Upon earning his coveted “senior citizen” status and beginning to receive pension checks from nearly 30 years of work in Canada, Dr. Dirt - longtime friend, fellow “garden traveler” and popular Gestalt Gardener co-host for the past three years - has decided to “take it to the garden” by retiring from public broadcasting and appearances. Along with tens of thousands of loyal listeners (including many self-proclaimed “non-gardeners”), Felder will dearly miss “Dirt” and his down-to-earth wisdom, affable repartee, delicious recipes, small-town “shout-outs” and weekly fresh-cut flower bouquets. And of course that deep, mellifluous chuckle! Happy gardening trails, friend!
THE SHOW MUST GO ON
Felder will continue his call-in gardening program, now in its 25th year, with some slight changes, including more guests and a website-featured “Felder’s Favorite” plant of the week.
28 comments:
Checked out the GG web page today and saw the announcement. While I have every confidence that the show will continue and be as enjoyable and helpful as ever, I want to say that Dr. Dirt will be truly missed. Thanks for the wisdom, Dirt!
David - Mobile, AL
Having listened to your gradening programs on MPB and other stations for a number of years, I am a devoted fan and gardener. But I am really going to miss Dr Dirt. I really enjoyed him on the show. The two of you were good together. I hope he will drop in for a visit when he chooses and bring us some recipes or some flowers from Milly's garden.
Wow, I'm sorry to hear Dr. Dirt has left, I'll miss him very much, he was great fun to listen to. I wish him the best of luck in his gardening.
Gayle-Mobile, AL
We are sorry to hear that Dr.Dirt left the show. We will truly miss him.
Gerhard (Dr.Bird)
Germany
Dr. Dirt, when I came to MS four years ago, I was constantly traveling in my job. I always looked forward to hearing the G. Gardner and when you came on board, it was even better. I'll miss hearing you on Friday morning. Thanks for all the down home advice.
David
What's the real story of Dr. Dirt's "retirement?" Real fans of the show would like an honest answer. He was too big a part of a show just to disappear without a mention. Please give us the facts.
I agree with Anony Mouse. It would be nice to have the good doctor stop in occasionally. The show is just like our gardens... just when everything looks perfect, there is a change that shows how it can get better and also remind us of the fond memories that we do not need to let go of.
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070704/NEWS/707040360/1001
The Clarion Ledger link does not work - please repost if possible.
Word on the coast is that Dr. Dirt was engaged in a contractual dispute with the station, and the resolution is that he is off the air.
The show is not the same without him...
Here is the full link to the Clarion Ledger article. Just cut'n'paste both parts on one line
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/
article?AID=/20070704/NEWS/707040360/1001
If anyone has any questions, please feel free to email Felder at felder@felderrushing.net, he'll be glad to answer any questions about Dr. Dirt and what he's been up to.
Just want to let you know we miss you, Dr. Dirt.
John-Florence, MS
Here's a Yankee missing Dr. Dirt!! Stumbled upon the podcast and now I won't miss it. Love Professor Felder, but miss Dr. Dirt soooooo much! Miss your laugh sir! MPB should be missing you too.
Cynthia -- Wisconsin
It's like a three stoogers movie, staring one one stooge. You'll were great together. Wish you could be in the show again.
To be honest, I really don't want to listen to the show without Dr. Dirt. It's a good show but ... I'll just google to get answers to my gardening questions.
I will miss him as well. Best of luck to you, Dr. Dirt, down in M - I - crooked letter, crooked letter - I - rooked letter, crooked letter - I - a humpback, a humpback, I :-)
I miss Dr. Dirt too but was listening to Felder before Dr. Dirt came on board. I will continue to listen to Felder as he has great information. I have enjoyed his guests the last few weeks.
Dr. Dirt has always been gracious when I visited him at Millie's Garden. He loves to show people around the garden. Maybe, those who are missing him can visit him there.
Just a suggestion.
I've been missing Dr. Dirt too!
This is my first visit to the WEBSITE.
Any chance that he will return .... even as a special guest?
Darlene Oxford, MS
Sorry to say, but I won't really miss Dr. Dirt. I think Felder was using him as his "litle man", anyway. He was no Andy Richter.
FELDER WEIGHS IN...
I KNOW what the rumors are about Dirt being unhappy with MPB - but I was THERE, and anyone who knows me knows I am not a "company man" who avoids conflict. Truth is, Dirt retired. Period. He grumbled a bit on the way out the door, but it was HIS decision to not sign the new annual contract (which I personally found to be very good, including a nice little raise). He and I were treated EXACTLY the same, and he declined to continue coming into town for an hour's work.
NO mystery, no conflict, end of story. Anyone who says different is simply making it up.
Felder
If Dr. Dirt merely left because his contract was up, does anyone know why the Ledger article reports that Dr. Dirt left because he was treated unfairly?
"He (Dr. Dirt) left in June in a dispute over his contract. Leon Goldsberry, his legal name, said he didn't feel he was treated fairly." (Clarion Ledger 12/14/07)
Did the Ledger get it completely wrong? I sincerely respect Felder's statements, but ultimately the only person who tell us what happened is Dr. Dirt.
Has he made a statement other than this statement he apparently made to the Ledger? If so, I'd appreciate someone sending me a link.
no please, say it isnt so! I must have heard only 4 or 5 of your shows so far and I was just getting into this thing! For the short time i 'knew' dr. dirt, i very much enjoyed his sharing of his knowledge! Sincerely, Philadelphia MS Listener
p/s May we please have an eternal link on this page of a recording of the famous laugh that we have come to love?
sorry, but dr.dirt left the program well over a year and a half ago - june 2007.
he said it was a contract dispute, but I WAS THERE, and we had the same exact contracts and were treated exactly the same. truth is, he wanted more money - more than even i was getting (and i have been doing this for over 25 years now, and have tons of horticultural credentials - yet i was VERY happy with our pay for an hour's "work").
i spent several years with the man, traveling and lecturing, and he spent nearly every friday morning drinking tea with me and my wife before the program - yet this was out of the clear blue, no hint, no warning, no discussion. i felt let down.
anyway, we all miss dirt, but apparently he doesn't miss US!
felder
Well, what can I say? This blog is one of the best projects in the blogsphere, and this topics picked above are the perfect example to explain my point. Thanks for share all the information as you done.
first, who the hell is Dr.dirt? I'm so curious about his real name
Dirt (his real name is Leon Goldsberry, but he prefers Dirt) is a cottage gardener whose infectious laugh, home spun stories, and demanding persona was a cohost of the Gestalt Gardener for around three years before quitting because he was not paid like a superstar. during his tenure with my program, he was featured in magazines and a couple of TV specials, largely as a result of my bringing in magazine and tv hosts who are longtime personal friends of mine in search of a good story. he left ungraciously and made unfair comments to the press to salve his ego. i continue to miss him, but "the show must go on."
felder
www.felderrushing.net
Is this David M? Do you know if he's still in MS and doing well?
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