Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care

• How to Manage Deer, Squirrels, Chipmunks, Moles, Voles and Other Animals in Your Garden with Brie The Plant Lady: Best of Growing Joy Replay

  When I polled our listener community about your top requests for outdoor garden-related episodes, the number one request surprised me: it wasn’t managing fertilizer, succession planting, or garden design. It was how to manage pesky animals getting into your gardens! Today, I have the answer to your prayers: Brie from briegrows.com walks us through such a comprehensive list of practices and solutions for managing pests and other critters in the garden. This conversation really helps us rethink the way we approach animals in the garden, and I’m excited for you to learn from Brie as I did!In this episode, we learn:[00:06:05] How Brie became Brie The Plant Lady[00:08:59] Brie shares her greatest achievement in plant propagation[00:11:29] Maria’s experience with squirrels and deer in the garden[00:14:15] Do we call them ‘pests’ or ‘animals’?[00:21:03] How to use hot peppers as animal repellent[00:24:18] Different and easy ways to use peppermint oil as animal repellent (hint: seashells!)[00:26:49] How to prevent squirrels and chipmunks from digging holes in your garden beds[00:30:20] Vole king bags vs chicken wire planters[00:32:47] How to deal with moles in the garden[00:33:21] Why you should use less mulch in the garden[00:39:16] Do you need to worry about burrowing animals if you have raised beds?[00:43:14] Squirrel damage vs groundhog damage[00:45:29] Setting up a wildlife camera for better animal surveillance in the garden[00:49:24] The best and easiest deer fence kits for your garden[00:54:25] The different plants that help repel rabbits [00:57:26] How often should you apply repellents to your plants?[01:01:50] How to install hedges and streamers that keep deer away[01:13:33] The rookie mistakes gardeners make when trying to keep animals from the gardenMentioned in our conversation:The Foodscape Revolution by Brie ArthurGardening with Grains by Brie ArthurThe Humane Gardener: Nurturing a Backyard Habitat for Wildlife by Nancy LawsonDeer‑Resistant Design: Fence‑free Gardens that Thrive Despite the Deer by Karen ChapmanHave you ever tried to rebloom an orchid?Check out the full show notes and blog to learn what to expect in your first year as an orchid parent!Follow Brie:Brie GrowsBooksInstagramFacebookFollow Maria and Growing Joy:Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha LeungJoin the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!Instagram: @growingjoywithmariaTiktok: @growingjoywithmariaSubscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmariaWebsite: www.growingjoywithmaria.comPinterest: @growingjoywithmariaOur Sponsors:* Check out Manukora: https://manukora.com/BLOOMAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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• Plants Are Our Relatives: Exploring Ancestral Wisdom and the 5 Rs of Herbalism

  I thought I had a pretty deep connection with plants. I mean, this podcast is literally about talking to them (and about them). But after 300+ episodes, this is the only conversation that impacted my daily interaction with plants. My guest, LoriAnn Bird, an Indigenous Métis herbalist and author of Revered Roots, introduced a concept of “plants as our relatives.” Elders. Teachers. Sovereign beings. And once you start viewing them that way, you can’t unsee it. You will realize that we all need to take care of what takes care of us. Listen in and join the conversation!In this episode, we learn:[04:56] What does “ indigenous plants” mean for LoriAnn?[06:18] How LoriAnn developed her close relationship with nature[08:51] What it means to be a Métis woman[10:39] Being raised in a privileged Eurocentric view[12:10] How herbalism came into LoriAnn’s life[14:53] Gift a soothing and personalized Wind River Chime for any special occasion, and get a free engraving![17:06] Why the book was structured to start with relationships[17:41] The 5 Rs of plant relationship[24:17] Understanding our relatives: rooted, stone, and flying nations[28:44] What's the connection between humans and birds?[30:29] The story of “Sky Woman”[32:03] Birth, life, death, rebirth - continuous cycles[33:39] Honorable harvest and reciprocal foraging[35:58] Asking permission from landowners when foraging[38:19] How to get started with herbalism[39:47] Your garden may already be full of medicine[41:11] Where to get the book ‘Revered Roots’[43:00] Meet your local herbalist![43:19] "Ancestral" vs "indigenous" in the book titleMentioned in our conversation:Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall KimmererGathering Moss by Robin Wall KimmererDon OllsinDoug Tallamy - Co-Founder of Homegrown National ParkMary Reynolds | We Are The ArkMerlin Bird IDWebMDIf you're looking to connect deeper with your plants and with the world,check out LoriAnn's guide in the full show notes and blog.Thank you to our episode sponsor:Wind River ChimesVisit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on your chosen wind chimes. Follow Maria and Growing Joy:Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha LeungJoin the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!Instagram: @growingjoywithmariaTiktok: @growingjoywithmariaSubscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmariaWebsite: www.growingjoywithmaria.comPinterest: @growingjoywithmariaOur Sponsors:* Check out Manukora: https://manukora.com/BLOOMAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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• Orchid Care for Beginners: Your Top Orchid Questions, Answered: Best of Growing Joy Replay

  We are joined by Chris today for another installment of our Plant Science Series featuring The Sill! Orchid 101 is near and dear to my heart because I STRUGGLE with orchids, and Chris has been my go-to resource for personal orchid care. So I knew he would be the perfect guest to have come on the show and answer your orchid questions!If you don’t know already, The Sill is a plant brand with two brick-and-mortar shops in NYC and an online shop that delivers nationwide. Their quality of plants and the way they ship plants is unparalleled. Their pots are some of my most treasured pots that I own and are locally sourced. They have a huge focus on education with awesome online classes and in-person classes in their stores, and they just started the Plant Parent Club! The PPC is their monthly plant subscription service. When you join their club, you get a monthly surprise plant delivery, and included in the membership is also access to all of their online workshops and free shipping on any other plants. So if you are interested in anything I’ve just mentioned, visit www.thesill.com.In this episode, we learn:Why Orchids have a reputation for being difficult, and why they can be intimidatingWhat an orchid is and where we find them in natureThe anatomy of an orchidMyth Busting on ice cubes, level of difficulty, fertilizerOrchid care: light and wateringOrchid bark—how necessary is it? What is it?Is it ok to buy orchids at your local grocery store or Trader Joe’s/Whole FoodsWhat does a year as a new orchid parent look like (from buying an orchid in full bloom to then having the blooms die and getting the plant to rebloom)Fertilizer: to use or not to useMyth busting: Are ice cubes a good idea for watering?Listener questionsWhy everyone should try growing an orchidMentioned in our conversation:GJ Episode 133: How To Manage Deer, Squirrels, Chipmunks, Moles, Voles And Other Animals In Your Garden With Brie The Plant LadyGJ Episode 30: Orchid 101 With ChrisGJ Episode 84 : African Violets 101 With LisaOrder Lisa’s book “Bloom: The secrets of growing flowering houseplants year-round”Have you ever tried to rebloom an orchid?Check out the full show notes and blog to learn what to expect in your first year as an orchid parent!Follow Chris Satch:WebsiteInstagramLinkedInFollow The Sill: WebsiteInstagramXYouTubeFacebookTikTokPinterestPlant Parent ClubFollow Maria and Growing Joy:Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha LeungJoin the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!Instagram: @growingjoywithmariaTiktok: @growingjoywithmariaSubscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmariaWebsite: www.growingjoywithmaria.comPinterest: @growingjoywithmariaOur Sponsors:* Check out Manukora: https://manukora.com/BLOOMAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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• 4 Recipes for Your Abundant Zucchini and Cucumber Harvests

  Are you looking at your basket filled with zucchini (and cucumbers) that you’ve harvested this summer? You might also be wondering what you can do with them because there’s only so much roasted zucchini and pickled cucumber one person can take. You’re in the perfect place, because in this episode, I invited one of my favorite plant people, Kaleb Wyse of Wyse Guide. Kaleb’s a modern homesteader, gardener, storyteller, and now a New York Times bestselling cookbook author!He joined us to chat about all the ways to actually enjoy your zucchini harvests aside from your typical zoodles! These four recipes are from Kaleb’s book There’s Always Room at the Table, and they’re flavorful, comforting, and super doable. Time to cook!In this episode, we learn:[03:50] Meet Kaleb Wyse from Wyse Guide[05:44] What type of gardener is Kaleb?[06:18] Zone 5B growing conditions[09:02] How can you find boundaries in your gardening practice?[10:16] Kaleb's #1 advice for new gardeners[12:21] My Floridian challenges![15:21] Revive your garden's late-season growth with Espoma Organic’s high-quality products![16:20] Kaleb’s gardening philosophy and childhood stories[19:48] Zucchini growing tips: when and how to plant[21:45] Eating zucchini flowers (stuffed with goat cheese)[22:27] Growing zucchini on the ground vs. trellising?[24:05] The inspiration behind his cookbook, ‘There’s Always Room at the Table’?[26:55] What is Kaleb’s favorite zucchini recipe?[28:31] How to prevent zucchini from going mushy[29:36] More zucchini recipes![32:42] Using dill flower heads for pickling[33:53] Quick pickle vs. normal pickle[35:09] Zucchini dip as a sandwich spread[36:16] Zucchini fritters recipe[38:37] Does Kaleb grow his own garlic? [39:42] Fermenting garlic and honey for health and flavor[40:56] Zucchini loaf cake recipe[44:27] Where to follow Kaleb and get his cookbookMentioned in our conversation:There’s Always Room at the Table by Kaleb Wyse'Incredible Escalator' Climbing Zucchini – Renee's GardenFor Kaleb's easy yet delicious zucchini recipes,check out the full show notes and blog here!Follow Kaleb:WebsiteInstagramTikTokYouTubeFacebookXThank you to our episode sponsor:Espoma OrganicVisit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront. Follow Maria and Growing Joy:Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha LeungJoin the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!Instagram: @growingjoywithmariaTiktok: @growingjoywithmariaSubscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmariaWebsite: www.growingjoywithmaria.comPinterest: @growingjoywithmariaOur Sponsors:* Check out Manukora: https://manukora.com/BLOOMAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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• How Plants Hijack Your Brain's Reward System (In a Good Way): A Neuroscientist's Take on Houseplant Addiction: Best of Growing Joy Replay

  Today’s episode is about exactly what the title says: our brains… on plants, and what happens in our brains when we become plant people. When I was starting to move from plant killer to crazy plant lady, I noticed there were a few months at the beginning of my plant collection where I felt like the love for plants kind of took over my life. I was constantly buying new plants, going to plant shops, and researching plants on the internet. I was having so much fun with this new hobby, but for a moment, it felt like I couldn’t stop. Billy had to have a little intervention with me to slow me down and make sure we had the space and knowledge of the plants we already had. With his help (or maybe insistence), I put myself on a plant pause, which helped snap me out of that obsessive moment. But I’ve always thought about that particular phase in my life when I couldn’t stop.Enter Dr. Caitlin Vander Weele, the answer to my “plant-iest” and “expert-iest” of dreams. Caitlin is not only an awesome listener of Growing Joy but also a neuroscientist and author with over 10 years of expertise in understanding how emotions and brain chemistry influence decision-making. She is also the founder of Interstellate, a movement that blends science and art with visual imagery to promote science education. Caitlin is really, really smart. And she is also a crazy plant lady, and this conversation blew my mind.In this episode, we learn:How Caitlin became a crazy plant ladyMaria gets real with Caitlin and explains the addictive behaviors she experienced early into plant parenthood. Caitlin breaks down what exactly was happening in Maria’s brain in those first few months of buying as many plants as possibleWhat causes our brain to release dopamine and what it isWhat compulsive behavior isWhat our brain on dopamine doesWhat neurotransmitters, synapses and receptors areThe difference between endorphins and dopamineWhy we feel bonded to our plants: enter oxytocinHow these things are measured in our brains4 phases of compulsive behaviors to look out forHow to cope with compulsive urges when growing your urban jungleLooking for more reasons to justify your plant addiction?Check out the full show notes and blog to learn how your brain responds to plant care!Follow Caitlin:InstagramTwitterFollow Stellate:WebsiteTwitterFollow Maria and Growing Joy:Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha LeungJoin the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!Instagram: @growingjoywithmariaTiktok: @growingjoywithmariaSubscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmariaWebsite: www.growingjoywithmaria.comPinterest: @growingjoywithmariaOur Sponsors:* Check out Manukora: https://manukora.com/BLOOMAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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