It’s June 13th and schools out and I’m back to podcasting! Excited to reach out to all of you Green Future Growers! Hopefully this episode will hit your ears asap and here it is July 24th! But alas summer flies does it not!
Today I am here with Hanna Crumm the Kombucha Mamma!
The Big Book of Kombucha: Brewing, Flavoring, and Enjoying the Health Benefits of Fermented Tea
Kombucha with an O and it’s basically fermented tea
I visited a friend from college
Sanfranciso in CA
box of jars, towels, weird floaty things! That’s the kombucha! I had never heard of it, I was like that’s funny! So I get back to
entertaining!
I get back to Los Angels and there’s an entire case of kombucha! I take my first sip
acidic acid
tea vinegar
A lot of people that might get that sour kombucha face! For me I loved the flavor but I’m the girl that loved the pickle juice out of the pickle jar, fermented funky flavor
You know when you pick a vegetable out of your garden and you grew it and you know everything that went into it! You take the first bite it’s a rush that’s beyond the flavor and you can tell it’s alive and that was the experience I felt alive
I wanted more of it
but I my thirst out did my budget.
This is so appropriate because I ust got home and tasted some of the first lettuce out of the garden and just putting it in my salad, right here fresh picked!
Kombucha has applications beyond making it a beverage to drink.
My first experience come from my dad, he grew up on a farm in min own of like 200 people
Every summer we’d get
shipped out to the grandparents and get dropped off there
John Deere shop
clamber out the tractors
My grandparents grew
fields weeding
on the land stuff as a kid
later in life more pesticides
by the time I was getting older they kind of transitioned away into other things like auctioneering and real estate
My dad never used any fertilizer but on the other hand we didn’t have a composter
I made my own in my backyard a few years ago in Los Angelos, I love working with the worms. I turn all of that stuff into that rich black earth! That’s where all my volunteer tomatoes come from that come up in the weirdest places…
Kombucha is in some ways similar to gardening
We need to have a really rich soil that is nutrient dense that has the right microbial balance so that teh plants are able to uptake that nutrition.
Were like that too where our guts are the soil in our boddies…interface to create that
diverse micro biome
create our nutrients that way
Kombucha is a fermented food.
preserved our foods, back when we did’t have a fridge, I know we take it for granted but 150 years ago, didn’t have those luxuries.
What’s interesting about the United States we came from a bunch of places
came to a country that didn’t
post world war 2 processing food industry replaced
touting on the WWII posters
processed food industry
lowest cost lowest quality inputs unfortunately our bodies are suffering as a result of that
repopulate our microboime in a positive way.
there’s bacteria everywhere
I know we’ve been waging germ warefare
fda
now banning trycluen
planet
rainforest under there
arm is like a dry desert
Our body has all these different terrains
each is populated with different organisms that protect you. They go from your mouth to end of you everything is covered with bacteria
We’re over prescribed
pesticides
that leaves space for organisms that
arent’ native
candida overgrowth
organizms
bacterial infections
can go wrong.
Even more to most basic level
back to hypocreties who says all disease starts in the gut.
2010
really starting to uncover
so often they’re going
what strain
one thing
mentality
diversity
just like nature
organizms populating our body
speaking engagements
hug or a handshake you’re not getting away without sharing some of your bacteria only
Tell us about
started out as a workshop in my home. Kombuchas is easy to make.
specific website
read it
sweet tea solution
add our culture to it then it turns it into this tangy healthy beverage
Because we’ve lost this connection with our grandparents
demistifying our process
if that were true
people would stop ages ago
Why would you share something if you know it’s gonna cause them harm?
because it’s an acidic acid
low ph
coupled with the healthy acid profile has been shown to kill salmonella and wisteria and all of the pathogens on contact
pathogens were so strong
if they were so dominant we’d all be dead!
pathogens would have gotten us
There’s more good guys then bad guys
many good guys as possible
It’s our force
microbial cloud
helps keep us strong
soil based organizms are good for people
The bacteria tangyness
If you have acid loving plants
composting the cultures is a way to get positive organisms in your soil
the worms love them and they help to break everything down quitkcly
then you get the particular
soil ammendment
put that scoby in a blender
burry the pieces in the ground
That’s what we call
If you’re at all familiar with raw apple cider vinegar at the bottom of the bottle you will see this disc object
acidic acid bacteria
also creates cellulose because it’s so reproductive you end up with loads these extra scobies
My hope is if you throw them away they will break down the garbage.
could
don’t want to throw them away, people feel like they are friends and pets and up with hoards of them
put them back into the world…
If you’re putting the right nutrients in the soil you’ll notice your plants will be more
something we can look at through bricks testing. That’s really we have this myth of needing pesticides because we’re trying to farm in a way that isn’t in harmony in nature
more of all of them
competing and taking things from each other
how nature operates
implement how those things we end up withmore successful gardens
instead of in straight lines following the patterns of the earth in order to create more yields with less chemical inputs.
