The Helpful Gardeners

Golden Acre Home and Garden

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. 7H AGO

    To Seed or Not to Seed

    Let’s be real: you’re scrolling through a seed catalog on a Tuesday night, and suddenly you’ve ordered fifteen varieties of heirloom tomatoes and enough peppers to start your own hot sauce empire. But now that the packets have arrived, the itch to get them in the dirt is real. Is it too early to start those babies indoors, or are you just being an overachiever that'll get in way over your head? Let's talk timing and equipment so you can bring confidence into the garden this year.  CONNECT WITH US  Show Notes | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thehelpfulgardenerspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave us a Voice Note: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  SPONSORED BY GOLDEN ACRE HOME & GARDEN  Golden Acre Home & Garden is open 362 a year for all your home and garden needs. Head online or visit us in store in Calgary, AB.  ⁠www.goldenacre.ca⁠    CREDITS  Hosted by: Brandi Warren & Colin Hayles  Voiceover by: Kaelan Shimp⁠⁠  Music by: Forestmusic

    12 min
  2. 1D AGO

    Celebrating Lunar New Year 2026 with Lucky Bamboo!

    Get ready to gallop into an auspicious 2026, the Year of the Fire Horse! This year, we're shining a spotlight on a plant that’s synonymous with good fortune, resilience, and beauty: Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana). Beyond its elegant appearance, Lucky Bamboo is steeped in rich symbolism, especially when it comes to gifting. The number of stalks you choose isn't just arbitrary – each configuration carries a unique blessing and intention. CONNECT WITH US  Show Notes | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thehelpfulgardenerspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave us a Voice Note: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  SPONSORED BY GOLDEN ACRE HOME & GARDEN  Golden Acre Home & Garden is open 362 a year for all your home and garden needs. Head online or visit us in store in Calgary, AB.  ⁠www.goldenacre.ca⁠    CREDITS  Hosted by: Brandi Warren & Colin Hayles  Voiceover by: Kaelan Shimp⁠⁠  Music by: Forestmusic

    19 min
  3. FEB 11

    Identifying Naked Trees In the Winter

    Winter gardening can feel a bit like looking at a black-and-white photo—lots of texture, but the obvious clues are gone. If you’ve ever walked past a bare tree in the winter and wondered if it’s an Elm or an Ash, you’re in the right place. Today, we are stripping it all back and diving into the language of bark, tree silhouettes, and leaf scars so you can feel a little more confident on those winter walks. City of Calgary Tree Episode Jean-Mathieu Daoust Episode CONNECT WITH US  Show Notes | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thehelpfulgardenerspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave us a Voice Note: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  SPONSORED BY GOLDEN ACRE HOME & GARDEN  Golden Acre Home & Garden is open 362 a year for all your home and garden needs. Head online or visit us in store in Calgary, AB.  ⁠www.goldenacre.ca⁠    CREDITS  Hosted by: Brandi Warren & Colin Hayles  Voiceover by: Kaelan Shimp⁠⁠  Music by: Forestmusic

    17 min
  4. FEB 9

    More Than Medals: The Floral Soul of Milano Cortina 2026

    When we think of the Winter Olympics, we usually picture ice, powder, and the adrenaline of the downhill. But for the 2026 Milano Cortina Games, Italy is bringing something a bit more delicate—and a lot more meaningful—to the podium. Italy is world-renowned for its floral artistry, and this year, they’re blending that heritage with a deep commitment to sustainability and resilience. From the bouquets handed to world-class athletes to the tiny mascots cheering from the sidelines, flowers are taking center stage. Here is a look at the floral connection that is making these games truly bloom. CONNECT WITH US  Show Notes | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thehelpfulgardenerspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave us a Voice Note: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  SPONSORED BY GOLDEN ACRE HOME & GARDEN  Golden Acre Home & Garden is open 362 a year for all your home and garden needs. Head online or visit us in store in Calgary, AB.  ⁠www.goldenacre.ca⁠     CREDITS  Hosted by: Brandi Warren & Colin Hayles  Voiceover by: Kaelan Shimp⁠⁠  Music by: Forestmusic

    12 min
  5. FEB 6

    If You Build It, They Will "Chicka-Dee-Dee-Dee"

    While our gardens might be tucked under a blanket of snow, our backyards are still buzzing with life (and tiny, hungry tummies!). This week, we’re dedicating our episode to the birds, featuring one of Canada’s most charming and brilliant residents: the Black-capped Chickadee. How do they remember where they've hidden all their food?! Get ready to have your mind blown by their incredible intelligence and learn how you can be the best host for your feathered neighbours this winter! CONNECT WITH US  Show Notes | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thehelpfulgardenerspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave us a Voice Note: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  SPONSORED BY GOLDEN ACRE HOME & GARDEN  Golden Acre Home & Garden is open 362 a year for all your home and garden needs. Head online or visit us in store in Calgary, AB.  ⁠www.goldenacre.ca⁠      CREDITS  Hosted by: Brandi Warren & Colin Hayles  Voiceover by: Kaelan Shimp⁠⁠  Music by: Forestmusic

    14 min
  6. FEB 4

    Can Dog Fur Be Used as Fertilizer?

    If you own a Golden Retriever, a Husky, or basically any creature that sheds its weight in fluff every week, you’ve probably looked at that mountain of fur in your vacuum and thought: “There has to be a better use for this than just clogging my Dyson.” Well, good news! Your dog's fur may actually have some  potential in the garden. But before you go carpet-bombing your lawn with Fido’s winter coat, let's talk about the reality of using hair as a garden amendment. CONNECT WITH US  Show Notes | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thehelpfulgardenerspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave us a Voice Note: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  SPONSORED BY GOLDEN ACRE HOME & GARDEN  Golden Acre Home & Garden is open 362 a year for all your home and garden needs. Head online or visit us in store in Calgary, AB.  ⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca⁠⁠     CREDITS  Hosted by: Brandi Warren & Colin Hayles  Voiceover by: Kaelan Shimp⁠⁠  Music by: Forestmusic

    16 min

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!