Info

Encyclopedia Botanica

A weekly podcast about edible gardening hosted by Hilary Dahl and Colin McCrate, owners of the Seattle Urban Farm Co.
RSS Feed Subscribe in Apple Podcasts
Encyclopedia Botanica
2021
December
November
October
September


2019
June
May
April
March
January


2018
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2017
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2016
December
November
October
September
August
July
June


Categories

All Episodes
Archives
Categories
Now displaying: 2016
Dec 16, 2016

This week we will wrap up our garden planning conversation by discussing crop rotation. Crop rotation is the practice of planting annual crops in different spaces each year to avoid pest and disease problems, and to use soil nutrients efficiently.

We really need your support in order to continue providing you with fresh, quality weekly content! We've started a Patreon page so if you're enjoying this podcast, consider making a contribution: 

https://www.patreon.com/encyclopediabotanica

Don't forget to Tweet us @seattleurbnfarm using hashtag #EBpodcast with your garden questions!

Dec 9, 2016

This week we will be continuing the garden planning conversation by discussing another factor that can help guide your garden planning, and that’s plant growth form.

We really need your support in order to continue providing you with fresh, quality weekly content! We've started a Patreon page so if you're enjoying this podcast, consider making a contribution: 

https://www.patreon.com/encyclopediabotanica

Don't forget to Tweet us @seattleurbnfarm using hashtag #EBpodcast with your garden questions!

Dec 2, 2016

Knowing more about the life span and growth cycle of your crops will help you make decisions about what to plant, when to plant it, and how much of it to plant.

This is the first of many episodes we will share over the next few months on the topic of garden planning. No matter how simple or comprehensive your garden plan will be, these episodes will be here for you to revisit as many times as you'd like over the coming months and seasons to help you devise an intricate plan or simply serve as an inspiration for future projects. 

We really need your support in order to continue providing you with fresh, quality weekly content. We've started a Patreon page so if you're enjoying this podcast, consider making a contribution: 

https://www.patreon.com/encyclopediabotanica

Don't forget to Tweet us @seattleurbnfarm using hashtag #EBpodcast with your garden questions!

 

Nov 24, 2016

We're taking a little break and spending time with our families this week, we thought this would be a great time to recap a few of our favorite episodes that are still really timely for the season. 

Also, we need your support in order to continue providing you with fresh, quality weekly content. We've started a Patreon page so if you're enjoying this podcast, consider making a contribution: 

https://www.patreon.com/encyclopediabotanica

Don't forget to Tweet us @seattleurbnfarm using hashtag #EBpodcast with your garden questions!

Nov 18, 2016

This episode is for those of you out there who may not have a vegetable garden yet, or who are planning to expand an existing growing space. Or maybe you're thinking about adding some new beds for the next growing season. We are talking about how sheet mulching might be a good technique for you. Mulching your future garden space over the winter can give you a jumpstart on the garden building process for next season.

Also, we need your support in order to continue providing you with fresh, quality weekly content. We've started a Patreon page so if you're enjoying this podcast, consider making a contribution: 

https://www.patreon.com/encyclopediabotanica

Don't forget to Tweet us @seattleurbnfarm using hashtag #EBpodcast with your garden questions!

Nov 11, 2016

Microgreens are a great way to produce food all year long with minimum space and time. In this episode we'll discuss how to grow microgreens and crops that are best suited for this type of production. 

Also, we need your support in order to continue providing you with fresh, quality weekly content. We've started a Patreon page so if you're enjoying this podcast, consider making a contribution: 

https://www.patreon.com/encyclopediabotanica

Don't forget to Tweet us @seattleurbnfarm using hashtag #EBpodcast with your garden questions!

Nov 4, 2016

Spending a little time in the fall taking notes on what happened in your garden over that past season is a great way to get a jump start on your garden planning for the following spring. In this episode we are going to briefly introduce garden mapping and then Kellie and I will share our favorite crop varieties of the 2016 garden season.

Also, we need your support in order to continue providing you with fresh, quality weekly content. We've started a Patreon page so if you're enjoying this podcast, consider making a contribution: 

https://www.patreon.com/encyclopediabotanica

Don't forget to Tweet us @seattleurbnfarm using hashtag #EBpodcast with your garden questions!

Oct 28, 2016

This episode we are going to delve into the wonderful world of soil pH. Managing the pH of a garden may sound super complicated or perhaps a bit over-the-top for the beginning gardener. However, checking and adjusting the pH of your garden soil is actually very easy and very important.

Also, we need your support in order to continue providing you with fresh, quality weekly content. We've started a Patreon page so if you're enjoying this podcast, consider making a contribution: 

https://www.patreon.com/encyclopediabotanica

Don't forget to Tweet us @seattleurbnfarm using hashtag #EBpodcast with your garden questions!

Oct 21, 2016

This week we will be discussing how to use compost as a fall garden amendment. In particular, we're going to talk about it how you can use compost to improve and protect your soil over the wet winter months.

Also, we need your support in order to continue providing you with fresh, quality weekly content. We've started a Patreon page so if you're enjoying this podcast, consider making a contribution: 

https://www.patreon.com/encyclopediabotanica

Don't forget to Tweet us @seattleurbnfarm using hashtag #EBpodcast with your garden questions!

Oct 14, 2016

Cover cropping is the practice of growing a crop specifically to generate organic matter, protect the soil, and increase soil nutrient levels. 

In this episode, we discuss how cover crops work and why they are an incredibly important and effective way to maintain soil health and capture soil on site, but also why the practice of cover cropping can be tricky to employ in a home garden.

Also, we need your support in order to continue providing you with fresh, quality weekly content. We've started a Patreon page so if you're enjoying this podcast, consider making a contribution: 

https://www.patreon.com/encyclopediabotanica

Don't forget to Tweet us @seattleurbnfarm using hashtag #EBpodcast with your garden questions!

Oct 7, 2016

Last week Kellie and I went to a community field day and variety tasting event put on by the Organic Seed Alliance. The event celebrates the second annual harvest at OSA’s Washington research farm, which serves as the hub of OSA’s Pacific Northwest organic plant breeding, seed education, and variety trial program.

In this episode, we’ll discuss OSA’s mission and some of the work they do and we’ll also share their technique for saving tomato seeds.

HOW TO LISTEN:

SHOW NOTES:

In this episode, we discuss:

  • What the Organic Seed Alliance (OSA) is and their mission.
  • Why organic farmers and gardeners are reliant on organizations like the OSA to help develop seed adapted to their specific farm conditions and climates that don’t require the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers
  • How to save tomato seeds.

Important Take-aways:

  • Seeds are a living, natural resource that need careful management to meet food needs now and into the future.
  • The Organic Seed Alliance’s work is crucial to the future of organic farming. Research demonstrates that varieties developed under non-organic growing conditions are not always successful in organic and other low-input systems. Organic growers need crop varieties developed specifically for low-input systems – crops that mitigate pest and disease pressures, and that are adapted to their local conditions and climates.” The OSA is partnering with farmers all over the country to identify seed needs and to trial varieties and collect data.
  • Label any seeds you save with the variety and date!

Heard on the Episode:

“It’s not everyday that you get the opportunity to try seven different types of kale...sided by side. It’s just a good reminder of all of the different vegetable varieties and flavor qualities that are out there.” - Hilary Dahl

“I have to say, this was just such a cool experience...I’ve never really done anything like this before. I learned way more than I expected about the importance of seeds in our culture...honestly, I know it’s fall but it got me super jazzed up for planning my spring garden…!” - Kellie Phelan


Sep 30, 2016

These easy-to-grow plants tend to get neglected, but they’re actually really easy to keep nice and tidy. With a few simple steps, you can care for your herbs while also harvesting your crop! Join us as we chat about pruning herbs, using lavender, sage, and rosemary as examples.

Sep 23, 2016

It may be a surprise to some listeners that, not only are hops relatively easy to find a place for in the home garden, but they are also beautiful and really rewarding to grow. I love the way hops look and smell! In this episode we will talk a little bit about how to grow them, how to harvest them and how to use them.

Sep 16, 2016

The ‘winter’ in winter squash refers to the time of year the crop is eaten, rather than planted. The winter squash category includes to storage squashes (butternut, spaghetti, and acorn), as well as pumpkins. In today’s episode, we cover everything you need to grow perfect winter squashes, including the lifecycle of the plant, when to harvest, and how the fruits should be cured for storage.

Sep 9, 2016

Today’s episode is all about garlic! Garlic is a member of the Allium family, which also includes onions, leeks, scallions, and chives. In most climates, garlic is planted in the late fall and harvested mid-summer the following year. Join us as we chat about selecting garlic seed, explore the differences between softneck and hardneck garlic, and, of course, discuss planting techniques and tips.

1 2 Next »