With holiday gift shopping season upon us, I am sharing my top gardening gear picks for the gardeners in your life — the tools, accessories and books that you may also want to pick up for yourself. In a nutshell, these are the items that I consider to be the must-have gardening gear — just […]
If you have been practicing organic gardening for a while, you probably observe the mantra “feed the soil and let the soil feed the plants,” though to get even more precise, my returning guest this week, chemist and gardening author Robert Pavlis, explains that what gardeners are actually doing is feeding the microbes in soil, […]
Ecological landscape design is the practice of making meadows and gardens that are both pleasing to the eye and functional parts of the ecosystem, providing resources and habitat for essential wildlife. To share the principles of ecological landscape design and why it is so needed, returning to the podcast this week is landscape designer and […]
Regenerative agriculture is an alternative to conventional agriculture that focuses on improving soil health for better fertility and moisture retention. The benefit to farmers is increased crop yields at less cost, and the benefit to all of us is more carbon being sequestered in soil to mitigate climate change. To discuss how he discovered regenerative […]
Fall may be here, but the gardening season is far from over. Cool season flowers can be planted now or early next spring to give your garden a pop of color and aroma before most gardens are in bloom. In this week’s podcast, flower farmer Lisa Mason Ziegler shares her tips for what to grow, […]
As gardeners, there are many opportunities for us to become better stewards of the environment. On this week’s podcast, I share my ecological garden blueprint: 10 steps for you to take to partner with nature and support the ecosystem. Joining me on the podcast this week is the Director of Marketing and Communications here at […]
Natural garden design is growing in popularity, and many more gardeners would like to get on board if only they had a better idea of how to get started. If you’re curious about starting a natural garden with native plants, then you’re in luck, because my guest this week is author and garden designer Benjamin […]
Part of what makes gardening so magical is that every garden is unique. To share how gardeners can identify their personal garden style and achieve their garden goals, joining me this week is garden author, designer and teacher Rochelle Greayer of Pith + Vigor. Rochelle lives in Massachusetts on a hilltop outside Boston where she […]
Maintaining my five-acre GardenFarm™ and keeping up with documenting the garden’s progress through the growing season is far from a one-person job. This week, Tobi McDaniel, the GardenFarm manager, joins me on the podcast for the first time to offer a peek behind the curtain and share what her days here are like. If you’ve […]
Modern homesteading has surged in popularity since the onset of the pandemic in 2020, which triggered in many people a desire to become more self-sufficient and closer to the land that sustains us. To discuss this phenomenon, the benefits of homesteading and how to get started, joining me on the podcast this week is Jill […]
Time spent outdoors in the fresh air tending to gardens has a rejuvenating effect, which gardener, author and video maker Liz Zorab of Byther Farm can attest to better than anyone. Liz joins me on the podcast this week to share how gardening contributed to restoring her health and to talk about the economical, efficient […]
Native gardening is quickly moving from niche to the mainstream, and unfortunately but perhaps expectedly, homeowners associations are the last to catch on. My guest this week, Melinda Soltys, shares what she experienced tussling with her neighborhood’s HOA over her pollinator garden. Melinda and her family live in Northern Virginia, where she is active in […]
Ladybugs are one of the most beloved beneficial insects in the garden, though most people, including many gardeners, only recognize adult ladybugs. That’s understandable — immature ladybugs look nothing like their adult forms — but it’s important to get to know ladybugs during all stages of their life cycle so beneficials aren’t confused for pests. […]
It can be difficult to find the time and energy to garden as much as we’d like to — and some gardening challenges stop us from ever getting started. This week, I’m sharing my tips for overcoming frequently encountered gardening challenges. To identify the most common gardening challenges, Amy Prentice, my Director of Marketing and […]
Whether you are a newbie gardener or have years of experience, a vegetable garden will keep you on your toes. Pest and disease issues are inevitable, though they can be mitigated by being proactive, and steps can be taken to prevent recurrences. To share her insights and methods, my guest this week is Susan Mulvihill, […]
Nematodes, also known as roundworms, are the most abundant animals on earth but are largely misunderstood. In gardening and agriculture, several nematode species are known for being pests, but it’s important to recognize that many other nematode species are beneficial, providing biological control of insect pests. To explain how lab-produced pheromones can be used to […]
