About

I’m Michelle.

Photographer. Nature Lover. Soul searcher.

Welcome to my little world.

Have you ever had an intuition or a prompting to do something, or found yourself at the right place, at the right time? This is how I founded SeedShed, a small, temporary, not-for-profit, helper of nature and community at the end of 2022.

I hit that pivotal point that came to a lot of us during lockdown – the sink or swim moment and I suddenly realised that I valued my health and happiness and potential enough to get more creative. So I gave up my photography studio, I said no to commercial assignments, and I followed my heart into nature.

It’s a magical moment when I look through the viewfinder of my camera and see more than flowers and trees. I recognise the reflective power of photography and allow myself to feel a deeper, intuitive connection to this natural beauty around us.

I didn’t grow up with any particular horticultural background, and I also discovered community gardening during that dreaded time, you know the one, when we were plunged into the covid pandemic, but I saw the seeds of new beginnings taking shape. Although I’ve always loved being outdoors, I realised that here I was discovering the magic of planting in my adult life, and now I know it’s never too late to be involved in this relationship with nature.

So, I explored how I might be able to continue to grow plants on a financially sustainable basis, and made the decision to carry on planting seeds of hope and love, as a group of gardening lovers.

I feel we all need nature, though not everyone knows or recognises how important it is, but nature has been proven again and again to be good for our wellbeing.

Most of us care about choices we make daily and know of the huge environmental challenges we face in Ireland and beyond, from habitat loss and decreasing biodiversity to the threats faced by bees and other pollinators. A wave of awareness is growing worldwide about the need to change our land use and it’s clearly demonstrated by the real enthusiasm for small projects that seem to be making a difference, both to the environment and to our own mental and physical health.

Let’s be a part of that.

Imagine a patchwork of colourful and engaging wildlife that will begin to bloom during early spring time, when everything else might still seem rather dark and cold. And on those days when anxiety for the world grows, rest in the grace of some tiny seeds weaving into the fabric of our daily lives.

ECO ACTIONS

It’s really important to me to support our wildlife in an earth friendly way and to make an impact in any small way I can.

Seeds come from a trusted Irish supplier who grow, harvest and save them here in Ireland.

I choose wildflower varieties that are either native to Ireland or seeds that are beneficial to our pollinators and our wildlife.

I source seed-proof, hand-filled glassine paper seed packets for all our seeds. Glassine paper is 100% plastic-free, fully recyclable and biodegradable. 

I use brown paper tape (instead of plastic parcel tape).

I use acid-free tissue paper.

The envelopes I provide to accompany the postcards or products which I photograph and design are made of 100% recycled and recyclable kraft brown paper.

All cards are beautifully printed on recycled and sustainable papers using plant based inks and my printing suppliers of choice manage five acres of land for biodiversity and use a wind turbine and rainwater harvesting system to operate a planet friendly production process.

When I need to lovingly package deliveries, I use bags which are compostable.

I re-use and re-purpose any materials I have lying around from my past crafting life.

But I’m always working to improve further so if you have any suggestions, please get in touch!