Welcome to a weekly podcast with longtime Anchorage Daily News garden writer and author Jeff Lowenfels, and co-hosted by Jonathan White. Think of it as a companion to Jeff’s weekly columns and his popular series of books. Every week, Jeff and Jonathan dive deep into organic gardening and the soil food web, breaking down science, providing expert gardening advice and busting some long-held myths about how to help your garden grow.
In this episode, Jeff and Jonathan explore a new vision for lawns, shifting away from the traditional weed-free grass obsession. They share practical tips for easier lawn maintenance, including regular watering, leaving clippings on the lawn, and applying compost to specific areas.
Next, they delve into the art and science of composting. You’ll learn about the benefits of a compost calculator and how to achieve the optimal 30:1 ratio in your pile.
Later, Jeff and Jonathan impart essential knowledge on kickstarting your organic vegetable garden, including planting potatoes and initiating lettuce and peas. Additionally, they discuss the ‘pinching’ technique to stimulate plant branching and explain why it’s crucial for encouraging abundant plant growth.
Finally, they answer listener questions.
Have a question? Let them know at teamingwithmicrobes@me.com
Sponsored by Number 2 Organics, Big Foot Microbes, and Down to Earth Fertilizers
Hosts: Jeff Lowenfels and Jonathan White. Produced by Evan Phillips.
This podcast is a collaboration between the hosts and Anchorage Daily News.
Feedback: teamingwithmicrobes@me.com
Read Lowenfels’ weekly columns on gardening and growing at ADN.com.
Read his books: “Teaming with Microbes: The Organic Gardener’s Guide to the Soil Food Web,” “Teaming with Nutrients: The Organic Gardener’s Guide to Optimizing Plant Nutrition,” “Teaming with Fungi: The Organic Grower’s Guide to Mycorrhizae,” among others.
