A Wilder Way: How Gardens Grow Us
by Poppy Okotcha
Illustrated by Frances Whitfield
This beautiful, inspiring book is a personal memoir of a year in a Devonshire garden. A Wilder Way is a seasonal gardening manual, a homegrown recipe book and a joyful celebration of nature. Seasonal observations and celebrations intertwine with Nigerian Igbo and Celtic folklore. A Wilder Way is a gorgeous combination of poetical and practical, feeding the soul whilst teaching you how to feed the soil, and grow a garden.
A Wilder Way of growing
copyright Poppy Okotcha
In A Wilder Way, Poppy shares how growing things has been transformative for her. Starting in October (the Celtic calendar began with Samhain, at the end of October), the book charts her progress throughout the year, in the garden, and also her emotional journey.
The chapter “October: endings as beginnings” begins with the Igbo creation myth. This is part of Odinala, the Nigerian Igbo belief system which, like Celtic folklore, considers nature to be a teacher. A Wilder Way is a journey of reawakening that connection, and the benefits for us, and the natural world around us.
Month by month “what to do” gardening advice incudes sowing, planting, tending and harvesting skills. Seasonal activities and recipes include ingredients from the plot (celery salt, smashed courgettes) and also foraged from nature (rose hip syrup, elderflower vinegar). As a seasonal food writer, I am always delighted to see others sharing the pleasures of using ingredients at their freshest, and encouraging a new audience to explore the joys of foraging, and making some of their own preserves, herbal teas and healing balms. 
Poppy’s love of nature shines though in the practical gardening parts, and the memoirs: explaining how she came to this garden in Devon, whilst also taking us on a gardening journey throughout the year. It is very accessible, explaining how small joys and simple moments can be magical. The activities and recipes are all homegrown and cheap (or free) to make.
Beautiful original artwork
This theme is illustrated by Frances Whitfield’s wonderful artwork. The beautiful cover would certainly inspire people to pick up the book in a shop.
Inside the book, are her gorgeous black and white illustrations, including this one: an aerial view of Poppy’s garden.
Frances also collaborated with Poppy, illustrating her calendars (see below).
Perfect for all who love nature
One of the things I loved about the book is how it inspires the reader to observe and record their experiences of, and relationship with, the natural world. How to create a connection with nature, a sense of place. You don’t need to be tending your own garden or allotment. You could observe and record your local park, canal-side walk, or a few pots on a windowsill.
A delight to read at any time of the year, A Wilder Way is a perfect book for winter reading and dreaming, cosy on the sofa with a mug of herbal tea.
Winner of the Jane Grigson Trust – Sous Chef Award
for New Food and Drink Writers 2025
‘This is an intimate look at building a true relationship with a garden and all that live in it. Practical, poetic, political -like the best conversations over tea in the garden’ – Alys Fowler
‘Poppy’s fresh-eyed look at her own little corner of the county gave me a renewed sense of wonder and delight at the joys and challenges of loving and (on good days) living off a small patch of land. Plus some truly brilliant ideas for getting the most from it’ – Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
The Revolution Starts at Home
2026 Calendar The Revolution Starts at Home by Poppy, illustrated by Frances, is available to order here.
I’ve had a copy of Poppy and Frances’ 2025 Calendar Being of the Earth on my wall all year, and wrote this review of it last December.
More information
A Wilder Way: how gardens grow us was published in 2025 by Bloomsbury Publishing.
Buy signed copies directly from the author here.
It is for sale here and in other online and high street book stores.
The audio book is narrated by Poppy Okotcha.
Discover more about Poppy and her work on her website and instagram.
Find out more about Frances and her art on her website and instagram.
Reviewing your product, book, event, etc
An expert in the field of sustainable gardening, food and homesteading, I review books, events, hospitality (restaurants, hotels etc), tools and products.
I also judge products and books for awards and magazines. These include Garden Media Guild, Guild of Food Writers, Soil Association BOOM Awards and Grow Your Own Awards at GLEE.
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Full disclosure
I received a review copy of this book. I was not paid to write the review and this is an unbiased review.
Links
Some of the links in this review are affiliate. I may receive a small percentage if you buy using these links, and this helps to pay for the costs of my website. The book is also available on other online shops, directly from the author, and in real life small bookstores. Smaller book stores will be able to order A Wilder Way in for you. This helps to keep local economies thriving.