We Dig Plants

Latest Episodes:

Episode 141: Seed Photography with Julie Shapiro Nov 03, 2014

Show notes

This week on We Dig Plants, Carmen DeVito and Alice Marcus Krieg are joined by Julie McIntosh Shapiro of Harvard University. They discuss everything from seeds to photography to the preservation of our Botanical heritage. Hear about her numerous expeditions, the challenges of photographing seeds and some of her recent findings! This program was brought to you by Rolling Press.

“The problem with being a seed photographer is that when plants are in flower they’re usually not in seed. That means I have to make two trips.” [29:00]

–Julie Shapiro on We Dig Plants

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Episode 140: Zoo Horticulture Oct 27, 2014

Show notes

What it does it take to run the horticulture program at a zoo? Find out on a fascinating episode of We Dig Plants as Carmen DeVito and Alice Marcus Krieg are joined by Frank Pizzi, Curator of Horticulture at Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. They discuss exhibit design within zoo’s and how horticulture plays a role in that. Learn about the tricks that are used to mimic natural habitats of animals in zoos! This program was brought to you by Whole Foods Market.

“We do a lot of smoke and mirrors so it looks like they can get at the plants but they can’t. It’s magic, actually.” [13:00]

“Hot dry air and tropical plants is a nightmare waiting to happen.” [21:00]

–Frank Pizzi on We Dig Plants

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Episode 139: 20 Oct 20, 2014

Show notes

This week on We Dig Plants, hosts Carmen DeVito and Alice Marcus Krieg are talking about the ’20 to 30 something’ gardeners of the millennial generation. Speaking first to Dana Frigerio who is based in Italy with the digital magazine, Blossom zine, about targeting the younger generation. Blossom is a digital magazine that is dedicated to anything green, from gardening to design, vegetarian and traditional cooking, fashion, botany, and flowers. After the break, Carmen and Alice chat with Dee Nash from Red Dirt Ramblings, the home and garden blog. Carmen recently wrote the book The 20-30 Something Garden Guide. As it turns out, Dee has millennial aged children and found that many of the generation do not know how to garden or even have a basic understanding of having a green thumb, and this inspired her to try and rectify this. Explaining how important it is to pass on the passion to grow things, Dee also shares her methods for gathering research and some of the highlighted facts she learned in the process. Tune in for a great show focusing on the future of gardening with some insightful advice thrown in there as well! This program was brought to you by Rolling Press.

“I wanted to reach all people not just Italians.” [12:20]

—Dana Frigerio on We Dig Plants

“I wanted to leave a legacy.” [22:10]

“Gardeners want to share their knowledge.” [45:55]

—Dee Nash on We Dig Plants

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Episode 138: Foraged! Oct 13, 2014

Show notes

Things get fun in the studio this week on We Dig Plants as Carmen DeVito and Alice Marcus Krieg are joined by forager, author and horticulturist Ellen Zachos joins the studio to talk about foraging and make delicious cocktails on-air! Zachos is a Harvard graduate and received her certification in Commercial Horticulture and Ethnobotany from the New York Botanical Garden. As the owner of Acme Plant Stuff, Ellen designs, installs, and maintains both interior and exterior gardens in the New York City area. Ellen is an instructor at the New York Botanical Garden, where she teaches for both Continuing Education and The School of Professional Horticulture. She lectures on a wide variety of topics at flower shows, nurseries, and for horticultural organizations around the world. As a professional garden photographer, Ellen illustrates her lectures and workshops with high-quality slides. She is a former Broadway performer, and brings expert presentation skills to every demonstration. Ellen is the author of Down & Dirty: 43 Fun & Funky First-Time Projects & Activities to Get You Gardening (Storey Publishing, 2007), Tempting Tropicals: 175 Irresistible Indoor Plants (Timber Press, 2005), Orchid Growing for Wimps (Sterling Publishing, 2002), as well as numerous articles on orchids, interior landscaping, container gardening, xeriscaping, and annual and perennial plants.

“No forager feels like they’re a forager until they’ve collected acorns, processed them and made stuff.” [22:00] “When you’re a forager you’re always looking for good root crops – always good starch and good nutrition.” [40:00] –Ellen Zachos on We Dig Plants

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Episode 137: The Italian Garden Project Oct 06, 2014

Show notes

This week on We Dig Plants, hosts Carmen DeVito and Alice Marcus Krieg are talking Italy! The show opens with a wonderful story about Carmen’s grandmothers, one of which raised Carmen for a short time in Italy and notably saved her from a pig attack! This truly sets the stage for the show to come. Carlo Scissura, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce President, joins the program via phone to share details on the Italian Cultural and Community Center in the neighborhood of Bensonhurst as well as the upcoming Italian Restaurant Week. After the break, Carmen and Alice welcome Mary Menniti to the program to talk about The Italian Garden Project. Mary founded The Italian Garden Project as a way to celebrate the wisdom inherent in the traditional Italian American vegetable garden. She goes on to explain how this project preserves the heritage and demonstrates its relevance for reconnecting to our food, families, and Earth. This program was brought to you by The International Culinary Center.

