Home Grown Podcast

Brandi Keller, County Extension Agent - Horticulture with AgriLife Extension Service interviews Rick Castagno, Haris County Master Gardener. They discuss what it’s like being a volunteer, the Houston demonstration gardens, and a few stories of what’s been grown in the vegetable beds. All produce is donated to local food pantries. April is National Volunteer Month. We value and appreciate all our volunteers that choose to share their passion and time with us.

Shannon Sullivan, Assistant County Extension Agent with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, interviews Ashley Pellerin, Extension Program Specialist at Prairie View A&M. Ashley talks about livestock management of goats, the International Goat Research Center, and raising goats for meat and cheese.

Shannon Dietz, County Extension Agent with AgriLife Extension Service interviews Dr. Lakshmi Mahadevan (Dr. M), Associate Professor and Extension Specialist for Special Populations at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. With 16 years of experience, her areas of expertise include mental health literacy education and is a certified Adult Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) for Adults instructor. She specializes in delivering programs that promote equitable access to public and community education for the state of Texas. You can follow her on twitter @CTEspecpops or email lmahadevan@ag.tamu.edu for help answering your questions.

In this episode, Shannon Dietz, CEA for Agriculture and Natural Resources with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension is sharing the importance of Texas Agriculture in planning your holiday meals. He also will be speaking with special guests Kristina Brown, Better Living for Texans Agent, and Registered Dietician along with Cindy George, who is currently working on her master’s in public health and an intern with Texas A&M AgriLife in the Harris County Office. All three provide excellent information for you and your family in your planning for holiday meals.

In this episode, Brandi interviews Jaime Gonzalez, Houston Healthy Cities Program Director for The Nature Conservancy. Jaime talks about his history with various organizations and how they all blend to create a rich story of experiences that can be shared with diverse communities on nature, health, and Houston.

On this episode, Paul talks with Becky Bowling and her position as an urban water specialist in Texas. They'll discuss how education is evolving to better prepare city & county governments, the green industry and homeowners for developing sustainable landscapes.

Brandi interviews Bryan Kratish, Manager of Outreach Services with Harris County Public Library System. They discuss the partnership with the Master Gardener Green Thumb Gardening Series and the library system’s creative programming to reach more county residents.

On this episode, Paul talks with Lauren Kirchner the director of sales & marketing at Spring Creek Growers in Waller, Texas. Paul & Lauren talk about her family's greenhouse operation and the current trends that she is seeing the industry.

Shannon Dietz, Harris County County Extension Agent ANR interviews Mr. Steven Sisler, DAR (Disaster and Recovery) Agent with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Harris County. Mr. Sisler shares important and timely information about emergency preparedness and information for the 2022 Hurricane Season. Details on family evacuation plans as well as plans for your livestock, pets and homesite are all discussed, and information shared on where you can get additional information on these topics.

In episode 12, Brandi Keller, Residential Horticulture Agent with Harris County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension interviews Sherri Harrah, manager and hardline buyer for Plants For All Seasons Garden Center. Brandi and Sherri discuss an overview of the family-owned business, a few observations as a woman in horticulture, and touch on some current buying trends in the market today.

In episode 11, Paul Winski, Commercial Horticulture Agent with Harris County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension interviews Rebecca Dubiski, project manager with Landscape Art Inc. Paul talks with Rebecca about her experience in the green industry and some of the opportunities working for a landscape construction company.

In this Home Grown podcast episode, Shannon Dietz, Ag & Natural Resources Agent with Harris County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension interviews Kay Wolfe, County Executive Director, USDA Farm Service Agency for Harris, Waller and Montgomery Counties. Shannon and Kay talk about the benefits of signing up as a producer with the Farm Service Agency for disaster recovery funds as well as the educational benefits farmers get by being part of the agency.

Episode 9 is a follow-up to our Starting Plants From Seeds lecture which was presented on January 6. There were numerous questions posted during the talk and we simply ran out of time. Brandi sits down with Paul and presents those questions on seed propagation which we were not able to address. If you want to see a recording of the lecture, check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmIhsYf4bJEHqUIFb2vVpkQ

Have you ever heard about the FCH program? In this episode Paul will introduce you to our Family & Community Health (FCH) agents Sonja Davis & Amanda Krippel who will provide insight into their programming and expertise in delivering educational outreach to Harris County.

Shannon talks with Deputy Daniel Cline, on this episode of the Home Grown Podcast. Deputy Cline is with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office starting out as a patrolman and now currently working the livestock division. We will discuss ways you can help protect yourself as a livestock producer through various means while keeping motorist safe from roaming or loose livestock. We will also discuss how the Harris County Sheriffs Office Livestock Division helps the public in times of natural disaster for animal care along with who to contact for missing large livestock animals.

In this episode, Brandi visits with Diana Foss, Urban Biologist for Texas Parks and Wildlife. Aligning with National Bat Week, Diana talks about our local bats, the Waugh Street Bridge colony, and how they are friends to agriculture by consuming pests.

In this episode, Paul talks with Robert Grove the general manager of the greenhouse operation at the Brookwood Community in Brookshire, Texas. Robert provides insight into greenhouse and nursery growing from his years of experience, and how the Brookwood Community residents contribute to the growth and production of the plants that are produced there.

In this episode, Shannon talks with Janna Roberson the executive director of Urban Harvest in Houston, TX. Urban Harvest is a non-profit working in the community to bring fresh produce through their farmers markets, community gardens and educational outreach. The organization has been creative in addressing food security and food desert issues. Urban Harvest has a well-deserved reputation as a leader in the local Houston food movement.

In this episode, Brandi Keller visits with Harris County Master Gardener, William Isbell. As a driving force with a few projects in the Master Gardener program, Will shares experiences as a volunteer and educator, current programs happening in Harris County, and a few plants he favors for the Houston heat.

A visit with Bill Barr - mentor, friend and plant propagator/plantsman extraordinaire. Bill is now retired, but his knowledge of plant propagation, the nursery industry and plant introductions is all-encompassing. Bill provides insight on his career and other aspects of the industry.