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#183: Mike talks with Fresh Eggs Daily author, Lisa Steele, About Proper Chicken Keeping

In this week's episode, Mike talks with chicken expert and author of the book Fresh Eggs Daily: Raising Happy Healthy Chickens Naturally, Lisa Steele, about how you can use the herbs you grow in your home garden to raise healthy and happy chickens Lisa will explain how you can get started with raising your own chickens, how to get chickens, the coop you should be using, and how to incorporate your herbs in the feed, bedding and so much more. In this episode, here’s what we’ll cover: Chicken health Chicken breeds Roosting Proper Feed and water techniques Chicken safety Breeding heritage chickens Chicken keeping legalities Lisa's visit to Moss Mountain Items mentioned in this episode include: Lisa's book: Fresh Eggs Daily: Raising Happy, Healthy Chickens...Naturally Fresh Eggs Daily Facebook Page Lisa's website: Fresh Eggs Daily Which Breeds lay Colored Eggs Build your own coop plans Buy a coop: Amish Coops Leonard Coops Non-organic: Nutrena Blue Seal (has both organic and non-organic organic: Nature's Best Organic Feeds Scratch & Peck Feeds About this week's Guest, Lisa Steele: Lisa and her husband share their small farm in southeastern Virginia with a menagerie of chickens, ducks, horses, a German Shepherd, a Corgi and a Tuxedo cat. Lisa shares her farming adventures on her blog Fresh Eggs Daily® and sister Facebook pages Fresh Eggs Daily and Ducks Too. Dedicated to raising their animals as naturally as possible, Lisa offers advice and tips on raising chickens using herbs and other holistic remedies and shows her readers how to have some fun while doing it. In addition to chicken keeping tips, she also shares DIY projects for the coop and run using repurposed materials, gardening ideas, and recipes using fresh eggs, vegetables, berries and herbs. She knits, sews, and dabbles in canning and breadmaking when not tending to her flock. A fifth generation chicken keeper, Lisa has been around chickens for most of her life, but only got back into raising them as an adult about five years ago. In the years since, she created Fresh Eggs Daily® to help others learn how to keep their flocks safe from predators, how to build strong immune systems, and how to keep them healthy without using antibiotics or other commercial medications. Lisa’s advice is time tested, much of it based on how the oldtimers did things, as well as triedandtrue from her own experiences with her flock. She has written a book called Fresh Eggs Daily: Raising Happy, Healthy Chickens...Naturally which not only offers some basic advice to those just starting out on their backyard chicken journey, but also complies the best from her blog in the areas of the coop, run, nesting boxes, dust bath area, and more, to guide readers on a more natural path to chicken keeping. She is also a contributing writer for HGTVGardens, Grit magazine, Capper’s Farmer, Hobby Farms Chickens magazine and Backyard Poultry magazine. Lisa’s own flock has numbered from just three hens to more than three dozen over the years. She has raised more than 20 different breeds at various times and now concentrates on some of the more rare breeds such as Lavender Orpingtons, Chocolate Orpingtons, Olive Eggers, Faverolles and Blue Ameraucanas. She collects pink, blue, olive green, cream and chocolate brown eggs daily from her mixed flock.

Previous Podcast Episodes #182: Mike talks Hydrating Vegetable Seeds with Annie Haven of Authentic Haven Brand Natural Brew #181: Mike interviews Niki Jabbour Author of Groundbreaking Food Gardens #180: Mike interviews LaManda Joy the founder of the Peterson Garden Project #179: Mike interviews Helen Yoest the author of Plants with Benefits #178: Mike interviews P. Allen Smith Giving us His Best Garden Tips and Talks Heritage Chickens

