Food Garden Life Show: Helping You Harvest More from Your Edible Garden, Vegetable Garden, and Edible Landscaping

Crooked FarmzIn the first part of the show, we chat with Sean Smith from Crooked Farmz (https://crookedfarmz.net) in Toronto. Smith talks about his journey into growing food, learning about soil and composting, and the beginnings of his Toronto microfarm.Compost Tea by SubscriptionHe calls himself the “brewer” at the farm. The brew? It’s compost tea.Along with selling at farmers markets, Smith has taken another route to selling the compost tea: by subscription. Home Composting TipsSome of Smith’s top composting tips:* Understand what “brown” and “green” ingredients are, and have some of each* Make sure there is enough air* Make sure there is enough water Honey Bees and Native BeesIn the second half of the show, we chat with Missouri beekeeping expert, author, and TEDx speaker Charlotte Wiggins (https://www.gardeningcharlotte.com).Wiggins talks about attracting native bees to gardens, gardening for both native and honey bees, and shares tips and ideas for people thinking about getting into beekeeping.Tips for People Interested in Keeping Bees* Learn beekeeping lingo* Join a beekeeping club, make beekeeping friends* Take a class about beekeeping* Volunteer with local beekeepers* Don’t rush getting your own hives, get the hang of things first Looking for more beekeeping guidance? Wiggins’ latest book is the award-winning A Beekeeper’s Diary: Self-Guide to Keeping Bees.

Show Notes

Online classes happening soon: Grow a Potted Yuzu Citrus, Grow Angel's Trumpet (brugmansia) on Your Patio.
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Crooked Farmz
In the first part of the show, we chat with Sean Smith from Crooked Farmz in Toronto. 

Smith talks about his journey into growing food, learning about soil and composting, and the beginnings of his Toronto microfarm.

Compost Tea by Subscription
He calls himself the “brewer” at the farm. The brew? It’s compost tea.
Along with selling at farmers markets, Smith has taken another route to selling the compost tea: by subscription. 

Home Composting Tips
Some of Smith’s top composting tips:
  • Understand what “brown” and “green” ingredients are, and have some of each
  • Make sure there is enough air
  • Make sure there is enough water

Honey Bees and Native Bees
In the second half of the show, we chat with Missouri beekeeping expert, author, and TEDx speaker Charlotte Wiggins.

Wiggins talks about attracting native bees to gardens, gardening for both native and honey bees, and shares tips and ideas for people thinking about getting into beekeeping.

Tips for People Interested in Keeping Bees
  • Learn beekeeping lingo
  • Join a beekeeping club, make beekeeping friends
  • Take a class about beekeeping
  • Volunteer with local beekeepers
  • Don’t rush getting your own hives, get the hang of things first 

Looking for more beekeeping guidance? Wiggins’ latest book is the award-winning A Beekeeper’s Diary: Self-Guide to Keeping Bees.

 
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What is Food Garden Life Show: Helping You Harvest More from Your Edible Garden, Vegetable Garden, and Edible Landscaping?

Want to grow your own food but need creative ideas so you can get the most from your space and your growing zone? Our passion is the edible garden.

We help people grow food on balconies, in backyards, and beyond—whether it’s edible landscaping, a vegetable garden, container gardens, or a home orchard.

There are many ways to approach edible landscaping. Find out how to harvest enough fruit, vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers. Get top tips for exotic crops. And learn how to garden in a way that suits any situation.

Host Steven Biggs was recognized by Garden Making magazine as one of the “green gang” making a difference in Canadian horticulture. His home-garden experiments span driveway straw-bale gardens, a rooftop kitchen garden, fruit plantings, and an edible-themed front yard. He's a horticulturist, award-winning broadcaster and author, and former horticulture instructor with George Brown and Durham Colleges in Ontario, Canada.

Get started with one of our fan favourites. Season 6, Episode 10: Big Harvests from a Small Space with a Vertical Vegetable Garden.