Exploring the world of gardening. Observations, gardens to visit, thoughts on ecology, gardener interviews, and commentary.
Hello. Hi. Is this thing on? I’m experiencing a bit of stage fright, sitting here staring at the screen. It’s been so long since I’ve been here. Not here as in sitting at this computer staring at the screen. I’ve been to that “here” TOO much over the last few months. No I mean here, …
Over the weekend I stuck my head out of my hermit den long enough to notice that winter is coming. All of the signs are there, I’ve just been pretending not to see them. The first and most obvious being that it is cold. We haven’t turned on the heat yet but it’s getting there. …
I’m going to be giving another presentation on Guerrilla Gardening tomorrow at the Style at Home Show as a part of Eco Day. The gardening presentations start at noon. Mine will be at 2pm. Here’s the write-up: Learn about the many ways that people are “greening the city” by planting small gardens in out-of-the-way corners …
Eco-Me specializes in D.I.Y natural cleaning, bath and home products and kits. The idea is a bit unusual: rather than simply selling natural products, they provide the recipes, reusable containers and tools, and essential oils so that you can make your own. Many of us, most especially those that are new to green living are …
I am standing in front of a community garden taking photos when a youngish dude (I am not good at guesstimating age) holding a guitar and a large, open bottle of vodka approaches me. Him: What are you doing? Me: I’m taking pictures of these beans and bean flowers. Him: Why? Me: Because I think …
Homesteading — the kind that involved living in tents and no machinery — was terribly difficult. I’m sure of it. Of course I already knew this, camping merely drove that point home in a new way. Simple tasks take longer, requiring more planning. Who wants tea? Well, first you’ve got to make a fire. This …
Click the image to see full-size. …But just barely. Camping was hard and beautiful and itchy and wonderful all at once. The 4 hours of canoing to our campsite island was probably the hardest part. The wild berry foraging was very good. I gleaned some new bits of knowledge about growing blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries …
We’re going camping! I haven’t been really, truly camping since I was a kid. As a non-driver I’ve never been able to get my feet wet in the world of tent pitching in the wilderness since getting out of the city into the great outdoors is a bit of a jaunt without a car. Sure …
While in Columbus, Ohio I had the good fortune to be given a tour of school gardens courtesy of Susan Weber and Noreen Warnock of Local Matters. Local Matters is an organization seeking to expand fresh food availability and accessibility to residents of Central Ohio. They are involved in a number of initiatives from community …
I ordered a 1/2 pound of red wiggler worms back in May but the sellers have experienced such a boom in orders this year that they were unable to fill my order until July. Encouraging don’t you think? I have kept a vermicomposter many times but haven’t had one recently. We’ve just been composting on …
“What that kind of attitude and approach is saying over and over again is that gardening is not for you; you don’t belong here.” I met up with Teresa Cheng a few weeks ago for lunch at my favourite long-time local eatery, Cafe Bernate for an in-person interview to talk about urban gardening, growing food, …
I will be traveling to Columbus, Ohio next week to be on a panel at the Ohio Floraculture Association’s “Short Course” conference. As a result I have set some time aside to see the city and take in gardening in that area. I am told there is an active community of urban gardeners in Columbus. …