40 avsnitt • Längd: 40 min • Oregelbundet
A blend of slow radio, gardening advice and conversation, and readings from the best garden and wildlife writing. With Andrew O’Brien.
The podcast Gardens, weeds and words is created by Andrew O'Brien: gardener, blogger, podcaster. The podcast and the artwork on this page are embedded on this page using the public podcast feed (RSS).
A blend of slow radio, gardening advice and conversation, and readings from the best garden and wildlife writing.
These notes may contain affiliate links.
Autumn is settling in and, if we’re honest, we start to spend less time actively gardening. More time for the soil to grow what it really wants, more time for us to start dreaming next year’s garden into being. In this episode, we hear how weeds have evolved to depend upon us making room for them to exploit, with another reading form Jack Wallington’s Wild About Weeds. And I bring you the second instalment of my series on easing into harmony with your garden.
Garden soundtrack
00:40 How we could use our gardens more all year round
02:00 Essential kit for experiencing a soggy garden
03:20 Assessing the garden in autumn, and making a habit of showing up
04:20 What the weeds are getting up to, and how humans and weeds go hand in hand
reading
05:55 from Jack Wallington's Wild About Weeds, read by Rose White
08:29 Purpose and intention in the garden – weedy, or not so weedy? It's up to you!
09:23 What do you want from your garden? The second instalment of my series on easing into harmony with your garden.
18:48 A special quality to gardening at this time of year – read more on Bramble & Briar, my publication on Substack (you can listen there, too)
On lazy clouds, and the softness of November, Andrew O'Brien, on Bramble & Briar
***
Thank you to Rose White for reading so beautifully from Jack's book, Wild About Weeds, published by Lawrence King in 2019.
(You can order Rose’s own book of her poetry, Songbird, here. 10% of all proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to the charity BEAT Eating Disorders).
My own book, To Stand and Stare; how to garden by doing next to nothing, is published by DK Life, and is available here
I’m ever appreciative of all my listeners for your continued support and reviews, I really do appreciate them. You can support the podcast by buying its producer a virtual cup of coffee for three quid, at https://ko-fi.com/andrewtimothyOB. Proceeds will go towards equipment, software and the monthly podcast hosting fees.
website: gardensweedsandwords.com email: [email protected] Instagram: instagram.com/AndrewTimothyOB Twitter: twitter.com/AndrewTimothyOB
A blend of slow radio, gardening advice and conversation, and readings from the best garden and wildlife writing.
These notes may contain affiliate links.
Garden soundtrack
Shamelessly pinching the title from Jack Wallington’s fabulous 2019 book for this episode – which is only fair, as it’s the jumping off point for this whole mini season. We’re looking at how we can understand our gardens – even enter into a state of harmony with this space around our homes – but I don’t think we can even begin without getting to grips with the whole subject of weeds, what they’re trying to tell us about our soil, and how we can learn from them. We salute summer as it reaches its peak and, just as quickly, begins to pass the baton on to the next season, and enjoy a reading from the introduction to Jack’s book.
05:14 What I love about the garden in summer
10:59 A reading from the introduction to Wild About Weeds, by Jack Wallington
15:20 The first in my series of readings on understanding your garden
***
Thank you to Milli Proust for reading so beautifully from Jack's book, Wild About Weeds, published by Lawrence King in 2019.
(Milli's own book, the wonderful From Seed to Bloom (Quadrille, 2022) is available here).
My own book, To Stand and Stare; how to garden by doing next to nothing, is published by DK Life, and is available here
I’m ever appreciative of all my listeners for your continued support and reviews, I really do appreciate them. You can support the podcast by buying its producer a virtual cup of coffee for three quid, at https://ko-fi.com/andrewtimothyOB. Proceeds will go towards equipment, software and the monthly podcast hosting fees.
website: gardensweedsandwords.com email: [email protected] Instagram: instagram.com/AndrewTimothyOB Twitter: twitter.com/AndrewTimothyOB
This is a little bit of a teaser. Series 4 of the Gardens, Weeds & Words podcast is starting to come together, but you know how long it takes for things to assemble inside my head. And, from there, to make the journey through all the twigs, and moss, and soil and stuff, into the editing software and out into the real world in a state I can share it with you. So I thought, while I’m working away on that, I’d put a little something out in the meantime. So here comes season three and a half, a short series on the subject of weeds, what they’re trying to tell us, and how they can lead us to a beter understanding of our gardens. Listen to the trailer for an idea of what’s in store...
A blend of slow radio, gardening advice and conversation, and readings from the best garden and wildlife writing.