5 Ways to Stake Tomatoes

photo credit: http://thefreerangelife.com/5-ways-stake-tomatoes/ Tomatoes are the king of the home vegetable garden. Just about anyone who has a garden, regardless of size, grows some variety of tomato. And who can blame them right? Tomatoes are easy to grow and with so many varieties to choose from, there is bound to be one out there for you. Since there are so many tomato varieties to choose from, it comes without saying that there are also a lot of ways to keep tomatoes "propped" up, so they grow off the ground, helping to produce a plentiful bounty. Tomato cages, sold at all home and garden centers are the easy, go to, choice, but you have plenty more options out there. Check out these 5 from author Sarah Toney. You are sure to find one that you will enjoy. http://thefreerangelife.com/5-ways-stake-tomatoes/

READ OUR LATEST BLOG ENTRY

How to Grow Yarrow

CHECK OUT THESE OTHER GREAT TIPS

8 Natural Ways To Kill Garden Weeds

Top 10 Ways to Prepare Kale

7 DIY Vertical Gardening Techniques for Healthier Veggies

7 Ways to Protect your Garden Plants Naturally

How to Use Forks to Keep Rabbits out of the Garden

5 Ornamental Plants That Could Save Your Vegetables

photo credit: http://www.hobbyfarms.com/crops-and-gardening/5-ornamental-plants-that-could-save-your-vegetables.aspx Are you practicing companion planting techniques? More importantly as it pertains to this article, are you planting flowers alongside your fruits, vegetables and herbs? If not you are really missing out on making your home vegetable garden even better. Flowers can serve an even greater purpose to your gardening efforts than simply looking great and pretty with a nice aroma. They can attract beneficials, ward off harmful insects and even add some nutrients back into the soil. Check out this article by Hobby Farms where they list 5 ornamental plants that you can plant to help out with your home vegetable garden. http://www.hobbyfarms.com/crops-and-gardening/5-ornamental-plants-that-could-save-your-vegetables.aspx

READ OUR LATEST BLOG ENTRY

How to Grow Yarrow

CHECK OUT THESE OTHER GREAT TIPS

Brew Compost Tea in 5 Easy Steps

4 Simple Steps to Grow a Hundred Pounds of Potatoes in a Barrel

10 Inspiring Gardens for Growing Food in Small Spaces

10 Ways to Make Gardening Easier

photo credit: http://gardening.about.com/b/2014/05/24/10-ways-to-make-gardening-easier-2.htm Once again vegetable gardening author Marie Iannotti knocks it out the park with some great vegetable gardening information. This time she tackles making vegetable gardening easier, and who wouldn't like to make their vegetable garden just a bit easier? I know I would. Here in Marie's article, she covers 10 cool tips that can speed up some your vegetable gardening efforts, as well as keep your vegetable garden maintenance to a minimum. There is a little bit of garden knowledge in here for everyone as Marie tackles weeding, drip irrigation and getting your kids involved in your home vegetable garden. http://gardening.about.com/b/2014/05/24/10-ways-to-make-gardening-easier-2.htm

READ OUR LATEST BLOG ENTRY

How to Grow Yarrow

CHECK OUT THESE OTHER GREAT TIPS

Fix Your Nutrient Deficient Soil with this Mediterranean herb garden

How to Make Roses Bloom with Banana and Coffee Grounds

11 Tips for Using Recycled Materials in Your Landscaping

Top 10 Anti Inflammatory Herbs

5 Ornamental Plants That Could Save Your Vegetables

#182: Mike talks Hydrating Vegetable Seeds with Annie Haven of Authentic Haven Brand Natural Brew

