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The Messed Up Gardener

Esther Aitken
The Messed Up Gardener
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  • Ep 142: “The Garden Goldmine: 7 Things in Your Backyard You Didn’t Know Were Valuable”
    What if your garden was hiding treasures you’ve been walking past every day? 🌱In this episode of The Messed-Up Gardener, I’m digging into seven overlooked “goldmines” that can save you money, grow healthier plants, and make your garden feel abundant without another trip to the garden centre. From tired old potting mix that still has life left, to self-seeding volunteers, fallen leaves, kitchen scraps, rainwater, and even weeds — you’ll learn how to spot hidden value and put it to work. I’ll also share a few personal stories (like the scraggly compost-heap tomato that outperformed the seedlings I bought!) to remind you that sometimes the garden knows better than we do. ✨ What you’ll discover in this episode: ·         Why we often overlook the resources right under our noses ·         7 everyday garden “treasures” you can turn into soil, plants, or savings ·         Simple ways to safely harvest, store, and use them ·         How to track and celebrate your garden wins so they don’t go unnoticed By the end, you’ll be seeing your backyard through “treasure hunter” eyes — and trust me, once you spot the gold, you can’t unsee it. 🎧 Press play, grab your notebook, and get ready to uncover the riches hiding in your garden! 🌻 Until next time: remember that gardening can happen in any space, any place, and on any budget. Have an incredibly abundant week—and I’ll buzz you later. PS: If you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss a new garden chat! And if you have a gardening question or topic you’d love me to cover, send me a message—I’d love to hear from you. Follow our Journey on our Facebook Pages The Messed Up Gardener Or Shesther’s Mushrooms Or Grab ·        A Step by Step guide on how to create your own DIY self-watering planters https://stan.store/EstherA/p/create-your-own-diy-self-watering-garden-planters Don’t forget to grab one of my gardening freebees.   Freebies: Grab the -         "12 Essential Tips for a Thriving Garden: From Planning to Harvest" Practical Tips to Help You Grow a Flourishing Garden -         https://stan.store/EstherA -         Organic gardening Cheat Sheet: Natural methods for chemical free cultivation https://stan.store/EstherA -         Garden Goals Planning Worksheet https://stan.store/EstherA/p/get-my-garden-goals-planning-worksheet-now -         Mini Masterclass Audio Lawncare basics which has included the Lawn care Mini Masterclass Audio & a Lawn Love Mini Masterclass Companion Guide. https://stan.store/EstherA Gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget.
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  • Ep 141: “The 5×5 Garden Glow-Up: 5 Tiny Tweaks for Big Growth in 5 Days”
    Spring has officially arrived — but if you’re feeling a little behind in the garden (like I am this year after our big move!), don’t worry. In this week’s episode of The Messed-Up Gardener, I’m sharing how five tiny, under-20-minute tweaks can transform your garden in just five days. We’ll talk about the power of micro-actions — the little shifts that deliver big rewards — and I’ll walk you through five quick wins you can try this week: These are simple, low-cost actions with a high “effort-to-impact” ratio. By the end of the week, your garden will feel fresh, lively, and inspiring — without you needing to tackle a major project or spend heaps of money. I’ll also share tips on how to make these glow-ups stick, why celebrating small wins builds long-term momentum, and how to shift your mindset from waiting for “someday” projects to enjoying progress right now. ✨ Challenge for this week: Try the 5×5 Garden Glow-Up and share your results with me! Snap a before-and-after photo, tag me @themessedupgardener, and use the hashtag #GardenGlowUp so we can celebrate together. And don’t forget — if you haven’t grabbed my free gardening guides yet, they’re still available! You’ll find practical tips for planning to harvest, chemical-free growing shortcuts, and even a garden goal-setting worksheet. All links are in the show notes. Because at the end of the day, gardening doesn’t have to be overwhelming — it can be joyful, simple, and rewarding when you focus on the little things. Hit play and let’s give your garden the glow-up it deserves! 🌸 🌻 Until next time: remember that gardening can happen in any space, any place, and on any budget. Have an incredibly abundant week—and I’ll buzz you later. PS: If you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss a new garden chat! And if you have a gardening question or topic you’d love me to cover, send me a message—I’d love to hear from you. Follow our Journey on our Facebook Pages The Messed Up Gardener Or Shesther’s Mushrooms Or Grab ·        A Step by Step guide on how to create your own DIY self-watering planters https://stan.store/EstherA/p/create-your-own-diy-self-watering-garden-planters Don’t forget to grab one of my gardening freebees.   Freebies: Grab the -         "12 Essential Tips for a Thriving Garden: From Planning to Harvest" Practical Tips to Help You Grow a Flourishing Garden -         https://stan.store/EstherA -         Organic gardening Cheat Sheet: Natural methods for chemical free cultivation https://stan.store/EstherA -         Garden Goals Planning Worksheet https://stan.store/EstherA/p/get-my-garden-goals-planning-worksheet-now  Gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget.
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  • Ep 140: The Doomsday Garden Kit – Listener Q&A Special (Part 3)
    Hello and welcome back to another episode of The Messed-Up Gardener! I’m Esther Williams, your host, and as always — I’m absolutely buzzed to be here with you today. Over the past two episodes, we’ve been digging deep into the Doomsday Garden Kit: what you’d pack if you had to grow food from scratch in a survival situation. And wow… the response has been incredible. You sent me so many questions that I had to dedicate this final part of the series to answering them directly. But first, a little side story. My best friend turned 60 this week, and we celebrated in a way that’s definitely not my usual style — at a nail salon. Yep, me, the chainsaw-and-chipper-loving gardener, getting pampered. It was an experience, to say the least! What struck me wasn’t just the polish (that apparently I now have to pay to get removed?!) but the conveyor-belt business model. And it got me thinking… what if gardening worked like that? Systems that keep producing value over and over again — whether in business, or in the garden. Now, back to the good stuff. In this Q&A episode we’re tackling: 🌱 Which seeds last the longest in storage (and how to keep them viable). 🥬 The fastest crops to grow when you need food yesterday. 🥔 Whether you can really survive on just a garden. 🧂 How to preserve food without a fridge using old-school methods like fermenting, smoking, and the holy trinity of salt, vinegar, and sugar. 🪴 How to grow food indoors if you have no land at all. 💧 Overlooked barter items (hint: soap and clean water are survival gold). 🐛 Natural pest control strategies without sprays. 💡 And finally, the mindset piece — why adaptability, humour, and grit matter more than a perfect pantry. This one wraps up the series, and it’s been one of my favourites to record. So grab a cuppa, settle in, and let’s dive into your doomsday garden questions together. 👉 If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend or leave a review — it helps more people discover The Messed Up Gardener. And if you’re keen on one-on-one mentoring to grow your garden confidence (or even explore a garden-based business idea), I’ve still got a few spots open — so get in touch. Until next time, remember: gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget. Have an abundant week — and as always… I’ll buzz you later! 🐝 🐝 Listen now and get your garden prepped for anything! Follow our Journey on our Facebook Pages The Messed Up Gardener Or Shesther’s Mushrooms Or Grab ·        A Step by Step guide on how to create your own DIY self-watering planters https://stan.store/EstherA/p/create-your-own-diy-self-watering-garden-planters Don’t forget to grab one of my gardening freebees.   Freebies: Grab the -         "12 Essential Tips for a Thriving Garden: From Planning to Harvest" Practical Tips to Help You Grow a Flourishing Garden -         https://stan.store/EstherA -         Organic gardening Cheat Sheet: Natural methods for chemical free cultivation https://stan.store/EstherA -         Garden Goals Planning Worksheet https://stan.store/EstherA/p/get-my-garden-goals-planning-worksheet-now Gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget.
