Latest Posts

How To Read A Seed Packet For A Thriving Garden

Catherine Sherriffs

Seed starting is an exciting time of year, and for many people, that time has come! With the world of gardening experiencing a massive boom in recent months, there are more newbie growers than ever this year. The best place to start is by choosing the crops you love to eat. If growing flowers, select…

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Getting Back To Our Roots With Local Food Movements

When I was a child, I grew up in rural Ireland, where neighbors would help each other with the harvest, clubbing together for specialized baling equipment to make round silage bales as winter fodder for the cows. To me, the experience was magical, both because I got to be involved in this unusual, neighborly collaboration…
March 3, 2021
Alan Creedon
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Going with the Flow: An Interview with Hydroponics Guru William Texier

William Texier – A Brief History William Texier is a hydroponics innovator and the author of the world-famous book, Hydroponics for Everybody: All About Home Horticulture. Born in Paris, France, he dabbled in hydroponic growing in his 20s, but his experimental work never went far. In 1980, while living in California, he turned his interest…
March 1, 2021
Catherine Sherriffs

From Concrete Jungles To Incredible Green Spaces: Cities Making The Change

While the rise of cities has brought plenty of benefits, the century of industrial growth and expansion of urban sprawl has also had adverse effects on the planet and city dwellers alike, such as the continued destruction and green space reduction. But as we head into the third decade of the 21st Century, some cities…
February 26, 2021
Jesse Singer
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Local Growers Extended: How Porcupine Experimental Forest Farm Makes It Work

When you step onto Porcupine Experimental Forest Farm in Wentworth-North, Quebec, it’s hard to believe it was once a vacant lot of compacted gravel. Surrounded by a forest of green, the property now boasts lush gardens of fruits, vegetables, and spectacular flowers. It is very much alive with the sounds of ducks, chickens, and a…
February 24, 2021
Catherine Sherriffs

Permaculture Projects And The Crucial Art Of Communication

In the real world of permaculture projects, sometimes, things don’t always go according to your plan. That’s ok; gardens, once planted, have a life of their own. The Food Forest A few years ago, a couple of friends and I thought how cool it would be to plant a food forest behind our town’s library…
February 19, 2021
Regan Moran

Plant Care: Garden Tasks You Can Do In The Winter

While some folks can look out their window right now and see their garden, others won’t see theirs for months, as it is currently buried under about 3 feet of snow. Regardless of your situation, there are still a few things you can do in and around your garden in the winter – besides building…
February 17, 2021
Jesse Singer
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Pest Prevention: The Itsy Bitsy Spider Mite

A challenge that comes with growing plants is deterring garden pests, and the list of potential insect diners wishing to feast on the fruits of your labor is a long one. One of the most destructive problems in the garden is the spider mite. What are Spider Mites? Spider mites belong to the arachnid family…
February 15, 2021
Rich Hamilton
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Why Fertilizing Indoor Plants In The Winter Is a Bad Idea

Winter days are for admiring indoor plants and showering them with tender loving care. Although tempting, don’t go overboard with the TLC. When it comes to houseplants, fertilizing in the fall and winter is a big gardening no-no. Why Fertilize? Generally speaking, houseplants are happy if you provide them with their required light and a…
February 12, 2021
Catherine Sherriffs

Gardeners Rush To Order Their Seeds As Demand Skyrockets

Have you ordered your seeds for the upcoming growing season? If not, don’t wait any longer! Much like last spring, many seed companies are experiencing record sales and are warning that customers may not be able to get exactly what they want if they don’t order soon. Early Bird Gets The Worm It might sound…
February 10, 2021
Catherine Sherriffs

A Brief Overview of the History Of Hydroponics

Hydroponics is the process of growing plants without soil and is derived from the words “hydro” (water) and the Greek ponein (to labor, toil) and ponos (labor). While hydroponics has grown in popularity and importance over the last 80 years or so, its origins and some of the modern methods we know today date back…
February 8, 2021
Jesse Singer

Cow Farts and Burps are No Joke: How Some Companies are Curbing Livestock Gas

Companies worldwide are looking at innovative ways to curb the harmful effects gassy cows have on the environment. Between burps and farts, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says livestock creates 14.5% of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. Beef production is a primary culprit, accounting for about 41% of those emissions! One of the…
February 5, 2021
Catherine Sherriffs