Roots and All - Gardening Podcast

This week I'm speaking to Nicola Mehdi who's been making and using natural dyes using the contents of her own and other people's gardens and over the years through trial and error, she's gained a huge amount of knowledge that she's happy to share. If you're stuck indoors with little to do, making dyes is a fantastic pastime that you should be able to do using just the contents of your garden or store cupboard. This episode is for anyone looking to learn a new skill or keep children entertained and it will hopefully give you enough pointers to go off and explore natural dyes for yourself. It's a slightly longer episode than usual, so sit back and like a scoured piece of fabric, soak up the dye of Nicola's knowledge. This episode I'm delighted to support independent nursery Ashwood Nurseries, who are still open for mail order and have a stunning range of Lewisias and Primula auriculas looking their best right now. Plus, they have an impressive range of shrubs, trees, conifers, fruit, roses, climbing plants, herbaceous perennials, alpines, heathers, patio and indoor plants. Visit www.ashwoodnurseries.com to browse their range and for cultural information on the plants they grow. What We Discuss: How long it takes to make a dye Some common things you might find in your garden that you could use General dyeing processes Different techniques involved in applying the dye to the fabric Which fabrics you can dye Relatively quick and easy projects you can try with children Where you can find out more about making and using natural dyes Links: Jean Dean - Wild Colour : How to Make and Use Natural Dyes, Octopus Publishing Group, 2018 The Wild Dyery Suzanne Dekel on Instagram www.traditionaldyeworks.com Seasalt Stories www.georgeweil.com Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at GoFundMe or support me on Patreon

This week's guest is writer Julian Hoffman and we're talking about his book Irreplaceable. I read the book a few months back and as you might expect from reading the blurb, it's about those irreplaceable wild environments and the species we're in danger of losing. But it's also about the people who are so deeply connected to the landscapes and the animals they're battling to save. Julian speaks about why it's imperative that we stop the destruction of precious landscapes, how we can help at the individual level and why it's vital to maintain the connection between people and place. About Julian Hoffman: Julian is a writer living in the northwest of Greece, next to the Prespa Lakes. This area is home to a particularly diverse range of people, wildflowers, animals and habitats, making it a rich environment in which to learn about the connections between people the natural world. Julian's previous book, 'The Small Heart of Things: Being at Home in a Beckoning World'; won the 2012 AWP Series for Creative Nonfiction. His fiction and nonfiction work has been widely published; you can find some links below and more on his website. What We Discuss: What are we really losing when we lose wild places? If future generations don't experience as much biodiversity or wild spaces as we do, does that matter? Will they know what they're missing if they never have it? Does it matter if we lose established habitats, such as ancient woodland? What's the problem with biodiversity off-setting? How can we reconcile a desire to protect wild spaces with our need to expand, be better/faster/richer? Who's to say the changes we make to the landscape today won't contribute to positive developments in the future? Restoration of landscapes versus preservation How can people learn to love landscapes that may not be so easily read or their beauty not quite as apparent? What can we do to help protect threatened landscapes, as individuals? Links: www.julian-hoffman.com Julian's Blog - Notes from Near and Far Julian on Twitter Irreplaceable : The fight to save our wild places by Julian Hoffman - Penguin Books, 2019 The Small Heart of Things: Being at Home in a Beckoning World by Julian Hoffman - Georgia Press, 2014 Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram @rootsandallpod Patreon Link - Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Or donate as much or as little as you like at GoFundMe