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  • Ep 139: The Doomsday Garden Kit – Listener Questions Answered (Part 2)
    Last week’s episode on the Doomsday Garden Kit got a huge response — and my inbox lit up with questions! One of you cheeky listeners asked, “Ok Esther, you’ve told us how to grow the food… but how do we actually cook it, store it, and not lose our minds while doing it?”Fair point — so today, we’re diving into Part 2.In this episode, I’ll walk you through: 🌱 Fuel & cooking (because you can’t eat raw kumara forever) 🌱 The garden first-aid kit: aloe, kawakawa, calendula & garlic 🌱 Advanced preservation hacks (fermenting, smoking, solar dehydrating) 🌱 Storage containers that actually keep pests out 🌱 Comfort food for the soul (jam, coffee, chocolate & honey) 🌱 Why barter and community are your true survival currency 🌱 And the mindset shift that makes all the differenceThis series isn’t about living in fear. It’s about building confidence, resilience, and joy in knowing you can feed yourself and your family no matter what life throws at you.✨ Whether you’re prepping for the end of days, or just looking to cut down the grocery bill, these tips will help you thrive — not just survive.So grab a cuppa, settle in, and let’s get into Part 2 of the Doomsday Garden Kit.Ready to get more from your garden? Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming mini masterclasses packed with real talk, practical tips, and a little bit of garden messiness and share this episode with a fellow plant lovers!Follow our Journey on our Facebook PagesThe Messed Up Gardener Or Shesther’s Mushrooms Or Grab ·        A Step by Step guide on how to create your own DIY self-watering plantershttps://stan.store/EstherA/p/create-your-own-diy-self-watering-garden-plantersDon’t forget to grab one of my gardening freebees.   Freebies: Grab the -         "12 Essential Tips for a Thriving Garden: From Planning to Harvest" Practical Tips to Help You Grow a Flourishing Garden -         https://stan.store/EstherA -         Organic gardening Cheat Sheet: Natural methods for chemical free cultivation https://stan.store/EstherA-         Garden Goals Planning Worksheet https://stan.store/EstherA/p/get-my-garden-goals-planning-worksheet-nowGardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget.
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  • Ep 138: The Doomsday Garden Kit: What to Pack When the World Goes Sideways
     What would you grab if you had to start your garden all over again — from scratch — in the middle of chaos? In this episode of The Messed Up Gardener, I get real about resilience, self-sufficiency, and the not-so-crazy idea of a gardener’s doomsday kit. From heirloom seeds (your real survival currency) to low-tech tools, soil starters, water hacks, and even what’s worth bartering when the shelves run bare — this is the honest chat most gardeners haven’t had yet. It’s not about fear, it’s about being prepared, grounded, and able to feed yourself no matter what the world throws at you. 🌱 Because at the end of the day, carrots might just be worth more than crypto. Ready to get more from your garden? Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming mini masterclasses packed with real talk, practical tips, and a little bit of garden messiness and share this episode with a fellow plant lovers! Follow our Journey on our Facebook Pages The Messed Up Gardener Or Shesther’s Mushrooms Or Grab ·        A Step by Step guide on how to create your own DIY self-watering planters https://stan.store/EstherA/p/create-your-own-diy-self-watering-garden-planters Don’t forget to grab one of my gardening freebees.   Freebies: Grab the -         "12 Essential Tips for a Thriving Garden: From Planning to Harvest" Practical Tips to Help You Grow a Flourishing Garden -         https://stan.store/EstherA-         Organic gardening Cheat Sheet: Natural methods for chemical free cultivation https://stan.store/EstherA -         Garden Goals Planning Worksheet https://stan.store/EstherA/p/get-my-garden-goals-planning-worksheet-now Gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget.
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About The Messed Up Gardener

Hello and Welcome to The Messed Up Gardener. This podcast covers all areas of gardening from a beginner, intermediate to advanced level. It covers gardening on any budget, any space, any place. There are no rules when it comes to me, and my gardens and I do it messy. There is nothing more fun than getting your hands dirty and creating that space that gives you joy and abundance. This podcast will give tips, tricks, hacks and methodology’s to make any space work from the tiny indoor garden to the rolling meadows with even a dash of bees and hydroponics thrown in. I have been a horticulturist for as long as I can remember and in the industry since I was 15 so that’s nearly 30 years of hands on gardening experience. I am really looking forward to being on this journey & doing it messy with you.
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