Going away for the holidays? Or staying home for the season? Whichever it is, make sure your garden is in tip-top shape, whether you’re expecting guests or needing it to look after itself for a while. Cary Goodwin and Melanie discuss the latest greatest ideas from lifeisagarden.co.za, including how to become a Water Warrior! Mel's Treasures on Face…

Every seed has a story. What began as a seed of an idea turned into a passion for growing from seed for Organic Gardening Goddess Linda Galvad. In this edition of Grounded, Linda and Melanie Walker (co-conspirators on The Home Channel's Gardening 101) get to grips with what makes a seed heirloom, heritage and organic, why you shouldn't bring seeds …

Sometimes cookery books aren't just about cooking, they're about a whole lot more; the ingredients and where they come from, the ancestors who hold the lore surrounding them, preserving wild foods (in nature, not just in jam jars), and the heritage of indigenous ingredients. It's about the stories that come with the 'lekkerness', the 'mnandi-ness' …

.. and an (E)scape from the pressures of Life Once again proving that Succulents Don't Suck, Cary Goodwin of Life is a Garden chats to Melanie about the wondrous variety of aloes and echeveria that are available these days, along with how to deal with the descent into the winter months in the garden. Oh, and about fire-scaping! Mel's Treasures on F…

Whether you're new to the joys of gardening or not, there's always something new to be learned. It's time to find out more about the not-difficult art of growing bulbs on Grounded with the man who has made it his life, Charles Barnhoorn of Hadeco Bulbs. He demystifies what some see as the magic art of getting these hidden treasures to bloom while g…

We'd Like Our Roses to See You! Cary Goodwin (Spokesperson - Life is a Garden; Headgirl Colourful Group & Peebles Plants) joins Melanie today take a look at what's hot on the gardening scene in South Africa at the moment, and making the pages of the Life is a Garden website. Want to know more about carnivorous plants, wetlands, growing your own, or…

Find out what You should be doing this Season! Gardening is about water - most of it in the form of perspiration! Whether you have too much, or too little, water is the main topic when it comes to getting gardens to grow properly. Cary Goodwin, and the wonderful helpers at Life is a Garden, are there to help you on your way to becoming a useful gar…

“Sometimes I think that the point of birdwatching is not the actual seeing of the birds, but the cultivation of patience. Of course, each time we set out, there's a certain amount of expectation we'll see something, maybe even a species we've never seen before, and that it will fill us with light. But even if we don't see anything remarkable - and …

June tips from Life in a Garden Our Guest: Cary Goodwin (PR - Life is a Garden; Head Girl at Colourful Group) Winter has come - but that's no reason not to get out and get warm with some gardening chores. Keeping yourself and your plants well covered is key, and even if you're an indoor gardener, Cary Goodwin gives you all of Life is a Garden's tip…

Of Earth Hour and the Coming of Autumn The Earth is slightly turning off its axis as we begin the descent from the long heady golden days of summer into the changing of colour and season. So what should you be doing in your garden to prepare it for the winter months? Cary Goodwin gives us the tips you'll need for our version of the 4 P's - planning…

Cary Goodwin (Life is a Garden | Spokesperson and Colourful Group | Head Girl) If you want to know how to grow clivias from seed, what the best indoor plants are to have that you and your kids can't kill, how to make paint from flowers, what plants are looking great at this time of the year, and how to deal with too much - or too little - water, th…

In a departure from our usual conversations on Grounded, Melanie Walker finds out from David Barritt, Executive Director of two international charities for animals, about what is going on in Africa when it comes to our protected species - and those that are more commonplace. Whether it be pangolins, rhinos, cats and dogs or donkeys, YOU can make a …

The Green Industry has been one that has seen a fair amount of growth over the last couple of years - even during Covid and lockdowns. Probably because of them. Paul Vonk (Commercial Manager Mayfords Seeds/President -SANA) and Melanie explore the green horizons, talking bulbs, seeds, what the green industry is doing for you, and why you should get …

Well - Bats may seem like that to rats, but we think so too! Guest: Jonathan Haw (Director, EcoSolutions) “In their previous lives, poets were bats, and thinkers were owls.” ― Michael Bassey Johnson, Song of a Nature Lover And that's what this episode of Grounded is all about - the kings and princes of the night skies, Bats and Owls. Jonathan Haw, …

Is the best season of the year Spring? Guest: Cary Goodwin (Spokesperson Life is a Garden, Head Garden Girl at Colourful Group) From how to create the garden of your dreams, select the best plants, attract birds to your backyard and to set up a tiny watergarden - all the info you need you can get from Cary Goodwin and Melanie Walker of Life is a Ga…

How to be a useful member of the Human Race. Donna-Mari Noble (Communications Manager, MPact) National Recycling Day happened on the 17th September this year in South Africa - did you do your bit to help lessen your load on the planet? Donna-Mari Noble of MPact recycling gives us the latest on how South Africa is faring when it comes to recycling -…

Bring down your impact on our earth Winnie McHenry (Originator/Owner Upcycle) Like most of the rest of the World, South Africa is battling with pollution and lack of landfill space. But slowly, some people are managing to change this around, while Upskilling people who have been battling to find work. UpCycle Winnie McHenry let's us in on how's she…

Must be in this cold! Cary Goodwin (Spokesperson for Life is a Garden, head Supergirl at Peebles and Colourful Group) Winter. Sends shivers down the spine. In more ways than one. But spring ain’t that far away, so Cary Goodwin reckons it’s time to start getting your garden sorted with a blast of colour from all the wonderful members of the ‘daisy’ …

Do Something ProActive - With Earth Probiotic If you're worried about the state of our planet, then find out about 52 Easy Things to Do to make your impact on the earth negligible. Gavin Heron of Earth Probiotic talks us through bokashi, recycling, packaging, compostables vs biodegradables, and how companies are getting on board. Connect with Gavin…

Linda Galvad - Sought After Seedlings Planting thoughts on how to help your brain and body Our body consists of two 'brains' - the one we think with, and the one we feel with. The Gut. To get the best out of what you eat, and how you feed your brain(s), Linda Galvad of Sought After Seedlings tells us of her journey from psychology to growing 'brain…

Life is a Garden's winter top tips with Cary Goodwin (Spokesperson Life is a Garden, Head Garden Girl at Colourful Group) Winter is on its way, so what should you be looking out for? The Great Reset continues - are you part of it? Talking bulbs, indoor plants, how to get your garden ready for the quiet time and all things in between. Mel's Treasure…

Michael Rickhoff (Master Landscape Designer) We set trends here in the south - not following the rest of the world! While the rest of the world follow trends in gardening, taking their cue from the northern hemisphere summer garden ideas, there are a number of Proudly South Africans who are taking the leap into bringing OUR cultures to the forefron…

Get yourself ready for Your Life in a Garden Cary Goodwin (spokesperson Life is a Garden) This month is a time of planning. Planning for your autumn and winter garden. Cary Goodwin gives us all the gen we need for ensuring you have all your bulbs (not) in a row and things to keep the kids busy too. Mel's Treasures on Facebook…

The Trials and Tribulations of getting the Best Plants to you! Kathy Varney (Marketing & Product Manager at Ball Straathof) For years, Ball Straathof have been striving to bring colour, beauty and tasty morsels to all gardens and landscapes. The BS Trials give all those in the gardening industry - and the public too - the opportunity to see what ne…

Start your Gardening Year off Greenly Cary Goodwin (Spokesperson Life is a Garden, Head Garden Girl at Colourful Group) The beginning of a New Year generally heralds new resolutions. If you haven't made one yet, let it be this - I am going to get Grounded! From starting from scratch and getting your soil right, to bringing this year's colours into …

And 100 of them you should get to know! Megan Emmett Parker (author and senior producer in the environmental world) With a Masters in environmental management, a conservation degree and a decade working as a senior producer on 50/50 on tv, Megan Parker has a solid grounding on all topics environmental. Her book, Game Ranger in your Backpack, has be…

Christmas in a Garden with Life is a Garden Cary Goodwin (Life is a Garden | Spokesperson and Colourful Group | Head Girl) The summer holidays are a time to kick back and relax - and after the dreadful year many have had - thank you 2020! - with many people (still) staying home, it’s the perfect time to enjoy the fruits of your backyard labour. Car…

Regreening Africa the Greenpop way Misha Teasdale (Co-founder and Director at Greenpop Planet deforestation and carbon emissions have become watchwords in the global environment and economy. Our new ‘climate-reality’. With this in mind, in 2010 Misha Teasdale set about creating a community that reconnects humans with nature through tree planting an…

Get out into your Garden Cary Goodwin (Spokesperson Life is a Garden, Head girl at Colourful Splendour Group and Peebles Plants) Life is a Garden (the PR part of the South African Nurseryman’s Association) grants the public all the gardening know how necessary to create your own little piece of Eden in your backyard, through their website and ongoi…

Friendly by Nature. The Greenest Way to Grow Donvae Hooker and Cathy Church (EcoBuz) Environmentally aware gardeners are always looking for the best way to look after their plants while looking after their soil and surroundings. Donvae Hooker and Cathy Church explain how through some great scientific developments, safe, effective, chemical-free pes…

Garden Day SA - Growing Memories Gundula Deutschlander (Master Gardener, Garden Day Ambassador) Garden Day SA on Sunday 11th October, is the perfect day to invite friends and family to celebrate your garden and green spaces with you. Master Gardener Gundula Deutschlander, one of the Garden Day ambassadors, gives us the lowdown on why gardening is g…

Be a Green Winner Wena Michaela Rowley (VegePod SA) Now that spring is sprung, the rains have come and we’re all itching to get our fingers into the soil, what better way to celebrate being Green than with the opportunity to win a healthy hamper of Green Goodies! This Spring promotion is happening from the 7 - 16 October 2020, and includes some gre…

Scaling Up The Wonderful Cycle of Life Justin Hess (Ichthys Aquaponics | MD) It used to be hydroponics was just a nod, nod, wink, wink, word for pot growing. Now it is accepted by consumers as a preferred method of growing high-quality food. Taking it one step further in Johannesburg, Ichthys Aquaponics have cast their line into the water and under…

Time for Some Summer Fun! Cary Goodwin (Spokesperson Life is a Garden and headgirl at Colourful Group) Lockdown gave us time to prepare for spring in the garden - and now it’s upon us, it’s time to get geared up for Summer. It’s a busy month out there. What with It being Arbor Month! Trees are very much on our minds, and Cary a Goodwin of Life is a…

Summer Treasure Hunt! — Blooming Marvellous Bulbs Charles Barnhoorn (Hadeco Bulbs | CEO) Rudyard Kipling May have said - Gardens are not made by singing 'Oh, how beautiful,' and sitting in the shade - but sometimes gardens are made by things hiding in the shade. Over the years, people eagerly await the heralds of spring, the beautiful array of wint…

Simply Delicious! — Catching up with the Delicious Jane Griffiths Jane Griffiths (Author | Jane’s Delicious Garden and many others!) Delicious Jane is a writer, television producer, traveller and artist, who began her journey to becoming a ‘veggie garden guru’ due to her being inspired chef who very seldom cooks the same recipe twice - and was frus…

O-Live The life you Dream — How to become a master urban farmer Malcolm Gooding (The Voice | Gooding's Grove Olive Farm | Owner) Over the last decade or so, the demand from the public to know exactly where their food is coming from and how sustainable it is has had a fairly large impact many stores And what they stock. And the demand to grow our ow…

Dare we say it? Spring’s around the corner — Getting prepared for warmer weather! Cary Goodwin (Spokesperson Life is a Garden, Headgirl at Colourful Group and Peebles Plants) Yes, we can feel it in the air - but spring is still hiding its Colourful head - for now. It’s the time to get yourself and your garden prepared for warmer weather - NOT to do…

Waste not, Want not — Waste minimisation. And what really happens to waste? Colleen du Toit (Abstract Waste | Founder and CEO) Many of us don’t give much thought to what happens to all the stuff we discard. Fortunately, with landfills filling up almost to full capacity, those environmentally conscious amongst us are working on ways to lessen our im…

Saving Our Environment — Reducing Business’s Impact on Nature Eckart Zollner (EDS Systems | Head of Business Development) Climate change is undoubtedly one of the biggest challenges to threaten the existence of mankind and an issue that the SA Government is attempting to tackle head on. This is not just a governmental issue however - businesses nee…

Why 70%? And other hand sanitiser questions — Keep your hands clean! Gently and safely Bruce Turner (The Bespoke Amenities Co. | MD) Today Melanie talks to Bruce Turner, Managing Director of The Bespoke Amenities Company about hand sanitiser, as well as those little things (like shampoo and body wash) you like to take home from hotels. Contact Bruc…

Life is a Garden — Make your Garden a Reflection of your Life Cary Goodwin (Spokesperson for Life is a Garden, Peebles Plants and Colourful Group) Winter is a time when many people hang out indoors, leaving their garden to fend for itself. However, winter is a great time for taking stock of what’s going on in your own backyard. Cary and Melanie cha…

Lockdown doesn’t mean Shut Down — And Stay at Home doesn’t mean Say Inside Michael Rickhoff (Master Designer) Staying onside, not staying inside, has been the way of thinking for those who enjoying growing and have been kept at home by the Lockdown. Michael Rickhoff gives us Green ideas for your space, whether you have a lovely garden or just a sun…

Switching on your garden — Preparing for a burst of spring colour with Bulbs - turn it on! Charles Barnhoorn (Hadeco Bulbs | MD) and Michael Rickhoff (Master Designer) Gardening during lockdown has been something of a trial for those who love to plant. But with the opening of Garden Centres for trade, this is the time to not only look at what food …

In this challenging time of the Covid-19 (SARS-CoronaVirus-2) outbreak, with people being encouraged to self-isolate as much as possible, we must remember that essential services need to be kept running. Many services are under major pressure, one of which is the South African National Blood Service. With people working from home, schools and unive…

All about Ecobricks, saving the planet and educating children about the importance of reducing plastic pollution, recycling and taking responsibility for making the planet cleaner. Meet Sean Williams and help him change the world https://swcontracts.co.za/meet-sean-williams/ Learn more about Anthea and Eco Balance Lifestyle https://ecobalancelifest…

Going into autumn, life becomes interesting in your backyard. Cary Goodwin let's us in on all the must do and must haves for the upcoming month. From veggie gardening to what's on the hard gardening calendar, you'll hear about it here! Connect with Melanie on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/melstreasures.co.za/ When you're ready to produce your o…

Winners - not binners. That was the first thought when finding out what Winnie 'Upcycle' McHenry was up to. Landfills are filling up to capacity. There's plastic pollution in our oceans. The 70s and 80s notion of 'consume, consume, consume' is not only outdated, but should be outlawed! Fortunately there are some people who are doing something drast…

From soil to supper, Gardening had its ups and downs. With people getting back to their roots and coming down to earth, the want to know more about how to grow your own or to enhance your livings space - and your life - has become a must have. As numbers of people entering into horticulture and landscaping worldwide have dwindled, the demand for pe…

The countdown to the Johannesburg International Flower Show has started - and the excitement from the attendees is palpable. But it's not just about Show Gardens. The massive floral pavilion is hosting the cream of SA's floral stylist talent, with fabulous displays and floral chandeliers taking pride of place. Our three guests, Kim, Mira and Karen …