The Messed Up Gardener

Esther William (Aitken)
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  • HOME & GARDEN

Hello and Welcome to The Messed Up Gardener. This podcast covers all areas of gardening from a beginner, intermediate to advanced level. It covers gardening on any budget, any space, any place. There are no rules when it comes to me, and my gardens and I do it messy. There is nothing more fun than getting your hands dirty and creating that space that gives you joy and abundance. This podcast will give tips, tricks, hacks and methodology’s to make any space work from the tiny indoor garden to the rolling meadows with even a dash of bees, mushrooms and hydroponics thrown in. I have been a horticulturist for as long as I can remember and in the industry since I was 15 so that’s nearly 30 years of hands on gardening experience. I am really looking forward to being on this journey & doing it messy with you. 

  1. Ep 173: Why Most Gardens Fail in the First 90 Days (And How to Avoid It)

    6D AGO

    Ep 173: Why Most Gardens Fail in the First 90 Days (And How to Avoid It)

    🎧Press Play to Listen to Today’s Episode                         Free Gardening Resources at the bottom of the show notes What if nothing has actually gone wrong with your garden… But it just feels like it has? Why do so many gardens start strong… Only to slow down, stall, and become confusing within the first few weeks? And what if the problem isn’t what you’re doing… But when you’re expecting results? In this episode of The Messed-Up Gardener, Esther Williams walks you through the stage most gardeners don’t fully understand — the first 90 days. Not in a complicated or technical way… But in a clear, practical way that helps you understand what’s actually happening beneath the surface. Because the truth is, most gardens don’t fail because people stop trying. They struggle because the early stages don’t behave the way people expect them to. And without understanding that… it’s easy to start second-guessing everything. In this episode you’ll discover: 🌱 Why early growth can be misleading — and what it actually means 🌱 What really happens between days 14–30 (and why things start to feel “off”) 🌱 The “Mistake Window” — where most gardens get overcorrected 🌱 Why gardens don’t respond instantly (and how this creates confusion) 🌱 The stage where confidence drops — and why this is completely normal 🌱 What successful gardeners do differently during this period 🌱 The simple 90-day framework to help your garden stabilise and start working If your garden has ever started well…but then felt inconsistent, slow, or uncertain… this episode will help you understand exactly why. 🎧 Press play above to listen. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with a fellow gardener or leaving a review. It helps more people discover the show. And if you’d like to see what I’m working on behind the scenes — including our current greenhouse setup (yes… 5000 strawberry plants incoming 😅) — feel free to reach out. 📩 themessedupgardener@gmail.com 🌐 www.themessedupgardener.com 🌿 Follow the Journey Facebook 🌿 The Messed Up Gardener  🍄 Shesther’s Gourmet 🌱 Helpful Garden Resources If you’d like to keep learning, you can explore some of my practical gardening resources: 🌱 Create Your Own DIY Self-Watering Planters  A step-by-step guide to building simple systems that help your garden thrive. https://stan.store/EstherA/p/create-your-own-diy-self-watering-garden-planters 🌿 Free Gardening Resources You can also grab a few of my free guides designed to help gardeners build confidence: 🌿 12 Essential Tips for a Thriving Garden  Practical guidance from planning through to harvest https://stan.store/EstherA 🌿 Organic Gardening Cheat Sheet  Simple natural methods for chemical-free growing https://stan.store/EstherA 🌿 Garden Goals Planning Worksheet  A simple worksheet to help you plan your garden with intention https://stan.store/EstherA/p/get-my-garden-goals-planning-worksheet-now Until next time, remember: Gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget. 🌿 Gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget.

    24 min
  2. Ep 172: What a $100 Garden REALLY Looks Like (And Why Most People Get It Wrong)

    APR 11

    Ep 172: What a $100 Garden REALLY Looks Like (And Why Most People Get It Wrong)

    🎧 Press Play to Listen to Today’s Episode                        Free Gardening Resources at the bottom of the show notes What does a real $100 garden actually look like? And more importantly… 👉 would it actually save you money? Because a lot of people are starting gardens right now… spending hundreds… sometimes thousands… And still not seeing a real return. In this episode of The Messed-Up Gardener, Esther Williams breaks down what happens when you strip it all back. No overbuilding. No unnecessary spend. No Pinterest-perfect setups. Just a simple question: 👉 If you had $100… how would you build a garden that actually works? 👉 Something that starts reducing your grocery bill. Because once you understand how to structure a garden properly… everything starts to shift. In this episode you’ll discover: 🌱 How to break down a $100 garden budget so every dollar actually contributes to food 🌱 The simple shift that changes what you grow (and why most people get this wrong) 🌱 How to choose crops based on real return — not just what feels rewarding 🌱 Why some crops quietly carry your entire garden (and others don’t) 🌱 The most common mistakes that waste time, money, and momentum 🌱 What actually happens in the first 30–90 days of a working garden 🌱 How a small garden can realistically start replacing $10–$20 per week in groceries 🌱 Why gardens don’t save money instantly — but build value over time If you’ve ever felt like your garden should be doing more… or wondered whether it’s actually worth the effort… this episode will help you step back and see things differently. 🎧 Press play above to listen. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with a fellow gardener or leaving a review. It genuinely helps more people discover the show. And if you're ready to start building a garden that actually works… my practical guides are waiting for you in the links below. 📩 Reach out here: themessedupgardener@gmail.com 🌿 Follow the Journey Facebook 🌿 The Messed Up Gardener  🍄 Shesther’s Gourmet 🌐 www.themessedupgardener.com 🛠 Helpful Garden Resources If you'd like to keep learning, you can explore some of my practical gardening resources: 🌱 Create Your Own DIY Self-Watering Planters A step-by-step guide to building simple systems that help your garden thrive https://stan.store/EstherA/p/create-your-own-diy-self-watering-garden-planters   🌿 Free Gardening Resources You can also grab a few of my free guides designed to help gardeners build confidence: 🌿 12 Essential Tips for a Thriving Garden Practical guidance from planning through to harvest https://stan.store/EstherA 🌿 Organic Gardening Cheat Sheet Simple natural methods for chemical-free growing https://stan.store/EstherA 🌿 Garden Goals Planning Worksheet A simple worksheet to help you plan your garden with intention https://stan.store/EstherA/p/get-my-garden-goals-planning-worksheet-now Until next time, remember: Gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget. 🌿 Gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget.

    22 min
  3. Ep 171: Why Your Garden Isn’t Saving You Money… (And How to Fix It)

    APR 4

    Ep 171: Why Your Garden Isn’t Saving You Money… (And How to Fix It)

    🎧 Press Play to Listen to Today’s Episode 👉 Free Gardening Resources at the bottom of the show notes Hi Welcome to The Messed Up Gardener   Most gardens look productive… But are they actually saving you money? Or just making you feel like they are? In this episode of The Messed-Up Gardener, Esther Williams explores a question most gardeners never stop to ask. Because the truth is, many gardens are beautifully designed for enjoyment… 👉 but not for financial impact That doesn’t mean your garden isn’t valuable. In fact — the opposite is true. When you start looking at your garden through a slightly different lens… you begin to see where the real opportunity is. In this episode you’ll discover: 🌱 Why most gardens replace the cheapest parts of your grocery bill — not the expensive ones 🌱 The simple mindset shift that turns a garden from a hobby into a strategy 🌱 What “high-impact crops” actually are — and why they matter 🌱 The $1 vs $10 rule that changes how you choose what to grow 🌱 Why some gardens never save money (even when they should) 🌱 How small changes can quietly reduce your grocery bill over time 🌱 The hidden ways gardening saves money beyond just what you harvest If you’ve ever wondered why your garden isn’t making a bigger difference financially… 👉 this episode will change how you see everything you grow 🎧 Press play above to listen If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with a fellow gardener or leaving a review. It genuinely helps more people discover the show. And if you'd like structured help turning your garden into something more productive… my guides are waiting for you below 👇 🌿 Helpful Garden Resources If you'd like to keep learning, you can explore some of my practical gardening resources: 🌱 Create Your Own DIY Self-Watering Planters  A step-by-step guide to building simple systems that help your garden thrive https://stan.store/EstherA/p/create-your-own-diy-self-watering-garden-planters 🌱 Free Gardening Resources You can also grab a few of my free guides designed to help gardeners build confidence: 🌿 12 Essential Tips for a Thriving Garden  Practical guidance from planning through to harvest https://stan.store/EstherA 🌿 Organic Gardening Cheat Sheet  Simple natural methods for chemical-free growing https://stan.store/EstherA 🌿 Garden Goals Planning Worksheet  A simple worksheet to help you plan your garden with intention https://stan.store/EstherA/p/get-my-garden-goals-planning-worksheet-now 🌿 Follow the Journey Facebook 🌿 The Messed Up Gardener  🍄 Shesther’s Gourmet 🌐 www.themessedupgardener.com 📩 themessedupgardener@gmail.com Until next time, remember: Gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget.

    30 min
  4. Ep 170: The Hidden Reason Many People Give Up Gardening

    MAR 28

    Ep 170: The Hidden Reason Many People Give Up Gardening

    🎧 Listen to Today’s Episode Most people don’t give up gardening because they didn’t enjoy it. They give up because the first year feels harder than they expected. Because what most people don’t realise is this: The first year isn’t about success.  It’s about learning. And many gardeners stop just before everything starts to get easier. In this episode of The Messed-Up Gardener, Esther Williams explores what’s really happening during that first season — and why it can feel frustrating, confusing, and sometimes overwhelming. Not because you’re doing it wrong…  but because you’re right in the middle of the learning curve. 🌱 In this episode you’ll discover: 🌿 Why the first year of gardening is often the hardest  🌿 The gap between the “garden dream” and reality 🌿 What the “messy middle” actually means 🌿 Why soil matters more than plants 🌿 How gardening knowledge compounds over time 🌿 Why the second year feels so much easier If you’ve ever felt like your garden wasn’t working… This episode will help you realise: You’re not failing.  You’re learning. 🌿 If This Episode Helped Share it with someone who might be feeling discouraged in their garden 🌱  Or leave a review — it helps more gardeners find the show. 🌿 Free Gardening Resources 🌿 12 Essential Tips for a Thriving Garden  https://stan.store/EstherA 🌿 Organic Gardening Cheat Sheet  https://stan.store/EstherA 🌿 Garden Goals Planning Worksheet  https://stan.store/EstherA/p/get-my-garden-goals-planning-worksheet-now Until next time, remember: Gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget. 🌿 Gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget.

    17 min
  5. Ep 169: Why Knowing How to Grow Food Changes the Way You See the World

    MAR 21

    Ep 169: Why Knowing How to Grow Food Changes the Way You See the World

    🎧 Press Play to Listen to Today’s Episode Free Gardening Resources at the bottom of the show notes What if the way you see food… isn’t the full picture? Most people experience food as something finished.  Packaged. Convenient. Ready to cook. But the moment you start growing your own food…  that perspective begins to shift. Because once you understand how food is actually grown —  you don’t just change what you eat…  you change how you see the world. In this episode of The Messed-Up Gardener, Esther Williams explores the quiet but powerful mindset shifts that happen when you start growing your own food. Not in a complicated way —  but in a real, practical, lived-experience way. In this episode you’ll discover: 🌱 Why food stops feeling like a product — and starts feeling like a process  🌱 The moment growing your own food changes how you think  🌱 Why gardeners start seeing systems and patterns everywhere  🌱 The shift that makes soil more important than plants  🌱 How growing food builds confidence, resilience, and perspective  🌱 Why even a small garden can change how you see food forever If you’ve ever felt like gardening is “just a hobby”…  this episode might completely change how you see it. Because gardening isn’t just about growing food.  It’s about understanding it. 🎧 Press play above to listen. If this episode resonated with you, consider sharing it with someone who might need a fresh perspective on food, gardening, or simply slowing down. And if you haven’t already, leaving a review genuinely helps this podcast grow and reach more gardeners. And just quietly…  if you’ve been following along, something exciting is happening behind the scenes. The very first Messed-Up Gardener product is about to go live 🌿 If you'd like early access before it launches publicly, send me a message and I’ll happily send you the waitlist link. 📩 Reach out here:  themessedupgardener@gmail.com Follow the Journey Facebook 🌿 The Messed Up Gardener  🍄 Shesther’s Gourmet 🌐 www.themessedupgardener.com Helpful Garden Resources If you'd like to keep learning, you can explore some of my practical gardening resources: 🌱 Create Your Own DIY Self-Watering Planters A step-by-step guide to building simple systems that help your garden thrive. https://stan.store/EstherA/p/create-your-own-diy-self-watering-garden-planters Free Gardening Resources You can also grab a few of my free guides designed to help gardeners build confidence: 🌿 12 Essential Tips for a Thriving Garden Practical guidance from planning through to harvest https://stan.store/EstherA 🌿 Organic Gardening Cheat Sheet Simple natural methods for chemical-free growing https://stan.store/EstherA 🌿 Garden Goals Planning Worksheet A simple worksheet to help you plan your garden with intention https://stan.store/EstherA/p/get-my-garden-goals-planning-worksheet-now Until next time, remember: Gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget. 🌿 Gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget.

    26 min
  6. Ep 168: If Supermarkets Closed Tomorrow, Could Your Garden Feed You?

    MAR 14

    Ep 168: If Supermarkets Closed Tomorrow, Could Your Garden Feed You?

    🎧Press Play to Listen to Today’s Episode Free Gardening Resources at the bottom of the show notes    What would actually happen if the supermarkets shut tomorrow? Would your garden feed you? Or would it simply provide a few fresh ingredients for dinner? In this episode of The Messed-Up Gardener, Esther Williams explores a question most gardeners never stop to ask. Not in a dramatic or doomsday way — but in a practical, thoughtful way. Because the truth is, many home gardens are beautifully designed for flavour and variety, but not necessarily for energy or food security. That doesn’t mean gardens aren’t valuable. In fact, the opposite is true. When you start looking at your garden through a slightly different lens, you begin to understand something powerful about food, resilience, and the quiet skills that gardeners develop over time. In this episode you’ll discover: 🌱 Why most home gardens are designed to supplement meals rather than feed households 🌱 The surprising difference between “support crops” and “fuel crops” 🌱 Why staple crops like potatoes, corn and beans have historically fed entire civilizations 🌱 The often overlooked role of storage crops in real food resilience 🌱 Why garden design and crop choice quietly determine how productive a garden can become 🌱 The hidden advantage every gardener gains simply by learning how to grow food If you’ve ever wondered whether your garden could provide more than just seasonal vegetables, this episode will help you step back and see your garden from a completely new perspective. 🎧 Press play above to listen. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with a fellow gardener or leaving a review. It helps more people discover the show. And if you'd like to see what I'm working on behind the scenes, our very first Messed-Up Gardener product is about to go live. If you'd like a sneak peek before the launch, send me a message and I’ll happily send you the waitlist link. 📩 Reach out here:  themessedupgardener@gmail.com Follow the Journey Facebook 🌿 The Messed Up Gardener 🍄 Shesther’s Gourmet 🌐 www.themessedupgardener.com Helpful Garden Resources If you'd like to keep learning, you can explore some of my practical gardening resources: 🌱 Create Your Own DIY Self-Watering Planters A step-by-step guide to building simple systems that help your garden thrive. https://stan.store/EstherA/p/create-your-own-diy-self-watering-garden-planters Free Gardening Resources You can also grab a few of my free guides designed to help gardeners build confidence: 🌿 12 Essential Tips for a Thriving Garden Practical guidance from planning through to harvest https://stan.store/EstherA 🌿 Organic Gardening Cheat Sheet Simple natural methods for chemical-free growing https://stan.store/EstherA 🌿 Garden Goals Planning Worksheet A simple worksheet to help you plan your garden with intention https://stan.store/EstherA/p/get-my-garden-goals-planning-worksheet-now Until next time, remember: Gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget. 🌿 Gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget.

    21 min
  7. Ep 167: Why Sustainable Gardens Get Easier Every Year (And Why Some Get Harder)

    MAR 7

    Ep 167: Why Sustainable Gardens Get Easier Every Year (And Why Some Get Harder)

