The Beet: A Podcast For Plant Lovers

Episode Description: This week, Kevin digs in with Brian from Never Enough Dirt to talk ducks, dirt, and a dash of history. From the perks of keeping ducks in the garden to mastering small-scale succession planting, Brian shares how to grow smarter and keep it fun for the whole family. They wander through edible landscapes, explore California’s citrus roots, and even time-travel with heirloom plants. Tune in for a lively chat on permaculture, parenting, and planting with purpose, California-style! Connect with Brian: Brian is a nature enthusiast, photographer, tinkerer, and stay-at-home dad who traded IT management for mud under his nails. With a background in economics and a lifelong drive for purpose and growth, he also knows when to toss the rulebook aside in the name of fun. His blog, Never Enough Dirt, chronicled his deep dive into the wonders of gardening and the natural world. Today, the blog has evolved into a hands-on hub for garden lovers everywhere. Find more from Brian on his website: https://www.neverenoughdirt.com/ Find more from Brian on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neverenoughdirt/ Support The Beet: → Shop: https://growepic.co/shop → Seeds: https://growepic.co/botanicalinterests Learn More: → All Our Channels: https://growepic.co/youtube → Blog: https://growepic.co/blog → Podcast: https://growepic.co/podcasts → Discord: https://growepic.co/discord → Instagram: https://growepic.co/insta → TikTok: https://growepic.co/tiktok → Pinterest: https://growepic.co/pinterest → Twitter: https://growepic.co/twitter → Facebook: https://growepic.co/facebook → Facebook Group: https://growepic.co/fbgroup → Love our products? Become an Epic affiliate! https://growepic.co/3FjQXqV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode Description:  Gardeners love to gripe about the weather, and in Texas, there’s plenty to talk about! In this episode of the Beet Podcast, Jacques chats with Pam Penick, creator of the Digging blog and author of Gardens of Texas. Together they explore the state’s wildly varied climates and geology, exploring how gardeners in all states can design spaces that are both sustainable and perfectly tuned to their local conditions. Connect with Pam Penick: With the release of her new book, Gardens of Texas, Pam Penick loves to share visionary Texas gardens and their creators, who cultivate resilience along with beauty, habitat, and a distinct sense of place. She invites readers of her blog to be inspired as they learn practical strategies for making their own gardens a little hardier in the beautiful but weather-challenged state. Find more from Pam Penick at her website: https://www.penick.net/digging/ Find more from Pam Penick on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pamdigging/ Support The Beet: → Shop: https://growepic.co/shop → Seeds: https://growepic.co/botanicalinterests Learn More: → All Our Channels: https://growepic.co/youtube → Blog: https://growepic.co/blog → Podcast: https://growepic.co/podcasts → Discord: https://growepic.co/discord → Instagram: https://growepic.co/insta → TikTok: https://growepic.co/tiktok → Pinterest: https://growepic.co/pinterest → Twitter: https://growepic.co/twitter → Facebook: https://growepic.co/facebook → Facebook Group: https://growepic.co/fbgroup → Love our products? Become an Epic affiliate! https://growepic.co/3FjQXqV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode Description:  In this episode of The Beet Podcast, Jacques sits down with Martha Retallick to discuss all things water harvesting. From catching rain to shaping your landscape so every drop goes to your crops (not the storm drain), they dig into practical, creative ways to make the most of precious rainfall. Tune in to learn how to harvest water and grow a thriving garden, even in the heart of the desert. Connect with Martha Retallick: Based in Tucson, Arizona – where only 12 inches of rain fall each year – Martha Retallick has turned desert living into an art form. She’s transformed her home into a water-efficient urban oasis filled with shady ironwoods, colorful native blooms, and homegrown produce. Blending beauty with sustainability, Martha inspires others to create harmony between nature and the built environment. She shares her expertise