Poppy Okotcha

Poppy Okotcha is a horticulturist and regenerative grower on a mission to inspire people to engage with and connect to the natural world. Motivating her 80k Instagram followers to grow and forage their food, Poppy propagates living and eating consciously. She is also an outspoken champion for diversity and inclusion in the field of horticulture and environmentalism. When booked for speaking engagements, Poppy passionately speaks about connecting with nature, growing nutrient-dense food, and adopting a slower healthier lifestyle.

Starting her career as a model in 2014, Poppy led a fast-paced life involving lots of international travel for leading brands such as Vivienne Westwood, Pandora, and Chloe. By 2016, exhausted by that lifestyle, Poppy desired a slower, quieter life away from the catwalk. This is when she developed a passion for gardening and embarked on a new career pathway. She went on to gain experience as a Florist Trainee with Rebel Rebel before joining Hackney Herbal as a Trainee. Seeking to build on her knowledge further, Poppy went on to study with the Royal Horticultural Society, earning a Level 2 Plant Growth, Propagation and Development qualification in 2019.

Moreover, Poppy gained an opportunity to learn from the legendary Martin Crawford, renowned for being the creator of the oldest food forest in England. In the process, she gained a deeper connection with the environment, healthy food, and people. Now a qualified horticulturalists, Poppy’s knowledge of how to grow high-quality, nutrient-dense food has seen her appear on Gardeners World for BBC2 and as a guest on the A Life More Wild podcast. She is also a regular contributor to the Royal Horticultural Society podcast.

Seeking to work in a landscape well established with sustainably run farms and community gardens, Poppy is now located in Devon, where she continues to expand her knowledge further. Founding Poppy Okotcha in 2020, she has become a leading voice in the Slow Living movement, frequently creating inspirational content to encourage people to live a more balanced, healthy life with a better connection to nature. Poppy is now available to hire for speaking engagements where she can discuss her horticultural expertise and expand on her lifestyle in more detail.