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The Helpful Gardeners
The Helpful Gardeners episodes
- Garden Tools Are Getting Passports?!
In an increasingly connected world that's full of choice, do you ever wonder how your soil or garden tools are made, transported, and go once their time is up? Well, the EU is getting ready to introduce the Digital Product Passport (DPP) later this year. From PFAS-free certifications to the origin of your shovel’s steel, we're diving into how this tech could impact the customer experience and the business side too. Could this be a fit for the North American economy too?
CONNECT WITH US
Show Notes | www.goldenacre.ca/podcast
Instagram | thehelpfulgardenerspod
Leave us a Voice Note: www.goldenacre.ca/podcast
SPONSORED BY GOLDEN ACRE HOME & GARDEN
Golden Acre Home & Garden is open 362 a year for all your home and garden needs. Head online or visit us in store in Calgary, AB. www.goldenacre.ca
CREDITS
Hosted by: Brandi Warren & Colin Hayles
Voiceover by: Kaelan Shimp
Music by: Forestmusic
22 min - Backyards aren't as "back" as they used to be..
Ever feel like the world is watching? Between real estate drones and Google Maps, our backyards aren't as "back" as they used to be. We garden for a thousand reasons: the crunch of a homegrown carrot, the scent of Lilacs in May, and that deep, soul-level exhale that only happens when you’re surrounded by green. But in 2026, the digital overwhelm has inspired some gardeners to take on a new reason. With urban density on the rise and cameras seemingly everywhere, "privacy" has become the ultimate luxury. It’s no longer just about blocking the neighbor’s view while you’re in your loungewear; it’s about creating a space where you aren't "on display."
CONNECT WITH US
Show Notes | www.goldenacre.ca/podcast
Instagram | thehelpfulgardenerspod
Leave us a Voice Note: www.goldenacre.ca/podcast
SPONSORED BY GOLDEN ACRE HOME & GARDEN
Golden Acre Home & Garden is open 362 a year for all your home and garden needs. Head online or visit us in store in Calgary, AB. www.goldenacre.ca
CREDITS
Hosted by: Brandi Warren & Colin Hayles
Voiceover by: Kaelan Shimp
Music by: Forestmusic
25 min - When Your Seeds Ghost You
Is there anything more heartbreaking than tucking your tiny seed babies into their warm soil beds, whispering "see you soon," and then... nothing? Or worse, they sprout, but then just stop growing? From leggy tomatoes to rosemary that refuses to wake up, we’re troubleshooting the most common reasons your seedlings are stalling and how to get them back on the fast track to garden greatness. We got a great question this week from Jill that we can't wait to dive into.
CONNECT WITH US
Show Notes | www.goldenacre.ca/podcast
Instagram | thehelpfulgardenerspod
Leave us a Voice Note: www.goldenacre.ca/podcast
SPONSORED BY GOLDEN ACRE HOME & GARDEN
Golden Acre Home & Garden is open 362 a year for all your home and garden needs. Head online or visit us in store in Calgary, AB. www.goldenacre.ca
CREDITS
Hosted by: Brandi Warren & Colin Hayles
Voiceover by: Kaelan Shimp
Music by: Forestmusic
23 min - Stop killing this "weed" and start eating them
Forget everything you thought you knew about those yellow "weeds" in your lawn. We’re talking Dandelion Microgreens—the nutrient-packed plant that is easy to grow and fun for the whole family. It's truly as easy as tossing seeds on top of the soil and waiting. While the mature plant can be quite bitter, microgreens are a whole different vibe, and they look stunning on avocado toast. Not convinced? Listen in to this weeks episode of the podcastCONNECT WITH US
Show Notes | www.goldenacre.ca/podcast
Instagram | thehelpfulgardenerspod
Leave us a Voice Note: www.goldenacre.ca/podcast
SPONSORED BY GOLDEN ACRE HOME & GARDEN
Golden Acre Home & Garden is open 362 a year for all your home and garden needs. Head online or visit us in store in Calgary, AB.
www.goldenacre.ca
CREDITS
Hosted by: Brandi Warren & Colin Hayles
Voiceover by: Kaelan Shimp
Music by: Forestmusic
19 min - Your Garden is About to Get a Glow Up
Ever wish your backyard looked like a scene from Avatar? There's a new Petunia in town, and it's about the change up the gardening game: the Firefly Petunia. From the lab to your patio (eventually!), we’re breaking down the science of how these beauties glow, why Canada is still waiting for the light show, and dreaming of a future where your houseplants double as floor lamps.
CONNECT WITH US
Show Notes | www.goldenacre.ca/podcast
Instagram | thehelpfulgardenerspod
Leave us a Voice Note: www.goldenacre.ca/podcast
SPONSORED BY GOLDEN ACRE HOME & GARDEN
Golden Acre Home & Garden is open 362 a year for all your home and garden needs. Head online or visit us in store in Calgary, AB.
www.goldenacre.ca
CREDITS
Hosted by: Brandi Warren & Colin Hayles
Voiceover by: Kaelan Shimp
Music by: Forestmusic
17 min - Unlock Your Seed's Germination Code
We’ve all been there: you buy the cute seed packets, you find the perfect pots, you water them with love... and then, nothing. Total radio silence. It’s important to realize that seeds are hard-wired to stay asleep until the conditions are exactly right. In the wild, a seed doesn't want to sprout in the middle of a January blizzard or during a drought. They have evolved "locks," and you need the right "key" to open them.
