EPISODE · Mar 19, 2026 · 1H 10M
Shaun McCoshum on Natural Habitats and Wildlife Gardening (#51)
from The Plantastic Podcast · host Jared Barnes, Shaun McCoshum
Discount link for March 23, 2026 Botanic Bootcamp on the Power of Plant Selection. SHAUN MCCOSHUM'S BIO Shaun McCoshum is a certified, Senior Ecologist and Wildlife Biologist with over 20 years of experience restoring habitats, conducting research, and gardening. His work includes published scientific papers, books, and copious restoration plans from coast to coast including lands with bison, endangered plants, threatened pollinators, black bears, and mountain lions. His new book explores the pre-European ecology of North America and how habitats existed and explains how we can better mimic processes in our own yards to support habitat. Shaun has kindly offered podcast listeners a discount of 30% of his new book! Use the code NHWG30 at the Princeton University Press website. THE PLANTASTIC PODCAST The Plantastic Podcast is a monthly podcast created by Dr. Jared Barnes. He's been gardening since he was five years old and now is an award-winning professor of horticulture at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX. To say hi and find the show notes, visit theplantasticpodcast.com. You can learn more about how Dr. Jared cultivates plants, minds, and life at meristemhorticulture.com. He also shares thoughts and cutting-edge plant research each week in his newsletter plant•ed, and you can sign up at meristemhorticulture.com/subscribe. Until next time, #keepgrowing!
What this episode covers
Shaun McCoshum is a certified Senior Ecologist and Wildlife Biologist with over 20 years of experience restoring habitats, conducting research, and gardening. His work includes published scientific papers, books, and restoration plans from coast to coast, on lands with bison, endangered plants, threatened pollinators, black bears, and mountain lions. His new book Natural Habitats and Wildlife Gardening explores the pre-European ecology of North America, how habitats existed before widespread development, and how we can better mimic those processes in our own yards to support wildlife. We spend a lot of time digging into the core ideas behind his book, including why "just let nature take its course" is one of the most misunderstood pieces of advice in gardening, how decay is the most suppressed process in suburban landscapes, and what gardeners can do to replicate the missing roles of bears, bison, and other large animals that once kept these systems healthy. We also cover practical ways to create habitat at any scale, from a balcony with four pots to a quarter acre, including how to build underground pupation habitat, use dead wood beautifully, and apply the 30% rule when using native and non-native plants. Shaun reminds us that native plants and habitat gardens do not have to be messy, and that the best way to bring your neighbors along is simply to grow something beautiful.
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Shaun McCoshum on Natural Habitats and Wildlife Gardening (#51)
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