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340-My Favorite Gardening Gear and Gadgets Update

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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 […]

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339-Microbe Science for Gardeners, with Robert Pavlis

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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, […]

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338-Ecological Landscape Design: Form and Function

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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 […]

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330-Natural Garden Design Basics, with Benjamin Vogt

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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 […]

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329-Cultivating a Personal Garden Style with Rochelle Greayer

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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 […]

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328-Behind the Scenes with Joe and GardenFarm™ Manager Tobi

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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 […]

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326-An Introduction to Modern Homesteading, with Jill Winger

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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 […]

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317- Native Gardeners vs. the HOA, Part II

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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 […]

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Understanding the Ladybug Life Cycle

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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. […]

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304-Overcoming Common Gardening Challenges-Encore Presentation

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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 […]

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299-Vegetable Garden Problem Solving, with Susan Mulvihill

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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, […]

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298-How Nematodes and Pheromones Will Be Used in the Future of Gardening

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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 […]

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297-Seed Starting Essentials

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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 […]

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295-Looking Back on 2022’s Garden Lessons

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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 […]

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292-Understanding Brix and How It Affects Plants and Pests

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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 […]

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5 Ways to Work On Your Garden in Winter

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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 […]

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Understanding the Differences in Bagged Soil Products

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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, […]

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289-Making Environmental Literacy Part of Public Education

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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 […]

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How to Create a Nursery Bed in Your Garden

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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 […]

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281-The Chemical Age: How Tools of War Became Agricultural Chemicals

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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 […]

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270-Plant Science for Gardeners, with Robert Pavlis, Part I

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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 […]

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260-A Primer on Hydroponic Gardening: Growing in Water 

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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, […]

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254-Overcoming Gardening Hurdles

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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 […]

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Winter: The Best Time to Work on Your Garden

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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 […]

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223-How Soil Microbes Make Good Soil Great

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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 […]

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220-Fall Succession Planning and Planting Tips, with Meg Cowden

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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 […]

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How to Conduct a Bioassay Test

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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 […]

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How to Save Time While Fertilizing

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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 […]

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How to Stay Organized in the Garden

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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.    […]

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213-Understanding the Basics of Hügelkultur, with Paul Wheaton

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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 […]

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How to Make a Functional Worm Bin

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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 […]

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212-Answers to Your Frequently Asked Gardening Questions for June

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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 […]

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210-Non-Negotiables for Summer Success in the Garden

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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 […]

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Best Mulch for a Vegetable Garden

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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 […]

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Using Livestock Panels to Support Vining Plants

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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 […]

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204-Hardening Off and Setting Plants Up for Success in Spring

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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 […]

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194-Easy No-Dig Gardening, with Charlie Nardozzi

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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, […]

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187-The Informed Seed Shopper: What to Know Before You Buy

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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 […]

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How to Use Leaves as Garden Mulch

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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 […]

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How to Protect Cool-Season Crops in Hot Weather

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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 […]

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How to Build a Simple Cold Frame

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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 […]

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154-Garden Savvy Shopping Tips for Healthy Plants

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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 […]

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131-My Top 12 Tools to Make Your Gardening Life Easier

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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 […]

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116-Understanding the Soil Food Web, with Dr. Elaine Ingham

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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 […]

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113-Designing Abundant Container Gardens: Pro Tips for Healthy Plants & Beautiful Combinations

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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 […]

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109-Garden Safety: When Shortcuts Have Consequences

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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 […]

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097-Spring Tips for Vegetable Garden Success

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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 […]

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073-How to Create a Resilient Garden: 10 Key Principles

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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, […]

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058-Biochar Basics and More: Digging Deeper Into the Science of Soil

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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 […]

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055-Vacation Preparation For Plants: What To Do Before You Go

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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. […]

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Top 5 Reasons to Garden in a Raised Bed

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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: […]

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048-The Simple Science Behind Great Gardening, with Lee Reich

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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 […]

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Preparing the Garden In Spring

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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 […]

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044-Raised Bed Gardening, Pt. 3: Animal Control & More

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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 […]

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043-Raised Bed Gardening, Pt. 2: Perfect Soil Recipe

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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 […]

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042-Raised Bed Gardening, Pt. 1: Getting Started

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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 […]

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041-Small Space Garden Design

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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 […]

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040-Prepping Your Garden For Spring: 10 Things To Do Now

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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 […]

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036-Gardening Myths BUSTED, Pt. 3 with Linda Chalker-Scott

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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 […]

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035-Gardening Myths BUSTED, Pt. 2 with Linda Chalker-Scott

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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 […]

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033-Savvy Seed Catalog Shopping

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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 […]

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032-What’s Ahead for 2018

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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 […]

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027-Changing the Way America Eats with Dan Barber

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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, […]

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Backyard Composting: A Simple Recipe for Making Great Compost

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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 […]

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