https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com2025-11-07 08:12:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/community-patch/the-seminole-pumpkinThe origins of the Seminole Pumpkin are recorded in 1528 when Panfilo de Narvaez was exploring the gulf area in Southwest Florida. The Indigenous peoples of the Miccosukee, Calusa, and Creek grew it in a region named Chassahowitza which is an area Central Florida. The name they gave to this pumpkin was "pumpkin hanging place" because the area was full of hanging pumpkins. Check where it can grow and how you can prepare it in this episode.2025-10-24 08:09:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/community-patch/fresh-and-blueIf you are looking for a plant that gives you vibrant flowers, amends your soil, it's great in the compost pile, all parts are edible, it's nutritious and is a food dye, then look no further! Butterfly pea flower is a plant native to tropical Asia known for its vibrant blue or purple flowers, which are used for natural food and drink coloring, as an ingredient in herbal teas, and for their potential antioxidant properties. The flowers change color from blue to purple or pink when the pH of a liquid changes, making them popular for creative drinks and cocktails. The plant itself is a vining perennial that is also used in traditional medicine and can improve soil quality as a legume2025-10-10 08:06:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/community-patch/yuca-or-cassava-what-is-this-root-vegetableYuca or Cassava? Watch our video to find out what is the 5th crop in the world and if you are part of the 500 million people eating some form of this root vegetable.2025-01-25 16:03:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/community-patch/homemade-prebiotic-soda-for-less-than-half-the-price-of-commercial-prebiotic-sodaYes! You can have homemade prebiotic soda for less than half the price of commercial prebiotic soda with ingredients from your garden. And the best part? It is delicious! A great drink to help your digestion system. Try our recipe and let us know how you like it.2024-11-16 06:48:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/community-patch/worm-farming-with-laicaworms-copyIndulge guilt-free with our Blue Butterfly Holiday Latte! Made with fresh garden ingredients and our special Blue Butterfly Pea tea blend, it's sinfully delicious and nutritious. Enjoy it all year round!2024-09-20 06:48:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/community-patch/worm-farming-with-laicawormsOne of the best natural fertilizers is worm castings AND it's a superfood for our plants. Geographer and Worm farmer, Ana Maria tells us how to use worm castings in our garden, and the amazing benefits of worm farming.2024-04-11 17:08:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/community-patch/let-s-build-a-medicine-box-in-the-gardenOur Friends Sheila, Solemar and Victor, tell us about their garden and what a medicine box is. This is a must-have in your garden. We tell you about four plants that can can grow in it.2023-12-08 16:35:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/community-patch/4-ways-to-use-your-surplus-of-vegetables-in-the-gardenGrowing your own vegetables is a lot of work. It doesn’t feel right to throw away produce or let them rot in the garden after you have worked so hard for them. In this episode, we tell you what to do with those extra veggies.2023-11-19 16:33:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/community-patch/the-diy-plant-superfood-worm-castings-you-can-make-in-your-garden-with-a-worm-farmWorm castings are a plant superfood. They provide plants with Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, essential nutrients for vegetables. Worm castings also provide other essential minerals like iron, sulfur, zinc, copper, and calcium. Having a worm farm is affordable, and organic. It reduces waste going to landfills and takes up less space than traditional composting.2023-07-15 16:27:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/community-patch/self-watering-hacksThe benefits of self-watering are numerous, but the most important ones are saving water, saving time, and maintaining the health of your plants. Watch this episode to learn what other benefits self-watering hacks can offer.2023-05-28 16:22:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/community-patch/growing-your-own-superfood-microgreensMicrogreens are young seedlings of vegetables and herbs. They are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants up to 40 times higher than more mature leaves. Check out how to grow them and use them in your dishes.2023-04-27 16:17:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/community-patch/best-travel-destination-combo-sustainable-farming-and-volcanic-areaDo you like traveling? Are you interested in seeing a volcanic area? Do you enjoy organic food? Do you want to know about sustainable farming? You can combine all three things when you go to Antigua, Guatemala. A place surrounded by volcanoes. Volcanic ash makes Antigua a lush highland valley. And Caoba Farms is located in this beautiful place. They practice sustainability, have a great restaurant, and are a learning center offering permaculture classes. If you are considering traveling and want to learn about sustainability, Caoba Farms and Antigua, Guatemala are great destinations.2022-12-30 17:47:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/community-patch/new-year-s-resolution-building-a-veggie-gardenIn this episode we give you the reasons why building a vegetable garden is the best New Year's resolution you can make. There are five important key reasons. Discover what they are and start enjoying life in a garden!2022-12-02 15:10:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/community-patch/what-is-roselle-and-why-we-love-itRoselle is best known as "hibiscus tea." In this episode, we harvest our Roselle shrub. Roselle is a type of hibiscus that thrives in places with full sun. The flowers are exquisite but it’s the calyx that is harvested for teas, food, and coloring. And did you know that the young leaves and tender shoots are also edible? They can be eaten raw in salads or