We’re kicking off the year with a seedy conversation! We’re sitting down to chat with Jere Gettle, owner of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, America’s largest heirloom seed supplier! We talk about Jere’s gardens and his favorite things to grow, what it’s like living at the Baker Creek village and some his favorite offerings from the 2024 Whole Seeds Catalog! We also dig into how Baker Creek can offer hundreds of heirloom varieties from around the world – while honoring the people, places and...

We'd like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our listeners around the world that have joined us as we explore the intersection of gardens, cultures, cuisines and community.  It's been an amazing year exploring seeds and weeds with all of you! In this episode we relive the highs and lows of our year together, dig into exciting statistics, and sneak a peek at what's to come in 2024! And as always, big thanks to all of our Patreon subscribers.. We appreciate every one of you! Thank you...

During this action-packed interview, jim mcdonald gives a us a mini-tour of his herb cabinet, shares his go-to winter tea recipe, talks about his Lindera herb workshops, and even tells us about his very first herb experience!  We’ll also learn why jim prefers to spell his name with little-case letters and something about sunbathing in Speedos on the roof?! It’s a wild time! jim is a community herbalist, a manic wildcrafter and medicine maker, and has been an ardent student of the most...

One of the biggest things happening in the (gardening) world right now is the new USDA Hardiness Zones Map! Plus horticulturist and garden educator Peggy Riccio is joining us on the podcast to talk about her information-packed garden website resource, pegplant.com and to answer 5 Questions!   Peggy talks about why basil is her favorite garden herb… and not just Genovese basil, but all of the basils! She also shares her recipe for flavorful Thai Basil Syrup.  Peggy runs the well-known garden...

Can the moon help your beans grow? In today’s episode, author and professor of agriculture Sarah Hall is joining us on the podcast to talk about planting by the signs and her new book, Sown in the Stars.  Learn about this traditional practice of working with the moon phases and astrological signs to guide your planting schedule. We’ll discuss when is the best time to plant, harvest and preserve your crops, according to the stars.  Sarah will share stories about the many interviews she...

Join us for an extra special, spooky episode of Seeds & Weeds. In today’s episode, author and horticulturalist Marta McDowell is joining us on the podcast to talk about her new book, Gardening Can Be Murder.  We'll also be talking about some of Marta’s previous books, including Bevin’s personal favorite, Beatrix Potter’s Gardening Life. We’ll also get a sneak peek at an upcoming project, an updated edition of her 2016 book, All the Presidents’ Gardens.  In Gardening Can Be Murder, New...

Want to grow sweet, tasty fruit in your own backyard? In today’s episode, author and fruit tree expert Susan Poizner is joining us on the podcast to share some fruit tree knowledge and talk about her latest book Grow Fruit Trees Fast. We'll be talking about choosing the right fruit trees for your space, feeding the soil to keep your fruit trees healthy and how to prune your trees to maximize production. Susan will also tell us stories about her community orchard, her early life as a...

What do seeds mean to you? In today’s episode we’re talking with Jennifer Jewell, host of the Cultivating Place podcast and author of the new book, What We Sow: On the Personal, Ecological and Cultural Significance of Seeds. We'll be discussing Jennifer's personal journey with seeds, the significant impact that seeds have on the world around us and why saving these precious seeds for future generations is more important now than ever before.   Jennifer is a garden writer, educator and host...

Gardening for health, happiness and delicious produce! Author and educator Leah Webb joins us on the podcast to talk about whole foods cooking, why she gardens and so much more when she answers 5 Questions. Leah is an avid gardener, edible landscaper and accomplished author and educator. In today’s episode we learn what she loves to grow the most, lessons she learned in the garden and how her children’s health started her on her small-scale homestead journey. Learn more about Leah’s work...

Pine nut skin scrub? Sour cream face mask?!  Author and natural beauty expert Janice Cox joins us on the show to talk about these incredible products and so much more! We’ll also talk about beautiful lavender and eating loofahs! Janice Cox teaches workshops across the country on making your own body care products with simple kitchen and garden ingredients. She is the author of six bestselling books on the topic and the education chair for The Herb Society of America! Follow Janice's work...

This episode is packed full of info! Certified Aromatherapist Amy Anthony joins us to talk about the difference between hydrosols and essential oils, lavandin vs lavender and so much more! Then, Amy shares her Top 5 essential oils! Amy is a certified clinical aromatherapist, owner of NYC Aromatica and host of the Essential Aromatica podcast. Amy left her career in marketing to pursue what is closest to her heart: working with plants - and today, she’s considered to be one of America’s most...

Join us on a mushroom adventure! Today we’re sitting down with Erin Hamilton, founder of The Mushroom Conservatory to learn how plants and mushrooms are so radically different from one another, why we need more mushrooms in our lives and then we’re going to find out how to get one of her special kits to grow our own mushrooms right at home! Erin Hamilton is a mushroom farmer and agricultural educator from Howell, Michigan. She and her husband Elijah have three children and together, they...

Nerd alert! Gardenerd founder Christy Wilhelmi joins us on the show to talk about small-space fruit orchards, Russian tomatoes, reclaiming food waste and all sorts of groovy stuff!  Christy empowers people to grow their own food, to be more self-reliant, and to reduce pollution and waste, one garden at a time. Christy is founder of Gardenerd, the ultimate resource for garden nerds, where she publishes newsletters, her popular blog, and top-ranked podcasts. Today, Christy is joining us on the...

Herbalist Crystal Stevens joins us to answer your questions and Bevin shares a recipe for a healing salve made from yarrow and comfrey! We’re so excited to have Crystal Stevens join us for ‘Ask an Herbalist.’ *Learn more about Crystal and her farm* -  https://flourishfarmstead.com Crystal is an herbalist, author, educator and co-owner of Flourish Farmstead in Godfrey, Illinois. You’ve sent in your herb questions and Crystal is here to answer them! Some of the questions we talk about...

Small-space gardening, sustainable living and the Mother Earth News Fair! Today we're sitting down to chat with Jessica Mitchell, host of the Mother Earth News & Friends podcast. Jessica is an editor for Ogden Publications, where she helps to produce issues of Mother Earth News and Grit magazines. She moved from Pennsylvania to Kansas in 2017, when she started working for Ogden, and she quickly fell in love with the small towns, beautiful prairie, and open skies — though she does miss...

Saving seeds, growing trees and eating peaches! Today we’re chatting with Greg Peterson, host of The Urban Farm Podcast. We’re going to talk about the importance of seed banks, how to grow elderberries and delicious homegrown peaches, when Greg answers 5 Questions.  Greg Peterson is the creator and chief visionary of The Urban Farm and in 2015, he launched The Urban Farm Podcast. In Phoenix, Arizona, Greg created one of the first environmental showcases for urban farming on a ¼ acre plot that...

It’s a hot and spicy episode of the Seeds & Weeds Podcast! Today we’re chatting with Mara Welton, who serves as director of programs for Slow Food USA. We’re going to dig into some of the incredible work that Slow Food does to support local and regional food systems and we’ll talk about Mara’s seasonal food truck. Then we’re going to play chili pepper trivia! Mara Welton is a farmer, chef, community organizer and director of programs for Slow Food USA. Mara is actively involved in a...

In this episode we’re sitting down to chat with Canadian farmer and singer-songwriter Del Barber. Del’s music has been nominated for countless awards and has received critical acclaim from Rolling Stone Magazine. In April 2023, Del released Almanac, his 8th studio album. When he’s not touring or recording, Del is busy running his farm with his wife and kids––a massive 2000 acres of grain land as well as 250 pure bred cows. He raises and sells over 1,000 meat chickens per year and they yield a...

Today we’re hanging out with farmer and author Zach Loeks and he’s going to answer 5 questions. We’ll talk about his work at Ecosystem Solution Institute and we’re going to learn more about micro-landscaping. After the interview we’re going to celebrate with a Tomato Extravaganza.. because right now I am obsessed with America’s favorite fruit! Zack Loeks is an educator, designer and grower, who specializes in Edible Ecosystem Design. He also manages an award-winning farm and has written a...

Why are moths always cast as the villain? What’s the difference between a moth and a butterfly? We’ll find out today in this special bonus episode! Let’s sit down for a chat with botanist and photographer Jim McCormac to talk about his new book Gardening for Moths. Jim and his co-author Chelsea Gottfried have written a book unlike any other available on the market! Gardening for Moths is the first book to show midwestern gardeners and naturalists why they should attract specific moth species...

Today we’re hanging out with Erica Kempter and Mike Levine, co-owners of Nature & Nurture Seeds, a Michigan based seed company. We talk about why planting regional seed matters and some of their favorite varieties from this year’s catalog, then we play the Garden Dating Game! Let’s see how well Erica and Mike know each other… in the garden. 😉   Erica has been farming and gardening for nearly 30 years and Mike has been obsessed with edible plants for his entire adult life. Together, in...

We’re back with another round of Ask an Herbalist and this time we’re sitting down with herbalist and educator Demetria Clark. You sent in some really interesting questions and Demetria and I had a very fun and informative conversation! Demetria Clark is an internationally known herbalist, aromatherapist and midwife. She has studied and apprenticed with renowned herbal practitioners, including Rosemary Gladstar, Jane Smolnik and Susun Weed. She is the founder of the Heart of Herbs online...

Seed steward Melissa DeSa tells us about her tomato breeding program and Bevin rambles on about one of his favorite wild herbs.   Melissa DeSa is a seed saver, artist and founder of the Florida nonprofit, Working Food. Today Melissa answers 5 questions and talks to use about some of her recent garden challenges and successes. She also tells about her latest tomato breeding project!   You can learn more about Melissa’s work at www.workingfood.org and follow along on Instagram at...

Foodscape gardener Brie Arthur shares her love affair with grains and Annie Toro Lopez plays Chili Pepper Trivia!  Brie Arthur is an author, horticulturist, educator and host of the very popular Youtube channel Brie the Plant Lady. Today Brie is joining us for 5 Questions. We’ll have a chance to learn about why Brie loves growing grains as well as some recent challenges that she’s faced in the garden. She’ll also talk about her colleague Preston Montague and the important work that he is...

Community gardener Sonya Harris tells us how we can get our hands on her special seeds and Bevin shares his Top 5 Peppers!  Sonya Harris is a gardener, seed saver, founder of the Bullock Garden Project in Glassboro, NJ and all-around groovy lady! We have an opportunity to chat with Sonya about her favorite tomatoes, a fun gardening surprise and some of the interesting seeds she’s growing this year. We also learn about her collaboration with Ujamaa Seeds, a new seed company focused on...