One of the most critical factors that can make or break a garden is access to water.  A newly planted garden cannot grow or thrive without water.  Did you know that there was a proper way to water a garden?  I mean, you could just grab a hose and begin making it rain on the plants, but this could lead to problems down the road.  Following these tips will help increase the productivity of your garden and watering efficiency.

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Are you looking to set up a new garden?  People often hop into gardening without doing enough thinking and research. They just start gardening.  The motivation is impressive, but the lack of research and preparation is a recipe for failure. You know the saying failing to plan is like planning to fail.  Well, a garden is no different.   Have you thought about garden orientation, a water source, or lighting?  If not, take a listen to this episode and help your new gardening adventure get started properly.

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Just Grow It Featuring Eric Holsten @smartpots

In 1980 a tree farmer had the idea to sew together containers from fabric. He hoped to make his trees easier to harvest. Little did he know he had just started a whole new way to grow trees and plants of all kinds. These fabric pots would later become known as Smart Pots and a revolution to the growing industry.

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From the time he was a child, Derek Haynes always had a “ thing “ for plants.  This love and passion for plants led him to NC State, where he studied and became a botanist.  As a “planty” person, Derek always wanted to share his love and passion for plants with the world.  He started sharing this passion by working in community gardens and realized he could do more. This realization led him to create, @thechocolotebotanist aka @thecrazybotanist.  An online personality has allowed him to use his creativity to share his passion for the plant world.

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“Follow your passion because you never know where it can take you.”  These words are especially true from Ellen Mary, better known as Ellen Mary gardening.  An author, cohost of a number 1 podcast in the UK, radio host, and tv personality.  From the home of Colman’s mustard, Mary Ellen has built a gardening empire, all from being a self-proclaimed plant addict who followed her passion.  I love the term, self-proclaimed plant addict, by the way.  I think everyone who goes down the gardening path and stays with it eventually becomes a plant addict on some level.  Inspired to begin gardening from her experiences as a youth in her parents and other family members kitchen gardens, Ellen Mary is an example of what happens when you go all-in.

Want to learn more?  Check out this episode of JUST GROW IT

“Grow your own food and live your best life.”  This is the motto of Resh Gala, a self-taught gardener.  Residing in New Jersey and gardening in zone 6b, Resh began gardening with two tomato plants from a big box store. Early in her gardening journey, Resh learned the health of your plants depends on the soil in your garden.  Resh’s love for gardening led her to create Hundred Tomatoes, a  gardening company that focuses on creating unique, organic kitchen gardens.  For tips on growing in small spaces, gardening knowledge and motivation, and pictures of breathtaking gardens, make sure to follow @reshgala on Instagram.

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In this episode, we talk about:

How Resh got started gardening

The journey of Hundred tomatoes

Why she says containers are your friends

Her thoughts on the Instagram gardening community

Tips for small space and new gardeners

Who would have thought that a trip to clear your mind could end up changing your life?  Or on second thought, maybe that’s what trips when you need an escape are supposed to be.  A way to open your eyes and mind to see and think differently about something new: that’s how it all started for Christa Barfield.

After spending her entire career in the health care field, Christa decided she needed a change.  She took a trip to Martinique and was introduced to herbal teas, farming and gardening and found her calling. These experiences made her think about her hometown.  Do things like urban farming and organic local tea blends exist in Philadelphia?  Upon returning to the city, she quickly started @farmerjawn, a 100% organically dope way to address food insecurity in marginalized communities, and @vivaleaftea, a farm-to-cup experience with your wellness in mind.

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In this episode, we talk about:

1.Why Christa left the healthcare field

2.The adventure in Martinique

3.How she crafts some of her tea blends

4.Her idea to redefine corner stores

5.What is in the future for @farmerjawn

There is nothing more impactful than working with the youth. Now find a way to connect gardening to the youth, and you have something with the potential to be unique, but it takes the right person to make it work.  Stephanie Baker is the right person.  With a passion for gardening and teaching, Stephanie Baker started Ready to grow gardens.  A gardening program with an engaging curriculum that focuses on being an extension of the science classroom outside in the garden.  Can you imagine how the world would look if this type of program exited everywhere?  Well, Stephanie Baker is working on that idea, starting in Houston, TX.

Want to learn more?  Check out this episode of JUST GROW IT

Have you heard of the term, Agrihood?  An Agrihood is a community or neighborhood that makes a farm and edible landscapes the focal points for residents.  With all the attention on eating locally, urban farming, and CSA programs, an agrihood is a combination and progression of these ideas.  Joshua Rosas is the lead farmer for the agrihood, Jordan Ranch, just outside of Katy, TX in Brookshire, Tx.  Farming on 1.5 acres, Joshua and one assistant can maintain this market garden.  Besides providing farm-fresh produce to the residents, Joshua also sells their produce to local restaurants.  Can you believe that Joshuas has only been farming for a few years?

Who would have known that a phrase on a hat could impact someone's life so much?  While in college, Rick Carr was working on a project with a friend.  The friend was wearing a hat that read " Master Composter."  Intrigued by the title, Rick Carr got the information behind the hat and began his journey to become a master composter. Now Rick Carr is the Farm Director and master composter for the Rodale Institute.  

Rodale Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to growing the organic movement through rigorous research, farmer training, and consumer education. Widely recognized as a founder of the modern organic movement, Rodale Institute has been a global leader in regenerative organic agriculture for over 70 years.