S2E9 Bring Birds in The Garden, Perennial plants guest Michelle Balz TWVG Radio Show
Replay of The Wisconsin Vegetable Gardener Radio Show from 4-28-18 on 860AM WNOV and W293cx 106.5 FM Milwaukee WI,
listen here during show hours Saturdays 9-10 am CST https://tinyurl.com/zvh5kaz
Topics:Joey and Holly talk about Why and how to bring birds in the garden.And Perennial plants that will feed you Their guest Michelle Balz author of https://www.amazon.com/Composting-New-Generation-Latest-Techniques-ebook/dp/B078T1JGTF
1. Bad bug control
2. Some eat weed seeds
3. Interact with wildlife
4. Flower pollination
5. Stress relief
Provide them habitat, food, water, and they will come
Grosbeak, cardinal, robin, sparrow, chickadee, brown creeper, warbler, wren, blue jay, songbirds, etc
Perennial plants that will work to feed you
Most will take some time, sometimes a few years, to establish – plants or trees.
Asparagus – 1 or 2 year crowns or start from seed – harvest 3 year – last 20 to 50 years
Rhubarb – 3 years – will need to divide – 15 year
Jerusalem artichokes – could be invasive, plant tuber, immediate harvest, some health benefits
Walking Egyptian onions – plant in spring, grow a top set or top bulb, they fall over and replant themselves. Wont get top bulb 1st year so could leave them
Horseradish – root crop – 15 years plus – can be divided from crowns
Berry bushes, fruit trees, strawberries =
Trees 3-7 years til harvest
They talk about:
1. what is the biggest misconception about composting
2. What is the ideal recipe for a compost pile?
3. If your compost pile is smelling what is that telling you
4. Best way to compost without having problems animals or pest in a urban setting
5. People think when composting you need a big pile in the back yard but you can do a method called trench or pit composting can you explain that?
6. Where can we find your book?
The Wisconsin Vegetable Gardener 