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September 6, 2025 In Newsletter Articles, Newsletters

A Seed-Saving Story

This is what the flower should look like when picking the seed. Photo by Debbie Innes.

By Debbie Innes, Master Gardener

(Reprinted with permission from The Prairie Garden 2025)

Squash seeds. Photo by Debbie Innes.

My education in gardening and seed saving began at my grandmother’s feet. She lived 30 minutes away, so I had the good fortune to see her often. She made her summertime living growing plants to be sold from her 70-foot greenhouse. My grandparents ran a u-pick garden in the early days at their place on the banks of the Souris River, where they grew mostly corn and tomatoes for sale. The family plot had all the things you could easily grow and preserve, as well as fresh greens and fruit-bearing shrubs and strawberries too. She preserved everything she possibly could and baked bread in her wood-burning stove, so I learned some of that as well.

I followed her around to the many gardens and watched her pick and gather seeds as she went. She would fill her pockets with seeds to be sorted later into envelopes or whatever was handy. As a mother of ten, she had no time to waste. From her, I learned that there are seeds worth saving and some that aren’t.READ MORE

May 1, 2025 In Newsletter Articles, Newsletters

The Power of Biodiversity: Building Resilient Gardens and Communities

By: Zach Loeks

In these times of uncertainty, the importance of food security has never been clearer. With global challenges such as climate change, economic instability, and disruptions in food supply chains, home gardeners have a critical role to play in building resilience—both in their own backyards and within their broader communities. As we face these challenges, cultivating a garden that maximizes biodiversity is one of the most powerful steps you can take to contribute to both your personal food security and that of your neighborhood. Biodiverse gardens have a multitude of benefits, and it all starts with understanding the core concept: creating a diverse, edible ecosystem. This means your garden is a blend of plants suitable to your environment, to each other as companions, and for you as the gardener.READ MORE

April 30, 2025 In Newsletter Articles, Newsletters

Adjusting to Balcony Vegetable Gardening

By Jeannette Adams, Master Gardener

Up until four years ago, I was fortunate to have a large, full-sun backyard where I grew a wide variety of food crops. Now I garden on a fourth floor condo balcony. I have been experimenting and adjusting to my new growing conditions.

When we bought our condo, I was happy that it faced mostly east so I thought, morning sun, great. Once we moved in, I discovered that the balcony was in shade by 1:00 p.m. because the sun was blocked by part of the building limiting the number of sunlight hours. I also discovered that being on the fourth floor resulted in the balcony becoming very hot, so plants preferring cooler temperatures didn’t do well. We are not bothered much by wind, but some of my neighbours have a real problem with wind that can be very damaging.READ MORE

April 30, 2025 In Newsletter Articles, Newsletters

Make a Difference for Biodiversity by Joining in on this Conservation Movement!

By: Kiyoko (Maurine) Ulrich, Master Gardener

 

On his website, “Home Grown National Park” (https://homegrownnationalpark.org/ ), Douglas Tallamy, an American entomologist, ecologist and author bestselling author, says,
“Add native plants and remove invasive ones everywhere that we live, work, learn, pray and play….Chances are, you have never thought of your garden—indeed, all of the space on your property as a wildlife preserve that represents the last opportunity we have for sustaining plants and animals that were once common.
That is exactly the role that built landscapes are now playing and will play even more in the near future. Small changes in our own backyards can create a nationwide impact on biodiversity. By replacing lawns with native plants, individuals are helping to rebuild ecosystems, one yard at a time. This can range from a single native plant in a container on a porch or rooftop to a substantial meadow, forest or prairie . “READ MORE

April 30, 2025 In Book review, Newsletter Articles, Newsletters

The Light Eaters – Book Review

By: Darlene Belton, Master Gardener

So, you think you know something about plants? I thought I did too, until I read Zoё Schlanger’s The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth.

The concept of plant intelligence is controversial, even paradigm shattering, yet the research of this new branch of botany reported on by Schlanger is robust, though its scientists are cautious of strong skepticism from the mainstream. “Rarely,” Schlanger writes, “does one get a glimpse of a field in true turmoil”.READ MORE

April 29, 2025 In Agricultural Fair, Newsletter Articles, Newsletters

Enjoying the St. Vital Agricultural Society Fair

By Lori Graham, Master Gardener & Master Composter

I have been a member of the St. Vital Agricultural Society (SVAS) for the past four years and last year I decided to submit some entries into their annual fair. Every year has a different theme with 2024’s theme being Winnipeg 150. Floral arrangers were encouraged to use blue and yellow flowers in their floral displays. Having attended as a visitor in 2022, I wanted to enter some competitions in 2024.READ MORE

February 27, 2025 In Inspiration, Manitoba Gardens, Manitoba trees, Newsletter Articles, Newsletters, Resource

Diversity of Trees for Manitoba Cities and Urban Areas

Prairie Horizon Manchurian Alder Landscape

Diversity of Trees for Manitoba Cities and Urban Areas
By Rick Durand

Do we have the capacity to diversify the Manitoba urban forests? This article will show you the challenges we have in our urban forests and how you can make a difference.

Challenges
Manitoba is one of the coldest regions in the world and the trees growing here must be as tough and rugged as Manitobans themselves. Another challenge for Manitoba trees is the very high pH of prairie soils, typically between 7.5 to 8.5. Most prairie soils rise in pH as one goes deeper into the soil. So, trees that may do well the first couple of years because they are growing in the upper layer of the soil, may decline in health in later years when the roots hit the lower layers that have a higher pH. With a higher pH soil, the tree has less availability to essential elements such as iron and some of the micronutrients.READ MORE

February 26, 2025 In Newsletter Articles, Newsletters

Why Grow Haskap?

Philip Ronald, Ph.D., Riverbend Orchards Inc.

 

Haskap, also known as honeyberry and edible blue honeysuckle, is a relatively new fruit crop for the prairie region. Known as Lonicera caerulea in Latin, this circumpolar shrub species is found in the northern boreal forests in Asia, Europe, and North America. Hybridization efforts by Dr. Bob Bors at the University of Saskatchewan over the last 20 years have spawned a number of wonderful cultivars for prairie gardeners.READ MORE

February 26, 2025 In Newsletter Articles, Newsletters

Learning Opportunities for Master Gardeners – and Everyone Else

By Linda Dietrick, Education Director, MMGA

Manitoba Master Gardeners have to log four hours per year of continuing education to maintain their certification. This makes sense when you consider that we are volunteer gardening educators, and we have to stay up to date on the latest horticultural developments and science-based research if we’re going to pass our knowledge on to others.READ MORE

February 24, 2025 In Inspiration, Native Plants, Newsletter Articles, Newsletters, Resource

Supporting Pollinators in a School Garden

by Karen Miller, Master Gardener Intern

There is increasing public concern about native plants and pollination. It is widely accepted that both are on a steady decline in Canada. The issue seems widespread and individuals are often left wondering how they can help and if it will make a detectable difference. This article shares my experience, a woman who took her love for gardening a step further to help create change by encouraging future generations. And during the process, my heart was reshaped to recognize that insects deserve some serious time in the spotlight.READ MORE