The Collaborations
The voices featured in Nurture Your Garden are gardeners, educators, artists, and advocates whose insights are gently embedded throughout the book. Quoted or illustrated within its pages, each contributor reflects a different path to cultivating wellness—through the garden, the senses, and the seasons. Their presence adds inspiration and depth to this quiet space for reflection, creativity, and growth.
"Seed is not just the source of life,
it is the very foundation of our being."
Dr. Vandana Shiva
Dr. Vandana Shiva is a renowned environmental activist and physicist known for her pioneering work in sustainable agriculture and seed sovereignty. She founded Navdanya, a movement that promotes biodiversity, organic farming, and the rights of farmers to save and exchange seeds. Her advocacy has challenged corporate control of food systems and genetically modified organisms (GMOs), emphasizing the importance of ecological balance and traditional knowledge. Dr. Shiva’s global influence has earned her numerous awards, including the Right Livelihood Award, often referred to as the "Alternative Nobel Prize."
" For a seed to achieve its greatest expression,
it must come completely undone,
the shell cracks, its insides come out
and everything changes. "
Cynthia Occelli
Cynthia Occelli is an author, speaker, and women’s empowerment advocate known for her deeply personal and transformative work. Rising from adversity as a teen dropout and single mother, she became a self-made success dedicated to helping others reclaim their power and purpose. She is the author of Resurrecting Venus and the host of Second Spring, a podcast that explores personal growth, reinvention, and soulful living. Through her writing, coaching, and storytelling, Occelli inspires women to heal, evolve, and embrace their most authentic lives.
" All it takes is a pot on your stoop to have a positive effect. "
Rebecca McMackin
Rebecca McMackin is an ecologist, horticulturist, and writer dedicated to restoring ecological function in urban landscapes. As the former director of horticulture at Brooklyn Bridge Park, she developed vibrant, biodiverse plantings that support wildlife and climate resilience. Her work integrates science, design, and storytelling to promote sustainable gardening practices in cities. Through public engagement and education, McMackin inspires a deeper understanding of ecology and the role of humans in healing the land.
" Before I started gardening, The Sun was just a sun. "
Camille Dungy
Camille Dungy is an award-winning American poet, essayist, and editor whose work explores the intersections of nature, race, and culture. She is the author of Soil: The Story of a Black Mother's Garden, a powerful blend of memoir, environmental reflection, and social commentary. Through both her writing and teaching at Colorado State University, Dungy invites readers to reimagine the garden as a site of resistance and restoration. Her work has earned fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Erica Rosendahl
Erica Rosendahl is a Swedish gardener, educator, and founder of Skogsbrynets Trädgård, where she nurtures regenerative landscapes rooted in permaculture principles in the north of Sweden. Her work emphasizes biodiversity, ecological balance, and a deep respect for natural processes. Through workshops, consultations, and hands-on teaching, she empowers others to design gardens that are both sustainable and soul-nourishing. Rosendahl’s philosophy centers on cultivating a living connection between the northern people and the land they tend.
Malachai Symonds
Malachi Symonds is a Bermudian agricultural engineer and entrepreneur behind Just A Farmer, a mission-driven brand fostering self-sufficiency and food sovereignty in the community. Educated in Costa Rica, he returned to Bermuda to launch ground-breaking initiatives in sustainable farming and local food accessibility. His work merges agronomy with community empowerment, aiming to lower living costs and deepen connection to the land through homegrown production. Through advocacy and practice, Troy seeks to transform Bermuda’s agricultural systems toward greater resilience and social equity.
Marta Olander
Marta Olander is the passionate Costa Rican farmer of Hideaway Farms in St. David’s, Bermuda, where she cultivates organic, seasonally grown produce for local markets. She’s known for bringing high-quality vegetables—like Bermuda onions and tomatoes—to events such as the Living Green Expo, where she shares her sustainable farming practices and community spirit. Marta’s farm is a model of local resilience, promoting farm-to-fork connections and reducing reliance on imports. Through education and direct sales, she strengthens food security and encourages ecological stewardship across the island.
Charles Dowding
Charles Dowding is a British horticulturist known globally for championing the no-dig method of organic gardening. With decades of experience and numerous books and videos to his name, he shares practical, soil-focused techniques that help gardeners grow abundant, chemical-free crops. Dowding’s approach emphasizes composting, minimal disturbance, and harmony with natural systems. His methods have transformed home gardens and inspired a global shift toward more sustainable growing.
