Podcasts about ecobeneficial

Are you dreaming of a white Christmas?  Or a snowy Hanukkah or Kwanzaa?  Or just a personal celebration of the winter solstice?  EcoBeneficial designer and educator Kim Eierman will share you the many gifts that a blanket of snow gives to the garden.

We do a deep dive into your garden questions on this episode. We attempt to identify a giant wasp in a listener's yard. A mysterious, underground white fungus has another listener perplexed. And we help out people who want to attract beneficial insects and pollinators to their garden.It's all on episode 118 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots. And we will do it all in under 30 minutes. Let's go!Pictured:A bee on an artichoke flower.Links:Smart PotsThe Pollinator Victory Garden by Kim EiermanKim Eierman's Ecobeneficial.com websitePollinator-Friendly Regional Plant Lists from the Xeres SocietyCalscape.org Pinpoints California native plants via your CA zip codeCicada Killer Wasp infoMushrooms and Other Nuisance Fungi in YardsMore episodes and info available at Garden Basics with Farmer FredGarden Basics comes out every Tuesday and Friday. More info including live links, product information, transcripts, and chapters available at the home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred. Please subscribe, and, if you are listening on Apple, please leave a comment or rating. That helps us decide which garden topics you would like to see addressed.Got a garden question? There are several ways to get in touch: leave an audio question without making a phone call via Speakpipe, at https://www.speakpipe.com/gardenbasicsCall or text us the question: 916-292-8964. E-mail: fred@farmerfred.com or, leave a question at the Facebook, Twitter or Instagram locations below. Be sure to tell us where you are when you leave a question, because all gardening is local. And thank you for listening.All About Farmer Fred:Farmer Fred website: http://farmerfred.comDaily Garden tips and snark on Twitter @farmerfredThe Farmer Fred Rant! BlogFacebook:  "Get Growing with Farmer Fred"Instagram: farmerfredhoffmanFarmer Fred Garden Videos on YouTubeAs an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from possible links mentioned here.

What can I do to attract more pollinators?  Kim Eierman joins me today to talk about her new book "The Pollinator Victory Garden: Win the War on Pollinator Decline with Ecological Gardening." She will tell us how we can attract more pollinators and beneficial insects. Show Notes: (*links below contain affiliate links, which means if you click through and make a purchase, we will earn a commission at no extra cost to you.) Connect with Kim Eierman https://www.ecobeneficial.com/ https://www.facebook.com/EcoBeneficial https://twitter.com/EcoBeneficial https://www.instagram.com/ecobeneficial/ Kim's new book, "The Pollinator Victory Garden: Win the War on Pollinator Decline with Ecological Gardening." https://www.ecobeneficial.com/store/book/#about-the-book Organic REV The first thing to understand about REV is that it is not an ordinary humic acid product that is chemically-extracted from leonardite, lignite, or other coals.  Rather, it is a 100% naturally-occurring carbon, humic acid & fulvic acid source - along with exceptionally high levels of naturally-occurring microbial biomass that can increase nitrogen efficiency by up to 25%.   REV replaces depleted soil carbon & bacterial biomass - and absorbs nutrients to make them more readily available to plants via their root systems.   Promo Code for 10% off JILL10 Kujo YardWear Lightweight, flexible and ready for all types of chores, the Kujo Men's Yard Shoes slip on easily to provide convenient and comfortable protection for gardening, landscaping and more, sun up till sun down. Yard Shoe Lightweight Killer traction Water resistant X1 Landscape Boot Anti fatigue Safety toe All day comfort Cool dry feet Use the promo code JILL10 for 10% off your order Vegetable Gardening for Beginners Book: https://amzn.to/3kZXFDu Connect with Jill:         Sign up for Friday Emails: https://journeywithjill.net/gardensignup Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeginnersgarden/ Beginner's Garden Shortcut FB Group: https://facebook.com/groups/beginnersgarden/ Link to Beginner's Garden Podcast past episodes: journeywithjill.net/podcast

This episode we talk with Kim Eierman founder of EcoBeneficial about adding a Pollinator Victory Garden to your home landscape. We share how to support the garden media before it is gone. The plant profile is on Wintersweet and news on recent and upcoming gardening events. Recorded on 2-20-2021. BTW, YOU can become a listener supporter for as little as $0.99 per month! See how at: https://anchor.fm/gardendc/support. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/gardendc/support

The Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA) annual IMPACT Conference will be virtual this year. Mike and Peggy talk to presenters Jack Pizzo of Pizzon & Associates and Kim Eierman from EcoBeneficial. The sad saga of Nicole Virgil and her fight to be able to have a hoop house in suburban Elmhurst continues. She returns to talk about the latest developments

