Food Preservation for Plant Parents: Transform Your Gardening Journey into Sustainable Joy and Wellness

Have you ever wondered how a simple vegetable garden can transform into a thriving source of joy, health, and sustainability? Join host Maria Failla in this inspiring episode of Growing Joy with Plants as she welcomes Jeremy and Staci, a passionate husband-and-wife duo who have dedicated over 21 years to the art of gardening and food preservation. Discover their incredible journey from planting seeds in their backyard to becoming experts in preserving the bounty of their harvest, all while nurturing their six children and creating a legacy of wellness rooted in nature.

In this enlightening conversation, Jeremy and Staci share their motivations for growing and preserving food, highlighting the dual goals of providing high-quality produce and reducing grocery bills. They dive deep into practical methods of preservation, including canning, freezing, and freeze-drying, while emphasizing the importance of planning and understanding the yield of different plants. Their insights not only address the challenges of plant care but also touch on the broader benefits of food security and cost savings.

Listeners will be inspired by the couple's agritourism farm in Missouri, where they cultivate not only food for their family but also a welcoming space for others to learn about gardening and preservation. Jeremy and Staci encourage aspiring plant parents and gardening enthusiasts to start small and experiment with preservation techniques, offering practical tips that can lead to joyful living and holistic plant care.

As you tune in, you'll gain valuable knowledge about the intersection of gardening and mental health, the joy of sharing your harvest, and the importance of nature mindfulness in our lives. Whether you're a seasoned plant lover or just beginning your journey into plant parenthood, this episode is packed with inspiration and actionable advice to help you grow joy with plants.

In this episode, we learn:

• [02:02] Meet Jeremy & Staci Hill from Gooseberry Bridge Farm!
• [03:09] Why food quality pushed them deeper into homesteading
• [04:15] When did they start getting into preserving their garden harvests?
• [04:54] What it means to be a “you-pick flower farm”
• [05:13] A peek at their 12-acre property and flower fields
• [09:02] Regular garden vs a preserver’s garden
• [10:22] How they calculate yearly needs: experimentation + family habits
• [12:05] How cooking every meal changes your relationship to food and waste
• [14:54] Espoma Organic
• [16:35] Vibrant Harvest by Sandra Mao
• [17:59] What are the other benefits of homesteading/preserving?
• [20:06] Things you need to consider with homesteading
• [23:27] How to preserve okra
• [24:29] One crop many ways vs many crops one way
• [26:41] Freeze-drying vs canning
• [28:57] Salting
• [29:43] Fermenting & pickling (kimchi, sauerkraut, and probiotic pickles)
• [32:23] Modern tools that make preserving easier
• [33:18] Canning
• [35:34] Dehydrating
• [41:58] DIY root cellar: the “extra fridge turned to 50°F” trick
• [43:05] Where to find Jeremy & Staci, their book, and their farm online

Mentioned in our conversation:

• The Preserver's Garden: How to Grow a Garden for Fermenting, Canning, Pickling, Dehydrating, Freeze Drying, and More by Staci and Jeremy Hill
• Growing Joy 202: How to Can and Ferment Vegetables and Fruits from Your Garden with Stephanie Thurow
• Growing Joy 195: Homesteading for Beginners with Michelle Bruhn and Stephanie Thurow
• Gooseberry Bridge 2026 Farm Memberships
• Gooseberry Bridge You-Pick Flowers

Enjoy your harvest more with preserving made easy,

check out the full show notes and blog here for more!

Follow Staci & Jeremy:

Website
Instagram
YouTube
Facebook

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Espoma Organic

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

Quarto: Vibrant Harvest by Sandra Mao

Grab Vibrant Harvestat quarto.com and wherever books are sold. 

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants)by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

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