Enjoy the kindest garden.
How can being kind to ourselves help others and the planet—in practical and energetic ways?
If you’re interested in how we can regenerate not only our landscapes but also ourselves, this week’s Brave New Girls podcast episode is for you. My guest Marian Boswall—landscape architect, horticulturist, agroecology coach, land energy healer, and author of The Kindest Garden—shares how regenerative gardening can transform more than just your flowerbeds. It's a philosophy of restoration, rooted in kindness.
Marian’s gardening journey began later in adult life with loss and grief, but it brought her back to the healing power of the garden—something she instinctively knew and experienced as a child. In The Kindest Garden, she shows us how tending to land and soul can be a parallel act. It’s not about achieving picture-perfect gardens, but about creating places where ecosystems—soil, insects, humans—can thrive in harmony.
A regenerative garden, as Marian explains, isn’t a rigid system but a flexible mindset. It’s about nourishing the land and in doing so, feeding your own nervous system and community. It means giving back to the soil through composting, respecting natural cycles, sourcing materials and plants consciously, and understanding that everything is food for something—including us.
She reminds us that our wellbeing is not separate from the Earth’s. Our microbiome is a mirror of the soil beneath our feet. Healthy soil means nutrient-dense food, which supports healthy guts and calm minds. “Being kind to ourselves,” Marian says, “ripples outwards—to others, and to the planet.”
Whether you have a sprawling garden, a community allotment, or a small balcony, you can contribute to regeneration and healing. It starts with slowing down, tuning in, and taking joy in co-creating with nature.
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Start small and be curious – You don’t need to be an expert. Try sprouting seeds on your windowsill. Let the thrill of growth guide you.
Compost what you can – Your kitchen scraps are gold for the soil. Even a small worm bin on a balcony can begin the cycle.
Feed the soil, not just the plants – Avoid synthetic fertilisers. Focus on enriching the microbiome beneath your plants with compost, mulch, or worm castings.
Plant for biodiversity – Choose native species, pollinator-friendly plants, and companion plantings that support insects and birds.
Go perennial – Grow perennial vegetables and fruit trees that return each year, supporting the soil and reducing disturbance.
Let go of perfection – Messy gardens are often the most biodiverse. Embrace the wildness—it supports more life.
Use what you have – Reuse bricks, repurpose materials, and choose local or reclaimed resources where possible.
Grow with intention – Write a list of who your garden is for. Let it nurture you as much as the land around you.
Practice presence – Take time to walk barefoot on the soil, smell the earth (geosmin actually boosts serotonin), and just be with nature.
Share knowledge – Talk about your garden, share seeds, and spread the regenerative mindset. It’s a grassroots movement in every sense.
Being kind to yourself is regenerative. It grows into nourishment for the land, healing for your body, and harmony for the world around you.
PS. Listen HERE to MARIAN’S journey on BRAVE NEW GIRLS podcast to hear how she helps us create well beings on a well planet.