Today we celebrate the botanist and writer who published the first book about salad. We'll also learn about the horticulturist whose life was cut short on this day when the steamship he was on caught on fire and sank. We celebrate the man who helped generations of people fall in love with ornithology. We also hear some garden poetry that features women. We Grow That Garden Library™ with a book about creating a Pollinator Victory Garden by having a garden that is healthy, diverse, and chemical-free. And then we'll wrap things up with a glimpse into a Maine garden on this day in 2011. But first, let's catch up on some Greetings from Gardeners around the world and today's curated news.   Subscribe Apple  | Google  | Spotify  | Stitcher | iHeart   Gardener Greetings To participate in the Gardener Greetings segment, send your garden pics, stories, birthday wishes and so forth to Jennifer@theDailyGardener.org And, to listen to the show while you're at home, just ask Alexa or Google to play The Daily Gardener Podcast. It's that easy.   Curated News Thriving With Nature | Mental Health Foundation “There are lots of ways in which spending time in nature can be positive for our mental health and wellbeing. New and exciting research is happening all the time that adds to our understanding of how our natural environment affects the health of our bodies and minds. The reasons why time in nature has this effect on us are complex and still being understood. The benefits are often related to how our senses connect us to the environment around us, from the shapes in nature we see to the scents that trees give off and the soft fascination that nature can stimulate which helps our minds rest.”   Alright, that's it for today's gardening news. Now, if you'd like to check out my curated news articles and blog posts for yourself, you're in luck, because I share all of it with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community. There's no need to take notes or search for links - the next time you're on Facebook, search for Daily Gardener Community and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group.   Important Events 1662   Today the English Gardner and writer John Evelyn recorded in his diary that he met with the dowager Queen Henrietta Maria. John kept a detailed diary for 66 years, and he had a devoted passion for gardening. As a result, his diary has been a treasure for garden historians over the years. And, here's a little known fact about John Evelyn: he was the first garden author to publish a book about salads (or sallets as they were spelled at the time). Check out the benefits of eating salad as described by John: "By reason of its soporiferous quality, lettuce ... still continues [to be] the principal foundation of … Sallets, which ... cool and refresh, [and have] beneficial influences on morals, temperance, and chastity." (FYI: Soporiferous means Inducing or tending to induce sleep. Here John is referring to the fact that some lettuce secretes lactucarium - a milky fluid found in the base of the lettuce stems. It is known as lettuce opium because of its sedative and pain-relieving properties. It has also been reported to promote a mild sensation of euphoria.) It was John Evelyn who wrote: "The gardener’s work is never at an end, it begins with the year and continues to the next. He prepares the ground, and then he plants, and then he gathers the fruits." "Gardening is a labor full of tranquility and satisfaction; natural and instructive, and as such contributes to the most serious contemplation, experience, health, and longevity."   And, keep in mind John's appreciation for the amount of work a garden requires as I tell you this little story about him. In 1698, John Evelyn had owned his estate for 40 years. Everyone who knew it said it was magnificent - both inside and out. It was decorated to the nines. Of all that he owned, John's garden was his pride and joy. That year, the Russian Czar, Peter the Great, brought an entourage of 200 people to England to visit William III. In a gesture of hospitality, William volunteered John Evelyn's home to host the Czar and his people during their visit. John and his wife graciously moved out to give the Czar his privacy. Well, it wasn't long before John's servants began sending him urgent messages begging him to return. When John came home, he walked into a nightmare. The whole estate had been trashed. Priceless paintings had served as dartboards. His floors were ruined, windows were smashed; even the garden was destroyed. The servants told how the 6'8 Czar had played a game with his friends, where they put him in one of John's wheelbarrows and then raced him through the garden beds, crashing into walls, trees, and hedges. It was a complete disregard for the sanctity of John's garden. For twenty years, John had nursed along a hedge of holly that had turned into a glorious living wall. It was ruined. The party even managed to knock down part of the stone wall that surrounded the garden. It must have been a scene akin to the movie Animal House. John immediately sent word to the king about what had happened, and arrangements were made straight away to move the Czar to other lodgings. King William settled with John to have his property restored - his home needed to be gutted and rebuilt from the floors up. John Evelyn was 78 years old when this happened to him. I'm sure there was no amount of restitution that could restore the years of love he had spent in his garden. He lived for another eight years before dying in 1706.   1815   Today is the anniversary of the tragic death of the horticulturist and writer Andrew Jackson Downing. Andrew was the author of The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America, which came out in 1845. He also served as the editor of a magazine called The Horticulturist. Regarded as one of the founders of American Landscape Architecture, Andrew used his work in The Horticulturist magazine as a platform for advancing his pet causes. It was Andrew who first came up with the idea for a New York park. In fact, Andrew's dream became the park we know today: Central Park. Andrew also advocated for individual states to create schools devoted to agriculture - and that hope became a reality as well. In 1846, the National Mall in Washington, DC, was run down and neglected.  It fell to Andrew to devise plans to revive the space. When the Frenchman Pierre Charles L'Enfant designed the mall in 1791, he envisioned a grand avenue. In sharp contrast, Andrew's vision simple. Not a fan of formal European gardens, Andrew wanted to create what he called a public museum of living trees and shrubs. Instead of a grand avenue, Andrew designed four separate parks that were connected by curving walkways and featured many different trees. Sadly, Andrew's plans were never fully funded or carried out. In the summer of 1852, Andrew boarded a steamship called The Henry Clay. At some point, the steamship got into a race with another boat called The Armenia. When The Henry Clay began to overheat, a fire broke out in the engine room. Coincidentally, a former girlfriend of Andrew's also happened to be on board The Henry Clay that fateful day. As passengers escaped the flames to jump into the water, some began to drown. When Andrew jumped in the water to save his old flame, her panic caused them both to drown. Now, before Andrew attempted to save his old paramour, he was one of the men who quickly threw some deck chairs off the boat. The thinking was that the chairs could be used as flotation devices. As fate would have it, Andrew's wife Carolyn survived the disaster by holding on to a deck chair. When the ordeal was all over, many friends tried to comfort Carolyn by insinuating that she was likely saved by one of the chairs Andrew had thrown into the water.  But this sentiment was small consolation to her, given that she lost her husband as he was busy trying to save an old love. Andrew Jackson Downing was just 36 years old when he died on this day two hundred and five years ago.   1996  Today is the anniversary of the death of Roger Tory Peterson of Peterson's Field Guide to Birds fame - he was born in 1908. A son of Jamestown, New York, Roger, helped new generations of people fall in love with ornithology. Roger not only wrote the guides, but he also illustrated them. He was the noted American naturalist who brought the natural world to the masses in the 20th century. Roger admired the gumption of the common starling. He felt blue jays had "a lot of class," and he said the house sparrow was "an interesting darn bird." Roger once famously described a purple finch as a "Sparrow dipped in raspberry juice (male)." When it came to the Audobon Oriole, Roger quipped that its song was like "a boy learning to whistle." What was Roger Tory Peterson's favorite bird? The King Penguin. Here are some famous Peterson quotes: "Few men have souls so dead that they will not bother to look up when they hear the barking of wild Geese." "Birds have wings; they're free; they can fly where they want when they want. They have the kind of mobility many people envy." "Birds are indicators of the environment. If they are in trouble, we know we'll soon be in trouble." And finally, the book, The World of Roger Tory Petersonis worth a read if you can get hold of a copy.   Unearthed Words Today's words feature Women and the Garden. In January, for example, the housewife should be busy planting peas and beans and setting young rose roots. During March and April she will work 'from morning to night, sowing and setting her garden or plot,' to produce the crops of parsnip, beans, and melons which will 'winnest the heart of a laboring man for her later in the year. Her strawberry plants will be obtained from the best roots which she has gathered from the woods, and these are to be set in a plot in the garden. Berries from these plants will be harvested later the same year, perhaps a useful back-up if the parsnips have failed to win the man of her dreams. July will see the good wife 'cut off ...ripe bean with a knife as well as harvesting the hemp and flax, which it will be her responsibility to spin later in the year. — Thomas Tusser, English poet and farmer, Five Hundred Pointes of Good Husbandry, 1573   You are a tulip seen today, But (dearest) of so short a stay That where you grew, scarce man can say. You are a lovely July-flower, Yet one rude wind, or milling shower. Will force you hence, and in an hour. You are a sparkling rose in the bud. Yet lost ere that chaste flesh and blood Can show where you grew or stood. You are a full-spread fair-set vine. And can with tendrils love entwine. Yet dried, ere you distill your wine. You are like balm enclosed well In amber, or some crystal shell, Yet lost ere you transfuse your smell. You are a dainty violet. Yet withered ere you can be set  Within the virgin's coronet. You are the queen all flowers among.  But die you must, fair maid, ere long.  As he, the maker of this song. — Robert Herrick, English poet and cleric, A Meditation for His Mistress   Grow That Garden Library The Pollinator Victory Garden by Kim Eierman This book came out in January of 2020, and the subtitle is Win the War on Pollinator Decline with Ecological Gardening; Attract and Support Bees, Beetles, Butterflies, Bats, and Other Pollinators. Peter Nelson, Director of The Pollinators film, said of this book, "The Pollinator Victory Garden is a book for these times.  Kim Eierman empowers readers with ideas, direction, and the inspiration they need to create beautiful and eco-friendly habitats for many different pollinators.  Creating healthy, diverse, and chemical-free habitats are essential steps in solving pollinator decline, and The Pollinator Victory Garden guides you towards creating your own lovely garden habitat." Kim Eierman is an environmental horticulturist and landscape designer specializing in ecological landscapes and native plants. She is the Founder of EcoBeneficial, a horticulture consulting and communications company in Westchester County, New York. Kim also teaches at the New York Botanical Garden, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, The Native Plant Center, Rutgers Home Gardeners School, and advanced education classes for Master Gardeners. This book is 160 pages of ideas and information to support pollinators and help the environment. You can get a copy of The Pollinator Victory Garden by Kim Eierman and support the show, using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for around $16.   Today's Botanic Spark 2011   In the popular gardener book The Roots of My Obsession, the former executive director of the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay, Bill Cullina wrote: “Yesterday it happened.  With everything finally planted, the weeds temporarily at bay, and the garden refreshed by rains after a long dry stretch, I reached that brief apogee in the arc of the season where I could sit on the bench and just appreciate.  It is that magic time of year between the rising cacophony of spring and the slow murmuring descent of autumn when there is stillness in my soul.  Right now, nothing needs doing.  It has been the most frenzied spring yet at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, where I work — a season stretching well into summer. We planted just over twenty-nine thousand plants and created four acres of new gardens. I have laid out so many plants this year that I started seeing them in my sleep — one pot after another plunked atop the freshly turned earth in endless triangles stretching off to infinity.” In 2019, Bill Cullina was named the F. Otto Haas Executive Director of the University of Pennsylvania's Morris Arboretum. He started his new job a year ago on July 8, succeeding Paul W. Meyer, who served the Arboretum for 43 years, 28 years as executive director.  

