That's Life Archives

Music programs are only online for two weeks after they are broadcast.

That's Life: Plants from San Diego

In August 2021, Lois stayed in San Diego (California) for 2 weeks.  Lots of great things there to enjoy, including walking in Balboa Park!  There were many beautiful flowers -- both in the Botanical  House (see photo) and in people's front yards.  After getting back home, Lois asked Don Shor (a plant expert and former resident of San Diego) what each plant was and if she could grow those San Diego flowers here in Davis.  The answer -- as usual -- was "It depends."  In this case, "It depends upon which species it is and whether or not that one can withstand cold."  

We also talked about why there are so many dead tree stumps on the San Diego hillsides and why there were dead orchards and vineyards along the freeway in the southern San Joaquin Valley.

 

That's Life with David Hosley

David Hosley had led a very full life. Lois could have interviewed him about many many different things and filled up a show -- his long media career (starting at age 12!), being a renowned investigative reporter,  teaching at various colleges and universities, UC administration, managing LOTS of radio and tv stations, producing six documentaries, training journalists in ethics, heading non-profits, talking about the history of migration into California and the challenges of life in the San Joaquin valley, and sharing thoughts on community, economy, social assumptions, and why people work after retirement.  As I say, we COULD have filled up an hour on any of those.  Instead, because we met working together on a project of the Davis Genealogy Club, we started with family history and went from there. 

That's Life in Your Patch with Mary Scheidt

My guest today is Mary Scheidt.  She knows so much and is such a good teacher!  Every visit I learn something new or think about things in a different way.  I hope you have a similar experience.  Today included, exploring, birding, plants, and MAKING A REDWOOD HAPPY!  (That "happier redwood" discussion continued with Don Shor in the next hour -- on the Davis Garden Show for 7/22/21.)

This visit we talked about getting to know "your patch" --  your yard, your neighborhood, your region, your climate and ecosystem.  Lois introduced a "hypothetical new birder" to the joys of bird life by setting up a hummingbird feeder and becoming fascinated with those beautiful little friends.  Then we consider how to learn more as you get involved with the hummers lives.  One easy next step if you want to expand your horizons -- a birdbath!   

That's Life with Rescue Dog Walking

They started out as a small rescue shelter in southern California.  Well, those rescue-dogs neeed exercize and socializing and there were LOTS more dogs than peope.  So these creative people teamed up with AirBnB to "rent" a walk with one of the dogs.  Win-win-win!  People get some canine time, the dogs get out and about, and the shelter gets donations to keep going.  (By the way, AirBnB donates there services to make reservations for the dog-wlks.)

These folks then started a second project -- a spay and neuter clinic.  The clinic has gone dark during the pandemic, but they hope to start back up soon and even expand next year.

The third project -- and the one I heard about originally -- is "Free Animal Doctor" which uses crowd-sourcing to raise money for animals that need surgery or other medical procedures.  The ANIMAL is being funded, not the animal's 'owner'; meaning the money raised is sent directly to the vet or hospital to pay for the procedure and none of it is ever sent to he owner (which makes fraud improbable).  These people change lives --  over 90% of the campaigns are successful.

Today's interview with Ryan explains a lot about what the non-profit does and  how they do it.   To see the animals, check out  FreeAnimalDoctor.org .

That's Life for Don Shor

Lois Richter says: In today's show, I talk with the "mystery man" Don Shor. Why do I call him a mystery man? Although I talk to Don every week about the Davis Garden Show (which we co-host), Don usually keeps himself to himself about non-plant-related things. He is a master of the terse reply: How are things at your farm? "Fine." What's happening with you? "I'm okay."

HOWEVER...  Today I got to interview him about his life, so I finally got answers to some questions! Did you know he never had a full-time job working for someone? Instead he went directly from graduating from UC Davis to opening a business in town -- Redwood Barn Nursery -- and will have been doing that for 40 years come August. Lots of history here. I've known Don since my days as a DCTV producer (1992-2003) and because I have known him so long, I could even ask him to explain things that happened 20 years ago. Lots more history! We ended discussing his plans for the future -- and, no, there will be no public tours at the farm.

Subscribe to That's Life Archives