I am GardenComm by Emma Biggs

by Emma Biggs

I’m 13 and just joined GardenComm-but I already know all about it. I often tagged along with my dad, Steven Biggs, to see what all the fun was about. I’ve helped prepare for the annual regional meeting for a few years, and attended it for the first time last year! I have met A LOT of people through GardenComm. 

I’ve been gardening for a long time (for someone my age)–and doing garden communications since I was 9. That’s when I did my first book with Dad. A few people asked me to come on their radio shows. Well, not just any people: GardenComm members. Preparing for those interviews taught me how to convey enthusiasm with my voice. Actually, it was a bit scary at first. But not too scary, because these GardenComm friends put their confidence in me (and Dad was beside me, too, of course). They trusted me enough to have me on their shows. Since then, I’ve done radio many times, and now even co-host my own radio show with Dad once a month. 

I recently got my own website and joined Instagram, where I share lots of garden pictures. Two years ago I graduated from giving talks with Dad to giving my own talks. I  speak about unusual crops, tomatoes, and gardening with kids. Last summer I branched out into video. Of course, it was another GardenComm connection: After Dad and I interviewed GardenComm member Jessica Walliser and her son, Ty, he and I decided to start a YouTube channel. I am meeting mentors at GardenComm who are helping me turn what I love into a future. I can share what I love, and inspire my generation to garden. While that is fulfilling in itself, it helps me make money to buy more than my fair share of tomato seeds! Maybe I’ll breed some awesome tomato varieties one day too. My latest focus has been on urban farming and growing microgreens.  

It has been crazy with my new book out. Lots of speaking gigs, articles, radio shows, and in general, overwhelming kindness. All the fantastic people that I’ve met through GardenComm have interviewed me for articles and radio shows, provided me with priceless tips, and shared the word of my book. I know that I have the GardenComm family behind me to push me forward with all my garden communications. I am GardenComm. 

Meet the Author

Emma Biggs raised over 130 tomato varieties in her Toronto garden in 2018—gardening in containers, in straw bales on a driveway, in a neighbour’s yard, in wicking beds under a walnut tree, and on her garage roof. Her garden is the source of many of her stories. Her latest book, Gardening with Emma, helps kids find the fun in gardening (and helps adults remember how much fun gardening is!) This year, Emma will begin blogging about tomatoes for Harrowsmith, a garden and food magazine. Emma is the co-host of The Garage Gardeners Radio Show. She is also a host of kids gardening videos on the From Dirt to Dishes gardening channel on YouTube. Stop by and say hi to Emma at www.emmabiggs.ca, or on Instagram at emmabiggs_grows.