Snails, slugs, earwigs…who’s chewing on your plants? Well, in fairness, it could be birds, too. But today we have control tips for the slimy and sinister looking Big 3 of Snails, Slugs and Earwigs. Did you know that one out of every three bites of food you eat is courtesy of a bee? We have advice on attracting bees and other pollinators to your yard. We chat with author Kim Eierman about her latest book, The Pollinator Victory Garden.It’s on this, Episode 10 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast. And we’ll have you in and out in under 30 minutes! Don’t worry, we won’t sting you.Links for this show:Earwig control tipsSnail and slug control tipsInformation about Sluggo PlusThe Pollinator Victory Garden by Kim EiermanKim Eierman's Ecobeneficial.com websitePollinator-Friendly Regional Plant Lists from the Xeres SocietyCalscape.org Pinpoints California native plants via your CA zip code.All About Farmer Fred:Visit the Farmer Fred website: http://farmerfred.comDaily Garden tips and more on TwitterThe Farmer Fred Rant! BlogFacebook: "Get Growing with Farmer Fred"Instagram: farmerfredhoffmanFarmer Fred Garden Videos on YouTubeGarden columnist, Lodi News-Sentinel

Kim Eierman on pollinator victory gardens

Kim Eierman on pollinator victory gardens

Sit back and listen while Jeff and Kim talk with Kim Eierman, founder of EcoBeneficial, and the author of The Pollinator Victory Garden, How To Win The War on Pollinator Decline with Ecological Gardening. If you’ve been thinking of starting some plantings for pollinators in your backyard, you couldn’t find a better place to gather information on the how, when, where and why of what to plant for all pollinators, anywhere and everywhere. Kim’s book is full information for all kinds of plants for all kinds of pollinators. Lists by region, county, even zip code. And every kind of flower for birds, bees, bats, butterflies, beetles, flies and all the rest. Native plantings, developing pollinator pathways, and resources galore. Everything you’ll ever want to know about creating pollinator gardens of all sizes is in this book. Kim Eierman shares more information in just a half hour than you can find almost anywhere. We also have an audio postcard from Rich Morris, of Broodminder who we interviewed earlier on Season 2, Episode 2! So queue it up, sit back and enjoy! Websites and Linked mentioned in this episode – EcoBeneficial: https://www.ecobeneficial.com The Pollinator Victory Garden on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1631597507/ The Hive Butler: https://www.thehivebutler.com Listener's Questions Luke V. asked about this swarm.  What do you think? Let us know! ______________ This episode is brought to you by Global Patties! Global Patties is a family business that manufactures protein supplement patties for honey bees. Feeding your hives protein supplement patties will help ensure that they produce strong and health colonies by increasing brood production and overall honey flow. Global offers a variety of standard patties, as well as custom patties to meet your specific needs. Visit them today at http://globalpatties.com and let them know you appreciate them sponsoring this episode!  _______________ We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments: questions@beekeepingtodaypodcast.com Thanks to Bee Culture, the Magazine of American Beekeeping, for their support of The Beekeeping Today Podcast. Available in print and digital at www.beeculture.com Thank you for listening!  Podcast music: Young Presidents, "Be Strong"

