Guest List: Episode One
Guest List is a new 4-part limited series from PlantPop. Join host Brie Arthur and her dinner guests as they share wide-ranging conversations about the world of horticulture.
In the premiere episode, the discussion ranges from each person's own experience with plants to the hope for future generations of garden-enthusiasts.
Our host, Brie Arthur, talks about how the industry is one where having more hands-on experience is of greater value than a college degree.
“In horticulture, sometimes…having a four-year degree isn’t as beneficial as having some college and a whole lot of work experience.”
Matt Nagel, a Grower at Lancaster Farms, mentions that his work in horticulture is the only job he’s ever had, starting when he was fourteen. He does mention that it’s less common for teenagers to have the desire to work at the plant nursery.
“It’s hard to get them out…it’s not an industry where you’re like, ‘Oh, I’ll go get covered in dirt all day, let me sign up!’ They’re like, ‘I can go work in a building…”
All the guests discuss the importance of biodiversity, even in the sales aspect. Marie Butler, retired Landscape Coordinator at Norfolk’s Virginia Zoo, mentions the disconnect people seem to have with plants.
“People have lost the connection with what they’re growing…everything connects through plants.”
One of Brie’s biggest passions is introducing young kids to the world of gardening. She believes, and the rest of the group agrees, that getting kids into gardening early will create a future of gardeners. Joe Lamp’l, Host of Growing a Greener World, points out specific examples of this.
“We film at least one episode [a year] involving a school and children in gardening and it is like candy to them, they cannot get enough of it.”
Brie Arthur is a Horticulturist and Author from Raleigh, North Carolina. Her goal is to inspire people to foodscape their yards, planting fruits and vegetables alongside their ornamentals through her books and public speaking engagements. Visit her website for more information and follow her on Instagram.
Joe Lamp’l is the Host and Executive Producer of Growing a Greener World, an Emmy Award-winning national series on PBS. Additionally, Joe shares his knowledge of gardening on NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, The Weather Channel, and through his books and podcast series. Visit his website for more information and follow him on Instagram.
Matt Nagle is a Grower at Lancaster Farms, a wholesale plant nursery in Suffolk, Virginia. Visit the Lancaster Farms website for more information.
Marie Butler was formerly the Landscape Coordinator for the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk. She has since retired. Visit the Virginia Zoo website for more information.
