Growing Your Grub Podcast show

Growing Your Grub Podcast

Summary: This podcast is devoted to educating you on how to grow your own safe and healthy food garden. We welcome your feedback and questions for the show and look forward to having you join our community.

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  • Artist: Steve Howard
  • Copyright: Copyright 2010, FarmcastNetwork.com

Podcasts:

 GYG-105 Incompatible Plants in the Vegetable Garden | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 33:47

"Can't we all just get along?" as the saying goes also applies to many of the vegetables we all know and love to grow in our garden. Now we have all heard abnout planys that get along well, like Marigolds and Tomatoes, but what about those that have "issues" with certain other plants? Thats what we talk about in this episode of Growing Your Grub. Just a few vegetables that have cautionary garden partners are: Asparagus Beans Broccoli Cabbage Carrots Celery Sweet Corn Onions Peas Peppers Potatoes Tomatoes This episode topic was due solely to the comments by one  of the podcast listeners.  So please, send your request in to feedback@growingyourgrub.com. For further plant information go here: Burpee List of Incompatible Plants

 GYG-104 Grow Some Fruit in Your Garden | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 24:15

A listener recently asked about growing her own fruit trees right there in her own backyard. I grow my own fruit, and so can you. Here I have Peaches, Nectarines, Mandarin Oranges, and Myer Lemons. And no matter where you are there should be some fruit variety that tastes good, and will grow in your area. Even if you are in a cold winter zone there is a way you can still raise fruit like lemons. I’ll talk about that in a bit. Sunlight First off, most fruit trees require full sun. This generally means at least 6 hours of pure, unbroken sunlight. While many can tolerate a bit less, it may mean your harvest will be reduced somewhat too. Soil Soil requirements do vary from variety to variety. When planting your tree, yopu can customize the soil based on the individual needs if required. That’s what I had to do here because of all the clay. I dug out a hole much larger than needed, and ammended the soil with a custom blend I made up, and removed the soil I took from the hole to another location. Plant varieties will vary from needs of PH, looseness, etc. Ask your tree supplier what the tree you are getting wants to have. Cold-Hardiness Fruit plants vary widely on cold tolerance. Temps below this may kill just new buds affecting only the new season, or it may even kill the entire plant. You can find what the average temps are in your area at http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/ The cold hardiness of your plants are one of the most important points to take into consideration. Some varieties even have a warm days requirement, although these are generally plants for very warm areas like paw-paw and pomegranates. Next I want to talk about one of the most confusing aspects to many new growers - self-fruitful and self unfruitful plants. Self fruitful simply means the tree or plant is able to pollinate itself without the help of another tree. Now it still needs the help of pollinators like bees and butterflies, but it doesn’t require the pollen from a different tree. Self-Unfruitful simply means the plant does require pollen from a different tree. And to confuse matters a little more, some varieties won’t cross-pollinate with their own variety, meaning not only two trees are needed, but also a different and many times specific variety. I believe Some Cherries fall into this category. Spacing is another important thing to keep in mind. Your plants will grow, and quickly become crowed if you’re not careful. Again, spacing is highly dependent on the plant species. Generally, Apples are about 20 ft for the full size trees, and 12 ft for the semi-dwarf varieties. Peach, Nectarine, and pears are normally around 15 ft to allow for healthy growth. Rootstock One thing to become familiar with is the practice of using various rootstocks. Many trees, especially citrus and apple are grafted onto the root section ( “rootstock) of another variety. This is to give it more cold hardiness, disease resistance, or any number of reasons. Once you start growing for a while, you will even learn about the different varieties of rootstocks and which ones are best for your location. Since I mentioned Apples, I should also mention that they are among the most difficult to grow successfully. East of the Rocky Mountains apples have a significant pest issue, and all have substantial pruning requirements. Earlier I mentioned that you can grow fruit even if you are in a cold climate.  While you can cover the trees in burlap, and other things, what I like to do is choose some of the dwarf varieties and keep in a large planter.  Then as the weather cools, you can bring it inside. To me nothing beats the smell of a flowering lemon in the middle of winter! When the plants are kept in the planter, their roots naturally don't get that large, and it helps to keep the plant size reduce.  I alsways had a lemon tree in my kitchen in Texas- the aroma was unbelievable.  And, the lemons bloomed year round.

