"GardenFit" On PBS: How To Take Care Of Your Body While Taking Care Of Your Garden

Gardening might be one of the most peaceful and relaxing hobbies but any gardener will tell you it’s also a pain in the neck, or back, or knees. Enter "GardenFit," a brand new PBS series that explores beautiful gardens across the country while also addressing the common aches and pains of gardeners through intuitive movement and exercise. The series also happens to be hosted by two longtime Columbia County locals, expert gardener Madeline Hooper and fitness training guru Jeff Hughes. 

On March 27, the public television show will premiere on the big screen at the Crandell Theatre in Chatham. The charismatic first-time TV hosts, Hooper and Hughes, will be in attendance to introduce the episodes and preside over a Q&A afterwards. Admission is $10 and free for Crandell Theatre members. Online reservations are required along with proof of vaccination and masks.

In the beautifully shot 13-episode series, hosts Hooper and Hughes visit private gardens and specialty farms across America, learning about each unique location and the personal stories behind them. Every show starts with a tour of the property, highlighting the distinctive gardening style while discussing insights, tips and techniques before discussing the owner’s physical aches and pains.

“We’re not teaching people how to garden, “ says Hooper, “We’re starting a GardenFit movement that integrates gardening with fitness techniques to prevent aches and pains.”

Hooper met Hughes just three years ago when she was referred to him by a friend. Aches and pains were affecting her gardening and tennis game.

“She was the typical gardener,” Hughes said of his co-host. “Everything hurt. The things I teach are common sense. You just have to do it the right way.”

Hooper said she was astonished at how Hughes was able to address specific problem areas with simple focused exercises. Hughes jokingly said Hooper bullied him into finding a way to share his unique approach with the public. In a matter of months they came up with the idea to combine their two passions, hired a small crew to mock up a “sizzle reel,” and sent it to PBS. The execs loved the idea and the pair’s chemistry. Soon they were jetsetting around the country to visit gardens and farms.

"GardenFit" is filled with beautiful cinematic tours of one-of-a kind landscapes, and the way stories transition from personal missions to addressing aches and pains is surprisingly natural and interesting. They hope Hughes's physical fitness tips will also be able to help viewers at home with their own issues.

The Crandell will screen two episodes: Peace and Plenty Farm, located in Kelseyville, CA, and Black Barn Farm in Richmond, MA. In California, Melinda Price and Simon Avery have transformed their lives from city dwellers to farming saffron. Matt Larkin in the Berkshires tours his “topiary fantasy forest,” a showcase for the hedge sculptures he creates for clients across the country.

After moving to Columbia County 40 years ago, Hooper devoted herself to two passions: gardening and ballroom dancing. When she retired from her professional career in public relations in New York City, she moved full time to Canaan and her passion for gardening grew. At ther Rockland Farm, Hooper and her husband have created an extensive 10-acre garden. She has been a trustee at both the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Berkshire Botanical Garden, where she has served as vice chair for the past decade. 

Hughes is an experienced fitness trainer who moved to Columbia County in 2004, opening his TrainerFit Studio soon after in Chatham. He preaches: “Train the mind, the body will follow.” He says this idea is based upon the philosophy that bodies accept new habits that make sense. He has owned and operated fitness businesses in Los Angeles and New York City. While Hughes has some acting experience, including a multi-year stint on "Days of Our Lives" as Dave the Paramedic, this is his first time as a presenter. Hooper had no film experience but both hosts feel right at home in the spotlight and in the garden.

"GardenFit began" airing on PBS March 21. Check local listings for show times. The first episode is avalible to stream now on the program's website.

GardenFit Premier at the Crandell Theatre 
March 27, 1p.m. 
48 Main St, Chatham, NY