Karen Liebreich is the Director of the voluntary project Abundance London and Co - Founder of the Chiswick Flower Market – work for which she was award an MBE for services to Horticulture in 2013 .
Her book , ‘ The Family Kitchen Garden ’ , was highly commended survey its release in 2009 , offer actionable inspiration for eatable plants to feed the whole family unit .
I talk to Karen about these projects and how her passion for horticulture start .
Where Did Your Passion For Horticulture Come From?
“ When we were children , there was a semi - violent public garden on the quoin of our route where we used to meet , ” explain Karen . “ One day , the neighbour move his fence forward and claimed it as part of his own garden .
“ My sire removed the fence and then my sidekick and I begin to see after the area . We planted spare plants and looked after the garden .
“ Fifteen yr ago , when the 17th - century walled garden at Chiswick House were go to be developed into a retail outlet , we formed a local group to save them .
“ Before I really knew it , I was campaign a 2 - Accho kitchen garden , welcome hundreds of school nestling and other volunteers . The experience pushed my interest in gardening to an obsessional level ! ”
How Has Gardening Changed Your Outlook On Life?
“ For me , gardening is about seek to produce knockout and blank for nature , ” she tell .
“ If there ’s a day when I ca n’t get out of doors I feel haywire . Gardening for me is all about small acts of noncompliant peach . ”
What Led You To A Career In Horticulture?
“ I ’m not certain you could call it a career , since nearly everything I do in gardening is recreational !
“ In my ‘ real liveliness ’ I have a PhD in story , I ’ve write several non - fiction book ( only one of which , so far , is on gardening ) , I ’ve made TV films and I ’ve created and sold a publication ship’s company .
“ The career in horticulture has been driven by seeing pockets of degradation and litter that should , by right , be small gardens of biodiversity and flowers . ”
Can You Tell Us More About Abundance London?
“ Abundance London is a minuscule organisation with large-hearted heading that take off off harvest gluts of yield in west London , ” Karen part .
“ From there , we set out to create shoal orchards and vegetable gardens , then we start guerrilla horticulture and create residential area art projects which mate beautifully with gardening .
“ We now look after 15 pocket gardens and send word other would - be guerrilla gardeners .
“ Three years ago , with a team of other local resident , we set up the Chiswick Flower Market , a very successful monthly Sunday grocery store that attract thousands of people to the best of gardening , with a special focus on sustainability and locally - grown flowers . ”
Do You Have Any Memorable Moments From Your Work In The Horticultural Industry?
“ When I now look at the beautiful and productive Kitchen Gardens at Chiswick House ( for which I received an MBE ) , I am very proud we managed to save it , ” she read . “ Not many environmental conflict end in such a comforting victory !
“ More of late , a dyad of us created a angry garden on a few cracked tarmac corners that used to be a dumping earth for honest-to-god washing machines and mattress . Now it ’s a lavish beautiful garden hum with insects ; we only weed it double a year and it is arresting .
“ The day we held the first Chiswick Flower Market , just at the end of the lockdown , and thousands of masses came and queued down the road was also memorable . Everyone had a fantastic day .
“ The monger made the most money they had ever made , the visitors die home laden with industrial plant and we went to the pothouse to catch ourselves on the ten o’clock television news ! ”
What Are You Currently Working On?
“ I ’m working on a book to inspire others to depart green their surround and start planting into the chap .
We also have a undertaking to ‘ green ’ the car park where we adjudge the flower market which will involve planting pelting garden and trees – and installing workbench so our high road can become beautiful , green and halcyon . ”
Do You Have Any Advice For Aspiring Horticulturists?
“ You are unlikely to make a fortune , but at least you will know why you are bother , ” says Karen .
“ Creating knockout while supply space for biodiversity and nature is what we should all be doing . ”