cooked as greens either on their own or with other leafy greens. In a previous episode, we showed you how to plant Roselle with cuttings. In this episode, we show you how we planted Roselle seeds and how long it took us to see these beautiful calyces.2022-09-21 22:14:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/community-patch/when-science-meets-our-gardenOur new gardener, Margot Pomeroy, is an environmental scientist and a permaculturist. How can science help your gardening? Are there ways to make gardening easier? Margot shares with us how science and permaculture help us understand the close relationship between our garden and the environment. She shares with us her experience as a gardener.2022-08-27 21:58:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/community-patch/new-patch-in-largo-florida-we-used-grow-bagsMeet our new patch! How we built raised beds in our new community garden without breaking the bank. Check out how we built it and saved some money in the process. Also, Check out what we are growing in this hot weather in Florida.2022-07-07 21:54:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/community-patch/community-garden-patch-homegrown-summer-haulIt's summer and the weather is hot. What veggies love sunbathing? Check out what we are growing that loves the sun.2022-04-29 21:50:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/community-patch/community-garden-patch-growing-turnips-and-lettuce-and-onion-oh-myWe planted a prehistoric vegetable. Could it be turnips? And we also got a leafy veggie grown in ancient Egypt. Could it be lettuce? Join us to see what vegetables our gardeners, the Griffins, pick from our garden.2022-04-01 21:43:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/community-patch/community-garden-patch-our-first-harvestJoin us to see what vegetables our gardeners, the Fogelmans, pick from our garden.2022-01-21 21:39:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/community-patch/garden-mesh-as-a-pest-control-barrierGarden mesh protects plants from pests, especially insects. It is made of thermoplastic, one of the most adaptable materials of our time. Learn more about why we used it in our veggie garden.2022-01-13 00:00:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/community-patch/diaphania-indica-the-cucumber-moth-or-the-cotton-caterpillarIts name is Diaphania Indica. Its favorite plants are cucumber and summer squash. Have you seen it in your garden? Is it a butterfly? Or is it a moth? Share your thoughts in the comments.2022-01-07 00:00:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/community-patch/aphids-the-vampires-of-the-insect-worldIn this vlog we talk about aphids. the sap-feeding insects the size of a pinhead. They attach themselves to the stem of plants to suck the nutrients of a plant. They are the vampires of the plant world. What is the damage that they can do to your veggie garden? Watch the video and share with us how you got rid of aphids.2022-01-05 00:00:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/community-patch/the-hydra-of-weedsIn this vlog, we talk about nutsedge, also known as nutgrass. In ancient times and still, in some places, it is considered a root vegetable. For farmers and landscapers, nutsedge is considered a weed. Join us in the conversation and tell us what you think about nutsedge.2021-12-31 00:00:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/community-patch/keep-as-isOur BVG Vlog 1 is about why we chose to grow vegetables in a community garden. How we chose the place and the pros and cons that we took into consideration when choosing the community garden. Come on in and check out with us our patch.2022-11-03 18:37:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/garden-friends/easy-to-grow-plantsSometimes we spend so much money and time growing veggies that die or get eaten by bugs. What can we grow that is easy and good for us? In this episode, we talk about two kinds of spinach and two weeds that can save us time, hard labor, and money. Check it out!2021-09-11 17:05:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/garden-friends/veggie-garden-tour-one-year-and-three-months-later-explosive-growthIn this episode, Heather and Mirai give us an update on their garden. They also talk to us about summer squash, specifically Zucchini, and how to plant it.2021-08-28 17:01:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/garden-friends/backyard-chicken-garden-symbiosisProducing your own food is proven to be healthier and more economical. This is why people are building their own veggie gardens. Looking for new ways to become self-reliant have some people questioning if they can produce their own eggs and meat by raising chickens. Are there any benefits of having backyard chickens in our vegetable garden? In this episode, we explore the two things you must do before inviting chickens to your backyard. We also present guest gardeners Lara and Caren Hayward who speak to us about the pros and cons of having chickens. As they note, chickens are a great tool in the garden, but they can damage your crop if they are left unsupervised. Find out what strategies must be observed to make chickens a great ally in the building of your veggie garden.2021-08-13 16:57:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/garden-friends/beekeeper-teaches-you-everything-you-need-to-know-about-honeybees-part-2-2We continue our conversation about bees and pollination with our guest Rebecca Conroy. Rebecca is a beekeeper. she invites us to her beehive to explore in-depth the kinds of bees that could visit our garden and all the products we get from bees. This is a must-see episode for bee lovers, as well for those who are not sure how to feel about them.2021-08-07 15:47:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/garden-friends/beekeeper-teaches-you-everything-you-need-to-know-about-honeybees-part-1-2What is pollination? Is it important for our veggie garden? And what do bees have to do with it? Our guest, Rebecca Conroy, beekeeper, tells us the importance of bees. She invites us to explore a beehive. We also explore in depth the roles of pollen, pollination, pollinators and bees, the champions of pollinators. This is a must-see episode for bee lovers, as well for those who are not sure how to feel about them.2021-06-26 17:48:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/garden-friends/carrots-and-butterfly-gardensWhat is a butterfly garden? In this episode, we will visit The Fogelmans' butterfly garden and learn why this type of garden is important for our environment, people, and animals. The Fogelmans are also adding a new plant into their garden and it happens to be a vegetable - carrots. And looking for a healthy and delicious snack? Carrot popsicles are that healthy and delicious bite. We will show you how to make them!2021-06-12 17:40:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/garden-friends/garden-to-plate-growing-yellow-squash-and-making-summer-squash-spaghettiIs yellow squash good for you? In this episode, we answer this question. Yellow squash provides numerous health benefits. The list is so impressive, you will be amazed. It is also a great vegetable to plant because it is easy to grow and your harvest will be abundant. Your family, neighbors, and friends will love you.2021-05-22 17:36:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/garden-friends/st-pete-youth-farm-part-ii-what-does-it-take-tour-a-1-acre-farm-in-the-cityThis is the second episode about urban farming and our visit to St Pete Youth Farm. Let's take a tour of the farm and learn the difference between working in the garden and working in a farm the size of six houses.2021-05-08 17:31:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/garden-friends/st-pete-youth-farm-part-1-farming-food-and-community-in-the-cityUrban farming means growing and producing food in the city. Urban farming is important for three reasons: 1)More and more people are moving to the cities. 2) The number of farmers is decreasing. 3) Healthy and affordable fresh produce is limited and expensive. We visit St Pete Youth Farm and learn how they are approaching urban farming.2021-04-24 17:15:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/garden-friends/garden-to-plate-growing-spinach-in-containers-and-making-spinach-salsaThe Griffins embark in a new adventure, they decide to start a veggie garden. And what do they choose to start growing in their garden? Spinach! A 2000-year vegetable that is one of the most nutritious and powerful vegetables. It helps our eyes, our skin, our hair and help us prevent diseases like cancer. Let's watch and learn more!2021-04-03 17:12:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/garden-friends/garden-to-plate-the-unexpected-nutrition-of-green-onionsOnions are the most grown and eaten vegetable around the world. They have been cultivated for over 2,000 years. They are produced in 175 countries around the world. This episode has all info needed to grow green onions.2021-02-06 17:04:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/garden-friends/garden-to-plate-bananas-these-are-not-your-normal-fruit-treeAre bananas an herb or a fruit? Banana plants have a very interesting history and are easy to grow in your garden or indoors. Bananas are the perfect snack and are full of nutrients. Learn in this episode how to grow this amazing fruit, or is it an herb?2021-01-23 00:00:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/garden-friends/chayoteChayote squash is a perennial vine that is easy to grow. All parts of the plant - root, shoots and fruit - are edible and quite tasty. The health benefits are incredible. This is one plant almost free of any issues and avid to grow. It produces about 100 chayotes per year. This is a must in your veggie garden.2021-01-09 00:00:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/garden-friends/compostingCompost is important in our veggie garden because it is the food for our plants. Using food scraps and yard waste helps us create great compost at no cost. Recycling materials that we throw away create good compost for our veggies and also helps our environment by not sending these materials to landfills.2021-01-01 00:45:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/garden-friends/roselle-or-rosa-de-jamaicaRoselle or Rosa de Jamaica is a hibiscus plant known all over the world for its medicinal purposes and great flavor when it's prepared in beverages and food. Roselle tea, hibiscus tea, or Rosa de Jamaica is a very popular drink in the Caribbean and Latin America.2020-12-25 00:00:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/garden-friends/why-build-a-veggie-gardenIn this episode we talk about the reasons why building a veggie garden is a good idea and where it could be built.2025-09-26 08:16:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/shorts/give-a-shout-to-our-interns2023-04-04 18:37:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/shorts/easy-to-grow-plantsEver wondered what volcanic ash can do for your veggie garden? The minerals will make a big difference.2023-03-11 17:05:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/shorts/veggie-garden-tour-one-year-and-three-months-later-explosive-growthCurtido is a quick pickle cabbage. We learned the recipe on our recent trip to Guatemala. If your veggie garden is giving you more veggies than you can eat, try this Curtido recipe. You'll love it!2023-02-26 17:01:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/shorts/backyard-chicken-garden-symbiosisApazote is the new addition to our garden because it is an anti-flatulent herb!2023-02-14 16:57:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/shorts/beekeeper-teaches-you-everything-you-need-to-know-about-honeybees-part-2-2Happy Valentine's Day! We went to Guatemala to meet an organization making a difference in teaching moms to grow veggies. Coming soon. Do not miss this episode!2022-12-29 15:47:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/shorts/beekeeper-teaches-you-everything-you-need-to-know-about-honeybees-part-1-2In this episode we give you the reasons why building a vegetable garden is the best New Year's resolution you can make. There are five important key reasons. Discover what they are and start enjoying life in a garden!2022-12-28 17:48:00https://www.buildingmyveggiegarden.com/shorts/carrots-and-butterfly-gardensWhat is Roselle and Why We Love it