By Valerie Barr Creatures of the Soil I always think of Denman Island author Des Kennedy’s book Living Things We Love to Hate when I am dealing with the bugs and slugs that damage our garden crops. I also think of the … Continued
By Valerie Barr There is the difference between cool and warm season vegetables. All plants have an environment which they are adapted to or are suitable for. This is why we need to understand our local climate zone (zone 8) … Continued
By Valerie Barr The weather is an important factor in gardening: too cold, too wet, too hot, too dry, and then rain again at the end of the season. Outdoor work was my occupation for decades – I watched the … Continued
By Valerie Barr Vegetable gardens are built in many different styles. There are container gardens, fruit and vegetables grown in hanging baskets, raised beds, raised mounds on the surface of the ground, and in-ground areas with deep soil. On Quadra … Continued
By Valerie Barr Dormant Spraying in a home garden The fruit trees in our orchard have been pruned, and before a rain I managed to spray them, along with the roses and raspberries. It is tricky waiting for weather suitable … Continued
By Valerie Barr It feels like Spring has just arrived. These last few weeks the birds are returning. During the early part of winter we see flocks of Black-capped Chickadees foraging. We know Winter Wrens have been around because they … Continued
By Gisele Uzzell Starting plants from seeds is pretty simple as long as you can give them enough light, heat and moisture. A heated greenhouse is ideal but not too many of us have those. Heating a greenhouse in February … Continued
By Terry Phillips So you’re ready to grow onions, but now you’re wondering what the best thing to start with is: seeds, sets, or starts? Let’s examine each option. Seeds Growing from seed allows you to know your variety and … Continued
A Karen’s Corner Blogette. By Karen Dunn. For those of you using up the last of your pumpkins and squash…lightly roast the seeds for the birds. They should be gently broken up so that the little birds can access the … Continued
By Arzeena Hamir, MSc If rain, sleet, or even snow is keeping you out of your garden but you are itching to get your hands in some soil and see green things growing, now is the perfect time to raise … Continued