Ep 139: The Doomsday Garden Kit – Listener Questions Answered (Part 2) Artwork

The Messed Up Gardener

Hello and Welcome to The Messed Up Gardener. This podcast covers all areas of gardening from a beginner, intermediate to advanced level. It covers gardening on any budget, any space, any place. There are no rules when it comes to me, and my gardens and I do it messy. There is nothing more fun than getting your hands dirty and creating that space that gives you joy and abundance. This podcast will give tips, tricks, hacks and methodology’s to make any space work from the tiny indoor garden to the rolling meadows with even a dash of bees and hydroponics thrown in. I have been a horticulturist for as long as I can remember and in the industry since I was 15 so that’s nearly 30 years of hands on gardening experience. I am really looking forward to being on this journey & doing it messy with you.

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The Messed Up Gardener

Ep 139: The Doomsday Garden Kit – Listener Questions Answered (Part 2)

August 24, 2025 • Esther Aitken

Last week’s episode on the Doomsday Garden Kit got a huge response — and my inbox lit up with questions! One of you cheeky listeners asked, “Ok Esther, you’ve told us how to grow the food… but how do we actually cook it, store it, and not lose our minds while doing it?”

Fair point — so today, we’re diving into Part 2.

In this episode, I’ll walk you through:
🌱 Fuel & cooking (because you can’t eat raw kumara forever)
🌱 The garden first-aid kit: aloe, kawakawa, calendula & garlic
🌱 Advanced preservation hacks (fermenting, smoking, solar dehydrating)
🌱 Storage containers that actually keep pests out
🌱 Comfort food for the soul (jam, coffee, chocolate & honey)
🌱 Why barter and community are your true survival currency
🌱 And the mindset shift that makes all the difference

This series isn’t about living in fear. It’s about building confidence, resilience, and joy in knowing you can feed yourself and your family no matter what life throws at you.

✨ Whether you’re prepping for the end of days, or just looking to cut down the grocery bill, these tips will help you thrive — not just survive.

So grab a cuppa, settle in, and let’s get into Part 2 of the Doomsday Garden Kit.

Ready to get more from your garden? Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming mini masterclasses packed with real talk, practical tips, and a little bit of garden messiness and share this episode with a fellow plant lovers!

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· A Step by Step guide on how to create your own DIY self-watering planters

https://stan.store/EstherA/p/create-your-own-diy-self-watering-garden-planters

Don’t forget to grab one of my gardening freebees.

Freebies: Grab the

- "12 Essential Tips for a Thriving Garden: From Planning to Harvest" Practical Tips to Help You Grow a Flourishing Garden

- https://stan.store/EstherA

- Organic gardening Cheat Sheet: Natural methods for chemical free cultivation https://stan.store/EstherA

- Garden Goals Planning Worksheet https://stan.store/EstherA/p/get-my-garden-goals-planning-worksheet-now

Gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget.