Keeping It Green

From her origins in East Germany to her current role as the principal of Phyto Studio, Claudia West's story is intertwined with the significance of North American native plants. Tune in to today's podcast episode to unravel Claudia's remarkable journey and gain insights into her perspective on landscape design. For Claudia, landscape design transcends mere decoration; it serves as a conduit to amplify biological diversity. By seamlessly melding aesthetics with ecological richness, she perceives each design as an avenue to reintroduce people to the wonders of nature. And what is her favorite North American native plant?
Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)
Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension (host)
Claudia West, Penn State Master Gardener, Co-Author of Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes
Image: A curved walkway with benches allows visitors to the Pollinator and Bird Garden to cross over the pond in the Penn State Arboretum. The planting design was created by Claudia West with Phyto Studio. Photo by Patrick Mansell, 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!

So how did a Nebraska farm girl, raised on an animal/row crop operation, become interested in horticulture? And what brought her to the East Coast? Tune in as Erin Kinley talks about her path from the farm to the coordinator of Penn State’s Master Gardener program in Eastern Pennsylvania. Plus, she’ll talk about the training and educational efforts of the 4,000-plus Master Gardener volunteer base. And what is the difference between a garden club and Master Gardener?
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension (host)
Erin Kinley, Penn State Area Master Gardener Coordinator
Master Gardener Manual
American Society for Horticultural Science National Award Winner!
In full color and with nearly 600 photographs, this 800-page hardback book provides basic horticultural knowledge in botany; plant propagation; soil health and fertilizer management; plant pathology and diseases; entomology; integrated pest management; lawn care; vegetable gardening; indoor, herbaceous, woody, and native plants; tree fruit and small fruit; weeds and invasive species; and pruning.
Order yours today!

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!

Meet four of Penn State’s Green Industry team members in this first episode of the Keeping It Green podcast. Each host shares their background, interests, and the things they encounter throughout their work day. This episode introduces the Keeping It Green podcast, and the hosts discuss Penn State Extension, what it is, what the educators do, and how they serve the horticulture industry.
Hosts:
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension
Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension
Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension
Sandy Feather, Penn State Extension
Lead 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!

In this episode, we sit down with Jennifer Shaffer, Director of the Organic Land Care Program at the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA). Jennifer discusses how NOFA's mission of sustainable farming extends to their Organic Land Care Program, which aims to bring organic farming principles to landscapes. This program is designed for landscaping professionals and offers the only internationally recognized accreditation for organic land care. Jennifer shares insights into how the program educates land care providers on organic practices and sets industry standards, and highlights the program’s expansion from the Northeast to regions across the United States, including the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest.

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

Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)

Jennifer Shaffer, Director of the Organic Land Care Program at the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA)

Caption – Photo: Tim Abbey, 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!

Weeks of rain and several days of warm weather have sparked an array of color and growth in Pennsylvania's landscapes. On the latest episode of The Green Industry podcast, our team examines the changes in plant and insect life occurring statewide. We delve into the prevalence of invasive species and wonder if there is connection between the uptick in 'mulch volcanoes' and social media.

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

Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension (host)

Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)

Sandy Feather, Penn State Extension (host)

Caption – A mulch volcano around the trunk of a shade tree. 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!