On this episode of Big Blend Radio, award-winning author and journalist Simon Parkin discusses his new book, "The Forbidden Garden: The Botanists of Besieged Leningrad and Their Impossible Choice."

The first book to chart the history of the world’s largest collection of seeds, "The Forbidden Garden" shares the story of the Siege of Leningrad and how from 1941 to 1944, the scientists in the seed bank had to face an impossible choice each day: eat the collection to prevent starvation, or protect their life’s work to help end world hunger? More at https://www.simonparkin.com/

This episode is cohosted by Margot Carrera, a fine art nature photographer who is passionate about the environment. More: http://margotcarrera.etsy.com/

Check out Big Blend Radio's network of podcasts: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork

Happy World Urbanism Day, aka World City Planning Day! This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Nature Connection" Show features Sara C. Bronin who discusses her book, "KEY TO THE CITY: How Zoning Shapes Our World."

Zoning codes have become the most significant regulatory power of local government, determining how we experience our cities. Yet zoning remains invisible. In "Key to the City," Sara reveals the impact of zoning—for good and ill—in cities across the country, from Hartford to Baltimore and Las Vegas to Chicago. Outdated zoning codes have maintained racial segregation, prioritized cars over people, and enabled great ecological harm.

Along with being an author, Sara is an architect, attorney, Cornell University professor, and founder of the National Zoning Atlas. More at https://www.sarabronin.com/ and https://www.zoningatlas.org/

Big Blend Radio's "Nature Connection" Podcast airs every 2nd Monday and 4th Friday in collaboration with Margot Carrera, a fine art nature photographer who is passionate about the environment. More: http://margotcarrera.etsy.com/

This episode is also being shared and featured on other Big Blend Radio Network Channels including the "Big Daily Blend," "Women Making History," and "Garden Gossip." Check out our network of podcasts: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork

This episode of Big Blend Radio features photographer Steve Piacente, a reporter turned speechwriter, university professor, author, and life coach. You'll rarely find him without a camera is always at his side.

Hear about his photography, what and who inspires him, his world travels, and more, plus, check out his editorial Q&A with us here: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/photographer-insider-steve-piacente/

Visit Steve's online gallery: https://www.piacentephotos.com/

This episode of Big Blend Radio’s 3rd Monday “Food, Wine & Travel” Show with IFWTWA features travel blogger Feuza Reis who shares the ins-and-outs of purchasing property in Sicily, especially through unique 1 Euro Homes project in San Piero Patti.

A small village that's home to around 2,500 residents, San Piero Patti is located approximately 2 hours from each major airport in Sicily, 1 hour from Messina, and just 20 minutes from Patti, a larger city with around 9,000 inhabitants. This hilltop area offers stunning views of the Tyrrhenian Sea. From here, you can see the Aeolian Islands, and on a clear day, you can also see Panarea at the very bottom on the right, Stromboli. Read Feuza's article about it all in "Live in Italy" Magazine, here: https://liveinitalymag.com/buying-property-in-sicily-1-euro-homes/

Feuza Reis, also known as Fuse, combines her expertise in mid-budget travel with her deep affection for Europe in captivating stories and visuals on her blog, Fuse Travels. Originally from Brazil, Fuse's passion for travel truly blossomed six years ago when she fell in love with Italy. She plans to move to Italy in three years and brings almost four decades of travel experience to her audience. Keep up with her at https://fusetravels.com/.

Learn more about the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) here: https://www.ifwtwa.org/

Follow this Podcast Channel on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzIUCV2e7qm1chVylr9kzBMftUgBoLS-m

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 1st Tuesday "Adventures in Asheville" Show focuses on unique art, garden, and community experiences.

Featured Guests:

- Steve & Karen Wilson - Owners and innkeepers of The Lion & The Rose Bed & Breakfast, a stunning pink lady in the Montford Historic District. More: https://www.lion-rose.com/

- DeWayne Barton - Founder of Hood Huggers International and Peace Gardens & Market, in the heart of West Asheville’s Burton Street Community, a historically African American neighborhood established in the early 1900’s. More: https://hoodhuggers.com/

- Annie Katla Bennette - Co-owner of @artgardenavl an artist owned and operated Art Gallery & Plant Shop in Asheville's River Arts District. More: https://www.artgardenavl.com/

Big Blend Radio's "Adventures in Asheville" Show airs every 1st Tuesday. Follow the show on YouTube: http://tinyurl.com/ycxwjkr7

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jennifer McGuinness joins Big Blend Radio's "Nature Connection" and "Garden Gossip" podcasts to discuss her latest book, "Bird-Friendly Gardening." Releasing in April 2024 through Cool Springs Press, and available on pre-order, it's the ultimate and authoritative guide for cultivating a home landscape that embraces wildlife, specifically catering to a diverse array of native plants that nourish, shelter, and sustain birds.

Every individual has the power to significantly impact the lives of thousands of birds, whether they're passing through during migration or establishing a feathered haven for the next generation. Creating a bird-friendly haven for various species need not be an overwhelming task. The key lies in understanding the requirements of our avian companions and recognizing how native plants, coupled with intentional garden design, can fulfill those needs. In "Bird-Friendly Gardening," Jennifer McGuinness expertly presents this knowledge in an easy-to-follow, actionable format. More: https://frauzinnie.blogspot.com/

Big Blend Radio's "Nature Connection" Podcast airs every 4th Friday in collaboration with Margot Carrera, a fine art nature photographer who is passionate about the environment. More: http://margotcarrera.etsy.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Just remember, during the winter, far beneath the bitter snow, that there’s a seed that with the sun’s love in the spring becomes a rose.” Bette Midler, The Rose

This episode of Big Blend Radio's BIG DAILY BLEND Podcast celebrates Rose Day (February 7) with two Big Blend Radio "From the Vault" Interviews that were recorded onsite at Gardens of the American Rose Center in Shreveport, Louisiana, and, the Tombstone Rose Tree Museum in Tombstone, Arizona.

ROSE GARDENS & ROSY DESTINATIONS:

- American Rose Center: https://www.rose.org/

- Tombstone Rose Tree Museum: http://tinyurl.com/mvyxxtdb

- Chicago Botanical Garden: http://tinyurl.com/2wzsrejz

- San Benito County, California: http://tinyurl.com/bdhakpkf

- Woodlake Botanical Garden: http://tinyurl.com/yube6rcm

- The Lion & The Rose Bed & Breakfast: http://tinyurl.com/4d4r3j39

- Rosevine Inn Bed & Breakfast: http://tinyurl.com/4zrepjb5

- Gene C. Reid Park in Tucson: http://tinyurl.com/bhx6ncdm

- Gorgeous Gardens of England: http://tinyurl.com/uzrx6snw

ROSY RECIPES:

- Ruth's Rose Petal Jam: http://tinyurl.com/yhzkpmjv

- Ruth's Apple Roses: http://tinyurl.com/jetr2xpy

ROSY MELODIES - A Rose Inspired Music Playlist:

- On YouTube: http://tinyurl.com/yckmcpu4

- On Spotify: http://tinyurl.com/t6779h52

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of Big Blend Radio's BIG DAILY BLEND Podcast celebrates National Western Monarch Butterfly Day by focusing on habitat conservation for these beautiful migratory pollinators! Hear some interesting facts about the Monarch Migration, plus a Big Blend Radio "From the Vault" interview from Sara Dykman, author of “Bicycling with Butterflies: My 10,201-Mile Journey Following the Monarch Migration.”

MONARCH BUTTERFLY BOOKS, PODCASTS, CONSERVATION & NON-PROFITE ORGANIZATION RESOURCES as talked about in the podcast:

* Monarch Watch: https://www.monarchwatch.org/

* Monarch Joint Venture: https://monarchjointventure.org/

* NWF Spring Gardening for Wildlife: http://tinyurl.com/yfh5zv6z

* US Forest Service Monarch Butterfly FAQ: http://tinyurl.com/255v85un

* Lake Lure Flowering Bridge: http://tinyurl.com/4dntj5ma

* Sara Dykman "Bicyling with Butterflies": http://tinyurl.com/3w4uuf26

* Kim Eierman "The Pollinator Victory Garden": http://tinyurl.com/2s42arcd

* Nancy Lawson "The Humane Gardener": http://tinyurl.com/4mzsyfrv

* Stephanie Rose "The Regenerative Garden": http://tinyurl.com/55kte7ca

* Dr. Doug Tallemy "Nature's Best Hope - Young Readers Edition": http://tinyurl.com/yckup49c

* Adrienne Edwards, PhD. and Rachel Schleiger, MS "Firescaping Your Home": http://tinyurl.com/yckwm3cj

* Amy Stark "The Fairy Godmother Helps the Monarchs": http://tinyurl.com/53rvdn7d

Special thanks to our Big Blend Radio "Nature Connection" cohost Margot Carrera, a fine nature photographer. View her work: http://tinyurl.com/4rruc6h5

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.