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Seeds I Ordered this year

by Donna Balzer | Feb 6, 2018 | Food, Greenhouse, THE LATEST | 0 Comments

So to be clear I am still growing on the same amount of space but I now know its limitations. My outdoor garden is largely hugelkultur which means there are branches and wood piled on top of my sketchy soil. If I try to grow carrots on this wood pile they end up all gnarled as they try to push through the piles of branches.

Ways & Reasons to Grow Homegrown Potatoes

by Donna Balzer | Feb 6, 2018 | Food, Greenhouse, Soil | 2 Comments

I had breakfast out last weekend and the potatoes were mealy and tasteless. It was a classy restaurant but I realized something important: I have become a potato snob. And now I know for sure we are closer than ever to avoiding bad restaurant breakfasts and dinners because I expect we’ll be eating our own crop of spuds by late May or early June.

Chat About Gardening – Skype Interview

by Donna Balzer | Feb 2, 2018 | Food, In the Media, past appearance | 0 Comments

Another media interview about the Three Year Gardener’s Gratitude Journal. This one is long so put on your headset and carry on with your other work…. that way you don’t have to see my messy office!

Local Media Gives the Three Year Gardener’s Gratitude Journal a Boost!

by Donna Balzer | Jan 30, 2018 | ARTICLES, GARDENING, In the Media | 0 Comments

Qualicum Beach gardener Donna Balzer (seen here) and her daughter, Chelsie Anderson, are the authors of a three-year gardending journal that includes stories, tips and encouragements for gardeners to take notes and learn more from their own garden.

2018 – The Year of the Beet!

by Donna Balzer | Jan 5, 2018 | Food, Soil | 3 Comments

The National Garden Bureau has named the Beet Vegetable of the year for 2018. Are you growing beets this year? Why? Why not? West coast gardeners struggle with this one because it needs at least balanced pH to thrive. Some gardeners find they are brown in the middle and don’t store well. These are both soil problems. Find out more about growing beets here and learn why one new variety isn’t new at all but it is special.

What Are Your Doing in Your Garden Today?

by Donna Balzer | Dec 19, 2017 | Food, Gadgets, Greenhouse | 0 Comments

Since I started tracking how and when I plant my garden I have noticed growing garden awareness. I now know my garden grows about six butternut squash per plant per year and my family only eats one winter squash a month, year-round. So I only need two butternut squash. Have you started tracking your garden hits and misses? It’s time!