Stay ConnectedThe Grow Guide is Canada’s #1 gardening podcast co-hosted by rookie grower, Maggie Wysocki and master grower, Dave Hanson. Listen in to honest conversations about seasonal gardening topics, including the trials, tribulations and successes of growing in climates where it can feel…kind of impossible.
Join the community of fellow Grow Guiders in our Facebook group. Have an idea for a guest or upcoming episode topic? Send us an email — thegrowguidepod@gmail.com
Copyright: © The Grow Guide - Dave Hanson & Maggie Wysocki 2017 - 2021
Subscribe to our Patreon to listen to the full-length interview with our guest this month, Chloe Hurst from The Goth Garden https://patreon.com/thegrowguide. Plus find images and links to everything discussed in our episode show notes https://www.thegrowguidepodcast.com/.
Subscribe to our Patreon to listen to our full length September episode, covering all you need to know about seed saving in your garden from removing seeds to cleaning, labelling and storing https://www.patreon.com/thegrowguide. Plus find images and links to everything we've discussed in this episode on our website https://www.thegrowguidepodcast.com/
Subscribe to our Patreon to listen to our full-length August episode, featuring the complete interview with our guest, former provincial apiarist for the Province of Manitoba, Rheal Lafreniere https://www.patreon.com/thegrowguide. Plus find images and links to everything we've discussed on this episode here on our website https://www.thegrowguidepodcast.com/
Subscribe to our Patreon to listen to our full-length July episode, covering in great detail both practical and more big picture tasks you can complete in the garden mid-season to enhance your plants and your experience! Plus find images and links to everything we've discussed on this episode here on our website https://www.thegrowguidepodcast.com/
Subscribe to our Patreon to listen to our full-length episodes with guest interviews and more. This month we interview UK gardening author & journalist, Kim Stoddart about her new book The Climate Change–Resilient Vegetable Garden: How to Grow Food in a Changing Climate. Learn more about our listener call-in, Ursula by visiting Disset Chocolate.
Subscribe to our Patreon to listen to our May full-length episode with two guest interviews, covering the topic of Pride and the paralells between our 2SLGBTQI+ community and the garden. Full episode show notes are available here on our website.
Hi Grow Guiders, we’re back at last and have missed you dearly!
To subscribe to our next full-length episode head over to our new Patreon page linked here. The first 100 subscribers will be sent a free pack of organic seeds.
You can find the full episode show notes with time stamps on topics discussed here on our website
To keep up with Dave and his business, head over to the Sage Garden Greenhouses website linked here.
To keep up with Maggie and her blog, head over to the From Soil to Soul website linked here.
With Maggie's baby due date literally days away, this is the last episode of our official spring season... and we've packed this week's pod full of awesome Earth-honouring gardening info! First up, we get a glimpse under the mulch in Dave and Maggie's gardens after our start-and-stop spring. Then we get to hear about a little season-extending experiment in Maggie's greenhouse and a mini potato planting tutorial from Dave, as part of our favourite things segment. Our listener question of the week addresses timing when it comes to transplanting community-sown seedlings, a topic that a number of people have been asking about. Then, our guest Melanie Mercier from Araucaria Gardening Services shares a deep dive into how she tackles transforming manicured urban lawns into flourishing gardens that are not only gorgeous but specifically designed to host and support the diverse organisms that make up a healthy ecosystem.
Gardening can be a big investment of both time and money, so this week Dave and Maggie brainstorm practical ideas to extend the gardening budget, while also making planting simpler and easier-care. Before the thrift-minded back and forth, your hosts note what they see in their zone 3 gardens now that the snow has melted, Maggie gets real about the imminent arrival of her baby and we learn about when to pull back mulch as Dave and Maggie answer this week’s listener question.
Ever wonder if you could grow grains in your home garden? This week we are joined by certified organic grain farmers Dan and Fran DeRuyck who walk us through the many questions that come up as we contemplate a world full of backyard micro-farms. The conversation takes us to many interesting places, with lessons on cover cropping, the value of regionally adapted seeds and heirlooms, companion planting, the strengths of an organic approach and ultimately the challenge of yields and processing of grains.
For gardeners in northern climates, April is the in-betweener month: not quite time to get into the outdoor dirt, but it feels so close! Our guest today is Alberta-based garden coach Sharon Murphy, who is here to help us take advantage of this final opportunity to plan and prepare for our best gardens yet. Sharon has “chlorophyll” in her blood, having grown up in a family greenhouse business and then later operated a cut flower farm on a tropical island. Needless to say, she is a fearless garden problem solver and here to share a wide range of tips with Grow Guide listeners.
With colder weather hanging on in Manitoba, it feels all the more compelling to dream about the incredible range of edible plants that can be grown across Canada. Our guest, Annette Clarke, from Exotic Fruit Nursery in Lunenberg, Nova Scotia, takes us on a virtual field trip to her farm and greenhouse where we learn about remarkable fruits and how we can grow them in colder zones. Some of the topics covered include Chocolate Vines, Blue Sausage Fruit, Persimmons, Mulberries and Pawpaw!
Spring is officially here and Dave and Maggie are thrilled to be back behind the Grow Guide mics. The show kicks off with some BIG news: Maggie is expecting a baby, due this April! Maggie shares some of the ways her spring arrival will change her 2023 gardening strategies, but there is no holding her back and she is fully embracing the beautiful season ahead. After getting good and caught up, Dave and Maggie spend the second part of the show comparing notes on their seed-starting process, answering a series of questions that bring to life the fundamentals of seed-starting, and then some!
Thank-you to this week's sponsor, HealthiStraw. Browse their extensive list of retail partners in Canada and the U.S. In the final part of this episode, you'll hear guest Curtis Stone share his insights on 3-season gardening, DIY greenhouse builds and more. Find the full episode show notes on our website.
Thank-you to this week's sponsor, HealthiStraw browse their extensive list of retailer partners in Canada & the U.S to find their products nearest you. We're thrilled to have the one and only Curtis Stone on our Fall Finale! Catch part 2 of this interview next week. Find full episode show notes with links to everything discussed on our website.
Thank-you to this week's sponsor, Plant Vitamins. Use code GROWGUIDE for 10% off your purchase at plantvitamins.ca. In this episode, Maggie and Dave welcome on Floriday-based carnivorous plant expert and author, Kenny Coogan to share all about this wonderful, unusual world of houseplants. Find full episode show notes and links to everything discussed on our website.
Thank-you to this week's sponsors, West Coast Seeds and Bonadea Gardens. This week Maggie and Dave welcome on Mary Phillips from the NWF to share her passion about protecting our endangered pollinator species, like the monarch butterflies. There's so much you can do in next year's garden to help out pollinators. Find full episode show notes with links to everything discussed on our website.
Thank-you to this week's sponsor, West Coast Seeds. To enter this week's giveaway for your chance to win a $100 West Coast Seeds gift card, head over to our website and comment on the episode show notes.
Thank-you to this week's sponsor, West Coast Seeds. Today we chat with a returning Canadian guest, Steven Biggs. Steven is a Toronto-based gardening educator, blogger and podcaster who chats with The Grow Guide about the various Mediterranean edibles he grows in his garden. Get inspired to add figs, lemons and olives to your Northern garden next season. Find the full episode show notes with links to everything discussed on our website.
Welcome back to another episode of The Grow Guide Podcast. We’ve reached the mid-way point in our Fall season and have another 5 episodes for you before our Winter break. This week's guest, Lea Coté is a Winnipeg local and the the compost program coordinator at Winnipeg’s Green Action Centre. She joins the pod to chat Winter composting, vermicompost, the bokashi method, counterop composters and more.
Thank-you to today's sponsors HealthiStraw and Sproutbox Garden. Maggie and Dave are back chatting all things garlic today with the one and only, Niki Jabbour. Niki shares her wisdom for garlic growing your own organic hardneck or softneck garlic in any sized garden space. Find links to everything discussed in our episode show notes on our website.
Thank-you to today's sponsor, HealthiStraw. Happy Canadian Thanksgiving to our neighbouring Grow Guiders. Maggie & Dave catch-up on their Fall gardens before welcoming back for a second time the one and only, Joe Lamp'l. Learn about his hands-on tips for protecting your garden during the off season. Find links to everything discussed in our episode show notes on our website.
Thank-you to this week's sponsor, Sproutbox Garden. It's the first Fall episode of October and Maggie & Dave are feeling the spooky vibes. This week's guest, Jess Robison shares practical tips and advice for transforming your yard into a food forest. Learn about about planting fruiting trees this wall, site selection, perennial food planting and more. Find links to everything discussed in our show notes on our website.
Thank-you to this week's sponsor Evolve Organic Fertilizer. We’re back for another Fall-focused episode and Maggie has lots to catch Dave up on. Check out our episode show notes for behind-the-scenes photos of Maggie's From Soil to Soul Harvest Dinner. Homesteader, Kate Schat from Venison for Dinner then joins the show to share her secrets to canning, storing veggies and raising livestock. Find links to everything discussed in our show notes on our website.
Thank-you to this week's sponsor Evolve Organic Fertilizer.
We’re back with our Fall 2022 season of The Grow Guide! We have 10 fantastic episodes coming up for you this season, featuring guests from across Canada & the U.S. In this week’s episode, Maggie and Dave catch-up on their growing seasons with a round of 20 questions and speak with guest, Amy Butler the President of the Flying Zucchini Society in East Vancouver about their fun community event.
Find links to everything discussed in our show notes on our website.
Today Dave hosts Maggie in his 7,000 square foot "experimental" garden space located at Sage Garden Greenhouses in Southern Manitoba. He takes her on a tour of the unique raised beds and containers within his garden. Be sure to check out the episode show notes to see photos of all the plants discussed. And mark your calendars for September when The Grow Guide is officially back with our Fall 2022 season! Full episode show notes with photos and links to everything discussed can be found here on our website www.thegrowguidepodcast.com.
Maggie is over the moon to host Dave (and all of you!) in her garden for the first “minisode” of the Summer. She takes him on a tour of her greenhouse and garden before they sit down to catch up on it all. Be sure to subsribe so you don't miss next month's "minisode" from Dave's garden. Then, mark your calendars for the official launch of our Fall 2022 season coming this September!
Full episode show notes with photos and links to everything discussed on our website: https://www.thegrowguidepodcast.com
It’s our Spring FINALE! Maggie and Dave are buzzing in the studio today as they wrap up the Spring 2022 season. Joining us this week is Epic Gardening founder, Kevin Espiritu, chatting about his various DIY projects that you too can easily build for your garden. Find the full show notes and links to everything discussed on our website. Thank-you to this week's sponsors; House of Anansi Press, HealthiStraw and West Coast Seeds.
It’s apparently rain season here in the Prairies! Maggie and Dave chat about how the unusually wet Spring in Manitoba has delayed the garden by a few weeks, but not to worry — you’re not behind! Take your time getting your plants in the ground. This week, garden blogger of Shifting Roots, Kristen Raney joins the show to chat cut flower farming in a backyard garden. Find the full episode show notes with links to everything discussed on our website. Thank-you to this week's sponsor, Pineridge Hollow.
The busiest time of the gardening season is here and Maggie and Dave are buzzing with excitment. This week's guest, Lourdes Still is a Manitoba-based flower farmer, experimenting with natural dyeing on her farm Masagana Flower Farm. You can find the full episode show notes with links to everything discussed on our website. Thank-you to this week's sponsors, Dirt 'n Grow Evolve Organic Fertilizers and House of Anansi Press.
Another Spring episode of The Grow Guide means another step closer to planting our gardens! This week author and owner of Corn Hill Nursery, Bob Osborne joins the show to chat all about growing apples in Northern climates. Find the full episode show notes and links to everything discussed on our website. Thank you to this week's sponsor, Pineridge Hollow. Subscribe to the email list for your 20% off discount code.
Maggie and Dave enjoy an early morning recording session for today’s intro, catching up over coffee. They chat about this feeling of “rushing” to get into the garden but encourage Grow Guiders to slow down! It’s still too early to plant your entire garden. This week's guest is home economist, Getty Stewart who shares some insight on reducing food costs by growing your own food. Find the full show notes with links to all the resources dicussed in today's episode on our website. Thank-you to this week's sponsors, Cool Springs Press and Evolve Organic Fertilizer.
Dave kicks off today’s episode talking garden PESTS. He talks about the challenge of managing pests as a garden centre owner as well as the mystery behind native ladybug sales. This week's guest, Meg Cowden enlightens us, covering the art of succession planting. Find the full episode show notes with links to resources discussed on our website. Thank-you to this week's sponsors, Pineridge Hollow.
More wild weather in Manitoba leads Maggie and Dave to make predictions for what their average last frost date will be this year in the Southern Manitoba/Winnipeg region. Will it be later than usual? Or just on track? Hear their predictions!This week's guest is Ontario-based farmer from re.Planted Urban Farm, Akosua Asare. She shares the various regenerative farming practices implemented on their 1,400 square foot market garden, growing cut flowers and food. Find the full episode show notes with links to resources discussed on our website. Thank-you to this week's sponsors, Cool Spring Press and Dirt 'n Grow Evolve Organic Fertilizers.
Maggie and Dave get ready to geek out in today’s episode, talking soil science with an agronomist. There’s lots to cover and learn in this episode with guest, Ashley Labrecque, creator of Gardening In Canada. Find the full episode show notes on our website: https://bit.ly/3EpOhnn
This week's episode is sponsored by House of Anansi Press, Canada's leading independent publisher.
The Spring blizzard of the century is about to hit Manitoba. Stay safe, Grow Guiders! Maggie and Dave kick off this episode by sharing some storm prep tips for the garden. Then they welcome on local pepper expert, Tyrell Benton to share his tips and advice on growing great hot and bell peppers in short season gardens.
Find the full episode show notes on our website with direct links to all products and resources discussed in this episode:
This week's episode is sponsored by Cool Springs Press, a leading publisher in step-by-step, do-it-yourself books for both DIY gardening and home improvement.
Maggie and Dave jump into this week’s episode by answering a few questions to help you get to know your hosts better. They share how they first got involved in gardening and how The Grow Guide started. Then they welcome on fellow podcast host, Maria Failla from Bloom & Grow Radio podcast. She chats all things houseplants and shares her intuitive approach to gardening.
Find full episode show notes with links to everything discussed on our website: https://bit.ly/3J9iSWT
This week's episode is sponsored by Pineridge Hollow. Grow Guide listeners can get 20% off their first order when you sign-up by email.
Maggie and Dave are back in their old studio this week after months (years?) of recording remote due to pandemic restrictions. It feels good to be back together in person! They welcome on Manitoba-based entrepreneur, Jan Regehr, owner and founder of Pineridge Hollow and Oak Knoll Farms, as this week's guest.
Find full episode show notes with links to everything discussed on our website: https://bit.ly/35lhByf
Thank-you to this week's sponsor, Dirt 'n Grow Evolve Organic Fertilizers. Grow Guide listeners can get free shipping on orders over $75 within Canada.
Welcome back, Grow Guiders! We’re thrilled to be back for our Spring 2022 season just in time for the warmer weather. Maggie and Dave reunite after a long (but much needed!) Winter break. There’s so much to catch up on as the seed starting season gets underway.
Find the full episode show notes on our website with direct links to all products and resources discussed in this episode: https://www.thegrowguidepodcast.com/past-episodes/2022/episode-126
This week's episode is sponsored by Pineridge Hollow. Grow Guide listeners can get 20% off their first order when you sign-up by email.
The holiday season is in full swing and Maggie and Dave are in the spirit! This episode they look back on 21 of their fav gardening “things” of 2021 including flowers, herbs, edibles, tools, fertilizers, tips, insects and more. This is the last episode of 2021! We’ll be taking a Winter break to slow down and relax. You’ll hear from us with brand new episodes again in February 2022. Find the full episode show notes on our website https://www.thegrowguidepodcast.com
Maggie and Dave are buzzing with excitement and good energy this week as they catch up about the cold winter weather and spending time in their greenhouses. They welcome on co-founders of Gardenologie Master Classes - Luay Ghafari (from Urban Farm & Kitchen) and Melissa Cameron (from The Good Seed). The duo share about their Seed to Plate Master Class that you can join in 2022. Find the full episode show notes with links to everything discussed on our website www.thegrowguidepodcast.com.
Welcome back to The Grow Guide! This week's episode is full of soul as Maggie and Dave sit down with co-founder of Fruition Seeds, Petra Page-Mann. Tune in to hear a meaningful conversation covering the deeper meaning of seed breeding, changing the world through our gardens and adapting seeds for Northern growers. Find the full show notes on our website and links to everything discussed in this episode https://www.thegrowguidepodcast.com
The Grow Guide is proud to welcome our first ever vet to the show, Dr.Ingrid Sproll from Winrose Animal Hospital! Dr.Sproll enlightens us about the dos and donts of keeping houseplants if you have pets in your home. You will definitely learn plenty of new information in this episode. Plus, Dr.Sproll even demystifies the theory that poinsettias are poisonous for animals. Find the full show notes here on our website.
This week, Maggie and Dave catch up after a few weeks apart. Maggie shares about her epic East Coast road trip she took in October. Dave catches Grow Guiders up on what’s going on at Sage Garden Greenhouses. This episode covers some of those basic gardening fundamentals that are key to follow during the winter months, like how often to water, light levels required for houseplants and growing food indoors. Find the full show notes with links to everything discussed here on our website.
Today on the show, Maggie and Dave sit down to share what is going to be hot and popular in the upcoming 2022 gardening season based on what the “trend-setters,” gardening reports, the big nurseries and media are saying. They cover the boom in cut flowers, what unusual plants will be big next year, gardening hacks, the new found popularity in plants that grow underwater, and more, much more! Find links to everything discussed and photos to Maggie and Dave's fav things in our episode show notes here on our website https://bit.ly/3wPQRPw.
We're answering YOUR questions today, covering all things Fall gardening. Every once in awhile we like to showcase what our listeners have to say. Tune in to hear from fellow Grow Guiders!
How we garden, why we garden, and what we mean when we garden are all questions we explore deeper in today's episode with the podcast host of Cultivating Place, Jennifer Jewell. Join us as we talk about the unique relationships gardeners have with their gardens and more on Jennifer's podcast that explores natural history and the human impulse to garden. Find the full show notes with links to everything discussed on our website https://www.thegrowguidepodcast.com
If you thought Fall meant gardening season is over, think again! Now is the time to start purchasing and planning where to plant your Spring flowering bulbs. Dave walks Maggie (and you!) through the step-by-step instructions for successfully planting bulbs in your garden this Fall and having them survive the cold of Winter. Find the full show notes with links to everything discussed on our website https://www.thegrowguidepodcast.com.
Have you ever grown food using a hydroponic system? You'll want to after you hear from this week's enthusiastic guest! American horticulturalist, YouTuber and author, Tyler Baras (Farmer Tyler) joins us to share ideas for DIY hydroponic systems you can build throughout your home. Transform your kitchen, living room and even bathroom (!!) into a functional and beautiful hydroponic design. Find the full show notes with links and photos to everything discussed today on our website thegrowguidepodcast.com.
We have so much great Fall content to share with you today. Maggie's excited about her upcoming October trip to Canada's East Coast. Dave has finally jumped on the Fall bandwagon and is loving the warm weather in Southern Manitoba. They share about some of the things they're doing in the kitchen with their garden harvests — zucchini relish, vegan stews and fritters! Then we throwback to three great past episodes. Hear about the differences between growing various curcubits, some wisdom from local mushroom expert, Tom Nagy and advice from Toronto-author, Steven Biggs on knowing what garden plants can be transitioned indoors for the Winter.
Find the full episode show notes with links to all the resources discussed on our website https://www.thegrowguidepodcast.com/
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Find the full episode show notes on our website! http://www.thegrowguidepodcast.com/
Find the show notes HERE: http://www.thegrowguidepodcast.com/past-episodes/direct-sowing-hardy-plants-for-spring
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Find the Show Notes HERE: http://www.thegrowguidepodcast.com/past-episodes/the-best-gardening-and-plant-resources-of-2021
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Find the Show Notes HERE: http://www.thegrowguidepodcast.com/past-episodes/making-houseplants-accessible-riel-linch-jannica-reyes
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Connect on IG: @thegrowguidepod
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In honour of Black History Month, this week's episode of The Grow Guide is focused on black culture. We're honoured to have Colah B. Tawkin, host and founder of the podcast, Black in the Garden, join us to shed some light on why biodiversity in media is just as important as it is in nature (interview begins at 00:18:30). Colah challenges us to think outside of the white narrative gardening media often presents. We discuss her background as a gardener, the lack of representation and diversity in gardening, and some of the amazing guests she's had on her podcast. In a very fun round of Rapid Fire, Colah recommends her favourite black-owned gardening brands, influencers and podcasts. See all Colah's recommendations and resources mentioned throughout the show linked below.
