DANVILLE, Ill. — John Bodensteiner sits down at the microphone in the studio of 1490 WDAN. He checks his notes and talks with his co-host, fellow Master Gardener Kristy Herr-Bartos, and their producer, Landon. They share laughs and talk as they wonder if a baseball game will cause them to get a late start. He puts on his headphones and shares some laughs as they realize that a technical glitch will prevent them from playing the intro music they’ve used for most of the show’s run. Despite these hiccups, John’s enthusiasm remains unaffected. He’s seen much worse over his thirty years as a Master Gardener. Today, they talk about the emerging cicadas and ways you could cook them (if you wanted to), the rose program the Master Gardeners put on the night before, and some updates on the Master Gardeners’ community gardens. They even fix their theme music glitch and get to play it after coming back from a commercial break.
For three decades, John has cultivated not only gardens but also a community of gardening enthusiasts. As a founding member of the Vermilion County Master Gardeners (MGs), his journey is a testament to his passion for plants and people.
A passion rooted in family and farm life
John's love for gardening was nurtured from a young age. Growing up on a farm in North Dakota, just four miles from the Canadian border, he was surrounded by family who shared his enthusiasm for cultivating the land. "I always liked gardening," John reminisces. "There’s nine kids in the family, and we grew up on a farm. My grandfather had a garden a mile away, and I loved helping him." His father was an avid gardener, and his mother canned everything his father grew, fostering an environment where gardening was integral to daily life.
One of John's earliest and fondest memories involves picking dandelion flowers for his grandfather to make dandelion wine. To this day, dandelions remain one of his favorite plants because every part is edible or usable.
Founding the Vermilion County Master Gardeners
In 1994, inspired by a Master Gardener class attended by a friend, John was instrumental in establishing the Vermilion County MGs. "I talked with Judy Siddens at the Extension office, and she said if I could get eight people, we could have a class. We did, and four of us finished," John recounts.
“John is the elder,” says Master Gardener Coordinator Jenney Hanrahan. “John is a teacher. He is there and has been there since the inception. He started recruiting friends and people that he knew would do this. He’s always there for whatever you need. He is incredibly generous with what he is willing to do.”
A voice on the radio
John has been a consistent voice on the radio show for the Master Gardeners since shortly after he was part of the first Master Gardeners class. The radio show is approaching its 30th anniversary if it hasn’t hit it already (neither John nor the radio station can recall when the first show went on air). He and the other four original Master Gardeners shared the slot. "Slowly but surely, they dropped off, and I’m the only one from that original class still active," he says. The show has evolved, featuring topics from gardening books, special guests, and community questions, keeping listeners engaged and informed.
“One of the first things that you think of with John is his huge body of knowledge,” says Hanrahan. “You see this with other people say, ‘Have you asked, John?’ You can put almost anything in front of him, and he can identify it. He has made it his life’s work.”
"I enjoy the interaction with people. Gardeners are fun people who love to share recipes, plants, and ideas," says John. His enthusiasm is evident in his numerous talks and seminars, including speaking at Garden Day and hosting his home on the Garden Walk. Each presentation requires extensive research, further deepening his knowledge and passion. Gaining more and more knowledge about gardening has been one of John’s favorite parts of his experience as a Master Gardener, and he estimates that his personal library now includes over 600 books on gardening.
An invitation to all
“How do you thank someone who is ‘the’ program?” asks Hanrahan. “Without him, there wouldn’t be a program. His generosity and his kindness. His quick smiles. The enormous amounts of patience and the ‘Sure, what do you need?’ How do you thank somebody for giving to that depth?”
John encourages anyone interested in gardening to join the Master Gardener program. "You're not just learning from a book; you’re learning to talk to people, and that’s how you learn more," he advises. His journey exemplifies lifelong learning and the joy of sharing one's passion with others.
In celebrating 30 years as a Master Gardener, John Bodensteiner's story is one of dedication, community spirit, and an enduring love for the earth. His contributions have enriched gardens and sown the seeds of knowledge and inspiration in countless individuals.
Back on the show, as the final segment comes to an end, John announces an upcoming plant sale he’ll be hosting at his home this weekend, a celebration of his abundant spring garden. He then smoothly transitions into his signature closing. Despite the day's unusual start, he maintains his tradition of ending every show with a beloved quote from The Secret Garden: “If you look at it the right way, the whole world is a garden.”
Interested in learning more?
Learn more about the Vermilion County Master Gardeners at go.illinois.edu/VCMG or contact Jenney Hanrahan at jhanraha@illinois.edu. You can also visit our office at 3164 N. Vermilion, Danville. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact our office at 217-442-8615.
Illinois Extension leads public outreach for University of Illinois by translating research into action plans that allow Illinois families, businesses, and community leaders to solve problems, make informed decisions, and adapt to changes and opportunities. Illinois Extension is part of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.