Who am I and what's this blog all about?

Welcome!

My name is Theresa Loe and I am the Co-Executive Producer for a gardening show on PBS, author and  freelance garden/culinary writer living in USDA Zone 10 (Sunset Zone 24) California with my husband, two young boys, and a few backyard chickens. I write cookbooks, garden books/calendars and I write for various newspapers and magazines.

I specialize in organic edible gardens (herbs, veggies, flowers), gardening with children, preserving the harvest and entertaining from the garden.

I raise chickens, grow my own food, compost, grow organically and I am a certified Master Food Preserver. I studied both horticulture and professional culinary arts. So, I not only grow the food, I can cook it up in fun new ways for my family or preserve it for the pantry. I regularly make pickles, vinegars, butters, jam, jellies, bread (with and without a bread machine) and herbal soap!

Although I grew up in Los Angeles, I have done everything from raising silk worms, making cheese, curing olives to churning butter and making homemade wine. I may live in the city, but I have been an "Urban Homesteader" my entire life! This is not some passing fad for me...This is how I live my life everyday. I incorporate the garden into everything I do!

This blog is a means of exploring all that the garden has to offer! But what is that exactly?

I believe that a garden is more than just "fun". It also nourishes the soul, inspires creativity and calms frazzled nerves. Don't you agree?

I also believe that gardening does not stop when we come inside and shut the door. We should bring the garden inside our homes so that we can enjoy the benefits all day long! Fragrant herbs, beautiful flowers and flavorful produce are just a few of the ways to enjoy the garden inside the home, with family and friends.

I don't have all the answers, but want to explore all the gardening possibilities here...in this blog! And I would love to hear your ideas on the subject too!

So what's in it for you?

I usually post every week on the following topics:

The latest dirt: What is the buzz in the gardening and garden writing world. Links to interesting stuff.

Hot new garden ideas: My job requires that I go to many garden shows, botanical gardens and interview interesting gardeners. I like to share my new discoveries here.

Featured plants: Profiles of fun/unusual plants that you may not have grown before.

Cool tools for garden or kitchen: No, these are not paid posts -- Just featured items that I love and want to share.

Recipes: Fun recipes using fresh-from-the-garden ingredients. Delicious, quick and simple is my motto! Let the fresh flavors shine through!

Organic gardening tips/ideas/new methods: Anything I am trying in my own garden (successes and failures) or interesting techniques that I am reading about will be posted here.

I hope you stop by again!  We have so much to talk about!

You can read my full bio here.

You can tour my garden here!

You can follow me on Twitter Here.

Thanks for stopping by!

-Theresa

CONTACT INFO: You can email me at nothyme AT aol DOT com

Comments

[Helen]

free tools!!!! yippee

[Helen]

Michelle's Garden is beautiful!!!

[Margaret Shelton]

Do you have a facebook page?

[Salome Espana]

Hi Theresa, I so enjoyed the episode which featured your home garden. Thank you for all of the great information you provided. I've got two questions for you: (1) I noticed the "Compost Tumbler" in an area within your yard. I've been interested in purchasing this brand, can you tell me how satisfied you are with this particular product? And (2) I'm interested in the chicken coop construct, can you provide me with the plans so that I might be able to build one for my yard? -- Or perhaps they're already somewhere on the website?
Very proud of your work on the show, and in your garden. Thanks again.

[Theresa Loe/LivingHomegrown]

Hi Solome,

So glad you enjoyed the episode! I have two compost tumblers in my garden and both were shown in the episode. One is a small black one and it is good, but too small for me. I fill it in one day of gardening and then I have to wait for it to finish before filling again.

That is why I bought the big giant, two compartment tumbler. I love it! It works great. I fill one side and while it is "cooking", I start filling the other side. I could not be happier with it.

As for the coop: I did not build it. I bought it from Green Chicken Coops.
http://www.greenchickencoop.com/

And then I added the green roof myself. You can visit their website and see all the different models they have available.

I hope that helps! Thanks for watching GGW and for stopping by here!

~Theresa