Meet Richard Smith from The NYBG School of Professional Horticulture

Note: This is a special episode recorded entirely in English. Our regular podcast opening and ending remain in Spanish.

Guest: Richard Smith, from the NYBG’s School of Professional Horticulture

Richard M. Smith is a public garden leader with experience working across demographics in planning, creating, implementing, and communicating horticulture-related content, focusing on experiential learning methods, strategic planning, and resource mobilization.

Richard is a summa cum laude graduate of the University of Florida College of Agriculture and Life Sciences with concentrations in Environmental Horticulture, Nursery and Greenhouse Management, and Specialty Crop Production.

He has been awarded the Duke Energy STEM Partnership Impact Grant and the Lockheed Martin STEM Partnership Impact Grant for curriculum and content development in experiential education. Richard is a member of the Metro Hort Board of Directors, a Member of BIPOC Hort – the premiere organization giving voice to underrepresented groups in horticulture, and the American Public Gardens Association Board Selection Committee Member.

Richard serves as the Director of the School of Professional Horticulture, the only nationally accredited hands-on horticulture program in the country, at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx - the largest garden in any city in the United States in New York’s greenest borough. For over 90 years, the School of Professional Horticulture at NYBG has educated and trained motivated individuals to become horticulturists of the highest caliber. Through the SoPH program, Richard is increasing practical hands-on learning experiences in ecological horticulture, implementing emerging learning strategies for adult learners, and creating a broader reach, enhanced collaboration, and greater access in the development of leaders of the green industry.

Jump into the topics!

4:40- Richard talks about his well-being perspective, and how weeding is his go-to gardening activity to relax.

8:15- Richard talks about his journey in horticulture: from Finance to doing garden jobs from Craigslist.

12:56- On the mission of the NYBG School of Professional Horticulture and its goals

16:35- How the School is giving back to the community.

19:14- Richard talks about how the rising temperatures affect horticultural studies and jobs.

23:35- Practical suggestions for the home gardeners.

27:55- Richard goes into the best time to visit the NYBG and why.

33:58-Richard talks about an exciting new project he's working on.

36:17- Richard on myths about horticulture, specifically on money and education.

Podcast Credits:

Producer: Perla Sofía Curbelo-Santiago, for Zurda Media Enterprises, Inc.

Editing & Mixing: Norihelys Ramos

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

Links:

NYBG

NYBG School of Professional Horticulture

Longwood Gardens

Tropical ‘Jabuticaba’(Plinia cauliflora)

The Fire Next Time, by James Balwin (Book)

Kendrick Lamar (Music)