Living Homegrown Podcast With Theresa Loe

Learn to make delicious fresh cheese in under an hour! In this week's episode, host Theresa Loe interviews cheesemaker/entrepreneur/author Claudia Lucero who shares tips for making fresh cheese at home. Claudia is the founder of UrbanCheesecraft where you can buy DIY cheese kits for everything from Mozzarella to Paneer and more. She is also the author of the book: One Hour Cheese. In this episode, Claudia walks the listeners through all the steps of making their first batch of cheese and gives the low down on how easy it is to enjoy this rewarding hobby. You learn: Which type of milks you can use, If it's possible to make non-dairy cheese, The difference between pasteurized and ultra-pasteurized, What is rennet and why might you want to use vegetarian rennet, How to move on to make Mozzarella, Ricotta, Paneer and more. As always you can go to the show notes at www.LivingHomegrown.com/72 for a full transcript of the show. PLUS - as an added bonus, you can download a printable PDF of Claudia's easy cheese recip

Have you ever thought that your existing garden looked a little drab? It doesn't matter if you are using edibles in your landscape or not, after a few years things can get out of balance. And you may find that your garden is just not looking as good as it used to. Learn how to refresh that garden using cool (yet simple) garden design tricks.  In this episode, host Theresa Loe interviews Northern California garden designer Rebecca Sweet on how we can revamp our garden space. Easy tips for figuring out what's wrong and how to fix it. You learn: Why our garden may have lost its luster, The most important step in garden redesign, What does it really mean to "edit", What is an echo and why is it important, When is the best time of year to refresh, and How can we create optical illusions. As usual, you can learn more at www.LivingHomegrown.com/71 where you will also find a full transcript of the episode. 

In this week's episode, host Theresa Loe answers a listener question about the safety of "canned" cake. You may have seen these recipes on the internet where it calls for baking cake-like breads in a canning jar (like pumpkin bread or zucchini bread) and then placing on a lid to create a vacuum seal. A listener wrote in asking if it was okay to do this. Well...although a lot of people used to do this, today it's not considered safe. And Theresa dives deep into the research conducted on this exact practice, what the research showed, and the reasons you should not "can" cake yourself. You learn: Why canners argue about this type of recipe, Why you still might find it in some canning books, The science behind the researched data, How the oven doesn't kill everything you think it does, How commercial companies can get away with it, What is recommended you do instead. As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/70 for a full transcript of the episode and any related links mentioned in the episode. 

This episode is for anyone wanting to start food gardening for the very first time. Host Theresa Loe interviews garden blogger/author Dee Nash of Red Dirt Ramblings about how to start a food garden if you have never ever picked up a trowel before. And they focus on starting in containers because it is an easy way to dive in without getting overwhelmed with a larger space. You learn: The basic tools you need to garden, The types and sizes of containers you should start with, How to assess a garden space, What to look for in commercial potting soil, How to read a fertilizer label, Why organic is best, How to make a salad bowl garden. As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/69 to get related links and a full transcript of the episode.

Learn all about how to compost in your own backyard. In this week's episode, host Theresa Loe interviews Joe Lamp'l - the host and creator of the television series Growing A Greener World on PBS. Theresa is Joe's Co-Executive producer and they have been working together for over 7 years on the TV gardening series. But in this episode, Theresa brings Joe on the podcast to give the full scoop on how to compost. You learn: The benefits of composting, How it works, Do you really need a composter, What about those weird brown to green ratios, How can we speed up the process and What do we do with the compost we make. Joe also gives the full story of how the PBS show came about and where the garden series is headed (a big change is coming in season 8)! They spend the first 10 minutes diving deep into behind-the-scenes of the garden TV series and then spill the beans on how EASY it is to compost. As always, you can get the full transcript, related links that are mentioned in the episode and a FREE PDF Composting Che

Infusing can be a fun way to make really delicious, yet simple gifts. If you start now, you will have plenty of time to finish before the holiday rush. In this episode, host Theresa Loe shares: How to make Homemade Vanilla Extract, Spiced Rum and Grand Marnier. You also learn: Some simple tips for packaging, Why you can use bulk vanilla, What to add to your homemade extract to keep the flavor strong and more. As always, there is more information in the show notes at www.LivingHomegrown.com/67 including a free PDF for a Cranberry Liqueur Recipe, lots of resources for jars and bulk ingredients as well as a full PDF transcript of the episode.

