Full Transcript for 210: Seed & Trellis

about designing a garden for like maybe aesthetics, for example, you don't really think about food. 00:04:44.720 --> 00:04:48.399 Um, but that's so important, especially in regards to sustainability. 00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:50.720 So I'm gonna switch gear, not switch gears. 00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:52.399 This is called sustainability is sexy. 00:04:52.480 --> 00:04:53.680 So this is the whole gear. 00:04:54.000 --> 00:05:01.680 What I would love to know, you know, we'll get more into seed and trellis and what you're doing with the business, but what does sustainability mean to you? 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:03.759 You know, it's such a loaded word. 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:10.639 I mean, my first like gut reaction to sustainability is, you know, I'm a I'm a mom of two. 00:05:10.879 --> 00:05:41.120 I have a nine and a six-year-old, and making choices that's going to hopefully benefit their future is is kind of how I like to look at sustainability, you know, like meeting our needs as best as you can without being wasteful and just taking a step back to see like what can what else can I do, like to eliminate maybe my plastic waste, or what else can I do to reduce my you know, carbon footprint? 00:05:41.279 --> 00:05:43.839 Like, can I stop buying lettuce at the store? 00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:44.800 Can I grow my own? 00:05:44.959 --> 00:05:48.639 Do I no longer need these plastic containers that then go to recycle? 00:05:48.959 --> 00:06:00.480 So um think little things like that, I think make a huge difference, like taking one thing at a time and looking at it and say, is this the last uh detergent bottle that I'm gonna buy? 00:06:00.639 --> 00:06:02.240 Yes, I'm gonna find an alternative. 00:06:02.319 --> 00:06:07.839 And I think that's what sustainability means to me, like making the change when it's when you're ready for it. 00:06:08.079 --> 00:06:12.319 Yeah, that's absolutely true because that makes the process sustainable as well. 00:06:12.560 --> 00:06:14.160 Yeah, you can do it all at once. 00:06:14.319 --> 00:06:15.519 It's just too overwhelming. 00:06:15.600 --> 00:06:17.600 You can't change everything. 00:06:17.920 --> 00:06:23.199 And so, how does that concept in your definition relate to what you're doing with seed and trellis? 00:06:23.680 --> 00:06:27.199 Yeah, so um I think I touched it on it a little bit. 00:06:27.360 --> 00:06:35.680 Like if you can grow something of your own, you know, that's one less thing that you need to purchase at the grocery store. 00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:43.680 For example, I love to encourage new gardeners to start using, you know, or growing their own herbs. 00:06:43.839 --> 00:06:47.759 Those tend to be the most expensive items that you would purchase at a store. 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:53.279 And then you come home with all the plastic or the other containers, and it's you know, it's expensive. 00:06:53.360 --> 00:06:58.240 So if you can start there, and then the next level up, you know, it's that progression.

00:06:58.399 --> 00:07:01.040 Um, okay, let's take a look at your lettuce intake. 00:07:01.199 --> 00:07:03.920 How much greens are you purchasing from the store? 00:07:04.079 --> 00:07:07.519 Do you have the space and the ability and your climate? 00:07:07.680 --> 00:07:09.519 Can you grow those as well? 00:07:09.680 --> 00:07:15.360 And can you eliminate um, you know, the plastic and so forth from there? 00:07:16.079 --> 00:07:21.360 You have so much more say in what goes into your food. 00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:26.639 Um, you no longer have to worry about is it organic, is it sprayed, um, how old is it? 00:07:26.959 --> 00:07:35.360 It's it's really awesome to just be able to step outside and clip something and come back inside and you're ready for your next meal. 00:07:36.079 --> 00:07:39.120 So let's dive into what you are, what is seed and trellis? 00:07:39.199 --> 00:07:40.720 What are you doing with that business? 00:07:40.800 --> 00:07:46.240 And you know, tell us about what you offer so that I we our listeners can can take advantage of it. 00:07:46.720 --> 00:07:47.040 Sure. 00:07:47.199 --> 00:07:48.560 So I am a garden coach. 00:07:48.720 --> 00:07:52.319 I am um my business name is seed and trellis. 00:07:52.399 --> 00:07:59.920 So the idea was, you know, helping other gardeners um learn to grow from seed to trellis. 00:08:00.160 --> 00:08:03.199 So I offer two main services. 00:08:03.439 --> 00:08:06.079 One is kitchen garden design. 00:08:06.480 --> 00:08:17.439 So no matter what the size of your space is, um, we or I work with you to figure out where your borders, your pathways, your raised beds, and your trellises would go. 00:08:17.519 --> 00:08:21.279 So that's kind of like the nuts and bolts of my kitchen garden design. 00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:30.639 And then with um coaching, you know, like once you get all this stuff built, it's like you have to be consistent, right? 00:08:30.800 --> 00:08:35.519 So you can't just, you know, plant your garden and hope for the best, but you have to, it's a lifestyle change. 00:08:35.759 --> 00:08:37.759 So I support you in that change. 00:08:37.840 --> 00:08:44.159 Just like if you were to adopt um a new workout routine, you would have to be consistent if you want results. 00:08:44.399 --> 00:08:47.519 So being a garden coach is the same kind of concept. 00:08:47.679 --> 00:08:53.919 I just kind of encourage you along the way, give you tips and how to make that situation grow better. 00:08:54.159 --> 00:09:03.440 Um, and then I have support services on my website um with live Zoom calls, or I can even come to your house and we can do uh one-on-one, hands-on if you're local. 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:06.320 That is such a great resource. 00:09:06.480 --> 00:09:24.480 I I feel like, you know, people would so many people would more people, so many more people would garden, you know, or take those those steps, even the smallest steps, to grow their own food or their own herbs, if they just had somebody

guiding them, you know, because it can be daunting, especially for people that have never grown anything before. 00:09:24.639 --> 00:09:26.480 Um, and this is this is so amazing. 00:09:26.559 --> 00:09:28.320 It makes me so happy that you're doing this. 00:09:28.559 --> 00:09:31.600 Yeah, and I think it's like a it's it's a natural need. 00:09:31.840 --> 00:09:35.840 You know, once you get into something new or a new hobby, it's natural to want to learn more. 00:09:36.080 --> 00:09:46.320 And I'm still learning, you know, as somebody who's been gardening for so long, it's this, it's just like this giant uh wormhole of information when you get into gardening. 00:09:46.480 --> 00:09:52.720 But once you understand how the soil works and how it supports your plants, it becomes a lot easier. 00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:57.919 The pest pressure goes down, you're wondering of like, you know, what's eating this? 00:09:58.080 --> 00:09:59.120 How do I grow this? 00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:10.480 Or all those questions kind of start to eliminate once you start looking at the soil and you start learning about the microbiology of the soil and all the insects and beneficial insects that come above the soil. 00:10:10.639 --> 00:10:16.320 So once you kind of, with my coaching, once you kind of learn a little bit more about that, gardening becomes a lot easier. 00:10:16.480 --> 00:10:19.039 You it's it's just a little bit easier to take in. 00:10:19.360 --> 00:10:21.519 Well, then what is your favorite tip for someone? 00:10:21.679 --> 00:10:25.679 Let's say someone who doesn't grow anything right now, maybe has never had a garden. 00:10:25.919 --> 00:10:31.039 Do you have any tips for them on where to start if they want to start growing some food at home, but they just don't know how to begin? 00:10:31.440 --> 00:10:32.240 Absolutely. 00:10:32.480 --> 00:10:33.200 Let's see. 00:10:33.440 --> 00:10:38.960 So I would first figure out what is it that you want to eat? 00:10:39.440 --> 00:10:50.240 Um, what are your favorite things in your day-to-day that you would like to substitute and not have to buy it at the store? 00:10:50.480 --> 00:10:58.720 And I have a little download worksheet on my my website if you need a little help with that, like trying to narrow down what is it that you know would you want to grow? 00:10:58.960 --> 00:11:05.200 And then once you kind of figure that out, you know, then you start looking into okay, what kind of space do I need to grow that? 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:09.440 And then just really focus on your soil. 00:11:09.600 --> 00:11:22.399 Um, and that's where a lot of my education is helpful to a lot of my clients is learning about the soil, what soil to pick, how deep your soil needs to be if you're, you know, using raised beds or planters. 00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:28.000 Some plants only need six inches, whereas some other plants need up to 18 inches for the roots. 00:11:28.159 --> 00:11:37.039 So it's really about the setup, it's really about consistency and um just really growing what you want to eat so there's no waste. 00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:51.279 For anyone that has listened to this podcast before, um, the episode where I actually am interviewed instead of uh am not the interviewer for Santosha, my tip at the end is about herbs because I love that you mentioned that earlier because that is so near and dear to my heart. 00:11:51.440 --> 00:12:01.679 I find that in regards to sustainability, this is all incredibly important, but as a really simple first step, you can eliminate so much waste and plastic by not buying herbs in the store. 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:10.960 It's that I think I feel like that's one of the simplest things because that can be done, you know, in a windowsill or you know, without much space or earth to play with. 00:12:11.039 --> 00:12:13.759 And so I love that you mentioned that as an intro thing too. 00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:15.919 So herbs are such a great place to start. 00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:24.399 Yes, I kind of go with the gardenary way, is like you start with herbs and you graduate to lettuce, and then you graduate to roots, and then you graduate to fruit. 00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:30.480 So that kind of methodical approach, if you're just beginning, yes, herbs is number one. 00:12:37.279 --> 00:12:45.120 The bountiful bag has been upcycling trash into treasure since 2018, giving hard to recycle plastics and excess fabrics a second life. 00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:51.440 They make all kinds of accessories like tote bags, backpacks, duffel bags, fanny packs, laptop cases, and more. 00:12:51.679 --> 00:12:56.159 The Bountiful Bag also donates a portion of their proceeds to a number of national charities. 00:12:56.399 --> 00:13:03.440 Feel good knowing that each bountiful bag is not only helping fight the world's waste crisis, but also giving back to our community. 00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:06.080 Remember, it's not just a bag, it's a choice. 00:13:06.320 --> 00:13:13.919 Check out available stock at www.thebountifulbag.com and follow the bountiful bag on Instagram to stay up to date. 00:13:18.399 --> 00:13:21.840 So I'm gonna ask the question that I ask every guest. 00:13:22.080 --> 00:13:28.320 Do you have a favorite sustainable product or practice that you can share with us that you use in your personal life? 00:13:28.720 --> 00:13:29.519 Oh, yes. 00:13:29.679 --> 00:13:31.360 Um, composting. 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:32.639 Yeah. 00:13:33.840 --> 00:13:36.159 I'm such a compost compost geek. 00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:37.120 I love it. 00:13:37.840 --> 00:13:44.080 So specifically more, I've gotten into this past year and a half Bokashi, which is really cool. 00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:53.679 Let's let's talk about that a little bit because we've talked about composting on the podcast, or other people have talked about composting, but I don't think we've really gotten into Bakashi, and I also am quite passionate about it. 00:13:53.840 --> 00:14:01.200 So can you tell

our listeners what is Bokashi and and how does it relate to composting and why is it such an amazing option? 00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:03.360 Okay, I'll do my best to describe it. 00:14:03.519 --> 00:14:19.200 So bokashi is a way to pre-ferment your food scraps, and I mean all of your food scraps, all of your vegetables, eggs, meat, dairy, all those things that um kind of frustrate you from a composting standpoint. 00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:23.759 You're like, I can't put my meat in, I can only put a certain amount of citrus in. 00:14:23.840 --> 00:14:26.240 It's like it's so wonderful, it's so forgiving. 00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:27.600 You can just throw it all in. 00:14:27.919 --> 00:14:36.480 When you collect your food scraps, you put it in a five-gallon bucket and you sprinkle a pre-inoculated rice bran, where I get from my friend Ron. 00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:39.679 He uh inoculates that bran. 00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:48.240 And so you sprinkle it on your food every couple inches in a five-gallon sealed bucket, making sure that it's an anaerobic process. 00:14:48.559 --> 00:14:55.279 Once that bucket is filled to the top and you can let it sit for two weeks in the dark, like in the garage. 00:14:55.440 --> 00:15:04.080 Um, check on it after that, and then after it smells like pickles, I usually incorporate that into my compost routine. 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:23.519 And it's exactly what you mentioned is what makes it so amazing, especially for introduction to composting, or people that maybe don't have the time or energy to spend on making sure that their compost pile is the right temperature and how much, how acidic with a pH balance, all of those things that go into a successful compost pile is that it's so forgiving, so easy. 00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:29.919 You can put those things in like meat, even bone, dairy, things that you don't normally put into a compost pile. 00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:37.039 And then also the fact that you can leave it for so long versus like, you know, it's anaerobic, so you're not turning it. 