In this episode I speak with Dougie Elliot from Rock Solid Stone and Landscaping and also Rock Solid Health. Rock Solid Stone and Landscaping is his stonemasonry and landscaping business, while Rock Solid Health is where he's a holistic health coach.
Dougie started out in Castlemaine working for the local council in the botanic gardens, among other areas before working for his dad for 4 years learning stonemasonry, and then moving to Geelong with his wife to start working for himself during Covid.
His holistic health views are quite eye opening for uneducated folks like myself, and while not everyone will agree with everything he says, one thing that can't be argued is that poor diet is the common denominator to many health issues, both mental and physical. And if there is something he says that you don't agree with, I'd encourage you to listen to the whole episode, as he has some great points to make and great bits of advice.
You can follow Dougie on Instagram @_rocksolidhealth and @rocksolidstoneandlandscaping
If you're wanting to sign up to be on the mailing list for The Landscaping School, you can find the link here.
You can follow along with the projects we're currently working on via our Instagram page
@instyle_gardens
@thelandscapingpodcast
You can view each episode on our YouTube channel
Episode 189 - Do you have a specific rock/excavation clause in your quotes?
In this episode I've done another Q and A episode via questions asked on Instagram, purely because I wasn't organised to have a guest for this week!
I answer questions such as:
When is The Landscaping Course going to be released?
Do you have a clause in your quotes for under ground rock, extra fill etc.
Would you buy a mini excavator or mini loader first?
What's your current take on the current state of the landscaping/construction industry?
If you're wanting to sign up to be on the mailing list for The Landscaping School, you can find the link here.
You can follow along with the projects we're currently working on via our Instagram page
@instyle_gardens
@thelandscapingpodcast
You can view each episode on our YouTube channel
Episode 188 - Tammy Huynh - Leaf An Impression
In this episode I speak with Tammy Huyhn from Leaf An Impression. Tammy is a Horticulturist, Writer and also a presenter on Gardening Australia.
She started studying Horticultural Science at Sydney Uni before getting a role working on the Better Homes and Gardens Magazine team.
She was awarded Horticulturist of the year in 2021 by the Australian Institute of Horticulture, and also appeared on an episode of Gardening Australia creating a terrarium and kokedama before eventually being offered a presenting role.
You can follow Tammy on Instagram @leaf_an_impression
You can follow along with the projects we're currently working on via our Instagram page
@instyle_gardens
@thelandscapingpodcast
You can view each episode on our YouTube channel
Episode 187 - Rob Waddell - Waddell Design
In this episode I speak with Rob Waddell from Waddell Design, a landscape design and construction company based in Melbourne, Geelong and Byron Bay.
Rob speaks about the reasons and challenges behind opening up separate arms of this business in different towns.
He's also designed and built 4 show gardens at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show and talks about those experiences and how it changes from when you start, doing it all by yourself, compared to doing one with multiple employees working on it.
Rob is a true entrepreneur and has also created his own App, which isn't quite complete yet, and is also in the process of setting up his business to be able to be franchised, and he talks about the process of both.
You can follow Rob on Instagram @waddell_design @waddell_design_geelong or @gold_coast_landscape_design
You can follow along with the projects we're currently working on via our Instagram page
@instyle_gardens
@thelandscapingpodcast
You can view each episode on our YouTube channel
Episode 186 - Brent Phipps - Byron Bay Ranga
In this episode I speak with Brent Phipps from Byron Bay Ranga, a landscape design, construction and maintenance business located in Byron Bay.
It's an extremely enjoyable chat with Brent, with a great combination of education (Brent has been in business 11 years) and entertainment.
Brent had a great starting point in the industry, work for Mike Cass Creative prior to moving to Byron Bay, and he speaks about how he built relationships within the community which then fed him work when he needed it.
Brent also talks about the value he's found from employing a couple of business mentors/advisors and the need to pay for advice if you're looking to scale your business.
You can follow Brent on Instagram @byronbayranga
You can follow along with the projects we're currently working on via our Instagram page
@instyle_gardens
@thelandscapingpodcast
You can view each episode on our YouTube channel
Episode 185 - Andrew Fisher Tomlin - London College Of Garden Design
In this episode I speak with Andrew Fisher Tomlin from The London College Of Garden Design. Andrew was a co-founder of the College and is an extremely enjoyable person to talk to!
He wasn't sure what he wanted to do when he started in the industry, so tried everything, from horticulture, to design, to construction.
Andrew was the chair for selection of gardens to the Chelsea Fower Show and also was involved in judging for about 8 years.
Andrews shares plenty of advice in this chat, including how two gardens he's done which won best in show at their shows, were also the two lowest budgets. So he believes the creativity is improved on with a low budget.
You can follow Andrew on Instagram @fishertomlin
You can follow along with the projects we're currently working on via our Instagram page
@instyle_gardens
@thelandscapingpodcast
You can view each episode on our YouTube channel
Episode 184 - 2024 MIFGS preview
In this special edition episode, I speak with 26 different people involved in the 2024 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. There's designers, builders, students and an organiser.
The chats were held on the Saturday during construction before the show opens on Wednesday the 20th of March
0:00 Intro
0:52 Grahame Rowe - Challenger Garden with Charlie Albone
4:19 Suzannah Kennett Lister - Wurundjeri Biik Garden with Andrew Laidlaw
8:44 Annika Zetterman - New Nordic Notes with Kajsa Bjorne
13:51 Andrew Hopkins - Hopkins Constructions for Landart Landscapes
19:10 Dan Foreman - Jack of all trades
20:56 Liam Riley - ID Landscaping
25:05 Emmaline Bowman - STEM Landscape Architecture
28:14 Nadia Cole - Platylobium
31:26 Matt James - Atlas Concrete and Landscapes
33:50 Phil Withers - PWLD
37:48 Riley Cooper - Gratus Garden
39:53 Shaun Mann - Bays Edge Landscapes Gratus Garden
43:13 Cam Hainsworth - ABCAM Horticulture - Gratus Garden
45:54 Paul Pritchard - Paul Pritchard Landscapes
48:59 Adam Hompas - Adam Hompas Landscapes
51:12 Paul Smith - Paul Alexander Landscape
54:32 Daniel Althaus - Althaus Landscape Designs
57:56 Eugene Klay - Klaycon Landscape Construction
1:00:55 Craig McLachlan - Smart Landscapes
1:03:58 Sam Collie - Esjay Landscapes
1:08:59 Elissa Astorino - Canadian Student
1:11:58 Trent Cornish - IMG
1:17:01 Sarah McLauchlan - Sarah McLauchlan Gardens for Open Gardens Victoria
1:19:03 Peter Donegan - Peter Donegan Garden Design
1:24:53 Ben French - Yards Landscapes
1:27:02 Nicole Semken - Semken Landscapes
You can follow along with the projects we're currently working on via our Instagram page
@instyle_gardens
@thelandscapingpodcast
You can view each episode on our YouTube channel
Episode 183 - Peter Donegan - MIFGS 2024 Garden Preview
In this episode I speak with Peter Donegan about the story behind his upcoming Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show design.
It's supported by the Defence Force Welfare Association and I loved the story behind it so wanted as many people to hear it as possible.
Doing this episode made me realise it'd be great to hear from as many people as possible from the garden show about their design inspiration, so the next episode of the podcast will be short 5 minute interviews with as many designers/builders as I can get to come on.
You can follow Peter on Instagram @peterdonegan
You can follow along with the projects we're currently working on via our Instagram page
@instyle_gardens
@thelandscapingpodcast
You can view each episode on our YouTube channel
