Hort Culture

In this episode of Hort Culture, the hosts sit down with Dr. Eli Sagor, Extension Forestry Specialist and Program Leader for Natural Resources at the University of Minnesota, to discuss forestry, forest management, and the evolving role of Extension education. Dr. Sagor shares how he works with forestry professionals across Minnesota to address real-world challenges through collaborative learning and peer-to-peer knowledge exchange. The conversation explores the impacts of climate change on forest ecosystems, including shifting tree species ranges, invasive pests, and efforts to create climate-resilient woodlands. The group also discusses Minnesota’s unique forest landscapes, favorite tree species, and the importance of stewardship in maintaining healthy forests for future generations. Throughout the episode, the hosts and Dr. Sagor reflect on how Extension has evolved from simply providing information to helping people interpret and apply knowledge in an age of information overload, emphasizing the value of trust, conversation, and authentic human connections in education and outreach.

Eli Sagor

Great Lakes Silviculture Library

Cloquet Forestry Center

University of Minnesota Extension Natural Resources

Sustainable Forests Education Cooperative

Minnesota Master Naturalist Program

University of Kentucky Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Kentucky Division of Forestry

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In this entertaining and informative episode of Hort Culture Podcast, Alexis and Jessica explore “Nature Danger,” discussing the poisonous plants, venomous insects, spiders, ticks, and other outdoor hazards commonly encountered during Kentucky’s warmer months. Blending humor, personal stories, and practical advice, the hosts explain the difference between poisonous and venomous organisms while covering topics like poison ivy, dangerous mushrooms, stinging caterpillars, wasps, black widows, brown recluse spiders, mosquitoes, and ticks. Along the way, they debunk internet myths, share safety tips for outdoor adventures and gardening, and remind listeners that understanding nature is the best way to stay safe while still appreciating the beneficial role many of these creatures play in the environment.

Best Practices for Mushroom Foraging in Kentucky

Don't Eat Those Wild Mushrooms

Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, and Poison Sumac: Identification, Poisoning, and Control

Ticks and Disease in Kentucky

Kentucky Snakes

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In this episode of Hort Culture, the hosts chat with Kayla Preston from Grow Appalachia about the growth of high tunnels and sustainable farming in Appalachia. Kayla shares how Grow Appalachia evolved from a community gardening program into a major resource for farmers through education, technical assistance, and conservation support.

The conversation explores the early days of building high tunnels in Eastern Kentucky, the challenges growers face with season extension, soil health, and tunnel maintenance, and how organizations like Grow Appalachia help farmers succeed beyond simply installing structures. The episode also highlights the importance of community partnerships, practical farmer education, and the growing impact of protected agriculture across Kentucky.

GROW Appalachia

Resource Library

Contact Page

UK Center for Crop Diversification

UK CCD High Tunnel Resources

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In this episode of Hort Culture, the crew dives into the surprisingly emotional side of farming and horticulture: imposter syndrome. What starts as a conversation about finally getting much-needed rain turns into a thoughtful discussion about identity, experience, and the pressure growers place on themselves. From first-generation farmers to seasoned producers, the hosts explore why so many people in agriculture feel like they’re “not real farmers” — even while doing the work every day.

Along the way, they share personal stories about learning through mistakes, comparing themselves to others online, navigating community expectations, and figuring out where they fit within modern agriculture. The episode balances humor and honesty while offering encouragement to growers at every stage: you don’t have to know everything to belong.

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In this episode of the Hort Culture Podcast, hosts Brett, Alexis, Jessica, and Ray are joined by returning guest Savannah Columbia to discuss her master's thesis research on specialty cut flower workshops, consumer behavior, and the rising "experience economy" within agritourism. Savannah framing her study around the concepts of search, experience, and credence goods, explains that hands-on agritourism activities—such as floral arrangement, wreath making, seed starting, and flower drying—function as "experience goods" because their quality and value can only be evaluated by consumers after the event takes place. She points out that consumer interest in these interactive farm experiences has risen sharply since COVID-19, aligning with massive growth in the cut flower industry; national census data shows a 60% increase in farms reporting cut flower sales, and Kentucky's own cut flower directory expanded exponentially from 35 growers in 2020 to roughly 159 by 2026.

