Grow Your Self

Controversial opinion: mulch is NOT necessary in a vegetable garden. In fact, mulch can actually do more harm than good. Here are three reasons I don't use mulch in any of my raised-bed kitchen gardens.    Shop  Kitchen Garden Revival  if you still need to set your garden up.    Grab your 2024 Gardenary Planting Calendar for free at  www.gardenary.com/podcast .   For full show notes, head over to...

Annie learned how to garden while living in NYC, and now she's building a hugely successful garden consulting business, Seed and Vine, in Columbus, Ohio, and raising her two young children.   Here's what a year of gardening looks like in Ohio. Make sure to stick around for Annie's tips on how to grow potatoes in raised beds.   Visit Seed and Vine Co here: https://www.seedandvine.co/   Follow Annie...

If there is one thing that I am convinced that every single person in the entire world could grow themselves, it is salad. We really could change the world for the better if each of us decided to grow our own greens at home.   If you want details for how to grow salad plants, I've got a step-by-step guide in my book, Leaves, Roots & Fruit , so you don't have to grow alone!    Shop  Kitchen Garden...

I'm not a homesteader. I'm not trying to live off the grid or anything. I spend about five minutes a day in my garden, and here's what I haven't had to buy at the grocery store in years. If I can do it, you can do it too! These are simple plants you can grow in a small space so that you never have to buy them again.   If you want details for how to grow these plants, I've got step-by-step guides i...

My top ten most viral videos this year got over 20 million views on Instagram alone and helped me grow my account to now 800,000 followers! Here's a little bit about what made each of these videos viral sensations.   If you have a small business and want to learn more about using Instagram to grow your audience, visit  Wyldly at https://wyldlyco.com/ and sign up for the challenge.   Follow Wyldly...

Did you know you can grow your own organic salad greens for at least six months of the year, no matter where you live? After you hear this, you'll have no more excuses not to have all your favorite greens growing at your house because I'm about to give you the complete guide from start to finish.   This is Chapter 3 of my step-by-step gardening system. Grab a copy of my book, Leaves, Roots, and Fr...

If you're not a huge fan of kale, that's because you've been getting your kale from the wrong place (read: the grocery store). Homegrown kale is so delicious, tender, and nutritious, and growing enough for an entire year is easier than you think!   If you want details for how to grow kale and other leafy greens, I've got step-by-step guides in my book, Leaves, Roots & Fruit , so you don't have to...

I'm chatting with one of my favorite gardeners today, Katie Oglesby of Katie Oglesby Garden in Lake Geneva, WI. Contrary to popular belief about gardening in cold climates, she actually gardens from March all the way to November. Not just gardens, but creates the most magical growing spaces.  If you're gardening in a colder climate, you're going to be so inspired by all the incredible things Katie...

I used to think you had to have a ton of money and a fantastic, never-before-thought-of-idea to start your own business. Thanks to a book called "The $100 Startup", I realized I already had the one thing I needed to become an entrepreneur (plus $100, of course). And guess what? You have it too!   Learn more about our Gardenary Consultant Certification and apply at www.gardenary.com . Join the Gard...

If you're a fan of "How I Built This," this is my version of how I built my garden consulting business. I hope this inspires you that you can absolutely go out and build a business that works for you, your family, and your passion. Learn more about our Gardenary Consultant Certification and apply at www.gardenary.com/ . For full show notes, head over to www.gardenary.com/podcast . Thanks so much f...

Did you know you could make some money from your garden without ever having to sell your harvest? It's true. Eight years ago, I googled "how to make a living as a gardener". The top options—turning my backyard into a garlic farm or a plant nursery—just weren't for me. So I came up with something that would allow me to be my own boss and teach my gardening knowledge.  Becoming a garden consultant c...

Today's podcast is for those of you who have thought about working as a garden consultant but worry there aren't enough people in your area to actually make any money doing this. Here's how to figure out how much people are already spending on landscaping and gardening products and services in your city or town. I'm guessing the amount will surprise you!  You can create a successful business for y...

