The Growing Season, March 29, 2025 - Multi-Purpose Plants pt. 1

03/29/25 • 53 min

The Growing Season

So what else does it do?

That's the focus of this week's episode of The Growing Season.

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland dive into the Swiss Army knives of the horticultural world.

Multi-Purpose plants come into focus.

Willows kick off the show in style. You wouldn't believe the number of things a willow can be used for.

Willows are packed full of calcium, so in a pinch you could use a willow to boost your calcium intake.

Lumber, lumber, lumber. It's a hot topic politically and the trio dive into a conversation about our most used construction material.

What trees are the most widely used for nominal lumber? An investigation occurs.

Outdoor lumber yard vs. indoor lumber yard. Is there a difference?

MATT DISCOVERS A SITKA SPRUCE. Then he falls in love.

What is cellulose? Why is it important?

Pine nuts. Pine seeds. Lets talk.

Birches are beautiful but who knew how useful they can be outside of the fact that they give your landscape a unique shot of colour.

Birch syrup is tasted on air. The show comes off the rails.

You can tap your Japanese Maple and acquire syrup from it. We're not kidding!

Tune in.
Looking to book a consult for your property? We'd love to help. CLICK HERE.
What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE.
Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast. CLICK HERE.

So what else does it do?

That's the focus of this week's episode of The Growing Season.

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland dive into the Swiss Army knives of the horticultural world.

Multi-Purpose plants come into focus.

Willows kick off the show in style. You wouldn't believe the number of things a willow can be used for.

Willows are packed full of calcium, so in a pinch you could use a willow to boost your calcium intake.

Lumber, lumber, lumber. It's a hot topic politically and the trio dive into a conversation about our most used construction material.

What trees are the most widely used for nominal lumber? An investigation occurs.

Outdoor lumber yard vs. indoor lumber yard. Is there a difference?

MATT DISCOVERS A SITKA SPRUCE. Then he falls in love.

What is cellulose? Why is it important?

Pine nuts. Pine seeds. Lets talk.

Birches are beautiful but who knew how useful they can be outside of the fact that they give your landscape a unique shot of colour.

Birch syrup is tasted on air. The show comes off the rails.

You can tap your Japanese Maple and acquire syrup from it. We're not kidding!

Tune in.
Looking to book a consult for your property? We'd love to help. CLICK HERE.
What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE.
Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast. CLICK HERE.

Previous Episode

The Growing Season, March 22, 2025 - Flooding 2025

Splish, splash I was taking a bath, walking around in my backyard!!!

Everyone get their duck-waiters out!

As a result of the immense amount of snow dropped in February 2025 many of our outdoor spaces are flooded.

“Keeping water away from home should be of paramount concern...”

Speaking of flooding, Matt McFarland tells tales of his recent adventures with his washing machine.

Jack and Lynne McFarland help to pull the curtain back on drainage details on The Growing Season.

More homeowners are going to larger capacity downspouts. Why?

Plants acquire oxygen through their roots. How does this work with a saturated soil?

If you have flies and sulphuric odors in wet areas on your property what does that mean?

Matt goes on a rant about cedars.

The trio highlight moisture tolerant plants that will work great in your garden.

Birch are salt tolerant. Who knew?

Tune in.
Looking to book a consult for your property? We'd love to help. CLICK HERE.
What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE.
Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast. CLICK HERE.

Next Episode

The Growing Season, April 5. 2025 - Multi-Purpose Plants pt. 2

So does it do anything else?

Picking up where last week left off, Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland highlight multi-purpose plants in the second part of the series on this week's episode of The Growing Season.

Bamboo kicks of the hort-topics. Why isn't bamboo more prominent in Canada?

Fabrics, construction materials and aesthetics - bamboo can do it all.

Toilet paper and how its made will dishearten you.

Is sugar cane used it Canada. Jack outlines how its integral to many of the aspects of Canadian life.

Should you let your grass go to seed? Yes and no.

Grass clippings get Jack REALLY excited. There are so many uses, some of which will shock you.

Hogweed comes into focus on Strange But True.

As has become an annual tradition, dandelions feature prominently.

Stinging nettles are AWFUL. They can be used, medically, for so much. The trio explain.

Cotton is a WATER HOG.

Goutweed. UH-OH. Lets talk about it.

Bull rushes and life jackets.

Tune in.
Looking to book a consult for your property? We'd love to help. CLICK HERE.
What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE.
Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast. CLICK HERE.