Melanie Walker's Grounded

Valentine's Day 2025 will see people from all over South Africa showing their Hearts and Soles as they join in on Flip-Flop Day to raise money for CHOC. Childhood cancer is a diagnosis no family should have to go through alone. But with the help of CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa, they're getting much needed help to get them through this immense challenge. CHOC CEO Hedley Lewis chats...

Just what is Uncultivated Food in the bigger scheme of things? Author Nikki Brighton takes the reader on a journey about this growing way of viewing those plants that are growing in the 'wrong' place (i.e. weeds) and shows us how to forage, and what you can garner from not just your garden, but from wild spaces in your area, to add to your pantry. Wild About Weeds is an easy guide to the most comm...

Going away for the holidays? Or staying home for the season? Whichever it is, make sure your garden is in tip-top shape, whether you’re expecting guests or needing it to look after itself for a while. Cary Goodwin and Melanie discuss the latest greatest ideas from lifeisagarden.co.za, including how to become a Water Warrior! Mel's Treasures on Facebook

Every seed has a story. What began as a seed of an idea turned into a passion for growing from seed for Organic Gardening Goddess Linda Galvad. In this edition of Grounded, Linda and Melanie Walker (co-conspirators on The Home Channel's Gardening 101) get to grips with what makes a seed heirloom, heritage and organic, why you shouldn't bring seeds with you from other countries, what you should be...

Sometimes cookery books aren't just about cooking, they're about a whole lot more; the ingredients and where they come from, the ancestors who hold the lore surrounding them, preserving wild foods (in nature, not just in jam jars), and the heritage of indigenous ingredients. It's about the stories that come with the 'lekkerness', the 'mnandi-ness' of the people and their culinary culture. Gregory...

.. and an (E)scape from the pressures of Life Once again proving that Succulents Don't Suck, Cary Goodwin of Life is a Garden chats to Melanie about the wondrous variety of aloes and echeveria that are available these days, along with how to deal with the descent into the winter months in the garden. Oh, and about fire-scaping! Mel's Treasures on Facebook

Whether you're new to the joys of gardening or not, there's always something new to be learned. It's time to find out more about the not-difficult art of growing bulbs on Grounded with the man who has made it his life, Charles Barnhoorn of Hadeco Bulbs. He demystifies what some see as the magic art of getting these hidden treasures to bloom while giving solid information on how to get the best out...

We'd Like Our Roses to See You! Cary Goodwin (Spokesperson - Life is a Garden; Headgirl Colourful Group & Peebles Plants) joins Melanie today take a look at what's hot on the gardening scene in South Africa at the moment, and making the pages of the Life is a Garden website. Want to know more about carnivorous plants, wetlands, growing your own, or what you should be doing in your gardening space,...

Find out what You should be doing this Season! Gardening is about water - most of it in the form of perspiration! Whether you have too much, or too little, water is the main topic when it comes to getting gardens to grow properly. Cary Goodwin, and the wonderful helpers at Life is a Garden, are there to help you on your way to becoming a useful gardener, with all their hints and tips on how to get...

“Sometimes I think that the point of birdwatching is not the actual seeing of the birds, but the cultivation of patience. Of course, each time we set out, there's a certain amount of expectation we'll see something, maybe even a species we've never seen before, and that it will fill us with light. But even if we don't see anything remarkable - and sometimes that happens - we come home filled with...

June tips from Life in a Garden Our Guest: Cary Goodwin (PR - Life is a Garden; Head Girl at Colourful Group) Winter has come - but that's no reason not to get out and get warm with some gardening chores. Keeping yourself and your plants well covered is key, and even if you're an indoor gardener, Cary Goodwin gives you all of Life is a Garden's tips on getting your luscious green lovelies looking...

Of Earth Hour and the Coming of Autumn The Earth is slightly turning off its axis as we begin the descent from the long heady golden days of summer into the changing of colour and season. So what should you be doing in your garden to prepare it for the winter months? Cary Goodwin gives us the tips you'll need for our version of the 4 P's - planning, preparation, patience and plenty of it! We give...

Cary Goodwin (Life is a Garden | Spokesperson and Colourful Group | Head Girl) If you want to know how to grow clivias from seed, what the best indoor plants are to have that you and your kids can't kill, how to make paint from flowers, what plants are looking great at this time of the year, and how to deal with too much - or too little - water, then look no further. Cary Goodwin and Melanie Walke...

In a departure from our usual conversations on Grounded, Melanie Walker finds out from David Barritt, Executive Director of two international charities for animals, about what is going on in Africa when it comes to our protected species - and those that are more commonplace. Whether it be pangolins, rhinos, cats and dogs or donkeys, YOU can make a difference. If you love animals, this needs to be...

The Green Industry has been one that has seen a fair amount of growth over the last couple of years - even during Covid and lockdowns. Probably because of them. Paul Vonk (Commercial Manager Mayfords Seeds/President -SANA) and Melanie explore the green horizons, talking bulbs, seeds, what the green industry is doing for you, and why you should get growing! Connect with Paul · SANA - SA Nurs...

Well - Bats may seem like that to rats, but we think so too! Guest: Jonathan Haw (Director, EcoSolutions) “In their previous lives, poets were bats, and thinkers were owls.” ― Michael Bassey Johnson, Song of a Nature Lover And that's what this episode of Grounded is all about - the kings and princes of the night skies, Bats and Owls. Jonathan Haw, director of Ecosolutions, lets us in on the mythol...

Is the best season of the year Spring? Guest: Cary Goodwin (Spokesperson Life is a Garden, Head Garden Girl at Colourful Group) From how to create the garden of your dreams, select the best plants, attract birds to your backyard and to set up a tiny watergarden - all the info you need you can get from Cary Goodwin and Melanie Walker of Life is a Garden! When's your favourite season?? Mel's Treasur...

How to be a useful member of the Human Race. Donna-Mari Noble (Communications Manager, MPact) National Recycling Day happened on the 17th September this year in South Africa - did you do your bit to help lessen your load on the planet? Donna-Mari Noble of MPact recycling gives us the latest on how South Africa is faring when it comes to recycling - and it’s not all bad news! We also delve into wha...

Bring down your impact on our earth Winnie McHenry (Originator/Owner Upcycle) Like most of the rest of the World, South Africa is battling with pollution and lack of landfill space. But slowly, some people are managing to change this around, while Upskilling people who have been battling to find work. UpCycle Winnie McHenry let's us in on how's she's helping corporates to be more environmentally a...

Must be in this cold! Cary Goodwin (Spokesperson for Life is a Garden, head Supergirl at Peebles and Colourful Group) Winter. Sends shivers down the spine. In more ways than one. But spring ain’t that far away, so Cary Goodwin reckons it’s time to start getting your garden sorted with a blast of colour from all the wonderful members of the ‘daisy’ family. And how to get the best hedges going to tr...

Do Something ProActive - With Earth Probiotic If you're worried about the state of our planet, then find out about 52 Easy Things to Do to make your impact on the earth negligible. Gavin Heron of Earth Probiotic talks us through bokashi, recycling, packaging, compostables vs biodegradables, and how companies are getting on board. Connect with Gavin on LinkedIn · Earth Probiotic Website &mid...

Linda Galvad - Sought After Seedlings Planting thoughts on how to help your brain and body Our body consists of two 'brains' - the one we think with, and the one we feel with. The Gut. To get the best out of what you eat, and how you feed your brain(s), Linda Galvad of Sought After Seedlings tells us of her journey from psychology to growing 'brain food' naturally. Follow Sought After Seedlings on...

Life is a Garden's winter top tips with Cary Goodwin (Spokesperson Life is a Garden, Head Garden Girl at Colourful Group) Winter is on its way, so what should you be looking out for? The Great Reset continues - are you part of it? Talking bulbs, indoor plants, how to get your garden ready for the quiet time and all things in between. Mel's Treasures on Facebook

Michael Rickhoff (Master Landscape Designer) We set trends here in the south - not following the rest of the world! While the rest of the world follow trends in gardening, taking their cue from the northern hemisphere summer garden ideas, there are a number of Proudly South Africans who are taking the leap into bringing OUR cultures to the forefront of garden design. Michael Rickhoff takes us thro...

Get yourself ready for Your Life in a Garden Cary Goodwin (spokesperson Life is a Garden) This month is a time of planning. Planning for your autumn and winter garden. Cary Goodwin gives us all the gen we need for ensuring you have all your bulbs (not) in a row and things to keep the kids busy too. Mel's Treasures on Facebook