This week I'm talking to Aaron Bertelsen about his new book 'Grow Fruit & Vegetables in Pots'. Aaron is the resident kitchen gardener at Great Dixter but as with many who work there, he lives and breathes the Great Dixter way of life and works tirelessly to support the house and garden. You may find him harvesting produce in the kitchen garden, serving lunch to guests and students, hosting horticultural royalty in the house or travelling the world to promote Great Dixter. 'Grow Fruit & Vegetables in Pots' is both a practical guide to growing food in containers and a recipe book, providing inspiration for what to do with the abundance of produce you'll have once you've mastered the art. Aaron gives tips on the best fruit for containers, how to avoid flea beetle, what to feed your crops, cooking with lettuce, plus loads of other invaluable advice for those growing their own produce in containers. About Aaron Bertelsen: "Aaron studied Social Anthropology at the University of Otago before coming to England in 1996 to volunteer in the garden at Great Dixter. He subsequently studied for a Diploma in Horticulture at Kew Gardens, and spent two years at Jerusalem Botanical Gardens in Israel, where he is still a trustee. Aaron returned to Great Dixter in 2005 and became the vegetable gardener and cook in 2007. Aaron is regularly invited to speak about gardening at events worldwide. His first book The Great Dixter Cookbook is published by Phaidon and has received international acclaim since its publication in March 2017." - www.greatdixter.co.uk What We Discuss: What crops you can grow in containers What crops you can't The best salad leaf crops Feeding crops in containers The best fruit for containers Growing for aesthetics as well as production Aaron's top 3 crops (which turned into 4!) Links: Aaron's Blog https://dixtervegetablegarden.wordpress.com Grow Fruit & Vegetables in Pots by Aaron Bertelsen - Phaidon, 2020 The Great Dixter Cookbook by Aaron Bertelsen - Phaidon, 2017 Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram @rootsandallpod Patreon Link - Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Or donate as much or as little as you like at GoFundMe

Join Jeff Lowenfels, a celebrated author and organic gardening expert, as he delves into the fascinating world of mycorrhizal fungi. Discover how these fungi enhance plant nutrition and growth, forming a symbiotic relationship that’s crucial for healthy gardens. Jeff shares insights on their vital role in organic practices, advocating for a shift away from chemical fertilizers. Explore the impact of mycorrhizal associations in various ecosystems and learn how to enrich your gardening experience through effective planting strategies.

Hello and welcome to this episode of the podcast. In this episode, I'm talking to ecologist and woodland owner Simon Leadbeater. We talk specifically about whether trees are sacred; spoiler alert, Simon thinks they are and he explains eloquently and convincingly why. He touches on books by authors you may well have already read; The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben and Thus Spoke the Plant by Monica Gagliano. However, if you believe trees are sacred and sentient, a problem arises, namely do you have any right to move them, to prune them or even to move amongst them. And it's questions like these that we touch on in the episode. About Simon Leadbeater: Simon has a background in local government and the third sector. He and his wife bought Rector's Wood in 1999 and have lived there ever since. Simon has published work around the themes or ecology, rewinding and forestry. In his own words, Simon sums up his feelings on woodlands and the right to roam therein; "I think my essential philosophy is that we lack empathy for nature and particularly her animals, and we no longer venerate nature, in particular we no longer consider trees (and other plants) as sacred. If you have empathy, and wish to act as animals' proxy, then obviously you will give them space; if you consider trees sacred, then you will wish to look after them with reverent care. The latter would include behaving in a woodland as if you were in a temple or church – our behaviour would be appropriate for such sacred settings." What We Discuss: Simon's beliefs surrounding the sacredness of trees. What are the historical roots of considering trees to be sacred? How/why have we moved away from this idea? What makes Simon believe trees are sentient? How does this sentience manifest itself in the everyday lives of trees? What is open access to nature? Why might it be problematic? How do humans rediscover their connection with forests and woodlands? Why is important to consider the feelings of the trees themselves? Links: Simon Leadbeater on Twitter Simon's Work: Leadbeater, S.R.B. (2019), 'Ancient Roots to Untruths; Unlearning the past and seeing the world anew,' Quarterly Journal of Forestry,' January 2019 Vol 113 No.1 Nearby Wild Blog Leadbeater S (2019) 'In defence of tears,' The Ecological Citizen 3(Suppl A): 101–3 Leadbeater, S.R.B., (2018) 'Meat: the Alpha and Omega of Extinction,' ECOS, 39(3) Books Simon mentions in the interview: Wohlleben, P., (2016) The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate, Discoveries from a Secret World (2016), Greystone Books Gagliano, M., (2018) Thus Spoke the Plant: A Remarkable Journey of Groundbreaking Scientific Discoveries and Personal Encounters with Plants, North Atlantic Books: Berkeley, California Mathew Hall (2011), Plants as Persons: a Philosophical Botany, State University of New York Press The Imagination of Plants: A Book of Botanical Mythology (out this year, not yet read – but probably excellent) Safina, C., (2015), Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel, Henry Holt and Co. Taylor, B., (2010), Dark Green Religion: Nature Spirituality and the Planetary Future, University of California Press Powers, R., (2018) The Overstory, William Heinemann: London Hill, J., Butterfly, (2000) The Legacy of Luna: the story of a tree, a woman, and the struggle to save the redwoods, HarperCollins Publishers Inc Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram @rootsandallpod Patreon Link Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Or onate as much or as little as you like at GoFundMe

This episode I'm speaking to Victoria Leedham, Co-Curator and Gallery Manager of the Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden. I visited the garden earlier this month and even in winter garb, it was beautiful, set as it is in ancient woodland with streams running through it that pour down from Leith Hill in Surrey. The sculptures in the garden are diverse in character and look stunning within the location, each one fitting harmoniously into the backdrop of planting and landscape. Victoria is responsible for sourcing and placing sculpture in the garden, alongside owner garden designer Anthony Paul. We spoke about Victoria's work, about the sculpture garden and also how you can select and place sculptures in your own garden. This episode I'm speaking to Victoria Leedham, Co-Curator and Gallery Manager of the Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden. I visited the garden earlier this month and even in winter garb, it was beautiful, set as it is in ancient woodland with streams running through it that pour down from Leith Hill in Surrey. The sculptures in the garden are diverse in character and look stunning within the location, each one fitting harmoniously into the backdrop of planting and landscape. Victoria is responsible for sourcing and placing sculpture in the garden, alongside owner garden designer Anthony Paul. We spoke about Victoria's work, about the sculpture garden and also how you can select and place sculptures in your own garden. About the Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden: "The Sculpture Garden was the brainchild of owner and original curator Hannah Peschar 36 years ago, and has grown from a handful of sculptures to over 200 pieces exhibited every summer. Artists come from across Britain and Europe to exhibit their work in these breathtaking surroundings, allowing their sculptures to be seen in a whole new way. The Garden used to be part of a large estate, laid out between 1915 and 1920. Later it was split up and sold in several lots; leaving the 15th Century, grade 2 listed cottage with ten acres of land including a large water and rock garden. The garden fell rapidly into decline after the estate was sold. Over the past 40 years the garden has been redesigned and replanted by award-winning landscape designer Anthony Paul, who has introduced many large-leaved plants in bold groups, tall grasses and created 3 new ponds. The range of works selected by the curators is wide with styles varying from figurative to highly abstract, innovatively using contemporary metals, wire, glass, ceramics and plastics as well as the more traditional stone, wood and bronze. Each sculpture is placed in a carefully considered and meaningful relationship with the other featured works within the garden. The result is an inspired combination of peaceful, enclosed harmony and dramatic, surprise vistas in an ever-changing environment. Throughout the 37 year lifetime of the Garden, the overriding theme is the powerful relationship between art and nature. Neither one outshines the other: every piece is placed in harmony with its surrounding to create an amazing synergy within the environment." - http://www.hannahpescharsculpture.com/about What We Discuss: The ethos behind the Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden Considerations around placing sculpture in the garden, including planting and lighting A discussion of the different materials used and their pros and cons Choosing sculpture for and placing it in your own garden Links: Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden www.hannahpescharsculpture.com The Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden Black & White Cottage, Standon Lane, Ockley, Dorking, Surrey, RH5 5QR Telephone: (+44) (0) 1306 627 269 Email: hannahpescharsculpture@gmail.com Re-opens for the year from 3rd April 2020 Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram @rootsandallpod Patreon Link: Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall GoFundMe gf.me/u/w7sy4c

Hello and welcome to this episode of the podcast. This episode is the hotly anticipated Part 3 of the Design Experts series and this week's guest is South African garden designer Leon Kluge who runs a design practice in Cape Town. I spoke to Leon about his work and the particular set of challenges he faces in South Africa. And let's just say, you might just think twice the next time you moan about aphids…Leon goes out of his way to source and propagate plants from his local region and he discusses some of the amazing landscapes that surround the area. He also talks about when and where to go if you're a plant lover and you're planning a visit to South Africa. This series has very kindly been sponsored by the London College of Garden Design. About Leon Kluge: "Leon kluge was brought up in the Lowveld botanical gardens,From an early age, Leon has nurtured a great affinity for plants; his grandfather was the curator of the Betty's Bay Botanical Garden and the Lowveld National Botanical Garden, while his mother owns and runs a renowned wholesale nursery in Nelspruit. Leon has been invited to create his unique landscapes throughout the world: being the only landscape designer from Africa that has ever won the Gardening World Cup held in Nagasaki Japan. He has also been awarded best designer at the biggest Garden design event on earth held in the USA, The Philadelphia flower show. Leon is also a multiple Gold award winner at the prestigious Chelsea flower show held in London-UK. He has also been the first designer from Africa to win Gold at the biggest design show in Asia, The Singapore Garden Festival and also the New Zealand International flower show. Some of Leon's Clients include gardens for Disney ,The United Nations, Hollywood celebrities, and for governments all over the world. Leon also represents Cape Town and Kirstenbosch at the Chelsea flower show yearly. Leon Kluge has become synonymous with modern contemporary landscaping and garden design." - www.leonkluge.com/about/ What We Discuss: The ethos behind Leon Kluge Design Influences/ Inspiration Options for those who wish to train as garden designers in South Africa The type of projects Leon works on, typical clients The climate in and around Cape Town, the environmental challenges faced The importance of gardens and horticulture in South Africa The challenges gardeners face Sourcing plants, the use of native plants The best time for plant lovers to visit South Africa Links: Leon Kluge Design www.leonkluge.com Leon Kluge on Instagram @leonkluge With thanks to the episode sponsor, the London College of Garden Design. www.lcgd.org.uk Tel +44 (0) 1483 762955 Email info@lcgd.org.uk Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram @rootsandallpod Patreon Link: Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at Patreon Or GoFundMe

This episode I'm joined by 3 guests; Louise Moreton who heads up the horticultural programme at Wicor Primary School and 2 of the MiniHorts themselves, Rebecca and Kieran. Louise set up a horticultural programme at the school 11 years ago, initially in a voluntary capacity. The programme became such a success she's now employed by the school and works 4 days a week to deliver what has become a vital part of the curriculum. Rebecca and Kieran are Year 6 pupils who are members of the after school gardening club and leads in the MiniHorts programme, passing on their knowledge and enthusiasm to younger pupils. The MiniHorts have been in the media quite a bit, including featuring in an episode of Gardeners' World in 2017, so they're seasoned pros at this sort of thing! If you don't have children or children of school age, I think you'll still find this episode interesting and inspiring, it's well worth a listen. About Louise, Rebecca and Kieran: Rebecca and Kieran are two MiniHorts; year 6 pupils who are also in the Wicor after school gardening group. Louise's history at Wicor is having worked from volunteer 11 years ago to employed horticulturalist 8 years ago. Her work has grown from a few hours a week to 4 days. She also works as a horticultural consultant alongside her work at the school. After the school gardens appeared on Gardeners' World, Louise was approached to work for the BBC on the Editorial Review Board for the Gardeners' World magazine. In January's clippings, she was asked to comment on The Wildlife Trust's recent survey on school gardening, from an angle that's mentioned in the episode; what is stopping more schools gardening? What We Discuss: What are the MiniHorts? Objections to school gardens; they're hard work, rely on volunteers and run to rack and ruin whilst pupils are on holiday. How can you overcome these challenges? Is horticulture on the curriculum in UK schools? Can more be done to promote horticulture in schools? What are the key factors needed to implement a successful school garden? Parent/community buy-in? Key stakeholder support? External funding? What support is available to people who may be interested in setting up a similar scheme? Has there been an increase in interest in horticultural careers amongst the children who've participated in the MiniHorts programme? Evidence of measurable positive impacts as a result of involvement in horticulture Particularly uplifting/poignant/heart-warming experiences as a result of being involved in MiniHorts Links: Wicor Primary School Hatherley Cres, Portchester, Fareham PO16 9DL 01329 237412 www.wicor.hants.sch.uk Video of the Wicor School Garden at the 2017 RHS Chelsea Flower Show MiniHorts on Twitter @minihorts Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like - Patreon Or GoFundMe

This episode I'm speaking to Jake Rayson. Jake lives in rural Wales on a 2 acre smallholding, which is set up as a working forest garden. In addition to managing his own plot, he also teaches about and designs forest gardens in the UK and beyond. For a long time, forest gardening was one of those terms I'd heard but I'm not sure I fully understood the principles behind it, partly because the term always struck me as a bit if a misnomer. Essentially, it's a common-sense and ecologically respectful way of organising a productive garden. Jake is here to explain exactly what it entails and how you can apply the principles in your own garden. About Jake Rayson: Jake moved to a West Wales farmhouse in 2015 to pursue his vocation as a forest gardener. In a time of climate emergency, he passionately believes that a productive garden can be sustainable, wildlife-friendly *and* ornamental. He divides his time between forest garden design and teaching, the relentless planting of 3 acres of hillside and his relentless young family. What We Discuss: What is forest gardening? How much space do you need to practice it? Can anyone do it? What are some common things people struggle with when they're starting out growing this way or are establishing their first forest garden? What are your top tips for success? Is it possible to be self-sufficient? Top performing plants in a forest garden How long does it take to establish a successful patch from scratch? Does it require a lot by way of maintenance? Essential features in a forest garden Where to find out more about forest gardening Links: www.forestgarden.wales email hello@forestgarden.wales Twitter @ForestGdnWales Facebook @ForestGardenWales Free mini-course 'Make a Forest Garden Plan' Further Reading Creating a Forest Garden by Martin Crawford Plants For A Future, online database of useful plants Orange Pippin fruit directory RHS Plant Finder (with native filter) Database of Insects and their Food Backyard Larder and Incredible Vegetables for perennial vegetables Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link: Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall GoFundMe gf.me/u/w7sy4c

This episode is a double-bill, featuring two interviewees speaking about two historical figures who led lives with many parallels, although they were working almost two centuries apart. The first interview is with Teri Sayers-Copper and we discuss the life and work of Marianne North. Marianne was a biologist and botanical artist who journeyed across the world during the Victorian era, documenting the flora and fauna of the countries throughout which she travelled. Marianne explored and painted in every continent except Antartica and was responsible for documenting landscapes that were rapidly changing and disappearing in the wake of a developing world. The second part of the interview is with Tanya Latty, Associate Professor of Entomology at the University of Sydney. Tanya talks about Maria Sibylla Merian, a naturalist and scientific illustrator who was born in Germany in 1647. Merian also travelled the globe, meticulously observing and documenting insects and plants. In fact, she was the first to document caterpillar metamorphosis in an age where her contemporaries believed they came about by "spontaneous generation"! Links: Teri Sayers-Cooper www.creativeforce.org.uk www.mariannenorth.uk The Marianne North Gallery - Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Marianne North : The Kew Collection - RBG Kew, 2018 Recollections of a Happy Life: Being the Autobiography of Marianne North www.tanyalatty.com Hidden women of history: Maria Sibylla Merian, 17th-century entomologist and scientific adventurer - Dr Tanya Latty, The Conversation, February 20 2019 The Woman Who Made Science Beautiful - Andrea Wulf, The Atlantic, January 19 2016. Video of a talk given at the Linnean Society - A Curious Performance: Maria Sibylla Merian and the Art of Natural History by Kate Heard, Senior Curator of Prints and Drawings at Royal Collection Trust Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link: Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall