This podcast is devoted to all things gardening. National gardening television host, Joe Lamp'l, guides you through each episode with practical tips and information to help you become a better, smarter gardener, no matter where you are on your journey. This series has a strong emphasis on organic gardening and growing food, but covers a diverse range of topics from one of the country's most informed and leading gardening personalities today.
Rosemary Gladstar is an expert on herbalism who has taught countless people about herbs, written many books and lectured around the world. She joins me this week to share herbalism history and benefits, and the top plants for new herb growers to cultivate. Podcast Links for Show notes Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your Best Garden Ever - the 5 most important steps anyone can do to have a thriving garden or landscape. It’s what I still do today, without exception to get incredible results, ev...
How much of our time and focus we can spend on gardening can shift overnight as we experience a major life change. My Growing Epic Tomatoes course co-leader Craig LeHouiller can speak to that fact as this season he began juggling being a first-time, very involved grandfather and keeping up with his garden. Podcast Links for Show notes Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your Best Garden Ever - the 5 most important steps anyone can do to have a thriving garden or landscape. It’s what I still do tod...
Through studies, books and talks, entomologist and ecologist Doug Tallamy has been spreading the word for years about the threats facing wildlife and the many reasons to practice ecological gardening. Every day he receives emails from gardeners who want to use the land they steward to make a difference, so for his latest book, he gathered the most frequently asked questions and his thoughtful, research-backed responses. Podcast Links for Show notes Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your Best Gar...
Pansies are popular cool-season bedding plants, and that may be what they are best known for, but pansies are so much more. My guest this week, flower farmer Brenna Estrada, literally wrote the book on pansies, and she joins me to share the potential pansies have. Podcast Links for Show notes Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your Best Garden Ever - the 5 most important steps anyone can do to have a thriving garden or landscape. It’s what I still do today, without exception to get incredible res...
Danish gardener, designer and television personality Claus Dalby has been called “the Scandinavian Martha Stewart.” Speaking from across the pond, he joins me on the podcast this week to discuss two of his specialties: cottage gardens and container gardens. Podcast Links for Show notes Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your Best Garden Ever - the 5 most important steps anyone can do to have a thriving garden or landscape. It’s what I still do today, without exception to get incredible results, e...
Many native tree species across America are under threat from pests, diseases, extreme weather and saltwater intrusion — threats exacerbated by climate change. My guest this week, science and environmental journalist Marguerite Holloway, gained perspective on the destruction forests are facing when she learned from arborists how to climb into the canopy of trees. Podcast Links for Show notes Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your Best Garden Ever - the 5 most important steps anyone can do to hav...
Phenology is a field of study that explains the seasonal changes and behaviors seen in plants and animals. Unfortunately, due to climate change, many phenological events are occurring earlier or later, which disrupts relationships between co-dependent plants and animals. Joining me on the podcast to explain what gardeners need to know about phenology is ecologist and phenology expert Theresa Crimmins. Podcast Links for Show notes Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your Best Garden Ever - the 5 mo...
Raised bed gardening offers many advantages over in-ground gardening, from better control of the soil to less bending over to seed, weed and water. My guest this week, Master Gardener Scott Wilson, lays out the benefits and the how-tos in his new book, "Gardener Scott's Guide to Raised Bed Gardening." Podcast Links for Show notes Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your Best Garden Ever - the 5 most important steps anyone can do to have a thriving garden or landscape. It’s what I still do today, w...
Fruit tree pruning is a necessary skill to have to raise healthy, productive fruit-bearing trees. My guest this week, Susan Poizner, is an urban orchardist and author who joins me to explain when and how to prune fruit trees for the best results. Podcast Links for Show notes Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your Best Garden Ever - the 5 most important steps anyone can do to have a thriving garden or landscape. It’s what I still do today, without exception to get incredible results, even in the ...
Could you imagine yourself living off the land for a whole year, only eating food that you have grown or foraged for yourself? My guest this week, Robin Greenfield, did just that, and it’s just one of the extreme challenges that he has undertaken in recent years to demonstrate that there are alternative ways of life that are kinder to the environment and fellow humans. Podcast Links for Show notes Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your Best Garden Ever - the 5 most important steps anyone can do ...
