The Growing Season

Slainte!

Happy St. Paddy's Day to those who celebrate. 

This week, The Growing Season explores the Irish heritage The McFarlands are so proud of. 

The Irish Potato famine, coffin ships and the political manipulation that drove the irish out of Ireland in droves is explored with the sound effects turned off and the celtic music turned on.

On the second half of the show the mood is lightened when Jack, Lynne and Matt discuss Irish flora and fauna.  Irish eyebright, early dog violet, gorse and hawthorn all get their due. 

Have a drink with us!

Need a visual?  The visual accompaniment to The Growing Season is here to help.  CLICK HERE. 

What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE. 

Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast.  CLICK HERE. 

Watch "The Land Line," our LIVE streaming show.  CLICK HERE.  

You're telling me there is an orchid that looks like a naked human male?

Yup!  And there is one that looks like a flying duck and another that resembles a bee!   How about plants whose berries look like dolls eyes and others that resemble a penis.

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland dive into the absolutely bonkers on this episode of The Growing Season.

Mathematical patterns appearing in nature, dung beetles and cloth moths are just some of the weirdness that gets the spotlight. 

Tune in for some Stranger Things!

Need a visual?  The visual accompaniment to The Growing Season is here to help.  CLICK HERE. 

What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE. 

Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast.  CLICK HERE. 

Watch "The Land Line," our LIVE streaming show.  CLICK HERE.  

So how do they keep warm all winter?

The "they" is what Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland examine in this episode of The Growing Season.

Plants, fish, reptiles, mammals and even us humans are all discussed.   How do Turtles breath during their version of hibernation?  You'll be surprised to learn.

Why did chairs in the Victorian period have their legs covered?  You'll be surprised to learn that as well. 

Need a visual?  The visual accompaniment to The Growing Season is here to help.  CLICK HERE. 

What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE. 

Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast.  CLICK HERE. 

Watch "The Land Line," our LIVE streaming show.  CLICK HERE.  

Build back better.

Its a refrain you've heard over and over but what does it actually mean?

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland chat about eco builds on this episode of The Growing Season. 

Hempcrete, bamboo, elm, long houses and various other structural alternatives to common building materials are all discussed. 

On part 1 of Eco builds you'll hear info you've never heard before and be clued into how to build back better.

Need a visual?  The visual accompaniment to The Growing Season is here to help.  CLICK HERE. 

What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE. 

Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast.  CLICK HERE. 

Watch "The Land Line," our LIVE streaming show.  CLICK HERE.  

That's an awfully big maca root.

It's that time of year again... Roses, chocolate, wine, nettles, devils walking stick... wait.

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland guide The Growing Season into sexy plants just in time for Valentines Day.

Yohimbe Trees, columbine, walnuts and many more horticultural organisms are discussed.  Looking for something special for Valentines Day?

Why not try some whale vomit and a pool skimmer? 

Tune in...we'll fill in the blanks.

Need a visual?  The visual accompaniment to The Growing Season is here to help.  CLICK HERE. 

What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE. 

Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast.  CLICK HERE. 

Watch "The Land Line," our LIVE streaming show.  CLICK HERE.  

Bundle up!

In the dead of winter, Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland direct The Growing Season  into the ins and outs of creating textiles using horticultural organisms. 

In part 3 of "Put Your Plants On" The McFarlands chat about vegan leather being made from apples and grapes, wool being fashioned from mushrooms and MESTIC, a fabric made from... well, you're gonna have to listen in to find out.  ITS BONKERS.

Cotton schmotton, what about a cardigan made from orb weaver spider webbing!?

All that and more. 

Need a visual?  The visual accompaniment to The Growing Season is here to help.  CLICK HERE. 

What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE. 

Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast.  CLICK HERE. 

Watch "The Land Line," our LIVE streaming show.  CLICK HERE.  

While we're here we should get something to eat.

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland have kept The Growing Season in tropical locales over the last few weeks so they figured they'd cap their destination getaway with some talk of food.

Fruit to be specific. 

This week's episode of the show discusses the weird and wonderful fruit of the tropics.  Coconuts, sugar cane,  bananas, oranges and papayas are just a few that get the spotlight.

"Big Mike," the banana, gets some serious laughs.  You'll want to listen and laugh along.

Need a visual?  The visual accompaniment to The Growing Season is here to help.  CLICK HERE. 

What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE. 

Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast.  CLICK HERE. 

Watch "The Land Line," our LIVE streaming show.  CLICK HERE.  

Spice up your life is something we've all heard.

Well, if you were to head to one place that would allow you to do literally THAT, then Grenada would be the place to go. 

Dubbed "The Spice Island," Grenada is known for growing for 40% of the world's nutmeg as well as many other spices that are used to infuse culinary delights.

We take you there on The Growing Season.

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland chat about sugar cane, cocoa, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and may more horticultural wonders.  Further, they chat about Cape Horn and its treacherous waters.  Anne Marie McFarland joins the crew to chat about her experiences cruising the Cape.

Need a visual?  The visual accompaniment to The Growing Season is here to help.  CLICK HERE. 

What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE. 

Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast.  CLICK HERE. 

Watch "The Land Line," our LIVE streaming show.  CLICK HERE.  

In some places in the world its sunny and warm RIGHT NOW!

Lets talk about some tropical destinations.

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland steer The Growing Season into the warm waters of Martinique. 

Its history, its geography and, most importantly, its flora and fauna are all discussed.

Hibiscus, oleander, roses, bougainvillea, orchids, wild poinsettia and many more horticultural all-stars are discussed. 

Its Destination Tropicals 2022, so please join us!

Need a visual?  The visual accompaniment to The Growing Season is here to help.  CLICK HERE. 

What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE. 

Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast.  CLICK HERE. 

Watch "The Land Line," our LIVE streaming show.  CLICK HERE.  

So lets look back!

2021 was full of challenges, not the least of which was erratic weather, heat waves and gypsy moth infestations.

Jack, Lynne and Matt of The Growing Season take a retrospective look at 2021 on this week's episode.

The aforementioned winged demons, heavy winds, a July with DOUBLE the amount of rain followed by some of the most insane prolonged heat on record.

All that and more on a walk through a year that many would like to forget.

Need a visual?  The visual accompaniment to The Growing Season is here to help.  CLICK HERE. 

What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE. 

Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast.  CLICK HERE. 

Watch "The Land Line," our LIVE streaming show.  CLICK HERE.