In 2022, Poppy Prendergast left her full-time pharmacy job and decided to study horticulture and organic primary production at Lincoln and SIT. When her parents bought a property outside Alexandra in Central Otago, she decided to leave Christchurch and join them, renovating a second dwelling near her mum and dad’s home.
The 27-year-old content creator, whose farmyard includes two kunekune pigs, cats, dogs and chickens, juggles co-managing her mum’s clothing boutique with pharmacy technician work and being the “official garden gal” for Tui. “As is typical for someone with ADHD, I have lots of different hobbies and interests, some are fleeting but others, mainly gardening, have stuck like glue.”
What or who inspired you to start gardening?
One of my earliest memories is of playing with runner bean seeds, they were so smooth and colourful. My mum often took me with her to the neighbour’s house where she would pick rhubarb while I sat in the garden eating alpine strawberries. My grandfather always had a big veggie garden where I loved picking peas and pulling up carrots.
I never thought much about gardening until we had a few raised beds installed and I stumbled into it accidentally. At the time, I was feeling quite low and went outside for some fresh air. I started pottering around the garden and realised afterwards that I felt calmer. After that day I was hooked, I felt inspired and excited and fell in love with gardening.
What do you enjoy about gardening and sharing your experiences?
I’ve had a few struggles with mental health, and I’ve found gardening to be a lifesaver. It’s always there, keeping me level. You mostly get back what you put in, but there is also profound peace that comes with knowing not everything can be controlled (nature and the weather, for example). You have to be patient with plants, soil, nature and yourself.
I think when you tend to the garden, you’re tending to yourself. You’re getting fresh air, moving your body, listening to birds, touching soil – all the good stuff we need. Sharing my experiences with life and gardening has been a great way to connect with other people from all backgrounds. I’ve made plenty of friends and many come with a wealth of knowledge that they’re willing to share.
Tell us about your wins and losses in the garden.
Carrots were something I struggled to grow but I’ve finally hacked it. I love growing a mix of food and flowers, I think the two look beautiful when they’re intermingled. Growing anything colourful and bright brings me joy. Pumpkins are a favourite of mine right now.
What’s your favourite gardening hack?
Interplant crops to increase your yields. You can almost always chuck a fast-growing crop in between a longer growing one, little gem lettuces, for example, are great planted between onions, and radishes work well between carrot rows. The fast-growing crops (lettuce, radish) will be ready to harvest by the time the longer-growing crops (onions, carrots) require more space.
What’s the best piece of gardening advice you have?
Recognise the value in your failures as well as your successes; failures often teach us more. Also, remember to care for yourself as you do for your garden.
Keep up to date with Poppy’s latest adventures on her Instagram page.
