Fruitful advice from landscape architecture experts, chefs, personal fitness trainers and more
Reader, reader, sower and reaper,
How does your garden grow?
While silver bells and cockle shells might be part of the answer, a successful gardening season is the result of hard work and, often, sage advice. If you put in the former, we'll provide the latter.
Check out these 10 tips from NAIT grads and staff who specialize in landscape architecture, cooking and even personal fitness training to make the most of the Alberta growing season (and, just maybe, "Mary, Mary" will be will be more impressed than contrary).
1. If you can't beat 'em, eat 'em
2024 NAIT Hokanson Chef in Residence Blair Lebsack (Cook ’98) offers tips on turning pest plants into delectable dishes.
2. Tasty tomato tips
Culinary Arts and Professional Food Studies program head Perry Michetti (Cooking ’90) sees the tomato as one of the most versatile ingredients. They're even better when you grow them yourself. Here's how he does it.
3. Plant inside the box
Building your own garden boxes is easier than you think. Follow the process with Carpenter instructor Daniel Belland (Millwork and Carpentry ’96, Carpenter ’98), builder of the containers currently used to grow food by NAIT's culinary programs.
4. Stop to stretch
You don't want your plants to stretch but that doesn't mean you shouldn't either. Nip muscle soreness in the bud with this short routine from Ruth MacGillivray (Personal Fitness Trainer ’21).
5. Copy and 'scape
Find yourself looking longingly at the neighbour's landscaping? Stop looking and start copying! Here's a simple method from Landscape Architectural Technology instructor Jennifer Jones (class of ’05) for turning inspiration into action.
6. Pick great plants (Part 1)
If it grows at NAIT it will grow in your yard. Here's a look at the hardy but beautiful choices made for landscaping around the Centre for Applied Technology on Main Campus.
7. Pick great plants (Part 2)
A tree represents an investment of time and money. Make the most of both by picking one that's proven itself at NAIT. Check out this tour of the grounds by Beverly Bruyere (Landscape Architectural Technology '79).
8. Be a bee's best friend
We need bees (as key pollinators of our food crops, including our own gardens) and bees need us (to stop destroying their habitat). A garden planted with them in mind is a win-win. NAIT Beekeeping instructor Eliese Watson explains how to do it.
9. Tough love: The best way to plant
That's right: rough up those roots! Show that new plant you mean business! The business, of course, is ensuring that it survives. Check out the video above, starring landscaping pro Kerri Buksa (Landscape Architectural Technology '10) to learn proper planting technique.
10. Compost is the key
Compost is as good as waste gets. Turn your organic trash into a nutrient-loaded mix that your plants will love. Jennifer Burns-Robinson (Landscape Architectural Technology '07) tells you what you need to know to really make your garden grow.
Banner image by Denisfilm/istockphoto.com