Gaz has discovered growing his own food has reconnected him to nature, boosting his health and wellbeing
PHOTOS: JASON INGRAM
Welcome to my series on homegrown harvests and delicious ways to enjoy them. I’m Gaz Oakley, originally a chef from Wales, and now just as much a gardening fanatic as Iam a cook.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a strong calling to food and nature, but it wasn’t until the ripe old age of 28 that I finally found my green fingers and started growing my own produce. At first, this came out of necessity. During the Covid-19 lockdowns, I felt almost trapped living in London and craved nature, my homeland and the rolling Welsh hills. I also felt a bit helpless. I’m very much a control freak – in a productive way, I must add – and, somehow, it dawned on me that I rarely knew where my food was coming from. I’d lost connection with it, eating strawberries in January flown in from the other side of the world. I realised how reliant I was on the food system and that I had to make a change. So I decided to pack up, leave London and move to the Welsh countryside.
Before moving, I had enrolled in the ‘University of YouTube’ and, of course, picked up my fair share of issues of BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine to learn all I could about growing food. was inspired by my new heroes: Charles Dowding, Mothin Ali (My Family Garden), Huw Richards, Ben Vanheems (GrowVeg) and many more.
As soon as Imoved in, my DIY expert dad and I started building raised beds. In March 2021, I sowed my first seeds. My first harvest —typically, radish and lettuce —was the most joyous moment, and just like that I was hooked. Since then, I’ve made it my mission to develop my skills and encourage my audience through food films on YouTube that reap the rewards of reconnecting with nature’s gifts: growing food, harvesting, cooking and preserving. Join me as I grow in my Welsh kitchen garden.
■ Gaz Oakley is a cook, author and gardener from Wales. Originally a trained professional chef, Gaz started sharing his recipes and food films on YouTube and now has an audience of over 2.5 million. @gazoakleychef and @gazoakley
Cut individual leaves from Swiss chard and it will keep producing delicious new growth