The Grow Guide

How to Diagnose Your 10 Most Common Houseplant Problems Nov 13, 2019

Show notes

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

Why It's Important to Know the Farmers Growing Your Food, with Will Bergmann Nov 05, 2019

Show notes

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

Connect with Will @will_bergmann

5 Ways to Improve Your Soil for Next Growing Season Oct 30, 2019

Show notes

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

Indoor Composting with Kristen Malec from The Green Action Centre - Part Two Oct 22, 2019

Show notes

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.

Learn more about composting at the Green Action Centre

Outdoor Composting with Kristen Malec from The Green Action Centre - Part One Oct 15, 2019

Show notes

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!

Learn more about composting at the Green Action Centre

Easy Organic Strategies to Prevent Pests Indoors Oct 08, 2019

Show notes

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.