Carson Arthur’s extensive 15-year television career and his recognition as an international landscape designer has made him a go-to expert when it comes to your backyard.
Making his career through outdoor development, Arthur is adamant about taking the time to invest in your property, especially outside. He’ll be a featured guest speaker at the 2019 Home + Garden Show at the Edmonton Expo Centre, March 21-24.
Before releasing his new book, Vegetables, Chicken, and Bees: An honest guide to growing food this spring, we chatted with him about his new release and the changing needs behind growing our own food.
“I’ve wanted to write this book for several years, but it wasn’t until I bought a head of iceberg lettuce for $4.99 that I really committed to sharing my experiences,” says Carson. He continues, “Food prices will continue to rise indefinitely. Our changing climate will challenge growers and farmers on a global scale. As a result, we, as homeowners, need to start looking at our own spaces and learning how to best make use of what is around us.”What can seem like a very big challenge to some, Carson is adamant that anyone can grow their own food.
“I have tried all of the different approaches; from experts to online, and several passed down through my family. Some of them work, others are better skipped, but for a new gardener ... how do you know what is going to work best for you? I really tried to hone in on this and give my advice for the new (and expert!) home gardener.”
For Carson, a tip for finding success in the yard is understand the space you are working with. “When you truly know what you are working with when it comes to sunlight, soil and time in your schedule, there is a whole list of plants that will happily grow in every situation!”
Understanding your space is key ... but what if you have a tiny space where there’s not space for a large amount of soil? “For homeowners challenged with smaller spaces, growing food takes a bit more strategy than if you are going in a patch of soil. Growing on walls, and growing ‘up’ in vertical planters are great options but they have to be done properly.”
Carson warns however, to beware of some inspiration you see online. “Unfortunately, some social media sites often only give the positives of the projects and rarely caution you on what can go wrong. For example, I love the idea of the 'hay bale’ garden which uses hay bales to create a raised planter for your vegetables. What they don’t tell you is that your hay bales are also perfect homes for mice and rats. I had both move into my garden, right near the house.”
When it comes to new tech in the garden for 2019, it’s really a lot more simple than you thought.
“What’s old is new again. I am in love with the millennial generation for a couple of reasons. First, they love to garden and secondly, they want to have the experience as much as the produce. Millennials are really helping bring back the ‘tried and true’ methods of gardening instead of investing lots of money in new tech. My personal new favourite tool is a shovel that I just bought that is hand-crafted by a local metalsmith.”
The backyard is often considered an oasis during the warmer months. For Carson, it’s important to find balance between a garden and your dream backyard escape.
“That is the key to creating a space outdoors that allows you to grow food, but also lets you escape at the end of a stressful week and finding the perfect balance between the two. Sometimes it’s as simple as a perfect bench under an apple tree, or even a stroll through a bee-friendly meadow. When we create harmony between our own demands and what nature needs from us, life just seems so much more complete.”
Carson’s love for food from the yard has definitely now become a lifestyle. Growing most of his food from his garden at home, it’s been the best experience so far.
“Every single meal from my garden has been so rewarding. This morning, I had fresh eggs from my chicken paired with a spicy salsa from my tomatoes and peppers.” Is your mouth drooling yet?
Carson will be on the Main Stage at the Home + Garden Show, March 21-24 at the Edmonton Expo Centre. You can catch him chatting about his new book, and get even more green tips and tricks from the expert gardener himself!
For more information on the Edmonton Home + Garden Show, visit www.edmontonhomeandgarden.com.
