Explore every episode of the podcast White Strawberries: Gardening for Wellness & Joy
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Zones: Can Gardening Help You Live Longer? | 20 Feb 2026 | 00:31:24 | |
💚The waitlist is open: Find Information on the Grounded Course here A friend once asked me how I could justify spending 10 hours a week in the garden. That question stuck with me. In this episode of White Strawberries, I explore the research behind the Blue Zones — the regions identified by Dan Buettner where people live the longest, healthiest lives — and filter those findings through the lens of gardening. This isn’t a double-blind clinical trial. But it is a fascinating look at lifestyle patterns that consistently show up in long-lived communities: natural movement, plant-based eating, nervous system regulation, strong social ties, and purpose. And when you look closely… gardening sits right in the middle of it all. 🌱 What You’ll Discover
📚 Referenced Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who’ve Lived the Longest by Dan Buettner 🎧 Previous White Strawberries Episodes Mentioned Mediterranean Guild Gardening: Figs, Grapes, Olives & Companions | Mastering the Garden Dirty Dozen Guide: Nutrition, Pesticides & Biodiversity | Mastering the Garden Chickens in the Garden | With Dr. Sez the Vet Nitrogen 101: Transforms Your Garden | Mastering the Garden | |||
| Throw Back: 5 Garden Side Hustles, that isn't selling plants| Sparking Joy | 12 Feb 2026 | 00:21:25 | |
Looking to make the most of your garden or property without selling your harvest? In this episode of White Strawberries, I share five creative side hustles you can start right at home. From hosting garden tours and beehives to earning carbon credits, leasing land, or renting out a minor dwelling, these ideas can help offset costs, invest in your property, and even bring in a little extra cash. I cover practical tips, real-life examples from New Zealand, and legal considerations so you can get started with confidence. Perfect for gardeners, landowners, and anyone curious about turning their property into a rewarding side hustle. | |||
| Pesticides Uncovered: How to Eat Safer | With Alison White | 10 Dec 2025 | 00:41:00 | |
Guest: Alison White, Co-convenor of the Safe Food Campaign In this episode, I sit down with Alison White, the woman behind New Zealand’s version of the Dirty Dozen list — a ranking of the most pesticide-contaminated foods available on our shelves. Alison has a Master’s in Public Health, is a lifetime member of the Soil & Health Association, and co-convenes the Safe Food Campaign. Together, we unpack:
This conversation will leave you thinking differently about what’s on your plate — and why home-grown food might just be one of the most powerful forms of resistance.
Link for Further Reading: | |||
| The Secret to Thriving Roses | Spark Joy | 03 Dec 2025 | 00:26:23 | |
🌹 Welcome to White Strawberries, your go-to podcast for effortless, joyful, and sustainable gardening. In this episode, I dive into why my roses are thriving without sprays, how biodiversity supports healthy plants, and how to make your own rosewater and tea from fragrant blooms. What you’ll discover in this episode:
Research & References:
📸 Follow me for images, videos, and behind-the-scenes gardening tips:
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| Feed Us with Trees: Nuts and the Future of Food | With Elspeth Hay | 25 Nov 2025 | 00:33:41 | |
Could the future of food be rooted in trees, not annual grains?