 GYG-103 Why Square Foot Gardening? | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 28:25

First off, I want to apologize for the pity party last week. I almost pulled the episode. Its the first episode I really regretted recording after I listened to it. But what an overwhelming response to my request for input on the podcast. I am extremely humbled by what I received. That is an understatement. You are such a great group of friends.....Thank You I received so many nice stories about how my little podcast has affected their lives I can’t believe it. And they cam from as far away as the UK and Australia. I am attempting to reply to each and every one of you but it is taking some time. I decided to keep the podcast and blog going, although it may not have a solid schedule. I will attempt one at least every week, but I can’t promise success. As for the financial side of the podcast we’ll see how it goes. One of my neighbors suggested I share one of my new country crafts with you. Wile technically not gardening related, it is food related. Since moving to the country I have also taken up woodworking as a form of therapy. I have been making a lot of handmade breadboards and chess boards along with some other things like small cabinets for friends and neighbors. I am thinking about offering them here on the website as a way to defray some of the costs. If there is any interest I’ll give the first one away in some sort of a drawing before I put them on sale. What do you think? They are handmade by me, and made of many different hardwoods such as oak, maple, ash, gum, and others. Its been just a hobby but I use several myself. The are nice and thick, not the skinny little boards you see in the stores. I am also putting back some links to books I like on Amazon. If you would use any of these links when you go to Amazon, regardless of what you are shopping for, they send me a few pennies. No extra cost for you, Amazon takes care of everything. And again, thanks for all your feedback. It was just what I needed. Remember: Have you thought about starting a garden journal? Be sure and check out nwedible.com Garden Journal Raised Beds - Why? Warm up earlier Dry out - drains Customize your soil   Materials Lumber natural branches brick stone anything that will hold your soil or Just a banked mound even.... Lend very well to drip irrigation. Valve or spigot at each bed, different water needs, etc   The ABC's of SFG ( Square Foot Gardening) What is Square Foot Gardening? Mel Bartholomew Raised beds Divided - important Mel’s Mix Vermiculite Compost Peat Moss

 GYG-102 Seed Starting Racks and Gardening Podcasts | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 33:11

Wow!  I didn't realize how long it has been since I had produced a podcast or blog post. But in my defense, Fall/Winter of 2013, & early 2014 were difficult times. First my younger brother-in-law passed away unexpectedly and really hit the family hard. Following this, we had some terrible wildfires that even took out some of my raised beds. Then, as we moved into Autumn, around Thanksgiving I came down with that terrible cold/flu that was going around.  One day I would think I was getting better, and the next thing I knew I was down again.  This continued past Christmas 2013 through Early January 2014. I do want to put that year behind me. But I really don't want this to become a pity party, just an explanation.  Part of the wake up call was that life is short and we need to visit places we haven't seen, see relatives we havent seen in a long time, etc.  As a result of this and the intense drought here, we intend to be on the road quite a bit this summer and not have a garden at home. I am also in "retirement" so covering all the expenses of a podcast at times has been becoming somewhat overwhelming. 'Nuff' said! Much of the country is still in the throes of one of the toughest winters on record.  My daughter in Minnesota has kept me informed of how rough it was there this winter, so I can pretty well picture the rest of you too. But rest assured, it will soon be melting and we will all be thinking of what to plant, how to plant it, and when to get started. So this makes it a perfect time to decide if you want to start your own seeds for planting later on.  By doing so, you can choose plants you may not find in your local garden center.  To me, that is a big advantage. If you haven't started your own plants before, you should build your own seed starting rack.  If your needs are small you can still do so in your windowsill.  Window sills are especially good for herbs which you can doo all winter in fact. Racks can be as simple as wood legs with shelves, or you can buy metal shelving at Discounters like Costco, Sams Club, etc. On the underside of each shelf, hang a inexpensive fluorescent shop light.  I used some small length of chain I picked up at Home Depot. Some people get picky about getting day time temperature lamps for them, but in my experience, I haven't found it makes much difference for this purchase. Run the shop lights into a timer so you can have the lights automatically turn themselves on and off.  Leave them on for about 12-18 hours per day. If you want to get an early start with tomatoes and hot peppers, you can get seed mats to keep it all warm and toasty.  It's simply a rubber matted heating pad you place under the seed starts,  Optionally, you can even get them with a thermostat. The next question you may have is when to start your seeds.  Clyde Majerus makes an outstanding ( and inexpensive) cardboard slide rule that helps you calculate when to plant, what to plant, and when to expect a harvest.   I can't recommend it more. But rather than be tell you more about it, take a look at it on his website where he even has a video.  Clyde's Website.   Chart is actually white, his photo color is off.    

 GYG-101 Preserving Your Grub | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 30:36

It's that time of year again when all our hard earned produce becomes ripe and ready to eat. But after a week or two of Tomatoes, or squash, or (fill in the Blanks) you start to wonder if there is a way you can save some of that great homegrown food for later in the year, or better yet, winter time The good news is there are ways to do this. Many of us know of Canning but may not know just how to start. But there are actually three ways you can preserve your food both safe and reliable. Canning Freezing DeHydrating Each of these methods could have a post or book of their own, so I wlll simply hit the highpoints and provide you with a link to a site where you can find much more information should you choose. I personally use all three methods, after finding somethings see to taste better to me frozen than canned, and dehydrated food has such a long shelf life. I will be discussing these types of processing in more detail on the next podcast, but I wanted to get this information out to you as soon as I could. Canning Canning is the oldest method and involves either a Hot water bath for vegetables with a high acid content like tomatoes, but for vegetables like beans and peas with low acid content, you need to use a pressure Cooker style canning. The first thing you should get as it will become your "Bible" is the Ball "Blue Book of Canning". It not only describes the types of canning, but also provides many recipes for safe canning But unlike normal recipes, you shouldn't vary these recipes much ( at first at least) as they have been closely tested for safety and health issues. Otherwise, you may have problems with issues like botulism, which is nothing to mess with. With Canning, you sterilize glass jars and place your recpe solution in the jar. It is then sealed with a 2 piece lid, and placed into the Water Filled "Canner" to cook for a set amount of time, based on the recipe. At the conclusion of cooking, the hot jars are removed and allowed to sit overnight and col. As they col, the lid will seal and sometimes even "pop" audibly when the seal happens. After the jars are cool, they can be labeled, given as gits, or placed in the pantry. Freezing Freezing has become my favorite for some foods like green beans or peas. Now when I say freezing, I don't mean something as simple as throwing food into a zip-loc food bag and tossing it into the freezer. Freezer Burn will quickly ruined food left in there that way. I use and recommend a device like the Food-Saver" which is a vacum sealer that removes all the air from the package. You can then label the item with description and the date . Only after that will I freeze an item. As I mentioned earlier, beans, peas, carrots can all be frozen with great success. They will lose the "crunchiness", but when I cook them as a side dish or a element of a stew that happens anyway so all is well. I usually blanch the item to get it's color showing, then chill it in an ice bath before freezng. This way not only do you save the bright colors, they are partially coked when you are ready to use them. The downside is you need to buy the vacuum saver device, generally running from $60-$200 US. Some of the devices will even work with a spool of bagging material and let you create bags of any size you wish. Handy for fish and larger cuts of meats. Then there is the supply of freezer bags. I have found these can be found online in quantity at good discounts.   Dehydrating Dehydrating is simply the process of drying them out to remove all moisture from the vegetable. Then when you want to use it you only need to add them to water and they literally come back to life. I really like this method, and there are two basic styles of dehydrators. Both rely on several shelves with mesh screens to rest the vegetables on while drying them. The frst is a circular style with a fan on the bottom blowing upward.

 GYG-100 Tomato Hornworm Control and Homemade Tomato Sauce | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 26:12

Manduca quinquemaculata One of the most devastating garden pests is now making the rounds.  If you haven't had a visit from the Tomato HornWorn, consider yourself lucky. Theses beasts can devour a complete tomato plant in a day or two. About the diameter of an adult male's thumb and up to 5 inches long, you can imagine the damage they can do. But there is also help for us from the insect world.  Parasitic wasps will lay eggs on these critters which then survive by living off the hornworm and eventually killing it.  As you can see in the photo at right, the eggs appear as small kernels of rice.  This is a GOOD sign and proof that we need to be careful about killing other insects around our garden. One way you can observe them is to place all yopu find on a sacrificial tomato plant while they eat.  If you just want to get rid of these beasts, just pluck them off and squish them or drop in a bucket of water. They spread by the "Hawk Moth" or Manduca quinquemaculata laying eggs on the leaves of the plant.  The eggs hatch and turn into the green monster as it's larval stage where it does the most damage.  It then cocoons up near the Fall and a new moth emerges in the Spring. Some control can be had by some cultivation where your tomato plants were, and by rotating to another planter or field.  Dill, nasturtiums, and some other plants interspersed between your plants will also sometimes help. I just plucked mine off and dropped into some water.  never had any more after that. One of the best descriptions on these beasts complete with photos can be found at http://www.gardengrapevine.com/TomatoWorm.html.   Homemade Tomato Sauce One of the best uses for tomatoes as far as I am concerned is good old homemade tomato sauce.   Cut the core from the top of each tomato.  Cut an 'X' in the bottom of each tomato. Bring a pot of water to a boil, and when boiling drop in the tomatoes.  After a minute or two, or when you see the skin peeling, pull them out.  I use a Spider ( Chinese cooking tool) and drop into a container of ice water to shock them. Peel the skin off each tomato ( it will come off easily) Slice up the tomatoes, removing the tough parts and seeds. Heat up a dutch oven or stock pot and add about a tablespoon of Olive oil or so to the pan. After the oil warms up, add the mirepoix ( carrots, onions, and celery) and garlic, sauteing until they start to soften. Add in the tomatoes, a tablespoon or so of tomato paste, and a 1/2 cup or so of red wine ( optional) Add a bay leaf, some Basil, Oregano, parseley, salt and pepper bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer.  Let simmer for at least 2 hours or more for better flavor. Taste the result, and add additional seasoning to taste. I know there are not a lot of exact measurements in the recipe, but it really needs to be tasted and adjusted to how you like it.  That's what makes it soo much better than commercial sauce, and you know exactly what's in it. It freezes well, so the next time you are trying to figure out what to do with all the tomatoes you grew, try making some sauce. You will love it the following winter!    

 GYG-099 Hot Weather Gardening | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 28:37

Although I made this video a couple of years ago, the recent hot weather I experienced for the past two weeks reminded me of the importance of knowing how to garden in hot weather. I know most of these are common sense, but I did want to share these tips with you so you won't become a statistic. Keep hydrated - bring lots of water Wear a long sleeve shirt and don't be afraid of sunscreen. Overalls are rugged, cool and work for men or women Always wear a hat- I like broad brimmed Wesgtern hats or garden hats. Wear Sunglasses Do the gardening Chores in early morning or in the evening as it cools off. Use an ice-wrap around your neck to keep cool Keep bandanas - useful for many things like ice bandanas, bandage, head cover, sweat, etc Water - STAY HYDRATED!  Drink lots of water.  Have a bottle or two on hand with you somewhere.  many places sell small water bottles for hikers that keep your water cool for quite a while.  Although the bottled water you can easily find in any store works, I don't like to use them as the plastic left behind is such a mess in landfills.  The hiker bottles clip on my belt better anyway. Performing your chores in the early morning while it's still cool will not only be better for you, but your plants will also be better set for watering, weeding, etc than later in the day with a hot sun overhead. Find a cotton long sleeve work shirt for gardening.  It will reduce bug bites, thorns, and most importantly sunburn.  If extremely hot, wet down the sleeves with water and as it evaporates it will make you feel cooler. Wearing overalls may not look the greatest, but you will be amazed at how much cooler they will keep you.  This works equally good for men or women, Always wear a hat when oout in the garden.  Broad briommed western style or garden hats are the best, usually in a straw material to help you stay cool.  If you are out when it rains someday, you will also learn of some additional benefits like no rain down the back of youor neck. Always wear sunglasses.  As an eye doctor told me once, "most people have no clue how much damage bright sun can place on your eyes."  Believe him and always wear a pair outside.  I have several, including a cheap pair I keep in a mailbox I keep in the garden as a storage box. Ice Neck Wraps - There are small neck wraps filled with a chemical that allows you to freeze them and tie them around your neck.  As they thaw it keeps you cool.  Unfortunately in my experience they really don't last long and need to be re frozen. My preferred method, which I learned while riding motorcycles in 100+ degree heat is a neck wrap made simply out of a bandana and some ice cubes.  I show how to lay one out in the video above, but basically just dampen a bandana folded in a triangle.  Lay a row of cubes along the long end and roll it up.  Tie this around your neck, and as the ice melts, it runs down your body and acts like an air conditioner as it evaporates. Please watch the video for more detailed explanations on these tips. A new seed company to watch - discussed on the podcast.  Take a look... www.fruitionseeds.com  

 GYG-098 Tips Taking a Vacation – While Having a Garden | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 27:19

  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is poised to raise – yes, raise – the limits for glyphosate residue allowed on fruits and vegetables sold in the U.S. stores. Glyphosate is the key ingredient in Roundup, Monsanto’s widely used broad-spectrum herbicide. MIT Report on Glysophate Health Issues In 2009, a French court found Monsanto guilty of lying; falsely advertising its Roundup herbicide as "biodegradable," "environmentally friendly" and claiming it "left the soil clean." Is there any wonder why we don't trust them on the GMO issue?   Vacations with a Garden Now that it's summertime, many of you will want to take a well deserved vacation.  But how doi you do that with an active garden?  Here are some tips we discuss on the podcast. Install a Drip Irrigation System on a Timer Be sure to Mulch Check around the Garden and Clean up before leaving Feed the Plants before you leave with some organic fertilizer Find a Garden Nanny ( Take Photos of Garden) Plan some Time in the Garden on Your Return.   Chemical Spray Drift Problems Master Gardener Steven Graves wrote in about some problems he is having with spray from a nerby farm drifting in on his garden and some possible solutions. In that discussion, the following radio shows/podcasts are mentioned: Bob Webster - http://ktsa.com/pages/6341589.php Howard Garrett - The Dirt Doctor - http://www.dirtdoctor.com/Dirt-Doctor-Radio-Broadcast-Archivesbr_vq1726.htm Farmer Fred - Farmer Fred Rants      

 GYG-097 Heavy Duty Tomato Cages | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 30:12

This past month has been a tough one for many here in the US. First, the Moore Oklahoma Tornados hit, we had a 5.7 earthquake here in Northern California, follwed by wildfires here and in many places in the country, especially in Colorado. All these emergencies really help to point out how important being prepared is. Thats one of the main reasons many of us, myself included, are trying to grow and preserve our own food. If we have a supply of preserved food, whether it's canned, dehydrated, or frozen we will have a much better chance or weathering the storm so to speak than the average Joe or Jane who relies on the Food system for all of their needs. I know I beat this statistic to death here, but it's so important to keep in mind that on average most stores and supermarket only have a 3 day supplie of goods in stock based on current demand. If demand shoots up or we have something that prevents the trucks from coming in like storms, fuel shortages, or ????? what will they do. On a more personal note, my kid brother in law who was a very athletic outdoorsy person, passed away unexpectedly of a heart attack. So why am I talking about this with you? Simple - I want to share with you what I FINALLY came to realize. Enjoy each day to it's full potential. Don't put off important things till later. Spend time with your family, take those vacations. As much as possible, live today to its fullest. That means don't spend all your life working late for that career. Your company only cares as long as it takes to replace you. Your family and friends care more. Whether you are working for someone or own your own business, find work that you LOVE to do. Don't just accept the job as it is. This little step can reduce stress and make your life more filling. Don't put off those special events. Things like vacation, family gatherings, etc are important not just for you but everyone else too. As we found out with my kid Brother-in-law, you never know when they are going to leave you. Deer Protection The main ways to protect your garden are Fences and dogs, but fences can be expensive. I had a 7 foot deer fence in Texas, but I got careless here in California. One night a roving herd cleared my entire Tomato crop, and pruned my Peach tree. This Winter's project? Guess what? A deer fence. Ground too hard to gig in the summer here ( Clay). Within the enclosure I'll have raised beds with a couple more peach and fruit trees.   Sturdy Tomato Cages Thanks to Eric at www.GardenFork.tv and more recently Organic Gardening Magazine, I built a coupole of heavy duty tomato cages. In the past I have staked my plant as I was unimpressed by the tomato cages sold in the stores. They were weak, not tall enough and just weren't worth it. But after building two of these heavy duty panels from the article in Organic Gardening, I just may switch back. Read the article along with instructions and photos at:  Tomato Cages:   "Cooked" by Michael Pollan A new book by Michael Pollan talks about how our relation with food or the lack of it has helped lead to many of the problems we face today. He says, and I agree, that when we prepare our own food and not rely on a distant invisible company to do it for us, we have a better understanding of it's importance, not to mention many health benefits. The book is broken into 4 interesting sections: Fire - Open Fire cooking - BBQ Water - sautéing, braising, etc Air - Baking Earth -Fermentation Posible New Blog? I am thoroughly enjoying this book, and partially as a result of this reading, I may start another websie dedicated more to cooking I have bought the 2 domains "CookingYourGrub", and "GrillingYourGrub". These will probably be more of a visual related website with Youtube videos on the Blog. I didn't feel audio would be right in this instance because who likes to just listen about how to make a particular dish rather than seeing it done,

