Happy Birthday, America! 250 years old and you don't look a day over 200! We fire up the (veggie-oil-fueled) copter and head over to the SOIL Garden in Durango. We talk about all things gardens, how plants make kids grow (see what I did there?), and why places like SOIL should be in EVERY town and city in this great county we call America.

Love us a site visit, especially when we see someone else's garden doing better than ours! This week our intrepid duo travels (by bio-fuel helicopter) to a site visit in La Plata County where Sean Stewart (Red Cliffs Pottery) has developed his own ecosystem of food gardens.

The discussion during the garden tour ranges from his multi-layered selection of growing methods to his highs and lows as a food gardener amongst the cottonwoods. A very inspiring visit.

Darrin's on vacation (what do you expect - he's a government worker) so we go back to the summer of '23 when the season sure felt similar. AND: the word of the week!

The good, the bad, and the ugly. Thank you, Mr. Eastwood.

Glass half-full: it hasn't really been that hot. Yet

Glass half-empty: it hasn't really rained south of Hermosa. For a long time.

We talk about irrigation, all things alliums, sad seed situations, and trying to play catchup in the garden and how that can be an uphill battle.

Really, I'm not even sure we talked about butterflies. But we should have - everyone loves them (and ladybugs). However, we are seeing how a changing climate, season abnormalities, human movement, and insect (and earthworm) activity intersect, and the outcomes aren't always positive. Some are down-right spooky. That led us delving into the benefits and learning opportunities of observing the natural patterns around us and how the weather, temperature, timing, plants and humans all work their dance. Come join us.

Today our intrepid duo continue their interview with New York Times best-selling author Jo Robinson. This is part two of an interview that started in the last episode on finding the best nutrition in our food. This week Jo delves into the various benefits of grass-fed animals and how that nutrition starts with plants - to find out more check out her book Pasture Perfect.

You all are in for a special treat: We have a phone interview with Author Jo Robinson, an investigative journalist specializing in science and health. Her book “Eating on the Wild Side” is a New York Times best seller and it details methods to find the most nutritious varieties of fruits and vegetables. Along with her book on grass-fed animals (Pasture Perfect) , she has a wealth of science-based information on her website www.eatwild.com where you can find ways to improve your own food choices.

Season still feels like we are 4-6 ahead of schedule: check.

Deer still love Darrin's yard: check.

Weeds still grow fine without water: check. Except mallow.

David Attenborough could be God: check.

Yep, that sounds like a full show.