Roots and All - Gardening Podcast

Stephen grows a dazzling range of plants, some you probably haven’t even heard of, let alone eaten and more still that you may have heard of but may not have considered to be edible.  Stephen’s book Around the World in 80 Plants looks at perennial, leafy plants from around the globe that play a big part in the diet of those living where these plants naturally occur in abundance. He’s grown and studied these in his garden in Norway and selected varieties for taste, growth performance and for nutritional, ornamental and entomological value. that please the eye, work from a maintenance perspective and can evolve successfully over time. We talk about what he grows in his garden, his passion for onions, his book and some of the varieties mentioned therein.  About Stephen Barstow: “Stephen Barstow has devoted 30 years to trialling the world’s perennial vegetables. It is unlikely that anyone anywhere has tried as many different species of edible plants – just witness his salad comprising 538 varieties in 2003 – earning him the title of ‘Extreme Salad Man’! Stephen grew interested in green issues whilst studying in Norwich. He began eating whole-foods baking bread and learning the names of birds and plants. He became vegetarian when studying in Edinburgh and began a vegetable patch at his landlords flat. He was even sold with the building to the new owner as a lodger/gardener. In 1981 Stephen moved to Norway for work and found vegetarianism was only a small underground movement and that supermarkets stocked little vegetables. To survive they grew their own, and now Stephen has a garden that takes over two days to tour and 2,000 or so edibles, each with their own ethnobotanical story to tell.” - Permanent Publications What we talk about: Stephen’s book and how he came to write it,  plans to release further editions that go beyond leafy veg?  Advice for interested in growing edimentals, where to source seeds or plants, in the UK and internationally? If you’re ‘blessed’ with Japanese knotweed, what can you with it? How to carry out blanching to improve flavour How onions propagate themselves? Stephen’s favourite ornamental edible onion? If it’s possible to be self-sufficient in ornamental veg all year round? How much space would you need?  How vital is it that we use our gardens to at least supplement our diets?  Other good resources for those interested in Edimentals Links: Stephen’s Blog - Edimentals!  Around the World in 80 Plants: An Edible Perennial Vegetable Adventure For Temperate Climates by Stephen Barstow - Permanent Publications, 2014  Stephen Barstow on Twitter https://twitter.com/s_barstow Edimentals Group on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/273637002647408/ Edulis Nursery www.edulis.co.uk  Incredible Vegetables www.incrediblevegetables.co.uk Cool Temperate Nursery www.cooltemperate.co.uk   Edgewood Nursery edgewood-nursery.com  Eric Toensmeier www.perennialsolutions.org   Plants for a Future - Online Database  Cornucopia II: A Source Book of Edible Plants by Stephen Facciola  With thanks to Jackie Currie, National Collection Holder of Alliums and Jake Rayson - www.forestgarden.wales  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       

A warm welcome to new listeners and to those existing listeners who haven't quite got to grips with my wonky episode numbering system - this episode is for you!  Join me for a quick whizz through all the previous content. I've split it into areas of interest (sort of!) to help you navigate easily through the back catalogue and discover episodes you may have missed.  Thanks for listening.   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     

