Vegetable Gardening

In This Episode of Vegetable Gardening In this episode of the Vegetable Gardening Show, Mike chats with Leslie Bennett, the founder and owner of Pine House Edible Gardens and author of the book, The Beautiful Edible Garden. Leslie fills us in on all kinds of great information on how you can arrange your vegetable garden to not only be productive but aesthetically pleasing as well. From there she will give you some ideas on which plants are great for front yard gardens, fruit trees and how to keep weeds at bay. This and so much more, this week, on Vegetable Gardening! Here's What We'll Cover Edible Vegetable Garden Arrangements Flowers, Veggies and Herbs that are perfect for a front yard gardn Fruiting Trees Keeping Weeds at Bay Mentioned in this Episode Pine House Edible Gardens The Beautiful Edible Garden: Design A Stylish Outdoor Space Using Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs About This Episode's Guest, Leslie Bennett I am the the founder and owner of Pine House Edible Gardens, an Oakland-based landscape design firm that creates beautiful, edible gardens. I am the co-author of The Beautiful Edible Garden (Ten Speed Press, Feb 2013) and former founder and co-owner of Star Apple Edible Gardens landscape design firm. In my work, I bring together ecologically sound landscape design principles and small-scale urban agriculture, working with both ornamental and edible plants to create integrated landscapes. My work has been featured in Sunset Magazine, C Magazine, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle and Gardenista.com. For me, edible landscapes are a long term relationship, where my clients get to have all kinds of fun, seasonal experiences in their gardens and kitchens! My specific focus is on designing and building stylised vegetable and cutting flower gardens -- in other words, working gardens that happen to have beautiful structural design. I also consult with clients on ways to incorporate perennial edibles such as fruit trees, berry shrubs and herbs throughout existing ornamental landscapes.  I love doing one-on-one garden coaching and consulting work, also providing long term, specialized edible and ornamental maintenance that will keep your garden productive and beautiful over time. If you think my services may be a good match for what you're looking for, please be in touch -- I'd love to hear from you!     About the Host Mike Podlesny is the author of the book Vegetable Gardening for the Average Person as well as the creator of the Seeds of the Month Club where members receive non gmo, heirloom variety seeds every month. You can listen to Mike each week on the Vegetable Gardening Podcast where he interviews gardening industry experts.  

In This Episode of Vegetable Gardening In this episode of the Vegetable Gardening Show, Mike chats with Leslie Bennett, the founder and owner of Pine House Edible Gardens and author of the book, The Beautiful Edible Garden. Leslie fills us in on all kinds of great information on how you can arrange your vegetable garden to not only be productive but aesthetically pleasing as well. From there she will give you some ideas on which plants are great for front yard gardens, fruit trees and how to keep weeds at bay. This and so much more, this week, on Vegetable Gardening! Here's What We'll Cover Edible Vegetable Garden Arrangements Flowers, Veggies and Herbs that are perfect for a front yard gardn Fruiting Trees Keeping Weeds at Bay Mentioned in this Episode Pine House Edible Gardens The Beautiful Edible Garden: Design A Stylish Outdoor Space Using Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs About This Episode's Guest, Leslie Bennett I am the the founder and owner of Pine House Edible Gardens, an Oakland-based landscape design firm that creates beautiful, edible gardens. I am the co-author of The Beautiful Edible Garden (Ten Speed Press, Feb 2013) and former founder and co-owner of Star Apple Edible Gardens landscape design firm. In my work, I bring together ecologically sound landscape design principles and small-scale urban agriculture, working with both ornamental and edible plants to create integrated landscapes. My work has been featured in Sunset Magazine, C Magazine, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle and Gardenista.com. For me, edible landscapes are a long term relationship, where my clients get to have all kinds of fun, seasonal experiences in their gardens and kitchens! My specific focus is on designing and building stylised vegetable and cutting flower gardens -- in other words, working gardens that happen to have beautiful structural design. I also consult with clients on ways to incorporate perennial edibles such as fruit trees, berry shrubs and herbs throughout existing ornamental landscapes.  I love doing one-on-one garden coaching and consulting work, also providing long term, specialized edible and ornamental maintenance that will keep your garden productive and beautiful over time. If you think my services may be a good match for what you're looking for, please be in touch -- I'd love to hear from you!     About the Host Mike Podlesny is the author of the book Vegetable Gardening for the Average Person as well as the creator of the Seeds of the Month Club where members receive non gmo, heirloom variety seeds every month. You can listen to Mike each week on the Vegetable Gardening Podcast where he interviews gardening industry experts.  

