Two friends, one passion for gardening. Welcome to Fostering Blooms — where the beauty of the garden is designed for life. Join Shannon Foster-Boline and Caitly...
Anne of All Trades on Lazy Gardening, Soil Health & Composting Hacks - Episode 16
Soil is the foundation of every thriving garden, but what if we told you it could also be the key to effortless, abundant growth? In this episode of Fostering Blooms, we sit down with the legendary Anne Briggs, also known as Anne of All Trades, to talk about all things lazy gardening, soil health, and sustainable homesteading. Anne shares her science-backed, no-fuss approach to gardening, revealing how anyone—whether on acres of farmland or a tiny apartment balcony—can create a thriving ecosystem that works for you, not against you. She walks us through the biggest mistakes new gardeners make, debunks common soil myths, and shares her game-changing composting secrets (including how to make rich, fertile soil in just 18 days!). But that’s not all—we also dive into: ✅ Why soil is the real secret to a low-maintenance garden ✅ How to mimic nature for an effortless growing system ✅ The truth about crop rotation & why you might not need it ✅ Why "waiting for the perfect homestead" is a mistake—start where you are! ✅ How Anne turned hard-packed Tennessee clay into fertile, thriving soil And of course, there's plenty of laughs, tangents, and even some unexpected goat sounds along the way. Whether you're a first-time gardener or a seasoned grower looking to do more with less, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss! 🎧 Tune in now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen!
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The Rundown: How to Grow & Care for Catmint & Hardy Geraniums (And Why They’re Garden Superstars!) - Episode 15
Welcome back to Fostering Blooms, the podcast where we dig deep into gardening and all the ways it can enrich your home and life. In this episode, Shannon is flying solo to share the unsung heroes of a well-designed garden—catmint and hardy geraniums. These powerhouse plants may not always steal the show, but they are the quiet backbone of stunning, effortless garden design. 🌸 From creating lush, romantic borders to attracting pollinators and thriving on almost zero maintenance (hello, lazy gardener dream plants!), these perennials deserve a spot in your garden. Shannon shares: 🌿 How she planted 50+ catmint plants to create a breathtaking garden moment 🌿 Why catmint and hardy geraniums are must-haves for structure, movement, and long-lasting color 🌿 The Hampton Hack pruning trick that guarantees a second flush of blooms 🌿 The best varieties to plant (including her new UK-inspired obsession) 🌿 How to pair these garden staples with other perennials for an effortlessly layered look If you want plants that do the hard work for you while looking gorgeous from spring through fall, this episode is for you. ✨ Connect with us: 🌿 Follow along on Instagram @FosteringBlooms for behind-the-scenes garden updates. 📩 Got a question? Email us at [email protected]—we’d love to hear from you! Love the show? Leave us a review—it helps fellow garden lovers find us! Until next time… let’s go grow, baby! 🌱🎙
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Soil Blocking 101: The Secret to Stronger, Healthier Seedlings - Episode 14
Soil Blocking 101: The Secret to Stronger, Healthier Seedlings! 🌱 In this episode of Fostering Blooms, Shannon Foster-Boline & Caitlyn Blum dive into soil blocking—a game-changing method for starting seeds without plastic trays! 🌍✨ 💡 What You’ll Learn: ✔️ The benefits of soil blocking (stronger roots, less transplant shock!) ✔️ The exact soil mix recipe for perfect blocks ✔️ The best tools for beginners (& where to get them!) ✔️ Seeding, watering, & maintenance hacks to get the best germination rates ✔️ Common mistakes & how to avoid them Whether you're a first-time seed starter or a seasoned gardener, this episode will help you grow stronger seedlings with less waste and more success! 🌸 📢 Resources & Tools Mentioned: 🛒 Soil Blocker → Swift Blocker 🛒 Cocoa Coir → Coco Coir Blocks 🛒 Widger → Johnnys Seeds Widger 💬 Got gardening questions? We love hearing from you! Email us at [email protected] or DM us on Instagram @FosteringBlooms ⭐ Love this episode? Don’t forget to follow & leave a review to help us grow!
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Garden Ready: March Into Spring - Your Essential To-Do List - Episode 13
March is here, and so is your official garden prep checklist! 🌱 In this episode, Shannon and Caitlyn are marching (literally) into spring with a jam-packed to-do list to get your garden thriving. From chitting potatoes (aka prepping them to sprout) to sowing tomatoes, peppers, and flowers, they’re covering everything you need to do right now to stay ahead of the season. But they’re not stopping there — they’re also sharing smart bed prep strategies (hello, cardboard hoarding) and talking about their own garden experiments so you can learn what works (and what flops) without doing all the trial and error yourself. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned gardener, this episode is full of practical tips, a lot of laughs, and the friendly encouragement you need to make March your most productive garden month yet. Plus, get a sneak peek of their upcoming guest, Anne of All Trades (@anneofalltrades), and the game-changing composting method they’re testing this month. If you’re ready to kick winter to the curb and get growing, this episode is for you. Highlights: 🌱 The truth about chitting potatoes (and why you’re probably already doing it). 🌱 What you can sow and transplant this month (spoiler: a lot). 🌱 Clever bed prep hacks (your Amazon boxes finally have a purpose). 🌱 Why direct sowing is about to become your new favorite task. 🌱 Our favorite pepper varieties (and why bell peppers are kinda boring). 🌱 Hardening off 101 (because your baby plants deserve a soft launch into the real world). 🌱 Garden experiments we’re running — so you don’t have to. Let’s go grow, baby! 🌸
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The Best Gardening Tools for Beginners & Experts (What You Actually Need!) - Episode 12
Must-Have Gardening Tools: Game Changers for Every Gardener! In this episode of Fostering Blooms, Shannon Foster-Boline & Caitlyn Blum break down the absolute best gardening tools that will make your garden life easier, faster, and more enjoyable. We cover everything from the historical Sussex trug 🏡 to the life-changing Japanese sickle, plus essential tools for weeding, planting, pruning, and seed-starting. 🌱 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✔️ The one tool every gardener wishes they had known about sooner ✔️ Why the Hori Hori knife is like a samurai sword for gardening 🗡️ ✔️ The best weeding tools to save your back & time ⏳ ✔️ How to use a stirrup hoe like a pro ✔️ Why a high-quality watering can is worth the investment 📌 Time Stamps: 00:00 - Welcome to Fostering Blooms! 00:09 - Introduction: Gardening Tools That Matter 02:12 - Show and Tell: Our Favorite Gardening Tools 04:29 - The Life-Changing Japanese Sickle 06:54 - The Stirrup Hoe: Weed Like a Pro 09:08 - The Widger: The Secret Seed-Starting Tool 10:43 - The Hori Hori: Your All-Purpose Garden Knife 12:36 - Watering Cans, Tarps & Other Hidden Essentials 16:21 - Final Thoughts & Our #1 Tool Picks 📢 Resources & Products Mentioned: 🛒 Shop Our Favorite Gardening Tools: Widger Stirrup Hoe Hori Hori Knife Japanese Sickle Sussex Trug Felco Pruners Haws Watering Cans Snips Tarps 👉 Love this episode? Don't forget to subscribe & leave a review! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 📺 Watch the video version on YouTube: Fostering Blooms Channel
Two friends, one passion for gardening. Welcome to Fostering Blooms — where the beauty of the garden is designed for life. Join Shannon Foster-Boline and Caitlyn Blum, two friends and neighbors, as they cultivate stunning gardens and bring the richness of nature into their homes. From growing lush English-style borders to designing pastoral homesteads, they’ll guide you through every bloom, bounty, and blunder along the way.
Alongside garden projects, they’ll dive into garden design, cooking with homegrown vegetables, and creating floral arrangements with the flowers they grow. It’s not just about cultivating beautiful spaces — it’s about using the garden to nourish the home, table, and soul. Don't miss our recurring "Garden Ready" series — monthly episodes packed with essential tasks to keep your garden thriving through every season. Whether it’s pruning in winter or harvesting in fall, you'll know exactly what to focus on each month.
With a love for flowers, vegetables, and self-sufficiency, Shannon and Cait share heartwarming stories, practical tips, and creative inspiration for turning garden dreams into reality. Whether you're planting your first seed, growing a garden to sustain your family, or crafting floral designs that bring nature indoors, Fostering Blooms will leave you inspired to grow more than just plants — but a home, a community, and a life connected to nature.
Tune in for gardening advice, seasonal inspiration, and a whole lot of heart from two women with dirty hands and big dreams.
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