#182: Mike talks Hydrating Vegetable Seeds with Annie Haven of Authentic Haven Brand Natural Brew
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In this week's episode, Mike talks with Authentic Haven Brand owner, Annie Haven, about the benefits of using manure tea on the fruits, veggies and herbs you grow in your home vegetable garden. Annie will explain how you properly use manure tea in your home vegetable garden, touch on valuable points if you have well water or city water, and talk about solutions for using manure tea regardless of the size of your home vegetable garden. In this episode, here’s what we’ll cover: What is manure tea What are the benfits of manure tea Using manure tea in your compost pile Manure, its safety and what to look for How to use manure tea in your home vegetable garden Valuable manure tea techniques regardless of garden size What to do if you are using well or city water The organic industry and some classic real world case studies Items mentioned in this episode include: Authentic Haven Brand of Manure Teas Seed company histories and timelines Organic fertilizer maker accused of using synthetic chemicals Herbicide-Contaminated Manure Damages Organic Crops in Washington State Ronco Plastics Growing A Greener World TV Joe Lamp’l Authentic Haven Brand Alfalfa tea Authentic Haven Brand Cow manure tea Authentic Haven Brand Horse manure tea Straus Family Creamery: Certified Organic Milk & Dairy Products About this week's Guest, Annie Haven: Haven Seed Co. was established in 1853 and incorporated in 1873. Haven Seed Co. grew for commercial seed until 1968 when the focus was then turned to Manure tea which was harvested from the horses used to pull the equipment through the fields and the livestock raised to feed the workers. Haven Co. processed and packaged the manure in large "Pillow case size bags", brewed the tea, then flood irrigated the fields to restore nutrients to the soil. Authentic Haven Brand Natural Brew is harvested, processed and Eco hand packaged, from Haven raised grass fed livestock, free of antibiotics, growth hormones, herbicides and pesticides. Over the past 7 years Social Media for Authentic Haven Brand Natural Brew has played a big roll in the introduction of brewing and feeding cow, horse and alfalfa teas to replenish needed nutrients to the soil. Gardeners around the world have seen tremendous results in their gardens and indoor house plants once they started brewing and feeding Authentic Haven Brand Natural Brew. Photos (click to enlarge)
Previous Podcast Episodes #181: Mike interviews Niki Jabbour Author of Groundbreaking Food Gardens #180: Mike interviews LaManda Joy the founder of the Peterson Garden Project #179: Mike interviews Helen Yoest the author of Plants with Benefits #178: Mike interviews P. Allen Smith Giving us His Best Garden Tips and Talks Heritage Chickens #177: Mike talks Fertilizers, Soil Amendments and School Gardens with Cindy Rajhel

How to Build a Bat House

Photo courtesy: National Wildlife Federation

Bats can eat more than 500 mosquitoes in an hour!  So says the National Wildlife Federation website.  How would you like to keep the mosquito population down to a minimum without having to spray harmful chemicals.  

Incorporating bats has been a long used practice for organic gardening methods.  Of course first you need to get a bat or two in your area, and without a house, they won't stay long.  

Check out this step by step tutorial by the National Wildlife Federation so you can build a bat house for your self.

http://tinyurl.com/nbcox57

6 Ways to Help Ensure Your Veggies Will Succeed

photo courtesy: http://gardeningjones.com/blog/2014/05/27/6-ways-to-help-insure-your-veggies-will-succeed/

Anytime you can pick up a few tips on making your home vegetable garden a bit more successful or productive, you simply have to read on.

Today, our good friend Gardening Jones, posted 6 tips for your home vegetable gardening that can do just that ... help insure your vegetables will succed.

http://gardeningjones.com/blog/2014/05/27/6-ways-to-help-insure-your-veggies-will-succeed/

5 Tips on How You Can Stop Your Tomatoes from Cracking

photo courtesy: http://www.tomatodirt.com/tomato-cracks.html

Even the most experienced vegetable gardeners will have a tomato crack on them.  Don't ever feel like you are alone when this happens.  Our friends over at Tomato Dirt have written a nice tutorial on cracking tomatoes and what you can do about it.

There is a boatload of beneficial information in this article, so be sure to head on over there by clicking the link below and checking it out.

http://www.tomatodirt.com/tomato-cracks.html

9 Pest-Fighting Flowers

photo courtesy: http://www.vegetablegardener.com/item/10805/pest-fighting-flowers

Companion planting is a hot topic in the world of vegetable gardening.  You engage in companion planting for a variety of reasons, to attract wildlife that can aide in pollination, fighting pests, reduce disease and many more.

