PODCAST

Teaming With Microbes

Jeff Lowenfels, Jonathan White

A podcast about organic gardening using the soil food web

leisure home & garden

All Episodes

00:17:56

How plants survive winter

Teaming With Microbes ·

2024/12/06

This week, Jeff and Jonathan discuss caring for amaryllis flowers, focusing on the importance of feeding them phosphorus-rich nutrients like bone meal.Jeff then shares fascinating new research explaining how shrubs and trees survive winter through cellular adaptation.Finally, they explore the significance of World Soil Day.All this and more on this episode of "Teaming with Microbes."**********************************************Have a question? Let us know at teamingwithmicrobes@me.comPlant a row

00:19:41

The science of thermogenesis

Teaming With Microbes ·

2024/11/22

This week, Jeff and Jonathan kick off their weekly conversation by exploring "forcing the bulb"—a technique that tricks bulbs into blooming early by mimicking the natural temperature cycles of fall, winter, and spring. They explore various strategies, ideal temperatures, and timing for this process.After the break, they examine fascinating plants like the corpse flower, which uses thermogenesis to boost its pollination chances.Finally, the team discusses effective and safe ways to use ice melt in

00:27:43

Winter lawns

Teaming With Microbes ·

2024/11/15

Jeff revisits his disdain for poinsettias while introducing some great winter alternatives: holiday cacti. He breaks down various cacti for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, highlighting how shortening days and cool nights trigger their growth. Jonathan adds that amaryllis are also superb holiday plants.After the break, the team discusses ways to care for a lawn in winter, particularly in places that don't get much snow but experience prolonged deep frosts.Finally, they address a listener

00:25:38

Tis the season (for gardening)

Teaming With Microbes ·

2024/11/08

Jeff is back from his tour of Iceland, Scotland, and England—just in time for snow in Alaska! Speaking of snow, the guys discuss how it isn't necessarily bad for gardens. Known as "poor man's fertilizer," snow acts as an insulator, adds nitrogen to the soil, and releases nutrients slowly as it melts. This slow release is more beneficial than rain due to reduced runoff.After the break, the guys discuss some popular holiday plants, including the ever-famous poinsettia.Finally, the team answers a

00:30:36

The neophyte gardener

Teaming With Microbes ·

2024/10/25

This week, Jeff is traveling the world, spreading the message of the soil food web. Meanwhile, Jonathan chats with Evan (the show producer) about his gardening goals, including growing garlic.After the break, Evan interviews Jonathan about his gardening roots and his friendship with Jeff, exploring their long-standing commitment to soil food web gardening.Finally, they address listener questions about compost.All this and more on this episode of "Teaming with

00:24:06

Fall gardening tips

Teaming With Microbes ·

2024/10/18

This week, Jeff and Jonathan are discussing fall lawn care. Should you rake your leaves or mulch them? This year, Jeff isn't doing anything as he'll be traveling. He'll make sure to report back next summer on how things worked out.After the break, the guys explore various indoor gardening methods for the winter months. You can grow a variety of plants and vegetables, including lettuce, sprouts, and even mushrooms. Jeff adds that with a little creativity, you could even grow potatoes indoors.Finally,

00:19:28

Science and poinsettias

Teaming With Microbes ·

2024/10/11

This week, Jeff is teaming with science, sharing some exciting new studies about the effect of white noise on fungi.After the break, the guys discuss recent research on endosymbiosis—the biological relationship where one organism (the endosymbiont) lives inside another (the host). Jeff believes this science is the future of agriculture.Finally, they talk about ways to prepare and care for poinsettias before the holiday season.All this and more on this episode of Teaming with

00:29:59

Understanding how frost affects your garden

Teaming With Microbes ·

2024/10/04

In this episode, Jeff and Jonathan talk about frost and how it affects gardening. They explain the difference between "hard frost" and "soft frost" (or "light frost"), and how these different types of frost impact plants. They also compare dew and frost, pointing out that dew can actually be good for gardens and lawns at certain times of the year.After a short break, the guys discuss the pros and cons of worms in the garden. Jeff mentions a specific type called the "jumping worm," which can cause

00:42:02

All about garlic

Teaming With Microbes ·

2024/09/27

This week, Jeff and Jonathan are talking about mosquitoes, focusing on their surprising scarcity in Alaska. They explore the declining mosquito population in the region, attributing it to warming temperatures. The conversation then shifts to dragonflies, a common predator of mosquitoes and other small insects. It also happens to be one of Alaska’s state insects!After a break, the discussion moves to techniques for hardening off plants in spring or fall.They conclude with an informative exploration

00:39:06

Cluster flies in the garden

Teaming With Microbes ·

2024/09/20

Jeff recounts his favorite gardening column of all time, where he wrote about the intricate relationship between cluster flies and the soil food web. After the break, the guys debunk some common myths about planting bulbs in the fall. Additionally, they give some good planting tips.Finally, they answer a trio of listener questions, ranging from growing garlic to pet waste in compost.All this and more on this episode of Teaming with Microbes!**********************************************Have a

