Lockie Scicluna is part of the crew living and working at Australia’s remote Mawson Station in Antarctica. Lockie is closely involved in the station’s hydroponic growing setup — an ingenious system that allows the team to produce fresh vegetables in one of the most extreme environments on Earth. We talk about the challenges of growing food without soil or sunlight, and why having a growing operation might matter more than you might think.

Links

Australian Antarctic Division Mawson station

Lockie on Instagram @scic.travels

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🌱 Episode 226: Soil Bacteria & Rhizophagy Summary: In this episode, I delve into the fascinating world of soil bacteria and their interactions with plants, including discussions on bacteria in monocrops, their presence in seeds, and notably, their role in hydroponic systems. This exploration provides insights into how microbial life adapts and functions in both traditional soil-based and soilless growing environments, offering a deeper understanding relevant to controlled environment agriculture. 🔗 Listen here

🌿 Episode 289: Animal Friendly Fertiliser Summary: I chat with Los Angeles-based landscaper and fertiliser expert Erin Riley about her pioneering work in creating vegan, organic fertilisers. We discuss the environmental and ethical implications of traditional animal-based fertilisers and explore plant-based alternatives that are beneficial for plants, people, animals, and the planet. This conversation is particularly pertinent to sustainable practices in controlled environment agriculture, such as hydroponic systems. 🔗 Listen here

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I’m joined by Dave Chapman, host of the US chart-topping Real Organic Podcast. We dive into the rise of “regenerative” as the latest industry buzzword, the troubling reality of corporate consolidation in agriculture, and how antitrust issues are threatening the future of truly organic food. We also explore the key differences between organic food markets in the U.S. and the EU—and what they might mean for growers and consumers alike.

Links

www.realorganicproject.org

On Facebook

On Instagram

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🌱 Episode 334: Food Farming Revolutionary with Joshua Sparkes Summary: In this episode, I speak with Joshua Sparkes, a grower whose innovative, soil-centered approach blends regenerative principles with a deep reverence for the natural world. We explore his unique style of farming, shaped by observation and experimentation, and discuss why it offers a glimpse into what must be the future of sustainable food production. 🔗 Listen here

🌿 Episode 296: Regenerative Design with Erik Ohlsen Summary: I chat with Erik Ohlsen, a US-based regenerative designer, permaculturist, and author, about his holistic approach to landscape design. Erik shares insights from decades of practical experience, emphasizing the importance of listening to the land and integrating ecological principles into our gardens and communities. 🔗 Listen here

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I’m joined by author Sarah Bilston to explore the strange allure of orchids and the daring—and often destructive—pursuits of the plant hunters who sought them. We delve into the economic and ecological entanglements of botany, the lasting impacts of orchid mania on countries like Brazil, and what we risk losing when we oversimplify the tangled roots of horticultural history.

Links

The Lost Orchid: A Story of Victorian Plunder and Obsession by Sarah Bilston

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🌱 1. Episode 154: Modern Plant Hunters with Dr. Sandy Primrose

In this episode, Dr. Sandy Primrose discusses the legacy of Victorian-era plant hunters and how their adventurous—and often exploitative—quests for botanical treasures continue to influence modern horticulture. The conversation touches on the ethical complexities of plant collection and the enduring allure of rare species.

🔗 Listen here

🌿 Episode 54: Growing Orchids in Your Garden with Dr. Wilson Wall

In this episode, Dr. Wilson Wall, director of Bewdley Orchids and co-author of How to Grow Native Orchids in Gardens Large and Small, shares his expertise on cultivating native British orchids. He discusses the symbiotic relationship between orchids and fungi, suitable species for various garden settings, and the importance of conserving these plants as their wild populations decline. This conversation offers a practical perspective on orchid cultivation, complementing the historical and cultural exploration in the interview with Sarah Bilston.

🔗 Listen here 

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In this episode, I’m speaking with Mary Reynolds—renowned landscape designer, author, and founder of the rewilding movement We Are The Ark.

This episode originally aired in 2019 and it’s particularly pertinent as it coincides with the start of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, where Mary, won a gold medal winner for her ground-breaking, naturalistic garden which at the time was a revelation. Mary has long championed a shift from traditional gardening to a more nature-centric approach. Her initiative, We Are The Ark, invites gardeners, landowners, and stewards to rewild areas under their care, transforming them into sanctuaries for biodiversity. This conversation delves into Mary's journey, the philosophy behind We Are The Ark, and practical steps we can all take to support nature in our own spaces.

As we face increasing environmental challenges, Mary's insights offer a timely reminder of the power each of us holds to make a difference. Whether you have a sprawling garden or a small balcony, this episode provides inspiration and guidance on creating your own "Ark" for nature.

Links

1. Official Website – Mary Reynolds

Mary Reynolds' official website offers insights into her philosophy, projects, and design approach.

Website

2. We Are The Ark – Rewilding Movement

Mary founded the "We Are The Ark" initiative to encourage people to transform their gardens and land into safe havens for nature.

Website

3. Book: The Garden Awakening: Designs to Nurture Our Land and Ourselves

In this book, Mary shares her vision of creating gardens that are in harmony with nature, blending practical advice with spiritual insights.

Publisher's Page

4. Book: We Are The Ark

This book expands on the principles of the "We Are The Ark" movement, providing guidance on rewilding and creating sanctuaries for biodiversity.

Publisher's Page

5. Film: Dare to Be Wild

A biographical drama inspired by Mary Reynolds' journey to winning a gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show.

IMDb Page

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If you liked this week's episode with Mary Reynolds you might also enjoy this one from the archives: 

🌿 Episode 293: The Rewilding of Molly McFlynn with Sue Reed In this episode, Sarah Wilson converses with author Sue Reed about her novel The Rewilding of Molly McFlynn. Set against the backdrop of the rugged Northern landscape during the COVID-19 pandemic, the story follows Molly McFlynn as she reconnects with nature and embraces her identity as an outsider. The discussion delves into themes of personal transformation, the healing power of wild spaces, and how fiction can inspire real-world ecological awareness.

Listen Here

🦔 Episode 21: Wildlife Gardening with Kate Bradbury Summary: Sarah Wilson interviews wildlife gardening expert Kate Bradbury about creating gardens that support biodiversity. They explore essential features to include, such as shelter and specific plant choices, as well as common misconceptions about wildlife-friendly gardening. Kate shares insights from her book Wildlife Gardening for Everyone and Everything, offering practical advice for transforming any outdoor space into a haven for wildlife.Roots and AllApple Podcasts+1Roots and All+1

Listen Here

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https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Geeta Mehta, author of Japanese Gardens, talks about the beauty, philosophy, and deep cultural roots of Japan's garden traditions. We delve into how these serene landscapes reflect harmony, mindfulness, and a unique dialogue between nature and design.

Links

Japanese Gardens: Tranquility, Simplicity, Harmony by Geeta Mehta & Kimie Tada 

Geeta Mehta on Wikipedia

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If you liked this week's episode with Geeta Mehta you might also enjoy this one from the archives: 

Episode 271: Japanese Maples with Miles Hayward

Summary: In this episode, Sarah Wilson speaks with Miles Hayward, an expert in Japanese Maples and founder of Miles Japanese Maples nursery. They delve into the different types of maples, how to grow and care for them, and what makes these trees so iconic in Japanese garden design. Miles also shares insights into how he built his nursery around quality, sustainability, and deep botanical knowledge.

Web Link

Episode 118: Tokachi Millennium Forest with Dan Pearson & Midori Shintani

Summary: Sarah interviews renowned garden designer Dan Pearson and head gardener Midori Shintani about the Tokachi Millennium Forest project in Hokkaido, Japan. The episode explores the forest’s design philosophy, the fusion of traditional Japanese landscape principles with ecological awareness, and the challenges of working on a project with a 1,000-year vision. It’s a profound conversation about stewardship, beauty, and long-term thinking in garden design.

Web Link

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Joshua Sparkes is a grower whose innovative, soil-centered approach blends regenerative principles with a deep reverence for the natural world. We dig into his unique style of farming, how it’s shaped by observation and experimentation, and why it offers a glimpse into what must be the future of sustainable food production.

Links

The Collective at Woolsery

Joshua Sparkes on Instagram

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If you liked this week's episode with Joshua Sparkes you might also enjoy this one from the archives: 

Episode 328: Soil, Health & Nutrition

Guest: Sam Hamrebtan

Link: Roots and All Nutritional therapist and sustainable cooking expert Sam Hamrebtan explores the vital connection between soil and the nutrients in our food. As the founder of the Life Larder newsletter and Course Director at CNM’s Natural Chef School, Sam brings a wealth of knowledge on how growing practices impact the quality of what we eat.

Episode 306: The Soil Habitat

Guest: Eddie Bailey

Link: Roots and All Eddie Bailey, a geologist, organic no-dig gardener, and soil food web specialist who runs Rhizophyllia, discusses the soil food web, what inhabits the soil habitat, why soil health impacts plant health and ultimately our health, and what you can do to get the best out of your garden.

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I’m joined by Pete Case from the Freshwater Habitats Trust to dive into the world of garden ponds—why they can be crucial for wildlife, how to create one, and what makes them such a powerful tool for conservation right in your own back, or front,  garden. Whether you've got a bucket or a full-blown pond, this one’s for you.

Links

www.freshwaterhabitats.org.uk

The Pond Book

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If you liked this week's episode with Pete Case you might also enjoy this one from the archives: 

Episode 312: Gardening for Amphibians

Will Johansen is from Froglife, a conservation group devoted to protecting amphibians and reptiles. Will’s here to discuss practical ways we can support amphibians in our gardens, from building simple ponds to creating safe spaces where they can thrive. Will gives tips and advice to help you make a real difference for these often-overlooked creatures.

Episode 274: Natural Swimming Ponds

Caroline & Jon have created the most amazing swimming pond in their back garden and have documented their journey on social media, posting videos of year-round swimming adventures and pond-life. If you need inspiration to tackle a garden project you’ve always thought was just a pipe-dream, listen in as Caroline & Jon offer their refreshingly optimistic and can-do approach.

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Ecological designer and waterway whisperer Emmaline Bowman, talks about her mission to heal landscapes through nature-led design at her practice Stem Landscape Architecture & Design. We dig into the magic of restoring ecosystems, how nature-led design is possible and feasible from a business perspective and the knock-on effects of starting the ball rolling one green space at a time.

Links

www.stemlandscape.com

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If you liked this week's episode with Emmaline Bowman you might also enjoy this one from the archives: 

Episode 208: Ecological Gardens with Sid Hill

This week’s guest is eco gardener, landscape designer, permaculturist, horticultural thinker and garden experimenter, Sid Hill. Sid is concerned with building gardens that can sustain people and wildlife and he’s talking to me today about his particular brand of gardening, what we can do differently to improve our gardens and the whole discipline of horticulture in the UK.

Episode 232: Ecologically Integrated Gardens

My guest this week is Shawn Maestretti of Studio Petrichor, a design studio working out of California. Shawn’s personal mission is to reconnect with the natural world, tread lightly on the land, nurture biodiversity, protect water, and bring people together. We speak about how Studio Petrichor designs with these values in mind and the systems and techniques that are used to achieve these goals.

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Today’s episode is a bit different because I’m not well at the moment and the podcast has taken a back seat to hospital visits and sleeping lots I’m afraid. But, out of something negative comes a positive because I decided to re-master and re-release an episode from the back catalogue, and this week we’re dipping back into Episode 97 with Doug Tallamy. But we’re not just hitting replay. We’re bringing new light to it, inspired by last week’s conversation with the incredible Kelly Morse…

Links

Bringing Nature Home: How you can sustain wildlife with native plants by Prof Doug Tallamy

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If you liked this week's episode with Kelly Morse you might also enjoy this one from the archives: 

Episode 58: A New Garden Ethic

Sarah talks to garden designer and author Benjamin Vogt about his book A New Garden Ethic: Cultivating Defiant Compassion for an Uncertain Future. 

Benjamin writes in his book how it’s imperative that we take up a new style of gardening, a new garden ethic, and that we do so fast. Benjamin explains what it means for him to garden with every species in mind and what happens when we separate ourselves from the rest of our garden’s community.

Benjamin Vogt runs Monarch Gardens, a prairie garden design practice. His own garden was named a top outdoor space of 2012 by Apartment Therapy and has been featured in Fine Gardening, Garden Design, Nebraska Life, the Omaha World Herald, the Lincoln Journal Star and on KOLN.

Episode 218: Creating Wildlife Habitats

This episode, my guest is Catherine Heatherington. Catherine is a garden designer and consultant and she’s the author of several books about landscape. Along with Alex Johnson, Catherine is a co-founder of Design Wild Associates, a design practice that encourages wildlife into even the smallest of urban spaces and Catherine and Alex have co-authored the recently released book ‘Habitat Creation in Garden Design’.

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Kelly Morse is co-founder of 70|30 Studio—a design practice with a mission to rewild spaces and reconnect people with nature. Kelly’s work blends ecology, sustainability, and creative design to transform how we experience the natural world. We’ll be discussing the philosophy behind 70|30 Studio, the challenges and rewards of integrating wild landscapes into urban environments, and how we can all bring a little more nature into our everyday lives.

About

Kelly Morse is an ecological landscape designer, writer, and environmental artist. She is an award-winning author and founder of 70|30 Design Studio. As co-founder of Symbiocene Project she collaborates with artist Brendan Baylor and others to create environmental, community-centred art installations, including Hothouse and Soundings: Soundmap for a Changing Landscape.

Links

70|30 Design Studio

Brendan Baylor Art

Hothouse Project

Soundings: Soundmap for a Changing Landscape

70|30 Design Studio on Instagram

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If you liked this week's episode with Kelly Morse you might also enjoy this one from the archives: 

Episode 209: Soundscapes and Landscapes

This week I’m speaking to Dr Mike Edwards, Chief Listening Officer at Sound Matters, a company focussed on using sound and listening to create more sustainable and resilient futures. Sound Matters provided the soundtrack to the Rewilding Britain garden that one best in show at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show. Mike recently spoke passionately about climate change, soundscapes and landscapes at the Beth Chatto Symposium and wowed a lecture theatre full of rapt listeners with his prowess on the didgeridoo.

Episode 138: The Botanical Mind

In this episode, I talk with gardener, TV presenter, and wildlife advocate Chris Baines about the evolution of wildlife gardening since the 1980s. Chris shares his experiences designing the first wildlife garden at the Chelsea Flower Show and offers practical advice on mimicking natural habitats, such as woodland edges, to support biodiversity. We also discuss the importance of documenting garden wildlife and how individual efforts contribute to broader conservation goals.

Please support the podcast on Patreon