Homestead Gardening: A Modern Approach

If you’re in an area where you can start a fall garden, you are probably in a warm climate like ours. We have received a lot of the same questions this summer asking about fall gardening. We also noticed that a lot of our listeners felt discouraged to start their gardens after a very hot summer.  Those very common questions and grievances inspired this episode. We’re taking 10 of the common fall p...

Download the FREE garden planner HERE . Download the FREE temperature guide HERE . Have you tried every gardening calendar in your area and are still scratching your head? Are you in a “weird” climate zone? Do you just want a simpler way to understand how to garden without wasting many seasons of trial and error? Whatever your situation is, gardening by the temperature will take out a lot of guess...

Do you find it difficult to implement every single one of the gardening tips you’ve heard about on this podcast? Well, so do we! Spencer and Kristin share garden strategies actually used, follow up on past episodes, and divulge the secrets to keeping a garden thriving through summer heat. Our harvests are also coming in as planned, and we can’t wait to tell you about all the tasty produce we’ve gr...

If you've heard the term "Bokashi" and wondered what this is, you're not alone! Kristin loves this method of composting, and Spencer's been curious to try it out but still cautious. So, in this episode we're easing Spencer's mind and helping her get ready (and all of you) to start this life changing composting method! Affiliate Links: Composting Starter Kit (use this...

Have you ever been frustrated with a gardening product because it fell apart after a couple uses? Do you find yourself looking for the cheapest option when you buy garden supplies from a big box store assuming it will just fall apart at the end of the season, and you’ll have to replace it? Do you remember the good old days when products were made well? Okay, maybe we don’t remember, but I bet many...

Welcome to Homestead Gardening: A Modern Approach. Today we are continuing our discussion about all things seeds saving. In the last episode, E 2-12: Seed Saving (Part 1), we discussed why you should be doing it and how to get started. We also shared tips on avoiding the dreaded cross-pollination. Today we’ll discuss seed saving techniques, our seed saving tips, and cleaning and storing recommenda...

Welcome to Homestead Gardening: A Modern Approach. Today we are talking all things seeds saving. Why you should be doing it and how to get started. We are sharing tips for avoiding dreaded cross-pollination and which seeds we think are easier or more difficult to save. Join your hosts, Kristin and Spencer, for inspiration to save your own seed and experience the full circle of gardening.   A quick...

Spencer & Kristin talk retrofit vegetable garden watering system product options, pros and cons of each, and personal experiences using each of these products to help you determine which product might work best for you before you invest. You may have heard the words sprinkler, irrigation, sprays, rotors, drip, tubing, and more tossed around, and these are terms that refer to systems that water...

Kristin and Spencer are back talking about garden techniques you may, or may not, have heard of.  We’ll explore ideas like grounding, gardening by phases of the moon, and more, to offer you a little background into how these concepts may have been applied by your ancestors, a little scientific evidence about whether or not these techniques work if we’ve found any, our opinions, and ideas on h...

Raise your hand if you’ve been confused by a garden influencer’s chore recommendation or “click bait” style social media reel to get your attention! Spencer and Kristin are not self-proclaimed “influencers” on social media. We don’t appreciate “click bait” garden reels that include extreme recommendations or spread mis-information. In this episode, we’ll uncover a few of our “pet peeves” we’ve see...

Have you ever had a garden that grew too much of one crop, and you had no idea what to do with the surplus? Have you ever wondered how much garden space you’d really need to put a meal from your garden on the table for your family? Do you wish to grow your garden for continuous fresh produce or as back up supplies in your pantry? Fellow gardeners, wherever you are at in your gardening journey toda...

Spencer and Kristin each sent in soil tests using a MySoil test kit, and in this episode we'll share those results with you and so much more! If you've struggled to understand how the difference between creating healthy soil and fertilizing, today's conversation will clarify this for you! We will also reveal what MySoil recommends to fertilize our tested areas, and we will share other natural appr...

I'm curious to know which style gardener you are and if you're practicing the gardening style that's best for you. In this episode I identify 2 main types of gardening styles and how they relate to how you harvest, store, and use your food! Listen in for some great tips that may change the way you garden or the way you think about gardening. If you like what you hear, consider subscribing to the P...

From very young to very old, from very fit to partially mobile, you can garden if you have the right materials, right attitude, and are willing to stay within the guidelines of what your body will physically allow you to do. Today's Episode pairs with this week's YouTube Episode on Bokashi Composting: https://www.youtube.com/c/TurnYourHeadandScoff/videos HDG Landscape Design: https://prolandscaped...

I boast that Houston has 12 months of growing potential, so, what do Houston gardeners do in a summer drought when day time temperatures are  over 100 °F?  We garden smarter, not harder!  I really think it’s necessary to understand the "why" with gardening in order to become not just a better gardener but an intuitive gardener, and this podcast episode will help you become exactly t...

This quick episode gives you a simple introduction to blackberries and my decade  of experience growing this plant in Houston.  Today's Episode pairs with the YouTube Channel and can be found at this link: https://youtu.be/5h_REWDXOEQ HDG Landscape Design: https://prolandscapedesign.com/   Find me on Instagram:  @turnyourheadandscoff   If you like what you hear, consider s...

Today’s podcast episode is a part 3 of a 3 part series with myself and my husband as we discuss what it’s been like for us Homesteading in Houston over the past decade on a 2 acre unrestricted property.

Today’s podcast episode is a part 2 of a 3 part series with myself and my husband as we discuss what it’s been like for us Homesteading in Houston over the past decade on a 2 acre unrestricted property.

Today’s podcast episode is a part 1 of a 3 part series with myself and my husband as we discuss what it’s been like for us Homesteading in Houston over the past decade on a 2 acre unrestricted property!

I used to think growing long cool season crops like garlic was impossible in the Texas Gulf Coast. It's actually a really simple process! I even have a nice, short visual aid I pair with this podcast on my YouTube channel. So what's the key to my growing success? Start planning your future garlic crop right after it's time to harvest - in the heat of summer! Whether you are a seasoned gardener new...

Today’s episode takes 10 years of my summer garden success and failure and offers you 5 Must Haves that will grow from late spring to early fall and survive through summer for a continuous garden with zero gaps in food production. If you’ve lived in the Houston, Texas area or a similar zone 8-9 climate, you’ll agree that it gets really hot in summer. I like to joke that our climate consists of spr...

If you're a first time gardener in the Texas Gulf Coast or other warm weather climate, you will likely be confused when your cool season plants barely produce food if at all before flowering. This is called THE BOLT!  I stopped getting frustrated trying to grow cool crops in a warm weather climate, instead I found solutions to growing 365 days a year in the Texas Gulf Coast, and you can, too!...

In this episode, I will talk about complimenting colors and hues but I’ll be explaining and describing how color can be used to evoke emotions such as sadness, cheerfulness, excitement. I’ll tell you how to use color to make a bold statement or as a focal point. I’ll explain how to use greens appropriately in a landscape and how to backdrop your brighter color. Landscape design is art, horticultur...

Did you know that yearly pruning at the right time and regularly scheduled garden upkeep is all you need to do for amazing roses in your garden?  The right time of year and the right technique is key! Pop on your headphones and get ready to take a few notes. This info packed episode will have you growing roses like a pro! My rose care program prevents me from buying expensive pest control pro...

Have you ever heard of the Cucurbitaceae Family? You probably haven't, but maybe you've heard of the Squash Family or Cucurbit Family? This family includes squashes, pumpkins, watermelon, cucumber, and gourds to name a few of the 950 species belonging to this family. The good news is...they all grow in about the same conditions, and once you know about 1, you almost know them all! Pop on your head...