Denali National Park & Preserve – each year millions of visitors have made the trek to enjoy this centerpiece of the Alaskan frontier. Along with their wonder at the raw majesty of this place, park visitors also brought an abundance of waste and left most of it behind.

In the vast world of bees, the honeybee – and its mysterious population decline – tends to take center stage. All the while, another species is diligently and quietly at work to fulfill the critical role of plant pollinator. The Mason bee is a solitary bee. Unlike species categorized as social bees, solitary bees spend their lives in the company of – but independent from – other bees. Every female is a queen. Her daily life is spent seeking pollen and caring for the eggs which will emerge to become the next generation. Dave Hunter of Seattle, WA has been teaching gardeners how to promote and play host to these docile creatures, native to North America. The simple steps to invite these beneficial insects into our gardens and commercial agricultural operations will add a new dimension of wonder to the experience and create a game-changing increase in crop production. Spend some time with us in exploring the life and power of the humble Mason bee. You may soon be finding yourself looking beyond the hive to observe the activity of these tube-dwelling pollinators and their beneficial neighbors.

One topic nearly guaranteed to stir up controversy among gardeners is deer management and controlling other mammalian garden pests. After all, striking the right balance between garden and wildlife is complicated and unique to every gardener. With increased urbanization, wildlife encroachment continues to impact gardeners everywhere, from the farm to the cut-de-sac. Is it possible to enjoy the presence of foragers, like deer, without suffering the effect of their damage? It’s an age old and common question which has been the subject of anecdotal tips and quirky tricks for generations. This episode focuses on animal pest identification and options for keeping the offenders at bay. Habitat modification, scare tactics, repellents, and physical barriers – Professor Michael T. Mengak of the University of Georgia takes us on a tour of what his research has turned up to demystify what works and what doesn’t. We also catch up with Joe Lamp’l at the GardenFarm. Seven years ago, Joe took a chance on his edible garden design. Has it stood the test of time against a continual parade of hungry deer? Joe explains his reasoning and results.

There’s no way around it, gardening has once again become an industry. The popularity of growing our own food along with beautifying our landscapes has triggered a new flush in recent years of must-have garden products. That leaves some gardeners feeling like there’s no way to save money while developing our home landscapes. But we’re here to tell you, gardening on the cheap for saving money and time is alive and well. The love of gardening shouldn’t – and doesn’t – require a heavy blow to our bottom line. It’s time to remind ourselves what gardeners learned long before the era of the big box store. Creative solutions are sometimes best. Soil improvement options, plant support, and even the plants themselves are waiting for us in unexpected places at little cost and, oftentimes, for free. The answer to your garden challenge could be hiding in plain sight – right in your own backyard. Joe Lamp’l shares some of his favorite creative tips for saving money at the GardenFarm™. These ideas just might get your creative juices flowing in a new – and thrifty – direction.

Homesteading is a word from a bygone era, but there are modern homesteaders committed to a belief that this lifestyle is about much more than just establishing a place and growing food. Jessi Bloom is committed to working her land sustainably, while teaching her young sons the importance of living with intention. As a speaker and author of Free-Range Chicken Gardens and Practical Permaculture, Jessi knows more than a thing or two about successfully raising livestock and organic crops – all in the heart of ultra-urban Seattle, WA. Her homesteading “neighbor” Erica Strauss is a trained chef and author who has embraced the belief that the garden should guide what takes place in the kitchen. Her book, The Hands-On Home; A Seasonal Guide to Cooking, Preserving & Natural Homekeeping speaks to exactly that. Along the way, she and her husband find ways to engage their children in a love of the life the land supports. There is no right or wrong way to homestead in our modern world, but the differing styles that these two women embody in their day-to-day lives will inspire you to view your own landscape from a fresh perspective.

There is no one in the world quite like Paul James. The first HGTV garden show host, Paul was destined to become a garden legend in his own right. With an irreverent sense of humor and a passion for gardening organically, he is still venerated as a beloved garden mentor by the many fans of his HGTV series, Gardening by the Yard. When his series was cancelled, Paul presented fresh options to the broadcasting community, but the world of media had shifted in favor of the under-30 crowd and a craze for home makeovers. So, what has this fun-loving garden master been doing since his HGTV days? Joe Lamp’l gets a firsthand update when Paul shows up for a tour and a chat at the GardenFarm™. The two share some garden tips and more than a few laughs and insights into the life and times of garden legend Paul James.