http://heavypetal.ca Gardening: from a West Coast, urban, organic perspective. Fri, 05 Mar 2010 04:43:41 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Tag this one Clever and Cute. Postcarden is a fun and simple pop-out postcard that transforms into a mini living garden. It unfolds into a little diorama, in one of three designs: Allotment (pictured above), Botanical (shown below) or City. The front of each postcarden has ... http://heavypetal.ca/archives/2010/03/postcarden/ My community garden plot. Broccoli, garlic, cabbage, leeks, kale, and a heavy rye/clover cover crop make for a lush-looking garden -- even in February. While much of North America is having an unusually harsh winter, here in Vancouver, it's downright balmy -- much to the chagrin of the organizers of ... http://heavypetal.ca/archives/2010/02/spring-gardening-kick-off/ Forget the drugstore chocolate in the velvet heart, or even dinner at a swanky restaurant. What I want right about now are seeds. (When I think "Valentine's Day," I think, "time to plant peas!" not "better buy a card!") Here are my picks for some vegetable seeds that would make great ... http://heavypetal.ca/archives/2010/02/what-a-gardener-really-wants-for-valentines-day/ Leave it to VivaTerra to carry this gorgeous felted stone mat by South African textile designer Ronel Jordaan. Made of 100% merino wool, I can just imagine how beautiful this would feel underfoot. Yum. http://heavypetal.ca/archives/2010/01/felted-stone-mat/ I love this time of year in the garden, when I don't do much more than look out at it from the shelter of our cozy home. Birds definitely are the primary users of our garden during the winter; every morning there are at least a dozen hopping around the ... http://heavypetal.ca/archives/2010/01/bring-on-the-birds/ My husband and I are attempting to (re)decorate our living room. (I'm not sure whether we're decorating or redecorating. We've lived here for almost four years, and the living "room," which is part of an open plan kitchen/dining/living space, is completely dysfunctional.) As an attempt to finally wrangle the beast, I'm ... http://heavypetal.ca/archives/2010/01/my-first-week-on-the-cure-plus-some-inspiration-from-pad-outdoors/ Posts were few and far between on Heavy Petal in 2009, and if you're still reading, I'm grateful (and a little surprised!). I was busy writing a book. There, I said it. I've been afraid to mention it here in case I jinxed it, but I'm forcing myself to do it now. ... http://heavypetal.ca/archives/2010/01/the-big-reveal-announcing-the-book/ Remodelista has a wonderful post up featuring the kitchen garden from the forthcoming movie, It's Complicated (with the inimitable Meryl Streep). It's all very idyllic in a potager-meets-Spanish-Colonial kind of way, and I want it desperately. Unfortunately, I don't have the space (or the cash) but for those who do, ... http://heavypetal.ca/archives/2009/12/sneak-peak-at-its-complicated-kitchen-garden/ Wait—how did it get to be December already? We just finished the Halloween candy. Since there are obviously fewer minutes in an hour these days, I give thanks every time I click "add to cart" and check another name off my shopping list without setting foot in a mall. So here's ... http://heavypetal.ca/archives/2009/12/best-gifts-for-gardeners-2009/ Only a gardener would dress their child as a beneficial insect. Happy Halloween! http://heavypetal.ca/archives/2009/10/im-scaaary-to-aphids/