Gardening Show

Sunday 7.30 - 9.15 am

In English.

Talk back gardening show covering all aspects of horticulture and emphasizing environmentally friendly ideas. A free visit to a special garden is held each year in October.

Presented by Pam Vardy, Gwen Elliot, and Stephen Ryan.

Email the program.

The Gardening Show's award winning Community Gardens book can be bought from 3CR.

CRAM Article November 2004: Gardening Show

The Gardening Show began 26 years ago, soon after the 3CR first went to air. The first presenter was Geoff Eckberg who was shortly replaced by Bruce Hedg,e who confessed to having little garden knowledge but lots of enthusiasm and a science degree. Bruce was an early devotee of the “alternative life style” - promoting organic gardening, growing and using herbs - and soon built up a following of like-minded listeners. These ideas were deemed to be quite radical at the time. He was an early co-ordinator of the community project Ceres in Brunswick.

About 20 years ago he was joined by Allen Gilbert, an officer at Burnley Horticultural College. Allen was equally passionate about organic gardening but also had the balance of a horticultural qualification. Allen introduced many guest speakers onto the program, and promoted numerous methods and ideas, then considered off-beat but now widely practiced, such as composting, mulching, worm culture, companion planting and the non-use of chemicals. Ian Nichols, long time radio commentator and nursery owner, became the anchor presenter, giving his time and vast knowledge every week for many years, only retiring at the end of 2003.

Today the Gardening Show is still staffed solely by volunteers – at present 25 people are involved on a regular roster basis either as guest presenters, producers, or running the ‘off-air’ gardening advice line. Many of the presenters are Australian and International experts in their particular fields.

The aims of the program are to provide a relaxed and informative learning exchange between the presenters and the listeners. It covers a wide range of horticultural and environmental topics, with an emphasis on minimal use of chemicals, awareness of ‘weediness’ and water conservation, support for local garden clubs, gardens and growers, and encouraging indigenous wildlife and sustainable gardening practices.

For the last five years, 3CR Gardening Show presenters and listeners have spent a wonderful day each year visiting a garden, learning about it’s history, and hearing about it’s plans for the future. This year we are really excited about the prospect of visiting Ceres Environmental Park on the 7th of November where we will be having tours of Ceres. We usually have a picnic / barbeque lunch and the Gardening Show provides afternoon tea. We are also very fortunate to have two wonderful listeners who open their gardens in Emerald and Upper Ferntree Gully as fundraisers for the show.

You can tune into the massively popular Gardening Show every Sunday morning 7.30 –9.15AM.

By Pam Vardy