The Grow Guide

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.