The organic and sustainable farming movement has its roots in sharing information about production techniques, marketing, and the rewards and challenges of the farming life. Join veteran farmer, consultant, and farm educator Chris Blanchard for down-to-earth conversations with experienced farmers - and the occasional non-farmer - about everything from soil fertility and record-keeping to getting your crops to market without making yourself crazy.
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A weekly podcast about edible gardening.
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Hey there, flower enthusiasts, and budding cut flower growers! Welcome to Learn Cut Flower Growing, the podcast that's about to take your passion for blooms to a whole new level. 🌸 Join us on this exhilarating journey into the vibrant world of flowers, where we'll unveil the secrets, the stories, and the sheer magic behind growing and selling cut flowers. Our host? Well, she's not just any flower lover; she's a seasoned farmer-florist, a mother of nine, and a true flower whisperer. With over ...
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014: Strategizing Your Focal Flower Succession Plan
21:05
21:05
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There's something magical about the transformation of a seed into the bloom of a peony or the elegant curve of a lily stem. I've spent 16 years with my hands in the soil, coaxing these miracles into life, and in today's episode, I'm opening the garden gate to share this wonder with you. We'll traverse the seasons from the eager sprigs of pussy will…
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013: Raspberry Revelations: Turning Raspberry Foliage into a U-Pick Raspberry Patch
14:21
14:21
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When life handed me raspberries, I didn't just make jam — I started a U-pick raspberry farm alongside my thriving flower garden. It's a tale that began with the hardy resilience of raspberry foliage, something I initially cultivated for its lasting beauty in bouquets. As my garden grew, so did the requests from my community, leading me down a path …
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012: Preparing Beds in the Hoophouse for Cut Flowers
17:33
17:33
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Join me as I walk you through the ins and outs of prepping your hoophouse for the new planting season. Sharing from my 16 years of hands-on experience, you'll get a sense of the various tools and techniques that can make your gardening both effective and manageable. Whether you're a seasoned green thumb or a newcomer to the soil, this episode is pa…
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011: Market Competition: Resilience in the Face of Rejection
27:11
27:11
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Listen in as I discuss the unexpected twists of joining larger markets, the harsh reality of being ousted, and the lessons learned along the way. We'll tackle the age-old saying, 'a rising tide lifts all boats,' and I'll share why this might not always ring true. This conversation is a candid look at the business dynamics that often go unseen behin…
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010: Setting Up Your Flower Field | Don't Overthink This
24:33
24:33
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My journey in transforming my unyielding clay backyard into a flourishing oasis taught me that with a little love and a lot of compost, any soil can become a haven for your plants. This episode is brimming with wisdom on harnessing the natural power of the ground soil you're standing on. We'll discuss why a vibrant garden doesn't require fancy rais…
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009: Succession Planting: Timing Your Seed Starts Right
22:28
22:28
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In this episode, we are going through the critical steps of starting seeds and planning for a garden that dazzles from spring to fall. This is a goldmine for flower aficionados eager to refine their timing techniques and ensure a steady flow of blossoms to market. Discover how leveraging agricultural week numbers can sharpen your scheduling and why…
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008: Flower Farming Foundations: Starting Flower Seeds 101
20:35
20:35
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Ever wonder why some gardeners seem to have a never-ending parade of blooms? It's all about getting the seed starting right, and that's what we're unpacking today. In our chat, I'll let you in on the secret world of flower seeds, from the ones craving a sunbath like the elegant snapdragons to the shade-seekers such as demure buplerum. We'll travers…
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007: Seed Starting Strategy: Choosing the Ideal Method for Your Garden
23:32
23:32
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As your guide through the world of cut flower farming, I bring my 16 years of green-thumb wisdom straight to your ears, spilling the dirt on seed-starting and the tools that transform a garden. You'll hear about my own shift from vast fields to a more personal touch with petals, weighing the worth of soil blockers against the simple click of orderi…
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006: Blooming Profits: Harvesting Your Flowers and Learning from Your Farmer's Market
26:47
26:47
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Join me as I recount the blossoming journey of selling at the farmer's markets. Listen in as I reveal the secrets to a successful market day, from efficient harvesting systems to on-site bouquet arrangements. You'll hear about the trials and triumphs of navigating customer expectations and the magic of real-time adaptation — like the joy of saving …
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005: 3 Business Insights You Need to Implement Today & Few Unfiltered Opinions
24:26
24:26
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Have you ever felt like your business was on the brink of blooming, only to find your profits withering away? Turn that frown upside-down because today I share with you the secret fertilizer that supercharged my cut flower farm's profitability. I’m not holding back on the juicy details of the 'profit first' approach, a game-changer in the world of …
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004: My First Three Secrets for Successfully Growing Cut Flowers
23:42
23:42
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Have you ever gazed at a vase of freshly cut flowers and wondered what it takes to create such beauty? Lucky for you, I’m here to sprinkle that magic into your life with my hard-earned wisdom from 16 years in the blossoming trenches. This episode is your seed packet of knowledge, offering expert advice for both budding enthusiasts and experienced g…
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003: Cut and Come Again Flowers: What You Might Be Doing Wrong
12:52
12:52
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Join me on a vibrant journey as I unveil the bountiful world of cut-and-come-again flowers, the garden gems that promise endless blooms, and a potential cash crop for the savvy grower. Tune in, and I'll share trade secrets from my 16 years in the trenches, teaching you how to cultivate a riot of color that's not just a feast for the eyes but also a…
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002: Blooming From Adversity: Pivoting When You Need To
25:59
25:59
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Are you ready to uncover the raw, unfiltered truths about the world of flower farming? In this episode, I’ll walk you through my personal journey of transitioning to a farmer-florist business. From the hustle of trading markets and the bumpy road of labor challenges to the ultimate quest to simplify the business, I share it all. But my journey isn'…
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From a humble vegetable garden to a bustling flower farm, follow my journey as I explore the world of cut flower farming. Discover how a simple passion for flowers blossomed into a thriving business and how, with an open mind, a spirit for learning, and a bold spirit, you too could cultivate your own floral success story. Join me as I bear my own t…
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Hey there, flower enthusiasts, and budding cut flower growers! Welcome to "Blossom Talk," the podcast that's about to take your passion for blooms to a whole new level. 🌸 Join us on this exhilarating journey into the vibrant world of flowers, where we'll unveil the secrets, the stories, and the sheer magic behind growing and selling cut flowers. Ou…
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Episode 114: Garden Soil Ecosystems with Jeff Lowenfels
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28:39
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The quality of produce you grow is dependent on the quality of your soil. We are big advocates of doing everything possible to make garden soil the best it can be right from the start, and then working year after year to maintain and improve its quality. In this episode we're joined by award winning author Jeff Lowenfels to discuss the soil food we…
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In this episode Hilary and Colin answer a listener's questions about wood-framed raised bed construction best practices. Their business, Seattle Urban Farm Company has designed and built hundreds of custom raised bed gardens in the Seattle area, so check out this episode for an inside scoop on all of the pro tips! Pre-order their newest book Grow M…
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Episode 112: High tunnels, Hoophouses and Greenhouses
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26:16
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This week we'll be discussing management techniques for growing in high tunnels, hoophouses and greenhouses! We're thrilled to be joined this week by our good friend and Seattle Urban Farm Co co-founder Brad Halm. Brad is also the co-author of our gardening books, including our most recent "Grow More Food", which is available for preorder now and w…
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This week on the podcast we're tackling powdery mildew! Colin and Hilary are joined by Jenny Rebecca Glass, Extension Coordinator and Plant Diagnostician for the WSU-Puyallup Plant and Insect Diagnostic Laboratory. Jenny will help us answer your questions about the lifecycle of this common garden disease as well as management tips and techniques. S…
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Episode 110: Growing Under Cover with Niki Jabbour
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38:54
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In this podcast we chat with special guest Niki Jabbour about techniques for using structures of all sizes in your garden year-round to extend your season, reduce pest pressure, and improve yields. Show notes: Episode 110: Growing Under Cover with Niki Jabbour The Grow More Food Pre-Order Giveaway!
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Everything you wanted to know about cucumbers but were afraid to ask. We dig into the history of the cucumber, it's botanical curiosities and why you should start succession planting them. The survey…! In order to keep making this podcast, we need your support by taking this quick, 30 second survey for our podcast hosting platform. Once we have eno…
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After an extended hiatus, we’re back and ready to bring you some amazing new episodes of the Encyclopedia Botanica Podcast! The survey…! In order to keep making this podcast, we need your support by taking this quick, 30 second survey for our podcast hosting platform. Once we have enough replies to the survey we will creating episodes again! In thi…
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Episode 108: Garden Beets with Kellie Phelan
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Kellie's back as a special co-host for this last episode of the 2019 season and it's all about growing, harvesting and cooking with beets! Find photos, links to Kellie's business, and more in the show notes for this episode: www.seattleurbanfarmco.com/blog/By Hilary Dahl
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Episode 107: Harvesting For Quality and Production with Colin McCrate
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26:46
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Learning proper harvest timing and technique can help increase yields and ensure you get the best tasting produce from your garden. In this episode, Hilary and Colin talk harvesting methodology. They break down the techniques into five categories to help you make the most of your bounty. Find photos, links to Colin's books, and more in the show not…
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Episode 106: Vegetable Gardening Wisdom with Kelly Smith Trimble
30:22
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Hilary and Kelly Smith Trimble discuss Kelly's new book, Vegetable Gardening Wisdom; and share simple words of advice and practical inspiration for getting most out of your vegetable garden! Find photos, links to Kelly's book, and more in the show notes for this episode: www.seattleurbanfarmco.com/blog/…
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Episode 105: Straw Bale Gardening with Craig LeHoullier
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Turns out gardening in straw bales might be the least expensive and most effective way to create a season-long container garden! Hilary and Craig LeHoullier discuss what a straw bale garden is and how to set one up! Find photos, links to Craig's projects, and more in the show notes for this episode: http://www.seattleurbanfarmco.com/blog/…
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Episode 104: Growing Tomatoes (Re-release)
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33:27
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Tomatoes are probably the most popular garden vegetable, and for good reason; they're versatile, highly productive, and produce fruits that are far superior to any you can buy at the grocery store. In this episode we'll discuss tips for choosing and the best tomato for your space and needs and how to plant tomatoes. Find photos, links to Kellie's b…
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Emma Biggs talks with Hilary about the techniques she uses to grow 133 varieties of tomatoes, from seed to harvest, on her family’s urban lot in Toronto, Canada. Find photos, links to Emma's work, and more in the show notes for this episode: http://www.seattleurbanfarmco.com/blog/By Hilary Dahl
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Episode 102: Edible Garden Design with Stefani Bittner
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36:50
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Stefani Bittner, owner of Homestead Design Collective, talks with Hilary about how to create a beautiful and productive outdoor living space. Find photos, links to Stefani's work, and more in the show notes for this episode: http://www.seattleurbanfarmco.com/blog/By Hilary Dahl
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Episode 101: Container Gardening with Sara Gasbarra
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41:39
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In this episode, Sara and Hilary talk about container gardening. Much of Sara’s work is focused on utilizing unused balcony, patio and rooftop space in very urban environments, so this episode focuses on the unique set of needs and challenges that comes along with growing in more unconventional garden space. Find photos, links to Sara's work, and m…
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Episode 100 - Edible Flowers with Rosalind Creasy
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40:53
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Hilary talks with legendary garden writer, Rosalind Creasy about the joys and perils of eating flowers. Find photos, links to Ros's books, and more in the show notes for this episode: http://www.seattleurbanfarmco.com/blog/By Hilary Dahl
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Episode 99: Carrots and Parsnips with Colin McCrate
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35:06
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Hilary and Colin share everything you need to know to grow your best crop of carrots and parsnips yet! Find photos, links to Colin's books, and more in the show notes for this episode: http://www.seattleurbanfarmco.com/blog/By Hilary Dahl
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Episode 98: Backyard Cutting Garden with Kelly Sullivan
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Guest Kelly Sullivan of Botanique Flowers, a Seattle-based floral design studio, talks with Hilary about how she turned her 6,000 square foot city lot into a productive flower farm. Find photos, links to Kelly's work, and more in the show notes for this episode: http://www.seattleurbanfarmco.com/blog/…
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