Last updated on October 2nd, 2016
I’ve had a busy week! First, I whipped up some wonderful Pumpkin Muffins (recipe here). Then I tidied the gardens and scoured the kitchen. And yesterday, the delightful Jennifer Hausler stopped by to shoot a Facebook LIVE segment for the Garden Conservancy. Would you like to see it?
Note! This was Jennifer’s and my first time in the live-streaming rodeo. (You’ll have to forgive some audio glitches, including one at the very beginning and another from the 4:07 to 4:46 mark.) Still, we had a great time! In the clip below, I’ll propagate some boxwood. Then I’ll grab some tomatoes and basil from the garden, and turn them into a savory pie.
Wanna see more videos on this website? You can let me know by leaving a comment. As always, I love hearing from you!
xKevin
George C. says
I couldn’t quite make out the audio in the end of the fast growing evergreen? What is the name of it ? something Giant ?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi George C. – Thuja ‘Green Giant.’ Click here for details about this fast-growing conifer.
Ellen says
Soooo much info you have shared. I’ll be making tomato pie tonight!!
Linda says
Delightful presentation, Kevin. Loved walking around your gardens – a totally new perspective than the photos we are used to. I did wonder however, how you will reach your herbs once the boxwood grows up around them. Also intend to try the tomato pie but am wondering about using ricotta cheese instead of mayo. Ever tried it that way?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Linda – Thanks for watching the video! Lots of variations for tomato pie. Be sure to read the recipe here: Classic Tomato Pie.
Tracy says
Kevin, I love videos, especially of people who are already known to me via their wonderful blogs. So, yes! More, more! I must say, before producing more, be sure to find a tripod for the camera and a wireless mic, and perhaps find a buddy who is a bit more experienced in framing a shot and editing. Hand held cameras, especially without a stabilizer, create images that are exhausting for a viewer’s eye to follow. It’s not hard, honest. Best of luck! I think you’re on to something. And quite photogenic, to boot.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Tracy – The above video was from Facebook Live, shot with a cell phone and streamed without edits. I’ve hired both a professional videographer and a TV producer for future videos. I’ll shoot as many gardening/cooking/decorating segments as my blogging budget permits!
Kate says
Wonderful! And yes, please more videos of your lovely home and garden and delicious cooking. This was a delight, and so informative. Thank you so much!
Becky D. says
Love it! Please do add more videos! Love your home and enjoyed getting to see it as well as some of your gorgeous gardens. I am going to make a tomato pie!
Rox Williams says
Thoroughly enjoyed the video! Looking forward to seeing the next video installments. Was expecting Lily to make her formal entrance during the mention of cheese during the tomato pie demonstration. With all your propagation experience, have you ever tried to propagate roses?
Lizee A. says
Loved seeing the video that aired Thursday. I made the tomato pie several times this summer when my heirlooms were providing a bounty. Our farmers market opened this weekend and I shared your blog about Winter Sowing with some of the vendors and those listening around. Made a huge difference in my germinating seeds and developing a garden ready plant. Thanks for your commitment to the blog.
Phyllis Bachinski says
Loved the video and able to put a voice to the person! Loved seeing the garden and the surroundings! Loved the step-by-step of the tomato pie, which I already made twice since your post! Keep it coming………..I really look forward to your email each week!
Marye says
Love this video. Enjoyed seeing the garden and learning about the box wood propagation .
Karon says
Fair play to ya Kevin – nice to meet you in the flesh, so to speak! Another title to add to your seemingly endless list of achievements – vlogger extraordinaire Just one tiny criticism from the doglets here at Spaniel HQ – where was their favourite leading lady???!!!
Maraya says
Hi, Kevin,
I’m definitely a social media Luddite, so videos on this website would be greatly appreciated.
Maraya
georgeann says
Loved it all!!!!! Enjoyed watching the video. Beautiful house. I also thought we would see Lily, maybe next time. See you again.
Lilliput says
lol. “the house was 10 minutes from falling down.” You are a great host, very warm.
Lilliput says
p.s. you would love a country pile in England.
Susan Owens says
Loved seeing your garden and YOU in person! A little less shaking on the the video would be a good thing, but it was still wonderful. Have made toamato pie several times this summer and since there are still a few beauties left in my garden, I think it will be dinner for tonight…if I can harvest them in between the raindrops…looking forward to more.
Kathy C. says
This was like being reunited with an old friend after many years. It’s strange how familiar the boxwood garden and the herb patio were to me already. I really enjoyed the boxwood demo–seeing it live reinforced the simplicity of the whole thing in ways that words alone cannot do.
Looking forward to more videos, Kevin, and of course, to meeting Lily as well!
Julie says
Kevin-loved the video visit with you. If you can conquer the audio issues by perhaps dubbing in an approximation of what you said, I’d vote for more! I’m not a real germofobe but I always like to see food demonstrators wash hands, or in your case, a phrase like ” Please excuse me while I wash up” and a pause in the tape would do for a transition from planting boxwood to making your yummy Tomato Pie. I know it must have happened, but it creeped me out…sorry…just giving my honest reaction. I’d also hope that you’d stand tall, throw back your shoulders and be proud of the amazing person you are!
