Episodes

Growing a Greener World, Season One. Or click here for Season Two.

	EPISODE 126 – Victory Gardens – View Full Episode The Victory Gardens which united the country during WWI and WWII are experiencing a resurgence today. Learn more about their history from Dr. Rose Hayden-Smith and visit The People’s Garden in Washington DC.

	EPISODE 125 – Thomas Jefferson – View Full Episode Currently the term ‘organic gardening’ is receiving its just attention. J.I. Rodale understood the connection between the soil and plant health, but even before that Thomas Jefferson was gardening organically and many of his practices are still in use today.

	EPISODE 124 – Natural Pest Control – View Full Episode Think twice before reaching for that non-selective pesticide whether it’s “natural” or not. Only 3% of the insects in our gardens actually do any damage and you risk wiping out in the good guys in the process. Learn how some wholesale nurseries are cutting out pesticides altogether.

	EPISODE 123 – Rodale Institute- View Full Episode With so much interest in taking care of the health of our planet and our bodies, the term organic has more meaning than ever before. Today we travel to the Rodale Institute, the cradle of organic gardening in America.

	EPISODE 122 – Rooftop Gardening- View Full Episode Rooftop gardens offer numerous opportunities to replenish much of what has been destroyed by urban sprawl and are one of the best ways to reduce our carbon footprint.

	EPISODE 121 – Community Gardening- View Full Episode Community gardens offer so much more than flowers or vegetables. Among other things they foster friendships, unite neighborhoods and provide teaching opportunities.

	EPISODE 120 – Community Supported Agriculture- View Full Episode Across the country, CSA’s (Community Supported Agriculture) are more popular than ever with waiting lists outweighing availability. If you can’t grow your own this is a way to provide your family with healthy, organic produce and support your local farms.

	EPISODE 119 – Water-Wise Gardening- View Full Episode The earth is often referred to as the water planet. But of all that water, 99% is inaccessible to us as pure water leaving only 1% for all the world to use for doing everything from drinking and bathing to washing our food, clothes and cars, to irrigating our lawns and landscapes.

	EPISODE 118 – Greensgrow Farm- View Full Episode More than 10 years ago this city block in Philadelphia was the site of an abandoned galvanized steel plant but today, thanks to the vision of Mary Seton Corboy, Greensgrow is home to a prime example of the urban farm movement.

	EPISODE 117 – Seed Savers Exchange- View Full Episode Sadly many of the plants our ancestors grew have disappeared forever. Thanks to the efforts of seed banks like Seed Savers Exchange and ‘Seed Hunter’, Dr. Ken Street the plants we know today are being preserved for future generations.

	EPISODE 116 – Invasives & Natives- View Full Episode Gardeners are turning to native species for creating a more sustainable landscape. GGW visits the Lady Bird Wildflower Center in Austin, TX, a national leader in research for natives and invasive plants to learn more, and we’ll explore one couple’s Certified Wildlife Habitat, where native plants abound.

	EPISODE 115 – Living Homegrown Fresh- View Full Episode In today’s world, most of the food we love, such as watermelon and strawberries can be had on any given day of the year. In fact, on average, the food we eat today traveled 1,500 miles from farm to fork, and that is not exactly great for the environment.

	EPISODE 114 – Pruning, the good the bad and the ugly- View Full Episode Here For many people pruning is just another act of gardening. Others have an unnatural fear of pruning or ‘prunaphobia’. And still another group takes it to extremes. We’ll explore the benefits and damage caused by pruning.

	EPISODE 113 – Horticultural Waste- View Full Episode Here As gardeners and weekend warriors, we do so much to beautify our lawns and landscapes. But in the process, we generate a great deal of waste. Sadly, much of that ends up in the landfill. Of the total landfill volume, estimates list the percentage of compostable waste from yard debris at about 12%. That’s a lot of material that doesn’t need to be there.

