Episodes

  • S5 Ep6: June - An Experimental Permaculture Garden, with Huw Richards

    S5 Ep6: June - An Experimental Permaculture Garden, with Huw Richards
    Jun 3 2025
    In this month's Organic Gardening Podcast, Fiona visits Huw Richards, in his experimental permaculture garden in Mid-West Wales. Huw gives us an insight in to the the principles of permaculture through his 7 acre garden, as we explore his linear food forest, syntropic planting, and how permaculture fits in with the organic principles.

    Also in this episode...

    Fiona and Chris are catching up on their planting progress after an incredibly dry spring. In the postbag, Anton Fiona and Chris answer your questions on pernicious weeds, grafted fruit trees and how to reuse your grey water.
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 2 mins
  • S5 Ep5: May - Grow a new garden this May, with Becky Searle

    S5 Ep5: May - Grow a new garden this May, with Becky Searle
    May 7 2025
    This month, Fiona visits trained ecologist and author Becky Searle. Becky has been showing the world how to garden organically via her Instagram account (@sowmuchmore) since 2018. This year, Becky embarked on a new journey with the release of her first book “Grow a new Garden.” Fiona and Becky spoke about what ignited her passion for gardening, the role ecology plays in her garden and the importance of seed saving.

    Also in this episode...

    Chris is away this month, so Fiona is joined by Jules Duncan, one of our expert organic gardeners at Ryton. They reflect on the beauty of May, and Fiona gets some germination troubleshooting! In the postbag, Jules, Fiona and Anton answer your gardening conundrums. Tackling what to grow underneath fruit trees, how to successfully grow Chayote, and we go back to basics with the do’s and don’ts of organic growing.

    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 1 min
  • S5 Ep4: April - Bringing nature to urban gardens with Kate Bradbury, and a special guest joins the postbag!

    S5 Ep4: April - Bringing nature to urban gardens with Kate Bradbury, and a special guest joins the postbag!
    Apr 3 2025
    This month, Fiona visits author and garden writer Kate Bradbury, at her garden in Brighton. Kate shared her passion for wildlife-friendly gardening and the power of small actions to create meaningful change. Fiona and Kate discussed how connecting with nature, whether by planting pollinator-friendly flowers, creating habitats, or simply observing the life in our gardens, can combat eco-anxiety and create a community.

    Also in this episode...

    It's sowing time at Chris’s Allotment, and Fiona discusses the 5 vegetables she’s growing this year. Chris, Fiona, Anton and special guest Pauline Pears answer your questions in the Postbag, sharing advice on if you should be cleaning your water butt, how to look after a pond, and vegan organic substitutes for bone meal.

    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Unpruned - A tour of the Beth Chatto Gardens with with Åsa Gregars-Warg

    Unpruned - A tour of the Beth Chatto Gardens with with Åsa Gregars-Warg
    Mar 18 2025
    If you enjoyed our previous podcast with Åsa Gregars-Warg from Beth Chatto’s Plants and Gardens, this extended version is well worth a listen. Join Fiona and head gardener Åsa Gregers-Warg as we take a deeper dive into Beth Chatto's pioneering approach to gardening in harmony with nature. From plant choices and soil care to adapting to climate change, this full-length conversation is packed with extra insights and inspiration for gardeners of all kinds.
    Show more Show less
    41 mins
  • S5 Ep3: March - Do we really have a problem with food waste? with Tristram Stuart

    S5 Ep3: March - Do we really have a problem with food waste? with Tristram Stuart
    Mar 4 2025
    This month, Fiona speaks with Tristram Stuart, award-winning author and campaigner, about the positive trends in reducing food waste and his unique approach to sustainable farming. Hear how his cattle are "enhancing the wilderness," and discover his perspective on the global food system. Tristram also inspires us to connect with nature, whether through small garden projects or community initiatives.

    Also in this episode...

    Spring is here, and Fiona and Chris are excited to get seed sowing. Chris, Fiona, and new guest Jules answer your questions in the Postbag, discussing healthy houseplants, comfrey, and how to grow successfully in a bed affected by raspberry blight.
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 4 mins
  • S5 Ep2: February - What is going on underneath our soil? With Eddie Bailey from Rhizophyllia

    S5 Ep2: February - What is going on underneath our soil? With Eddie Bailey from Rhizophyllia
    Feb 1 2025
    In this month's episode, Fiona and Anton spoke with Eddie Bailey. Eddie has spent years studying the soil during his career as a geologist and now shares what he's learnt with gardeners and growers through his company, Rhizophyllia.

    "In my garden, the effect I had when I stopped digging was instantaneous, the following season, germination rates just dramatically improved and got better and better within three years. It was a completely different landscape. The soil is absolutely critical to our health on this planet."

    Also in this episode...

    Fiona and Chris are "chomping at the bit" to get sowing and growing, and in the postbag, the team tackle questions on organic topsoil, rats, and plants that grow well on damp ground.
    Show more Show less
    52 mins
  • S5 Ep1: January - From suspicious strawberry piles to soil health, we look back on the postbag in 2024!

    S5 Ep1: January - From suspicious strawberry piles to soil health, we look back on the postbag in 2024!
    Jan 1 2025
    Join us as we recap an interesting year in organic gardening. From persistent rainfall and slug battles to delightfully late harvests, we've faced it all with a dose of humour and a lot of resilience. In this month's episode, we're looking back on your most intriguing questions from 2024, exploring everything from suspicious strawberry piles to the secrets of healthy soil. You may even hear questions you haven't heard before!
    Show more Show less
    43 mins
  • S4 Ep12: December - Winter Wellness with Rachel Dethample

    S4 Ep12: December - Winter Wellness with Rachel Dethample
    Dec 5 2024
    This month, Fiona visited River Cottage, to chat with Author, Chef and Fermentation Expert Rachel DeThample. Rachel breaks down how eating organically grown vegetables can have a positive impact on the gut microbiome, and dives in to how fermenting the produce from your garden can lead to better nutrition and a stronger connection to nature.

    “We’re a no dig garden, all organic” says Rachel, “so we’re constantly feeding the soil with healthy ingredients to help with it’s diversity, and that’s a really lovely way of reflecting that you can do the same thing with your own microbiome, feed it lots of diversity which helps create a healthier balance”

    Also in this episode…

    Fiona and Chris chat about how gardening and being outdoors in winter improve your wellbeing. In the Postbag, the team answer your questions on the use of Bacillus thuringiensis, a broccoli that’s struggling to sprout, and whether frozen beans will germinate!

    Listen now here or via your podcast provider. Thanks again to our sponsors, Viridian Nutrition. Visit their website at www.viridian-nutrition.com.
    Show more Show less
    1 hr