To garden is to connect with the natural world around you. From the crumbling of earth in your hands to the buzzing, twittering soundtrack of the birds and the bees, gardening is a constant reminder that humans are just one part of a larger living system.
It is unsurprising, then, that in a world shaped by climate anxiety and ongoing conflict, many people see their gardens as sanctuaries. They are places where gardeners can make a difference through stewardship and care, and where, by nurturing their space, they also nurture themselves.
So it’s disconcerting to walk into many garden centres and find shelves full of plastic tat. Mass-produced and rarely designed to last, (yet made from materials that will last thousands of years), these goods are the horticultural equivalent of fast fashion.
But at least plastic tat is easy to spot. In many ways worse are the highly designed garden goods, with the high price tags and slick marketing, who don’t bother to put any sustainability information on their websites, who get their goods made in China, who use a crafted look and feel to replace actual crafting.
What makes this all more troubling is the lack of real alternatives. For the growing number of people who want to challenge this, there are few options. That’s where Bowerful comes in.
Bowerful has been created to champion beautiful things, made to last, for your garden, by artisans and ethical companies, primarily in Britain, but sometimes further afield when it’s not possible to source them from the UK. Every supplier is carefully considered, and our mantra will never, ever be “pile it high, sell it cheap”.
For that reason, we can’t be a one stop shop. Our focus is on showcasing a few carefully considered objects, sourcing as locally as possible for sustainability, and choosing like-minded suppliers we want to shout about for their ethics and authenticity.
We hope you enjoy browsing our selection of garden lifestyle goods and vintage treasures. We love to hear from our customers, so if our mission resonates with you, or you have a question about the sourcing of any of our products, get in touch at hello@bowerful.com