The Compost Pile | Gardening & Homesteading

David Pool - Homestead & Organic Gardening Enthusiast
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Home & Garden

The Compost Pile | Gardening & Homesteading explores all things gardening, homesteading, and organic gardening. Your Hosts, David Pool & Aaron Barnhill, will dive into pollinators, practical fundamentals, tips for success, and more. David Pool has over 20 years in the green industry and helps people daily solving all types of gardening, landscape, lawn, and homestead issues. Aaron Barnhill is a seasoned cook and resident "newer" gardener, bringing up all the questions that David is used to and challenging him to learn even more with things he doesn't know. Join us on this adventure of all things gardening and more on The Compost Pile!

  1. 4h ago

    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 Compost Pile, David and Aaron talk about making the transition from a stressed late-summer garden into a productive fall garden in Zone 9. We break down what you can start planting now, what should wait for cooler weather, and why following a planting calendar without paying attention to actual conditions can set your garden up for failure. We cover broccoli, cabbage, kale, Swiss chard, mustard greens, turnips, radishes, beets, squash, pumpkins, lettuce and more, including which crops can handle lingering summer heat and which ones are better saved for later. We also discuss: Starting fall crops from seed vs. direct sowingHow hot, dry soil affects seed germinationUsing shade to protect young fall transplantsWhy broccoli and other brassicas can struggle in our climateChoosing varieties based on days to maturityTaking advantage of a second warm-season cropWhen to plant root crops and leafy greensGrowing more of the crops you actually eat and preservePreparing depleted garden soil after a long, hot summerRebuilding soil biology, minerals and overall soil health before plantingThe biggest takeaway? Successful fall gardening in Zone 9 is about more than a date on the calendar. Watch the weather, understand your garden, choose the right crops, and prepare your soil before asking it to produce another season. If your summer garden is struggling in the August heat, now is the time to start planning what comes next. The Compost Pile — breaking down gardening, homesteading and more to help you become more successful in the garden. #FallGardening #Zone9aGardening #TexasGardening #SoutheastTexasGardening #FallVegetableGarden #GardenPlanning #VegetableGardening #SoilHealth #CoolSeasonCrops #Homesteading

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

  2. Aug 18

    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 the concept of a food forest and how you can use the principles behind one in an average home landscape. A food forest is designed to mimic the way plants grow together in nature by creating layers of trees, shrubs, herbs, vegetables, groundcovers, and other useful plants. Instead of filling a landscape with plants chosen only for appearance, you can intentionally incorporate fruit trees, berries, perennial herbs, vegetables, pollinator plants, living groundcovers, and more. We discuss: What a food forest actually isHow food forests differ from traditional gardens and landscapingCreating overstory, understory, and groundcover layersUsing fruit trees, blueberries, blackberries, herbs, vegetables, and root cropsHow living groundcovers can conserve moisture and protect soilWhy ornamental and native plants can still have an important roleSupporting pollinators, beneficial insects, soil fungi, and bacteriaDesigning plants around similar sunlight, water, and nutrient needsWhy you don't need acres of property to use food forest principlesHow to start small and build your system over timeWhether you have a large homestead, a suburban backyard, a small corner of your landscape, or even a container garden, food forest principles can help you create a more productive and resilient growing space. The goal isn't to create everything at once. Start with a few layers, observe how they interact, and gradually build a landscape that works more like a natural ecosystem—while still producing something you can harvest and use. Have you tried food forest or edible landscaping principles in your yard? Let us know what you're growing and what you'd like us to cover in a future Food Forest episode. The Compost Pile — breaking down gardening, homesteading, and more to help you become more successful in the garden. #FoodForest #EdibleLandscaping #Permaculture #BackyardGarden #FoodForestGarden #Homesteading #Gardening #EdibleGarden #SustainableGardening #FruitTrees #TheCompostPile

