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Discover the gentle power of manure in your garden! In this episode, Sam dives into ruminant manure, vermicompost tea, and worm juice, showing how these natural fertilizers can improve soil health, boost nutrient uptake, and make your plants thrive. Learn practical tips for safe application, the science behind soil-building benefits, and how to make the most of your compost and worm farm.

🌱 What You’ll Discover:

• Why ruminant manure (cow, sheep, alpaca) is safe and weed-free
• How mixed manures and vermicompost improve soil and fruit quality
• Practical tips for liquid feeds, soil drenching, and foliar sprays
• The difference between vermicompost tea and worm juice
• Tools and tricks to track plant health and nutrient density

📚 References & Episodes:

• Help! My Garden Isn’t Thriving – Episode 24
  
  
• Composting! Hot or Not? – Episode 9
  
  
• 2022 Plants journal study on kiwi fruit and manure

⏱ Chapters:
00:00 Introduction & Welcome
01:15 Listener Feedback & Corrections
03:10 Understanding Ruminant Manure
07:25 Research on Manure & Soil Health
13:50 Practical Tips for Using Manure
18:45 Vermicompost Tea vs Worm Juice
23:30 Applying Manure Safely
28:15 Final Thoughts & Listener Engagement

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Guest: Alison White, Co-convenor of the Safe Food Campaign

In this episode, I sit down with Alison White, the woman behind New Zealand’s version of the Dirty Dozen list — a ranking of the most pesticide-contaminated foods available on our shelves. Alison has a Master’s in Public Health, is a lifetime member of the Soil & Health Association, and co-convenes the Safe Food Campaign.

Together, we unpack:

• How the Dirty Dozen is created and what makes NZ’s version unique
• Why grapes, celery, and strawberries consistently top the list
• The worrying truth about glyphosate (RoundUp) and how little NZ actually tests for it
• How pesticide regulation gets tangled in industry influence
• Practical ways to reduce your exposure — from vinegar rinses to growing your own produce

This conversation will leave you thinking differently about what’s on your plate — and why home-grown food might just be one of the most powerful forms of resistance.

Link for Further Reading:

• The Dirty Dozen – latest update via Soil & Health
• OOOOBY (organic box service)
• Harraway’s Organic Oats collection
• Pesticides in New Zealand Children
• Safe Food Campaign NZ – Facebook
• Safe Food Campaign Chlorpyrifos Petition Summary
• Dr. Libby Blog

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🌹 Welcome to White Strawberries, your go-to podcast for effortless, joyful, and sustainable gardening. In this episode, I dive into why my roses are thriving without sprays, how biodiversity supports healthy plants, and how to make your own rosewater and tea from fragrant blooms.

What you’ll discover in this episode:

• Common rose pests and how nature balances them.
• How planting a diverse garden supports predatory insects like ladybugs and praying mantises.
• Companion plants that naturally protect and enhance roses.
• Choosing the right rose variety: Wild, Heirloom, and Modern Roses.
• How to make rosewater and a simple rose tea at home.
• The nutritional and skin benefits of roses grown in organic, biodiverse gardens.

Research & References:

1. Flower diversity increases aphid predation on tomatoes
2. Effect of companion planting on pest suppression
3. A 2018 study: extracts from Rosa damascena
4. Rose‑petal extracts have antioxidant and anti‑hyaluronidase activity — meaning they can neutralise free radicals
   
   

📸 Follow me for images, videos, and behind-the-scenes gardening tips:

• Instagram: @whitestrawberriespodcast
• Facebook: White Strawberries Podcast