the pothole gardener

6 shoes, a handbag, 9 cars, a swing, a piano and a map…

steve — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:50:07 +0000

I posted a sneak preview of my gardening adventures in Milan earlier this week.

The film we were shooting is now online, check it out!

Thanks again to the guys at Urban and Lancia.

Las Vegas is going to be the next stop on my gardening tour, any ideas for gardens please do post on my facebook page!

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Pothole gardening at Milan Design Week

steve — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 16:53:20 +0000

I have been busy this week taking my green thumbs to Milan for design week. We shot a little film which we’re busy finishing at the moment, but for now here’s a sneak preview…

A big thanks for Lancia and Urban for supporting my trip to Milan.

I love getting submissions from other keen gardeners and I was over the moon to get this video yesterday, the first pothole garden in the Netherlands! Great work guys

I’m on Facebook, youtube and Twitter.

Gardening at TED!

steve — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 06:25:22 +0000

I was asked to speak at TedxHackney on the weekend, which was quite an honor. The theme for the event was happiness. Daniel Vais created an awesome programme of speakers which looked at ideas around happiness from all different angles.

I’ll post the podcast soon, but for now, here’s a sneak peak at my happy feet installation, and also my pothole garden in a suitcase that I used during my presentation!

I’m in Milan getting ready to garden for the opening of design week, thank you to everyone for their ideas for Italian themed gardens on facebook, I’ll post pictures shortly!

Keep an eye on my green fingered updates from Milan on Facebook, youtube and Twitter.

Spring has sprung

steve — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 07:24:20 +0000

Finally it has arrived! To celebrate, I teamed up with Time Out London and (feeling very London-proud) I recreated this famous London Landmark replacing pods with pots!

We chose to garden next to The Ministry Of Defence, not the most inconspicuous of guerilla gardening locations. We had a visit from a lovely policeman who joined us for a while and told us we had made his day! He didn’t quite say he’d join us on our next adventure, but he did remark how the garden put a smile on his face (if only we managed to talk to him for holes of happiness).

Thanks to my nifty team of gardeners/filmmakers who helped put this together – Cheyne, Xavi and Malin. The music track on the video is from my friend Nadia Ackerman, she’s recently released a great album the Ocean Master, go check it out! Thanks also to everyone who helped me brainstorm ideas over on my facebook page for this garden.

Here are a couple more snaps from our adventure…

It’s world water day on the 22nd of March, so spare a thought for the millions of people around the world with no access to clean water next time you’re watering your garden (wherever it may be). Or even better, go check out what they’re up to.

Keep an eye out for my gardens over the next couple of weeks if you’re in London…or I’m on Facebook, youtube and Twitter.

Gardening in India

steve — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 22:30:07 +0000

Most of my little gardens have sprung up around London, specifically East London. On a recent trip to India I couldn’t resist pulling out my trowel and getting my fingers dirty.

I’m not sure what the locals made of it, but it sure made them smile!

I’ve been astounded at the reaction to my little film holes of happiness, I can’t believe we’ve had over 55,000 views already on YouTube!

It’s almost springtime in London – if you’re inspired to create your own pothole garden, please do send me a photo to post here on my blog.

Keep up with my gardening antics on Facebook, youtube and Twitter.

A fashionable little garden

steve — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:03:05 +0000

What to wear gardening isn’t something I often really think about (apart from maybe on world naked gardening day). But it’s London fashion week so I headed off gardening with my most fashionable buddy Kate over the weekend and we made a little garden to celebrate these wonderful clothes by Mary Katrantzou. Enjoy.

Keep up with my gardening antics on Facebook, youtube and Twitter.

A little spiky visitor

steve — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 22:09:04 +0000

I recently became aware of the charity called PTES. They have a wonderful little site full of hedgehog friendly tips, check it out http://www.hedgehogstreet.org/

I was so inspired by what they are doing, I decided to create my own hedgehog friendly pothole garden. You wont believe who stopped by and checked it out…

While my little visitor is an African variety, PTES is all about protecting local species. Here are some more snaps of my new best mate…

A big thanks to Anne and Simeon (official Hedgehog wranglers) and Cheyne for the video!

This week I also learned of this awesome pothole garden hunt in tassie – check it out!

Keep up with my gardening antics on Facebook, youtube and Twitter!

Let it snow!

steve — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:04:01 +0000

London was covered in a thick blanket of snow overnight, not exactly perfect gardening weather. But hey, this is London and you can’t let the weather get the better of you, right?

What are the ideal props for a little snow garden I hear you ask. Mini skis and a sled, of course.

Keep up with my gardening antics on Facebook, youtube and Twitter!

PS Thanks for all the positive comments write-ups over the past couple of weeks, especially the wonderful Kate McAuley from i-am-not-a-celebrity.

Holes Of Happiness

steve — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:53:54 +0000

One thing that always amazes me is how people react to my gardens. So much so that I’ve created this short film, Holes Of Happiness (with the help of Cheyne and friends).

We tried to capture peoples first reactions to our gardening antics, and we asked them about what they were looking at and why they thought they existed.

Let me know what you think!

Keep up with my gardening antics on Facebook, youtube and Twitter!

Knitting up a storm…

steve — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:42:59 +0000

Inspired by a lovely little piece of knitting sent to me recently, here’s my latest little garden, created in Moss Place East London.

Thank you so much Louise for sending me this lovely little knitted flower which now has a home outside Buckingham Palace, London.

I’d like to dedicate this post to those close to me who have suffered from the effects of cancer this year. Fingers crossed that next year is a healthy one. If you’re doing some last minute shopping for Christmas, why not consider giving in celebration? It’s a great way of giving that helps to benefit Cancer Research.

All the best for 2012.

Keep up with my gardening antics on Facebook, youtube and Twitter!