Living Homegrown Podcast with Theresa Loe (general)

LH 172: Catching You Up On All Things Living Homegrown

You are probably wondering what happened to the podcast. Right at the end of December, host Theresa Loe came out with episode 171 and then the show went radio silent for 2 months.

Theresa never meant to be away this long! She recorded this special episode to explain why she was taking break, what's going on behind-the-scenes in her business and filling you in on all the good things farm fresh.

This episode will catch you up on everything!

You will learn:

  • What Theresa loves about this weekly podcast
  • About being inducted into a podcasting Hall of Fame
  • Why she's taking a much needed break
  • What's new on my 1892 farmstead property
  • What's new in Living Homegrown
  • Who she's helping with a new part of her business
  • and SO much more...

 As always, you can learn more at www.LivingHomegrown.com/172 with links mentioned and a full transcript of the episode.

Direct download: 172_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:29pm PDT

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

How To Have a Breakthrough Farm-Fresh Year

It's that time of year for reflection and goal setting. To help you with your own projections for the upcoming year, host Theresa Loe shares the parameters or tips that have given her the best results in her own goal setting and helped her skyrocket her own achievements the last few years. 

As you listen, remember this...

It doesn't matter if you're a goal-setting type or not. And that's because these tips are NOT really about reaching every single goal.

They're about seeking a life that is richer and more fulfilling.

The cool thing is...they only require small shifts. But those small shifts can have a big impact on your year ahead.

You will learn:

  • How to define a breakthrough year
  • Why it's sometimes okay NOT to reach your goals
  • The mental shift that can make all the difference in goal setting
  • The truth about your time
  • Why mentors or experts are important
  • Where gratitude fits in
  • How to handle yourself when you mess up

As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/127 for more links and a full transcript of the episode.

Enjoy!

Direct download: 127_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:43am PDT

How to make sourdough bread using heirloom grains - And make an Onion Jam Recipe to spread on that fresh baked bread!

This is an important episode and I could not be more excited to share it. Here’s why…

When we take the time to do things like make our own breads or ferment our own yogurt, we are not only creating incredible flavors – we are also connecting with our food.

But…When we take that connection a step further by investigating where the base ingredients for that food comes from…then, we are participating in the story of our food.

That deep dive is what this week’s episode is all about.

I brought on Sarah Owens, a James Beard Award-winning author, baker, and organic gardener. We look at the art of making sourdough starter from the seed in the field to the delicious steaming bread loaf coming out of the oven.

We look at the whole story and the importance of good ingredients when it comes to our health and that of our planet.

But hey - we didn’t even scratch the surface of this big topic! And I’m sure this episode will leave you wanting to hear more. But fear not – I plan on having Sarah back soon.

In the meantime, you’ll learn all about sourdough starter, heirloom grains, and even onion jam.  OH MY!

You will learn:

  • Why conventionally grown wheat is actually pretty scary
  • What is it about sourdough that’s so good for gut-health
  • Why heirloom, stone-milled flours are better for us
  • How should you store stone-milled flour for best results
  • What exactly is a subscription-based artisan microbakery
  • The difference between yeast-water sourdough and traditional sourdough
  • How foraged ingredients can be nutrient-rich
  • What makes onion jam so darn addictive

As always, you can get more resources, a FREE PDF recipe from the book and links at www.LivingHomegrown.com/126 and you can get a full transcript of the episode.

Direct download: 126_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:55am PDT

How to successfully grow food in containers or any small space

If you don’t have a lot of outdoor space, growing food can be frustrating.

Being limited to a patio, porch, or only a precious few feet of space can make you think that you'll never have homegrown food right outside your backdoor.

Container growing can fix that!

But planted containers can also be extremely beneficial to those of us who already DO have a garden.

How so?

Well, by growing in containers you instantly have a moveable garden!  You can create lovely edible planters and strategically place them around your garden or patio to make a statement and draw in beneficial insects.

So the bottom line is that you CAN successfully grow veggies and fruit in teeny, tiny spaces. And you CAN do it in containers.

But what can make or break your success is being very intentional with your choices and how you set yourself up in the beginning.

That’s why I’m so excited to bring you this week’s guest.

Jessica Walliser has been on the podcast before. And she has a brand new book on container gardening.

But this book was unlike any container gardening book I had reviewed before. This book was more than an instruction manual on how to plant up a container.

It really sets the reader up for success by covering what happens AFTER you plant.

And the best part is that the information is just as valuable for people planting a small space in the ground as well.

You will learn:

  • The 3 pillars of successful container growing
  • How to be smart in your veggie choices
  • Why pollinator pots are crucial in urban areas
  • Favorite high producing dwarf edibles
  • What is the thriller, filler, and spiller concept
  • The biggest mistake people make with containers
  • The best way to save $ when container gardening

As always, you can get all the links mentioned and more information at www.LivingHomegrown.com/125 as well as a full transcript of the episode.

Direct download: 125_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:28am PDT

What if want to grow veggies, but you really don’t have much soil in your backyard to begin with? (It's mostly cement or pavement)

Or maybe your backyard soil is hard to work with and you want a short cut to growing without waiting years to build up the soil.

Or maybe you want a higher yield of food from a raised bed than you can get by just growing in the ground.

(Yep - you really can get a higher yield if you do it right.)

Listen…raised bed gardening is not a magic pill. But it certainly can take care of ton of issues that hold people back from gardening.

And I want to make sure you are armed with all the pros and cons so you can tell if it's right for you.

This week, I brought on Tara Nolan to share some innovative ideas for creating raised beds.

She has tips and hints that can really make the whole process super easy.  You see, she literally wrote the book on the topic. And I just love the way she always thinks outside the planter box…so to speak. :-)

You will learn:

  • How raised beds can help you overcome bad soil
  • About a recent study proving raised beds will increase your yields (This one surprised me!)
  • Why you DON’T need power tools to have success
  • The many benefits in controlling weeds, pest and more
  • Creative examples of building material you can use
  • Why you need to be so cautious with recycled wood
  • How to reduce the cost of filling the beds with good soil
  • Innovative ways to make raised beds from upcycled objects

As always, you can get all the links mentioned and more tips in the show notes at www.LivingHomegrown.com/124 and you can get a free, printable transcript of the episode. 

Direct download: 124_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:32pm PDT

The best organic gardening practices for building our soils

Our soil is the foundation for everything we do out in the garden. And having an understanding of how it works is hugely important.

If we are better stewards of our soil, we will have healthier plants, fewer pest problems, and a happier earth.

In today’s episode, host Theresa Loe brings on Mark Highland, who is also known as the Organic Mechanic. Mark knows a lot about soil and organic gardening because he runs the company with the same name: Organic Mechanics Soil.

Learn how our soil works and how we should care for it an organic way.

You will learn:

  • Why “big picture” thinking is key to all organic gardening
  • The difference between conventional and organic fertilizers
  • Why deer are more attracted to synthetically fertilized plants
  • Why organic matter makes for healthier plants
  • The key practices that make all the difference in soil building
  • Why you should avoid the tiller at all costs
  • Why we need to wait after a storm before weeding
  • What makes bugs attack conventionally grown plants more than organically grown

As always, you can get all the information mentioned in this episode at www.LivingHomegrown.com/123 including a full PDF transcript of the episode.

 

Direct download: LH_123_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:03am PDT

What it’s like to jump into homesteading for the very first time?

When we’re interested in learning a new skill, the first step is to research and read about it. But the real learning comes when we roll up our sleeves and start doing that thing that we’re interested in.

Nothing beats the insights and knowledge that come from actually stepping out from behind the research and actually giving it a try.

My guest this week understands that well.

Bev Ross is a long-time listener of this podcast and for years she dreamed of living a homesteading life.

Well earlier this year, she and her family decided to stop dreaming about homesteading and dropped everything to start doing it.

They sold their home, moved across the country and dove head first into growing food, raising chickens and living closer to their food.

But they tried to be smart about it.

They didn’t quit their full time jobs.  They aren’t trying to farm. They tried not to bite off too much at once.

In other words, they’re easing into this lifestyle one step at a time and we chat about what ups and downs she’s experienced so far.

You will learn:

  • Why it’s important to do your research on zoning laws before you start
  • Some of the challenges you can face
  • The benefits to your children when homesteading
  • Why record keeping is so key
  • Tips for journaling on the fly
  • The biggest lessons learned so far
  • How this lifestyle is not about pass or fail

As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/122 to get a full transcript of the episode and all the links mentioned in the show.

Direct download: 122_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am PDT

Even if you don’t live in the United States and are not celebrating Thanksgiving this month, you probably will have some holiday get togethers over the next few weeks.  And these ideas can be used for ANY holiday party.

In this episode, I share some of my tips for meshing Thanksgiving traditions with that natural world outside.

Because to me, fall parties are about celebrating the season as well as food and family.

You will learn:

  • How to make gratitude a BIG part of the day
  • Tips for getting children involved in the decorating
  • Which plants make great fall decorations
  • How to add botanicals to your place settings
  • A simple way to make herbs part of your cocktails
  • How to create a decoration that doubles as a guest gift
  • Why is cranberry balsamic sauce so amazing
  • And I’ll share my ginger pumpkin cheesecake recipe

As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/121 for links and the to download the recipes mentioned. We also have a full transcript for to download for free. 

Direct download: 121_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am PDT

How to make natural household cleaners that ROCK!

The holidays are coming and chances are you're going to be cleaning your house a little bit more than usual.

Don’t reach for the chemical laden products you find at the store!

Living a more organic lifestyle means eliminating chemicals whenever we can.

And a great place to do that is with the products we spray all over our house such as the things we use to scrub down the countertops, clean the bathrooms or even make our laundry smell fresh.

In today’s episode, host Theresa Loe brought on the owner of the popular blog Brown Thumb Mama. Pam Farley believes in making things herself for less money than the store bought versions. From cleaners to air fresheners, she is always on the lookout for all natural alternatives to what we find in the stores.

Pam shares her insights and recipes for making cleaning products using simple ingredients we probably already have in our homes.

You will learn:

  • Why typical household cleaners do NOT have to list all the ingredients
  • Which kitchen supplies we already have that will do the job
  • The difference between pure essential oils and fragrance oils
  • The difference between food grade and therapeutic grade oils
  • How to make an All Purpose Cleaner
  • How to create an Air Freshener Spray
  • Tips for making our laundry smell awesome

In the show notes for this episode, you can download a printable PDF of all of the recipes mentioned. Just go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/120 and you will also find a full transcript of the show and more links/resources to get you started.

Direct download: 120_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:21am PDT

Have you ever dreamed of starting your own gardening or farming business?

It can sound romantic and whimsical, can’t it?

But what's really involved in running a seasonal business around growing things? How do you manage the season or even your day around harvesting and delivering plant material?

This week, I share an episode I actually recorded for some of my students. You see, I have a secret podcast called Seedy Conversations® where I give the back story on businesses, homesteaders and bloggers.  We dive into what makes them tick.

Well, this episode is from those archives. I interviewed Erin Benzakein who has been on the Living Homegrown Podcast before (Episode #95). But this time, Erin pulls back the curtain and gives a snapshot of what life is like as a small organic farmer in the state of Washington.

Erin is the top floral farmer-florist in the country and she spills the beans on what it really means to run a small family farm.

And the good news is that Erin finds her business to be rewarding and inspiring each and every day. I think you will love her story! 

You'll learn:

  • About a typical day in the life of a farmer-florist
  • What is the best gear to wear in the field
  • Which crops to grow for market
  • The magical time for taking garden photos
  • The 1 morning practice that sets you up for success in your day
  • Top advice for anyone considering becoming a farmer

You can get more information about Erin, her farm and all the links mentioned in this episode in the show notes at www.LivingHomegrown.com/119 as well as a full transcript of the show.

Direct download: 119_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:50am PDT

How to use your garden to make holiday gifts

Thinking of making any handmade gifts for the holidays this year?

It’s only October, but this is the perfect time to get started!

By starting now, you can create thoughtful gifts before the craziness of the holidays overwhelm you.

Host Theresa Loe interviews Stephanie Rose of Garden Therapy about garden crafts that make perfect holiday gifts. They discuss several projects (from season salt to homemade soap) that you can make quickly, easily, and with very little cost.

You will learn:

  • How Herbal Finishing Salt makes an impressive, low-cost gift
  • How to fast-track soap making with natural melt and pour ingredients
  • The type of cupcake molds to use for Lavender-Oatmeal Soap
  • Why mason jars are perfect for homemade candles
  • The trick to pressing herbs into the sides of your glass jar candles
  • And more…

As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/118 to get links to all the recipes, instructions and a full transcript of the episode.

Direct download: 118_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:14pm PDT

How to Make Color Dyes With Your Garden Plants

The plants in our backyards can have multiple uses beyond food.

That’s what this week’s podcast is all about…using our garden plants for something different: Making Natural Dye

Now, you may be wondering what the heck you would dye with your plants. Well, we’ve got you covered.

Host Theresa Loe brought on fiber and dye expert Chris McLaughlin to talk about all the things we can color using natural dyes. They walk through the terminology and the techniques.

It’s super mad-scientisty. Ha!

You will learn:

  • What is a fugitive color (No, it’s not a criminal)
  • How do you use a modifier
  • What is a mordant
  • Can we use common household ingredients to change colors
  • Which plants work best
  • Step-by-step how to dye a silk scarf using flowers

As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/117 to get links to everything mentioned and get a full transcript of the episode.

Direct download: 117_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:14pm PDT

Did you know you should NOT do a fall garden clean up?

It sounds counter-intuitive, right? Plants have died back or gone dormant and winter’s coming. So, why wouldn’t we want to clear out the debris and tidy up?

Well if you’re an organic gardener, fall clean up is the last thing you should do because all the beneficial insects are overwintering in that debris. From native bees to ladybugs, the fall garden provides shelter and more.

In today’s episode, host Theresa Loe interviews author Jessica Walliser to give us the whole scoop on why traditional fall clean up is a thing of the past and what we should be doing instead.

Jessica also answers a listener question about trap cropping!

You will learn:

  • Why our fall garden is so important for butterflies & other critters
  • What you should do instead of clean up
  • How to handle plants going to seed
  • Why this actually makes your life easier
  • What is trap cropping and is it really effective
  • The simple trick to finding university garden research online

As always you can get more links and free info at www.LivingHomegrown.com/116 as well as a full transcript of the episode. 

Direct download: 116_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:22am PDT

Sometimes, you might want to make small batch preserves such as enticing pickles, chutneys, jams, or other condiments and NOT "can" them. Perhaps you just have a few extra tomatoes or cucumbers and you need a tasty way to use them up. Or maybe you have an event where you just need a jar or two of preserves to include on the table -- But you don't want to break out the canner.

Well, the book featured in today's episode would be the answer in those situations. It's called: Savory Sweet: Simple Preserves From A Northern Kitchen and host Theresa Loe interviews one of the authors (Beth Dooley) about why she and co-author Mette Nielsen wrote a preserving book without any "canning" in it. 

You'll learn: 

  • About the freedoms that come from not canning
  • How the book was specifically designed for food gardeners
  • Why small batches allow for more experimentation
  • The challenges of creating a cookbook that works for everyone
  • How to make a Sweet Pickled Winter Squash

And you can download a free PDF version of the Pickled Squash recipe that is perfect for the Thanksgiving table. Go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/115 to get the PDF, more links for info and a full transcript of the episode.

Direct download: 115_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:18pm PDT

I thought it would be fun to share some behind-the-scenes info on how a garden television show is put together and some of the garden and food stories we’ll be sharing in the coming months on our PBS show, Growing A Greener World.

To do that, I brought on the host and Exec Producer of the show Joe Lamp’l. Growing A Greener World was his vision. He dreamed it and put together the team who creates it. 

He’s the guy we laugh with at the end of an exhausting day and same guy we give the evil-eye to when he decides he wants to redo a scene “just one more time.” Ha!

You see…Producing a television show is NOT easy. There are long hours and lots of travel.

But I think you’ll get a kick out of hearing why we still love to do what we do...despite the hard work.

In this episode, you'll learn: 

  • How this gardening series was created
  • How watching the show can have a ripple effect for the planet
  • Which episodes will move you the most
  • Why bats will be making a TV debut next year
  • What TV celebrity will be featured next season
  • And more

As always, you can get a full transcript at www.LivingHomegrown.com/114 as well as all the links mentioned in the show.

Direct download: 114_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:17am PDT

You know when you pick up a cookbook and the recipes make your mouth water?

That’s when you know you have winner on your hands.

And such was the case with the preserving book featured in this week’s podcast.

I brought on author Emily Paster who has been on the podcast before (Episode 54). This time, she shares insights into creating flavorful preserves that are steeped in tradition.

Her latest book is called The Joys of Jewish Preserving.

Now I’m not Jewish, but I can’t wait to dive into some of these recipes because they are so innovative.

There are preserves using rose petals, wine,  and honey. And the recipes shift between jams, conserves and syrups and fermented and/or quick pickles.

There is something for everyone.

This book is meant to open the eyes of both new and experienced canners and explore modern combinations of fruit and spice.

You'll learn:

  • Why canners should look outside regular cookbooks for canning ideas
  • The exact steps to making Cinnamon Salt-Preserved Lemons
  • How to make delicious fruit syrups with ease
  • The many uses for fruit syrups including desserts and beverages
  • How Emily transitioned traditional recipes into modern preserves
  • Where she got inspiration for new flavor combinations
  • Different ways to use a lemon-walnut jam
  • Some of the stories behind the creations in the book
Direct download: 113_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:14am PDT

No, we are not talking about fairy gardens this week. We are discussing garden design on a teeny-tiny scale. It still involves design principals, plant choices and yes...maintenance...but with a fork instead of a rake. It can be a fun way to create the garden of your dreams without having to move the tree in your backyard. Sure you can turn a tiny garden into a fairy garden if you want to - but that something different. On today's episode, host Theresa Loe brings on Janit Calvo - a small gardening expert. They discuss Why miniature gardens are so popular, The therapeutic reasons you might want one, What makes them "real", How to create them yourself and get the scale just right, Why pathways are so important, The trick to laying teeny brick or stone, How these landscapes are perfect for people who can't get outside and Tips for creating them. As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/112 for a full transcript of the show and all the links mentioned. 

Direct download: 112_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:02pm PDT

In this episode, host Theresa Loe interviews community gardening expert LaManda Joy about the incredible work she does in Chicago with Community Gardens. You will not only be inspired by her story and her work, but you will also learn: How an old Victory Garden photo sparked an entire garden movement in Chicago, How LaManda grows new gardeners and generates community, What is the "Grow To Give" project, What you should look for in a community garden in your area, Why community gardens are the best places to learn, How to find a community garden and the importance of NOT being a perfect gardener. As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/111 to learn more, get all the links mentioned in the episode and download a PDF of the full transcript of the episode.

Direct download: LH_111_LivingHomegrown_Podcast_2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am PDT

Have you ever stepped away from your garden in the summer time, only to discover an edible (like carrots, celery, cilantro or basil) bolted and went to flower before you used it?  Ugh!  Once it goes to flower, it's on it's way OUT.  But fear not…You can still enjoy something extra from that plant – the flowers.  In this week’s podcast, host Theresa Loe shares her favorite tips and tricks for homegrown flower arranging. And you can use these tips for some of those edibles in your garden that have bolted and gone to seed. We're talking about carrots, celery, fennel, cilantro...anything with a bloom. You’ll be amazed at the stunning arrangements you can create with very little effort.  And you can use these tips to create daily arrangements throughout the entire growing season.

 You'll Learn: 

  • The pro secret to fixing wilted flowers (It’s not what you think)
  • Why woody stems sometimes need a hammer
  • The recipe for making your own floral preservative
  • Tips for best color and shape of your arrangements
  • The secret for getting your stems to stand tall
  • The step-by-step instructions to the perfect bouquet

As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/110 for more tips, resources, a free PDF Flower Arranging Tip Sheet and the transcript.

Direct download: 110_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am PDT

In this week's episode, host Theresa Loe interviews Kirsten Shockey about her new book: Fiery Ferments. But don't let the name fool you!  Not all the recipes are super hot! This book teaches you how to make fermented foods that just have a little kick OR that will knock your socks off. YOU can get to choose and control the amount of heat as you make the recipes. It's a fascinating discussion about flavor and how to take your ferments to a whole new level. It doesn't matter if you are a complete beginner or an advanced fermenter - there is lots to discover on this one! You learn: How fermented condiments can really expand your pantry, Why fermentation is such a safe thing to do, What you can use that adds spice WITHOUT the heat, Which pepper really opens you up to other flavors, Why fermented foods are more nutritious than raw, How to ferment using standard kitchen equipment (nothing to buy), Which salts are the best to use, What is pepper mash and how can we make it and use it, Why pepper mash is an excellent way to use up the extra peppers in your garden, And so much more!  As always, you can get more links and resources at: www.LivingHomegrown.com/109 including a PDF download of the complete fermented pepper mash recipe and the full transcript of the episode. And if you want more behind-the-scenes, bonus content or even extra bloopers - check out www.LivingHomegrown.com/sponsor to learn more about becoming a listener-sponsor of the podcast. It's a great way to get a deeper connection with the content.

Direct download: 109_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:53pm PDT

We all go through ups and downs in our lives and those things can actually impact our garden. Usually a traumatic experience changes us as people. But you know what? It can change the gardener within us as well. And that can mean we need to completely pivot our garden style or even location. In this episode, host Theresa Loe brings on garden designer Rebecca Sweet who happens to have one of the most beloved private gardens near the San Francisco area. People have been touring and admiring her garden for many, many years. Rebecca shares inspiring and insightful tips for when we may feel the need for a massive change in our own gardening lives. It’s a very touching interview! You'll learn: How any life change can make you see your garden differently, What to take when you move, Design tips for a brand new garden, How to make the experience a happy transition, Why care sheets for the new owners can save your garden's future, How to send off your old garden with a treasure hunt. As always, you can get more resources at www.LivingHomegrown.com/108 as well as a full transcript of the episode.

 

Direct download: 108_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am PDT

In this episode, you learn how to make wildcrafted cocktails with foraged ingredients. You learn about homemade syrups, bitters, infusions and garnishes from garden-fresh plants. Host Theresa Loe brings on foraging expert and author Ellen Zachos to give us the full scoop. You learn: All the different ways to use garden ingredients for cocktails, The basics of a good cocktail, How long infusions last on the shelf, Which plants make the best flavorings, How to forage safely, How to create the "Santa Fe Sundowner" Cocktail. As always, you can go to: www.LivingHomegrown.com/107 for more information, resource links, full transcript and a PDF of the lavender-infused cocktail recipe on the show. And if you would like bonus content only available to our crowd-sourced sponsors (including an after-the-show interview with Ellen), then go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/sponsor for more information.

Direct download: 107_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:39am PDT

If you are looking to eat local and in-season during the winter months, then you should be preserving some of the harvest now. The harvest can come from the farmer's market or your own backyard. Of course, you can break out the canning jars and put food up that way. But there are other methods that are super easy and preserve a lot of food at once. Today, host Theresa Loe brings on author Barbara Pleasant to chat about two such methods and whole lot more.  In this episode you learn: Which produce is best for cold and dry storage, Different ways that you can save foods in a dormant state, What it means to "cure" a pumpkin, The best pumpkin to grow for flesh and seed, How to prevent powdery mildew with a common kitchen ingredient, Which tomatoes are best for drying, Should you Steam veggies before drying, and How to store foods after dehydrating. As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/106 for the show notes, transcripts and links to more information. 

Direct download: 106_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:28pm PDT

Chances are your garden and farmer’s market are bursting with summer flavors. It’s time to save those flavors so that you can enjoy them later...Which means, it's canning season!! In today’s episode, host Theresa Loe answers several listener canning questions so that you can stay on track with your summer preserves. You learn: If you can use coconut sugar in canning, Which pectin product is preservative free, Some common jar mistakes, Detective skills for determining why a jar breaks, The difference between citric acid and ascorbic acid, When should you be concerned about bubbles, Why wax sealing was eliminated from canning many years ago and more. As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/105 to get all the links and free transcription of the show.

Direct download: 105_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:29pm PDT

Did you know that here in America the Monarch butterfly is in serious trouble?  It has had a 90% decline in it's population in the last 20 years. In this episode, you learn all about this beloved butterfly, the surprising reasons for its decline and what we as gardeners can do to help. Host Theresa Loe interviews author Kylee Baumle about this fascinating butterfly. You learn: Exactly why the Monarch is on the decline, The most important plant we need in our garden, The unusual migration of 3,000 miles the Monarch makes every year, How to create a Monarch Waystation, What is tagging and how we can do it, How we can become citizen scientists in our own backyard. As always, you can get more info and resources at www.LivingHomegrown.com/104 as well as a full transcript of the episode.

