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 Sam Droege (Wildlife Biologist, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center) from The Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab, Kelly Gill (Senior Pollinator Conservation Specialist, Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Region) from the Xerces Society, and Marcus Gray (Executive Director) from Sustainable Monarch to discuss everything yo...
Jun 18, 2021•1 hr 47 min•Ep. 58
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick are back with a brand new episode of The Buzz and there are so many things in bloom they can't pick just one. There's a new round of "That's Hot" and "This or That" this episode. The Question and Comment line is busy with the ongoing saga of Sol and a brand new caller with feedback. Tom and Fran also discuss what they've quit cold turkey. Discussions center around the native plants that are in bloom in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Music by RJ Comer. Read Fra...
Jun 11, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 57
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick talk with Daron Williams (Host of Growing with Nature Podcast) about sustainably gardening food from native plants on your own property. They discuss the concept of food forests, the difference between foraging and gardening, and how nature and restoration are something that we can all be connected with on our own properties. Also discussed is how our listeners can make a difference in their own yard. Music by Egocentric Plastic Men. Follow Growing With Nature ...
Jun 04, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 56
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick are back with a brand new episode of The Buzz and boy are they cranky. There's a new round of "That's Hot" and "This or That" this episode. The Question and Comment line is busy with the ongoing saga of Sol and a new evil named Doom. Tom and Fran also discuss their ecological bucket lists. Discussions center around the use of plastics in the nursery industry and a brand new auction idea. Music by RJ Comer. Read Fran's Article / Read Tom's Article Have a questio...
May 28, 2021•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 55
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick talk with Joe Cermele (Senior Fishing Editor - Meateater, Host Bent Podcast and B-Side Fishing) about fishing as it relates to our natural areas and our eco-system. They discuss the perfect environments for fishing, things that the fishing community do well with and can also improve upon, health of our waterways and the effects of dam removals, as well as diving into 'Seaspiracy'. Also discussed is how our listeners can make a difference. Music by Egocentric Pl...
May 21, 2021•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 54
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 obscure references from Sol, and Tom and Fran give you a native plant pep talk. Discussions center around White House plantings and Fran shares an embarrassing story about his intolerance to blood. Music by RJ Comer. Read Fran's Article / Read Tom's Article Have a question or a comment? Call (215) 346-618...
May 14, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 53
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick talk with Jason Smith (Director of Northern Manhattan Parks, New York Restoration Project) about what exactly is a native ecosystem in an urban environment? They discuss the beginnings of NYRP, how they have transitioned over the last 25 years, the need for education, stewardship, and sustainability, and the importance of oyster restoration in our conservation efforts. Music by Egocentric Plastic Men. Follow NYRP - Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / You...
May 07, 2021•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 52
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 a weight conscious Sol, and Tom and Fran look into their crystal balls and predict future industry trends. Tom Tom the English Muffin Man also unveils a new segment celebrating our listeners. Discussions center around our lawns - the good and the bad. Music by RJ Comer. Read Fran's Article / Read Tom's Ar...
Apr 30, 2021•1 hr 36 min•Ep. 51
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 Dr. Stephanie Murphy (Director, Rutgers Soil Testing Lab), Jennifer Maynard (CEO & Founder, Nutrition for Longevity & Greater Greens, LLC), and Ray Archuleta (Featured in Netflix Documentary "Kiss the Ground", Founder, Soil Health Academy, LLC & Understanding AG, LLC.) to discuss the topic of soil and the ...
Apr 23, 2021•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 50
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 Fran's Article / Read Tom's Article Have a question or a comment? Call (215) 346-6189. Follow Native P...
Apr 16, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 49
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 in his favorite unsung pollinators. Music by Egocentric Plastic Men. Follow Dr. Daniel Duran - Web...
Apr 09, 2021•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 48
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, foraging, and your landscape. Music by RJ Comer. Read Fran's Article / Read Tom's Article Have a quest...
Apr 02, 2021•1 hr 44 min•Ep. 47
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 Services, Inc.) to discuss gardening with Native Plants. Topics include why to use native plants in your g...
Mar 26, 2021•2 hr 2 min•Ep. 46
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 that are perfect for habitat, foraging, and your landscape. Music by RJ Comer. Read Fran's Article / Rea...
Mar 19, 2021•1 hr 37 min•Ep. 45
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 / Twitter / Instagram Have a question or a comment? Call (215) 346-6189. Follow Native Plants Healthy Planet - Webs...
Mar 12, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 44
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 / Read Tom's Article Have a question or a comment? Call (215) 346-6189. Follow Native Plants Healthy Pl...
Mar 05, 2021•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 43
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 governments role in restoration. Topics include highlighted accomplishments of ecological policy, does...
Feb 26, 2021•1 hr 42 min•Ep. 42
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 Article / Read Tom's Article Have a question or a comment? Call (215) 346-6189. Follow Native Plants Hea...
Feb 19, 2021•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 41
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 Samuel Thayer - Website / Facebook Have a question or a comment? Call (215) 346-6189. Follow Native Plants ...
Feb 12, 2021•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 40
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 Tom's Article Have a question or a comment? Call (215) 346-6189. Follow Native Plants Healthy Planet - We...
Feb 05, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 39
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 changed in New Jersey and explain how you can get involved and help. Music by Egocentric Plastic Men....
Jan 29, 2021•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 38
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 segment just for Fran while both hosts each reveal a newbie mistake. Music by RJ Comer. Read Fran's Article ...
Jan 22, 2021•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 37
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 growing native plants. Topics include why we grow what we grow, the challenges of being a native pla...
Jan 15, 2021•1 hr 58 min•Ep. 36
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? Call (215) 346-6189. Follow Native Plants Healthy Planet - Website / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube Follow...
Jan 08, 2021•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 35
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 Ducks Unlimited - Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / YouTube Have a question or a comment? Call ...
Dec 30, 2020•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 34
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 Article Have a question or a comment? Call (215) 346-6189. Follow Native Plants Healthy Planet - Website / I...
Dec 23, 2020•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 33
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, they also address listener questions and explain how you can get involved. Music by Stephen Mahar. ...
Dec 18, 2020•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 32
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 Fran's Article / Read Tom's Article / Alternate Article Have a question or a comment? Call (215) 346-6189....
Dec 11, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 31
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. Follow the NJ CWRP - Website Have a question or a comment? Call (215) 346-6189. Follow Native Plants He...
Dec 04, 2020•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 30
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 original theme music for The Buzz? Make sure you tune in to find out how. Read Fran's Article / Read To...
Nov 25, 2020•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 29
