What does a Hollywood star do when he moves to a southern B.C. island? Start a gardening show, of course.
Zach Galifianakis leads This is a Gardening Show, a documentary series featuring interviews with farmers and kids across Vancouver Island.
It premieres on Netflix later this month to coincide with Earth Day on April 22.
Galifianakis told CBC News the project grew from a 25-year history as a hobby gardener — and a desire to share his passion with others.
“I’ve been coming to the Vancouver Island area for 30 years, so I was happy to do it in this area, which has a tradition of fantastic gardeners. You know, I think that was also important there. There’s a tradition here that I hope the next generation carries.
“I also have young kids, and where food comes from these days seems very not good for them. For kids to be ignited by this is really my main goal.”
The next generation of Vancouver Island gardeners features prominently in the series. In one episode, Galifianakis speaks with students at Brooklyn Elementary School in Comox.
The conversations blend the off-beat, sardonic style that the comedian became known for from series like Between Two Ferns and The Hangover trilogy, with practical discussions of how to grow your own fruits and vegetables. The comedian says he hopes the program will be informative for young people.
“I think we have to be honest with ourselves and say there might be a huge storm coming … climate-wise. And I think kids, the more they know, the more they’ll be able to adapt.”
The series also features grown-up farmers and gardeners from across the southern B.C. islands.
Arzeena Hamir, a food security advocate and the co-owner of Amara Farm in the Comox Valley, is one of the farmers featured in the series. She says the choice of Vancouver Island as the home for the series came as no surprise to her.
“That’s why we moved here 12 years ago … specifically to farm. It has been our life dream and we have loved every minute of it.”
Hamir also sees the series’ focus on gardening as increasingly relevant for Islanders and viewers around the globe.
“The timing right now, the state of the world, the price of food … all of these things are coming together at a time when I think people are going to be really receptive to a quirky show about growing food and an audience that maybe would never have watched a gardening show. I really hope it captures a brand new audience and brings them into food growing.”
Between now and when the series comes out, Galifianakis says he’s focusing his attention on fostering his own island garden — with a particular preoccupation for the growth of his prized sugar pumpkins.
“I made a pumpkin pie with pumpkins that I grew last year, and it was so good. My goal is to make 30 pumpkin pies to give out for Christmas. It’ll never happen, but that’s my goal. I make it with a graham cracker crust — I think pumpkin plays better with the graham cracker crust. Not to get political.”
