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Why We Garden: On the joy and wonder of growing things, even when we don't have to
In a world of well-stocked supermarkets and florists, why do we garden, even though we don’t have to?
This was the question that fascinated Hannah Moloney. So she went out and asked. She spoke to politicians, artists, community leaders, activists and thousands of ordinary gardeners. This book explores their answers – sometimes surprising, often philosophical, always insightful. Much more than a gardening book, Why We Garden is a joyful, life-affirming exploration of nature, humanity and community. Featuring interviews with Tim Winton, Bruce Pascoe, Laura Tingle, Clare Bowditch, Bob Brown, Costa Georgiadis and many more.
This was the question that fascinated Hannah Moloney. So she went out and asked. She spoke to politicians, artists, community leaders, activists and thousands of ordinary gardeners. This book explores their answers – sometimes surprising, often philosophical, always insightful. Much more than a gardening book, Why We Garden is a joyful, life-affirming exploration of nature, humanity and community. Featuring interviews with Tim Winton, Bruce Pascoe, Laura Tingle, Clare Bowditch, Bob Brown, Costa Georgiadis and many more.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 8, 2026
A wonderfully warm celebration of gardening, as well as reverence and appreciation for nature.
’People and plants. Plants and people. The connections weave back and forth across generations and keep love and memories alive.’
I love how this book is set out and it is such an engaging read.
’People and plants. Plants and people. The connections weave back and forth across generations and keep love and memories alive.’
I love how this book is set out and it is such an engaging read.
July 28, 2026
Hannah Moloney is my favourite presenter on the long-running ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) program Gardening Australia, she of the pink hair, wide smile, boundless enthusiasm and words of practical advice.
In this charming book Hannah asks, ‘why do we garden when we don’t really have to.’ She answers from her heart and the hearts of hundreds of others happy to respond to a survey she put out.
Why do we garden? It turns out we garden for exercise, getting in the dirt, for the joy of talking about compost with other gardeners, for our mental health, as a de-stressor, to grow food to help feed our family, because home grown can taste better, and in the process, we can reduce our need for commercial produce with its attendant packaging, refrigeration and transportation.
Hannah draws from her own experience including gardening on her precipitous block overlooking Hobart, with her pink house, goats and chooks; the accumulated wisdom and practical responses of a range of people from the highest in the land to everyday folk who enjoy plunging a fork into a garden bed. Along the way she notes that gardening crosses all sorts of boundaries: class, status, the generations, even language.
This book is a tonic.
In this charming book Hannah asks, ‘why do we garden when we don’t really have to.’ She answers from her heart and the hearts of hundreds of others happy to respond to a survey she put out.
Why do we garden? It turns out we garden for exercise, getting in the dirt, for the joy of talking about compost with other gardeners, for our mental health, as a de-stressor, to grow food to help feed our family, because home grown can taste better, and in the process, we can reduce our need for commercial produce with its attendant packaging, refrigeration and transportation.
Hannah draws from her own experience including gardening on her precipitous block overlooking Hobart, with her pink house, goats and chooks; the accumulated wisdom and practical responses of a range of people from the highest in the land to everyday folk who enjoy plunging a fork into a garden bed. Along the way she notes that gardening crosses all sorts of boundaries: class, status, the generations, even language.
This book is a tonic.
June 4, 2026
What a warm, wonderful, positive read!
May 2, 2026
This book was a fantastic read. The research, the interviews and how the chapters were put together was remarkable. Well done and you’ve inspired a novice gardener ❤️🍅🌱
August 16, 2026
A good book to dip in and out of when you need inspiration/motivation.
July 14, 2026
Delightful reminder about the value of gardening, not just financially but also in terms of mental health, community building, cultural connection and well being. Many well known Australians contribute their views on what it means to them. I automatically relaxed just reading this book! Food for the soul.
May 29, 2026
This is an amazing book and I would encourage the gardening lovers, the gardening dabblers (me) and gardening curious to read it.
Hannah weaves in interesting stories and anecdotes from her life as well as from the lives of the many people she spoke with. What I love most the book is that it gives you a chance to see the world through Hannah’s eyes. She has a strong sense of purpose and an authentic voice. You gain insight into how she handles challenges and leads a life focussed on her core values. She is what I’d describe as a pragmatic optimist and I think it benefits us to hear from people like her.
I especially enjoyed the section about how her and her husband managed when he faced a long period of rehab for a physical injury. Who knew mosiac creation would be central to it? It is also good to hear about her daughter’s current relationship with gardening and how Hannah views that. The book is a fun read as she has a good sense of humour and can poke fun at herself.
I was initially a bit uncertain about the purpose of the book. I felt gardeners who love gardening may not see the need for a book looking at why gardening is great, and those uninterested in gardening may not be interested in reading a whole book on why they should consider it.
However I was wrong. The book celebrates gardening but it also made me think about nature, joy, community and life more broadly.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I have gifted it and will continue to gift more copies. Also if you ever get the chance to see Hannah do a talk go for it. She’s inspiring, fun, pragmatic and joyful. This is Hannah’s third book and I hope she writes many more.
Hannah weaves in interesting stories and anecdotes from her life as well as from the lives of the many people she spoke with. What I love most the book is that it gives you a chance to see the world through Hannah’s eyes. She has a strong sense of purpose and an authentic voice. You gain insight into how she handles challenges and leads a life focussed on her core values. She is what I’d describe as a pragmatic optimist and I think it benefits us to hear from people like her.
I especially enjoyed the section about how her and her husband managed when he faced a long period of rehab for a physical injury. Who knew mosiac creation would be central to it? It is also good to hear about her daughter’s current relationship with gardening and how Hannah views that. The book is a fun read as she has a good sense of humour and can poke fun at herself.
I was initially a bit uncertain about the purpose of the book. I felt gardeners who love gardening may not see the need for a book looking at why gardening is great, and those uninterested in gardening may not be interested in reading a whole book on why they should consider it.
However I was wrong. The book celebrates gardening but it also made me think about nature, joy, community and life more broadly.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I have gifted it and will continue to gift more copies. Also if you ever get the chance to see Hannah do a talk go for it. She’s inspiring, fun, pragmatic and joyful. This is Hannah’s third book and I hope she writes many more.
August 17, 2026
Loved.
A book to have on my shelf and pop into from time to time.
Favourite section that I revisited several times is Time To Travel.
A book to have on my shelf and pop into from time to time.
Favourite section that I revisited several times is Time To Travel.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews