Ep 135: "Minimalist Gardening: Less Stuff, More Style" Artwork

The Messed Up Gardener

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 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.

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The Messed Up Gardener

Ep 135: "Minimalist Gardening: Less Stuff, More Style"

July 27, 2025 • Esther Aitken

This week, frosty mornings have been turning our routines upside down—defrosting the cars has been chaos! But you know what? Those frosts have been amazing for our kiwifruit vines, naturally clearing out bugs and even knocking back those pesky wasp nests that have plagued our bees all season. Nature doing its thing—gotta love it!

Welcome back to The Messed-Up Gardener! I’m Esther Williams, and I’m buzzing to be here with you for another episode full of garden inspiration and real-life updates from our orchard, roadside fruit stall, and the ever-growing Shesther’s brand. With our website finally coming together and new bird-netted growing spaces being added, it’s the perfect time to talk about something that’s been inspiring us lately—minimalist gardening.

In this episode, I’ll take you through:

· What minimalist gardening really is (hint: it’s not about being bare or boring).

· The benefits—less maintenance, healthier plants, and a garden that feels like a peaceful retreat.

· Key principles for creating a clean, intentional, and clutter-free space.

· Practical steps to start your own minimalist garden, whether you’ve got a sprawling backyard or just a balcony.

· The mindset shift that comes with this style—how gardening with less can help you slow down, connect with nature, and find more joy.

We also chat about some exciting behind-the-scenes updates, including our fruit stall adventures, our journey toward more organic growing methods, and why adding two new growing areas has inspired this minimalist approach.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss a new garden chat! And if you have a gardening question or topic you’d love me to cover, send me a message—I’d love to hear from you.

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The Messed Up Gardener Or Shesther’s Mushrooms

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.