- @AmyKellyGardening
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Every single thing you grow yourself, even if it’s a one lettuce or one strawberry plant, is a win for the planet. Small actions create big positive change. Let’s grow together.
I was born in Adelaide, South Australia, where my Mother first inspired my passion for gardening. I moved to London when I was 21, and to the USA shortly after that... Scroll down to read more
I love working with local community groups, such as the Ards Rugby Club, Bangor Horticultural Society, Helen's Bay Resident's Association, and my own wonderful Allotment Community.
This is Finn, our much-loved Border Terrier, who you will see in many of my videos. He's a cheeky little man who loves to hide among the plants in the garden, and especially enjoys helping to dig up potatoes and "helping" with the weeding.
Anyone can grow something. You don’t have to be an expert, you don’t even need a garden. All you need is to plant a seed. Grow with me.
You can grow delicious berries in just 6 inches of space - no garden needed.
Growing our own fruits and vegetables is a life skill. It connects us to our environment, it gives us food security, and it reduces our carbon footprint.
Suscipit sapien conubia magnis placerat sem quis odio. Bibendum cubilia quisque nostra pretium si ut.
I was born in Adelaide, South Australia, where my Mother first inspired my passion for gardening. I grew up with a large garden filled with bountiful fruit trees including mulberry, loquat, strawberry guava, plum, peach, nectarine, orange, lemon, apple, and several different grape varieties. It was an idyllic setting for a budding gardener, and my parents encouraged me and my three siblings by allowing us each to commandeer a small section of the garden to grow whatever we chose. I have happy memories of volunteering to clean out the small chicken house so I could use the manure for compost, and excitedly spending my pocket money on packets of seeds.
I moved to London in 2004 when I was 21, and to the USA shortly after that. I had the privilege of seeing New Orleans before Katrina hit, and the heartache of witnessing the devastation that followed. Louisiana is a place so humid and fertile that every breath inspires you to get growing. I was lucky enough to be able to travel around the USA quite a bit, and my mental map of the country is drawn by what produce is prized in each area. Ponchatoula Louisiana for the sweetest juiciest strawberries, Florida for the plumpest blueberries, Mississippi for heavenly Watermelons, Georgia not for it’s Peaches, although those are also delicious, but more than anything for the delectable Pecans (which some pronounce Peek-Kans while others say Pea-cahns!), and Alabama for the best corn bread and collard greens I ever had the pleasure of eating. During my time in the US I developed my skills in balcony and small space gardening, passions that endure in me to this day.
In 2013 I moved to Northern Ireland, where I now live with my husband, Brian. When I moved in, Brian’s garden comprised one shrubbery bed to the rear and a small herb bed in the front garden, and every other inch of space was covered in tarmac, gravel, paving, or decking. One day I asked if I could squeeze a few daffodil bulbs into the shrubbery, and the next thing I knew, Brian was in the garden pulling the shrubs out by the roots and giving me carte blanche to plant whatever I would like. He also introduced me to our fabulous local plant shop, Walkers in Newtownards, and eventually to the Allotment where I now have a double plot. Without Brian’s love and support my gardening journey would have been along a much shorter and narrower path, and I’m grateful to him every day for all of his help and encouragement. Our small garden at home is now totally transformed into a haven for wildlife full of flowers, edible plants, a pond, and lots of fruit trees. Our tiny front garden even won the Best Wildlife Garden award at ANDBC In Bloom in 2023, you can see it here: https://youtu.be/rc99U4pJpKc
My “day job” is in pest control, and during one of my routine visits to a local care facility I got talking to one of the staff members and discovered they were planning to develop some garden beds for residents to work in and enjoy. I offered a few suggestions, and soon I was involved in planning the beds and giving advice on plant choices and care. I provided them with a month-by-month starter guide and enjoyed several afternoons with the staff and residents weeding and planting out the beds. I was very gratified to be invited to an opening day to formally introduce our little project, and Brian and I gladly accepted the invitation. David Maxwell of the BBC was there recording a piece on the garden for his weekly radio show, Gardener’s Corner, and Brian was quick to introduce us. The next thing I knew I was booked to come to the radio studio to do a live broadcast, and I have been a regular contributor to the show ever since.
Brian and I also appeared on Channel 4’s “Kirstie and Phil’s Love It Or List It”, which you can watch here if you’re in the UK: Kirstie and Phil’s Love It or List It – Series 8: Episode 1 | Channel 4
I am involved in several community planting and gardening schemes around County Down in Northern Ireland, and give talks to various local gardening and horticultural groups throughout the year, as well as judging local competitions and speaking at events. I had made several short videos for our Allotment community in the past, and in 2024 I was approached with an offer to help me improve my videos. The first of these “new and improved” videos was posted in June 2024, and I’ve been going strong ever since. I love every moment of sharing my gardening knowledge and enthusiasm with all of you, and I’m so grateful to you for coming along with me for the ride. I have so much more I want to show you!