The Compost Pile | Gardening & Homesteading Podcast By David Pool - Homestead & Organic Gardening Enthusiast cover art

The Compost Pile | Gardening & Homesteading

The Compost Pile | Gardening & Homesteading

By: David Pool - Homestead & Organic Gardening Enthusiast
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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!

David Pool 2025
Education
Episodes
  • Growing Squash, Cucumbers & Melons in Zone 9a: Tips for Bigger Harvests
    Mar 24 2026

    In this episode of The Compost Pile, hosts David Pool, Aaron Barnhill, & Paul Lemoine break down how to successfully grow squash, cucumbers, cantaloupe, and watermelon in the garden—especially in Zone 9a and Southeast Texas.

    They discuss why these crops can be both highly productive and frustrating for gardeners, covering key topics like pollination, common pests like squash vine borers, spacing for airflow, powdery mildew prevention, and succession planting strategies.

    You’ll also learn:

    • How hand pollination can dramatically increase squash production
    • Why pollinators like bees are critical for cucurbits
    • Tips for growing cucumbers on trellises and maximizing harvests
    • How to know when watermelons and cantaloupes are ripe
    • The importance of soil type, watering strategy, and spacing
    • Favorite heirloom and productive varieties for the garden

    Whether you're planting your first squash or trying to grow sweeter melons, this episode shares practical tips to help you grow more food and avoid common mistakes in the garden.

    Subscribe to The Compost Pile as we continue breaking down how to grow in Zone 9a.

    #gardening #zone9a #vegetablegarden #growyourownfood #homesteading #squash #watermelon #cantaloupe #cucumbers #organicgardening #gardeningtips #thecompostpile

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    37 mins
  • Why Every Garden Needs Herbs: Easy Plants, Pollinators & Beginner Gardening Tips
    Mar 17 2026

    Herbs might be the most underrated plants in the garden. In this episode of The Compost Pile, David and Aaron talk about why herbs like basil, rosemary, oregano, dill, parsley, and mint are some of the easiest and most rewarding plants for gardeners—especially beginners. Learn how herbs attract pollinators, improve garden biodiversity, repel pests with natural aromatics, and provide quick harvests that keep new gardeners motivated.

    We also discuss companion planting, why herbs help protect vegetables like tomatoes and peppers, and how letting herbs flower can benefit beneficial insects and your overall garden ecosystem. Plus, we highlight some of our favorite easy herbs to grow in warm climates like Southeast Texas.

    And a quick correction from the episode: we mentioned cumin coming from coriander seeds. While coriander does come from the cilantro plant (and they’re all part of the same plant family as parsley), cumin actually comes from a different plant in the Apiaceae family—the same broader family that includes cilantro, parsley, dill, fennel, and carrots. So while they’re related botanically, they’re not the same seed!

    If you're starting a garden this season, herbs might just be the perfect gateway into growing your own food.

    #gardening #herbgarden #beginnergardening #companionplanting #pollinators #gardenecosystem #cilantro #parsley #basil #rosemary #oregano #dill #organicgardening #homesteading #thecompostpile #zone9a #texasgardening

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    29 mins
  • Raising Goats for Beginners: Milk, Meat, and Homesteading Tips with Stephanie Harren of Chosen Weeds Farm
    Mar 10 2026

    Thinking about raising goats on your homestead? In this episode of The Compost Pile, hosts David Pool and Aaron Barnhill sit down with Stephanie Harren of Chosen Weeds Farm to break down the realities of goat ownership—everything from choosing the right breed and managing parasites to fencing, feeding, and producing fresh goat milk.

    Stephanie shares practical experience from her own farm, explaining why goats are becoming more popular for small homesteads, what beginners often get wrong, and how proper management practices can make the difference between healthy goats and constant problems. The conversation covers dairy goats, meat goats, pasture rotation, parasite pressure in humid climates, fencing tips, and whether goats are actually a good fit for your property.

    If you’ve ever wondered whether goats are right for your homestead—or you’re curious about producing your own milk, cheese, and other farm products—this episode is packed with real-world advice from someone who does it every day.

    Topics covered include:

    • Choosing the right goat breed (Nubian, Nigerian Dwarf, Pygmy)

    • Parasite management in humid climates

    • Goat fencing and escape artist tendencies

    • Feeding goats and supplementing forage

    • Producing goat milk, cheese, and homestead products

    • Pros and cons of raising goats in Southeast Texas

    • Beginner mistakes to avoid

    Tune in to learn whether goats are the right livestock for your garden, homestead, or backyard farm .

    You can find Chosen Weeds Farms on:

    Facebook: Facebook

    Chosen Weeds Farm

    #TheCompostPile #GoatFarming #Homesteading #BackyardFarming #DairyGoats #GoatMilk #ChosenWeedsFarm #HomesteadLife #UrbanHomesteading #SustainableLiving #GardenPodcast #FarmLife #SelfSufficiency

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    48 mins
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