By outdoor-nature-child.com In a recent interview with Guardian Australia, Gardening Australia host Sophie Thomson shared insights into her lifelong passion for gardening and the unique tools that accompany her on her journey.
Growing up in the Adelaide Hills, Thomson was surrounded by blossoms, vegetables, and herbs, thanks to her parents, who ran a plant nursery. After an extensive career in television and radio dedicated to gardening, she spent a decade transforming a dry cow paddock into a thriving two-acre garden—an endeavor she chronicled in her book, Sophie’s Patch. Though she has sold that property and feels at peace leaving the garden behind, she admits that she misses the rich soil she lovingly cultivated.
When asked what item she would save from her house in a fire, Thomson immediately cites her seed box. “It holds seeds from vegetables and annual flowers, ranging from popular varieties to rare finds. While I might be able to replace some, others would be difficult to track down,” she explains. “Having these seeds on hand allows me to cultivate abundant crops during summer if I have water and good soil. I’ve worked with fire and flood-affected gardeners who lost their seeds, and I know that my seed box symbolizes hope—a chance to start anew and cultivate life.”
Thomson also highlights her most useful object: an infrared thermometer that she never leaves home without. Initially, she used it to measure surface temperatures in her garden, comparing the heat of sun-soaked soil to that of mulch-covered areas. “Then my fascination grew,” she laughs. “I found myself measuring temperatures of brick walls and even comparing fake turf to real grass, often discovering a shocking 30 to 40 degrees Celsius difference!”
This trusty thermometer has certainly drawn some curious looks at airport security. “I always travel with it in my handbag or basket, but I’ve learned it’s less problematic to check it in when flying interstate—the shape tends to catch security’s attention!”
Reflecting on what she regrets losing most, Thomson can’t help but mention her soil. “After selling my property, many ask if I miss it. Some gardeners deeply root themselves in their creations, while others thrive on the challenge of building gardens from scratch, ready to move on after finishing a project. I enjoyed my garden, but it was my third one, and I still have more big projects ahead of me.”
Although she’s currently renting for a year while her twin daughters complete their final year of school, the soil she nurtured resonates deeply with her. “After twelve years of adding compost and organic material, the soil in our veggie patch not only fed us but also produced extraordinary vegetables—like Australia’s unofficial record-long tromboncino at 1.68 meters!” she exclaims. “Healthy soil contains microbes that even help trigger serotonin release in our brains! While I’m saddened to have ‘lost’ it, I know that when I find my next garden project, I can create that spectacular soil again—grounding me, nourishing our bodies, and feeding our hearts.”
Gardening Australia airs Fridays at 7:30 PM on ABC and is available for streaming on ABC iview.