These notes may contain affiliate links.
Garden soundtrack
February; the natural world waking up; the bossiness of raised beds
2:00 Reading from I was right all along, on my Substack, Bramble & Briar
3:41 the resilience of the purple sage
4:45 Interview with Maya Thomas
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Diploma in Herbology
Ballymaloe Cookery School at Ballymaloe House in Cork, Ireland
Elisabeth Luard, author, journalist and broadcaster
Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya, Kandy, Sri Lanka, where Maya’s great uncle used to work
Rewilding the Kitchen, Toast 2021, Maya Thomas
Returning to the Urban Wilderness, Toast 2021, Maya Thomas
Grow Easy: Organic crops for pots and small plots, Anna Greeland, Mitchell Beazley 2021
57:01 To Stand and Stare turns one year old
***
Thank you to Maya Thomas for joining me on this episode of the Gardens, Weeds & Words podcast.
You can find Maya on Instagram, and also on the web at The Modern Herbal
My own book, To Stand and Stare; how to garden by doing next to nothing, is published by DK Life, and is available here
I’m ever appreciative of all my listeners for your continued support and reviews, I really do appreciate them. You can support the podcast by buying its producer a virtual cup of coffee for three quid, at https://ko-fi.com/andrewtimothyOB. Proceeds will go towards equipment, software and the monthly podcast hosting fees.
website: gardensweedsandwords.com email: [email protected] Instagram: instagram.com/AndrewTimothyOB Twitter: twitter.com/AndrewTimothyOB
A blend of slow radio, gardening advice and conversation, and readings from the best garden and wildlife writing.
These notes may contain affiliate links.
Garden soundtrack
Dawn breaking in the garden
Trees in the landscape
Reading from Wildwood, A Journey Through Trees, by Roger Deakin 2:25
Read by Richard Chivers
Interview with Jackee Holder 4:54
05:13 'Coach and author and cultural creative' – the scope of Jackee's work, and how it came about
7:57 The path to being a cultural creative – Jackee's career choices, and the common thread
8:43 What is a cultural creative?
10:52 Jackee's South London background
11:26 Avoiding restrictive labels
12:49 'Jack of all trades'. Ouch.
14:25 Drawing influences widely
15:49 A deep connection with nature
17:45 Something bigger. The wonder of it all.
19:24 The parks of London
19:54 The loneliness of the long distance runner
21:05 Making friends with trees
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
"I understood at a very early age that in nature, I felt everything I should feel in church but never did." Alice Walker
22:33 Jackee's tamarind tree in Barbados
24:14 Dressing the trees at Christmas in the Carribean
27:54 Tree books. Tree Wisdom by Jacqueline Memory Paterson https://amzn.to/3csqx5Z
32:07 Jackee's connection to to the elder tree
39:35 The trees in Jackee's city garden
41:30 Listening to nature, mindfulness and being in 'receive mode'.
46:59 Solitude
48:33 Joy in the context of 2021. COVID, BLM.
49:26 Unapologetically celebrating nature.
Charlotte Delbo, Auschwitz and After
50:55 Sorrow and joy interwoven
An account of Milton Erickson and the African Violet Lady
https://danielkarim.com/the-african-violet-a-teaching-tale-of-milton-h-erickson/
55:24 "Nature was our first mother" Tina Welling
"Nature is not a place to visit. It is home." Gary Snyder
55:36 Being rooted.
57:46 Trees and writing.
Jackee's writing map "Writing with Fabulous Trees"
59:22 Journal writing (and being a stationery addict!)
101:30 The practice of writing. Using the 'Morning Pages' technique from Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way https://amzn.to/3pErewE
103:00 Making space for mindful practices
104:32 Jackee's mission to connect people with the urban forest
***
Thank you to Jackee Holder for giving up her time to talk to me about her creative plant-inspired practice.
You can find Jackee on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/jackeeholderinspires/ – please note Jackee's Instagram handle has changed since the interview in this episode!
Or on her website: http://www.jackeeholder.com/
Grateful wotnots to Richard Chivers for stepping forward with his usual patient and willing response to my last-minute plea for a reading!
I’m ever appreciative of all my listeners for your continued support and reviews, I really do appreciate them. You can support the podcast by buying its producer a virtual cup of coffee for three quid, at https://ko-fi.com/andrewtimothyOB. Proceeds will go towards equipment, software and the monthly podcast hosting fees.
A year of garden coaching
If you'd like to find out more about my my 12 month online garden coaching programme, please visit the website, where you can read more details. Enrolment will open towards the middle of February for one last time at the introductory price, so do sign up to be the first to hear when you can book.
https://www.gardensweedsandwords.com/garden-coaching
website: gardensweedsandwords.com
email: [email protected]
Instagram: instagram.com/AndrewTimothyOB
Twitter: twitter.com/AndrewTimothyOB
A blend of slow radio, gardening advice and conversation, and readings from the best garden and wildlife writing.
These notes may contain affiliate links.
Garden soundtrack Pondering the onset of winter, with twinkling lights and fried potatoes. Seasonal markers, and The Almanac from Lia Leendertz. Catching up with Lia Leendertz. What's new in the 2021 edition? 03:44 Reading from The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2021 10:28 https://amzn.to/36LqUFH Read by Milli Proust The independent plant-inspired businesses bringing cheer and lightening our darkness. Interview with Katie Robbins 13:22 14:50 A love of the natural world and of ceramics 16:02 The formative planty encounter -- sunflowers, a flat cap and a fag 18:40 Potter... or ceramic artist? 19:52 If not a potter, would Katie have worked with plants in some other way? Grace Alexander flowers: https://www.gracealexanderflowers.co.uk/ Milli Proust: https://www.milliproust.com/about Bex Partridge (Botanical Tales): https://www.botanicaltales.com/ 21:50 The power of a good parcel, and delighting your customer Beautiful and sustainable packaging https://www.ktrobbinsceramics.com/blog/2020/8/24/beautiful-safe-and-sustainable-packaging 24:49 A journey to the potter's wheel 26:43 The shortest commute -- working from home. Pluses and minuses of the WfH life 29:12 A tour of the garden studio 34:57 Katie's creative process 40:17 Inspiration from peers 41:48 The inevitabilities of creative cross-fertilisation 44:23 Working in porcelain 46:49 Clay from the ground 50:00 Inspirations *** Thank you to Katie Robbins for giving up her time to talk to me about her creative plant-inspired practice. You can find Katie on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/ceramicmagpie/ Or on her website: https://www.ktrobbinsceramics.com/ Thanks also to Lia Leendertz for joining me to talk about The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2021 https://amzn.to/36LqUFH I'm immensely grateful to Milli Proust for lending us her mellifluous tones for the reading. And of course, I'm ever appreciative of all my listeners for your continued support and reviews, I really do appreciate them. You can support the podcast by buying its producer a virtual cup of coffee for three quid, at https://ko-fi.com/andrewtimothyOB. Proceeds will go towards equipment, software and the monthly podcast hosting fees. A year of garden coaching If you'd like to find out more about my my 12 month online garden coaching programme, please visit the website, where you can read more details and add your name to the waiting list to be the first to hear when enrolment opens up again. https://www.gardensweedsandwords.com/garden-coaching website: gardensweedsandwords.com email: [email protected] Instagram: instagram.com/AndrewTimothyOB Twitter: twitter.com/AndrewTimothyOBGarden soundtrack.
September.
A micro review of The Almanac – a seasonal guide to 2018, by Lia Leendertz, and a trail for the 2019 version, just published.
Question: why do we make gardens?
Tom Massey’s garden for the Lemon Tree Trust at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2018 http://www.tommassey.co.uk/the-lemon-tree-trust-garden/ The impulse to create a home with plants, and what to do when you don’t have a garden? Houseplants. A chat with Jane Perrone www.janeperrone.com of the On The Ledge Podcast Plants Jane mentions: Burning bush Kochia scoparia var. trichophylla Philodendron ‘Pink Princess’, Philodendron ‘Prince of Orange’, Philodendron ‘Xanadu’ Monstera deliciosa, Monstera borsigiana (Monstera deliciosa var. borsigiana) Do plants clean the air? How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 houseplants that purify your home or office by B.C. Wolverton A couple of links to back up our random allusions to “various ... studies” with regard to the beneficial effects of greenery on our mental wellbeing. Gardens and health: implications for policy and practice. Kings Fund report commissioned by the National Garden’s Scheme in 2016. https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/gardens-and-health The Therapeutic Landscapes Network – the resource for gardens and landscapes that promote health and well-being http://www.healinglandscapes.org/about/mission.html With thanks to Jane for coming along to chat about her life with plants, and for Ben Dark for lending his voice for the reading. You can find Ben’s podcast here: Ben Dark, The Garden Log podcastA new gardening podcast is coming, from Andrew O'Brien, gardener and blogger at Gardens, Weeds & Words. It's a blend of slow radio, gardening advice and conversation, as well as readings from the best garden and wildlife writing.
Don't forget to subscribe!
En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.