Season 3 Episode 2 –with Patricia Prade, Penn State Extension Educator

02/27/25 • 41 min

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

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Episode Hosts/Speakers:

Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)

Sandy Feather, Penn State Extension (host)

Patricia Prade, Penn State Extension

Picture credit: Marcelo Vitorino

Previous Episode

Season 3 Episode 1 –with Tom Bechtel, owner and CEO of Heritage Lawn and Landscape

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

Next Episode

Season 3 Episode 3 - Kelly Piccioni

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