So listeners I’m putting this RAW episode out today. NO edits. Nothing, so I hope that’s ok. I will edit it asap, but I thought it was much too valuable not to share
And then here’s today’s RAW right off the mic interview with the amazing visionary Jennifer Ebeling host of the Still Growing Podcast and 6’mamma website!
Jennifer Ebeling Podcast Host and Garden Blogger
Still Growing Podcast
I had such a funny way of starting. I have a little background in radio and tv, tv station inside the high school
classes in tv
mid 80s especially in a small town in Minnesota
public access channel
in the high school
learned how to edit, so key, audio video work. having that experience with pretty decent tech, playback engineer at my local radio station
college
from that experience I really didn’t do much more in broadcasting. when I stayed home to take care of my kids, while I liked blogging, I didn’t have that instant connection to it, I didn’t feel the same passion as I did
he was actually going
voracious reader 30 magazine subscriptions , magazines and books, all kinds of stuff, an article in Better Homes and Garden 50 apps that will make your life easier I went all apple in 2012, iPad, iPhone I loved the integration that if offered when I started to have all these apple products I was going through apps looking for one or two new that might catch my attention at the end of the article
stitcher of course one of the first things I looked up was gardening I started listening, the minute I started listening I knew I could do this I knew I could put together
there are not that many gardening podcasts. Day one I sat down ordered by day 3 I was reaching out to guests
I gotta go,
I was blown away because it really is the equivalent of having your own media company put together a blog or website or anything like that we all have such a tremendous ability people are so generous with their time and their expertise and when you reach out and someone is willing to share all of their information it helps me grow and learn
i have 4 kids and I stay home with them, be involved in traditionally move them into adult would love to get set mourned and meet with people face to face by intervening guests on my show I can still be here
sitting
moment’s notice running someone to a basketball game or orthodontist
operating out of my home now, great medium folks
Still Growing Podcast which is “dedicated to helping you and your garden grow”.
And, on her amazing site where she blogs and has so much incredible information! I’m so jealous it looks so professional!
and on her home page there’s the perfect solution to exactly what I’ve been thinking and it’s not even August but I’m already about burnt out and super frustrated over some things or maybe just feeling totally overwhelmed. And she gave me this big energizing pep talk! You’ve got to check it out.
6 foot mamma
4 kids with the four of them, battle stations. Suburb, maple grove NW suburb …
Tell us a little about yourself.
I am, I’m 6 feet tall, this goes back to my blog. I was just gonna be blogging about raising the kids and cooking and decorating and all the things I love to do. What’s something someone would say about me after meeting me
I know people will say she’s really tall
I taught piano
I have lessons with the 6foot mamma
way back when
lowered the amount for people to get vanity plates to $100
If I have to go to a minivan
kids baby seats so hard to get to
if I have to suffer and get a minivan
that was the name of my blog
it’s the number 6ft mama
still my license plate
name of my website
furious activity in 7 days
what am I gonna cal this gardening show
you can be
i think about gardeners always feel somewhat inadequate
there’s no way we can know everything
about plant physiology
continuous learning process
what to call the show
still growing
pun on the fact that I’m tall
that’s why my blog is called 6 foot
podcaster masterminds
fellow women podcasting all over the world
Sweden
canada – fertility
Virginia – fashion and tech
north Carolina faith
financial karma
As breastfeeding podcast
when I’m speaking with all of them with all the different kind of things
sharing your passion for your particular medium
gardening all these very topic
with the first group
my first mastermind
I was in a paid mastermind
ladies
once we had started to connect after the paid experience was over
created that group
one more mastermind experience
add on to the experience I already had
that’s a group I put together
I love them both
helpful
when you’re putting together any content creation
financial health
by yourself
great if you can get together
once a week
here’s what I’m struggling with or I’m trying
might be having
workflows and processes
that make it run
I know about it
I used to listen to Entrepreneur On Fire when it started
we would listen to that on the way to school
they could imitate them
john does…
after a while
ton of benefit
don’t
I actually grew up in SW Minnesota
north of Iowa border
east of S Dakota
first real gardening experience
we bought our first home. we were 24 years old
basically planted a lot of shrubs and trees
worked with a designer
local
80 foot retaining wall vowed we’d never do again
my parents bought that house
we did a good job
it was well worth the time
researching what plants we were gonna put in
I wanted to be an ornamental gardener
covered in landscape rock
I longed for good soil
being able to plant ornamentals
what I did when
moved up here to lovely Maple Grove
had some neighbor boys who’s parents owned a nursery
brand new development is basically backfill
first garden is probably the nicest garden from a soil standpoint
