On this episode of Growing the Ozarks, Kelly speaks with Sara Burge, assistant professor of creative writing at Missouri State University about the connection between nature, poetry and creative writing.

Writing and nature both require us to slow down and pay careful attention to the details around us. Poetry can also be a great outlet to express emotions and feelings about nature and the changes that happen around us every day.

For a captioned video of this podcast, click here.

The Terry Belew poetry reading will take place Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at 7 pm inside of Karls Hall on Missouri State University campus in Springfield.  The event is free and open to the public. No registration is required. 

Information about Moon City Review can be found here: http://www.mooncityreview.com/ 

Kelly’s reading recommendations:

Mary Oliver “Beans”  https://poets.org/poem/beans

W.S. Merwin “Black Cherries”  https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/1586491/black-cherries

Camille Dungy “Trophic Cascade”  https://poems.com/poem/trophic-cascade/

Jane Hirshfield “Tree” https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47100/tree-56d227515c386

Kimberly Blaeser “Postures of Devotion” https://poets.org/poem/postures-devotion

Terry Belew “In the Woods” https://solarjournal.org/issue-four/poetry-in-the-woods-belew

Sara Burge “The solar flare will set us all on fire this Saturday”  https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/4/article/949401/pdf

Will LaPage “1°”   https://paddockreview.com/2025/06/20/a-poem-by-william-lapage/

On this episode of Growing the Ozarks, Kelly talks with Springfield Plateau Master Naturalist Richard Herman about bumblebees.

While honeybees tend to receive most attention, other bees also play a big part in our ecosystem. Bumblebees are an important and interesting native insect with several different species. Herman discusses the lifecycle of bumblebees, different species of bumblebees, and ways we can help them, such as Citizen Science projects like the Bumble Bee Atlas. 

In this episode, Kelly talks with Matthew Huchteman, Field Specialist in Horticulture with the University of Missouri Extension in Jasper County, about the history of Victory Gardens.

Victory Gardens began as a war-time effort to encourage families to grow their own food. Impacts from these gardens have carried on for generations and backyard vegetable gardens are still popular today.

Today’s guest is Angie Hutsell, member of the Master Gardeners of Greene County.  Angie is the chair of the upcoming state Missouri Master Gardener Conference to be held in Springfield, June 4-7, 2026.

This is the third time that the Master Gardeners of Greene County will  host the statewide conference in Springfield since the formation of their group in 1985.

The event will include tours of local parks and home gardens, a wide array of educational speakers focusing on gardening topics. The keynote address will be given by Mitch McCulloch.  Mitch’s new book “The Seed Hunter” will be available for a signing event before and after the address.  This book highlights his time with Baker Creek Seed where he traveled the world searching for new seed varieties.  Mitch also has an extensive background in vegetable production from his native English origins as well as culinary farm-to-table cooking with the fresh produce.

Vendors will also be available for on-site shopping.  This event is open to both the public and Master Gardeners.  For details and pricing information, please visit: https://staging.mggreene.org/2026-missouri-master-gardener-conference/

In this episode, Kelly speaks with Caroline Griesemer and Renee Bernskoetter with Master Gardeners of Greene County about their annual plant sale.

The Master Gardeners of Greene County is a volunteer organization through University of Missouri Extension with the educational mission of ‘Helping Others Learn to Grow’. 

Master Gardener members will be on hand at the upcoming annual plant sale to answer questions and help with selection. The plant sale will take place Saturday, April 25 from 8 am to noon at the Springfield Botanical Gardens, 2400 S. Scenic Ave., Springfield, MO 65807.

Plants at the sale are locally grown and will do well in the Ozarks.  Favorites include vegetables, natives, trees and shrubs, and houseplants. 

Arrive early for best selection.  Cash, check, and credit/debit cards accepted. Other area gardening clubs will also be on hand selling plants. 

Dairy farms have a rich and interesting history in the Ozarks. Most of today’s farms are still owned and operated by farm families, just as they were in the past. Missouri is home to about 300 dairy farms, and most of them are here in the Ozarks.

In this episode, University of Missouri Extension Dairy Specialist Reagan Bluel discusses the Missouri dairy industry and the laws that ensure your milk is the most delicious and nutritious product available. 

More information about the dairy industry is available at the Extension’s website. For details about milk’s nutritious attributes, visit Midwest dairy. 

In this episode, Kelly speaks with Carol Davit, Executive Director of the Missouri Prairie Foundation, to learn about the work the foundation does around the state, including local stormwater improvement projects involving native plantings. 

Celebrating 60 years, the Missouri Prairie Foundation (MPF) owns and manages 36 properties open to the public to enjoy on foot, including Schuette Prairie and La Petite Gemme Prairie. Both of these unplowed, old-growth prairies are about 30 minutes from Springfield and have showy spring wildflowers. 

MPF offers prairie hikes, native plant sales and other events throughout the year. Learn more at moprairie.org. Find hundreds of free native gardening resources from MPF's Grow Native! program at grownative.org.

Upcoming native plant sales:

Saturday, May 2 at Bass Pro Shops Sportsman’s Center, 10am-2pm 

Saturday, May 23 at Mother’s Brewing Company, 2pm-6pm

In this episode, Kelly speaks with Springfield Plateau Master Naturalist Gwen Morrison about the growing concerns around microplastics.

Microplastics in the environment have received a lot of attention due to concerns about human, animal, and ecological effects. 

Beyond Plastics Ozarks is a new educational group in Springfield working to share information about the reduced use of plastics and what you can do on a daily basis to help, including bringing your own shopping bags.

This month, Kelly speaks with Master Naturalist Lindsey Anderson about soil. 

Soil isn't just a medium for plant growth - it's the foundation of food systems and our terrestrial habitats and ecosystems.

Soil filters pollutants, septic and the water supply. It provides flood control and mitigation while it supports our infrastructure. 

As an ecosystem, soil isn't an inert substance. It's full of bacteria, fungi, nematodes, mites, insects, worms, mammals and plant roots. These organisms mediate all soil processes, including organic matter breakdown, nutrient supply and cycling, and disease suppression. 

Lindsey Anderson has a BS in Soil and Environmental Science and a MS in Agronomy/Soil Health. She is a Master Naturalist of the Springfield Plateau Chapter, USDA-NRCS Soil Scientist in Southwest Missouri, MSU Adjunct Professor and Soil Judging Coach, and President of the Missouri Association of Professional Soil Scientists.