The only thing better than farm-to-fork is garden-to-fork. Little compares to picking your own sweet ripe tomato and pinching off basil leaves for a homemade lunchtime caprese salad. Or, harvesting squash, eggplant, tomatoes, peppers, and onions to make a delicious caponata This year,

— Nan Sterman People often ask where the ideas for episodes of A Growing Passion come from. Some come from places I’ve written about or projects I know from the decades I’ve been a journalist. Some are topics that fascinate me or pique my curiosity. Some come from producer Maria

— Nan Sterman They’re sweet, they’re hot, they’re the coolest things around. I’m talking peppers. Big peppers, small peppers, red, orange, purple, yellow, and of course, green. With so many kinds of peppers on the market, you might be surprised to learn that culinary peppers are

By Nan Sterman The story behind Homegrown Hops, Local Flavor for Local Brews starts a few years ago.  My daughter called me just before my husband’s birthday. “Mom,” she said, “Groupon has an offer for a beer brewing kit – we should get that as a gift for Dad.” Of course we shou

— Nan Sterman Seeds fascinate me. They look like little pieces of dead wood. But bury them in soil or potting soil, add water, set them where the temperature is just right, and they sprout. Care for them and they grow into plants, many of which we eat. Have you ever seen a tomat

— By Nan Sterman Fried egg plant and matilija poppy are two names for Romneya coulteri, a giant of the poppy family.  This big, beautiful perennial forms crepe papery flowers as large as salad plates.  The combination of white petals and bright yellow center earn this plant the

— By Nan Sterman Poinsettia season is upon us!  Growers ship out the bright red and soft yellow colored plants every day, sending them to nurseries and garden centers across the country. Thanks to late Encinitan Paul Ecke Jr., poinsettias are the plants we mostly closely associa

We get to visit so many wonderful places while we are shooting A Growing Passion.  People welcome us into their gardens and businesses with open arms.  One of the really interesting stories we’ve explored is that of Bonsai Sensei, Phil Tacktill. Phil grew up in New York, in the city w

Three days ago it was winter.  Today its spring.  Funny how the seasons change, seemingly overnight.  Its not just the temperature that tells me its spring, the colorful flowers announce it as well. Here’s what’s blooming today: Purple Babiana (baboon flowers), Bright chartreuse Eupho