Over at his Amateur Gardening blog, Stuart Robinson lists the ten must-have herbs from a chef’s perspective. There’s the usual basil, rosemary and oregano, but also lemongrass and even borage (I’ll admit, I never knew what to do with borage. But that’s why I’m not a chef). Stuart, why no parsley? It’s my standby. In […]
Archives for November 2005
New reason to justify a Prius
Toyota has developed a new shrub called Kirsch Pink. A derivative of the Cherry Sage shrub that is optimized for absorbing pollutants from the air, it is reportedly 1.3 times more effective at absorbing NOx, SO2 and other air pollutants than its parent stock. The new plant, which flowers between May and November, also diminishes […]
Downtown Eastside residents find fulfilling work in gardening
Emerging Hope is a program that empowers residents of Vancouver’s poverty-stricken downtown eastside by providing employment. Many are people who normally have difficulty finding suitable employment due to homelessness and addiction. I spoke with a woman whose life had been changed by this program. She told me that, without Emerging Hope, she’d still be on […]
Indoor composter
I’m pretty sure I need the new Nature Mill indoor composter. Here’s the scoop. Ben and I are moving into our new home within the next three months. And while I’m happy because it’s the first place we’ve owned together, it’s gonna be tiny. And the garden is going to be even tinier. I’ve been […]
Leggo my Eglu
I absolutely must have an eglu. Pleasepleaseplease, sweetie? I need it. And so will you, when you check it out. Here’s what the omlet website has to say: The eglu is a coop for the 21st century, featuring spacious open plan living for 2 – 4 medium size chickens or up to 5 bantams, it […]
Still blooming
Despite my complaints about the rain, ain’t it grand to live in zone eight? I must remind myself, I could be digging out from a snowstorm, like the folks in Calgary. Instead, I wander around the garden and capture its last hurrahs. Passiflora caerulea Eupatorium rugosum ‘Chocolate’ Rosa ‘Bonica’ Pernettya mucronata
Come again some other day
It’s definitely autumn in Vancouver. I can tell because my biceps are becoming nicely toned from constantly carrying an umbrella, the bottom of my pant legs are always damp, and all I feel like doing is staying inside, curled up by the fire with a book. We’ve entered monsoon season, and while I hate it […]