Writing with trees
with Jackee Holder
This post contains affiliate links
This episode begins with the dawn, the birds gradually waking in the trees that surround the garden. I realise that, in spite of choosing gardening as a career, trees still occupy a central place in my affections and, courtesy of a reading by Richard Chivers, we spend a few moments in the introduction to Roger Deakin’s Wildwood; A Journey Through Trees.
It was a mutual love for trees that brought me and my guest on this episode of the podcast together, when Jackee Holder got in touch over social media having correctly surmised that I’d appreciate her wonderful writing map ‘Writing With Fabulous Trees’ (she very kindly sent me a copy, you can read more here ). Here we talk about the scope of her work, her writing practice, and her deeply-rooted love of the natural world. It’s a conversation I’d long been looking forward to having and, shot through with Jackee’s gentle humour and wisdom, it didn’t disappoint. I hope you enjoy listening.
Please do continue to share the podcast on social media, and if you’d really like to brighten my day, leave a review on iTunes or your podcast app of choice. Or drop me a note in the comments section below, having listened on the embedded player on this page.
Gardens, weeds and words podcast, S03E03 show notes
A blend of slow radio, gardening advice and conversation, and readings from the best garden and wildlife writing.
These notes may contain affiliate links.
Garden soundtrack
Dawn breaking in the garden
Trees in the landscape
Reading from Wildwood, A Journey Through Trees, by Roger Deakin 2:25
Read by Richard Chivers
Interview with Jackee Holder 4:54
05:13 'Coach and author and cultural creative' – the scope of Jackee's work, and how it came about
7:57 The path to being a cultural creative – Jackee's career choices, and the common thread
8:43 What is a cultural creative?
10:52 Jackee's South London background
11:26 Avoiding restrictive labels
12:49 'Jack of all trades'. Ouch.
14:25 Drawing influences widely
15:49 A deep connection with nature
17:45 Something bigger. The wonder of it all.
19:24 The parks of London
19:54 The loneliness of the long distance runner
21:05 Making friends with trees
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
"I understood at a very early age that in nature, I felt everything I should feel in church but never did." Alice Walker
22:33 Jackee's tamarind tree in Barbados
24:14 Dressing the trees at Christmas in the Carribean
27:54 Tree books. Tree Wisdom by Jacqueline Memory Paterson https://amzn.to/3csqx5Z
32:07 Jackee's connection to to the elder tree
39:35 The trees in Jackee's city garden
41:30 Listening to nature, mindfulness and being in 'receive mode'.
46:59 Solitude
48:33 Joy in the context of 2021. COVID, BLM.
49:26 Unapologetically celebrating nature.
Charlotte Delbo, Auschwitz and After
50:55 Sorrow and joy interwoven
An account of Milton Erickson and the African Violet Lady
https://danielkarim.com/the-african-violet-a-teaching-tale-of-milton-h-erickson/
55:24 "Nature was our first mother" Tina Welling
"Nature is not a place to visit. It is home." Gary Snyder
55:36 Being rooted.
57:46 Trees and writing.
Jackee's writing map "Writing with Fabulous Trees"
59:22 Journal writing (and being a stationery addict!)
101:30 The practice of writing. Using the 'Morning Pages' technique from Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way https://amzn.to/3pErewE
103:00 Making space for mindful practices
104:32 Jackee's mission to connect people with the urban forest
***
Thank you to Jackee Holder for giving up her time to talk to me about her creative plant-inspired practice.
You can find Jackee on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/jackeeholderinspires/ – please note Jackee's Instagram handle has changed since the interview in this episode!
Or on her website: http://www.jackeeholder.com/
Grateful wotnots to Richard Chivers for stepping forward with his usual patient and willing response to my last-minute plea for a reading!
I’m ever appreciative of all my listeners for your continued support and reviews, I really do appreciate them. You can support the podcast by buying its producer a virtual cup of coffee for three quid, at https://ko-fi.com/andrewtimothyOB. Proceeds will go towards equipment, software and the monthly podcast hosting fees.
website: gardensweedsandwords.com
email: gardensweedsandwords@gmail.com
Instagram: instagram.com/AndrewTimothyOB
Twitter: twitter.com/AndrewTimothyOB
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Hello! I’m Andrew, gardener, writer, photographer, and owner of a too-loud laugh, and I’m so pleased you’ve found your way to Gardens, weeds & words. You can read a more in-depth profile of me on the About page, or by clicking this image.