At a time when the majority of the world’s calories come from monocropped annual grains, Elspeth invites us to imagine a different path: one where our landscapes are abundant, resilient, biodiverse, and shaped by the long memory of trees. We explore: Whether you’re a gardener, permaculture practitioner, homesteader, or someone rethinking how we grow food, this conversation will expand your imagination and reconnect you with the ancient wisdom of tree-based agriculture. If you’ve ever dreamed of growing food forests, diversifying your diet, or stepping away from nutrient-poor annual beds — this episode is for you. 💚🌿Sam ✨ Let’s connect: | |||
| Basics of Genetic Engineering | With GE Honesty | 19 Nov 2025 | 00:32:08 | |
I’m not usually a political person, but sometimes a little adulting is needed. And I think it’s important that everyday Kiwis actually know what’s happening in our food system. In this episode, I sit down with Callum from GE Honesty to unpack the basics of genetic engineering, gene editing, and what these proposed changes, that are currently with parliament, could mean for New Zealand farmers, gardeners, and the nutrient density of our food. Whether you’re new to the GE conversation, a home gardener wanting to understand how this might affect seeds and soil, or simply a curious Kiwi trying to keep up with the headlines — this episode is for you. And if you’re overseas, I’d genuinely love to hear how GE crops and policies have impacted your country too. 🌱 Topics we cover: This is an episode close to my heart, and I’m grateful to have you here for it. 💚🌿Sam ✨ Let’s connect: Learn More:
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| Sunflowers: 6 Reasons to Grow them | Sparking Joy | 12 Nov 2025 | 00:19:11 | |
🌻 How cool are sunflowers? In this Sparking Joy episode of White Strawberries, we explore everything there is to love about sunflowers — their ancient history, mythological roots, and the many ways they bring life (and light!) to your garden. From Greek mythology’s Helios and the sunflower nymph, to modern uses like phytoremediation — where sunflowers help clean toxins from the soil after disasters like Chernobyl and Fukushima — these plants are true multitaskers. We also dive into how to: Whether you’re a permaculture grower, a seed saver, or just love bee-friendly blooms, this episode will inspire you to plant a few giants of your own. 🌻 Sunflower suppliers mentioned: Also- thank you Elena, a listener, for sending this link through. They do free soil testing in Aotearoa: Soil Safe. 📸 Let’s connect on Instagram: @whitestrawberriespodcast | |||
| Asexual Propagation: Beginner’s Overview of How to Clone a Plant | 05 Nov 2025 | 00:19:33 | |
In this episode we’re diving into asexual propagation: making clones of a plant we want. For beginners! There are more ways, but these are the easiest!! AKA- How to steal plants. Think of it as taking the complete DNA of a plant you love and bringing it home to grow in your garden. I cover: Along the way, I share my own experiments, confessions, and share the joy of “free” gardening—getting plants from friends, neighbours, or the park 🙊 By the end of this episode, you’ll see why asexual propagation is perfect for creating more of the plants you love. Grab a fork, a spade, or just your curiosity—and let’s grow something amazing together! | |||
| DIY Electrolytes: Turning Garden Surplus into Functional Hydration | Sparking Joy | 28 Oct 2025 | 00:12:01 | |
This week on White Strawberries, we’re talking about DIY electrolytes — making your own hydration mix right from the kitchen (and garden). Whether you’re in autumn apple season in the Northern Hemisphere or heading into long, sunny days here in New Zealand, this episode shows you how to turn fruit surplus into clean, functional hydration — without the bright blue sports drinks or artificial sweeteners. I share how a 12-hour adventure race taught me the importance of electrolytes, what I learned from Dr. Stacy Sims — author of ROAR You’ll hear my go-to recipe using apples, honey, Himalayan salt, and cream of tartar — plus how to freeze it into easy electrolyte cubes for race day, gardening, or kid’s sport. ✨ Why it sparks joy: It’s gut-friendly, garden-inspired, and turns food surplus into fuel. It’s hydration that actually works — and it tastes good. 💧 Get the full recipe and breakdown — DM me the word electrolyte on Instagram: @whitestrawberriespodcast May your garden be abundant, your strawberries white, and your hydration delightfully balanced. | |||