The one thing I have been trying to get done, I interviewed this woman from PITMOSSⓇ
there’s two other episodes I have done with soil scientists, it’s imperative for me especially Mike’s been wanting to buy $180 for soil for hopefully welll split with someone. I think the non-organic option
soil health is so essential I’ve been trying to have a worm bin. I’m fascinated with all of this that it’s a tea I thought it would be more like a vegetable.
tea doesn’t grow everywhere
tea plantations in the south
liptons
other climates showing potential
tea plant
here in the us
traditionally grown in china and india
fermentation has been important in all of those ancient cultures coupled with the fact that they have realiable access to tea
arose from
chai can we use herbs?
Often reserve those for flavoring. That’s what I did. I went out and plucked some
would give it this lovely herbacious flavor
herb s and spices are our friends
don’t just add flavor
help support our bodies
most
litterally no separation
all inhabit
same amazing planet
all of our computers
technology
drive our cars
airconditioning
leads to a lot of depression and sadness
we need to be in contact with nature
Japanese word for forest bathing
concepts like these are percolating back into our society
thing when we take the time
Even if your not the most successful gardener
Then you see how the run off pollutes the waterways
fish start to suffer
We’re starting to see about the negative affects of not caring where those inputs are growing. That’s creating a lot of problems with the waterways or fish that live in them and the humans that have to consume that
If we poison ourselves to death were’ the ones to lose. Look at where Chernobyl other nature is vibrant and robust.
So looking to nature and witnessing the regenerative power
quickly take something that was toxic
wasn’t in a
here in California we had the Ballona Wetlands Preserve
nature
As soon as they started preserving it they started to come back
Some people accused the environmentalists of planting birds there, but the reality is if you give animals the habit they need they’ll show up. There’s a zillion ways of reconnecting with the soil….
I love that and you’re so passionate about protecting your planet and our health! I think listeners will like it as much as I do!
Being in California, we have a long growing season here in so cal too. My husband as a gift someone invited
new to all of this
cabbages all turned into flowers
broccoli
before I could get anything that I know looks familiar.
in addition to planting you also have to take care of them… doing really well
of course are my greens these things are fantastic
My lettuce has bolted because it got warm, and my parsley has grown over and flowered. I’m enjoying everything I get from my garden.
I figure they’ll just regrow
what else gets attracted
Im growing some strawberries right now, they are yielding some fruit but they don’t taste good like the ones I get at the farmer’s market?! I think a lot of this that’s exciting is how much work and effort goes into
wheather I’m getting it at my garden or the farmer’s market there’s another layer of appreciation of all that goes into that process
food is so accessible
year round
recognize how much effort is growing into it to make a salad! IT’s not like you can have enough salads if you
lazy gardener have to admit
potatoes pieces
throw them in the yard they eventually
ends of my celery
get those things to grow
just interacting with it seeing how it goes is just kind of al ot of fun!
then you get the aphids… and I’m like now what do I do?
You can sometimes put kombucha or vinegar
sour to drink
leave it too long
if you end up with Kombucha you don’t want to drink another things you can do is put it in a spray bottle
Mike spends a lot of time on potatoes.
gettly
here is so easy
little dirt over them
green tops grow, wait until they fall over and then pull them up. That’s what I do is I let them grow wild
not harvesting enough potatoes to keep us through the winter.
tidying up the garden
If you live a busy life like me, I klike being an acciental gardener, nature will come through for you. I
I have more bees coming around
I love to see how the other aspects of nature
green onion plant
compbination of paved patio
dirt
fun to watch you never thought it was gonna do that!
I grew up reading these Miss Marple books, difficult in England
Or on
Here in this climate there just super easy! I love being able to just cut a few stems and put them in the house. Even though my husband’s encouraging me, they look so pretty! When they die I dead head them anyway!
They’re gonna grow back, it’s like cutting your hair.
I think they grow back more.
Yes they do!
We use soil amendments
our compost
I turn the compost 2xs a year
fill up and get nice and rich.
I don’t have an actual compost bin. I have like a converted garbage can
dig out the top layer, I get this lovely richness
pass that around, because it’s had the scobies in there you can’t even see the pieces, you can’t see them they’ve just been consumed, I think that helps roses to do well. Putting acid loving soil
sometimes a little bit of cardboard make sure the worms have a good variety of things.
