Where to Go for Gardening Advice - theHumm February 2023

By David Hinks

Who knew that gardening advice clinics could be asked to resolve marital disputes?

In my over 20 years as a Master Gardener, I have participated in hundreds of advice clinics and from time to time have faced an irritated couple who were at loggerheads over their garden. I have learned to tread carefully and perhaps point out that there may be more than one way to prune (or not prune) a tomato plant!

A bit of an aside, but I always find it fascinating how couples work out methods to share a garden space: perhaps she grows the flowers and he grows the veggies; perhaps he does the heavy lifting and she does the plant care; perhaps she operates the motorized equipment and he operates the secateurs; or, worse case scenario, the lot is divided down the middle with a razor-wire divider!

Admittedly, most garden advisors should not be relied on for relationship advice, and in my experience most relationship advisors are not that interested in gardening. So, where does one go for gardening advice? I admit that I’m biased, but may I recommend your local friendly Master Gardener for free, unbiased and objective gardening advice?

Lanark County Master Gardeners and Ottawa-Carleton Master Gardeners are two of about 30 Master Gardener chapters in Ontario. They are under the umbrella of Master Gardeners of Ontario Inc. (MGOI), which began in 1985 as a program of the Ontario government to help home gardeners and to take some of the load off of County Agricultural Agents.

Master Gardeners have studied horticulture extensively and continue to upgrade their skills through technical training. They are very often specialized in their area of knowledge and experience; for example, many are very knowledgeable about perennial plants‚ whereas my expertise is largely with vegetable gardening. One of the strengths of the groups is the ability to draw on the expertise of fellow members. Master Gardeners are required to provide a minimum number of volunteer hours and provide horticultural information to the public, at no charge, via garden clinics (many at Farmers’ Markets), telephone, letters, displays, workshops, television, and radio and newspaper articles.

Experienced gardeners are recruited locally, often from Horticultural Societies. In turn Master Gardeners are often asked to be speakers at monthly meetings of Horticultural Societies.

Our local Master Gardener group has allowed me to try different approaches to spreading the knowledge of gardening and of growing our own food with youth centre gardens, community gardens, the food bank garden, retirement homes and group homes. The response is variable, gardeners being a rather unruly lot, but in general the reaction is very rewarding as new gardeners experience the thrill of harvesting and eating a vegetable that they have grown.

If you are interested in obtaining more information about becoming a Master Gardener, go to lanarkmg.blogspot.ca , mgottawa.ca or MGOI.ca .

If you are not ready for that level of commitment, may I suggest joining a Horticultural Society. The Ontario Horticultural Association was created by the Province of Ontario in 1906 and has 270 autonomous local societies and over 30,000 members.

Where would I find a local Society? What is amazing to me is the number that are within easy driving distance. Within a fifteen-minute drive from the Almonte Old Town Hall there are four societies to be found — if one is willing to drive 45 minutes one has a choice of an additional ten societies. Learn from other local gardeners and from knowledgeable guest speakers. Society membership often brings other perks, such as discounts at local garden centres. Go to gardenontario.org to find the nearest society.

There are many other sources of gardening knowledge out there. I have found seed catalogues surprisingly good sources of information about varieties, horticultural techniques and pest information. Not surprisingly, companies based in Ontario provide more appropriate local information than ones based in British Columbia.

Consulting the “Wicked Wild West” has its perils. Algorithms designed to send one down a rabbit hole and spend buckets of money on the latest shiny gardening fad are to be avoided. Potatoes growing upside down in a hanging basket are just not going to do well. If it sounds too good to be true, it very likely is.

One of my main “go-to” sites is the website of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs — I find it is really good on horticultural information, but its recommendations are often more appropriate for commercial growers. Many university websites are also great sources of information. I go to sites that have information germane to our local conditions such as University of Guelph or University of Minnesota. Of course, I could always pull down one of the hundreds of gardening books that are gathering dust on my shelves.

I frequently peruse local gardening Facebook groups. Some of my favourites are Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton, Almonte and Carleton Place Gardeners, and Edible Ottawa Gardens.

I do not always agree with the approach of well-meaning folks, and I sometimes find myself asking why they did not just go to an authoritative source. After some sober thought, the wisdom of going directly to our local gardening peers struck me. I have conducted dozens of gardening workshops — it is really difficult to know what to include in a one- or two-hour presentation. The reality is that no matter how hard one listens, it is nearly impossible to retain enough information to put it all together. It takes a whole lot of hands-on experience, and what better source of advice than other local gardeners who may have already grappled with the issues that are bedevilling you?

I always try to talk from my own personal experience and what has worked for me. But my way is not the only way — there is no substitute for trial and error to see what works for you and your neighbours.

Catherine Blake —An Artist’s Inspiration - theHumm February 2023

By Sally Hansen

Art… and Soul

Creating art inspires her and she inspires artists — it’s a win-win for this irrepressible Almonte artist and art instructor. Nothing stops her — not polio or being a single woman working for CUSO in Zanzibar or concussion or cancer. Life hasn’t worn her down; it has both distilled and emboldened her and her lifetime passion for art. Cathy Blake’s response to my incredulity at the challenges she has faced and the opportunities she has embraced is an understatement: “I ......

Where to Go for Gardening Advice - theHumm February 2023