Part One: The Design Experts Series - Sponsored by The London College of Garden Design  This episode features Thomas Rainer, Principal Designer at Phyto Studio in Virginia and co-author of the book Planting In A Post-Wild World. Thomas’s approach to design pays particular attention to establishing new plant communities, especially within urban and suburban environments, where the native flora and fauna has effectively been pushed out. Concentrating on plant selections that work alongside each other and also with the site, Thomas introduces green spaces that please the eye, work from a maintenance perspective and can evolve successfully over time. About Thomas Rainer: Thomas is a leading voice internationally in ecological landscape design. He co-authored the book ‘Planting In A Post-Wild World’ in 2015 and has designed landscapes for the U.S. Capitol grounds, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, and The New York Botanical Garden. Thomas is Principal Designer at Phyto Studio and works alongside Melissa Rainer and Claudia West. Phyto Studio was created “to bring clients both customized, technical expertise in plant community ecology as well as an artistic vision of the possibilities of gardens with emotional depth.” He lectures internationally and teaches planting design on the George Washington University Landscape Design program. What we talk about: Wild landscapes - accepting that we can’t turn back the clock to a bygone era and what this means for designers and gardeners going forward Planting in urban and suburban landscapes versus rural areas? Thomas’s 3 archetypes for the purposes of categorising planting and landscapes If there's a danger, especially in public spaces, that people come to accept edited versions of nature as the correct way ‘natural’ spaces should look and therefore become less tolerant of wilder, transitional, unkempt spaces? The issue of ongoing, skilled maintenance The future of built landscape design  Links: Tickets to the Thomas Rainer Masterclass at Regent’s College, London on 18th January 2020   Email: gillian@gilliangoodson.com Phyto Studio www.phytostudio.com  Planting in a Post-Wild World - Thomas Rainer & Claudia West, Timber Press 2015 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 https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall     

This week I’m talking to Catherine Horwood, authorised biographer of Beth Chatto and author of the recently released Beth Chatto: A Life With Plants. Catherine was hugely privileged to be given access to Beth’s personal diaries and I’m sure there are lots more stories she could tell you about Beth that didn’t make it into the book, but the snippets of Beth’s journals and the biographical information that are in the book paint a wonderful picture of Beth as a wife, a mother, an employer, a gardener and as the RHS crowned her this year an “Iconic Horticultural Hero”. About Catherine Horwood: Catherine is a freelance author and journalist and is the authorised biographer of Beth Chatto. As well as writing the recently released Beth Chatto: A Life With Plants, Catherine has written Rose (Reaktion, 2018) Gardening Women: Their Stories from 1600 to the Present (Virago, 2010) and contributes articles to Gardens Illustrated, The English Garden and several national newspapers. What we talk about: Her early career in flower arranging How she changed to fit in with the socials circles she found herself moving in The move to White Barn House Her friendship with Christopher Lloyd The inspiration for the gravel garden Her awards and the recognition she gained worldwide Her legacy, the future of the nursery and the Beth Chatto Education Trust Links: Beth Chatto: A Life With Plants - Catherine Horwood, Pimpernel Press, 2019  Catherine Horwood www.catherinehorwood.com  The Beth Chatto Gardens www.bethchatto.co.uk  The Beth Chatto Nursery  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 

This episode we’re discussing apples and I have TWO guests; Naomi Slade who is the author of An Orchard Odyssey and Sassie Yassamee who runs Eve Apple Press, a mobile apple pressing service in East Sussex. We’re just harvesting the last of our apples here in Sussex, so with the tastes and sights of varieties fresh in your mind, what better time to start planning your own orchard?  Naomi’s book, An Orchard Odyssey runs through the practicalities of growing apples, but the focus of our chat is the ways in which we use our apples and our trees as both ornamental and edible additions to our own gardens, particularly from a design perspective. We also chat about how to reconsider how we view orchards and how we can use them within our communities.  Which leads nicely on to my interview with Sassie Yassamee, who runs Eve Apple Press in Hastings in East Sussex. Sassie run a mobile apple pressing service, which helps people conveniently and productively deal with their crops and provides an ingenious solution to gluts and food waste.  What I cover with Naomi: The definition of an orchard Historical orchards Our changing relationship with orchards The tale of Johnny Appleseed Fruit trees for wildlife Designing & underplanting orchards What I cover with Sassie: About mobile apple pressing Which varieties you can use Preserving the juice Links: Naomi Slade www.naomislade.com  An Orchard Odyssey - Naomi Slade, Green Books, 2016 Naomi on Twitter @NaomiSlade  Naomi on Instagram @naomisladegardening  Eve Apple Press www.eveapplepress.co.uk Eve Apple Press on Facebook  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 

