Our Plant Stories

I think this Offshoot episode will make you pause next time you find yourself in front of a colourful wall of seed packets. As with many seemingly simple things, the story of a small seed, can in fact be a lot more fascinating and complicated than it might at first appear. So take a journey into the history and science of seeds. We'll ponder the Portuguese, spreading pepper seeds around the world and seed banks in St Petersburg, Syria and the Arctic Circle. We'll hear about the skills of Ethiopian farmers. Adam Alexander, also known as the seed detective and a self confessed vegetable anorak is endlessly curious about seeds and in his new book The Accidental Seed Heroes he is on the trail of the growers who are championing traditional varieties and breeding new ones that will adapt to our changing climate.What can these seed heroes teach us, as we think about what to grow this April?.Takeaways: The inception of plant breeding can be traced back to our Neolithic ancestors, who began selecting wild relatives for cultivation approximately 12,000 years ago, primarily focusing on cereals. Adam Alexander, the author of The Accidental Seed Heroes, emphasises the significance of traditional plant breeding and the critical need to preserve genetic diversity in crops for future food security. The podcast highlights the remarkable adaptive capabilities of open-pollinated crops, which are essential for resilience against climate change and environmental fluctuations. The discussion reveals the importance of seed banks and living collections, such as the Vavilov Institute, in maintaining genetic diversity and supporting agro-biodiversity. Adam Alexander describes his travels to Ethiopia and Albania, where he learned from indigenous farmers who practice sustainable agriculture and maintain a rich diversity of crops. The episode sheds light on the necessity of evolving our agricultural practices to ensure food security in the face of climate change, advocating for the cultivation of diverse and adaptive crop varieties. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Richard Bowman tells the story of seeds salvaged from great uncle Eric's potting shed. The shed, perched on the Yorkshire moors had been untouched for 20 years when Richard was given the task of clearing it out. These seeds, stored in Oxo tins and match boxes, sparking memories of a bygone era, lead to a conversation with the Seed Detective, Adam Alexander, who discusses their potential for germination despite their advanced age. Richard's passion for gardening, is deep rooted and these seeds with their potential to put the colour back into the black and white photos of uncle Eric's garden are more precious than any everyday object. But the seeds have been 'asleep' for so many years, can he get them to grow? If Richard can get them to germinate - they will emerge into a very different climate. Adam, the Seed Detective, talks about why we should all save seeds and shares his knowledge about storing and growing seeds and the need to store them in cool , dry, dark conditions. Have great uncle Eric's seeds survived in the potting shed? Follow the podcast to find out what happens!Independent podcasts like Our Plant Stories depend on their listeners for help with the costs of making the podcast such as the hosting platform and the editing programme.Using the Buy Me A Coffee platform you can make a one off online donation of £5 and that money will go towards making more episodes. Everyone who buys a 'virtual coffee' will get a shout out on the podcast. The support of listeners means a lot to me. Buy Me A Coffee Our Plant Stories is presented and produced by Sally FlatmanThe music is Fade to Black by Howard LevyMentioned in this episode:Follow podcast This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

In Rough Patch - How a year in the garden brought me back to life; Kathy Slack shares all the lessons she learned from her own story of recovery from depression. She shared her plant story with us in series 2 in an episode called Kathy's Radishes. As we sat by her veg patch she explained why it was so powerful to see life in the soil and discover its potential to grow food. In the conversation in this Offshoot episode she tells us why it was so important for her to get those lessons down on paper. We talk about what she wants readers to take away and as she explains; a book like this when she was struggling would not have solved her problems but she would not have felt so alone. And we find out how a cow can perhaps teach all of us something about just being present. And Kathy being so generous with her recipes and her expertise - I ask her for some advice on what to grow this year!Independent podcasts like Our Plant Stories depend on their listeners for help with the costs of making the podcast such as the hosting platform and the editing programme.Using the Buy Me A Coffee platform you can make a one off online donation of £5 and that money will go towards making more episodes. Everyone who buys a 'virtual coffee' will get a shout out on the podcast. The support of listeners means a lot to me. Buy Me A Coffee Every month I will make a plant story but stories often lead to more stories and I end up publishing Offshoot episodes. So if you 'Follow' the podcast on your podcast app you will never miss an episode.It also makes a real difference if you can spare the time to rate and/or review an episode after you have listened. Spotify and Apple look at these ratings and it helps to get the podcast promoted to other plant lovers. Our Plant Stories is presented and produced by Sally FlatmanThe music is Fade to Black by Howard LevyMentioned in this episode:Follow podcast This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

One Summer Lucy Houliston, aged just 6, set herself the mission of raising awareness of weeds as plants that deserve love and attention, just like everything else. And so The Weed Trust was born. She also had a passion for insects, she remembers having pockets full of woodlice! Adult Lucy is now working in urban ecology and she shares the story of The Weed Trust and where it has led her. We went together to the Eden Nature Garden to meet Benny Hawkesbee, who describes himself as a wildlife gardener, he greeted us wearing his favourite dandelion teeshirt! There will be bees, beetles and frogs along the way! Independent podcasts like Our Plant Stories depend on their listeners for help with the costs of making the podcast such as the hosting platform and the editing programme.Using the Buy Me A Coffee platform you can make a one off online donation of £5 and that money will go towards making more episodes. Everyone who buys a 'virtual coffee' will get a shout out on the podcast. The support of listeners means a lot to me. Buy Me A Coffee Every month I will make a plant story but stories often lead to more stories and I end up publishing Offshoot episodes. So if you 'Follow' the podcast on your podcast app you will never miss an episode.It also makes a real difference if you can spare the time to rate and/or review an episode after you have listened. Spotify and Apple look at these ratings and it helps to get the podcast promoted to other plant lovers. Our Plant Stories is presented and produced by Sally FlatmanThe music is Fade to Black by Howard LevyMentioned in this episode:Follow podcast This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Imagine 1500 different snowdrops, roaming around an arboretum. Sometimes a new one joins, sometimes a group is divided, sometimes one just wanders off on its own. You need a snowdrop shepherd and at Thenford Arboretum that is Emma Thick.This is the perfect time to grow our knowledge about snowdrops and I think I have found the perfect person, a galanthophile, to help us. If you know the podcast well, you won't be surprised that I am drawn to an expert because in my experience their passion for the plant can prove contagious. So if you want to know which snowdrop to buy, when or where to plant it, how they spread and why they can sometimes be miffy - well you have come to the right podcast!My guests are Emma Thick, a gardener and Rupert Heseltine whose parents developed this garden and I met them both at Thenford Arboretum.The book I mention is called Thenford - The Creation of an English Garden by Michael & Anne HeseltineOur Plant Stories is presented and produced by Sally FlatmanThe music is Fade to Black by Howard LevyIndependent podcasts like Our Plant Stories depend on their listeners for help with the costs of making the podcast such as the hosting platform and the editing programme.Using the Buy Me A Coffee platform you can make a one off online donation of £5 and that money will go towards making more episodes. Everyone who buys a 'virtual coffee' will get a shout out on the podcast. The support of listeners means a lot to me. Buy Me A Coffee Mentioned in this episode:Follow podcast This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

This podcast episode delves into the inspiring story behind the Daffodil Project, a community-driven initiative that has resulted in the planting of over 12 million daffodil bulbs across New York City since its inception in the wake of the 9/11 tragedy.Sally Flatman speaks with Constance Casey who was working for the New York Parks Department when the gift of one million daffodil bulbs , was given to the city by Hans van Waardenburg and the city of Rotterdam following on from the attack on the World Trade Centre. That Autumn as the community took on the task of planting the bulbs, they were creating "a ribbon of yellow around the island of Manhattan" that would bloom the following Spring.Adam Ganser, the Executive Director of New Yorkers for Parks, joins the conversation to discuss the ongoing efforts to maintain and expand this initiative, emphasising the importance of community involvement and equitable access to parks. The episode highlights not only the significance of the daffodil project as a living memorial but also the broader impact of green spaces on public health and community wellbeing. Of course we also learn how to grow the plant ourselves though as Adam assures us: "its hard to screw it up"!Our Plant Stories is back and once again we will be sharing stories about plants. Independent podcasts like Our Plant Stories depend on their listeners for help with the costs of making the podcast such as the hosting platform and the editing programme.Using the Buy Me A Coffee platform you can make a one off online donation of £5 and that money will go towards making more episodes. Everyone who buys a 'virtual coffee' will get a shout out on the podcast. The support of listeners means a lot to me. Buy Me A Coffee Our Plant Stories is presented and produced by Sally FlatmanThe music is Fade to Black by Howard LevyTakeaways: The Daffodil Project began as a response to the tragedy of 9/11, aiming to bring beauty and hope to New York City. Every fall, thousands of volunteers participate in planting daffodil bulbs. The project has distributed around 12 to 13 million daffodil bulbs over 23 years, making it a significant and beloved initiative. Daffodils are hardy and easy to grow, making them accessible for both new and experienced gardeners alike. The initiative highlights the importance of parks and open spaces in urban areas, fostering a sense of community. New Yorkers for Parks advocates for equitable funding for parks, ensuring all neighbourhoods have access to green spaces. Mentioned in this episode:Follow podcast This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Season 3 of Our Plant Stories will be starting on the 4th February 2025. These plant stories will once again take us all over the world. We'll be meeting gardeners, botanists and historians and along the way of course we will all learn how to grow the plants.If you have a story that you would like me to follow up in this new series you can email me - sally@ourplantstories.comTo find out about the plants featured in all the episodes just go to the websiteOur Plant Stories website where you can also subscribe to the blog Our Plant Stories blog which will mean you'll be first to hear about upcoming episodes. The series is presented and produced by Sally Flatman. Follow podcast Buy Me A Coffee Instagram Mentioned in this episode:Follow podcast This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

You may well have heard about the New York High Line but did you know that there are plans afoot for a Highline in London? It has got the same design team as the NY one and Piet Oudolf will be doing the planting but before we get to the plants - there's a 'bit of treacle' to wade through.Take this audio tour so you can start to become familiar with this incredibly exciting venture and hear about seeing 'trains in the wild'! I hope in the podcast we will follow its progress. There's plenty of imagination and tenacity at work here and we as plant lovers, can get on board too.Simon Pitkeathley, the CEO of the Camden Highline is our guide.Our Plant Stories is presented and produced by Sally FlatmanThe music is Fade to Black by Howard LevyMentioned in this episode:Follow podcast This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Take an audio walk through a park in the sky above Manchester. We’ll walk a route that spans 130 years of history; where once there were trains now there are plants and pedestrians. We perhaps associate the National Trust with stately homes, grand gardens and stretches of countryside but this episode may make you think again.And how does the Castlefield viaduct link with an iconic structure in a famous British seaside town? Kate Picker from the National Trust is our guide.Our Plant Stories is presented and produced by Sally FlatmanThe music is Fade to Black by Howard LevyMentioned in this episode:Follow podcast This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Picture yourself in a garden. Do you get your phone out to take photos of the plants and send them to friends and family? Maybe a swift selfie! Perhaps like me you google the plants - wanting to identify them.Now picture a bench in the same garden but this time you and anyone else around you are just sitting, not a phone in sight. You're in the equivalent of the 'quiet carriage on the train' - and as you sit, you start to experience the garden in a different way.Welcome to Silent Space the brainchild of garden writer Liz Ware.Our Plant Stories is presented and produced by Sally FlatmanThe music is Fade to Black by Howard LevyIndependent podcasts like Our Plant Stories depend on their listeners for help with the costs of making the podcast such as the hosting platform and the editing programme.Using the Buy Me A Coffee platform you can make a one off online donation of £5 and that money will go towards making more episodes. Everyone who buys a 'virtual coffee' will get a shout out on the podcast. The support of listeners means a lot to me. Buy Me A Coffee Mentioned in this episode:Follow podcast This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy