Science Translators on the Front Lines: Urban Extension in Metro Atlanta with Gabrielle LaTora and Eric Marlowe
S01:E11

Science Translators on the Front Lines: Urban Extension in Metro Atlanta with Gabrielle LaTora and Eric Marlowe

Metro Atlanta, Georgia
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Episode description

Science Translators on the Front Lines: Urban Extension in Metro Atlanta with Gabrielle LaTora and Eric Marlowe

Episode Description

What happens when two self-described suburban kids with a hunger for nature end up as county extension agents in Georgia’s most populous counties? In this episode, Dr. Ping Yu sits down with Gabrielle LaTora (UGA Extension, Fulton County) and Eric Marlowe (UGA Extension, Gwinnett County) for a wide-ranging conversation about the land-grant university system, the role of extension agents as “science translators,” and the surprising diversity of agriculture happening in metro Atlanta.

From the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890 to the modern challenges of soil contamination and stormwater management in urban food production, Gabrielle and Eric share their winding paths to extension, what a typical work week looks like, and why — in an age of AI and information overload — having a real person to talk to matters more than ever. Along the way, you’ll hear about mealworm protein powder in shipping containers, equine production rankings that shocked even the local agent, and why every extension agent eventually has to learn about lawns.

Listen Time: 60:44

In This Episode

Guests

  • Gabrielle LaTora — Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent, UGA Extension Fulton County. Entomologist by training, passionate about small-scale urban farming and supporting metro Atlanta’s diverse agricultural community.
  • Eric Marlowe — Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent, UGA Extension Gwinnett County. Landscape architecture graduate (UGA, 2012) turned extension agent, with interests in green industry workforce development and reconnecting urban communities with nature.

Main Topics

  • Gabrielle and Eric’s meandering paths to extension (01:03)
  • Growing up without gardens — how suburban kids found agriculture (04:05)
  • Discovering extension: Eric’s wife pointed him to it; Gabrielle found it in grad school (10:48)
  • The land-grant university story: Morrill Acts of 1862, 1890, and 1994 (16:04)
  • Georgia’s dual land-grant system: UGA and Fort Valley State (19:00)
  • The three pillars: teaching, research, and extension (20:41)
  • Extension in the age of AI: the value of evidence-based, unbiased information (21:54)
  • What extension actually does: soil testing, Master Gardeners, 4-H, and more (25:14)
  • A typical work week for a metro county agent (32:22)
  • Identifying stakeholder needs in urban counties (36:54)
  • Fulton County’s surprise: equine production ranked #1 in Georgia (44:07)
  • Unique urban challenges: soil contamination and stormwater management (45:21)
  • Green industry and workforce development in Gwinnett County (48:02)
  • Skills every agent needs — and why lawns keep coming up (51:13)
  • One sentence for the audience (56:23)

Key Highlights

  • Dream jobs from unexpected paths. Both Gabrielle and Eric describe extension as their “dream job,” despite neither knowing what extension was until well into adulthood. Gabrielle found it through grad school at University of Florida; Eric’s wife discovered it during an internet search during his career pivot.
  • The land-grant system explained. The episode delivers an accessible primer on the Morrill Acts, the Smith-Lever Act, and how the three-pillar model (teaching, research, extension) deploys agents into every Georgia county as “science translators” — or, as Dr. Kemwright calls them, “the tip of the spear.”
  • Urban agriculture is more diverse than you think. Fulton County alone has small-scale urban farms, equine facilities, community gardens, cut flowers, indoor farming, hay and forage, nursery operations, and even a mealworm producer growing mealworms in a shipping container to process into protein powder.
  • Extension vs. AI. Both agents make a compelling case for extension’s relevance in the information age: when you can’t tell whether a YouTube video or AI summary is backed by science, extension provides evidence-based, unbiased recommendations from a real person you can talk to.
  • Data-driven programming. Gabrielle shares how reviewing the USDA Census of Agriculture revealed Fulton County ranked #1 in Georgia and 42nd nationally in equine production — a sector she wasn’t addressing — leading her to add a new initiative on sustainable forage production.

Key Quotes

“We’ve got to have all these smart, creative people doing research and generating knowledge, but then it really doesn’t mean anything if there isn’t somebody to communicate that to the public.” — Gabrielle LaTora (01:48)

“I’m like the Mouth of Sauron. I just, you know, with the university.” — Eric Marlowe (10:55)

“Those people are the science translators for the university.” — Gabrielle LaTora (13:43)

“How do we reconnect these human beings to this most human of all practices, which is cultivate the land in some way, shape or form.” — Eric Marlowe (49:37)

“All the stuff that AI that we’re apparently in competition with as ag agents, most of the stuff they’re pulling on is stuff that Extension already published. Cut away the nonsense and get to the source.” — Eric Marlowe (58:39)

Educational Highlights

  • Land-Grant Universities: Established by the Morrill Acts of 1862 (general), 1890 (historically Black colleges and universities), and 1994 (tribal institutions). Georgia has two land-grant universities: the University of Georgia (1862) and Fort Valley State University (1890), each with its own extension system.
  • The Three Pillars: All land-grant institutions operate on a three-pillar model — teaching, research, and extension. Extension is the system that distributes university-generated knowledge into communities throughout the state.
  • Smith-Lever Act (1914): Formally established the cooperative extension system housed at land-grant universities, deploying agents into counties across the nation.
  • Cooperative Extension: Called “cooperative” because the land-grant university cooperates with county government (and sometimes school boards). Counties provide resources like office space, IT, and equipment; agents are accountable to both the university and county commissioners.
  • The Three Program Areas: Agriculture and Natural Resources (A&NR) handles everything outside the home; Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) handles everything inside the home; 4-H serves youth. There is significant crossover among the three.
  • Master Gardener Extension Volunteer Program: A major pipeline through which the public discovers extension. Master Gardener volunteers extend the reach of county agents into communities in ways a single agent never could.
  • Soil Contamination in Urban Agriculture: A significant challenge for urban food producers. Unknown land-use histories (industrial sites, arsenic-treated wood structures, highway proximity) create food safety concerns. Testing methodology for contamination differs from standard fertility testing, and mitigation (e.g., raised beds with imported potting mix) can be prohibitively expensive.

Resources & Links

  • Blooms and Beyond: bandbpod.com
  • UGA Extension — Find Your Local Office: Contact your county extension office for free, evidence-based information on agriculture, horticulture, and natural resources.
  • UGA Center for Urban Agriculture (Griffin, GA): Home of the Georgia Certified Landscape Professional and Georgia Certified Plant Professional programs.
  • Food Well Alliance: Organization serving metro Atlanta counties, supporting local food systems and urban agriculture.
  • The Reluctant Farmer — Book mentioned by Eric Marlowe on the history of extension and its relationship with the farmers it serves.
  • Jean-Martin Fortier, The Market Gardener — Book mentioned by Eric on small-scale organic farming, influential in his journey.
  • USDA Census of Agriculture: National agricultural data published periodically; the most recent edition (referenced in episode) was released after a gap since 2017.

About Blooms and Beyond

Blooms and Beyond explores plant history, culture, and management through the lens of science. Whether you’re a commercial grower seeking practical solutions, a student exploring careers in horticulture, or simply someone who loves plants and their stories, there’s something here for you. Hosted by Dr. Ping Yu of the University of Georgia, each episode features interviews with experts who share enchanting stories, cutting-edge research, and practical wisdom from the world of horticulture.

Your benefit: After each episode, commercial growers will have at least one useful tip for their operation, and plant enthusiasts will have an interesting fact to share. That’s how we spread plant power to more people and make our environment a little better.

Credits

Host: Dr. Ping Yu Producer: Rich Braman Guests: Gabrielle LaTora, Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent, UGA Extension Fulton County; Eric Marlowe, Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent, UGA Extension Gwinnett County

Episode Release Date: March 29th, 2026 Episode Length: 60:44

“Till next time, stay healthy and go plants!” 🌱

0:00Welcome and Introduction
1:03Two Meandering Paths to Extension
4:05Growing Up Without Gardens
7:06Seeds Planted Early
9:20Urban Agriculture Is Still Agriculture
10:48Eric's Wife Said Try Extension
12:31Gabrielle's Grad School Revelation
14:06Ping's Extension Discovery
16:04The Reluctant Farmer and Extension's Origin
18:47Morrill Acts and Dual Land-Grant Systems
21:54Extension in the Age of AI
25:14What Extension Actually Does
32:22A Typical Week for a Metro Agent
36:54Identifying Stakeholder Needs
40:07Reactive and Social Needs Assessment
45:14Soil Contamination and Stormwater Challenges
48:02Green Industry and Reconnecting with Nature
51:13Skills Every Agent Needs: Lawns and Beyond
56:23One Sentence for the Audience
59:52Credits and Closing