in her books Water Harvesting 101, and City Nature. Find more from Martha Retallick on her website: https://westernskycommunications.com/ Find more from Martha Retallick at her podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/water-harvesting-101/id1807174215 Support The Beet: → Shop: https://growepic.co/shop → Seeds: https://growepic.co/botanicalinterests Learn More: → All Our Channels: https://growepic.co/youtube → Blog: https://growepic.co/blog → Podcast: https://growepic.co/podcasts → Discord: https://growepic.co/discord → Instagram: https://growepic.co/insta → TikTok: https://growepic.co/tiktok → Pinterest: https://growepic.co/pinterest → Twitter: https://growepic.co/twitter → Facebook: https://growepic.co/facebook → Facebook Group: https://growepic.co/fbgroup → Love our products? Become an Epic affiliate! https://growepic.co/3FjQXqV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode Description: On this episode of The Beet, we turn up the heat with pepper pro Jason Tate of Bohica Pepper Hut. Jason walks us through everything you need to know about growing peppers – from seed starting, soil prep, and care tips, to tackling common pepper problems. Jason shares his go-to methods for harvesting, overwintering, and even growing peppers indoors, plus his expert advice on handling superhots safely.  Connect with Jason Tate: Jason Tate is the owner, founder, and farmer behind Bohica Pepper Hut. About six years ago, he started growing his first super-hot pepper plants, and his passion for peppers has only grown since. Today, Jason cultivates more than 250 varieties across his garden and property. In the fall of 2016, he launched “The Bohica Hut”, offering a wide range of pepper seeds, fresh and dried pods, and hot sauces to customers all across the U.S. Find more from Jason at his website: https://bohicapepperhut.com/ Find more from Jason on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bohicapepperhut/ Support The Beet: → Shop: https://growepic.co/shop → Seeds: https://growepic.co/botanicalinterests Learn More: → All Our Channels: https://growepic.co/youtube → Blog: https://growepic.co/blog → Podcast: https://growepic.co/podcasts → Discord: https://growepic.co/discord → Instagram: https://growepic.co/insta → TikTok: https://growepic.co/tiktok → Pinterest: https://growepic.co/pinterest → Twitter: https://growepic.co/twitter → Facebook: https://growepic.co/facebook → Facebook Group: https://growepic.co/fbgroup → Love our products? Become an Epic affiliate! https://growepic.co/3FjQXqV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode Description: In this episode of the Beet Podcast, we’re joined by Craig LeHoullier, for a deep dive into all things tomato. Craig shares his tips for growing epic tomatoes and how straw bales and containers can transform your tomato garden. We explore the groundbreaking Dwarf Tomato Breeding Project and how tomato color can actually hint at flavor. This juicy conversation is packed with wisdom from the Godfather of Tomato Growing. Connect with Craig LeHoullier: Craig LeHoullier, also known as the NC Tomatoman, is the breeder who named Cherokee Purple and authored Epic Tomatoes and Growing Vegetables in Straw Bales. He’s co-led the Dwarf Tomato Breeding Project and replaced his driveway with a thriving garden. With a vast collection of heirloom tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants, Craig has spent decades championing the colorful world of homegrown veggies. Find more from Craig LeHoullier on his website: https://www.craiglehoullier.com/ Find more from Craig LeHoullier at the Dwarf Tomato Project: https://www.craiglehoullier.com/dwarf-tomato-breeding-project/ Support The Beet: → Shop: https://growepic.co/shop → Seeds: https://growepic.co/botanicalinterests Learn More: → All Our Channels: https://growepic.co/youtube → Blog: https://growepic.co/blog → Podcast: https://growepic.co/podcasts → Discord: https://growepic.co/discord → Instagram: https://growepic.co/insta → TikTok: https://growepic.co/tiktok → Pinterest: https://growepic.co/pinterest → Twitter: https://growepic.co/twitter → Facebook: https://growepic.co/facebook → Facebook Group: https://growepic.co/fbgroup → Love our products? Become an Epic affiliate! https://growepic.co/3FjQXqV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Launch