The Beet: A Podcast For Plant Lovers

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

Thanks to Storyblocks for sponsoring this video! Get 2 extra months free with annual plans for a limited time only: https://storyblocks.com/TheBeet Episode Description: In this episode of the Beet Podcast, Jacques Lyakov sits down with Mark Valencia of Self Sufficient Me to discuss how his backyard garden turned into a global movement. They explore the link between self-sufficiency, mental health, and reconnecting with nature. Mark shares practical tips and big-picture inspiration for anyone looking to grow food and live more intentionally.  Connect with Mark Valencia: Mark Valencia started gardening out of necessity – to save money and support his family. But it quickly became much more, enriching his life and boosting his mental health. He launched Self Sufficient Me, now a popular blog and YouTube channel with over 2.3 million followers. Today, Mark inspires people worldwide to get outside, grow their own food, and slow down a little. Find more from Mark on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/selfsufficientme  Find more from Mark on his website: https://selfsufficientme.com/  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 Podcast, Jacques digs into all things fruit trees with orchard pro and influencer Susan Poizner. From childhood memories to juicy tips on growing your own, they cover it all. Tune in to learn how to grow fruit trees that actually bear fruit – sweet, delicious, and plentiful! Connect with Susan Poizner: Susan Poizner is a leading voice in fruit tree care, known for her award-winning educational resources. Her journey began in 2009 with the co-founding of Toronto’s Ben Nobleman Park Community Orchard. A journalist and BBC-trained media pro, Susan used her skills to dive deep into organic fruit tree care, developing a practical approach she now shares through her website. Find more from Susan Poizner at her website: https://learn.orchardpeople.com/about-susan  Find more from Susan Poizner on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orchardpeople/  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:  The standards for organic farming were built with care and good intentions. But when today’s Beet Podcast guest discovered they’d been co-opted, he set out to change that. What started as a farmer organizing turned into a lifelong mission to reclaim the original meaning of “organic” by focusing on the soil. He and Logan dig into organic farming – and the tangled rules around what the word means today. Connect with Dave Chapman: Dave Chapman has been farming for 37 years and now runs Long Wind Farm in Vermont. He’s Co-Director of the Real Organic Project and a founding member of Vermont Organic Farmers. A driving force behind the Keep The Soil In Organic movement, Dave works to reclaim organic standards from the USDA. Through his roles in key associations and task forces, he’s pushing to restore the true meaning of “organic”. Find more from Dave at the Real Organic Project: https://realorganicproject.org/ 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: Soil is where it all starts – our food, our health, and our planet. In this episode of The Beet Podcast, Jacques chats with Kiss the Ground and Common Ground filmmaker Josh Tickell about why healthy soil matters and how home gardeners can dig into regenerative practices right in their own backyards. Get ready for a fun, inspiring look at growing food that gives back to the earth. Connect with Josh Tickell: Josh Tickell is a leading eco-visionary known for crafting powerful, solutions-driven documentaries. He won the Sundance Audience Award for Fuel and gained widespread acclaim for Kiss the Ground, which spotlighted the critical role of soil health in agriculture. His latest film, Common Ground, continues that mission, focusing on regenerative farming as a response to climate change. Find more from Josh at his website: https://www.joshtickell.com/  Find more from Josh on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshtickell/   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 chats with Holly Capelle – founder of @BigFamilyLiving and food preservation pro – about all the clever ways to make your harvests last. From big batches to small handfuls, Holly shares smart tips, tricks, and old-school techniques with a modern twist to help you stretch your garden goodies all year long. Connect with Holly Capelle: Holly Capelle is a passionate home cook, food preservationist, and sustainable living advocate. She’s the founder of @BigFamilyLiving, an online community for those who love to preserve, cook, create, and garden. With over 30 years of culinary experience, Holly blends traditional preservation methods with modern practicality. She lives just outside Portland, Oregon with her husband Kevin and their six kids on a suburban mini-homestead, where they grow, harvest, and preserve their own food. Find more from Holly on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigfamilyliving/  Find more from Holly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8dTzuDB8tC_jtNUU0BUWhw  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: Knowing your hardiness zone and season length is a great start, but adapting to your local conditions is key to growing great fruits and veggies. As a zone 5 gardener at 7,000 feet, Scott Wilson knows how to tailor a garden to the climate. In this episode of the Beet Podcast, he and Jacques dive into growing based on place, not just advice from other gardeners. Connect with Scott Wilson: “Gardener Scott” Wilson is a Colorado-based Master Gardener and YouTube creator with over 400,000 subscribers and millions of views. A retired U.S. Air Force Command Pilot, he now educates gardeners through his Master Gardener Chapter, the Galileo Garden Project, and his book Gardener Scott’s Guide to Raised Bed Gardening. Find more from Scott Wilson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gardenerscott/?hl=en  Find more from Scott Wilson on YouTube: youtube.com/@gardenerscott  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