still to this day to plant in that garden bed
that’s how we got started
first home experience
slowly but surly
most gardeners do
start to have gardens that go all around the house
it’s all to of work
my grandmother in Iowa had a huge gardener
I remember picking strawberries with her
my other grandmother had peonies and standing by those peonies
she wasn’t really gardening
I actually have those peonies
my grandfather in those peonies
dug up and moved heirloom peonies
meaning to our family
standard red
meaningful s
not too spectacular
good drainage
key to so many plants
plant them pretty high
one thing I do
when I transplant
go pretty wide
dig up as much of the root mass
hose
wash off the top of the plant
eyes and crown
DO NOT BURY
don’t bury too deeply
see that crown
just bought
plant this thing high
bury the plant
think about planting trees
you want to see t
hat root flare
top of that plant
where the plant connects to the root
when I’m talking about the eyes of the plant
if you bury them too deeply
they can’t see the sun
they won’t bloom
it can be because you’re
iris
don’t like to
same principle with trees
kind of mound it up
want to be able to see the sun
where the plant mass is meeting the root ball
exposed to see things
leave matter to protect it
Minnesota it gets cold here
all I do
don’t cut peonies until spring
cut old material
leave about 2-3 inches
new peonies
doing clean up
wrenching on that old plant material
new growth
spring doing peony clean up
fine to have some old root matter
better off
then the people who want their garden to be perfect
peonie
don’t divide peonies, never encourage to do that
move
best time to do it when you have a shovel in your hand
probably do it in the fall
things that get in the way
you have all these great intentions
perfect time
when it works for you
make sure you read up about how to plant these things
best result possible
can be made better for you
don’t plant them where the
I have some wet areas
boggy conditions
perfect that’s what I’m planting
queen of the prairie
any type of willow
little more cautious
don’t know much about a plant
good drainage
Tell me about your first gardening experience?
How did you learn how to garden organically?
I attribute so much of what I learned from listening to gardening podcast
tell people at the top of almost every show
that I hope they’re learning from
my favorites
away to garden with Margaret roach
you bet your garden with Mike McGrath
gardening with Angelo
nursery owner operator
pragmatism
awareness of what people are concerned about in the now
thinking and wanting
appreciated about his particular podcast
a lot of gardening podcasts
what I do in my garden
great time to listen
when your
I always assume their in a happy place
their doing laundry
driving
listening
can’t be having a conversation with someone else
mentally taxing
solitary mindless activity
DISHES!
year ago from a woman
see her mom in hospice
I wanted to thank you for having a two hour show and the drive to see my mom
it’s a great distraction that was a reset for me
something happy doesn’t mean your listener is in a happier spot
quality information
giving them a break
life in a tough place
that part continues to stick with me
think about
theres no 2 gardens the same
how you operate
my show has evolved over time
primarily interview
long format
majority of gardening shows are shorter
syndicated NPR
rules around length
independent podcaster
first thought
it has to be longer
Margaret roaches
away to garden
wish you would have asked
started interviewing
thorough conversations
subject matter expert in
longer format show
that part for me is great
for myself
I get that satisfaction
shorter conversation doesn’t give you
my particular gardening show
usually have my kids come in and read some garden poetry
easter egg at the end of the show
quotables
listener community
Facebook group for listeners of the show
ask questions of me
same time only place I go to pick winners
guests are in the group
questions where they’ve asked
speak with the guest
curate the content
listener
garden news roundup
curating good gardening articles
look through 100 sources of horticulture and gardening news online and in print
do this update as part of my show
no need to take notes
track down
curator for the people who are in that group that’s the unique thing
I don’t think
curating
pulling it together in a podcast
hyper focused
news round up
essentially garden news round up
verify is this a true story
that’s what I‘m doing
shows about
solo episodes
basil over the summer
very popular how easy it is to propagate basil
people love basil
here are my little basil cuttings
in that regard my show
written a book
subject matter experts
that’s the show
listener community
mention Jon Moore
Tell us about something that grew well this year.
Right now I’m battling Japanese beetles, July 27th hot topic… baits attract the beetles
try to take care of them
research
consensus
put those baits to try to drive them
detrimental
article your gonna attract 4 times as many
roses
grapes
green beans
willow tree
that’s the thing I’m dealing with
great Amazonia spring
spring flowering shrub experience
joe pie weed
have
huge perennial very tall
about 6 feet tall
huge plumpish seed head
gorgeous in bouquets
think about it like mint
cut plants
native interesting leaves come together
make a little cup
leaves are like a stem comes out of the middle of the leaves
make this cup
any type of rain or water
finches love to drink from this cup pant special meaning to native americans
buy a lot of plants of plants
cut plant is a little like joe pie weed
turn into a crop in no time
diligent
joe pye weed….
