Living Homegrown Podcast with Theresa Loe (general)

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