6
honed their gardening skills over
years of trial and tribulation. The
more research and planning you
do, the better your success rate.
If you’re comfortable growing house
plants, expand outdoors to pots,
planters or a natural garden space.
Choose seeds and plants suited
to each type of growing condition,
factoring in our weather, days of
maturity, availability to light source,
and soil or growing media types.
Container vegetable gardening has
many benefits for the beginning
gardener, such as:
1. Allows for a cost effective, highly
successful harvest. Containers can
be recycled, and other types of
material containers, such as plastic
bottles, colanders, baskets, coffee
bean sacks, old cans, stock tanks,
cattle water tanks, cattle grain feed
tables or even old boots.
2. Containers can be moved to suit
weather conditions and seasons.
3. You maintain control over soil/
growing media choices.
4. Young, disabled or elderly people
can enjoy outside gardening.
5. The growing season can be
extended as plants can be grown
inside initially and moved outdoors.
6. You may be able to grow
several types of vegetables in one
container, and possibly achieve a
progressive seasonal harvest.
7. Just about any type of vegetable
can be grown in containers, but
try to choose ones that are dwarf or
bush varieties.
Regarding water supplies, it’s
critical that you use water that
is not contaminated by other
substances such as hydrocarbons
or pathogens. Your water will move
through the soil and into the plant
and possible seed, or the fruit you
intend to consume.
When purchasing seeds, ensure
that they are of a high quality and
stored in a dry and temperature-
controlled environment. Both
moisture (humidity) and adverse
temperature affects seed viability.
With started plants, ensure they are
healthy and free of diseases and
pests. Buy the right variety for the
intended growing conditions.
Your choice of growing media (soil),
is a decision that you’ll need to
make based on what you plan to
grow, the cost, and your preference.
A purchased high-quality potting
soil is beneficial for container
growing, because the soil fertility
has been regulated and is free of
unwanted weed seeds and pests.
You also have the option of making
your own potting soil. If you do,
always ensure you start with good
high-quality ingredients free of
contaminants such as residual
pesticides, diseases or weed seeds.
There are many websites that
provide recipes for building your
own potting and gardening soil.
Your choice of sunlight, location
and light source will be determined
by what you intend on growing and
where. Remember that all plants
need adequate sunlight to achieve
photosynthesis and mature to
produce fruit and seeds. Visit
mdlsr.ca/Agricultural-Links for a
great variety of resources.
Up for the challenge? Let’s start
gardening! If you wish, share your
journey with friends and family
on social media, make it a family
activity and have fun!
Direct Marketing for
Agri-Products
Do you produce or process Agri-
Products, reside in the MD, and
sell these products by direct
marketing venues? The ASB will be
undertaking the task of producing
a contact list for your products.
This information will be used solely
for networking purposes, linking
potential customers to you the
producer, and the products you
have available via the MD website.
The MD will not be responsible for
any guarantee or promotion of
your products other than providing
a contact. If you are interested,
please access the registration form
at mdlsr.ca/Ag-Direct-Marketing or
call the MD Sub-office in Flatbush.
Do I Need a Fire Permit?
If you reside within the boundaries
of the MD of Lesser Slave River, you
will need to obtain a fire permit for
all burning between March 1 and
October 31, 2019, except for fires
for cooking and/or warming.
If you intend to set off fireworks
within the forest protection area,
you will be required to obtain
a permit as well. The fine for
discharging/igniting fireworks
without having a permit is $287.
Permits may be obtained free
of charge by contacting the Fire
Guardians of Alberta Agriculture and
Forestry for the prescribed areas:
South of the Athabasca River:
Sherry Briggs, cell 780.849.0625,
office 780.623.5388, email
[email protected]. North of