Many young people who love plants never realize that horticulture is a thriving STEM field—one filled with innovation and numerous career paths. For decades, parents, teachers, and even school career counselors have unintentionally steered students away from the industry, believing it’s “just growing plants”. In reality, horticulture needs everything from conservation biologists and greenhouse technicians to sales professionals, graphic designers, and even horticultural lawyers. The industry is tackling global challenges like soil erosion, pollinator decline, and climate resilience—yet many young adults simply don’t know it exists as a viable, fulfilling career. Some only discover it after a long and winding journey from other professions.

That’s where Seed Your Future comes in. This national nonprofit is dedicated to educating students, parents, and educators about the modern world of horticulture and the wide range of careers it offers. And in this episode, Executive Director Jazmin Albarran shares her own unexpected path into the field—shaped by years in youth development and mental health—and how she now works to equip teachers, guide career changers, and help the industry highlight what it does best. As Jazmin explains, the industry is hiring for passion, and there’s a place for anyone who wants to contribute to a greener, healthier world.

Also, tune in and learn about the concept of “plant blindness”.

Episode Hosts/Speakers:

Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host) 

Tim Abbet, Penn State Extension (host)

Jazmin Albarran, Executive Director of Seed Your Future 

Photo: Laurie Carrozzino

Keeping It Green has an email: [email protected]
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Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!

What does it take to keep greenhouse plants healthy—and where can a career in this growing industry lead you? In this episode, Nick, a Ball Seed Company technical support specialist, shares what it’s like to troubleshoot plant problems and support diverse operations. We explore how technology, sustainability, and innovation are transforming greenhouse production, and why these changes are creating exciting new roles for both seasoned professionals and newcomers. Whether you’re curious about plant science, fascinated by high-tech greenhouses, or considering a career in horticulture, this conversation offers insider perspectives you won’t want to miss. Tune in to discover why the greenhouse industry might be your next big opportunity!

Episode Hosts/Speakers:

Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host) 

Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension (host)

Nick Flax, Technical Services Specialist - Ball Seed Company

Caption – photo courtesy of Tom Butzler

Keeping It Green has an email: [email protected]
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!

Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!

Planning a trip to England and looking for inspiration on garden sites to explore? This episode of Keeping It Green is packed with insights you won’t want to miss!

Join the team as they sit down with Penn State Extension Educator Ruth Benner and Dr. Margaret Hoffman, Coordinator of the Landscape Contracting Major at Penn State University. They share highlights from their recent travels abroad, offering observations on gardens and plants across different countries—with a special focus on England and Ireland.

Discover what makes botanical gardens, historic estates, and public parks in the UK so unique. The conversation dives into contrasts between British and American gardening practices, explores iconic garden designs and plant selections, and reflects on cultural attitudes toward horticulture. Plus, learn why visiting historic gardens can be an enriching educational experience for anyone passionate about plants and landscapes.

Episode Hosts/Speakers:

Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host) 

Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension (host)

Ruth Benner, Penn State Extension 

Dr. Margaret Hoffman, Program Coordinator for Penn State University’s Landscape Contracting Major, Associate Professor

Photo: Sissinghurst Castle, Ruth Benner, PSU

Keeping It Green has an email: [email protected]
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!

Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!

In this episode of Keeping It Green, the team sits down with Jeff Jabco, Executive Director of the Scott Arboretum and Gardens, to explore his horticulture journey and the evolution of the Swarthmore Arboretum and Gardens. Jeff shares how the Scott Arboretum began as the Scott Foundation—established in 1929 by Swarthmore College alumni Mr. and Mrs. Scott to showcase exceptional plants for Delaware Valley home gardeners—and how it transformed into a dynamic space that blends curated plant collections with thoughtfully designed garden environments. He explains why “Gardens” was added to the name and how it better reflects the Arboretum’s mission to connect with the public. Jeff also discusses his deep ties to Penn State, where he earned his horticulture degree, launched his career with Penn State Extension, and later collaborated on research involving growing degree days and green roof systems. And what exactly is “Peony Palooza”? Tune in to find out.

Episode Hosts/Speakers:

Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host) 

Sandy Feather, Penn State Extension (host)

Jeff Jabco, Executive Director of Scott Arboretum and Gardens

Photo Credit: Becky Robert

Keeping It Green has an email: [email protected]
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!

Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!

Wendy’s journey into entomology began with outdoor adventures alongside her dad—hunting, fishing, and exploring nature. That foundation deepened during a unique high school program located inside a zoo. That experience sparked a growing interest in insects, which she carried through undergraduate into graduate school at Michigan State University to a quantitative ecology lab rich with butterfly data. In this episode, she explores how volunteers—many trained through grassroots efforts—have contributed tens of thousands of hours to monitoring butterfly species, helping build one of the most comprehensive insect datasets in the country. The conversation touches on population trends, habitat needs, and the role of land use in shaping insect communities.

Episode Hosts/Speakers:

Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host) 

Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension (host)

Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)

Wendy Leuenberger, graduate student at Michigan State University’s Zipkin Quantitative Ecology Lab

Photo caption – butterfly on Aesculus parviflora (bottlebrush buckeye), photo Tom Butzler

Keeping It Green has an email: [email protected]
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!

Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!

In this episode of Keeping It Green, the team explores the healing power of plants with guest Kelly Warnick—founder and owner of Horticulture 4 Health and President-Elect of the American Horticultural Therapy Association. Kelly shares her journey from working in greenhouse production and retail garden centers she starts to observe the connection between people and plants. She opens up about a personal experience involving a family member and their encounter with a healing garden. Backed by science, Kelly highlights the therapeutic benefits of plants—from speeding up recovery times and boosting serotonin levels to lowering blood pressure. She also walks us through the essential elements of a therapeutic garden, emphasizing the importance of sensory-rich plants: soft textures like lamb’s ear, fragrant herbs like lavender, vibrant colors, and even the soothing sounds of grasses swaying in the breeze.

Episode Hosts/Speakers:

Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)

Sandy Feather, Penn State Extension (host)

Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)

Kelly Warnick, founder and owner of Horticulture 4 Health and President-Elect of the American Horticultural Therapy Association

Caption – photo provided by Tom Butzler

Keeping It Green has an email: [email protected]
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!

Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!

The Keeping It Green team travels to Oregon’s Willamette Valley to interview Leigh Geschwill, Owner and Sales Manager of F & B Farms and Nursery. Leigh offers a behind-the-scenes look at her family’s third-generation business, which includes a wholesale greenhouse operation producing annuals, organic herb and vegetable starts, potted flowers, fall décor, and poinsettias for the Pacific Northwest. 

On the farm side, F & B also manages commercial hop production and runs a small, seasonal garden center serving the local community. 

Leigh, a past president of both the Oregon Association of Nurseries and the Horticultural Research Institute (HRI), shares her leadership journey and explains HRI’s role in funding critical research—from plant disease resistance to consumer behavior—through a $20 million self-funded endowment and strategic government partnerships. 

The conversation also touches on labor shortages in the ornamental plant industry, compares the collaborative nature of Oregon’s ag groups with Pennsylvania’s more fragmented structure, and explores how to inspire the next generation to pursue careers in horticulture. 

Episode Hosts/Speakers: Sandy Feather, Penn State Extension (host) 

Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host) 

Leigh Geschwill, Owner and Sales Manager of F & B Farms and Nursery 

Caption – The Willamette Valley’s growing conditions, mild and moist winters with dry summers make for great seed production and harvesting conditions. This is a picture of one of the research facilities that looks at qualities and disease resistance. Photo: Tom Butzler, Penn State

Keeping It Green has an email: [email protected]
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!

Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!

Join the Keeping It Green team as they sit down with one of Penn State Extension’s newest hires, Kelly Piccioni. Kelly shares her family's deep-rooted history in horticulture, starting with her great-grandfather, who bought Christmas trees by the railcar and sold them during the Great Depression—eventually leading the family into nursery production. A graduate of Delaware Valley College, Kelly has explored a wide range of horticulture fields, from teaching high school students to diving into floral design, which sparked a creative side hustle. She also shares her thoughts on engaging young adults in horticulture and the future of the industry.

Episode Hosts/Speakers:

Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host) 

Sandy Feather, Penn State Extension (host)

Kelly Piccioni, Penn State Extension

Caption – photo provided by Kelly Piccioni

Keeping It Green has an email: [email protected]
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!

Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!

Join the Keeping It Green team as they chat with one of Penn State Extension’s newest hires, Patricia Prade. She studied forestry within the Brazilian university system with no interest in insects—until something changed. We'll explore what sparked her newfound fascination, her research on the invasive Brazilian pepper tree in Florida, and the role of classical biological control in managing invasive species.

Episode Hosts/Speakers:

Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host) 

Sandy Feather, Penn State Extension (host)

Patricia Prade, Penn State Extension

Picture credit: Marcelo Vitorino 

Keeping It Green has an email: [email protected]
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!

Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!

Join the Keeping It Green team as they chat with Tom Bechtel, owner and CEO of Heritage Lawn and Landscape. Tom shares insights into the wide range of services his company provides across three counties in south-central Pennsylvania. He also delves into his strategies for building a strong workforce, focusing on employee retention through education and empowerment. Plus, discover how a chance meeting with Canadian provincial foresters in Algonquin Provincial Park sparked Tom's lifelong passion for horticulture.

Episode Hosts/Speakers:  
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host) 

Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)

Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension (host)

Sandy Feather, Penn State Extension (host)

Tom Bechtel, owner and CEO of Heritage Lawn and Landscape 

Keeping It Green has an email: [email protected]
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!

Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!