Garden Wisdom Blog

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Healthy organic gardens are full of bugs. Gardens, and even farms, are ecosystems that maintain their own balance. Thousands of species of insects and other invertebrates make their homes in the soil and on the plants we grow. In a balanced garden ecosystem, pest species are the exception, and infestations are rare. In an organic approach to growing crops, we feed the soil with organic matter and encourage abundant and diverse soil ecology. When the soil is healthy, the plants we grow in it will be more vigorous, and better prepared to deal with stress. Integrated...

The plight of the Monarch butterfly has been a big news item in recent times. Just look up “monarch butterfly” on Youtube, and you’ll find scores of videos aimed at Monarch conservation. The Monarch is unusual due to its remarkable migration route between south central Canada and the hilltops west of Mexico City. For years the governments of Ontario and Quebec, and the midwestern states sought to eradicate various types of milkweed that were thought to be noxious weeds. And then it turned out that these plants are essential food plants for the Monarch. Not only do the adults feed...

Winter is finally over, and spring has arrived. It’s time to plant seeds! Many gardeners make the mistake of thinking of seed planting as a one time, annual event, as though it was something to get over and done with to make the arrival of spring official. There are two very good reasons not to think this way. The first is that you don’t want the whole crop to be ready all at once. The second is that by using succession planting, you can reap your harvest over a longer period. One of the best pieces of advice for newbie...

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0011/2341/8172/files/V3.mp4   Take an Earth Day peek at our new facilities. Sincere thanks to everyone who has joined us for these Twenty-one Days of Green leading up to Earth Day. We’ve tried to show that there is reason for hope and optimism, from classroom to farm to grocery store. But your participation is part of the process of healing this planet. This is a group effort. In today’s video, WCS President Orrin Morishita talks about the values of sustainability that went into the design of our new space, and those that guide our business model moving forward. We want our...

In nearly any gardening situation, we have the opportunity to mentor — and to be mentored. Growing food organically is a life-long learning curve. Newbie gardeners sometimes feel shy about asking questions, but this is the way to learn. Master gardeners understand that there are always more innovations and ideas that will help us rethink and reshape our gardens. At West Coast Seeds, we are very proud of our staff mentoring program. Raised garden beds were offered to all staff as both a hands-on teaching tool and a way to break up the day and relax for a moment. Our...