From Georgia Roots to Carolina Soil: Steve Pettis Dishes the Dirt

In this episode of the Kudzu Project, I sit down with fellow Marine and podcaster Steve Pettis, Commercial and Consumer Horticulture Agent with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Henderson County. Steve helps farmers, gardeners, and landscapers make sense of the soil, plants, insects, and growing seasons that make this area unique. We talk about his upbringing in small-town Georgia, the red clay that shaped him, and how his time in the Marine Corps still influences the way he works, educates, and makes his bed each morning.

We dish the dirt on what makes the soil in this corner of North Carolina so unique, and why the region has such a strong agricultural identity. Whether you've planted a garden, wondered why apples thrive here, or just care about how the land shapes the people who live on it, this episode is all about roots, resilience, and the connection between where we live and what we grow.

Welcome to Rhythm & Brews — held on the 3rd Thursday of each month from June-October, Rhythm & Brews transforms South Main Street in downtown Hendersonville into a community gathering place filled with music, food trucks, local beer, wine, and cider, and thousands of people enjoying a summer evening together. Learn more at https://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/events/rhythm-brews-concert-series.

The Kudzu Project is powered by the Lucey Agency, a full-service marketing firm based in Hendersonville, NC.

The Henderson County Chamber of Commerce is a proud presenting partner of the Apple Festival Races which will be held on Saturday, September 5, 2026. The event is presented by Hunter Subaru, with support from Lassonde Pappas, Cummins, and Mountain Credit Union. This event has something for runners of every level with an 8K, 5K, and Chick-fil-A Mini Moo Mile. To register, visit https://raceroster.com/events/2026/111853/apple-festival-races.