“We’re so good at pretending the things around us are known and boring, or imagining that the worthwhile things are far away,” says Sam Jaffe, at the start of the documentary film “The Extraordinary Caterpillar.” Sam begs to differ, however, and in the film, as in his work as founder of The Caterpillar Lab, a non-profit educational and research organization, he shows us just how extraordinary – and essential to all of us – they are – and how a diversity of them are right there to discover in our own backyards.

It’s a good time of year to focus on caterpillars, as we gardeners make decisions each fall that can support—or threaten—their survival over winter, and so that’s what we’re going to do today: talk caterpillars, with Sam Jaffe.

Plus: With Sam, and Homegrown National Park’s Doug Tallamy, and other caterpillar experts featured in the film, I’m moderating a webinar conversation on Weds. Oct. 14 at noon Eastern – and if you sign up you’ll receive a limited-time link to watch the film in the days leading up to the event. All the details and the film trailer video will be in the transcript of this podcast over on awaytogarden.com, as well as information on how you can host a private group screening.

Drawing on his education in ecology and evolutionary biology plus a natural gift for teaching others, Sam Jaffe is the founder of the New Hampshire-based Caterpillar Lab nonprofit. He also has an incredible talent for macro photography and videography—which comes in handy when your life’s work is centered on caterpillars. Sam is one of the experts featured in the documentary film The Extraordinary Caterpillar, which was conceived and directed by Jeff McKay of Edgeland Films Inc. and co-produced by Merit Motion Pictures.

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