Fostering Blooms

What happens when you've got a bucket of wine grapes and no plan? In this episode of Fostering Blooms, Shannon and Caitlyn dive into a spontaneous kitchen adventure — plucking grapes, simmering them on the stove, and making homemade grape juice straight from the vineyard.

From food mills to cheesecloth mishaps (and even a few runaway spiders), you'll hear every step of this messy, funny, and surprisingly successful experiment. We share exactly how much juice came from just 1.7 pounds of grapes, what worked, and what we'd do differently next time.

And while this episode focuses on making grape juice, the story doesn't stop there — the leftover pulp inspired us to try jelly the very next day. (Spoiler: it turned out delicious, and we'll share more about it in a future episode!)

If you've ever wondered how to make grape juice from wine grapes, or you just love real-life garden-to-kitchen stories, this one will inspire you to grab your harvest, get messy, and have fun.

Discover how gardening can transform not just what you eat, but how you cook. In this solo episode, Caitlyn shares how growing Swiss chard, fennel, radishes, and even saffron made her braver, more creative, and more mindful in the kitchen. From sautéing radish tops in butter to crafting bright fennel salads and infusing rice with homegrown saffron, you'll hear simple, garden-to-table recipes that elevate everyday meals.

Learn how zero-waste cooking, seasonal eating, and underused herbs like thyme can add flavor, color, and mindfulness to your cooking. Whether you're new to gardening or already harvesting your own vegetables, this episode will inspire you to see every leaf, stem, and blossom as an opportunity for creativity in the kitchen.

Bock bock, baby—it's chicken time! In this fun (and feather-filled) episode, Shannon grills Caitlyn with rapid-fire questions all about backyard chickens—from how many to start with, to coops, predators, feed, egg production, and beyond. Whether you're a curious beginner dreaming of fresh eggs or knee-deep in coop building, Caitlyn shares everything you really need to know, including hilarious personal stories, the truth about cleaning (or not cleaning) coops, and why she doesn't name her chickens anymore.

Get ready for practical tips, surprising facts (did you know chickens are blind at night?!), and lots of laughs. Plus, meet Caitlyn's favorite farm friends, including her egg-laying hens, protective roosters, and even turkeys who eat cabbage moths.

This is the ultimate beginner's guide to keeping chickens—perfect for gardeners who are chicken-curious and egg-loving. Let's get clucking.

It's the last call for summer sowing! 🌱 In this episode of Fostering Blooms, Shannon and Caitlyn share what's happening in the garden in August—from cutting back strawberry runners to sneaking in those final summer crops.

We cover:

• Fast-growing veggies you can plant in early August

• Which fall crops and herbs to sow now (and which to wait on)

• Our favorite flowers for drying and saving seeds

• A few "just for fun" fall plants we're trying for the first time 🌿

If you've been waiting to plant your fall veggies or sneak in one more summer harvest, now is the time. Grab your gardening gloves, and let's go grow, baby!

In this cozy (and slightly chaotic) episode of Fostering Blooms, Shannon and Caitlyn get a head start on the holidays—yes, in July!

From canning jam and fermenting kraut to crafting herbal tea blends, oxymels, and even goat milk soap, they share creative, garden-inspired gift ideas that celebrate the full-circle joy of growing and giving. Whether you're ready to make your own sourdough crackers or you're just curious about shrubs (the drink, not the plant), this episode is packed with inspiration, laughter, and practical tips to help you plan thoughtful handmade gifts that feel special, not stressful.

