The Beet: A Podcast For Plant Lovers

Latest Episodes:

You Can EAT Milkweed?! Aug 03, 2019

Show notes

Most of us know about milkweed in terms of growing it for the monarch butterflies, but did you know it’s actually edible? I had NO idea until Marie turned me on to it, so now I want to cultivate it in my garden to EAT and I hope you do too. Connect With Marie Viljoen: Marie Viljoen is a forager, writer, and cocktail master (that last one is my own personal opinion - Kevin). She’s the author of Forage, Harvest, Feast: A Wild-Inspired Cuisine and an urban gardener as well.

Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, is available for sale! It's a complete guide to growing plants, no matter where you live. Here's how to order:

EPIC Raised Beds I'm carrying Birdies Garden Products raised beds, the ones I use exclusively in my front yard garden. They're a corrugated Aluzinc steel, powder-coated raised bed designed to last a lifetime.

Buy Birdies Raised Beds at my online store

Follow Epic Gardening

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fiddlehead Ferns: The Fern You Can EAT Aug 02, 2019

Show notes

We’ve mostly talked about ferns in terms of houseplant care here on the Epic Gardening Podcast, but did you know there are some you can eat? In particular, the ostrich fern fronds are commonly foraged or cultivated and eaten at a very young age. Connect With Marie Viljoen: Marie Viljoen is a forager, writer, and cocktail master (that last one is my own personal opinion - Kevin). She’s the author of Forage, Harvest, Feast: A Wild-Inspired Cuisine and an urban gardener as well.

Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, is available for sale! It's a complete guide to growing plants, no matter where you live. Here's how to order:

Buy Birdies Raised Beds at my online store

Follow Epic Gardening

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Foraging for Wild Ramps: Nature’s Ultimate Allium Aug 01, 2019

Show notes

One of the downsides of living in Zone 10b is my lack of access to some of the best that nature has to offer in the foraging realm: ramps. These wild alliums are prized for their delicate flavor and sexy appeal on a plate, but there are some crucial concerns to know before you go out and harvest from ramp patches. Connect With Marie Viljoen: Marie Viljoen is a forager, writer, and cocktail master (that last one is my own personal opinion - Kevin). She’s the author of Forage, Harvest, Feast: A Wild-Inspired Cuisine and an urban gardener as well.

Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, is available for sale! It's a complete guide to growing plants, no matter where you live. Here's how to order:

Buy Birdies Raised Beds at my online store

Follow Epic Gardening

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Foraging in an Urban Environment Jul 31, 2019

Show notes

I get questions about gardening in an urban environment and the potential health concerns of doing so, so you can only imagine how many people are skeptical of foraging in an urban environment. In today’s show, Marie and I discuss the different ways to make sure what you’re foraging is safe to eat. Connect With Marie Viljoen: Marie Viljoen is a forager, writer, and cocktail master (that last one is my own personal opinion - Kevin). She’s the author of Forage, Harvest, Feast: A Wild-Inspired Cuisine and an urban gardener as well.

Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, is available for sale! It's a complete guide to growing plants, no matter where you live. Here's how to order:

Buy Birdies Raised Beds at my online store

Follow Epic Gardening

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marie Viljoen: Gardener, Forager, Feaster Jul 30, 2019

Show notes

I met my friend Marie Viljoeon at the Better Homes & Gardens Conference in 2018, where she showed us all how to make a delicious foraged sumac cocktail. I knew she was a like-minded person, so eventually I asked her if she’d be interested in coming on the show. To my delight, she said yes! Enjoy this exciting week with Marie - an urban forager, gardener, and cocktail queen. Connect With Marie Viljoen: Marie Viljoen is a forager, writer, and cocktail master (that last one is my own personal opinion - Kevin). She’s the author of Forage, Harvest, Feast: A Wild-Inspired Cuisine and an urban gardener as well.

Learn More: Apocalypse Grow: April 8 Update With less than two months left to my Apocalypse Grow challenge, where I will grow, forage, or fish all of my food for a month. I'm scared...but it's fun at the same time. I figured I'd update you all as to where I'm at on this challenge. Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, is available for sale! It's a complete guide to growing plants, no matter where you live. Here's how to order:

Buy Birdies Raised Beds at my online store

Follow Epic Gardening

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We Should Probably Eat More Plants Jul 29, 2019

Show notes

In my Apocalypse Grow challenge, I’ve consumed far more plants than I ever did before diet-wise. And surprise surprise, the consumption of more plants (and less processed, crappy food) has led to some great health results for me. We’re back with L.Be of Farm Based Foodie to talk about the personal and environmental benefits of munching on more delicious planty goodness. Connect With L.Be: L.Be is the founder of Farm Based Foodie, specializing in mobile organic agriculture solutions. She’s also starting a new podcast called Dirty Talk, which is out now!

Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, is available for sale! It's a complete guide to growing plants, no matter where you live. Here's how to order:

Buy Birdies Raised Beds at my online store

Follow Epic Gardening

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mobile Organic Agriculture Ideas Jul 28, 2019

Show notes

If you know me, you know that urban, small-space organic agriculture is my wheelhouse. That’s why when I heard L.Be of Farm Based Foodie was doing something similar, I had to have her on the show to talk about her trough gardens. Connect With L.Be: L.Be is the founder of Farm Based Foodie, specializing in mobile organic agriculture solutions. She’s also starting a new podcast called Dirty Talk, which is out now!

Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, is available for sale! It's a complete guide to growing plants, no matter where you live. Here's how to order:

Buy Birdies Raised Beds at my online store

Follow Epic Gardening

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Breaking the Laws of Physics? Jul 27, 2019

Show notes

OK, OK...this isn’t possible. But...with a creative twist, we can stretch the way we use our resources in ways that weren’t possible in the past. We’re back with L.Be of Farm Based Foodie for some more knowledge Connect With L.Be: L.Be is the founder of Farm Based Foodie, specializing in mobile organic agriculture solutions. She’s also starting a new podcast called Dirty Talk, which is out now!

Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, is available for sale! It's a complete guide to growing plants, no matter where you live. Here's how to order:

Buy Birdies Raised Beds at my online store

Follow Epic Gardening

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Electrochemical Gradient and Gardening Jul 26, 2019

Show notes

Bear with me, as we’re getting deep into Nerdville today with L.Be of Farm Based Foodie. However, I love covering gardening from as many angles as possible, so hopefully this helps some of you more science-minded growers out there. Connect With L.Be: L.Be is the founder of Farm Based Foodie, specializing in mobile organic agriculture solutions. She’s also starting a new podcast called Dirty Talk, which is out now!

Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, is available for sale! It's a complete guide to growing plants, no matter where you live. Here's how to order:

Buy Birdies Raised Beds at my online store

Follow Epic Gardening

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Soil Probiotics and Prebiotics Jul 25, 2019

Show notes

We’ve all heard of probiotics for our own bodies, but what about for our soil? Microbial inoculants have been a popular topic on the show. Today we’re with L.Be of Farm Based Foodie discussing inoculants and the idea of a soil “prebiotic” as well. Connect With L.Be: L.Be is the founder of Farm Based Foodie, specializing in mobile organic agriculture solutions. She’s also starting a new podcast called Dirty Talk, which is out now!

Order Field Guide to Urban Gardening My book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, is available for sale! It's a complete guide to growing plants, no matter where you live. Here's how to order: