The Messed Up Gardener

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...

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 dehyd...

 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 ma...

Hello and welcome to another episode of The Messed-Up Gardener—your go-to podcast and mini masterclasses for all things gardening! I’m your host, Esther Williams, and I’m absolutely buzzed to be here with you today.

In this episode, I’m inviting you to pause, reflect, and give your garden (and yourself) a seasonal mindset reset. Whether you're knee-deep in weeds or quietly sipping tea while watching seedlings grow, this one’s for you.

It’s what I call the 3×3 Garden Reset:
🌿 Three things to STOP doing
🌱 Three things to START fresh
🌸...

This week’s episode is bursting with everything you need to know to get a jumpstart on your spring garden — even if your backyard currently looks like a soggy mess!

Join me, Esther Williams, as I walk you through exactly what to plant, prep, plan, and prioritise in the first week of August so you don’t end up scrambling when spring finally hits. From garlic planting before the “oops window” closes, to giving your tools and seed stash the love they deserve, this episode is a practical, relaxed, muddy-boot kind of guide to making the most of right n...

This week, frosty mornings have been turning our routines upside down—defrosting the cars has been chaos! But you know what? Those frosts have been amazing for our kiwifruit vines, naturally clearing out bugs and even knocking back those pesky wasp nests that have plagued our bees all season. Nature doing its thing—gotta love it!

Welcome back to The Messed-Up Gardener! I’m Esther Williams, and I’m buzzing to be here with you for another episode full of garden inspiration and real-life updates from our orchard, roadside fruit stall, and the ever-growing Shesther’s brand. With our w...

In this delightfully dirt-under-the-nails episode, Esther dives into a surprisingly sudsy topic—soap plants! That's right—your garden can grow more than veggies and flowers. It can grow your cleaning products too!

From traditional soapwort and yucca roots to soothing calendula, moisturizing aloe vera, and even homegrown loofah sponges, this episode covers everything you need to grow your own garden-to-bathroom soap bar. Esther even shares a DIY gardener’s hand scrub soap recipe—perfect for post-weeding cleanups or heartfelt handmade gifts.

Whether you're looking to ditch synthetic ingredients, reduce waste, o...

Get ready to reclaim your garden from bugs the natural way! In this episode, I’m sharing how to grow a living “bug-off” shield with plants like lavender, lemongrass, mint, basil, and more—plus super simple herbal remedies to soothe bites and protect your family (especially the little ones).

I’ll also be talking about how to create a kid-friendly “No-Bite Zone” that’s as magical as it is practical. And of course, I’ll share some fun personal updates on launching my own business, battling midges in the cold, and how I’m weaving my health and safety work in w...

Hello, green thumbs and fellow dirt enthusiasts! In this jam-packed episode of The Messed-Up Gardener, I’m taking you behind the glossy aisles and shiny displays of your local garden centre to reveal the 5 things they don’t want you to know—so you’ll keep coming back!

I share some juicy truths and personal stories from my years working in garden centres, from the early days at 15 to some cheeky insider tricks I picked up along the way. Learn why those cute little starter packs often set you up to fail, ho...

In this episode, I share a not-so-glamorous but super important topic: those garden allergies that can sneak up on you like a nosy neighbour in your compost pile. From itchy eyes and runny noses to surprise skin rashes—gardening doesn’t always play nice!

We’ll uncover the most common allergy triggers lurking in your backyard—like pollen, moldy compost, and even the fuzz on tomato stems. Plus, I’ll spill the dirt on natural ways to soothe the itchies and sniffles without losing your love for your green space. And, of course, I’ll highlight when it’s time to...

Join me, Esther Williams, as I peel back the layers of my own journey—stepping away from the 9-to-5, facing down fear and self-doubt, and turning to the garden as my path to nourishment, strength, and true growth.

In this powerful episode, I share how growing antioxidant-rich fruits, veggies, and herbs isn’t just about what’s on your plate—it’s about rewriting the rules for your health and your life. From juicy blueberries to the mighty kale, from herbal teas to backyard spa rituals, discover how your garden can be your personal wellness apothecary—fighting stress, agin...

Hello and welcome to another episode of The Messed-Up Gardener! I’m your host, Esther Williams, and today we’re diving into something that’s part garden magic, part self-care ritual: growing your own anti-aging plants at home.

We’ll break down:

✨ What makes a plant “anti-aging”?
Explore the triple power of antioxidants, anti-inflammatory compounds, and nutrient density—nature’s ultimate skincare routine.

🌱 Top 5 Anti-Aging Plants to Grow:
Indian Pennywort, rosemary, calendula, turmeric, and aloe vera—plus how to grow them, why they’re powerful, and how to start small.<...

Ever wondered if your garden could do more than just look pretty? What if your garden was a living ritual—a space that grows healing, love, or abundance alongside your veggies?

In this soulful, cheeky, and dirt-under-the-fingernails episode, Esther dives headfirst into the world of intention gardens—purpose-driven garden spaces where every plant holds meaning. From prosperity patches with basil and mint, to calming healing beds of rosemary and chamomile, and even a flirtatious little love garden with roses and strawberries... this episode is packed with plant magic (and a few garden confessions).

🌿 You’ll...

What happens when gardening meets good vibes and glittery geology? You get this episode.

Join Esther Williams—your cheeky host and dirt-loving rebel—for a slightly woo, slightly wild, and totally entertaining deep dive into the world of crystal gardening. From chakra-charged compost to protective tourmaline tucked near the tomatoes, we’re exploring how crystals have made their way from yoga studios to veggie beds—and why you might just want to bury a bit of sparkle under your zucchinis.

In this episode:
 🔮 What the woo is all about (with just enough sarcasm to k...

Welcome back to The Messed-Up Gardener—your go-to podcast for all things gardening, worm wee, plant therapy, and occasional woo-woo wisdom. I’m Esther Williams, and today’s episode might just be my favorite kind of chaos: practical meets mystical, leafy meets loopy.

In this episode, we’re diving into the delightfully strange world of beneficial plant placement—a.k.a. why putting a jade plant in your southeast corner might not make you rich… but it might just make you feel like a grounded goddess with your life together.

✨ From feng shui’s wealth...