The Secret Homestead
Designed by Lucy Hutchings
supported by Hillier
The homespun image of the veg patch will resonate with many, but not everyone. The Secret Homestead aims to break from traditional ‘tropes’ and explore the possibilities of just what edible gardens can be.
With a talks area integrated into the Garden, you’ll be able to drop in through your day at the Show to pick up top tips on growing your own tasty produce!
Hosted by Lucy, speakers include Chris Collins, Stephanie Hafferty, CloudGardenerUK, Ade Sellars, Becky Searle, Lydia Lakemoore, Michael Kennard and more!
The Secret Homestead Stage, hosted by Lucy Hutchings
Click the dates below to see who is on when
11.00am Lucy Hutchings
12.00pmChris Collins from Garden Organic and Viridian Nutrition
1.00pm Lydia Lakemoore, Your Organic PT – Gardening for Health and Wellness
2.00pm Joe Bagley
3.00pm Michael, Compost Club – Healthy Soil, Healthy Plants, Healthy Humans
About Lucy
Lucy Hutchings is a couture jewellery designer turned edible garden designer, homesteader and gardening influencer (@shegrowsveg) with a passion for GYO.
Lucy believes that the GYO movement needs a rebrand to encourage the Instagram generation to try their hand at growing their own food, and she’s here to help. With more than 167,000 Instagram followers, a sustainable gardening school, and an exciting edible Show Garden design for BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2023, Lucy’s on a mission to get Great Britain growing.
The Secret Homestead Garden
The dramatic black and white palette, accented with vivid coral and pink, sets this garden apart from conventional kitchen gardens. Initially the borders appear purely ornamental with drifts of flowers and sculptural foliage. However, all the plants in the garden are edible, from dahlia, canna and colocasia root crops, to zesty oxalis. On closer inspection, some conventional vegetables can be found, but all in their most decorative of forms. Flowering kale, candy striped corn, vivid pink chard and celery; midnight black sunflowers; even gothic tone tomatoes.
Just as the plants are dual-purpose, so too are the decorative elements. Sculptures double as insect habitats and mushroom gardens, a hand painted door reveals a root cellar. Beauty is every bit as important as abundance in this alternative food garden.
With thanks to garden product suppliers