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:40.240 It doesn't need that movement, that oxygen to break down. 00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:52.240 So I could have a bucket that sits on my porch as long as I have, you know, every few inches put that bran in, that Bokashi bran, it can sit there for months and be fine before I put it into a compost pile. 00:15:52.480 --> 00:16:08.399 So yeah, it's it's such an amazing thing that, you know, I think composting can be so daunting if it's not something you are used to or something that you don't have space for, or any of those reasons, you know, why people don't get started, that bakashi composting is such such a great resource. 00:16:08.480 --> 00:16:13.759 And I'm gonna shout out the Solana Center for Environmental Innovation right now because they do have a program. 00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:26.240 So if you don't have your own compost setup or pile that you can put those fermented scraps into, they have a program that uses

that same style of composting, but they will they put it on their their compost piles. 00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:32.639 So if it's something that you're interested in and you're in the San Diego area, Solana Center is a great resource for helping out with that. 00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:34.399 They have what's called the food cycle program. 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:35.360 Exactly. 00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:38.720 Yeah, and that's if you have you don't really have a place to put it. 00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:39.120 Yep. 00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:43.200 Um they'll take that bokashi bucket from you and they'll they'll move it in. 00:16:43.360 --> 00:16:51.519 But if you if you have a place where you you can dispose of your bokashi on your property, that's where I come in. 00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:54.639 That's where I do one-on-one consults and kind of teach you how to do it. 00:16:55.120 --> 00:17:00.799 I just strongly believe that I think everybody should try growing something again. 00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:09.200 If you've if you've tried it before and you've struggled or run into pest issues, um, take a look at three things. 00:17:09.440 --> 00:17:14.079 Whether it's your your setup, your timing, or consistency. 00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:19.680 These three things are what will make you a better gardener. 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:22.240 That's such a great way to look at it. 00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:31.200 Because I think so many people have tried and maybe not succeeded, you know, when they've ventured to grow something and they just assume that they don't have a green thumb. 00:17:31.359 --> 00:17:33.759 But just like everything else, everyone can learn. 00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:39.200 And a lot of these tips are from um where I got my certification from. 00:17:39.359 --> 00:17:42.240 So I just want to put a quick shout out to Gardenery. 00:17:42.400 --> 00:17:52.319 If you guys need a community that is focused on gardening to support you, I am a garden coach with them, and it's called Gardenery 365. 00:17:53.200 --> 00:17:53.680 Awesome. 00:17:53.839 --> 00:18:02.400 We'll post a link for that in um the information from this podcast episode so that people can link directly to that for sure, as well as all of your information, of course. 00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:06.480 So just I want to give a massive thank you to you, Stacy, for being here today. 00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:16.160 I learned so much in this short amount of time and cannot wait to continue to connect with you and and just learn more about gardening and make my growing better. 00:18:16.559 --> 00:18:17.039 Awesome. 00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:18.000 You can do it. 00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:19.200 Thank you. 00:18:19.599 --> 00:18:27.039 You can find more information on Instagram at seed and trellis and online at www.seedandrellis.com. 00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:32.240 As always, all of the resources and brands that are mentioned on today's podcast will be linked for your reference. 00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:37.039 And until next time, I'm Liz Murphy sending you sustainability love from San Diego. 00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:53.680 Sustainability as Sexy is a nonprofit organization located in San Diego, California, focused on inspiring and driving innovation within our community to create real change. 00:18:53.920 --> 00:18:58.799 Learn more at sustainability issexy.org and find out how you can be involved.