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BARRY’S FATAL MISTAKE WITH COMPOST
After seeing a photo of Barry Furneaux in the Qualicum Beach newspaper I had to visit him. He had raised a 14 pound cabbage (one of many) and it was featured prominently in the news in late October. So of course I had to visit and find out the secret to Barry’s success. I found out secret #1 – Steve Solomon’s Book (The Intelligent Gardener, New Society Press) and secret #2, his homemade compost. After making a fatal mistake with his compost one year, Barry now makes compost in the fall in a very strategic way following advice from Steve Soloman.
SHARE THE LOVE: A SURPRISE IN THE GREENHOUSE
So I’m in the greenhouse this morning looking at my plants and of course admiring them and smiling and then I see two slugs curled up together. On a leaf. A broccoli leaf. So of course I run for my camera and here is the evidence of slugs at work: mating.
TREE PROBLEM: I FIRST RAN INTO THAT TREE PROBLEM ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO…
“I find this inch and a half big indentation in the trunk of the tree. It brings tears to your eyes.”Arborist Kevin Lee
INTERVIEW – ALL ABOUT TREES
Donna Balzer : Tell me about this tree disaster you keep seeing in Calgary?
GARDENING IS GOOD FOR YOUR SOIL, GOOD FOR YOUR SOUL
What kind of nutrients do falling leaves really have? Are they just drained out empty shells of their former selves? Answers vary.
Some older studies show commercially collected fallen leaves in urban centers contained nasty elements such as lead and cadmium because the tree leaves were swept up by machine along with portions of lead-contaminated soil.
THE BUGS ARE BACK
Dear Donna
To-day we noted a dense infestation of red bugs on one of our ‘pseudo sunflower plants’ – with a ‘pseudo-ant-like’ appearance.
The picture shows the poor growth with the ’enemy’.
Can I Use Leaves in the Veggie Garden?
If you have rich good soil packed with microbes ready to break down shredded leaves then add the leaves right away. The leaves will disappear quickly. If you are not sure if you have a microbe packed soil, then add a small layer (1/4 inch) of high quality worm castings on top of the shredded leaves so you are inoculating your leaves and soil. Worm castings are like pro-biotics for your garden.
