In this episode Ben chats with Lee Anne Downey of Stonewell Farm (https://www.stonewellfarm.ca/), a lavender growing operation outside Erin, Ontario. Lee Anne is also former President of the Ontario Lavender Association and a current Master Gardener, and she joins Ben to talk about this unique plant the various opportunities it presents for the Canadian gardener.

Shane Jones is a professor or horticulture, food, and farming at Durham College and the new The Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture. Shane is helping to oversee the Barrett Centre's mission: * Enhance the existing urban farm at the Durham College Whitby campus.* Become a source for information, support and coaching for traditionally underserved and marginalized communities when it comes to urban agriculture initiatives including food security. * Create a comprehensive and connected array of educational programs and materials in urban agriculture will be to meet growing employment needs.* Create dozens of new opportunities in the years ahead for students to gain experience working on urban farms and in roles supporting the operations.* Become home to a team of highly respected experts working to establish it as an internationally recognized hub of knowledge around sustainable urban agriculture.

This week we talking with Helen Battersby: writer, gardener, garden speaker, TorontoGardens.com blogger, Gardener's Journal co-publisher, and a power-walker – though not always in that order! Helen is also a committed volunteer – for more than 18 years with the Toronto Master Gardeners, and as the Director of the international region for GardenComm, Garden Communicators InternationalYou can find Helen at https://www.torontogardens.com/

Returning guest Lorraine Johnson returns to talk with Ben about her new book A Garden for the Rusty Patched Bumblebee: Creating Habitat for Native Pollinators, co-authored with Sheila Colla. We talk about species at risk, and the unique relationship between pollinators we depend on and the plants they depend on in turn. https://lorrainejohnson.ca/https://douglas-mcintyre.com/products/9781771623230

Annabel is a lifelong educator, publisher, and environmentalist who is a Founding Chair of ClearWater Farm- the flagship project for Ontario Water Centre and a home for place based learning, educational farming, water conservation, regenerative agriculture, and economic development. Learn more by listening to our conversation and at https://clearwaterfarm.ca/

As Ben and Mark tackle two new gardens, looking to the season ahead.

This week Ben and Mark are celebrating 2022 - Year of the Garden! https://livethegardenlife.gardenscanada.ca/

This week we are chatting Dave Harvey, Executive Director of Park People, a non-profit supporting and mobilizing community park groups, community organizers, non-profits, park professionals and funders who activate the power of parks. Through Canada-wide and city-specific programs and events, funding, resources, research and professional services we help realize the power of parks to build strong communities, healthy environments, and resilient cities.

This is a must listen for anybody dealing with difficult soils: Mark's journey establishing a new garden in the "claybelt" of Markham, ON