| Help! My Garden Isn’t Thriving | Mastering the Garden | 22 Oct 2025 | 00:26:42 | |
🌱 In this episode, I’m tackling a problem I hear all the time — what to do when your garden isn’t thriving. Maybe your garden used to be amazing, but now your plants are struggling. Maybe you are hesitant to continue to purchase soil and your plants aren't thriving. Maybe your potting mix has released all it's fertiliser, or maybe you're starting from scratch! Leaves are pale, flowers are sparse, and growth is slow. I’ll walk you through practical ways to fix infertile garden soil and bring your garden back to life. I’ll cover: 📸 Let’s connect: @whitestrawberriespodcast 📘 Join the convo on Facebook: White Strawberries Podcast | |||
| Mulch and Ground Covers| Mastering the Garden | 14 Oct 2025 | 00:32:58 | |
🌱 In this episode, I explore something that’s been top of mind lately — ground covers. Ground covers form one of the eight layers of a forest and play a vital role in any thriving garden, orchard, or food forest. They’re not just about filling space — they’re about protecting, nourishing, and bringing life to your soil. I’ll chat about: 📖 Book mentioned: The Ultimate Food Garden (Fourth NZ & Australian Edition) by Selby Goldstone 📸 Let’s connect: @whitestrawberriespodcast | |||
| WWOOFing! Organic Farm Work Exchange | Sparking Joy | 07 Oct 2025 | 00:15:40 | |
🌍 In this episode, I’ve just returned from WWOOFing — and I have a lot of feedback to share! What exactly is WWOOFing? Is it for you? And how can you make sure you find the right host before you pack your bags and head off to dig, plant, and learn? I’ll chat about: You’ll also hear what I loved, what I’d do differently next time, and how to decide if this kind of travel and learning is a fit for you. Have you WWOOFed before? I’d love to hear your experience! 📸 Let’s connect: @whitestrawberriespodcast | |||
| How I Saved My Garden from Summer Storms, Flooding & Wind | 04 Feb 2026 | 00:26:16 | |
This summer has been brutal for gardeners — relentless rain, flooding, fallen trees, fungal disease, and damaging winds arriving right in the middle of the growing season. I want to share with you five practical techniques that genuinely saved my garden during extreme summer weather. These aren’t idealised systems or expensive upgrades — they’re real-world responses to waterlogged soil, wind stress, and disease pressure in a changing climate. This is about observing your space honestly, responding early, and growing with the climate you have — not the one you planned for. 🌱 What You’ll Discover
🛠️ The Five Garden-Saving Techniques
🎧 Previous White Strawberries Episodes Mentioned Mulch, Wanted, Dead or Alive | Mastering the Garden 📚 Books & Resources Referenced The Permaculture Home Garden — Linda Woodrow 🌿 Join the new Waitlist!! Grounded — a live, four-week online workshop for intermediate gardeners reimagining their space for joy, wellness, and resilience 👉 https://whitestrawberriespodcast.com/grounded 101 Gardening — a beginner-friendly introduction to growing for joy and wellness 🌦️ Final Thought Climate-resilient gardening isn’t about doing more — it’s about doing things differently. Observe closely, respond early, and let the land show you what it needs. | |||
| Chicken Tractors- Considerations, pros and cons| Mastering the Garden | 23 Sep 2025 | 00:32:34 | |
🐓 In this episode, I share my lived experience with chicken tractors and the mandala garden system — the joys, the frustrations, and the lessons five years in. We explore: This is part personal story, part design reflection. From dry dust bath floors to chickens marching like a parade when the tarp comes off, it’s all here. If you’ve ever thought about building (or rethinking) your own chicken system, this episode gives you the inside scoop on what works — and what doesn’t — in real-life gardens. 📚 Recommended for: permaculture experimenters, chicken keepers, mandala garden nerds, and anyone curious about closing the loop with feathered friends. 💡 Resources & References: 🎧 Connect with me: | |||
| Chickens in the Garden | With Dr. Sez the Vet | 16 Sep 2025 | 00:50:15 | |
We’re talking chickens—those fluffy butt, soil-turning, pest eating wonders that can be put to work in your garden. 🐔 Whether you're dreaming of adding chickens to your permaculture setup or wondering if they're right for your orchard, this episode is packed with practical, real-world insight. I'm joined by Sez the Vet, an experienced life-style vet and educator. This is a conversation I was looking for 10 years ago! I get to have it now and share it with you. Are we OK to feed our hens oats in the morning? Can we let a mama hen eat the chick starter? What breeds should a gardener have? By the end, you’ll know whether chickens are right for your land—and your lifestyle. 🎧 Tune in to learn how pigs can become not just garden helpers, but cherished companions (just don’t let them get away with any nonsense!). Links & Resources:
🌱 White Strawberries is where we try and get Little Fluffy Butts to do our work ;) | |||
| Growing Topicals in a Cold Climate | With Steve Fawcett | 09 Sep 2025 | 00:45:00 | |
🌱 In this episode, I sit down with Steve Fawcett to explore Troppo — an urban tropical food forest in Te Puke. Yes, tropical plants… outdoors… in a place that gets frost and hail! We dive into: Steve’s casual style hides just how much knowledge he’s built through hands-on experimenting. From Papua New Guinea childhood memories of climbing fruit trees, to creating a lush, diverse, small-space forest garden in New Zealand, this conversation is a reminder of how much joy and abundance plants bring. 📚 Recommended for: food forest dreamers, experimental gardeners, permaculture enthusiasts, anyone curious about growing the “impossible” plants in their climate. 💡 Resources & References: | |||
| The Home-Scale Forest Garden – My Review & Takeaways | Mastering the Garden | 04 Sep 2025 | 00:21:40 | |
🌱 In this episode, I dive into The Home-Scale Forest Garden by Dani Baker (2022), How to Plan, Plant and Tend a Resilient Edible Landscape. I share why this book captured my attention, what makes it such a treasure for anyone wanting to create a forest garden, and how I’ve been inspired to rethink my own food forest. From mapping your space with to-scale circles to understanding the roles of nitrogen fixers, mineral accumulators, and even fungi, Dani’s approach is full of practical, joyful ideas. I highlight:
Plus, I share a couple of things to keep in mind, before purchasing the book. 📚 Recommended for: gardeners with space, permaculture enthusiasts, anyone curious about forest gardens or edible landscapes. 💡 Resources & References:
🎧 Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook: @whitestrawberriespodcast | |||
| Dirty Dozen Guide: Nutrition, Pesticides & Biodiversity | Mastering the Garden | 19 Aug 2025 | 00:28:27 | |
Some fruits and vegetables are heavily sprayed with pesticides—and it’s not just a chemical issue. These plants may also produce fewer natural compounds that make them nutritious, and conventional growing methods can harm the environment. 🌱 Welcome to White Strawberries, In this episode, we unpack the Dirty Dozen—the 12 fruits and vegetables with the highest pesticide residues—and explore the Clean 15, foods that are generally safer. I’ll share advice on which ones to grow at home, which to buy spray-free, and which can be safely peeled or washed. 🏵️We’ll dig into:
Whether you’re a home gardener, conscious consumer, or just curious, this episode will give you practical ways to make smarter choices for your family and your garden—without judgment. Resources & Links:
White Strawberries is a small, independent podcast. If you enjoy what you hear, following, sharing, or leaving a review helps us reach more listeners and keep these conversations growing. 🌿 May your garden be abundant, your strawberries white, and your curiosity never-ending! | |||
| Happy Kids. Gardening and Free Play with Children | With Robin Mann | 12 Aug 2025 | 00:50:14 | |
In this episode, Sam puts on her educator’s hat, drawing from over 20 years of experience working in schools across New Zealand, Hong Kong, China, and the USA — including roles as Dean, Head of Business Department, sustainable living and outdoor education specialist, and working with at-risk youth. Sam sits down with Robin Mann, founder of Grow Wild Education, an inspiring nature-based learning initiative. Grow Wild Education runs weekly nature school programs and summer holiday sessions that encourage curiosity, creativity, and a deep connection with the natural world. Together, they explore practical ways to support children’s mental health, reduce anxiety, and nurture resilience by embracing the outdoors, fostering free play, and modeling healthy behaviors. Useful Links from This Episode:
If you enjoyed this episode: For more on gardening, outdoor play, and raising resilient kids, follow along at White Strawberries Podcast. Happy gardening, beaching, and bush whacking! | |||
| Perennial Vegetables for Harvesting over Winter | Sparking Joy | 06 Aug 2025 | 00:20:02 | |
In this episode of White Strawberries, I dig into the unsung heroes of the vegetable garden: perennials! You’ll learn about my three favourite edible roots — yacón, Jerusalem artichokes, and oca (NZ yams) — and the leafy perennials I would grow even if I only had 1m2 of garden bed: Sorrel, perpetual spinach, Welsh onions, and chives. These plants are weedy in the best way, nutrient-dense, and perfect for gardeners who want to reduce the time and effort they spend in their garden, so they can do other things (probably more gardening! ;) )... 🌱 In this episode:
🧺 Giveaway! Want to try growing yacón, oca, or Jerusalem artichokes yourself? 🏵️🌿💗 What do you think? | |||
| Nitrogen 101: Transforms Your Garden | Mastering the Garden | 23 Jul 2025 | 00:12:50 | |
🌱 What is nitrogen actually and when we know what it is why does it matter? In this solo episode of White Strawberries, I ditch the edits (full disclosure I took the "um's" out) and go full conversation mode to unpack something that is made overly complicated sometimes: nitrogen. 🧪 We explore: 🌸 Whether you're into hot composting, lazy mulching, or dreaming up a nitrogen-fixing forest floor—this one’s a musing that won’t get too sciency. Just soil-loving honesty from one curious gardener to another. 📸 See the wisteria-in-the-garden @whitestrawberriespodcast on Instagram and Facebook | |||
| Water Wisely: Recycling & Irrigation Tips | With Sofee D | 18 Jul 2025 | 00:33:35 | |
💧 🌦️ If you’ve ever looked at a garden hose like it was made of gold—this one’s for you. In this episode of White Strawberries, I have a conversation with Sophie, a Zero Waste Educator, about the messy magic of water in the garden. From buckets of bathwater to rainwater you wish you could store, we share what it’s really like managing water—whether you live in a tiny house on a large amount of land, or a suburban backyard, this ones for you. 🚿 We explore: 🏡 Tiny homes, suburban gardens, and big garden dreams all welcome in this splashy, honest water chat. 📸 See how we do it @whitestrawberriespodcast | |||
| Hydrangeas | Sparking Joy | 09 Jul 2025 | 00:12:10 | |
In this Spark Joy episode, we dive into the wonderful world of hydrangeas — one of New Zealand’s most beloved perennial shrubs, known for their stunning blooms and versatility. As I recorded this in the height of summer, hydrangeas were truly sparking joy in my garden. Now, as winter sets in, it’s the perfect time to prune your hydrangeas, take cuttings to propagate, plant new hydrangeas, and feed your existing plants. Plus, if you’re looking to adjust your soil’s pH for the best color and health, now’s the moment to get to work! Hydrangeas also have a special place in permaculture gardens, helping create microclimates and supporting beneficial insects. Let’s celebrate this beautiful shrub and share tips to keep your hydrangeas thriving year-round. 🌿 Connect and find images of my hydrangeas 📷 May your garden be abundant, your strawberries white, and your curiosity never-ending! | |||
| Why Raised Veggie Beds Burn Out Beginner Gardeners | Mastering the Garden | 29 Jan 2026 | 00:22:17 | |
Annual raised beds often feel productive at first… and then stop thriving. We talk about the hidden workload of annuals, why potting mixes run out of nutrients, add toxicity to our soil and how lack of biodiversity can lead to pests and frustration. This isn’t an anti–raised bed rant. There are things they do well. But if you’ve ever felt like you’re doing “everything right” and your garden still isn’t feeding you — this episode will help you understand why, and what small shifts actually make gardening easier. 🌱 In this episode, we explore:
If you’d like a visual of how I build a sandwich bed, DM me “Sandwich Bed” on Instagram or Facebook and I’ll send it through. 🔗 Previous White Strawberries Episodes Mentioned Help! My Garden Isn’t Thriving | Mastering the Garden | |||
| Pruning, Fiejoas, Cuttings & Lemon Tree Rescue | Conversation with a Newbie | 02 Jul 2025 | 00:26:25 | |
In today’s Q&A-style episode, I chat with Becks, who’s growing food on a small urban section packed with subtropical and Mediterranean microclimates. We talk through her real-life garden dilemmas—from a wayward apple tree branch and overachieving feijoas, to pruning grapevines and getting citrus trees back on track. We cover: If you’ve ever wondered how to shape your trees, take a cutting, or diagnose citrus struggles, this one’s for you. ✨ Bonus: I've shared a visual demo of nodes, cuttings, and branches over on socials. Until next time—may your strawberries be white and your worms happy. | |||
| Composting! Hot or not? | Mastering the Garden | 25 Jun 2025 | 00:24:33 | |
♻️ Ever wondered if your compost pile is killing weed seeds—or just giving them a warm nap? In this episode of White Strawberries, I dive into my very first proper hot composting adventure. Spoiler: it involves bamboo stakes, cow poo tea, temperature obsessions, and a whole lot of bindweed I didn’t trust in a cold pile. 🌱 We’ll explore: Plus: tips I wish I’d known at the start—like why summer might be the worst time to start, and how to check if your compost really did the job. 📸 Check out images of the heap on Instagram or Facebook: @whitestrawberriespodcast 🧪 Want better veggies and fewer weeds? Hot composting might be your next garden glow-up. Check out where else to find me here: https://linktr.ee/whitestrawberries | |||
| Elderberries: Grow & Use Them Year-Round | Sparking Joy | 17 Jun 2025 | 00:16:17 | |
Elderberry: Grow it because it’s delicious, beautiful — and scientifically proven to shorten the duration of the flu. This episode dives into the magic, science, and mischief of elderberries — a plant that blurs the line between medicine and myth. Learn why it’s a favourite of permaculturists, herbalists, and birds alike — and why it might just belong in your garden too. We explore: Whether you're planting your first bush or rediscovering an old favourite, this episode invites you to explore both the light and dark sides of a plant full of magic — and medicine. 🖤 May your elderberries be dark and your curiosity never-ending. | |||
| Pigs in the Garden | Conversation with Dr. Sez the Vet | 10 Jun 2025 | 00:46:46 | |
We’re talking pigs—those chubby, soil-turning wonders that can transform your paddock and garden into a thriving ecosystem. 🐖 Whether you're dreaming of adding pigs to your permaculture setup or wondering if they're right for your orchard, this episode is packed with practical, real-world insight. I'm joined by Sez the Vet, an experienced life-style vet and educator, who breaks down the real benefits of pigs—from tilling the soil and fertilizing as they go, to controlling pests like guava moth by eating fallen fruit. We also dive into the important stuff:
By the end, you’ll know whether pigs are right for your land—and your lifestyle. 🎧 Tune in to learn how pigs can become not just garden helpers, but cherished companions (just don’t let them get away with any nonsense!). Links & Resources:
🌱 White Strawberries is where we try and get Little Fat Rounds to do our work ;) | |||
| Mediterranean Guild Gardening: Figs, Grapes, Olives & Companions | Mastering the Garden | 03 Jun 2025 | 00:16:50 | |
What do olives, grapes, figs, and lavender all have in common? They're part of the sun-loving, drought-tolerant crew that thrive in Mediterranean climates—and today we’re designing a whole guild around them. In this episode, I explore what it means to plant perennials where they want to grow and why matching plants to their ancestral homes creates a thriving, low-input ecosystem. From nitrogen-fixers like tagasaste and Spanish broom to groundcovers like clover and nasturtium, we’ll break down each guild member's role and how they support each other. You'll also hear how I mapped my own land, identified the only full-sun spot, and turned it into a haven for these heat-loving plants. Whether you’re growing on rocky slopes or urban backyards, this episode will help you make the most of what you’ve got—by working with nature, not against it. 🌿 Highlights:
📸 Let’s connect: @whitestrawberriespodcast | |||
| Wine Cap Mushrooms in Orchards | With Sarah Williams | 27 May 2025 | 00:28:57 | |
In this earthy and enthusiastic episode, I chat with Sarah Williams—permaculture gardener, mushroom grower, and the green-fingered soul behind Sarah’s Green Acres—about growing wine cap mushrooms, also known as burgundy mushrooms or garden giants. We explore:
Plus, we spiral delightfully into tangents about refractometers, bitter greens, the spray-heavy brassica world, and why we sometimes avoid testing our soil (just in case it bursts our bubble). If you’ve ever wanted to grow something that tastes amazing, supports your soil, and you can’t find at the supermarket—this episode is for you. ✨ Want us to dive deeper into mushrooms, logs, bags, or bitterness? Let me know! | |||
| White Strawberries: How They Inspired This Podcast | Sparking Joy | 20 May 2025 | 00:12:07 | |
🎙️ Why White Strawberries? 🍓 Welcome to White Strawberries, the podcast where we explore the lost art of living with nature—from a tiny house tucked into New Zealand bushland, surrounded by chickens, weeds, and yes... white strawberries. In this episode, I (Sam!) unpack the five quirky, nerdy, and joy-filled reasons behind the name White Strawberries. We dive into: ✨ What white strawberries actually are (spoiler: not unripe fruit) This episode is for anyone who's ever wanted to grow their own food, feel more connected to the land, or just taste a strawberry that doesn’t come shrink-wrapped. Let’s dig in. 🌱 | |||
| What to grow when: Timing Your Veges Right. | Mastering the Garden | 13 May 2025 | 00:17:55 | |
New to gardening and wondering when to plant things like tomatoes, spinach, or broccoli? This episode is for you! We’re diving into the basics of plant life cycles and how to know what to grow and when—without having to constantly check a list. By understanding what part of a plant you’re eating (leaf, flower, fruit, or seed), and how plants behave through the seasons, you’ll be able to plan your garden with more confidence and without the need of a generic plant list. Whether you’re in New Zealand, North America, Europe or beyond, you’ll come away with simple, practical advice to grow what you love—when it actually wants to grow. Let’s garden smarter—not harder—and keep it joyful. ——— 📸 Instagram: @whitestrawberriespodcast 📘 Join the convo on Facebook: White Strawberries Podcast | |||
| 3 Reasons Not to Garden | Sparking Joy? | 23 Apr 2025 | 00:14:56 | |
Think gardening is the only way to live sustainably? Think again. In this episode of White Strawberries, Sam offers a joyful permission slip to not garden—and still feel good about it. 🌸 Why shoulding yourself into sustainability doesn’t work 📸 Instagram: @whitestrawberriespodcast | |||
| Throwback: Permaculture: Explained | With Dr. Sez the Vet | 22 Jan 2026 | 00:28:53 | |
Hi everyone! We have flooding and power outages throughout my area this week! So I'm hunkering down with the kids and re-releasing a top hitting podcast of mine. 💚 From sun mapping and creating guilds and chickens doing their part, this episode is packed with real-life examples of how Sam and others have implemented permaculture practices—while acknowledging the challenges that come with them. Join us for an honest conversation about gardening in today’s world and how small, thoughtful steps can lead to big, sustainable changes. It’s not about doing it perfectly; it’s about doing what works for you, your family, and your land. 🎧 Listen now and subscribe to White Strawberries for more adventures in sustainable living! 📸 Let’s connect: @whitestrawberriespodcast | |||
| Down with AI gardens & Up with Real Life! Why Community Changes Everything | Mastering the Garden | 15 Jan 2026 | 00:29:28 | |
There’s no shortage of gardening advice online — but more information isn’t making us better gardeners. In fact, it’s often doing the opposite. In this Mastering the Garden episode of White Strawberries, Sam explores why overwhelm, comparison, and perfectly curated (often fake AI rubbish) can quietly drain our confidence and joy. If you’ve ever felt like you’re “doing it wrong” despite knowing so much, this episode is for you. This is a conversation about community over content — and why real transformation on our land doesn’t come from another tip, trick, or algorithm-fed reel. It comes from proximity. From being around people who observe carefully, ask better questions, and live intentionally with their land — not perfectly, but honestly. Drawing on permaculture thinking, lived experience, and the idea of “spirals” of achievement versus apathy, Sam unpacks how peer groups quietly shape our standards, energy, and outcomes in the garden (and beyond). She also shares practical ways to find — or create — the kind of gardening community that actually supports growth, alignment, and joy. This episode also gently introduces Grounded, an upcoming course designed to bring real people together in real time — not for more information, but for shared momentum and discernment. 🌱 If you’re ready to step off the information treadmill and into something more grounded, this one’s for you. 🌱 What You’ll Discover
🎧 Previous White Strawberries Episodes You Might Enjoy
🌱 Join the Grounded waitlist: | |||
| Garden Goal Setting like a pro: Less Hustle, more Joy | Mastering the Garden | 06 Jan 2026 | 00:15:58 | |
Creating garden goals that bring you joy, wellness, and sustainability in 2026—without getting caught in the “more, more, more” trap! I guide you through a simple four-question exercise to set achievable garden intentions:
Let's do it together! I'll share my goals and lots of examples of what you might like. References & Resources
Previous White Strawberries Episodes Mentioned: | |||
| Annuals Beyond the Supermarket: What to Grow Instead | Sparking Joy | 02 Jan 2026 | 00:22:54 | |
Supermarkets love annual crops — but only a very narrow version of them. In this Sparking Joy episode of White Strawberries, I explore annual vegetables and fruits you’ll almost never see on supermarket shelves — not because they’re inferior!! We talk about why supermarket produce is bred for transport, uniformity, and shelf life — and what gets lost along the way: flavour, phytonutrients, biodiversity, and joy. From purple tomatoes and unusual potatoes to heirloom beans, peas, and self-seeding “weeds,” this episode celebrates annual plants that thrive in real gardens, not industrial systems. 🌱 What You’ll Discover
🔗 References & Resources Mentioned Koanga Institute (Heirloom & Heritage Seeds – NZ) 🎧 Previous White Strawberries Episodes You Might Enjoy: What to Grow When: Timing Your Veges Right | Mastering the Garden Nitrogen 101: Transforms Your Garden | Mastering the Garden | |||
| More Perennials, Less Hustle: Gardening Beyond the Supermarket | Sparking Joy | 24 Dec 2025 | 00:31:40 | |
Next summer, I’m choosing a quieter, more generous way of gardening — more perennials, less hustle. In this Sparking Joy episode of White Strawberries, I reflect on why perennial plants suit real life so much better than annual-heavy gardens, especially when you’re a parent, a busy human, or simply someone who wants joy without burnout. We explore what makes a plant perennial, why supermarkets shape such a narrow food system, and how home gardeners have the freedom to grow softer, stranger, more seasonal, and more nutritious plants. From globe artichokes and asparagus to berries, figs, kawakawa, and heritage fruit, this episode celebrates the plants that keep giving — even when we step away. I also share how I’m planning my own perennial spaces using soil clues, microclimates, wind, drainage, and community wisdom, plus a community-sourced list of favourite edible perennials that rarely appear in supermarkets — and why that’s exactly the point. 🌱 Gardening for wellness, curiosity, and joy — not perfection. 🌿 What You’ll Discover
🔗 References & Resources Mentioned Koanga Institute (Heirloom Seeds – NZ) Previous White Strawberries Episodes that may be your next step:
🪴 Community-Favourite Edible Perennials List: Apricot, banana passionfruit, blackberries, blackcurrants, blueberries, boysenberries, cape gooseberries, cherries, currants (red/white/black), elderberries, feijoas, figs (fruit + leaves), grapes (fruit + leaves), guava berries, huckleberries, josta berries, lemons and citrus varieties, loquats*, sorrel, mango, medlar, mulberries, paw paw (mountain & American), passionfruit (yellow, banana, vanilla), pepino, plumcot, peachcot, quince, raspberries, tamarillo, watercress, alpine strawberries (red & white), yacón, Jerusalem artichoke. | |||
| Poo Power: Gentle Fertilisers for Better Soil | Sparking Joy | 16 Dec 2025 | 00:12:47 | |
Discover the gentle power of manure in your garden! In this episode, Sam dives into ruminant manure, vermicompost tea, and worm juice, showing how these natural fertilizers can improve soil health, boost nutrient uptake, and make your plants thrive. Learn practical tips for safe application, the science behind soil-building benefits, and how to make the most of your compost and worm farm. 🌱 What You’ll Discover:
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| Longevity Foods: Grow What Fuels Brian Johnson | Rooted in Wellness | 26 Feb 2026 | 00:36:14 | |
🌱 In this episode we explore how the diet and wellness practices of Brian Johnson — who aims to optimise health and longevity — intersect with what we can grow in our own gardens. From legumes to berries, brassicas to nuts, Sam breaks down practical tips for growing for longevity. Discover what’s feasible in your garden, when to plant, and how to save seeds, all inspired by Johnson’s “don’t die” food guide and anti-aging meals. What You’ll Discover
References & Resources Mentioned
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