Welcome to The Garden Question Podcast! I’m your host, Craig McManus.

Today we’ve got a fantastic episode lined up. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert seasoned pro, this conversation will inspire you to think deeper about gardening.

Our guest is Erin Alladin, creator of the concept gentle gardening—a unique approach designed for those working with chronic illness and disability.

Erin’s journey is all about making gardening accessible and enjoyable for every kind of gardener, no matter their challenges.

Throughout this episode, Erin shares practical strategies she’s developed using sustainable techniques and permaculture principles, such as observation and energy capture from her work at the Kimborne Community Permaculture Project to creative outlets like basket weaving with natural materials from her garden.

Erin proves there’s always a way to grow smarter gardens that work—even when life throws some curveballs.

We’ll also explore a range of soil-building techniques, including sheet mulching, Hügelkultur, the Ruth Stout method, and strawbale gardening.

Erin shares personal stories about her experiences balancing gardening with chronic illness, drawing from her book, Gentle Gardening: How to Approach Gardening with Uncooperative Bodies.

She gives us a sneak peek into her upcoming children’s book, Wait Like a Seed, along with a hint about her exciting new podcast, Plants Always Win, with co-host Sean Patchett.

You can find Erin online as "Earth Undaunted" at earthundaunted.com and follow her gardening adventures on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.

So, if you’ve ever wondered how to adapt your gardening practice to meet life’s challenges, this episode is for you! From beginners to experts, you’ll find something here to inspire you. Now, let’s dig in!

Gentle Gardening: A Low-energy guide for uncooperative bodies

Time Line:

00:00 Introduction to the Garden Question Podcast

00:20 Meet Erin Alladin: Advocate for Gentle Gardening

01:07 Exploring Soil Building Techniques

01:18 Erin's Personal Journey with Chronic Illness

01:30 Sneak Peek into Erin's Upcoming Projects

02:33 Understanding Gentle Gardening

03:03 Erin's Health Challenges and Adaptations

04:15 The Genesis of Gentle Gardening

07:32 Permaculture Principles and Practices

10:59 Basket Weaving with Garden Materials

13:36 Self-Regulation and Feedback in Gardening

16:15 Renewable Resources in Gentle Gardening

19:20 Creative Soil Building Techniques

21:30 Healing Soil with Potatoes

22:01 Comparing Sheet Mulching and Hügelkultur

22:27 Integrating Gardening into Life and Work

23:34 Gentle Gardening: A Book for All

25:50 New Book: Wait Like a Seed

27:52 Permaculture and Garden Myths

29:30 Early Garden Memories and Funny Stories

30:43 Influences and Valuable Mistakes

32:48 Learning and Adapting in the Garden

37:32 Future Garden Plans and Favorite Plants

38:38 Introducing the Plants Always Win Podcast

39:32 Connecting with Erin Alladin