Humans Growing Stuff

As the summer begins to wind down, we’re thinking about our favorite way to keep and preserve the garden’s bounty: pickling! From fermentation methods that help your gut to Kool-Aid Pickle recipes, we’re sharing some of our favorite facts about pickling and pickles themselves. It may even inspire you to try a peanut butter and pickle sandwich in the process. For information on how to get your own garden growing this summer, check out the Miracle-Gro Website. Your friends at Miracle-Gro are collaboration partners with iHeart Radio for "Humans Growing Stuff." Follow Humans Growing Stuff on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve seen a lot of extreme weather this summer, from high winds and flooding to record breaking heat and drought. In this bonus episode, Mangesh is giving you tips for protecting your plants and garden through the various types of weather phenomena you may experience wherever you live. For information on how to get your own garden growing this summer, check out the Miracle-Gro Website. Your friends at Miracle-Gro are collaboration partners with iHeart Radio for "Humans Growing Stuff." Follow Humans Growing Stuff on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re taking a summer field trip to Governors Island in New York City for this special bonus episode. We learn about the green ways the island is keeping the invasive plant species in check (with sheep!) and discover the incredible lavender fields growing different species of lavender. For information on how to get your own garden growing this summer, check out the Miracle-Gro Website. Your friends at Miracle-Gro are collaboration partners with iHeart Radio for "Humans Growing Stuff." Follow Humans Growing Stuff on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re using this summer as an opportunity to dig into composting. We’ve heard a lot about this soil-enriching organic matter over the past two seasons, but there’s still a lot to learn about the science of compost and how you can actually get started in your own backyard. In this bonus episode, Mango gets insights from compost experts Cary Oshins and Tera Lewandowski. Cary is the Associate Director of the US Composting Council and Tera is a Senior Scientist at The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company. For more helpful tips on composting, check out BonniePlants.com. Your friends at Miracle-Gro are collaboration partners with iHeart Radio for "Humans Growing Stuff."Follow Humans Growing Stuff on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this summer bonus episode, we’re celebrating Pride and speaking with Jayne Henson, founder of TransGenerational Farm in New York. Our host Mangesh Hattikudur learns about Jayne’s journey to starting her own farm and how she has made it her mission to create a safe space for the LGBTQ community in agriculture and grow produce through “responsible regenerative practices.” You can follow TransGenerational Farm on Instagram @transgenerationalfarm for more updates. For more information on gardening and plant care, check out the Miracle-Gro Website. Your friends at Miracle-Gro are collaboration partners with iHeart Radio for "Humans Growing Stuff." Follow Humans Growing Stuff on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From micro toms (the world’s smallest tomato plant) to miniature orchids, tiny gardens and miniature plants are right up there on the trend list with tiny homes. LA Times predicts that mini plants and tiny trees will be one of the biggest gardening trends of 2021. And this isn’t surprising, because the internet loves miniatures. Join Mangesh as he learns about why we love tiny plants so much from the person who wrote the book on them, Leslie F. Halleck (Certified Pro Horticulturist and author of the book “Tiny Plants”). Mangesh also discovers the connection between tiny houses and tiny plants with brothers, Jesse and Ethan Waldman. And we catch up with comedian Anjelah Johnson-Reyes and learn about her own growing obsession and her thoughts on these adorable mini plants and their hilarious names. For more helpful tips on gardening, check out the Miracle-Gro Website and learn about How to Care for Air Plants. Your friends at Miracle-Gro are collaboration partners with iHeart Radio for "Humans Growing Stuff." Follow Humans Growing Stuff on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.You can follow The Tiny Chef on Instagram and find all of the videos referenced in this episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who says gardening and tending to the flowers is a gendered activity? From house plants to flowers, the plant daddies and Miracle-Bros are infusing their personality into growing culture and redefining what masculinity means. In this episode, Mango reconnects with friend of the pod Michael “Mr. Plant Geek” Perry as they talk about living your truth among the plants. New York drag queen Missleidy The Plant Lady stops by and reads men based on their plant preferences. We’ll also hear from men across the country about their own views on plant care and masculinity. For more helpful tips on gardening, check out the