While Los Angeles radio listeners have enjoyed the charismatic voice of gardening guru Nick Federoff for years, it appears he will soon be heard by millions more. His two-hour syndicated program is about to be broadcast on the internet via UTR Radio (which is double-speak for Unbelievable Talk Radio radio).

However, he's not producing these as freely downloadable MP3's or available as podcasts for the single user. These shows are being on-sold to web radio stations to deliver to their audiences.

So if you're thinking marketing strategy for your own gardening blog you could get in on the ground floor and air these yourself. Provided you're willing to part with a minimum $25 per week (and it can be as much as $200+) then you too could play Federoff's weekly show.

And, you don't get the sole rights for the show at this price either. Any other gardening radio service can subscribe to his radiocasts as well.

Susan, here's the little pot of rainbow gold you were looking for. Being a coach to millions of gardeners seems to rake in the dollars more than the ones and twos.

And who knows. Maybe you've got a little something to add to the hobbyists who are looking for answers to their gardening problems. If so, here's a list of resources to get you started. It could be the beginning of a whole new venture.

But, be warned. Just because you're a good blogger doesn't necessarily mean you're going to make it in radio - and vice versa.

Posted by Stuart | Permalink | Comments (2)

I've been trying to lay low for the past couple months and stay out of the media glare. But when you're running a popular blog that every celebrity Tom, Dick and Harry wants to be interviewed on, inevitably it all comes unstuck.

This was the case when I went to hear a speech by the presidential candidate Hilary Clinton. Someone had tipped her off that I would be attending and it didn't take her long to recognise my face in the crowd. Thanks Val.

So, after some polite banter and the formalities were over I agreed to interview her here on Gardening Tips 'n' Ideas.

Before I commence the interview let me first make a disclaimer. This interview in no way, shape or form agrees with Mrs Clinton's political views. Heck, I live in Australia - what do I care!

Here's the interview;

GTNI: There was a lot of discussion surrounding the bust that was sculpted from your profile. Some said that it made you look too sexy. Others justified it as being a picture of a powerful woman. And while that debate has raged, it's been reported you've been quite opportunistic and formulated a deal with Home Depot to start a new garden sculpture range.

Hilary: Yes, that's true.

GTNI: Do you really think consumers are ready to have a 'Hilary Bust' sculpture in their gardens yet?

Hilary: Oh, sure. The timing's perfect really. People are tired of garden gnomes and need something else to embellish their boring flowers and plants. The designers...(laughing) even joked about putting my bust on a little Buddha's body for those tropical gardeners down south. That would be funny, wouldn't it?

GTNI: Hilarious, I'm sure. Now back to your gardening exploits. How did you react when you heard the news that your petunias had all been trampled by CIA agents on a training exercise.

Hilary: I think I took it quite well - considering. The CIA are a great organisation and what's my little garden in the scheme of security for the world's greatest nation? I'm going to replant them with marigold's anyway - they should be able to see bright orange next time they train in my backyard.

GTNI: Hilary, when the opinion polls were showing voters preferences some of your advisers were recommending that you go after the Big Apple. Do you feel that you have achieved that?

GTNI: Show what?

Hilary: As I was saying, it just goes to show what a gardener I am. I don't think voters have a problem with my policies, they're basically the same as Bill's anyway. I believe the American public is more interested in global warming and whether they're Zone 4 garden is going to be a Zone 2 before I quit politics.

GTNI: And how do you propose to change that?

Hilary: Well...I'm planning to rent Al's "An Inconvenient Truth" this weekend which should get me on the same page. Then, I'm going to start closing down golf courses - do we really need all that lawn?

GTNI: And you think voters are going to be happy with this?

Hilary: Of course. People are tired with the expectation of having to grow a lawn and golf courses are just perpetuating that expectation. People should grow more water wise plants anyway.

GTNI: On that note, we might have to leave our interview there and cross over to our sponsor "Tiger Woods Office Putt-Putt." Thank you Hilary.

Hilary: My pleasure and I hope your readers can lessen global warming with their gardening practices as well.

Posted by Stuart | Permalink | Comments (2)

"Most men lead lives of quiet desperation..." Henry David Thoreau - "...the rest of us blog!" Stuart Robinson.

One of the most influential philosophers of the 19th Century is blogging! That's right. You heard correctly. Henry David Thoreau is blogging...

Well, almost. Via diary entries posted by a guy called Greg, Thoreau is actually blogging his memoirs.

It's a fascinating insight into the life of a philosopher - and gardener - who shares some of the highlights of his thinking and the activities that occupy him. The blog even keeps the sequence of dates in order, albeit the years are a little mixed up. Great reading.

Link found via All the Dirt on Gardening

Posted by Stuart | Permalink | Comments (3)

For those who weren't aware, yesterday was Australia Day. One of the big highlights of Australia Day is the presentation of Order of Australia medals to worthy community members.

This year, from a list of almost 600 winners, Peter Cundall was presented an Order of Australia - Member (AM) medal;

For service to the environment, particularly the protection of wilderness areas in Tasmania, and to horticulture as a presenter of gardening programs on television and radio.

Of all the gardening presenters on TV these days, Pete is one of those down-to-earth, blood-n-bone, get-your-hands-dirty type celebrities. I watch Gardening Australia religiously because they run such an awesome gardening program.

It was actually this show that first kindled my desire to start gardening.

Kudos Peter Cundall - You deserve it.

Posted by Stuart | Permalink | Comments (0)

All you ladies who have been complaining of a lack of male gardening pin-ups, your wait is over. Aussie gardening icon Jamie Durie made his US debut on Oprah yesterday wooing the audience (predominantly female) and obviously making an impression on Oprah herself.

Durie starred in our own Backyard Blitz and has written a few landscaping books inlcuding Patio, The Source Book and Outdoor Kids. He's a perpetual celebrity fave and his charismatic personality has increased gardening's image to wide reaching audiences here in Oz.

It won't be the last of Durie on Oprah either. He's signed a lucrative deal as a regular renovation expert aside Nate Berkus. There is even talk that Durie may be entering into a deal with Harpo Productions for his own show in the US.

Kudos Jamie.

Link

Posted by Stuart | Permalink | Comments (0)

Once again it's time to delve into the personal lives of our celebrities and see how they garden. This week we caught up with Forrest Gump (aka Tom Hanks) to see if we could dig up some dirt on the guy who knows how to run.


G4D: Thanks for your time Forrest. Tell us a little about your garden including your current highlights and lowlights.

Forrest: Well... gardening is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get. Just the other day I planted some carrots and they turned into broccoli.

G4D: Really?

Forrest: Unless?.... unless I was looking at the wrong vegetable patch?

G4D: You have more than one vegie patch?

Forrest: I'm not sure... they all look the same after you've been running for a couple of days.

G4D: Okay. Let's talk out your garden. If you had to pick one piece of outdoor furniture to have in your garden, what would it be?

Forrest: A hammock.

G4D: A hammock! You sure there's no other piece of outdoor furniture that you would like to have in your garden?

Forrest: Maybe a BBQ for all those shrimp.

G4D: Nothing else crosses your mind.

Forrest: Nup!

G4D: Not even a garden bench?

Forrest: Nup! There's one of them down at the bus stop. If I wanted to sit in one of those I'd just as soon go down there and do it.

G4D: We saw a couple of shots in the movie of your garden in Mississipi how's it going now?

Forrest: Well it's not really my garden. My nana got that garden growing I just walk around and keep it neat.

G4D: Well thanks Forrest and all the best looking after your nana's garden.

Forrest: Oh.. it's mine now. Nana passed away and left it for me to look after...

G4D: Great. We'll meet again some time...

Forrest: Why don't you stay for a chocolate?

Posted by Stuart | Permalink | Comments (3)

We were tipped off from a recent reader (thanks Val) that Eddie McGuire the president of Collingwood Football Club and newly appointed CEO of the Nine Network may be available for a gardening interview.

[Disclaimer: It needs to be mentioned to readers that Collingwood FC is the arch-rival of Carlton FC (a team that is very dear to many readers of this blog). Therefore, while all care will be taken to provide a balanced interview of Eddie's gardening acumen it is possible that some level of bias may be present.]

G4D: Eddie, I know you're a busy man. Thanks for giving us some of your time today to talk gardening.

Eddie: My pleasure.

G4D: You've been gardening for some years now and obviously been working quite hard landscaping, how are your plans shaping up?

Eddie: Really good. I'm so pleased with the results that I feel it's all be worth while.

G4D: Can we show the reader's at home your backyard pics?

Eddie: Definitely.

G4D: Yer..very nice Eddie. What sort of manure are you using to fertilise your lawn? Never mind ... I guess our readers have already figured it out. What would your favourite plant be Eddie?

Eddie: Without a doubt Stu it would have to be pansies. I feel right at home with these. It's hard to describe but it's like I was made for working with pansies.

G4D: There's been some rumours that you like to present well even when gardening at home. Is this true or do you like to kick off the tie and shirt and get into some hard labour?

Eddie: Oh sure. I like to look my best wherever I am but I'm okay if my shirt's not tucked in on weekends. It's good to let the hair down occassionally especially when I'm not in the spotlight.