• Peach vanilla jam (small-batch canned)

• Cranberry pomegranate jelly

• Mexican escabeche (pickled carrots, onion, jalapeño)

• Shelling beans in muslin bags

• Vinegar shrubs (rhubarb mint, plum lavender, peach strawberry, cranberry pomegranate)

• Dehydrated citrus (lime, lemon, blood orange)

• Cocktail/mocktail kits (including dried citrus, bitters, shrub syrups)

• Bitters (alcohol-infused herbal blends)

• Oxymels (honey and herb digestives)

• Basil vinegar

• Preserved lemons (salt-cured)

• Dried tea blends (e.g. lemon balm, mint, holy basil)

• Dried herb mixes

• Spa gift kits (bath salts, lavender towels, muslin cloths with essential oil)

• Sourdough crackers

• Goat milk soap

• Dog treats

• Custom packaging: stamped muslin bags, canvas totes, thrifted baskets, market baskets

In this quick solo episode of Fostering Blooms, Shannon shares what to do when your garden is exploding with more cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, and beans than you can possibly eat.

From the early days of handing out extra produce to neighbors and HVAC repair people (yep, really) to a full-blown canning and preserving setup, Shannon walks you through simple, beginner-friendly ways to enjoy your garden harvests longer. You'll get tried-and-true ideas for water bath canning, freezing, dehydrating, and baking—plus easy ways to give back with your garden abundance if you're short on time.

Whether you're curious about pickles, drowning in cherry tomatoes, or finally ready to try pressure canning green beans, this episode will help you make the most of summer's generosity—without wasting a bite.

Feeling burned out in the garden? You're not alone—and you're definitely not failing. In this episode, we talk about the real side of gardening in midsummer: when the weeds take over, the heat zaps your energy, and the pests push you to the brink.

We'll share honest stories about why burnout happens, how it shows up, and what we've learned over the years about managing overwhelm. From strategies to cut down on watering and weeding to giving yourself permission to pause and reset, here's how we keep going—or take a much-needed break. Gardening doesn't have to be perfect to be worth it.

The dog days of summer are here, but your garden isn't slowing down! In this episode, we break down what to sow, harvest, and plan in July—from beans and garlic to fall crops and shade cloth strategies.

We share how we're prepping beds for late summer planting, troubleshooting pest invasions, and tackling fertilizer dilemmas (RIP to all the bone meal–raided dahlias). You'll hear about:

🌱 Succession planting bush beans and vining beans (over 170 ft of beans!) 🌿 Harvesting garlic and shallots and prepping for fall sowing 💦 Drip irrigation setups and shade cloth tips for beating the heat 🍅 Second plantings of tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers 🎃 Dreaming up pumpkin and corn patches for fall harvests 🌸 Flowers you can still sow in July—snapdragons, foxglove, scabiosa, and more

Whether you're planning a late-season bounty or fighting the midsummer burnout, we've got you covered.

Let's go get dirty—let's go grow, baby

f you've ever dreamed of skipping the grocery store garlic aisle and harvesting your own flavorful bulbs—this is the episode for you. 🧄

We're diving deep into everything garlic and shallots:

• The difference between hardneck vs. softneck garlic

• When and how to harvest for peak flavor

• Curing and storing tips for long-lasting bulbs

• Why garlic scapes are your new kitchen obsession

• What & when to plant in the fall for big summer rewards

Plus: real talk on what went wrong in one of our garlic beds, and how we plan to fix it next season. Whether you're a first-time grower or a garlic fanatic, there's something here for you.

Let's grow, baby 🌱

Can our wives tell the difference between an aphid and a stratified seed? Do we know what a full nelson is or how many yards it takes to get a first down? It's time for the ultimate showdown in this hilarious episode of Fostering Blooms!

We recorded this battle of the brains back in winter—but with roses blooming and sports season in full swing, it felt like the perfect time to drop it. Shannon and Caitlyn face off against their wives, Beth and Cierra, in a trivia match of gardening vs sports knowledge. The prize? David Austin roses or Lady Vols center court tickets. The trash talk is real. The answers? Sometimes wildly wrong—and that's what makes it so good.

🌱 Want to see the results of the winnings? Check out our Instagram @FosteringBlooms.

🎧 Whether you're team Garden or team Gameday, you're gonna love this one.