Colah's Recommendations:
Civil Rights Leader Fanny Lou Hamer
The Plant Kiki - Colah's Other Podcast
Plant Expert: Derek, The Chocolate Botanist
Instagram Follows: Christopher @plantkween and Niyya @thebloomjourney
Hemp Farmer: Green Heffa Farms, Farmer Cee
Black-Owned Seed Company: Seed Mail Seed Co
BIPOC-Hosted Gardening Podcast: The Plant Nook and Black Plant Chick
Support Black in the Garden on Patreon
Maggie's Fav Thing: Seedling Heat Mat
Dave's Fav Thing: Poppy Seeds
Maggie and Dave catch up this week while surviving the Polar Vortex of 2021 with temperatures in Manitoba dropping to -45°C! Despite the frigid temps, things feel warm and cozy on the pod. Maggie shares about the lesson her dieffenbachia (dumbcane plant) has taught her after happily living in water for the past three years. Dave's favorite thing is something he's looking forward to growing this Spring, Gai Lan Broccoli. A listener question about the basics of seed starting sparks a conversation about soil selection, seeding and planting out dates. And in this week's segment of Plant Science Minute (or two!), Dave covers the process of apaical dominance and why pruning your plants supports new growth. Then, American author and horticulturalist, Jessica Walliser joins the pod (interview begins at 00:24:30) to break down the science behind companion planting. Jessica shares some of the research found while writing her new book, Plant Partners: Science-Based Companion Planting Strategies for the Vegetable Garden.
Find Jessica's book anywhere books are sold, contact your local book store to purchase a copy.
Learn more about our guest, Jessica Walliser
The Farmer's Almanac Find Your Zone App (Maggie references during Question of the Week).
Dieffenbachia Plant Care 101 YouTube video by Planterina.
Hello, hello, hello - welcome back to The Grow Guide! In this episode, Maggie and Dave cover all things seeds, starting with a new segment called Plant Science Minute that digs into the science of seed germination. Then Dave walks us through what's going on with seed suppliers in 2021 and why it might be tricky for you to get your hands on the seeds you want. We cover why there's such a large demand and small supply, alternative ways to secure seeds, and what is "hot" this year that you should order right away.
Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
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We're celebrating our 100th episode in the only way we know how, talking about plants! Thank you for all the support over the years, we're so proud of what The Grow Guide has become and ready to bring you more great content in 2021. We kick off today's episode with a walk down memory lane, remembering some of our fav moments (episodes discussed linked below). Maggie and Dave then share their fav things before getting into a review of Niki Jabbour's newest book, Growing Under Cover; Techniques for a more productive, weather-resistant, pest-free vegetable garden. In the second half of the show, listeners Katie, Xander and Vanessa join the pod, sharing about their unique grow zones, upcoming gardening plans, and some of their own gardening advice. Cheers to another 100 episodes!
Past Episodes We Talk About:
Composting Organizations Xander Discusses:
Giveaway:
Social:
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Happy Holidays, Grow Guiders (this episode was pre-recorded prior to Christmas)! Maggie and Dave catch up before the Christmas break to chat about their fav things - Maggie shares about caring for Poinsettias long-term and Dave shares about a gothic-style houseplant. Then they're joined by a returning guest, Jane Perrone who tells us all about the houseplant trends and craze that happened in 2020. Jane shares her suggestions on how to source houseplants sustainably and responsibly, and also lets us in on who "sets the trends" for the top houseplants each year, including what she predicts will be the big must-have plants for 2021.
Listen to our last episode with Jane Perrone
Listen back to our 2017 Holiday episode!
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Editor's Note: This week's episode has audio issue due to remote recording, we apologize in advance.
Maggie and Dave are joined by a returning guest this week, Zach Loeks. Zach, as always, is full of knowledge and shares his unique perspective on biodiversity. He covers finding opportunity in everyday landscapes and reconsidering how we organize our garden spaces. Zach reminds us that an edible ecosystem builds potential.
Buy Zach's newest book The Edible Ecosystem Solution!
Maggie's Fav Thing: Sage Garden 2020 Seed Clearance
Canadian Seed Providers to Support!
Dave's Fav Thing: Juniper Ridge Wild Harvested Incense
On this week's episode, Maggie and Dave are joined by Zone 4b American grower, Meg Cowden, the blogger behind Seed to Fork. Meg shares about her inspiring approach to gardening and how to embrace a mindset that positions cold climate gardening as a strength. Topics covered in this episode: growing nuts, prepping the garden for Fall, soil blocks for seed starting, peat moss, grow lights, seedling care, using row covers, frost hardy plants, root cellars, cover crops, seed providers for cold climates, and unusual edibles that "zone push."
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Dave and Maggie are back in studio and excited to chat about garlic, the frost tolerance of figs, a beautiful little book that was shared with them and send a shoutout to a listener with amazing cold-climate grapes. Indoor baby greens are the feature topic for this episode and your hosts take a deep dive on everything you need to know about setting up your own organic grow space.
For more info on growing your own garlic check out our full "Garlic" episode, here
Connect with Maggie @fromsoiltosoul
Connect with Dave @sagegardenherbs
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Join the Grow Guide Facebook community, here
Award winning author and gardening educator Steven Biggs is our guest this week, here to help make the transition smoother for any plants that are coming inside for winter. Dave also takes on a listener question about growing peppers indoors and shares a "spritzy" plant of the week!
Episode links:
Dave and Maggie are trilled to welcome award-winning author Niki Jabbour back to the show. Niki shares a ton of practical and insightful tips on how to keep your summer garden flourishing, navigating slugs, zucchini issues, powdery mildew hacks, tomato tantrums and more during our recent chat. Niki also becomes our first guest ever to join in on our "favourite thing of the week"!
Show Links:
Niki Jabbour on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikijabbour
Savvy Gardening: https://savvygardening.com/author/niki-jabbour/
The Grow Guide Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
Find Maggie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul
Find Dave on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs
Maggie and Dave are back and they've missed you, Grow Guiders! It's been a few weeks since the last episode and Maggie and Dave have been spending the last few weeks enjoying their own gardens and managing COVID safely. But today we're back to chat about protecting our gardens from the extreme heat of summer that tends to hit gardeners hard at this time of year. Maggie and Dave cover how-to plant, maintain and harvest in hot weather, common plant diseases caused by heat, some great mulch options to help you water less often and heat-loving plants that you can still add to the garden now!
Maggie's Fav Thing: Gardman Reusable Grow Bags
Dave's Fav Thing: Kangaroo Paw Plant
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This week's episode covers a variety of grow topics! Dave and Maggie and back together (remotely!) and start off by catching-up on what's new in their gardening lives. Dave shares about the changes he's had to make at the garden centre due to COVID and sheds some light on how this pandemic has changed the seed industry. Maggie shares how she's been taking advantage of this down time and getting seeds in the garden earlier than ever before. The co-hosts answer TWO listener questions on utilizing wood chips from a diseased tree for garden mulch, and avoiding growing mold and algae on indoor seedlings. Then, Toronto-based grower, Luay from Urban Farm & Kitchen joins the pod to talk rain gutter gardening, raised beds and poly tunnels.
Connect with Our Guest, Luay from Urban Farm & Kitchen!
Maggie's Fav Thing: Waste Not Farms Soil Booster
Dave's Fav Thing: Yacon
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This week Maggie takes on the pod alone! She shares the behind the scenes of what's been going on in her gardening life over these last few weeks. A great listener question on blossom end rot brings up a discussion around using eggshells as a soil amendment and Maggie shares a few other options for organic fertilizers to feed your tomatoes with. This week's theme is all about online learning. Hear from Kris Antonius from DIY Homesteader Festival as she shares about their newest product — Rooted in Community Online Gatherings.
Learn more about Rooted in Community!
Gardening Blogs We Mention in this Episode:
Maggie's Fav Thing: Growing Seasame Seeds
Kris' Fav Thing: The Week by Week Vegetable Gardener's Handbook
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Hello Grow Guiders, this episode is coming to you right in time for Spring weather! Dave and Maggie are connecting remotely this week from their homes to practice social distancing. They catch up on what's going on in their gardening lives and Dave shares about the impact COVID has had on the greenhouse. To help support small businesses, The Grow Guide is offering all listeners 15% off your online seed purchase at sagegarden.ca. Tune in to catch the promo code! This episode covers off three great listener questions on growing basil, onions and asparagus. Then the topic this week walks through every step to consider when planning this season's edible garden.
Other great, past episodes we mention:
Maggie's Fav Thing: Garden Huckleberry
Dave's Fav Thing: Achoca Cucumber
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Our good friend and savvy seed starter Kelly Leask from Prairie Originals Nursery joins us on the pod to talk about the more nuanced requirements for starting winter hardy plants from seed. But of course first we have some fun catching up to do, favourite things to share and a squirmer of a question all about worms!
Hello Grow Guiders! We've missed you and wanted to say hello with this surprise episode. Season 3 isn't here just yet, but stay tuned for more surprise content over the next few months! Today we catch up on some fun upcoming events we're hosting, like the FREE "potpourri" workshops at Tokyo Smoke (at stores across Canada!) and the Saturday morning Gardening Club workshops at Sage Garden Greenhouses (also free!). Maggie & Dave share 5 fun plant/gardening projects you can start right now even in the middle of winter!
Maggie's Fav Thing: Terrafibre Hemp Mats
Dave's Fav Thing: Roasting Coffee Beans
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Happy Holidays, Grow Guiders! Tis' the season for festivities and for Maggie and Dave to go on their annual podcasting break for the next few weeks. But stay tuned for updates! Check social, Patreon and the Facebook community group for updates. This week, we throw back to a few top moments from 2019. See you all in 2020.
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Organic seeds are the topic of today's episode — one of both Maggie and Dave's favourite things to chat about! Paul Feenan, a Sales Representative with High Mowing Organic Seeds, joins the pod to share about the history of the Vermont-based company and some of his favourite varieties available for 2020. Before the interview, Maggie shares another book club recommendation and Dave shares about an all-natural, Manitoba-made product.
Maggie's Favourite Thing: High Impact Low Care Garden Plants
Dave's Favourite Thing: Sap N' Salvy Healing Balm
Get Your Free High Mowing Catalogue Here!
Shop the Seed Varieties Paul Recommends:
This week is dedicated to the birds! Yes, chickens dominate as Maggie shares ten essential tips she has put into to practice raising chickens in her zone 3 backyard, full of extremes. But before getting to the coop, Dave takes his favourite thing segment in an unexpected direction and Maggie gets into the holiday spirit with her nature-inspired seasonal traditions. Meanwhile a listener reaches out with a pest query that requires some careful attention, in the question of the week.
Shout-outs from this week's episode:
Alberta Chickens ETC Facebook Group
Dave & Maggie's Favourite Things:
Maggie's Favourite Thing: Red Dogwood
Dave's Favourite Thing: Well, this week it's his 'unfavourite!"
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This week Dave and Maggie have a surprise guest in-studio, get giddy over gardening catalog season and inhale deep on the aromas of Dave's favourite plant! A listener asks about fungus gnats and the Grow Guide Facebook community helps answer the question of the week. Then Dave and Maggie dive deep into permaculture with author, educator and life-long grower Zach Loeks who shares a variety of accessible strategies for increasing satisfaction and harmony from your gardening efforts.
Maggie's Favourite Thing: Gardening catalog season!
Dave's Favourite Thing: Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)
Connect with Zach Loeks
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A new year is right around the corner and Maggie and Dave have tons of exciting announcements to end off 2019, including the opportunity for listeners to join the November Seed Club as well as get their hands on some new Grow Guide merch. Dave shares his "garden geek" news about rosemary officially being classified as a a sage. Maggie shares about the enjoyment she's getting from sprouting seeds indoors for both herself and the chickens. Then Steven Biggs joins the show to talk all about figs — from bringing them indoors, overwintering outside, fertilizing and selecting the right variety for your grow zone.
Maggie's Favourite Thing: Mumm's Sprouting Seeds
Dave's Favourite Thing: The Apartment Farmer
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Unusually warm temperatures in southern-Manitoba have inspired Maggie and Dave to switch things up in this week's episode. They start by shouting out a whole crew of awesome listeners. Then it's the first ever Grow Guide book club review followed by a throwback to three older episodes. Hear snippets from Season 1 content on hardy trees & shrubs, grow lights and succulents.
Maggie's Favourite Thing: Observer's Notes: Trees
Dave's Favourite Thing: Starfruit
Book Review: Three Year Gardener's Gratitude Journal
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Dave is back in action this week and the co-hosts have reunited again to talk houseplants! With the colder weather outside, it's common to see your houseplants react by either dropping leaves, browning or stopping growth. This episode provides solutions to these common issues and more. Plus, for Dave's favourite thing this week, he shares about a concept for growing peach trees in cold climates. Maggie shares about her Cuban oregano plant that is resilient even with lower light temps in these cooler months.
Maggie's Favourite Thing: Cuban Oregano
Dave's Favourite Thing: Siberian Peach Tree Method
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This week things are a little different on The Grow Guide. Filling in for Dave while he's out of studio is the wonderful Will Bergmann a.k.a. WTF (Will the Farmer) a.k.a. 'The Modern Farmer.' Will brings his own spin to the podcast, sharing about his unique farm where his family grows both conventional crops and an organic CSA market garden. Will gets REAL talking about the common misconceptions the general public has when it comes to conventional farming, why GMO isn't necessarily a bad thing and how you can get to know the people who are growing your food.
Maggie's Favourite Thing: Bogs Boots
Will's Favourite Thing: Opinel Knives
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Connect with Maggie @FromSoilToSoul
The winter is creeping up on us cold climate growers, and it's just about time to put the garden to rest. But before you pack up for the season, give some love to your soil! In this episode, Maggie and Dave share their top five ways to improve your soil's health. You can implement these practices starting right now up until the ground freezes. These tips range from your classic "must-dos" to a few more unusual practices you may have never heard of. Plus, a listener's question about overwintering mint indoors sparks a great discussion about caring for herbs over the winter.
Maggie's Fav Thing This Week: The Biggest Little Farm
Dave's Fav Thing This Week: Lemon Eucalyptus
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This week is Part 2 of the composting discussion with a focus on indoor composting year round! Kristen Malec from Green Action Centre continues sharing her tips for success, including how to start a vermicompost bin and how to properly compost livestock. She also busts some common composting myths, like how long it really takes for compostable takeout containers to break down.
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Maggie is back after her week away, and her and Dave are stoked to chat composting with Kristen Malec from the Green Action Centre. Kristen shared so much amazing info that this episode has become a two-parter: this week focuses on composting basics and outdoor systems while next week the conversation picks up with a focus on composting indoors, as well as some rapid fire and an interesting listener question. Don't miss the Green Action Centre / Grow Guide giveaway... listen up for all the details!
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Connect with Maggie @FromSoilToSoul
Dave is flying solo this week as Maggie gets caught up on some things outside the pod... but that doesn't stop Maggie from passing along her exciting "favourite" thing of the week, and its all about chickens! Dave shares a classic herb-guy fav, and also reminds everyone about the Grow Guide "garlic plant-a-thon" planned for Saturday, October 12th. Then Dave gets into the pesky problem of pests indoors, and shares a solid check list of easy, organic solutions to keep houseplants healthy and bug-free.
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Your houseplants are peaking right now, full of vitality after soaking up the energy of summer... which makes now a perfect time to make plant babies! Learn five techniques for vegetatively propagating houseplants in this week's easy-listening guide to multiplying your plants. Plus, a listener question about garlic, details on our garlic plant-a-thon and Dave and Maggie's favourite garden "thing of the week".
@andreabemis & Dishing Up The Dirt
Plant Parenting: Easy Ways to Make More Houseplants, Vegetables, and Flowers
Happy Autumnal Equinox! This week's episode is all about embracing Fall and the flavours of harvest. Dave shares about the Tepin Pepper — a Mexican variety perfect to bring indoors at this time of year. Maggie's "Fav Thing" is her Tango Celery, a variety bred for Canadian winters. Chef at Nonsuch Brewing Co., Tyrone Welchinski then joins the pod to share his passion for sourcing and cooking with local, seasonal ingredients. Hear about what he loves to forage for and a few dishes he's whipping up this Fall that you can too.
Connect with Nonsuch Brewing Co.
It's been an unpredictable Fall across Canada, starting with low night time temps, leading into heavy rains and now, hot sunshine-y days. All to say, gardening season isn't over yet! This week Maggie and Dave encourage you to get back into the garden and start thinking about the 2020 season by saving some seeds. They discuss five fun yet unusual seeds you've probably never considered saving, including the Jamaican burr melon and molokhia.
- Support the Podcast on Patreon
- Join the Facebook Community Group
This exciting episode covers a whole array of topics with this week's guest, the wonderful, Kevin Espiritu from Epic Gardening. Maggie and Dave chat with Kevin about how he was able to grow enough food to survive off of in his 120 square-foot backyard garden, as well as his love for a garden challenge.
PLUS, The Grow Guide Patreon page is officially live! Learn how you can show your support for the podcast and help keep it free. Learn more here.
September is here and it officially feels like Fall in the garden! Maggie and Dave take some time off to enjoy the September long weekend and bring you content from last season that is perfect for this time of year. Get inspired to bring the green indoors with a herb garden. But first, it's all about this week's GIVEAWAY. The Grow Guide has teamed up with Sustainable South Osborne to give one of you 2 tickets to their annual harvest dinner on Sunday September 8, 2019. The meal is developed with produce grown at the community gardens and cooked by some of Winnipeg's top chefs. Want to win? Click the links below to see details on how-to play.
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Time to review favourite plants from the 2019 season, so far. Hosts Dave and Maggie compare notes on ten awesome plants that have made an impact for them this growing season and it is no surprise that edible and fragrant selections are well represented... but houseplants and flowers make the list too! Dave and Maggie also get caught-up after their trips to the west coast and check in on a listener question about a summer-time classic, sweet corn.
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Love the idea of keeping your garden alive and thriving well into the cool fall? This week Dave and Maggie dive deep into the topic of succession planting, exploring techniques and strategies to help both rookie approved and more advanced gardeners get the most from outdoor gardens... even in zone 3!
Dave also shares a favourite, highly unique tomato ad Maggie gushes about the unexpected beauty of her tobacco plants. This week's listener question will get the attention of just about everyone who grows veggies: how to get peppers to yield better!
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Happy Mid-August (as Maggie says at the start of this episode)! But it really is that time of year where you can't help but be happy — the garden is filled with tons to harvest. This week The Grow Guide hopes to keep listeners' spirits high by answering all their burning questions. From acclimatizing house plants to your home, to ensuring your tomatoes ripen before the end of summer, to finding the perfect space in a shady yard for a garden — Dave has an answer for every question that will make your gardening woes disappear.
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It is mid-summer, a perfect time to compare notes on how Dave and Maggie's gardens are growing. Dave shares his enthusiasm for a unique, very leafy basil and Maggie dishes on her red cabbage then invites listeners to post their favourite things of the week for everyone to see. This week's listener question jumps ahead to fall with a query about how late potted perennials can be transferred to the garden? Then our feature interview takes us behind the scenes of a flourishing FB community - Manitoba Gardening - with founder Amanda Douglas joining Dave and Maggie for a wide ranging discussion on the ins and outs of running a large on-line group.
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- Join Manitoba Gardening on FB:
Hey Grow Guiders! Last week you learned a little bit more about your co-host, Dave and this week it's all about, Maggie. But first, we have an exciting giveaway for all of you. The Grow Guide is turning its focus to pollinators and encouraging listeners to snap a few photos, post them on Instagram and use the hashtag #growguidepollinators. You could have the chance to win seeds for your fall sowing. Find out more here.
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Maggie and Dave’s July gardens are starting to burst and the harvests have begun. Dave chats bay rum— a spicy herb perfect for a summer cocktail. Maggie talks about her mysterious morning glories from an unidentified seed packet that are putting down vines throughout her garden. A listener question about what to do with straw mulch at the end of the season leads Maggie and Dave to go on about why they love this mulch so much. Then, it’s all about Dave! This week, get to know the voice you listen to weekly who answers all your questions and inspires you to get in the garden.
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As the heat and humidity start to make the prairies feel tropical Dave and Maggie revel in a tasty heirloom snap pea and inhale the sweet fragrance of an orange twist on the classic gardenia. A listener asks for help with a common problem, the Colorado potato beetle... and good news, there are some solutions! The big theme this week is houseplants with special guest Jane Perrone, the award-winning presenter of On The Ledge podcast. Jane covers everything from life as a gardening-podcaster to the benefits of just going for it the next time you are called upon to pronounce a little botanical Latin. She also shares some of her favourite houseplants to grow and offers tips for rookies and seasoned plant-parents alike.
To connect with Jane Perrone and On The Ledge podcast: https://www.janeperrone.com
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After a quick hiatus for Canada Day (happy belated, Canadians!), Maggie and Dave are back and chatting all about flowers and how to keep yours blooming all season long. Dave kicks this week off by sharing about his new favourite watering tool, The Growoya — a great option for gardeners facing drought-like weather this summer. Maggie gives a recap on how a few of the plants she’s shared as her 'Favourite Thing' are now performing in her garden. A listener’s question on transplanting milkweed from the ditch is a perfect transition into chatting flower care. The Grow Guide covers how to encourage blooming in too dry and too wet climates, regular maintenance for cut flowers and top tricks for keeping blooms fresh post harvest. A few True or False questions to close out the episode breaks some common myths.
With Canada Day giving us all a little opportunity for R & R, Dave and Maggie are taking the week off from recording and will be back with a brand new episode next Tuesday. That said, we are excited to share one of our most popular episodes as a re-post: this is episode 26, Native Prairie Plants with Kelly Leask, manager of Prairie Originals Nursery. Kelly is so full of insights and inspirations! Although this was recorded in early spring of 2018 the info is completely helpful to anyone working on their landscape right now!
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As we head into the summer months plants can start to show a little neediness, particularly fast growing veggies. Dave and Maggie devote this episode to ten easy tips to help rookie growers (and let's admit it... veteran growers too!) find success and satisfaction in the vegetable garden. But before getting to the tips Dave has a surprising bit of industry-insider info to share, Maggie checks-in about some uneven success stories this growing season and both Maggie and Dave have an edible favourite plant to share with everyone.
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With the summer solstice around the corner, Maggie and Dave start today's episode feeling nostalgic for last season as they reminisce on the podcast from one year ago. Tune into last year's summer solstice episode where The Grow Guide chats about square foot gardening! Dave then shares what he loves most about his garden at this time of year while Maggie walks listeners through the behind-the-scenes for her own homestead. From there the duo are joined by this week's guest who is a fellow-podcaster (host of the Encyclopedia Botanic) and landscape architect from Seattle Urban Farm Co, Hilary Dahl. Hilary shares her secrets to maintaining and beautifying your edible garden, including the keys to success, her favourite flowers to throw in the mix and a garden tool she can't live without.
Here's some of the resources Hilary mentions in this week's episode:
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Every gardener has good days and bad, and Dave and Maggie chat about rolling with the busy season. Along the way they stumble upon a plant "of good cheer" and talk about a cucamelon relative that might just become a new fav. The big discussion today is all about sweet potatoes, with emphasis on how to grow an edible crop organically in northern gardens. Did you know sweet potatoes can grow just about every where in Canada? Or that sweet potato foliage is edible and tasty? Listen-in to learn how to make this amazing veggie happen in your garden!
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It’s June and Maggie and Dave are officially in their garden playgrounds! The duo shares the plants they think are perfect for summer as their favourite things of the week, including a zinnia ideal for bouquets and a plant with unique edible berries. This week Stephanie Rose, from GardenTherapy.ca joins the podcast to share botanical infusions from the garden. She covers DIY recipes, must-have plants and her favourite gardening resources.
The Ressources Stephanie Mentions:
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Unpredictable spring weather in Zone 3 has Maggie & Dave reminding listeners about the importance of protecting plants when temperatures drop over night. Be mindful, growers! Dave shares a variegated milkweed as his favourite plant of the week while Maggie shares an interesting concept to support local farmers in your community. A listener question around harvesting asparagus sparks a discussion about proper care for the edible perennial too. The topic of this episode then turns to organic fertilizing, covering the benefits, the positive impact organic fertilizers has for plants & the environment, soluble vs. slow release fertilizer and finding the right one for your garden-style.
Organic Fertilizers Mentioned in this Episode Include…
- Vegano Plant-Based Fertilizer: https://www.welcomeharvestfarm.com/products.htm
- Sea Soil Compost: https://www.seasoil.com/about.html
- Jobes Fertilizer Spikes: https://jobescompany.com/product/jobes-organics-fertilizer-spike-all-purpose/
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This week we have the pleasure of chatting with Emma Biggs, a 14 year old gardening guru who just published her first book with the famous Storey publishing company. Emma brings her kid's-eye-view to help kids and adults better understand each other when it comes to enjoying gardening, but absolutely inspires gardeners of all ages with her extensive urban gardening knowledge (she is Toronto based). We get to chat veggies, bugs, eating weeds and much more. She is so well spoken - you will love connecting with her on the pod!
Before chatting with Emma, Dave and Maggie sing the praises of a locally sourced organic fertilizer and discover a tiny zone 1 perennial from Siberia. Our listener question of the week takes our imaginations on a little tour of French courtyards, where we contemplate the possibilities of espalier as a fruit tree growing technique for northern gardeners. So fun.
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Maggie and Dave kick off today's episode by sharing a fun article (read it here!) that ran on the podcast over the weekend. Dave shares about his fav plant of the week, a gorgeous blue perennial flower, and Maggie talks about a tropical-looking variety of tomato for hers. A listeners' question on transplanting leggy kohlrabi brings up some great tips on how to harden off transplants and keep seedlings healthy. The theme of perennial gardening covers chats on preparing roots for transplant, adding amendments to soil for more nutrients and perking up over-wintered plants. Plus, Maggie & Dave each share the perennials growing in their garden that they love.
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As spring arrives slowly but surely, Dave and Maggie each have some plant experiments to share for their favourite gardening item of the week, and this sets the stage for a discussion focused on growing perennials in short season climates. Dave reveals some surprising fruit growing plans, while Maggie goes deeper with her passion for growing medicinal plants. Meanwhile, the simple little marigold serves as a backdrop to a not so clear-cut question from a listener and we may, or may not, answer the question, "to pinch or not to pinch?". Dave is excited to share his feature interview with Jessika Doyel, manager of the scene-changing Sill plant shop in New York City, where the motto is "Plants Make People Happy". We agree! Dave and Jessika cover lots of houseplant tips for both rookie and more experienced plant parents, while also exploring some of the ways The Sill has been innovating on the concept of what a garden centre is, and how they connect with their huge community of plant fans.
Join the Grow Guide Facebook group to see extra video content from Dave's visit with Jessika!
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Maggie & Dave reflect on Earth Day this week and the changes they've made/challenges they've come across as gardeners trying to live more sustainably. Dave's favourite thing this week is an interesting garden product made of recycled sheep wool, while Maggie shares about her recent purchase of a few hens and how they fit into her plant-based lifestyle. Then it's all about the talented and wide-reaching, Joe Lamp'l also known as, Joe Gardener. Joe chats about his history as a gardening educator, why you should feed your soil instead of the plants, the importance of organic gardening and how to build your own DIY compost set-up just like his.
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Dave and Maggie weave through a variety of seasonal topics as they share their excitement for spring, while a listener question about grass seeding generates several helpful options. The focus of today's episode is on three ways to create unique garden spaces: go vertical, plant in straw bales and discover the advantages of a keyhole garden.
We're all eager to get out in the garden and the theme of this week's episode may just be the tool you need to keep those seeds warm and protected in early Spring. Tara Nolan — co-creator of https://savvygardening.com/ and author of Raised Bed Revolution — joins Maggie and Dave to chat all about the topic of her book and this recent garden craze. Tara defines what exactly a raised bed is, shares a few tips for selecting wood & other building materials and tells us why she's so passionate about this simple garden growing strategy. This week, Maggie and Dave also cover milk jug gardening and growing chickpeas at home.
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This week Maggie & Dave embrace what is finally starting to feel like Spring in the prairies and dig into the seed starting topic with the podcast's first ever international guest, Lucy Start — better known as @shegrowsveg on Instagram. All the way from the UK, Lucy brings her laid-back style as a gardener to the podcast, sharing her rookie and expert level advice. She shares a bit about what it's like in her neck of the woods at this time of year, her unique and usual seed starting set-up and even gets into mixing your own seed starting soil.
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It's BACK! Season 2 is here with new episodes on organic gardening practices coming out every single Tuesday. Maggie & Dave kick-off the new season with a little catch-up on their gardens and surviving the brutal Canadian winter of 2019 (we made it, folks!). Then it's back to usual business with the Favourite Plant Segment where Maggie gives away of copy of her favourite gardening publication this week (find details to win below). Dave answers a question about starting scallions indoors before the duo get right into seed spacing and planning out this year's garden. From DIY techniques to deciphering seed packets — this first episode back is filled with tips to get you ready for Spring planting.
Win the Giveaway: https://bit.ly/2UoauNP
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Happy Holidays! Maggie & Dave are back in studio for a bonus episode to kick off the New Year. The duo catch up on what's going on in their own gardening lives and Maggie shares some exciting news. Then it's all about answering some of your questions about growing Christmas trees, saving houseplants in the winter and the top gardening books to read over the holidays. To win this week's giveaway, leave us a review on iTunes (open to Canadian residents only). Stay tuned for Season 2 coming in early 2019!
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That's a wrap on Season 1 of The Grow Guide and what a wild ride it's been! For Episode 52, Maggie and Dave take a walk down memory lane. The duo recap their favourite moments of the season. From trendy houseplants to urban beekeeping, chatting native prairie plants and heirloom tomatoes — it's a diverse episode with a little bit of this and a little bit of that.
Here's the episodes we cover today:
Episode 17: The Jungalow with Special Guest Nicole Ryan, Creator of Cree Ryan
Episode 22: Talking Epic Tomatoes with Craig LeHoullier Part 1
Episode 34: Urban Beekeeping with Bee Project's Chris and Lindsay
Episode 20: Veggie Garden Remix with Edible Expert, Niki Jabbour
Episode 26: Native Prairie Plants with Kelly Leask
While you wait for all the goodness of Season 2, fill out our quick and easy survey to receive a free pack of mystery seeds: The Grow Guide survey
With unexpected September snow falling across parts of western Canada it would be easy to say outdoor gardening season is a wrap… but then we would miss out on delicious garlic. The Grow Guide crew get giddy as the garlic chat revs up, but first Dave and Maggie share stories from recent weekend getaways (1:10) and announce details of this week’s garlic give away (4:19), which of course includes a shout-out about the Grow Guide Garden Harvest Party taking place at Sage this Sunday September 29th (4:55). Maggie seems to have hit a home run with her Imperial Star artichoke crop this summer (6:15) and Dave dishes on his easy going Gasteria (9:50) as the plant picks of the week. Intrepid tomato gardener Vanessa poses a timely question about harvesting her crop in light of the snowy predicament (12:27) and then its garlic talk (17:21)... what to plant (23:30), when to plant (33:20), how to plant (36:25) and some favourite ways to enjoy garlic (41:52). Enjoy!
Join the Facebook group to win: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with Gardens Manitoba: https://www.instagram.com/gardensmb/
Fall is in full swing and with only a few more farmer’s markets left, The Grow Guide heads to Winnipeg’s St.Norbert Farmers Market for this week’s “studio.” Maggie starts by sharing her harvest of the week — sungold cherry tomatoes — and Dave chats about the trendy, monstera plant. An interesting listener question about composting is timely for anyone cleaning up their fallen leaves. Then it’s all about organics. Since 2002, Stefan and his family have been certified organic farmers. He discusses market garden practices home gardeners can implement, deterring pests and insects and the benefits of growing organic.
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with Blue Lagoon Organics:https://www.instagram.com/bluelagoonorganics/?hl=en
Episode 49: Moving plants indoors
Maggie and Dave are back at Sage this week to find inspiration for houseplant season. But before they can dig into the topic, Maggie shares her appreciation for the fours seasons (1:49) while Dave wonders what it would be like to live in a “uni-season”. As the conversation turns decidedly to fall, several announcements are made including further details on the upcoming Grow Guide Garden Harvest Swap (3:30) and the upcoming 1 year anniversary of The Grow Guide. As always the show features a hot question from our FB community, and this week Mychal N. asks for suggestions on very low maintenance veggie garden plants (5:17)... something that a lot of of us wonder about! But wait, what about the houseplants? Both Dave and Maggie have favourite plants of the week that relate to this week’s theme, each rather different (10:50). Which leads our hosts to the nuts and bolts of episode 49: how to successfully bring summer plants indoors. Timing is discussed first (15:22), followed by some clues on how to figure out what plants are best suited for indoors (16:30) and some steps to reduce stress for plants on the move (18:00). Ever the committed organic gardeners, Maggie and Dave stir-up some advice on using compost on houseplants (23:45), and also tackle the dread question of pests (25:50). Last but not least there is a nice summary of easy “to-do’s” during the transition to houseplant season (29:40) and a little shout out to our community thanking everyone who has posted a Grow Guide review (31:55), and a little nudge to anyone who might yet… thanks in advance!
Join the Facebook group to win: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with Gardens Manitoba: https://www.instagram.com/gardensmb/
With the Harvest Moon right around the corner, Maggie and Dave focus this week’s episode on a GIVEAWAY to the annual Harvest Dinner hosted by the South Osborne Community Co-operative (listen all the way to the end of the episode for your chance to win!). But first, they chat about transitioning into fall and answer a listener’s question and when/what to plant when it comes to bulbs. Then the duo chat all about local food systems and the permaculture-focused approach to gardening that Rod, Caitlin and Tiffany take in the community co-operative garden in the heart of Winnipeg. They discuss the history of the community garden, the types of plants they grow, their unique approach to soil rejuvenation and even touch a little bit on hugelkulture.
Join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with SSOCC: http://sustainablesouthosborne.ca/
Maggie and Dave continue their garden touring, and set up the podcast studio under a big shade tree in the beautiful English Garden at Assiniboine Park. Summer is starting to shift into fall and your hosts start this week’s episode noticing how much the mood has changed in the garden, even in the last week. This does not stop them from being excited about what’s next, teasing garden party plans (3:05) and sharing their favourite plants (Sugar Baby watermelon at 3:55 & garlic bulbils at 7:20). Kelly F. posted this episode’s timely question of the week, all about bringing herbs indoors (9:08), and Dave and Maggie offer a variety of resources to help gardeners find success with indoor herbs. Then the duo dive right into the topic at hand, chatting up the benefits of fall gardening (13:03), consider timing for fall seed starting (17:48), discuss fertilizing fall garden beds (19:30) and then rank various fall crops in terms of cold tolerance (23:30), including several that have “mind blowing” cold tolerance (33:45)! Finally Dave and Maggie muse on how lessons around fall sowing outdoors can teach us valuable lessons about growing edibles indoors as well (35:05).
Maggie and Dave use the South Osborne Community Gardens as this week’s studio space and are blown away by its beauty and sense of community. They start the episode with a few fun announcements coming up soon — a Garden Club Tour (check out sagegarden.ca for more info) and an end of season garden party (date TBD!). Then it’s all about their Favourite Varieties, Zephyr summer squash for Maggie (5:30) and the Marimo Moss Ball for Dave (7:24). An awesome listener question about when to plant strawberries (10:10), leads the conversation into caring for them over winter and sourcing zone-specific berries. Then it’s all about seed saving (13:25)! Maggie and Dave recap the different types of seeds — heirloom, open pollinated and hybrid (15:25), viability (19:02), annuals vs. perennials (20:00), rookie friendly seeds to harvest (25:36), more challenging seeds to save (30:17), saving seeds from tropical (33:03), tips and tricks to the seed saving process itself (34:23) and storing (39:26).
Join the Facebook group to win: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with Gardens Manitoba: https://www.instagram.com/gardensmb/
Are your plants tired of the heat? Maggie and Dave’s certainly are and they’re dedicating this week’s episode to the 2018 Heat Wave! Before they jump into the good stuff, they announce the winner of the cucamelon giveaway and answer a listener’s question about planting crops at this time of year. Turns out, there’s tons of great options for you to sow even in the second week of August. The duo breakdown the heat conversation into four categories: physiological impacts of heat to plants, maintaining them, diseases that occur and heat-loving insects.
Join the Facebook group to win: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with Gardens Manitoba: https://www.instagram.com/gardensmb/
The Grow Guide is back this week with the second part of our cannabis series. Manitoban grower, Mike Mailman shares his wisdom with us again, but this time the conversation is geared toward growing. Mike discusses how he grows cannabis for his patients and the logistics that come with it. Then he gets into how YOU, home gardeners, can grow productive plants come legalization in October. We apologize for the crickets tune in today’s episode as they were noisy as can be while we were recording!
Join the Facebook group to win: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
To connect with Mike: https://www.instagram.com/medimailman/
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with Gardens Manitoba: https://www.instagram.com/gardensmb/
The end of July is bringing us to an awesome 2-parter episode geared toward cannabis — a plant of mystery! Maggie & Dave welcome on fellow Manitoban, Mike Mailman, who shares the successes and struggles that comes with growing marijuana in today’s changing climate. This epic conversation discusses everything from the politics of the plant to its many healing properties to Mike’s personal connection to using cannabis as a medicine. Tune in next week for Part 2 where we dive into growing cannabis as a home gardener!
Join the Facebook group to win: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
To connect with Mike: https://www.instagram.com/medimailman/
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with Gardens Manitoba: https://www.instagram.com/gardensmb/
For the first time ever, Maggie and Dave move their “studio” to a public orchard in the heart of Winnipeg at The Forks. Apple trees, raspberry bushes and hungry squirrels join the duo for this episode all about cucumbers. This week’s favourite varieties (3:10) are Aunt Molly’s Ground Cherries and Aussie Sweetie Basil. And an awesome listener question about the differences between partial and full sun (7:20) leads to a conversation about the exact number of hours of sun each description requires. Then it’s all about cucumbers! Dave walks us through soil temperatures for direct seeding (13:15), transplanting methods (13:50) and the wide variety of cucumbers plants (15:00). Maggie shares her struggles with her own jungle-like cucumber plants (19:50) and the two of them break down the difference between vining and bushing varieties. She also shares a few secrets to making DIY supports (21:20) for overgrown cucs. Then Dave finishes off the episode with his favourite cucumbers for container growing (23:33), what type of compost to feed plants (26:25), harvesting (27:30), male and female plants (29:30) and then announces a spontaneous GIVEAWAY!
Join the Facebook group to win: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with Gardens Manitoba: https://www.instagram.com/gardensmb/
Dave and Maggie are back this week in their outdoor “studio space” at Sage Garden Greenhouses. The duo start off the episode with a big THANK-YOU to all you listeners from around the world (0:57). Then it’s into their Favourite Varieties of the Week (2:10). Dave chats about the vanilla bean plant (did you know it’s in the orchid family?!) and Maggie shares one of her recent harvests, the very cool and purple-looking islander pepper (5:40). The Question of the Week focuses on squash (8:13). Join the Facebook group — link below — to ask your own question! Then it’s into this week’s wonderful guest, Mick Manfield (11:45).
Mick starts off by defining what exactly square foot gardening is (13:10) and how you can try it out whether you have a big space or a little one. From there, Mick touches on the supplies needed (14:40), soil mixture (15:20), adapting this technique for your physical abilities (17:00), weeding (18:45), the difference between square foot gardening and raised beds (20:10), the grid system (22:48), keeping the soil moist (24:22), fertilizing (25:28), vermiculite (26:11), adding compost (27:29), selecting proper varieties (31:10), perennial varieties (34:10), vertical growing (36:34).
To join the Facebook community group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with Gardens Manitoba: https://www.instagram.com/gardensmb/
For The Grow Guide’s 40th episode (how did that happen?!), Maggie and Dave decide to give back to all of YOU who’ve been with us since the beginning. They dedicate this episode to answering a great variety of listener questions. But before they get into all that, they share a bit about what’s going on outside of their gardening lives. Dave fills us in about his weekend road trip to Souris, Manitoba. And Maggie shares about her time at the Winnipeg Folk Festival. Then it’s all about the listeners. The duo answer questions about increasing your strawberry yield, storing dahlia tubers over the winter, fertilizing blueberry bushes, repairing clay soil and MORE!
To join the Facebook community group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with Gardens Manitoba: https://www.instagram.com/gardensmb/
Happy Canada Day, Grow Guiders! Dave and Maggie spend this hot, long weekend jumping right into the new month and chatting about common problems that happen in the garden during July. They start today off by answering a listener’s question about chlorosis on her roses and how to manage it. From there, it’s all about common gardening problems, including aphids, blossom end rot and powdery mildew. Not to fear, these are all combattable problems that won’t affect your harvest if you’re proactive.
To join the Facebook community group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with Gardens Manitoba: https://www.instagram.com/gardensmb/
Anyone else experiencing gardener burnout? It’s the time of year where we’ve gone go, go, go and finally are feeling the effects. Maggie and Dave start today off with sharing their feelings on the subject and encourage listeners to take on a challenge to break the burnout. The duo answer an awesome listener’s question about perennial flowers — it’s not too late to plant! — and share their favourite varieties — Maggie goes with a mosquito repellent and Dave shares a trendy houseplant. They then jump into hardy trees and shrubs, discussing everything from what “zone 3 hardy” really means, to unusual varieties that actually do well in Manitoba, to maintaining and caring for trees and shrubs in the winter.
To join the Facebook community group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with Gardens Manitoba: https://www.instagram.com/gardensmb/
Hey gardeners! We have another awesome episode of The Grow Guide today all about reconnecting to nature and embracing you hunter- gatherer roots. Maggie and Dave are joined by Manitoba’s local fungi expert, Tom Nagy. He gets DEEP and goes into why it’s important for humans to spend time each day in nature. He gets FUNNY and talks about the new trend of foraging for psilocybin (magic mushrooms if you will). And he gets REAL by breaking down for you exactly how you too can both forage and grow your own mushrooms.
To join the Facebook community group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
To connect with Tom: https://www.instagram.com/nagthompson/
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with Gardens Manitoba: https://www.instagram.com/gardensmb/
Summer feels like it’s officially here and the background noises in today’s episode — birds, bees and frogs — really give off those warm, feel-good vibes. Maggie and Dave announce some exciting events at the start of today’s episode, including a dog-friendly evening at Sage Garden Greenhouses and FREE starter plants for community gardens, not-for-profit groups and schools. They touch on the struggle of purchasing citrus trees and other fruiting shrubs that are treated with neonicotinoids and how we can all be more mindful of avoid these plants in order to protect our pollinators. The duo then dive into succession planting — what that means exactly, good crops for succession planting, increasing your yield and cold crops vs. warm crops. Plus, last week’s promotion has been extended for ONE. MORE. WEEK!
To join the Facebook community group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with Gardens Manitoba: https://www.instagram.com/gardensmb/
It’s The Grow Guide’s first episode outdoors at Sage Garden Greenhouses and it feels GREAT to be chatting about gardening right in the garden. Maggie and Dave update everyone on their gardens/greenhouses and share a favourite houseplant and herb that surprisingly both grow well in northern conditions. Before jumping into this week’s topic, they answer a listener’s question about pruning peppers and removing early flowers from tomato plants. Then the duo gets into sunflowers — the flower of summer! They go over direct sowing versus starting indoors, varieties for boarders versus cut flowers, edible vs. non edible sunflowers and annual versus perennial. Manitoba listeners won’t want to miss out on this week’s awesome promo, so listen up for the secret code word. To join the Facebook community group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/ To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/ To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/ To connect with Gardens Manitoba: https://www.instagram.com/gardensmb/
Who permanently has dirt under their nails and seeds tucked into their back pocket? It’s the ultimate sign of summer and it certainly feels like it has arrived here in Manitoba. Today’s episode is about the other sign of summer that’s starting to buzz — BEES! The duo from Bee Project — partners, Chris and Lindsay — hang out with The Grow Guide to fill us all in on what it really means to #savethebees. They go in-depth with practical ways you can help bees, the proper and safe practices to take if you’re interested in your own urban beekeeping and why vegans should be eating honey (it gets a little sticky).
To redeem 10% off Deer Busters Canada: https://www.deerbusterscanada.ca/collections/fence-kits
To join the Facebook community group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with Gardens Manitoba: https://www.instagram.com/gardensmb/
To connect with Bee Project: https://beeproject.ca/
It’s been a gorgeous Victoria Day long-weekend here in the prairies, and Maggie and Dave have gotten well underway in their gardens & greenhouses. The duo share what they’ve been up to in their own backyards and chat about their favourite plant varieties of the week — Maggie’s choice is great for hot and sunny gardens, and Dave’s is perfect for experimental gardeners. They help out a listener asking about maintaining healthy plants after removing them from grow lights to transition outside...because nobody like leggy plants, right? Deer expert, Jennifer Smith then joins The Grow Guide to help listeners keep their gardens safe from deer and ticks. She goes over proper fencing height, DIY deer repellents and plants that deer both love and ones that will repel them. Plus, she’s bringing you a special offer!
To redeem 10% off Deer Busters Canada: https://www.deerbusterscanada.ca/collections/fence-kits
To join the Facebook community group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with Gardens Manitoba: https://www.instagram.com/gardensmb/
Hey Zone 3-ers! It’s finally starting to feel like Spring around here and we know you’ve probably all been out in the garden getting ready. But what exactly should you be doing at this time of year to ensure your plants have the best success? Well, that’s what we’re chatting about today! Maggie and Dave talk soil care, composting tips, hardening off, raised beds and more. Plus, this is the first episode of the new format of The Grow Guide, which means every single listener gets an awesome deal that will make a great addition to their 2018 garden.
Join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with Gardens Manitoba: https://www.instagram.com/gardensmb/
To share your favourite green space in Manitoba email: info@gardensmanitoba.com
It’s all about H20 today! Arguably the most important aspect to growing strong, healthy plants. And with the dry Spring most of us are having, it’s important to start watering ASAP! Maggie and Dave start off this week by sharing their top plant picks of the season and answering a listener question about soil nutrients. Then, they share their favourite methods to create a water schedule for both the garden and plants in raised beds or containers. They touch on conserving water and a few DIY tricks to make your own self-watering tools. Stay tuned for the giveaway AND to learn how you can be involved with a cool project Gardens Manitoba has started.
Join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with Gardens Manitoba: https://www.instagram.com/gardensmb/
To share your favourite green space in Manitoba email: info@gardensmanitoba.com
This episode is LIVE from last weekend’s Gardening Saturday event! It was a blast as Maggie and Dave took the stage to connect with listeners face-to-face and share some insights on growing edible plants in containers. Before the information started flowing, listeners got the chance to come up and ask their most-pressing gardening questions. Everything from growing potatoes, to plants on a shaded balcony, to adding chicken manure to your soil. Then, Maggie and Dave covered the advantages of container gardening, their fav varieties for small spaces and some tips and tricks for success. This week’s giveaway was LIVE, but join the Facebook group to download your own Guide To Edibles.
Join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with Gardens Manitoba: https://www.instagram.com/gardensmb/
Hey, guess what? It’s just about time for The Grow Guide’s LIVE podcast recording at Gardening Saturday! Today Maggie and Dave reveal the topic, Growing Edibles in Containers, and a few more secrets about the long-awaited event. Will we see you there? Saturday April 28th at the Canadian Mennonite University in Winnipeg. This week’s episode is all about potatoes — a plant rich in history and arguably one of the EASIEST crops to grow whether you have a little or a lot of space. The duo go over everything from the 5,000 varieties of potatoes to different planting techniques to harvesting and even a chat on growing sweet potatoes. As always, there’s a weekly giveaway! Can you guess what it is?
To win this week’s giveaway join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with Gardens Manitoba: https://www.instagram.com/gardensmb/
To register for Gardening Saturday: http://gardeningsaturday.ca/
It’s finally feeling like Spring here in zone 3 and The Grow Guide is feeling the excitement of the new season. Maggie and Dave are chatting about a whole bunch of great topics today. The duo discuss everything from Gardening Saturday (where we hope to see you!) to vermiculture to their favourite iTunes reviews. Then, the wonderful Lynsey Sable from Broken Forest Sustainable Floriculture joins the crew to chat about her unique property and sandy soil. She explains the big storm that started her business, why growing cut flowers sustainably is so important and the top flower varieties to grow in your gardens. As always, there’s a GIVEAWAY but this weeks is extra special so listen to the end of the episode to find out how you can win!
To win this week’s giveaway join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with Gardens Manitoba: https://www.instagram.com/gardensmb/
To connect with Lynsey: http://brokenforest.ca/ & https://www.instagram.com/broken__forest/
To register for Gardening Saturday: http://gardeningsaturday.ca/
It’s April and The Grow Guide is getting ready for their LIVE podcast recording at Gardens Manitoba’s Gardening Saturday on April 28th. Will we see you there? You’re invited and have the chance to win a FREE WORKSHOP PASS at the end of the episode! Today is all about saving you time (and sore knees) in the garden. It may sound like a wild dream, but with a little patience and practice, zero weed gardening is possible! Dave shares with Maggie his top 7 hacks for slowing phasing out the weeds. They go over tips and tricks for introducing these practices to the garden gradually. The best part is, they’ll make what you’re currently doing easier. Guaranteed!
To win this week’s giveaway join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with Gardens Manitoba: https://www.instagram.com/gardensmb/
Happy Easter! After a chilly long-weekend in Manitoba, The Grow Guide is here to bring you some warmth. Dave and Maggie have both started seeding and share what’s going on in their greenhouses right now. They answer a listener question on deterring deer from the garden and share some great DIY options for keeping your plants safe. Then the knowledgeable, Kelly Leask from Prairie Originals nursery joins the podcast to chat all about native prairie plants. She shares her thoughts on lawns (and why we really don’t need them!), her favorite prairie plants to get started in your garden and answers a few true and false questions about growing native plants. Prairie Originals is sponsoring this week’s giveaway and it’s a GOOD one! Tune in to the end of the episode to find out how you can win!
To win this week’s giveaway join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with Gardens Manitoba: https://www.instagram.com/gardensmb/
To connect with Kelly:
https://www.instagram.com/prairieoriginals/
To learn more about Prairie Originals: http://www.prairieoriginals.com/
The Grow Guide’s done it before and you LOVED it so we’re back today with our second Q&A episode. Maggie and Dave answer a whole bunch of questions listeners posted in the Facebook group. From caring for poinsettias over the winter to sorting your seeds to planting in raised beds — Dave has an answer for it all and Maggie has some rookie advice to follow. This week, for the first time ever, the duo records from the warmth and greenery at Sage Garden Greenhouses! What do you think of the new recording space? Tune in to the end of the episode to win this week’s LIVING giveaway.
To win this week’s giveaway join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with Gardens Manitoba: https://www.instagram.com/gardensmb/
Happy Spring Equinox! It’s official time to start planning, seeding and seeing your 2018 garden come to life. Maggie & Dave share how their kicking-off Spring in two totally different ways and answer an awesome listener question about growing bok choy. It might just be the answer you need to start some early crops! Then the lovely, Joan Porteous — President of The Manitoba Orchid Society — joins The Grow Guide to chat about the beautiful but misunderstood orchid plant. She debunks some common myths (think ice cubes) and shares her favorite tips and tricks for getting your orchid to rebloom. Plus, she GIVES AWAY 4 tickets to this weekend’s Manitoba Orchid Show at the Assiniboine Park Conservatory in Winnipeg.
*Must be Manitoba resident to enter.
To win this week’s giveaway join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with Gardens Manitoba: https://www.instagram.com/gardensmb/
To learn more about The Manitoba Orchid Society: http://www.manitobaorchidsociety.ca/
The knowledgeable, inspirational and educational tomato man, Craig LeHoullier is back today! If you missed last week, head back to Episode 22 to listen to the first part of Maggie & Dave’s chat with him. Today they dig deeper into tomatoes by asking Craig some rapid fire questions on his best tips and tricks for productive tomato plants. They discuss staking, avoiding blossom end rot, soil drainage and seed starting. Craig also discusses his techniques for straw bale gardening, which he happens to have an entire book on. It might just be the best kept secret for growing high-yield vegetables. Tune in to Part 1 to hear how you can win the personalized GIVEAWAY!
Author, educator and all around tomato fanatic, Craig LeHoullier (a.k.a NC Tomatoman) joins Maggie and Dave in an epic interview all about heirlooms, hybrids and how to get the best yield from your tomato plants. Craig is the real deal and grows over 3,000 different tomato varieties. Yes, 3,000! In this first episode of two parts, Craig shares his knowledge on what varieties would grow best in prairie conditions, how to avoid blossom end rot and all about his dwarf tomato project. His down-to-earth, relaxed manner will make you feel like you’re chatting with Craig over a coffee in the garden. And of course, this week’s GIVEAWAY has to do with tomatoes and includes an extra special, personalized surprise from Craig.
To win this week’s giveaway join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with Gardens Manitoba: https://www.instagram.com/gardensmb/
To connect with Craig: https://www.instagram.com/nctomatoman/
It’s all about making more with what ya got today on The Grow Guide! Propagation is the best way to double and triple the amount of plants you have in your home in an inexpensive and fun way. Dave goes over all the different methods, the tools you’ll need to be successful and some of his favorite plants to easily propagate. Maggie shares the sustainability practices propagation allows for and the duo answer a listener question about growing plants in a basement. SPOILER ALERT: It’s possible! This week’s giveaway is an easy-to-propagate plant. Tune in until the end of the episode to find out what it is!
Today we’re STOKED to be chatting with the one and only, Niki Jabbour! She’s a Canadian gardening expert who you’ve probably turned to for advice at some point. Whether it’s her website, www.savvygardening.com or her books or both — she has all the answers for cold-climate, short-season growers. Seriously, Niki is an expert, and her newest book, Veggie Garden Remix features some extraordinary crops you’ll want to try in your own garden this year. We chat with Niki about growing chickpeas, hosta shoots, sugar beets and molokhia (to name a few). And of course, we’ve got one of her new books fresh off the press for our GIVEAWAY!
To win this week’s giveaway join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with Gardens Manitoba: https://www.instagram.com/gardensmb/
To connect with Niki: https://www.instagram.com/nikijabbour
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and we’re turning up the heat by starting our peppers...it may be cheesy but it’s true! It’s the time of year for us gardeners to start thinking about varieties, indoor growing setups and maintenance. So today, Maggie and Dave chat about all things peppers. Plus, they debunk a few pepper myths you probably thought were true. They also share their favourite fast-growing and productive pepper varieties, discuss how to turn your plants into perennials and giveaway the perfect thing to help you grow beautiful peppers this year.
To win this week’s giveaway join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with Gardens Manitoba: https://www.instagram.com/gardensmb/
With the annual Seedy Saturday coming up in Manitoba this week, we wanted to give you an inside look at what you can expect at this year’s event. Maggie and Dave chat with event organizer, Natalie Elizabeth who fills us in on seed swap etiquette and what types of awesome workshops Seedy Saturday is offering. Natalie also shares her insight on landscape design and how her organization, Urban Eatin’ helps private and public gardens succeed. Plus, Natalie has brought a very special GIVEAWAY that will have you dreaming of spring and the possibilities for your yard.
To win this week’s giveaway join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with Gardens Manitoba: https://www.instagram.com/gardensmb/
Whether you’re a rookie or a veteran grower — you probably have at least one houseplant in your home that gives you your daily green fix. This week’s guest, Nicole Ryan is somewhat of a houseplant and jungalow superstar, who’s beautiful plant decor has definitely popped up on your social media feed once or twice. Nicole tells us what inspired her to start her business, Cree Ryan and how she connects her macrame plant hangers to Indigenous traditions. She explains what the jungalow means to her, her favourite houseplants and how you can WIN one of her beautifully handcrafted creations.
To win this week’s giveaway join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
To learn more about Nicole and her business, Cree Ryan you can connect with her here
https://www.instagram.com/creeryan/ or https://www.creeryan.com/.
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with Gardens Manitoba: https://www.instagram.com/gardensmb/
It’s just about that time of winter when the really eager gardeners set up their trays, grow lights and soil and get those seeds going. This week, Maggie and Dave lay-out month for month the seeds you should be starting, the techniques that will grant you great success and the major things you should avoid. Dave shares his favourite seed suppliers and Maggie shares how she’s going to inexpensively collect her seeds for the 2018 season. Stay tuned til’ the end so you can get in on this week’s killer giveaway!
To win this week’s giveaway join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with Gardens Manitoba: https://www.instagram.com/gardensmb/
We’re welcoming back our unusual plant enthusiasts this week to share more about their experience caring and growing the wacky and weird plants that live in their home. Chris & Ainsley go through the dos and don’ts of caring for your plants after they’ve made the long journey to you. They share their top three easiest and toughest unusual plants to grow and care for plus, they share all their tricks on germinating. Maggie and Dave also debunk the myth about fertilizing your garden with used coffee grinds.
To win this week’s giveaway join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with Gardens Manitoba: https://www.instagram.com/gardensmb/
To connect with Chris and Ainsley: https://www.instagram.com/grumbletoy/
It’s all about weird, wacky and wonderful plants on this episode of The Grow Guide as Maggie and Dave welcome two “unusual plant enthusiasts” to the studio to share their stories about sourcing unusual plants from all over the world. They’ll fill you in on the ins and outs of ordering online (and what to seriously avoid), their favourite strange plants (that you’ve probably never heard of) and how you can start your own unusual plant collection today! Stay tuned for this week’s giveaway as it’s one you won’t be able to find anywhere else — seriously!
To win this week’s giveaway join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with Gardens Manitoba: https://www.instagram.com/gardensmb/
To connect with Chris and Ainsley: https://www.instagram.com/grumbletoy/
Happy 2018! Maggie and Dave think there’s no better way to start off the new year than by setting up your very own grow lights. In today’s episode, they share all the details you need to successfully grow productive herbs, plants and microgreens inside your home. From lighting to trays to seed varieties, The Grow Guide has everything you need to have an awesome grow light setup.
To win this week’s giveaway join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
To connect with Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
To connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
To connect with Gardens Manitoba: https://www.instagram.com/gardensmb/
With the new year right around the corner, Maggie and Dave reminisce on their favourite plants of 2017. They each share their top four favourites from the garden with some growing and cooking advice for each one too. The duo admit a few gardening resolutions they’re aiming to accomplish in 2018 and give you a sneak peak into what the new year has in store for The Grow Guide. This week’s giveaway is a BIG one and you could win a major prize by connecting with these platforms:
The Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
From Soil to Soul’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/
Sage Garden Greenhouses’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
Happy Holidays! Tis’ the season for decorating your home with festive plants. But ever wonder what to do with your poinsettia and Norfolk pine after January 1st? Well listen up as Maggie and Dave fill you in on everything you need to know about caring for Christmas plants.They also chat about a unique botanical tradition, answer a listener’s question about caring for her all-spice plant, and give you the chance to win the weekly giveaway.
Join the Facebook group to win: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/
Connect with Maggie & Dave: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul/ https://www.instagram.com/sagegardenherbs/
Have a plant question or just wanna say hey: thegrowguidepodcast@gmail.com
If you have just one plant in your home we’re guessing it’s a succulent since they’re easy to grow for just about any level of gardener. They’ve become hugely popular over the last few years, and this week Dave and Maggie dive deeper into different varieties, watering schedules, blooming and re-potting. Dave debunks the myth that all succulents are low-maintenance (spoiler alert: they still need watering too) and Maggie shares her tips for propagating succulents which will save you loads of money! They even chat about succulents that thrive outside year-round in Manitoba’s chilly weather. This week the giveaways are back too and one lucky winner will get not one but five succulents! Yes, five! Join The Grow Guide Facebook group for your chance to win https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/. Looking for something to do this weekend? Check out the last Garden Club of 2017 at Sage Garden Greenhouses with Dave https://sagegarden.ca/
The Grow Guide switches things up this week and takes a trip to the Casa Montessori & Orff School in Winnipeg, Manitoba to chat about gardening with some of the most interesting minds in our world, kids! Dave and Maggie learn about the unique botany practices these students and their teacher implement in the classroom and how other schools can do the same. They also bring some seeds for the kids to start their own indoor garden and see the debate that arises over what type of herbs to grow. The kids share their favourite gardening tips and advice with you, which is so cute it needs a trigger warning.
Today’s episode is all about YOU, the wonderful listeners! The Grow Guide is answering all the questions we’ve received over the past few weeks. From what type of seeds to grow in small, countertop aerogardens to how to get your jasmine blooming to whether you can still plant your garlic this late in the season — Dave uses his expertise to answer everything you’re dying to know. And Maggie helps your questions feel not so “rookie-like” after-all by adding in her own questions too. This Q&A won’t be the last and The Grow Guide always loves to hear your questions and (possibly) read them on the show, so keep asking them! As always, the show ends with an awesome giveaway, which is sponsored this week by Mama Pacha. Check out our Facebook group for your chance to win https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/ and visit Mama Pacha’s website to get your hands on some of her natural, botanical skincare products https://mamapacha.ca .
This week The Grow Guide welcomes another guest to the podcast — third generation conventional and CSA farmer, Will Bergmann! Will hangs out in the studio to chat about his diverse family farm in Glenlea, Manitoba that has helped him develop an even deeper love for feeding people. He shares his thoughts on being transparent about farm life on social media, using pesticides vs. growing organic, AND he spills the beans on his new project: a soon-to-open farm to table restaurant called Oxbow. Not to mention, he hooks up our listeners with an awesome giveaway you won’t want to miss! Join our exclusive Facebook page for your chance to win, https://www.facebook.com/groups/276990892799327/.
With the days getting shorter and colder, Maggie and Dave decide to touch on a topic many of us face during this transitional time of year — seasonal depression. Dave’s lists some of his favorite serotonin-boosting plants, Maggie shares a few gardening activities to do during the “off-months” and consider creating a “What Your Plants Say About You” quiz for all those looking for the deeper meaning in gardening. Plus, a listener’s question about how long to keep grow lights on for, evolves into a great discussion about plant habits.
Reading Resources: The 2011 Prairie Garden: Healthy Gardening http://www.prairiegarden.ca/2011.html
Growing Myself: A Spiritual Journey Through Gardening by Judith Handelsman https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Myself-Spiritual-Journey-Gardening/dp/0452275172
There’s a big FIRST today on The Grow Guide...the first ever guest on the podcast! Dave and Maggie welcome Daniel Kanu from Food Matters Manitoba to chat about what growing food is really like in some of Canada’s most northern climates. Daniel comes loaded with cool information, like how to make a greenhouse out of old trampolines, how fish heads can benefit your garden and how gardening brings communities together. Dave shares stories from his own adventures in Churchill, Manitoba this summer and Maggie shares her desire to explore more of the Great White North. And this week’s giveaway, just happens to be an edible one!
It’s an exciting week over at The Grow Guide Podcast with all the fun of Halloween happening and the launch of Maggie’s new website — www.fromsoil2soul.com! The spooky vibes take over the studio as Maggie and Dave share their own scary gardening tales, go over the top 10 creepiest plants and chat about gardening with the moon cycles. There’s even some discussion of growing hallucinogenic plants and witchy DIY crafts!
Raise your hand if you’ve already seen an Instagram photo of someone posing in a pumpkin patch! We have! So today we chat about the many varieties of these diverse plants, which are easy enough a rookie to grow! Dave talks about the winner of this year’s Giant Pumpkin growing contest, Maggie shares the squash she grew this year and they both leave the studio craving pumpkin pie.
Happy Thanksgiving, Canadians! This week, Maggie and Dave fully embrace the Fall vibes, talking about how great this time of year is for finishing up those last outdoor projects. Dave decorates the studio with a variety of delicious smelling herbs — a perfect fit for this week’s theme — and he surprises Maggie with a gift! He also shares his top tip for perfect seed germination (it involves your fridge) and his top 5 favourite herbs to grow indoors! Again, the duo give one listener a killer giveaway.
Hey, and welcome to The Grow Guide Podcast! In this first episode, Maggie and Dave chat about embracing Fall as they explore which crops grow well in this cooler weather. They answer a listener's question about pest control, share their own stories on what plants are Zone 3 warriors and give some DIY tips for making your own cold frame. Plus, they have a GIVEAWAY for one lucky winner!
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