The Garden Shift

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

Welcome to Season Three. This episode was recorded onsite at the Toronto Plant Market. As ecological gardeners it's important to know where your plants come from- who grows and sells them. If you are in and around Toronto this is the place to go. You will meet the owner Jonas and his terrific staff. When you visit go with questions and leave with answers. Plants are organized by ecological reference based on characteristics of the most common sites in Toronto- lawn alternatives, woodland, edible, hardscape, meadow/prairie and wet.
Toronto Plant Market

You may remember Douglas from Season 2. His storm infiltration boulevard in Etobicoke is well documented. Douglas joins to continue the conversation about all the critters who visit this garden space- grasshoppers, damselflies, wasps, bees and birds to name a handful few. We talk about how creating a garden is an opportunity to watch a dynamic ecosystem and learn about all the associations between insects and plants.
Douglas is a Project Swallowtail Ambassador and gives free tours of his garden. He is also a native plant propagator, growing over 50 species at his home.
Spacing Article, Trent Weston
Subscribe to Project Swallowtail's newsletter and learn more:
projectswallowtail.ca
Contact Douglas:
dcu.humanature@rogers.com
Resources:
bugguide.net
Heather Holm https://www.pollinatorsnativeplants.com/
https://www.wildplantsfromseed.com/

Season 2 closes with Kirstin Hicks of Tidal & Timber Studio -she brings the flora and fauna of coastal and boreal landscapes closer to home through her art. Working in Thunder Bay she has spent much of her professional career in natural resource management. Inspired by the forests of Northern Ontario, Lake Superior and nature walks with her field golden retriever- her art communicates an intimate understanding of her place. Kirstin is soaking up the short summer season vibe, taking care of her rain garden and working on her next handmade item that highlights the species she loves- vascular plants.
Tidal & Timber Studio
Whispers From the North
EcoSuperior

Follow The Garden Shift on Instagram @the_garden_shift, and thegardenshift.com
Special thanks to my people:
Victoria/creative design @saltwater.agency
Luke/music @lukeottenhof
Master Gardener advisors: Pat Concessi, Tena van Andel & Dianne Azzarello
Season 3 will land in September.
Happy Summer and thanks for being eco guardians