On Air Staff
Bob Tanem in the Garden
Sunday: 7:00 AM - 10:00 AM
BIO FOR BOB TANEM, America’s Happy Gardener™
Call in number: (415)(510)(408)(707)-808-5600
Bob Tanem, America’s Happiest Gardener, has presented his radio program on KSFO Radio since 1994. Bob, a retired retail nurseryman, will celebrate his 78th birthday in 2008.
He is a member of the Garden Writers of America and was the chair for that group’s symposium in 1993 in San Francisco. His radio show `Bob Tanem in the Garden’ has been on KSFO Radio for over 14 years and Bob has appeared on many other radio and television programs as a guest. His radio show has won the Garden Writers Association Award of Excellence Nationwide for `on air talent’. He has been honored with this award three times in the past six years. His radio show on KSFO is one of the most listened to Sunday programs in the Bay Area. The program airs every Sunday morning from 7am to 10am.
Since 2001, Bob has co-authored the release of four books with Don Williamson of Lone Pine Publishing in Edmonton, Alberta. Their titles are `Annuals for Northern California’, `Perennials for Northern California’, and `Tree and Shrub Gardening for Northern California, the fourth book is a garden diary for Northern California Gardeners. The first two books are now in their second printing. Sunset Magazine favorably reviewed all three books. The fourth book was released in 2004.
Bob’s earlier, self-published work, `Deer Resistant Planting’, is considered one of the best field guides for gardeners and landscapers who plant in areas where deer are a problem. Bob and his wife Bev are researching another book on the Historical Gardens of the California Missions. His quarterly newsletter, `Garden Previews’ has subscribers of up to 900. Bev edits and proofs while daughter Edie handles formatting and printing.
Bob owned and operated Tanem’s Garden Centers in Belvedere and San Rafael, California, retiring from commercial gardening and selling the Belvedere retail operation in 1998.
Since retirement, Bob has volunteered to supervise an organic vegetable garden at New Beginnings in Novato. This is a program to feed and house the homeless while training them for employment. Homeward Bound is the parent organization. The production of the garden has exceeded the needs of the organization with the excess being turned over to the Marin County Food Bank. The homeless feeding the homeless is a very exciting idea. It won the Mantis award for public gardens in 2001. Over 400 pounds of food each year has been donated to local food banks.
Both Bob and Bev remain active in Scouting, Bev in the Girl Scouts and Bob in the Boy Scouts. Bob is on the local Boy Scouts Advisory Board and Bev is now a consultant with the Girl Scouts local archery program. Bob was at one time the District Commissioner for the Miwok District and received one of Scouting’s highest honors for service, the Silver Beaver in 1986.
Bob has served on the Marin County Commission governing the county fair, parks, and open space. He is currently a member of the Marin County Integrated Pest Management Commission. Bob was honored by the Marin County Board of Supervisors with a board resolution for his outstanding work with his garden without using pesticides.
Bob and his wife of over 52 years have been blessed with three children Bill, Kathy, and Edie as well as fou grandchildren, Nick, Will, Robert Patrick and Miquel. Bob and Bev Tanem reside in Novato, California.
You can contact Bob via his voicemail, at (415) 954-8611.
"Happy Gardener" Official Website
Send E-mail to Bob Tanem in the Garden
