by Donna Balzer | Aug 19, 2019 | Bugs & Buggers, GARDENING, THE LATEST
I am watching ladybugs eat my aphids and I am patting myself on the back. And then I see it’s a bad version of a good bug. How can that be possible in my all-organic beautiful garden? Yikes. We all know and love lady beetles and children’s rhymes have even been written for them…”Fly away, fly away, fly away home…” But who knew a positive role model, known to eat aphids in our garden, could go bad? Like bunnies in Australia this beetle is snapping up habitat and pushing our own native beetles aside! Luckily, says Ken Fry, this bug is not everywhere. “This species is well established in the coastal areas of B.C., favouring humid environments. It is only rarely found in Alberta (too arid).” Find out more about how you can encourage native predators and why you should stop buying lady beetles for your garden.
by Donna Balzer | Aug 1, 2019 | Food, GARDENING, Greenhouse, THE LATEST
So it is late July and I am returning from a week away and when I come home I am in for a big surprise! The tomatoes in my big 16 x 20 foot greenhouse are literally falling off the plants! And this means one thing….
by Donna Balzer | Oct 10, 2018 | Food, GARDENING, Landscaping Tips, THE LATEST
Last week started with a bang…. literally. My beautiful car crashed and is out of commission. But now it is sunny again, we have a rental car in the driveway and no one is injured. So, I am happy to be back in the garden cleaning up, harvesting and playing in my greenhouse.
by Donna Balzer | Jul 31, 2018 | Food, Gadgets, GARDENING, THE LATEST, VIDEOS
So my grandkids love watermelons. And eating peas. But how do I get them away from their monster trucks and into the greenhouse? I do it with water. All ages love to water and they love to play with the various hoses and sprinklers I have in my greenhouse and garden. I also let them discover the excitement of the treasure hunt when it comes to pulling potatoes.
by Donna Balzer | Jun 26, 2018 | In the Media, THE LATEST
How does it feel to be a winner? I am happy for myself but thrilled for my team at Swag Design Factory: Liz, Barry and Ian. This is an example of them having faith in me and redesigning what I needed instead of what I wanted. Good Job! How did you know?
by Donna Balzer | Mar 12, 2018 | Featured, Soil, THE LATEST
Soil Research shows improving Your Garden Soil by adding organic matter improves the world by reducing climate change. New York Times writer Kendra Pierre-Louis says soil research shows ordinary back yards are more likely to reduce climate change over parks. This isn’t the first time I have heard of gardeners saving the world one back yard at a time….”Terra Pretta: How the World’s Most Fertile Soil Can Help Reverse Climate Change” impressed me last year. Adding Biochar is one way to permanently boost carbon in the soil and take carbon out of the air.
