies your garden while expanding your flavors
  • Which undervalued plant tastes like pineapple with a hint of vanilla
  • Why French gold, dragon's tongue and red swan beans are all "must haves"
  • How Sugar Magnolia has a purple pod, green peas and tastes amazing
  • When to pick a loofah gourd and how to cook it (yes, they're edible!)
  • How hand-pollinating will guarantee a more bountiful harvest
  • Which varieties are so beautiful, they are Instagram worthy

As always, you can get all the links mentioned and more free resources at www.LivingHomegrown.com/133 including Theresa's Favorite Seed Sources PDF, a full transcript and Theresa's handy guide for garden/food experts looking to create online courses. 

Direct download: 133_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:36am PDT

LH 132: Behind the Scenes of the Elliot Homestead

This episode focuses on what it's really like running a homestead - from raising dairy cows, laying hens, meat chickens, hogs, sheep, turkeys, and growing produce in a large organic garden.

Host Theresa Loe invited Shaye Elliott, author of Welcome to the Farm and blogger for The Elliott Homestead, to talk about running a super active homestead that's full of animals, food gardens, four active children, and how she manages to make it all run and operate at the same time.

Shaye shares how ordinary, everyday moments can be magical and THAT'S what life is all about.

You will learn:

  •      How this popular blogger balances home and family
  •      The possibility of a new Food Network series on REAL FOOD
  •      Why having a diary cow was so important to her family
  •      What is raw milk
  •      All the ways to use the extra milk from a dairy cow
  •      How to make “Junket” and why you’d want to
  •      Why a popcorn maker can make the best coffee EVER

As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/132 for the free recipe for Shaye's Junket (PDF Download), all the links mentioned, the Farm Fresh Success path and a full transcript of the episode.

Direct download: 132_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:18am PDT

LH 131: Farming The Rooftops of New York City

This podcast focuses a lot on working with the space you have to grow your garden. Whether that's a backyard, a farmstead, or simply container gardening - where there is a will there is a way to a farm fresh lifestyle.

This episode is about a very creative and inspiring use of space - right in the middle of New York City (and it's not Central Park).

Host Theresa Loe invited Anastasia Plakias to talk about an actual farm that is acres large on top of buildings in New York City. She shares how this project is changing the way city folk think about agriculture and organic farming in a way that no one was expecting.

You will learn:

  •      Why build a farm on top of NYC Buildings
  •      How this farm produces over 50K pounds of veggies/year
  •      The challenges of building a 2 acre farm over the city
  •      The motivations behind the mission
  •      What turned out to be their biggest win in all this
  •      How they added rooftop chickens and bees to the project
  •      What they hope the community gains from their efforts

As always, you can find more links and info at www.LivingHomegrown.com/131 including a full transcript of the show.

Direct download: 131_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:14am PDT

Creative Ways to Use Your Garden for Health and Wellbeing

Explore how to get 'more bang for your buck' (in terms of health benefits) when it comes to your backyard gardens.

Host Theresa Loe brings on author Shawna Coronado to share her tips on the most nutritious foods we can grow and the best ways to use our gardens for wellness.

You will learn:

  • Which homegrown foods pack the biggest nutritional punch
  • What are the best homegrown "fast foods"
  • The best shade tolerant veggies
  • Shawna's secret recipe for making top-notch potting soil
  • Why moving more in the garden is so important
  • Ways to de-stress with sensory plants

As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/130 for related links and a full transcript of the episode.

Direct download: 130_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:51pm PDT

How to Better Understand Your Backyard Chickens

If we understand the behaviors and mannerisms of any of our pets, we can have a better relationship with them.

And so it is with chickens! Everything they do (and say) has meaning.

In this week’s episode, I invite author Melissa Caughey to teach us a thing or two about chickens and their personalities.

You will learn:

  • That chickens are smarter than we realize
  • How they communicate without sounds
  • The main factor that determines pecking order
  • The role of the sentinel in your flock
  • Why your hens all cackle at once
  • The sound they make as greeting
  • Why chickens might growl and why
  • And other interesting facts about our feathered friends

As always, you can visit www.LivingHomegrown.com/129 for relate links and a full transcript of the episode.

Direct download: 129_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:25pm PDT

Fearless Brewing to Get Awesome Hard Cider Flavors

Have you wanted to learn the art of making hard cider but found most of the books were overly complicated for a beginning home brewer?

 

Well, here's your chance to learn the basics without all the overwhelm! Host Theresa Loe brings on Emma Christensen - the author of the new book Modern Cider.

Emma is well known in the foodie world for breaking down artisanal recipes into simple step-by-step DIY projects that are totally doable…and delicious. In her new book, Emma teaches people how to make cider from every angle. She covers using store bought juice or home pressed apples and she gives flavorful options that make your cider BETTER than the commercial brews.

In this episode, Emma shares how to make basic Hard Cider 101.

You'll see that it’s super easy, very forgiving, and you don’t need a lot of equipment to get started!

You will learn:

  • Is hard cider making safe
  • What exactly is happening when we “brew” apple juice
  • Why there are 3 different types of apples needed for hard cider
  • What to do if we don’t have apples of our own
  • What happens if you use pasteurized vs raw apple juice
  • The basic equipment we should buy
  • Which yeast gives the best results
  • How to flavor your ciders with spices, oak or fruits
  • The steps involved in brewing at home

As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/128 for more info, all the links mentioned AND a full PDF of the hard cider recipe discussed in the episode.
Enjoy!

Direct download: 128_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:37am PDT

1