On Wednesday, the first day of summer, I borrowed a packet of shelling peas from the library. I sifted through a box of seeds, picked out the peas, signed my name to the register and pledged to return my loan in, oh, about 5 months time – once I’ve planted and eaten its harvest, and … Continue reading Future-proofing Pemberton, one packet of loaner seeds at a time: Pemberton’s Seed Library launches at the library
The seeds of my favourite winter squash were piling up nicely on a piece of paper towel last fall. I was feeling slightly smug that I remembered to save them from my favourite variety and best formed, biggest, strongest looking fruit. As a novice seed saver I was filled with deep contentment as my involvement … Continue reading ISO Seed Saving Guru. With the launch of the Pemberton Seed Library, Dawn Johnson gives herself (and you) permission to learn as you go
Gardening angst is a whole new experience for me. Since we moved to an acreage, I have been happily harvesting the incredible variety of medicinal plants that inhabit the space. Hawthorn, devil's club, cottonwood, fir, wild geranium - a living, breathing apothecary that I just bumbled into by chance. I can hardly believe my good … Continue reading Confessions of a newbie gardener
In the spring, Stewardship Pemberton Society was invited to a workshop in Vancouver: Finding Common Ground hosted by the Sustainable Food Systems Working Group who aim to get more BC food on more BC plates. Long story short, the B.C. Agri-Food and Seafood Strategic Growth Plan put forward by the Provincial government aims to increase domestic … Continue reading Collaboration (as told by the stars)
When they flew in 800 avocadoes from Mexico for the television commercial, to make sure they had one absolutely perfect fruit, Jenna Dashney knew that the money she was making wasn’t going to make this sit right. “You couldn’t even give them away to the crew afterwards, because they were constantly being fed by a … Continue reading Slow down for your supper – with Jenna Dashney, the Farmers’ Market’s new chef-in-residence
After 3 years of writing weekly articles for the local paper I feel confident in my ability to make a 600 word article out of just about anything. The first step is to sit down and begin typing. A lot can happen in a short amount of time - usually within 15 minutes my interest … Continue reading Handling crop-flops with aplomb
Being the quasi-pseudo-farmer that I like to pretend I am, I’ve been busy the past few weeks pulling diseased plants, planting garlic cloves, raking leaves to use as mulch, sowing cover crops such as hairy vetch and fall rye, fermenting tomato seeds and gathering seed heads to fill my windowsill with little plates of dried … Continue reading Build a Bed for Fall: Layers of Gardening
When Lisa asked if I wanted to contribute a monthly `Green Living for Busy Families` article, my first reaction was oh no, no, not me. I'm a fraud. An imperfect greeny, only slightly green, and I quote: I am sure there are many more parents out there who ride their bikes to work every day (even to Whistler, not … Continue reading Brand New Column: Imperfect Green Living for Busy Families
I am the first to admit that I am really geeky, embarrassingly crazy about vegetable gardening. And I don’t seem to be happy to just leave it at that. I am always looking at different ways to do things….well, or old ways reinvented. So when I saw this book at the library I could not … Continue reading #WellnessReads: Straw Bale Gardens
This May, at the Women’s Institute Plant Sale, I picked up one of Anna Helmer’s marigold starts. I have managed to keep it alive, despite the toddler’s attempts to eat it, deluge-water it, and dig it up. And it is now a monster of blooms and vigour – nothing like the tragic little marigolds one … Continue reading Seasonal Observations: a monster Marigold with seeds worth saving
The Wellness Almanac 