After a successful first year on air, "The Wisconsin Vegetable Gardener" returned for a second season this month. The show, which airs Saturdays at 9 a.m. on 860AM WNOV and W293cx 106.5 FM, runs through the end of October.

Holly and Joey Baird, a married couple with a background in farming and both urban and rural gardening, host the show. Each hour-long segment is divided into two content-based sections, an interview with a guest and then questions via phone, email and social media.

Upcoming topics on the show include "12 ways to save time in the garden," "the importance and value of school gardens, "debunking gardening myths" (epsom salt is not good for tomato roots!) and "how to properly use a water barrel."

Says Joey Baird, "The show focuses primarily on the urban farmer, but we have listeners that range from CSA Gardners to people who claim they don’t have a green thumb. The engagement on our show is very high."

"The Wisconsin Vegetable Gardener" was 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.

Prior to the first season in 2017, 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. They now have 27 sponsors in 11 states and two provinces, including Milwaukee’s Outpost Natural Food, Beans & Barley and more. 

"We bring the dollars and we have the vision," says Joey. "WNOV is very receptive to that."