Native Plants, Healthy Planet

Tom Knezick flies solo in a new feature called the Secret Tapes.  Tom goes out in the field for a Moth Night with Blaine Rothhauser, Bill Young, and Steve Knezick.  Why Moths?  First, they're pretty cool.  Second, they are a great reflection of the health of your habitat.  There are thousands of different types of moths, and while many are generalist feeding species, some are specialists.  Certain...

Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick are back with a brand new episode of The Buzz.  There is a lot of housekeeping this week before a new round of "That's Hot".  A new "This or That" spills over into "Take it or Leaf it". "Grow Read A Book" takes us into circle time. Find out the details on the next Native Plants Healthy Planet live Podcast Event.  Music by RJ Comer.  Read  Fran's Article  / Read ...

Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick connect with Terry Doss (Co-Director of Meadowlands Research & Restoration Institute) from The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. Topics include the history of the NJSEA as well as the Meadowlands of NJ.  Also discussed are the importance and diversity of the Meadowlands, the research being done in this grassland ecosystem, as well as what the future hol...

Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick are back with a brand new episode of The Buzz.  Fran and Tom start off the episode with a little housekeeping before a new round of "That's Hot" & "This or That" that have Tom and Fran biting off more than they can chew while "Take it or Leaf it" turns out to be a much larger topic then they realized. Find out the details on the next Native Plants Healthy Planet...

Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick connect with Dr. Johnny Quispe  (Cities Program Manager) from The Nature Conservancy. Topics include the challenges of ecological restorations in urban environments, successes and lessons learned along the journey, achieving involvement and stewardship from the community, as well as what the future holds for the Cities Program. Music by Egocentric Plastic Men. Fo...

Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick are back with a brand new episode of The Buzz.  We have not one, but TWO contest winners.  There's a new round of "That's Hot" & "This or That" this episode.   Tom has a new "Grow Read A Book" and "Take it or Leaf it" turns out to be enlightening. Find out the details on the next Native Plants Healthy Planet live Podcast Event.  Music by RJ Comer.  Read  Fran's A...

Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick connect with Eve Allen  (Program Director) from the Ecological Health Network. Topics include connectivity within the ecological restoration community, challenges in identifying and strengthening those bonds, what the Ecological Health Network represents, as well as what the future holds for the EHN. Music by Egocentric Plastic Men. Follow Ecological Health Netwo...

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" & "This or That" this episode.  There a a ton of "Listener Shout Outs" as we come down to the wire on our latest contest. Tom does a "Grow Read A Book" before "Take it or Leaf it" where Fran and Tom find themselves in over their heads. Find out the details on the next Native Plant...

Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick connect with Andrew Bunting (Vice President of Horticulture) from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Topics include the formation of the PHS, the wonderful work and programs they offer, How they incorporate native plants into urban gardens as well as the internationally renowned Philadelphia Flower Show, what the future holds for the PHS, and how you can get...

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" & "This or That" this episode.  Fran and Tom follow up on a few topics before getting a message from an old friend.  There a a ton of "Listener Shout Outs".  Tom does a  "Grow Read A Book" segment but also has a complaint. Fran explains missing episode 113 before "Take it or Leaf...

Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick connect with Renata Barnes (Coordinator) from the Outdoor Equity Alliance. Topics include the formation of the OEA, how to go about making a change, things we can all do to make nature accessible and equitable, programs the OEA offer, and how you can get involved.  Tom and Fran ask for guidance on things they can do better.  Music by Egocentric Plastic Men. Follo...

Host/Producer Fran Chismar is absent so Tom Knezick takes the reigns for an inpromtu episode with his brother Steve.  The discussion starts with what it was like growing up on a native plant nursery.  Then they really dive in to how Pinelands Nursery produces wildflower seed from start to finish.  The episode ends with Steve sharing his favorite native plants and who has inspired him in nature in...

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 our listeners Skip Byrnes, Deborah Rosenthal, and Alyssa Lewis to discuss their membership of The Native Plants Healthy Planet Facebook Group. Conversations include the progress on their personal properties, the root of...

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" & "This or That" this episode.  Fran and Tom follow up on a few topics before jumping into "Listener Shout Outs".  It's Pollinator Week!  Tom and Fran share some ways that you can celebrate. We have a listener question and Tom does a  "Grow Read A Book" segment. Is Fran out of his...

Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick connect with Peri Sasnett  (Digital Media at Glacier National Park) from the Headwaters Podcast.  Topics include our relationships with plants, the cultural importance of White Bark Pine, definitions of keystone species, first foods, and masting, knowing when to and how much to intervene with mother nature, and the importance of The National Park Service.  Peri s...

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" & "This or That" this episode.  Tom and Fran follow up on a few topics before jumping into "Listener Shout Outs" and "Take it or Leaf it".  Our listeners take the main stage with advice on helping children interact with nature which ties in with Tom's "Grow Read A Book."  The Ques...

Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick connect with Rebecca McMackin  (Director of Horticulture) of Brooklyn Bridge Park.  Topics include the intangibles that make Brooklyn Bridge Park unique, the obstacles of recreating nature in an urban setting, treating a park like a university, and having the courage to be a part of nature.  Rebecca shares a surprise announcement.  Music by Egocentric Plastic Men...

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" & "This or That" this episode.  Tom and Fran follow up on a few topics before jumping into "Listener Shout Outs" and "Take it or Leaf it".  This episode's questions leave us wondering about just how much Tom and Fran know.  Fran and Tom discuss ways to get your children involved w...

Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick connect with Laura Mylan (CSO, External Relations) with The Children and Nature Network.  Topics include "Nature-Deficit Disorder", how race, income, identity, ability, and postal code factor into accessibility of nature, programs and partners that Children and Nature support, the benefits of interacting with nature, and how you can get involved.  Music by Egocen...

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" & "This or That" this episode.  Tom and Fran follow up on a few topics before jumping into Listener Shout Outs. Tom shares a classic book in "Grow Read A Book" before contemplating "Take it or Leaf it"?  Fran and Tom share what's happening in their home gardens. Oh, and another li...

Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick connect with Oliver Milman (Environment Correspondent at the Guardian ) to talk about his new book The Insect Crisis.  Topics include the state of our insect friends, the factors contributing to their decline, the obstacles we face in reversing the trend, and what you can do locally to help.  Music by Egocentric Plastic Men. Buy a copy of The Insect Crisis Here ....

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" & "This or That" this episode.  Tom and Fran follow up on a few topics before jumping into Listener Shout Outs. Tom and Fran gush over a comment on the comment line before agreeing on "Take it or Leaf it"?  Fran and Tom reflect on numerous thoughts without fact checking them. Musi...

Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick reconnect with Kyle Lybarger (Native Habitat Project) to talk about his new podcast The Native Habitat Podcast.  Topics include how life has changed in the last year, what to expect from The Native Habitat Podcast, and what the future holds for The Native Habitat Project.  Bonus Content - Fran plays the Lightning Round!  Music by Egocentric Plastic Men. Follow Th...

Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick are back with a brand new episode of The Buzz.  Tom and Fran weigh in on their favorite episodes over the last two years.  There's a new round of "That's Hot" & "This or That" this episode.  Tom and Fran follow up on a few topics before jumping into Listener Shout Outs. Do Tom and Fran finally make a definitive choice on "Take it or Leaf it"?  Fran should stop re...

Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick talk with Dr. Stanley Temple (Senior Fellow and Science Advisor) of The Aldo Leopold Foundation to discuss the topic of Land Ethics.  Topics include understanding the fundamentals of Land Ethic as proposed by Aldo Leopold, what has changed in the last seventy years, the creation of The Aldo Leopold Foundation and its mission, as well as Dr. Temple's unique path a...