418 - What Market Farmers Know That Backyard Gardeners Don’t (Yet!) with Pam Dawling
04/22/25 • 40 min
In this episode, we explore how backyard gardeners can apply market farming techniques to grow healthier, more productive gardens with Pam Dawling author of Sustainable Market Farming. From disease and pest control to crop rotation and weeding, our guest shares practical, sustainable strategies drawn from real-world farming experience.
Topics we cover include: 🌱 Easy-to-apply disease management practices 🧹 Smart, chemical-free weed control (and a realistic weeding schedule) 🐛 Organic pest prevention strategies, including trap crops and netting 🔁 How to rotate crops in small spaces—and why it matters 🧠 Common myths and misconceptions about organic gardening
Plus, hear how Pam's book can help you garden with more confidence and fewer headaches.
Thank you to our sponsors: Organic REV | Garden in Minutes | Heirloom Roses
Organic REV is an organic growth stimulant that can increase nitrogen efficiency by up to 25%, replaces depleted soil carbon and bacterial biomass, and absorbs nutrients to make them more readily available to plants via their root systems.
Promo Code: Use promo code JILL10 for 10% off your order
Want to learn more about Organic REV? Enroll in my FREE course that teaches you how to use REV in seed starting, transplanting and so much more! Click here to enroll.
Water your raised beds more efficiently and effectively with the Garden in Minutes Garden Grids. These garden grids take about 1 minute to set up, water all of your plants evenly at their base, and ship in pre-assembled sections! No messy emitters or tangle of tubing. Just connect & grow! https://journeywithjill.net/gardeninminutes
Discount Code: Use promo code JILL for 7% off your purchase
HeirloomRoses.com has over 900 roses to choose from and hundreds of perennials and bulbs for your complete garden dreams. Get yours today and check out their selections here.
My Products: 2025 Complete Garden Planner (plus several new editions!) https://shop.journeywithjill.net/
Vegetable Gardening for Beginners Book: https://amzn.to/3TZeJux
Products I recommend: Recommended Brands & Products page: https://journeywithjill.net/recommended-brands-and-products/
https://www.amazon.com/shop/thebeginnersgarden
Connect with Jill: Sign up for Friday Emails: https://journeywithjill.net/gardensignup
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JourneywithjillNet/videos
The Beginner's Garden Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeginnersgarden/
Link to Beginner's Garden Podcast past episodes: https://journeywithjill.net/the-beginners-garden-podcast/
(*links above contain affiliate links, which means if you click through and make a purchase, we will earn a commission at no extra cost to you.)
In this episode, we explore how backyard gardeners can apply market farming techniques to grow healthier, more productive gardens with Pam Dawling author of Sustainable Market Farming. From disease and pest control to crop rotation and weeding, our guest shares practical, sustainable strategies drawn from real-world farming experience.
Topics we cover include: 🌱 Easy-to-apply disease management practices 🧹 Smart, chemical-free weed control (and a realistic weeding schedule) 🐛 Organic pest prevention strategies, including trap crops and netting 🔁 How to rotate crops in small spaces—and why it matters 🧠 Common myths and misconceptions about organic gardening
Plus, hear how Pam's book can help you garden with more confidence and fewer headaches.
Thank you to our sponsors: Organic REV | Garden in Minutes | Heirloom Roses
Organic REV is an organic growth stimulant that can increase nitrogen efficiency by up to 25%, replaces depleted soil carbon and bacterial biomass, and absorbs nutrients to make them more readily available to plants via their root systems.
Promo Code: Use promo code JILL10 for 10% off your order
Want to learn more about Organic REV? Enroll in my FREE course that teaches you how to use REV in seed starting, transplanting and so much more! Click here to enroll.
Water your raised beds more efficiently and effectively with the Garden in Minutes Garden Grids. These garden grids take about 1 minute to set up, water all of your plants evenly at their base, and ship in pre-assembled sections! No messy emitters or tangle of tubing. Just connect & grow! https://journeywithjill.net/gardeninminutes
Discount Code: Use promo code JILL for 7% off your purchase
HeirloomRoses.com has over 900 roses to choose from and hundreds of perennials and bulbs for your complete garden dreams. Get yours today and check out their selections here.
My Products: 2025 Complete Garden Planner (plus several new editions!) https://shop.journeywithjill.net/
Vegetable Gardening for Beginners Book: https://amzn.to/3TZeJux
Products I recommend: Recommended Brands & Products page: https://journeywithjill.net/recommended-brands-and-products/
https://www.amazon.com/shop/thebeginnersgarden
Connect with Jill: Sign up for Friday Emails: https://journeywithjill.net/gardensignup
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JourneywithjillNet/videos
The Beginner's Garden Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeginnersgarden/
Link to Beginner's Garden Podcast past episodes: https://journeywithjill.net/the-beginners-garden-podcast/
(*links above contain affiliate links, which means if you click through and make a purchase, we will earn a commission at no extra cost to you.)
Previous Episode
417 - How Your Grandparents Knew When to Plant: Using Phenology (Like Lilacs & Oak Leaves) in Your Spring Garden
Have you ever wondered how gardeners knew when to plant before weather apps, frost charts, or ChatGPT? Today we’re talking phenology—the art (and science) of reading nature’s cues to time your planting.
🌼 Forsythia blooms, dandelion sightings, and dogwood flowers... 🌱 Old-school wisdom meets modern science 📝 Practical examples and tips to start your own phenology journal
Whether it’s frogs croaking or oak leaves the size of a mouse’s ear, nature has a lot to say—if we know how to listen.
🌿 Don't forget: Dream to Garden is now open for the LAST time this spring! Join now
📣 Sponsors:
- Garden In Minutes – Simplify your watering with their all-in-one raised bed bundles & Garden GridTM system. Use code JILL at journeywithjill.net/gardeninminutes to save 7%.
- Organic REV – Boost transplant success with this microbial powerhouse. Use code JILL10 at OrganicREV.com.
- Heirloom Roses – Start your dream rose garden with premium own-root roses. Visit HeirloomRoses.com and use code JILL to save 10% on your order.
My Products: 2025 Complete Garden Planner (plus several new editions!) https://shop.journeywithjill.net/
Vegetable Gardening for Beginners Book: https://amzn.to/3TZeJux
Products I recommend: Recommended Brands & Products page: https://journeywithjill.net/recommended-brands-and-products/
https://www.amazon.com/shop/thebeginnersgarden
Connect with Jill: Sign up for Friday Emails: https://journeywithjill.net/gardensignup
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JourneywithjillNet/videos
The Beginner's Garden Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeginnersgarden/
Link to Beginner's Garden Podcast past episodes: https://journeywithjill.net/the-beginners-garden-podcast/
(*links above contain affiliate links, which means if you click through and make a purchase, we will earn a commission at no extra cost to you.)
Next Episode
419 - How to Grow Meyer Lemons in Containers (Anywhere!)
Have you ever dreamed of growing lemons but didn’t know where to start—or tried and failed like I have? In this episode, I’m diving into the world of Meyer lemons: the sweet, compact citrus tree that’s perfect for container gardening in Zones 8 and below.
In this episode: 🍋 [00:01:30] Why Meyer lemons are the go-to citrus for home gardeners 🍋 [00:06:10] Choosing the right container and soil mix (and what not to do) 🍋 [00:13:20] Tips for planting and where to place your tree for success 🍋 [00:17:40] Seasonal care: watering, humidity, fertilizing, and winter protection 🍋 [00:27:00] Is it actually worth it? I ran the numbers—here’s what I found 🍋 [00:32:15] Organic vs. store-bought lemons: what's really on that peel?
Links & Sponsors: 🌿 Garden in Minutes – Get 7% off Tomato Cages with code JILL at GardenInMinutes.com 🪴 Organic REV – Save with code JILL10 at OrganicREV.com 🌹 Heirloom Roses – Use code BEGINNER20 for 20% off at HeirloomRoses.com (valid through Sept. 30, 2025)
Research links:
https://news.oregonstate.edu/news/pucker-it%E2%80%99s-time-talk-lemons
https://www.bhg.com/grow-lemon-tree-in-pot-8686828
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/growing-dwarf-citrus/
My Products: 2025 Complete Garden Planner (plus several new editions!) https://shop.journeywithjill.net/
Vegetable Gardening for Beginners Book: https://amzn.to/3TZeJux
Products I recommend: Recommended Brands & Products page: https://journeywithjill.net/recommended-brands-and-products/
https://www.amazon.com/shop/thebeginnersgarden
Connect with Jill: Sign up for Friday Emails: https://journeywithjill.net/gardensignup
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JourneywithjillNet/videos
The Beginner's Garden Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeginnersgarden/
Link to Beginner's Garden Podcast past episodes: https://journeywithjill.net/the-beginners-garden-podcast/
(*links above contain affiliate links, which means if you click through and make a purchase, we will earn a commission at no extra cost to you.)
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