Learn how easy it is to harness the relaxation qualities of herbs. We all lead really busy lives and we deserve some down time. Why not use ingredients from the garden to revive ourselves? In this episode, host Theresa Loe interviews garden designer and author Sue Goetz about using herbs to create a spa experience. Sue wrote "The Herb Lover's Spa Book" and they discuss: How to create small relaxation spaces inside and outside, Why we should touch our plants, What heat does to herbs, How to harness the value of the natural essential oils, Steaming with herbs, Which herbs promote relaxation, What is tub tea, Can we or should we use real tea in our bath water, and more. As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/66 to get a full transcript of the episode and links to related information. There is also a free PDF download in the show notes which includes recipes for bathtub sachets and lists of herbs to use for steaming. 

Dehydrating food is one of the easiest forms of food preservation. It's simple and safe. You can dehydrate everything from herbs, fruit and veggies to meat. In this episode, host Theresa Loe walks you through the basics of dehydrating for long term storage. You learn: What dehydrating is and how it works, The advantages of dehydration, Is botulism an issue, How dehydrated food tastes different from fresh, What equipment is needed to do the job well, How to dry apples, Do you really need to treat them and how to rehydrate some of the foods you dry. As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/65 to get more information, resources and a full transcript of this episode.

We all have too many things on our To-Do list, don't we?  And when trying to fit in gardening, canning, homesteading, family, work and other activities...Well, it can be a bit overwhelming. In this episode, host Theresa Loe talks about creating the proper mindset to keep our energy and motivation going while getting a better handle on all the things we think we need to accomplish. This is not a usual topic for this podcast. But after several listener requests, Theresa shares an overview on how she gets so much done. Hopefully there will be a few tips that can help you reduce your own stress and overwhelm with your own To-Do list so that you can be more productive. You learn: Why decluttering gives you better focus on what matters most, How to discover your own personality temperament and why that can help you on projects, How to side step the things that drain you, Why and how you need to recharge, How to schedule like the CEO of your homestead, What is a pile up zone and why you need one. Theresa created a f

Learn to make lotions, bath products and more on this episode. Host Theresa Loe interviews Blogger/Author Stephanie Rose from Garden Therapy. You learn: How to make After Sun Lotion, DIY Bath Bombs, How to infuse oils three different ways, The difference between essential oils and fragrance oils, The trick to making Easter Egg Bath Bombs and more. Go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/63 to get more free recipes and a downloadable Lip Balm Recipe as well as the full transcript for the show. You will also find resources for all the ingredients for the recipes in the show notes. 

Fresh herbs are great in the kitchen, but they can also be used to add beauty and fragrance to your home. Learn how to reap the benefits of these wonderful plants with tips for getting the most flavor and fragrance from them. You can grow fresh herbs yourself or buy them at the farmer's market. But once home...what can you do with them. Host Theresa Loe shares tips on using herbs. You learn: Tips for growing herbs, How to judge the freshness when you buy herbs, How to keep them fresh, The substitution formula for fresh vs. dried, Which herbs are best for flavor, Which are best for fragrance, A simple trick for freshening a room with mint, Tips for scenting your linens and Why her teen son's shoes smell like lavender. LOL  As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/62 for links and resources mentioned in this episode. There is also a FREE bonus PDF of Theresa's Herb Plant Resource Guide. It has a full listing of all herbs mentioned (with botanical names) and a list of mail order sources for all the unusu

Learn how to harness the flavor of this versatile herb. In this episode, host Theresa Loe shares the benefits of growing, harvesting and using lavender in the kitchen - both in your cooking and in your preserves. You learn: Which lavender has the best flavor, The basics of growing and harvesting lavender flowers, How to make lavender salt, A simple recipe of lavender sugar, How to make lavender honey, The important concerns of flavoring honey and how to do it safely, Two simple ways to add lavender flavors to your preserves and much more. Plus Theresa has a PDF tip sheet for how to use lavender in your canning projects that you can download for free. As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/61 to get more links, information, the PDF tip sheet and the full transcript of the show.

There is a lot of confusion about two very different commercial products used in canning. This episode helps clears that up. Host Theresa Loe explains the difference between Clear Jel® vs. Sure Jell® and how you can "put up" pie filling now to enjoy later when the fruit season is over. You learn: What Clear Jel is and how it is used, How Sure Jell is used in canning, Where you can find both of these products, Do you even REALLY need them or can you work without them, and tips for making pie filling. Go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/60 to get all the related links, a PDF of an Apple Pie Filling recipe and a full transcript of the episode.

Keeping your own bees may sound thrilling and romantic -- But actually, there is A LOT to this important hobby. If you ever thought about being a beekeeper OR if you would just like to learn more about the importance of bees and the people who keep them - then this episode is for you. Host Theresa Loe interviews experienced beekeeper Karla Delong of Mountain Feed and Farm Supply. Karla shares all the good, the bad and the exciting things that a beginning beekeeper should know and consider before diving in. You learn: The importance of bees and how backyard beekeepers are making a difference, Why local bees are superior (no matter where "local" is for you), Is it possible to be an "organic" beekeeper, The 4 areas of care in beekeeping, The special qualities every beekeeper should possess (or strive for), Is it really okay to keep bees in the city, Can bees be kept on a balcony, Why wine corks are so important for us to have in our gardens and so much more! As always, you can get all the links mentioned and mor

You know exactly what's in your food when you make it yourself. Nothing could be more true than when you make your own bacon! In this episode, host Theresa Loe interviews Joel MacCharles and Dana Harrison - the authors of the new preserving book Batch. This episode is part two of a two part interview. Part one (Episode #57) focused on the book and different ways to preserve lemons. This week's episode focused on using salt and smoke to flavor and preserve a whole variety of different products. FIRST...Theresa dives into bacon labeling and how that organic bacon you are eating might STILL have nitrites even though it says "no nitrites added other than...".  Important label info to know and understand if your goal is to eliminate nitrites from your diet. Then in this episode you learn: Why "no added nitrites" on bacon labels in the United States can be misleading, How chili salt is great for people who don't like heat, Why pink curing salt is NOT the same as pink Himalayan salt, Step-by-step instructions for ma

Learn how to make salt-cured lemons, lemon zest salt and authentic Limoncello made the old fashioned way. In this week's episode, host Theresa Loe interviews Joel MacCharles and Dana Harrison - the couple behind the very successful blog, Well Preserved and the co-authors of: BATCH - Tips and Techniques for a Well Preserved Kitchen. You learn: Why batching different preservation techniques together makes sense, How to make and use salt-cured lemons, How a simple trick with lemon zest can be the gateway to other salted preserves, The "real" way to make Limoncello without steeping, What the heck is Bourbon-cello and why has no one every told us of this before??? This episode is Part One of a two-part episode (next week covers salt and smoke preserving). As always, you can get all related links and information at www.LivingHomegrown.com/57 including a full transcript of the episode. 

Do you long for more produce from your tiny garden? Do you find yourself with too much zucchini but not enough cabbage? Ever wish you had a better system for growing just the right amount of food? Learn to grow more food no matter how big or small your garden space. In this week's episode, host Theresa Loe interviews Colin McCrate of Seattle Urban Farm Company and one of the authors of: High Yield Vegetable Growing - a new book that shows you how to take your food growing to a whole new level using scaled down farming tips and techniques. In this episode you learn: How just a little planning can make a HUGE difference in your food production, What it means to plant in succession, What is "relay planting", How to calculate exactly how much you need to grow, How to double your crop storage time by harvesting correctly and more. As always, you can get all the links and resources mentioned at: www.LivingHomegrown.com/56 as well as a full PDF transcript of the episode.

Learn how to use smart garden design to get more enjoyment out of your food garden. These tips work for ALL gardens, not just food gardens. But many times when we grow food, we think more about harvesting the tomatoes than we do about good garden design. Right??  Well by adding just a few simple elements to our backyard, we can draw in more wildlife, more pollinators and WAY more enjoyment from our backyard space. In this episode, host Theresa Loe interviews author and landscape designer Susan Morrison. They discuss simple ways we can set up our garden to benefit both the gardener AND the wildlife around us. It's all about slowing down to enjoy and appreciate the nature around us. As always, you can visit www.LivingHomegrown.com/55 to get more tips and links as well as a full transcript of the episode.

Ever end up with too much of a good thing?  Too many jars of jam or two many pickles? Every canner has! Well in this episode, you learn how to take those extra preserves and trade them to diversify your panty and your friendships. You see, food swaps are a popular and fun way to meet other artisan food crafters, explore new flavors and make friends at the same time. In this episode, host Theresa Loe interviews Emily Paster - the author of "Food Swap: Specialty Recipes for Bartering, Sharing and Giving". You learn: What a food swap is and how it works, Surprising advantages of trading homemade goods, Food swap etiquette, How to avoid legal issues, What is quince paste and how to use it, How to find a food swap in your area or start your own. As always, there are links and resources at www.LivingHomegrown.com/54 as well as a full transcript of the episode.

In this episode you learn the secrets to successfully preserving your garden produce using your freezer. This method is fast and easy if you know the tricks. Host Theresa Loe shares: Which containers work best and why, What is flash freezing and why you should use it on berries, How to disable the enzymes that soften frozen vegetables, Why headspace is so important when freezing in glass containers, What makes tomatoes so easy for freezing, The trick to freezing zucchini quickly. As always, you can go to www.LivingHomegrown.com/53 for the show notes which contain related links and a full transcript of the episode.