Gardening

“We just don’t realize what’s in our leaves,” watershed ecologist Alicia Ramsey said. “People throw out their leaves, or they compost their leaves, or they mulch their leaves, not realizing how much life is actually in them.”

After winning his third weigh off for the year, Wisconsin giant pumpkin grower Jim Ford told WPR that he hopes to beat the world record for the largest pumpkin grown in the world.

Put garlic cloves in the ground within a week or two of the first killing frost. The cold prevents the garlic from growing too fast and sending a shoot above ground, where the winter air would kill it.

There’s a sweet spot for lawn chores like seeding, said Doug Soldat, a professor and turfgrass extension specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Canning might sound daunting. But Christina Ward, a certified master food preserver, is here to help. With some education and proper equipment, you’ll be turning cucumbers into pickles in no time. 

Black chokeberry shrubs, Heleniums and moonflowers a few of the many plants that can add variety to the autumnal garden.

Food journalist and author Nina Mukerjee Furstenau says there’s more to rhubarb than desserts. She takes the plant beyond the pie — into savory main dishes, relishes and drinks in her newest book, “The Pocket Rhubarb Cookbook.”

Scott Johnson, the founder and director of the Low Technology Institute, visited WPR’s “The Larry Meiller Show” to talk about how he’s bringing the methods of the past into the future.

In Waushara County, an area gardening club and food pantry are working together to feed those facing food insecurity.

Recently, Adam D’Angelo, director of research for Project Pawpaw, visited WPR’s “The Larry Meiller Show” to talk about efforts to introduce pawpaws to the masses. He also spoke about planting orchards, including one in Spring Green, to research and develop new varieties.