Seed starting season is one of my favorite times of the year. It allows me to start gardening indoors several weeks before my garden beds wake up for the year, and it holds the promise of the growing season to come. In this week’s podcast, I am sharing the seed starting essentials for successfully germinating […]
These weeks just after the calendar turns from one year to the next are the perfect time to think about your goals for the coming gardening season. On this week’s podcast, I discuss plotting out plans for doubling down on what worked well in the garden while also deciding on what I want to stop […]
When a new year begins, I like to reflect on the year that was in my garden: the wins, the challenges, the memorable moments, the teachable moments and the lessons learned. Since we’re all in this together and learning from each other, this week I am sharing top takeaways from 2022 in hopes you can […]
Brix is a measure of sugar content, and when it comes to plants, the higher the Brix value, the healthier and more pest and disease resistant the crop. To give a rundown of the science and significance of Brix and how gardeners can raise the Brix of their plants, my guest this week is entomologist […]
We work so hard in our gardens from spring until fall, but it seems like most of that time we’re just trying to keep up rather than developing a proactive strategy to finally get ahead of it all. That’s why the winter, when things slow down, is the perfect time to work on your garden […]
When it comes to buying soil for your in-ground or raised garden beds, the bottom line is you get what you pay for, but you have plenty of choices. In this video, I break it all down and show you how to get the best bang for your buck. When buying soil, […]
Environmental literacy is achieved when schoolchildren — and adults — attain the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to work individually and together toward sustainability and conservation. My guest this week, environmental education specialist Dr. Todd Klawinski, envisions a future in which all public schools make environmental literacy for students and the community part of […]
I start far more seeds indoors than I can hope to fit in my garden, but that’s on purpose. I like to have some backups to replace plants that fail to thrive or have reached the end of their lifespan. But those seedlings can’t stay in 50-cell trays indefinitely — the roots will have nowhere […]
Some of the most important and ecologically damaging chemicals used in agriculture historically — and still today, in some cases — have their origins in warfare. To share the fascinating history of how these chemicals became prevalent and how the environmental movement fought back, my guest this week is Frank von Hippel, a professor of […]
I’m always encouraging gardeners to learn the “why do” behind the “how to,” because I believe gaining that understanding makes us better at what we do, and to help me do that this week, I’m welcoming back to the podcast Robert Pavlis, a garden myth buster who can break down the plant science behind good […]
It’s hard to pull ourselves away from our gardens at the height of the growing season, but summer is also prime time for vacation and we all need to take breaks periodically to unwind and reset. Here are steps you can take to prepare your garden so you can enjoy your vacation without ever having […]
The time that we take out of our busy days to spend in the garden is precious, and we should always strive to make it as productive and enjoyable as possible, especially during the very trying times of summer. This week, I’m sharing my tips for having a successful summer in the garden while reducing […]
Hydroponic gardening is a soil-free horticulture method for raising crops both indoors and out, and it’s a lot simpler than it appears to be. To share what you need to know to get started in hydroponics, my guest this week is Master Gardener and experienced hydroponic gardener Roger Sadowski. Roger is a native of Cleveland, […]
PittMoss has emerged as an alternative to peat moss as a growing medium and potting mix — and that’s great news for gardeners who wish to break their peat habit in favor of a sustainable product. Here to explain what PittMoss is, how it’s made, and the advantages of using recycled materials is Dr. Charles […]
Coconut coir is growing in popularity as a seed starting and growing medium, especially, as a replacement for peat moss. But using coir for this purpose has its challenges. To shed light on the history of coir in horticulture and how its naturally high salt content can be overcome for seed starting and seedling growth, […]
Gardening hurdles are those challenges that stop us from gardening as much as we’d like to — or that stop us from getting started in the first place. On this week’s podcast, I share advice on overcoming common gardening hurdles that listeners have shared. Joining me this week is Amy Prentice, my Director of Marketing […]
Gardeners know the importance of attracting more pollinators to their yards, but there are other beneficial insects that don’t get the attention and the credit they deserve, namely predatory and parasitoid insects. To discuss the value of these vital insects and how to attract them to your garden, my guest this week is horticulturist and […]
Though there are a number of methods gardeners can use to extend the growing season, there is a period of dormancy for most gardens in the winter months between December and February. During these coldest months, I take this opportunity to work on my garden rather than in my garden. The careful planning and work […]
Soil microbes are the microscopic life in soil that work in concert with roots to feed plants. To help us better understand the symbiotic relationship between microbes and healthy plants, my guest on the podcast this week is David Stark, an expert in molecular biology. David is an Indiana resident with a doctorate in molecular […]
When we talk about pest control in gardens, we think about the insects that want to eat our vegetables and ornamentals, but there is a major pest that wants to feed on gardeners themselves — the mosquito. For a better understanding of mosquitoes and effective mosquito control, my guest this week, Raven Forrest Fruscalzo of […]
Our fall gardens really can get started as early as spring when we sow seeds that take many months to mature (hello Brussels sprouts), but July and August present even more opportunities to plant crops that will be ready to harvest come September, October and even later. To share her best tips for succession planning […]
Conducting a bioassay test is a way to determine if composted horse manure contains persistent herbicides that could be detrimental to plants. It’s not that complicated, but there are a few steps to follow to ensure reliable results. Once contaminated horse manure has been added to your garden beds, it may create problems that take […]
Mixing liquid fertilizer can be time-consuming, so I’d like to share with you a way that I have found to get more done in less time. In this video, I’ll show you how to use liquid fertilizer more efficiently. As an organic gardener, I don’t have to fertilize much because I use […]
Getting more organized in the garden starts with having the tools that you use most often close by and easily accessible — because there’s nothing more frustrating than needing that one tool and not being able to find it. In this video, I’m sharing simple ways to get more organized in the garden. […]
Hügelkultur is a centuries-old gardening technique using wood (tree logs) as the base layer in raised beds. The concept has had a resurgence in popularity in recent years, but many gardeners still have questions about how and why to practice hügelkultur. Fortunately, my guest on this week’s podcast, hügelkultur expert Paul Wheaton, is here to […]
One of the reasons my soil is so productive is because I use a lot of worm castings, or worm manure, that I harvest from a worm bin that I made myself. In this video, DIY expert Todd Brock and I show you the steps to make your own outdoor worm bin so you too […]
Every week across all of the joegardener and Growing a Greener World social media channels and the Online Gardening Academy courses, I receive scores of questions and requests for advice, and I try to answer as many as possible. For this week’s podcast, I’ve rounded up some of your most frequently asked gardening questions for […]
With all of the responsibilities we have in our daily lives, the time that we can dedicate to tending to and enjoying our garden is often all too short. On this week’s podcast, I share my tips for making precious gardening time more productive and more pleasurable — and for ensuring summer success. I can […]
Any natural mulch is better than no mulch at all, but that being said, there are pros and cons to each option. In this video, I explain the benefits and drawbacks of common organic mulch options. While gardening, I always use mulch, especially in my raised bed vegetable gardens. I’m often asked […]
Vining crops grown vertically need strong supports — and livestock panels are just the thing. In this video, I show three different methods for using livestock panels in vertical gardening. Vining crops can grow out or up. Growing up improves light into the plant and air circulation, both of which make for […]
We’re all anxious to get our plants in the ground, but if we’re not careful and we rush it, we can really set our plants’ progress back significantly. It’s an exciting time in the garden, but also a time to exercise restraint and self-discipline. On this week’s podcast, I share tips for setting plants up […]
The growing season is quickly approaching, and there are a number of things to take care of now to get the best results during the rest of the year. This week, I present a timely encore of my list of the Top 10 Things to Do Now to Prepare the Garden for Spring. This is […]
No-dig gardening is a simple gardening method that many gardeners — who were taught for years that they had to till or turn their gardens annually — still have many questions about. To demystify no-dig gardening and explain its benefits, my guest this week is my longtime friend Charlie Nardozzi, a nationally recognized garden writer, […]
Have you ever compared a packet of conventional seeds and a packet of organic seeds and wondered what the difference truly is? My guest this week — to demystify what it means when seeds are organic — is Tom Stearns, a pioneer of growing and selling organic seeds. Tom Stearns is the founder and owner […]
Before placing your order online or filling out a seed catalog order form, be sure you are making the best buying decisions. In this week’s episode, I’m sharing tips to help make you a more informed seed shopper. Below, I explain what to do before you start, how to process the plethora of seed catalogs […]
One of Mother Nature’s very best gifts comes every fall, as leaves drop from trees. For the small price of collecting the leaves and depositing them in your garden beds as mulch, the returns are high. Raking and blowing leaves is a dreaded task for many of us, but those leaves are […]
Planting cool-season crops poses a challenge when the weather is still hot, but there are tools you can employ to protect plants that don’t tolerate the heat. Once plants are in the ground, apply a layer of about two inches of mulch over the bare soil around the plants, then water it […]
When many gardeners are picking their last crops for the year and getting ready to say goodbye to their gardens until spring, Niki Jabbour doesn’t slow down when temperatures drop. Though Niki lives in USDA zone 5b in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where winter temperatures can plunge to 0 degrees Fahrenheit, she can harvest fresh vegetables […]
A simple cold frame is just what you need to get more out of your garden, from getting an early start coming into spring to extending your growing season well into fall and winter. Cold frames are easy to build — you can make one in an hour or two — and the materials are […]
These past few months have been difficult for many of us, but one bright side has been the re-ignited interest in gardening. I’ve heard from so many people who’ve never planted anything before but are eager to grow their own food. Gardeners of all experience levels have been able to spend more time with their […]
Over the years I’ve tried my share of gardening tools. Along the way, I’ve spent (and wasted) a lot of money. But it hasn’t been a total loss. Some of those purchases have resulted in the tools I can’t live without, including what I consider my top 12 tools to make your gardening life easier […]
No matter where you garden, chances are good that you struggle with deer damage. Deer are a constant issue here on my rural 5-acre GardenFarm™ north of Atlanta, GA; but they can be just as prevalent in the midst of urban spaces too. Gardeners often turn to deer-resistant plants as a solution. The fact is, […]
Are you ready to get your garden geek on? In today’s episode we’re diving into the deep end on the subject of soil – specifically, understanding the soil food web. If you’ve ever told anyone that you “like to play in the dirt” to describe your love of gardening, I’m willing to bet that this […]
Whether you’ve got an extensive garden area or just a postage-stamp-sized balcony, you can garden in containers just about anywhere. There are some similarities in techniques for gardening in the landscape versus containers, however there are many key differences for success too. This week’s guest is Karen Chapman, and she’s a sought-after expert in the […]
Sometimes, you just have one of those weeks. I didn’t intend to share a podcast on garden safety this week, but a series of accidents – and shared experiences of our team – inspired a conversation about all the shortcuts which can put us at risk in the garden. I hope some of these reminders […]
As winter slowly yields to spring, the call to get our hands into the soil becomes irresistible. These spring tips for vegetable garden success are a valuable guide to the essential steps everyone can and should take for a bountiful and productive garden. Pick the best location You may have heard the phrase, pick the […]
Would you say you had a resilient garden? Did it stand up to the challenges of this past growing season? This year has been especially difficult for many of us, and while we’re in the middle of my favorite garden time – fall – I’m also already in planning mode for next year. Each season, […]
How well do you know the insect world of your garden? Can you tell the good bugs from the bad bugs? Did you know there are prey and predator insects? This week’s guest, Jessica Walliser, used to be a bug hater. As a horticulturist, she was trained that bugs were the enemy, and she spent […]
This week, I spoke with Mark Highland of Organic Mechanics. Mark is passionate about soil and has quite the pedigree, having graduated from the Masters Program at Longwood Gardens. Well-versed in the basics of biochar, he’s also recently written Practical Organic Gardening – The no-nonsense guide to growing naturally. It’s a book packed with insight on […]
Vacation season has arrived, and if you’ve got a trip planned, you need to take some key steps to prepare your garden for your absence. After all, you’ve probably invested more than your fair share of time (and money!) nursing your plants through a difficult spring, getting new vegetables established, and planting up those containers. […]
Do you garden in raised beds? If not, why not? Given the options, I can’t imagine not gardening in raised beds. Raised beds are versatile in shape and structure, and they provide the ideal starting point for gardening success and bountiful crops. Let’s dive in to the Top Five benefits offered by a raised bed garden: […]
In today’s podcast, I’m joined by Lee Reich, and we explore some of the subjects in his new book, The Ever Curious Gardener – Using a Little Natural Science for a Much Better Garden. As curious gardeners, Lee and I are always pursuing the “why” behind the workings of the garden. I believe this drives […]
There’s nothing like the approach of spring to get you itching to spend time in the garden. If the snow still lies menacingly on the ground where you live, you may feel like there’s not much you can do – yet. But those weeks after winter (or a long, cold spring) wanes and before the […]
For everything there is a season, and when it comes to lawn renovation, spring and fall are it for cool season grasses. Organic lawn care steps taken early in the year can save you water, money and time all through the summer and into fall, while attention in fall will give your lawn a jump […]
Welcome to the last in our series on raised bed gardening. As you probably know by now, we received so many responses from my email group that this raised bed podcast turned into a three-part series. If you would like to join the conversation and contribute to future topics, I invite you to click the red […]
In this podcast, we continue our discussion on raised bed gardening. In case you missed it: I had invited my email group to send me any questions they hoped I would answer on the topic of raised bed gardening. I received a huge response, many from folks who plan to start raised bed gardening for […]
Are you building a raised bed garden, or are you looking to improve your raised bed crops? You have come to the right place. Earlier this year, I invited my email group to send me any questions they would like me to answer on the topic of raised bed gardening. Little did I expect the […]
Susan Morrison is a landscape designer and author of the new book, The Less is More Garden – Big ideas for designing your small yard. She joins us for this podcast to discuss some of her fascinating ideas and philosophies for small space garden design. While her book is tailored to small space gardens, I […]
It’s late winter. Maybe you’ve started your seeds indoors, but it will be several more weeks before those frost-free days when you can get them in the ground. Maybe you’re browsing through those plant catalogs or websites and making plans for some additions to your landscape. There’s more you can do now – some spring garden […]
Greetings from the dead of winter! Let’s face it–many of us gardener-types probably don’t, hmmmm, how shall we say it? DEAL WELL WITH WINTER. First, there’s the cold, and then the snow or the ice (or both!) and the dirty looks at one’s spouse when they suggest you get off the couch and up from […]
Today’s gardening podcast and show notes concludes this three-part series, Garden Myths Busted. We’re so grateful to Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott for her willingness to share her wisdom here. As with the previous two show note posts, the following summary is taken from Linda’s responses in this current podcast episode to my questions of various garden […]
In this podcast, Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott continues to shed light on some of the most common gardening myths. Today we’re covering a diverse range of topics including controlling Japanese beetles, companion planting, composting techniques, watering, why not to use baking soda for disease control, and do scarecrows work? The following commentary is derived from today’s […]
As gardeners, we are always looking for tips and tricks to keep our plants healthy and make our gardens look as beautiful as possible. But have you ever wondered if the advice you’ve taken from someone is based on science? How do you know which is the good? Do some remedies do more harm than […]
While the end of the year is often associated with the holiday season and gathering with family and friends, for many gardeners, it’s the start of their next great garden – thanks to the arrival of seed catalogs. Surrounded by a plethora of newly arrived seed catalogs, it can feel overwhelming yet exhilarating. So how […]
As we close out 2017, it’s time to talk about what’s ahead for the new year. With 52 new weekly episodes, we have a lot of great content planned for you. And it’s not only the podcasts. Some other enhancements are in the works as we plan for the best user experience yet for joe […]
Learning Botanical Latin 101 is the gold standard for gardeners who really want to start expanding their knowledge of plant names. But finding resources for learning the official language of plants can be a challenge. Few classes are offered to the public around the country on the topic (Botanical Gardens are your best bet), and […]
This episode is a fascinating discussion with one of the great chefs and thought leaders of our time. What Dan Barber so passionately and eloquently shares in this podcast I cannot do justice by trying to translate it into show notes. So I won’t. To fully appreciate Dan’s message here, it needs to be heard, […]
Hello from Holly. This is the story of our raised beds. When I reflect back on it, it seems like it was someone else’s story, but then I glance out into the yard, and my heart jumps a little, and I remember, “HEY, THAT REALLY HAPPENED.” (This seems like as good a time as any to […]
If you’re here because you’d like to learn more about backyard composting, you’ve come to the right place. I believe the single biggest reason more people don’t compost, or quit too soon, is because they think it’s too complicated. I’m here to tell you, that is simply not true. In fact, it comes down to just three simple but […]
Learning how to improve your soil can be a game changer to any gardener or weekend warrior who thought their soil was impossible to grow in. No matter where you start, here are 3 steps to making any soil better. Starting off with bad soil doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker. In fact, it doesn’t […]
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