Native Plants, Healthy Planet

Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick are back with a brand new episode of The Buzz.  There's a new round of "That's Hot" and "This or That" this episode. The Question and Comment line is busy with calls from former guest Kelly Gill and also Sol, and Tom and Fran reveal their biggest industry fears. Discussions center around what Tom and Fran know about general chemical use.  Music by RJ Comer.  Read...

Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick talk with Dr. Daniel Duran (Assistant Professor, Lecturer, & Naturalist, at Rowan University) about changing our views on forests.  They discuss what exactly is a healthy forests, the magic of ecotones, ecological succession, environmental disturbance and whether we should manage the forests or should the forests manage themselves.  As an added bonus, Dan throws...

Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick are excited about trees! Welcome back to The Buzz.  There's a new round of "That's Hot" and "This or That" this episode and Fran's complaint hits a little close to home. Sol is back and wants to discuss under storied trees, and Tom and Fran reveal their favorite online native plant influencer. Discussions center around native trees that are perfect for habitat, f...

Welcome to Rooted Discussions, our roundtable conversations featuring top minds in the field of the topic at hand. On this episode, hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick are joined by John Magee (Magee Designs, The Native Plant Podcast), Becky Laboy (Education Outreach Specialist, Ocean County Soil Conservation District, Jersey-Friendly Yards), and Richard McCoy (Richard A. McCoy Horticultural Servic...

Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick are excited about shrubs! Welcome back to The Buzz.  There's a new round of "That's Hot" and "This or That" this episode but not without controversy, Fran makes a phone call to air this week's complaint, Sol is back and needs shrub suggestions for protection from marauding sheep, and Tom and Fran reintroduce themselves. Discussions center around native shrubs tha...

Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick talk with Molly Martin (Bee City USA Coordinator, The Xerces Society) about Bee City USA and Bee Campus.  They discuss the history of the Bee City, the commitments associated with the program, the dangers of pesticide use, and how you can apply to be a Bee City or Bee Campus.  Music by Egocentric Plastic Men. Follow Bee City USA -  Website  /  Facebook  /  Twitte...

Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick are reunited and excited about graminoids! What is a graminoid?  We are glad you asked because you are going to learn all about them.  There's a new round of "This or That" and "That's Hot" this episode, Fran is surprisingly complaint free this week and the guys talk about their biggest embarrassing moment in the industry. Music by RJ Comer.  Read  Fran's Article...

Host Fran Chismar flies solo on this episode as he hosts Carl Alderson (Mid-Atlantic Restoration Coordinator, NOAA Fisheries’ Habitat Conservation, Restoration Center), Marty McHugh (Regional Manager, SumCo Eco-Contracting), Bill Young (Wetland Scientist, SumCo Eco-Contracting), and Dr. Emile DeVito (Manager of Science and Stewardship, The New Jersey Conservation Foundation) as they discuss the go...

Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick are excited about forbs! Tom reflects on the first year of the podcast before they take a few listener questions and phone a friend for help. There's also a new round of "This or That" and "That's Hot." Fran is hesitant to play "Not That I Am One To Complain," while Tom and Fran talk about their favorite deceased personalities. Music by RJ Comer.  Read  Fran's Ar...

Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick talk with Samuel Thayer, internationally recognized author of Nature's Garden and The Forager's Harvest.  They discuss getting started with foraging, the do's and don't for beginners, foraging highlights by season, the historical significance of living off the land, and the ethical stance on giving back what we take.  Music by Egocentric Plastic Men. Follow Samue...

Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick break down a review that leads them into giving winter gardening ideas.  They field a new phone call that is NOT Sol and there's also a new round of "This or That" and "That's Hot." Fran unleashes the jingle for Tom's brain child "Not That I Am One To Complain," and Tom and Fran give Business Busting Suggestions.  Music by RJ Comer.  Read  Fran's Article  / Read ...

Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick talk with Dr. Emile DeVito (Manager of Science and Stewardship) from The New Jersey Conservation Foundation.  They discuss partnering with the government and nonprofit organizations to preserve and conserve land, restoring what we've lost while monitoring and protecting what we have, and getting ahead of invasives and deer.  They also discuss how the forests have...

What is the buzz about native plant cultivars?  Find out on this edition of The Buzz!  Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick field a new phone call from Sol which sparks a conversation about native plant cultivars.  Find out the difference between a variety and a cultivar as well as the importance of provenance. There's also a new round of "This or That" and "That's Hot." Tom creates a new show segme...

Welcome to Rooted Discussions, our roundtable conversations featuring top minds in the field of the topic at hand. On our first Rooted Discussions,  hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick are joined by Steve Castorani (President, North Creek Nurseries), John Mark Courtney (Owner, Kind Earth Growers, LLC), and Carrie Stanker and Daryl Kobesky (Co-Owners, Sunset Farmstead LLC) to discuss the business of...

Welcome to The Pro Tip Edition of The Buzz!  On this episode, hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick share some of their native plant pro tips with you and field some great listener questions. There's also a new round of "This or That" and "That's Hot," and Tom and Fran each share cool stuff they are using.  Music by RJ Comer.  Read  Fran's Article  / Read  Tom's Article Have a question or a comment? ...

Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick talk with Ed Farley  (Biologist, New York Region) from Ducks Unlimited.  They break down the perfect duck habitat, what Ducks Unlimited mission is, the current state of ducks, preserving duck habitat, the beauty of duck stamps, and much more.  Tom and Fran unleash their inner nine-year-old by asking every duck question imaginable.  Music by Stephen Mahar. Follow...

Happy New Year and Welcome back to The Buzz!  Meet the winner of our original theme music competition.  On this episode, hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick reflect on the Top 10 episodes of the year, there's a new round of "This or That" and "That's Hot," and Tom and Fran each share a money saving tip.  Did we mention that Sol called again?  Music by RJ Comer.  Read  Fran's Article  / Read  Tom's...

Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick talk with Dr. Michael Van Clef (Stewardship Director, Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space) from The New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team.  They break down exactly what is an invasive species and get to the heart of the issue with invasives. Discussions include innovative methods of controlling invasives and using technology to engage the public. Additionally...

Happy Holidays!  Welcome back to The Buzz.  On this episode, hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick are back and contemplate what native plants can be used for Holiday arrangements. Find out the controversy with "This or That," hear a new round of "That's Hot," and Fran geeks out over his desert island pics.  Tom and Fran also discuss the 2021 Philadelphia Flower Show.  Music by Stephen Mahar.    Read...

Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick talk with Russ Furnari (Manager Environmental Policy Enterprise at PSE&G) from The Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership.  They discuss how big corporations give back to the environment, cooperating with non-profit organizations, working together for the greater good, and how the view of restoration has changed over the years..  Music by Stephen Mahar. Follo...

Happy Thanksgiving!  Welcome back to The Buzz.  On this episode, hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick are back and contemplate what native berries or nuts may have been at the first Thanksgiving. Find out who won "This or That," hear a new round of "That's Hot," Fran expresses his dismay over a listener call in and then surprises Tom with a brand new segment.  Music by Stephen Mahar.  Want to submit...

Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick talk with Dr. Doug Tallamy (Professor of Entomology, University of Delaware) Author of Bringing Nature Home and Natures Best Hope. They discuss what has changed in the last 13 years since the publication of Bringing Nature Home, the root of exotic plant species and insects, accepting the role of a predator, and the urgency of growing a Homegrown National Park.  M...

Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick talk with Claudia West (Principal at Phyto Studio) Co-Author of Planting in a Post Wild World.  They discuss the principals of Ornamental design and Ecological design and how the two can work together, listening to what plants have to say, what's next for the author and Claudia gives design tips for the budding native gardener. Music by Stephen Mahar. Follow Phyt...

Welcome back to The Buzz.  On this episode, hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick are back with their first three listener questions left on their question and answer line. They also revisit native plants websites suggested by the listeners, there's a new round of "That's Hot", and Tom introduces their new segment, "This or That" while Fran introduces the jingle.  Music by Stephen Mahar.  Want to sub...

Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick talk with Michelle DiBlasio (Watershed Restoration Coordinator) from The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey.  They discuss The Nature Conservancy on a local level, their successful Roots for Rivers campaign, the important work being done in the Paulins Kill with their partners at the Wallkill River Watershed Management Group, what's next and how you can help. Tom p...