How is my garden really doing this year?

In this episode of the Very Good Gardening Podcast, I'm giving my garden a full report card. From tomatoes and peppers to broccoli, strawberries, and everything in between, I'm grading each crop based on production, health, pest pressure, and whether it's actually earning its spot in the garden.

Some crops are exceeding expectations. Some are struggling. And a few have completely surprised me.

I'll also talk about what I've learned so far this season, what changes I'm already planning, and which crops I would recommend to beginning gardeners based on my experience this year.

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Thanks for listening and supporting Very Good Gardening!

What if you could only grow food in a single 4x8 raised bed?

In this episode, I'm taking on a gardening challenge: designing the ultimate raised bed for maximum harvests. I'll walk through the crops I'd choose, how I'd arrange them, what I'd plant together, and the strategies I'd use to keep fresh food coming all season long.

Whether you're working with a small garden, a few raised beds, or just getting started, this episode is packed with ideas for making the most of your growing space.

🌱 Want to support the podcast and pick up some Very Good Gardening merch? Check out my shop:

Very Good Gardening Fourthwall

You'll find shirts, hats, mugs, and more designed for gardeners who love growing their own food.

Thanks for listening, and happy gardening!

Everyone says gardening saves money… but does it really?

In this episode, I break down the real costs of gardening — seeds, soil, supplies, raised beds, water, and time — and compare them to what we actually harvest from our garden. Some crops save us a ton of money, while others honestly might not be worth growing financially.

I also talk about the things that are harder to put a price on:
• fresher food
• healthier meals
• teaching kids where food comes from
• the peace that comes from growing something yourself

Whether you’re a beginner gardener or have been growing food for years, this episode might change the way you think about the value of a garden.

🌱 Check out my new gardening designs here:
FourthWall

Thanks for listening and supporting Very Good Gardening.

Check out my FourthWall shop for some really fun garden merch.

Gardening advice is everywhere… but not all of it actually matters.

In this episode, I’m talking about the gardening “rules” I break regularly and why learning to adapt your garden to YOUR life is far more important than following every tip perfectly.

We talk about:

• Why perfectionism hurts new gardeners
• Common gardening advice that isn’t always necessary
• Breaking rules around spacing, watering, seed starting, and more
• Gardening realistically with a busy life
• Learning through experimentation instead of fear

A lot of gardening “rules” are really just guidelines — and sometimes the best thing you can do is ignore them and grow anyway.

Whether you’re a beginner gardener or someone feeling overwhelmed trying to do everything “right,” this episode is a reminder that your garden doesn’t have to be perfect to be successful.

Everyone asks me the same question:
“How do you have time for all of this?”

In this episode, I’m sharing the real answer.

Between teaching, raising 3 kids, filming content, editing videos, and managing a productive garden in Maryland, I’ve had to figure out systems that actually work in real life, not just on social media.

I’m talking about:

• How I structure my gardening tasks
• What I DON’T do anymore
• Why consistency matters more than perfection
• The routines that save me time every week
• How I balance content creation with real life
• The truth about burnout and busy seasons

If you’ve ever felt like you don’t have enough time to garden, this episode is for you.

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#gardening #podcast #gardenlife #productivity #homestead #vegetablegarden

If I had to start my entire garden over again in the beginning of May… this is exactly what I would do.

In this episode, I’m breaking down the biggest mistakes gardeners make this time of year—and how to recover quickly so you can still have a successful season.

In this episode:

• What I would plant (and skip) in early May
• The mistakes I’d avoid if I could start over
• How to catch up if you feel behind
• Simple strategies to still get a productive garden

If you're feeling behind or unsure what to do next, this will help you reset and move forward with confidence.

Here is my FourthWall

In this episode of the podcast, I’m walking you through a full late April garden update and what it actually looks like to get warm-weather crops into the ground at the right time.

We’re talking real timing, real conditions, and what I’m doing right now in my own garden to set up a strong summer harvest. If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s “too early” or “too late” to transplant things like tomatoes, peppers, and other warm-season crops, this episode will help you make those decisions with more confidence.

If you want to support the show and grab something from the garden-inspired shop, you can check out my Fourthwall here: https://verygoodgardening-shop.fourthwall.com

Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you in the next episode.

Episode 19 is your full April garden tour, where I walk you through everything that’s happening right now in real time. From what’s thriving to what’s just getting started, I’m breaking down exactly what’s growing in my Zone 7b garden and what I’m focusing on this month.

We’ll take a look at the beds, talk about what’s ready to harvest, what’s been recently planted, and what’s coming next. I’ll share what’s working, what I’m keeping an eye on, and how I’m managing the transition from early spring into the busier planting season. If you’ve ever wondered what a productive April garden actually looks like, this episode gives you a clear, honest snapshot.

If you enjoy following along and want to support what I’m building, you can check out my Fourthwall shop for gardening gear and merch designed for growers like us.