VISTA — When Tom Piergrossi, the host of the popular landscaping show, “Down to Earth,” ended filming in December of last year, he thought it would be easy enough to sell his house and retire with his family to Hawaii. The Vista resident stopped his landscaping business, shut down his plant nursery and told all his friends he was moving

But he hadn’t counted on being unable to sell his home in San Diego’s dead real estate market. After two open houses that not a single person attended, Piergrossi realized he’d have to brain storm something to do during the next year or two before the market picks up again.

That’s when the Piergrossi decided to become regulars at the Vista Farmers Market, which recently moved to the Vista Courthouse parking lot off Melrose Drive, selling exotic and drought-friendly landscaping plants.

“We’re liking the grow local and sell local thing,” he said at the market Aug. 16. “I believe in it.”

Working the Farmers Market means Piergrossi interacts with a lot of fans throughout the day. At first celebrity came somewhat awkwardly to him, but he has become used to it.

“What’s most interesting about the whole thing is to find out the fan base,” Piergrossi said. “As a landscaper, my fan base is generally older women ... who now own a house and want the garden to be nice. But the TV show, it’s all guys, 35 and younger. We have 7-year-old fans. That’s scary!”

Piergrossi is also pursuing leads to produce another local television show.

“Hopefully something will come of it,” he said. “If not, I’m stuck here in San Diego with a beautiful garden and a great house. Life is rough.”

Reruns of “Down to Earth” can still be see on the County Television Network.

Visit tompiergrossi.com for details.