As we head towards the end of series 3, it’s time for a ‘best of’ episode covering your favourite guests across all three series so far. From wellbeing with Liz Earle to veganism with Hench Herbivore and plenty of plant talk inbetween, enjoy these clips with Ellen and Michaels behind the scenes gossip about each one. The Plant Based Podcast: www.theplantbasedpodcast.net Instagram Twitter Facebook This episode of The Plant Based Podcast is brought to you by our friends at Natural Grower. Launched...
Aug 23, 2020•49 min•Season 3Ep. 12
There are so many reasons to love plants, from enjoying the fragrance of a sweet pea to watching a busy bee collecting pollen from an Echinacea. In this episode Michael and Ellen read through 50 reasons why we all love plants with suggestions from the podcast listeners to some of Michael and Ellens favourite reasons why they love plants. The Plant Based Podcast: www.theplantbasedpodcast.net Instagram Twitter Facebook This episode of The Plant Based Podcast is brought to you by our friends at Nat...
Aug 16, 2020•24 min
In this episode, Michael and Ellen chat to Lee, AKA the Skinny Jean Gardener, about his love of sharing gardening with kids. Lee used to be an electrician but discovered a love of plants, becoming the ‘cool kid’ on the gardening scene! He has set up a vegetable garden at Jimmy Doherty’s farm, worked with Jamie Oliver and Alan Titchmarsh and appeared on Blue Peter! He combines kids’ entertainment and education together at his shows which he tours round schools and festival - all while sporting hi...
Aug 09, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Season 3Ep. 11
We resisted for a while, but follower pressure led us to record a whole episode around the subject everyone’s taking about; covid. We look at how lockdown affected our gardening world, and discuss some practical solutions for gardening during lockdown. From compost shortages to windowsill tomatoes, we get nifty and thrifty! The Plant Based Podcast: www.theplantbasedpodcast.net Instagram Twitter Facebook This episode of The Plant Based Podcast is brought to you by our friends at Natural Grower. L...
Aug 02, 2020•59 min
Every wondered what a Plant Geek’s plant collection is like?! This episode of The Plant Based Podcast kicks off with Michael showing Ellen around his new home, giving a tour of his extensive houseplant collection. They then interview Greg Bourke, the Curator and Manager of the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden in Australia. Greg started his working life as an electrician but has worked in horticulture and conservation at the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden for nine years now. Greg explains why the Blu...
Jul 26, 2020•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 10
We've pulled out all of the gardening gags for this episode with fun gardening jokes, puns and stories along with a few extra jokes from our listeners. This episode is lighthearted, bringing some laughter to your lives as Ellen and Michael attempt to tell some jokes, have a good giggle and read out jokes provided on social media. Listen out for some familiar voices as there are even a few jokes sent in from your favourite people on social media plus we have a gossip with Lee Connelly, the Skinny...
Jul 19, 2020•50 min
In this episode of the Plant Based Podcast, Ellen and Michael chat to Merryn Chilcott, Garment Technologist & Product Developer at BAM clothing. BAM create clever clothing from bamboo and celebrate all things plant-based in the clothing world. The enthusiasm for bamboo at BAM is infectious- the founder of the company has even been known to pole vault with it! Merryn explains the brilliance of bamboo and why it’s so perfect for clothing – it’s versatile, incredibly soft and a more sustainable...
Jul 12, 2020•42 min•Season 3Ep. 9
Do you need to confess? Seems us plant lovers have quite a lot of plant confessions hidden in the shed! In this episode Michael and Ellen confess to their plant sins and discuss listeners who answered a call to arms about what they really get up to when no one is looking. It’s an episode that will make you giggle...but will you admit to yours after you hear these? Pinching plants & cuttings...it’s all here on the plant based podcast! The Plant Based Podcast: www.theplantbasedpodcast.net Inst...
Jul 05, 2020•41 min
Matthew Pottage has perhaps one of the most sought after jobs in horticulture. As the Curator of RHS Wisley he’s responsible for one of the most treasured gardens in the UK. RHS Wisley is loved by gardeners worldwide and is visited by 1.2 million people each year. The gardens are diverse with different planting and gardening styles at every turn. With a huge plant collection and over 100 years of gardening history, it has something for everyone and there’s something different to see every time t...
Jun 28, 2020•54 min•Season 3Ep. 8
Is this week special episode, Ellen and Michael asked their followers which plants they loved, and which plants they hated. The results are, typically, controversial. Let us know if you agree with them! Find out which gold-leaved beauty Michael detests, and which fragrant summer bloom makes Ellen go weak at the knees.. The Plant Based Podcast: www.theplantbasedpodcast.net Instagram Twitter Facebook This episode of The Plant Based Podcast is brought to you by our friends at Natural Grower. Launch...
Jun 21, 2020•47 min
Plants AND food – what could be a better combo? allplants unites both of these and brings them together in delicious, easy and convenient plant-based meals that can be delivered frozen to your door. In this mouth-watering episode of The Plant Based Podcast, Michael and Ellen meet Alex Petrides, one of the founders of allplants, and Joey O'Hare, the senior development chef who is responsible for creating all the tasty recipes for allplants’ meals. In just three years, allplants has grown from two...
Jun 14, 2020•55 min•Season 3Ep. 7
This episode is for beginner gardeners and the more experienced to talk through common gardening terms that can seem confusing to begin with plus some easy and cool plants that anyone can grow! Do you think ‘thinning out’ belongs in the hairdressers? Ellen Mary chats through her top gardening terms that may need some explanation to newbies, then Michael picks his top plants for you to get growing with ease. There’s some great info to get anyone started in gardening plus a good reminder for every...
Jun 07, 2020•52 min
Natural Grower is an incredible liquid fertiliser – made by plants for plants. So it makes them the perfect partner for the Plant Based Podcast! Charlotte, one of the founders of the company, discusses how Natural Grower all started on a family farm in Leicestershire. The farm was once a dairy unit before diversifying into arable crops. As part of their renewable revolution, Charlotte and her husband Richard invested in an anaerobic digester that is fed with maize grown on the farm. A by-product...
May 31, 2020•44 min•Season 3Ep. 6
This week's episode is all about plant-based food and ideas for what you can create at home. We kick off with friend of the podcast, Hench Herbivore with some facts about the benefits of plant based eating, then Ellen talks about her own plant-based diet and gives a few pointers for people that are new to it. Michael, despite not following a plant based diet, chats about some of the unique ways he cooks some of his favourite veg. Then, it’s over to you, the listeners, as we reveal a few more pla...
May 24, 2020•56 min
*Virtual Chelsea Special episode* This extra-special episode of the Plant Based Podcast delves behind the scenes of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and features Sue Biggs, Director General of the RHS, and Jill Otway, who is the Plant Committee Manager. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic means that, along with so many other events, all RHS shows this summer have sadly been cancelled. Most notably the Chelsea Flower Show, which had to be cancelled for the first time since the Second World War. Sue ...
May 17, 2020•1 hr 9 min•Season 3Ep. 5
A very special inside out episode, where Michael looks at indoor windowsills, and Ellen looks at balcony planting. Gardening has become the highlight of our lockdown days. It’s exciting to see during the pandemic, so many people enjoying gardening and growing their own food. But what if you don’t have much space? How do you enjoy the natural world from a balcony or patio or perhaps a windowsill? First up, Michael chats through what’s growing on his windowsill at the moment. He has been experimen...
May 10, 2020•34 min
In this episode hear all about Garden Day - the nationwide community benefit movement that takes place on Sunday 10th May 2020. During the current lockdown, more and more people around the world are enjoying their outside space. So this year’s call is for gardening enthusiasts to consider a virtual celebration with family and friends. In this episode Ellen Mary discusses the wellbeing benefits of plants and gardening while Michael provides some great ideas to celebrate the day virtually. Plus he...
May 03, 2020•31 min
Know your Melianthus from your Mahonia? We’ve put together this new short, fun quiz for you to follow along with online. There are 20 quick fire questions in total. Seems some of you are serious plant geeks who tried our last quiz with a high score of 36! Can you get all of these questions correct? All you need to do is listen along to the podcast, where you will hear the questions. Open up the web page here https://theplantbasedpodcast.net/the-plant-based-pub-quiz-2/ and fill in your answers. O...
Apr 26, 2020•7 min
“Plants are a great equaliser. A geranium is a geranium, no matter where in the world you are, or what you are experiencing” Lalage Snow is an award-winning freelance photojournalist, writer and filmmaker who has experienced life in some of the most hostile and war-torn places on the planet. Her book, “War Gardens” explores gardens tended to by those caught up in conflict around the world and shows how gardening can bring peace in times of conflict and in the most extreme places. Lalage, Michael...
Apr 19, 2020•45 min•Season 3Ep. 4
In the second ‘in betweeny’ episode for series three, we pack in a lot of fun so get ready to listen and be entertained with plants and gossip! Michael chats about houseplants and discusses your tips for looking after them before Ellen Mary shares some of your lockdown activities including seed watch and crafts. That’s all before our special guest, that guy off the telly, Jez Rose, talks to us about honey bees and horticulture plus he gives us the gossip about his podcast partner BBC Gardeners W...
