When "The Wisconsin Vegetable Gardener" airs on WNOV-860 AM next month, it will be the first gardening-themed radio show to hit Milwaukee’s airwaves in 12 years.

The last gardening show was "Plant Doctor Radio Show" produced by Melinda Myers.

Husband-and-wife team Holly and Joey Baird will host the show every Saturday morning from 9 to 10 a.m. starting March 4 and running through Oct. 28.

Conversation will revolve around a bumper crop of gardening-related topics, including raised beds, draw bail, container and traditional ground gardens, but will focus on urban/backyard gardening. The Bairds’ goal is to provide useful information to listeners whether they are seasoned or new gardeners.

"We will provide tips and techniques and, hopefully, prevent people from making mistakes that we’ve made in the past," says Joey.

The couple will interview a local or national guest every week and have time allotted for listeners to call in or write in and ask questions.

Joey grew up on an agricultural grain and livestock farm, and Holly is a lifelong backyard gardener. The couple live in Mequon, where they have gardens, but their largest garden is in a community plot in Greenfield. They also tend family members’ gardens.

"We have about 2,000 square feet of growing space altogether," says Joey. "This is our ‘golf game' or our ‘movie time.’ It’s what we do together; it’s our hobby."

The Bairds spent more than 700 hours over the course of nine months securing sponsors for their radio program and chose WNOV because the station will allow them the most creative freedom.

"We brought the dollars and we have a vision," says Joey. "WNOV was very receptive to that."

Sponsors include Beans & Barley, the Riverwest Co-op, Woodman’s Market, Nessalla Kombucha, Really Granola, Art of the Garden and more.

"This is a grassroots effort," says Holly. "And we believe this is something Milwaukeeans will benefit from: the opportunity to have success with gardening even if it’s their first season."