All of the living things on earth are referred to as biodiversity, and at a local scale, this includes the plants, animals and insects and microorganisms in your yard. When you take time to watch or look up close, you’ll quickly find that gardens are home to much more than your vegetables. There are easy … Continue reading Gardens for Biodiversity

Most gardeners already know first hand the personal benefits of working in the soil and tending to plants. Alongside reducing stress, getting exercise and being outdoors, gardening provides ample opportunities to connect with and learn about nature. By nurturing a garden, people gain a deeper sense of being capable and strengthen the belief that they … Continue reading Gardens for environmental stewardship

Did you know that pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers can lead to negative environmental effects? When excess chemicals get washed away by rain they can contaminate our rivers and lakes. Also, these chemicals can harm small animals, birds and beneficial insects, like pollinators critical to the success of your garden. You can do your part to … Continue reading Chemical-Free Gardening

Every gardener needs good soil and knows the benefits that compost can bring to their efforts.  Compost is a natural soil amendment that can provide plants with nutrients. It may not meet all of your garden’s nutrient demands, but it’s a good start. Compost can also increase the moisture-holding capacity of your soil. And it … Continue reading Composting for the Health of It

In more ways than one, gardens are cool! Over the past decade, more and more Edmontonians have embraced all things local and fresh. So fresh in fact that Edmonton’s Food and Urban Agriculture Strategy is actually called fresh!  The city has always been home to people who love to garden, and some will boast about … Continue reading Gardens are cool!

What child does not like to get their hands dirty? Gardening is such a perfect way to introduce young children to the natural world, whether your garden is dug into your yard, in a raised bed, or in a small pot on your windowsill. Start by having them select the seeds they want to plant … Continue reading Kinder-Gardening

Ask any local gardener and they will tell you how important water is for success. Water use in Edmonton tends to change with the seasons and we use more in summer for a whole lot of reasons, including to keep our yards looking good. Lawn grass that is stressed by intense heat and drought can … Continue reading Rain Barrels of Gardening Fun

I beg your pardon, did I hear you say rain garden? When we spend so much of the year covered in snow, we look forward to sunshine, not rain. But as the climate changes, Edmonton’s summers will become prone to more intense--albeit infrequent--rain showers. More accurately, we might call these events rainstorms. When rain falls … Continue reading Did I Hear… Rain Garden?

I was pushing my face up against the window, trying to get a better line of sight as torrential rain streamed down the other side of the pane. My home had fallen dead quiet, save for the rolling, black clouds overhead. My daughter took my hand and my husband whispered: “It’s okay. I’m sure it’ll … Continue reading Gardening Guide for the Unqualified