The Soul garden with Laura Blishen.

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Hosted by Western Australian Seed grower Laura Blishen. The soul garden explores, food sovereignty, regenerative agriculture, and the transformational power of growing your own food. Because what you need has been beneath your feet all along.

Episodes

  1. 1d ago

    #5 F#*K Survival gardening bring on Joy gardening!

    Joy Gardening: Growing Food for the Soul, Not Just Production In episode five of the Soul Garden Podcast, the host explains missing last week’s episode due to the hectic spring season running Thrive Sustainability, an Australian seed business, and reflects on how time spent planting and seeding outdoors helped her relax. She encourages listeners to see gardens as “food for the soul,” not just a place for efficient food production, and warns that fear-driven “survival gardening” and social media perfection can add pressure, stress, and burnout. She suggests leaving phones inside, approaching gardening with curiosity, and letting gardens be messy while learning from setbacks (including composting failed plants). Citing studies (University of Bristol 2007 and another in 2011), she notes links between soil exposure, serotonin activity, and reduced cortisol. She shares simple self-care habits: morning tea wandering outside, stepping out at dusk to harvest, and photographing progress to appreciate achievements, then invites feedback and subscriptions. 00:00 Springtime Catch Up 00:53 Gardening as Therapy 03:07 Single Task Mindfulness 04:49 Fear Free Food Growing 06:02 Reject Survival Gardening 07:27 Social Media Garden Myths 10:17 Science Backed Benefits 12:27 Morning Tea Wander 14:29 Golden Hour Reset 15:49 Celebrate Progress 17:10 Slow Down Invitation 18:34 Wrap Up and Connect  Resources mentioned: Shop for our WA grown seeds Buy Western Australian Seeds Online - Thrive Sustainability Download a free seed sowing guide Studies mentioned in episode https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1868963/ Gardening Promotes Neuroendocrine and Affective Restoration from Stress - Agnes E. Van Den Berg, Mariëtte H.G. Custers, 2011 Follow The soul garden: Facebook Instagram Follow Thrive Sustainability Facebook Instagram

  2. Sep 5

    #4 From Seed: The practical magic of growing your own food

    Growing your own food from seed is one of the most powerful things you can reclaim. One of the oldest skills in human history — and one that many of us have forgotten. In this episode of the Soul Garden Podcast, Laura founder of Thrive Sustainability in Western Australia walks you through everything you need to know to grow vegetables from seed with confidence. Whether you have tried before and struggled, or you are just starting out, this episode covers the fundamentals clearly and practically — so you can stop buying punnets and start growing something that is truly yours. You will learn: What triggers germination and how temperature affects your successThe simple rule for sowing depth that most beginners get wrongHow to water correctly — and the two common mistakes that kill seedlings fastWhy your seedlings are getting leggy and how to fix itHow to choose or make the right seed-raising mix, including a DIY recipeWhich vegetables to direct sow straight into the groundHow to feed young seedlings and build soil biology from the startPlus — why starting from seed gives you access to varieties you will never find at a nursery, saves you money, and connects you to something much bigger than a garden bed. Seeds are not just the beginning of a plant. They are the beginning of sovereignty. Show contents 00:00 Welcome to Soul Garden 00:26 Why Grow From Seed 02:23 Benefits Variety Cost Magic 04:27 Germination Basics 06:09 Temperature and Heat Mats 09:59 Sowing Depth and Vermiculite 12:57 Moisture Watering Hacks 15:23 Avoid Damping Off Gnats 17:50 Fix Leggy Seedlings Light 20:22 Seed Raising Mix Soil 24:56 Feeding Seedlings Nutrients 27:39 Direct Sowing What Where 29:24 Troubleshooting Recap 30:57 Buy Local Open Pollinated 33:19 Final Thoughts and Subscribe  Resources mentioned: Shop for our WA grown seeds Buy Western Australian Seeds Online - Thrive Sustainability Download a free seed sowing guide Follow The soul garden: Facebook Instagram Follow Thrive Sustainability Facebook Instagram

  3. Aug 14

    #3 Two Landscapes, one philosophy: Lessons from the Pilbara and a regenerative mango farm with Robyn Todd

    In this episode, Laura sits down with Robyn Todd of Araluen Mangoes to talk about the leap from community gardener to commercial regenerative mango farmer. Robyn spent 18 years growing food in Port Hedland, one of the harshest climates in the country, where she ran a much-loved community garden and learned to work with extreme heat and a growing calendar flipped completely on its head. She shares what that experience taught her about resilience, soil, and adaptability — lessons she's now carrying into her first year running a 340-tree mango orchard in the Moore River region. They talk soil-first farming philosophy, cover crops, closed-loop composting with wood chips and chickens, working with sheep and pigs as part of the system, and Robyn's plans for dehydrated and freeze-dried mango, black garlic, aquaponic strawberries, and more. It's a conversation about building a small, sustainable farm business without chasing scale — and about what it really means to look after your soil so it can look after you.  Resources mentioned:  Follow Robyn and her business Araluen Mangoes  Facebook Instagram Email Robyn araluenmangoes@gmail.com Information about the Johnson-su compost bioreactor, thanks to regenerationinternational.org Johnson-Su-Bioreactor.pdf Shop for our WA grown seeds Buy Western Australian Seeds Online - Thrive Sustainability Follow us: Facebook Instagram

  4. Jul 29

    #2 How to start growing food - No experience needed

    If you've been dreaming of growing your own food but keep putting it off because you don't know where to start, this episode is for you. Laura cuts through the overwhelm and gets back to basics — because growing food doesn't need to be complicated or expensive. It just needs to begin. In this episode, you'll learn: Why starting small is the smartest thing you can do as a beginner gardenerWhat to plant first — easy, forgiving crops for beginners (leafy greens, legumes, salad greens, and root veg)How much sunlight your vegetable garden actually needsWhy you don't need expensive raised garden beds — defined edges matter moreWhy your time and money is best invested in soil health.Simple watering solutions, including how wicking beds workThe most common watering mistake home gardeners makeHow growing from seed saves your money and connects you to the processWhy growing something new each season keeps your garden — and your motivation — aliveWhat nature already knows: nothing grows alone, and why biodiversity matters.How to let go of the expectation of a "perfect" organic gardenWhether you have a big backyard or a small courtyard, this episode will give you the confidence to take that first step. 🌱  Resources mentioned:  Shop for our WA grown seeds Buy Western Australian Seeds Online - Thrive Sustainability Download a free seed sowing guide Contact Us - Thrive Sustainability Wicking bed blog post Wicking Beds - a Smart Way to Grow in Perth's Climate Follow us: Facebook Instagram

  5. Jul 21

    Soul garden podcast - Episode 1

    Episode 1 — Welcome to The Soul Garden In this first episode, Laura Blishen introduces herself and the story behind The Soul Garden Laura talks about her journey into seed saving and food sovereignty and what inspired her to start this podcast.  Connect with Laura: 🌱 Website: www.thrivesustainability.com.au 🌱 Instagram: www.instagram.com/thesoulgarden.au 🌱 Facebook: www.facebook.com/thesoulgarden.au

  • 5 Episodes

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Hosted by Western Australian Seed grower Laura Blishen. The soul garden explores, food sovereignty, regenerative agriculture, and the transformational power of growing your own food. Because what you need has been beneath your feet all along.

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