6.4 Marchelle Farrell: Uprooting
Hello! Welcome series 6 episode 4 of the Prompted by Nature podcast. I’m Helen, your host and today I’m thrilled to release a conversation I had earlier this week With Marchelle Farrell. Long-time listeners of the podcast will remember Marchelle from series 2 episode 10 - a conversation we recorded what feels like a lifetime ago, in November 2020.
Marchelle has a new book out, Uprooting, and it was wonderful to chat up with Marchelle and talk all things gardens and writing.
In this episode, we discuss:
What Marchelle has been up for over the past two years
Her new book, Uprooting, what’s about and how it came to be
The reciprocal nature of the garden
Redefining difficult conversations
The importance of grief and mourning
Non-verbal communication and writing
The creative advice she’d give her younger self
What she’s looking forward to
Uprooting has already won an award in the shape of the Nan Shepherd prize for underrepresented voices in nature writing. I urge you to read this book - it is profound and complex and explores Marchelle’s relationship with her garden as well as how these brings up connections to her beloved Trinidad.
Uprooting is out now in your local bookshop or library - and remember that you can always ask them to order it in if they don’t already stock it. Marchelle is usually to be found on Instagram under the handle @afroliage and on her website www.marchellefarrell.com where you can find upcoming dates of her book tour and speaking events.
Just a little note that the connection was a little sketchy at times but I don’t think it affects meaning.
Episodes that would go well with this one:
2.10a - My Garden, My Teacher - Marchelle Farrell
6.1a - All My Wild Mothers - Victoria Bennett
5.9a Writing in Place - Kathryn Aalto
As always, I’m on instagram @prompted.by.nature or on the website www.promptedbynature.co.uk . You can also sign up for my Substack on www.promptedbynature.substack.com .
Sending you lots of love. Happy listening, and I’ll speak to you soon.
