Lia Leendertz is a horticulturist, food writer, and bestselling author whose work explores the deep connection between people and the natural world.
Born in Bristol, Lia trained in horticulture at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, before moving into journalism at the Royal Horticultural Society's magazine, The Garden. She went on to write a column for the Guardian's weekend magazine for ten years, sharing a page with legendary garden writers Christopher Lloyd and Carol Klein. Her work has also appeared in the Telegraph and across several acclaimed gardening books.
When Lia took on an allotment with her husband, her passion for growing and cooking her own produce flourished. She ran successful pop-up food events in Bristol and authored Petal, Leaf, Seed, a cookery book celebrating the unique delicacies that can only be homegrown.
In 2017, Lia revived the ancient publishing tradition of the almanac for a modern audience. After crowdfunding the first edition, The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2018, the series became a phenomenon. Filled with sunrise and sunset times, moon phases, tides, seasonal recipes, and nature notes, it quickly attracted the support of Jamie Oliver, Nigel Slater, Cerys Matthews, and India Knight. The 2018 and 2019 editions sold over 50,000 copies, and The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2021 debuted as a number one bestseller.
Lia's work taps into a growing desire to reconnect with the rhythms of the seasons and the natural world. Her writing offers practical, beautiful ways to live more attuned to nature, whether through a centuries-old harvest recipe or knowing the exact moment to spot Mars in conjunction with the moon.
