The Simple Garden Life

A program dedicated to keeping the art of gardening simple, fun, and always rewarding. Hosts Jim and Mary Competti have been writing, speaking and sharing their love of gardening for the last decade. Co-owners of the popular blog oldworldgardenfarms.com and co-authors of Growing Simple and Raised Row Gardening, they take an enthusiastic approach to giving solid, straightforward advice on growing everything from vegetables, to perennials, annuals and more!
Each week, Jim and Mary take on a new gardening topic with gusto, taking the listener through the how and why's of gardening, along with advice on how to always keep it fun and enjoyable.

The Best Way To Support Tomatoes - DIY Tomato Supports!
Apr 2, 2024 – 20:59
4 Simple Secrets To Grow Cucumbers Like Crazy!
Feb 5, 2024 – 20:34
How To Best Feed Birds In Winter - Helping Birds Survive Winter!
Dec 26, 2023 – 19:22
The Secret To Watering Poinsettias - How To Mist Poinsettias!
Dec 10, 2023 – 18:49
Drought Resistant Perennials - 6 Plants You Won't Have To Water!
Jul 25, 2023 – 21:20
How To Fertilize Hanging Baskets - Keep Your Baskets Blooming Big All Summer!
Jun 20, 2023 – 18:32
How To Stop Carpenter Bees - And The Damage They Cause!
May 23, 2023 – 20:57
How To Jump Start Your Tomato Plants - Get Your Tomatoes Growing Fast!
May 16, 2023 – 24:45
How To Recharge And Reuse Old Potting Soil
May 2, 2023 – 20:50
The Best Spring Garden Seed Crops To Plant Early – Get Growing Now!
Apr 18, 2023 – 19:10
How To Divide Perennials In The Spring
Apr 4, 2023 – 25:06
How To Make The Best Homemade Potting Soil Around - Without Peat Moss!
Mar 21, 2023 – 21:28
Cutting Back & Dividing Ornamental Grasses In The Spring
Mar 6, 2023 – 23:40
How To Control & Repel Ticks Safely - In Your Backyard & More!
Feb 20, 2023 – 19:42
How To Recharge Your Raised Bed Soil - Keep Your Raised Beds Healthy!
Feb 7, 2023 – 24:05
How To Prune Tomatoes - And Why Its So Important! Episode 210
Jun 14, 2022 – 20:21
How To Fertilize Tomato Plants For Big Success! Episode 209
May 17, 2022 – 21:18
The Amazing Benefits Of Growing Marigolds In Your Garden & Flowerbeds
May 3, 2022 – 19:50
How To Harden Off Vegetable & Flower Plants - Episode 207
Apr 19, 2022 – 18:53
Growing Vegetables In Straw Bales - How To Grow Vegetables Anywhere
Apr 5, 2022 – 23:24
How To Grow Strawberries - The Simple Secrets To A Great Harvest!
Mar 8, 2022 – 28:30
How To Collect & Use Rain Water - And Why It's Better For Your Plants!
Feb 22, 2022 – 23:47
How To Use Compost In Your Garden & Flowerbeds! 5 Great Uses For Compost
Feb 8, 2022 – 20:47
How To Plant & Grow Asparagus - The Simple Steps To Delicious Asparagus!
Jan 24, 2022 – 25:46
How To Use Coffee Grounds & Egg Shells In Your Garden - And Why To Start Saving Them Now!
Jan 10, 2022 – 24:54
Dividing Perennials In The Fall - Fall Flowerbed Maintenance
Sep 30, 2021 – 21:45
How To Plant A Cover Crop
Sep 23, 2021 – 24:45
How And Why To Deadhead Your Annuals & Perennial Flowers
Jul 27, 2021 – 18:59
How To Fertilize Your Vegetable Garden For Success - Simple Secrets That Work
Jun 7, 2021 – 21:40
Succession Planting - Getting The Most From Your Garden Space
Jun 2, 2021 – 22:09
How To Create Gorgeous Container Plants From Perennials - For Free!
May 25, 2021 – 21:32
8 Simple Garden Tools Every Gardener Should Own For A Better Garden - Episode 115
May 3, 2021 – 23:54
The Best Heirloom Tomatoes To Grow For Eating, Canning & More! - Episode 114
Apr 26, 2021 – 23:24
How To Keep Your Hanging Baskets Gorgeous From Spring Til Fall! Episode 113
Apr 19, 2021 – 22:40
How To Grow Vegetables In 5 Gallon Buckets - Episode 112
Apr 12, 2021 – 27:14
How To Keep Flowerbeds Weed-Free! - Episode 111
Apr 5, 2021 – 28:18
How To Plant Your Garden For Success - 7 Big Planting Day Secrets! 110
Mar 29, 2021 – 30:16
How To Grow An Amazing Crop Of Cucumbers - Episode 109
Mar 22, 2021 – 22:26
How To Make And Use Compost Tea, The Ultimate Fertilizer! - Episode 108
Mar 15, 2021 – 23:03
How To Create A Raised Row Garden With Ease - Episode 107
Mar 8, 2021 – 32:11
How To Use Worm Castings To Power Your Vegetables & Flowers - Episode 106
Mar 1, 2021 – 20:38
Eliminating Weeds From Your Garden, The Secrets To Success! - Episode 105
Feb 22, 2021 – 23:02
How To Make Great Compost For A Great Garden - Episode 104
Feb 15, 2021 – 31:09
How To Start Seeds Indoors With Ease - Episode 103
Feb 8, 2021 – 32:09
How To Grow The Best Tomatoes On The Block - Episode 102
Feb 2, 2021 – 34:19
An Introduction To The Simple Garden Life - Episode 101
Feb 1, 2021 – 06:51

Recent Reviews

Texaginian

Good advice from people with experience

I’ve just finished podcasts on seed starting and hardening plants. Information was specific, practical, comprehensive, and presented with enthusiasm. I sent links to several of my friends. I’ll be listening to all the segments. Thank you!
Tuml

Happy I found this podcast

Entertaining and informative.
PennyLane132

Valuable info, just one minor thing…

I’ve just started listening to this podcast as a new gardener and there is a lot of great info here. The one thing that really threw me is “foliage” was said at least 20 times in the episode… and pronounced incorrectly. I know it’s terrible, but the mispronunciation is enough for me to stop listening, especially with how often it was said. Will keep listening anyway for now, but just a tip :)
MikyD

Useful Brass Tacks

Binge listening! Such awesome, practical, implement-able content with no fluff. It’s actionable and worthy of quick notes in my garden notebook, which is *exactly*what a gardener like me needs as we head into the season. I check back constantly for new episodes :)
cindymae80

Love it!

Stumbled onto this podcast & so thankful for that! My husband and I both work out of the home (A LOT of hours) and we were so excited to inherit a beautiful garden from the Amish couple we bought our house from….and then…the reality of managing all of that while working a bunch (plus trying to preserve it) has basically had me in the fetal position until now LOL 🤦🏻‍♀️ We are super excited to try the raised row method this year & their book is on the way! Thank you both for sharing your knowledge!!
PDEMO565656

Great podcast

I just discovered this podcast and it is by far the greatest gardening podcast. Great episodes, great information and great hosts. Keep up the excellent podcast.
Lorrainepaints

So helpful

What a great podcast. It is just what I needed. Informative, intelligent and non abrasive.
AhujaFamily

Simple but practical and useful

I love their blog at Old world garden and discovered the podcast. Love how well everything is explained
Fantastic Ham

Looking forward to hearing more!

Fellow Ohioan here and I’m just starting out with my own vegetable garden and your site and podcast are just what I was looking for.