A mulch of dry leaves helps protect a perennial border.

Protecting plants from winter damage

You’ll be glad you did when you see healthy plants come back in the spring

Late October/early November is the ideal time to plan on how you are going to protect vulnerable plants from our severe winter. The first step has hopefully already been taken where you have chosen most of your plants that are hardy to your climate zone. Many gardeners, however, like to try a few “challenging” plants

Ethiopian mustard a new biofuel option

Some of those yellow flowers you see blooming in Western Canada this summer might not be canola, but Ethiopian mustard, a new brassica crop intended for biodiesel and bioproducts. Kevin Falk, a research scientist with Agriculture Canada, specializes in breeding Polish canola and Ethiopian mustard, and has been working with them since 1995. He told



New Trade Association Formed For North America Camelina Industry

Thirteen seed companies, processors and researchers of camelina have formed the first trade association focused on camelina production and processing in North America. The North American Camelina Trade Association (NACTA) will work to promote research, production and the development of new markets for camelina. Camelina sativa, also known as gold of pleasure or false flax,


New biofuel sources are in the pipeline

“We’re like the high-tech sector. The research we engage into developing a fuel will likely lead to other new products.” While many are still under development, new sources of raw material for biofuels will take the sting out of any future debates over food-versus-fuel uses for crops, experts say. Earlier this year, environmentalists and poverty