north shore news 4 FIOME & GARDEN NEWS photo Mike Waketiold ‘ORGANIC gardening practices, such as using newspaper on soil to stop weeds from sprouting, rotating vegetable crops annually and companion planting can produce healthier food for your family. From page 26 APRIL 17: The Vancouver African Violet Club is holding a Spring Show and Sale from 1 to 4 p.m. at VanDusen Garden’s Floral Hall, Jocated at 37th and Oak St. in Vancouver. Admission is $2. Call. 437-9507 for informa- tion. APRIL 29: Irvin Park ele- mentary school is holding its Eighth Annual Garden Sale from 11 a.m. ro 4 p.m. A large selection of annuals, perenni- als, and hanging baskets will be available, just in time for Mother’s Day! All selections will be GST and PST free, mas- ter gardeners will be in atten- dance to answer gardening questions. The school is locat- ed ar 2455 Haywood Ave. i West Van. MAY 8: The Lynn Valley Garden Club is holding its Spring Plant Sale from 10 am. to noon at the Lynn Valley United Church hall at 3201 Mountain Hwy. in North Vancouver. uals, perennials and more will be on sale, and visitors can enjoy tca and goodies in the “Garden Tea Room.” MAY 8: The West Vancouver Garden Club Sele is taking place from 9 a.m. to I p.m. at St. David’s United Church, 1525 Taylor Way, in West Vancouver. This year, vegeta- perennials and on sale, and a local supplier is to provide quality moss hanging baskets. Artisans will also be on hand selling everything from garden ornaments to willow art. Master gardeners will be avail- able to answer questions. LOOKING AHEAD: Gardening enthusiasts are invited to join CBC’s Canadian Gardener David Tarrant for an adventure to Alaska. The trip, Aug. 27 to Sept. 5, is based from a seven-day Holland America cruise and includes private garden tours and wal abouts at Alaskan ports of call. Proceeds support the UBC Botanical Garden. Call 733- 1074 for information. GREEN GUIDE is a weekly Sunday column, [f your busi- aess or charity is planning a gardening event, send in your information as carly as possible ta the North ‘Shore News, 1139 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver, B.C, V7M 2H-4. Priority is given to Sundraising events and shows taking place on the North Shore. Computer Workstations Custom built computer workstations i ® Home © Apartment ® Office Visit our website www.computerworkstation.com 880-6684 Free Estimates Organ Can cost y Kaleena Kiff Contributing Writer THE tulips are threat- ening to burst into bloom, so our thoughts naturally turn to our vear, the North Shore Reeycling Program’ (NSRP) is promoting alternative yard care ideas io help residents tend to their gardens with more than just beauty and abundance in mind One of the stand most i of incorporat- ing environmental responsibili- ty and health into your lifestyle is to plant an organic Organic gardening involves using tural, rather than chemical-based jenses against pests, weeds and soi on. Surrounded by the i¢ North Shore wilder- have every reason to protect our natural environ- ment. How, vou ask? By rend- ing responsibly to our own lit- : of nature. Using man-made chemic: to artificially enhance our gar- d comes with drawbacks that far ounweigh any supposed convenience or effecti Studies have detinitively linked pesticide use with high- er rates of cancer, birth defects, and damage to the nervous system. Not only can th substances leach into garden Sunday. April 4, 1999 — North Shore News - 27 ic garden u less crops, tev can abo contami- nate ground water and the sur- rounding ai Fertilizers, on the other hand, give soil a quick fix of Nutrients, but leave it unable ta convert organic material with out help, thus leaving the soil addicted to fertilizers and eventually draining it of real life. Furthermore, fertilizers often are lost te rain, running off into our water supply, streams, and eventually che ocean. The upside of organic farm- ond sheltering our community from the negative of continued chemical s that it can cose less and offer ao friendier habitat’ tor wildlife. What are the benefi Wi There is less risk to the health of humans and animals (including pets) @ Ic uses narure’s intelligence to create abundance. s, rather than vil. ‘healthier food craps and vard trimmings into high quality soil conditioner. @ It creates far less garbage than conventional gardening. @ It means less money 5 on chemical pesticides, fu cides, herbicides, and. ferti ts. Few fancy gardening sup- Plies are required to grow organi — a compost bin to recycle your organic materials and a few books trom the library are about all you need. Try using edibles stich as garlic or hot peppers to k Pests away, or place roof newspaper or leaf mulch on to soil to help stop weeds trom sprouting without the use of herbicides. Rotate your veg- etable crops every y important natural defense — it allows the soil to replenish itself, wi hile at the Me time by certain plants are grown next to each other in order to vurage predators (a com- mon example is marigolds next to tomatoes). These methods are less expr , safer, and in harmony with our loc: tems. Check with your local library or friends for books on the subj ring, when you're to grow them, go organic, for the health of your family, community and en ronment. — The NSRP hosts compost- ing workshops and maintains a varicty of resource materials on alternative yard care which are available to all North Shore. residents. Call the NSRP at 984-9730 or the Compost Hotline at 736-2250 for more information. Change the Way You Look at Home Improvements! Join us in celebrating the opening of onr sem Aitic Doctor Showroom. Take a quick, informative tour of our interactive showroom and you'll see your next horne Improvement project In a whole new tight. Drop by, bring your questions and fet our showroom do tive talking!