 GYG-096 Composting Made Simple | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 34:50

Before I get started on Composting, here is a video that explains the balance needed for hot composting, and does it very well. Compost if one of the most important ingredients to add to your vegetable garden. It adds nutrient back to the soil, and can reduce garbage otherwise sent to the landfill. But to many it's a complicated process with "browns", "greens", ratios, hot compost, cold compost etc. I hope to help you clear the subject a bit so you can get started making your own compost. Successful composting needs 4 things: 1.Greens 2.Browns 3.Air 4.Water “Green” or “Brown” does not refer to the color. Refers to the Carbon:Nitrogen Ratio. Those highest in Nitrogen are called “Greens”. Higher in Carbon called Browns. Greens •Grass Clippings •Vegetable trimmings •Animal Manures ( well composted) •Tea Bags, coffee grounds •Old Flower Bouquets Browns •Straw •sawdust •wood shavings •branches Start Keeping Kitchen Scraps, Lawn Trimmings for your compost pile.  You can find compost pails with odor filters online, or if you prefer, keep a big box store 5 gal bucket with lid outside your kitchen door, emptying it to your pile when possible.  I have found it is best to keep your pile as near to your garden as possible as you will have a lot to add to the pile from the garden throughout the season. Bowl on the counter or bucket on the porch Types of composting Hot Compost Balance the browns ( carbon materials) to the Greens ( Nitrogen material to get roughly a 30:1 mixture When starting out in sometimes help to have a “recipe” of sorts for fast hot compost. Example Compost recipe: 3 parts fresh grass clippings 1 part kitchen scraps 1 part damp straw Prepare the materials: cut chunky materials like melon rinds into roughly 1” chunks for faster decomposition. Manage the moisture. keep a hose nearby to keep the pile moist Be sure to frequently turn the mixture with a garden fork or pitchfork. Check internal temp with a compost thermometer, adding water or a nitrogen booster like grass clippings or high protein meal like Soybean or cottonseed meal.  These are inexpensive and organic. Finish and Cure When no longer warm, it should be ready to use. Cold Compost Can sometimes be better than hot compost as it doesn’t kill of some of the beneficial organisms that are so important to our soil. Slow but less labor intensive - a year or more Build in Some Balance Plan for passive aeration Build a healthy heap Patient, not absent Turn when mood strikes Types of Compost Piles For an excellent tutorial on composting including the different types of bins, download the free Composting Book at - http://centrecountyrecycles.org/Pdf%20Files/composr.pdf   Types of Compost bins/Piles to consider: Piles Wire Bins Commercial Tumblers Traditional 3 Bin Systen    

 GYG-095 Drip Irrigation – It’s Easy! | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 34:59

In an earlier Episode, I spoke about how effective and easy it was to extend your growing season with a hoophouse like Elliot Coleman wrote about in his books. Listener Rev John Watton did me one better and shared some photos of his success in Newfoundland, Canada.  That's Zone 4, Folks.  These photos were taken on April 12th, 2013.  As you can see there is snow and cold outside, yet inside his hoophouse he is enjoying Bok Choy, Lettuce, and Spinach.  Way to Go Rev Watton! Although many of you are still struggling with cold, snow, and flooding, soon it will be time to get your outdoor garden ready and that should mean a way to water ( irrigate it). I am a big fan/believer in drip irrigation for a couple of reasons: Cost Conservation Healthier for the plants ( less diseases past around) Although much of the materiel and tools needed can be found at the local big box stores, I prefer to use http://www.Dripworks.com.  They are not the cheapest, but they always have what I need and many new innovations the other stores don't bother with.    

 GYG-094 Easy Ways to Garden | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 43:39

This week I decided to discuss 3 Easy ways to Garden for Vegetables.  While I concede the third is open for disagreement, I still consider it easier than many other methods, especially fr beginners. Container Gardening Straw-Bale Gardening as taught by Joel Karsten Raised Bed Gardening Joel Karsten ( who has been a guest on this show ) has a new book on Straw Bale Gardening and  is full of information, suggestions, and best of all - photographs.   The link to the book is on the right side of this page.  I highly recommend it. I am trying it out myself this year in addition to my raised beds.  I like doing my own tests. The Fruit trees are beginning to show signs of fruit even in the first year planted here ( from 5 gallon buckets ) so am really excited for this season.

 GYG-093 Growing Fruit Trees and Spring Garden Protection | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 38:14

Many vegetable gardeners don't seem to think much about growing their own fruit trees in addition to their vegetables. Many times they think their climate is wrong, it's too muh work, etc. But nothing could be further from the truth. This week I quickly go over the basics of how to get started with your own backyard fruit orchard and how easy it is. Spring Garden Protection We also talk about using row covers to protect your early plants from pests like cabbage worms, vine borers, etc. But the can also be used to simply keep the bed warmer, and with the use of plastic instead, can be made into a mini-greenhouse, much like John Watton from Newfoundland has done. In Johns case, he did have a small unheated greenhouse, and he created a little low tunnel inside it and has an early start on Spring crops with no heat. If John can pull it off in Newfoundland, imagine what you can do in your location.   Recommended Fruit Books Grow Fruit Naturally by Lee Reich ( my main reference) Fruit Trees in Small Places by Colby Eirman Rhw Home Orchard by the University of California ( Focus is on California but it still has a lot of goof info).  

 GYG-092 Weedless Gardening? | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 31:13

Several Years ago, I was able to locate an out of print book by Ruth Stout. In it, an 80+ year old woman told of her garden successes with nothing but Hay as a mulch. Later, University scholars and scientists descended on her place and scratched their heads in amazement at what she was doing. I tried her methods as described and found them rather amazing myself. And very effective. Later, a more recent author, Lee Reich, wrote a book called "Weedless Gardening". While his methods seemed more traditional, and a slightly less entertaining reading, nevertheless, they both proved that you can spend a minimum amount of time in your garden fighting weeds with the same common sense approach - Lots of mulch & Comppost, with Drip irrigation ( in Lee's case). I love both of these books. Here on the farm, the fruit trees are in bloom, daffodils are out, and I have been busy planting out the Spring Garden. This year I am trying Texas Sweet onions and planted nearly 90 of them! Why so many? I bought an inexpensive bundle of plants and I still didn't get them all planted. I'll store over the winter, trade with some neighbors, and market at the local Farmers Market. Next is the Watermelon! Steve

 GYG-091 Starting a New Organic Vegetable Garden | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 33:37

As I was reminded this past week, we have a lot of new listeners who are new gardeners and are hungry for more information. As a result, I am talking a bit more about " Back to the Basics" in the podcast. More notes soon....

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