Gardening

By Larraine Roulston: In countries that are still experiencing snow, the only compost issue that will arise is that a composter may fill to the top before spring. If this is occurring, try putting insulation around the unit or obtain a second composter. During the cold season, the composting process slows down; however, once …

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Emma Grace Fairchild: Birds all around the world visit feeders during the harsher winter months and often rely on them for survival. Insects, many birds’ primary source of food, are difficult to find during the winter months. Hanging bird feeders through the autumn and winter months provides an important food …

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By Ann Sander: If you are a fan of flowers but cannot grow some due to extreme weather conditions in your area during winter, worry no more. There are several flowers that bloom in the winter time such as Nemesia, Witch Hazel and Pansy flower. These flowers are known to …

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By Fredrica Syren: It’s been almost a year since our chickens moved into our backyard. We bought four hens from a neighbor — along with a chicken coop he had built. “The girls,” as my husband calls them, are an endless joy for our kids and ourselves. The kids named …

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By Larraine Roulston: Layering fruit/vegetable peelings with dry yard trimmings makes a great soil conditioner to enhance your garden. When soil is healthy, the helpful microbes greatly outnumber the harmful ones and keep them under control. Finished compost not only feeds the good microbes by increasing their numbers and diversity but also eliminates the …

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By Victoria Lim: Going green and organic is no longer considered a fad. As global warming is culminating into a very real problem, more and more people feel the need to help in whatever way they can. Tending to your garden in a more eco-friendly manner may not help on …

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By Kim Robson: Come springtime, I always have a glut of empty mason jars that have been emptied gradually over the fall and winter. They clutter up our gardening shed, clinking around and getting in the way of things. It’s too early in the year to start canning — so …

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By Larraine Roulston: Many farmers and backyard gardeners who enjoy their freshly picked organic harvest can seize the opportunity to share their excess bounty with those less fortunate. As they see it, they are delighted that soup kitchens, food banks and pantries are able to distribute much more than just processed foods. In Canada, …

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By Dawna Matthews It’s difficult to imagine my garden without flitting butterflies and the soft hum of bees. I love to watch them dance amongst the flowers and vegetables, and journey onward then return throughout the day. But bees are disappearing at an alarming rate. Over the last three years, …

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By Larraine Roulston: To celebrate International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW), May 7-13, composting councils are once again spreading the composting message. Established in Canada in1995, ICAW falls annually during the first full week of May. By 2001, the UK Composting Association, the U.S. Composting Council and Canada joined forces. Each year a theme is …

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