Apr 12, 2020•43 min
Your favourite plant lovers, Michael and Ellen meet Ian Drummond, director of the fabulous company, Indoor Garden Design. They are specialists in interior landscaping, from design to installation through to maintenance. Alongside installations in offices, Indoor Garden Design’s speciality is events and creating living backgrounds and sculptures for parties. The team of green-fingered experts has styled high profile events such as the BAFTAs, London Fashion Week and, most spectacularly, Sir Elton...
Apr 05, 2020•48 min•Season 3Ep. 3
So, do you think you know your Dianthus from your Digitalis? Well, it could be time to prove yourself! We’ve put together a very special quiz for you to follow along with online. There are 8 rounds, and 40 questions in total. You will be tested on the origins of plants, plant based products, technical practices, and so much more. All you need to do is listen along to the podcast, where you will hear the questions. Click this link to go to the web page and fill in your answers. Once you’ve comple...
Mar 29, 2020•35 min
Gardeners’ World presenter and gardening writer, Mark Lane, meets Michael and Ellen to discuss how he got into gardening, and how it all started with a career in medical and architectural publishing. His love of gardening was sparked by his architectural work and learning how outside landscaping relates to building and design. Life changed for Mark following a car crash in 2001 which means he is now a wheelchair user. Throughout his rehabilitation, Mark studied garden design and went on to be th...
Mar 21, 2020•56 min•Season 3Ep. 2
We are introducing an occasional extra episode for the plant-based podcast, and it is called the “in-betweeny” episode. In this weeks “inbetweeny”, we review your comments and feedback to the recent podcast with Liz Earle, we also talk about some of the gardening news from over the last week, and gush over the joys of spring blossom. We also chat about the release of some long forgotten video tapes, and read out your social media comments about the “fantasy gardening programmes”... ooo-er! Liste...
Mar 15, 2020•22 min
Ellen and Michael took a trip to South London to visit TV presenter and entrepreneur Liz Earle in her wellbeing studio. With over 25 years of experience in the beauty, health and wellbeing industry, Liz now heads up one of the most progressive and successful magazines on the subject, not to mention a popular podcast and YouTube channel. They discussed the whole concept of wellbeing and how it relates to plants, with a focus on fermented foods, the right way to follow a vegan diet, the complex wo...
Mar 08, 2020•1 hr 14 min•Season 3Ep. 1
In this episode, Ellen Mary is at the University of North Carolina Botanical Gardens in Charlotte with Jeff Gillman, the Director. The garden is an eclectic mix of a diverse orchid collection, lots of carnivorous plants, native plants and rhododendrons too. Their conversation is eclectic too, ranging from Fleetwood Mac to cookies made with cricket flour and silkworm soup! In the second half, Ellen Mary tries some very unusual candy flavours, before the conversation turns to hallucinogenic honey....
Feb 16, 2020•59 min
Ever wondered about how you can make a career out of your love of gardening? But have sceptics and people’s comments about how unrealistic a dream it is put you off?! This episode of The Plant Based Podcast delves into career changes in horticultural and looks at the paths available into the green-fingered world. The options are so varied. It’s not just about being outside tending to plants - you could give talks; utilise your writing and marketing skills; or even put your corporate know-how to ...
Feb 02, 2020•52 min
In this bonus episode of The Plant Based Podcast, Ellen is at the Norfolk Olive Tree Company. She chats to Paul and Antonia Smith in their shed within a Mediterranean courtyard, surrounded by a wonderful evergreen garden. Paul and Antonia love the sculptural, evergreen qualities of olive trees and they ship trees from Europe that are no longer fruitful, to live out their retirement in the U.K. They discuss how olive trees can live for up to 800 years on average, as well as how they acclimatise t...
Jan 19, 2020•47 min
Whilst we’re waiting for series 3 we thought we’d treat you to some extra special plant-based goodness so we have some bumper episodes for you coming up! In this New Year episode, Michael discusses exciting new plants, speaking to two top breeding companies about projects they’ve worked on together and looking forward to what they’ve got coming up. He also looks at your fantasy plant league suggestions and reviews your New Year gardening resolutions! Michael chats to Sirekit Mol at Beekenkamp in...
Jan 05, 2020•49 min
In this episode, Michael and Ellen enjoy sampling the range of botanical drinks from Three Spirit with Dash and Tatiana, the couple behind the brand. Three Spirit are all about ‘bringing plants to the party’ with their drinks, which contain medicinal, functional, active ingredients found in botanics. They chat about lots of unusual plants and roots from around the world and their benefits and effects. Three Spirit drinks utilise the treats and treasures of the plant kingdom to give people a buzz...
Dec 15, 2019•53 min•Season 2Ep. 12
