Hello, and welcome to The Grow Up.

I’m Lynne Lambourne, the founder of The Grow Up, and I created this space to share one of the greatest joys in my life which is growing food and creating beautiful gardens that are full of life.

You will usually find me outside with my hands in the soil, my face covered in suncream, the odd twig in my hair and two patches of mud on the knees of my well loved vintage Levi’s dungarees. Gardening has always been my happy place, a space where I can slow down, connect with nature and watch something wonderful grow from a tiny seed.

The Grow Up began as a way to help more people discover just how simple and rewarding it can be to grow your own food. Over time my passion has grown into something bigger. I want to help people create productive and beautiful gardens inspired by the traditional potager garden where vegetables, herbs, fruit and flowers grow side by side.

A potager, or kitchen garden, is about more than just food. It is about creating a space that looks wonderful throughout the seasons while also producing delicious seasonal fruit and vegetables for your table. By using companion planting, organic gardening methods and biodiversity friendly planting, we can grow healthy food without pesticides while supporting pollinators, wildlife and the wider ecosystem. But the joy of growing food does not stop at the garden gate.

 

One of the things I love most is cooking outdoors and bringing the harvest straight from the garden to the table. There is something incredibly special about preparing simple food outside, surrounded by the garden you have nurtured, and sharing it with family and friends.

I have to admit the phrase “convenience food” has always bothered me a little. Since when did nourishing our bodies with fresh, homegrown and home cooked food become an inconvenience? For me, the process of growing, harvesting and cooking is one of life’s greatest pleasures. It encourages us to slow down, reconnect with the seasons and spend more
time together around the table.

This is what I hope The Grow Up can inspire. Not just growing food, but enjoying the whole journey from garden to table. Taking the time to cook, gather and share meals in the beautiful spaces we have created. I truly believe gardening is good for us in every possible way.

 

Growing your own food means fresh seasonal produce that has not been sprayed or shipped halfway around the world. It is also incredibly powerful for our mental health and wellbeing. Time outside, hands in the soil and watching things grow can be deeply restorative.

Through The Grow Up I work hard to share that joy. Our bi weekly Kitchen Garden Journal is designed to give you the confidence to get started and keep going, with simple advice on what to sow, plant and harvest, along with recipes from the garden, foraging finds and inspiration for creating a thriving edible garden full of colour, biodiversity and life.

Whether you have a large garden, a small urban plot or just a few pots on a balcony, I hope The Grow Up helps you discover the pleasure of growing your own food and the magic of a garden that feeds both body and soul.

Happy growing,
Lynne