In the Garden with Flower Hill Farm

Welcome back to In the Garden with Flower Hill Farm, where we dig into the beauty, rhythms, and practical magic of growing a garden you love. Join Nicole from Flower Hill Farm for thoughtful conversations, seasonal inspiration, and real-world gardening wisdom. Powered by Botanical Interests, your trusted source for high-quality seeds and gardening know-how.Whether you are planning your next harvest or looking for ways to make your garden work harder for your family, this show is your invitation to grow with intention.

In this episode, Nicole is joined by Brandy Hall, founder and CEO of Shades of Green Permaculture, an Atlanta-based regenerative landscape design, build, and education company. Brandy’s work helps clients transform their conventional landscapes into thriving, sustainable, and biodiverse ecosystems, empowering them to become active participants in the regeneration of their land. 

The conversation centers on permaculture principles and actionable steps to create a landscape that works within your own context, whether a small urban garden or large acreage. Brandy discusses intentional plant communities, soil-building strategies, food forests, and regenerative water systems, all aspects of design that integrate the land, resources, and the people who care for it, with minimal waste. 

You will hear Brandy’s experience of growing up as the child of conventional farmers and of the impact of standard agricultural practices on her family, which led to her passion for ethical landscape design science. Brandy also shares some of her favorite plants for difficult landscapes, and how permaculture can be adapted for anyone, whether their goal is to feed their family, provide pollinator habitat, restore biodiversity, or create beauty in a small landscape. 

You will also hear about Brandy’s new book “The Complete Guide to Home Permaculture: How to Transform Your Yard Into a Thriving and Productive Ecosystem” and the educational resources she offers on her website, including free resources to get you started to full permaculture design courses. 

If you're curious about moving beyond conventional landscaping to create a vibrant ecosystem that restores soil, reduces waste, and reconnects you to your corner of the Earth, this is the episode for you. 

🎧 Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and follow along on YouTube for behind-the-scenes clips, garden tours, and exclusive episodes.

🌼 Follow Our GuestsBrandy Hall: Shades of Green PermacultureWebsite:https://shadesofgreenpermaculture.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjdAxCFV-vBUlCxpfD1eQ2A

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shadesofgreenpermaculture/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shades_of_green_permaculture/?hl=en

🌱 Special Offer for Listeners:Get 5% off all online purchases at BotanicalInterests.com with code INTHEGARDEN

🌸 Seeds Mentioned:

Crimson clover: https://www.botanicalinterests.com/products/crimson-clover-cover-crop-seeds

Echinacea: https://www.botanicalinterests.com/products/purple-coneflower-echinacea-seeds

Black-eyed Susan: https://www.botanicalinterests.com/products/black-eyed-susan-seeds

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to In the Garden with Flower Hill Farm, where we dig into the beauty, rhythms, and practical magic of growing a garden you love. Join Nicole from Flower Hill Farm for thoughtful conversations, seasonal inspiration, and real-world gardening wisdom. Powered by Botanical Interests, your trusted source for high-quality seeds and gardening know-how.

Whether you are dreaming big for the coming season or feeling called to grow something new, this show is your invitation to slow down, listen closely, and grow with intention.

In this episode, Nicole is joined by Steve Kaufer of Sunflower Steve Seed Co. for a heartfelt and inspiring conversation all about sunflowers. Together, Nicole and Steve talk about what it means to grow on a larger scale, how curiosity can shape a career, and why following your heart sometimes starts with a single plant.

Steve shares the story of the sunflower that changed the course of his life and how that moment led him into breeding sunflowers, a practice he has been dedicated to for over 17 years. With more than two decades of experience as a cut flower grower specializing in wholesale production, Steve brings a deep well of knowledge about large-scale growing, plant selection, and the patience required to steward new varieties into the world.
The conversation also explores Steve’s work with native prairie flowers, the evolution of his seed company now in its fourth year, and the passion that fuels his focus on sunflowers and natives. Along the way, Steve reflects on balancing farming, family life as a father of four daughters, and his other lifelong passion: falconry. At its core, this episode is about leading with curiosity, trusting your instincts, and allowing plants to guide you toward unexpected paths.

If you love sunflowers, dream of growing bigger, or need a reminder to follow what lights you up, this episode will leave you inspired to look toward the sun and see where it leads.

🎧 Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and follow along on YouTube for behind-the-scenes clips, garden tours, and exclusive episodes.

🌼 Follow Our Guest
Steve Kaufer, Flower grower, breeder and Seed Producer
Website: https://www.sunflowersteveseedco.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sun_flower_steve/

🌱 Special Offer for Listeners:
Get 5% off all online purchases at BotanicalInterests.com with code INTHEGARDEN

🌸 Seeds Mentioned:
Sunflower Collection Page: https://bit.ly/4sva717
Lemon Queen: https://growepic.co/3LBVQzd
Heirloom Beauties: https://growepic.co/4q5X30J
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to In the Garden with Flower Hill Farm, where we dig into the beauty, rhythms, and practical magic of growing a garden you love. Join Nicole from Flower Hill Farm for thoughtful conversations, seasonal inspiration, and real-world gardening wisdom. Powered by Botanical Interests, your trusted source for high-quality seeds and gardening know-how.Whether you are planning your next harvest or looking for ways to make your garden work harder for your family, this show is your invitation to grow with intention.

In this episode, Nicole is joined by Jordyn and Kay Clark, a Washington-state, mother and daughter-in-law duo behind Portage View Farm. Living on a multi-generational family compound, Jordyn and Kay grow and raise much of their own food while helping others become more self-sufficient. Together, they feed a big, bustling family of 13 and share what it really looks like to preserve the harvest in real life.

The conversation centers on food preservation and how to decide what belongs in your garden. Jordyn and Kay’s advice is refreshingly simple: grow what you eat. They talk through the foods their family loves most, including green beans, applesauce, broth, peaches, pears, beets, jams and jellies, tomatoes, and more, and how eating seasonally guides what they preserve each year. Nicole, Jordyn, and Kay also dig into the differences between steam canners and traditional water bath canners, why steam canners can save water, and why new canners should keep processing times approachable.

Safety is a big focus in this episode. The group discusses why following trusted recipes matters, when pressure canning is required for low-acid foods, and how confidence comes from doing things the right way. Jordyn and Kay also share how they use freeze drying for herbs, eggs, leftovers, and even homemade dog treats, plus the books and resources they recommend for anyone wanting to learn more.

You will also hear about Jordyn and Kay’s courses and how to continue learning from them online. And if you want to meet them in person, Nicole, Jordyn, and Kay will all be at the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival this February in Seattle, happening February 18–22 at the Seattle Convention Center. Tickets and full event details are available through the festival’s official website.

If you are curious about preserving food, feeding your family from your garden, and building a more resilient, intentional lifestyle, this episode is full of practical wisdom and encouragement.

🎧 Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and follow along on YouTube for behind-the-scenes clips, garden tours, and exclusive episodes.

🌼 Follow Our GuestsJordyn & Kay Clark, Portage View FarmYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRqkIiajZtHDSDwRmd9FRhwInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/portageviewfarm/

🌱 Special Offer for Listeners:Get 5% off all online purchases at BotanicalInterests.com with code INTHEGARDEN

🌸 Seeds Mentioned:

Sugar Snap peas: https://growepic.co/3N2KbtJ

Blue Lake 274 Bush Bean Seeds: https://growepic.co/4so86E4

French Filet Bush Bean Seeds: https://growepic.co/4qAHcqT

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to In the Garden with Flower Hill Farm, where we dig into the beauty, rhythms, and practical magic of growing a garden you love. Join Nicole from Flower Hill Farm as she shares thoughtful conversations, seasonal inspiration, and real-world gardening wisdom. Powered by Botanical Interests, your trusted source for high-quality seeds and gardening know-how.

Whether you are planning ahead for summer harvests or simply dreaming about what is next in the garden, this show is your invitation to slow down, observe, and grow with intention.

In this episode, Nicole is joined by Angela Judd, a Mesa, Arizona gardener and educator behind Growing in the Garden. Angela shares simple, practical advice through her blog, YouTube channel, planting guides, and online classes to help people grow food and flowers in hot, dry climates.

Together, Nicole and Angela explore how flowers and vegetables thrive better together and why companion planting is more than just a trend. It is a way to build healthier and more balanced gardens. They talk about the benefits of integrating flowers into vegetable beds, how companion planting supports pollinators and plant health, and what gardeners should be thinking about now as they look ahead to the spring and summer seasons. They also touch on favorite flower varieties for the veggie garden, including lobelia, and how small planting choices can make a big impact.

If you are curious about blending beauty and function in your garden, this episode will leave you inspired to plant with purpose and a little more creativity.

🎧 Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and follow along on YouTube for behind-the-scenes clips, garden tours, and exclusive episodes!

🌼 Follow Our Guest Angela Judd: Founder and Owner of Growing in the Garden

Website: https://growinginthegarden.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GrowingInTheGarden

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/growinginthegarden

Book: https://growinginthegarden.com/how-to-grow-your-own-food-an-illustrated-beginners-guide-to-container-gardening/

🌱 Special Offer for Listeners: Get 5% off all online purchases at BotanicalInterests.com with code INTHEGARDEN

🌸 Seeds Mentioned: Lobelia
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to In the Garden with Flower Hill Farm, where we dig deep into the beauty, challenges, and joy of gardening! Join Nicole from Flower Hill Farm as she shares her passion for plants, flowers, and the stories that grow alongside them. Each episode is packed with inspiration, practical advice, and real talk from one of the most colorful gardens. Powered by Botanical Interests, your trusted source for exceptional seeds and gardening wisdom. Whether you're crafting your first garden plan or dreaming up a full landscape makeover, this show is your reminder to slow down, sketch out your ideas, and reconnect with the joy of growing.

In this episode, Nicole sits down with her friend and mentor, Dr. Allan Armitage, a renowned plantsman, educator, author, and one of the most trusted voices in horticulture, to ask one big question: are we overthinking gardening?

With decades of experience and a refreshingly down-to-earth approach, Dr. Armitage shares why gardening doesn’t need to be complicated to be successful. Drawing from his book The Common Sense Gardener, Nicole and Dr. Armitage talk about making gardening more accessible, less technical, and a whole lot more fun.

Together, they dig into what first-time gardeners should really focus on, the answer may surprise you, how experienced gardeners can simplify their approach, and why confidence matters just as much as know-how. They also touch on cut flower gardening, learning through trial and error, and embracing the joy of growing, even when things don’t go perfectly.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by rules, trends, or expert advice, this episode is a must-listen reminder that gardening should feel intuitive, rewarding, and enjoyable.

🌼 Follow Our Guest Dr. Allan Armitage, Horticulturist, Educator & Author

Shop Dr. Allan’s Books here: https://www.allanarmitage.net/all-titles

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/armitageallan/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allan.armitage.3

YouTube: youtube.com/user/ArmitageVideos/videos?disable_polymer=1

Pinterest: pinterest.com/allanarmitage/

Website: allanarmitage.net

🌱 Special Offer for Listeners: Get 5% off all online purchases at BotanicalInterests.com with code INTHEGARDEN

Shop Seeds Mentioned:

Cat Grass: https://bit.ly/4rKWJpo

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices