Roots and All - Gardening Podcast

Matthew Appleby is a multi award-winning horticultural journalist who regularly writes for gardening magazines, national newspapers and the industry bible Horticulture Week. Matthew is a long-time vegan and organic gardener and has a wealth of growing experience upon which to base his new book, The Super Organic Gardener. The book is released on the 31st January 2019 and I spoke to Matthew about what it means to garden in this style. We touched upon: The definition of organic and vegan gardening Why veganism is gaining so much traction What products do and don't qualify for use in a vegan garden What is no-dig gardening Vegan composts, green manures, fertilisers , seeds and plants Matthew's reasons for practising vegan gardening Further reading: The Super Organic Gardener - Matthew Appleby Jan 2019 - Pen & Sword https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-Super-Organic-Gardener-Paperback/p/15572 Charles Dowding - No-Dig Gardening https://www.charlesdowding.co.uk Poyntzfield Herb Nursery https://www.poyntzfieldherbs.co.uk Delfland Nurseries https://www.delfland.co.uk Walcot Organic Nursery https://walcotnursery.co.uk Hulme Garden Centre https://hulmegardencentre.org.uk Get in touch; Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Why it's good to know what goes in your compost, especially if you want to shop ethically, sustainably and/or vegan. "Since the 1980's Fertile Fibre have been producing peat free coir based organic composts. Fertile Fibre have also been working closely with the Vegan Society and the Biodynamic Association to develop composts which are specifically tailored to meeting the needs of those growers. I talk with Caroline about what goes into making Fertile Fibre composts, what you should look for when making purchasing decisions about composts and fertilisers and why this is important. For more info visit www.fertilefibre.com Further contact Information; Fertile Fibre Ltd Withington Court Withington Hereford HR1 3RJ Tel: 01432 853111 Email: info@fertilefibre.com Twitter: @fertilefibre Facebook: fertilefibre Get in touch; Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

In this episode, I talk with critically acclaimed garden designer Cleve West about his journey to a vegan lifestyle and how this impacts upon his work. We touch upon vegan gardening, cooking, farming for vegan and meat based diets and why we all need to think about the mark we leave on our gardens and the wider environment. Further resources; www.clevewest.com Our Plot by Cleve West. Published in 2011 by Frances Lincoln https://www.amazon.co.uk/Our-Plot-Cleve-West-2013-04-04/dp/B01K939IVO/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_img_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=X4JTJ0GQZVM0R9T860M9 Earthlings – a 2005 documentary http://www.nationearth.com Cowspiracy http://www.cowspiracy.com Forks Over Knives https://www.forksoverknives.com Land of Hope and Glory – Documentary https://www.landofhopeandglory.org Knepp Farm https://knepp.co.uk Matthew Appleby – The Super Organic Gardener. Published 31st Jan 2019 by Pen and Sword. https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-Super-Organic-Gardener-Paperback/p/15572 Iain Tolhurst – Tolhurst Organic http://www.tolhurstorganic.co.uk https://www.amazon.co.uk/Growing-Green-Organic-Techniques-Sustainable/dp/0955222516 BOSH Cookbook https://www.bosh.tv/book/bosh-the-cookbook Dr Michael Greger https://nutritionfacts.org Get in touch; Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Fibrex is a family run nursery, started by Hazel & Dick Key over half a century ago. The business is still run by family members; Angela works alongside her sister, brother and sister-in-law, as well as other family members, to make the nursery the success it is today. In addition to being respected horticultural experts, they hold two National Collections and continually attain top accolades at flower shows such as RHS Chelsea, Hampton Court, Malvern and Gardeners World Live. The nursery is open to visit, but they also offer an excellent mail order service and you can order plants through their website. Key talking points with Angela were: Growing ivy as a houseplant Ideal growing conditions for ivy indoors Ideal growing conditions for ivy outdoors Different growth habits and the suitability of certain species for certain garden situations Fast and slow growing varieties Pruning Benefits to wildlife Unsuitable situations for ivy Growing ivy in containers If you'd like to view and shop the full range of Ivy that Fibrex Nurseries has to offer, you can visit their website: https://www.fibrex.co.uk Nursery Contact Information: Fibrex Nursery LTD Honeybourne Road Pebworth Stratford-upon-Avon Warwickshire CV37 8XP Telephone: 01789 720788 Email: sales@fibrex.co.uk Opening Hours 1 Mar - 31 Aug: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm 1 Sept - 28 Feb: Mon-Fri 9am-4pm 1 Apr - 25 Jun: Sat-Sun 10.30am-4pm Twitter @FibrexNurseries Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Fibrex-Nurseries-Ltd-217275455080317/ Instagram fibrex_nurseries Get in touch; Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Born in 1986 to Jamaican parents in South East London, Esiah Levy is a London-based creative Food Grower, Gardener Designer and the founder of SeedsShare, a project sending edible plant seeds all over the world. SeedsShare is a project set up by Esiah in December 2016 to provide organic seeds which can be sown to produce free food and provide long-term food security for Individuals or community gardening groups, particularly in areas where organic fresh produce is at a minimum. Countries which have SeedsShare seeds growing include Japan, Canada, Peru, Indonesia, France, America, the Netherlands, Russia and more! What makes the SeedsShare unique is all seeds are grown and harvested locally in Esiah's own garden and various plots around London. All seeds are 100% free with only postage to pay to get your hands on them! Key talking points were: What is an heirloom vs. a hybrid variety? Which is better and why? What are the easiest types of seed to collect and save? As a seed distributor, is the SeedsShare subject to any regulations or legislation? Can you explain the implications of legislation surrounding seeds? Esiah has great social media accounts that are well worth a follow! You can find and connect with him here: twitter / instagram / facebook - @croydongardener Website – www.SeedsShare.co.uk Linkedin - Esiah Levy Get in touch; Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Gardening in A Changing Climate This is a recording of a panel discussion that took place at a Designers' Day event on 27th November 2018. The sound quality is pretty raw and not up to our excellent standards, as we recorded in a polytunnel in the lashing rain! The topic up for debate was how climate change is affecting the way designers design gardens for clients. Or not, as the case may be! A straw poll at the beginning revealed that in a room full of garden designers and landscapers, about 4 said their work had been influenced by a changing climate. Which is comforting, or frightening, depending on how you look at it... Although the debate was intended to be heard by designers, there are definitely words of wisdom that can be applied in gardens or all shapes and sizes, and by gardeners at all levels. The panel is chaired by Jack Wallington. The designers taking part are your host Sarah Wilson, Emma Page and Nic Howard. The event was held at How Green Nursery in Hever, Kent. How Green Nursery is a trade nursery supplying plants to retailers, landscapers, designers, local authorities and historic gardens. They also supply plants for show gardens, including the RHS Chelsea and Hampton Court Flower Shows. Thanks to the guys at the nursery for hosting an informative and thought-provoking event. Further Information The Roots and All website - https://rootsandall.co.uk https://twitter.com/rootsandall https://www.facebook.com/rootsandalluk/ https://www.instagram.com/rootsandallpod/ Email: podcast@rootsandall.co.uk How Green Nursery - 01732 700382 - www.howgreennursery.co.uk Jack Wallington www.jackwallington.com Emma Page www.natureredsigned.co.uk Nic Howard www.we-love-plants.co.uk

Decoding plant categories so you can tell how long your plant will live. This episode sees the introduction of a new segment, 'Getting to the Roots of...' and this week we're going back to basics to find out the differences between annuals, biennials, perennials etc. so you know how long to expect your plant to live. Get in touch; Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Craig Sams, co-founder of Carbon Gold and a pioneer in sustainable food, sheds light on the transformative potential of biochar. He explains the unique properties of biochar versus standard BBQ charcoal. Discover how different biomass influences biochar production, and learn about its benefits for soil health, moisture retention, and disease resistance in plants. Sams also discusses application tips and the remarkable ability of biochar to capture carbon, making it a game-changer for sustainable gardening practices.

Have you ever noticed how natural landscapes always seem to work? The colours, shapes, scale and textures of a natural landscape appear pleasing to the eye despite little or no human input. It's this sense of innate beauty in nature, speaking to us on an almost subconscious level, that interests today's guest Toby Diggens. We speak about naturalistic and ecological gardens which incorporate elements of nature that gardeners have traditionally sought to keep out. Key talking points were: Naturalistic planting and designing – elaborating on what Toby refers to as Aesthetic Ecology The importance of plants as food for invertebrates Unpopular plants that are actually good for wildlife The best wildflowers/weeds for wildlife Wildflowers that are too badly behaved for the garden Ornamentals that work well in naturalistic gardens Resources for those interested in practicing wild gardening Toby's top tips for wild gardeners About Toby: Toby Diggens runs Digg & Co., a design studio focussing on ecological landscape design and architecture. His style is one which brings ecological science into the design process, and marries this with the aesthetic and artistic practice of design. Toby studied Landscape Architecture at the University of Gloucestershire and received distinctions in both Post Graduate Diploma and Masters. His masters work, entitled Second Nature explores how wild life can be brought back into our cities and towns through the understanding of ecology as a function rather than only an aesthetic. A great lover of plants, he sees the opportunity of beautiful landscape design, touched by a hint of the wild, as a moving way to rekindle the human passion for the natural world, and hopes that his work, regardless of scale, adds both drama and beauty, but importantly nature back into the gardens and parks of the UK and beyond. To contact Toby his email is below: You can also request a copy of his Masters work. toby@diggandco.co.uk Or Follow his Instagram @diggandco Further Resources Emorsgate Seeds – www.wildseed.co.uk Books The Wild Garden – William Robinson The Dynamic Landscape: Design, Ecology and Management of Naturalistic Urban Planting – Dunnett & Hitchmough Meadows – Christopher Lloyd Sowing Beauty – James Hitchmough Get in touch; Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Do you welcome foxes into your garden or are they the bane of your life when it comes to growing plants and keeping a clean and tidy plot? Foxes can be a joy to watch but a pain when they're digging up your plants! In this episode, I speak to animal behaviour expert and fox aficionado Terry Woods. Terry is co-founder of Fox-A-Gon, a company which offers organic and ethical solutions in situations where foxes may be unwelcome visitors. We discuss common problems that can occur when sharing our gardens with foxes and Terry dispels some of the myths and misunderstandings surrounding these occasionally maligned animals. Terry offers a refreshing and common-sense perspective to living alongside wildlife based on his decades of experience and observation. The Fox-a-Gon website is a fantastic resource if you'd like to find out more about co-existing with foxes. It also provides solutions to dissuade them from visiting your plot, should you need them. Their FAQ page is comprehensive and no-nonsense; I highly recommend it as your first port of call if you need even general advice about foxes, it really does provide some brilliant information. Points of interest; The Law as it relates to fox control/removal in the UK Feeding foxes Why foxes dig up plants Foxes and cats Foxes and humans Urban foxes Injured foxes Guest follow up; Terry Woods founded Fox-A-Gon alongside Graham Le Blond. The company is based in the South East, however they work all over the UK. www.fox-a-gon.co.uk Telephone: 0208 925 9639 Mobile: 07768 903 043 / 07973 414 935 Further useful resources; The Fox Project – www.foxproject.org.uk Get in touch; Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall