News from Home Grown Tomatoes

Home Grown Tomatoes is growing! Just wait and see what we have in store for you this summer! HGT will be covering the southeast like warm sunshine!

Coming up this Saturday, July 5th, Kitty Rochester returns to HGT! Kitty is a Master Gardener and self taught herbalist. You won't want to miss this show!

The latest from the Home Grown Tomatoes blog here...

About Home Grown Tomatoes

Home Grown Tomatoes is a live call-in radio show currently produced by Tomato Crate Productions. Hosted by Kenn Alan, the program airs mid-day Saturdays and routinely features interviews with horticultural specialists, agricultural authorities, professors and other experts in various genres of gardening. The show gravitates toward the home gardener, yet does not steer from agricultural topics on a local, national and global level.

Since its debut in 2004, the show has traveled to remote broadcast venus including the Gulf States Horticultural Expo from the Arthur R. Outlaw center in Mobile, Alabama; the Alabama Farmers Market in Birminham, AL; Decatur Farmers Market in Decatur, AL; the campus of Alabama State University in Montgomery, AL; Quality Co-op stores around AL and more. The show is most often broadcast from an elusive location cited by the show’s host and Celebrity Gardening Expert Kenn Alan as “High atop Tomato Tower, overlooking the Armpit of the Urban Ocean”.

Past guests have included Alabama’s First Lady Patsy Riley, author, California citrus rancher and Garden Expert for Bayer Advanced Lawn and Garden Products Lance Walheim, HGTV’s Trash to Treasure star Robb Whittlef, author and former cohost of PBS TV's Victory Garden Jim Wilson, State Director of the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel Lee Sentell, Commissioner of Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries Ron Sparks, Horticulture Professor at Auburn University Dr. Ken Tilt, Pomology Specialist at Petals From the Past Dr. Arlee Powell, Executive Director of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens Fred Spicer, Executive Director of Aldridge Botanical Gardens Larry Quick, Hydrangea Expert and Plant Developer Eddie Aldridge, Plant Developer, Encore Azalea Expert Buddy Lee.

About Kenn Alan

Host Kenn Alan is a native of Alabama. He is a Master Gardener, nursery owner and a down-home backyard gardener. Kenn is a regular columnist for the Alabama Farmers Cooperative’s Farming News and contributes to the Shelby County Reporter and The Garden Supplies Advisor as a guest columnist.

Broadcasts

Get ready for the all new 2-hour broadcast of Home Grown Tomatoes coming next week! Live video streaming is available on JustinTV, linked from the program’s own site, www.hgtradio.net.

Show Highlights

Each week there's something new and exciting.

Paul is a regular viewer (and chatter) on JustinTV. He and wife, Linda have transformed a plain yard into quite a garden. They've documented their efforts and kindly share them...View Paul and Linda's Garden Project


Last week another JustinTV viewer captured a highlight when Puff, the cat got him some Kenn-revenge. View that highlight by Clicking here

Regular Guests on Home Grown Tomatoes

Tony Glover

I first met Tony back in 2005 after he came to work at the C. Beaty Hanna Center at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. We worked on a project or two for the HGT show and I could tell right away that he was a natural for media.

He told me a few months ago that he really enjoyed doing radio and television. Tony has made many appearances on Home Grown Tomatoes and he also does regular segments on WBRC-TV, Fox-6 out of Birmingham, Alabama.

I also know that he listens to the show when he’s not on because when I get stumped by a caller with a problem, he’s usually there on the phone waiting to help me through the dilemma.

Tony is a Regional Extension Agent with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

Tony's Blog
County Extension Agent
Email Tony Glover

Grant Gentry PhD

Grant moved to Alabama from New Orleans, Louisiana in 2007 after deciding not to reason with the hurricane seasons on the gulf coast anymore. I tease him about that all the time because Hurricane Katrina left him wondering if he wanted to be a homeowner again.

Grant left Tulane University for Birmingham’s Samford University. He received his PhD from UCLA and currently specializes in ecology.

It’s nice to have a friend who shares my interests in nature and gardening.

Grant is affectionately known as one of the Doctors Across the Street.

Dr. Gentry's Caterpillar Project
Dr. Grant Gentry at Tulane University
Email Dr. Gentry

Malia Fincher, PhD

I met Malia on her moving day eve. There was a big truck outside making some roaring noise. Apparently the driver was trying to turn this 24-foot truck around using a three-point-turn technique. I helped him get the truck pointed so that the rest of the family and friends could get it unloaded.  

That night, I met Rita, her mom and David, the good friend from St. Clair County, Alabama. (He now keeps me supplied with free range chicken eggs!)  Malia popped out from the house long enough to introduce herself and tell me that she had accepted a position as a professor at Samford University. 

Malia received her PhD from Tulane University. She is an ecologist and as of May, 2008, is a beekeeper. Malia is the other of the Doctors Across the Street.

Dr. Malia Fincher at Tulane University
Email Dr. Fincher

Dave Han, PhD

Dave Han is the most knowledgeable turfgrass expert I have ever spoken with. When I have a grass question, I call Dr. Han! 

Dave is the voice of Turf Talk on Home Grown Tomatoes and sometimes can be heard singing a song or two on the show as well. 

Dave is a professor at Auburn University.

Dr. Han and Turf Grass
Email Dr. Han

Sallie Lee

Sallie is a true gem of a lady who really knows her stuff when it comes to horticulture. She’s also one of the first Extension Agents that I call for advice when I get stumped with a question from a listener or reader. 

Sallie is a County Extension Agent with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

County Extension Agent
Email Sallie Lee

Commissioner Ron Sparks

Ron Sparks is our Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries here in Alabama which means he is probably the most important elected official in the state! 

Think about this; everything we eat or drink is in some way or another, a product of agriculture. Also, his department inspects and regulates all measuring devices such as gasoline pumps and all scales from grocery stores to axel-weight scales. 

I met Ron shortly after he was elected to his first term and he showed me that he is a take charge individual. He and his staff made the department more efficient and proactive. When he addresses a group he always gives credit to the folks who work for him. One of his strongest points is his humble, yet assertive character. 

Commissioner Sparks hales from Ft. Payne, Alabama.

Commissioner Ron Sparks of the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries
Commissioner Ron Sparks "In the Field"
Email Commissioner Sparks