native
love really tall one
only need to buy one or two
love lovage
salary family
gets to be about 8 feet tall
students gardeners
stump them sometimes
recognize
that smell s like
celery
out of context out
these are gardeners that are kids in my community that help me in my garden in exchange fro that they learn about gardening
go to work for the local nurseries
planting to harvesting
irrigation they fight the most
fountain repair
wicker furniture
done here
garden
high school have to be able to drive
work in short bursts
having kids help you in the garden
way I do it is different
people what kids
feel like the kids do the great job
a kid
have them weed for hours on end
nobodies gonna do that
kids work together
work
4-6 pair them off in teams of two
work in 15 minute increments
this activity
switch
apple watch is dangling every fifteen minutes
I’m out there with them
coolest things I have them do
every session together
for Th. last ten minutes
go through with their phone
take pics of the garden
the work they did
made or created
bonus they come back
if each have taken 25 to 30 pics
do an airdrop on to my phone
close to 200 pictures
so helpful
I’m not in my garden half of the year
can’t remember
what it looked like in august
not working
maybe I forgot to take a wide shot
perspective of the whole garden
4-6 perspectives you see your garden in a new way
new friend who’s never seen your gardener see your garden in your eyes
in the spring they might come for 10 hours
how much
July
doing it for volunteer hours for church
$100 ten hours of work let’s see what we get done
helps me
limited time to get out there
many hands make light work
flexible
something else
any time your gonna work with kids
their lives are so much more complicated
places to be
many cases they have other jobs to work around
could use a couple of hours
bring your friends
tell me I can pop over at noon
you don’t want to work when it’s cooler we’ll work at noon
not gonna be out there
you can get a lot done
hiring anyone
or an adult
they’re at the same productivity level
after an hour
tired
fatigued doing the same thing over and over again
monotony
same thing
weed in your garden
thrilled to do that
hours and hours on end
small crew
have em come for 2 hours a week
be done with it
weeding is really not my thing
weeding to be relaxing
live and let live kind of gardener
weeds can be in this area
picky
address that
definitely the bulk of their time when their with me
projects
crafts
repairing fontinas
little projects we want to try
painting
more of the things
when I’m working with my student gardeners
not the bulk of the time
when their trying to get kids to help
primarily reason want help with weeds
young people are capable of so much more
drip irrigation
help repair
get online to read about
a pump of
lighting system…
a big dog
my kids help me in the garden
not their job
jobs that they do
never wanted my passion their job
want them
if they’re gonna like it
they have somebody here that we can help
each of my children
we’ve done in the garden together
oldest is my lawnmower
weed wip
daughter is through thoughtful
mile a minute
not emma
harvest and make pesto together
making money
younger two boys
Jonnie is my spring planter
harvest
pj just likes to be among the flowers
carry and do things
interested in any of it
makes me happy
basketball makes him happy
same way I thought about piano
taught piano lessons for 20 years.
never forced my kids to take piano lessons
children
forced to play piano
don’t want to piano
just because I garden and have a garden podcast
they
when your moms’ a garden
she’s
if your mom has a clear passion
express your love for them
of course were gonna buy her a plant or get her a gift certificate
love it if some of them would have a garden
not for everyone
memories
other thing i
they do appreciate where food comes from
wouldn’t maybe have that direct experience
seeing me helping
makes a difference
learning even though they
intending…
producing a podcast
every week
I probably listen to a new show over 20 times
the first couple of times I’m preparing stuff for my editor
second editing process
high quality as possible
who’s sitting beside me
often in the car
of course the kids
whether they want to or not
gardening too
applying it
Is there something you would do different next year or want to try/new?
4
Tell me about something that didn’t work so well this season.
4
Which activity is your least favorite activity to do in the garden.
I don’t like to be uncomfortable in the garden
a vertex garden rocker
to sit on
pivot
get to what I need to
on my ground and hands and knees
when the bugs get bad
mosquitos and pests
are not good flyers
blowing air on you
big umbrella
make myself as comfortable in the garden while I’m working
difference between going out there and
see it a lot too in school yard gardens
expose kids to gardens
fantastic
kids want to be comfortable too
whatever
more pleasurable experience for them
i don’t being sitting on the ground
not gonna want to do it
What is your favorite activity to do in the garden.
sit on my porch and drink a glass
respond to email
read something
enjoy my garden
right in front of my porch
out door living room
shame on any gardener doesn’t any time enjoying it
I’ve done that as well
2009 killed myself
i was in a garden tour
married again receiving line
filing through
wonderful
I had worked so hard to make that garden look as good as I possibly
over done it
I was done it
I don’t want to be out there
I didn’t I look back on 2010 there are very few picture s on t
if we don’t meter our time a little bit
student gardeners have really helped me]
I can not have a marathon
thought subject
have the
function
can’t be in my garden to the point of exhaustion
flying around on the weekends
absolutely no sin in the garden
ashamed to say they’re getting help
hired it to put pond in
silly
we are all busy
finite energy
one body
hurting yourself out there over doing it
losing site of why we garden i
sit on my porch and open my package
sit and be amongst the flowers
scrolling
why not doing it there
bring me joy around me
What is the best gardening advice you have ever received?
I can’t remember who told me this
I thin about it every time I have a plant failure
take a clue it wasn’t happy there
don’t keep replanting it in that space
it might be the space
parents had a regalia that failed
buy a new agile
wanted a regal there
finally I’m like
Mom it’s not growing there it doesn’t like that spot
talking to here
I remember hearing that
ok, thank you mother nature…
A favorite tool that you like to use? If you had to move and could only take one tool with you what would it be.
The dig git is probably still one of my favorite tools, I probably have 8 digits keeping track of my inventory
Love that garden tool! It’s great because it’s powerful
galvanized steel
bent
got this thought that it makes
tip is sharp
cutting weeds
handle is
feels
probably that tools
vortex rocker
available at Loews
cover for it
love that it’s a garden rocker
turtle shell
place where you put the rocker
high heel
pressure on one little point
I
tight spot to garden
seat can be adjusted
swivel
lean forward tip yourself off of that thing
probably do it in front of us
once a summer
fall off of the garden rocker
embarrassing
just is the way it is
I don’t fall off it
I’m never
this is like 5 levels up
from sitting on a bucket
seat is like a tractor shaped
probably 5 of them
by the basketball hoop on the driveway
son who has a lawnmower
create a human who’s kind of mechanic
car or lawnmower
gaden rocker
hes 6-8
love
A favorite recipe you like to cook from the garden?
OMGosh I have a recipe for pesto
I shared in my basil maniac
glory pesto recipe
you want to drop to your knees and thank the lord for basil its so delicious
basic
for me it’s my go to recipe
seat of my pants
in that episode
talk about how I made it with spaghetti or angel hair pasta
fantastic cold
pine nuts
olive oil
sunflower
live near a place
love that olive oil specialty store
wonderful
spoiled like that
using that olive oil
garlic
at the beginning don’t over process it
salt to taste
no butter
another little secret that I learned
basil mania episode
if you add a little lemon juice to your pesto help it maintain color
vibrant green color
when you first create it
not attractive green color
M*A*S*H green
lemon juice in your pesto
doesn’t do much to the flavor
don’t forget were getting into that time of year…
A favorite internet resource?
personally Mike McGrath you bet your garden A-Z
probably my go to
family members or friends about common issues
made it so easy
pragmatic
proven advice
A favorite reading material-book, mag, blog/website etc you can recommend?
Voracious magazine reader online and print
Garden Design Magazine online and print
Not necessarily purely
Better homes and gardens cover to cover
Magnolia
Joanna gains
love that magazine quarterly
photography tips are great
lovely
If you have a business to you have any advice for our listeners about how to sell extra produce or get started in the industry?
none things I can tell you
this sept I’ll be hosting 2 separate master minds for people in the gardening
communicators
bloggers
writers
starting in sept
hosting for horticulture professionals
nursery owner operators
facilitated by me – meet once a week – an element of training built in
other paid
facilitator
so much info and they tell you something that might be a solution
don’t tell you about how to make that happen
especially if we are talking to tech or different resources
something that I’m launching
great resource
so helpful
a game changer if you are a business owner operator group of folks to grow and learn get things done
hold you accountable
advisement
resources
expand your network
benefits
great way where you feel like the support and benefit of like minded people that have your back
start that this fall
two masterminds myself
need to get accomplished
Final question-
if there was one change you would like to see to create a greener world what would it be? For example is there a charity or organization your passionate about or a project you would like to see put into action. What do you feel is the most crucial issue facing our planet in regards to the environment either in your local area or on a national or global scale?
Well, I guess, I keep it really simple, I tell people to try to live in harmony with nature
listen to mother nature
new gardener frustration
all or nothing attitude about something that did or didn’t work in their garden
25ht year of gardening
encourage people to relax a little bit
conjunction with what your garden’s telling you
why it’s happening
show that i did this time last year
robert co
understanding roots
roots of trees grow
far past the canopy
expand your knowledge base
happening the way that they are
work with that fighting it
gibing up
frustrated
people changing behavior
working with mother
Do you have an inspiration tip or quote to help motivate our listeners to reach into that dirt and start their own garden?
every week I do quotable on my show
theres a quotable
coming to mind
do loe
cantaloupe let us
How do we connect with you?
website is 6footmama.com
get there you will be able to
Facebook group
listener community for the show
still growing gardening podcast
itunes
stitcher
overcast are my two favorite apps
player on overcast
easy to use
searching for a show on stitcher
once i find a show
couple of app tips
masterminds
work with me – application process
good fit putting a family together…
working on it right now
investment not cheap
not exorbitant
DEFINITELY TAKE PRICE OUT… gonna be a 3 month group
meet in jan 6 month group
$5-600 3-6months in length
meeting weekly an hour a week
start in sept
