The quality of produce you grow is dependent on the quality of your soil. We are big advocates of doing everything possible to make garden soil the best it can be right from the start, and then working year after year to maintain and improve its quality. In this episode we're joined by award winning author Jeff Lowenfels to discuss the soil food web and garden soil ecosystems.

Jeff Lowenfels is the author of an award-winning trilogy of books on soil, Teaming With Microbes: The Organic Gardener’s Guide To The Soil Food Web, Teaming With Nutrients: The Organic Gardener’s Guide to Optimizing Plant Nutrition and Teaming With Fungi: The Organic Grower’s Guide to Mycorrhizae.

In this episode Hilary and Colin answer a listener's questions about wood-framed raised bed construction best practices. Their business, Seattle Urban Farm Company has designed and built hundreds of custom raised bed gardens in the Seattle area, so check out this episode for an inside scoop on all of the pro tips!

Pre-order their newest book Grow More Food here!

This week we'll be discussing management techniques for growing in high tunnels, hoophouses and greenhouses!

We're thrilled to be joined this week by our good friend and Seattle Urban Farm Co co-founder Brad Halm. Brad is also the co-author of our gardening books, including our most recent "Grow More Food", which is available for preorder now and will ship in early February 2022.

Send us your question and episode topic suggestions: [email protected]

This week on the podcast we're tackling powdery mildew! Colin and Hilary are joined by Jenny Rebecca Glass, Extension Coordinator and Plant Diagnostician for the WSU-Puyallup Plant and Insect Diagnostic Laboratory. Jenny will help us answer your questions about the lifecycle of this common garden disease as well as management tips and techniques.

Send us your question and episode topic suggestions: [email protected]

In this podcast we chat with special guest Niki Jabbour about techniques for using structures of all sizes in your garden year-round to extend your season, reduce pest pressure, and improve yields.

Show notes: Episode 110: Growing Under Cover with Niki Jabbour

The Grow More Food Pre-Order Giveaway!

Everything you wanted to know about cucumbers but were afraid to ask. We dig into the history of the cucumber, it's botanical curiosities and why you should start succession planting them.

The survey…! In order to keep making this podcast, we need your support by taking this quick, 30 second survey for our podcast hosting platform. Once we have enough replies to the survey we will creating episodes again!

In this season we’ll be addressing topics selected by you! So, starting now please email your garden questions or topics you’d like us to cover to our new dedicated email address: [email protected]

After an extended hiatus, we’re back and ready to bring you some amazing new episodes of the Encyclopedia Botanica Podcast!

The survey…! In order to keep making this podcast, we need your support by taking this quick, 30 second survey for our podcast hosting platform. Once we have enough replies to the survey we will creating episodes again!

In this season we’ll be addressing topics selected by you! So, starting now please email your garden questions or topics you’d like us to cover to our new dedicated email address: [email protected]

Kellie's back as a special co-host for this last episode of the 2019 season and it's all about growing, harvesting and cooking with beets!

Find photos, links to Kellie's business, and more in the show notes for this episode: www.seattleurbanfarmco.com/blog/ 

Learning proper harvest timing and technique can help increase yields and ensure you get the best tasting produce from your garden. In this episode, Hilary and Colin talk harvesting methodology. They break down the techniques into five categories to help you make the most of your bounty.

Find photos, links to Colin's books, and more in the show notes for this episode: www.seattleurbanfarmco.com/blog/ 

Hilary and Kelly Smith Trimble discuss Kelly's new book, Vegetable Gardening Wisdom; and share simple words of advice and practical inspiration for getting most out of your vegetable garden! 

Find photos, links to Kelly's book, and more in the show notes for this episode: www.seattleurbanfarmco.com/blog/ 

Turns out gardening in straw bales might be the least expensive and most effective way to create a season-long container garden! Hilary and Craig LeHoullier discuss what a straw bale garden is and how to set one up!

Find photos, links to Craig's projects, and more in the show notes for this episode: http://www.seattleurbanfarmco.com/blog/