Brian Minter was the speaker this evening at the Maple Ridge Garden Club, his presentation was about the importance of growing our own food.  The plants that he showed the club were new introductions specifically bred for our climate and many of them were of the small variety making them perfect for most of us who have small garden areas.  It is very important for all of us to try to grow something edible, even if all you have is a balcony there are food plants that can be grown in pots.  If you grow your own food you know that it hasn’t been sprayed with chemicals or brought in from a far away country and food you have grown yourself simply tastes better.   If you don’t have any garden space think about joining a community garden, they are located throughout the Lower Mainland.  Brian Minter also went on to stress the importance of encouraging bees to come to the gardens by providing them with nectar rich plants and never spray any pesticides!  One last note:  Minter Gardens Country Store is even selling the tea bush Camellia sinensis!  This is a variety that has been bred on Vancouver Island and its now available to gardeners in the the area, I will be growing them fore sure!

Pinkies Up!