In This Episode of Vegetable Gardening Mike chats with Carol Niec & Kerrie Rosenthal of the Seed Keeper Company about the upcoming Seed Keeper Project Giveaway.  They give tell us all about how the Seed Keeper Project got started, what their motivation was and how they are making a difference in school gardens everywhere. From there, they will tell us how you can nominate your school, when to do it, and what your school will receive should they win.  That ans so much more, today on Vegetable Gardening! Here's What We'll Cover How the Seed Keeper Project got started How your school can apply What does your school win Mentioned In This Episode The Seed Keeper Company The Seed Keeper Project Garden-pedia Corona Tools Seeds of the Month Club About this Episode's Guests, Carol Niec & Kerrie Rosenthal The Seed Keeper Company came about when we tried to find a better way to store our seeds. Together, we developed a seed filing system for seed packets and captured seeds complete with tips and seed planting accessories. The accessories were chosen because they are important to the seed starting process. The plastic clip-lock container is rugged enough to go to the garden and solid enough to protect delicate seeds until the next planting season. The produce, from our gardens, is fresh, organic and on our tables in minutes—and, our vases are filled with fresh flowers that we grew, too.  All for pennies compared to what you pay for produce from the market or flowers from the florist. Think about it—it’s more economical and makes our carbon footprint smaller. Get a Seed Keeper Deluxe or a Seed Keeper today and join the seed saving revolution.   About the Host Mike Podlesny is the author of the book Vegetable Gardening for the Average Person as well as the creator of the Seeds of the Month Club where members receive non gmo, heirloom variety seeds every month. You can listen to Mike each week on the Vegetable Gardening Podcast where he interviews gardening industry experts.

In This Episode of Vegetable Gardening Mike chats with Carol Niec & Kerrie Rosenthal of the Seed Keeper Company about the upcoming Seed Keeper Project Giveaway.  They give tell us all about how the Seed Keeper Project got started, what their motivation was and how they are making a difference in school gardens everywhere. From there, they will tell us how you can nominate your school, when to do it, and what your school will receive should they win.  That ans so much more, today on Vegetable Gardening! Here's What We'll Cover How the Seed Keeper Project got started How your school can apply What does your school win Mentioned In This Episode The Seed Keeper Company The Seed Keeper Project Garden-pedia Corona Tools Seeds of the Month Club About this Episode's Guests, Carol Niec & Kerrie Rosenthal The Seed Keeper Company came about when we tried to find a better way to store our seeds. Together, we developed a seed filing system for seed packets and captured seeds complete with tips and seed planting accessories. The accessories were chosen because they are important to the seed starting process. The plastic clip-lock container is rugged enough to go to the garden and solid enough to protect delicate seeds until the next planting season. The produce, from our gardens, is fresh, organic and on our tables in minutes—and, our vases are filled with fresh flowers that we grew, too.  All for pennies compared to what you pay for produce from the market or flowers from the florist. Think about it—it’s more economical and makes our carbon footprint smaller. Get a Seed Keeper Deluxe or a Seed Keeper today and join the seed saving revolution.   About the Host Mike Podlesny is the author of the book Vegetable Gardening for the Average Person as well as the creator of the Seeds of the Month Club where members receive non gmo, heirloom variety seeds every month. You can listen to Mike each week on the Vegetable Gardening Podcast where he interviews gardening industry experts.

In This Episode of Vegetable Gardening Mike chats with 3 time guest to the show, gardening expert Craig LeHoullier.  Craig tells us all about what it takes to create new tomato varieties through the cross breeding process.  Craig's focus is creating dwarf tomato plants so that anyone can grow delicious tomatoes regardless of space restrictions. From there, Craig breaks the traits and characteristics he and his team look for to improve on when creating new tomato varieties.  Craig then goes on to tell us all about just how diverse creating new tomato varieties can be, and the experts it takes to achieve optimal results. Here's what we'll cover Dwarf Tomato varieties Creating better flavors Creating different colors and shapes Insect and Disease resistant traits Mentioned in this episode Craig LeHoullier Epic Tomatoes: How to Select and Grow the Best Varieties of All Time Growing Vegetables in Straw Bales: Easy Planting, Less Weeding, Early Harvests. A Storey BASICS® Title About this episode's guest, Craig LeHoullier I love gardening. I’ve loved gardening since 1981, when my wife and I planted our first one together in Hanover, New Hampshire, just a few months after we were married. In truth, I’ve loved walking in gardens for longer than I can remember, seeds planted by my grandfather and father in walks through their own gardens. Each of them planted the seeds of that love when I was so very young, for which I am so grateful.   I love to write about my adventures among the plants. In doing so, I strive to share the joy that I experience while gardening with my readers. If all goes well, in addition to growing gardens, we will grow new gardeners. Being able to grow wonderful flowers, vegetables and fruit offers so much: confidence and control of what we eat, the multitude of benefits from being outdoors and working up a sweat, and creating an area to decompress, relax and share with family and friends.   I LOVE TO SHARE, TEACH, COACH and LEARn. Though gardening can be a solitary hobby, I find that energy comes from being with and in front of other gardeners (anywhere along the experience spectrum, newbie to avid). It becomes all about collective sharing, learning, and growth. There is always something new to learn about gardening. The education process spans our lifetimes. The essence of what I do, and why I do it, is and will always be focused on learning and sharing, never about publicity and money.  I am Craig Lehoullier. Through the years, I’ve been known as NC Tomatoman. Some know me as the fellow who named Cherokee Purple in 1990. To others, I am the author of the books Epic Tomatoes or Growing Vegetables in Straw Bales, the co-host of Tomatopalooza, a co-leader of the Dwarf Tomato Breeding Project, or just the odd person with a garden where the driveway used to be. I am the tomato nut with a website, a blog, a newsletter (on occasion), and a huge tomato and pepper and eggplant collection. Really, all I am is Craig LeHoullier - someone that heirloom tomatoes chose to help participate in their continued relevance. Welcome to my web home - look around, stay awhile and come back often.   About the Host Mike Podlesny is the author of the book

In This Episode of Vegetable Gardening Mike chats with 3 time guest to the show, gardening expert Craig LeHoullier.  Craig tells us all about what it takes to create new tomato varieties through the cross breeding process.  Craig's focus is creating dwarf tomato plants so that anyone can grow delicious tomatoes regardless of space restrictions. From there, Craig breaks the traits and characteristics he and his team look for to improve on when creating new tomato varieties.  Craig then goes on to tell us all about just how diverse creating new tomato varieties can be, and the experts it takes to achieve optimal results. Here's what we'll cover Dwarf Tomato varieties Creating better flavors Creating different colors and shapes Insect and Disease resistant traits Mentioned in this episode Craig LeHoullier Epic Tomatoes: How to Select and Grow the Best Varieties of All Time Growing Vegetables in Straw Bales: Easy Planting, Less Weeding, Early Harvests. A Storey BASICS® Title About this episode's guest, Craig LeHoullier I love gardening. I’ve loved gardening since 1981, when my wife and I planted our first one together in Hanover, New Hampshire, just a few months after we were married. In truth, I’ve loved walking in gardens for longer than I can remember, seeds planted by my grandfather and father in walks through their own gardens. Each of them planted the seeds of that love when I was so very young, for which I am so grateful.   I love to write about my adventures among the plants. In doing so, I strive to share the joy that I experience while gardening with my readers. If all goes well, in addition to growing gardens, we will grow new gardeners. Being able to grow wonderful flowers, vegetables and fruit offers so much: confidence and control of what we eat, the multitude of benefits from being outdoors and working up a sweat, and creating an area to decompress, relax and share with family and friends.   I LOVE TO SHARE, TEACH, COACH and LEARn. Though gardening can be a solitary hobby, I find that energy comes from being with and in front of other gardeners (anywhere along the experience spectrum, newbie to avid). It becomes all about collective sharing, learning, and growth. There is always something new to learn about gardening. The education process spans our lifetimes. The essence of what I do, and why I do it, is and will always be focused on learning and sharing, never about publicity and money.  I am Craig Lehoullier. Through the years, I’ve been known as NC Tomatoman. Some know me as the fellow who named Cherokee Purple in 1990. To others, I am the author of the books Epic Tomatoes or Growing Vegetables in Straw Bales, the co-host of Tomatopalooza, a co-leader of the Dwarf Tomato Breeding Project, or just the odd person with a garden where the driveway used to be. I am the tomato nut with a website, a blog, a newsletter (on occasion), and a huge tomato and pepper and eggplant collection. Really, all I am is Craig LeHoullier - someone that heirloom tomatoes chose to help participate in their continued relevance. Welcome to my web home - look around, stay awhile and come back often.   About the Host Mike Podlesny is the author of the book

In This Episode of Vegetable Gardening Mike chats with The Weekend Gardener radio show host and author of the books The Year Round Vegetable Gardener and Groundbreaking Food Gardens, Niki Jabbour about all things gardening.  Niki shares with us the details of the expansion of her own gardens, called the Big Dig, the various varieties of vegetables, fruits and herbs she is growing and what she is doing to make them successful.  She will fill us in on the new types of varieties that is tackling, the challenges she faces in her Nova Scotia climate, and some tips to maximize your space. From there, Niki will share her story of how she is growing rice for the very first time, and some of her favorite award winning heirlooms that are an absolute must in anyone's garden. That, and so much more on this week's episode of vegetable gardening Here's what we'll cover Gardening in cooler climates Why starting your seeds too early is a bad thing Vegetable varieties that you must grow in 2017 The one tomato variety that you aren't growing but should be Mentioned in this Episode Niki Jabbour The Weekend Gardener Radio Show on News 95.7 FM Savvy Gardening The Year Round Vegetable Gardener Groundbreaking Food Gardens About this Episode's Guest, Niki Jabbour Niki Jabbour is the award-winning and best-selling author of The Year Round Vegetable Gardener and Groundbreaking Food Gardens. She also writes for Fine Gardening, Birds & Blooms, Garden Making, and a monthly column for Horticulture. For the past 10 years, Niki has hosted The Weekend Gardener, a radio show that airs across Eastern Canada and online at www.news957.com. Niki speaks at events and shows across North America including the Northwest Flower & Garden Show, Philadelphia Flower Show, Boston Flower Show, Canada Blooms and the Mother Earth News Fairs. Find Niki on social media and on her website, SavvyGardening.com.     About the Host Mike Podlesny is the author of the book Vegetable Gardening for the Average Person as well as the creator of the Seeds of the Month Club where members receive non gmo, heirloom variety seeds every month. You can listen to Mike each week on the Vegetable Gardening Podcast where he interviews gardening industry experts.

In This Episode of Vegetable Gardening Mike chats with Ann Ralph, author of the book Grow a Little Fruit Tree: Small-Space, Easy-Harvest Fruit Trees, talking about how you can implement some simple easy to use techniques to keep your fruit trees in tip top shape.  Ann shares with us some valuable pruning techniques, the three "D"'s of pruning for fruit trees, and the types of fruit trees you should be choosing to maximize the amount of fruit you will receive from the space that you have. From there Ann touches on tree care in various climates, fruit tree diseases and pest management.  She will touch on mulching and fertilizing and so much more. In this episode, here's what we'll cover Pruning Fruit Trees Mulching for fruit trees Chicken manure mixture as a fertilizer Various fruit tree choices Items mentioned in this episode Grow a Little Fruit Tree: Small-Space, Easy-Harvest Fruit Trees Little Fruit Tree About this episode's guest, Ann Ralph Many of you know me from our over-the-counter conversations at Berkeley Horticultural Nursery where I taught pruning classes, lopped your bareroot saplings and managed the fruit tree department. My book, Grow a Little Fruit Tree, is available at your local independent bookstore or wherever books are sold. My fruit tree initiation began at Scenic Nursery in Modesto, California where the owner, Jim Rogers, insisted that no bareroot fruit tree leave the nursery without a prune that took off the top two-thirds of the little tree. Alarmed as anyone by such a brutal cut, I left this disconcerting task to other workers in the nursery. Then one day, Ed Laivo, the sales rep and backyard fruit specialist from Dave Wilson Nursery, arrived at Scenic with some samples of tree-ripe Arctic Glo nectarines. I had never, ever tasted any fruit so perfectly delicious. That following January, I cut short a little sapling for myself. Ed’s sliver of nectarine began my career as a fruit tree enthusiast and emphatic pruner. I’ve been promoting the idea of pruning to create small scale trees with an evangelical zeal ever since.     About the Host Mike Podlesny is the author of the book Vegetable Gardening for the Average Person as well as the creator of the Seeds of the Month Club where members receive non gmo, heirloom variety seeds every month. You can listen to Mike each week on the Vegetable Gardening Podcast where he interviews gardening industry experts.  

This Week on Vegetable Gardening In this week's episode, Jenny Peterson, author of the book The Cancer Survivor's Garden Companion: Cultivating Hope, Healing and Joy in the Ground Beneath Your Feet, will be stopping by to share her inspirational story of how gardening helped her through her battle with breast cancer.  She'll fill you in on why it is so important to get outdoors for at least 10 minutes per day to clear your mind. From there, Jenny tells us all about the farm animals she has on her one acre property, how she handles it all, and why the work is not stressful but invigorating.  This and so much more on this week's episode of Vegetable Gardening.   In This Episode Here's What We'll Cover Getting out in the garden to clear your mind Jenny's Wellness Tip of the Day How Jenny's story has inspired other gardeners How you can donate a copy of Jenny's book to a local cancer center Items Mentioned in this Episode Jenny Nybro Peterson The Cancer Survivor's Garden Companion: Cultivating Hope, Healing and Joy in the Ground Beneath Your Feet About This Week's Guest, Jenny Peterson Jenny Peterson is a breast cancer survivor. Her long road through cancer treatment was hard, emotional and often deeply depressing. The one thing that pulled her out of the darkness was her desire to be able to garden again. Peterson credits her garden with clearing her mental fog and overcoming her depression, physical limitations and pain. The Cancer Survivor’s Garden Companion explores the therapeutic benefits of this vital “earth connection.” With gentle empathy, beautiful photographs and easy how-to steps, she shows others how to create their own backyard haven for healing – a personal restorative garden – with a bonus of well-grounded guidance about diet, exercise, mental focus and spiritual renewal.   About the Host Mike Podlesny is the author of the book Vegetable Gardening for the Average Person as well as the creator of the Seeds of the Month Club where members receive non gmo, heirloom variety seeds every month. You can listen to Mike each week on the Vegetable Gardening Podcast where he interviews gardening industry experts.  

Mike will be chatting with Craig LeHoullier, author of Epic Tomatoes: How to Select and Grow the Best Varieties of All Time and Growing Vegetables in Straw Bales: Easy Planting, Less Weeding, Early Harvests will be stopping by the show to talk about growing tomatoes, his dwarf plant project and growing veggies in straw bales. Craig LeHoullier has loved gardening since 1981, when he and his wife planted their first one together in Hanover, New Hampshire, just a few months after they were married. In truth, he has loved walking in gardens for longer than he can remember, seeds planted by his grandfather and father in walks through their own gardens. Each of them planted the seeds of that love when he was so very young. Through the years, he has been known as NC Tomatoman. Some know him as the fellow who named Cherokee Purple in 1990. To others, he is the the co-host of Tomatopalooza, a co-leader of the Dwarf Tomato Breeding Project, or just the odd person with a garden where the driveway used to be. Craig is the tomato nut with a website, a blog, a newsletter, and a huge tomato and pepper and eggplant collection. Really, he is someone that heirloom tomatoes chose to help participate in their continued relevance. Tune in on Sunday January 15th, 2017 at 9:00AM at Vegetable Gardening Live to hear from Craig.

Mike will be chatting with Jenny Peterson, author of The Cancer Survivor's Garden Companion: Cultivating Hope, Healing and Joy in the Ground Beneath Your Feet will be stopping by the show to talk about gardening helped her battle through some difficult times and how she used gardening to inspire others to battle through as well. Jenny Peterson is a breast cancer survivor. Her long road through cancer treatment was hard, emotional and often deeply depressing. The one thing that pulled her out of the darkness was her desire to be able to garden again. Peterson credits her garden with clearing her mental fog and overcoming her depression, physical limitations and pain. The Cancer Survivor’s Garden Companion explores the therapeutic benefits of this vital “earth connection.” With gentle empathy, beautiful photographs and easy how-to steps, she shows others how to create their own backyard haven for healing – a personal restorative garden – with a bonus of well-grounded guidance about diet, exercise, mental focus and spiritual renewal. Tune in on Thursday January 12th, 2017 at 7:30PM at Vegetable Gardening Live to hear from Jenny.

This Week on Vegetable Gardening In this week's episode, Shawna Coronado, author of the book 101 Ogranic Gardening Hacks, stops by the show to share her tips and tricks on how you can grow your garden organically.  She touches on 3 things that most gardeners are doing right now that are not considered organic and how to fix it as well as the various organic sprays and techniques you can use to control pests from destroying your crops. From there, Shawna tells us all about how to add organic aged manure to the garden, organic composting and shares with you her story of what lead her to going fully organic in the first place.  She tell us how she properly incorporates coffee grinds (and other material) to create her organic compost pile, and show you why growing organically is not more expensive than using those harmful chemicals. This and so much more on this week's episode of Vegetable Gardening! In this episode, here's what we'll cover 3 things you are doing that are not organic Why spraying is bad for your garden Stop using chemical fertilizers Using coffee ground in your garden Garden Myths Why organic gardening is not expensive Organic Compost Layering Making sure the aged manure you are using is truly organic Items mentioned in this episode 101 Organic Gardening Hacks Shawna Coronado Linda Chalker-Scott Joe Lamp'l of Growing a Greener World TV About this week's guest, Shawna Coronado Hi! I’m Shawna Coronado. I’m an author and professional photographer who decided to change her life one day and up n’ left her fancy-pants office job in sales and marketing to find health and happiness (here are my books – LINK) . Since then I have created a media career beyond authoring and photography as an online influencer, on-camera spokesperson, blogger, columnist, keynote speaker, and radio show host. Every day is a new adventure for me. Now I spend my days learning about sustainable ideas and trying to inspire others to find their socially good selves. Because I’m a professional speaker and writer I get to travel all over the world meeting fun people and sharing my passion. To see my speaking and appearance schedule, please GO HERE. My photos and writing appear in many magazines, books, and online media. I have published several organic lifestyle books, including books for Cool Springs Press/Quarto Publishing that are about gardening with two additional books on organics and wellness to be released in 2017. I have blogged for Better Homes and Gardens, CitySearch, Chicago Tribune’s ChicagoNow blog, Jung Seed, Espoma Organic Fertilizer and many other places. Among other tv appearances, I’ve hosted the FOX News team LIVE bi-weekly at my home garden for “Gardening with Good Day” and co-hosted “The Good Green Home Show” which is a radio show promoting healthy home living. I have been featured in HGTVGardens.com, Chicago Tribune, and many more media locations. I speak at cool gigs like TEDxWomen, Google, and the Mother Earth News Fairs discussing the benefits of healthy living for community. I also teach social media techniques and workshops. Other days I spend online talking about sustainable ideas; health and wellness, eco-travel, sustainability tips, organic gardening, healthy anti-inflammatory cooking, and techniques for every day homeowners to make a difference.  I try to share all I can right here on the blog so you can be a part of the action. I’m not perfect at being green and sustainable, but I’m learning just like you — one step at a time.  

You can also watch this episode on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/ARfo4TUVRgw This Week on Vegetable Gardening Mike chats with Amanda Freund of CowPots who stops by the show to tell us how her family was able to find a niche market in recycling cow manure into biodegradable pots for the gardening industry. Amanda is a 3rd generation dairy farmer. She works with 8 members of her family to manage their 3 farm businesses in Connecticut; a dairy farm, a farm market with a greenhouse and garden center and a production facility manufacturing their value added product called CowPots. These 3 business' working together provide important synergies; the excess nutrients (manure) produced by the farm's dairy cows is turned into value-added, biodegradable pots which are used in the family's garden center as well as shipped nationally. Amanda oversees the marketing of CowPots. She spends a lot of time advocating for farming and agriculture at conferences, at the Capitol and on Instqagram as @CowPotsGirl where she features daily life on her dairy farm and often touts the growing benefits of their manure based pots. In this episode here's what we'll cover A day in the life of a dairy cow farmer How Cowpots got started The process of converting manure into a biodegradable plantingpot Water and soil for your Cowpot Items mentioned in this podcast Cowpots Contact Amanda at Cowpots About this week's guest, Amanda Freund of Cowpots Amanda is a 3rd generation dairy farmer. She works with 8 members of her family to manage their 3 farm businesses in Connecticut; a dairy farm, a farm market with a greenhouse and garden center and a production facility manufacturing their value added product called CowPots.   The excess nutrients (manure) produced by the farm's dairy cows is turned into value-added, biodegradable pots which are used in the family's garden center as well as shipped nationally.  Amanda oversees the marketing of CowPots and spends a lot of time advocating for farming and agriculture.     About the Host Mike Podlesny is the author of the book Vegetable Gardening for the Average Person as well as the creator of the Seeds of the Month Club where members receive non gmo, heirloom variety seeds every month. You can listen to Mike each week on the Vegetable Gardening Podcast where he interviews gardening industry experts.

You can also watch this episode on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/Cc95GrhsjjY This Week on Vegetable Gardening Mike chats with Ed Vaccaro, creator of The Hydro Pet. Ed tells us all about how his inventions of DIY watering products can make life a littler easier for you if you own pets or Mike’s favorite, are a chicken owner. Ingenuity and a passion for plants and animals led Ed to create The Hydro Pet, his first in a series of convenience products for pet-parents and garden-geeks. Ed didn’t know it at the time, but his DIY watering systems in his backyard soon became prototypes for the original Hydro Pet bowls. A neighbor’s pet passing from accidental dehydration gave Ed the inspiration to patent his product and go to market – to give other pet lovers who have watering systems in their yard the kind of convenience he’d been experiencing all along, while helping pets that spend time in the yard live happy, healthy lives. Having grown up in northern California in the 70’s with parents in the flower business and other family members in the plant industry, Ed developed his passion for gardening and landscaping early in life. From early childhood, Ed was also noted as being a keen animal lover, so much so that he became a member of the famed animal husbandry organization 4-H. Later earning his degree in hydroponic and solar, Ed began working in the solar industry, but eventually decided to go back to his roots and launched his own plant business. Within a short time, he won accounts with large grocery chains. His success led him to open a store in the San Francisco Flower Market. Ed supplied hundreds of flower shops in locations throughout California and Nevada. As the 80’s came to a close, Ed once again pivoted and sold his business to a grower who wanted and needed the distribution he’d established. Having discovered his knack for sales and business, Ed dove head-first into the mortgage industry, over time rising to a VP level. Ed is now putting his unique background and expertise to great use by pursuing his true passions while providing pet and plant lovers with products that make their lives easier. In this Episode, here's what we'll cover The Hydro Pet, what it is and why it was invented What is Biofilm and why is it harmful to your pets Recycling Your Pets Water to irrigate plants Using the Hydro Pet as a means to keep a water source for bees Items Mentioned in this Podcast The Hydro Pet Email Ed at The Hydro Pet About this week's guest, Ed Vaccaro Ed grew up in northern California during the 70’s. Both of Ed’s parents were in the flower business while his uncle was in the plant business. His relationship with his family and those businesses influenced the direction Ed would be going in life. From early childhood, he was noted as being a keen animal lover. Animals would always be part of Ed’s life, and even though he spent much of his time playing multiple sports, he was also a member of the famed animal husbandry organization 4-H. In 1979 Ed graduated from De La Salle High School in Concord, California. He decided in the 80’s to go into the solar business and attended school at Maricopa Tech in Phoenix, Arizona, studying hydroponic and solar. He worked in the solar industry for a period of time until the tax credits were no longer available for businesses and homeowners. He then decided to go back to his roots and launched his own plant business. Within a short time after he started this new business he won accounts with the large grocery store chains: Raley’s and Smith foods. He also opened a store in the San Francisco Flower Ma

This Week on Vegetable Gardening You can also watch this episode on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xuCXw3poDc Mike chats with Joseph Tychonievich, author of Rock Gardening: Reimagining a Classic Style who stops by the show to tell us all about how you can incorporate various plants and rocks to build a beautiful landscape in your backyard. Joseph is a lifelong gardener and lover of plants, who earned his BS in horticulture from Ohio State University, went on to work for Shibamichi Honten Nursery in Saitama, Japan, has been a repeated guest on public radio's food show The Splendid Table. He also is the author of the book, Plant Breeding for the Home Gardener (Timber Press, 2013), which is a comprehensive guide in explaining how and what plants to breed with simple examples of cross breeding techniques. In Rock gardening, Joseph goes over the art of growing alpines and other miniature plants in the company of rocks in order to recreate the look of a rugged mountaintop. Joseph will share with us why time and space constraints, chronic drought in the American West, and a trend toward architectural plants are just a few of the reasons for the increased interest. He will tell us how Rock Gardening brings a traditional style to a new generation of gardeners and the techniques and methods specific to creating and maintaining a rock garden as well as profile some of the top 50 rock garden plants. In This Episode, Here's What We'll Cover Rock Gardening Joseph's plant choices Unique rock gardening climates Implementing an herb garden among your rock garden Plant Breeding and pollination Items Mentioned in this Podcast Rock Gardening: Reimagining a Classic Style Plant Breeding for the Home Gardener: How to Create Unique Vegetables and Flowers Greensparrow Gardens  About this week's guest Joseph Tychonievich A life long gardener and lover of plants, Joseph earned his BS in horticulture from Ohio State University, went on to work for Shibamichi Honten Nursery in Saitama, Japan, has been a repeated guest on public radio's food show The Splendid Table, wrote a book, Plant Breeding for the Home Gardener (Timber Press, 2013), spent two years working at the famed rare plants nursery Arrowhead Alpines and was named by Organic Gardening Magazine as one of "...six young horticulturists who are helping to shape how America gardens." Currently Joseph lives and gardens with his husband and an adorable black cat in SE Michigan.   About the Host Mike Podlesny is the author of the book Vegetable Gardening for the Average Person as well as the creator of the Seeds of the Month Club where members receive non gmo, heirloom variety seeds every month. You can listen to Mike each week on the Vegetable Gardening Podcast where he interviews gardening industry experts.