I learned early on in my rise to “seasoned” gardener that there is always someone with more knowledge about gardening than you. Equally true, there is always someone who knows less than you. Things that you assume the entire world knows, you will find someone who’ll say, “I never knew that!” In fact, much of my motivation to start this blog comes from those people saying “You know so much about gardening! You should write a blog!” Well, that’s in the humble opinion of some.
Gardeners are friendly and helpful and want to share what they know. I have learned as much chatting with strangers in the seasonal aisle at Canadian Tire as I have from anywhere else. So, in keeping with that tradition, I am sharing what I know, but should first clarify what you can expect from the AllSage Gardener, and what you can’t.
- First and foremost, I am not an expert, nor do I profess to be one. There are folks with horticulture degrees, vastly more experience, and a greener thumb than mine, so I will leave the “expert-ise” to them. What you can expect from the AllSage Gardener is basic, reliable, and mostly tried and true information for beginner gardeners. Although I am not an expert, the AllSage Gardener will direct you to those who are – including information, resources, and occasional reviews. The AllSage Gardener is a one-stop shop for all home and garden experts and services.
- My website is monetized using Google ads and affiliate marketing. Any ads or links you click on at AllSage Gardener or my blog, ASG Grapevine, will likely generate revenue for me. However, this should not be interpreted as an endorsement from AllSage Gardener. If we have used a service and believe they warrant a referral, they will be clearly identified under our Resources page. Google, being the advertising giant that it is, serves up ads that are relevant to the content on our site. If you have any concerns about any links or ads on our site, please let us know by emailing info@allsage.ca.
- AllSage Gardener offers in-person and online consulting and coaching services. Over many years of gardening, I have learned that most plants will grow with very little help from us. They may not be award winners, but plants are survivors and will often even grow despite us. That being said though, with some basic foundational knowledge you can optimize your efforts to have a very satisfying and aesthetically pleasing garden without a ton of work or money. AllSage Gardener will get you started and coach you along at the pace and level of information that is right for you. Go to the website for more details.
- For a multitude of reasons, I aspire to and proudly proclaim to be one of the laziest gardeners I know. Mostly, I don’t want to spend all the nice days of summer slaving in my yard. Enjoying a Corona on my patio maybe, but not working. Gardens are the literal “reap what you sow”. The harder you work at them, the more productive they will be. However, who wants to work all spring, summer, and fall when all you were aiming for was a respectable yard and calming retreat? This is not to say that I have never had to work hard at my garden, only that I design a garden to eventually need minimal care. My services are based on this premise and the advice you find here will reflect this “lazy” perspective. If what you strive to accomplish is an award-winner, then the AllSage Gardener is not for you. I keep it simple; work with nature, not against it; and I treasure the beauty of the less glamorous, but staunchly reliable stand-bys, like daylilies and hostas.
- You will not find the AllSage Gardener on any social media platforms. Sadly, like our attempt at running a discussion forum, even a friendly place like a garden seems to draw the distasteful and disrespectful. We may revisit a forum later on, but it is unlikely you will ever find us on social media. However, there are many ways to engage with the AllSage Gardener and a referral to your friends is greatly appreciated:
- Bookmark my blog AllSage Grapevine
- Check the website often for new content and reviews of tried products and services
- Sign-up for our e-newsletter (once it’s up and running) – I’ll keep you posted
- Don’t miss the AllSage Gardener Directory! Many horticultural service providers are small businesses without large budgets for marketing. AllSage provides an affordable medium to advertise local businesses (Calgary and area). If you are interested in listing your business or advertising on our website, please use the contact form or email me at info@allsage.ca.
I look forward to gardening with you.
Happy planting!
Your AllSage Gardener