Special reports - page 2

Bio-indicator plants help us understand how healthy our soil is, and how it’s changing. Did you know that when it comes to pH, plants are much more reliable than test kits?

Organic gardening means gardening together with nature instead of against it. Organic growing techniques endeavor to respect soil, plants… and the consumer, too. They rely on vegetable and fruit species that are well-suited to local growing conditions.

What does “exotic” actually mean? Plants that come from far away? Plants that look weird? Crazy lush growth and greenery like a jungle? As a concept, “exotic” can mean many things.

Cats have an annoying habit of gnawing on plants because that usually helps with digestion. Sometimes it’s even just out of boredom, or for the sake of scratching the earth or sharpening claws.

Samantha, in the midst of a career change, has a project to create the farm of her dreams. To achieve this, she volunteers in the south of France to in addition to her training as an agricultural technician. Samantha shares her WWOOFing experience and, boy, does it seem fun!

Manual lawn mowers and robots, here is an overview of what is best for smaller lawn and garden sizes. One is environmentally sustainable and quiet, the other does all the work in your stead: both of these options are worth looking at for their advantages. Here is a presentation of lawn mowers for smaller surfaces… […]

Wrought iron garden decors multiply the impact of any landscaping since this noble material can be worked to fit any style and expectation. Furniture set, pergola, low edge fence, bench, hanging swingset, gate, ornament…

Many plants appreciate limestone soils, so you’ll find a good number of chalk-loving plants. Furthermore, since they retain water less well than other types of soil, limestone soils

Certain flowers are both ornamental and edible. Feel free to try them out, a feast for eyes and taste buds alike!

On the outskirts or in the middle of your outdoor space, a mound may seem a bit unsightly. Yet, once planted, these so-called “berms” truly become a real asset.

A slope in need of protection, flower beds invaded by weeds, a large plot of strawberries… It’s only normal that you’d be considering setting up synthetic mulch fabric to eliminate those long weeding chores. While benefits are clear, these mulch fabrics do have major drawbacks that you should not ignore. First off, what exactly is […]

Perpetually wet soil is, initially, not very suitable for gardening. However, many plants enjoy growing in cool, even wet soil, to the point that they still cope when it’s temporarily flooded.

There are quite a few good reasons to look into setting up a rainwater collection system! Preserving water resources, but also saving money on the water bill, and watering your garden, balcony, terrace,

Learn to value urine, rightfully called yellow gold, on the scale of a family vegetable garden… in complementarity with brown gold (no, not that one – we mean compost) and blue gold (water). The idea of fertilizing the garden with the family’s urine

Often overlooked, hoeing is nonetheless an important maintenance action. Whether in growing beds and along borders in ornamental gardens, or among rows of veggies in the vegetable patch, it’s crucial to maximize growth and water.

Relentlessly, with the change of seasons, waves deposit tons of seaweed of various kinds onto the sand of our beaches. This seaweed is a true gift from the sea that gardeners can take advantage of. In fact, this famous algae proves to be an excellent fertilizer to spread in the vegetable garden or flower beds. […]

For improving the soil in the vegetable garden, manure is highly favored by gardeners. This organic material from animal and plant sources benefits both the soil structure and the growth of plants.

The total weight of earthworms in our country weights more than that of our entire population! This astonishing number hints at the colossal and indispensable work these unseen laborers accomplish. Let’s dig a bit deeper underground to better understand the crucial role of the earthworm in the garden. Also read: Organic tips for soil health […]

Ants are often criticized by gardeners, who tend to say that they’re invasive (though not very harmful). But digging deeper, there are many reasons to keep them in the garden.

Come with us! We’re going to meet a Franco-British couple who decided to start a lavender farm project near Montpelier. For years, these farmers have been welcoming volunteers. They’re now sharing their experience about WWOOFing from a host’s point of view.

For you too, is getting started with WWOOF now an obvious choice? After all, it is a very affordable way to travel, a great way to learn about farming, and an excellent source of enriching experiences. To get started, it’s very simple: explore, join, and make contact. Then, all you have to do is prepare […]

The number of organic farms and volunteers joining the WWOOF network is increasing rapidly. You may be wondering why you should try WWOOF and what the benefits are. There are several possible answers, and they all have one thing in common: you’re certain to experience something different from anything else!

WWOOFing is a concept created in 1971 in the United Kingdom. At first, it just aimed to make exchanges easier between organic food farmers and city dwellers. Today, it’s a rapidly-growing organization that connects volunteers and welcoming host farms. But what is WWOOFing in reality?

Watering is an essential part of gardening – but how should we go about it? 40% of American rivers and 25% of Western and Central Europe’s rivers are extremely polluted.

Adapt your garden to summer climate conditions with eco-friendly watering habits. This will give your plants the upper hand on drought.

Before leaving to go on holiday, a few good tips can ensure that your garden plants will still be in great health when you get back. But in case of dry spell, watering must be both carefully planned and not excessive. Are you traveling away from the garden for a week or more? First on […]

After the last tasks of fall and before putting them away, it is important to thoroughly clean your tools.

Orchids are surely the plants for which the growth medium is most critical to the plant’s thriving.

Choose plants based on the climate in your area for easy gardening. It will naturally help reduce treatments and watering!

Preparing hydrangea cuttings is the easiest and cheapest way to propagate hydrangea.

There are many ways to work in the garden, but with a raised garden, everything becomes easy!

Mahonia berries are delicious, tart berries! Learn about how and when to harvest them. Key Mahonia harvest facts Harvest season – late fall Northern Hemisphere: Sept. → Nov. Southern Hemisphere: Jan. → March (depends on species, too) Yield – 4 to 8 pounds (2-4 kg) for a shrub 1 yard/meter wide Fruit type – berry […]

No need to worry about whether colors match and pair well. Perfect harmony is so hard to master! A clean, white garden is pleasing in its simplicity. The goal? Introduce as many white blooms as can be, without forgetting rich, textured foliage to give the eye a focal point.

Cross-pollination is when pollen from one plant variety fertilizes flowers of another variety,

It’s easy to enhance and improve cross-pollination for your target species. These different tips will help you cross-pollinate plants.

For permaculture, a major source of inspiration is old growth forests. Have you ever seen a forest with bare soil?

Sandy soil is both poor in nutrients and cannot retain moisture. But sand does have major advantages when it comes

Instead of throwing your used coffee grounds away, recycle them in your garden! Plants will thank you for it!

Bees are endangered, in part because of the massive use of pesticides. One thing you can do to protect them is to

Grafting, together with preparing cuttings, is one of the most important know-hows to learn when propagating trees and shrubs.

In fall, when trees and shrubs lose their foliage, a thick blanket of useful dead leaves forms in the garden. It is the season to unclog gutters and pick up leaves, and use them for gardens and vegetable plots

Convert ordinary stuff into perfectly good soil mix! Especially useful to recycle things into useful potting mix for beautiful plants.

Landscaping a flower bed always starts with a basic question: “What type of soil is in my garden?” It’s important to know which plants will grow best.

When sick with a contagious illness, people are confined at home to avoid meeting others. When gardening outside, it’s important to follow

Always 100% natural, plant based mulch, on top of being extremely ornamental, also has the special advantage of turning into excellent fertilizer.

This method of bark propagation works particularly well for the mimosa tree. It is especially useful if you wish to replace a tree that was damaged and you still have access to its remains.

Thanks to composting, vegetable peels and other organic matter deliver extra value.

Which flowers to plant in a garden box for spring? Perennials, bulb flowers and annuals mix & pair very well for blissfully colorful potting arrangements.

Chemical fertilizers that some gardeners use sure can feed those vegetables in the patch, but not the soil itself!

Flax mulch is a by-product of cultivating flax, and it turns out to be an excellent mulch for all plants. It is the perfect soil cover for flower beds, around trees, in garden boxes and in the vegetable patch.