your business with a free trial of Shopify. Go to https://shopify.com/thebeet to learn more! Episode Description:  In this episode, Jacques sits down with horticulturist Wendy Proud to explore the beauty and resilience of arid climate plants. As a rep for Mountain States Wholesale Nursery, Wendy shares her deep knowledge of landscaping and plants' vital role in sustainable design. They dive into the challenges and rewards of her career in horticulture and her new educational initiative, the Kinship League. Connect with Wendy Proud: Wendy Proud is a dedicated horticulturist and advocate for resilient plants in Southwestern landscapes. As the California rep for Mountain States Wholesale Nursery and founder of the Kinship League, she works closely with landscape professionals to promote the beauty, resilience, and sustainability of arid-region plants. With a strong background in wholesale nursery growing and a passion for education, Wendy is committed to inspiring others to see the value and versatility of desert-friendly landscapes. Find more from Wendy Proud at the Kinship League Website: https://kinshipleague.com/  Find more from Wendy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kinshipleague/  Support The Beet: → Shop: https://growepic.co/shop  → Seeds: https://growepic.co/botanicalinterests Learn More: → All Our Channels: https://growepic.co/youtube  → Blog: https://growepic.co/blog  → Podcast: https://growepic.co/podcasts  → Discord: https://growepic.co/discord  → Instagram: https://growepic.co/insta  → TikTok: https://growepic.co/tiktok  → Pinterest: https://growepic.co/pinterest  → Twitter: https://growepic.co/twitter  → Facebook: https://growepic.co/facebook  → Facebook Group: https://growepic.co/fbgroup  → Love our products? Become an Epic affiliate! https://growepic.co/3FjQXqV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode Description: In this episode of The Beet Podcast, we talk with Central Florida grower and plant seller David Scanlon, founder of Practical Plants. David shares his journey to establishing his food forest and nursery, and how he grows resilient and adapted crops, focusing on local food sovereignty and self-sufficiency.  Connect with David Scanlon: David Scanlon is a grower and plant seller based in Central Florida. He started Practical Plants to support home gardeners in growing their own food and becoming more self-sufficient. His work promotes local food sovereignty and builds resilient communities by preserving and sharing plant varieties that are well-adapted to the region’s unique climate and challenges. Find more from David on his website: https://practicalplantsfl.com/products/schedule-a-site-visit-consultation Find more from David on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/practical_plantsfl/ Support The Beet: → Shop: https://growepic.co/shop → Seeds: https://growepic.co/botanicalinterests Learn More: → All Our Channels: https://growepic.co/youtube → Blog: https://growepic.co/blog → Podcast: https://growepic.co/podcasts → Discord: https://growepic.co/discord → Instagram: https://growepic.co/insta → TikTok: https://growepic.co/tiktok → Pinterest: https://growepic.co/pinterest → Twitter: https://growepic.co/twitter → Facebook: https://growepic.co/facebook → Facebook Group: https://growepic.co/fbgroup → Love our products? Become an Epic affiliate! https://growepic.co/3FjQXqV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode has been brought to you by Fox Farm, crafting soil and fertilizers since 1984. Supercharge your plants by locating a Fox Farm retailer near you: https://foxfarm.com/find-a-dealer/ Episode Description:  In this episode of the Beet Podcast, Jacques chats with Cool Birds™ spokesperson Drin Chissus (also known as Bird Lady Drin) about all things feathered and fabulous. They dive into how birds can improve your garden and why you definitely want them hanging around. Learn how to create a bird-friendly space that keeps winged guests coming back for more. Connect with Drin Chissus: Adrianne “Drin” Chissus, aka “Bird Lady Drin,” is a wildlife advocate, birding expert, and the Director of Consumer & Bird Engagement at Global Harvest Foods and their flagship brand, Cool Birds™. With a deep passion for bird feeding and a knack for sharing practical, engaging