As Montreal grapples with increasing rainfall and concerns about water infiltration, rain gardens are emerging as a sustainable and eco-friendly solution. These specially designed gardens, filled with native plants, can effectively absorb excess water, reducing the burden on the city’s infrastructure and preventing flooding.
In an interview with CityNews, our very own Shawn Manning, emphasized the importance of rain gardens for managing stormwater runoff – explaining how these gardens can not only help prevent flooding but also provide valuable environmental benefits, such as supporting biodiversity and attracting pollinators.
We did an interview with CBC we wanted to share it with you. Albeit we can’t share our good news via social media so here we are.
Rain gardens are a super cool sustainable landscaping solution designed to manage stormwater runoff.
They filter rainwater through soil and plants and trap pollutants such as sediment, heavy metals as well as nutrients. It also avoids backing up our sewer systems that are struggling at least in our area. Have you noticed water accumulation in yours?
These gardens can provide a solution as well as a habitat for birds, pollinators!
When you use native plants in rain gardens you are supporting biodiversity and contribute to your ecosystems health. Something we can help with!
A good way to start is to make a dry creak that runs from your gutters downspout to bring that excess water from your roof to at least 10 feet away from building foundations to be safe.
With climate change we seem to be needing new ways to fight new issues. Managing water in a passive way will be a major advantage as these conditions progress.
We think using well-draining soil, such as a sandy loam, and choose native plants that can tolerate both wet and dry conditions is best.
Grasses, sedges, and wildflowers like Joe Pye weed, rubeckias or Lobelia Cardinalis are excellent choices for rain gardens. We suggested blueberries in the interview because they thrive in wet environments.
Raspberries who don’t love those conditions as much can still drink loads of water with their fast growing root system and could be planted in the more shallow parts of your installation. All of these are available in our garden center.
We would love to help you turn this problem into a lovely feature for your home.
Imagine stepping out your door and harvesting fresh, organic veggies for your dinner. Urban agriculture makes this dream a reality, transforming cities into vibrant hubs of local food production. But what exactly is it, and why should you care?
Urban Agriculture: A Sprout of Change
Urban agriculture refers to the practice of growing food in a city environment. This can take many forms, from rooftop gardens and vertical farms to community plots and balcony planters. It’s about utilizing unused spaces to cultivate a more sustainable and resilient food system.
Who Feels the Harvest?
The benefits of urban agriculture are far-reaching. It fosters:
Food security: Fresh, local produce becomes accessible to everyone, even those in underserved communities.
Environmental well-being: Urban farms reduce reliance on long-distance transportation, lowering emissions and promoting biodiversity.
Community building: Shared gardens create spaces for people to connect, learn, and grow together.
Healthier living: Access to fresh food encourages healthy eating habits and combats diet-related illnesses.
Where the Seeds of Impact Grow Deepest
Urban agriculture thrives in areas facing food insecurity and limited green space. It empowers residents to take control of their food system and build a more sustainable future.
Urban Seedling: Nurturing the Urban Oasis
At Urban Seedling, we’re passionate about cultivating a greener Montreal. We offer a range of services, including:
Installing and maintaining: We design and build beautiful, productive vegetable gardens for homes, schools, and businesses.
Educational workshops: We empower people with the knowledge and skills to grow their own food.
Promoting organic practices: We champion sustainable methods that nurture the environment.
Ready to be a part of the change? Here’s how you can get involved:
Start a balcony garden: Even a small space is enough to grow herbs, lettuce, or cherry tomatoes.
Join a community garden: Connect with your neighbors and experience the joy of communal food production.
Support local urban farms: Purchase their fresh, seasonal produce and spread the word about their work.
By working together, we can transform our cities into thriving ecosystems that nourish our communities and the planet. Let’s cultivate a future where fresh, local food grows within reach, one seed at a time.
Is your garden looking worse for wear after the snowstorm? Wondering how to get your plants back on track?
