Fruits of our labour

Gardening can be a rewarding experience. First we till, preparing the seedbed. We carefully plan, sow the seed and mark the rows. We expect our vegetables to grow where we have planted them. Some years the rain and sunshine come in just the right amounts. When we get too much rain or not enough, it

The passion flower

The passion flower Growing exotic-looking houseplants can be a challenging but very interesting endeavour. No plant is more exotic looking than the passion flower and around Easter time it takes on an increased significance as it has religious symbolism connected to this Christian season. Each bloom consists of a flat base of petals above which


Growing from seed

One of the first flowers to make an appearance in the spring garden is the pansy — and it is one of the last to cease blooming in the fall. Pansies are definitely cool-weather plants, and in fact, they sometimes take a blooming holiday in midsummer during the hottest weather, and that is acceptable because

Local food keeps money in the local economy

What protects a nation’s sovereignty? Is it borders, or the military? Government perhaps? If you ask Winona LaDuke, she would point you to the dinner table. “I don’t think you can say you’re sovereign if you can’t feed yourself,” she said, quoting a fellow Aboriginal activist. The environmentalist, writer, Harvard-educated economist and one-time American vice-presidential



Glossary of garden terms

As we look through those seed catalogues and plan for a new season, here’s a list of terms to brush up on: Acidic soil: has a pH below seven, typical of clay soils. Azaleas, camellias, dogwoods and roses like acidic soils. Alkaline soil: has a pH of seven or higher. Annual plant: lives one year


Sunflower prices remain in narrow range

Flat demand for Canadian sunflower seed, along with tight supplies and reluctant sellers, are keeping western Canadian sunflower bids within a narrow range, according to industry participants. “It’s kind of at a stalemate to a certain degree for prices despite what little sunflower is out there,” said Roger Kissick, sunflower analyst with Linear Grain. Grant

Seed-applied liquid nutrient approved

Staff / A new liquid formulation of a seed-applied nutrient has been cleared by the CFIA for use on wheat, barley, oat and corn. Colorado-based Loveland Products’ seed treatment Awaken ST will be distributed by ag input retailer UAP Canada. Awaken ST’s micronutrient package includes five per cent zinc plus boron, copper, iron, manganese and


Seed-applied liquid nutrient approved for cereal crops

Anew liquid formulation of a seed-applied nutrient has been cleared by the CFIA for use on wheat, barley, oat and corn. Colorado-based Loveland Products’ seed treatment Awaken ST will be distributed by ag input retailer UAP Canada. Awaken ST’s micronutrient package includes five per cent zinc plus boron, copper, iron, manganese and molybdenum, the company

From hand shelling to seed selling

Ten years ago Linda and Ron Catt came up with an unusual strategy for cutting the cost of feed for their cattle. They went into a corn-breeding partnership with Mother Nature. The husband and wife team knew if their small mixed farm north of Treherne was going to survive, they would need to keep feed