Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
In this conversation, Geoff, Ben, Eric, and Sam sit down with David from The Weedy Garden as he shares how he went from knowing nothing about gardening to documenting one of the most compelling garden journeys online today.
From a lockdown turning point to building a thriving garden from scratch, this episode moves beyond gardening into something deeper — purpose, honesty, and the tension between making a living and staying true to your values.
Learn More & Join the Community:
🌐 Visit the podcast homepage to listen with your preferred platform: discoverpermaculture.com/podcasts/discover-permaculture-the-podcast
🎓 Explore Geoff's online courses: discoverpermaculture.com
Key Takeaways:
- 00:04:32 – 00:05:41: The moment everything changed — lockdown, scarcity, and a shift in direction
- 00:05:41 – 00:08:30: Starting from zero and being introduced to a new way of thinking through Geoff
- 00:14:20 – 00:15:30: What nature teaches when you slow down and observe
- 00:15:13 – 00:16:33: “Plastic life” vs real life — a deeper realization
- 00:22:36 – 00:23:15: Why storytelling can communicate more than instruction
- 00:23:49 – 00:25:30: The attention economy and the pull toward fear-based content
- 00:34:39 – 00:36:30: The challenge of making a living without compromising values
- 00:36:30 – 00:40:48: Burnout, honesty, and rebuilding trust with an audience
- 00:40:02 – 00:40:48: A shift toward generosity and community
- 01:04:49 – End: Why the garden becomes something you can’t walk away from
🌏 Guests
David Trood (AKA Weedy) — Known for his project The Weedy Garden, is a photographer turned gardener documenting the transformation of his weedy hill in Northern NSW, Australia. With no formal background in horticulture, his work is driven by curiosity, observation, and a deep commitment to learning directly from nature. Through poetic visual storytelling, he has built a global audience by sharing not just how to grow food, but how to reconnect with the living systems that sustain us. His approach prioritizes authenticity over growth, offering a rare and honest perspective in the digital landscape.
🔗 Website: theweedygarden.com
📸 Instagram: @theweedygarden
▶️ Youtube: youtube.com/@TheWeedyGarden
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/theweedygardenaustralia
Ben Missimer — Ben is a regenerative designer and technologist who uses LiDAR, drone imaging, and GIS tools to reveal the hidden patterns of the land. From remote landscapes to urban projects, he transforms terrain data into actionable designs that restore ecosystems. His work combines science, technology, and permaculture principles to guide landscapes from degraded to abundant.
🔗 Website: pearlriverecodesign.com
📸 Instagram: @benmissimer
▶️ Youtube: youtube.com/@benmissimer/videos
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/PearlRiverEcoDesign
Eric Seider — Eric is a permaculture consultant, designer, and educator since 2008. He has helped communities around the world create resilient systems, working across deserts, forests, and urban landscapes. As the leader of the Permaculture Community Group in Fair Oaks, California, he cultivates a local hub for education, hands-on learning, and collaboration. Eric turns ideas into thriving ecosystems and empowers others to do the same.
🔗 Website: ericseider.com
📸 Instagram: @ericseider
▶️ Youtube: youtube.com/@EricSeider
📘 Facebook:
facebook.com/ericseider22
🌾 Permaculture Community Group: permaculturefairoaks.org
🌿 Community Facebook: facebook.com/permaculturefairoaks
Sam Parker-Davies — Sam is a global permaculture designer, teacher, and consultant with projects spanning deserts, forests, and mountains across 12+ countries. He blends hands-on implementation with deep design thinking, helping communities regenerate both ecosystems and the social systems that depend on them. Sam’s teaching and consulting showcase how practical permaculture can create abundance in even the most challenging environments.
🔗 Website: samparkerdavies.weebly.com
📸 Instagram: @samparkerdavies
▶️ Youtube: youtube.com/@sam.parkerdavies
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/sam.parkerdavies
#permaculture #organicgardening #gardening #localfood #foodforest #soilhealth #homestead #growyourownfood #sustainability #natureconnection
In this conversation, Geoff, Ben, Eric, and Sam sit down with David from The Weedy Garden as he shares how he went from knowing nothing about gardening to documenting one of the most compelling garden journeys online today.
From a lockdown turning point to building a thriving garden from scratch, this episode moves beyond gardening into something deeper — purpose, honesty, and the tension between making a living and staying true to your values.
Learn More & Join the Community:
🌐 Visit the podcast homepage to listen with your preferred platform: discoverpermaculture.com/podcasts/discover-permaculture-the-podcast
🎓 Explore Geoff's online courses: discoverpermaculture.com
Key Takeaways:
- 00:04:32 – 00:05:41: The moment everything changed — lockdown, scarcity, and a shift in direction
- 00:05:41 – 00:08:30: Starting from zero and being introduced to a new way of thinking through Geoff
- 00:14:20 – 00:15:30: What nature teaches when you slow down and observe
- 00:15:13 – 00:16:33: “Plastic life” vs real life — a deeper realization
- 00:22:36 – 00:23:15: Why storytelling can communicate more than instruction
- 00:23:49 – 00:25:30: The attention economy and the pull toward fear-based content
- 00:34:39 – 00:36:30: The challenge of making a living without compromising values
- 00:36:30 – 00:40:48: Burnout, honesty, and rebuilding trust with an audience
- 00:40:02 – 00:40:48: A shift toward generosity and community
- 01:04:49 – End: Why the garden becomes something you can’t walk away from
🌏 Guests
David Trood (AKA Weedy) — Known for his project The Weedy Garden, is a photographer turned gardener documenting the transformation of his weedy hill in Northern NSW, Australia. With no formal background in horticulture, his work is driven by curiosity, observation, and a deep commitment to learning directly from nature. Through poetic visual storytelling, he has built a global audience by sharing not just how to grow food, but how to reconnect with the living systems that sustain us. His approach prioritizes authenticity over growth, offering a rare and honest perspective in the digital landscape.
🔗 Website: theweedygarden.com
📸 Instagram: @theweedygarden
▶️ Youtube: youtube.com/@TheWeedyGarden
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/theweedygardenaustralia
Ben Missimer — Ben is a regenerative designer and technologist who uses LiDAR, drone imaging, and GIS tools to reveal the hidden patterns of the land. From remote landscapes to urban projects, he transforms terrain data into actionable designs that restore ecosystems. His work combines science, technology, and permaculture principles to guide landscapes from degraded to abundant.
🔗 Website: pearlriverecodesign.com
📸 Instagram: @benmissimer
▶️ Youtube: youtube.com/@benmissimer/videos
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/PearlRiverEcoDesign
Eric Seider — Eric is a permaculture consultant, designer, and educator since 2008. He has helped communities around the world create resilient systems, working across deserts, forests, and urban landscapes. As the leader of the Permaculture Community Group in Fair Oaks, California, he cultivates a local hub for education, hands-on learning, and collaboration. Eric turns ideas into thriving ecosystems and empowers others to do the same.
🔗 Website: ericseider.com
📸 Instagram: @ericseider
▶️ Youtube: youtube.com/@EricSeider
📘 Facebook:
facebook.com/ericseider22
🌾 Permaculture Community Group: permaculturefairoaks.org
🌿 Community Facebook: facebook.com/permaculturefairoaks
Sam Parker-Davies — Sam is a global permaculture designer, teacher, and consultant with projects spanning deserts, forests, and mountains across 12+ countries. He blends hands-on implementation with deep design thinking, helping communities regenerate both ecosystems and the social systems that depend on them. Sam’s teaching and consulting showcase how practical permaculture can create abundance in even the most challenging environments.
🔗 Website: samparkerdavies.weebly.com
📸 Instagram: @samparkerdavies
▶️ Youtube: youtube.com/@sam.parkerdavies
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/sam.parkerdavies
#permaculture #organicgardening #gardening #localfood #foodforest #soilhealth #homestead #growyourownfood #sustainability #natureconnection
