Jill sits down with John Gilbert from Berry Farm to ask him about hydroponic gardening on this week’s Grow section. Hydroponics, simply put, is the process by which one grows produce without soil. So if you’re not using any soil, then what are you using? A combination process of growing your produce in water, and then manually adding in nutrients yourself. Whilst maybe not the most conventional way to grow yummy food, this alternative method can actually be a very healthy way to grow your fruits and veg.
John also talks to Jill about the very nature of somethign being “organic.” What makes something organic? Does buying organic food from your supermarket guarantee you that what you’re consuming is the best quality? As John explains, just because a product is being sold as “organic”, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s good for you as many organic products are in fact sprayed with potentially harmful substances. The work that they do at Berry Farm is spray-free and Jill talks to John about this and more on this week’s show.
Then we join Jill in her kitchen with her daughter, Emma Thake. Emma and Jill actually work together as well! She is the Marketing Director of Jill’s NYC based acupuncture clinic, The Yinova Center. Emma has long loved making jams and marmalades, and has recently tried her hand at baking cookies and cakes and wanted to show Jill what she’s been up to. We say this often on the show: everything in moderation is good for the soul! Whilst these cookies may not be the healthiest recipe, the key is to try to not overindulge. Emma exercises everyday and tries to maintain a healthy diet, but also thinks that a cookie once in a while is a good thing, like a reward for looking after your body! This week she bakes a beautiful batch of salted white chocolate and oatmeal cookies.
Finally, Jill talks to Vanessa Chakour, a life coach with a fascinating background. She is a former professional boxer and visual artist who founded an organization in New York called Sacred Warrior. She teaches boxing, therapeutic movements, creative exploration and meditation along with natural medicine. She also leads nature retreats where she brings all of that together. Back on episode “X” Jill spoke to Marie Villhoun who spoke about the joys of foraging in New York. Marie insisted that there are tons of hidden gems all over the city just waiting to be picked and Vanessa preaches the same in her retreats amongst other things, not too dissimilar from this Pokemon Go phenomenon! Jill and Vanessa talk about this and more on this week’s show.
YinOva’s founder, Jill Blakeway, hosts a weekly radio show for CBS Radio called Grow Cook Heal. You can subscribe and listen to the whole series as a podcast on iTunes.