To better understand what drives this market, Savannah conducted a three-part survey tracking consumer experiences before the workshop, immediately following the event, and four weeks post-experience across nine flower growers in Kentucky and North Carolina. Her research maps out "pre-decision variables" like price, location, demographics, and travel distance alongside long-term consumer relationships. The hosts reflect on how these findings mirror their own real-life behaviors, discussing how modern consumers often prioritize purchasing memorable experiences or experience-based gifts over physical items, concluding that these workshops serve as a vital tool for farmers looking to establish a high consumer lifetime value.

FLORAL ENCOUNTERS: EXAMINING THE ROLE OF EXPERIENCE GOODS AND PROMOTERS IN SPECIALTY CUT FLOWER WORKSHOPS

Center for Crop Diversification 

University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service

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This episode of Hort Culture features special guest Sarah Geurkink from the Organic Association of Kentucky and focuses on practical, budget-friendly strategies for growers, with discussions centered around weed management, irrigation, production efficiency, and marketing. The conversation begins with a lighthearted discussion about favorite spring blooming trees before shifting into grower advice. A major topic is weed management, emphasizing the importance of understanding which weeds are most problematic, how quickly they go to seed, and how large the weed seed bank is in the soil. The group explains how tilling can expose dormant weed seeds and why preventing weeds from reaching maturity is one of the best long-term management strategies. They also discuss how using mulch, weed barriers, and consistent maintenance can significantly reduce weed pressure over time. Another useful production tip involves planting in black plastic mulch, where using potting soil instead of field soil around transplants helps reduce heat stress and prevents weeds from growing directly around young plants. The episode also highlights challenges growers face when scaling up from home gardening to market production, especially when sourcing commercial supplies like irrigation parts, produce boxes, and packaging materials. Group purchasing, planning ahead, and building strong relationships with suppliers can help save time and money. Marketing is also discussed, with advice on creating consistency through standard brand colors, fonts, and simple branding tools. The episode wraps up with a creative idea for a short-term “Peak Season CSA,” designed to sell surplus summer produce like tomatoes and peppers while attracting new customers and improving cash flow. Overall, the main takeaway is that thoughtful planning and small strategic decisions can make production more efficient and profitable.

Organic Association of Kentucky (OAK)

OAK Organic Production Technical Assistance Program

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)

Kentucky State University (KSU) Pawpaw Program

UK Cooperative Extension Service

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In this episode of Hort Culture, Brett, Jessica, and Ray explore the exciting question of how much food you can really grow at home. While social media often shows impressive gardens producing huge harvests from small spaces, the hosts remind listeners that success looks different for everyone. Growing your own tomatoes, onions, peppers, squash, and other favorites can be incredibly rewarding, even if you are not producing every item on your dinner plate. They encourage gardeners to focus on what their families enjoy eating, start small, and celebrate the wins—whether that is harvesting your first pepper, building gardening memories with your kids, or enjoying a meal made with homegrown ingredients. The episode highlights that gardening should be fun, realistic, and personal, with the goal of finding joy in the process rather than comparing yourself to perfect gardens online.

Resources for Home Growers: Vegetables

Plate it up! Kentucky Proud Recipes 

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In this episode, the Hort Culture team are joined by a full panel of guests: Hunter-Anne, and Spencer from KCARD, along with Dr. Steve Isaacs from the Agricultural Economics Department. Together, they dive into one of the most critical—and often overlooked—challenges in horticulture: succession planning.

The conversation explores the realities of generational transition in horticulture businesses, including the emotional, financial, and operational complexities involved. Speakers highlight how succession is not just about handing off ownership, but about preserving knowledge, maintaining relationships, and ensuring long-term business sustainability.

Key themes include:

• Early Planning is Essential: Waiting too long to plan for succession can create instability. Proactive strategies help avoid rushed or forced transitions.
• Communication Matters: Open dialogue between current owners, family members, and potential successors is critical to aligning expectations and avoiding conflict.
• Training the Next Generation: Preparing successors involves more than technical skills—it requires leadership development, decision-making experience, and industry awareness.
• Financial and Legal Considerations: Structuring ownership transfer, valuing the business, and navigating tax implications are all vital components of a successful plan.
• Non-Family Transitions: The episode also addresses alternatives to family succession, including employee ownership and external buyers, which are becoming more common in the industry.

The episode emphasizes that succession planning is ultimately about legacy—ensuring that businesses, relationships, and expertise continue to thrive beyond the current generation.

Listeners walk away with a deeper understanding of how thoughtful, intentional planning can safeguard the future of horticulture operations and support the next wave of industry leaders.

Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (KCARD)

University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service

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In this episode, the Hort Culture crew takes a winding (and hilarious) path from debating Post Malone playlists to one of the most relatable gardening topics of the season: patio plants. What begins as music chatter turns into a thoughtful conversation about how container plants soften hard outdoor spaces, blur the line between indoor and outdoor living, and create small pockets of joy just outside the door. The hosts swap favorite “can’t miss” patio performers like wave petunias, calibrachoa, begonias, marigolds, coleus (with some friendly disagreement), geraniums, lantana, ornamental grasses, lettuce mixes, cherry tomatoes, and even small evergreens and bonsai, emphasizing how containers are not only decorative but functional, flexible, and often easier than in-ground gardening.

Along the way, they talk through the realities of patio environments, from blazing afternoon sun to deep shade, and how those extremes affect watering routines, root temperatures, and plant selection—especially when using concrete or dark containers that hold heat. They share the simple pleasure of evening watering rounds, the appeal of window boxes, the joy of attracting butterflies and bees close to where you sit, and the unexpected success of letting annuals overwinter and return the following year. The episode’s big takeaway is that patio plants feel like “cheating” because they offer a low-risk, high-reward way to garden, serving as part hobby, part décor, part therapy, and a dependable way to bring life and beauty to your outdoor living space.

Landscape Design

Container gardening

Creating Outdoor Rooms With Plants

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This spring-themed episode opens with the crew swapping stories about wild temperature swings, allergy struggles, ornamental pears, and a “secret bucket of crystallized honey” before welcoming guest Nathan Howell of Need More Acres Farm and the Kentucky Vegetable Growers Association.

Nathan shares the story of his family’s highly intensive, small-acreage, year-round produce farm and how high tunnels, row covers, and protected culture allow them to grow vegetables 12 months a year in Kentucky. What sounds “small” in row-crop terms is actually incredibly productive in horticulture, with multiple crops moving through the same ground in a single year.

The conversation shifts into marketing strategies for small farms—from farmers markets and restaurants to schools, health departments, and medically tailored food boxes that support both their farm and dozens of other local producers.

Nathan then dives into his leadership role with the Kentucky Vegetable Growers Association (est. 1970) and how this farmer-led, volunteer organization focuses on education, advocacy, and networking for growers of all sizes—from backyard gardeners to commercial producers. The group co-hosts the long-standing Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Conference, known for its highly targeted, practical programming and uniquely broad age and experience range among attendees.

A major highlight of the episode is real-world advocacy in action. Nathan explains how the association recently worked with partners like the Kentucky Horticulture Council to successfully push for restoration of cost-share funding levels through the County Ag Improvement Program (CAIP), protecting crucial support for small and beginning vegetable growers. They are also currently working with Kentucky Farm Bureau and state legislators to correct a sales tax issue affecting greenhouse and high tunnel materials used in protected agriculture.

The episode closes with discussion of unexpected member benefits of the association—from advocacy and conference access to life assistance resources and insurance perks—all for a very low annual membership cost.

This episode is a powerful look at how grassroots grower organizations, practical education, and producer voices working together continue to shape the future of vegetable production in Kentucky.

Need More Acres Farm

Kentucky Vegetable Growers Association

Kentucky Horticulture Council

Farm Service Agency-Kentucky

KENTUCKY OFFICE OF AGRICULTURAL POLICY

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