From spa-day soakings to literal "trial by fire," we’re teaching you the types of seed starting needs, how to identify them on the packet, and what you might find at the garden centre.
CONNECT WITH US
Show Notes | www.goldenacre.ca/podcast
Instagram | thehelpfulgardenerspod
Leave us a Voice Note: www.goldenacre.ca/podcast
SPONSORED BY GOLDEN ACRE HOME & GARDEN
Golden Acre Home & Garden is open 362 a year for all your home and garden needs. Head online or visit us in store in Calgary, AB.
www.goldenacre.ca
CREDITS
Hosted by: Brandi Warren & Colin Hayles
Voiceover by: Kaelan Shimp
Music by: Forestmusic
23 min - Seeing Red: Are Coloured Nets The Secret to Bug-Free Gardens?
Is your garden basically an all-you-can-eat buffet for thrips and aphids? 😫
We’re diving into some wild new tech from Japan that uses colored nets—not chemicals—to keep the pests away. Forget everything you saw on that viral "rainbow farm" post, though; we’re getting into the real science of why bugs hate seeing red and how this could be a game-changer for your backyard veggie patch.
CONNECT WITH US
Show Notes | www.goldenacre.ca/podcast
Instagram | thehelpfulgardenerspod
Leave us a Voice Note: www.goldenacre.ca/podcast
SPONSORED BY GOLDEN ACRE HOME & GARDEN
Golden Acre Home & Garden is open 362 a year for all your home and garden needs. Head online or visit us in store in Calgary, AB.
www.goldenacre.ca
CREDITS
Hosted by: Brandi Warren & Colin Hayles
Voiceover by: Kaelan Shimp
Music by: Forestmusic
18 min - Stop and Smell the Tulips in 2026
Grab your sun hat and your besties, because tulip season is coming! From the mountain-backed fields of the Fraser Valley to the historic gardens of Ottawa and the chic pick-your-own vibes in Montreal, we’re breaking down the must-visit Canadian festivals for 2026. Whether you're looking for the perfect IG backdrop or a peaceful morning of sunrise yoga among the petals, there’s a field with your name on it.
CONNECT WITH US
Show Notes | www.goldenacre.ca/podcast
Instagram | thehelpfulgardenerspod
Leave us a Voice Note: www.goldenacre.ca/podcast
SPONSORED BY GOLDEN ACRE HOME & GARDEN
Golden Acre Home & Garden is open 362 a year for all your home and garden needs. Head online or visit us in store in Calgary, AB.
www.goldenacre.ca
CREDITS
Hosted by: Brandi Warren & Colin Hayles
Voiceover by: Kaelan Shimp
Music by: Forestmusic
17 min - Ghosting Plastic Plant Pots for Organic Packaging
Have you ever felt guilty looking at the pile of plastic containers after potting up all your annuals every spring? Do you often keep all those packages, trying to find alternative uses to give them a second life? While modern packaging has come a long way from the OG Styrofoam clamshells, the greenhouse industry is continuing to pave the way to sustainability.
In this week’s episode of The Helpful Gardeners, we’re diving into the “Sustainability Wrap”—a movement that’s changing how plants are packaged and sold. From biodegradable wraps to compostable containers, we’re here for it.
Mentioned in this episode:
Lessons in a ‘Great Depression’ Garden
CONNECT WITH US
Show Notes | www.goldenacre.ca/podcast
Instagram | thehelpfulgardenerspod
Leave us a Voice Note: www.goldenacre.ca/podcast
SPONSORED BY GOLDEN ACRE HOME & GARDEN
Golden Acre Home & Garden is open 362 a year for all your home and garden needs. Head online or visit us in store in Calgary, AB. www.goldenacre.ca
CREDITS
Hosted by: Brandi Warren & Colin Hayles
Voiceover by: Kaelan Shimp
Music by: Forestmusic
25 min - BONUS: The Calgary Home & Garden Show
Need inspiration and expert advice? We're on the road this week to the Calgary Home & Garden Show! If you've never been to an event like this, it's like Costco. Google Maps, and Pinterest all under one roof. You do the weave and see 100+ local businesses dealing in a variety of niche projects, from roofing to landscaping to hot tubs. Most of these businesses will have show specials too, so you can get the work done for a fraction of the price. Plus, there are elements of inspiration you may not have thought of which you'll see in today's video.
So, come along on this bonus episode of the podcast as we explore the show!
4 min
About The Helpful Gardeners
From the publisher's feed
Welcome to the Helpful Gardeners, a weekly podcast diving into the home and garden topics you want to learn more about. Colin is a certified horticulturist with decades of experience working in landscaping, gardening and houseplants in various climactic zones. Brandi is a beginner with a passion to ask questions.
Subscribe to catch new episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday!