A Day in the Garden with Alexandra MacAlpine
For Alexandra MacAlpine—better known as Xan—gardening isn’t just about plants; it’s about connection. Xan is the founder and creative force behind The Social Herd, a homegrown marketing hub dedicated to supporting rural Australian businesses. Based in the Central West of New South Wales, she draws daily inspiration from life on the farm with her husband, Alex, blending heart, humour, and insight into every campaign she creates.
Xan's days begin early, long before the heat sets in. A morning walk down the laneway, a moment of quiet before the household wakes, and a chance to turn on the sprinklers to nourish the garden beds. Then comes the morning bustle—two little ones under five keeping her on her toes, breakfast, daycare drop-offs, and a return home to steal a few precious moments in the garden.
With her Le Sac toolbelt strapped on, she heads to the veggie patch. This season, it’s overflowing—tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers, rocket, and capsicum, all thriving. She picks tomatoes just before they’re fully ripened, letting them sweeten on the kitchen bench. There’s something deeply satisfying about gathering food she’s grown herself, knowing that it will become a simple yet delicious lunch—fresh tomatoes, basil, olive oil, balsamic, and feta on sourdough.
As the day warms, she retreats inside, balancing work and motherhood. As the founder of The Social Herd, her photography and marketing business, she weaves creativity into her daily routine. Then, as the evening cools, she’s back in the garden, tending to weeds, trimming overgrown plants, and checking on the firepit garden bed—a space she’s nurtured from scratch. Karl Foerster grass sways gently in the breeze, and cicadas hum a familiar song.
For Xan, the garden is forgiving. Life has been busy—welcoming a second baby meant less time tending to it, but still, it flourishes. That’s the beauty of nature. It doesn’t demand perfection; it simply grows.
Want to see more of Xan’s gardening journey? Visit her website or follow her on Instagram and be inspired by her life in full bloom.
Discover the Le Sac tool belt—Xan's go-to for effortless gardening at shoplesac.com
