The Hamptons & Long Island Homegrown Cookbook Stars on Princeton TV

Princeton TV “Managing Your Wealth” interview featuring me, author of

The Hamptons & Long Island Homegrown Cookbook  -- and Bill:

https://vimeo.com/86117079

Gardens & Food are True Luxuries

The ivy-covered walls of nearby Princeton University may have lent an element of gravitas to the television interview I did for The Hamptons & Long Island Homegrown Cookbook with Princeton TV and their Management Your Wealth host, Deborah Frazier.  

The day was more than just the interview.

It was a love-filled bouquet, especially because my most favorite people accompanied me: my mother, Virginia, and a beloved garden design client, dear friend and muse, Maria.

And my number one fan and supporter, my husband Bill.

So despite the Polar Vortex, me and my Homegrown entourage drove “over the river and through the woods” -- to Princeton.

I’d met Deborah previously at a book talk and book signing I did at Judy McClellan’s invitation for her Mercer County United Way group.  That was a swanky, teatime event at the Nassau Inn.

Deborah bought a book at that time and has since made my homegrown heart flutter when she tells me that she keeps The Hamptons & Long Island Homegrown Cookbook on the coffee table in her offices at RBS as a conversation starter with her financial services clients.

Deborah is one smart cookie. 

And to that point I continue to be gob smacked by her definition of wealth.

According to Deborah, “Wealth is an abundance of valuable resources.”

So you see, it’s not just those greenbacks as money-in-the-bank that is considered wealth.  Rather our health and well-being and sustainable lifestyle comprise what is the true measure of wealth.

Amen.

Deborah explores these topics and this pursuit of true wealth on her Princeton TV show, Managing Your Wealth.

Digging In

Deborah called me in late December to explore the interview opportunity.

Here, she explained about her show’s format and how the content is both informative and entertaining for her audience who are most interested in managing their money and wealth.

Later she said she was struggling a bit to fit in the homegrown food and garden topics into the show’s format and focus.

She asked me how I might go about it and just like that, I was going on about how gardens have always been about “conspicuous consumption” and showing off wealth – from the Persians to Rockefellers to today’s hedge fund totems. Especially since the Victorian times when exotic and rare plants were brought back to the West, plants and gardens came to represent great wealth and achievement.

Further, I prattled on, good landscape design today increases the value of one’s home by 15-25% or more.

And not breaking stride, I articulated how taste is today’s True Luxury.

I shared one of my often-repeated quote, “That food created for taste and not transport” can be considered a sign of wealth, given the nod to valuable resources under Deborah’s rubric.

Then there was silence.

“Uh-oh,” read the bubble in head.

I feared I lost her.

“Are you there?” I asked timidly.

“Oh, yes,” I’m taking notes on all this – it’s terrific!” exclaimed Deborah.

Whew!

So it was settled.

Yes, I can do the interview on her show.

As we proceeded to chat about some other topic details, I could just make out that Bill was telling me something to share with Deborah.

“Can you hold on a minute?” I ask.  “My husband is trying to tell me something.”

It was the Christmas holidays so he home from work.

“Tell her about growing our asparagus and garlic and …”

As I note in my Homegrown book’s Acknowledgements, Bill surely became a master gardener and chef during the time it took to produce the book.

He starts our seeds indoors under the lights in the spring, we compost, and our Garden State farm-ette produces abundant, homegrown food that enriches our menus and our friends and family’s with the best garlic, asparagus, tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, shallots, onions, lettuce, and…

As I dutifully relayed Bill’s brilliant suggestion, Deborah said, “That’s great background.” 

And further, “Bill should join us for the TV interview.”

I smile as I say more loudly so he can hear across the room, “What’s that you say? Have Bill join me for the interview about gardens and edible homegrown food?”

As Bill is mouthing “NO WAY!” and gesturing with his hands like a football ref just to make sure I got the No message, I say to Deborah,

“Why that’s a brilliant suggestion and invitation.  Bill says he’d love to!”

And so it was.

From then until the actual interview session, I researched the background data points for the gardens as wealth and the importance of eating sustainable, local, food and its importance to creating true food networks, jobs and a community lifestyle.

(If any of you are interested in those data points, let me know and I can share with you.)

Otherwise, many of them are included as part of the TV interview.

Then, in another sign of good karma, Pantone announced the 2014 Color of the Year.

What does this have to do with gardens or the TV interview, you may be wondering.

See, Deborah’s TV set always features the color purple – as does Deborah – as she cites purple as a sign of wealth.

Kismet!

And the Radiant Orchid color is inspired by what else, nature and flowers. http://gardenglamour-duchessdesigns.blogspot.com/2014/01/plant-world-inspiration-radiant-orchid.html

When I shared this color news with Deborah, she thoughtfully asked, “Why don’t we feature the radiant orchids on our TV set with you?”

I couldn’t think of a single reason why not!  

In her pursuit of true wealth and happiness, even on her TV stage set, Deborah features a floral design arranged by a local artist:

So it all came together.  I even wore a purple blouse and tanzanite jewelry.  

But the real star of the show?

Bill.

When Deborah asked him during the interview what he most liked about gardening, he deliberately and thoughtfully replied, “I never feel closer to God than when I’m in the garden.”

It was a jaw dropping, tearful moment of bliss and pride.

Maria and Mother were in the green room and later with the technicians watching and listening and taking pictures – seen here.  

Afterwards, we all retreated to -- where else?

A local, Princeton restaurant that serves local, homegrown ingredients on their menu.

We celebrated in homegrown style.

Thank you, Deborah, Maria, Mother, and Bill. 

Enjoy the interview.

Let me know what you think.

Cheers.

And Deborah can be reached at:

Deborah J. Frazier 
Financial Advisor 
RBC Wealth Management 
192 Nassau Street 
Princeton, NJ  08542 
Phone: 609-688-2341 
Fax: 609-683-5088 
deborah.frazier@rbc.com

Visit My Website:

http://www.deborahfrazier.com