Every Canadian, it seems, is thinking about the wild fires in the Canadian west. And earlier this season, in the Maritimes, Quebec and Ontario.
During a phone call the other day with our friend Alister Mathieson, who lives in Abbotsford B.C., we were reminded that the pervasive presence of smoke is a constant reminder that our forests are on fire.

While we don’t have an answer to this complex problem, we are reminded that the trees that we live with, in our urban areas, provide the most direct benefits to human health and are far less likely to burn up in a wild fire, in most cases.
Urban trees provide benefits to human health that are now measured by science and without a doubt.
We breath easier when we live with trees. They sequester carbon, suck in carbon dioxide and exhale pure oxygen.
We live cooler with trees. A picnic blanket is always spread beneath a tree, on a hot day. You won’t have to think long about why this is so.

We enjoy economic benefits when we live with trees. Think of your favourite city to visit. Now, think again with that city stripped of its trees. We rest our case.
And finally, trees slow us down. 
               A well treed street slows vehicular traffic.
A city street featuring trees that are mature encourage more people to walk where they want to go. Less cars are taken on the road for short distances.
And perhaps while slowing down we become more considerate of the many things we can do to prevent the ongoing heating of Mother Earth.  

This September 20 is National Tree Day and we think it is more appropriate now than ever to plant a tree in our own yard. Or support a local program that plants trees. 
Mark is the Volunteer Chair of Trees For Life, a not for profit dedicated to planting trees in the urban environment. 

This fall, we have organized our first public tree planting day since COVID, in 2020. 
We urge you to come on out, say hi, and plant a few trees.
  • October 5, 2023 - Tawa Park, Edmonton, AB. Register to volunteer by email to [email protected].
  • October 21, 2023 - TD Tree Day, Guelph, ON. Details to be announced soon.

More events to come. Sign up for the Trees for Life newsletter and follow them on social, @cdntreesforlife, for upcoming volunteer opportunities.

And if you can’t be there, consider supporting our mutual efforts to maximize the urban tree canopy by donating to Trees For Life. Our goal is to plant one million more trees in the next 3 years and raise $6 million.
We are one third of the way there! 

Mark and Ben Cullen
Merchants of Beauty and Beans
FOOD GARDENING WITH BEN
Garlic is ready to be planted toward the later part of September and into October. Select your biggest, healthiest bulbs from this year’s crop as seed stock and remember to dress generously with compost. Tuck the cloves under a blanket of mulch to keep them extra happy and weed free come spring.

Sow a cover crop where you have bare soil emerging under your finished harvests. Annual rye and clover will germinate quickly to generate some organic matter and soil cover before winter killing. Adding hairy vetch and winter rye will give something to regrow in the spring, which will bring added benefit but require tillage to make way for your new crops.

Pay attention to your cold crops, even as your enthusiasm might be waning. Late season kale, lettuce greens, and carrots are often the sweetest. 
GARDEN THINGS TO DO IN SEPTEMBER
September is for:
  • Hummingbirds.
  • Garden mums.
  • Rudebeckia at its' peak.
  • Echinacea going to seed: finches going crazy for it!
  • Tomatoes on the vine. Fresh sweet corn too.
  • Buying Holland bulbs.

Lawns. Sow grass seed and lay sod in September for a fool proof, low maintenance start to a great looking lawn. Plus, it is so much easier and the results so much better to do this now than in spring.

Perennials. Generally, we like to leave perennials standing in the garden all winter long. But there are some that are just 'finished' come early fall. They not only flowered but the seed heads have been picked apart by songbirds (which was part of the plan anyhow) and now the finished plant just stands there looking forlorn. Cut it down and toss the stems and stuff in the compost. We will do this with hollyhocks, veronica, Shasta daisies and the like.
The perennials that I leave standing all winter are the late flowering ones that are going to seed next month and flowering as we speak: rudebeckia, asters, mums, rodgersia and the like.

Bulbs. They are in retailers now. Or, they will be very shortly. Mark loves narcissus -first to bloom, attract bees and other pollinators and announce the arrival of spring. If you could get that spring time feeling from planting bulbs on cold, autumn days more people would do it. Alas, it is like buying an annuity: invest today and clip the coupons come spring.
You just have to be patient if you want to be a gardener.

In addition to all of the above:
  • Compost
  • Add 5 cm of new soil to garden beds if you did not do this in the spring.
  • Cut and enjoy roses indoors as this is the 2nd best show of the year.
  • Trim your cedar hedge and evergreens.
  • Sit, relax and enjoy. Winter comes fast enough.
CULLEN'S FOODS - UPDATE
The wet weather continues as we float into harvest season here in Ontario, meanwhile what is left of the western crop after grasshopper infestations is as dry as ever. Canada is a diverse country in so many ways.

Wet harvests are complicated but cannot be put off as we are starting to see the onset of some white mold on the leaves which will only spread through the plant. Furthermore, in many fields the weed pressure has had a chance to get ahead of the crop as it has been too muddy to cultivate between the rows. Excess weed pressure means “pulling” the beans will be out of the question for many growers, which is the preferred method of harvesting where the plants are cut beneath the soil, “yanked”, and laid out in windrows to be picked up. The alternative is regular combining, which can lead to cut pods as the combine head can only get so close to the soil and edible beans tend to hang lower than soybeans.

The other issue is “staining”, particularly of navy (white) beans as dirt clods and green weeds rub up against the bean and discolour the seed coat. Generally, a superficial issue solved during the rinsing and soaking stage of canning, but can lead to lower grade of dried beans.

This harvest season is just beginning, however, and a week of dry heat can change a lot in the business of farming. We have seen crazier things in September. 
BIRDS IN FOCUS:
Fall Birding and the Yellow-rumped Warbler
By: Jody Allair
Welcome to autumn! It may still look summery outside, but if you’re a migrant bird, you are most likely already on your way south. In fact, for arctic nesting shorebirds, early September marks the peak of migration through southern Canada. Even though spring migration gets most of the spotlight, for my money, you cannot beat birding in the fall.
 
So why is fall birding so fantastic? For one, you have more time to enjoy migration because it happens over a longer period than in spring. In spring, birds are rushing to their breeding grounds whereas in fall, they take time to pack on the fat before heading south to Mexico, Central America, or even South America. There are also more birds to see compared to in the spring. In addition to the adult birds, you now have all of the newly fledged young attempting their first fall migration. 

One commonly-cited advantage to spring birding is that the birds are sporting their bright breeding plumages, making them easier to identify. Well that may be true, but it should not dissuade you from getting outside and having a go at identifying these amazing super-migrant songbirds in their fall colours.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Photo credit: Jody Allair
One of the most ubiquitous migrant wood-warblers is the Yellow-rumped Warbler. Named for the bright lemon-yellow patch on its lower back, the Yellow-rumped Warbler is one of the most abundant fall migrant songbirds across Canada. Chances are if you’re out in your local park or well vegetated yard, you will see one of these amazing little fireballs looking for insects and small berries. And here’s a tip: listen for their rich “chep” call note (you can listen to it here). It is quite distinctive, and once you learn it you will find them just about everywhere over the next two months.
 
Good Birding!
 
Jody Allair
Director, Community Engagement
Connect with me on Twitter and Instagram at: @JodyAllair
Harrowsmith’s Sheet Pan Apple Pie Squares
 
Slab pie desserts are perfect for feeding a crowd at picnics and potlucks, prepping school lunches, and making ahead to freeze for later. Apple lovers rejoice! Here’s our deliciously easy-to-make take on Canada’s favourite pie. You’ll love the perfectly caramelized crust in this recipe. Find the instructions here:  www.harrowsmithmag.com/apple-squares.
Don’t miss an issue of Harrowsmith’s gardening, cooking, sustainable living and DIY tips. Harrowsmith’s 2024 Almanac is on newsstands now. It features easy potluck recipes, seasonal weather forecasts for the next 12 months, night sky charts, home repair tips, monthly garden to-do lists, and more than 80 top plant picks to help you create resilient and thriving gardens for the future from Mark and Ben Cullen + so much more! Subscribe now and never miss an issue www.harrowsmithmag.com/subscribe.