July 24, 2024

Planting by the Signs and the Moon - A Visit With Author Dr. Sarah Hall

S11:E22.06/22/2024

Sown in the Stars, Planting by the Signs by Sarah L. Hall. Published by University of Kentucky Press.

Amy interviews Author and Agricultural Professor Dr. Sarah Hall. This is a description from University of KY of her book - From University of KY Press - Sown in the Stars brings together the collective knowledge of farmers in central and eastern Kentucky about the custom of planting by the signs. Sarah Hall interviews nearly two dozen contemporary Kentuckians who still follow the signs of the moon and stars to guide planting, harvesting, canning and food preservation, butchering, and general farmwork. Hall explores the roots of this system in both astrology and astronomy and the profound connections felt to the stars, moon, planets, and the earth. Revealed in the personal narratives are the diverse interpretations of the practice. Some farmers and gardeners believe that the moon's impact on crop behavior is purely scientific, while others favor a much wider interpretation of the signs and their impact on our lives. Featuring photographs by Meg Wilson, this timely book bridges the past, present, and future by broadening our understanding of this practice and revealing its potential to increase the resiliency of our current agricultural food systems.

Purchase Book: https://www.kentuckypress.com/9780813197043/sown-in-the-stars/

Photo: Dr. Sarah L. Hall and Amy Campbell at Union Avenue Books, Knoxville. Photo: Kelly Smith Trimble. 2023. Use this link to order the book: https://www.kentuckypress.com/9780813197043/sown-in-the-stars/

March 10, 2023

Helping the Honey Bees with D and Jim Brown of Honey Rock Herb Farm, Louisville, TN

by Amy Campbell

S10:E10. 3/11/2023

Helping the Honey Bees with D and Jim Brown of Honey Rock Herb Farm, Louisville, TN

Helping the Honeybee with D & Jim Brown, Honey Rock Herb Farm owners, Louisville, Tennessee. This is their 36th year of growing the good life at Honey Rock Herb Farm, and they have raised bees for over 40 years. They share with us how important bees and pollinators are to all of us, how to attract them, and steps we can take to protect them. Also, in Fred Sauceman’s Pot Luck Radio series, he features Hot Slaw from Polk County, TN.

Honey Rock Herb Farm http://www.honeyrockherbfarm.com/

Fred Sauceman https://www.facebook.com/fred.sauceman

Emi Sunshine (sings the theme song) https://theemisunshine.com/

D and Jim sit at their farm table in the Herb House at their Honey Rock Herb Farm, Louisville, TN. Photo: Amy Campbell 2014.

March 3, 2023

Saving Seeds and Stories with John Coykendall

by Amy Campbell

S10:E9 3/4/2023

Saving Seeds and Stories with John Coykendall

Seed Saving & Stories with our seed-saving pal John Coykendall of Knoxville, TN. John tells us how he became a seed saver, some of the varieties he has saved, where to find old-time heirloom seed like the ones he saves, and shares plus some cute stories. John and I (Amy) worked together in the garden at Blackberry Farm together in 2007, where I learned from John the importance of this heirloom seed.

Many of the varieties that John has saved and referenced in the podcast can be purchased at http://www.seedsavers.org/

John Coykendall on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/john.coykendall.3 

John Coykendall documentary: https://www.lpb.org/programs/deeply-rooted-john-coykendalls-journey-to-save-our-seeds-and-stories

John Coykendall book: https://lsupress.org/books/detail/preserving-our-roots/

Fred Sauceman “Pot Luck Radio”: https://www.facebook.com/fred.sauceman

Emi Sunshine (Sings our theme song): https://theemisunshine.com/

More heirloom seed sources:

Seed Savers Exchange : https://www.seedsavers.org/

Southern Exposure Seed: https://www.southernexposure.com/

Sow True Seed: https://sowtrueseed.com/

Rare Seeds: https://www.rareseeds.com/

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Rare Seed: https://www.rareseeds.com/

John Coykendall with Amy Campbell at the Blount County Public Library Seed Swap, January 2023. Photo: Amy Campbell.

January 20, 2023

Seed Swap, Seed Library, and Master Gardener Deena Trimble on winter sowing.⁣

by Amy Campbell

S10:E3. 01/21/2023.

Seed Swap, Seed Library, and Master Gardener Deena Trimble on winter sowing.⁣

In honor of the upcoming National Seed Swap Day, January 28, 2014, we are setting the table with swapping seeds. It is that time of the year when we plan our gardens, order our seeds, and, if we are lucky, attend a local seed swap to swap seeds and stories with our neighbors. Today, we visit with Sheila Pennycuff, a Librarian at the Blount County Public Library located in Maryville, TN, and the woman who took an old wooden card catalog and turned it into a seed library. This seed library is located inside the Blount County Public Library. It is an essential service to the community where patrons check out seeds and contribute seeds back to the seed library.⁣

We also hear details of the seed and plant swap on Saturday, January 21, 2013, from 10:00 A.M.-12:00 Noon at the Blount County Public Library.⁣

Deena Trimble speaks on Seed saving, seed sharing, and winter sowing using plastic jugs with lids. She recommends getting friendly with someone who uses a CPAP machine and has clean water jugs to give away.

Links: Seed and Plant Swap info: https://www.blounttn.org/Calendar.aspx?EID=18140&month=1&year=2023&day=21&calType=0

Seed Library information: https://www.blounttn.org/1464/Seed-Library

The Blount County Public Library Seed Library, painted by me (Amy Campbell).

Deena Trimble helps with the seed library and speaks on the topics of her love of seed saving and sharing and winter sowing in this podcast.

One of Deena’s jugs of peas that she sowed in winter.

More of Deena’s jugs of plants that she sowed in winter.

Deena’s numbering system to keep track of what plant is in what jug.

January 21, 2022

Seed Swap, Seed Library, and Master Gardener Deena Trimble on winter sowing.

by Amy Campbell

S9.E3. 01/22/2022

Seed Swap, Seed Library, and Master Gardener Deena Trimble on winter sowing.

In honor of the upcoming National Seed Swap Day, we are setting the table with swapping seeds. It is that time of the year when we plan our gardens, order our seeds, and, if we are lucky, attend a local seed swap to swap seeds and stories with our neighbors. Today, we visit with Sheila Pennycuff, a Librarian at the Blount County Public Library located in Maryville, TN, and the woman who took an old wooden card catalog and turned it into a seed library. This seed library is located inside the Blount County Public Library. It is an excellent service to the community where patrons check out seed and contribute seed back to the seed library.

I also let you know about a seed swap that will take place at the Library on January 29th, which is National Seed Swap Day. In addition to the seed swap, Deena Trimble will also talk about winter sowing and seed starting. Today we will also hear from Deena about her seed saving, swapping, and growing.

Links:

Seed Swap info: https://ne-np.facebook.com/MaryvilleFarmersMarket/posts/january-29th-is-national-seed-swap-day-the-blount-county-library-is-having-a-spe/3095449964045117/

Seed Library information: https://www.blounttn.org/1464/Seed-Library

Seed Swap information:

In honor of National Seed Swap Day, which falls on the last Saturday of January. There will be a seed swap and talk hosted by the Blount County Public Library and the Master Gardeners group members. Deena Trimble will speak on the topic of winter sowing and seed starting. Deena is a master gardener with years of experience, and she will speak from 11-12:00 Noon.

This event takes place on National Seed Swap Day, Saturday, January 29th, 2022, from 10AM-12:00 PM in the Sharon Lawson and Dorothy Herron Room located inside the Blount County Public Library in Maryville, TN.

Bring your seeds and be ready to talk about gardening. Even if you don’t have seeds to swap, there will be seeds for you to take. If you do bring seeds to swap, they ask that you please follow the following guidelines: Seed must be open-pollinated, Non-GMO seed stock. The seed must be clean and dried, and please bring your own plastic baggies with you to share and receive. Bring paper and pens to label the packets seed too. If you really have it together, bring the seed proportioned in airtight packaging already labeled.

The address where this Seed Swap and talk will be taking place is is 508 N Cusick St. Maryville, TN 37804.