A clearer path to growing food and building a better backyard
Earth, Nails & Tails helps homeowners turn their backyard into a more productive food-growing system through practical gardening, DIY builds, and tested backyard methods.
My name is Phil, and I built this brand from real experience in a normal suburban backyard in southeastern Virginia. On just 1/3 of an acre, I have built a 1000 sq ft garden, raised chickens, grown fruits and vegetables, and created systems that make the property more productive, more enjoyable, and more self-sufficient.
I was tired of piecing together the "right" information from 100 different places
When I was learning how to garden and build out my backyard, I spent a lot of time searching for answers, trying things, failing, and sorting through advice that did not actually lead to success. I wanted a simpler way forward.
I love teaching and I love helping people, so I made it my goal to become the person who gives people a clear path. That is what Earth, Nails & Tails is really about.
I wanted to create the brand I wish I had when I was getting started: clear, practical, tested, and built for real people with real backyards.
I do not teach from theory alone
I am a self-taught gardener and backyard homesteader who has spent years learning what actually works in a normal yard. I grow in raised beds, in-ground, and in containers. I focus on biodiversity, use no pesticides or herbicides, and rely on natural inputs and practical systems that support long-term success.
I am also an engineer by trade, and that changes the way I approach everything. I think in systems. I test. I retest. I look for patterns. I improve what does not work. And I keep refining until I find the most effective and efficient path forward.
If you do exactly what I do, you will have success. I've tested it, my community and clients have applied it, and I know it works.
This brand is built on proven methods, not guesses.This is about more than gardening tips
It is about building a better backyard life - one that produces more food, works more efficiently, and helps you live with more confidence and capability at home.
Grow it yourself
Learn practical gardening methods that help you grow healthier plants, harvest more food, and stop guessing your way through the season.
Raise it yourself
Build a backyard that supports a more self-sufficient life with chickens, systems, and habits that make home food production more possible.
Do it yourself
Use smart backyard builds and practical infrastructure to make the whole property work better - from beds and pathways to irrigation, greenhouse upgrades, and more.
Skip years of confusion and move forward with confidence
I want to help you stop piecing together advice from a hundred different places. I want you to know what to plant, how to build, how to improve your systems, and how to make steady progress in your own backyard.
Most of all, I want you to experience the kind of pride that comes from creating something real: fresh food, better systems, and a backyard that actually supports the life you want to live.
Take the next step that fits you best
- Join Gardening Weekly for practical weekly guidance and seasonal next steps.
- Follow The Backyard Food Project to see the systems and progress unfold in real time.
- Join the community if you want deeper support, accountability, and faster progress.
- Book a consult if you want a clearer plan for a more productive yard.