Gardening

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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By Diana Smith:  During the 20th century, mankind has shamelessly and ignorantly poisoned our planet; and now we are at the tipping point. It is the “green” mentality that the gardeners from every corner of our green earth have chosen as a way to redeem ourselves to Mother Nature, as …

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By Fredrica Syren: Growing potatoes is so much fun, and they taste way better than store bought potatoes. Most people believe you need a huge space to grow them, when, as a matter of fact, potatoes grow very well in pots. This way, you can plant a few pots and …

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By Larraine Roulston : February hosts the seasonal event when children’s Valentine books and boxes of cut-out cards line the store shelves. Most of these cards will include puns or clichés like these: tigers roaring, “You’re Grrrreat”; cuddly kittens meowing, “You’re Just Purrfect for Me”; and squirrelschattering, “I’m Nuts Over You.”  For children and adults who love to utilize paper, scissors, glue, crayons, lace or red wool, it’s …

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By Larraine Roulston: Gardeners, as well as most children, love digging their hands into soil, finding worms and picking nutritious foods grown in backyard gardens. Interest has been growing, particularly in urban areas, in creating nature and vegetable gardens at schools. Recent studies suggest that, in addition to the many …

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By Larraine Roulston: Compost everything? It is indeed possible when referring to anything that was once alive! Organic materials should be composted, rather than landfilled where they are contributors to elevated levels of CO2. Homeowners can divert over 1/3 of what otherwise would be trashed by composting vegetable/fruit peelings, eggshells, nutshells, …

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By Larraine Roulston : Composting involves organisms called decomposers that include bacteria and fungi to break down organics into smaller pieces. The result becomes a rich humus containing moisture, nutrients and minerals for soil. By including “wet greens’’ from your kitchen to provide nitrogen along with a handful of “dry browns’’ from your yard …

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