Digging In W/ Master Gardeners Radio Show

Produced by the Master Gardener Volunteers from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties and aired on  WGXC radio 90.7.  

This program includes conversations about multiple seasonal gardening issues, including interviews with Master Gardener Volunteers and experts in many fields related to gardening. Features include discussions with other representatives of Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Episode 14: Birding and Pollinators

Digging in with Master Gardeners hosts Teresa and Jean have conversations with fellow Master Gardener Volunteers Kathryn Schneider and Tim Kennelty. Kathryn discusses some of the nuances of bird feeding and bird watching in the Hudson Valley and gives some hints for the best way to use her book as a guide. Fellow Master Gardener Devon Russ joins us as Tim reviews some of the basics about which wild creatures are the best pollinators, with insects taking the top ranking.

Episode 13: Seed Starting, Sequence of Bloom, and a Recap of Garden Myths

Digging in With Master Gardeners hosts Teresa and Jean discuss the topics of seed starting and sequence of bloom with fellow Master Gardener Volunteers JoAnn Concra and Mary Ann Iaccino.These are always timely because we put so much planning into gardening and landscaping our homes. The bonus segment is a reprise of our talk with fellow Master Gardener Volunteer Joanne Schleich on the topic of gardening myths.

Episode 12: Columbia Land Conservancy and Taste NY

Digging in with Master Gardeners hosts Teresa and Jean interview Heidi Bock and Rebecca Walker of the Columbia Land Conservancy along with Master Gardener Volunteer Tim Kennelty (also a board member of the CLC). The discussion covers their mission to conserve rural landscapes and connect people with the land in Columbia County. A second segment is a chat with Shaylyn Decker, store manager at the Taste New York Welcome Center on the NYS Thruway. She details the local products featured along with the educational offerings to the traveling public. Her shop is operated by Cornell Cooperative Extension and the NYS Department of Ag and Markets.

Episode 11: Wildflowers and Foraging

Digging in With Master Gardeners hosts Teresa and Jean welcome Tracey Testo, Program Coordinator for Natural Resources and the Environment at CCE to explore the topics of wildflowers and wild life foraging. 

Episode 10: Honey bees

Digging in With Master Gardeners hosts Jean and Teresa are joined by fellow Master Gardener Volunteer Linda Aydlett, who is also a Master Beekeeper and educator through Greene and Columbia Counties. The conversation includes a lively discussion of the lifestyle of various castes of bees, how to become a beekeeper, and the value of and dangers to the hard working honeybee.

Episode 9: Container Gardening And Invasive Pests

In the first segment, Digging in With Master Gardeners hosts Teresa and Jean discuss container gardening with Master Gardener Volunteer Linda Levitt. The conversation will specifically cover outdoor plantings from hanging baskets to raised beds. Linda gives tips about design and compatibility for the plants you choose. The second segment of Digging in With Master Gardeners covers some of the invasive pests that threaten our homes and gardens. Fellow MGV and Master Naturalist Timothy Kennelty joins us again to share his expertise about Emerald Ash Borers, Asian jumping worms, and other menaces.

Episode 8: Defensive Gardening and A Master Gardener's Year

Digging in with Master Gardeners in a change of personnel, MGV Coordinator Donna Peterson takes over as host to discuss the wildlife threats to our gardens, interviewing regular hosts Teresa and Jean. Both of our erstwhile hosts have prepared and presented classes on the subject, specifically deer and many of their smaller furry companions. Then the topic switches to some of the highlights of a year in the Master Gardener calendar, including Spring Gardening Day in April, Greene and Columbia County Fairs in late summer.

Episode 7: Ergonomics Gardening and the Subject is Roses

Digging in With Master Gardeners hosts Teresa and Jean settle in for a wide-ranging discussion about rose growing with fellow Master Gardener Volunteer, Dr. Abbey Cash. Abbey is our acknowledged expert Rosarian and speaks frequently on the topic. The second topic is ERGONOMIC GARDENING. Teresa and Jean discuss the physical repercussions of gardening with fellow Master Gardener Volunteer Gloria Kadish. They cover the subject of minimizing aches and pains from gardening exertion by using several basic common-sense practices.

Episode 6: Garden Design

Digging in With Master Gardeners hosts Teresa and Jean discuss some of the important decisions to be made when designing or redesigning a garden with fellow Master Gardener Volunteer Joan Satterlee. Joan is a certified garden design consultant trained through the NYS Federated Garden Clubs.

Episode 5: Houseplants and Christmas Plants

Hosts Teresa and Jean conduct a general discussion about houseplants with fellow Master Gardener Volunteer Kristin Swanson. Basic care year-round and the grand undertaking of bringing our houseplants outdoors in the spring and back indoors in the fall are the main topics. The second segment goes into detail with MGV Coordinator Donna Peterson about the care and feeding of Christmas and Thanksgiving plants.

Episode 4: Gardening Myths and a Conversation with Donna Peterson

Hosts Teresa and Jean welcome Donna Peterson, the Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator to discuss what it means to be a Master Gardner, and Master Gardener Volunteer Joanne Schleich to talk about common myths and superstitions that live on past any reasonable scientific logic.

Episode 3: Composting

Digging In With Master Gardeners hosts Teresa and Jean discuss home composting with fellow Master Gardener Volunteer Devon Russ. They cover such topics as what materials are best to compost and various methods of turning garden wastes into beautiful rich soil that benefits all our gardens.

Episode 2: Native And Invasive Plants

Digging in with Master Gardeners hosts Teresa and Jean discuss the problem of mediating the native vs invasive plant struggle with guest Timothy Kennelty, a fellow Master Gardener Volunteer. They cover the definitions of native and invasive plants and some of the reasons it is so important to protect the natives and remove the invasive plants from our environment.”

Episode 1:  Harvesting Your Garden

A conversation about gardening issues seasonally, including interviews with Master Gardener Volunteers and experts in many fields related to gardening. Features include discussions with 4-H leaders and other representatives of Cornell Cooperative Extension's many areas. Today: What to do with all those vegetables and fruits from the garden. Listen to the Master Gardeners explain the best ways to harvest your bounty followed by Rebecca Polmateer for ideas on how to preserve all those goodies from your garden.   

Last updated January 25, 2022