The Compost Pile | Gardening & Homesteading

Native, Non-Native or Invasive? Choosing the Right Plants for Your Landscape

Invasive plants are a hot topic—but what actually makes a plant invasive? And does being non-native automatically make a plant bad? In this episode of The Compost Pile,

What a Storm Reveals About Your Garden: Post-Storm Plant Recovery Tips

A major storm doesn’t just damage your garden—it reveals it. After Tropical Storm Edouard brought strong winds and heavy rain to Southeast Texas, David walks through the

What Your Lawn Can Teach You About Your Soil

You don’t have to be obsessed with having the perfect lawn to learn something from it. In this episode of The Compost Pile, David and Aaron look beyond traditional lawn

Fall Gardening in Zone 9: What to Plant, When to Plant, & How to Prepare

Fall gardening in Southeast Texas doesn’t start when the weather finally feels like fall. You have to start preparing while it’s still hot. In this episode of The Compos

What Is a Food Forest? How to Build an Edible Landscape in Your Backyard

What if your landscape could look good, support wildlife, improve your soil, and put food on the table? In this episode of The Compost Pile, David and Aaron break down t

How to Prepare Your Garden & Homestead for Drought: Watering, Soil Health & Water Storage

What happens when the rain stops and the summer heat takes over? In this episode of The Compost Pile, David and Aaron break down how drought affects your garden, lawn, so

Don't Leave Your Garden Bare! Cover Crops & Soil Health for a Better Fall Garden

After the summer garden winds down, many gardeners pull their plants and leave their garden beds bare—but that could be one of the biggest mistakes you make all year. In

Water Security for Your Homestead: Rainwater, Soil Health & Emergency Water Planning

Water is one of the most valuable resources on any homestead or garden, but most people don't think about it until there's a problem. In this episode of The Compost Pile,

The Hidden Effects of Rain on Your Garden

Rain is one of the most important resources for every garden—but is rain always a good thing? In this episode of The Compost Pile, we explore the benefits and drawbacks o

Stop Fighting Your Garden: Here's What to Do Next

Is your garden looking tired, stressed, or downright apocalyptic in the middle of summer? In this episode of The Compost Pile, David and Aaron discuss one of the hardest

The Best Fruit Trees for Beginners in Zone 9: Backyard Orchard Guide

Want to grow your own fruit but not sure where to start? In this episode of The Compost Pile, we break down the best fruit trees, berries, and citrus varieties for Southe

July Is Halftime: Why Your Best Gardening Season Is Still Ahead

Many gardeners look at their beds in July and assume the season is winding down, but in Southeast Texas, some of the best gardening opportunities are still ahead. In this

Succession Planting 101: How to Harvest More and Waste Less in Your Garden

Most gardeners make the same mistake: planting everything at the same time and then becoming overwhelmed when it all matures at once. In this episode of The Compost Pile

Small Farm Successes, Failures, and Gardening Wisdom with Brent Hieronymus of Donna's Farm

In this episode of The Compost Pile, we sit down with longtime friend Brent Hieronymus of Donna's Farm to discuss the incredible journey of building one of Southeast Texa

The Garden Is Talking Back (Part 2): Lessons From an Imperfect Garden

Does a healthy garden have to look perfect? In this solo episode of The Compost Pile, David takes a walk through the garden to explore what plants are really telling us.

Backyard Transformation: Landscape Design Mistakes, Soil Health & Garden Planning Tips

How do you turn a blank backyard into a beautiful, functional outdoor retreat? In this episode of The Compost Pile, David sits down with Justin Coshman to discuss the pr

How to Build a Pollinator Garden That ACTUALLY Works: Flowers, Herbs & Beneficial Insects for Zone 9

Want more butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and beneficial insects in your garden? In this episode of The Compost Pile Podcast, David and Aaron break down how to intention

Creating a Sustainable Garden & Homestead: How to Avoid Burnout in Gardening & Backyard Farming

How do you build a garden or homestead that you actually enjoy long-term? In this episode of The Compost Pile, David Pool and Aaron Barnhill discuss what “sustainability”

Listen to Your Garden: What Plants Reveal About Soil, Water & Pests

In this solo episode of The Compost Pile, David walks through the garden discussing one of the most important gardening skills you can develop: observation. Plants are co

Spring to Summer Gardening Tips: Heat, Pests, Watering & Tomato Problems (Zone 9a)

As we transition from spring into the intense summer heat, your garden can go from thriving to struggling almost overnight. In this episode of The Compost Pile, David Poo