00:29:24

Springtails and the soil food web

Teaming With Microbes ·

2024/09/13

Last week the guys talked about applying organics to the garden to nurture the soil food web. This week, they talk about another contributor to healthy soil: Springtails!Springtails are very small insects that break down organics by ingesting bacteria and fungi. They can also jump about 2 feet. This means when they jump around, they carry bacteria and fungal spores with them - which helps spread around the good stuff to the soil and gardens. After the break, the team dives into more discussions

00:33:48

Soil testing for healthier gardens

Teaming With Microbes ·

2024/09/06

As the weather transitions from summer to fall, it's time to consider how this change affects your garden.Jeff encourages listeners to apply organic matter to their gardens now to prepare for next year's crops. He also suggests that this is an ideal time to get your soil tested. However, he emphasizes the importance of using a reputable soil tester that employs either the Reams Method or Albrecht Method. Jeff recommends Kinsey Agricultural Services or International Ag Labs.After the break, the guys

00:25:58

Building healthy soil structure

Teaming With Microbes ·

2024/08/30

This week, Jeff and Jonathan are discussing healthy soil structure—particularly the role of worms. As the true engineers of the soil food web, worms bring organic matter from the surface down into the soil. This action creates burrows that hold air, water, and organic matter, forming the building blocks for a thriving organic soil structure.After the break, the duo addresses a listener question about the differences between applying chemical treatments versus concentrated organic substances to

00:26:54

Embrace the fungus

Teaming With Microbes ·

2024/08/23

As rain pelts Southcentral Alaska, mushrooms (and wood frogs) are popping up everywhere. Jeff and Jonathan point out that mushrooms in lawns or meadows are usually a positive sign, indicating thriving soil microbiology. In fact, fungal activity in your lawn is beneficial, as mushrooms are great decomposers in the food chain.After the break, the guys discuss growing potatoes and ways to ensure you get the most out of your spuds. For example, if your potatoes are flowering, don't panic! Let them hang

00:23:01

Gardening in the rain

Teaming With Microbes ·

2024/08/16

Record rainfall has hit Southcentral Alaska. However, as the guys discuss this week, gardens can still thrive despite the wet conditions.The team acknowledges that Alaskans are experts at gardening in wet soil. Jonathan points out that raised beds are excellent for rainy gardening, while Jeff mentions that containers are also effective. However, the best way to ensure your garden thrives in wet soil is to utilize the soil food web with ample amounts of compost. This approach creates healthy soil

00:21:14

All about hydrangeas

Teaming With Microbes ·

2024/08/09

This week, the guys discuss the fascinating world of hydrangeas. Jeff mentions that these vibrant flowers are the top-selling plant in garden centers across the U.S. because they are both gorgeous and easy to maintain. He notes that their popularity is due to their colorful appearance as well as their resilience and adaptability. Jonathan adds that hydrangeas thrive in warm soil and temperatures, making them an excellent choice for various climates. He also points out an interesting fact for

00:23:52

Into the meadowverse

Teaming With Microbes ·

2024/08/02

This week, Jeff and Jonathan talk about all things lawns! But first, Jeff shares his thoughts on the benefits of going digital, including his weekly column at ADN.Next, they dive into lawn care. Jeff advocates for getting creative with mowing, especially with different designs. For example, you can switch things up every mow with new patterns like diagonals, criss-crosses, waves, and even hearts! Jonathan reminds listeners that changing mowing patterns helps avoid creating ruts in the lawn. Also,

00:35:50

Harvest season

Teaming With Microbes ·

2024/07/26

This week, the guys share plenty of tips on getting the most out of your garden, especially on how to harvest your plants and vegetables efficiently. In Alaska, things grow quickly, particularly cole crops like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage.Jeff emphasizes picking vegetables before they flower, while Jonathan suggests using a juicer to make the most of every bit of the garden.After the break, they answer questions about blueberries and cherry trees.Finally, Jeff wraps up by reminding

00:33:53

Edible in Alaska

Teaming With Microbes ·

2024/07/19

The guys are talking about all the rain happening in Southcentral Alaska recently, and Jonathan asks: Is too much rain bad for your garden? It turns out this is a nuanced question. For example, if your outdoor soil food web garden is healthy, rain shouldn't be too big of a deal. Just remember that too much water for indoor plants can be a bad thing.After the break, the team discusses some abundant Alaskan wildflowers that are edible, including fireweed, dandelions, and watermelon berries, to name a

00:26:24

Cottonwood conundrum

Teaming With Microbes ·

2024/07/12

This week, Jeff and Jonathan are dealing with the vast amounts of cottonwood seeds flying around Southcentral Alaska. Jonathan highlights how the seeds trigger allergies, while Jeff shares some science facts. For example, did you know a cottonwood tree can produce 1 to 2 million seeds per year? Additionally, parts of the cottonwood are edible, and it can even be harvested for syrup.After the break, they discuss an invasive plant infesting parts of Alaska: Japanese Knotweed. Although it can be a

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