    🎧 Listen to Today’s Episode Some gardens quietly become easier every year. Others slowly become harder — and before you realise it, you feel like you’re constantly catching up… watering more, fixing more, rescuing more. But the difference usually isn’t effort. It’s strategy. In this episode of The Messed-Up Gardener, Esther Williams resets the idea of “sustainable gardening” and explains why the gardens that thrive long-term are almost always built on a few simple systems working together. Not perfection. Not expensive products. And not complicated ideology. Just thoughtful design. In this episode you’ll discover: 🌱 Why some gardens become easier every season while others slowly become more work 🌱 The five quiet “flows” that make sustainable gardens function smoothly 🌱 How to reduce what Esther calls rescue gardening — constantly fixing problems instead of preventing them 🌱 Why small-space gardeners can absolutely build sustainable systems 🌱 The hidden financial truth behind gardens that compound their value over time If your garden has ever felt like it’s getting harder instead of easier, this episode will help you step back and see what might be missing. 🎧 Press play above to listen. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with a fellow gardener or leaving a review. It helps more people discover the show. And if you’d like support building confidence in your own garden — or even exploring a garden-based business idea — I still have a few one-on-one mentoring spaces available. 📩 Reach out here: themessedupgardener@gmail.com www.themessedupgardener.com Follow the journey Facebook  🌿 The Messed Up Gardener  🍄 Shesther’s Gourmet Helpful Garden Resources If you'd like to keep learning, you can also explore a few of my practical gardening resources: 🌱 Create Your Own DIY Self-Watering Planters A step-by-step guide to building simple systems that help your garden thrive. https://stan.store/EstherA/p/create-your-own-diy-self-watering-garden-planters Free Gardening Resources You can also grab a few of my free guides designed to help gardeners build confidence: 🌿 12 Essential Tips for a Thriving Garden Practical guidance from planning through to harvest https://stan.store/EstherA 🌿 Organic Gardening Cheat Sheet Simple natural methods for chemical-free growing https://stan.store/EstherA 🌿 Garden Goals Planning Worksheet A simple worksheet to help you plan your garden with intention https://stan.store/EstherA/p/get-my-garden-goals-planning-worksheet-now Until next time, remember: Gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget. 🌿 Gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget.

    28 min
  8. Ep 166: The Hidden Mistake Most Gardeners Don’t Even Realize They’re Making

    FEB 28

    Ep 166: The Hidden Mistake Most Gardeners Don’t Even Realize They’re Making

    Why Strategic Gardening Always Beats Reactive Gardening Sometimes the most damaging thing you can do in a garden… is intervene too quickly. In this episode of The Messed-Up Gardener, Esther unpacks the hidden mistake most gardeners don’t even realize they’re making — reacting to symptoms instead of strengthening systems. We explore: • The difference between reactive and strategic gardening  • Why plants respond better to stability than overcorrection  • The biology of “stress stacking” (and how to avoid it)  • How strategic decisions build long-term resilience  • Five practical shifts to move from panic-fixing to calm preparation  • Why autumn is the perfect season to think strategically If your garden has ever felt exhausting, unpredictable, or harder than it should be — this episode will change the way you think about every droop, yellow leaf, and seasonal shift. Because strategic gardening isn’t about doing more. It’s about reacting less — and preparing better. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend, leave a review, or send me your questions for future Q&A sessions. And if you are looking for one-on-one support to grow your garden confidence (or even shape a garden-based business idea), I’ve still got a few spots open. 📩 Reach out here: themessedupgardener@gmail.com Until next time, remember: gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget. 🌿 🐝Listen now and get your garden prepped for anything! Follow our Journey on our Facebook Pages The Messed Up Gardener Or Shesther’s Gourmet  Or Grab  ·        A Step by Step guide on how to create your own DIY self-watering planters https://stan.store/EstherA/p/create-your-own-diy-self-watering-garden-planters Don’t forget to grab one of my gardening freebees.    Freebies: Grab the  -         "12 Essential Tips for a Thriving Garden: From Planning to Harvest" Practical Tips to Help You Grow a Flourishing Garden  -         https://stan.store/EstherA -         Organic gardening Cheat Sheet: Natural methods for chemical free cultivation https://stan.store/EstherA -         Garden Goals Planning Worksheet https://stan.store/EstherA/p/get-my-garden-goals-planning-worksheet-now Gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget.

    22 min
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About

Hello and Welcome to The Messed Up Gardener. This podcast covers all areas of gardening from a beginner, intermediate to advanced level. It covers gardening on any budget, any space, any place. There are no rules when it comes to me, and my gardens and I do it messy. There is nothing more fun than getting your hands dirty and creating that space that gives you joy and abundance. This podcast will give tips, tricks, hacks and methodology’s to make any space work from the tiny indoor garden to the rolling meadows with even a dash of bees, mushrooms and hydroponics thrown in. I have been a horticulturist for as long as I can remember and in the industry since I was 15 so that’s nearly 30 years of hands on gardening experience. I am really looking forward to being on this journey & doing it messy with you. 

Information

  • Creator
    Esther William (Aitken)
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    188
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Messed Up Gardener
  • Show Website
    The Messed Up Gardener

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