What do olives, grapes, figs, and lavender all have in common? They're part of the sun-loving, drought-tolerant crew that thrive in Mediterranean climates—and today we’re designing a whole guild around them.

In this episode, I explore what it means to plant perennials where they want to grow and why matching plants to their ancestral homes creates a thriving, low-input ecosystem. From nitrogen-fixers like tagasaste and Spanish broom to groundcovers like clover and nasturtium, we’ll break down each guild member's role and how they support each other.

You'll also hear how I mapped my own land, identified the only full-sun spot, and turned it into a haven for these heat-loving plants. Whether you’re growing on rocky slopes or urban backyards, this episode will help you make the most of what you’ve got—by working with nature, not against it.

🌿 Highlights:

• The anatomy of a Mediterranean plant guild
• Why guild design means less work, better fruit, and healthier plants
• How to map your own land to figure out where these plants want to live
• A geeky side note on soil pH, drainage checks, and frost-mapping
• Let's include; nitrogen fixes, ground covers, pest repellents, fruits, vines, leaves you want to eat, herbs and soil enhancers.

📸 Let’s connect: @whitestrawberriespodcast
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In this earthy and enthusiastic episode, I chat with Sarah Williams—permaculture gardener, mushroom grower, and the green-fingered soul behind Sarah’s Green Acres—about growing wine cap mushrooms, also known as burgundy mushrooms or garden giants.

We explore:

• How to grow them in a food forest or permaculture orchard
• Why yours might not be fruiting yet (ahem, speaking from experience!)
• Cooking, freezing, and eating them—especially if you're cutting back on meat
• Why they’re hard to find in shops, and why that's exactly why we should grow them
• Their role in nutrient cycling, soil health, and lazy gardening magic

Plus, we spiral delightfully into tangents about refractometers, bitter greens, the spray-heavy brassica world, and why we sometimes avoid testing our soil (just in case it bursts our bubble).

If you’ve ever wanted to grow something that tastes amazing, supports your soil, and you can’t find at the supermarket—this episode is for you.

✨ Want us to dive deeper into mushrooms, logs, bags, or bitterness? Let me know!
📸 Find me @whitestrawberriespodcast
🌱 Follow Sarah on Instagram at @sarahsgreenacres

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🎙️ Why White Strawberries? 🍓

Welcome to White Strawberries, the podcast where we explore the lost art of living with nature—from a tiny house tucked into New Zealand bushland, surrounded by chickens, weeds, and yes... white strawberries.

In this episode, I (Sam!) unpack the five quirky, nerdy, and joy-filled reasons behind the name White Strawberries. We dive into:

✨ What white strawberries actually are (spoiler: not unripe fruit)
🌿 Why growing a variety of plants matters—for your gut, your soil, and your sanity
🥬 How supermarket food falls short—and what we can do instead
🧪 Nutrient density, refractometers, and lazy gardening wins
🗺️ Plus: strawberries, hiking trails, edible weeds, and the simple magic of finding food outside

This episode is for anyone who's ever wanted to grow their own food, feel more connected to the land, or just taste a strawberry that doesn’t come shrink-wrapped.

Let’s dig in.

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📸 Instagram: @whitestrawberriespodcast
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✉️ Contact me if you’re a graphic designer with logo redemption skills!

New to gardening and wondering when to plant things like tomatoes, spinach, or broccoli? This episode is for you!

We’re diving into the basics of plant life cycles and how to know what to grow and when—without having to constantly check a list. By understanding what part of a plant you’re eating (leaf, flower, fruit, or seed), and how plants behave through the seasons, you’ll be able to plan your garden with more confidence and without the need of a generic plant list.

Whether you’re in New Zealand, North America, Europe or beyond, you’ll come away with simple, practical advice to grow what you love—when it actually wants to grow. Let’s garden smarter—not harder—and keep it joyful. ———

📸 Instagram: @whitestrawberriespodcast

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In this episode, we dive into the messy, beautiful reality of applying permaculture principles in your own life with Sez the Vet!

Sam and Sez explore the highs and lows of designing gardens, observing your land, and working with nature (even when it feels like society is pushing against it).

💚 From sun mapping and creating guilds and chickens doing their part, this episode is packed with real-life examples of how Sam and others have implemented permaculture practices—while acknowledging the challenges that come with them.

Join us for an honest conversation about gardening in today’s world and how small, thoughtful steps can lead to big, sustainable changes. It’s not about doing it perfectly; it’s about doing what works for you, your family, and your land.

🎧 Listen now and subscribe to White Strawberries for more adventures in sustainable living!

📸 Let’s connect: @whitestrawberriespodcast
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Think gardening is the only way to live sustainably? Think again. In this episode of White Strawberries, Sam offers a joyful permission slip to not garden—and still feel good about it.

🌸 Why shoulding yourself into sustainability doesn’t work
🌿 How to find joy in other ways of living well
🌎 Why personal choice matters just as much as planet care

📸 Instagram: @whitestrawberriespodcast
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