This episode, I’m talking about one of the fundamental cornerstones that underpins everything we do as growers - soil. And to talk about this vital element, who better than soil scientist and international expert on the subject, Tim O’Hare? Tim is the principal consultant of Tim O’Hare Associates and works on a wide variety of domestic and commercial projects, both in the UK and abroad. Tim answers questions about issues that most gardeners have faced at some point; soil compaction, poor drainage, working with the soil you have and what to look out for if you’re bringing new soil in to your garden. As well as possessing phenomenal knowledge on the subject, Tim explains things in clear and simple language and you will enjoy this episode whatever your level of gardening expertise.  About Tim O’Hare Tim is the principal consultant of Tim O’Hare Associates, a leading independent soil science practice that provides soil investigation, testing and consultancy services to the landscape industry. He has been a Soil Scientist for over 20 years, working on anything from domestic garden projects to major construction developments.  Tim and his team have worked on a wide variety of assignments throughout the UK and internationally, including the London Olympic Park and Commonwealth Park in Gibraltar. They also test and approve many of the topsoil and subsoil products that are sold into the landscape market nationwide.   Earlier this year Tim was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by The Kew Guild (Association of Alumni of the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew) for his “outstanding contribution to the environment”. We discuss: Common problems with soil management Storing and moving soil during building works Soil compaction Wet soils Ways to combat poorly draining soils Bringing life into new or damaged soils The impacts of transporting soil into and away from a site What to look for when you’re buying soil Soil contamination Tim’s more challenging/unusual work Soil erosion and the shape of our future food production Links: Tim O’Hare Associates - Soil & Landscape Consultancy www.timohare-associates.com  London Olympic Park www.queenelizabetholympicpark.co.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 

This week, I’m speaking to Jo Ferguson and we’re talking about bats. As with most of our wildlife, population trends show a decline in bats in the UK in recent times. Loss of habitat, human activities including nighttime lighting and construction and lack of food are all contributing factors.  If you’re listening to the Roots and All podcast, in all probability you’re a conscientious gardener who wants to improve the natural landscape, not just for humans but for all species. In this episode, Jo talks about what bats need in order to thrive and how we can make small changes that will make big contributions to our bat populations.   About Joanna Ferguson BSc MCIEEM: Jo has worked for the Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) for the last 4.5 years as the Built Environment Officer before becoming the Built Environment Manager in early 2019. Prior to starting at BCT she had been involved with bat conservation in a voluntary and professional capacity for over 16 years. Jo’s more recent professional experience is as an ecological consultant specialising in urban bat ecology; providing surveys, mitigation and enhancement advice covering a range of development projects, including residential, commercial and transport. She also has extensive experience in scientific research, working for the Australian Research centre for Urban Ecology and Earthwatch in Melbourne. Jo is a Full Member of CIEEM, a Volunteer Bat Roost Visitor and London Bat Group Member.   We discuss: Where bats live How many species of bat are there in Britain and some of the most common ones we’re likely to see in our gardens The biggest challenges facing bats at the moment How we can help our bat populations Will they get caught in our hair or give us rabies?   Links: Bat Conservation Trust www.bats.org.uk https://www.bats.org.uk/ National Bat Helpline 0345 1300 228 Leaflet on helping create a great environment for bats, including which plants to include in our gardens https://cdn.bats.org.uk/pdf/Resources/Stars_of_the_Night.pdf?mtime=20181101151554 Bat 1K Genome project mapping bats DNA: ‘Imagine uncovering the secret of longer health-spans, flight, echolocation and disease resistance hidden in the bat genome.’ https://bat1k.ucd.ie/   Get in touch; Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk  Website www.rootsandall.co.uk  Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Facebook @rootsandalluk   Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall 

