Homestead Gardening: A Modern Approach
by Spencer
This is Homestead Gardening: A Modern Approach with your hosts Kristin & Spencer. We garden alongside of Mother Nature, sprinkle in a touch of modern science, and put up the abundance.We both lead busy lives with little time for gardening. So, how do we create a homestead garden that provides for our families without breaking our backs or the bank? Find out in this podcast!Connect with Kristin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnyourheadandscoff or https://prolandscapedesign.comConnect with Spencer on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com or https://thefarmandthetable.co
Episodes
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E 2-18: 10 Pro Garden Tips for Fall
If you’re in an area where you can start a fall garden, you are probably in a warm climate like ours. We have received a lot of the same questions this summer asking about fall gardening. We also noticed that a lot of our listeners felt discouraged to start their gardens after a very hot summer....
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E 2-17: How to Garden by the Temperature
Download the FREE garden planner HERE. Download the FREE temperature guide HERE. Have you tried every gardening calendar in your area and are still scratching your head? Are you in a “weird” climate zone? Do you just want a simpler way to understand how to garden without wasting many seasons of...
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E 2-16: “How Has Your Garden Grown?” Summer Check-in
Do you find it difficult to implement every single one of the gardening tips you’ve heard about on this podcast? Well, so do we! Spencer and Kristin share garden strategies actually used, follow up on past episodes, and divulge the secrets to keeping a garden thriving through summer heat. Our...
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E 2-15: Bokashi Composting
If you've heard the term "Bokashi" and wondered what this is, you're not alone! Kristin loves this method of composting, and Spencer's been curious to try it out but still cautious. So, in this episode we're easing Spencer's mind and helping her get ready (and all of you) to start this life...
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E 2-14: American Made for Your Garden
Have you ever been frustrated with a gardening product because it fell apart after a couple uses? Do you find yourself looking for the cheapest option when you buy garden supplies from a big box store assuming it will just fall apart at the end of the season, and you’ll have to replace it? Do you...
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E 2-13: Seed Saving (Part 2)
Welcome to Homestead Gardening: A Modern Approach. Today we are continuing our discussion about all things seeds saving. In the last episode, E 2-12: Seed Saving (Part 1), we discussed why you should be doing it and how to get started. We also shared tips on avoiding the dreaded…
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E 2-12: Seed Saving (Part 1)
Welcome to Homestead Gardening: A Modern Approach. Today we are talking all things seeds saving. Why you should be doing it and how to get started. We are sharing tips for avoiding dreaded cross-pollination and which seeds we think are easier or more difficult to save. Join your hosts, Kristin…
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E 2-11: Watering Your Vegetable Garden - Irrigation Products for the Home
Spencer & Kristin talk retrofit vegetable garden watering system product options, pros and cons of each, and personal experiences using each of these products to help you determine which product might work best for you before you invest. You may have heard the words sprinkler, irrigation, sprays,...
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E 2-10: Do You Garden Like Your Ancestors?
Kristin and Spencer are back talking about garden techniques you may, or may not, have heard of. We’ll explore ideas like grounding, gardening by phases of the moon, and more, to offer you a little background into how these concepts may have been applied by your ancestors, a little scientific...
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E 2-9: Is Your Garden Influenced by Social Media?
Raise your hand if you’ve been confused by a garden influencer’s chore recommendation or “click bait” style social media reel to get your attention! Spencer and Kristin are not self-proclaimed “influencers” on social media. We don’t appreciate “click bait” garden reels that include extreme...
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E 2-8: Gardening for Food Supply
Have you ever had a garden that grew too much of one crop, and you had no idea what to do with the surplus? Have you ever wondered how much garden space you’d really need to put a meal from your garden on the table for your family? Do you wish to grow your garden for continuous fresh produce or…
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E 2-7: Understanding Your Soil Test & Fertilizing
Spencer and Kristin each sent in soil tests using a MySoil test kit, and in this episode we'll share those results with you and so much more! If you've struggled to understand how the difference between creating healthy soil and fertilizing, today's conversation will clarify this for you! We will...
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E24: Which Style Gardener are You?
I'm curious to know which style gardener you are and if you're practicing the gardening style that's best for you. In this episode I identify 2 main types of gardening styles and how they relate to how you harvest, store, and use your food! Listen in for some great tips that may change the way…
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E23: Gardening for All Ages & Fitness Levels
From very young to very old, from very fit to partially mobile, you can garden if you have the right materials, right attitude, and are willing to stay within the guidelines of what your body will physically allow you to do. Today's Episode pairs with this week's YouTube Episode on Bokashi...
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E21: Growing Food in a Drought
I boast that Houston has 12 months of growing potential, so, what do Houston gardeners do in a summer drought when day time temperatures are over 100 °F? We garden smarter, not harder! I really think it’s necessary to understand the "why" with gardening in order to become not just a better…
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E20: Growing Blackberries in Texas
This quick episode gives you a simple introduction to blackberries and my decade of experience growing this plant in Houston. Today's Episode pairs with the YouTube Channel and can be found at this link: https://youtu.be/5h_REWDXOEQ HDG Landscape Design: https://prolandscapedesign.com/ Find me on...
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E19: Part 3 - A Decade on the Homestead
Today’s podcast episode is a part 3 of a 3 part series with myself and my husband as we discuss what it’s been like for us Homesteading in Houston over the past decade on a 2 acre unrestricted property.
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E18: Part 2 - A Decade on the Homestead
Today’s podcast episode is a part 2 of a 3 part series with myself and my husband as we discuss what it’s been like for us Homesteading in Houston over the past decade on a 2 acre unrestricted property.
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E17: Part 1 - A Decade on the Homestead
Today’s podcast episode is a part 1 of a 3 part series with myself and my husband as we discuss what it’s been like for us Homesteading in Houston over the past decade on a 2 acre unrestricted property!
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E16: Go Grow Garlic
I used to think growing long cool season crops like garlic was impossible in the Texas Gulf Coast. It's actually a really simple process! I even have a nice, short visual aid I pair with this podcast on my YouTube channel. So what's the key to my growing success? Start planning your future garlic...
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E15: 5 Must Have Heat Loving Food Crops
Today’s episode takes 10 years of my summer garden success and failure and offers you 5 Must Haves that will grow from late spring to early fall and survive through summer for a continuous garden with zero gaps in food production. If you’ve lived in the Houston, Texas area or a similar zone 8-9...
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E13: How to Deal with Cool Season Plants Bolting!
If you're a first time gardener in the Texas Gulf Coast or other warm weather climate, you will likely be confused when your cool season plants barely produce food if at all before flowering. This is called THE BOLT! I stopped getting frustrated trying to grow cool crops in a warm weather…
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E12: Using Color in Landscape Design
In this episode, I will talk about complimenting colors and hues but I’ll be explaining and describing how color can be used to evoke emotions such as sadness, cheerfulness, excitement. I’ll tell you how to use color to make a bold statement or as a focal point. I’ll explain how to use greens...
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E11: Spring Pruning & Care for Roses
Did you know that yearly pruning at the right time and regularly scheduled garden upkeep is all you need to do for amazing roses in your garden? The right time of year and the right technique is key! Pop on your headphones and get ready to take a few notes. This info packed episode will have you...
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E10: Cucurbitacea Family - Tips on Growing Squashes & Other Cucurbits
Have you ever heard of the Cucurbitaceae Family? You probably haven't, but maybe you've heard of the Squash Family or Cucurbit Family? This family includes squashes, pumpkins, watermelon, cucumber, and gourds to name a few of the 950 species belonging to this family. The good news is...they all...
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E9: Indoor Seed Starting - Peppers and Eggplant and Tomato, Oh My!
I'm sharing my foolproof method to starting finicky warm season seeds from the nightshade family including peppers, tomato, and eggplant. Indoor seeds starting gives you control to create the micro-climate these seeds need to thrive. This practice will help extend your growing season, and in the...
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E8: Propagation Methods & Step-by-Step Herb Rooting
Have you ever heard of propagation? This is the fancy horticulture word meaning you can multiply your plants for free, and there are several simple techniques you can use to multiply your plants that are described in this episode along with examples of plants that work perfectly for that…
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E7: 5 Reasons to Seed Save
Did you know you can get free seeds just by collecting from the heirloom plants you grow in your garden? I always thought seed collecting wasn’t worth my time until I found out that the second generation of plants is actually better adapted to my climate. This means the chances are going to...
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E6: Citrus Varieties for Zone 9
I love citrus. With so many culinary uses and a surprisingly wide variety of flavors, it’s hard to not grow as many as possible. Before the 2021 Texas Freeze, I had owned 20 different varieties of citrus, but through various weather events, most did not make it to today. So, I had to get smart…
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E5: The Best Time to Plant is in the Fall
Do you have a new shrub or ornamental plant for the garden but have no idea how or when to put in the ground? Maybe your potted plant is getting a little too big, and you don’t know what to do next. Or, perhaps you have an older plant that is just in the wrong place, but you are too afraid to…
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E4: Tour with The Ground Up: a Green Waste Recycling Facility
This episode offers you an insight into composting and soil blending on a larger, commercial scale. Luis with The Ground Up, led me on a hands on tour of 1 of 3 of their processing and distribution facilities in Houston, Texas, and I was amazed at the quality products and care The Ground Up uses…
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E2: Introduction to Easy and Affordable Composting
So, I heard you’ve been thinking about composting. Let me dispel the myths and be your tour guide today! This is an introduction to composting for new gardeners or gardeners who want to simplify and reduce their gardening chores. Composting is a great addition to your home ornamental or edible...
