Cultivating Place
Society & Culture
About
Gardens are more than collections of plants. Gardens and Gardeners are intersectional spaces and agents for positive change in our world. Cultivating Place: Conversations on Natural History and the Human Impulse to Garden is a weekly public radio program & podcast exploring what we mean when we garden. Through thoughtful conversations with growers, gardeners, naturalists, scientists, artists and thinkers, Cultivating Place illustrates the many ways in which gardens are integral to our natural and cultural literacy. These conversations celebrate how these interconnections support the places we cultivate, how they nourish our bodies, and feed our spirits. They change the world, for the better. Take a listen.
Episodes
- Flora Culture with Christin Geall of Cultivated by Christin
This episode of Cultivating Place with Christin Geall, author of "Flora Culture: How Flowers Shape our World," discusses the profound impact of flowers on global culture, economies, and human thought.
- REALLY ROSES, with Robin Jennings of Oregon-based Heirloom (Roses)
Robin Jennings from Heirloom Roses joins Cultivating Place to explore the multifaceted nature of roses, highlighting their significance across aesthetics, culture, environment, and medicine. Jennings emphasizes that roses, despite their re…
- Between Soil and Self - A conversation with John Sonnier
Host Abra Lee speaks with John Sonnier, Head Gardener at the British Ambassador's residence, about his work with organic and sustainable gardening practices and his significant historic orchid collection. They discuss how cultivated enviro…
- Mid-Atlantic Regional Seed Bank (MARSB) with Ed Toth and John Price
Ed Toth, Executive Director, and John Price, Associate Director and Native Seed Collection Coordinator at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Seed Bank (MARSB), discuss the organization's work in managing and conserving regional wild seed resources…
- Gardens as Social Infrastructure, Gardeners as Public Servants, with Chris Felhaber
Chris Felhaber shares his perspective on gardens as essential social infrastructure and gardeners as public servant leaders, emphasizing empathy and meeting people where they are. This conversation draws on his extensive experience in publ…
- Pansies! It's What's for Spring! with Brenna Estrada
This episode features Brenna Estrada, owner of Three Brothers Blooms and author of 'Pansies, How to Grow, Reimagine, and Create Beauty with Pansies and Violas'. The discussion centers on pansies, highlighting how growing them can be a form…
- Spring's Wild Dreams, with Jen Williams
Jen Williams, founder of Wild Dreams Farm and Seed, focuses on growing open-pollinated seeds to promote abundance and biodiversity. This episode revisits a conversation about her vision for nourishing human and non-human communities throug…
- Vernal Equinox Special: The Glorians, with Terry Tempest Williams
This episode of Cultivating Place features a conversation with writer and conservationist Terry Tempest Williams, author of "The Glorians, Visitations from the Holy Ordinary." The discussion honors the Vernal Equinox and explores Williams'…
- Vital Energy: Omar Al Shafie on Innovative Re-Thinking and Growing
This episode features Omar Al Shafie, co-founder of Teregen Ag, discussing regenerative farming and innovative soil and plant nutrient production. The conversation focuses on advancing the transition toward sustainable agriculture.
- Public Service: John Little's UK-based Grass Roof Co
Host Ben Futa talks with UK-based ecological designer John Little about his firm, the Grass Roof Company, which focuses on public plantings and habitat. Little also founded Care, Not Capital to train public gardeners.
- Blooming Beyond Barriers, the flourishing legacy of South Carolina Floriculturist
This episode features a conversation with Laverne Brockington and Vance Davis, great nieces of Annie Mae Vann Reid, an historic florist and entrepreneur from South Carolina. They discuss Reid
- For the Love of Orchard Mason Bees, with Thyra McKelvie
This episode features Thyra McKelvie discussing orchard mason bees, a type of native solitary bee. McKelvie explains their role as efficient pollinators, noting that mason bees can pollinate up to 2,000 flowers daily and pollinate 95% of f…
- Gardening for Comfort & Tea: Golden Feather Tea, Mike Fritts
This episode features Michael Fritts, founder of Golden Feather Tea, discussing the cultivation, history, and enjoyment of tea, especially during colder months. Despite challenges like the 2018 Camp Fire, Fritts shares the ecological, cult…
- The Healing Power of Communal Acts of Gardening, Tanja Hollander
This episode features host Ben Futa in conversation with artist and activist Tanja Hollander, who uses communal gardening and other art forms to explore how communities process trauma and fear, particularly in response to violence.
- After the Fires: Cultivating Place in LA with Studio Petrichor
This episode of Cultivating Place checks in with Leigh Adams and Shawn Maestretti of Studio Petrichor in Los Angeles. They discuss cultivating their place in the wake of devastating fires that affected many lives, gardens, and homes a year…
- Mid-Winter Pick-Me-Up w/ The Orchid Rescuer, Terry Richardson
Cultivating Place features orchid rescuer Terry Richardson, known as The Black Thumb, discussing his path from failure to expertise in reviving neglected orchids through patience and consistency. The episode highlights his encouraging appr…
- Seed Dreaming Season: revisiting a conversation with Ken Greene & Hudson Valley Seeds
This episode revisits a conversation with Ken Greene about seed generosity, mutual care, and seed people, highlighting his work with Hudson Valley Seed Library and Hudson Valley Seed Company.
- New Year, New Systems Thinking: Suburbitat, with Jim Tolstrup
This episode features Jim Tolstrup discussing Suburbitat, a concept and book from the High Plains Environmental Center that promotes the coexistence of suburban development and native ecosystems.
- Making the Rounds: A New Year's Conversation with the CP Host Team, Jennifer, Abra & Ben
Abra Lee, Ben Futa, and Jennifer Jewell discuss their reflections and aspirations for 2026 in this New Year
- Looking Forward by Looking Back: New Zealand to London, Philip Norman's Life Shaped by Gardens
In this episode of Cultivating Place, host Abra Lee speaks with Philip Norman, curator at London's Garden Museum. Norman discusses his life and experiences with gardens, tracing a path from New Zealand to London.
- Solstice Season: Abundance & Connection, Dr. Don Hankins
Dr. Don Hankins, of Miwok ancestry, discusses indigenous stewardship practices, focusing on the cultural use of fire and water conservation. This episode, timed with the Winter Solstice, highlights land and place-based cultivation rooted i…
- Bird Haven Farm, with Janet Mave
Janet Mavec shares her experiences cultivating Bird Haven Farm in rural New Jersey, as detailed in her new memoir "Bird Haven Farm: The Story of An Original American Garden." The episode explores the collaboration between Mavec and the far…
- The Klamath Mountains, A Natural History, Michael Kauffman & Justin Garwood
Michael Kauffmann and Justin Garwood discuss their book, 'The Klamath Mountains: A Natural History,' highlighting the region's biodiversity and the importance of multi-perspective conservation efforts for the Klamath River and its surround…
- Seasons of our Joy, with Rabbi Arthur Waskow
This episode revisits a 2021 conversation with Rabbi Arthur Waskow, honoring his life and activism. It focuses on his teachings about finding the sacred in the everyday and in seasonal celebrations, as discussed in his book "Seasons of our…
- YES/AND: Practicing the Art of Becoming A Cultivator of Place, John Hart Asher
John Hart Asher, co-founder of the Blackland Collaborative, discusses the necessity of ecological restoration for creating biodiverse and inclusive cities. His work focuses on bridging science and design to heal both human communities and…
- Visions of Resilience and Neighborliness, Dr. Jared Barnes
Horticulture professor Dr. Jared Barnes shares his philosophy of seeing plants as neighbors and discusses his work, which is featured in the book 'Gardens of Texas: Visions of Resilience from the Lone Star State.'
- Grow Like Wild, with Rebecca McMackin
Rebecca McMackin joins Cultivating Place to discuss her work in ecological horticulture, aiming to increase plant growth and foster empathy for nature. She shares insights from her experience, including her time at Brooklyn Bridge Park and…
- FINAL ARTOBER Conversation -The Ecology of Gullah Sweetgrass Baskets, Mary Jackson
This episode features Mary Jackson, a renowned Gullah sweetgrass basket weaver and MacArthur Fellow, discussing her traditional yet contemporary art form. The conversation highlights her efforts in environmental restoration and community o…
- Artober: Tracy Qui, artfully exploring how plants, stories, and cultures intersect
This episode of Cultivating Place features host Abra Lee in conversation with horticulturist Tracy Qiu. They discuss how plants, stories, and culture intersect, Qiu's journey from China to ethnobotany research, and the colonial history of…
- Artober & CP Live, "Invisible Neighbors" with LA-Based Studio Tutto
Sofia Laçin and Hennessy Christophel of Studio Tutto discuss their site-specific murals, which visually tell stories of nature often overlooked, aiming to foster connection between people and their environment. Their work, including a mura…
- ARTOBER: An Artful Life with Flowers, Frances Palmer
This episode features a conversation with artist and writer Frances Palmer about her new book, 'Life with Flowers, inspiration and lessons from the garden.' The discussion covers her creative journey, gardening, and flower arranging.
- Kicking off ARTOBER ON CP, Wild By Design, the Art of Planting with Ben O'Brien
This episode of Cultivating Place features host Ben Futa in conversation with Ben O'Brien of Wild By Design. They discuss O'Brien's philosophy on creating gardens that are artfully crafted, richly planted, and deeply connected to the magic…
- The Hidden Histories of Garden Legacies, with Rose Vincent Resource Librarian NYBG
Host Abra Lee interviews Rose Vincent, Librarian at the New York Botanical Garden, about how gardens are remembered through shared stories and accessible botanical knowledge. Vincent's work highlights libraries as vibrant spaces preserving…
- The Adventurous Art of Cultivating Place, with Peg & Awl
This episode of Cultivating Place features a conversation with Margaux and Walter Kent of Peg & Awl, exploring how cultivating place and making art are similar acts of creation. They discuss how both practices offer agency and reflect the…
- Great Green Heights: Cincinnati's Green Roofs and Rooftop Garden with Rose Henry Seeger
Rose Henry Seeger, founder of Green City Resources, discusses the development and benefits of green roofs and rooftop gardens in Cincinnati, Ohio, as part of the city's Green Cincinnati Plan.
- Mum's the Flower of Fall, with Jessica Hall of Harmony Harvest Flower Farm
Host Ben Futa talks with Jessica Hall of Harmony Harvest Flower Farm about their
- Seed Your Future, with Jazmin Albarran
On Cultivating Place, host Abra Lee speaks with Jazmin Albarran, Executive Director of Seed Your Future. They discuss the diverse careers within horticulture and how Seed Your Future promotes plant professions.
- The Generosity of an Orchard: The Giving Grove
Cultivating Place features The Giving Grove, an organization focused on perennial harvest and orchard generosity. Co-Executive Director Ashley Vernon and Operations Manager Ryan Watson discuss their work nurturing communal orchards across…
- Back to a Source: the Somme Prairie Grove Nature Preserve
Stephen Packard and Eriko Kojima share insights on cultivating and preserving the Somme Prairie Grove Nature Preserve in Illinois, an 85-acre site dedicated to native plants and wildlife.
- Bright Autumn Nights - GLEAM at Olbrich Botanical Gardens
The Cultivating Place podcast features a conversation with Benjamin Smith and Missy Jeanne about Olbrich Botanical Gardens' 10th annual GLEAM light show, which opens August 30th. The exhibit focuses on reflection, showcasing illuminated ar…
- Prairie Up! With Plantsperson Benjamin Vogt (BEST OF)
This episode revisits ecological plantsman Benjamin Vogt’s work on natural garden design, featuring his book “Prairie Up!: An Introduction to Natural Garden Design”. Learn about the importance of gardens as ecological links and get inspira…
- Coming to our Senses: Wildscape, with Master Naturalist Nancy Lawson (BEST OF)
Master Naturalist Nancy Lawson discusses her book "Wildscape," exploring the complex sensory lives of wildlife and humane, wildlife-friendly landscaping methods. The episode delves into the botanical, birds, bugs, mammals, and amphibians a…
- The Nature Place–La Crosse, WI, with Rebecca Schwarz & Paige Manges
This episode features Rebecca Schwarz and Paige Manges of The Nature Place in La Crosse, WI, discussing their all-ages programming designed to inspire meaningful connections between people and nature for the benefit of both.
- A Global Garden Adventurer, Plantswoman Lucie Willan
This episode of Cultivating Place features plantswoman Lucie Willan sharing garden adventures and tales from renowned gardens like Sissinghurst, Hidcote, Monk's House, and Sparoza.
- July 4th Special: Great Expectations, CP LIVE with Ben Futa of Botany & CO, South Bend, IN
This episode of Cultivating Place features Ben Futa of Botany & CO in South Bend, Indiana. Botany & CO aims to encourage more people to plant more plants, stimulating community, biodiversity, economic growth, and joy in an area facing chal…
- Rooted in Education, Richard M. Smith, Director, NYBG School of Professional Horticulture
Guest host Abra Lee talks with Richard M. Smith, director of the School of Professional Horticulture at the New York Botanical Garden. Smith discusses his journey into horticulture and his focus on providing access and mentorship to help o…
- Midsummer's Night Magic, with Leigh Ann Henion
Leigh Ann Henion, author of Night Magic, joins Cultivating Place to discuss the world of moths and the restorative magic found in the dark, especially around the Summer Solstice. The episode highlights the importance of nocturnal life and…
- Getting to know our neighbors: Preparing for National Pollinator Week with Colorado's PPAN
This episode of Cultivating Place features Joyce Kennedy and Emily KenCairn from Colorado's People & Pollinators Action Network (PPAN) discussing National Pollinator Week and PPAN's work. PPAN promotes pollinator-friendly practices through…
- Transformative Beauty: Ben Futa in conversation with Montreal-based floral designer Marc Sardi
Guest host Ben Futa talks with Montreal-based floral artist Marc Sardi about his career transition from scientist to artist. They explore how a renewed connection with plants can lead to better self-understanding and a deeper appreciation…
- Nutritious Movement & The Gardener, with Katy Bowman
This episode of Cultivating Place features Katy Bowman, founder of Nutritious Movement, discussing the necessity of balanced physical activity. Bowman explains how gardening can contribute to a healthier body, mind, and attitude.