Welcome to our weekly podcast with longtime Anchorage Daily News garden writer and author Jeff Lowenfels and co-host Jonathan White. Think of it as a companion to Jeff’s weekly columns and his popular series of books. Each 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.
This week, Jeff and Jonathan share progress reports on converting lawns into meadows - highlighting sightings of violas, tiger swallowtail butterflies, false spirea and more.
[Jeff’s latest column: Thinning and harvesting are vital to healthy gardens]
They also discuss creating pathways in the meadow and share mowing patterns for regular lawns. Later, while exploring vegetable gardens, they discover the surprising fact that tomato flowers are both male and female and only need vibration for pollination. Additionally, they advise listeners to watch for fruit problems and mention the blooming of cucumbers.
Finally, they suggest incorporating flowers in the vegetable garden and provide tips on mulching annuals and perennials.
Have a question? Let Jeff and Jonathan 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 Jeff’s 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.
