Living Homegrown Podcast With Theresa Loe

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

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 ho

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.

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.

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 ne

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.c

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 t

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

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

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 att

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 st

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. 

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 W

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 inspiri

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.

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

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 S

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 seaso

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 sy