Tune in to our exclusive radio clip featuring Sabrina Marandola from the CBC’s “Let’s Go with Sabrina Marandola.” joined by our very own Shawn. Together, they’ll be sharing expert tips and tricks to revive your garden and get it on the right track. Don’t miss this informative segment – listen in and learn how to save your spring blooms!
The borough of Pierrefonds-Roxboro inaugurated its first solidarity garden on September 18, 2023. This project, carried out in collaboration with the West Island Mission organization, is cultivated by volunteers and has several objectives:
Raise public awareness of food insecurity
Fight against heat islands
Promote biodiversity
Strengthen the social fabric of neighbourhoods
To reach them, the garden will grow a variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs and then redistribute them to families in need.
But that’s not all !
It is also a place for meeting and sharing. The volunteers who cultivate it are all passionate about urban agriculture and they are happy to share their know-how with visitors.
So, if you want to spend a pleasant time outdoors, learn about urban agriculture or simply enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables, go to the Pierrefonds-Roxboro solidarity garden!
Urban agriculture is turning underused green spaces into vegetable gardens, filling local food banks with fresh produce. The West Island Mission has partnered with Urban Seedling to plant 120 plots and planters across the West Island, including a 2,000 square foot garden in Senneville. The produce is harvested at its peak twice a week and brought straight to the food bank. The hope is that bit by bit, urban gardens will nurture generosity for neighbors in need.
Learn more about the initiative and check out the team in action below!
Wondering what vegetable varieties to plant in your garden next? How to plant them with the best chance of success? Plant over your spring stuff or keep harvesting it? What other fun gardening projects you can do in your backyard this summer? Let’s begin by looking at some of things you can plant in your garden this summer.
Summer Seedlings
Any seedlings you’ve started indoors this season should be ready to put in the garden now.
In most cases seedlings are much more likely to succeed in your garden and we recommend them over starting directly from seed, but there are certain things you should sow directly in the ground. Beans, cucumbers, squash and even melons are good choices you can plant right in the soil.
With summer kicking into gear, your going to want to harvest your spring plants before they start bolting in the rising heat.
To ensure the best flavor and texture, timing is key. Pay attention to maturity dates and visual cues like color, size, and firmness to determine if a vegetable is ready to be harvested.
Gather the necessary tools such as gardening shears, a garden knife or trowel, and a container to collect your harvest.
Opt for morning harvest when temperatures are cooler, as vegetables will be crisp and hydrated.
For leafy greens, use a “cut-and-come-again” approach. Snip outer leaves at the base, allowing inner leaves to continue growing for a continuous harvest.
Root vegetables require loosening the soil around the base and gently pulling them out. Trim foliage, leaving an inch above the root, and remove excess soil.
For herbs, snip stems just above a leaf node or set of leaves to encourage bushier growth. Avoid cutting more than one-third of the plant at once.
Handle harvested vegetables with care to prevent damage. Place them gently in a container without rough handling or stacking.
Store vegetables appropriately to maintain freshness. Refrigerate root crops and most greens, while tomatoes and peppers should be stored at room temperature.
By following these simple techniques, you can enjoy the satisfaction of harvesting your own organic spring vegetables. Experiment, learn, and savor the fruits of your labor!
Remember, this is just a brief overview, so be sure to refer to specific plant species for more detailed information on harvesting techniques and storage recommendations.
Getting more out of you spring varieties – Transitioning from spring to summer
If you spring plants are not ready to harvest yet or are still producing well and you would like to keep some around a little longer, you can employ a ‘companion/succession’ style technique to slowly transition parts of your garden to the summer varieties.
The key to this method is making sure you coordinate the transition across your squares so that plant species always maintain their appropriate distancing. If you are transitioning 4 squares, like in our example below, make sure the positioning of each seedling is the same. In week 1, we replace the first three spring seedlings with a summer variety. Then, we complete the transition in week 2, replacing the last 3 spring plants.
