Fri, 17 November 2017
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:
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. |
Fri, 10 November 2017
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:
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. |
Sat, 4 November 2017
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:
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. |
Fri, 20 October 2017
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:
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. |
Sat, 14 October 2017
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:
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. |
Mon, 9 October 2017
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:
As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/117 to get links to everything mentioned and get a full transcript of the episode. |
Sat, 30 September 2017
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:
As always you can get more links and free info at www.LivingHomegrown.com/116 as well as a full transcript of the episode. |
Fri, 22 September 2017
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.
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. |
Fri, 8 September 2017
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.
As always, you can get a full transcript at www.LivingHomegrown.com/114 as well as all the links mentioned in the show. |
Sat, 2 September 2017
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:
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