What if I told you there's something you can start growing right now, no matter where you live? Something you can grow even if you have nothing but a dark room in a dark apartment. Something you can grow if you've killed every other plant you've ever tried to grow.  These plants grow indoors in just a few days. They don't need much space or any lights at all, and they require basically zero garden...

"This has got to stop!" That was the title of a viral video I made about buying plastic packages of herbs from the grocery store. And people were either in love with the idea of growing all their own herbs instead... or pretty upset with me.  This podcast covers my "recipe" for growing your own year-round supply of herbs. That includes rosemary, basil, chives, cilantro, parsley, and all your other...

Napa cabbage is one of my favorite greens to grow. It's fast-growing and super delicious, and I've had way more success with it than any other type of cabbage. We all need to be starting napa cabbage by seed like  right now if we want to grow the most beautiful, incredible heads. Here's how to grow your own napa cabbage.  If you want details for how to grow more leafy greens, I've got step-by-step...

Here's how to grow more in your 2024 garden than you ever have before. This episode is packed with details and how-tos that I usually reserve for my workshop and Kitchen Garden Academy students. I'm giving it to you now to help you nail one of the keys to gardening success: timing.  My goal this year is to harvest enough from my garden that I'm buying fewer groceries, and I hope you'll join me in...

Do dark January days have you feeling down? Here's your little ray of hope: It's already time to start some seeds for your garden, no matter where you live. (Yes, even if it's freezing where you are!) It may be cold outside, but these are the plants you've got to start indoors in January to make the most of your 2024 growing season.  Plants to start in January include:  slow-growing herbs and fros...

It's been a hot minute since I recorded a Grow Your Self podcast episode. Actually, it's been a hot three years.  I launched the podcast back in 2020. I was amazed to see interest in gardening taking off, but I had to take a "little" break to help my kids with remote learning. Since then, I've focused on some different projects for Gardenary. So what have I been up to over the last three years? I'...

It's been two years, but the Grow Your Self podcast is finally back (and better than ever)!  The Grow Your Self podcast was launched to tell the untold stories about the food that we eat and to help you learn how to grow some of that food yourself. Since our first season, we've grown up just a little bit. So in this coming season, you're going to learn so much more about how to grow your self. We'...

What's your favorite color? Have you ever been asked this question before? I'm sure you have because that's a kindergarten question. Today's episode is a short and quick one that might make you rethink your favorite color. You'll see what I mean in this episode.    Today, we discuss: 4 reasons why we're so attracted to green Fun ways to bring more green into your life Why all things green is good...

Welcome back to the Grow Your Self podcast! Grow Your Self will be taking a small break but until then please check out the lovely Jennifer Jewell of the Cultivating Place podcast.  We will be back with new episodes soon!

Welcome to the Grow Your Self podcast. Are you interested in growing indoors this year? This is a topic we have not covered yet on the podcast, but it is definitely a must listen. Today, I have a very special guest that is a pro at growing indoors. I am always looking for people covered with green things on the internet, and this woman is definitely fitting the bill.  I am so excited to introduce...

New year, new you? How about new year, growing you? That's what we're going to talk about on today's Grow Your Self podcast. Guys, we have survived 2020. Now it is time to look forward to 2021 and we got you!  On this episode, I am going to introduce to you the Gardenary theme for 2021, how we are going to take the year by storm, and we are going to grow ourselves in so many amazing ways. In today...

Welcome back to Grow Your Self!  Today's episode is one from way back at the beginning of season one. I am going to recap for you what foods to grow and eat seasonally for the cool and cold seasons.  Today, we're going to explore: What plants to grow & enjoy this winter 3 categories of cold season plants When to plant & harvest Different ways to prepare winter veggies For full show notes, head to...

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to take your passion in the garden and turn it into a garden consulting business? Today's episode is created just for you. In fact, this is the second episode that I have with one of our super special guests in the Gardenary world. Her name is Ashley and she is the founder of Heirloom Potager. Today we're going to go behind the scenes and learn more abo...