At first glance, choosing a way of edging your gardens appears to be simply aesthetics; selecting a solution that you think looks good with your landscape. But while garden edging options abound, there are environmental pros and cons and advantages of some over others that should be considered.

Any edging option offers eco-friendly pluses by reducing the need to use a power trimmer and by helping to contain mulch, which saves water. But how you edge or what you use can matter, too

A trench is a very eco-friendly and inexpensive way to edge your garden – using nothing that had to be manufactured. Don’t forget the mulch.

Wood can be an eco-friendly option if you use untreated wood. Local cedar and redwood lumber are good choices because they resist rot.

Stone or brick need energy to extract or make, but since they impart no unwanted elements to the soil and last a long time, they are a good eco-choice. 

Metal, plastic or rubber edging solutions are less eco-friendly because they require manufacturing. They do a great job of defining your garden and keeping mulch in place, but they will eventually break down or rust into the soil, adding unwanted compounds and chemicals to your garden.

For a whimsical, innovative approach, try edging your garden with bottles, shells, logs or any other objects you think will work. ‘Reusing’ is always an eco-friendly option, just watch out for things that will breakdown and leave residual chemicals, paint, or rust.

June can be an in-between month for many – spring is over, and summer hasn’t started quite yet. But that is what makes June the very best time to get things ready so you can enjoy summer in all its glory when it gets here. A little time spent now can make for some serious relaxation and enjoyment of your outdoor space come July and August, and well into the fall.

Consider the following simple June to-do’s;

• Reverse ceiling fans - Much more than simply a decorative element, ceiling fans, when used properly, can make a significant impact on the comfort of our homes – and in a ‘green’ way. Most ceiling fans have a switch to change their rotation from clockwise and counterclockwise. Switch your fans now to make sure they generate a cooling downdraft.
• Repair window and door screens - Simple open windows and doors can reduce our need for air conditioning and the energy it gulps. Proper screens will let cooling breezes and fresh air in while keeping bugs out. Inspect all screens for holes and repair or replace them now.
• Install a soil moisture sensor - Unnecessary and over-watering of our lawns and landscapes wastes a huge amount of this precious resource every day. To prevent overwatering, install a soil moisture sensor in the yard to accurately monitor the soil's moisture content – then water only when required.
• Service the air conditioner - Energy-conscious Canadians coast to coast are turning on the AC less and less these days - only when truly necessary. So when we do use it, it better work properly. A properly maintained heating and cooling system runs more efficiently and has a longer life expectancy. Get a tune-up by a professional.

Redirecting some of the water that would normally go down the drain so it can used to water plants is as easy as putting a bucket or two in the shower with you. With showers taken as frequently as they are, you can keep a lot of garden green for free.

Think of it as your own simple 'gray-water' system, and a practical, guilt-free way to keep plants watered throughout the growing season.

Happy Father’s Day!

Whether you use your bike to commute to work, run errands, cycle for exercise, or just enjoy a ride in your spare time, bicycling is becoming more and more popular every day. Regardless of why you cycle, proper pedaling makes a difference.

Pedaling is rhythmic - cadence is the key. Maintaining a consistent cadence - the revolution of the pedals – can reduce fatigue, improve the health benefits, and increase your enjoyment of cycling.

A cadence of 60 to 80 rpm is good for most cyclists. When riding, shift the gears to maintain that cadence at all times. For racers, this cadence can be as high as 80 to 100 rpm.

Uphill cycling tip: on a long hill, conserve energy by staying in your seat. Use the lower gears.

"More Blood. More Life" is the theme of this year’s International Blood Donor Day on June 14th. Countries around the world are involved. The theme reinforces the urgent need for more people to become life-savers by volunteering to donate blood regularly.

Did j’a know these facts about Canada’s need for blood donations;

• On average, every minute of every day, someone needs blood or blood products in Canada.
• Red blood cells must be transfused within 42 days and platelets within five days, so the need for blood is constant. 
• 52 per cent of Canadians say they or a family member have needed blood or blood products for surgery or for medical treatment.
• As Canada's population ages, many loyal donors will become ineligible to donate blood during the next 10 years. They may, in fact, become recipients of blood and blood products themselves.
• To build a long-lasting and sufficient donor base, Canadian Blood Services needs an estimated 90,000 new donors every year.
• One donation takes about an hour of your time and can improve or even save up to three lives. A person can donate blood up to 6 times a year.
• Between National Blood Donor Week and the end of August, Canadian Blood Services needs about 194,000 donors to give blood across Canada.

"How old would you be if you didn't know how old you were?"

~Satchel Paige

Tool Tip – tighten the handle. Many popular garden tools are basically poles with different heads on them for specific jobs; digging, raking, cutting, etc. And when tools start to fall apart, that joint – where the head meets the handle – is often where the trouble begins.

Rivets are a popular method of securing heads to handles because they are inexpensive. But rivets can’t be tightened – at least not very easily or effectively - so if you plan to put this tool to use, that may be a problem as wear and tear take its toll.

If your existing tools need attention in this area, fix them now so they are ready to do the job when needed. If handles are loose, screw them in place whenever possible. If they originally had rivets, drill those out and replace with screws or even a nut and bolt – that can be tightened when necessary.

"Of all the wonders of nature, a tree in summer is perhaps the most remarkable; with the possible exception of a moose singing "Embraceable You" in spats." ~Woody Allen

"Door: What a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of." ~Ogden Nash

"Gardening is a matter of your enthusiasm holding up until your back gets used to it."  ~Author Unknown

"You know the oxygen masks on airplanes? I don't think there's really any oxygen. I think they're just to muffle the screams." ~Rita Rudner