grow, cook, eat, arrange with Sarah Raven & friends

Sarah Raven
  • 4.9 (182)
  • Home & Garden
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to grow, cook, eat, arrange, the weekly podcast from gardener, writer, teacher,and cook, Sarah Raven. Over the last two decades, Sarah has led the way by introducing a new kind of productive gardening which places emphasis on intense colour, sophistication, and achievability. Recorded at the beautiful Perch Hill Farm in Sussex, Sarah talks with special guests from across garden design, floristry, food, ecology, conservation, and more. Brimming with top tips and helpful hints, listen and learn how to create your most productive garden ever. You can find out more about the products discussed in each episode or get in touch by visiting the website: https://www.sarahraven.com/

  1. 2d ago

    Matthew Rice: How to look, draw and paint your garden - Episode 283

    Stepping out into the garden with a sketchbook in hand is a novel, powerful practice which, given time, can transform the way we look at plants we think that we know like the back of our hand. In this week’s podcast episode, Sarah is joined by artist and gardener Matthew Rice to explore how drawing becomes a kind of “recorded looking” that deepens our relationship with flowers and gardens - from choosing the right subjects and materials to capturing the feeling of a border in full swing. In this episode, discover: How drawing functions as “recorded looking”, helping deepen your relationship with your gardenWhich flowers and garden plants are most forgiving to draw as a beginner, and practical ways to get started with garden drawingWhere Matthew Rice finds inspiration, from historic watercolourists to everyday details in his own greenhouse and gardenProducts mentioned: Snakeshead Fritillaries: sarahraven.com/products/fritillaria-meleagris Iris reticulata: sarahraven.com/products/iris-reticulata-blue-note Courgettes: sarahraven.com/products/courgette-soleil-f1 Mint: sarahraven.com/products/mint-moroccan Matthew Rice: https://www.instagram.com/matthewricewatercolours/ See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/ Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/ Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

    Matthew Rice: How to look, draw and paint your garden - Episode 283

  2. Jul 9

    Richard Claxton: How the NGS transforms health & green spaces - Episode 282

    The National Garden Scheme is a national treasure, raising millions for charities and giving access to gorgeous gardens for those who need them most. It’s a joy this week to be joined by former GP and National Garden Scheme CEO Dr Richard Claxton to explore how 3,200 gardens – from stately homes to hospital rooftops and new-build backyards – are transforming health and access to green space across the UK.  In this episode, discover: How the National Garden Scheme quietly turns open gardens, tea and cake into £3.9 million a year for nursing and healthcare charitiesWhy Richard Claxton believes gardening is one of the most powerful tools we have for long-term wellbeingHow the NGS has evolved from stately homes and rectories to include community gardens, and small, relatable plotThe story behind transformative projects like the intensive care roof garden at King’s College HospitalHow balconies, new-build gardens and shared plots can play a vital role in our health and connection to natureRichard Claxton: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richardclaxtongardens/ The National Garden Scheme: https://www.instagram.com/nationalgardenscheme/ See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/ Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/ Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

    Richard Claxton: How the NGS transforms health & green spaces - Episode 282

  3. Jul 2

    Josie Lewis: 10 climate-resilient plants for unpredictable weather - Episode 281

    We’ve learned from years of unpredictable weather patterns that the climate is demanding more of our plants than ever before, and while some struggle, others quietly thrive throughout it all. In this episode, Sarah is joined by Josie Lewis to explore which plants are quietly thriving through late frosts, heatwaves and torrential rain with a practical, down-to-earth shortlist of resilient perennials, shrubs, grasses and ground covers to help your garden cope with an increasingly unpredictable climate. In this episode, discover: How long-observed changes in weather are reshaping which plants can thrive in the gardenWhich resilient perennials, shrubs and grasses are coping best with “swivelly” weather, and why traits like tap roots and silver, hairy foliage matterWhich much-loved plants are starting to struggle with mildew, black spot and stressPractical, down-to-earth techniques for helping your garden weather extremes conditionsProducts mentioned: Bluebells (Native British): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hyacinthoides-non-scripta-bluebells Eryngiums (Sea Hollies): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/eryngium-alpinum?srsltid=AfmBOopO4Ifg4rzCW2YkMWRcqgDXIRlXUqsM8bCbvKl2l68rTKaBJU4l Lavender: sarahraven.com/products/lavender-munstead Rosemary ‘Tuscan Blue’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/rosemary-tuscan-blue?srsltid=AfmBOoqw1cACNvCEpOmZsANIbxqDCLnJbnUK2yiqwuVl2Cvfo8ZtYvMy Origanum vulgare (Oregano): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/wild-marjoram?srsltid=AfmBOopv0ainVpy6LtMUQZNXz7j2uk0S8_o0MhkfGzThC64AF9eaF1l- Lychnis coronaria (Magenta): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lychnis-coronaria Stipa gigantea: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/stipa-gigantea Quaking Grasses (Briza species): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/briza-maxima-greater-quaking-grass?srsltid=AfmBOorNYwPg5Ia0BbbQNr1nHeMdY4zpd_RelqlM_oWx8Ukfkg6qb-Yp Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/leucanthemum-vulgaris?srsltid=AfmBOoqICKKwsHKsI_Az1IDEef6FTGyX2985v8xOzJWJz6vK2m39rH80 Salvia ‘Cerro Potosi’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-microphylla-cerro-potosi Salvia ‘Jezebel’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-jezebel?srsltid=AfmBOoo9zChqz4ORp4p1PjjxPn-FE0S9HtVs0nqaEzWg3SHc0sPNNdRE Salvia ‘Royal Bumble’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-x-jamensis-royal-bumble?srsltid=AfmBOorDeIIZi7sAEHWbPIlPsgg6Nvy-c1HUTkEyZNvgfHTKvBI0VLH5 Phlox ‘David’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/phlox-paniculata-david Phlox ‘Blue Paradise’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/phlox-paniculata-blue-paradise See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/ Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/ Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

    Josie Lewis: 10 climate-resilient plants for unpredictable weather - Episode 281

  4. Jun 25

    Pam Corbin: The fun, modern take on making your own preserves - Episode 280

    What Pam Corbin doesn’t know about preserves, isn’t worth knowing. She’s an oracle on all things jam - hence her apt nickname, ‘Pam the Jam’. For the home cook, and for those with a kitchen garden worthy of capturing its fruity goodness, this week’s episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ with Pam is a perfect entry point to creating your own jams. She and Sarah share the secrets behind turning seasonal fruit and veg into beautiful jars of low‑sugar jams, compotes and chutneys that actually taste of the fruit, not just the sugar! In this episode, discover: How Pam moved from a tiny jam business in a converted pig unit to writing modern classics on preservesWhy traditional jam recipes were so heavy on sugar, and how to safely make lower‑sugar, soft‑set jams todayPractical, step‑by‑step tips for tricky fruits like strawberries and raspberries – including staging your jam, managing foam, and avoiding overcooked, rock‑hard resultsSimple ways to make more than just jam from your harvest, from apricot compotes and bottled cherries to clever uses for rhubarb, courgettes and runner beansHow to choose and use basic preserving kit so you can confidently turn garden gluts into jars on your shelfOrder ‘Pam the Jam: The Book of Preserves’: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pam-Jam-Book-Preserves-Corbin/dp/1408884496 See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/ Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/ Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

  5. Jun 18

    Josie Lewis: Choosing roses for perfume and performance - Episode 279

    There are few flowers more quintessential than the rose, and it’s safe to say that there’s a perfect rose for everyone’s tastes.  This week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ delves into the world of roses, with someone whose love for a great rose knows no bounds: Josie Lewis. Whether you’re looking for a rose with a particular colour to combine with the beauty of your existing garden, or you’re more pressed by scent and structure, we hear which are the absolute best roses to grow, and how best to tend to them for healthy, reliable growth. In this episode, discover: Which varieties of Roses are the standout performers for each colour groupThe best ramblers, bloomers and climbers, from the huge, creamy white Wedding Day to the beautiful copper-brown Hot ChocolateHow to make your roses last in water for maximum vase lifeSee our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/ Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/ Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

