Avant Gardeners

Mitch Theissen // The Agrarian Kitchen, Compost, Soil Health, Japanese Salad Turnip

Mitch Theissen has the enviable role of Head Gardener at the award winning Agrarian Kitchen in New Norfolk, just outside of Hobart. Having grown up in the Huon Valley, born into a long line of apple farmers, Mitch started his career in the kitchen, first in Hobart, then Sydney, before spending time in Japan. It was here that his thoughts returned to agriculture and produce, and upon returning to Australia he sought out the next phase of his career, landing this dream gig a few years ago and being pivotal in what it looks like, and how it operates, today. Mitch lives, works and gardens with his partner, and young family on the land of the wulawali people in New Norfolk, in lutruwita/Tasmania's Derwent Valley. Before we get to that, Emily and Maddie are (as well as talking over the top of each other -- sorry about that --) talking about radishes. Yep, that's about it. We also talk about * Compost * Soil * Salad spinners (lol, yes) * And maybe you need to rush out to buy some Japanese Salad Turnip Seeds. IYIYK Mitch is recommending Eliot Coleman's New Organic Gardener. [https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-new-organic-grower-3rd-edition-eliot-coleman/book/9781603588171.html?source=pla&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21618274688&gbraid=0AAAAA-Ia9hMR6rL5I7qiVZ2GwoUW5rhzO&gclid=CjwKCAjwqubPBhBOEiwAzgZX2tDms-thUc5CYQd7pJ61nI5_KLO5vSEyhHqIsJLNhaIN6oesQIDhDxoCfbUQAvD_BwE]

Baklava Old Fashioned, Dehydrator Season and We Answer Your Questions!

We're drinking a Baklava Old Fashioned - Maddie had leftover baklava syrup (sugar, water, cinnamon, honey) and has turned it into an old fashioned with burbon, amaretto and a dash of bitters. Absolutely delish! Emily has scored herself the perfect harvest basket, and her benchtop is housing a hard-working dehydrator as she works through the abundance of nashi pears. Maddie delves into the good and the bad dahlia chat. We discuss tree peonies and mimosa hydrangeas before delving into some questions that you - our amazing listeners - have asked of us. The ones we get into in this episode are: -What are some things you wish you could grow, and what would you never grow -How did you two meet? -What are your favourite cocktails. This was fun, and there are more questions to answer in future eps. Feel like asking us a question? Drop us a DM at @avantgardeners.podcast [http://instagram.com/avantgardeners.podcast]

Rubie Gallagher // Gardening with a Disability, Starting a Micro Flower Farm, Dahlia Cuttings, Running Away From Home

This week's guest is the delightful, talented Rubie Gallagher. Rubie is an illustrator and micro flower farmer [https://www.rubiesblooms.com/], who met Emily when she and her husband Max took a Calm Birth class ahead of their first child. After an accident in 2019, Rubie she spent time in rehabilitation at the Royal Talbot Rehab Centre in Melbourne which our recent guest Steven Wells [https://open.spotify.com/episode/6bF73gawX12wL2fG1xrUmd?si=9108045e5cce4798] created. The two crossed paths there during Rubie's rehab. Since her accident, Rubie and her husband, along with some very helpful friends, have worked together to create Rubie's Flower Farm, a micro farm growing flowers for florists, DIY buckets and edible flowers out of Mount Rumney just outside of Hobart. Rubie talks about memories from the rehab garden, what led her to create her farm, how gardening with a kid is bloody hard, and how she deals with the cold weather (hint: she draws [https://www.instagram.com/illustrations_by_rubie/]). We talk about improving soil, taking cuttings, sneaking cuttings and not sweating the small stuff. Before we get to this great chat with Rubie, we're talking about geraniums, using kids to get away with things, roses in abundance, Elephant Garlic, Helen Goh's Pear & Caramel Self Saucing Pudding in the Good Weekend [https://www.smh.com.au/goodfood/recipes/treat-yourself-to-this-self-saucing-pudding-on-the-couch-on-a-saturday-night-20260311-p5o9cq.html]. Rubie recommends the following books during her chat: * Phosphoresence [https://www.booktopia.com.au/phosphorescence-julia-baird/book/9781460757161.html?source=pla&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21622022821&gbraid=0AAAAA-Ia9hP_YiceZBrz6GgVuunYK6KSv&gclid=CjwKCAjwwJzPBhBREiwAJfHRnYdrxArDy1dsr1GrdlNDhUs-LMne-pFOfybgpSHsn4U1Vi4NunE-jhoCiK0QAvD_BwE], by Julia Baird * If Women Rose Rooted [https://www.booktopia.com.au/if-women-rose-rooted-sharon-blackie/book/9781912836017.html?source=pla&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21622047982&gbraid=0AAAAA-Ia9hMo7M-FMpk3pD-vvOwg1TvEH&gclid=CjwKCAjwwJzPBhBREiwAJfHRna8XmEaSciKLtPkZUBGDzQMXy2UaLag7ZFolp0cYaaEfponeSoP7dBoCaIoQAvD_BwE], by Sharon Blackie "Grass is going to grass, and weeds are going to weed." - Rubie Gallagher

A Hospital Stay, Writing Lists & South Sydney's Jacaranda History

We are back, and we felt like drinking something tried and tested, so Emily's cracked a Sigurd [https://www.sigurdwines.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorIRXyXnvXxAU0JZKSfjMHCVS12jgr8BX2KEqlgVglysU3TRtM_], Chenin Blanc. Emily shares an unexpected stay in hospital, and she's got a lot of thoughts about the paediatric ward 'sgarden (very topical as we've recently spoken to Nurse and Therapeutic Horticulturalist Steven Wells - listen to that episode here [https://open.spotify.com/episode/6bF73gawX12wL2fG1xrUmd?si=e7ddd453e7a74779]). Maddie interogates how Emily gets so many things done, so we go deep on lists. Emily's planting garlic and spending time in her outdoor bath. We're processing tomatoes. Maddie shares a story about South Sydney's jacaranda history, and a recent event at Longley Organic Farm [https://www.longleyorganicfarm.com.au/about-longley-organic-farm] that looked oh so wholesome. Emily has got on board Tiny Farm Tas's [https://www.instagram.com/tinyfarmtas/] CSA, and is growing Romanesco. Maddie has raspberry success, a scale scenario, and a twitch sitch. Maddie is recommending the benchtop bin from Bokashi One [https://bokashi.com.au/products/bokashi-one-bench-bin] (use AG15 at checkout for 5% off).

Jac Semmler // Flower Power, Pivoting to Horticulture, Super Bloom, Writing Books, Poppy Hacks

We are the founding members of the Jac Semmler Fan Club. This is the second time we've been lucky enough to interview Jac, celebrating the launch of what will become an absolute gardening book staple, Flower Power [https://thamesandhudson.com.au/products/flower-power]. In this episode we answer a bunch of your questions, including -How and should I pivot to horticulture -How do I get my poppies to germinate -What are some surprising performers in the garden We talk about changing climate, bogan pronounciation of plant names, the amazing work Jac's doing at Super Bloom, and so much more. Before we get to that: Maddie and Em are drinking a dirty cacao (cacao powder, maple syrup, cinnamon, sea salt, shot of coffee), we're talking agastache, liquorice plant, planting in pots (inspired by Connie Cao), Flannel Flower, Succulents, Mother in Law's Tongue. Thanks for being here.