There’s a particular kind of joy that lives in a garden that’s been loved into abundance. In the Naarm (Melbourne) home of Connie Cao, that joy looks like overflowing veggie beds, unexpected blooms and baskets of produce sent home with friends.

Born to parents who migrated from China in 1988, Connie grew up learning how culture travels through food. What began as curiosity slowly became a lifelong fascination. Today, she’s a horticultural educator, writer and proud gardener who believes growing food, sharing knowledge and creating connections can happen, one seed at a time.

In 2024, that belief blossomed into the book Your Asian Veggie Patch – a joyful, practical celebration of the Asian vegetables, herbs and fruits that thrive in backyards all over the world. Connie is also the resident garden columnist for The Design Files and a regular contributor to ABC Organic Gardener Magazine, sharing her knowledge with warmth, clarity and a generous dose of encouragement.

At the heart of Connie’s work is a simple philosophy: start small, give everything a go, embrace imperfection and stay creative. She’s here to prove that gardens can be teachers, culture can be celebrated loudly, and that everyone deserves to feel like they belong – preferably with dirt under their nails and something delicious growing nearby.