"GardenFit" Goes Nationwide

Congratulations to BBG’s Madeline Hooper, Vice Chair of our Board, who with personal fitness trainer Jeff Hughes has created “GardenFit,” a new TV series that premiered on PBS in March.

A destination garden and fitness series, “GardenFit” aims to inspire viewers to take care of their bodies while taking care of their gardens. After all, one’s body is the most important gardening tool!

Over the past year, Madeline and Jeff have visited more than a dozen private gardens and specialty farms all across America — Japanese, English, Dry Desert, Native American heritage and more — learning about each unique environment and its knowledgeable owner. Every show starts with a tour of the property, highlighting its particular characteristics while discussing the gardener’s insights,

tips, and techniques before learning about the physical aches and pains involved in maintaining it.

Using his common-sense approach to fitness, Jeff Hughes, from Chatham,NY, observes the gardeners, listens to their problems, identifies the cause and provides solutions and habits that will make them “GardenFit.” He gives them four weeks to practice and, at the end of every episode, Madeline and Jeff return to find a rejuvenated and pain-free gardener.

“We’re not teaching people how to garden,” says co-host Madeline. “We’re starting a “GardenFit” movement that integrates gardening with Jeff’s fitness techniques to prevent aches and pains and keep your most important gardening tool in good condition.”