The Helpful Gardeners

Golden Acre Home and Garden
  • 4.9 (12)
  • HOME & GARDEN
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to the Helpful Gardeners, a weekly podcast diving into the home and garden topics you want to learn more about. Colin is a certified horticulturist with decades of experience working in landscaping, gardening and houseplants in various climactic zones. Brandi is a beginner with a passion to ask questions. Subscribe to catch new episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday!

  1. 2025-12-24

    Turn a Balsam Fir into a Dirty Soda

    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 citrusy spritzes that taste like a mountain morning, we’re showing you how to turn those piney needles into liquid gold. Your kitchen is about to smell like a high-end spa, and your tastebuds are going to thank you. CONNECT WITH USGolden Acre Home & Garden is located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and open 362 a year for all your home and garden needs!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thehelpfulgardenerspod Leave us a Voice Note: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CREDITS Hosted by: Brandi Warren & Colin Hayles Voiceover by: Kaelan Shimp⁠⁠ Music by: Forestmusic

    19 min

  2. 2025-12-17

    Holiday Cactus: How to Master the Bloom

    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 the heck to tell them all apart, we’re sharing everything you need to keep these festive favorites thriving. Thanks to listener Jane for this week's question! CONNECT WITH US Golden Acre Home & Garden is located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and open 362 a year for all your home and garden needs! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thehelpfulgardenerspod Leave us a Voice Note: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CREDITS Hosted by: Brandi Warren & Colin Hayles Voiceover by: Kaelan Shimp ⁠⁠Music by: Forestmusic

    14 min

  3. 2025-12-15

    The Crafting Gardeners: DIY Seed Paper!

    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 sprinkle of nature's magic - seeds! CONNECT WITH US Golden Acre Home & Garden is located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and open 362 a year for all your home and garden needs! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thehelpfulgardenerspod Leave us a Voice Note: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CREDITS Hosted by: Brandi Warren & Colin Hayles Voiceover by: Kaelan Shimp ⁠⁠Music by: Forestmusic

    17 min

  4. 2025-12-12

    Snow Seeds to Pollinator Pathways in Norway

    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. Imagine, literally planting flowers with snow! We're buzzing about how this cool concept could transform dormant ski hills into vibrant pollinator highways in the summer, and why you might not want to turn your entire yard into a wildflower free-for-all just yet. CONNECT WITH US Golden Acre Home & Garden is located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and open 362 a year for all your home and garden needs! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thehelpfulgardenerspod Leave us a Voice Note: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CREDITS Hosted by: Brandi Warren & Colin Hayles Voiceover by: Kaelan Shimp ⁠⁠Music by: Forestmusic

    9 min

  5. 2025-12-10

    Poinsettia Secrets: How to Keep Yours Growing

    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 especially if you want to have one until next Christmas. We’re sharing all the secrets to Poinsettia success, from watering tips to the timely process of getting them to re-bloom. CONNECT WITH US Thank you for supporting our podcast and for making the world a more planty place. Please subscribe, leave a rating or review, and listen for new gardening discussions every week! Golden Acre Home & Garden is located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and open 362 a year for all your home and garden needs!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thehelpfulgardenerspod ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave us a Voice Note: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CREDITS Hosted by: Brandi Warren & Colin Hayles Voiceover by: Kaelan Shimp ⁠⁠Music by: Forestmusic

    12 min

  6. 2025-12-07

    That Poinsetta's Not For Sale

    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 big component too! We're on the road this week seeing how The Core in downtown Calgary to explore how plants inspire the holiday season in our shared spaces like malls, community centres, and more. 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! Golden Acre Home & Garden is located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and open 362 a year for all your home and garden needs! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thehelpfulgardenerspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave us a Voice Note: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Hosted by: Brandi Warren & Colin Hayles Voiceover by: Kaelan Shimp⁠⁠ Music by: Forestmusic CREDITS

    11 min

  7. 2025-12-05

    Scientists Discover a New Hoya Species!

    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 that our planet still holds incredible secrets, and that every houseplant favourite has a wild origin story. 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! Golden Acre Home & Garden is located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and open 362 a year for all your home and garden needs! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thehelpfulgardenerspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave us a Voice Note: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CREDITS Hosted by: Brandi Warren & Colin Hayles Voiceover by: Kaelan Shimp⁠⁠ Music by: Forestmusic

    14 min

  8. 2025-12-03

    DIY Wedding Blooms

    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 making 12 floral centrepieces for the event! What should she do? 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! Golden Acre Home & Garden is located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and open 362 a year for all your home and garden needs! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thehelpfulgardenerspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave us a Voice Note: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CREDITS Hosted by: Brandi Warren & Colin Hayles Voiceover by: Kaelan Shimp⁠⁠ Music by: Forestmusic

    15 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Helpful Gardeners, a weekly podcast diving into the home and garden topics you want to learn more about. Colin is a certified horticulturist with decades of experience working in landscaping, gardening and houseplants in various climactic zones. Brandi is a beginner with a passion to ask questions. Subscribe to catch new episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday!

Information

  • Creator
    Golden Acre Home and Garden
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    154
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Golden Acre Home and Garden
  • Show Website
    The Helpful Gardeners

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