You also need to select appropriate companions when using this technique.
In our example we complete the transition from spring to summer varieties in 2 weeks, but the timing will depend largely on your particular situation. You can extend or reduce this time as needed.
We also choose only two steps to finish the transition in the illustration, but you could easily split it into more, over a longer duration, if your plants are in a wide range of ripeness.
General Garden Care – Things to do after planting your summer garden
Getting in the habit of daily garden visits is really the best way to have success. The checklist below highlights some of the things to take care of throughout the season.
Watering:
Check the moisture level of the soil regularly, especially during hot and dry periods.
Water the plants deeply and consistently to ensure the roots receive enough moisture.
Consider using a drip irrigation system or soaker hoses to deliver water directly to the plant roots and minimize evaporation.
Setup a watering timer to automate some of the process.
Mulching:
Apply a layer of organic mulch, such as straw, wood chips, or compost, around your plants.
Make sure to keep the mulch a few inches away from the stems of the plants to prevent rotting.
Weeding:
Regularly inspect your garden for weeds and remove them promptly.
Weeds compete with your plants for water, nutrients, and sunlight, so it’s important to keep them under control.
Pull weeds by hand or use a small hand tool to minimize soil disturbance.
Fertilizing:
Consider using organic fertilizers to provide essential nutrients to your plants.
Follow the package instructions for application rates and timing.
Avoid over-fertilizing, as it can burn the plants and harm the soil ecosystem.
Pruning and training:
Trim off any dead or diseased leaves, stems, or branches to promote healthy growth.
Train climbing plants, such as tomatoes or beans, onto trellises or supports for better airflow and easier harvesting.
Pest control:
Monitor your plants regularly for signs of pests, such as aphids, caterpillars, or snails.
Consider using organic pest control methods, such as handpicking pests, applying neem oil, or introducing beneficial insects like ladybugs or praying mantises.
Soil maintenance:
Monitor the health of your soil by regularly testing its pH and nutrient levels.
Amend the soil with organic matter, such as compost or well-rotted manure, to improve its structure and fertility.
Continuous learning:
Stay curious and keep learning about gardening techniques, new plant varieties, and sustainable practices.
Join local gardening groups or forums to exchange knowledge and experiences with fellow gardeners or come visit us at the garden center!
Some other fun gardening projects to try this summer
Vertical Herb Garden: Create a vertical herb garden by repurposing a wooden pallet or a shoe organizer. Attach small pots or planters to the pallet or pockets of the shoe organizer, fill them with soil, and plant your favorite herbs. Hang it on a fence or wall for a space-saving and visually appealing herb garden.
Succulent Wreath: Craft a living succulent wreath by securing a wire wreath frame with moss and then inserting small succulent cuttings into the moss. As the summer progresses, the succulents will root and grow, creating a unique and eye-catching living wreath for your front door or patio.
Upside-Down Tomatoes: Try growing tomatoes upside down by hanging containers filled with soil and tomato plants. This unconventional method saves space and also helps reduce issues with pests and diseases. As the tomatoes ripen, they will hang beautifully from the bottom of the container.
Shawn, the TV personality, is at it again… this time in an interview with CTV News Montreal’s Matt Grillo to discuss the state of the 2023 gardening season and the cooler temperature we’re having so far this year.
Spring is not too far away and we are getting ready to dig into the soil again!
We will be offering an early bird discount of 10% for returning residential replant clients that book before April 1st. You can contact us to book your Urban Seedling organic vegetable garden today! The first step will be to make your 50% deposit to reserve your priority planting.
For the DIYers out there, now is a great time to start planning your garden. Our organic seed stocks are replenished and we have guides available to help you get started.
Here at the greenhouse, we are looking to start our sprouts over the coming weeks to aim for a mid April plantings. The weather has a mind of its own though, so we’ll be in touch again soon as the season progresses.
