Rooted in the Rockies: Growing Food and Community W/ Hartell Homestead

Rooted in the Rockies: Growing Food and Community W/ Hartell Homestead

Author: Golden Acre Home and Garden March 18, 2025 Duration: 54:05

Farmers and homesteaders are the ultimate gardeners. While farmers and homesteaders are working on a grander scale than home gardeners, they’re most likely working through similar challenges like we are as gardeners, just on a grander scale. Take a peek behind the curtain at some of the many ways Hartell Homestead is growing not only for themselves, but for their community.


SPECIAL GUEST

Nick Shipley is the founder of Hartell Homestead, a gem in the heart of the Foothills near Diamond Valley, Alberta. Hartell Homestead connects community with sustainable, local food production. Visitors can learn about farming practices, engage with the land, and even harvest their own produce. Hartell Homestead is helping reshape local food systems, offering a deeper appreciation for sustainable agriculture and supporting the community with fresh, high-quality products.

https://www.hartellhomestead.com/Instagram

Email: hartellhomestead@hotmail.com

Phone: 587-873-6027



Chapters


00:00 The Joy of Gardening and Community Connection

03:03 Understanding the Roles: Gardener, Homesteader, and Farmer

05:47 The Birth of Hartell Homestead

08:53 Sustainable Practices and Farm Operations

11:48 The Farm Shop: A Community Hub

14:57 Challenges and Innovations in Gardening

17:55 Crop Rotation and Soil Health

20:47 Must-Have Crops and Market Dynamics

28:46 The Journey of Cold-Hardy Vegetables

30:03 The Art of Weeding and Garden Maintenance

33:06 Overcoming Garden Burnout

38:02 Garden Planning Workshop Insights

45:38 Diverse Gardening Classes and Community Engagement


*************************

CONNECT WITH US

Thank you so much for supporting our podcast and for making the world a more planty place. Please subscribe, leave a rating or review and listen in for new gardening discussions every week!

Subscribe on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Google

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram |⁠⁠⁠thehelpfulgardenerspod⁠⁠⁠


Golden Acre Home & Garden is located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and open 362 a year for all your home and garden needs!


Ever find yourself staring at a wilting houseplant or a patch of backyard dirt, unsure where to even begin? That's the exact spot where The Helpful Gardeners finds its footing. This isn't a lecture from a distant expert; it's a conversation between two people who genuinely love turning spaces into places. Colin brings his certification and decades of hands-in-the-dirt knowledge from working in all sorts of climates, while Brandi comes at it with a beginner's curiosity and the willingness to ask the questions you might be thinking yourself. Each episode of this podcast from Golden Acre Home and Garden feels like pulling up a chair in a friendly, sunlit shed. You'll hear practical, real-world advice on everything from landscaping fundamentals and seasonal garden tasks to keeping your indoor jungle thriving. They tackle specific problems, share successes and failures, and break down complex topics into manageable steps. Released three times a week, this regular dose of guidance aims to build your confidence, whether you're cultivating a windowsill herb garden or planning a major backyard overhaul. Tune in for the kind of relatable, grounded chat that makes the whole process feel less like a chore and more like a rewarding discovery.
Author: Language: en-ca Episodes: 100

The Helpful Gardeners
Podcast Episodes
Turn a Balsam Fir into a Dirty Soda [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:23
What if your favorite hike through the woods could be bottled up and served over ice? We’re adding Balsam Fir Syrup to our holiday menu, and honestly, it’s a total game-changer. From "Alpine Dr. Pepper dirty soda" to cit…
Holiday Cactus: How to Master the Bloom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:23
We’re diving deep into the world of the Zygocactus—the ultimate "holiday" houseplant. If you’ve ever wondered why your "Christmas" cactus is blooming in October, what a 200 year old Christmas cactus looks like, or how th…
The Crafting Gardeners: DIY Seed Paper! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:05
The holiday season is all about spreading joy. Forget boring gift tags and plain cards; we’re talking about creating beautiful, plantable paper masterpieces using recycled materials, festive cookie cutters, and a sprinkl…
Snow Seeds to Pollinator Pathways in Norway [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:28
People are thinking outside the box when it comes to gardening and biodiversity. We recently heard about a smart idea out of Norway: they're actually combining snow with wildflower seeds and spreading it over hillsides.…
Poinsettia Secrets: How to Keep Yours Growing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:45
This week's listener question is a timely one from Karen who is growing an iconic seasonal beauty - the Poinsettia! We totally get it—these plants are the quintessential holiday vibe, but they can be a little dramatic es…
That Poinsetta's Not For Sale [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:14
Ever walked into a space—like an office or a cozy community center—and just felt instantly better? Sure, the colour of the walls and orientation of the furniture influences the overall vibe, but chances are, plants are a…
Scientists Discover a New Hoya Species! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:58
If your home is filled with trailing Hoya vines? Well, researchers have just announced the discovery of an entirely new Hoya species—Hoya dawodiensis—hidden away in the remote corners of India. It’s a powerful reminder t…
DIY Wedding Blooms [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:42
It's Wednesday. That means we turn things over to you and this week, we received a beautiful question on the podcast this week from a listener whose daughter is getting married next summer (congrats!) and is planning on…
Green Initiative Tree Troubles in Montreal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:33
Ever feel like you're fighting for your patch of green? Imagine your city is doing an amazing thing by planting half a million trees but your already bountiful yard is chosen for one of these trees?! Should you have a sa…
Plant-based Wellness: The Berry That Could Reset Your Metabolism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:25
It's Diabetes Awareness Month and you may be asking, "Why are the Helpful Gardeners talking about this?" Sure, this might seem like a heavy topic, but there’s a fascinating connection! A new study came out proving how a…