TV Show 'A Growing Passion' Raises $13K for Season 2

The community has rallied their support for local television program, “A Growing Passion,” and donated $13,256 to the show’s Kickstarter campaign, reaching well over the original $10,000 goal. The show’s host and producer, Nan Sterman and Marianne Geredes are both Encinitas residents and feature the area in the first season. The kickstarter campaign lasted for 40 days and through the show’s community of fans and supporters, “A Growing Passion,” which aired its first episode on May 2, the program is on its way towards a second season on KPBS.

“The most rewarding part of this campaign was seeing all of the support and encouragement from the community for what we are trying to do with our show.  People love to know about what grows here, what they can grow, and how live more sustainably by buying local which of course helps support our local economy,” explains “A Growing Passion” host, Nan Sterman. “Seeing our goal breeze right by was incredible and it truly shows us that our message is important to San Diegans.”

Kickstarter is an online crowd-funding social site, created to help independent projects raise donations to reach business goals. Sterman and Gerdes took a hands-on approach to market their campaign.  They visited Earth Fair, Garden Tours, and Farmer's Markets around San Diego for the duration of their campaign.  In each location, they set up booths where they invited the public to plant vegetable and herb seedlings to take home.  It was a way to meet potential viewers, to showcase what the show is about and to share their own expertise with people.

Thousands of people filed through their booth, planting their own small seedlings of basil, kale or lettuce and shaking hands with the show’s creators. From their campaign success and community response, Sterman and Gerdes are confident that “A Growing Passion” will continue to develop its roots in the San Diego area.

About “A Growing Passion”

“A Growing Passion” is about all the ways that San Diego and San Diegans grow. The program, hosted by California-native Nan Sterman, celebrates the natural and manmade landscapes that characterize San Diego community's social, cultural, environmental, and economic sectors. Sterman has dedicated her career to growing and to promoting a sustainable, waterwise approach to gardening. 

“A Growing Passion” can be seen on KPBS Thursday nights at 8:30 p.m. and Saturday afternoons at 4 p.m. and on KPBS at www.video.kpbs.org/program/growing-passion/ 

For more information on the series, please visit www.AGrowingPassion.com. For daily updates and news, become a fan www.Facebook.com/AGrowingPassionn  or on Twitter @GrowingPassion and Instagram @AGrowingPassion.  

More information about Nan Sterman can be found on her website www.PlantSoup.com.