The Helpful Gardeners

"It's part of a cycle of nature"

Today, we're exploring the increase in wildfire activity in our community and how it impacts our gardens. We're talking the life cycle of forests, the causes of wildfires, and the effects of smoke on plants. We even dive into the nutritional implications of smoke on vegetables! Let's better understand the environmental changes and adapting gardening practices during wildfire...

We're talking summer lawn care with our friend Shelley Vance from Scotts Canada! Find out what she thinks about 'No Mow May', and how she tackles cutting the lawn including optimal mowing techniques, proactive maintenance strategies, effective watering methods, and how to manage lawn diseases and pests. Maintain a healthy lawn throughout the summer months with proactive strategies!

Chapters

02:22 Introduction to Summe...

Welcome back to courthouse!

This week, we're diving into "No Mow May", a concept that was popularized during the pandemic encouraging people to refrain from mowing their lawns in May to support pollinators and biodiversity. We'll talk the pros and cons of this initiative, including its impact on lawn health, the ecological implications of traditional lawns, and alternative practices for deeper impact.

Episodes ...

In Canada, the Victoria Day long weekend is typically our green light for planting in the garden! We're talking about different annual plants you can get right now, tips for creating the perfect planter, and a conversation about growing veggies! Weather is still a consideration as we may still see some frosty nights. We'll explore ways to be proactive rather than reactive in the garden this spring.

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It's Mother's Day and while there are lots of ways to celebrate the motherly figures in our lives, afternoon tea is a popular outing this holiday. We dive into the tradition of afternoon tea, its origins, and how it has evolved over time. What country produces the most tea? What are tea connections in Brazil? Can we grow tea in Canada? Does it taste different in other regions? Plus, the discussion takes a personal turn as o...

What's the deal with curb appeal?

We delve into the subjective nature of curb appeal, the balance between personal expression and neighborhood harmony, and the local regulations that govern property aesthetics. What are the benefits of curb appeal and what factors might influence poor curb appeal? Is it your place to judge? Is it your place to reach out?

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Google is a common tool for gardeners to diagnose plant issues which can be helpful especially for those weird questions you feel dumb for uttering out loud, but it can also problematic as some scenarios require a fuller picture to diagnose.

Today, we explore common gardening questions and concerns that gardeners often Google. We're talking about plant odors, noises, and health issues. Is your plant making sounds? Do you have mushr...

The gardeners are on the road this week in downtown Calgary for Earth Week at the Core Shopping Centre! Exploring a fun craft for the kiddos, some fun Earth Day activities across Canada, and 11 low effect ways to celebrate Earth Day at home!

Chapters

00:00 Celebrating Earth Week in Calgary

05:08 Fun Kids Activity

09:59 Community Events for Earth Day

15:00 Creative Earth Day Activities

20:01 Practical Tips for Environmental Awareness

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As the spring growing season gets underway, what can you find growing at your local greenhouse? The gardeners explore iconic spring flowers, the benefits of buying some of your annuals early, climatizing or hardening off, home greenhouses, and effective shopping strategies.

Chapters

02:56 Exploring Iconic Spring Plants

09:00 The Benefits of Early Planting

14:49 Maximizing Growth Potential

17:43 Tips for Plant Care and Maintenance

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Someone was lurking in Brandi's garden this week...

We're explore some of the common critters you may find in your backyard at any time of the day and what they may be interested in. What kind of natural deterrents and preventative measures can you use to creating a balanced ecosystem?

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Thank you so much for supporting our podcast and for making the world a more planty place. Please subs...

We're talking Homeowners Associations (HOAs), exploring their benefits and drawbacks. In this episode we'll touch on some of the common rules imposed by HOAs, the tension between maintaining property values and allowing personal expression, conflict resolution within HOAs, the complexities of neighborhood dynamics, the pros and cons of HOAs, and more.

If you're part of an HOA, we talking about how to engage with your communities and...

We're exploring simple and stylistic ways to incorporate plants into your outdoor and indoor living spaces. We explore inspired approaches to decorating, benefits of thrifting, working with small spaces, and even how to spread plant love to your local community.  

SPECIAL GUEST

Nancy Adie | Simply Styled Inspo

Nancy is the creator behind Simply Styled Inspo.  Following a move from Toronto to Calgary she began her creative jour...

Farmers and homesteaders are the ultimate gardeners. While farmers and homesteaders are working on a grander scale than home gardeners, they’re most likely working through similar challenges like we are as gardeners, just on a grander scale. Take a peek behind the curtain at some of the many ways Hartell Homestead is growing not only for themselves, but for their community.

SPECIAL GUEST

Nick Shipley is the founder of Hartell Ho...