The Garden Shift

Audrey Martel wants you to find your place in nature. Having worked with The Nature Conservancy of Canada and now as an ecology writer for the well known Laidback Gardener blog she has developed a unique way to communicate science. Her articles are full of charm and joie de vivre. We talk about a restoration project at her local lake in Granby Quebec, making friends with unloved critters, the benefits of messy gardens, growing garlic, and a whole lot more.
The Laidback Gardener
https://jardinierparesseux.com/
Growing Garlic
Pickled Milkweed Pods

Phenology explores the timing of cyclical events in nature. Your garden is part of the natural world. Rebecca Last Guenette is a scientist and Master Gardener. She wants you to know that if you tend your garden and pay close attention to how it works and develops during the seasons that you're a 'phenologist'.
She says , "Scientists today are increasingly turning to phenology to understand how climate change is affecting the natural world. As gardeners, an understanding of phenology can help us plan for continuous blooms, use natural pest control effectively, and contribute to climate research as citizen scientists.
In this episode we talk Victoria Day planting, earwig explosion, newly updated Canadian Hardiness Zones and Artificial Light At Night. It's a fun episode hosting by friend of The Garden Shift Tena van Andel and full of good advice.
Gardening At Last
Canadian Hardiness Zones
Earth At Night

iNaturalist is like Facebook for people who want to be in nature and help collect data on everything wild , like animals and plants. Friend of The Garden Shift Pat Concessi joins to talk about her experience as a user of this social network and public database. There is a fun quiz at the end and keep listening after the goodbyes to hear a special 'in the field' clip where we make observations and identifications using the APP.
EDDMaps
Toronto Nature Stewards
Invasive Species Reporting
Merlin
Research on Garlic Mustard

Rebecca Davis Scott has found magic in her career in horticulture. As Program and Volunteer Manager at Green Thumbs Growing Kids her fascination with insects and their associations with plants has become part of her work day. We discuss why growing food, food literacy and nature connections are so important in the curriculum she brings to children and youth. We also talk about a 10,000 square foot rooftop urban garden, a work in progress, that provides fresh veggies and fruit to the Cabbagetown Farmers Market.
Green Thumbs Growing Kids
Cabbagetown Farmers Market
University of Guelph - Horticulture
Native Bees of Ontario-Halton Master Gardeners
Ontario Trillium Foundation

Speaking to Blaine Pearson, CEO and Co-Founder of Seedark quickly reveals a person with a creative edge. In this episode we explore a few of her initiatives like Squiirrel a mobile app that connects people who use seeds and people who collect and buy seeds.
On the day of recording Blaine is at her home and flower farm in the hills of Mulmur ,Ontario ,where she grows flowers slowly and for sale locally. Flowers are carefully selected for both beauty and ecosystem benefit. Popular peonies are followed by fall asters and goldenrods.
Blaine's work gives you hope for the future and demonstrates how making connections with nature is always good for our planet.
White Dog Flowers
Seedark