Welcome to our weekly podcast with longtime Anchorage Daily News garden writer and author Jeff Lowenfels and co-host Jonathan White. It’s a companion to Jeff’s weekly ADN gardening columns and his popular series of books.
Biochar is a black carbon compound produced through pyrolysis, enhancing soil fertility and plant growth in gardening.
This week Jeff and Jonathan discuss some scientific studies about biochar, how some Alaska Native tribes have historically incorporated it into their gardens, as well as some pros and cons to using it.
Next, the team has some fun chatting about amanita muscaria folklore (that distinct red mushroom with white spots), and why it is considered the “Christmas Mushroom”.
Finally, the duo wraps up with a listener question about compost.
Have a question? Ask Jeff and Jonathan 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.