Miracle-Gro Website and learn about Orchids with Floral Designer Carlos Franco or discover Vertical Gardening with Gardenier Jim Cunneen. Your friends at Miracle-Gro are collaboration partners with iHeart Radio for "Humans Growing Stuff."Follow Humans Growing Stuff on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Early spring is an important time of year; it’s when we begin to slowly shake off the chill of winter and see our first few signs of early green life. But how can we be absolutely sure when it's safe to start planting for Spring? Is there an official start date that all growers know about? And after a long and cold winter, where do we even start? Our friend Jade, The Black Plant Chick (host of "Black Plant Chick Pod"), returns to share the top plant care habits to adopt this spring. Mangesh explores the folklore and myth around spring weather patterns and talks to Erin Schanen (creator of "The Impatient Gardener" blog and YouTube channel) about how we can get our gardens ready now at the end of winter to prepare for spring.For more helpful tips on getting started this spring, check out the Miracle-Gro Website and find helpful resources around the best time to plant spring bulbs and even how to grow giant pumpkins. Your friends at Miracle-Gro are collaboration partners with iHeart Radio for "Humans Growing Stuff." Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever come in from the yard after planting and pruning actually felt sore? It’s as if you went to a high intensity workout class, but you were actually just turning the compost. You’re not alone! Gardening does a body good. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, gardening qualifies as actual exercise and just 30-45 mins tending to the plants in your backyard can burn up to 300 calories. Gardening can be the gateway to fitness and in this episode, host Mangesh Hattikudur chats with fitness and travel journalist Annie Daly about her reporting on gardening as a workout. Mango also does some stretching with author and founder of Yoga on the Lane Naomi Annand as they discuss the connection between yoga and gardening. For more helpful tips on growing and gardening, check out the Miracle-Gro Website and learn from articles like, How to Plant Almost Anything. Your friends at Miracle-Gro are collaboration partners with iHeart Radio for "Humans Growing Stuff." Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the age of free two-day shipping and groceries on demand, it may still be shocking to know that many low-income residents of cities still suffer from a scarcity of affordable or quality fresh food. These are food deserts, and they still exist in thralling metropolises like New York City and Atlanta. Host Mangesh Hattikudur speaks to growers and organizations who are growing for good. These are community members and outsiders who introduce sustainable gardening solutions to help communities gain access to fresh produce and healthy foods. In this episode, Mango checks in with Kamal Bell, founder of Sankofa Farms, and Gary Oppenheimer, founder of AmpleHarvest.Org, and learns about what they've been doing to combat food apartheid.For more information, check out the Miracle-Gro Website and learn about initiatives like GroMoreGood. Your friends at Miracle-Gro are collaboration partners with iHeart Radio for "Humans Growing Stuff." Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know that planting seeds can help the youngest members of your family develop their fine motor skills? Gardening also unites the family behind a shared purpose, to see something grow. With the help of our special guest Shelly Casto form Highland Youth Garden in Columbus, Ohio, host Mangesh Hattikudur discovers the lessons and skills parents and kids can learn together by turning gardening into a family hobby. Mango also sends out his kiddos and his producer Molly on special assignment to talk to a few kid gardeners about why they love getting their hands in the dirt and growing some plants.For more helpful tips on growing and rooting in the garden as a family, check out the Miracle-Gro Website and learn from stories like, Gardening with Children. Your friends at Miracle-Gro are collaboration partners with iHeart Radio for "Humans Growing Stuff." Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fall is officially upon us which means pumpkins, pumpkin pie, pumpkin spiced lattes and gardening. Host Mangesh Hattikudur talks with friends and experts about how to transition our gardening from summer to fall. What do we bring indoors? What herbs and vegetables can we still plant outdoors? With help from our friends the Black Plant Chick (@BlackPlantChick) and James Beard Award-Winning Chef Vivian Howard (@TheChefAndTheF), we'll explore the answers to these questions and discover best practices and recipes for the excess harvest from our summer planting. For more helpful tips on digging in the dirt this fall, check out the Miracle-Gro Website and find advice like, What to Plant in Fall. Your friends at Miracle-Gro are collaboration partners with iHeart Radio for "Humans Growing Stuff." Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.