434 - Too Much to Eat, Not Enough to Can? Small-Batch Ideas for Summer’s Harvest
Release Date: 08/12/2025
448- 7 Thanksgiving Foods You Can Grow in Your Own Garden: the history, health, and homegrown roots behind your favorite holiday dishes.
The Beginner's Garden
Ever wondered how much of your Thanksgiving dinner could come straight from your garden? From potatoes to sage, your plate is packed with crops you can grow—and nutrients that nourish your body all winter long. In this episode, Jill shares seven Thanksgiving favorites you can grow yourself (plus one bonus!), and why each one deserves a spot in your garden plan. 🌱 Free Download: Seasonal Garden Task List Stay on track in every season with clear, simple garden to-dos. 👉 Key Takeaways Why Thanksgiving foods are some of the most nutrient-dense crops you can grow How potatoes, sweet...
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447 - November Garden Checklist: Protecting Cold-Sensitive Crops, Planting Onions for Spring, and Making the Most of the Final Garden Days
The Beginner's Garden
When November arrives, it can feel like the garden season is winding down—but there’s still so much happening if you know where to look. In this episode, Jill takes you on a walk through her own November garden to show what she’s harvesting, planting, and protecting right now. You’ll learn how she uses this in-between season to prepare for a strong start next spring while still enjoying small harvests and fresh herbs from the fall garden. Free Download: 5-Day Garden Audit Take time to reflect before you plan next year’s garden! The free 5-Day Garden Audit helps you assess what...
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446 - Overwintering herbs indoors and out
The Beginner's Garden
Worried about what happens to your herbs when frost arrives? In this episode you’ll learn which herbs survive winter outside, which to bring indoors, and simple steps to protect them. We’ll cover pruning timing, zone hardiness, and indoor care so you go into winter with confidence. Keywords: overwinter herbs, herb winter care, pruning. live workshop: 5-Day Garden Audit + Optional Live Q&A Reflect on your season and plan smarter for next year. Join the free 5-day email audit; add the live workshop on Thursday, November 6 for $15. free download: Herbs Quick Reference Chart One-page,...
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445 - What I Learned... about my capacity in this season of life
The Beginner's Garden
Feeling guilty that your garden doesn’t look like it used to? You’re not alone. In this episode, I share how my own season of life changed my garden—and how you can adjust yours with less stress and more joy. You’ll learn practical ways to right-size your garden for your time, energy, and goals (no shame required). Seasonal series (starts Nov 2): Garden Audit – free 5-day email Quick daily prompts + optional short videos to review what worked, what didn’t, and shape a vision for next season. Join here: free download: Garlic Planting Cheat Sheet Your first (or best) garlic...
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444 - What I Learned... from planning 10 fall gardens
The Beginner's Garden
If your fall garden isn’t producing the way you hoped—or if you’re wondering whether your plants will even mature before frost—this episode is for you. After helping 10 gardeners across the country plan their fall gardens, I noticed clear patterns that explain why some thrive while others struggle. You’ll learn what timing mistakes most gardeners make, how to simplify your plan, and how to maximize your space for more harvests before winter. Free Download: Fall Salad Garden Planning Calendar Plan your fall harvest with confidence—know exactly when to plant for fresh greens all...
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443 - What I learned... from the failures of this season
The Beginner's Garden
Feeling discouraged by garden failures? You’re not alone. In this episode, I walk through four issues I faced this year and how I’m troubleshooting each one so you can apply the same practical steps in your garden. You’ll learn simple ways to read plant stress, reduce disease and pest pressure, and plan smarter for next season. free download: Garlic Planting Cheat Sheet Your first (or best) garlic crop—timing, spacing, curing. Key Takeaways Why peppers sometimes need light shade in hot summers and when to add it What root-knot nematodes look like and how cover crops can help ...
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442 - What I learned... Visiting GreenStalk: The Story You Don’t See Online
The Beginner's Garden
Struggling to tell which garden products are worth your money? You’re not alone. Today I’m sharing what I learned on a behind-the-scenes visit to GreenStalk in Knoxville—how they design, test, and support a planter I’ve used for five years. You’ll leave with practical ways to use a vertical planter this fall for salad greens, herbs, and flowers. free download: Fall Salad Garden Planning Calendar Plant at the right time for fresh greens all season. Key Takeaways How a family-owned US company designs and tests products for real gardeners. Why quality materials and thoughtful...
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441 - Garlic Growing Timeline: Month-by-Month from Planting to Harvest
The Beginner's Garden
Worried your garlic sprouted too soon or won’t survive winter? In this episode, I walk you through a clear garlic growing timeline so you know what’s normal, what to expect by zone, and when to harvest. You’ll learn planting windows, mulch depth by zone, vernalization for warm climates, spring care, scapes, and curing. Primary keyword: garlic growing timeline. 🧄 Planting garlic soon? Get my free Garlic Planting Cheat Sheet → Garlic Mini Course On Sale NOW! - journeywithjill.net/garlicworkshop Chapters 00:00 – Why garlic confuses beginners 01:20 – When to plant by zone...
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440 - Let go or push through? (an unplanned, personal conversation)
The Beginner's Garden
This past week has been heavy — my dad’s heart surgery and walking with friends through hard times. Normally my garden is my refuge, but lately it’s been more discouraging than refreshing. From cutworms in the carrots to nematodes on summer crops, the struggles have piled up. In this episode, I’m sharing honestly about choosing whether to push through or let go, and why I’m focusing on easier, more rewarding crops like lettuce and greens. My hope is that my story encourages you if you’re facing setbacks of your own. Next week, I’ll be back with a garlic growing timeline. Until...
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439 - Stop Blaming the Weather: Clues Your Plants Are Giving You
The Beginner's Garden
How many times have you said, “It’s just been too hot,” or “We haven’t had enough rain”? Weather is an easy scapegoat when our gardens struggle — but is it really the whole story? In this episode, I’m sharing a personal parallel from my years in the car business to show how blaming outside factors (like the weather) can actually hold us back. We’ll talk about: Why observation is your most powerful gardening tool How to recognize when the weather really is to blame — and when it isn’t Other factors that might be affecting your crops (soil, sun, irrigation, pests) ...
info_outlineYou’ve got a few tomatoes, a handful of cucumbers, maybe a pepper or two—but not enough for a full-blown canning session. In this episode, I’m sharing practical and easy ways to preserve those small harvests so nothing goes to waste. From freezing and fermenting to quick pickles and creative herb uses, you’ll learn how to build your pantry one handful at a time.
Here’s what we cover:
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🍅 What to do with a few tomatoes: freezing, roasting, small-batch sauce, and even fermented salsa
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🥒 Cucumber overload? Make quick fridge pickles, relish, or a refreshing chilled soup
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🫑 Freezing peppers and okra, plus how to dehydrate or pickle them in small batches
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🥒 Zucchini and summer squash: shred and freeze, make chips, or quick pickle
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🌿 Easy ways to preserve herbs: dry, freeze in oil, or turn into herb salts and pesto
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🧺 Tips for efficient, low-stress preserving—even if you only have 15 minutes
💡 Tip: Don’t forget your soil! Late summer is the perfect time to recharge your raised beds with Organic REV. Visit OrganicREV.com and use code JILL10 to save.
📣 Want more step-by-step help? Check out my Harvest to Kitchen course and my Tomato Harvest to Jar resource at:
👉 journeywithjill.net/courses
👉 journeywithjill.net/tomato-harvest-to-jar
💬 What’s your favorite way to use a small harvest? Message me or comment on the podcast post to share!
My Products:
2025 Complete Garden Planner (plus several new editions!)
https://shop.journeywithjill.net/
Vegetable Gardening for Beginners Book: https://amzn.to/3TZeJux
Products I recommend:
Recommended Brands & Products page:
https://journeywithjill.net/recommended-brands-and-products/
https://www.amazon.com/shop/thebeginnersgarden
Connect with Jill:
Sign up for Friday Emails: https://journeywithjill.net/gardensignup
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JourneywithjillNet/videos
The Beginner's Garden
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Link to Beginner's Garden Podcast past episodes: https://journeywithjill.net/the-beginners-garden-podcast/
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