The Helpful Gardeners

Golden Acre Home & Garden

Welcome to the Helpful Gardeners, a weekly podcast diving into the home and garden topics you want to learn more about. We hope to inform, inspire, and bring the fun as two friends who work together and go wild over gardening. Colin is a certified horticulturist with decades of experience working in landscaping, gardening and houseplants in various climactic zones. Brandi is a beginner with a passion to ask questions and who finds ways to garden within restrictive urban settings. We'll bring in some friends along the way to share their knowledge, and hear from gardeners like you who are reaching garden goals. We're so happy you found us and look forward to growing alongside you each week! Subscribe to catch new episodes every Sunday at 8am MT. If you have a topic or question you'd like us to know about, reach out to us here: social@goldenacre.ca read less
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Houseplant Maintenance
6d ago
Houseplant Maintenance
Do your houseplants deserve a little spa day? In Canada, we experience pretty dramatic seasonal shifts. While we do love our gardens, you can only really enjoy it for a portion of the year. Houseplants can be enjoyed yearround, but they do require a bit of maintenance to keep them living their best life. Colin and Brandi discuss seasonal maintenance in today's episode! *************************  In this weeks episode.... 00:00 | Introduction02:14 | Should I move my houseplants seasonally?04:30 | Houseplant adversity  08:30 | Things to watch for before moving your plants.   10:30 | Choosing a designated houseplant maintenance day  12:30 | What happens if you can't move your plants?13:52 | Challenge: Change your house lights to grow lights!14:40 | Transplanting/ Repotting Houseplants - Foliage & Flowering22:00 | Propagation - medium, methods and more.26:20 | What did Colin gift Brandi? 32:50 | Houseplant soil - mixes & Colin's blend 33:30 | The benefits of worm castings 34:20 | What do worms like to eat?35:00 | Types of houseplant soil36:20 | 'Super Soil' by Bluesky Organics #NotSponsored40:50 | Fertilizing - when and with what43:05 | My flowering plant isn't flowering :(44:56 | Watering tip: Try using rain water48:00 | Wrap up36:40 | Question of the Week40:15 | Next Week....   *************************  COLIN'S SOIL RECIPE 3 parts potting soil1 part charcoal1 part worm casting CACTUS SOIL BLEND 3 Parts Dry Sand2 Parts Perlite2 Parts Heavy Garden Soil 1 Part Worm Castings GAKidsTV Cactus Soil Episode: LINK Avelida Worm Castings  Bluesky Organics 'Super Soil' *************************  WATERING LINKS Does Rainwater Contain Nitrogen? Green Calgary - Water conservation and rain barrels *************************  QUESTION OF THE WEEK  Our question of the week comes from Harry over on Instagram who asks "How do I grow hemp outside in my garden?" Do you have a question or a comment for the Helpful Gardeners? Send us an anonymous voice note HEREsend us an email social@goldenacre.caor find our question of the week every Tuesday on our Instagram   NEXT WEEK  We're   Turn in Sunday's 8AM MST for more fun with the helpful gardeners!
Houseplant Maintenance
6d ago
Houseplant Maintenance
Do your houseplants deserve a little spa day? In Canada, we experience pretty dramatic seasonal shifts. While we do love our gardens, you can only really enjoy it for a portion of the year. Houseplants can be enjoyed yearround, but they do require a bit of maintenance to keep them living their best life. Colin and Brandi discuss seasonal maintenance in today's episode! *************************  In this weeks episode.... 00:00 | Introduction02:14 | Should I move my houseplants seasonally?04:30 | Houseplant adversity  08:30 | Things to watch for before moving your plants.   10:30 | Choosing a designated houseplant maintenance day  12:30 | What happens if you can't move your plants?13:52 | Challenge: Change your house lights to grow lights!14:40 | Transplanting/ Repotting Houseplants - Foliage & Flowering22:00 | Propagation - medium, methods and more.26:20 | What did Colin gift Brandi? 32:50 | Houseplant soil - mixes & Colin's blend 33:30 | The benefits of worm castings 34:20 | What do worms like to eat?35:00 | Types of houseplant soil36:20 | 'Super Soil' by Bluesky Organics #NotSponsored40:50 | Fertilizing - when and with what43:05 | My flowering plant isn't flowering :(44:56 | Watering tip: Try using rain water48:00 | Wrap up36:40 | Question of the Week40:15 | Next Week....   *************************  COLIN'S SOIL RECIPE 3 parts potting soil1 part charcoal1 part worm casting CACTUS SOIL BLEND 3 Parts Dry Sand2 Parts Perlite2 Parts Heavy Garden Soil 1 Part Worm Castings GAKidsTV Cactus Soil Episode: LINK Avelida Worm Castings  Bluesky Organics 'Super Soil' *************************  WATERING LINKS Does Rainwater Contain Nitrogen? Green Calgary - Water conservation and rain barrels *************************  QUESTION OF THE WEEK  Our question of the week comes from Harry over on Instagram who asks "How do I grow hemp outside in my garden?" Do you have a question or a comment for the Helpful Gardeners? Send us an anonymous voice note HEREsend us an email social@goldenacre.caor find our question of the week every Tuesday on our Instagram   NEXT WEEK  We're   Turn in Sunday's 8AM MST for more fun with the helpful gardeners!
Plants Around the World
19-03-2023
Plants Around the World
Pack your bags! We're taking you on a trip around the globe to learn more about the diverse plants that call this plant home. *************************    In this weeks episode.... 01:00 | Mexico Geography05:00 | How are plants used by humans and animals06:50 | Replicating ideal growing conditions08:15 | The big digression - Elevator Terror 11:30 | What kind of traveller are you? 14:20 | Medicinal benefits of worldly plants 15:15 | Beware of unknown plants 17:30 | Using plants to make tequila19:50 | Working in a 'Sugar Shack'28:20 | Diversity right at home30:23 | Under the Sea 36:40 | Question of the Week40:15 | Next Week....  *************************  THE GREAT CANADIAN MAPLE SYRUP HEIST Overview & Opinion Piece | LINK Results of the Heist from CTV | LINK *************************  QUESTION OF THE WEEK  Our question of the week comes from Danielle who asks "What size pot does an indeterminate tomato require to grow?" Do you have a question or a comment for the Helpful Gardeners? Send us an anonymous voice note HEREsend us an email social@goldenacre.caor find our question of the week every Tuesday on our Instagram   NEXT WEEK  We're giving your houseplants some extra love and helping you through those big seasonal shifts. We'll talk about fertilizing, repotting, watering, and other maintenance practices! Turn in Sunday's 8AM MST for more fun with the helpful gardeners!
Garden Planning
14-03-2023
Garden Planning
GARDEN PLANNING In this weeks episode.... 03:00 | Digital & Offline Garden Planning05:00 | Creating a Garden Plan with Canva10:00 | Garden Centre Tips: Come Prepared17:50 | Consider your outdoor living arrangment18:30 | Aesthetic & Function20:00 | How thorough do I need to be?22:20 | Garden Planning Record Keeping24:50 | When garden planning doesn't go to plan...27:20 | What obstacles can you plan ahead for?32:40 | Mix & Mingle with Veggies for the pollinators34:40 | Perennials: Spacing & Bloom time36:20 | Staggering growth and what is your "why"?38:20 | Question of the Week41:50 | Next Week....  *************************  BRANDI'S GARDEN PLAN MADE WITH CANVA *************************  QUESTION OF THE WEEK  Our question of the week comes from Steve who asks, "Should I consider crop rotation?" Do you have a question or a comment for the Helpful Gardeners? Send us an anonymous voice note HEREsend us an email social@goldenacre.caor find our question of the week every Tuesday on our Instagram   NEXT WEEK  Plants around the World
How to Start Seeds
05-03-2023
How to Start Seeds
In this weeks episode.... selecting, planting, and caring for seeds 00:00 | In this Episode....03:00 | Seed Selection: Variety05:00 | Heritage / Heirloom seeds 08:50 | Non GMO & Organic seeds10:30 | Selecting what you're attracted to. 12:35 | Reading a seed packet: What's important?20:30 | Research: Canadian Seed Starting Charts 21:50 | Equipment27:30 | Fertilizer - When?30:10 | Watering - Super Important32:00 | Pets VS Seedlings33:34 | Storing leftover seeds36:50 | Question of the Week40:00 | Next Week....  ************************* CANADIAN SEED STARTING CHARTS Golden Acre Seed Starting Guide | Click here  West Coast Seeds Regional Seed Starting Chart (Canada) | Click Here  ************************* QUESTION OF THE WEEK Our question of the week comes from Dawnbeat who asks, "How do you prevent damping off?" Listen in to learn what damping is, how to prevent it, and what to do if it's already found you.  Do you have a question or a comment for the Helpful Gardeners? Send us an anonymous voice note HEREsend us an email social@goldenacre.ca or find our question of the week every Tuesday on our Instagram ************************* NEXT WEEK Here's an episode for the whole family! Get your crayons and paper ready because we're planning your garden next week!
Houseplants: Past, Present and Future
26-02-2023
Houseplants: Past, Present and Future
In this weeks episode.... a brief history on houseplants, a fieldtrip,    00:00 | In this Episode....03:00 | History of Houseplants06:30 | Lighting for Houseplants09:00 | Social Pressure for Houseplants / Normalize Brown Leaves12:20 | Poll: "Why do you keep Houseplants?"16:20 | Southern Alberta Institute of Technology - Student Wellness20:00 | Ode to a great starter plant: The Spider Plant!23:10 | Gifting Houseplants27:00 | Poll: "Foliage or Flowers?"31:50 | Beware of Google35:20 | Houseplants and Wellness: another tool in the toolbox40:13 | Question of the Week45:04 | Next Week....   A HISTORY OF HOUSEPLANTS Plants have a surprisingly long history inside our homes. People would take great pride in their houseplants, and would sometimes even rent them to feature in their parlour when visitors would come around. https://tenneyplants.com/history-of-houseplants/https://www.britannica.com/science/houseplant#ref1262648    QUESTION OF THE WEEK Our question of the week comes from Holly Marisco who asks, "When do you re-pot, how do you divide them, when do you fertilize and how?" Listen in to find out what Colin recommends to help keep your houseplants healthy! Do you have a question or a comment for the Helpful Gardeners? Send us a voice note www.speakpipe.com/TheHelpfulGardeners, send us an email social@goldenacre.ca or find our question of the week on our Instagram   NEXT WEEK We're bringing it back to seeds! Colin will get to nerd out on the science behind seeds, and we'll take you through the process of selection, preparation, planting and caring for them.  In the meantime, catch up on past episodes including Seed Starting: Is it for you? Also, partake in our Instagram polls and questionaire next Tuesday for funsies :)
Garden Bugs & Disease
19-02-2023
Garden Bugs & Disease
In this weeks episode.... caterpillar poop, noisemakers, predator bugs, difficulty pronouncing hard words, and debunking a well known garden myth!   We're helping you with the various garden bugs and diseases you may encounter in your garden and home. Plants are just as susceptible to weakness as us humans are, so let's explore ways to identify, eliminate, and prevent the various challenges your plants are most likely to encounter. It's not all bad though! We'll spotlight the good guys too that bring balance to your garden.    But first, it's Colin's Birthday! We had maybe a little too much fun celebrating...     GARDENING IN THE NEWS... We touched a bit on the Oyster Scale problem that ripped through Calgary, AB in 2015. Read more:  https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/oystershell-scale-spreading-through-calgary-hedges-1.3089264   QUESTION OF THE WEEK Our question of the week comes from Ethariel who asks, "How do you get rid of thrips?" Listen in to find out what Colin recommends to battle these armoured pests! https://www.goldenacre.ca/shop-all-departments/control-products/green-eco-friendly/oriline-bottle-500-bugs-orius-insidiosus-thrip-control/   If you have a question for the Helpful Gardeners, reach out to us! Send us an email social@goldenacre.ca or find our question of the week on our Instagram NEXT WEEK Bring gardening indoors! Are houseplants for everything? What should you keep in mind when considering bringing plants indoors? Golden Acre is also going on a road trip to SAIT - Southern Alberta Institute of Technology to find out how plants can postivitly impact wellness
Seed Starting: Is It For You?
12-02-2023
Seed Starting: Is It For You?
Do starting plants from seed suit your lifestyle? The helpful gardeners explore the many considerations of seed starting, as well as alternatives that can help you save time, space and money.  Depending on what you're growing and where, you may need to start some plants indoors from seed. In places like Alberta, where frost can show up well into May, classic annual plants like geraniums, tomatoes peppers usually begin their journey inside. If you've been gardening for years, you may have settled into a tried and true process that works for you. If you're a beginner, it's easy to bite off more than you can chew. It's important to remember that no matter which way you choose to grow plants - seed, grown from a local nursery, kitchen herbs indoors, etc - you can be a successful gardener.    QUESTION OF THE WEEK Our question of the week comes from Sarah in Calgary, AB who asks, "You have an entire seed packet. Do you have to use them all in one season or can you save them and how?" Listen in to find out what Colin recommends for both dry and humid zones! If you have a question for the Helpful Gardeners, reach out to us! Send us an email social@goldenacre.ca   NEXT WEEK The one thing that unites gardeners both indoors and out is the inevitability of pests and diseases. We're dealing with living things that get sick just like us. Let's explore ways to prevent, identify, and treat our plants for the challenges they're bound to endure.
The Helpful Gardeners Introduction
07-02-2023
The Helpful Gardeners Introduction
Welcome to the Helpful Gardeners, a weekly podcast diving into the home and garden topics you want to learn more about. We hope to inform, inspire, and bring the fun as two friends who work together and go wild over gardening. Colin is a certified horticulturist with decades of experience working in landscaping, gardening and houseplants in various climactic zones. Brandi is a beginner with a passion to ask questions and who finds ways to garden within restrictive urban settings.  We'll bring in some friends along the way to share their knowledge, and hear from gardeners like you who are reaching garden goals. We're so happy you found us and look forward to growing alongside you each week! Subscribe to catch new episodes every Sunday at 8am MT. If you have a topic or question you'd like us to know about, reach out to us here: social@goldenacre.ca