    Josie Lewis: Choosing roses for perfume and performance - Episode 279

  6. Jun 11

    Enjoying the brilliance of alliums all year round - Episode 278

    This Christmas might feel a while away, but if there’s one way to prepare right now for a more stunning and sustainable tree, it’s with alliums. Sarah’s love of alliums is well-documented on the podcast, but this week she’s recalling some of the most show-stopping varieties with which to decorate this Christmas, and the joys that they’ll bring as ‘colour baton-carriers’ in spring. In this episode, discover: Which alliums are perfect for bridging the gap between tulips going over and sweet peas emergingSome extravagant, statement-making varieties like the remarkably tall ‘Summer Drummer’ or sculptural shapes of ‘Magic’Tips for preparing your alliums to sustainably decorate your tree this ChristmasProducts mentioned: Allium hollandicum 'Purple Sensation' https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-hollandicum-purple-sensation Allium cristophii https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-cristophii Allium nigrum https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-nigrum Allium stipitatum 'Summer Drummer' https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-stipitatum-summer-drummer Allium schubertii 'Magic' https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-schubertii-magic Allium jesdianum 'Purple Rain' https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-purple-rain See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/ Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/ Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

    Enjoying the brilliance of alliums all year round - Episode 278

  7. Jun 4

    The brilliant biennials perfect for scent and versatility - Episode 277

    Biennials – plants which flower in their second year – may often be overlooked by us gardeners, but between their value for money, wonderful scent, and versatility they’re among the best plants to sow and grow in any garden. Sarah makes the case for brilliant biennials in this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, exploring how she came to appreciate their beauty, and which varieties are best for all aspects of your space. In this episode, discover: How the right mix of biennials can fill the awkward May gap with prolific blooms, all for the price of a seed packetThe best early-flowering biennials, from fragrant wallflowers to the scented sweet rocket, Hesperis matronalisMoth-pollinated varieties with rich fragrance and velvety textures to create a pollinator paradiseProducts mentioned: Digitalis purpurea 'Sutton's Apricot' https://www.sarahraven.com/products/digitalis-purpurea-suttons-apricot Digitalis purpurea f. albiflora https://www.sarahraven.com/products/digitalis-purpurea-alba Malope trifida 'Vulcan' https://www.sarahraven.com/products/malope-trifida-vulcan Lunaria annua https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lunaria-annua Iceland poppy (Papaver nudicaule) https://www.sarahraven.com/products/papaver-nudicaule-champagne-bubbles-mix-f1 See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/ Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/ Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

    The brilliant biennials perfect for scent and versatility - Episode 277

  8. May 28

    Pollyanna Wilkinson: Simple tips for a spectacularly designed garden - Episode 276

    Every garden space deserves a chance to be transformed into a beautiful space which breathes, rather than constricts, and Pollyanna Wilkinson is a master of such designs. Polly joins Sarah this week to share her no‑nonsense methods for transforming everything from boxy new‑build plots to tired, inherited gardens into layered, soulful spaces.  In this episode, discover: How to think like a garden designer, surveying, shaping and structuring spaces before you plantPractical ways to transform new‑build and small gardens, or refresh an existing gardenGuidance on choosing materials and finishes that feel good underfoot, are easy to maintain, and will age beautifully over time.How to use colour and planting layers to create a soulful, wildlife‑friendly garden with interest through the seasonsProducts mentioned: Amelanchier lamarckii: sarahraven.com/products/amelanchier-lamarckii Lavender ‘Munstead’:  sarahraven.com/products/lavender-munstead Nepeta x faassenii 'Kit Kat': sarahraven.com/products/nepeta-x-faassenii-kit-kat See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/ Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/ Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

    Pollyanna Wilkinson: Simple tips for a spectacularly designed garden - Episode 276
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4.9
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Welcome to grow, cook, eat, arrange, the weekly podcast from gardener, writer, teacher,and cook, Sarah Raven. Over the last two decades, Sarah has led the way by introducing a new kind of productive gardening which places emphasis on intense colour, sophistication, and achievability. Recorded at the beautiful Perch Hill Farm in Sussex, Sarah talks with special guests from across garden design, floristry, food, ecology, conservation, and more. Brimming with top tips and helpful hints, listen and learn how to create your most productive garden ever. You can find out more about the products discussed in each episode or get in touch by visiting the website: https://www.sarahraven.com/

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