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

  3. Aug 11

    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, soil, livestock, wildlife, and the entire homestead—and what you can do now to prepare. Here in Southeast Texas and Zone 9a, summer weather can change quickly. We can go from weeks of heavy rainfall to hot, dry conditions seemingly overnight. That makes drought preparation and smart water management an important part of gardening and homesteading. We discuss why healthy soil may be one of your best defenses against drought, how organic matter helps soil hold moisture, and why keeping soil covered can improve water infiltration and reduce runoff. We also talk about cover crops, deep-rooted plants, drought-tolerant landscaping, and ways to build a more resilient garden before dry weather arrives. You'll also learn about rainwater harvesting and water storage, including rain barrels, tanks, ponds, and other backup water sources for gardens and livestock. Plus, we break down smarter watering techniques like deep watering, drip irrigation, soaker hoses, cycle-and-soak watering, and watering early in the morning to help get more water into the soil while wasting less to evaporation and runoff. And drought isn't just a problem for our gardens. Pollinators, birds, amphibians, wildlife, livestock, compost piles, trees, and lawns all depend on water. Preparing for drought means looking at the entire system—not just waiting until the grass turns brown. In this episode: • What drought actually means • How drought affects soil health • Why healthy soil holds more water • Rainwater harvesting and water storage • Preparing livestock for water shortages • Deep watering vs. shallow watering • Drip irrigation and soaker hoses • The best time of day to water • Drought-tolerant and native plants • Reducing runoff and evaporation • Preparing wells, pumps, and irrigation systems • Protecting pollinators and wildlife during drought • Building a more drought-resilient garden and homestead Whether you're growing a backyard vegetable garden, maintaining a lawn and landscape, raising livestock, or building a small homestead, drought preparation starts long before you actually need the water. The Compost Pile is a gardening and homesteading podcast focused on breaking down practical information to help everyday growers become more successful—especially those gardening in Zone 9 and the Gulf Coast/Southeast Texas climate. #Drought #Gardening #Homesteading #Zone9a #TexasGardening #WateringTips #SoilHealth #RainwaterHarvesting #GardenTips #DroughtTolerantGarden #WaterConservation #SoutheastTexasGardening

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

  4. Aug 4

    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 this episode of The Compost Pile, David and Aaron discuss cover crops, mulching, and why protecting your soil between growing seasons leads to healthier plants, fewer weeds, better moisture retention, and improved soil biology. Whether you're planting a second round of tomatoes and peppers, preparing a fall vegetable garden, or letting a bed rest for the season, there's a way to keep your soil working for you. We cover: - Why bare soil quickly loses quality - How mulch protects soil biology and moisture - The benefits of nitrogen-fixing cover crops - Cover crops that build organic matter and reduce compaction - Best cover crop ideas for home gardeners - When to mulch instead of planting a cover crop - Simple ways to improve your garden naturally before fall planting Healthy plants begin with healthy soil. If you want bigger harvests, stronger plants, and a more resilient garden, don't overlook what happens between growing seasons. If you enjoy practical gardening tips for Zone 9a and Southeast Texas, be sure to subscribe for weekly podcasts, gardening classes, and short-form videos. Topics Covered: Cover crops for home gardensFall garden preparationSoil healthGarden mulchNitrogen-fixing plantsOrganic gardeningRegenerative gardeningSoil biologyRaised bed gardeningZone 9a gardeningSoutheast Texas gardening

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

  5. Jul 28

    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, we explore water security, why it matters, and how understanding water can make your garden, homestead, and property more resilient. Whether you're gardening in Zone 9, raising backyard chickens, growing vegetables, or simply looking to become more self-sufficient, this episode will help you think differently about water management, rainwater, soil health, and preparing your property for both drought and heavy rainfall. We'll discuss why healthy soil is your best water storage system, how organic matter and compost improve water retention, why drainage is just as important as irrigation, and practical ways to make your property more prepared for hurricanes, flooding, watering restrictions, or unexpected water outages. In this episode, you'll learn: Why water security is essential for every homesteadHow healthy soil stores water and supports stronger plantsThe difference between rainwater and municipal waterHow to improve soil moisture retention naturallyWhy drainage is critical after heavy rainPractical ways to conserve water in the gardenHow to prepare your property for droughts, floods, and emergenciesTips for creating a more resilient homestead and sustainable gardenAt The Compost Pile, we believe gardening is about more than growing plants—it's about understanding the systems that make a garden and homestead thrive. By learning how water moves through your property and how your soil, plants, and ecosystem respond, you'll become a better gardener and a more resilient homesteader. If you enjoy practical gardening tips, homesteading education, and growing successfully in Southeast Texas and USDA Zone 9, be sure to subscribe and join us each week for new episodes, garden walks, and educational content. What does your property teach you about water after a big rain? Let us know in the comments—we'd love to hear your experiences! #Homesteading #WaterSecurity #RainwaterHarvesting #Gardening #Zone9a #SoilHealth #GardenTips #HomesteadLife #SustainableLiving #SelfSufficiency #Rainwater #WaterConservation #OrganicGardening #Composting #RaisedBeds #VegetableGarden #EmergencyPreparedness #SoilFoodWeb #TheCompostPile #SoutheastTexas

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

  6. Jul 21

    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 of rainfall and explain how heavy rain impacts your soil, plants, vegetables, lawns, pollinators, pests, and overall garden health. Learn why rainwater is better than municipal water, how rainfall improves root growth and activates the soil food web, and why too much rain can lead to root rot, nutrient leaching, soil compaction, fungal diseases, standing water, mosquitoes, and fire ants. We also discuss practical ways to improve garden drainage, build healthier soil, and use rainfall to better understand what your garden needs. Whether you're growing vegetables, maintaining a homestead, caring for fruit trees, or managing a lawn in Zone 9a or Southeast Texas, this episode will help you understand how rainfall influences every part of your landscape and how to make your garden more resilient after heavy storms. In this episode you'll learn: - Why rainwater is better for plants than municipal water - How rainfall affects soil oxygen and root health - The connection between heavy rain and fungal diseases - Why nutrients leach from the soil after excessive rainfall - How mulch, drainage, and healthy soil reduce problems - What rain teaches us about watering correctly - How rainfall impacts pollinators, pests, mosquitoes, and fire ants - Lawn care tips after heavy rain and how to avoid soil compaction If you enjoy practical gardening education and homesteading content, subscribe to The Compost Pile for weekly podcasts, garden walks, classes, and tips focused on growing successfully in USDA Zone 9. #Gardening #Rain #VegetableGarden #GardenTips #Homesteading #SoilHealth #SoilFoodWeb #RaisedBeds #OrganicGardening #Zone9a #SoutheastTexas #GardenPodcast #WateringPlants #GardenDrainage #RootRot #Mulch #Composting #LawnCare #PollinatorGarden #TheCompostPile

    The Hidden Effects of Rain on Your Garden

  7. Jul 14

    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 Southeast Texas and other Zone 9a gardens. Whether you're building a backyard orchard, growing food on a suburban lot, or trying to maximize production in a small space, understanding chill hours, pollination requirements, tree size, and variety selection can make the difference between harvesting fruit and growing an expensive ornamental tree. In this episode, we discuss: • The best fruit trees for beginners • Backyard orchard planning for small spaces • Growing fruit in Zone 9a and Southeast Texas • Chill hours explained • Self-pollinating vs cross-pollinating fruit trees • The truth about big box store fruit trees • Best citrus trees for Texas gardens • Growing blueberries, blackberries, apples, pears, peaches, plums, and avocados • Dwarf fruit trees and container gardening • Fruit tree varieties that actually produce in warm climates • Common fruit tree mistakes homeowners make We also share our top recommendations for homeowners looking to create a productive edible landscape that provides fresh fruit year after year. If you're interested in homesteading, food security, backyard gardening, sustainable living, growing your own food, edible landscaping, fruit tree care, citrus growing, or creating a backyard orchard, this episode is packed with practical advice for getting started. Subscribe to The Compost Pile for weekly gardening tips, homesteading advice, fruit tree growing guides, vegetable gardening, composting, pollinator gardening, and everything you need to grow successfully in Zone 9a and the Gulf Coast region. #FruitTrees #BackyardOrchard #Zone9aGardening #TexasGardening #GrowYourOwnFood #Homesteading #CitrusTrees #Blueberries #Blackberries #EdibleLandscaping #GardeningPodcast #TheCompostPile

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

  8. Jul 14

    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 lessons for gardeners to learn: knowing when it's time to let go of declining crops and start planning for what's next. We cover how to identify when tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs, and other spring vegetables have reached the end of their productive season, why holding on too long can limit your garden's success, and how Southeast Texas gardeners can take advantage of a second warm-season planting window. You'll learn: • When to remove struggling summer vegetables • How Zone 9a gardening seasons differ from traditional growing zones • Why fall gardening in Southeast Texas starts much earlier than most people think • Which crops can be replanted for a second harvest • How to refresh garden soil between planting seasons • Tips for starting fall tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, and more • Direct sowing recommendations for lettuce, broccoli, carrots, beets, radishes, and other cool-season crops • Ways to use shade cloth, companion planting, and mulch to improve fall garden success Southeast Texas Planting Guide: https://drive.google.com/file/d/12C-g-bN81UGhXUKeNeJrHRAL3FKTlyvr/view?usp=sharing If you're gardening in Southeast Texas, the Gulf Coast, or any warm-climate growing region, this episode will help you transition from summer garden cleanup into a productive fall vegetable garden. #TheCompostPile #Zone9aGardening #TexasGardening #FallGarden #VegetableGardening #RaisedBedGardening #GardeningTips #Homesteading #GardenPlanning #GrowYourOwnFood

    Stop Fighting Your Garden: Here's What to Do Next
See All (47)

Trailer

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

The Compost Pile | Gardening & Homesteading explores all things gardening, homesteading, and organic gardening. Your Hosts, David Pool & Aaron Barnhill, will dive into pollinators, practical fundamentals, tips for success, and more. David Pool has over 20 years in the green industry and helps people daily solving all types of gardening, landscape, lawn, and homestead issues. Aaron Barnhill is a seasoned cook and resident "newer" gardener, bringing up all the questions that David is used to and challenging him to learn even more with things he doesn't know. Join us on this adventure of all things gardening and more on The Compost Pile!

Information

You Might Also Like