Meet the Experts
Brie Arthur
Bestselling author and gardening personality, Brie Arthur, is widely known for her leadership with the national Foodscape movement and her lively, information packed presentations. With more than two decades of professional horticulture experience she is a long-time contributor on the Emmy award winning PBS Television show “Growing a Greener World”. You can follow Brie’s gardening journey through her website, BrieGrows.com or her social media and YouTube channel, Brie the Plant Lady.
Brie is sponsored by Soil3. Soil3 is the natural, peat-free way to build good soil structure - in clay or sand. Our compost brand is pronounced “Soil Cubed,” even though we hear all sorts of fun things from “Magic Dirt” to “Super Cube” and “Soil Three.” Learn all about us, and our 3 compost mixes designed for Southern lawns and gardens, when you visit soil3.com.
Jenks Farmer
Jenks Farmer, a versatile writer, designer, horticulturist, and a 10th generation South Carolinian, grew up on a failed farm near a Magnolia swamp. He spent a decade traversing the globe and then came home to shape the forefront of public gardens in the state. His career spans across iconic institutions such as Riverbanks Botanical Garden, Moore Farms Botanical Garden, and Historic Columbia.
Alongside his husband, Jenks manages an organic nursery and a farm education center, specializing in bulbs like crinum and amaryllis. He served as a book reviewer for the esteemed American Horticulture Society. Through his writing on Substack and his latest, thought-provoking fourth book, Garden Disruptors, Jenks explores the intersection of personal growth, sexuality, social justice, and the art of nurturing plants. His writings and presentations offering a soulful, frank perspective on Southern gardens.
Featured Sessions
What I’ve Learned as a Southern Transplant with Brie
Prepare yourself for a green-thumb adventure as Michigan native horticulturist and gardener Brie Arthur weaves stories around the challenges of being a Southern transplant. Delving into the ups and downs adapting to a whole new gardening reality, Brie will share her unexpected successes to the inevitable pitfalls ultimately leading to valuable lessons for all Southern gardeners.
What I’ve Learned as a Southern Runaway with Jenks
This country boy’s innate understanding of place fueled his world-wide journey in horticulture. His determination to leave the South did not keep him from returning to his roots on the family farm in Beech Island, SC. Jenks has a passionate understanding of deep South soils, climate and plants fused with inspiration from all over the world. Expect stories, lessons and a plea for Southern gardening that protects and honors our land.
