I grew up  in Somerset, in the footsteps of my mum who was a passionate life-long gardener (and still gardening strong at 82!).  We grew pretty much all our own food, raised goats and collected eggs from our ducks and chickens. 

 

But like many young adults,  I failed to recognise my green-fingered hard-wiring  and went off to University to read Biology and then continued with an MBA, before  settling for an office job in my early twenties.  I was a  science communicator and project manager for 17 years,  focussing  public policy, conservation, ecology and climate change.

 

My husband and I went on to build up our own  science communications agency which is still running successfully,  but horticulture inevitably wound its way back into my life.

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My dreams to be a gardener came after the birth of my first child.  At the time, I was confined to inner city-living and feeling isolated and so I decided to set up a community gardening group for new parents.  We secured a bit of land from a community farm and met weekly to collectively share the tasks of baby care and growing organic vegetables for our families.  All these years later, I'm now dragging my  six foot giant-of-a-teenager to my work places in his holidays to harvest veg with me!

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Over the years, I've  volunteered in lots horticultural spaces which has given me insight to different practices and philosophies  - and I've met some truly inspiring gardeners and designers and life-long friends along the way.  I worked on a permaculture  homestead in New Zealand, a commercial lily farm,  community veg box schemes,  and cut flower gardening at Yeo Valley Organic Gardens. I've also been fortunate to visit and study with an agri-conservation project in the forests of Southern India.

 

I am RHS qualified, but I firmly believe gardening is a voyage of life-long learning and doesn't stop with a certificate.  At the moment, I'm particularly appreciating  learning from the compost gurus - having become slightly obsessed with sustainable agri systems, microbial and mycelium powers and Korean gardening! 

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After  working  commercially in a number private gardens,  I set up JODIE CHAN GARDENS  to deliver expert horticultural services for period estate properties.  I cover all aspects of horticulture from ornamental boarders, to cut flower gardens, to wildlife meadows... but I have a particular passion for growing  harvests of tasty, rare and beautiful edibles and helping others do the same.

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