	EPISODE 112 – Worm Farm – View Full Episode Here From commercial vineyards to urban gardens, worms are the secret to lush and healthy plants. We’ll show you why having more worms is a good thing when it comes to improving whatever you grow and a cool way to tap into their power in your own backyard garden.

	EPISODE 111 – Farmer D – View Full Episode In this episode we’ll showcase one individual that represents a new generation of farmer, with a thumb far more green than any of their predecessors. They live to make a difference in the world, because of their passion for the earth and the natural methods that can save it.

	EPISODE 110 – Annie’s Annuals- View Full Episode In an environment where many nurseries have succumbed to economic hardship Annie’s Annuals is a thriving business dedicated to preserving rare and heirloom plants that have been part of our heritage for generations. What they don’t sell they donate to organizations such as Urban Tilth who’s mission is to teach youths and adults the skills necessary to grow their own food.

	EPISODE 109 – Fetzer Vineyard- View Full Episode No whinin’ about sustainability from this crowd! Fetzer’s vineyard, and their Bonterra line of wines, is an industry model for eco-friendly gardening practices. Grape production throughout the entire vineyard went organic in 1984 and hasn’t looked back since. Company-wide this vintner is dedicated to utilizing the most sustainable methods in practice today. Gardeners anywhere can benefit from their experience and take away a tasty recipe too.

	EPISODE 108 – Edible Schoolyard- View Full Episode This nationally recognized organization was conceived in 1994 after a seemingly innocuous comment about the condition of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School by restaurateur Alice Waters who passed by the school daily. Principal Neil Smith then contacted Alice and, knowing of her reputation, invited her to plan a garden at the school. The rest, as they say, is history.

	EPISODE 107 – Honeybees – View Full Episode We’re all abuzz! Due in part to the mysterious loss of honeybees across the nation, a desire for fresh, local honey, and the important role bees play in a healthy garden, more people are setting up backyard hives than ever before! We visit one such Seattle beekeeper to see what all the buzz is about, and learn how to attract these hard-working pollinators to our own gardens.

	EPISODE 106 – Compost – View Full Episode Healthy plants start with healthy soil, and the single best amendment you can add to any soil is compost! This episode demonstrates how easy it is to compost yourself at home. Give your plants this rich black gold – straight from your own yard waste and kitchen scraps – instead of sending it to the landfill!

	EPISODE 105 – Growing Power – View Full Episode In 1993, Growing Power wanted to give opportunities to teens. Former NBA player Will Allen was a farmer with land. What started as a simple partnership in north Milwaukee blossomed into a highly inspirational, national nonprofit organization and land trust with a global commitment to sustainable food systems…

	EPISODE 104 – Phipps Conservatory – View Full Episode 100 years ago, a wealthy businessman built the Phipps Conservatory as a gift to the city of Pittsburgh during the Industrial Revolution. Today it’s “America’s Greenest Garden,” and has become a model for public gardens and conservatories world-wide for sustainable building practices, energy conservation and eco‐friendly methods.

	EPISODE 103 – Eco-Friendly Landscape, Part 2 – View Full Episode An eco-friendly garden at home is catching on as homeowners strive to create more sustainable outdoor spaces. Joe and Patti visit a couple in Florida to discuss the sustainability project in their yard, use of natives vs. non-natives, and smart irrigation. And Patti visits U of Florida for surprising tips on watering new plants.

	EPISODE 102 -Eco-friendly Landscaping – View Full Episode Creating an Eco-Friendly Landscape from the Ground Up – Most homeowners understand the value of gardening in an eco-friendly manner, but could use some guidance on how to do it! Joe and Patti beautifully make over a Florida homeowner’s yard using practical, simple tips for landscaping in a more earth-friendly way.

	EPISODE 101 – ECHO – View Full Episode ECHO – Educational Concern for Hunger Organization – uses the power of agriculture on a global scale to reduce hunger and improve lives. ECHO helps those who are just one failed crop away from starvation. These garden heroes study difficult growing environments and develop some surprising solutions…