Food Garden Life Show: Helping You Harvest More from Your Edible Garden, Vegetable Garden, and Edible Landscaping

In this episode, I chat with Michalina Hunter, founder of Cicada Seeds, about edible perennial crops.
We explore:
Ways to use perennial vegetables in a home-garden setting
Why perennial vegetables are a game-changer for sustainable gardening 
Top crops for home gardeners
Michalina’s top recommendations for home gardeners
And we also take a tangent to discuss an interesting tomato that Michalina introduced, the ‘Venus of Willendorf’ tomato
Whether you’re curious about food forests, edible perennials, or just want to try something new, tune in for practical advice from a seasoned grower.

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 There’s a whole world inside figs. I explore it in my Fig Culture podcast—varieties, recipes, collectors, and the stories behind them.
Join 6,000+ gardeners in The Food Garden Gang and get practical weekly tips to grow more food at home—free. It’s the best way to get started.   [Join the newsletter]

Rising food costs have you looking at your food bill? This is a good year to grow more food at home. And in this episode, I have tips to help you hit the ground running this year.
Find out about simple ways to add edible plants to the landscape, top crops for home gardens, how to grow more food in a small space, and edible hedges.
In this episode, I share some of the ideas from my upcoming series of free online Earth Month gardening talks. These talks have been on my mind for a while—and this year feels like the right time.
The earth month gardening talks are free. Please join me for one or all of them. Find out more about the free Earth Month series.

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 There’s a whole world inside figs. I explore it in my Fig Culture podcast—varieties, recipes, collectors, and the stories behind them.
Join 6,000+ gardeners in The Food Garden Gang and get practical weekly tips to grow more food at home—free. It’s the best way to get started.   [Join the newsletter]

In this episode, I continue my cross-Canada tour to hear about top veggie varieties.
I’m joined by my former co-host, horticulturist, author, and longtime gardening educator Donna Balzer to talk all about her favourite vegetable varieties. 
Donna shares her long-time favourite varieties—the ones she grows year after year—as well as varieties that have recently impressed her. 
Donna and I wrote No Guff Vegetable Gardening together in 2011, and I’m a big fan of her approach to gardening. (If you’re looking for a copy of this Canadian classic, drop by Donna’s website.)
Whether you're planning your garden or interested in hearing about interesting varieties, this conversation will give you ideas for your 2026 garden.

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 There’s a whole world inside figs. I explore it in my Fig Culture podcast—varieties, recipes, collectors, and the stories behind them.
Join 6,000+ gardeners in The Food Garden Gang and get practical weekly tips to grow more food at home—free. It’s the best way to get started.   [Join the newsletter]

This is a preview of a new show from Food Garden Life Media.
Hosted by Steven Biggs, Fig Culture explores the world of growing figs in places where they’re not supposed to thrive.
You’ll hear from fig experts in cold climates about the best varieties, learn how growers protect their trees through winter, meet passionate fig enthusiasts, and discover creative ways to use figs in the kitchen.
In this first episode, we visit Vancouver Island—where figs are fully hardy, but a cool coastal climate makes ripening a challenge. Master fig grower Bob Duncan has trialled hundreds of varieties to find the ones that perform best in his conditions—and he’s found some outstanding picks.
To hear more, search “Fig Culture” in your podcast app and follow the show. Episode 2 is waiting for you.

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 There’s a whole world inside figs. I explore it in my Fig Culture podcast—varieties, recipes, collectors, and the stories behind them.
Join 6,000+ gardeners in The Food Garden Gang and get practical weekly tips to grow more food at home—free. It’s the best way to get started.   [Join the newsletter]

In this episode, I sit down with gardening expert and author Stephanie Rose to explore her new book, The Wild & Free Garden.
Need inspiration for your next gardening task or project? Need to reconnect with nature? Have a listen. Yes, this chat is rooted in gardening. But it’s also a thoughtful look at human nature, current culture, and psychology. 
Stephanie shares a refreshing approach to gardening—one rooted in creativity, sustainability, and community connection. Instead of clicking “buy” for a next-day delivery, she encourages gardeners to tap into the sharing economy, repurpose materials, and collaborate with others to create beautiful, meaningful outdoor spaces. 
This episode is perfect for gardeners, sustainability enthusiasts, and anyone looking to reconnect with nature—and with others—through their outdoor space.

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 There’s a whole world inside figs. I explore it in my Fig Culture podcast—varieties, recipes, collectors, and the stories behind them.
Join 6,000+ gardeners in The Food Garden Gang and get practical weekly tips to grow more food at home—free. It’s the best way to get started.   [Join the newsletter]