Growing with Nature

Nitrogen-fixing plants can help your other plants grow. Plants like your fruit trees and berries. But there are some edible nitrogen-fixing shrubs. One of my favorites are goumi berries. These great berries not only provide food but will also fix nitrogen helping your other plants thrive. In this episode, we look at goumi berries and how to add them to your growing areas. Check out the show notes to learn more about goumi berries and get access to the resources mentioned in this episode. Support the show

Cascara is a fantastic Pacific Northwest native tree. Adaptable, great for wildlife, and not too big this is a great native tree to add to your property. In this episode, we dive into cascaras and how to grow them on your property. Plus we will look at some of the uses of these great trees. Check out the show notes to learn more about Cascara trees and get access to the resources mentioned in this episode. Support the show

Making a dense hedgerow can be a challenge. But by planting small spreading native shrubs you can easily have a dense hedgerow. Native plants like Nootka rose and snowberries will quickly will in the gaps can make your hedgerow solid enough to keep even deer out. In this episode, we look at the role small spreading native shrubs can play in creating a dense hedgerow. We use 2 Pacific Northwest native plants as examples of how you can use this strategy. Check out the show notes to learn more about how to use small spreading shrubs to create a dense hedgerow and get access to the resources mentioned in this episode. Support the show

Buying native plants can be expensive but salvaging them is a great option when you don’t have a lot of money to spend on new plants. But doing it right without damaging the living world is important. Plus, you want to make sure your new plants survive. In this episode, we look at 3 tips for salvaging native plants for your property. Specifically, we look at how to salvage native plants by transplanting them and how to salvage native plants by collecting seeds, cuttings, or live stakes. Plus, we look at where you can salvage native plants and how to do so responsibly. Check out the show notes to learn more about salvaging native plants and get access to the resources mentioned in this episode. Support the show

Live staking is one of the easiest ways to get a ton of new plants. But not all plants can be live-staked and there are some tricks to doing it successfully. In this episode, we look at how to get started with live staking including a list of Pacific Northwest native plants that can be live staked successfully. Check out the show notes to learn more about how to get started with live staking and get access to the resources mentioned in this episode. Support the show

Finding material for mulch and critter homes can be a barrier to getting started. But there are some simple and cheap ways to find woodchips, leaves, logs, and other materials. In this episode, we look at several ways you can find material for mulching and building critter homes without spending a ton of money. I’ve used all these methods at my place, and you can use them too. Check out the show notes to learn more about how to find material for mulch and critter homes and get access to the resources mentioned in this episode. Support the show

Let’s skip the fall cleanup this year. Don’t rake up the leaves, don’t cut down the dead flower stalks, and leave the branches where they fall. While this might seem crazy you can skip the fall cleanup. Or at least do less. In this episode, we look at why messy is beautiful and why you should skip the fall cleanup. The result will be more abundance for people, plants, and wildlife. Check out the show notes to learn more about why messy is beautiful and why you should skip the fall cleanup and get access to the resources mentioned in this episode. Support the show

Often people skip native plants but when you do this you limit your land's ability to be abundant. But why? In this episode, we look at the most important reason to plant native plants. In short, it’s because native plants share a long evolutionary history with the other life that live around them. Native plants play a unique role in the environment due to their long evolutionary history with wildlife. Check out the show notes to learn more about native plants and their role in cultivating abundance and get access to the resources mentioned in this episode. Support the show

Did you know your property needs snags? Often people don’t like keeping around dead trees—aka snags. But snags are critical to supporting all sorts of wildlife that you know and love. From owls to woodpeckers, and even native bees if you want to support wildlife snags are a great option. In this episode, we look at why your property needs snags and how to get started with them. Check out the show notes to learn more about snags and get access to the resources mentioned in this episode. Support the show

Growing these 3 Pacific Northwest native plants can provide you easy harvests all winter long. There’s something special about going outside and getting greens for salads and for cooking even in the middle of winter. In this episode, we look at nodding onions, miner’s lettuce, and checkermallow plus some tips on expanding your winter garden beyond these 3 great native plants. Check out the show notes to learn more about these 3 Pacific Northwest native plants and get access to the resources mentioned in this episode. Support the show

Do you know what micro-climates you have on your property? Learning how to identify existing micro-climates and how to create new ones can help you cultivate abundance. In this episode, we look at what micro-climates are, how to identify them, and how to create new ones. Check out the show notes to learn more about micro-climates and get access to the resources mentioned in this episode. Support the show

Managing wet areas on your property can be a challenge. But these areas can also be very important for wildlife and building resilience in the face of climate change. And you can even grow food in them. In this episode, we look at strategies for managing wet areas on your property in a way that heals the living world and cultivates abundance for people, plants, and wildlife. Check out the show notes to learn more about how to manage wet areas and get access to the resources mentioned in this episode. Support the show

What are you doing this fall to cultivate abundance? While the vegetable garden is slowing down and the days are getting shorter fall is a great time to take steps to ensure your land will be filled with abundance next spring. In this episode, we look at 3 ways you can cultivate abundance this fall. Check out the show notes to learn more about the 3 ways you can take this fall to get your land ready for spring and get access to the resources mentioned in this episode. Support the show

Your soil needs to be covered with mulch. Without it soil life will suffer, your plants won’t thrive, and the land will be less abundant. You should mulch your soil if you want to heal the living world. In this episode, we look at 3 reasons why you should mulch your soil. These 3 reasons are protecting soil life, retaining moisture, and preventing erosion. This way your plants and the living world around you can thrive. Check out the show notes to learn more about why you should mulch your soil and get access to the resources mentioned in this episode. Support the show

If you want to support wildlife then you’ve got to give them a place to call home and take shelter. Critter homes are a great option and are simple to create. Plus, these simple structures can provide other benefits such as keeping the soil cool and moist around your plants. In this week’s episode, we dive into critter homes and look at how you can get started with them and why you should. Check out the show notes to learn more about critter homes and get access to the resources mentioned in this episode. Support the show

When the leaves start to fall from the trees what do you do with them? If you’re like most people you rake them up and get rid of them. But if you want to cultivate abundance and heal the living world you need to keep your fall leaves. In this episode, we look at the benefits of keeping your fall leaves and what to do with them. From supporting wildlife to building soil keeping your fall leaves will help you heal the living world and cultivate abundance for people, plants, and wildlife. Check out the show notes to learn more about fall leaves and get access to the resources mentioned in this episode. Support the show

Due to climate change the 2021 drought hit hard in the Pacific Northwest. And these impacts of climate change aren’t only being felt here. But there are lessons you can learn from these extremes that will help you adapt to these impacts. In this episode, we look at 3 lessons learned from this hot dry summer and what can be done to deal with these impacts in the future. Check out the show notes to learn more about the 3 lessons learned from the 2021 drought and get access to the resources mentioned in this episode. Support the show

Native lupines fix nitrogen and support wildlife. These amazing plants are far superior to the ornamental lupines sold in box stores. In this episode, we look at the native lupines of western Washington and why you should grow them. And with over 200 species of lupines found in North and South America and Northern Africa and the Mediterranean, there could easily be native lupines where you live too. Check out the show notes to learn more about native lupines and get access to the resources mentioned in this episode. Support the show

Do you have a shady area that you’re unsure what to plant? Using these shady areas for food growing can be a challenge. But miner’s lettuce happens to love growing in the shade. And it tastes good. In this episode, we look at why you should grow miner’s lettuce. Check out the show notes to learn more about miner’s lettuce and get access to the resources mentioned in this episode. Support the show

Did you know your garden needs logs and rock piles? While these aren’t normally a part of a vegetable garden they actually have a critical role to play in helping your garden thrive. In this episode, we look at why your garden needs logs and rock piles. From supporting beneficial predators to creating micro-climates logs and rocks are a critical part of creating an abundant landscape. Check out the show notes to learn more about why your garden needs logs and rock piles and get access to the resources mentioned in this episode. Support the show