Blog Moved

Please note the blog has been moved to our new (!) website. Please visit us at www.grasslandsnursery.ca, then click Our Blog.

Hope to hear from you soon!

Did You Say Permaculture?

A term you may have heard bandied about in recent months is “permaculture”.

What does it mean? Well, just like many concepts, there are a varied number of definitions. Here is one, credited to Bill Mollison, the ‘father’ of permaculture:

“(Permaculture is) … an integrated system of design, that encompasses not only agriculture, horticulture, architecture and ecology, but also economic systems, land access strategies and legal systems for businesses and communities.”

Another, less technical one stated by Rob Avis of Verge Permaculture in Calgary is this: “Permaculture is a framework that allows you to take all of the most cutting edge environmental and social solutions and weave them together into something that is guaranteed to work long term”.

Permaculture Crash Course

Gordon Hiebert of Element Eco-Design is presenting a two-day Permaculture Introduction course at Grasslands Nursery on May 21, 22.
Not only will you learn about permaculture ethics and principles, but you'll have the chance to install a permaculture garden right on site!
Join us for what will prove to be a fascinating, informative, hands-on session.
For more information or to register, visit Element Eco-Design.

Permaculture 101: A Crash Course in Permaculture

Grasslands Nursery is positively thrilled to host Gordon and Jana Hiebert of Element Eco-Design (Vernon, BC). This dynamic couple will instruct a two-day course on Permaculture. What the heck is permaculture? Read more here.

The course will be held on the May Long Weekend (May 21 and 22) at the Nursery. Here is a brief list of the some of the topics you can expect to cover. Note you'll have the chance to do a hands-on, 'real life' installation.

• Introduction to Permaculture (background, ethics)
• Design In Nature
• Design Priorities
• Water Harvesting
• Dryland Strategies
• Site Preparation 
• Installation

Lunch and snacks are provided. Cost for the course is $130 per person for the two days. An optional Introduction to Permaculture book will be available for purchase.

Registration is not yet open, but feel free to contact Grasslands Nursery if you have questions or wish to be added to our Wait List.

Don't miss out on this fun-filled, informative weekend!

The Myth of Abundance

Last weekend I previewed a DVD, directed by Canadian Liz Marshall, that follows the work of Maude Barlow. This award-winning documentary, “Water on the Table”, examines the question: should clean, potable water be declared a human right, or should it be a marketable commodity like lumber, grain or oil?

A number of people, both Canadians and Americans, are interviewed at various times throughout the documentary: some with views similar to Ms. Barlow’s, others with opposing thoughts.

Gardening to Work Less, Play More

One great thing about a garden is that it is never ‘done’.

Now, if you don’t like to garden – or cannot find the time – this statement might make you shudder.

On the other hand, if you have joined the growing population of gardeners, this statement is music to your ears.

Food Alternatives for Ornamentals

Trees offer a number of benefits. They provide shade and habitat, reduce energy costs (by their shading in the summer and sheltering in the winter), clean the air, are relatively low-maintenance (many species), and are lovely to look at.

Why not go one step further?

Is Mother Nature Trying to Tell us Something?

Whether it is a result of climate change or merely a natural cycle, our planet is increasingly exhibiting some violent behaviour. Witness the upheaval in Japan – several major earthquakes, a tsunami and a volcanic eruption. These events in occurred within less than a week’s time of each other and are likely related.

Even though we are immersed with video and news reporting, it is difficult to comprehend what Japanese communities are experiencing as they face the devastating impact on their families and livelihoods.

One thing is certain though. The things we humans need to survive are scarce and/or in jeopardy in the areas hardest hit by the recent events: Water, Food, and Shelter.

Welcome!

Greetings to all and thank you for following my blog, created March 13, 2011.

I'm glad the temperature is getting into the double digits this week, but I sure wish the clouds would clear and we'd have some sunny weather! It doesn't take much sunlight to nicely warm up the greenhouses and coax plants out of dormancy.

This year we are carrying many more edible products, including fruit trees. Edible landscapes are quickly coming to the forefront as people are starting to use their yards for edible value, not simply aesthetics.

And why not? Besides the obvious (rising fuel costs leading to higher food costs, GM products and a penchant for the use of toxic chemicals, the destruction of soil through monoculture, etc.), it's time to turn things around and get 'back to basics'.

The excellent DVD "Age of Stupid" asks the question: "We knew we were destroying our planet. Why didn't we do anything about it?" Why indeed.

It's time to rebuild our soils, rebuild our communities, rebuild our health and rebuild positive perspectives through living sustainably. You know you can do it!