The Garden Thyme Podcast-Getting Down and Dirty in the Garden
Extension Education
Rachel Rhodes
Senior Agent
University of Maryland Extension
Centreville
Abstract
In 2024, the Podcast Consumer Report cited that 67% of the 12 + US population has listened to a podcast (192 million people). In 2025, the number of listeners is expected to reach 584 million people. With 4.42 million podcasts available worldwide, people can truly choose their own adventure (Podcast Index, 2025). In the last five years, Extension has felt the growing pains of a post-COVID world. Our educational programming has moved drastically from in-person classes to Zoom lecture series via smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Podcasts have become a proven tool for educators to disseminate information. They offer flexibility to our listeners, engage diverse audiences, and promote valuable educational knowledge sharing in an easily digestible format. The Garden Thyme Podcast is a monthly educational podcast developed by University of Maryland Extension educators to teach residents about building healthy gardens, landscapes, and communities using sustainable gardening techniques for novice to advanced gardeners in Maryland and the surrounding Mid-Atlantic area. Episodes are approximately 45-55 minutes long and feature a central topic or interview with a specialist, plus 3 recurring segments for native plant, bug, and timely garden tips of the month. Episodes are recorded using Audacity (www.audacity.org) or Riverside (https://riverside.fm/), edited using Audacity, and housed on the podcast Buzzsprout website (https://go.umd.edu/gardenthymepodcast/). The episodes are available for download on iTunes, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Podcast, and the Buzzsprout website. Transcripts are available for each episode on the podcast website for those with hearing impairments. As of March 2025, 59 episodes have been published, with 11 episodes produced in 2024. The podcast has 29,000 total downloads (~5,200 downloads in 2024). 98% of listeners are from the United States, with minimal international listens from Europe, Asia, South America, and Oceania. In 2023, the podcast launched a listener survey that solicited over 100 responses. Survey participants responded that 74% increased the number of native plants in the landscape, 62% tried growing a new variety of vegetables or edible plants, and 39% performed soil tests based on the knowledge they gained from the podcast.
Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC
This poster is being submitted for judging. It will be displayed at the AM/PIC if not selected as a State winner. The abstract will be published in the proceedings.
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Authors: Rachel Rhodes, Emily Zobel, Mikaela Boley
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Rhodes, R. Senior Agent, UME, Maryland, 21617
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Zobel, E. Senior Agent, UME, Maryland, 21613
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Boley, M. Principal Agent Associate, UME, Maryland, 21601