Our food system comes at a cost. Often the food from our grocery stores has to travel long distances to get to our tables. If gardeners in Inuvik and Iceland can grow food in those extreme areas why cant we all do our part to improve food security and reduce the carbon cost of the food we eat.
I am going to start a new series that will expand past back yard gardening and look at other methods we can all grow our own food and see if those methods reduce, are equal too or have a higher carbon footprint.
I am also going looking to do more public speaking engagements. Tomorrow I will be speaking at the Sangudo Garden Day. (link below) If you know of any speaking engagements please feel free to shoot me an email at albertaurbangarden@gmail.com
I am also going to expand my video blog series to bring you along during the 2017 season so you can follow along with my Zone 3 garden!
Can the mineral waste water from herb distillation, and hydrosol be used for beneficial plants sprays and or compost/soil fertilizers. Should the waste material be compost
Having huge problems in Calgary .. for some reason EVERY year we get BUGs that just kill our garden and leave the flowers alone … WHY? AHHHHHG … driving us us nuts. THE BUGS .. potato bugs … on the peppers .. not sure but we get large holes that have been ate … the tomatoes the same thing … and our lettuces .. when its young birds … WE CAN NOT WIN … huge yard .. but does not produce crap because of the bugs . If you are ever in Calgary … please drop in and you can see … its just stupid. Our yard is 160 by 80 .. its a huge reverse pie and we should be able to get at leased a harvest that helps us through the winter .. but know …. you can use our yard for your vids … yours in one thing .. but when you see mine .. you will be amazed.
New sub here, a fellow zone 3 from Saskatchewan. I am a beginner gardener, and I love the idea of following along your gardening season as you work through it, in a more real time way. I look forward to the 2017 growing season! 😀
Fun fact… zone 3 in canada is zone 2 in the USA. I live in zone 4b ( 3b in the USA ) and I could grow artichoke successfully ( just to tell you that it is possible to grow a lot of things even with a short season )
I'd love to hear how carbon footprints compare with technologies vs transported produce. That'll take a lot of research, but I think it's of value to us all, especially if we all can apply your calculations with our own local data. Thanks for the scientific approach you share with us on your channel.
Getting started on a vegetable garden for the first time in Spruce Grove this year. Absolutely love these videos! Been really helpful to learn all your tips and tricks. So nice to hear someone talk about growing in Zone 3.
Sounds like a good year of videos coming up! I have been toying with the idea of posting a few videos of my own but I need to manage my time better plus I can be a bit hard to understand at times. If you have any tips on how you manage your time and/or on making the clips I would appreciate it!If you're ever in the area and you want to do an aquaponics clip let me know ? I can probably help out with the clip.
You come from some cold places my friend! I like this concept and look forward to the rest of the series! Of course with me way down in zone 8 the ability to grow in cold doesn't really apply, but the thought processes behind it can help us think of ways to cope with the heat as well. Gets those creative juices flowing.
Great ideas! I started with one hoop bed several years ago just to extend the seasons on both ends and became a four season gardener. Amazing what you can grow in the colder months with the right plants.
Also just outside Edmonton, and excited to find gardening vids for our climate. Finally had a great veg garden last year due to the excellent soil I've been able to build with the manure from my sheep. Hoping to incorporate chickens this summer, and get them to do the composting for me. Looking forward to exploring your channel more.
Sounds like some interesting videos are on the way. By the way, do they sell coloured paint in Alberta? Sorry. Noticing the bland colours on the houses in your neighbourhood. Good thing for greenery. 🙂
I had forgotten what snow looked like. I think I am a couple of hundred miles north of you, but luckily the Scottish West coast has a winter average of -4C. I am looking forward to what you come up with.
I have been thinking of this too,I'm in zone 7 NY and would like to know at what temp or degrees would I have to keep a grow tunnel or green house to grow tomatoes and cucumbers?i have been growing lettuces all winter in 40-45 degrees and using solar into batteries into convert for small heater.there may not be enough sun light .thats my 2cents,any helpful info would really help,thanks for this video
I love your ideas. I am parallel to you, just in British Columbia. We used to live in Edmonton, so I know exactly what you were talking about when it comes to Alberta weather. I have had a learning curve coming to British Columbia, because the weather here is different. I look forward to watching all your videos, and I have already learned so much from you. So thanks. Also wanted to note, your weight loss is going fantastic. Can definitely tell in your face. Keep up the good work 🙂
Wow Great timing. Stephen. I am looking into growing food over the winter months in zone 3 Ontario. Eliot Coleman's methods in four season gardening are great but as you know we face a higher degree of difficulty in our zones. I have done much research in applying his methods with other innovations but the costs and the limited resources are challenging in my province. Some ideas for you to look into apart from cold frames and hoop houses are rocket mass heaters. passive heating and geothermal heating. The list goes on. If I had the money I would invest in large greenhouses that could provide year round crops for my community since I have a 40 acre farm. Dreaming big. LOL I am looking forward to your ideas and what you can find that other gardeners can implement that would be cost efficient. Thanks
I appreciate all the information you have provided Stephen. I have learned a lot from your channel. Any advice for an old fart playing in the dirt will be appreciated 🙂
One new thing I have heard about is "Heat Treated Onion sets" these apparently have reduced bolting during the growing process. I am trying to research if Canada has any of these sets.
I also live in Alberta (Edmonton) and was very excited to find your channel! I think the biggest impact you could make with your technology investigations would be how to maximize growing from a single window. Something like that could really, really help all the apartment dwellers who want to grow things, but might only be able to dedicate a very small amount of space.
Also, if you have some direct actions that designers could take on sustainability I might be able to get you into some speaking arrangements in the city (MADE or Make Something Edmonton, or the Student Design Association, or maayyybe CreativeMornings)
Aleays willing to learn to better myarlf and health..big like my friend!!!
What would you suggest for a animal and kid friendly ground cover lawn replacer in Calgary? Thank you in advance for any advice you may offer. 🙂
IAM IN ZONE 7B AND IAM ALLWAYS LOOKING FOR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES TO GROW IN MY ZONE
Can the mineral waste water from herb distillation, and hydrosol be used for beneficial plants sprays and or compost/soil fertilizers. Should the waste material be compost
Having huge problems in Calgary .. for some reason EVERY year we get BUGs that just kill our garden and leave the flowers alone … WHY? AHHHHHG … driving us us nuts. THE BUGS .. potato bugs … on the peppers .. not sure but we get large holes that have been ate … the tomatoes the same thing … and our lettuces .. when its young birds … WE CAN NOT WIN … huge yard .. but does not produce crap because of the bugs . If you are ever in Calgary … please drop in and you can see … its just stupid.
Our yard is 160 by 80 .. its a huge reverse pie and we should be able to get at leased a harvest that helps us through the winter .. but know …. you can use our yard for your vids … yours in one thing .. but when you see mine .. you will be amazed.
New sub here, a fellow zone 3 from Saskatchewan. I am a beginner gardener, and I love the idea of following along your gardening season as you work through it, in a more real time way. I look forward to the 2017 growing season! 😀
I'm looking forward to learn more about gardening technologies in 2017!
Fun fact… zone 3 in canada is zone 2 in the USA. I live in zone 4b ( 3b in the USA ) and I could grow artichoke successfully ( just to tell you that it is possible to grow a lot of things even with a short season )
Wouldnt hate a longer growing season though
I'd love to hear how carbon footprints compare with technologies vs transported produce. That'll take a lot of research, but I think it's of value to us all, especially if we all can apply your calculations with our own local data. Thanks for the scientific approach you share with us on your channel.
Can't wait to see the new series! Keep up the great videos!
Getting started on a vegetable garden for the first time in Spruce Grove this year. Absolutely love these videos! Been really helpful to learn all your tips and tricks. So nice to hear someone talk about growing in Zone 3.
I'm finally growing too..
Sounds like a good year of videos coming up! I have been toying with the idea of posting a few videos of my own but I need to manage my time better plus I can be a bit hard to understand at times. If you have any tips on how you manage your time and/or on making the clips I would appreciate it!If you're ever in the area and you want to do an aquaponics clip let me know ? I can probably help out with the clip.
You come from some cold places my friend! I like this concept and look forward to the rest of the series! Of course with me way down in zone 8 the ability to grow in cold doesn't really apply, but the thought processes behind it can help us think of ways to cope with the heat as well. Gets those creative juices flowing.
Great ideas! I started with one hoop bed several years ago just to extend the seasons on both ends and became a four season gardener. Amazing what you can grow in the colder months with the right plants.
Also just outside Edmonton, and excited to find gardening vids for our climate. Finally had a great veg garden last year due to the excellent soil I've been able to build with the manure from my sheep. Hoping to incorporate chickens this summer, and get them to do the composting for me. Looking forward to exploring your channel more.
Very encouraging
Sounds like some interesting videos are on the way. By the way, do they sell coloured paint in Alberta? Sorry. Noticing the bland colours on the houses in your neighbourhood. Good thing for greenery. 🙂
I had forgotten what snow looked like. I think I am a couple of hundred miles north of you, but luckily the Scottish West coast has a winter average of -4C. I am looking forward to what you come up with.
Don't go away, stay with us.
God bless
I have been thinking of this too,I'm in zone 7 NY and would like to know at what temp or degrees would I have to keep a grow tunnel or green house to grow tomatoes and cucumbers?i have been growing lettuces all winter in 40-45 degrees and using solar into batteries into convert for small heater.there may not be enough sun light .thats my 2cents,any helpful info would really help,thanks for this video
I grow in bedroom ???✌
Sounds like its time to turn an entire room in your house into an indoor garden!
I love your ideas. I am parallel to you, just in British Columbia. We used to live in Edmonton, so I know exactly what you were talking about when it comes to Alberta weather. I have had a learning curve coming to British Columbia, because the weather here is different. I look forward to watching all your videos, and I have already learned so much from you. So thanks. Also wanted to note, your weight loss is going fantastic. Can definitely tell in your face. Keep up the good work 🙂
Wow Great timing. Stephen. I am looking into growing food over the winter months in zone 3 Ontario. Eliot Coleman's methods in four season gardening are great but as you know we face a higher degree of difficulty in our zones. I have done much research in applying his methods with other innovations but the costs and the limited resources are challenging in my province. Some ideas for you to look into apart from cold frames and hoop houses are rocket mass heaters. passive heating and geothermal heating. The list goes on. If I had the money I would invest in large greenhouses that could provide year round crops for my community since I have a 40 acre farm. Dreaming big. LOL I am looking forward to your ideas and what you can find that other gardeners can implement that would be cost efficient. Thanks
Good to see you, Stephen! I hope y'all are doing well!
I appreciate all the information you have provided Stephen. I have learned a lot from your channel. Any advice for an old fart playing in the dirt will be appreciated 🙂
One new thing I have heard about is "Heat Treated Onion sets" these apparently have reduced bolting during the growing process. I am trying to research if Canada has any of these sets.
Cheers
Harold
I also live in Alberta (Edmonton) and was very excited to find your channel! I think the biggest impact you could make with your technology investigations would be how to maximize growing from a single window. Something like that could really, really help all the apartment dwellers who want to grow things, but might only be able to dedicate a very small amount of space.
Also, if you have some direct actions that designers could take on sustainability I might be able to get you into some speaking arrangements in the city (MADE or Make Something Edmonton, or the Student Design Association, or maayyybe CreativeMornings)
Looking forward to the new series and hope someone videos your talks and shares on youtube too.
Looking forward to your vlog and garden assumptions videos. I would also like to see more about your weight loss journey. (Great job btw!)
great job!!! would love to support your mission…thanks for sharing..we are in zone 4! well said!
I'm very excited to be able to follow along with when and how you plant.
I don't know if you've seen this – but it seems the Edmonton area has been upgraded to zone 4a! (http://www.planthardiness.gc.ca/?lang=en&m=24&speciesid=1000000&phz=phz1981-2010&bc=1)
Lastly, if you're interested in filming a tour or a trouble shooting video I've got a community plot I'd be happy to have you visit. 🙂
Go for it Stephen ,I'll be with you. Grow local is the best policy
if you are doing this research. Could you please let us know if aquaponics is really useful or manageable in small scale.
They are all great. I especially like the testing garden assumption series. Best wishes Bob.