Living Homegrown Podcast with Theresa Loe (general)

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