“We will have people of all cultures wanting to know about Italian culture.” [10:55]

—Carlo Scissura on We Dig Plants

“[The Italian Garden Project] was founded to shine a light on an amazing lifestyle that is very relevant for today.” [19:38]

“It’s really a passion of mine. The more I do it, the more I want to do it, and the more I see there is to do.” [35:25]

—Mary Menniti on We Dig Plants

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Episode 136: Dr. Allan Armitage Sep 29, 2014

Show notes

This week on We Dig Plants, Carmen DeVito and Alice Marcus Krieg are joined by writer, teacher, traveler and researcher Dr. Allan Armitage. Allan is a renowned horticulturist who teaches online courses and has developed a popular app called Armitages Greatest Perennials and Annuals. Tune in as they reflect on the state of horticulture, gardens around the world and the next generation of gardeners! This program was brought to you by Cain Vineyard & Winery.

“Horticulture has never been sexy. It is in fact lower today than it’s been in some time, but having said that I am quite optimistic that we will continue teaching horticultural students for years to come..What has happened in horticulture is that it’s been merged with plant science. Botany and all sorts of other things get thrown in the bag so horticulture is diluted” [14:00]

“There are 5 books on gardening for dummies and each one is over 200 pages. What self respecting dummy is gonna read that stuff?! We’ve gotta make it simple.” [18:00]

–Dr. Allan Armitage on We Dig Plants

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Episode 135: Mycology, Foraging & Wild Food Sep 22, 2014

Show notes

Ever want to forage for your own food? Ever wonder which mushrooms you come across in nature are safe to eat? Interested in mycology? Today’s episode of We Dig Plants is for you! Tune in as Carmen DeVito and Alice Marcus Krieg are joined by forager Michael Heim. Michael’s interest in plants began while attending the University of Nebraska at Omaha, when he took a Horticulture class to satisfy a “hard science” requirement. Around the same time he learned how to forage for wild mushrooms. The passion was “planted”! Since then he has been fusing his passion for spirits and culinary creations with his passion for botany, mycology, and wild foods. This program was brought to you by Chefs Collaborative.

“It’s healthy to have skepticism about what you eat – it’s just a matter of how you apply that.” [09:00]

“If I wanted to be a gourmet mushroom farmer, I would just buy a forrest and say I’m a farmer.” [22:00]

“Mushrooms are the gate keeper between life and death. Without mushrooms, we don’t have soil.” [37:00]

–Michael Heim on We Dig Plants

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Episode 134: YES, YOU CAN Grow Fruit Trees in the City! Sep 15, 2014

Show notes

We Dig Plants is back! Carmen DeVito and Alice Marcus Krieg are once again on the airwaves to bring the culture to horticulture. To kick off the new fall season they are joined by Susan Poizner, a Toronto based community orchardist & fruit tree care educator. Tune in and get a full education on urban fruit trees. What makes fruit trees different than other plants? How can fruit trees help communities? Find out on a brand new episode of Wed Dig Plants!. This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA

“What I do now is teach other people how to choose the right trees that will grow successfully in their garden, how to plant them, and more importantly how to care for them.” [09:00]

–Susan Poizner on We Dig Plants

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Episode 133: Garden Writers Association Aug 25, 2014

Show notes

On a special summer session of We Dig Plants, Carmen DeVito and Alice Marcus Krieg recap the 2014 Garden Writers Association Conference in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. At the event, Carmen and Alice were given three silver awards for this very show! Tune in as they talk about the Garden Writers Association, the charm of Pittsburg, the ideas presented at the conference and their gratitude for the awards! This program was brought to you by Whole Foods Market.

“Growing your own food is not just a trend, it’s not going away. It’s going to expand!” [17:00]

–Carmen DeVito on We Dig Plants

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Episode 132: Summer Session: Jenks Farmer Jun 03, 2014

Show notes

We Dig Plants is back for a special summer show! Tune in to check back in with your favorite horticultrists, Alice Marcus Krieg and Carmen DeVito as they chat with Jenks Farmer, Plantsman and author of “Deep-Rooted Wisdom: Skills and Stories from Generations of Gardeners”. Augustus Jenkins Farmer (aka Jenks) started gardening in the third grade in a corner of the family farm filled with rocks, scrap metal, and crinum and spider lilies. He was free to dig, transplant, and design in any way he wanted by making do with what he had. Thirty years later, he continues to garden this way in his own gardens in Columbia and Beech Island, South Carolina. His style of gardening is in stark contrast to the gardening industry’s steady stream of new products, new advertising, and new rules that create unneeded complexities that intimidate future gardeners and obscure the joy of gardening.

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