A few years back, Paul Stamets told TED viewers that mushrooms can save the world. If that announcement surprised you, you're not alone -- but as most vegetarians know, the humble mushroom packs a big portion of B vitamins, antioxidants and rich flavor, without packing on the calories. Of all the varieties of edible, non-psychedelic mushrooms, shiitake is one of the best known. It's been cultivated as a delicacy for over 1,000 years. Organic shiitakes can cost upwards of $10 a pound -- or you can grow it in your backyard for a fraction of the cost, and eat garden-fresh mushrooms whenever you please.

Thanks to La Niña, most of the northern United States has already spent a few nights under cover of ice. Once the killing frost hits, there's little to do but prepare your garden for the long cold months ahead. That doesn't mean you should just abandon it, though. Spend a little time on your chilly soil now, and you'll reap the benefits -- literally -- next year.

This just in from my lunch break: I put in next summer's garlic crop. You can too! Here’s what you need:

1. Garlic
2. Digging tool

In most of North America, now’s the time to plant garlic and other bulbs. They will establish some roots before the ground freezes, then sleep all winter to emerge in spring.

If your garden is besieged with snails, you’ve probably joked once or twice about making escargot. They're a delicacy, right? But joking about eating snails is one thing. Actually doing it... that's weird, right?

Miss Snail Pail, aka Colleen Flanigan, disagrees. "I can’t believe people poison and waste this food source."

Harvest season may be winding down, but your garden can keep on giving into next year. In fact, now's the perfect time to gather and save seeds from your best crops, to sow next spring and to use as winter spices. Small though they may be, those little pods hold a bounty of possibility.

Those bountiful summer harvests are long over... or so you thought. Just because the weather has turned cool doesn’t mean you can’t eat well. You can still get homegrown, nutritious veggies in the fall by planting a few varieties that love chilly temperatures.

Cheerful mums, with their autumnal hues, hardy character and abundance of blooms, are easily the showoff superstars of a fall garden.

And for those among us who prefer less labor-intensive gardening, all you need to plant these flowers are a few containers. These robust babies will produce blooms (and bunches of them) for weeks, even in finicky weather. While resilient, these happy blossoms still need some TLC. Try these four tips to keep your mums looking fresh all through fall.

It’s that time of year when eggplants start to invade the psyche from all corners of the farmers market. Low in calories and fat (unless you fry them – they’ll easily absorb oil and ruin your low-calorie plans) and high in taste, eggplants are used in a range of recipes from different regions of the world. Served in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Asia, Africa and more, you’re sure to find a favorite recipe inspired from faraway lands.

For many, the idea of leading an organic lifestyle is associated with a lack of affordability. Premiums placed on organic produce by higher-end retailers, for example, cause some shoppers to stray from products labeled as such. But there are ways to be a sustainable consumer without breaking the bank, starting with a lesser-known practice called Integrated Pest Management.

All spring you worked your perfect yoga-sculpted butt off to ensure your organic garden would be successful. It’s summer and your garden harvesting is in full swing. While weeding your garden’s tomato bed, you notice a gigantic, horned green caterpillar clinging to one of your beautiful tomato plants.