Cultivating Curiosity

Are Joro spiders really invasive? Do they fly? Are they dangerous to people?

In this episode of Cultivating Curiosity, Rebekah Wallace, program coordinator at the University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, separates fact from fiction about Georgia’s most talked-about spider.

Wallace explains how Joro spiders spread, what researchers are learning about their impacts on native ecosystems, and why many of the viral claims surrounding these brightly colored arachnids are exaggerated. She also shares practical tips for identifying Joro spiders and understanding their role in the environment.

Listen to the episode to learn the truth about Joro spiders, their growing presence across the Southeast and what science says about the myths making headlines.

Resources:

• Joro Watch
• Joro Spider: Trichonephila clavata (UGA Cooperative Extension Expert Resource)
• Managing Joro Spiders in the Landscape (UGA Cooperative Extension Expert Resource)

Content from CAES:

• Joro or not? Test your spider-spotting skills with this quiz (feature story)
• Are Joro spiders outcompeting Georgia’s native spiders? (UGA Today research story)

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Organic food is everywhere, but what does that label really mean?

How do organic farmers manage weeds and pests without conventional herbicides and pesticides? What makes soil health so central to organic production? And can practices developed for organic farming benefit agriculture more broadly?

In this episode of Cultivating Curiosity, University of Georgia assistant professor Kate Cassity-Duffey, who specializes in organic production, explains the principles behind organic agriculture, from building healthy soils and recycling nutrients to supporting sustainable crop production.

Cassity-Duffey also discusses common misconceptions about organic farming, the challenges growers face, and how researchers and farmers collaborate to improve agricultural systems.

Listen to the episode to learn how organic agriculture goes beyond a label and why the health of the soil beneath our feet plays a critical role in the future of farming.

Resources:

• UGA CAES Department of Horticulture

Content from CAES:

• UGA study aims to help farmers transitioning to organic production (feature story)
• Restoring the earth (feature story)
• Cultivating community: Learning and serving at UGArden (podcast episode)
• Not your typical internship: What UGA students learn at UGArden (feature story)

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Turn on the faucet, and water comes out. For private well owners, though, that water has a story that starts far below ground.

Where does well water actually come from? Why are some wells hundreds of feet deeper than others? And if your water looks, smells and tastes fine, do you still need to test it?

In this episode of Cultivating Curiosity, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension water management specialist Gary Hawkins answers common questions about private well water, from how often to test it to routine maintenance and common water quality concerns.

Hawkins also explains where well water comes from, how Georgia's geology affects groundwater, and what well owners should consider during drought, severe weather, and power outages.

Listen to the episode to learn why regular water testing — and your local UGA Extension office — are two of the best resources for keeping your well water safe.

Resources:

• Well Water Resources publication series
• Household Water Quality publication series
• Find your UGA county Extension agent
• UGA Agricultural and Environmental Services Laboratories website (water analyses information)

Content from CAES:

• Six expert tips for a healthy septic system: What every homeowner should know (podcast episode)

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Follow CAES on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and check out UGA Extension on on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn for the latest updates.

What does precision agriculture actually look like in the field?

In this episode of Cultivating Curiosity, we're joined by Luan Oliveira, assistant professor in the University of Georgia Department of Horticulture and UGA Cooperative Extension precision agriculture specialist, to break down how artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous sprayers, drone technology and smart farming tools are reshaping modern agriculture.

Oliveira explains how precision agriculture is enabling farmers to work more efficiently and sustainably, meeting the demands of a growing population, and creating new opportunities for the next generation of ag tech professionals.

Resources:

• Agribots: Autonomous Ground Robots for Specialty Crops
• UGA Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture (IIPA)

Content from CAES:

• Creating an Extension-driven vision for smarter farming
• UGA's Precision Horticulture Lab: Transforming farm operations with drone technology

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Follow CAES on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and check out UGA Extension on on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn for the latest updates.

Ever daydream of being the envy of the neighborhood with a phenomenal, fall-off-the-bone rack of ribs that people can't get enough of?

Ahead of what many people consider the beginning of grilling season, we’re joined by Alex Stelzleni, professor and director of graduate studies for the University of Georgia Department of Animal and Dairy Science. In this short interview, Stelzleni provides quick, expert tips that will help you feel more confident when choosing the right cuts of meat, selecting the best method of seasoning, and preparing to step up to the grill or smoker.

If you enjoy cooking outdoors, this episode from the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences will help you look like a pro next time you turn up the heat.

Resources:

• UGA Meat Science Technology Center Store
• Grill & Chill: Unleash Flavor Safely with Outdoor Cooking and Grilling

Content from CAES:

• Serving up the facts: Food science and safety

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Follow CAES on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and check out UGA Extension on on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn for the latest updates.

Spring has a way of showing up all at once, and suddenly, the garden is calling. Whether you’re planting a backyard garden or a few containers on a patio, this episode of Cultivating Curiosity will help you start the season with confidence.

We’re joined by Heather Kirk-Ballard, assistant professor in the University of Georgia Department of Horticulture and UGA Cooperative Extension specialist in sustainable urban landscapes, for a quick Q&A packed with practical tips to help you get growing.

From what to do the moment you step outside to prepping your soil, choosing the right plants, watering wisely and staying ahead of weeds and pests, Kirk-Ballard shares simple, research-backed guidance you can put to work right away.

Resources:

• Composting Basics and Considerations for Growers and Landscapers
• AESL soil testing
• UGA Extension Vegetable Planting Chart 
• Georgia Pest Management Handbook - Home and Garden edition

Content from CAES:

• Starting your spring vegetable garden from seed
• Starting a garden from scratch
• Your ultimate guide to healthy garden soil

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Follow CAES on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and check out UGA Extension on on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn for the latest updates.

Choosing the right flowers and knowing how to care for them can make the difference between a bouquet that fades fast and one that lasts.

In this episode of Cultivating Curiosity, Julie Campbell, an assistant professor in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, shares practical, research-based advice on selecting long-lasting varieties, caring for bouquets at home and extending their usefulness beyond the vase. From budget-friendly flowers to simple techniques for drying, pressing and repurposing blooms, Campbell offers approachable tips that help flowers go further.

She also discusses her recent research on how buying and receiving flowers can boost well-being and reduce stress, offering scientific backing for something many of us have experienced.

Whether you’re building a bouquet for a special occasion or buying flowers just because, this episode may convince you that you should absolutely buy yourself flowers.

Content from CAES:

• Buying flowers may boost well-being, reduce stress
• Petal pushers: UGA researchers give insight into the minds (and carts) of American flower buyers
• UGA study finds that age plays a major role in flower purchases
• UGA horticulture course teaches fundamentals of floral design

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Follow CAES on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and check out UGA Extension on on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn for the latest updates.

Radon doesn’t smell. You can’t see it. And most people don’t realize it’s in their home until someone tells them to look.

January is National Radon Action Month. In this episode of Cultivating Curiosity, Rebecca Cantrell, radon educator for University of Georgia Cooperative Extension in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, discusses why this invisible gas is a serious and often overlooked public health issue.

Cantrell explains what radon is, why it’s the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., and why no home in Georgia is exempt from risk. She walks listeners through: 

• How often to test
• How Extension helps residents make sense of their results
• What to do if results come back elevated
• How education around radon empowers residents to keep their homes and families safe

Learn more about how to protect your family from the health effects of radon at radon.uga.edu.

Resources:

• UGA Radon website
• Radon gas and water testing and mitigation resources
• Find your local UGA Cooperative Extension office

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Follow CAES on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and check out UGA Extension on on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn for the latest updates.

As the holidays approach and kitchens heat up, food safety becomes just as important as the meal itself.

In this short episode, we revisit timeless advice from University of Georgia Cooperative Extension food safety specialist Carla Schwan, an assistant professor in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, and Manpreet Singh, professor and former head of the Department of Food Science and Technology, now serving as an associate dean in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Together, they share practical tips to help you cook, serve and store food safely this season.

From properly thawing your turkey to knowing when to finally pack up the leftovers, this episode will help you host with confidence and keep your guests healthy.

Resources:

• Food Safety Tips for Preparing a Holiday Turkey (UGA Cooperative Extension Publication)
• FDA major food allergens
• Find your county UGA Cooperative Extension office

Content from CAES:

• Healthy holidays: Food safety tips for gifts and gatherings
• Serving up the facts: Food science and safety

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Produced by Jordan Powers and Emily Cabrera
Edited by Jordan Powers and Emily Cabrera
Music and sound effects by Mason McClintock, an Athens-based singer, songwriter and storyteller. Listen to his music on Spotify. 

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What do hoop houses, vertical farms and DIY hydroponic systems all have in common? They are all part of controlled environment agriculture, or CEA — a rapidly growing field that lets farmers, researchers and even home gardeners produce crops year-round by shaping the growing environment. 

In this episode of Cultivating Curiosity, we sit down with Rhuanito Ferrarezi, associate professor of horticulture in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), and Ruchika Kashyap, assistant professor of plant pathology at CAES and UGA Cooperative Extension specialist.

Both are members of the college's “fab five” of CEA. Together, they unpack what CEA is and how it differs from traditional farming, why Georgia — and CAES in particular — are emerging as a hub for greenhouse innovation, and what it could mean for food security, sustainability, and local access to fresh produce in the years ahead.

Content from CAES:

• CAES alumnus joins UGA-Griffin faculty to expand food production through controlled environment agriculture
• Controlled environment agriculture poised to become a growth industry
• CAES partners with Agrify to grow vertical farming efforts
• CAES vertical farming research sheds light on producing medicinal compounds

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Follow CAES on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and check out UGA Extension on on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn for the latest updates.