The Kōwhai with Kieran Ford

Kieran Ford

Listen to The Kōwhai, with me Kieran Ford. Food for thought and thought on Food, Gardening and Sustainable Living. We discuss wide-ranging topics, from propagating rhubarb to transforming the agricultural economy, and everything in between - all the big questions about how we can thrive living sustainably in challenging times.

Episodes

  1. FEB 13

    08 - Getting your first ever garden

    In this episode, Kieran interviews his colleague Sam Williams about the experience of hunting for his first house, and therefore his first garden. What do you look for in a new garden? How big is enough space? How do you work with your own ideas and inspirations, alongside the garden that is already there? This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - oar.org.nz and made thanks to the support of NZ on Air.

    26 min

  2. JAN 16

    07 - Weeds, zucchini gluts, and holiday gardening

    In this episode Kieran explores the question of weeds - not just what counts as a weed, but also exploring the roles weeds can play in our lives, and in the health of our soils. He also takes a walk around his garden, exploring some of the challenges of trying to garden during the summer break, and breaks down some of the ways that he is currently trying to manage a glut of zucchini. This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - oar.org.nz and made thanks to the support of NZ on Air.

    26 min

  3. JAN 2

    06 - New Year's Resolutions, and Houseplants

    In this episode, we follow a guided tour around Kieran's veggie patch at home, exploring the successes and failures, problems and challenges that it brings. Then, there's time to pause and reflect on some new year's resolutions we could all embrace. Lastly, it's time to reflect on houseplants and the ways they can bring life to your indoor spaces. This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - oar.org.nz and made thanks to the support of NZ on Air.

    25 min

  4. 12/19/2025

    05 - Christmas in a Southern Garden

    05 - Christmas in a Southern Garden - This week it's our Christmas special, and we're talking all things Christmas, and the peculiarities of Christmas in the southern hemisphere. We'll then change tack and explore one of my favourite bits of my garden, which is not in fact in my garden at all - but it's the bit outside the front fence on the roadside. This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - oar.org.nz and made thanks to the support of NZ on Air.

    26 min

  5. 12/05/2025

    04 - An interview with gardener Sam Williams

    In this episode I chat to gardener, and garden designer, Sam Williams about all things gardens: what got him into gardening; his gardening interests, passions and occasional bugbears, and we even test him with a quick fire garden quiz. This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - oar.org.nz and made thanks to the support of NZ on Air.

    26 min

  6. 11/21/2025

    03 - Food Justice, Fruit and Veg

    03 - Food Justice, Fruit and Veg - In this week's show, we're talking about food justice, and the best veg to grow if you're just starting out in the garden. Kieran also takes a walk around a new garden he is looking after, and examining all the ways in which we can observe and learn from a space before we get stuck in. This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - oar.org.nz and made thanks to the support of NZ on Air.

    26 min

  7. 11/07/2025

    02 - Status anxiety in the garden

    In this week's show we're talking about how class and status interact in our gardens, and particularly our lawns. We also examine the ins and outs of no-dig gardening, and feature our plant of the week - rhubarb. This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - oar.org.nz and made thanks to the support of NZ on Air.

    26 min

  8. 10/24/2025

    01 - Gardening in the climate crisis

    In this week's show we're talking about growing from seed, and gardening in the climate crisis. Are you always saving the planet if you grow your own veg at home? The answer it turns out, is a little bit more complex... This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - oar.org.nz and made thanks to the support of NZ on Air.

    26 min

  9. 10/20/2025

    The Kōwhai Trailer

    Food for thought and thought on Food, Gardening and Sustainable Living. Join your host Kieran Ford for discussion on wide-ranging topics, from propagating rhubarb to transforming the agricultural economy, and everything in between - all the big questions about how we can thrive living sustainably in challenging times.

    1 min
  • 9 Episodes

About

Listen to The Kōwhai, with me Kieran Ford. Food for thought and thought on Food, Gardening and Sustainable Living. We discuss wide-ranging topics, from propagating rhubarb to transforming the agricultural economy, and everything in between - all the big questions about how we can thrive living sustainably in challenging times.

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