Nicola:  The Seasonal Table is an online journal of slow food and slow living from your smallholding in rural England. Can you tell us some more about it?

Tom & Kathy:  The Seasonal Table is a collection of seasonal recipes and stories. Each is linked to what happens on our smallholding throughout the year. The recipes are inspired by the food we grow ourselves, sourced locally or wild-harvest on our foraging adventures. The stories are intrinsically linked with the provenance of the food.  We started the online journal as a resource for others. We thought it could be helpful to those interested in seasonal and sustainable food. As well as people considering embarking on a similar smallholding journey themselves.  

Nicola:  Can you explain to us what a smallholding is?

Tom & Kathy:  A smallholding is a house with an area of land that can be used for small-scale fruit and vegetable growing, or rearing animals.  This leads to a degree of (or complete) self-sufficiency for the people that live there. We decided to turn our cottage and 1.5 acres of land into a smallholding when we moved here from the city suburbs. We created a vegetable garden. We raised a flock of chickens to provide us with meat and eggs. We also reared a gaggle of geese, which help mow the grass and provide us with enormous eggs. The birds live in the established mixed fruit orchard that came with the cottage. We also built log stores to dry felled wood from the land, which we use in our wood-burning stoves. And we set up a little apiary with the beehives we brought with us from London, to provide us with honey and beeswax.  We're planning to continue developing the smallholding over the next few years. There's still so much we would like to do. Next on the list is keeping pigs, sheep or goats (we haven't decided which yet)...  

Nicola:  What inspired you to make the change from city living?

Tom & Kathy:  When we first moved into our flat in the city suburbs, the landlady kindly let us build a couple of raised garden beds.  It was here we first began growing our own fruit and vegetables. We also went on a beekeeping course, and we set up beehives on the patio by our kitchen window. It was on this small-scale we realised the joy of being able to produce our own food. During this time our evenings were spent watching television programs on rural living and growing food. These programs included River Cottage, It's Not Easy Being Green, Jamie at Home and The Edible Garden. We spent our lunch breaks in libraries and bookshops. We'd spend hours flicking through books on country living, farming, and smallholding.  As our interest grew we increasingly found ourselves drawn to the idea of moving to the country. We wanted to be able to have space to grow our own fruit and vegetables, plus keep animals too. After much deliberation, we decided to relocate to the hills of rural Somerset. It was one of the best decisions we've ever made.

Nicola:  You say that you’re living your version of The Good Life. Can you tell us what your lives look like on a daily basis? And what is the most fun part for you both? 

Tom & Kathy:  Our day starts with letting the chickens and geese out to free-range in the orchard. Spending time with the geese is one of our favourite parts of the day. They are such characters and are very entertaining to watch.  We both still work full-time, but when we aren't at work our days are filled with a variety of activities. These activities change as the seasons change. For example, in spring we sow seeds in the raised beds and hatch chicken eggs. Spring is also the time for the first beehive inspections. Summer is weeding, vegetable planting, berry harvesting, swarm control and honey extraction. Autumn is for apple pressing, bonfires and mushroom foraging. Winter is for pruning, tidying and planning for the year ahead.

 Throughout the year the kitchen remains busy. We cook and enjoy our produce when it’s at its best, as well as preserve and squirrel things away to last throughout the year. Nothing goes to waste.  Our close connection to seasonal change means we appreciate everything while it's here. We also look forward to what's to come and never tire of the experience. It's hard work, but very rewarding. We love every bit of it.

Nicola:  You share some amazing recipes on your blog. Is slow food something you've always been interested in? And what does slow food mean to you?

 Tom & Kathy:  Slow food is something we've become increasingly interested in over time. This interest has come hand in hand with our understanding of where our food comes from, and how it's produced. To us, slow food means taking responsibility for sourcing our own food in a sustainable way. It means having as little impact on the environment as possible. It is also about knowing the provenance of the ingredients we use.  

We grow, forage or produce as much of our own food as we can and take an organic approach, in doing so. The majority of the food we buy is also organic and, as much as possible, sourced locally. We find this keeps us grounded in the seasons throughout the year. It also ensures we are enjoying and appreciating food when it's at its best.  Our slow food approach is reflected in the recipes on The Seasonal Table.For example, during spring we posted a recipe for rhubarb crumble infused with wild watermint sugar.Spring is when the first sticks of rhubarb appear in our vegetable patch, and wild watermint leaves pop up along the stream.Then in summer, when courgettes were in plentiful supply and the chickens were laying eggs faster than we could keep up with, we posted a recipe for a brunch omelette with griddled courgette, nasturtiums and garden herbs.

Nicola:  We'd also love to know what slow living means to you? And how you incorporate this into your everyday life?

Tom & Kathy: the Slow living is very much connected to slow food for us. It's about enjoying the whole process of producing the food we eat, along with the tasks that come with doing so one of the best examples of how we combine slow food and slow living apple growing. Apple growing can be linked to almost everything we do on the smallholding. In spring the apple blossom appears.We watch our bees pollinate the trees and gather nectar to make honey.We then collect this honey in the summer.  

Once the apples arrive the geese and chickens happily munch the windfall fruit. This helps them produce the eggs we eat and, in the case of the cockerels, the meat. We eat the fresh apples ourselves too of course. We press them into juice (and subsequently cider and vinegar) and dry them into rings. We also turn them into a compote to store away and last us through the year.  In late autumn we rake up the fallen leaves and compost them into mulch for the vegetable beds. In winter we prune the trees, store and dry the cuttings.We then use can use these cuttings in our wood burners the following year. The ash from the fire, which is rich in potassium and minerals, is put under the apple trees to improve the soil. It also acts as a dust bath for the chickens.  

This never-ending cycle of production sums up slow food and slow living for us. The irony is that fitted around full-time jobs, this slow way of living is usually incredibly busy! We never have the time to do everything we would like to. But, for the most part, it is a rewarding and joyful experience.

 Nicola:  If any of our readers would love to follow in your footsteps of slow food and slow living, but the idea seems daunting, what advice would you give them?

Tom & Kathy:  Go for it! We would like to think that a lifestyle of slow food and slow living can be achieved anywhere. When we lived in London we grew our own fruit and vegetables, kept bees and sourced the rest of our food carefully. We visited farmers markets and scrimped wild plums from canal-side trees. We brewed our own beer and picked blackberries from park hedgerows. What we do now is a very similar thing, just on a bigger scale and in a different setting.

You can find more about Tom & Kathy below:

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Nicola:  We’d love you to start by telling us about your journey and work as a painter and print maker? 

Deborah:  The course of my art has been a convoluted one! In my 20s and 30s I painted mostly in oils. I would paint the plants, vegetables and flowers I grew in my cottage garden in Norwich, where I then lived. I exhibited in galleries in East Anglia and at the Mall Galleries. 

A move to Diss prompted a change in direction. I trained to be a teacher of English, as literature is my other absorbing love. It was not an intentional break from art, but teaching consumed all my time.  It left little space for my painting and drawing, which went on the back burner for many years. As time went by I felt a gnawing need to return to it. So I began creating small paintings, sketches and Lino prints again.  

This year I finished teaching.  I have resumed my art career full time and am relishing every moment of it!  My work now goes beyond my immediate environment to encompass the local landscape of the Fenland and Breckland.   

I go out to sketch and return with handfuls of seedpods, grasses, feathers and other detritus. Sometimes they spark a series of paintings, such as my current ones of hedgerow plants. Or they simply decorate my studio poised to inspire. I love the small, subtle details of our native flora and enjoy making detailed sketches of them. In paintings I like to show the insects and bugs we live alongside. I will often bring home empty snail shells from my walks as reference material. 