One of the cool things of companion planting, is to get to plant many things that serve a wide range of purposes as well as provide a lot of color and fragrances, such as this list of 9 Pest Fighting Plants, written by vegetable gardening author Greg Holdsworth.

There are some popular items on this list, along with some traditional favorites.  Enjoy!

http://www.vegetablegardener.com/item/10805/pest-fighting-flowers

20 colorful plants for shade gardens

photo courtesy: http://www.sunset.com/garden/flowers-plants/color-plants-for-shade

If you have limited sun on your property but still want to grow some cool things, check out this list from Sunset.com.  They list 20 colorful flowers that you can plant, grow and get to thrive in areas that receive ample amounts of shade.

http://www.sunset.com/garden/flowers-plants/color-plants-for-shade

5 of the Fastest Growing Vegetables that You Can Plant Now - This Week in Vegetable Gardening

photo courtesy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radish

3 Best Reasons for Growing Your Own Mint - Mint.  It's one of those things you either love to grow it, or absolutely hate it.  I have yet to meet someone that says "mint, eh, it's ok" ....  There are some great uses for the various choices of mint that you can grow.  Check out this article by Barbara Pleasant, that will get your mint juices flowing :)

Volunteer Tomatoes - Here is another excellent and very useful article by Barbara Pleasant.  This time Barbara tackles volunteer tomatoes.  A volunteer tomato is one that grows in a place that you didn't plant one.  More than likely a compost pile or a garden bed area when you planted them in a previous season. 

5 of the Fastest Growing Vegetables that You Can Plant - Who wouldn't like to plant a seed and a week later harvest something, everyone, right?  Well ok, even with these 5 you still won't harvest anything in a week, but you will get 5 great tasting veggies in mere weeks. 

Engraved Garden Stone – A Garden Product Review - What would a weekly vegetable gardening round up be without at least one article by garden guru, Shawna Coronado.  This week she reviews some really cool engraved garden stones by Adirondack Stone Works
  
10 Favorites for Ohio - Do you live in Ohio? Do you live in the same growing zone as Ohio?  If os check out this article from The Whispering Crane Institute which lists 10 herbs that are favorites for Ohio.

What Plants Attract the Most Wildlife? - Wildlife gardens are becoming all the rage.  Who can argue?  What can be cooler when see insects and other creatures that you didn't even know existed in your area, let alone they are visiting your backyard.  Check out this quick article on what you can plant to attract some garden favorites.

7 Ways To Get Your Kids To Eat Their Veggies

If you have been following this blog or listening to my weekly vegetable gardening podcast then you know I have two young sons.  And one of the greatest challenges for me, and probably for a lot of parents out there, is getting my kids to eat their veggies.

One of the best ways I have personally found to accomplish this is to have my kids involved in our vegetable gardening activities.  Specifically, each one has their own 3' x 3' garden bed where they can grow anything they like, on one condition ... they must eat what they grow.

Now while I won't say that they eat "everything", they do at least try everything, which is a great start.  

In this article by Kiran Dodeja Smith on a website I absolutely love, "100 Days of Real Food", Kiran gives you 6 other tips to get your kids eating their veggies.  

http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2014/05/21/7-ways-get-kids-eat-vegetables/

How to Make Super Cheap Seed Starters

photo credit: http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Super-Cheap-Seed-Starters/step6/Making-Soil-Blocks/

Have you ever used those expandable peat pods (or pots depending on who you are buying them from)?  They are neat, and the kids really love watching them expand.  At least my kids do as do the kids at a recent gardening demonstration I conducted at my local school.

Before you go buy some of them, give this project a try with your kids (or if you are a kid at heart).  These look super cool to do and really easy.  Just a few basic ingredients is all you need.  Have fun!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Super-Cheap-Seed-Starters/step6/Making-Soil-Blocks/

13 Cheap & Easy DIY Greenhouses

photo credit: http://www.homemadehomeideas.com/13-cheap-easy-diy-greenhouses/

Greenhouses are a great way to get a jump start on your vegetable gardening season.  A lot of plants simply can not grow outdoors until the temperatures are warm to hot.  Tomatoes, peppers and eggplant to name a few.  

But, with a greenhouse, you can get these types started from seed earlier so that when the temps do warm up in your area, you can move them to a permanent vegetable garden bed.

Do you have the room for a greenhouse? If so, before you drop a few hundred dollars on one from the store, or $20 on a cheap plastic one from a home center, take a crack at building one of these 13 plans.

http://www.homemadehomeideas.com/13-cheap-easy-diy-greenhouses/

45 Fragrant Flowers You Can Plant Now!

photo courtesy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flower

We have a lilac tree in our front yard area and when that lilac tree is in full bloom, the sweet aroma is unbelievable.  My dad, who is not much of a flowering tree (or flower) guy, came over my house not too long ago, and while walking up my front pathway, could not help but say, wow, "you can smell your lilac tree from the street."

Of course lilac is just one of literally thousands of very fragrant flowers you can plant to make the air smell sweeter, better and more inviting.  

Check out this list from Garden Gate Magazine.  They list about 32 of varieties and the growing zones they are perfect for.

http://www.gardengatemagazine.com/45fragrantplants/

10 Herbs for Acid Reflux Relief

photo courtesy: http://www.herbs-info.com

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or more commonly known as Acid Reflux, is a condition in which the stomach contents (food or liquid) leak backwards from the stomach into the esophagus (the tube from the mouth to the stomach). This action can irritate the esophagus, causing heartburn and other symptoms.

Do you suffer from Acid Reflux?   If so, your first step is to always consult with your family physician.  However, these 10 herbs, written about on http://www.herbs-info.com might be able to help.  Again, consult with your physician first.

http://www.herbs-info.com/herbs-for-acid-reflux.html

10 starter tips for growing tasty tomatoes

photo courtesy: http://www.canadiangardening.com/gardens/fruit-and-vegetable-gardening/10-starter-tips-for-growing-tasty-tomatoes/a/42177

I love growing tomatoes as do about 40 million other people in America. So it comes as no surprise that anytime you can pick up some helpful tips to make growing tomatoes easier, better and more rewarding, you jump on those tips.

Here are some really cool tips from Canadian Gardening to help you along with your tomato growing efforts.  

http://www.canadiangardening.com/gardens/fruit-and-vegetable-gardening/10-starter-tips-for-growing-tasty-tomatoes/a/42177

How To Build The Ultimate Tomato Cage For Under $2….The Stake-A-Cage

photo courtesy: http://oldworldgardenfarms.com/2013/01/15/how-to-build-the-ultimate-tomato-cage-for-under-2-the-stake-a-cage/#prettyPhoto

I love using tomato cages.  In fact the ones that I own are well over 15 years old.  I do my best to take care of them so they will last.  I do that because as you may know, tomato cages at stores don't come cheap.  I wish I had this tutorial back then.  I might have saved myself quite a bit money.

Check it out and give it a try.  I know I will.

http://oldworldgardenfarms.com/2013/01/15/how-to-build-the-ultimate-tomato-cage-for-under-2-the-stake-a-cage/

How to Build a 5 Gallon Self Wicking Tomato Watering Container

The tomato is the number vegetable, er um, fruit grown in the home vegetable garden.  Who can argue?  They taste great and with so many size and color choices (over 2,000), everyone can just about pick a favorite.

In this video tutorial by The Rusted Garden, you are taken on a step by step journey on not only growing tomatoes, but how to do it in a 5 gallon container.  Fun stuff!

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-a-5-Gallon-Self-Wicking-Tomato-Wateri/