Direct download: 104_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:41am PDT

It doesn't matter if you are looking for something new to add to your current garden or if you are a beginner, looking to get started in fruit growing - Today's episode will inspire you with new flavors. Host Theresa Loe interviews author Dr. Lee Reich about growing some of the less common fruits. He gives tips on everything from pawpaws to juneberries. You learn: How Lee uses his backyard as his fruit laboratory, Which kiwi is hardy (even in New York), The benefits of growing juneberries, What is a lingonberry, Why you should never grow a lot of pawpaws, How Asian pears ripen differently than European pears, Which American Persimmons have the best flavor and so much more.  As always, you can visit www.LivingHomegrown.com for more free information, resources and a full transcript of the episode.

Direct download: 103_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:32am PDT

The challenges and benefits of moving a garden. If you decide to move to a new location (new home, new climate, etc.), what would you do with your current garden? Would you take plants with you?  Would you leave it all behind? And how would you go about starting over? What sort of things should you consider when moving to a new growing zone, new soil conditions and new challenges? In today's episode, host Theresa Loe interviews horticulture expert and garden coach, Robin Haglund. Although Robin regularly helps clients with these types of decisions, she recently moved her own garden from the city to the country in Washington state. She shares with Theresa her challenges, decision making process and the big wins along the way. You learn: What should you consider when assessing a new piece of land, Should you ever use landscape fabric, How to handle masses of weeds, What to consider when moving a garden, How to change your mindset around wildlife, How to raise chickens among country predators and more. As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/102 for a full transcript and links to everything mentioned as well as more free information on living farm fresh. 

Direct download: 102_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:43am PDT

In this week's episode, host Theresa Loe answers some listener's gardening questions. You learn: How long your garden seeds really last, What is the best way to test seed viability, Should you feed your vegetables or not, What are the benefits of fish emulsion, Can backyard gardeners do cover cropping, What insect makes those round holes on rose leaves...and should you be worried or not, Which herbs do best in containers, Can you grow coffee, allspice or pineapple at home. As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/101 to get the full transcript and links to all the resources mentioned in the episode.  Enjoy!

Direct download: 101_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:18am PDT

We are halfway through the year. Have you reached the goals you set at the beginning of the year?  Or did you even get around to setting any? It's okay if you blew that all off. If you still want to hit a few milestones before 2017 is over, June is a great time to regroup and start over. If you have farm fresh goals centered around your home, food or garden, you can take business strategies and adjust them to reach those goals. In this episode, host Theresa Loe walks you through how to pick, set and achieve the goals you have sitting on the sidelines...Those things you want to achieve before you hit the end of the year. They can be goals around food, diet, your garden/home or personal goals. It works for them all.  She shares tips for getting those goals off the ground so that you can check them off your "to do" list before the end of the year. You learn: The exact steps to reach the goals you want, How each goal will require a payment from you (but that can be a good thing), The best time frame for working on goals, How to set up your motivations so you stay on track, How SMART goals can help, The secret to preventing procrastination, Why reverse engineering works. As always you can get the full transcript of the episode at www.Livinghomegrown.com along with other information.

Direct download: 100_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:11am PDT

Learn what it REALLY means to make the leap from the city to farm life. In this episode, host Theresa Loe interviews Amy Boyd as she shares her story as a brand new lavender farmer. She and her husband are building their dream of farming Hillside Lavender in PA. You learn: How they planned for the transition but then had to make the leap, Exactly what they are creating and the need to de-stress these days, The driving force that keeps them going when things go wrong, How their adorable goats greet their customers and help provide soap, cheese and milk, Which lavenders they planted and why, How they have been handling setbacks and roadblocks, The most valuable lessons so far. As always, you can learn more at www.LivingHomegrown.com/99 where you can download Amy's lessons learned so far and get links and a full transcript of the episode.

Direct download: 99_LivingHomegrown_Podcast_.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:12am PDT

Learn exactly how a garden book is born - from concept to book store shelves. We all have beloved garden books that inspire and inform us. But have you ever thought about exactly what goes into creating it?  A lot more than you think!  Garden books have the extra burden of being seasonal. And that can make things like photography super tricky. 
In this episode, host Theresa Loe interviews garden book editor Julie Chai about exactly what went into the creation of one of the top garden books of 2017: Floret Farm's Cut Flower Garden. Author Erin Benzakein was featured on episode 95 (where she shared how the book can help us grow better backyard flowers organically). But this week, we hear about how a book like that is born. It is a massive project and yet, the resulting book is both beautiful and is having a huge impact in the gardening world. You learn: What goes into creating a top garden book, The first thing you should do if you want to be an author, The secret to writing within the seasons, How many people does it really take to produce a book, The first step in garden research, The "angle" on flowers that most people wouldn't think about. As always, you can get more information at www.LivingHomegrown.com/98 where you will also find a full transcript of the episode. 

Direct download: 98_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:28am PDT

If you have wanted to grow your own blueberries but thought it was too hard, this is the episode for you. Yes, blueberries have specific requirements. BUT...if you know the tricks, it is easy to have success! In this episode, host Theresa Loe interviews Lee Reich - a well-respected author and authority in fruit growing. Lee knows a thing or two about blueberries. In fact, his PhD is in blueberries! In this episode you learn: How growing blueberries is easier than you think, The pros and cons of each type of plant, The exact formula to adjust your soil pH, The secret to creating the best soil, How to best prevent birds from eating your harvest, How to prune each type of blueberry plant, The trick for knowing when your blueberries have the best flavor...and no...it has nothing to do with color! As always, you can get more information at www.LivingHomegrown.com/97 including links and a full transcript of the episode. 

Direct download: 97_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:23pm PDT

This week's podcast is a group podcast where host Theresa Loe brought on 5 different guest experts in the areas of Organic farming, Foraging, Fermenting, Wellness and Cheesemaking. Each of the experts answered the same question about living farm fresh. But they all had VERY different insights on how to live more organically and flavorfully. In this episode you learn: A simple trick for meal planning, How to find new organic flavors in your own backyard, Where to source inexpensive organic produce, How to get over the fear of fermentation, Simple steps to reduce stress and why we sometimes need to embrace failure when we try new food crafts. As always, you can get more information and all the links at www.LivingHomegrown.com/96 as well as a full transcript of the show. In addition there is a free PDF download in the show notes with a summary of all the tips. 

Direct download: 96_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:03pm PDT

Learn from the top organic flower farmer-florist in the country. In this episode, host Theresa Loe interviews farmer-florist Erin Benzakein of Floret Farm. Erin is well known in the organic flower world because she grows massive amounts of flowers in a relatively small space in the state of Washington while using organic practices AND she creates stunning bouquets that include edibles, vines and other farm-fresh ingredients. Her reputation earned her the Martha Stewart American Made Award for Floral and Event Design. And she has been featured in countless magazines and bridal websites. In this episode, Erin shares how we can grow and enjoy organic flowers in numerous ways ourselves. You learn: Why supporting local flowers is SO important for us and the earth, How Erin transitioned from city life to flower farmer life, The big impact you can have from a small handful of sweet peas, The counter-intuitive technique for reviving wiling cut flowers, The best pro tips for getting long vase life, Just how little space is necessary for growing, How the home gardener can get started, How to prevent wind-blow garden plants in less than 5 minutes, and so much more. As always, you can get al the related links mentioned in the episode in the show notes at: www.LivingHomegrown.com/95 as well as a full transcript AND a free PDF of all Erin's pro tips on getting a long vase life from cut flowers. Be sure to visit the website for more information and links to more articles on growing and enjoying organic flowers.

Direct download: 95_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:32am PDT

Learn how the simple mason bee can be incredibly powerful in our backyard gardens and in helping farmers around the world. These gentle creatures are much lower maintenance than a honeybee and yet, they can do just as much if not more to pollinate our food. In fact, they can boost our backyard food growing yields with just a few bees. In this episode, host Theresa Loe interviews Dave Hunter of Crown Bees to shed some light on this important topic. You learn: Why these gentle bees are so valuable to us, The differences between honeybees and mason bees, The mason bee's secret to massive pollination, Why it's important to ID what makes holes in your garden plants, How mason bees can be like zucchini (LOL), How we can participate in a citizen science project to help bees and farmers around the world, and the easy way you can raise and share these bees with friends. As always, you can get a ton of more information at www.LivingHomegrown.com/94 as well as a full transcript of the episode. 

Direct download: 94_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:18pm PDT

What? We can eat the hostas??  Yep, you can - If they are grown organically, of course. In this week's episode, host Theresa Loe interviews author and foraging expert, Ellen Zachos on the subject of foraging our own backyards. Learn exactly which common garden plants are edible AND learn how to prepare those foods after you harvest. You will learn: Important safety tips when it comes to foraging, Why starting in the backyard is a good idea, Which common plants are safe (and delicious) to eat, The one plant people are shocked to learn is edible, Why eating daylilies makes you a better gardener, Which tuber flavor changes dramatically with each species, The surprising plant with 4 edible parts, Which evergreens are safe to eat and how to do it. IMPORTANT: Always be absolutely certain of a plant's identity before consuming. Many toxic/poisonous plants look similar to the safe varieties. You must be careful and not assume everything is safe until you have it properly identified. As always, you can get all the links mentioned by going to www.LivingHomegrown.com/93 as well as a full transcript of the episode. 

Direct download: 93_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:58pm PDT

This episode is a Q & A session featuring several listener questions and answered by host Theresa Loe. You learn: If sterilizing is necessary when bottling up homemade liqueur, The biggest worry when infusing alcohol, Which "proof" is best when making liqueur infusions, The trick to getting a clear vinegar, Is it possible to reuse the fruit of one food project for another, How does homemade Greek yogurt work and Do you need a yogurt maker or not. All that and more - Plus you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/92 for a full transcript and all the links and resources mentioned in the episode.

Direct download: 92_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:12am PDT

Learn how to enjoy all sorts of garden harvests including fruits, veggies, flowers, seeds, pods and roots. If it has a harvest, there is a way to utilize it!  In this week's episode, host Theresa Loe interviews garden designer and author Stefani Bittner about her new book Harvest. Stefani co-wrote the book with Aletha Harampolis and together they create a book that is filled with gorgeous images, delicious recipes and tons of tips for adding a harvest to your life. You learn: How to create a useful and beautiful garden, Food safety in urban gardens, How to use all parts of the plants, A recipe for making a shrub (no - not the garden shrub! The drink!), How to garden through the seasons, How easy it is to add productive plants to your landscape. PLUS...You can enter to win a free copy of Harvest simply by going to the show notes and leaving a comment!  Two winners will be chosen - so leave your comment by March 16, 2017. Also, in the show notes there is a PDF download of Stefani's special quince paste recipe. She was nice enough to share!  Just go to: www.LivingHomegrown.com/91 and the recipe and a full transcript will be waiting for you. And don't forget to leave a comment!!  Tell Theresa what productive plant you are ready to grow next!  Your comment automatically enters you to win a free copy of the book directly from the publisher. Enjoy the episode. 

Direct download: 91_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:12pm PDT

This episode is all about flavor enhancers. It doesn't matter if you grow your own herbs or buy them fresh at the farmer's market, nothing beats the fresh taste of herbs in your cooking. But sometimes, you can't have fresh herbs at your fingertips. The good news is that there ARE ways to preserve those flavors for later so that when you find yourself in a pinch - those flavors are at the ready!  Host Theresa Loe has covered preserving herbs in different ways on other podcast episodes (which are listed in the show notes). And today, she covers two more methods that you can use: Herb Salts and Herb Butters. You learn: How to preserve herb flavor in salt, The best salts to use and why, Her favorite herbs to use, Two herbs you should NOT use, Why citrus is the perfect "secret ingredient", A method for freezing herbs that is very versatile, and How to take advantage of those flavors. As always, you can get more free information, links and a full transcript at www.LivingHomegrown.com/90 as well as a free downloadable recipe sheet with the recipes of the day.

Direct download: 90_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:02pm PDT

Learn what permaculture is and how to apply it to your own backyard to create more sustainable and eco-friendly garden. In this episode, host Theresa Loe interviews garden author Jessi Bloom. Jessi is an ecological landscape designer and the author of one of the top permaculture books in the country. You learn: Exactly what permaculture is, Why it is important, How to put it into practice this coming season, Why garden size doesn't matter when apply the principles, What the systems are and how they work, And how permaculture is about a lot more than gardening. As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/89 for more information, links mentioned in the show and a full PDF download of the transcript.

Direct download: LH_89_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:14am PDT

This episode is about taking a natural approach to pest control and avoiding sprays and pesticides...even organic ones. You see, many people think that switching to organic gardening methods just means changing from synthetic sprays to more natural/organic ones. But the truth is that if you have a more balanced ecosystem in your garden, you don't need sprays AT ALL.  And that is what we cover in this podcast. 

Host Theresa Loe brings on author and organic gardening expert, Jessica Walliser to share how we as organic gardeners can shift our mindset when it comes to bugs. You learn: About the ecosystem of your own backyard and how to balance it, Making the shift from sprays to no-sprays, Do plants have immune systems, Can a plant send out a distress call, How to change your mindset about bugs, How to attract the "good bugs", What is a beetle bump and why in the world would we want one in our backyard and much more. As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/88 to get all the links mentioned in the episode, more free information and a full PDF transcript of the show. 

Direct download: 88_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:15am PDT

In this episode, host Theresa Loe interviews author Shawna Coronado about simple organic gardening tips that we can do to save money and time. The tips range from practical time-savers to clever ways to reuse and repurpose items for gardening. You learn: How to use empty wine bottles in the garden, Why rotisserie chicken can lead to greenhouse growing, A shortcut to saving tomato seeds, How to grow edibles from kitchen scraps, The secret to sprouting potatoes, The magic of manure tea and How to reuse cooking water. As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/87 to get all the links mentioned and full transcript to the episode.

Direct download: 87_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:14pm PDT

This week's episode is the story of one man's journey of discovering his true calling in garden design while helping families along the way. Host Theresa Loe interviews Doug Scott - the owner of the landscape design firm, Redeem Your Ground. Doug helps families connect through the nature in their own backyards. You learn: Why sometimes school and business aren't the only measure of success, How to following your passion can lead to following your dreams, Life lessons that come from raising chickens, What nature deficit disorder is, How redeeming your ground leads to other redemptions, and three steps to getting started in your own backyard space. As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/86 to get all the related links and a free PDF download of the transcript. 

Direct download: 86_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:30am PDT

In this week's episode we talk about small livestock for those of us with have super small spaces. We've covered backyard chickens and ducks on previous episodes. So it was time to discuss raising backyard rabbits for their nutrient-rich manure or their fiber (hair for spinning). And yes, some people raise rabbits for meat. But that's not what we go into here. Instead, host Theresa Loe interviews author and farmer Chris McLaughlin about what it means to raise backyard rabbits. They discuss raising one cute little family pet for composting their manure, to what is involved with raising them to sell their "wool".  You learn: The different shelter requirements for rabbits, Combining rabbits with vermicomposting, The benefits of rabbit manure, The difference between wool, mohair and fiber, How to properly groom and care for fiber rabbits, Where to go to learn about speciality breeds and more. As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/85 to learn more, get related links and download the free PDF transcript of the show.

Direct download: 85_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:33am PDT

First everyone wanted backyard chickens. Now backyard ducks are gaining in popularity - and rightly so. Their eggs are incredible. And in many ways, they can be easier than backyard chickens. In this episode, host Theresa Loe interviews author and poultry expert, Lisa Steele of Fresh Eggs Daily. And they discuss all the benefits of raising ducks in your backyard. You learn: The benefits ducks can offer your garden, How they compare to backyard chickens, Are they fed differently than chickens, What do you need to provide so they are happy and healthy, What's the deal with having all your "ducks in a row", Do ducks have a sense of humor, Can ducks and chickens live together, Where should you go to get the more unusual breeds and so much more!  As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/84 to get all the links mentioned in this episode as well as the full transcript and a free PDF Tip Sheet on How to Raise Ducks.

Direct download: 84_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:29pm PDT

This episode is a little different!  Host Theresa Loe brings on eight different garden authors and experts to all answer the same question: "What do you know NOW, that you wish you knew THEN?"  In other words, if they could go back in time...What important piece of garden advice would they tell their younger, gardener-self?  This episode is packed with nuggets of gardening wisdom because each expert gave completely different answers.   You learn: Each expert's top piece of gardening advice, What type of mindset you should have when you garden, When you should ask for help and when should you "wing it" and so much more!  As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/83 for more information including: a free PDF download of all the garden tips (plus a few extras), a full transcript of the episode and links to all the garden experts previous podcast episodes. And there is a lot more free information on living homegrown and farm fresh on the website. Enjoy!

Direct download: 83_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:27am PDT

It doesn't matter if you use your backyard space for growing food, flowers, succulents or something else - there are many, many healing benefits you can get from that space. And you don't have to be sick or injured to reap those benefits. You only need to be mindful of them. In this episode, host Theresa Loe interviews garden designer and author Jenny Peterson about the many healing qualities of our gardens and how we can better tap into those benefits. You learn: The different benefits available to mind, body and spirit, Simple tips for better using our garden space, How exercise goes beyond cardio, What it means to be grounded, Simple ways to connect to nature, What are garden rituals, The daily practice that reaps the biggest rewards and more. As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/82 to learn more about healing gardens, Jenny's books and to get a full transcript of the episode. 

Direct download: 82_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am PDT

This podcast is about living closer to our food through preserving, artisan food crafts, small-space food growing and sustainable living. Making food from scratch can be a big part of that. And so can traditional, old-fashioned holiday recipes!  This week's episode is all about making traditional steamed puddings. Listen...we are NOT talking about fruitcake here. Nope. We are talking about melt-in-your mouth cakes that are rich and delicious. Host Theresa Loe gives you the low-down on what these desserts are and how you can make them with or without a steam pudding mold. You learn: Exactly what steamed puddings are and are not, Where to find molds, What to do if you don't have a pudding mold, The secret to never messing up the steam part, and she shares her family recipes for Persimmon Steamed Pudding and Mocha-Chocolate Steamed Pudding. It's a delicious episode. As always, you can visit www.LivingHomegrown.com/81 for more information, printable recipes and a full transcript of the show. 

Direct download: 81_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:29pm PDT

Just because there is snow on the ground does not mean you have to stop growing food. In this episode, host Theresa Loe interviews winter gardening expert Niki Jabbour on how we can extend the season no matter where we live. And even if you don't think you want to grow food during the winter months, you can learn how to extend the season which will help you start your spring garden a few weeks earlier. In this episode, you learn: Why a winter garden is easier than a summer garden, Five super easy methods for extending the season, The materials you can use to cover crops, How to make a cloche from recycled materials, The best crops to grow during the winter months, How to judge timing for sowing winter crops and more. As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/80 to get a full PDF transcript of the show as well as more information on growing food organically...even through winter. 

Direct download: 80_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:43pm PDT

This week’s podcast comes at the beginning of December and for many of us, that means the hustle and bustle of the holiday time is upon us. Suddenly our to-do lists double in size, we find ourselves running around to shop, and we are trying to cram in extra things like holiday cards and cleaning for guests and parties. It can become easy to lose ourselves to the stress and forget what the holidays are supposed to be about. This episode is a little different in that host Theresa Loe shares her story of how a simple birthday practice blossomed into a month long practice for her family. And how doing this over the last few years has transformed her family and greatly reduced the stress. And she shares how one day the tables were turned on her and she found herself on the receiving end when she needed it most. In this episode you learn: The story of the birthday practice, How this blossomed into a month long ritual, The transformation it had on her kids, The notes she uses and the power of carrying it forward, Why you don't need money to do this, Tips, ideas and examples of how you can do this yourself or with your kids AND there is a free PDF download to go along with this episode in the show notes. As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/79 for more information including a FREE PDF of kindness cards that can be used a prompts for your own month of kindness.

Direct download: 79_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:24am PDT

Learn how to create lush, living centerpieces for your table or your home. In this episode, host Theresa Loe interviews San Francisco plant and floral designer extraordinaire Baylor Chapman about creating a garden on a micro-scale...for inside your home. Even if you have no garden space outside or your current garden is asleep for winter, you can have greenery inside to stay connected to nature. A tabletop landscape is easy and inexpensive to do. You learn: The benefits of indoor greenery, how tablescapes follow basic landscape principles, The elbow rule of centerpieces, What is Kokedoma, How to build a mini-meadow on a table, Why your guests can take part of your design home, Different ideas for other seasons of naturescapes. As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/78 for related links, a full PDF transcript and other information about this episode. 

Direct download: 78_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:56am PDT

Learn about three indoor garden activities for kids and adults alike that can keep you connected to nature through the winter months. These projects can add greenery to your home and are fascinating to watch. We all know that being outside in nature is good for kids. But winter can mean less outdoor playtime. If you want to nurture your kids to appreciate the environment and perhaps grow up to be gardeners themselves, keeping them engaged is key. But you don't need kids to do these projects! Adults can get just as much enjoyment out of them. In this episode, host Theresa Loe walks you through forcing bulbs, sprouting wheatgrass and sprouting mushrooms on your kitchen table. You learn: Why a connection to nature is so important for kids today, All the materials needed for each project, Which bulbs are easiest to force and why, The trick to getting wheatgrass to sprout quickly, How to know that your wheat is ready to "mow", Why adding dinosaurs to your project can take it to the next level, How a mushroom growing kit works, Safety training for kids when growing mushrooms. As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/77 for all the related links and a full PDF transcript of the episode. 

Direct download: 77_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:11am PDT

Although this podcast focuses on living farm fresh without a farm, many of the listeners DO want a farm or are already farmers themselves. Well, this episode is about one couple who decided they wanted to be farmers. And they wanted to farm their suburban backyard...as a business. Host Theresa Loe interviews new organic farmer, Emily Aarons. Although they are just starting out, Emily is able to share their successes so far as well as 5 important lessons learned. You learn: What made Emily and Andrew decide to be farmers, What sort of regulations were needed, What it means to be certified organic - even in a backyard, The truth about commercial egg labeling, How Emily juggles being a new mom and farmer at the same time, The 5 most important lessons they have learned so far. As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/76 for more information, the full show notes, related links and a free PDF of the transcript. 

Direct download: 76_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:41am PDT

Learn the simple steps to creating the edible garden of your dreams - beautiful AND delicious. In this episode, host Theresa Loe interviews edible landscape designer/author Stefani Bittner about how listeners can transform their garden into an epic food garden. You learn: The simple steps to getting started, The #1 thing you MUST do to ensure food safety, Why you shouldn't plant next to an old fence post, Why swapping out can make all the difference, Which edibles make great screens, Why you shouldn't eat the edibles between stepping stones, Fun edibles that are also stunning in the landscape, What to consider when planting in the front yard and more. As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/75 for a full transcript and links to much more information. 

Direct download: 75_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:20pm PDT

Learn to make countertop yogurt with NO special equipment. Enjoy this encore presentation. Next week, we are back to brand new episodes. Also - Listen to the beginning of this episode to learn about a brand new FREE webinar happening on November 3, 2016. It's geared for brand new canners wanting to get over their fear of learning to can. In the encore episode, you learn: The advantages of homemade yogurt, How the whole process works, Why you don't need any special equipment, How to make it without heating the milk, Which milks work best, All the different types of yogurt you can make. As always, you can get all the links AND a printable yogurt making guide for free at: www.LivingHomegrown.com/74 and you can also find a full transcript of the episode.

Direct download: 74_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:22pm PDT

Although there's some new info in this episode, the main topic is an encore presentation from one of host Theresa Loe's more popular episodes. It's packed with practical and important info on canning safety. Why include an encore? As Theresa announces in this episode, there's some new exciting projects in the works around Living Homegrown and the team needed a little time to focus on those projects. But don't worry, there are some cool interview episodes coming up that you will love. Theresa also announces a NEW, FREE live canning training coming up in November. In this episode, you learn: The most important canning jar ring safety practice, Why photographs of canned goods are so misleading, The optimal time to remove canning rings, Three key reasons these safety practices are important, The storage mistake that can waste your canning efforts and more. As always, you can go to www.livinghomegrown.com/73 to get more information and download the full transcript. You can also register for Theresa's new free canning training coming up in November.

Direct download: 73_LivingHomegrown_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:23am PDT