The Journal Pioneer

Q. What gardening equipment do you consider essential? A friend has decided to begin growing vegetables and flowers in her yard, but she wants to do it minimally, with the fewest tools and aids possible. I and other friends would like to help ...

Depending on where you live, you’ve probably had your first snowfall (or five), by now. Here in Ontario, as the days get shorter, we’ve had a few snowy days blowing in that blustery white stuff. ‘Tis the season to stay in, curl up by a warm ...

Whether it's under the guise of spring cleaning or the need for time-saving hacks, a deep home purge does not always have to be a chore. And after the holidays is a great time to do it. Wendy Stone, the owner of Lighten Up Organizing and ...

Should I wait to buy a home? Should I put off my purchase? If you have done your homework, that is, you’ve researched the purchase cost and ownership costs and you are satisfied you can afford both, then, I would say that it’s OK and maybe even ...

Q. Do you garden year-round? If you do, where do you find the motivation to work outdoors in cold, wet conditions? A. I actually avoid gardening on wet, rainy days. I dislike returning indoors soggy and smeared in mud. Besides, ...

Q: Last Christmas we had problems with the balsam fir that we bought for Christmas not taking in any water. After we brought it home my husband cut off an inch and put it in a bucket of water in the garage. When he went out to get it a few days ...

In the world of contracting I’ve seen it all. There are some incredible contractors out there who put the time and effort in to make it right for their clients. I’ve met a lot of them, and they do great, consistent work. However, there are some ...

It’s no secret that I love my smart home. The ability to control everything — from my lights and locks, to my security system, even down to my coffee maker right from my phone is a convenience I never could have imagined even 10 years ago. While ...

Q. I have vegetable and flower plots that have been cleared of summer and early fall  plantings. Should I be doing anything to prepare them for winter weather? I have the same question about my open compost enclosures. A. The ...

It’s time for Filipski’s Famous Favours For Gardeners (sorry I couldn’t find a synonym for gardener that starts with ‘F’). My regular readers will know that every year I send out a column or 2 on gifts that would appeal to gardeners for ...