Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care

Interested in joining Maria on a retreat like this? Join the waitlist! http://growingjoywithmaria.com/retreatThree days with no phone, no laptop, no social media notifications buzzing in my ear. It’s just me, the forest, and goats that became some of my best friends! And I achieved all of this when I visited Hemlock Neversink in Castskills last month to commit a full digital detox. I swapped screen time for barefoot hikes, yoga, forest bathing, goat cuddles, painting under the trees, and even a little moss-gazing. And my nervous system hit reset in a way I didn’t even realize I needed.So I really encourage you to try it, but you don't have to run away to the woods for three days to feel these benefits. I'm going to share what I learned during my retreat and how you can create your own digital detox at home, even if you've only got 15 minutes. Let's plunge in!Interested in joining Maria on a retreat like this? Join the waitlist! http://growingjoywithmaria.com/retreat Here is a referral link for the Opal app (not sponsored): http://growingjoywithmaria.com/opal Get 15% off a stay at Hemlock Neversink of your own with code GROWINGJOY at http://growingjoywithmaria.com/hemlockIn this episode, we learn:[03:28] 3 days, no phone, no social media (my digital detox in Hemlock Neversink!)[03:59] Behind the scenes: burnout, grief, and moving to Florida[06:30] How life changes (and Florida's climate shift) increased my digital consumption[09:00] What makes Hemlock Neversink the perfect nature reset?[10:03] Themed retreat days: release, realign, reimagine[10:55] How does time in nature reset your nervous system? sympathetic vs. parasympathetic nervous system[11:24]  What is Attention Restoration Theory?[13:47] Goat hikes! Meet my new goat best friend![15:22] Give a gift that celebrates their love with every gentle breeze with Wind River Chimes![17:11] Find rooted joy and gentle beauty in your everyday life with A Year of Garden-Inspired Living by Linda Vater![18:37] Painting in nature, crafts, and screen-free creativity![21:29] How I released stress through daily yoga, hikes, and massage[22:42] Restoring with books, moss gazing, and barefoot grounding[25:36] How addicted are we really to our phones?[29:58] My interview with Ryan, Hemlock’s Director of Wellness and Spa![31:35] Why is the nature component so important for healing?[34:23] What are some interesting guest transformations at Hemlock?[37:22] Why intentional resets in nature are so powerful[38:27] What are the most popular activities on Hemlock? (dance hikes, sound baths, breathwork)[42:00] How do you build your own retreat at home? (+Hemlock discount for you!)[50:56] Here’s my gratitude meditation through a song! Mentioned in our conversation:Hemlock NeversinkActivities & Experiences | Hemlock Neversink Hotel & SpaGrowing Joy 255: I Moved 80+ Plants Across the Country: Here's What I LearnedGrowing Joy 267: Create a Biophilic Office Space: Boost Your Workday Motivation by Adding These Plants to Your OfficeGrowing Joy 307: Earthing Explained: The Science of Grounding for Better Sleep, Less Pain, and More Energy with Dr. Gaétan ChevalierGathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses by Robin Wall KimmererOpal Want to do a digital detox but don't have the time?Check out the full show notes and blog here for my time-friendly tips!  Thank you to our episode sponsors:Wind River ChimesVisit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on your chosen wind chimes.Quarto: A Year of Garden-Inspired Living by Linda VaterPreorder A Year of Garden-Inspired Living at quarto.com today or pick it up wherever books are sold, and let the seasons bloom in your life. 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 LeungJoin the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!Instagram: @growingjoywithmariaTiktok: @growingjoywithmariaSubscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmariaWebsite: www.growingjoywithmaria.comPinterest: @growingjoywithmaria Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Are you running out of space for your plants? Growing your plant collection can be quite the challenge when all your countertops, tablespace and even floorspace have been populated with your plant babies. Don’t fret any longer, plant friends, as we got the most beautiful and mess-free DIY projects for you to make the most out of your vertical space at home! In this episode, learn alongside me as Erin Harding of @houseplantclub and @cleverbloom gives us step-by-step tutorials on three amazing yet easy DIYs for your vertical garden. In this episode, we learn:[00:25] Maria’s eureka moment for this episode![01:53] Updates on country living and hummingbirds[05:06] Welcome, new Garden Party members![06:57] The easiest way to compost your food scraps[11:06] Who is Erin and how did Clever Bloom and Houseplant Club get started?[15:14] On the importance of evolving with your plant collection[18:26] Erin and Morgan’s brilliant first and second books[22:12] How Erin curated her personal aesthetic and developed her passion for DIY[24:56] Why accessibility and variety encourage people to DIY[27:22] Why you should use vertical space for your plants[31:40] How to make a modern beaded macrame plant hanger[35:15] The best and most stylish grow lights for your home[37:14] Where to get humidifiers for your home and for your health![39:37] Different ways to customize your macrame plant hanger[44:41] Step-by-step tutorial of DIY air plant driftwood piece[48:03] Watering your air plants in your DIY driftwood plant accessory[50:09] What is a kokedama and how does it work?[52:04] What are ideal plants to use in a kokedama?[53:38] How to make your own kokedama[55:59] Bringing natural beauty into your home through DIY projects[01:00:12] Erin’s favorite DIY project in her latest book[01:03:20] Where to find Erin (and Morgan!) online[01:04:53] A friendly reminder for this fall season Mentioned in our conversation:How to plant a room: and grow a happy home, by Morgan Doane and Erin HardingGrowing Joy Episode 16: Mounting Epiphytes And The Creation Of Cleverbloom.Com Love DIY projects and houseplants?Check out the full show notes and blog for Erin’s smart DIY solutions! Follow Erin:House Plant Club InstagramClever Bloom websiteClever Bloom InstagramPlanting Pink EtsyPlanting Pink websitePlanting Pink Instagram 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 LeungJoin the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!Instagram: @growingjoywithmariaTiktok: @growingjoywithmariaSubscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmariaWebsite: www.growingjoywithmaria.comPinterest: @growingjoywithmaria Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Plant friends, if you’ve hung around the plant community for any amount of time, you know some sub-groups go deep, and one of the most passionate is the Alocasia lovers/enthusiasts. These people are ferocious about their alocasias, and one of their most controversial topics is corm propagation.If you’ve never heard of it, I hadn’t either until Instagram kept showing me those little plant “nuggets.” So I called in backup: my friend Lindsay Sisti, aka the Alocasia Queen behind All The Plant Babies and the author of the book The Ultimate Guide to Houseplant Propagation. She’s been here before in our Fluval Stratum episode. She breeds both Alocasias and Anthuriums and has made it her life's work to create new species and perfect propagation techniques. Let's dive in! In this episode, we learn:[02:30] Meet Lindsay Sisti, aka the “Alocasia Queen”![04:15] What are some facts about Alocasia?[06:02] Why is Alocasia popular?[08:41] Plant anatomy 101: leaves, stems, rhizomes, roots, stolons, and corms![15:18] Manukora's premium New Zealand Manuka honey[16:55] Do corms ever appear above the soil? Leaf-litter vs. pots[21:58] When is the right time to go “corm spelunking”?[26:52] Step-by-step: how to harvest Alocasia corms safely[30:09] Snapping corms, clean hands, and why scissors are optional[34:20] Should you peel corms before planting? (The “onion layer” trick)[37:33] Which medium works best (perlite, sphagnum, fluval stratum, or water?)[40:41] How deep should you plant the corms in the media?[41:26] How long does it take for corms to sprout?[43:09] The “puddle method” in water[45:38] Hardening off: acclimating cormlings[49:41] Common mistakeswith corms[55:17] Can a rootless Alocasia be revived?[56:20] Where to find Lindsay, her book, and her propagation resources Mentioned in our conversation:Growing Joy Episode 289: How to Propagate Plants in Fluval Stratum with Lindsay SistiBook: The Ultimate Guide to Houseplant PropagationWhy Did My Alocasia Corm* Die?Alocasia Enthusiasts | FacebookLECHUZA-PON Plant Substrate 12 liter For all corm propagation methods,check out the full show notes and blog for Lindsay's step-by-step! Thank you to our episode sponsor:ManukoraGo to manukora.com/bloom to get 25% off the starter kit that includes their 850+ Manukora honey jar, 5 honey travel sticks, a wooden spoon, and a guidebook.  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 LeungJoin the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!Instagram: @growingjoywithmariaTiktok: @growingjoywithmariaSubscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmariaWebsite: www.growingjoywithmaria.comPinterest: @growingjoywithmaria Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The monstera might just be the most iconic houseplant of all time. Those bold, split leaves show up everywhere in logos, restaurant décor, and home goods, making it instantly recognizable. But bringing a monstera home and helping it thrive so it grows big, beautiful, and full of those signature splits takes a little know-how. Today, we’re revisiting one of my very first 20 episodes of Growing Joy in our Best of series with my plant friend Scott Cain, an Australian plant enthusiast with over 200 plants, including an incredible monstera collection. He’s the creator behind Boys With Plants on Instagram and Tropical Loco, and in this episode, we dive into care tips, design ideas, and strategies to help your monstera flourish. If you’ve got a monstera, listen in because your plant is about to get a whole lot happier. In this episode, we learn:How family traditions inspired his current collectionScott breaks down the 200 plants that fill his apartment that are featured on his Instagram account, @tropicalocoHow Scott has turned Instagram friends into #plantfriendsIRLHis care secrets for dealing with the Australian summer/winterWhy people who work from home should have plantsMonstera care 101: light, watering, fertilizingMoss poles, what they are and why/if we need themAerial roots, what they are and can we trim them?What fenestrations areWhat the difference is in deliciosa/borsigiana/adansonii/obliquaScotts pruning practices for his Monstera collectionHow to take cuttings of your Monstera to make your plant look more fullTroubleshooting for yellow and brown leavesWhy the Monstera is such an sought after plantWhat’s up with variegationHow and why he created @boyswithplants and why he is letting us know that he is the creatorHow to get featured on @boyswithplantsThe scoop on the new Boys with Plants Book! Mentioned in our conversation:Australian Houseplant Community Facebook GroupStackwood@mickmitty@jamesipy Want your monstera to grow beautiful leaves?Check out the full show notes and blog for Scott's top care tips and design ideas! Follow Scott:Personal InstagramInstagramEtsy shopScott's Graphic Design Company  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 LeungJoin the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!Instagram: @growingjoywithmariaTiktok: @growingjoywithmariaSubscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmariaWebsite: www.growingjoywithmaria.comPinterest: @growingjoywithmaria Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if I told you that the most dominant plant in your garden isn't the rose that you love or the towering sunflower, but the little clover, the little guys creeping along the ground? They're called groundcovers, and they fight weeds, save water, prevent erosion, and can even replace your lawn. I had an amazing conversation with Kathy Jentz, author of “Groundcover Revolution,” and we talked about how these humble plants can change your space and make it much more eco-friendly and beautiful. In this episode, we learn:[01:52] How Kathy became the plant lady she is today[02:44] Kathy’s background before she became a full-time plant lady[04:47] Why Kathy ditched turf for groundcovers[06:41] Why else should you think about groundcovers?[08:11] Clovers and pollinators[09:26] Bee lawns and flowering yards for pollinators[10:01] Is there a trap crop groundcover for birds?[12:04] Why artificial turf is bad for soil and trees[13:54] Can kids and dogs play on groundcovers?[15:15] Give your groundcover the best start with Espoma Organic’s lawn soil and Bio-tone starter![16:50] Protecting tree roots and trunks with groundcovers[17:35] How tall do groundcovers get?[18:29] How to choose the right groundcover for you using Kathy’s charts[19:59] Mixing turf and groundcovers for family yards[21:39] What is Kathy’s “patchwork” groundcover method?[23:02] Step-by-step: converting a lawn with the lasagna method[26:52] Plugs vs. seeds (pros, cons, and budget tips!)[29:02] What are some mulching tricks + annual flowers for your groundcover?[30:54] How to sow groundcover seeds for a full summer lawn[32:42] Are there any groundcovers that require the cold?[33:37] What are Kathy’s favorite groundcovers?[35:52] Common mistakes rookies make with groundcovers[37:47] Where to find Kathy, her book Groundcover Revolution, and her Garden DC podcast? Mentioned in our conversation:Groundcover Revolution: How to use sustainable, low-maintenance, low-water groundcovers to replace your turf by Kathy JentzGardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening Ready for low-maintenance garden plants?Check out the full show notes and blog here! Follow Kathy:WebsiteInstagramFacebookLinkedInYouTubeX Thank you to our episode sponsor:Espoma OrganicVisit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.  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 LeungJoin the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!Instagram: @growingjoywithmariaTiktok: @growingjoywithmariaSubscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmariaWebsite: www.growingjoywithmaria.comPinterest: @growingjoywithmaria Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

I'm thrilled to be sharing this planty conversation with my #plantfriendIRL, Kevin Espiritu from Epic Gardening! Kevin and I recently met IRL in San Diego and clicked immediately. He is a wonderfully curious Botanical Bro who has the most incredible Urban Gardening setup in his home in San Diego. Our journeys to plant parenthood are very similar but revolve around different passions: indoor (mine) and outdoor (his). Today we talk about our different interests, the similarities and differences between indoor and outdoor gardening, and container gardening for those of us who might want to try gardening outdoors! I hope you find it inspiring to grow your own food in your outdoor space! Kevin's book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, was just released and would be the perfect companion for anyone curious to learn more about urban gardening and growing your own food! In this episode, we learn:[04:40] Kevin's somewhat unsuccessful intro to growing food, and how he became the amazing gardener he is now[13:09] Differences in our experiences growing indoor and outdoor plants[22:47] Outdoor container gardening 101- it's the growing season Plant Friends! Let's learn this together![24:24] Best plants to start with[29:47] Best pots, soil and fertilizer to use as a newbie Mentioned in our conversation:Buy Kevin's book: Field Guide to Urban GardeningVisit my Amazon Storefront for the items mentioned Want to grow basil, tomatoes, or herbs right on your balcony?Check out the full show notes and blog for Kevin's simple starter guide! Follow Kevin:WebsitePodcastYouTubeFacebookTwitterPinterestInstagram 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 LeungJoin the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!Instagram: @growingjoywithmariaTiktok: @growingjoywithmariaSubscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmariaWebsite: www.growingjoywithmaria.comPinterest: @growingjoywithmaria Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You've probably heard the phrase, “Go touch grass.” It's usually thrown around online when someone needs to log off and reconnect with reality. But the act of touching grass, literally putting your bare feet or hands on the earth, is scientifically proven to reset your mood. It's known as earthing (or grounding), and it's been proven to reduce inflammation, boost your energy, improve sleep, and even help your body heal. So I specifically sent Dr. Gaétan Chevalier an email to have him on the show to explain everything we need to know about earthing. With 15 years of experience, he’s one of the leading experts in this field, and he’ll explain how our bodies literally need that natural connection to the Earth’s energy. In this episode, we learn:[01:49] Meet Dr. Gaétan Chevalier![03:23] How Clint Ober introduced earthing in 2003[07:46] What is earthing?[09:09] The Earth as a living battery[12:20] Why is inflammation the root of disease, and how does grounding help?[19:01] The natural cure for jet lag: 30 minutes barefoot[19:34] Are earthing and grounding the same practice?[20:45] How modern life disconnects us from the Earth’s charge[24:17] What are the benefits people report from daily earthing?[25:18] Grounding as a bioelectrical reset for the immune system[28:30] Can grounding be measured? How testers work[32:28] Grounding houseplants and even cut flowers[34:12] Grounding indoors[35:57] PMF devices vs. grounding[37:00] What are the two things needed for a good home ground system?[39:29] Why hugging a tree bark won’t ground you (but leaves might)[40:06] What is the Schumann Resonance?[42:40] How grounding shields you from electrical “frenzy”[44:30] Can grounding help offset EMF and cell phone exposure?[46:59] Where can you learn more about grounding? Mentioned in our conversation:Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever!Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness by Dr. Qing LiSchumann resonancesMike Levin on electrifying insights into how bodies form To learn more about the benefits of earthing,check out the full show notes and blog here! Follow Earthing Institute:WebsiteInstagramFacebook GroupResearchCoursesVideo Testimonials Thank you to our episode sponsors:Wind River ChimesVisit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on your chosen wind chimes.Quarto: Revered Roots: Ancestral Teachings and Wisdom of Wild, Edible, and Medicinal Plants by LoriaAnn BirdGrab your copy of Revered Roots at quarto.com and wherever books are sold, and let your next garden walk become a sacred walk with your 'plant teachers'.  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 LeungJoin the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!Instagram: @growingjoywithmariaTiktok: @growingjoywithmariaSubscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmariaWebsite: www.growingjoywithmaria.comPinterest: @growingjoywithmaria Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today I welcome Lisa Eldred Steinkopf, otherwise known as the “Houseplant Guru,” to the show for an enlightening conversation about how to care for plants in low-light environments and what the best beginner, advanced, and interesting low-light-tolerant plant choices we can make. We discuss how to truly understand if we have low light and several hacks to capitalize on the light we have, and she suggests some really interesting plants besides your normal pothos, dracaena, and snake plants we know so well. Lisa is the author of Grow in the Dark: How to Choose and Care for Low Light Houseplants and Houseplants: The Complete Guide. I love her books, and I love her! In this episode, we learn:How Lisa became “The Houseplant Guru”How to measure low light with no fancy toolsHow to “hack” your way to capitalizing on all the hacks you haveHow low light affects your plant care routingWatering for a low light plantPhototropismHow Variegated plants are affected by low lightStandard low light plantsLisa’s 5 more rare and unknown low light plants for advanced plant parents looking for something new!Patreon Plant Friends and Listener Questions! Mentioned in our conversation:Help Your Houseplant Acclimate To The Light It Is ReceivingYes, The Sun Can Burn Houseplants Inside. Who Knew? Got a dim corner calling for plants?Check out the full show notes and blog to see Lisa’s top low-light plant picks and care tips. Follow LisaWebsiteInstagramFacebook  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 LeungJoin the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!Instagram: @growingjoywithmariaTiktok: @growingjoywithmariaSubscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmariaWebsite: www.growingjoywithmaria.comPinterest: @growingjoywithmaria Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Plant friends, I have to tell you about someone who has completely blown my mind this gardening season! Her name is Lily, and she happens to be my brother's girlfriend, which means I've had a front-row seat to watch her absolutely blossom as a first-time gardener. She nailed it on her first try, and I mean that she has had the most incredible success I think I have ever seen from a beginner. In this episode, you're going to hear about how she and my brother were pretty much harvesting and eating from her garden every single day for the entire summer! In this episode, we learn:[02:40] Meet Lily and her garden obsession![04:15] What childhood memories inspired Lily’s love for gardening?[06:16] When did Lily decide to start her first backyard garden?[06:53] Why did Lily start almost everything from seed?[09:54] Lily's creative dining room seed-starting setup[15:00] Refresh your fall garden with ease using Espoma Organic[16:25] Bring your farmhouse garden dreams to life with The Vintage Farmhouse Garden[18:46] How did Lily handle pests, heavy rains, and a mosquito invasion?[22:01] Exploring composting to solve the pear tree problem[22:58] What surprised Lily the most about gardening?[24:26] How to freeze tomatoes and preserve the harvest for winter[25:30] Ice cube tray preservation tricks[26:06] My ramp butter memories from the Catskills[27:33] Is canning worth a full day's work?[28:45] Garden harvest tour: What did Lily grow?[31:30] Adding a pollinator garden with pest-deterring plants[33:26] Which medicinal and edible flowers should you try growing?[36:36] How to use AI in growing plants[37:17] Lily’s biggest lessons: labels, sunlight, and spacing[39:04] How gardening brought peace, joy, and connection to Lily’s life[40:14] Southern tomato pie: Lily’s star garden recipe[41:25] How Lily used garden-fresh rosemary and pears in her baking[42:34] Lily’s favorite ways to use her bounty[43:44] What will Lily focus on growing next year? Mentioned in our conversation:Growing Joy Episode 202: How to Can and Ferment Vegetables and Fruits from Your Garden with Stephanie ThurowGrowing Joy Episode 195: Homesteading for Beginners with Michelle Bruhn and Stephanie Thurow Gardening for the first time?Check out the full show notes and blog here! Thank you to our episode sponsors:Espoma OrganicVisit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.Quarto: The Vintage Farmhouse Garden: Your Guide to Creating a Vintage-Inspired Outdoor Space by Rhonda KaiserGrab your copy of The Vintage Farmhouse Garden at 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 LeungJoin the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!Instagram: @growingjoywithmariaTiktok: @growingjoywithmariaSubscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmariaWebsite: www.growingjoywithmaria.comPinterest: @growingjoywithmaria Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Garlic is a staple in so many savory dishes, but if you've only ever cooked with the sad grocery store bulbs, it's time to see garlic's true potential by growing your own. The depth of flavor and variety that homegrown garlic offers blows store-bought out of the water. Lucky for us, plant friends, growing our own garlic at home is so easy! In this episode, homesteader extraordinaire Jill Winger walks us through how to grow garlic step-by-step, select varieties, grow, harvest, and store your own garlic for a steady supply of flavorful garlic all year long. In this episode, we learn:[03:09] Garden Society shoutout[05:17] What led Jill to embrace homesteading?[07:01] Check out Jill’s blog and podcast![09:29] How Jill's garden has evolved over the years[11:23] Jill’s early years of homesteading and its long-term evolution[13:18] Why homesteading involves continuous trial and error[13:54] How long has Jill been growing garlic?[14:59] Homegrown vs. store-bought garlic[15:57] How to select the right garlic to grow[16:08] Choosing a reputable garlic seed source[17:24] Softneck vs. hardneck garlic[24:05] What else is needed to grow garlic besides cloves?[25:37] When is the best time to plant garlic?[26:41] Why garlic is low maintenance[27:28] What steps should be taken to prepare garlic for planting?[28:32] How deep should you plant the clove under the soil?[29:21] Why garlic doesn't rot or freeze despite delayed stalk growth in winter[30:32] What’s the next step after planting garlic?[32:39] How does the harvest timing affect the taste and texture of garlic scapes and bulbs?[33:52] How do you know the garlic is ready to harvest?[35:03] How do you “cure” fresh garlic?[37:01] Tips for storing garlic for a long time[38:35] Common garlic growing issues and how to address them[39:36] Jill’s favorite garlic recipes[41:35] How did Jill’s homestead slowly evolve?[43:48] How reconnecting with nature and sustainable living creates a natural ecosystem Mentioned in our conversation:Garlic Scape Pesto RecipeHow to Braid GarlicHow to Plant GarlicHow to Braid OnionsLomi Tabletop ComposterTerritorial Seed Garden Garlic CatalogueUpcoming Book by Jill Old-Fashioned on PurposeGrowing Joy Episode 123 How To Manage Deer, Squirrels, Chipmunks, Moles, Voles And Other Animals In Your Garden With Brie The Plant Lady Think you want to grow garlic this coming season?Check out the full show notes and blog for garlic growing tips from an expert! Follow Jill:WebsitePodcastInstagramTwitterYouTube 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 LeungJoin the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!Instagram: @growingjoywithmariaTiktok: @growingjoywithmariaSubscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmariaWebsite: www.growingjoywithmaria.comPinterest: @growingjoywithmaria Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.