Time and money are the two biggest restraints most gardeners face when they want to take on more projects in their yards to become better stewards of biodiversity. My guest this week, “Nature’s Action Guide” author Sarah F. Jayne, aims to overcome those hurdles by identifying easy yet extremely effective actions anyone can take to support wildlife. Podcast Links for Show notes Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your Best Garden Ever - the 5 most important steps anyone can do to have a thriving ga...
The animals we share the planet with — wildlife, livestock and pets alike — have more depth and personality than they are often given credit for. Joining me this week to speak about what he’s learned about animal intelligence is Brandon Keim, the author of “ Meet the Neighbors: Animal Minds and Life in a More-than-Human World .” Podcast Links for Show notes Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your Best Garden Ever - the 5 most important steps anyone can do to have a thriving garden or landscape. I...
The National Forests and federal wilderness areas that are often taken for granted today only exist because of the efforts of some dedicated conservationists and foresters with the foresight to realize that if these lands were not protected, they would be logged and developed into oblivion. To share the history of how U.S. public lands were rescued, joining me on the podcast this week is Jeffrey Ryan, a well-traveled hiker and the author of “This Land Was Saved for You and Me.” Podcast Links for...
Joe Lamp'l and Andrew Lampl discuss the Miyawaki method, a technique for rapidly growing dense, biodiverse native forests in small areas. They explore the history, principles, and practical applications of this afforestation method, including soil preparation, species selection, and maintenance. Andrew shares insights from his master's thesis and personal experience creating a Miyawaki forest, addressing common misconceptions and the ecological benefits.
Joe Lamp'l interviews Paula Whyman, author of "The Bad Naturalist," about her journey restoring 200 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains. They discuss the challenges of invasive species, the importance of native plants, and the lessons learned while striving to coexist harmoniously with the land. Paula shares her experiences and insights, emphasizing the value of observation and the complex trade-offs involved in conservation efforts.
Wildlife crossings save animals’ lives by enabling them to cross roads in search of food, water and nesting sites safely, while also protecting biodiversity and reducing costly motor vehicle accidents. Without a safe place to cross the roads cutting through their habitat, animals suffer many negative consequences, explains my guest this week, environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb, the author of the book “Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping the Future of Our Planet.” Podcast Links for Show not...
Organic gardeners know the mantra “feed the soil, let the soil feed the plants.” Healthy soil leads to plants that are not only more vigorous and resilient but also more nutrient-dense. My guests this week, “What Your Food Ate” authors David Montgomery and Anne Biklé, explain that when we take care of the land, the land takes care of us. Podcast Links for Show notes Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your Best Garden Ever - the 5 most important steps anyone can do to have a thriving garden or lan...
The Old Farmer’s Almanac has been a resource for growers for more than two centuries, published annually with information on the best times to sow seeds and harvest fruits and vegetables, and recipes for enjoying all that produce, plus much, much more. To share the history of the Almanac and explain why so many readers still enjoy it today, joining me on the podcast this week is the publication’s editor-in-chief, Carol Connare. Podcast Links for Show notes Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your ...
Ferns aren’t quite as showy as flowering plants, but they are beautiful and their biology is fascinating, according to my guest this week, evolutionary biologist Dr. Emily Sessa of the New York Botanical Garden. She is here to teach us all about ferns, from their history to their unique properties. Podcast Links for Show notes Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your Best Garden Ever - the 5 most important steps anyone can do to have a thriving garden or landscape. It’s what I still do today, with...
One of the most fun and satisfying aspects of raising houseplants is being able to propagate them to get more. But some houseplants are easier to propagate than others. To share the need-to-knows of houseplant propagation, Lindsay Sisti, the author of “The Ultimate Guide to Houseplant Propagation,” joins me on the podcast this week. Podcast Links for Show notes Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your Best Garden Ever - the 5 most important steps anyone can do to have a thriving garden or landscap...
Winter tree care isn’t just about aesthetics — it reduces the risk that a tree drops a limb or topples, which can both doom the tree and cause property damage and injury. To share important winter tree care tips and warnings, arborist and tree preservationist Basil Camu returns to the podcast this week. Podcast Links for Show notes Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your Best Garden Ever - the 5 most important steps anyone can do to have a thriving garden or landscape. It’s what I still do today,...
Gardeners trying to do right by the ecosystem often run into antiquated bylaws, covenants and restrictions that prohibit natural yards. This frustration led to the creation of Bylaws for Biodiversity, an initiative to encourage lawmakers and homeowners associations to adopt rules that protect and promote biodiversity on private and public lands. Joining me on the podcast this week to discuss the motivation behind Bylaws for Biodiversity are two of the program’s advocates: Nina-Marie Lister and L...
Yard maintenance rules and laws created decades ago, before people and governments were attuned to the ecological damage wrought by climate change and habitat loss, continue to be blindly enforced in suburban and urban neighborhoods. My guest this week, Ontario gardener Wolf Ruck, has fought hard to defend his right to use his yard to sequester carbon and reduce biodiversity loss, a battle that is ongoing. Podcast Links for Show notes Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your Best Garden Ever - the...
Rewilding a home landscape to support wildlife and increase biodiversity is a noble and worthwhile effort and should be every property owner’s right. However, ill-advised local ordinances that favor tidiness over ecology can make a native garden a target for fines and prosecution. On this week’s podcast, native gardener Craig Sinclair explains how he went to bat for his garden and overcame the forces that would see it plowed under and sodded over. Podcast Links for Show notes Download my free eB...
Preparing for seed starting season well ahead of time and becoming better organized will save you headaches and money in the months to come. This week, I’m sharing how I prepare and the new efficient seed organization system that I have adopted. Podcast Links for Show notes Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your Best Garden Ever - the 5 most important steps anyone can do to have a thriving garden or landscape. It’s what I still do today, without exception to get incredible results, even in the m...
Farmer and author Ben Hartman proves it doesn’t take a ton of space to grow enough food to sustain a business. Ben joins me on the podcast to explain how he maximized efficiency on his lean micro farm to grow enough crops to satisfy his most loyal customers while reducing the effort and resources required to be successful. Podcast Links for Show notes Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your Best Garden Ever - the 5 most important steps anyone can do to have a thriving garden or landscape. It’s wh...
Margaret Roach, the New York Times gardening columnist and host of the podcast “A Way to Garden,” is back with me again to discuss what’s new in her garden and what she’s planning for in 2025. Margaret is a repeat guest many times over and a listener favorite who always has interesting observations to share. Podcast Links for Show notes Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your Best Garden Ever - the 5 most important steps anyone can do to have a thriving garden or landscape. It’s what I still do t...
The end of the year is always a good time to reflect and take stock of the lessons we’ve learned. On this week’s podcast, we look back on 2024 in the garden to make note of the experiences and knowledge we will take with us going forward on our gardening journeys. Joining me in recapping 2024 is my right-hand person — and left-hand too — Amy Prentice, the Director of Marketing and Communications here at Agrivana Media®. Amy is a gardener herself as well as a talented photographer who documents t...
Starting a native, organic garden is a big step on the ecological gardening journey, and once you’ve made it that far, you’ll have even more questions than you did before. Garden designer Kelly Norris joins me to shed light on what comes next and discuss his new book, “Your Natural Garden.” Podcast Links for Show notes Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your Best Garden Ever - the 5 most important steps anyone can do to have a thriving garden or landscape. It’s what I still do today, without exce...
Germinating native flower seeds is more involved than the seed starting you may be used to, but it’s not hard and it will scratch your gardening itch in winter. Wild Seed Project founder Heather McCargo joins me to explain how to start native flower seeds and the biodiversity benefits that it provides. Podcast Links for Show notes Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your Best Garden Ever - the 5 most important steps anyone can do to have a thriving garden or landscape. It’s what I still do today, ...