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E1: How to Start Your Houston Garden
This short, 16 minute episode is all about introducing you to your own property. In this podcast episode you will be given 4 tools you will need to start planning your garden today!
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E3: Composting Methods, Cost Comparisons, and Earthworms. Oh My!
Today we’ll take what you learned from the Episode 2, Introduction to Composting, and go a step further by discussing different composting methods, composting set ups and costs, and we’ll even talk pros and cons of using earthworms for composting. With 12 growing months in the Texas gulf coast…
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E26: Fall Garden Chore List
I have over 20 chore ideas for you to do in the next 30-60 days and some tips for getting prepared for late winter and early spring gardening. You can find the full list on my blog! Save the list, and add your own notes as you listen! https://prolandscapedesign.com/fall-garden-chore-list/ For…
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E27: Traditional Thanksgiving Meal Grown on the Homestead
Do you dream of growing an entire meal on your homestead but can't figure out how to make it happen? This episode is full of hot tips to DIY your Thanksgiving dinner! For Fresh Gardening Ideas, subscribe to my YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/c/TurnYourHeadandScoff For help with Design,...
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E 2-6: Companion Planting with Trap Plants (Part 2 of 2)
In our last episode we discussed how to lure many bad garden bugs away from your primary crops with trap plants! This concept appears complicated to many of our listeners, but we are here to simplify your life! We’ve done the research so you don’t have to! In this episode, Kristin and Spencer...
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E 2-5: Companion Planting with Trap Plants (Part 1 of 2)
In our last episode Kristin and Spencer offered a soft introduction to companion planting. Companion planting is a natural gardening method that has the ability to reduce your labor and costs by planting specific plants that offer a benefit to your primary crops. One companion planting method is...
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E 2-4: Plant More, Work Less: An Introduction to Companion Planting
It occurred to me last month that most of my friends and family members think I spend a LOT of time in my garden. The truth is, I hardly spend any time caring for my gardening. In fact, a majority of my gardening time is spent harvesting!!! I’ve talked about a few of my secrets in past episodes,...
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E 2-3: Become a Root Focused Gardener – Understanding the Role of Soil Microbes in Plant Health
This episode will teach you how to become a root focused gardener and help you gain a good understanding of what soil microbes are and how they benefit your plants so you can confidently garden smarter not harder next season. BONUS: Find out my start to finish routine using microbes and less...
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E 2-2: Bug Out Bags – Survival in Extreme Weather & Other Tricky Situations
I’m curious how many of you homesteaders have a bug out bag prepared. Never heard of a bug out bag? This is a survival bag that is equipped to care for any and all of your needs for 72 hours. Usually a bug out bag is intended to be used when you “bug out” or get the heck out of dodge. That’s…
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E 2-1: Pre & Post Freeze Plant Care and Native Plant Suggestions
In this podcast episode, I’ll share with you why storms from the north are so much more dangerous for our gardens this time of year than a regular winter freeze, how to prepare your plants for environmental stressors, and how to help them recover afterwards or what to look for to determine if…
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E25: Homestead Kitchen - Making Products with Home Grown Ingredients
This episode includes a special guest! Catie grew up in Vermont surrounded by plants and animals, but animals always came first during her childhood. She volunteered at various animal shelters and worked hard to get a Bachelor’s in Behavioral Neuroscience and a Master’s in Animal Shelter...
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E22: How to Use Gardening for Self-Care
This podcast includes a special guest. Stephanie is an experienced life coach focused on helping teens learn essential skills to build a better mindset and get a better life. In this episode Stephanie and I discuss how we use gardening for self-care. Self-care in this episode will be framed in…
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E14: Container Gardening
I have rarely succeeded at growing a really large healthy plant in containers, but I’ve especially struggled growing plants indoors. Light, airflow, temperature, fertilizing, watering but not watering too much are all things I can’t seem to wrap my head around consistently enough to be successful...
About this show
This is Homestead Gardening: A Modern Approach with your hosts Kristin & Spencer. We garden alongside of Mother Nature, sprinkle in a touch of modern science, and put up the abundance.We both lead busy lives with little time for gardening. So, how do we create a homestead garden that provides for our families without breaking our backs or the bank? Find out in this podcast!Connect with Kristin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnyourheadandscoff or https://prolandscapedesign.comConnect with Spencer on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com or https://thefarmandthetable.co
Hosted by
Spencer