Thoughts and opinions on the life and culture we have and need.
Brown Lacewing is one of the lesser-known but highly-efficacious natural predators. Unlike its cousin - the green lacewing, whose larva are the only predators - Brown Lacewings are predatory at all life stages. In fact, the adults are likely the most voracious life stage. An introduction of brown lacewing into your crop or garden... Continue Reading →
Why I hunt: a Canadian’s perspective I like to hike. However, my version of “hiking” may be different from yours. Living on the West Coast means there are countless hills and mountains everywhere you look. To me, hiking means: to summit that mountain. Or, more specifically, to reach a destination and engage in a challenge... Continue Reading →
It’s mid-October and we are enjoying a long stretch of sun and daytime highs of near 20 celcius - a late “Indian Summer.” I spent part of last Saturday cleaning-out a couple garden beds to prepare for winter plantings. As the long-effort of my summer gardens came to a close I couldn’t help but reflect... Continue Reading →
Late July, I’ve slowed down, and I love it. Time to enjoy what has been done and what is being produced. I’m training tomatoes daily, watering profusely, pulling weeds and eating produce directly from the soil. Let me show you what I have on the go: At the back, tall amaranth is just about to... Continue Reading →
Mans’ Best Friend - Gardens’ awkward acquaintance. I love my dogs. I love them so much that a major factor for leaving an apartment in Vancouver for a house on Vancouver Island was to give our aging-but-still-healthy dogs the freedom they both had, and likely wished to reclaim. That’s me being nice - the other... Continue Reading →
I am happy that I still get regular “hits” on the vermiculture post I created earlier this year. I hope it means that people are searching for ways to help the environment. Because of this frequent attention, I thought it was prudent to provide an update, especially as things have changed! I re-read my vermiculture... Continue Reading →
All this wet weather we’ve had has provided an opportunity for aphids to get a foothold in many local gardens - mine included. I have found black aphids on a sunflower and cabbage aphids on - well - my cabbages. As there is often a mid-summer push of aphids, I thought it was time to... Continue Reading →
Hi all, I came across this flower in my yard and have no idea what it is. It is beautiful and striking! I am hoping that by knowing what it is I can better care for it, or make it spread (or get more). I know there are now plant ID apps one can... Continue Reading →
Work in the yard has slowed down. Deep rooted weeds grow inches a day in these final days of June, but the months of dry weather has slowed the shallow-rooted villains. Today it’s raining, however. All the weeds I left will force themselves into producing seeds in the next few days. It’s time to bust-out... Continue Reading →