My bird prints have come from a lifelong love of birds. Norfolk couldn’t be a better place to study birds. I try to visit the North Norfolk and Suffolk coast whenever I can.  Here I sit in the bird hides, draw and observe. In winter it is such a magical place. 

I love the process of printmaking.  I especially love creating Lino prints. I find them both absorbing and meditative. I make sketches from a wide range of sources. I use my own photographs, as well as the bird's behaviour and habitats, to capture their character. I use a converted mangle, a somewhat eccentric beast, as a printing press. I never fail to enjoy the reveal of that first print of a series.  

Nicola:  From where do you draw your inspiration? 

Deborah:  There are so many wonderful printmakers.  I love the work of Thomas Bewick, Clare Leighton, Agnes Miller Parker and Charles Tunnicliffe, whose bird art is peerless.  His work shows such a deep understanding and knowledge of birds. I would love to have the chance to go out sketching with him! 

I also enjoy Japanese prints for their simplicity and use of spaces between subjects. Literature, especially nature writing, is also a significant influence. I love thepoetry of Edward Thomas and Robert Frost for their observations of the natural world. I love the writing of Alison Uttley and Flora Thompson. They record the seasonal changes so beautifully. I also love the work of Richard Mabey, whose books are a source of constant reference. As well as the late Roger Deakin who lived close by.

The local landscape is also of great importance to me. I am very lucky to live near Redgrave and Lopham Fen, a local Wildlife Trust. I walk and draw here regularly –it is my local patch. In the winter I love the soft, muted colour of the reed beds and the birds that haunt them. It is a place of constant joy

Nicola:  You live in Diss, a small market town in the Waveney Valley in the UK.  Can you tell us more about your town, your home and your creative space? 

Deborah: Diss is a small market town that sits on the border of Norfolk and Suffolk. Its most arresting feature is “The Mere”, a six-acre lake in the centre of the town that my garden borders. This lake brings in hordes of ducks and other wildfowl that share the garden with Alan,my ginger cat. Alan is often seen making a running dash at them to let them know whose garden it really is. My home is a small 18th century cottage that was once a blacksmith’s. The blacksmith had a pet raven working alongside him, in what is now my book room. It has had lots of additions over the years and is rather an architectural hodgepodge

My studio is an outbuilding, tucked into the top of my sloping garden. Although it is damp and cold in winter it has lots of light. It is blissfully cut off from distractions. That is, except for the bird feeders outside my window.  The garden used to be part of a market garden and some of the old, gnarled apple trees remain.

Nicola:  Can you tell us about the process of your work from the time of inspiration to the finished artwork?

Deborah: Most of my work comes from the jottings and drawings I make in my sketchbooks. I try to draw as much as possible. This could be quick sketches of birds flitting about, or more detailed plant drawings. Some develop into prints and oil paintings, even if years later. Others are made simply for the sheer joy of drawing.

I love the way drawing makes you look at something.It shows if your mind drifts for even a second. Drawing trains you to keep focused and be mindful at all times. When drawing and preparing a print of birds I love to research and understand the subject. I have an ever-increasing library of natural history books. I love to look at the work of Victorian naturalists. I also find the Observer series and Puffin Picture books of nature irresistible. 

Nicola:  When you aren’t creating what do you enjoy doing?

Deborah: I am very much involved in nature conservation, including the local Wildlife Trusts and Butterfly Conservation.I am very keen on moths and keep a moth trap to record what visits the garden. It constantly amazes me what nocturnal creatures roam the garden. I am also a keen gardener and grow as much of my own fruit and vegetables as I can.

Nicola:  You say you seek the overlooked and celebrate the small joys in life.  Can you tell us what this means to you?

Deborah:I like to draw on those plants, insects and birds that aren’t always noticed. I want to encourage others to stop and take notice of the small wonders around us. I rarely return from a walk without seeing something new and love togo home and discover more about it. Many native British plants aren't showy and their delicate, subtle beauty can be missed. When out walking I try to record the insects I see. I'm often found crawling about in hedgerows or bogs, trying to catch sight of some elusive creature. I would love to encourage others to see and share these small joys aswell.  

Nicola: And if our readers want to know more about you and your work, where can they find you?

My work can be found on my website or on Instagram. My prints are for sale on Etsy and on Folksy.

Nicola:  You describe yourself as a nature-inspired creative.  Can you tell us about the work you do and what drew you to be an artist?

Victoria:  As a child, I spent my free time creating, writing & on road trips with my Dad in the countryside. I believe my calling has always been a creative one, but it took me years to accept it.

I was raised believing a ‘proper’ job was required for life, and that art could only be a hobby. Although I was never discouraged from creating as a career, I was never pushed in that direction either. It’s only since becoming a mother I've realised I want my daughters to know having a creative career is more than ok.  That it’s actually a blessing.

I’ve recently discovered a love of Pyrography.  Burning wildflowers onto a wooden hand mannequin, or a tree slice is a meditative process for me. I've written a children’s picture book I intend on illustrating when I get the chance. I just need more hours in the day or better time management. One or the other!  I’m excited about this book, as I want to share the message of slowing down and appreciating nature with everyone.

Nicola:  Can you tell us about where you live, the space you work in and what a day in your life looks like?

Victoria:  My day starts between the hours of five and six in the morning, and coffee is an essential part to that. It’s a morning ritual I don’t think I could ever break.  Although I will never admit to being a caffeine addict!  This is my time before the family wakes and the morning rush commences.

I wouldn’t say I’m a morning person, but I find if I have time to wake at my own pace my days run smoother & I'm less rushed.  I spend this time drinking coffee, doing yoga, meditating or catching up on Instagram.  My working hours are less structured these days.  This is because I now have a baby and have started college, so two days a week I'm studying or on placement.

I’ve never been the 9-5 type, so I grab my creative opportunities where I can.  This is often in the evening when the children are asleep, or a day when I'm childfree.

I have a little studio in my home.  It's great for convenience, and to be able to shut the door without tidying it all away from little hands or the dog.  I do dream of having a studio with a view.  I live in Cumbria where I'm surrounded by countryside, hills and all the inspiration I need.  To have that on my doorstep would be the ultimate dream.

Nicola:  From where do you get your inspiration?  And how does it influence the work you do?

Victoria:  It’s all about escapism. Being able to have that moment of calm, even if briefly.  I try to emulate that in my work. There’s something freeing about being out in the wild and feeling you’re the only one around for miles. To be free of the thoughts of the busy lives most of us lead.  It’s all about being present in the moment.

It’s taken a lot of practice and soul searching to realise what my goal is with my art.  Over time, and during many walks in the forest or trips to the fells, I have come to realise this is my inspiration. My home is full of little treasures I collect, like jars of heart-shaped stones or shells. Jugs full of feathers and the odd dried poppy head. This is my way of bringing the outdoors in and keeping that little bit of inspiration close by.

Nicola:  You talk about deciding to leave your rushed and busy life behind in search of simplicity.  Can you tell us more about this story and why living a simple life is important to you?

Victoria:  I can’t say I lived a typical, fast-paced life like some.  I’ve never been a city girl, but I’d spend my days rushing about doing things I thought I should be doing. I realised I was putting my own dreams on hold.  It wasn't intentional, but I was focusing on other people and burning myself out in the process.  It left very little time for me.  I didn't think I needed time for me.

When my life changed dramatically over the space of a year I found myself in the midst of grief and self-discovery.  Losing both my parents close together taught me the importance of a living a life well lived.  It taught me what mattered most.  

It taught me what I wanted for my children.  I realised that if I lived an intentional life it would guide them towards doing the same.  I can't say I've got it sorted.  I'm very much a work in progress, but I'm giving it my best shot!

Nicola:  Your work and life philosophy is to be true to yourself, follow your passion and create your own path.  I love every one of these.  Can you tell us how you incorporate this philosophy into your life and work?

Victoria:  I used to spend so much time doing what I thought others wanted from me. Thinking that because I could create that product or that style of artwork, it would be my ‘path’.  The problem was it never sat well with me. I was churning out artwork I didn’t like, and it was a light bulb moment when I realised I didn’t have too!  It sounds silly but others influenced me.  I never allowed myself the time to create what I liked or what I wanted.

It all comes down to confidence. Having the confidence to just be you. Realising this was eye-opening.  Having this confidence keeps you on the path you’re supposed to be on.  The best part is that happiness follows. I only wish I’d discovered this sooner!

Nicola:  For our readers who have a creative dream, but don’t feel they have the courage to pursue that dream, what would say to them?

Victoria:  By all means work in a job that pays the bills and brings in the cash.  It’s a part of life, as we need to earn money.  But don’t let that stop you from creating the life you want. That idea floating around in the back of your mind, the one that pops up saying “I really want to make/sew/paint/do that” … find the time to do it. You’ll be surprised at how making time to create the things your heart desires opens doors for you.

You’ll start noticing little synchronicities pop up in your life and the next thing you know you’ve opened an Etsy shop, or you’re meeting other like-minded folks for coffee each week. They’ll know someone who knows someone and little by little your dreams will become a reality.

You’ve absolutely nothing to lose!

Visit Victoria's website, Feather & Wild, or find her on Instagram and Twitter.

From the Clock Tower to the Beacon (Malvern Hill Series)

Bluebells (Flora & Fauna, Patterns in Nature Series)

Northhill 'Summer' (The Malvern Hill Series)

Beth lives in Malvern, a town built on the hills in Worcestershire. Surrounded by curving, flowing landscape at every turn, this ebb & flow is at the heart of her work.

Nature has a cathartic effect on Beth - a natural de-stresser in her life. Walking on the hills, in snow, sun, wind or rain, noticing the changing foliage, the awe inspiring view to the black mountains & the vast patchwork plains of the Severn valley, never fails to uplift & put her life into context. 

Beth's work focuses on the tranquility nature brings through minimal line - to capture that moment of 'happy' when you most need it.

Why linocuts? Because she enjoys the whole process of the medium, from initial sketch to simplifying the essence of flow & form, through to the slow & mindful carving of the lino. Each design is hand printed using water-based lightfast organic pigments onto Japanese Hosho paper. Its textured surface makes each print unique.

View more of Beth's designs by visiting her website.

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Beth's wonderful design work will be featured in issue 2 of the magazine. Pre-order your copy here.

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Nicola: You describe We Are Stardust as a greetings card shop where art and science collide.  Can you tell us the story behind the business, and how you blend both art and science in the work you do?

Agnes: "Every one of us is a memorial to long-dead stars. Every one of us was quite literally made in heaven.”

– Marcus Chown, The Magic Furnace

Many years ago when the universe was born stars exploded to make the elements of the earth. These elements are what make everything in the world.  They make you and me.  They make the sea, creatures big and small, the clouds and the stars. We are stardust is a celebration of how we are all connected to each other and the universe around us.

Albert Einstein once said, “The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination”. Art and science need us to use our imagination to gain a deeper understanding of nature and our place in the world. Art is a creative expression based on our experiences of the world. Science is our search to understand how the physical world works. In the words of Professor Brian Cox, “deeper understanding confers that most precious thing - wonder.” That is exactly what we are stardust hopes to inspire: a moment of wonder.

I have never sat comfortably within the sciences or arts. I’ve always been somewhere in between. As a child I used to imagine I was an explorer in a jungle. Gathering unusual animal specimens on mysterious tropical islands, or discovering ancient civilisations. I’d draw maps of my explorations and collect strange stones, shells and flowers. The boundaries between art and science weren’t there - it was all about exploring the world. We are stardust is a natural progression from my childhood imaginations.

I research, illustrate and design each card and print.  They are made for those with wild natures, sophisticated minds, and loyal hearts. Each design captures a fact, story or curiosity.  So when you post a we are stardust card to your loved one, you gift them with a moment of wonder for the natural world. I hope my cards and prints give you a way of sharing your curiosity for the world with your loved ones.

 We Are Stardust is guided by three values.  These values are wilderness, sophistication and loyalty.  Can you tell us how you incorporate them into the work you do.

I struggled to find the three core values for we are stardust.  I'm still not sure if I've got them exactly right.  Perhaps wilderness, learning and love would be better?  But I'll try and explain what I mean by each.

Wilderness:  We are stardust is for those who love adventures, exploring and discovering.  The cards and prints are created with respect and awe for the natural world.  Wilderness celebrates the wonders of nature, along with all the strange, dark and mysterious parts that come with it.

Sophistication:  We are stardust is for those who value beauty, knowledge and learning.  It's for people who love objects with style and substance. We are stardust designs are beautiful and capture a fact, story or curiosity.  This is done through art and science that inspires wonder for the natural world.

Loyalty:  We are stardust is for those who fiercely love their friends and family. The cards and prints have been created to be precious gifts to share with loved ones.  They have also been created to spark a connection with the natural world.

Where do you draw your inspiration? 

The Scientific Revolution saw early natural scientists adventure around the world.   It saw them collecting and naming strange new species and testing hypotheses. We are stardust is inspired by this exciting time of polymaths.  Star charts, anatomical etchings and botanical prints from this time are also a big inspiration.

Ideas come from many places.  It might be from a conversation with a family member, friend or colleague.  It might be from reading an interesting article. Or from looking at why nature is the way it is and wanting to learn more.  It might also be from a little sketch I did. I also have to think how the idea would work as a card or print. This is quite hard and I have produced a few cards that I like but then don’t do so well in my shop.

Once I have an idea, I sketch out rough designs to see if it could work. I then go about creating the illustration. These are inspired by old scientific etchings and drawings. I use ink, watercolour and paper to create the illustrations and work from life as much as possible.

At the same time I research the science behind the idea. I try to find the most reliable source possible. If I had the time and money I would look at the original scientific article to see what it says. Some are open access which is great, but many aren’t and some are so technical it would take too much time to digest. In these cases I rely on summaries in reliable science news outlets.  As well as University and Museum web pages. I love learning more about our fascinating world through this research.

Lastly I pull the illustration, the caption and research together as a final design on my computer. I try to keep the designs minimalist. Words aren’t my strong point so I find the captions hard. I love getting feedback on draft designs from the we are stardust online family (anyone that follows me via my Journal or on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram). They often come up with ideas that inspire the final design.

 We’d love to know where you live, what your workspace is like and what a typical working day looks like for you.

This year I went completely freelance. Until then I was employed as a science communication specialist during the day.  And I would spend my evenings and weekends working on we are stardust.  These days I try and work three days doing freelance science communication work.  Leaving two days of the week for working on we are stardust.  But sometimes this balance isn't achieved as often as I'd like!

I mostly work from home in a calm, warm little room filled with light. I live in St Albans in the UK.  I am surrounded by countryside.  But only 20 minutes from the metropolis of London.  This means I get the best of both worlds. 

