Lavender (L. angustifolia and cultivars) The sweet scent of lavender is said to be one of the most readily recognized smells by people in the cooler northern climates – right up there with the scents of cinnamon and mint. Traditionally used in sachets to freshen linens and deter moths from... read more →
Jul
03
May
25
One of the first conditions of happiness is that the link between Man and Nature shall not be broken. – Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) British Columbia is Canada's... read more →
May
04
When we buried our lovely Smudge last week, we planted a special tree on top – a horse chestnut that will grow big and strong and one day, we will... read more →
Mar
30
Jan
11
The Good Living Guide to Natural and Herbal Remedies, by Katolen Yardley, MNIMH Published by Skyhorse Publishing, NY Review by CHANCHAL CABRERA This is a delightful book filled with recipes, quotes, herbal lore, medicine-making and herbal pharmacy. With a hard cover, gorgeous, full colour pictures of the herbs and medicines,... read more →
Nov
24
Here are six homemade crafts/gift ideas that are easy to make and will definitely get you in the seasonal spirit. Making winter wreaths Bring the outdoors in this holiday season with a wreath made from evergreen branches and pine cones you've collected on your rambles this... read more →
Oct
26
As the autumn mists descend and the first really heavy rain and wind storms of the winter are upon us, many gardeners start thinking about seeds and seed saving. Actually, it is already mostly too late for the 2020 seed season, but now is the time to look ahead and... read more →
Sep
08
It’s late August as I start writing this, but after a big rainstorm last week the nights are cool, the morning dew is heavy and there is a tang of autumn in the air. The leafy greens and the raspberries and blueberries in the garden are almost finished and soon... read more →
Aug
10
By Chanchal Cabrera, MSc, FNIMH, RH(AHG), RHT Did you know that the herbs and vegetables you can grow in your garden have specific health giving properties? You can grow your own food and you can also grow your own medicine. And if you don’t have a garden or don’t have... read more →
Jul
14
The Brother Gardeners: A Generation of Gentlemen Naturalists and the Birth of an Obsession, Vintage Books, 2008, ISBN 9780307454751 Founding Gardeners: The Revolutionary Generation, Nature, and the Shaping of the American Nation, Knopf Doubleday, 2012, ISBN 9780307390684 In these strange and fearful Covid 19 times, when many of us are enduring various degrees of... read more →