Chris and JJ have known each other since childhood , but it was n’t until age later and an accidental meeting that the ‘ Bearded Growers ’ were carry .
Now , they host their own horticultural radio show every Monday at 7 pm on Cotswold Radio , feature guests such asAlan Titchmarshand Adam Frost .
I spoke with them both to explore their gardening ventures and love of allotment raise .
What Initially Attracted You To Gardening?
“ I was definitely forced into it by my other half , but once the gardening bug bites , it ’s such a brilliant hobby for your strong-arm and mental being , ” share Chris .
“ My itinerary into the humanity of gardening was pretty standard , ” JJ adds .
“ Once I had my own home , I need to make the garden look gracious and it was something I really savour and take swell pride in . ”
How Long Have You Been Gardening?
“ I ’m a relative fledgeling to horticulture , but for the last 5 - 6 years I ’ve been working on the family allotment , ” Chris explains .
“ My interestingness has produce and now I am turning myself into a DIY genius , making everything from a shed to moth-eaten frames on the allotment with reuse material . ”
“ I spent most of my summertime vacation and weekends over my don ’s allotment farm up , admittedly taking little to no interest in what was run on , ” say JJ .
“ Something must have stuck though , as in my late twenties I started pottering about in the garden and prove to make it look nice each summer .
“ This originate into a passion which pass around to grow vegetable at home and then taking the dip and become an allotment . ”
How Did You Both Meet?
“ We actually become to schooling together 25 years ago in the Black Country and unluckily lost touch for 19 years as multitude do when they leave school , ” shares Chris .
“ JJ moved to Worcester and I go off on my travels around Europe with work before locate in the Cotswolds . We had a opportunity coming together and reconnected when we fancy each other at a 10k race for Polemonium van-bruntiae in Cheltenham about 5 year ago .
“ We kept in ghost , got chatting and realised we both had apportioning and loved getting our helping hand unclean ! ”
“ We already had connections to the now closed radio station NCCR , as Chris presented a sports show a few year back , ” adds JJ .
“ When we understand that we both had a portion out love of gardening and apportionment , we decided to take it one stair further and asked NCCR to consider us for a gardening show slot on the station .
“ From that , Bearded Growers was born ! After 18 months at the station , it closed due to funding , but we were go up by Cotswolds Radio who had see the show and thought it would be a good scene for them . ”
What Is Your Radio Show About?
“ We are the self - proclaimed act 1 horticultural radio show in the UK ! ” articulate Chris . “ It ’s a big statement , but one we say tongue in cheek . We have 2 hours to tattle about our garden , allotments and house plants , plus we get to act euphony in between .
We are also proud ambassadors for Greenfingers Charity and we do challenge each class to evoke money .
“ This year , we arrange the Bearded Growers boost , one across the Malvern hills and the other in Lincoln , which bring up £ 2,800 ! ”
“ Our independent feature has to be the potting shed audience expansion slot , ” explains JJ .
“ We have had the pleasure of interviewing Alan Titchmarsh , Adam Frost , Frances Tophill , Diarmuid Gavin , Lee Burkhill , John Torode , Gregg Wallace , Nikki Chapman , Lee Connelly and Michael Perry to name a few . ”
Do You Have A Favourite Guest?
“ I ’ve got a little human race crush on Adam Frost , so having interviewed him 3 times on the show is an absolute honour , ” says Chris .
“ He is a really courteous bozo and we could mind to him mouth about gardening for hours . His passion and ebullience are infectious and we have a good laugh with him whenever we sit down for a schmoose . ”
“ Mine was Adam Frost , but we late got the chance to talk with Alan Titchmarsh and he is a total gentleman who is so piquant , ” share JJ .
“ We were both very happy with that interview and it ’s in spades a highlighting . He was with us for 40 minutes recording sound bites , doing the interview and sign some merchandise for charity .
“ He even recognised us at Chelsea and come to say hello and shook our hands ! ”
What Lies Ahead For The Bearded Growers?
We are hostingthe Worcester Showin August , which is very exciting as we are go to be helping give out the prizes in the craft , floral and veggie grow competition and we have judged the allotment competition this year , ” say Chris .
“ plan are also in motion for a beginner ’s scout to allotmenting volume and a murder mystery allotment - based thriller . ”
“ We are hopefully go to be involved with more horticultural show toward the end of the class and will be hot every week on the wireless show , ” share JJ .
you could tune in to the Bearded Growers ’ radio show online , via a smart gimmick or via the Cotswolds Radio app at 7 post-mortem every Monday .
