The Helpful Gardeners

We're sitting down with our friend, Nathan Gill, of Ecologic Horticulture to talk native plants! We've been sitting on this episode for a while just due to baby and life over the summer so it's extra polished and full of all sorts of goodies. Dig in to learn about the benefits of native plants, how to incorporate them in your garden, and the various projects they work on including one...

We're back! After a hiatus for family and rest, the gardeners are picking up their gloves and teasing some new episodes of the podcast this fall! *********************** CONNECT WITH US Thank you so much for supporting our podcast and for making the world a more planty place. Please subscribe, leave a rating or review and listen in for new gardening discussions every week! Subscribe on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

The Canada Strong Pass is available now until September 2! The Canada Strong Pass is breaking down barriers for Summer 2026 to encourage more visits to some of Canadas most iconic places. There is so much diversity in the foral found around Alberta and the rest of the country from trees to grasses, and especially wildflowers. What can see out your back door? Are you making a trip to take in more o...

"It's part of a cycle of nature" Today, we're exploring the increase in wildfire activity in our community and how it impacts our gardens. We're talking the life cycle of forests, the causes of wildfires, and the effects of smoke on plants. We even dive into the nutritional implications of smoke on vegetables! Let's better understand the environmental changes and adapting...

We're talking summer lawn care with our friend Shelley Vance from Scotts Canada! Find out what she thinks about 'No Mow May', and how she tackles cutting the lawn including optimal mowing techniques, proactive maintenance strategies, effective watering methods, and how to manage lawn diseases and pests. Maintain a healthy lawn throughout the summer months with proactive strategies! Cha...

Welcome back to courthouse! This week, we're diving into "No Mow May", a concept that was popularized during the pandemic encouraging people to refrain from mowing their lawns in May to support pollinators and biodiversity. We'll talk the pros and cons of this initiative, including its impact on lawn health, the ecological implications of traditional lawns, and alternative practi...

In Canada, the Victoria Day long weekend is typically our green light for planting in the garden! We're talking about different annual plants you can get right now, tips for creating the perfect planter, and a conversation about growing veggies! Weather is still a consideration as we may still see some frosty nights. We'll explore ways to be proactive rather than reactive in the garden thi...

It's Mother's Day and while there are lots of ways to celebrate the motherly figures in our lives, afternoon tea is a popular outing this holiday. We dive into the tradition of afternoon tea, its origins, and how it has evolved over time. What country produces the most tea? What are tea connections in Brazil? Can we grow tea in Canada? Does it taste different in other regions? Plus, the di...

Have you seen mystery items pop up in your garden? A shell? A peanut? A new plant? Let us know! Leave a Voice Note: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ LINK ⁠

What's the deal with curb appeal? We delve into the subjective nature of curb appeal, the balance between personal expression and neighborhood harmony, and the local regulations that govern property aesthetics. What are the benefits of curb appeal and what factors might influence poor curb appeal? Is it your place to judge? Is it your place to reach out? *********************** CONNECT WITH US...

Colin found another sign of spring in his garden this week! What are you seeing in your community?

Google is a common tool for gardeners to diagnose plant issues which can be helpful especially for those weird questions you feel dumb for uttering out loud, but it can also problematic as some scenarios require a fuller picture to diagnose. Today, we explore common gardening questions and concerns that gardeners often Google. We're talking about plant odors, noises, and health issues. Is your pla...

I think it's time to get back in the garden... Brandi has been deep in the reality TV and it's gone too far...

The gardeners are on the road this week in downtown Calgary for Earth Week at the Core Shopping Centre! Exploring a fun craft for the kiddos, some fun Earth Day activities across Canada, and 11 low effect ways to celebrate Earth Day at home! Chapters 00:00 Celebrating Earth Week in Calgary 05:08 Fun Kids Activity 09:59 Community Events for Earth Day 15:00 Creative Earth Day Activities 20:01 Practi...

What is your first signal that spring is here? Find out what Colin and Brandi consider to be theirs!

As the spring growing season gets underway, what can you find growing at your local greenhouse? The gardeners explore iconic spring flowers, the benefits of buying some of your annuals early, climatizing or hardening off, home greenhouses, and effective shopping strategies. Chapters 02:56 Exploring Iconic Spring Plants 09:00 The Benefits of Early Planting 14:49 Maximizing Growth Potential 17:43 Ti...

Someone was lurking in Brandi's garden this week... We're explore some of the common critters you may find in your backyard at any time of the day and what they may be interested in. What kind of natural deterrents and preventative measures can you use to creating a balanced ecosystem? ************************* CONNECT WITH US Thank you so much for supporting our podcast and for making the...

Brandi and Colin BOTH attended their first seed swap a little while ago! Find out what their experiences were like! Check out our episode on Seed Swaps!

We're talking Homeowners Associations (HOAs), exploring their benefits and drawbacks. In this episode we'll touch on some of the common rules imposed by HOAs, the tension between maintaining property values and allowing personal expression, conflict resolution within HOAs, the complexities of neighborhood dynamics, the pros and cons of HOAs, and more. If you're part of an HOA, we talking about how...

Can you guess what Brandi saw in the garden the other day?

We're exploring simple and stylistic ways to incorporate plants into your outdoor and indoor living spaces. We explore inspired approaches to decorating, benefits of thrifting, working with small spaces, and even how to spread plant love to your local community.   SPECIAL GUEST Nancy Adie | Simply Styled Inspo Nancy is the creator behind Simply Styled Inspo.  Following a move from Toronto to C...

Farmers and homesteaders are the ultimate gardeners. While farmers and homesteaders are working on a grander scale than home gardeners, they’re most likely working through similar challenges like we are as gardeners, just on a grander scale. Take a peek behind the curtain at some of the many ways Hartell Homestead is growing not only for themselves, but for their community. SPECIAL GUEST Nick Ship...

Seed swaps have been around for a looooong time. Even indigenous groups and farmers would share seeds to grow their crops or medicinal plants. Today, seed swaps are commonly organized into large events with one of the most popular being "Seedy Saturday" across Canada. The first Seedy Saturday dates back to the early 90's in Vancouver courtesy of Roy Forster of the Van Dusan Botanical...

We're on the road this week exploring the Calgary Home and Garden Show! Learn about the benefits of local expertise, innovative gardening tools, and more! Join us at the show on March 2nd at 12PM for our stage presentation on native plants! Learn more: https://www.calgaryhgs.com/

It's Colin's Birthday! The gardeners are sharing donuts, stories, and facts about the birthday man himself. Colin shares his favorite plants to grow, what he wouldn't grow, memorable clients, and even the challenges he's faced in his gardening career. Chapters 00:00 Celebrating Birthdays 03:01 Donut Party! 06:05 Nostalgic Memories 15:14 Getting to Know Colin! 34:20 Garden Court Inf...