Recommended books on the Organic Gardener Podcast
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If it’s my least favorite I’m not doing it
It would be dealing with the aphids
I bought the lady bugs but they just fly away
attack it early
consistent
caring for plants
let one plant go to aphids almost like a sacrifice, I say you guys stay over here and then tidy them off of everything else
aphids…
Two Interesting things about aphids, I swear it was something like if the ladybugs leave that’s good because that means they’ve run out of aphids to eat. I have had other people talk about leaving a plant for the aphids as a sacrifice. And also, I was just reading this book about tidying that my principal gave me I like the way you talk about tidying the garden.
also available on
To do, I like pruning! I feel like, you’re communicating you end with your trees and your plants.
It tells you get rid of this dead piece there and it lets this new thing come through, something about getting rid of the old yuck. I love to pull all the dead leaves off! Throw it on the patio and sweep it on the patio.
process
the seed putting love into everything you do
constantly buying more stuff, we don’t value or appreciate the things we do have
yearn for a return to craftsman ship and quality over convenience and chepaness.
those pieces have a
If you have a heriloom beause it’s durable you can hand it down, there’s not just something monkey wrench there’s an intrinisic value
piece itself
world is so stressful enough if we don’t have these havens of peace
if your home’s all cluttered.
Yes, but sometimes I like my clutter, and when I find something I’m like oh here you are my old friend. IDK I have lots of things that I haven’t used for years and then it will be invaluable again.
We have these quarterly clothing swaps
all enjoy
that is a fun way to let things go and have a 2nd life in the community and who knows maybe it will come back your way and you’ll say I’m ready for this again
donate to people
We have really good thrift stores. We call it the food pantry. IDK we have like 5 thrift stores now in Eureka and good ones in Whitefish
My grandma was the first one who took me thrifting!
Don’t fight nature let nature take it’s course, trust the buds are going to bloom
nature teaches me to be patient and I’ll see the little lemons forming and they fall off and Ill be so disappointed and Ill be like oh no, my lemon didn’t grow
relearning patience and process.
trusting in the outcomes that come
My pruning shears
My pokey stick for the compost. It’s not exactly a pitchfork
railroad tie
iron
compost is hard
do need to trun it
So I like how it helps me get in there and turn it allover.
see all
garbage can
100%
The Big Book of Kombucha: Brewing, Flavoring, and Enjoying the Health Benefits of Fermented Tea
I’ll harvest those little tomatoes growing in the garden and then make a kombucha vinegrette! With some feta. Best tastes of summer summer.
good olive oil
that recipe is fantastic!
Sounds so good!
our resources for info on kombucha.
kombuchakamp.comWe make it really easy, we’ve been doing this for over a decade
going on 15 years
every paper
dispel fear and myths
gives you info that empowers you so that
The Big Book of Kombucha: Brewing, Flavoring, and Enjoying the Health Benefits of Fermented Tea
400 pages on subject
trouble shooting
lots of pics
kombucha scobie can take a bunch of weird shapes.
benefits from a scientific research paper
great reputation putting that info with resources to do own research to understand why Kombucha is beneficial for so many people.
fantatstic
sivler
best sellar on amazon
flagship stores
Grateful for everyone who has enjoyed the book and given us a review to help others
If there was one change you would like to see to create a greener world what would it be? For example is there a charity or organization your passionate about or a project you would like to see put into action. What do you feel is the most crucial issue facing our planet in regards to the environment either in your local area or on a national or global scale?
I think the most crucial issue is teaching children where their food comes from so I am heartened by
serving the food deserts and remember that the first grocery store didn’t exist until 1946? It’s only recent that we’ve been so disconnected from our food supply.
all you need is a piece of earth, detereminations, love
The first grocery store didn’t exist until 1946?!
you can create a food source for yourself
how similar place
terms of a supermarket grocery store! Recent phenomena, of the insane processed food
we had a different food system and I hope we can remember to go back to our roots
Recultivate that love of gardening
caring for our earth….
listen to the innate wisdom if you’re feeling a whisper to get back to the earth then listen to that impulse
wisdom, nutrition is about sunlight getting our hands dirty nourish our being our soul
couch locker stuck staring at aa screen all the time.
go do that…
How do we connect with you?
free ebook and guide
starting the process
reach out with the email
small family business
number goes right to my cell phone, I’m always happy to help
The Big Book of Kombucha: Brewing, Flavoring, and Enjoying the Health Benefits of Fermented Tea
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