Have you checked out Netflix’s new ” gardening show” called “This is a Gardening Show” and starring comedian Zach Galifianakis? Well, I have and I have a report.
First, clear your minds of those beloved gardening shows back on HGTV (when there was a G), like “Gardener’s Diary” and “Gardening by the Yard.” Because this sure isn’t that.
But the comedian IS apparently a “hobbyist gardener of 25 years,” with not one but two farms – 60 acres in North Carolina and another of undisclosed acreage off Vancouver Island, where this six-part show was filmed. Each episode – covering apples, tomatoes, foraging, root vegetables, corn or compost – is just 15 to 20 minutes.
Thoughts.
And kids are his co-stars.
Who’s the Audience?
Certainly not US, adults who already garden. As one commenter on Reddit explained, “Finally, a gardening show for people who don’t garden…Part lesson, part lark, these 15-minute episodes are a total joy. They have such a deliriously light touch they will make you want to run outside and plunge your hands into the soil.”
That’s the point – getting people, especially kids, interested in growing something. Preferably something to eat. Who knows whether that will result but the reviews make me think the show may at least be seen.
- “Zach Galifianakis talking about gardening, dumb cute jokes with kids, AND discussing the horrors of end stage capitalism? I will watch this.”
- “An absolute joy to watch” and “comfort television in its purest form.”
- “A decompressing palate cleanser.”
- An “oddball celebration of the food we eat.”
- On Rotten Tomatoes there are eight reviews, all 100%.
And where do I stand? With this reviewer, probably an actual gardener: “The name sets a high bar – it should be called ‘Growing stuff is easier than you think.’ But I like that it’s aimed at encouraging the next generation to take an interest. It’s also pretty funny.”
Looks like a great reason to sign up for Netflix for the summer. Adorable.
I’m loving it! And my kids are, too, more so than other gardening shows I’ve tried to show them, so it’s a winner to me.
It makes me laugh out loud. Not many gardening shows do that ( and I watch every one available, new and old).
I remember the glory days of HGTV with Gardener’s Diary and Gardener’s Journal. Also the Canadian Gardener show and Mike Darcy’s show out of Portland, Oregon.
Now I watch John Lord’s Secret Garden and Joe Swift’s Country Garden on YouTube. And HDClump website used to have loads of gardening shows. They seem to have lost their huge archive but may be building it up again. I was able to watch many old shows there. I was born in the wrong country; the UK has such a wealth of gardening shows.
I just happen to watch the first episode of the show, and laughed so hard I binge watched it in two sittings. The kids are what make the show light hearted and if you garden, you cannot help but roll in laughter at some of the things the kids say. There is also one good little “best practice” that comes up as well. Just like Art Linkletter used to say, “Kids say the darndest things!” I live in Northern Virginia/metro DC.but I am a native Kansan I really appreciated your writing on sunflowers since I grow sunflowers of all types and pumpkins, every summer. The article about the Whitehouse rose garden was great in helping me point out to my friends, no one just came in a plowed down the roses and laid a blank ugly concrete slab. Unfortunately, this is what everyone who likes to gripe about President Trump would have the rest of America believe. I love the new layout. 😉