Home Grown with Martha and Jamie

Why does being in nature make us feel better? In this episode of Home Grown, Jamie and Martha explore the science behind gardening, mental health, and the power of plants. From dementia prevention and grounding to the plant that helped create the contraceptive pill, this is a deep dive into how plants shape our bodies, brains, and society.We love hearing your questions and comments - so do get in touch:homegrown@joypeddlers.comPresented by: Martha Swales and Jamie WaltonVideo Editor and Socials: Thomas GriffinArtwork: Rare Studio

This episode sees Martha Swales and Jamie Walton joined by botanist, author and broadcaster James Wong for a wide-ranging conversation about plants, curiosity, and seeing the natural world a little differently.From growing up in Singapore to training at Kew, James shares how early experiences shaped his fascination with plants and why experimentation has always been at the heart of his work. The chat explores ethnobotany and why culture matters just as much as science when it comes to understanding how we grow, eat, and use plants.They talk TV, from memorable moments on screen to making complex plant science genuinely accessible, as well as James’s famously packed indoor growing experiments and the lessons learned from both successes and failures. They discuss unusual edibles, surprising crops, and plants worth growing now for the future.Presented by: Martha Swales and Jamie WaltonVideo Editor and Socials: Kate McIntosh and Charlie HewittExec Producer: Charlotte DawesArtwork: Rare Studio

To kickstart Homegrown in 2026, Martha and Jamie discuss the best tips and tricks to starting your garden this January. From choosing the best compost and seeds, to adapting your garden through the changing of the seasons, they'll be sure to set you up with the know-how to help your plots thrive this year. 🪴They'll be chatting about their personal favourite fruit and veg to grow at home, the cycle of life in a garden, plus sharing anecdotes from their own gardening experiences and folklore traditions such as Wassailing! This is an episode about new beginnings, preparing for the year ahead and understanding how to keep your garden happy through the early cold months into Spring and Summer. We love hearing your questions - do get in touch:homegrown@joypeddlers.comPresented by: Martha Swales and Jamie WaltonVideo Editor and Socials: Kate McIntoshExec Producer: Charlotte DawesArtwork: Rare Studio

It's the Christmas countdown on Home Grown, and Martha and Jamie are here to bring Christmas cheer in the form of practical ways to bring the season into your home... from your garden! Whether it's making holly and ivy wreaths, drying orange slices or creating natural homemade gifts. Also Jamie explains his new Boxing Day seed sowing tradition and the benefits of starting early, while Martha talks through creating decorations using what you already have outdoors. Plus we have an incredible Christmas Hamper ready for one lucky listener to win. With over £300 worth of gardening goods this will set any grower up for 2026. Listen to the pod to find out how to enter. If you're enjoying Home Grown please do tell your friends and share the love online with a nice review. It really does help more people hear about the pod. homegrown@joypeddlers.comPresented by: Martha Swales and Jamie WaltonVideo Editor and Socials: Charlie HewittExec Producer: Charlotte DawesArtwork: Rare Studio

Martha Swales and Jamie Walton settle in for a cosy winter edition of Home Grown, bringing together gardening know-how, seasonal science and the small wonders happening just outside your window at this surprisingly busy time of year. They chat about the creatures riding out the cold months, to when the Winter Solstice takes centre stage and the mood shift it brings, plus how to stay connected to the outdoors even when it’s cold and gloomy.There’s plenty of seasonal growing chat, including vegetables that actually improve after a frost, the deepening reds of radicchio, and the mystery of Christmas potatoes. They touch on evergreens, mushrooms, stored winter veg and the small kitchen joys that make this season feel special.homegrown@joypeddlers.comPresented by: Martha Swales and Jamie WaltonVideo Editor and Socials: Charlie HewittExec Producer: Charlotte DawesArtwork: Rare Studio

This week on Home Grown, Martha Swales (@marfskitchengarden) and Jamie Walton (@nettlesandpetals) dive into the wonderful world of fruit trees. From why winter is the perfect time to plant one, to quirky apple history and some truly wild varieties, they explore everything you need to know before adding a tree to your garden, balcony or allotment.Martha and Jamie taste unusual apples, unpack the magic of grafting, and share incredible stories like that of Johnny Appleseed the American Pioneer. They break down pollination groups, self-fertile varieties, pruning styles and the top mistakes people make when planting young trees. Plus they answer your questions on growing fruit trees in pots and choosing the right varieties.The duo also run through the best companion plants for healthy, happy fruit trees before finishing with some delicious recipe inspiration, from pear tart to crumble.We love hearing your questions - do get in touch:homegrown@joypeddlers.comPresented by: Martha Swales and Jamie WaltonVideo Editor and Socials: Shadia OseniExec Producer: Charlotte DawesArtwork: Rare Studio

It's an exciting week on Home Grown, Jamie Walton (@nettlesandpetals) and Martha Swales (@marfskitchengarden) are joined by their very first guest. Gardener, author and TV presenter Frances Tophill.Frances has inspired a new generation to see gardening as a way to live more gently with the world. From her work on Gardeners’ World and Love Your Garden to her own wildlife-filled home life, she shares her thoughtful take on growing for joy, biodiversity and balance.She reveals her brave fashion choices at her first TV audition, her passion for pottery, and how her fabulous new book delves into the mystery and folklore of wildflowers Plus she tackles the questions that matter, from cats or dogs to the contentious choice of Gardeners’ World vs Love Your Garden.We love hearing your questions - do get in touch:homegrown@joypeddlers.comPresented by: Martha Swales and Jamie WaltonVideo Editor and Socials: Shadia OseniExec Producer: Charlotte DawesArtwork: Rare Studio

It’s a cosy November catch-up with Home Grown hosts Martha Swales (@marfskitchengarden) and Jamie Walton (@nettlesandpetals). This month, the nights are long, the frosts are biting, and the garden is quietly slipping into its winter state.Martha and Jamie chat seed tins, your reviews, the good the bad and the ugly, plus why leaving your leaves might be the best gift you can give your garden. They dive into the science and folklore of November’s Beaver Moon, the biggest supermoon in years, and share their favourite late-season harvests, from saffron to borlotti beans.There’s talk of bonfire traditions, caterpillars, and whether we should still be feeding the birds. Plus, a gentle reminder that dormancy can be a gardener’s secret weapon.So settle in for a soothing hour of muddy boots, lunar magic and practical garden wisdom.We love hearing your questions - do get in touch:homegrown@joypeddlers.comPresented by: Martha Swales and Jamie WaltonVideo Editor and Socials: Shadia OseniExec Producer: Charlotte DawesArtwork: Rare Studio