Welcome to the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter!

More in-depth information about each episode of the Garden Basics With Farmer Fred podcast. And more garden tips, too!

This inaugural edition of the Garden Basics newsletter will be simple, and to the point. If interest in it grows (hit the subscribe button!), we will be adding more features and information. Tell me what you would like to see here!

Episode 132 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast delves into the question: Will I plant fewer tomato, pepper and squash plants next year? Ha! Your 2021 summer memories of an overloaded garden will fade as soon as the the 2022 garden catalogs start arriving this winter. Just admit it, you gotta grow!

Instead, get some peace of mind now by donating your surplus fruits and vegetables to a food pantry, food closet or food bank near you, giving those in need a real taste treat! We talk with Ample Harvest, about how you can find those charities in your area (hint: it’s a huge list, on their website).

Also, our favorite college horticulture professor (retired) Debbie Flower, drops by to help answer a question from Oregon: “Why are my veggies not growing? They look healthy.” If you have a garden question, a real simple way to submit it is to go to Speakpipe, click the button, and speak! It’s free and easy. Be sure to tell us where you are, because all gardening is local.

And here’s an easy way to preserve your excess tomatoes this month: roast them. No peeling necessary! Here’s the recipe.

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Finally, one of our rescue puppies, Salty, guarding the potting soil.