Enid says
What time of year is best for propagating boxwood? Can I do it in the next few weeks? Before there’s a frost? I’m just a bit north of you, on the Hudson, in Glens Falls.
Angeline says
Watching you prepare a recipe for the first time was so calming. You have a very soothing manner of talking and walking and cooking. It was like listening to very soothing music. Thank you for sharing you with us.
Rhonda Strahler says
Oh my. Now I am even MORE in love with you, Kevin!! Thank you for the video – I tried your tomato pie from a previous post & it surely is divine. Keep up the good work!
Sharon Rea says
Oh, what a joy to HEAR you guide us through your gardens…and then create such a yummy Tomato Pie! I think your 4-legged taste tester, droppings on the floor cleaner-upper, just might have a few fans also! Please include, next time! Hello from Iowa~
Edie says
Hi Kevin! So nice to meet you via video! I have enjoyed your home, gardens and recipes for a long time via the still shots – the video made it real! Can’t wait for a cocktail and stroll through the serpentine garden….with Lily too!
jean diemer says
Hi Kevin,
So nice to “meet you in person” and hear your voice. Just loved the video and seeing first hand some of the places we’ve read about the last few years. I have made your tomato pie and it was a big hit! Thanks for inviting us into your home and hopefully we will get to meet Ms. Lily sometime. Blessings
Doreen says
Loved the video…PLEASE, PLEASE do more. You’re a natural!
Joanne Toft says
Ok Kevin- I tried growing the boxwood with no luck. I did but it in pots and my pieces were larger. Do you think that was the issue? I am wondering if I started some now in pots to establish through the winter inside – do you think it would work? I live in Mpls, Mn. So we are marching towards winter now.
Karen at Country Gardens says
Loved the video! I love box woods but so do the deer of which I have many going thru out the neighborhood. The tomato pie looks delicious so I will have to try. I have 38 blueberry bushes, wanting to get more, and are they good. When I pick I have my Mozart music playing, watching the horses who are just the other side of the fence and just enjoying the free time with nature. Waiting for the next video. Please include Lily
Paullette McLaren says
Hi Kevin
Totally enjoyed your video and hope to see more. I so look forward to reading your blog every week and hope to see those little men toys (?) appearing in your photos. Absolutely charming.
Paullette from Vancouver Island Canada
JUDY says
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the video. Thank you, Kevin and Jennifer. I felt as if I was walking right with you through the garden. My tomatoes are finished for this year but I will check out the farmers market to see if they have any left. The tomato pie looks delicious and certainly is easy enough. The crust—WOW. Never thought of using biscuits. Thanks again. Hope to see more videos soon.
Vivian says
Love the video and would love to see more. It was exciting to walk through your formal boxwood garden with you and to finally get to meet you and hear your voice. I would love to take a video tour of the whole house and gardens.
Kyle says
Hi Kevin: What a nice surprise to see the video on your website. I missed it Thursday. More would be fun. Now we can WATCH YOU swing your hips in a suggestive way while stirring!
I also wanted to tell you that I (just now) baked up a batch of your Chocolate Chunk Cookies with Fresh Mint. I planted mint this year especially for this recipe. And Kevin, they are wonderful! The recipe is so easy and they bake up perfectly. I made them once last summer, but this year I baked, baked, baked and froze a bunch.
Love the new look for the website. Keep the videos coming… love you too.
Cindy H. says
Loved the video!!! So surprised how the dough turned out from packaged biscuits!!! Can’t wait to see more videos! 🙂
Karen L says
You can count me as a “yes vote” on more videos from your wonderful house and garden. I cannot believe what you have done to your property and seemingly in a frugal way. I only wish I had half or even just a quarter of your gardening knowledge so I could figure out what to do with our property. I do think I will try your boxwood technique at our back fence in order to keep my dogs from running up and down with the neighbor dog or barking at the kids when they play basketball. Obviously I will have to protect the young boxwood for a few years but it should save me some money since I will now be able to create my own “babies” from the ones I buy. And yes, as someone else mentioned, we saw Lily’s bowls but not her so bring her in next time if possible. Thanks so much for doing this video. Oh and how soon before the cookbook shows up on shelves?
Arlene S. Bice says
It’s wonderful to see you attain the prominence you deserve, Love your blog for a few years now and your video, too.
Julie R says
Yes, I would love to see more videos ! Thanks for making it available to watch on your website, because I had missed the live video. I really enjoyed seeing your gardens, beautiful home and watching you make the tomato pie. You are a real natural on camera, with your relaxed personality, great sense of humor and full of great info. I hope we will get to see Lily the Beagle in future videos. Maybe Lily could help you make a recipe, by catching any falling tid bits of food that fall off of the cutting board, or she could show us how much she likes to eat the diet food that you make for her = )…just an idea.
Liliane McCarthy says
Hi Kevin, The video was so fun, to see how you walk and talk after all these years of photographs. Will be trying the tomato pie at some point. Next spring will try to propagate boxwoods. Would love to see Lily the beagle in action!
Susan says
I like that your home and work are artful without being fussy and pretentious. Refreshing! Video is encouraging, please do more.
Carmen says
Hi Kevin, Loved the video! Hope you will do more.
Pam R says
I LOVE YOUR VIDEO!!!!! Thank You for taking time to do it.
Kay says
Thank you for the video. As a very visual person, I liked seeing how the different parts of the garden & the house fall in place. Please do more! 🙂
Tami says
Loved having video! I want to see everything this way:) I can’t wait for the house tour!
Peggy Talley Rickard says
I don’t like videos on the computer. this was enjoyable.
Wendy MacDougal says
Great garden tips and recipes. However, you dug in the garden with your hands and then appeared to make the tomato pie with the same hands. KEVIN! Did you wash your hands?
julie says
Kevin – plop plop plop… thanks for keeping it real! Adorable! I too loose things (like the shears) that I just had in my hand! Very nice piece!
brenda treants says
Oh yes, we want to see more videos – this one was super. Only thing, when your camera lady would pan around to show your beautiful gardens, your voice would get very faint or go away all together. Maybe she or the next camera person could work it out so we do not loose the vocal when they turn away from you. I will try the tomato pie, you made it look very easy to make, thank you. Your still pictures are very helpful, but the video was more helpful. Please do more, thank you Kevin Lee. From North Carolina : Brenda Treants
Diana says
Love love love the video Kevin….well done x
anita says
More videos, please, and as many others have said, please include a few cameos of Miss Lily. 🙂
Joanne in Zone 6b says
It was such a treat to see you, your gardens, and your home after enjoying the blog for the last few years. Thanks so much!
Maraya says
I had to chime in about hand washing. Although it’s a good idea to wash hands before cooking (and during when handling raw flesh), there’s not much that’s harmful about garden soil. Statistically, most people consume about 2 pounds of dirt as growing children, and they are actually healthier for it – fewer colds and allergies, and less asthma. The really bad germs are from transit surfaces, shaking hands, doorknobs, and computer keyboards.
Maraya says
Oh – I had to add one more thing: The pie is baked at high enough temperatures to kill any germs.
Jennifer says
Yes! More videos please. I’d love to see more of your beautiful gardens and delicious garden fresh recipes. I’ve learned so much from your blogging efforts. You’ve been a huge inspiration to me on how to use free resources and have a beautiful garden space without spending obscene amounts of money.
Charlotte Dipaola says
I tried making the pie the last time you featured it on your site. Accidently picked up a can of croissants rather than biscuits. The bottom dough didn’t cook at all. Your live demo makes it look so easy, I’m going to give it another try while I can still get fresh tomatoes!
Susan Sacchitello says
Enjoyed your video very much and I hope you will do more. Nice to be
able to “walk through the garden ” with you and your beautiful home !
Also enjoyed hearing about your boxwoods ( I might try that ) and I would really love to see more of your gardens.
Thanks for demonstrating your Tomato pie too !
Your home is gorgeous !!
Carol says
Kevin, you have the personality to do some great videos. I hope you will do many more. I always enjoy your blog.
Marianne says
I got the idea that the tomato pie was just a demo but I cringed when you didn’t wash your hands after getting to the kitchen! Sorry, but I used to work in Infection Control in a hospital! You’re nothing like I expected! Yes, more.
Janis says
What a charming video! Loved the warm, personable style. It was like spending time with a dear friend. Really felt like I was there with you both. Hope to see more videos like this one.
Georgeann Brown says
More videos, please. Well done for an early attempt.
Sharon says
That was truly delightful! Thanks for inviting us into your home and garden. Hope to see you again!
Nickie O says
2thumbs up! Great to see and hear you. Silver Fox is one lucky guy.
Anne says
Really enjoyed seeing this video and hope there are more in the future. Gosh, I really feel like I know you now and have been long time friends. Great!
Deborah Goodman says
I loved it!!! I can’t wait to watch more. Wonderful information on the boxwoods. I always wondered how you did that. Unfortunately there will be no boxwoods here. The Hubby is allergic to them (BBBOOOO!) but they are still very beautiful regardless.
Carolyn says
Thank you for making the world a more beautiful place! I love your presence!
Glenn says
Great video- I felt as if I just met you.
You said the evergreen in your arrangement was f—- Green Giant. I did not understand what the first word was. I would like to grow some as our neighbor is building a dirty big gazebo that overlooks our garden and pool.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Glenn – The shrub is Thuja ‘Green Giant.’ Click here for details.
Ronnie says
Love seeing the video, more please! Ronnie ☺
Margie says
Loved the video! Can’t wait until you can make more. I didn’t mind the homemade quality. I just was happy to meet you after loving your blogs for so long!