I try to make sure I have a routine each morning. This includes breakfast followed by a swim or a walk.  I then work for a while before taking a little break around 11am. I then stop for lunch around 1pm. I like listening to podcasts for online creative during this time. In the afternoons I work from home before into St Albans to work in a café for the last couple of hours.

What the work is depends on if it’s a we are stardust day, or a science communication day. If it’s we are stardust day I like to spend the morning drawing or painting.  The rest of the day is spent sorting orders, updating my website, writing blogs and researching card ideas.

 How do you enjoy spending your downtime?  And I would personally love to know if you find it hard to switch off from work, or whether you are someone who can step away from it for a while?

I have too many hobbies! Which one I focus on seems to go in cycles. I love to walk and cycle in the countryside.  I also enjoy spending quality time with friends and family, usually over dinner.  Other hobbies include baking, knitting, drawing, painting, playing my violin, reading and dancing!

I go through phases with switching off from work. During good times I manage a balance between work and downtime and feel in control of how I spend my day. When things are bad, and I'm feeling overwhelmed, it's my sleep that suffers. I usually wake up around 3am and then don’t get back to sleep until about 6am.

I have tried a few techniques to manage feelings of overwhelm and stress. At 3am I do a gentle yoga practice, listen to guided sleep meditations and drink hot chocolate! Day-to-day I've started bullet journaling to help me keep on top of different clients’ needs.  As well as completing tasks to keep we are stardust running. I also need to have regular breaks from computer work that include exercise and fresh air. I have found going to a café for the last couple of hours of the day helpful.  It means when I arrive back home my workday is finished. I also enjoy the process of cooking as a way of switching my mind from work to the evening.

In the long term I'd like to get better at planning my workload for the next quarter at least.  That way I would know what I need to achieve and by when, and I can say no to projects that take me off in the wrong direction.

Can you tell us about the different collections We Are Stardust has and whether you have a favourite?

We are stardust has four collections:

· Anatomy - discover your inner beauty.
· Astronomy - journey through the heavens.
· Botany - step into the wilderness.
· Zoology - explore the animal kingdom.

It is so hard to have a favourite! I love all the strange animal stories – the lobsters and the beetles – but they aren’t always the best sellers. I enjoy painting and drawing plants.  So from that perspective the botany collection is a favourite.

I also think the body is amazing.  I am currently acutely aware of this as I'm pregnant and totally fascinated at how my body is able to grow a baby.  So I'm passionate about learning more about how our bodies work.  And I think it's important to celebrate them. 

The astronomy collection is a definite favourite. I have lots of new designs planned for it. I find painting the night sky a real challenge. It is humbling and inspiring to reflect that we are such a tiny part in this huge universe.

 I also know you have a Christmas card collection being launched soon and you have a special offer for our readers.  I’d love for you to tell us more. 

Yes! The new Christmas card collection celebrates the holly and the ivy. Holly and ivy have decorated houses in winter for thousands of years.  Their evergreen nature is seen as a magical property to keep evil spirits at bay. The meanings the Victorians and pagans gave each plant links to the way the plants grow in the wild.

For example, the Victorian meaning for holly was ‘foresight’.  The prickly leaves at the bottom protect it from grazing deer and cattle. Once it has reached above grazing height the leaves become smooth. It was used in wreaths to protect and wish good fortune upon friends and family in the year ahead.

The we are stardust Christmas cards are all about this link between plant meaning and the way it grows in the wild. I love how science and folklore often intertwine in this way. Painting both plants has made me see each of them differently.  The sculptural spikes of the holly and the delicate veins in the ivy are incredible.

I'm delighted to offer your readers a 15% discount on my Christmas card collection packs.  To redeem the discount enter CREATIVECOUNTRYSIDE1017 when you reach the checkout. 

Visit the website and redeem Agnes' very kind offer here, or follow we are stardust on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Nicola: You live on a one hundred and fifty year old homestead in a beautiful part of Tasmania, Australia. Can you tell me how your family came to settle here, and why you love this area so much? 

Giuliana: My husband and I and our four children moved to Wattle Grove in 2000. We were looking for somewhere with land, so we could give our children a different kind of experience. As it turned out the property we bought had a working dairy on it, so my husband decide to start milking cows. In the early stages we were milking up to 120 cows. 

The community in and around Cygnet is very supportive.  There is always something happening. We love the environment, as well as the diversity of the people and activities. We also love the natural beauty and the magnificent views. The area has become a trendy, thriving and vibrant place to live.  There are many small boutique industries and lovely little shops.  There is also a marvellous market and cafes where people can come together to meet and be social. When we drive back to the Huon Valley it really feels like home. 

Tell us about The Farmhouse Kitchen. How it came about, what you teach and what people can learn during a day spent with you? 

The Farmhouse Kitchen has been a long-term dream of mine.  While occupied with the dairy farm we had no time to renovate the run down old house.  Or even consider the possibility of something other than farming for the property.  We finally gave milking away and began restoring the house back to its old charm.  It was at this point it seemed there was a chance to move closer to my dream of teaching cooking.   

During the restoration we created a beautiful kitchen.  The kitchen leant itself to the possibility of starting something new and exciting.  I've always had the support of my family, especially my youngest daughter Genevieve.  And together we have created a friendly environment to share our passion with others.  This passion is our knowledge of genuine, traditional Italian cooking.   

At the Farmhouse Kitchen we specialise in the cuisine of the region of Puglia in southern Italy.  This is where my family is from. The traditional food of Puglia, along with Sicily, is known for having some of the best food in Italy. It is the food-growing region and has a vast culinary history of healthy, simple and tasty dishes.  Some of which date back to pre-Roman times (the home of the Mediterranean Diet). We provide insight into the history of the dishes where possible.  And look at the cultural and historic reasons behind the techniques and ingredients.  

Our day is filled with cooking followed by a meal typical of an Italian family.  We teach dishes that can be reproduced at home.  These include many shapes of pasta and the varied sauces to go with them.  Bread, pizza focaccia, dips and salads.  Typical festive dishes, desserts, meat dishes and so much more. 

Your family is from Italy, one of the most beautiful parts of the world. What does your heritage mean to you, and how do you continue to honour its traditions while living in Tasmania? 

My parents and three siblings arrived in Tasmania in 1959 and lived near the CBD of Hobart. Mamma and Papà still live in Hobart at 89 and 94 years of age. When I was born the entire street was home to Italians from all over Italy.  Each with their own traditions, skills and cuisine.  

Living in a tight knit community meant the women learned from each other and shared their skills.  As a result the techniques and diversity of dishes is enormous.  When people settle in another country they tend to hold onto the traditions and foods they are used to.  While their mother land progresses, those that leave remain in a sort of time warp.  As a result the best traditional food is often found in the homes of emigrants, rather than in the country of origin.   

This is true of Italians who left Italy during the depression years after the Second World War.  Back home in Italy the grandmothers are the only link left between old and new cuisine.  While the children of emigrants still prepare food in the same age-old method handed down to them from generation to generation. 

In our household my mother worked long hours as a dressmaker.  So we helped with preparing meals from a very young age.  All the recipes have been handed down verbally.  There is no written record of many of the amazing dishes from our region here in Tasmania.  I have taken it upon myself to start putting these recipes on paper so they aren't lost forever.   

Tasmania lends itself perfectly to the Mediterranean diet.  We can access excellent fresh produce, and grow most of what we need in our vegetable patches. This wasn't the case when my parents first arrived.  But with the resurgence of the importance of good food, there is almost nothing you cannot find here. 

Can you tell me what an average day in the life of The Farmhouse Kitchen looks like? 

We have classes two days per week.  And recently we have introduced Mini Classes.  These are held twice a month for those that can't spend an entire day with us. 

Our classes start at 9 am with a coffee or tea and introductions. We usually prepare quite a lot of dishes, depending on the types of class, until around 1:30.  Half way through we have a morning tea break with cake and coffee.  At the end we enjoy what we have made with a glass of wine, followed by an Italian dessert. 

Everyone also goes home with a copy of the recipes they have made, so they can reproduce them time and again. 

And lastly, what do you hope those that experience a day of culinary experience with you take away from it? 

I would love people to feel that they have experienced what it is like to be part of an Italian family for a day. To be able to stand around a kitchen, laugh, chat and enjoy creating something special.  Just as we use to do as kids with my mother.  It's so nice to see total strangers get together and create new friendships.  To chat and exchanging experiences, as well as taste real Italian food as it should be.  Often for the first time. I enjoy showing people the simplicity of preparation.  Teaching them how to turn simple ingredients into something new and healthy.  And have them experience the amazing taste. 

I also love the idea that people can go home and reproduce the same dishes themselves. I don’t do anything that can't be made in their own kitchens at home.  I have received great feedback that the meals they make at home turn out the same as in class. 

Find Giuliana and The Farmhouse Kitchen at www.thefarmhousekitchen-tas.com and on Facebook.

Nicola: I’d love for you to start by telling us about yourself, your business and what drew you to the work you do?

Nicky: Thanks Nicola.  My name is Nicky Barfoot.  I’m a knitwear and embroidery kit designer, and a knitting workshop tutor, living in the UK. I have been a compulsive maker all my life.  I blame it on my amazing, talented Mum and Nanna who taught me to knit when I was very young.  It was their sneaky way to keep an active child entertained when the weather was too bad to play outside. I had the best dressed Teddy Bear and Tiny Teddy’s (I was a child of the 1970s) in my street.

I was a teenager in the 1980s when fashion became flamboyant. Knitwear was big, colourful and adventurous.  I would buy copies of Vogue Knitting magazine and try to recreate the patterns. Unable to afford the recommended yarn, I’d use anything in the house that could be cut up and strung together.  Think sheets, string and assortments of left over yarn knotted together. My sister and her friends described me as having my own unique fashion style!

I didn't start to view my creativity as a potential business until quite recently.  One Christmas I decided I needed a challenge.  I wasn't competing as seriously in sport and I needed a new focus.  I enrolled in a City and Guilds qualification in Hand Knit Design.  But I found this qualification challenging.  Not so much from the creative point of view, but the implication that there were right and wrong ways to do things.  This was news to me as I had been making it up as I had gone along for over 30 years! 

I stuck it out and finished it.  What I learned during the course has come in handy from a teaching point of view, for my knitting workshops.  But it also showed me that I don't enjoy following the rules.  I wanted to use my knitting skills in a freer way.   The local college was starting a new Foundation Degree in Stitched Textiles.  Thinking that art might be the answer I enrolled, having no idea what to expect, and no formal training.  I loved every moment of it!

While studying I also rediscovered my childhood love of drawing, printing and painting.  Through a recommendation from a friend I happened upon West Dean College.  This is an amazing place of art and craft study, based in the middle of the UK's beautiful South Downs.  Over two years I completed their Foundation Diploma in Art and Design.

Inspired by all my study I entered the UK Knitted Textile Awards in 2013.  I was delighted to win Silver with a series of knitted pictures based on life drawing studies.  In 2014 I moved onto my current four legged muses, as well as three-dimensional knitted dog head sculptures based on the art of taxidermy.  I wanted to explore whether knitted objects could be viewed as sculpture, rather than a soft toy.  I was thrilled that these won the Gold award in that year's UK Knitted Textile Awards.

I began to realise that many people loved my ideas.  But rather than buying a finished item the most common question was 'do you sell the pattern'?  I started to make my designs available as accessible patterns and kits.  I opened an Easy shop.  I had many of my knitting patterns published in national magazines.  I began to teach knitting workshops.  Recently DMC Creative has approached me, and I’m going to be working with them to create four embroidery kit designs for their collection. 

Tell us about the process of your work and where you draw your inspiration?

All my designs begin as drawings. Sometimes these are specific ideas that have popped into my head in a light bulb moment.  Most often ideas evolve from my daily sketchbook practice.  I try to get up early enough in the morning to spend 30 minutes or more drawing something, anything (!) before my day begins. Often the drawings remain in my sketchbook.  But sometimes an idea evolves as I am working on it and will then form the start of a design process for stitch.

I also keep a hand written “journal” of ideas. A Moleskine book that goes into my handbag.  I bring it out and write down any thoughts that happen while I sitting in coffee shops or on public transport etc.

What story do you want your work to tell?  And what do you love most about what you do?

The main aim of my work is to delight. I want to provide my customers with a design that is accessible and enjoyable to make. And that brings a smile to their face as the characters appear. Over the years I have become more interested in the slow meditation of hand making, than in any finished item.  In this high speed, high tech world I hope to share some of this simple focus with others. Humour is also very important to me.  My designs are often illustrative, inviting a narrative and a chuckle from the viewer.

Animals are obviously your muse.  You and I both have a love of dogs in common.  And you know your dog is one of my favourite Instagram pups.  Can you tell us what it is you love most about our four-legged friends, and what your beautiful dog has taught you most about life?

Aww thank you! (although I won’t tell her as she has a big enough head already and can be a bit of a Diva). We were brought up with pets in our house as children. There were rabbits, gerbils, Springer Spaniels, ponies (not in the house I hasten to add), a lizard and a few budgies. This love of animals, and particularly dogs, has stayed with me in adult hood. I currently have a 10-year young Weimaraner called Sas, and a 13-year old Jack Russell called Nelly. Sas is my second Weim.  They are photogenic dogs and make brilliant models. I think it's the strange mixture of disdain and clown that they are so good at projecting. A beautiful, noble looking dog that will let you dress them in a wig and sunglasses. What’s not to like?

While Nelly has anxiety issues Sas is quite the opposite. This despite us being her second home when her first one didn’t work out. I have learnt so much from spending time with my big beige best friend and observing how she approaches life. She is enthusiastic about everything, including sleeping, and embraces every opportunity. Equally she isn’t averse to taking herself off to the garden.  She is happy to lie in the warm grass and watch the bees buzzing and listen to the birds. The only thing that causes her any stress is the hour leading up to dinner in case we forget! She has no concept of embarrassment or of “can’t win won’t play”. We don't always see eye to eye but she doesn’t hold a grudge.  She always greets me like my arrival is the best thing to have happened to her that day (even if I was only gone for 30mins). If you want to learn how to not sweat the small stuff, and how to appreciate what matters, I recommend spending time with a Weimadog.

Being active is also important to you and I know you love running in nature.  Why is it so important to you to stay active and healthy?  And how does this help you in your everyday life and work?

I have always needed daily fresh air and if I don’t get outside for a run it makes me miserable (just ask my husband!). This is one of the reasons behind my choice of dog breed, as Weims make the best training partner a girl could ask for. When I run with Sas I make the effort to go off road.  I’m lucky to live near country parks and wooded enclosures.  And I’m also within a short drive of the New Forest and the south coast of England. I find that being immersed in the simplicity of nature is good for the soul. When we are constantly bombarded with bad news stories, we need to remind ourselves how amazing our world is. Nature does this for me.

While working from home definitely has its benefits it also has its downsides. One I’ve found is an inability to switch off when there is no clear distinction between work and home space. Getting outside for a run helps provide this separation for me.  Even if it’s only for an hour.  It gives me permission to switch off from work so I can enjoy the moment.  I can hear the birds, smell the air, feel the breeze (or rain) on my skin, and enjoy the scenery without interruption.

I also find that most of my best creative ideas come to me when I’m out running. These can be light bulb moments if I have a specific problem to solve.  Or wider inspiration from the natural colour schemes and structures I see.  And not to forget some of the doggy social interactions we become part of. I often come home with a phone full of photos.  These either end up as a drawing somewhere in my sketchbook, or posted on Instagram.

If one of our readers were interested in taking up a hobby like knitting or embroidery, where would you suggest they start?

There are lots of brilliant online classes available these days.  I've used Craftsy and Creativebug, and would recommend them as a starting point.  There are also lots of free tutorials and blogs available, especially for knitting.  As well as a good selection of magazines. 

While these are great places to start, nothing beats actual classes with a tutor.  They can see what you are doing and offer hints, tips and advice on how to improve.  I have a lovely group of regulars who come to my monthly knitting workshops.  They often remark on how much they learn from each other, as well as from me.  Which is another added benefit. 

No matter how someone chooses to start, the most important thing is to practice. Learning a new skill takes time and making mistakes is an essential part of this process. I would also recommend using the best materials you can afford. Often when people start out they have a low expectation of the outcome, so spend as little as possible. But I think it's important the process is enjoyable, even if you aren't going to be creating a masterpiece.  Lovely yarns and materials make the experience of creating rewarding.  Even if the scarf is wonky, or has holes in it, if it feels lovely around your neck then chances are you will still wear it.  So all those hours of learning and making are not wasted!

More about my work can be found on my blog, nickybarfoot.wordpress.com and on my Facebook page. I love taking photographs and regularly post pictures that excite and inspire me (and lots of pictures of Sas) on Instagram as @nickybarfoot. My kits and pattern downloads can be purchased from my Etsy shop.

Double sycamore seed pendant, £85

18ct gold budded twig and diamond ring, £2200

Slim oak leaf ring, silver, £75

Lucy's love of the British countryside started as a child, her pockets often filled with seed heads and feathers. Her love of the natural world and collecting has continued, her woodland finds are now displayed in her Oxfordshire studio, hanging from the walls and stored in old science jars.

Lucy believes you cannot compete with the beauty of nature, its perfect lines and textures, so uses it as directly as possible. Taking moulds from her delicate finds, she casts into the cavity they leave, allowing her to create exact replicas of life in solid silver and gold that retain the finest details.

"These natural forms with beautiful textures would decay into the ground and be gone forever, with direct casting from them I've created something that will now be here forever, to be worn for a life time."

Lucy's newest work concentrates on engagement rings and wedding bands, simple lines from cow parsley stems, rye grass, lichen, leaves, twigs and seed heads wrap around to create rings, the fragile veins and stems clearly visible as the designs overlap to create a collection of fine botanical wedding jewellery, all cast from British countryside plants with a scattering of diamonds.

The Great British stag beetle, bees and hawk moths have all been given a new life in solid silver and gold by the nature loving jeweller, her Hawk moth ring was chosen by costume designer Michele Clapton to be worn by Sansa Stark in the hit medieval TV series Game of Thrones.

Since completing her MA at The School of Jewellery in Birmingham, Lucy has exhibited her work around the world, been published in many books and magazines, and most recently exhibited at London's prestigious Chelsea Flower Show.

"My work is evolving all the time, as the seasons change, the inspiration is new once more."

www.lucysylvester.com

Nicola: You describe yourself as a photographer, filmmaker and wanderer who lives for her wax jacket and wellies.  Can you tell us more about the work you do and how it all came into being?

Nina: I’ve always been a very visually creative person. All my family work with their hands, in some kind of expressive way, so it’s only natural I have this need to create too.  

I remember pouring over the faces from the frames in my grandparent’s house as a child.  I would wonder who they were.  Standing still, with little emotion on your face, gives nothing away about a person or their actual life.  Which is where my passion for pictures developed. 

As a child I dabbled with cameras, but it wasn’t until I met my husband in my early twenties that I started exploring more. I remember we blew a whole months food allowance on a top of the market Canon.  We lived off beans on toast until the next pay cheque came in. In my mid thirties I had my third (and last) child, and it was then I decided to start a blog. I didn’t have a clue what I was doing.  I wanted to fill my days as a stay at home mother, and connect with other creative people.  I soon realised I was better at taking pictures, than writing and connecting with others. 

I’m more of a listener then a chatty person.  I'm known as the ‘shy photographer’, which is handy when you want to go along in life unnoticed. You can capture the most joyous and emotional moments when people least expect it. Pulling the true feelings out of a person and immortalizing it on film. Not staged or styled, just honest. 

I know nature, creativity and the comforts of home are really important to you.  Can you tell us how you incorporate each of these into your daily life and why they mean so much to you?

Nature has always played a huge part in my life. I would sit for hours when my friends were off chasing the boys, observing my surroundings. I take more pleasure in watching a butterfly, or listening to a blackbird sing, than gushing over fashion. Or gossiping about some irrelevant scandal. I can’t remember where this part of me stems from; it’s always been there. Wherever I live I always make sure I have a space to create, an environment I can escape to. No matter how small or lack of budget. Just an area where I can bring nature to me.  Even if it’s a lone bumblebee. A place to think and clear some of the noise out of my head. It’s where I get most of my creative ideas. I spend a lot of time in my garden. It’s the perfect place for me to ponder.

I also love to sew and have a fascination with American quilts. In my late twenties I took a course on how to piece together, and ended up staying on for another five years.  My grandmother was an amazing embroiderer. I didn’t find this out until she died and was left some of her work. I’ve always wondered if I take after her in this respect. There is something soothing about the rhythmic process of stitching each piece together to create a story or pattern. I tend to save quilting for winter on the coldest of evenings.  I snuggle under the quilts with my girls and listen to them read me their latest story, or chat about how their day has been.

Home is really important to me. My childhood was quite chaotic.  I’m from a family where you were made to pull your weight and muck in. Being the eldest with three younger siblings it was full on. Which is why, whenever I had the time, I would withdraw into my head, go climb a tree or build a den and hide for a while. As a mum I want my children to discover the world, but know that home is where they can escape to.  We also have an open door policy where all are welcome.  There is always plenty of tea and biscuits and a good old chat if needed. Our home is busy, but in a good and positive way.

I also spend an enormous amount of time at home.  It’s my workspace and the place I am a mother, so it has to feel comfortable and be welcoming. I want a home to feel like it wraps you up and embraces you.  Filled with love, laughter, chocolate cake and hugs.

You live in a small village in the Cheshire, on the edge of the Peak District.  What lead you and your family to settle here?  And I’m curious what a day living in this little village looks like when you’re at home?

We’ve lived in Cheshire for over three years now. It was a snap decision to move, and one of the hardest things we’ve ever had to do. We’d lived on the Kentish coast for seventeen years. We raised our children there and loved the beach life.  But my husband was offered a job and we knew if we didn’t give it a go, we would always wonder ‘what if'?  Within six weeks we had found a house, schools for the children, sold our family home and moved almost 300 miles. I then spent the next two years making sure everyone was settled and happy. It wasn’t easy, looking back on those first few months, but now I would say it was the best decision we ever made.

On an average day we start at 6.30am, and one by one leave for our various work places or school. My time should consist of school runs, housework and shopping.  But I'm a daydreamer.  So as long as there is food in the house and clean clothes, I prefer to spend my days gardening, baking and taking photos.  My youngest knows if I suggest walking to school it really means, 'I'm going to head to the hills for a few hours with a thermos of tea and my camera'.  But we do love the walk to school past all the tiny mill worker cottages.  We chat along the way, spotting various bugs and birds.  Her latest obsession is buzzards. We have a few of those swooping around these hills.

Our village is small with a canal running through it and an old railway route that you can now walk or bike along. We are surrounded by hills and valleys.  The huge mill buildings now have other uses, like office buildings, cafes and gyms. Although there is at least one I know of that has almost tumbled down. It’s quite ominous, looming out of the landscape. The village is very friendly and local.  There are butchers and bakers that have served the community for generations.

You also write for ‘This Is Your Kingdom’, an online guide for planning high days and holidays around the UK.  Does this work allow you to travel?  And what’s your favourite part of the job?

I love working for This Is Your Kingdom and feel so honoured to be part of the team. It gives me the freedom and opportunity to explore to my hearts content. And being new to the area, I have a lot to discover. I can travel as much or as little as I desire, which allows me to be the person I want to be. For me family is everything and they will always come first. I feel so grateful to be able to work in this way.

The best part of the job is tricky to answer, as I love it all. From finding new places to write about and capturing the imagination of it on film.  To then submitting an article and seeing it all come together. I also love reading about the places others have found and forming a collection I would then love to go find.

And lastly, I’d love to know what is your favourite subject to photograph and why?

They say never work with children or animals, but for me I love faces.

This is my favourite subject to photograph, as you never know which emotion you will capture. It all goes back to those stiff, blank faces in the frames. I’m a people watcher and I love a good story. A face to me can tell a million of those, and much, much more.

You can find Nina on Instagram @nina_nixon or visit her website here.

Today's creatives are Rosie and Oscar who live on a farm in the Adelaide Hills...

Nicola: I’d love for you to start by telling us about yourselves, your business and what drew you to the work you do?

Rosie: Of course! My name is Rosie Winter.  My husband Oscar and I live on a small farm where we grow flowers, fruit, herbs and vegetables. We share this land with my parents who live in the old farmhouse.

We decided to move here and build our own home after we found buying our 'own' land was going to be difficult.  It would have meant a large mortgage, and both us working more than full time off the land to meet repayments. 

We thought about moving from Adelaide Hills, to where land is more affordable.  But with two small children we wanted to stay near family.  So in the end we moved onto the four acres that belong to my parents.  And started the process of building our own home here, whilst living in a converted shed on the property. 

At first we felt like it wasn’t an ideal arrangement, as it wasn’t land that belonged to us or was really ours.  We struggled with the day-to-day practicalities of being more then tenants, but not owners either.

But with time we’ve come to realise the value of sharing land and resources.  As well as having people around to help each other out!  We've noticed a similar trend with other people near us.  Land sharing and starting micro farms is becoming more common.  It's a great way for communities to make farming and agriculture a viable possibility. 

We were drawn to this work as we both love working with the land, nature and the seasons.  We also have an affinity for plants and animals. Farming wasn’t something either of us considered a real job or pathway at all, though.  It wasn't the way we were schooled.  Farming was associated with poverty and hardship, it was not a career option. So it never even crossed our mind that it could be something we could actually do! We both had different careers for a while.  I was a midwife and Oscar a chef and cheese maker.

After we moved on to the land we began growing a lot more of our own food and flowers.  The year I was on maternity leave I decided to try cutting, arranging and selling the flowers at our local cafe, the Piccadilly Kitchen.  The customers loved them, and I sold out on my very first day. After realising people loved what we did, we decided to explore doing it beyond a side hobby.

Can you tell us about the little patch of land you have in the Adelaide Hills?  

The property is in the Piccadilly Valley.  It is surrounded by vineyards and overlooks the market gardens in nearby Uraidla.

We grow vegetables for our own table.  Potatoes and kale in winter.  Tomatoes, zucchini and basil in summer.  Sometimes when we have excess we’ll add a few veggies to our market stall. Or they make it into our bouquets (flowering basil, cherry tomatoes, purple bean vines and radish seedpods are particular favourites!). We also turn the extra produce into preserves for the colder months.

We also have a small orchard with apples, pears, plums, figs, quince and fejoa trees.  Nearby there are canes of raspberry. It isn’t a large enough orchard to yield commercial quantities of fruit.  But we do make jam, quince and plum paste for our market stall.

We cultivate a very small amount of land with annual cut flowers.  Around a quarter to half an acre, depending on the time of year.  This means we are able to manage our business with a closed-loop system.  We dig, plant, tend, harvest and arrange the flowers.  We then compost the leftover flowers and return them to the soil for the next cycle.  It's a beautiful, sustainable pattern.  We enjoy watching our blooms go from tiny seedlings to starring in a bridal bouquet, and then back to the earth. 

Some of our favourite flowers to grow are dahlias, sweet peas and Icelandic poppies.  We also love strawflowers, ranunculus and wild cottage garden flowers.  South African flowers also grow well here (proteas, pincushion flowers and leucodendrons).  What don’t seem to grow well are peonies, tulips, lupins and fritillaries.  It might be because it doesn't stay cool enough.  So they definitely present more of a challenge!  We still grow them each season though.  And with time we hope they will settle and happily bloom. 

There is also an eclectic assortment of perennial herb gardens and trees for foliage.  Herbs, vines, leaves, berries and seedpods make up a significant part of what we create.  Plants like yarrow, sage and viburnum.  Also hops, blackberries, medlar pears, spirea, jasmine, ivy berries and native grasses.  These are very special and spirited elements.  They bring a sense of seasonality to our arrangements. 

We do a lot of experimentation with different foliage and pods. There are new elements to be discovered each season.  We try to focus beyond what is an obvious choice.  And look to different leaves or plants we may not have thought of using before. Sometimes the results aren’t great! Other times our experiments lead to amazing new materials to work with.

Your flowers are absolutely beautiful.   What inspires the designs you produce and who are they for?

Thank you so much!  We are lucky to receive our inspiration by what the seasons gift us each cycle.  We are given lush, green growth and delicate petals in the spring.  Stunning blooms in the summer.  Fruit and russet coloured leaves in the autumn.  And seedpods, evergreens and brave flowering bulbs in the winter. 

We have also been invited by people in our area to gather flowers and foliage from their large gardens.  It's been magical caring for overgrown trees and bushes, and to then see the leaves and flowers they give us back. 

Our work is also influenced by traditional folk art, herbalism, stories and illustrations.  Especially artists like Alice and Martin Provensen, Wendy Watson and Phoebe Wahl. We like to evoke a sense of warmth in our work.  We want it to reflect the land around us, as well as the seasons.  While at the same time weaving in a bit of magic and whimsy too.

Most of the clients we work with have a certain mood or place they want reflected in the flowers we create for them.  Such as a bouquet that reflects the wild Australian bush for an outdoor forest wedding.  Or windswept white and nude toned blooms, with twigs and seedpods, for an autumn beach wedding.  We love to work with people who share our love for nature. 

The people that buy from us at the markets share that same love for plants and the seasons.  And enjoy bringing a small piece of nature home with them.  Flowers help us anchor into that feeling of connectedness with nature.  Having this connection is so important.  People crave and need this closeness to nature, but there is a big disconnect in so many aspects of our lives.  Our work helps bring people back to this relationship.  And we hope that it adds to the richness and depth of this connection.

What does an average day look like for you at the moment?  

Our flower week begins on a Thursday, picking fresh flowers for weddings and our market stall.  In the summer one of us wakes early to harvest the flowers, and get them into the cool room before the day heats up.  The other will get the kids dressed and make them breakfast.  During winter our harvest days can start later.  This is because the days stay cool enough for the flowers to remain in good condition.  Later in the day we gather the more hardy foliage.  We also condition and prepare the flowers, and store everything ready for the next day.

Over the next few days we sort and arrange the flowers for weddings, events or our market stall.  We then pack and deliver to the wedding venues.  And on Sundays we work at our stall at the Market Shed on Holland.  The rest of the week we tend the garden.  This includes weeding, planting, mulching, watering and feeding the plants. 

Between all this we like to find time for dreaming, conversation and reading.  As well as letting our minds drift away while watching a great television series!

You are also in the midst of building a home naturally with earth and straw.  What inspired you to create your dream home from these materials?

When we decided to land share with my parents, we wanted to have our own cottage or studio for our family to live in.  We appreciated the benefits of living close to family.  But it was important to also have our own autonomy and identity as the Winter family. 

As we began to live a more seasonal and sustainable life we started to get an idea of what type of home would suit us.  As well as the things we needed to consider in the design and construction.  And we definitely wanted a home that was connected to our work outside. 

Things we considered included energy efficiency, passive solar design and grey water recycling.  We also thought about the embodied energy of building materials.  And we wanted a feeling of flow from the garden to the kitchen.  We also both had a shared childhood love and fascination with old cottages.  Particularly those built from traditional materials like timber, mud, straw and stone. 

Building with traditional material made sense, as money was limited.  And so were our skills!  But with determination, and some help, we figured out how to build walls from straw.  We also used the dirt from the footprint of the building itself. 

Building with these materials ticked a lot of boxes.  Straw is a renewable resource and grown locally.  So we felt good about using it from an environmental point of view.  The clay we collected from preparing the site to build on had a low embodied energy.  Not only were the straw and mud cheap, but can also be returned to the earth at the end of their useful life.  Straw and earth are also forgiving materials to build with for beginners. The work is intuitive and family friendly, and the materials non-toxic.

Straw bales also offer a fantastic insulation solution.  They maintain a comfortable indoor temperature, with very little heating or cooling.  Which is an important consideration in our climate in the Adelaide Hills.  Here we can have both cold, wet winters as well as dry, hot summers.  Straw bale buildings are also bushfire resistant. This is another great reason to use them, as our area can be susceptible to devastating bushfires.

What message do you want to share with others through the work you do and the life that you live?

One of the things we've learnt is there are many ways to have a piece of land to call your own.  Even if the obvious path of purchasing land outright seems unattainable.  It may be through land sharing.  This may take some negotiation, but can work well if you find the right person to share with.  You could also join a community garden and lease a growing plot for a nominal fee.  Here you can work alongside like-minded souls to swap seeds, gardening tips and share your toils.  Or you can grow what you can in the space that you have.  Think pots, hanging gardens and so on. 

Getting clear on what you want in life, your dreams and how you want to contribute to the world helps you find your path.  But often you end up getting help, or finding a way in a mater you didn't expect or look for.  This was the case for us.  And by being open to saying yes, and exploring opportunities, it helped us get to where we are now.

If someone wants to connect with nature, I'd say start with opening your mind to what is already around you.  Forage for food and floral arrangements.  Take a long walk and pay attention to what is growing by footpaths or over fences.  These places yield amazing leaves and flowers that can be used in many different ways.  Snip a few to make your own beautiful, seasonal arrangement.  You don't even need a vase!  Try making a garland, or place some stems in a jar of water.  Not only will it bring life and vibrancy to your living space, but it can also be meditative.  And an amazing way to tune in with the natural world.

And finally we would love to know what your favourite flower is and why?

Rosie: I actually have two! One of my favourites is a foxglove.  I love this flower as it evokes memories of my childhood.  It reminds me of fairy stories and hidden woodland glades.  And it still holds an air of magic for me. I also love yarrow flowers. It’s a very beautiful, hardy and giving plant.  It is useful as a medicine, but also a perfect flower to add to bouquets.

Oscar: I have a special place in my heart for the Hills Fire daisy. It is a native understory plant found in the stringy bark forests of the mount lofty ranges. Hills daisies were grown commercially for a time on the hobby farm I grew up on in Carey Gully. They remind me of my mum.

I also have a favorite poppy that started out as a single small plant, bought by our daughter at a plant fair.  It looked the worse for wear and we never thought it would survive a season. It has since naturalized here and pops up in our garden beds during the spring.  The seedpods it produces are a wonderful ingredient in our work.  It’s a great personification of creating something from humble beginnings.

Find Rosie & Oscar in these places:

Website:  www.theroseandradish.com.au
Instagram: @theroseandradish (business)
Instagram:  @theroseandradish_home (home)
Facebook: Rose and Radish Farm

Rain for me

Rain is made for stories
It’s made for conversations
And for contemplation
For escaping into coffee shops
For staying in
For good reads
And good teas

Rain is made for getting soaking wet
For wellies and splashing in the puddles
For wet clothes clinging to cold skin
And mud on the boots
Then, it’s made for a hot shower

Some autumn nights
When the rain seems angry, stormy
And the streets are empty
It’s made for that midnight hot chocolate
Curling up and wondering.
Wondering about the universe,
Life and the magic of it all
It is made for gratefulness
For the safety of indoors

It’s made for sitting by the windows
And wrapping up in blankets
Staring out in awe at the sky
Looking at the raindrops
Making patterns on the glass
A strange meditation

When it drizzles, this half-hearted rain
It’s made for wistfulness.
Wishing it to be gone
Or wishing it to be more
Wishing it not to be a nuisance
Or wishing you were somewhere else

Rain is made for huddling
For seeking shelter
Under a tree or the crevices of buildings
It’s made for longing
To be home
A longing for a companion
Or the company of one’s own

Rain is made for movies
It’s made for music
For listening to songs
Or the rhythm of the rain itself

Rain is made for simple moments
Like feeling the raindrops on your face
Neck craned towards the sky
Arms open wide
Or looking up at night
At the street lights
When they make the rain shine
Like embers of gold

Rain is made for journeys
Long drives in the monsoon
It’s made for playfulness
And for guilty food
Hot, greasy and delicious!
Then perhaps it’s made for afternoon naps

Rain is made for memories
Sometimes it’s made for boredom
Or for card games
Maybe also restlessness
For the rain to stop
So we can get on with it

Rain is made for deep breaths
Of the petrichor of the first rain
It’s made for that special smell
Of wet earth and greenery
Of loam and moss
It’s made for that feeling
Of the world being freshly cleaned
Of the earth gladdened,
And a certain glow in the heart

Today we're featuring the poetry of Lizzie Parsons, an English Literature with Creative Writing graduate currently working for Wild Learning. She has also written for New Nature magazine (which you should definitely check out if you aren't already a reader - latest issue here), amongst other publications. Find her on twitter here.

Out here

with a smile it is like paradise – my

tomato hot house smells amazing, like

those silly sparkly gems I was writing

about inside. Out here

it is so green, and as you walk

up the outside steps the temperature

rises and the smell of warm summer floral

air hits your nose. The sun sends

down its rays to land on my face,

the air is warm,

imagine water and the woods, sweat

trickling down the inside of my

t-shirt.

As I walk

into this space I see damselflies

scattering in the sunlit air,

flies and butterflies.

I see

buttercups and clovers, purple vetch,

and my floating favourites, the

dandelion seeds.