In 2004, Joe Collison and Louise McCall found thousands of plastic pots destined for landfill.
In that moment, The Natural Gardener was a born – a family-run business fighting plastic waste in gardening. Today they’re the UK’s largest importer of coir pots and a champion for sustainable growing.
The Origin Story: From Plastic Waste to Purpose
Joe and Louise were garden lovers frustrated by the industry’s reliance on plastic. “We saw billions of pots going to waste,” says Joe. “It was time for change.”
Their search led to Sri Lanka. There they met widows of the 2004 Tsunami handcrafting pots from coconut husks. “These women turned hardship into craft,” Louise recalls. “We knew we’d found the solution.”
In 2008 The Natural Gardener became the first UK importer of coir pots. No binders. No chemicals. Just natural fibre pots that biodegrade in soil.
The Coir Pot Revolution
Coir pots are pressed coconut husk – a renewable by-product. They last 12 months above ground and break down in 6 weeks when planted. Roots grow through the walls and mean no transplanting shock because you can bury the pot with the plant.
The Natural Gardener’s pots are handmade by that Sri Lankan co-operative. Fair wages support families. “Every pot carries their story,” says Joe.
Impact: Changing the Gardening Landscape
500 million plastic pots go to landfill yearly. The Natural Gardener’s coir alternatives cut that number.
92% of councils don’t recycle pots. Coir needs no recycling – it feeds the soil.
The Natural Gardener is pushing for a “plastic pot tax” like the bag levy that slashed use by 98%.
Since then, The Natural Gardener range has grown from Organic Neem Oil (£16.50) for pests and Compost Plus for microbes to Wildflower Seed Mix for pollinators and handmade Copper Tools. All handmade, organic and with zero-waste.
The Philosophy: Gardening That Gives Back
“We believe in working with nature,” says Louise. “No toxic chemicals. No peat mining. Just cycles that renew.”
The impact?
- Ethical trade – empowering Sri Lankan women
- Carbon-positive – coir captures more CO₂ than plastic uses
- Community – inspiring thousands to ditch plastic
Joe adds: “Gardening should heal the planet. That’s our north star.”
Join the Movement
The Natural Gardener isn’t just a shop. It’s a call to grow greener.
Shop Coir Pots Now – handmade in Sri Lanka, delivered to your door.
Want to learn more about Coir Pots? Read our blog, What is a Coir Pot?
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