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.

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. 

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.

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.

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

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.