Burnaby resident Angela Pizzin and her husband Tony have been growing their own vegetables, fruit and herbs, long before food security became a hot topic for urbanites.
"We do all natural - no pesticides, no fertilizer, nothing," Angela tells the NOW.
The couple, who immigrated to Canada from Italy in 1977, have a north-facing garden with lots of sun. They grow sage, basil (lots of basil to make pesto, Angela adds) butternut squash to make gnocchi, three kinds of beans, and tomatoes for canning.
Angela shared a few tips and tricks that she used to keep her garden well-nourished and pest free, without the use of chemicals and fertilizers.
At the end of each growing season, the two bury their garden scraps in a hole in the yard, and let Mother Nature do her work. Come spring, they use the composted soil for another year's crop.
"I haven't bought no manure, no fertilizer, nothing for the last 15 years," Angela says.
As for her cabbage, Angela hoses them down every day, to keep the slugs and caterpillars away without using harmful pesticides.
Angela says growing tomatoes can be difficult some years.
"This year is a perfect year for them, but some years are very hard. When I have a good crop, I can them, because I make lots and lots of tomato sauce," she says. "I have figs, too, I have three huge figs trees in the front. I supply all the neighbourhood."
Are you an avid gardener? Have a few tips you would like to share with our readers? Send photos and details to Jennifer Moreau at [email protected].