tips, Drin inspires both beginners and seasoned bird lovers to see bird feeding as fun, fresh, and endlessly entertaining. Find more from Cool Birds™ here: https://morecoolbirds.com/  Find more from Drin on the Cool Birds™ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morecoolbirds/  Support The Beet: → Shop: https://growepic.co/shop  → Seeds: https://growepic.co/botanicalinterests  Learn More: → All Our Channels: https://growepic.co/youtube  → Blog: https://growepic.co/blog  → Podcast: https://growepic.co/podcasts  → Discord: https://growepic.co/discord  → Instagram: https://growepic.co/insta  → TikTok: https://growepic.co/tiktok  → Pinterest: https://growepic.co/pinterest  → Twitter: https://growepic.co/twitter  → Facebook: https://growepic.co/facebook  → Facebook Group: https://growepic.co/fbgroup  → Love our products? Become an Epic affiliate! https://growepic.co/3FjQXqV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thanks to this week’s sponsor, Gorilla. Gorilla carts are built smart – always tough! Check out their products at https://www.gorillamade.com. Episode Description: This week on The Beet Podcast, we’re going big and digging into the archives for a Best of the Beet throwback with none other than Kevin Fortey of Giant Veg. Join the two Kevins as they discuss the wild world of giant vegetables, swap stories, and explore how Kevin F. became a legend in the land of oversized produce. Connect with Kevin Fortey: Kevin Fortey grew up in the world of giant veg, following in the footsteps of his dad – a pioneer of the UK’s giant vegetable movement and founder of the British National Pumpkin Championships. Since taking over the family legacy in 1996, Kevin’s family has grown record-breaking whoppers. He’s become a staple on TV, and earned a loyal following as one of the biggest names in big veggies. Find more from Kevin Fortey on his website: https://giantveg.co.uk/ Find more from Kevin Fortey on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/giantveg   Support The Beet: → Shop: https://growepic.co/shop  → Seeds: https://growepic.co/botanicalinterests  Learn More: → All Our Channels: https://growepic.co/youtube  → Blog: https://growepic.co/blog  → Podcast: https://growepic.co/podcasts  → Discord: https://growepic.co/discord  → Instagram: https://growepic.co/insta  → TikTok: https://growepic.co/tiktok  → Pinterest: https://growepic.co/pinterest  → Twitter: https://growepic.co/twitter  → Facebook: https://growepic.co/facebook  → Facebook Group: https://growepic.co/fbgroup → Love our products? Become an Epic affiliate! https://growepic.co/3FjQXqV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Launch your business with a free trial of Shopify. Go to https://shopify.com/thebeet to learn more! Episode Description: On this episode of The Beet Podcast, we explore the fascinating world of rare and endangered vegetables with seed hunter Adam Alexander, who tracks down hundreds of unique seed varieties on the brink of disappearing. He shares the stories behind these extraordinary plants, and why saving their seeds matters more than ever.  Connect with Adam Alexander: Since discovering his first heirloom pepper in Donetsk in the late ’80s, Adam Alexander has been on a mission to find, grow, and save rare, endangered, and delicious vegetables. A dedicated seed saver for the Heritage Seed Library, he’s now collected over 500 varieties—growing around 140 each year. Find more from Adam Alexander at his website: https://theseeddetective.co.uk/ Purchase "The Accidental Seed Heroes": https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/797554/the-accidental-seed-heroes-by-adam-alexander/ Support The Beet: → Shop: https://growepic.co/shop  → Seeds: https://growepic.co/botanicalinterests  Learn More: → All Our Channels: https://growepic.co/youtube  → Blog: https://growepic.co/blog  → Podcast: https://growepic.co/podcasts  → Discord: https://growepic.co/discord  → Instagram: https://growepic.co/insta  → TikTok: https://growepic.co/tiktok  → Pinterest: https://growepic.co/pinterest  → Twitter: https://growepic.co/twitter  → Facebook: https://growepic.co/facebook  → Facebook Group: https://growepic.co/fbgroup  → Love our products? Become an Epic affiliate! https://growepic.co/3FjQXqV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices