Ros and her red shoes regale us with stories
Over the last two seasons of Growing a Greener World, we’ve covered some cool topics and interviewed some pretty amazing people along the way. But this show was a first. In one episode we featured not one but two legends of food and gardening.
One of the hottest trends in gardening today is edible landscaping, and the person credited with pioneering this movement some 30 years ago is Rosalind Creasy. With about as many books penned over the same time, this is a woman who really knows her stuff. And she should – she changes out her front yard landscape from scratch twice each year! About the only thing that doesn’t change are the chickens she keeps in their very chic turquoise coop, in fact the ladies are likely the biggest benefactors of Ros’s edible Eden. Each day, the girls get a wide assortment of fresh fruits, veggies and grasses, all served up within mere steps of their abode. It would be a challenge to find more content and well-fed chickens on the planet.
Ros' incredible, largely edible, front yard garden
When it comes to gardening with a purpose, Ros gets it. Beyond the beauty that spills from the front door all the way out to the street, there’s a method to the madness. She’s a firm believer that gardens, especially ones that are edible, bring people together like nothing else can.
And she’s had plenty of time to see the fruits of her labor. From the annual neighborhood event of harvesting the wheat she grows street side, to the baking of the bread, all in the same day, Ros gardens not as much for herself but for power it has to enrich lives, strengthen neighborhoods, and build community.
Raising a glass with Ros after the shoot is over
Another person working hard to touch lives in his own community, is still considered to be the world’s most famous chef. And yet, today he shuns the public spotlight in exchange for the sunlight that warms his small backyard Garden north of Seattle. Graham Kerr, known around the world as The Galloping Gourmet, has circled the globe 28 times, sold over 15 million cookbooks, and through television, still appears in over 37 countries.
For someone who has surrounded his life with food, Graham never really had a personal connection to how it starts—until three years ago when he nurtured the growth of seven basil plants from seed. The experience was life changing and he now devotes his time to building community through gardening.
With Graham and Nathan at Graham's Seattle home
As a small boy, I grew up with the Galloping Gourmet in my living room. I can remember is like it was yesterday. So last fall, when Janet Endsley of the Northwest Flower and Garden Show asked if I’d be on a panel with Graham for their show, I jumped at the chance. In fact, I thought how cool would it be to film an episode with him in his own garden. Although I didn’t know his current story yet, his history was more than good enough.
I sent Graham an email to say hello and explaining we’d be sharing the stage together in a few months. I wanted to introduce myself and perhaps mention the idea for a show with him. I left my number just by chance he’d call back. And less than 24 hours later, he did. We chatted for well over an hour. Over the next several weeks we had many similar conversations. Graham has never been at a loss for words, and even today at 78, carries a conversation with ease.
Graham and Treena Kerr's kitchen garden
By the time we met in person this January, we embraced like long lost friends and our time on stage together was effortless. Graham is good, really, really good. Now I know what it’s like to be around a true professional.
As warm and charismatic as he is privately, when it’s time to roll cameras, he instantly takes it up 10 levels. It was truly an amazing experience. And on the few times that day of filming we asked him to modify his response, he knocked it out of the park on the first take.
For someone of such international fame, you’d never know it by spending time with him privately. His passion in life now has nothing to do with what happens in the public world. In fact he avoids it. Building community through gardening and food and sharing the experience with Treena, his wife and partner for life, makes Graham a very content man.
We needed to pinch Nathan several times this day
In fact, perhaps that’s what he was doing with us on the day we spent with him. I have to admit, for Nathan, my crew and me, it was a surreal experience; to be in Graham’s personal home and kitchen, helping him prepare lunch for a meal we would all share together and the conversation around the table that ensued was something we’ll never forget.
And I think it’s a safe bet he and Treena made a lifelong impact on a few more lives this day.
Watch episode 216: Edible Landscaping.
About Joe Lamp'l
Joe Lamp'l is the Host and Executive Producer of the award winning PBS television series Growing A Greener World. Off camera, Joe dedicates his time to promoting sustainability through his popular books, blog, podcast series, and nationally syndicated newspaper columns. Follow Joe on Twitter
One day I grew an apple tree for a friend I thought to be.
Several years ago, you see, twas Graham and Treena Kerr I’d see.
Time moves on as wee proceed to grow our gardens without weed.
Until you ever till the soil. you may despise the thoughts as toil.
When sowing seeds and plants you like, you’ll satisfy your appetite.
The endless wealth a garden shares, appears to lesson dire affairs.
I remember watching The Galloping Gourmet and enjoyed the program. Would you be writing about how Graham Kerr is building community through gardening?
Hi Norma. Yes, even as a young boy who knew or cared nothing about cooking at the time, The Galloping Gourmet was mesmerizing even to me. I watched him every day.
Today, his gardening to build community consists primarily of the mens group at his small church north of Seattle. Graham and his men friend from the church built a decent sized raised bed garden on the church property, close to the street. The garden and church are right in a neighborhood so it is highly visible and easily accessible to the community. It is their hope that through the garden, neighbors will be intrigued and inspired to stop by for a visit, or fellowship or perhaps even trying their hand at gardening. All are welcomed here.
The men have received a portion of the church budget to build a garden shed / meeting & fellowship room right by the garden, as well as a wonderful place to just sit and relax. It’s very much a community garden.
So the men use the garden as a way to connect with neighbors since their is nothing better for that than a garden and the fresh food that grows there. At the same time, they can use that opportunity to get better acquainted, invite them to church, or reach out to meet what ever needs there may be.
The bottom line is, the mens group loves their time in the garden and see it as a non-threatening, practical way to reach out to neighbors. The men will periodically even canvas the neighborhood, personally knocking on the doors, introducing themselves and what they have going on, and inviting them to come visit.
It’s the personal touch, the church community garden, and dedicated men wanting to make a difference locally that has every one excited about what’s happening there. The garden is just a fantastic central theme that appeals to all at some level and the men love tending to it. And when you take Graham Kerr’s passion for food and combine that with his new love of gardening, you can see why this is such an infectious opportunity for good.