The Wisconsin Vegetable Gardener Radio Show from March – Oct weekly Heard on Joy 1340 AM & 98.7 FM Milwaukee, WI Saturday mornings 7-8 AM CST http://player.listenlive.co/41841 Heard on WAAM 1600 AM & 92.7 FM Ann Arbor, MI Sundays 7-8 AM EST https://tinyurl.com/p68cvft Heard on KDIZ 1570 AM Minneapolis, MN Saturdays 4-5 PM and replay Sundays 2-3 PM CST http://player.listenlive.co/57071 Heard on KFEQ 680 AM at 107.9 FM St. Joseph/Kansas City, MO Sundays 10-11 AM CST http://www.680kfeq.com/live-stream/ Heard on WRMN 1410 AM & 96.7 FM Elgin/Chicago, IL Sundays Noon-1 PM CST https://www.wrmn1410.com/ Heard on KYAH 540 AM Delta/Salt Lake City, UT Saturdays 1-2 PM MST Reply Sundays 9-10 PM MST https://www.yahradio540.com/listen-live/ Heard on KMET 1490 AM & 98.1 FM Banning, CA Tuesdays 9 - 10 AM PST April – Oct https://www.kmet1490am.com/ Heard on WCRN 830 AM Westborough/Boston, MA Saturdays 10-11 AM EST https://tunein.com/radio/WCRN-AM-830-Full-Service-Radio-s1112/ Heard on WOGO 680 AM & 103.1 FM Chippewa Falls, WI Sundays 9-10 AM CST https://www.christiannetcast.com/listen/player.asp?station=wogo-am Check out https://thewisconsinvegetablegardener.com/ Email your questions to Gardentalkradio@gmail.com Or call 24/7 leave your question at 1-800 927-SHOW In segment three Joey and Holly welcome their guest author Kim Eierman Kim Eierman is the Founder of EcoBeneficial. She is an Environmental Horticulturist specializing in ecological landscapes and native plants. 1. What is an ecological landscape? 2. Why is it important to grow native plants? 3. What are resources for people to find out what plants are native to their area? 4. Why are pollinators important? Why are they at risk? 5. How can we help the pollinators? 6. Where can our listeners out more about you? Check out the companies that make the show possible Power Planter of www.powerplanter.com Proplugger of www.proplugger.com World's coolest rain gauge www.worldscoolestraingauge.com Rootmaker of www.rootmaker.com Us coupon code TWVG at checkout and save 10% of your order Tomato snaps of www.tomatosnaps.com Chapin Manufacturing Inc. of www.chapinmfg.com Pomona pectin of www.pomonapectin.com Iv organics of www.ivorganics.com Dr. JimZ of www.drjimz.com Seed Savers Exchange of www.seedsavers.org Waterhoop of www.waterhoop.com Green Gobbler of www.greengobbler.com Nessalla koombucha of www.nessalla.com MI Green House LLC of www.migreenhouse.com Spartan mosquito of www.spartanmosquito.com Phyllom BioProducts of www.phyllombioproducts.com Happy leaf led of www.happyleafled.com Neptunes harvest of www.neptunesharvest.com Dripworks of www.dripworks.com We Grow Indoors of www.wegrowindoors.com Harvestmore of www.harvest-more.com Deer defeat www.deerdefeat.com Blue ribbon organics www.blueribbonorganics.com Bluemel's garden & landscape center www.bluemels.com Milwaukee,WI official garden center of the show Wisconsin Greenhouse company of https://wisconsingreenhousecompany.com/ Chip Drop of https://getchipdrop.com/?ref=wisconsinvegetable Tree-Ripe Fruit Co of https://www.tree-ripe.com/

The Wisconsin Vegetable Gardener Radio Show from March – Oct weekly Heard on Joy 1340 AM & 98.7 FM Milwaukee, WI Saturday mornings 7-8 AM CST http://player.listenlive.co/41841 Heard on WAAM 1600 AM & 92.7 FM Ann Arbor, MI Sundays 7-8 AM EST https://tinyurl.com/p68cvft Heard on KDIZ 1570 AM Minneapolis, MN Saturdays 4-5 PM and replay Sundays 2-3 PM CST http://player.listenlive.co/57071 Heard on KFEQ 680 AM at 107.9 FM St. Joseph/Kansas City, MO Sundays 10-11 AM CST http://www.680kfeq.com/live-stream/ Heard on WRMN 1410 AM & 96.7 FM Elgin/Chicago, IL Sundays Noon-1 PM CST https://www.wrmn1410.com/ Heard on KYAH 540 AM Delta/Salt Lake City, UT Saturdays 1-2 PM MST Reply Sundays 9-10 PM MST https://www.yahradio540.com/listen-live/ Heard on KMET 1490 AM & 98.1 FM Banning, CA Tuesdays 9 - 10 AM PST April – Oct https://www.kmet1490am.com/ Heard on WCRN 830 AM Westborough/Boston, MA Saturdays 10-11 AM EST https://tunein.com/radio/WCRN-AM-830-Full-Service-Radio-s1112/ Heard on WOGO 680 AM & 103.1 FM Chippewa Falls, WI Sundays 9-10 AM CST https://www.christiannetcast.com/listen/player.asp?station=wogo-am Check out https://thewisconsinvegetablegardener.com/ Email your questions to Gardentalkradio@gmail.com Or call 24/7 leave your question at 1-800 927-SHOW In segment one: Joey and Holly ask the question should you till or not till your garden? To till or not to till your garden We are talking ground garden and raised bed You make that decision for your garden here are something to keep in mind for to till or not till 1st the question needs to be asked: Why do people till the garden? A: It is easy, it loosens the soil A: mix organic matter into your soil Tilling too often or deep can do more damage than good to your soil. Rototilling done too early in the season can result in the garden becoming hard and unable to retain moisture. Any heavy tilling when the soil is wet is also destructive to soil structure. The soil will become terribly compacted and dry out too fast. It you till or you do not till never work the soil if it is too wet. How wet is to wet? If you can take soil in your hand, make a ball and then push into it with your other hand if it does not fall apart it is too wet. What is the best way to till your soil? If your garden is medium- or small-sized, a shovel or spading fork is the best way. But if you want to use that rototiller, just remember, not too deep and only when the soil is ready. And no matter how you break up your soil, you’ll want to add in some compost or organic matter to provide plants with more nutrition for better growth. Watch out for worms they are what makes your garden great Should you till your garden? Things to think about, How does nature do it The soil web Spading the garden and or using a garden fork is less damaging on the soil then using a tiller as it keep from turning it into a powered. Think about layering a inch or 2 on top of your grow area each year. Do not mix it in let the water and bugs and worms do it for you. Tilling brings weed seeds up that have been dormant for years. Some seeds can stay dormant for up to 80 years Cover your soil with something natural leave straw, chemical free seed free grass clippings so it does not weather or wash away In segment two Joey and Holly go over 4 fruit tree and 4 non fruit trees you can grow on your property 4 good landscaping trees and 4 great fruit trees for your property 1st thing before we get into the list one, do you have room for a tree on your property. I do not mean right now I mean when the tree is full grown. Look up, Power lines Will it shade out part of your garden? Can you plant it in the front yard or just in the backyard? Can it grow in my grow zone ? How long before I can get a harvest The average bearing age of fruit trees is as follows; apple - 4 to 5 years, sour or tart cherry - 3 to 5 years, pear - 4 to 6 years, and plum - 3 to 5 years. Ok what are four get fruit trees to grow you find find full size fruit trees but also dwarf fruit trees, you can have an attractive landscape suitable for a small property, There is one "catch" that beginners should keep in mind: Some fruit trees are self-fertile, but many others are not. For the latter, you will need to grow more than one tree to achieve pollination. Make it a point to ask nursery staff about this when buying. All of these entries prefer full sun and well-drained soil. There are semi-dwarf varieties Tall these can get wide too Apple tree dwarf 8 to 10 feet tall none dwarf 20 to 30 feet Cherry tree semi-dwarf cherry tree 10ft tall none dwarf up 30 feet Peach tree dwarf peach tree that reaches 8 to 10 feet tall none 25ft Plum some american varieties can grow is zones as low a 4 can grow 15 to 30 feet If you keep them trimmed correctly they will not get as tall 1 Dogwood tree Depending on the species of Dogwood you plant, you may have a short stout bush or a 25 foot tall tree. 2. Sugar maple 60 to 75 feet tall 3.Silver maples as little as five years old, the silver maple tree will transform your backyard into a shady retreat. 4. Red oaks 75 foot tall The dwarf chinkapin oak is a shrub or small tree that typically only grows to 13–20 feet Dwarf Japanese maples are slow-growing, compact trees that grow to about 3 to 8 feet In segment three Joey and Holly welcome their guest author Kim Eierman Kim Eierman is the Founder of EcoBeneficial. She is an Environmental Horticulturist specializing in ecological landscapes and native plants. 1. What is an ecological landscape? 2. Why is it important to grow native plants? 3. What are resources for people to find out what plants are native to their area? 4. Why are pollinators important? Why are they at risk? 5. How can we help the pollinators? 6. Where can our listeners out more about you? Garden questions answered in segment four by Joey and Holly Q: I would love it if I could be pointed in the right direction for what I can do right now to prepare for spring! thank you so much in advance I am in Wisconsin A: A few things you can start doing now is looking at what you want to plant and either but the seeds for direct sowing when the time is right for those seeds and if you want to start seeds indoors not is a good time to start tomatoes, eggplants, the brassicas, herbs, to name a few. Also you can lay out your garden so you have an outline so where you would like to start plans always change but it will give a starting point. Q: From Instagram I am trying to find out how to use pet ashes from a cremation in the garden. From what I gather it either is or is very similar to bone meal. We want to memorialize our cat this way. He can be a part of the trees in the forest. But I don’t want to over or under do it so I am trying to get my bearings. A: You're not going to overdo it by spreading the ashes in the garden/ forest. There will be a small amount of potash in the ashes. You have a small amount of ashes, it's not a long term feed to the plants it is a short term but there are some nutriences for the plants and it will not hurt them you would also want to mix them in the soil as they ashes can blow away. Q:Any tips for growing tomatoes upside down? A: Well, tomatoes don't do particularly well upside down that said if you are going to try it I would recommend an indeterminate cherry variety as it does not take as long to grow and develop as large fruiting tomatoes. I would try to grow it in full sun and be sure to keep the root system Hydrated and properly fed over the growing season as tomatoes are heavy feeders and will deplete the nutrients in the soil quickly Q: Will there be a problem with some plants crossing with others of the same family/ varieties if planted close together ? A: No and yes. For the current growing season if you are only growing for production and not going to save seeds then you will have no problem. If you are going to be growing for production and seed saving then yes example you are growing 5 varieties of cucumbers there is a very good chance that you will have crossed varieties if you save seeds. Now that could be good and bad as you may have a new type of cucumber that is tastes great or one the does not Q: Can you use a palm cactus fruit soil to put cantaloupe seedlings in? A: You could but I would advise not to simply because palm cactus fruit soil is made to be drain and dry out much quicker than standard potting soil and as those types of plants do not like to have soil that holds moisture. I would use compost of a potting soil that has a slow release fertilizer in it. Q: I’ve never grown beets before. I don't have a yard and I want to do these in a pot. How big of a pot would I have to get to plant these? A: Beets can grow in any size pot. It is best to grow them in a larger container as you can get more plants in it, and it will have more soil which will take more time to dry out. Holds more moisture. You also can mulch the beets as they come up. Do remember to thin them as they are a cluster seed and without thinning them they will not develop large Bulbs We have grown them in grow bags as small as 3 gallons you can get 3 to 4 plants in and they did very well Q: What would you recommend plastic or metal watering can? A: There are benefits to both and also negatives also metal can rust if not taken care of and brought in plastic and break down via the sunlight plastic is lighter and then medal. But the medal is much more durable. We have both the key to any watering can is to get a size you can handle. Just because it can hold 3 gallons if you can’t carry 3 gallons it do no good. Also make sure the sprinkler had can be removed for cleaning. Q: What is required to grow asparagus? I'm considering it, but have no clue about it. Where would I purchase starts (or whatever they're called)? A. To plant asparagus crowns, dig trenches 12 inches wide and 6 inches deep (8 inches in sandy soil) down the center of the prepared bed. Soak the crowns in compost tea for 20 minutes before planting. Place the crowns in the trenches 1½ to 2 feet apart; top them with 2 to 3 inches of soil. Asparagus thrives in slightly acid soil (pH of about 6.5). Choose a site that has partial sun (full sun is not needed). Asparagus does not like to have its feet “wet,” so be sure that your garden bed has good drainage. If you do not have good drainage, consider growing asparagus in raised beds. Yield. In general, plant between 10 and 12 asparagus plants per person for fresh eating. If you are especially fond of asparagus or want additional produce for freezing, plant a few more. The basic guideline is 50 plants for a family of four, advises Barbara Damrosch, author of "The Garden Primer." Buy them seed saver exchange do not carry asparagus crowns you would want a 2 yr old crown and some online site have them your local independent garden center most likely will have them Q: Do I still need to seal pressure treated wood? A: It is not necessary because of the pressure treated lumber but if IM going to invest in lumber and raised beds I would seal it with a wood sealer just to add an additional layer of protection on that would to potentially get another 2,3,4 years out of it After installation, treated wood takes 2-4 weeks to dry. For optimal results, wait until the wood is completely dry to paint and stain. or you could leave the wood out in the sun for that time treat it then make the beds Check out the companies that make the show possible Power Planter of www.powerplanter.com Proplugger of www.proplugger.com World's coolest rain gauge www.worldscoolestraingauge.com Rootmaker of www.rootmaker.com Us coupon code TWVG at checkout and save 10% of your order Tomato snaps of www.tomatosnaps.com Chapin Manufacturing Inc. of www.chapinmfg.com Pomona pectin of www.pomonapectin.com Iv organics of www.ivorganics.com Dr. JimZ of www.drjimz.com Seed Savers Exchange of www.seedsavers.org Waterhoop of www.waterhoop.com Green Gobbler of www.greengobbler.com Nessalla koombucha of www.nessalla.com MI Green House LLC of www.migreenhouse.com Spartan mosquito of www.spartanmosquito.com Phyllom BioProducts of www.phyllombioproducts.com Happy leaf led of www.happyleafled.com Neptunes harvest of www.neptunesharvest.com Dripworks of www.dripworks.com We Grow Indoors of www.wegrowindoors.com Harvestmore of www.harvest-more.com Deer defeat www.deerdefeat.com Blue ribbon organics www.blueribbonorganics.com Bluemel's garden & landscape center www.bluemels.com Milwaukee,WI official garden center of the show Wisconsin Greenhouse company of https://wisconsingreenhousecompany.com/ Chip Drop of https://getchipdrop.com/?ref=wisconsinvegetable Tree-Ripe Fruit Co of https://www.tree-ripe.com/

If it's a native plant and you can eat it, naturalist Russ Cohen probably has over the past 40 years! Join Kim Eierman for this EcoBeneficial interview with wild foods enthusiast, Russ Cohen, who is now not only eating, but growing, edible native plants.

This episode of Big Blend Radio’s Garden Gossip show features Kim Eierman, an environmental horticulturist and landscape designer specializing in ecological landscapes and native plants. Kim is the founder of EcoBeneficial and author of “The Pollinator Victory Garden” that offers practical solutions for winning the war against the demise of these essential animals. The time is right for a new gardening movement. Every yard, community garden, rooftop, porch, patio, commercial, and municipal landscape can help to win the war against pollinator decline with “The Pollinator Victory Garden.” https://www.ecobeneficial.com/Thanks to fine art nature photographer Margot Carrera for sponsoring this episode. https://www.carrerafineartgallery.com/ Featured music is “Pink Fairy Duster & Hummingbird Moths” from the album “Perfume of Creosote” by Michael and Spider.

The passion and urgency that inspired WWI and WWII Victory Gardens is needed today to meet another threat to our food supply and our environment—the steep decline of pollinators. This episode of Big Blend Radio’s Garden Gossip show features Kim Eierman, an environmental horticulturist and landscape designer specializing in ecological landscapes and native plants. Kim is the founder of EcoBeneficial and author of “The Pollinator Victory Garden” that offers practical solutions for winning the war against the demise of these essential animals. The time is right for a new gardening movement. Every yard, community garden, rooftop, porch, patio, commercial, and municipal landscape can help to win the war against pollinator decline with “The Pollinator Victory Garden.” Thanks to fine art nature photogrpaher Margot Carrera for sponsoring this episode. Featured music is “Pink Fairy Duster & Hummingbird Moths” from the album “Perfume of Creosote” by Michael and Spider.

Bee City USA is one of the leading initiatives in North America to protect and support pollinators. Join Kim Eierman for this EcoBeneficial interview with Phyllis Stiles, the founder of Bee City USA.

One of every three bites of our food is pollinated by animal pollinators, but at what cost to pollinators and our food security? Join Kim Eierman of EcoBeneficial as she interviews Peter Nelson, director and filmmaker of this award-winning documentary (with a bonus “sneak peek” of the film).

Join Kim Eierman for this EcoBeneficial interview with Benjamin Vogt, ecological landscape designer and author of A New Garden Ethic: Cultivating Defiant Compassion for an Uncertain Future.

Join Kim Eierman for this EcoBeneficial interview with gardening legend, Marjorie Harris – ecological landscape designer, plant consultant and author of 15 books on gardening. An organic gardener since the 1960s, Marjorie is based in Toronto. She authored one of the first books advocating the use of ecological gardening principles, Ecological Gardening.

Wildlife and native gardening go hand-in-hand, but sometimes we lose patience with wildlife that enjoys our plants as much as we do! Learn how to cultivate compassion in your garden and successfully coexist with wildlife as Kim Eierman of EcoBeneficial interviews Nancy Lawson, author of The Humane Gardener: Nurturing a Backyard Habitat for Wildlife.

New York City boasts an abundance of healthy forests and natural areas thanks to the great work of NYC Parks. Join Kim Eierman in this EcoBeneficial interview as she talks with Kristy King, the Director of Forest Restoration for the Natural Resources Group of NYC Parks. Kristy shares some surprising facts as well as ecological inspirations for any landscape.

Kim Eierman is the founder of EcoBeneficial!  She is an Environmental Horticulturist specializing in ecological landscapes and native plants. Kim teaches at the New York Botanical Garden, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, The Native Plant Center in NY, Rutgers Home Gardeners School and several other institutions.  She is an active speaker on many ecological gardening topics, presenting at industry conferences, garden clubs, nature centers, Audubon Society chapters, beekeeping groups, and other organizations interested in environmental improvements.  Kim also provides horticultural consulting to homeowners and commercial clients. In addition to being a Certified Horticulturist through the American Society for Horticultural Science, Kim is a Master Gardener, a Master Naturalist, an Accredited Organic Landcare Professional, a Steering Committee member of The Native Plant Center and a member of the Garden Writers Association. Kim was awarded the Silver Award of Achievement by the Garden Writers Association for their 2014 and 2015 Media Awards Program. 

Learn how a world-famous botanical garden manages ecological health and biodiversity in an urban forest. Join Kim Eierman in this EcoBeneficial interview with Jessica Schuler, Director of New York Botanical Garden’s Thain Family Forest. Schuler shares tips that can be applied to any landscape, no matter how large or how small.

If you’re a beekeeper, an aspiring beekeeper, or just want to help honey bees, you’ll get some helpful tips in this EcoBeneficial interview. Kim Eierman talks with Kim Flottum, Editor of Bee Culture Magazine, and author of several great books on beekeeping, including The Backyard Beekeeper: An Absolute Beginner's Guide to Keeping Bees in Your Yard and Garden.

Can we succeed in restoring our landscapes, especially given the realities of climate change? Part two of this EcoBeneficial interview examines this question as Kim Eierman talks with Paddy Woodworth, author of Our Once and Future Planet: Restoring the World in the Climate Change Century.

Landscape restoration is a complex and prickly topic, explored in the fascinating book, Our Once and Future Planet: Restoring the World in the Climate Change Century. Join Kim Eierman of EcoBeneficial, in part one of her interview with the author and journalist, Paddy Woodworth.

Want to learn more about native bees? Join Kim Eierman in this EcoBeneficial interview with Heather Holm, a leading expert on native bees and the native plants they use. Holm has just published her second book – Bees: An Identification and Native Plant Forage Guide.

Need help in your garden?  Look no further than garden allies - those creatures and organisms that help keep ecological balance in any landscape.  Join Kim Eierman of EcoBeneficial for her interview with Frederique Lavoipierre, Director of Education at the Santa Barbara Botanical Garden and writer for Pacific Horticulture magazine.

Ever wonder what the environment is really worth in actual dollars?   Dr. Robert Costanza, a world-renowned ecological economist and trans-disciplinary scientist at the Australian National University has been researching this and other critical questions for many years.  Join Kim Eierman for her interview with Dr. Costanza and learn what ecosystem services are worth and why ecological economics are key to our survival.

rc="http://www.ecobeneficial.com/audio-podcast/EcoBeneficial_Interview_Hometown_Habit_with_Catherine%20Zimmerman.mp3"] Get the inside scoop on the making of "Hometown Habitat" an inspiring new environmental documentary.  Kim Eierman talks with the film's director, Catherine Zimmerman about capturing these real stories of "Bringing Nature Home" featuring ecological hero, Dr. Doug Tallamy. Watch the bonus clip from the film that follows the interview.

The first step toward improving environmental health is an understanding that humans and ecosystems are interdependent and inseparable.  Join Kim Eierman for this EcoBeneficial interview with Dr. Richard H. Moore, Professor Emeritus of the School of Environment and Natural Resources at Ohio State University.  Dr Moore explains the critical research on coupled human and natural systems.

Wondering which native plants are most attractive to beneficial insects? Join Kim Eierman as she talks with Dr. Doug Landis about his latest research at Michigan State University. Dr. Landis is Professor of Insect Ecology and Biological Control at MSU and Director of the Landis Lab.

Why use harmful pesticides when you can attract the beneficial insects that perform nature's pest control? Kim Eierman of EcoBeneficial talks with Dan Gibson of the Landis Lab at Michigan State University, where important research is taking place on beneficial insects.

A leading expert on Monarchs, Dr. Karen Oberhauser, Director of the Monarch Lab at the University of Minnesota, shares the latest information on Monarch butterflies in this EcoBeneficial interview.  

77: Kim Eierman on Native Plants Choosing plants that are appropriate for your ecosystem. Kim is an environmental horticulturist specializing in ecological landscapes and native plants. She is also the founder of EcoBeneficial!, a horticulture communications and consulting company. Kim teaches at the New York Botanical Garden, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, The Native Plant Center and several other institutions. She is an active speaker on ecological gardening topics, presenting at industry conferences, garden clubs and nature centers. A Certified Horticulturist through the American Society for Horticultural Science, Kim is also a Master Gardener, a Master Naturalist, an Accredited Organic Landcare Professional and a Steering Committee member of The Native Plant Center. She received 2015 and 2014 Silver Awards of Achievement from the Garden Writers Association. In this podcast: What kinds of plants are good for bees? How else can you support pollinators? Did you know that some bees and even ants can be pollinators? How do you know which bugs are GOOD for the garden? How can urban farmers enhance their ecosystem? For more links and resources from this podcast go to http://www.urbanfarm.org/blog/2016/05/12/kim-eierman/

rc="http://www.ecobeneficial.com/audio-podcast/Vernal-pools-John-Anderson-Interview.mp3"] Vernal pools are critical ecosystems for some species, yet both are rapidly disappearing. Learn about these fragile systems in this EcoBeneficial interview. Kim Eierman talks with John Anderson, Executive Director of Aton Forest.

Kim Eierman is the founder of EcoBeneficial!  She is an Environmental Horticulturist specializing in ecological landscapes and native plants. Kim teaches at the New York Botanical Garden, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, The Native Plant Center in NY, Rutgers Home Gardeners School and several other institutions.  She is an active speaker on many ecological gardening topics, presenting at industry conferences, garden clubs, nature centers, Audubon Society chapters, beekeeping groups, and other organizations interested in environmental improvements.  Kim also provides horticultural consulting to homeowners and commercial clients. In addition to being a Certified Horticulturist through the American Society for Horticultural Science, Kim is a Master Gardener, a Master Naturalist, an Accredited Organic Landcare Professional, a Steering Committee member of The Native Plant Center and a member of the Garden Writers Association. Kim was awarded the Silver Award of Achievement by the Garden Writers Association for their 2014 and 2015 Media Awards Program.  

rc="http://www.ecobeneficial.com/audio-podcast/Pat-Drackett-Interview.mp3"] The Crosby Arboretum in Picayune, Mississippi is the first fully realized public garden to be organized along ecological principles.  Kim Eierman interviews Pat Drackett, the Director of the Arboretum about this special place, full of threatened ecosystems and rare native plants.

Hear why native seeds are not only good for the environment, but are good business too, as Kim Eierman talks with Calvin Ernst, President and Founder of Ernst Conservation Seeds.

Ever wonder which native plants and nativars might be most garden-worthy?  Kim Eierman talks with George Coombs, Research Horticulturist at the Mt Cuba Center about some of the most promising native perennials plants.

Ground breaking research being conducted by Dr. Doug Tallamy seeks to answer the important question:  Do cultivars of native trees and shrubs have the same ecological benefits as straight species natives?  Learn more in this interview with Kim Eierman and Dr. Tallamy, author of Bringing Nature Home.

Learn how prairies and flood plains are managed at Chicago Botanic Garden and how you can apply these concepts in your own landscape.

Do locally-sourced, locally-grown plants matter in your landscape?  Absolutely!  Learn how Earth Tones Native Plant Nursery is doing it right (and why it matters!).

How does River Berry Farm support pollinators and beneficial insects? Find out in this EcoBeneficial interview with Jane Sorensen co-owner of the organic River Berry Farm.  

Learn how to save endangered native bog plants by planting a bog garden at home. Horticulturist and bog expert David R. Clark explains how.

Join Daryl Pulis with guest Kim Eierman, founder of EcoBeneficial talking about preserving pollinators and growing edible native plants for both you and the wildlife in your landscape.

Mayapple is not only a great ground cover but a food source for box turtles. Learn more in this interview!

Curious about bogs and carnivorous plants? Listen to this EcoBeneficial interview with Ron Determann from Atlanta Botanical Garden.

Join Kim Eierman for this interview with Dr. Doug Tallamy on the importance of native Black Cherry to butterfly caterpillars.

Our guest at 8:30 this morning was Kim Eierman of the web site EcoBeneficial. The idea here is to link Earth Day, coming up in April, to the notion of helping nature with what we plant in our gardens. Kim speaks eloquently and clearly on the case for native plantings, and for tolerating wildlife in our yards and open spaces. Of particular discussion were Monarch Butterflies, and the extent to which their decline can be linked to the lack of available Milkweed in the midwest.

John Hayden, co-owner of The Farm Between, talks with Kim Eierman of EcoBeneficial! on how, and why, to go pesticide-free in any landscape.

Kim Eierman of EcoBeneficial! talks with Heather Holm about her terrific new book: Pollinators of Native Plants

Are native cultivars as valuable to pollinators as true native plants? Annie White, a Ph.D. student at the Univ. of Vermont, is the first person to conduct research on this important issue.

Anise Hyssop is a great pollinator plant, but is a cultivar equal to the true native? Annie White’s research examines these plants, and many other native perennials for their value to pollinators.

Not all flowering native perennials produce nectar, the same amount or quality of nectar. Watch how Annie White collects and analyzes nectar for her research on native perennials vs. native cultivars and their respective value to pollinators.

rc="http://www.ecobeneficial.com/audio-podcast/EcoBeneficial-River-Berry-Farm-Non-GMO-Corn-and-Pollinators-Ep12.mp3"] Pick up some tips on planting for pollinators and organic planting strategies from Jane Sorensen of River Berry Farm.

What are some great milkweeds for Monarch butterflies?  Find out in this podcast.

What's the one thing we often forget to include in our landscapes, but is critically important for wildlife? Water!

Join Kim Eierman for part 2 of her interview on Spring wildflowers with Carol Gracie, author, photographer and naturalist.

Want to learn more about Spring wildflowers and their ecological importance?  Listen to this podcast as Kim Eierman interviews wildflower expert Carol Gracie.

Join Kim Eierman of EcoBeneficial! for this podcast with Mike Crewe on praying mantises - are they all good?

Join Kim Eierman of EcoBeneficial! for this podcast with Annie White about her research on the attractiveness of native cultivars vs. native plants, to pollinators.

Join Kim Eierman of EcoBeneficial! for this podcast with Ellen Zachos about her new book Backyard Foraging.

Join Kim Eierman of EcoBeneficial! for this podcast with Dr. Roger Koide about Mycorrhizal Fungi.

Join Kim Eierman of EcoBeneficial! for this podcast with C. Colston Burrell.

Join Kim Eierman, Founder of EcoBeneficial! for an exclusive podcast with Dr. Douglas Tallamy at his home. Dr. Tallamy is Professor & Chair of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware and the author of Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife With Native Plants.