About Us - Our Team

Welcome to the core team who lovingly hold and help grow the Mandala Garden project for the benefit of all :

Ute (founder)

I've been a professional gardener for more than 17 years, mainly as a biodynamic market gardener as well as an ornamental gardener. In addition to growing vegetables, I have a passion for making compost, growing fruits and seeds, and co-creating diverse garden spaces.

Life as a gardener started with a two year apprenticeship in market gardening, followed by a 4 year apprenticeship in biodynamic gardening and farming, both in Germany.

My interest in creating and maintaining wild and cultivated natural spaces, and their importance for humans and the ecosystem, led me to study Landscape Management (Land Use) at the University of Greenwich.

After graduating in 2009, with a BSc Hons in Landscape Management (Land Use), I was very keen to get my hands into the soil again! The privilege of working in many different places and settings has given me a broad understanding of a wide variety of growing techniques and business models.

Inspirational Places
Major inspirational places for me are the Holy Isle Project and the Findhorn Foundation in Scotland.

The Holy Isle Project is a Centre for World Peace and Health situated on the West Coast of Scotland. The founder and vision holder of the Holy Isle Project is Lama Yeshe Rinpoche, a Tibetan Buddhist meditation master in the Kagyu tradition. From the outset, Lama Yeshe wished to create an ecologically sustainable environment where individuals could develop and experience inner peace, regardless of their background or spiritual tradition.

I was fortunate to spend four years working as a gardener on Holy Isle. I enjoyed the close relationship between the growing vegetables, herbs and flowers, and then with the kitchen preparing food for the guests. I valued the fact that guests appreciated the working garden as a beautiful, diverse space in which they could meditate, sit, or tend the garden.

The inspiration and pull of the Findhorn Foundation had a very strong influence resulting in me moving to the area. I learnt more about the principles of co–creation with nature and the rich history of the Findhorn Community.

Before settling close to Findhorn Bay, I gardened for 3 years at Waltham Place, a large biodynamic estate near Windsor, England. At Waltham Place, I ran the kitchen garden and orchards. I also honed my skills in biodynamic, naturalistic ornamental gardens designed by Henk Gerritsen, one of the founders of the ‘Dutch Wave’ garden style.


Craig

On receiving a BSc Hons degree in Electronic & Computer Engineering and working as an IT consultant in England for a few years, I responded to a growing call to focus on the healing arts.

A beautiful journey unfolded and brought me to Switzerland, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Kaua'i, and India.

Among the many rich learnings, I practiced Reiki, meditation, sound & massage therapy, growing organic food, raw food living, breathworks, and worked with groups to maximize positive outcomes in caring for each other and the whole of Gaia.

I returned to Findhorn (Scotland) in 2012 and served for 9 years in the Findhorn Foundation.

After co-creating in Cluny kitchen and then in the Guest Department holding Experience Week groups, etc., I'm grateful now to discover ways to tread even lighter on the earth and to help wholesome, regenerative projects like Mandala Garden to flourish for the benefit of all.


Christina

I'm a lover of nature and the magic she shares. A few favourite pastimes include:

  • observing and participating in the spectacular transformation of life,
  • growing nutritious food,
  • talking to and spending time with animals,
  • dancing and connecting with beautiful souls, and
  • walking in the silence of the wilderness, particularly with trees as companions.

Being moved whenever I remember my stunning Mumsie.

Being grateful for my journey, and asking how can I be the best version of myself each and every day.


Co-creating with you

We are also grateful for the much needed support from a circle of friends and volunteers.

Come join a volunteer morning at Mandala Garden. Every Wednesday from March to October.

Contact Ute if you’d like to know more.