The joe gardener Show - Organic Gardening - Vegetable Gardening - Expert Garden Advice From Joe Lamp'l

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. 

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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

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...

An area smaller than a parking space can be transformed into an ecologically powerful, carbon-sequestering, biodiverse native mini-forest in a few short years using a dense planting technique known as the Miyawaki method. To share why and how to plant a Miyawaki forest, joining me on the podcast this week is Andrew Lampl, a sustainability consultant and educator.

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Taking on an environmental stewardship project as a hobbyist is a rewarding task but it can also feel like learning how to swim by being kicked off the dock. My guest this week, author Paula Whyman, made a splash and went on to write about it in her recently released book “Bad Naturalist: One Woman’s Ecological Education on a Wild Virginia Mountaintop

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 journ...

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.

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 edi...

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.

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.

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.

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 moti...

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 on...

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...

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.”