Powered by RND
PodcastsPlants Always Win

Plants Always Win

Sean Patchett and Erin Alladin
Plants Always Win
Latest episode

Available Episodes

5 of 30
  • Ep. 30: Sassafras vs. Cola Nut
    Are you finding yourself thirsty for a little soda pop this summer? How about for some botanical knowledge about soda pop’s history?In this plant face-off episode, Erin and Sean put some fizz into the competition with the plants behind two iconic flavours: the cola nut that gives cola its kick, and the sassafras that puts the root in root beer. Or, at least, the plants that did serve those roles before the advent of artificial flavouring. Erin takes the first swig with a dramatic overview of the North American Sassafras albidum, an aromatic tree with a long history of use for medicine, food, furniture, and one nautical beverage that almost saw it hunted to extinction. She peers into the muddy waters surrounding its first use in root beer and, later, its controversial ban by the FDA, speculates about Choctaw influence on its use in gumbo, and delights over the Kanien’kéha (Mohawk) name, wenhákeras, meaning “smelly thing.”  Sean takes his kick at the can with the cola nut, the key ingredient behind the flavour and caffeine of cola beverages. He discusses the flavourful Malvaceae family tree of the West African cola tree (also spelled kola) (Cola nitida and Cola acuminata) and its surprising identity as a broad-leaf evergreen before serving up some knowledge about the fruit’s growing habits and its cultural history as a stimulant and a beverage ingredient. After some medical meanderings and a look at modern-day distribution, we wrap up Coca-Cola origins and its present-day ingredients.Who had the most interesting facts to share today? Vote for your favourite by tagging us on social media and using the hashtag #PAWFaceOff. Comments? Feedback? Want your garden question to be featured in a future Q&A segment? Email us, reach out over social media, or get Q&A priority by supporting us on Patreon. Discord: https://discord.gg/K6wF9dY4Ja Bluesky: @plantsalwayswin.com TikTok: @plantsalwayswinpodcast YouTube: @plantsalwayswinpodcastWebsite: www.plantsalwayswin.com CreditsWebsite Design and Illustration by Sophia AlladinIntro and Outro Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/when-my-ukulele-playsLicense code: GWOIMMBAS15FG6PHCitationsCommon names for sassafrasWood and charcoal indentification in southern MD. (n.d.). https://apps.jefpat.maryland.gov/woodandcharcoalid/Webpages-trees/Sassafras.htmIndigenous names for sassafrasPlenty Canada. (2024). SaSSaFras. Greenbelt Indigenous Botanical Survey. https://gibsurvey.ca/species/sassafrasFurniture usesPackard Forest Products. (2011, October 30). Sassafras - Packard Forest products. https://packardforestproducts.com/lumber/hardwood-lumber/species-guide/sassafras/Food and medicine usesMacKinnon, A., & Kershaw, L. (2016). Edible and medicinal plants of Canada. Publishing Partners.Root beer’s origins and the banning of safrole oilVerberg, S. (2023, November 30). Root beer: the quintessential American soda. American Homebrewers Association. https://homebrewersassociation.org/beyond-beer/root-beer-the-quintessential-american-soda/Sassafras oil and toxicityhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/sassafrasThe history of sassafras in North AmericaSassafras: Native gem of North America. (2022, October 10). Cornell Botanic Gardens. https://cornellbotanicgardens.org/sassafras-native-gem-of-north-americaSassafras in OntarioSassafras. (n.d.). ontario.ca. https://www.ontario.ca/page/sassafrasGrowing sassafrasSassafras albidum (Cinnamon Wood, Common Sassafras, Mitten Tree, Sassafras, White Sassafras) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. (n.d.). https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/sassafras-albidum/Hassani, N. (2025, May 7). How to grow and care for sassafras. The Spruce. https://www.thespruce.com/sassafras-tree-plant-profile-5199214Cola nut overviewKola Trees (Genus Cola). (n.d.). iNaturalist. https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/132989-ColaWikipedia contributors. (2025, July 18). Kola nut. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kola_nutCola nut etymologyKola - Etymology, Origin & Meaning. (n.d.). Etymonline. https://www.etymonline.com/word/kolaMedicinal uses for cola nut and caffeineCola nut: health benefits, side effects, uses, dose & precautions. (2021, June 11). RxList. https://www.rxlist.com/supplements/cola_nut.htm#:~:text=Cola%20nut%20is%20used%20for,used%20as%20a%20flavoring%20ingredientTimestamps00:11 Introduction01:13 What's Growing On? Sean's Fruit Shrubs and Willow Wall03:38 What's Growing On? Reciprocity in Erin's Vegetable Garden06:03 The Range of Serviceberry Taste06:51 Water Break: Regionalisms07:19 The Plant Face-Off08:25 Sassafras Albidum, an Aromatic Shrub09:08 The Etymology of Sassafras 11:10 Indigenous Names for Sassafras12:55 The Distinct Look of a Sassafras Tree15:47 Wildlife, Building and Dye Use of Sassafras16:16 Sassafras' Medicinal Properties20:00 Eating Sassafras leaves, stems, and pith21:49 How Sassafras Gave Us Root Beer...And What Went Wrong25:27 The Great Sassafras Hunts for Saloop27:33 The Invention of Root Beer28:50 Making Fermented vs. Carbonated Root Beer30:24 Growing Sassafras for Beauty, Hedges, Specimen Trees, and Remediation36:05 Water Break: Love Your Library37:28 Cola Nut? Kola Nut? Pick Your Spelling.39:54 West African Names for Cola Nut40:58 The Etymology of Cola Nut42:56 The Cola Tree, Both Evergreen and Deciduous43:55 Cola's Unusual Flowering and Fruiting Habit45:45 Cola Range and Cultivation46:44 The Cola Nut: A Fleshy Pod47:57 Culinary and Medicinal Uses of Cola51:00 Cultural and Hospitality Uses in West Africa52:29 Cola Nut Harvesting53:20 The Invention of Coca Cola54:40 1880 Ad for Coca Cola, an "Intellectual Beverage"56:11 Conclusion and Contact Us
    --------  
    57:21
  • Ep. 29 Climate Action with Lauren Saville
    This week we’re celebrating the difference that can be made when a regional government supports its people and businesses in taking climate action. Get inspired by impactful local initiatives in Muskoka, Ontario, like:the Climate Hero Program, which awards individuals and businesses Bronze, Silver, and Gold rankings for the climate-friendly actions they take (including planting a pollinator garden!)the Muskoka EnvironHub website packed with resourcesthe Muskoka GeoHub, an online web mapping portal featuring floodplain mapping, real-time water levels, shoreline videos, and morea Community Energy and Emissions Reduction Planand, importantly, a Corporate Greenhouse Gas Initiative since the onus for change cannot be on residents alone.Our guest, Lauren Saville, is the Community Climate Initiatives Coordinator in Muskoka. Her work takes her into the heart of a cottage-country community where “the environment is the economy and the economy is the environment.” She helps residents understand how the changing climate is impacting their wallets and ways of life, and offers them opportunities to make real change. She gives presentations to schools and to the public, inspiring and equipping them to take action in their own lives. And she’s involved with a huge range of initiatives that make life better for people AND the planet. Listen now and get motivated by the interconnectedness of environment, economy, and community well-being. Access Muskoka’s excellent community resources:The Climate Hero Program: https://www.engagemuskoka.ca/climate-heroesThe Muskoka EnviroHub: https://www.muskoka.on.ca/en/environment/EnviroHub.aspxUpcoming Outreach and Education Events with Lauren: https://www.muskoka.on.ca/en/environment/outreach-and-education.aspx The Muskoka GeoHub: https://www.muskoka.on.ca/en/environment/maps.aspx segment? Email us, reach out over social media, or get Q&A priority by supporting us on Patreon. Discord: https://discord.gg/K6wF9dY4Ja Bluesky: @plantsalwayswin.com TikTok: @plantsalwayswinpodcast YouTube: @plantsalwayswinpodcastWebsite: www.plantsalwayswin.com CreditsWebsite Design and Illustration by Sophia AlladinIntro and Outro Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/when-my-ukulele-playsLicense code: GWOIMMBAS15FG6PHTimestamps00:50 Introducing Lauren Saville, Community Climate Initiatives Coordinator02:20 Tackling Climate Change at the Community and Corporate Levels06:43 Insurers are Motivated to Mitigate Climate Change07:51 How the Community Responds09:37 Climate Complacency: When Nature's Beauty Backfires11:10 Sean Joins the Climate Hero Program15:04 Lauren's Community and School Talks18:58 Pollinator Plants, Shoreline Greening, and Love Your Lake23:30 Partnering with Other Organizations Drives Change!25:48 What Is a Watershed?27:03 What Lauren Loves About her Job32:15 Love for Muskoka, Love for Nature33:55 Lauren's Home Garden Projects35:15 Find Muskoka's EnviroHub and Stewardship Outreach36:22 We Can All Make Change38:25 Outro and Contact Us
    --------  
    39:43
  • Ep. 28 Cultivation Activism with Lorraine Johnson
    This week we talk about the activism embedded in native plant gardening and the creation of pollinator habitat with Lorraine Johnson.Lorraine styles herself as a “cultivation activist”. It’s a term she came up with to describe the common purpose at the intersection of everything she does, from writing books to giving talks to supporting the fight against harmful grass and weed bylaws. This episode is for anyone who:feels guilt or overwhelm when they think about gardening, native plants, and invasive speciesfeels anger or frustration about garden centres promoting invasive plantsneeds tools and resources to fight bylaws that make it hard to grow ecologically responsible gardens (even in cities that have signed pollinator pledges and are investing in flood protection!)wants to feel re-energized about the value of gardening as activismYou can find Lorraine online at https://lorrainejohnson.ca, where she shares her bibliography, her presentation topics, a blog with lots of updates on native-plant advocacy, and a (sometimes up-to-date) list of upcoming events where she’ll be presenting. Here are the resources Lorraine shared for bylaw advocacy:Network of Nature’s interactive map for finding a native plant nursery near you: https://networkofnature.org/where-to-buy.htm/ Ecological Design Lab’s Bylaws for Biodiversity toolkit for municipalities: https://ecologicaldesignlab.ca/site/uploads/2024/07/EDL_Bylaws-Biodiversity_ToolkitforMunicipalities.pdfThe David Suzuki Foundation Action Alert Bylaw toolhttps://davidsuzuki.org/action/bylaws-for-biodiversity/ The 1000 Islands Master Gardeners’ post about the Kingston, Ontario bylaw reform on which they collaborated: https://1000islandsmastergardeners.ca/2024/07/29/prohibited-plants-in-kingstons-new-bylaw/A news story about Kyla Moore’s advocacy on Thunder Bay, Ontario’s bylaw change: https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/thunder-bay-could-be-a-leader-says-boulevard-garden-advocate-9982234 Comments? Feedback? Want your garden question to be featured in a future Q&A segment? Email us, reach out over social media, or get Q&A priority by supporting us on Patreon. Discord: https://discord.gg/K6wF9dY4Ja Bluesky: @plantsalwayswin.com TikTok: @plantsalwayswinpodcast YouTube: @plantsalwayswinpodcastWebsite: www.plantsalwayswin.com CreditsWebsite Design and Illustration by Sophia AlladinIntro and Outro Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/when-my-ukulele-playsLicense code: GWOIMMBAS15FG6PHTImestamps00:11 Introducing Lorraine Johnson01:29 Cultivation Activist: Making Change with Plants07:53 Native-Plant Gardening for Joy, not as a Burden11:16 Tips to get Started with Native Plants12:40 Finding Your Community of Pollinator People15:52 Relieving the Burden: Do the Best You Can17:50 What has Changed in Four Decades of Native-Plant Gardening23:13 Meet People Where they're at25:45 Reclaiming Responsibility as a Joy27:14 Plants as our Kin27:20 Changing Language: Naturalized vs. Native31:44 Changing Language: Invasive Species and Groundcovers34:46 Native Groundcover Options38:00 Gardening Isn't Just for Humans40:00 Reforming Grass and Weeds Bylaws45:00 Convincing Municipalities to Change Bad Bylaws46:00 Kyla Moore's Successful Bylaw Campaign in Thunder Bay, Ontario47:41 Proactive Bylaw Reform in Kingston, Ontario48:48 Native Plant Suggestions for New Developments51:07 Street Trees and Project Swallowtail in Toronto54:01 The Canadian Coalition for Invasive Plant Regulation58:50 "Nothing Will Grow Here." Working with the Land1:05:55 2025: A Year of Abundance1:09:01 Shout-Out: David Suzuki Foundation Action Alert Bylaws1:11:12 Finding Lorraine Online1:14:04 Outro and Contact Us
    --------  
    1:15:32
  • Ep. 27 Tomato vs. Pepper Part II
    It’s Part II of the nightshade party!Sean and Erin plunge back in with tomatoes and peppers, covering cultural history, culinary and medical uses, and fun facts about these garden staples of the nightshade family. If you could look back thousands of years to see gardens in the Andes mountains, you would find both of them growing there. Find out how peppers once acted both as a trade good and a discipline tool, where tomatoes have spread most around the world, and the truth about the fantastical-sounding tomato-potato. If you want to know more about growing tomatoes and peppers or to explore their botany and etymology, be sure to check out Part I of this plant face-off. Who brought the most fascinating facts about their plant this week? Vote for borage or cosmos by tagging us on social media and using the hashtag #PAWFaceOff. Comments? Feedback? Want your garden question to be featured in a future Q&A segment? Email us, reach out over social media, or get Q&A priority by supporting us on Patreon. Discord: https://discord.gg/K6wF9dY4Ja Bluesky: @plantsalwayswin.com TikTok: @plantsalwayswinpodcast YouTube: @plantsalwayswinpodcastWebsite: www.plantsalwayswin.com CreditsWebsite Design and Illustration by Sophia AlladinIntro and Outro Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/when-my-ukulele-playsLicense code: GWOIMMBAS15FG6PHCitationsThe biggest global tomato-growing nations todaySolanum lycopersicum (Tomato, Tomatoes). (n.d.). North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/solanum-lycopersicum/#:~:text=The%20genus%20name%2C%20Solanum%2C%20is,when%20they%20came%20to%20EuropeTomato varieties, history, and misconceptions of toxicityThe University of Vermont. (n.d.). A History of Tomatoes. University of Vermont Extension. https://www.uvm.edu/extension/news/history-tomatoes#:~:text=Tomatoes%20have%20undergone%20centuries%20of,Andes%20of%20 western%20South%20africa Heirloom vegetablesHeirloom vegetables. (n.d.). Wisconsin Horticulture. https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/heirloom-vegetables/ Carnivorous tomatoes!Chase, M. W., Christenhusz, M. J. M., Sanders, D., & Fay, M. F. (2009). Murderous plants: Victorian Gothic, Darwin and modern insights into vegetable carnivory. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 161(4), 329–356. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.01014.x Toxicity of capsaicinRohrig, B. (2013). Hot peppers: Muy caliente! In Chemmatters. American Chemical Society. https://www.acs.org/chemmatters The debate about weaponizing capsaicinPeppers as non-lethal weapons. (2022). In The Royal Society of Chemistry eBooks (pp. 145–155). https://doi.org/10.1039/9781839160646-00145Chili peppers in cultural historyKelly, V. a. P. B. C. P. (2021, March 5). The Trail of Fire: The Story of the Chili Pepper. Synaptic Space. https://synapticspace.wordpress.com/2019/05/02/the-long-journey-of-the-chili-pepper/The capsaicin isn’t in the pepper seedsCronin, J. R. (2002). The chili pepper’s pungent principle: capsaicin delivers diverse health benefits. Alternative and Complementary Therapies, 8(2), 110–113. https://doi.org/10.1089/10762800252909865 Timestamps00:11 Introduction01:28 Culinary and Medicinal Uses of Peppers04:30 Pepper Spray Throughout History05:55 Is Capsaicin Toxic? 07:00 Why Capsaicin Burns09:44 Health Benefits of Capsaicin12:24 Nutritional Benefits of Tomatoes16:15 A Brief History of Tomatoes20:41 A Brief History of Peppers27:00 Tomato Fun Facts 30:00 Heirloom Varieties38:43 The Tomato Potato40:36 Tomatoes are Carnivorous?43:22 Pepper Seeds are not Where the Heat Is!44:45 The Scoville Scale to Measure the Heat of Peppers37:37 Outro and Contact Us
    --------  
    49:10
  • Ep. 26 Tomato vs. Pepper Part I
    In this shady plant face-off, Sean and Erin explore two of the gardening world’s favourite nightshades: tomatoes and peppers. Both are members of the family Solanaceae, and have plenty of traits in common, so rather than splitting the episode in half our two hosts try a livelier approach this week, passing the stage back and forth to talk about their chosen plant’s botany, etymology, growing habits, and pest and disease management. Prepare for a wealth of interesting information (did you know the Spanish word for tomato references an old belief in their aphrodisiac qualities?) alongside practical gardening tips (make sure you don’t feed your pepper plant too late in the season). And what about our other usual categories of cultural history, culinary and medical uses, and fascinating facts? Well, there’s just so much to say about these delicious horticultural staples that you’ll have to tune in next week to hear the rest. Comments? Feedback? Want your garden question to be featured in a future Q&A segment? Email us, reach out over social media, or get Q&A priority by supporting us on Patreon. Discord: https://discord.gg/K6wF9dY4Ja Bluesky: @plantsalwayswin.com TikTok: @plantsalwayswinpodcast YouTube: @plantsalwayswinpodcastWebsite: www.plantsalwayswin.com CreditsWebsite Design and Illustration by Sophia AlladinIntro and Outro Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/when-my-ukulele-playsLicense code: GWOIMMBAS15FG6PHCitationsTomato overview and etymologySolanum lycopersicum (Tomato, Tomatoes). (n.d.). North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/solanum-lycopersicum/#:~:text=The%20genus%20name%2C%20Solanum%2C%20is,when%20they%20came%20to%20EuropeA History of TomatoesThe University of Vermont. (n.d.). A History of Tomatoes. University of Vermont Extension. https://www.uvm.edu/extension/news/history-tomatoes#:~:text=Tomatoes%20have%20undergone%20centuries%20of,Andes%20of%20western%20South%20America Heirloom VegetablesHeirloom vegetables. (n.d.). Wisconsin Horticulture. https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/heirloom-vegetables/ Adventitious Roots on TomatoesGrant, A. (2021, June 19). Bumpy tomato stems: Learn about white growths on tomato plants. Gardening Know How. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/white-growths-on-tomato-plants.htm Carnivorous Tomatoes!Chase, M. W., Christenhusz, M. J. M., Sanders, D., & Fay, M. F. (2009). Murderous plants: Victorian Gothic, Darwin and modern insights into vegetable carnivory. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 161(4), 329–356. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.01014.x Bell pepper overviewCapsicum annuum Grossum Group (Bell Pepper, Green Pepper, Red Pepper, Sweet Pepper). (n.d.). North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Retrieved June 2, 2025, from https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/capsicum-annuum-grossum-group/#:~:text=The%20Grossum%20Group%20of%20this,plant%20grows%20upright%20and%20bushy. Hot pepper overviewCapsicum frutescens (Bird Pepper, Capsicum, Hot Pepper, Tabasco Pepper). (n.d.). North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Retrieved June 4, 2025, from https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/capsicum-frutescens/Growing peppers in CanadaCollege of Agriculture and Bioresources. (n.d.). Peppers. Gardening at USASK. Retrieved June 2, 2025, from https://gardening.usask.ca/gardening-advice/gardenline-nested-pages/food-plant-pages/vegetables/peppers.php Planting conditions for peppers: home gardenersJeavons, J. (2012). How to Grow More Vegetables, eighth edition: (and Fruits, Nuts, Berries, Grains, and Other Crops) Than You Ever Thought Possible on Less Land Than You Can Imagine (8th ed.). Random House Digital, Inc.Growing peppers profitably as a market gardenerFortier, J., & Bilodeau, M. (2014). The market gardener: A Successful Grower’s Handbook for Small-scale Organic Farming. New Society Publishers.Toxicity of capsaicinRohrig, B. (2013). Hot peppers: Muy caliente! In Chemmatters. American Chemical Society. https://www.acs.org/chemmatters Timestamps00:12 Introduction01:08 What's Growing On: Erin's doing EVERYTHING01:35 What's Growing On: Sean's Grafting, Chickens, and Late Frosts03:40 Canada in June: A Compressed Garden Season05:24 Water Break: Fruits vs. Vegetables07:38 Botanical Background: Solanaceae, the Nightshade Family10:50 Tomato Taxonomy11:53 The Native Range of Tomatoes14:07 Hot Peppers, Bell Peppers, and Cayenne Pepper16:37 Aztec Empire Tangent18:19 Etymology and Black Pepper vs. Capsicum Peppers20:03 Caring for Tomatoes22:36 How Deep do you Plant Your Tomato?24:59 Starting Tomatoes from Seed26:56 Soil and Fertilization for Tomatoes29:53 Grafting Tomatoes31:35 Tomato Toxins34:33 How Peppers Grow37:40 Don't Fertilize Peppers too Late39:35 Should You Top Your Pepper Plants?42:16 How Market Gardeners Grow Peppers43:30 Irrigation and Blossom-End Rot45:26 Pests and Diseases of Peppers46:50 Pests and Diseases of Tomatoes52:05 How to Mitigate Pests and Disease59:41 Outro
    --------  
    1:01:16

About Plants Always Win

Plants Always Win is a podcast where two Ontario gardeners dive down plant-fact rabbit-holes, answer audience questions, interview intriguing guests, and compete to bring you the most interesting stories and information. We care about ecologically sound gardening, strong human communities, and up-to-date science.
Podcast website
Social
v7.23.3 | © 2007-2025 radio.de GmbH
Generated: 8/21/2025 - 9:53:41 AM