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Should we be using pesticides on our fruit trees? And if not… what do we do instead?

In this episode of White Strawberries, I’m joined by Matthew Priestley, whose work and thinking around ecological systems challenges and encourages us to rethink how we respond to pests in our orchards🌿

We explore what’s really going on when pests and disease show up, and why reaching for sprays might be missing the bigger picture. From airflow (including opening up a “wind tunnel”) to soil health, tree nutrition, and system design, this conversation is all about working with your ecosystem instead of against it.

If you’re growing fruit trees and wondering how to manage pests without pesticides, this episode offers a practical, grounded alternative rooted in science, observation, resilience, and long-term thinking.

What You’ll Discover

• Should you use pesticides on fruit trees—or avoid them altogether?
• What pests and disease are actually telling you
• How airflow and pruning reduce pressure naturally for some fruit trees
• Why soil health and tree nutrition are foundational
• How systems evolve as your trees grow and mature
• What to do instead of spraying (organic and non organic pesticides)

Find Matthew on the BrotherWood site here and on Socials here.

Some of Matthew's favourite resources:

Products he mentioned (He has no affiliation with these):

Hortitech Foliar Protect

Hydrolysed Fish

Wood Vinegar

Book recommendations:

Michael Phillips, The Holistic Orchard

Nicole Masters, For The Love of Soil

Education/Inspiration:

Permadynamics, permaculture based training, PDCs and short courses

Elaine Ingham - Soil food web

Matt powers - Regerating soil

Paul Stamets - Fungi

If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love your support:

⭐ Jump into your podcast app and leave a rating & review
💌 Send me a question or share your thoughts
🌱 Tell me what’s happening in your garden right now

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📍 Website: whitestrawberriespodcast.com
📸 Instagram: @whitestrawberriespodcast

May your strawberries be white and your soil full of carbon 🌱

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Discover how to design a garden that produces fruit all year long using the power of guilds. In this episode of White Strawberries, I dive into the concept of plant guilds—groups of plants, animals, and insects that support one another—and how they can transform your orchard or food forest into a thriving, self-sustaining ecosystem.

Learn why harvest gaps happen, even in productive gardens, and how understanding guild relationships ensures consistent yields, healthier plants, and richer soil. From observing microclimates to layering fruit trees with companion plants, this episode is packed with practical strategies for gardeners who want abundance without the stress.

What You’ll Discover / Key Points:

• Why gardens often have unintentional harvest gaps and how guilds solve this problem
• The role of companion planting and supportive guild members in fruit production
• Practical steps for designing a guild-based orchard or food forest
• How observation and seasonal rhythms guide planting decisions
• Ways to enhance soil fertility, plant health, and biodiversity through guilds

References & Links:

📄🌳Fruit Trees Year- Round Free Resources.

• Previous White Strawberries episodes you might enjoy:
  • Mediterranean Guild Gardening: Figs, Grapes, Olives & Companions | Mastering the Garden
    
    
  • Permaculture: Explained | With Dr. Sez the Vet
    
    
  • White Strawberries: How They Inspired This Podcast | Sparking Joy –
    
    
  • Subtropical and Topicals in a Cold Climate | With Steve Fawcett from Tropo

🌱 Keywords: fruit guilds, perennial gardening, year-round harvest, companion planting, food forest

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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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Autumn is a busy, beautiful season in the garden, and what you plant now will feed you all winter. In this episode of White Strawberries, I share practical tips for creating a winter garden that thrives in a temperate climate.

🥕🌸

Whether you’re gardening for wellness, flavor, or sustainability, this episode gives you actionable ideas to set your winter garden up for success.

What You’ll Discover:

• The two essential rules for a successful winter garden: timing and plant hardiness
• How to plan succession planting for continuous harvest over winter
• Nitrogen-fixing crops that enrich the soil while feeding you
• Which perennials and annuals are best for temperate winter climates
• Tips for saving seeds to build a resilient, microclimate-friendly garden
• Flowers and crops that bring both joy and nutrition this season

References & Links:

• Nitrogen 101: Transforms Your Garden | Mastering the Garden
• More Perennials, Less Hustle | Sparking Joy
  
  
  

🌱 Keywords: autumn gardening, winter harvest, succession planting, nitrogen-fixing crops, perennials

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In this episode Maria- kitchen gardening pro- and Sam explore the magic of fermentation and how it can transform your kitchen and your health. From homemade apple cider vinegar to quick kefir ferments, Maria shares her practical tips for beginners and seasoned gardeners alike. We dive into the science behind fermentation, how to safely use homegrown or supermarket apples, and ways to preserve and enjoy vegetables and fruits year-round.

Whether you want to improve gut health, reduce food waste, or simply add flavor and nutrition to your meals, fermentation is a simple skill anyone can master. Learn how to create brined vegetables, kefir-infused fruits, and other delicious ferments with minimal equipment and maximum results.

What You’ll Discover:

• How apple cider vinegar fermentation works in two stages
• Easy starter ferments: water kefir, coconut kefir, and vegetables
• Safe jar sterilization and storage practices
• Reducing sugar while preserving fruit and vegetable harvests
• How fermentation can boost gut microbial diversity and reduce inflammation

References & Links:

• Wild Fermentation by Sandor Katz
• Gut-microbiota-targeted diets modulate human immune status (PubMed)

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Sprouting and soaking might be some of the simplest — and most forgotten — kitchen skills we have 🌱

In this conversation, I sit down with my dear friend Maria to chew the fat (and the nut!) on soaking grains, sprouting seeds, activating nuts, and why our ancestors prepared food this way for thousands of years.

We explore antinutrients, phytic acid, lectins, and why traditional preparation methods can improve digestibility and nutrient bioavailability. From broccoli sprouts and sulforaphane to soaking pulses with salt and grains with a splash of acid, this episode blends practical kitchen rhythms with grounded nutritional science.

We also talk omega-3s, chia gels, linseed eggs, and the difference between sprouts and microgreens — because they are not the same.

This episode covers: sprouting seeds, soaking beans, activating nuts, reducing antinutrients, broccoli sprouts, omega-3 balance, and traditional food preparation.

During this episode we're looking at my (Sam's) new Sprouting Kit from Kings Seeds. You can check that out, along with their range of organic sprouting seeds, here:

King’s Seeds (NZ) – Organic sprouting seeds & starter kits

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🌱 In this episode we explore how the diet and wellness practices of Brian Johnson — who aims to optimise health and longevity — intersect with what we can grow in our own gardens.

From legumes to berries, brassicas to nuts, Sam breaks down practical tips for growing for longevity. Discover what’s feasible in your garden, when to plant, and how to save seeds, all inspired by Johnson’s “don’t die” food guide and anti-aging meals.

What You’ll Discover

• The kinds of things Brian Johnson eats within his 5 hour food window.
• How to grow legumes (peas, broad beans, lentils) year-round for protein
• Which berries (blueberries, blackcurrants, native berries) deliver high polyphenols and longevity compounds
• Growing and using garlic, ginger, and turmeric for flavor, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial benefits
• How brassicas (cabbage, kale, cauliflower) contribute sulforaphane and support cellular health
• Practical insights on cultivating walnuts, olive oil, and citrus in New Zealand climates
• The role of fermented foods and plant-based proteins like hemp and pea in a nutrient-rich garden-to-table lifestyle

References & Resources Mentioned

• Nutty Pudding Recipe (Brian Johnson’s protocol)
• Longevity Meal with Lentils (Brian Johnson’s protocol)
• Koanga Institute – Heirloom & Heritage Seeds

Previous White Strawberries Episodes:

• What to Grow When: Timing Your Veges Right | Mastering the Garden
• Nitrogen 101: Transforms Your Garden | Mastering the Garden
• Mediterranean Guild Gardening: Figs, Grapes, Olives & Companions | Mastering the Garden
  
  

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💚The waitlist is open: Find Information on the Grounded Course here

A friend once asked me how I could justify spending 10 hours a week in the garden.

That question stuck with me.

In this episode of White Strawberries, I explore the research behind the Blue Zones — the regions identified by Dan Buettner where people live the longest, healthiest lives — and filter those findings through the lens of gardening.

This isn’t a double-blind clinical trial. But it is a fascinating look at lifestyle patterns that consistently show up in long-lived communities: natural movement, plant-based eating, nervous system regulation, strong social ties, and purpose.

And when you look closely… gardening sits right in the middle of it all.

🌱 What You’ll Discover

• What the original Blue Zones are and why they matter
• Why “move naturally” may be more powerful than gym workouts
• How gardening supports longevity through functional movement
• The role of beans, sourdough, fermented foods, and modest animal protein
• Why daily stress reduction rituals matter for brain health
• How purpose (ikigai) and family connection impact lifespan
• Whether wine at five is really about wine — or community

📚 Referenced

Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who’ve Lived the Longest by Dan Buettner
Official website: https://www.bluezones.com

🎧 Previous White Strawberries Episodes Mentioned

Mediterranean Guild Gardening: Figs, Grapes, Olives & Companions | Mastering the Garden

Dirty Dozen Guide: Nutrition, Pesticides & Biodiversity | Mastering the Garden

Chickens in the Garden | With Dr. Sez the Vet

Nitrogen 101: Transforms Your Garden | Mastering the Garden

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