This week, Sarah is talking with Geoff Dann. Geoff is a Hastings based forager with a vast and by the sounds of it, pretty unique understanding of the mushrooms that grow in our landscape. He’s also the author of Edible Mushrooms. Geoff is a pioneer because many of the mushrooms in his book were not classified as edible and he’s taken on the role of a well-informed and cautious taster, but nonetheless has been a human guinea pig in many instances! As he mentions, his book is without parallel in terms of classifying the edibility of our mushrooms and is the bible for foragers.   They discuss: Why we’re a nation of mycophobes here in the UK How to get started with mushroom foraging Mushroom habitats Beginner levels edible mushrooms Mushrooms to watch out for    Links  Geoff’s website www.geoffdann.co.uk  Edible Mushrooms by Geoff Dann, published by Green Books, 2016  Natural Bushcraft Forum www.naturalbushcraft.co.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 

This week, I’m talking garden birds with Kate Risely, Garden BirdWatch Organiser at the British Trust for Ornithology. Kate talks us through the trends that have occurred in our garden bird populations over the past 40 years, what and when to feed them, diseases that are on the rise and how you can attract more birds in your garden. Plus, Kate answers my question; are magpies vandals, living off the fat of our songbirds? About Kate: Kate leads the BTO's Garden Ecology team and co-ordinates the programme of garden ecology surveys and research, within the Communications department. Kate has overall responsibility for running for Garden BirdWatch, a 'citizen science' project where volunteers record birds and other taxa using their gardens on a weekly, year-round basis, as well as additional garden-based surveys. Kate is interested in the research and conservation applications of our garden wildlife data. We discuss: The BTO Garden BirdWatch & how you can take part Why the data collected through the Garden BirdWatch is so important Trends around garden birds over the last 40 years When and what to feed your garden birds Diseases in garden birds How to attract more birds to your garden Links: British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2PU Tel: 01842 750050 Garden BirdWatch www.bto.org/gbw Garden Wildlife Health: https://www.gardenwildlifehealth.org/ Feeding affecting bird communities: https://www.bto.org/our-science/publications/peer-reviewed-papers/composition-british-bird-communities-associated-long Blackcaps: https://www.bto.org/our-science/publications/peer-reviewed-papers/supplementary-feeding-gardens-driver-evolutionary Disease risks of bird feeding: https://www.bto.org/our-science/publications/peer-reviewed-papers/health-hazards-wild-birds-and-risk-factors-associated Greenfinch declines due to disease: https://www.bto.org/our-science/publications/peer-reviewed-papers/emergence-and-spread-finch-trichomonosis-british-isles Predator effects on bird populations: https://www.bto.org/our-science/publications/peer-reviewed-papers/population-change-avian-predators-and-grey-squirrels   Get in touch; Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk  Website www.rootsandall.co.uk  Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Facebook @rootsandalluk   Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall 

This week, Sarah is talking Peonies with Alec White of Primrose Hall Peonies. If you attended this year’s Chelsea Flower Show, you probably saw the amazing, gold-winning stand Alec put together in the floral marquee - it was the one with the bath, peonies spilling everywhere and the semi-nude model painted all over with peonies. It certainly caused a stir and rightly so, because it was stunning. Sarah was delighted to chat to Alec because, frankly, she has a chequered past with peonies. Under discussion are problems such as peony wilt and peonies that don’t flower. Alec also talks about the different types of peonies and debunks myths such as peonies can't be moved. Sarah asks expert-grower Alec how to get the best out of your peonies and if you're planning to add some to your garden or want to troubleshoot any problems you have, this is an episode not to be missed.    They discuss: The 3 main types of peony Peony wilt Moving, dividing, deadheading and feeding The reasons your peony may not be flowering Pruning tree peonies Growing peonies in containers Growing peonies from seed    Links  Primrose Hall Peonies www.primrosehallpeonies.co.uk  On Twitter @primrosehalluk  On Instagram @primrosehalluk  On Facebook Primrose Hall Nursery   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