Author Spotlight

Brian Gandy

Say hello to Brian Gandy, another Garden Culture contributor who really knows his stuff. We’re thrilled to feature Brian in our magazine; his technical knowledge is sure to help us all become better growers. We know you’ll appreciate his PAR WARS article in this edition; before you dig in, get to know him a little better here!

What’s your growing motto?

Plants want to grow; this taught me to take a step back and observe more, provide what is needed and keep it simple.

What do you love most about working in the growing industry?

Every day is different. There are always pleasant surprises and things to troubleshoot. The headaches are rewarded by solving problems, and there is a deep satisfaction in that. And the people. Growers are a special breed. Misanthropic to some extent but almost always happy to talk shop and discuss techniques. Most won’t change their minds because we are a stubborn bunch but no matter where you are in the world, there is a common language in gardening.

Do you grow Organic?

I grow food mostly organic. The exception is indoors in the winter, when organic feeds can smell and be a little buggy. There is always an organic element, though. My hemp cultivation outdoors is always exclusively organic because it’s growing medicine. Sun Grown organic is the optimal choice when conditions are available.

Indoor gardening, I lean toward synthetics for control and system optimisation. Depending on where your power comes from (coal, hydro, solar), there is an impact and obligation to get the most out of your garden. Overall, I believe in a hybrid approach still. Organics can do things for quality that full synthetics cannot achieve in my experience.

Every day is different. There are always pleasant surprises and things to troubleshoot.

What is your favourite food?

My favourite food comes from our garden or our local community. I’m a huge fan of all the nuances you get to taste when home gardening: broccoli leaves, cilantro pods, garlic scapes, squash blossoms, arugula flowers, bitter lettuce. Hemp is a staple in our family diet. We eat hemp hearts every day in smoothies and several other staple recipes. Hemp hearts have excellent protein and a perfect balance of Omega’s 3 and 6 for brain development. True brain food.

Where in the world would you like to travel to next?

Southeast Asia has always called to me. The tropics and sub-tropics, and mountain climates are all there and have unique plant and food experiences that I will take in as soon as possible. And Europe. The South of France has had a strong draw for the pastoral agriculture vibe that I’ve always read about. From there to the old-growth forests in Germany, then back down to the Mediterranean for Italy’s wine and arid abundance.

Are you interested in writing for Garden Culture Magazine? We’d love to hear from you! Send us an email introducing yourself with a sample of your work: EDITOR@GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM