Welcome to The Garden Question Podcast! I’m your host, Craig McManus.
Today we’ve got a fantastic episode lined up. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert seasoned pro, this conversation will inspire you to think deeper about gardening.
Our guest is Erin Alladin, creator of the concept gentle gardening—a unique approach designed for those working with chronic illness and disability.
Erin’s journey is all about making gardening accessible and enjoyable for every kind of gardener, no matter their challenges.
Throughout this episode, Erin shares practical strategies she’s developed using sustainable techniques and permaculture principles, such as observation and energy capture from her work at the Kimborne Community Permaculture Project to creative outlets like basket weaving with natural materials from her garden.
Erin proves there’s always a way to grow smarter gardens that work—even when life throws some curveballs.
We’ll also explore a range of soil-building techniques, including sheet mulching, Hügelkultur, the Ruth Stout method, and strawbale gardening.
Erin shares personal stories about her experiences balancing gardening with chronic illness, drawing from her book, Gentle Gardening: How to Approach Gardening with Uncooperative Bodies.
She gives us a sneak peek into her upcoming children’s book, Wait Like a Seed, along with a hint about her exciting new podcast, Plants Always Win, with co-host Sean Patchett.
You can find Erin online as "Earth Undaunted" at earthundaunted.com and follow her gardening adventures on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.
So, if you’ve ever wondered how to adapt your gardening practice to meet life’s challenges, this episode is for you! From beginners to experts, you’ll find something here to inspire you. Now, let’s dig in!
Gentle Gardening: A Low-energy guide for uncooperative bodiesTime Line:00:00 Introduction to the Garden Question Podcast
00:20 Meet Erin Alladin: Advocate for Gentle Gardening
01:07 Exploring Soil Building Techniques
01:18 Erin's Personal Journey with Chronic Illness
01:30 Sneak Peek into Erin's Upcoming Projects
02:33 Understanding Gentle Gardening
03:03 Erin's Health Challenges and Adaptations
04:15 The Genesis of Gentle Gardening
07:32 Permaculture Principles and Practices
10:59 Basket Weaving with Garden Materials
13:36 Self-Regulation and Feedback in Gardening
16:15 Renewable Resources in Gentle Gardening
19:20 Creative Soil Building Techniques
21:30 Healing Soil with Potatoes
22:01 Comparing Sheet Mulching and Hügelkultur
22:27 Integrating Gardening into Life and Work
23:34 Gentle Gardening: A Book for All
25:50 New Book: Wait Like a Seed
27:52 Permaculture and Garden Myths
29:30 Early Garden Memories and Funny Stories
30:43 Influences and Valuable Mistakes
32:48 Learning and Adapting in the Garden
37:32 Future Garden Plans and Favorite Plants
38:38 Introducing the Plants Always Win Podcast
39:32 Connecting with Erin Alladin
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