The Garden Shift

Tina Cesaroni
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A podcast about becoming a guardian of your garden with host Tina Cesaroni and friends. Informal conversations about ecological gardening, including -nature observations -less lawn and more plants - critters to co-exist with -caterpillars, moths, butterflies, birds & bees to name a few -messy garden beds -meadows -native plants to know and grow -invasive plants to remove -Ontario native plant nurseries for you to visit -ecological news I hope you laugh a bit and learn a lot. More good stuff here: thegardenshift.com @the_garden_shift

  1. 1D AGO

    Building a Garden with PollinateTO

    In this episode you will meet community builder & Toronto Master Gardener Jen Morley. Jen cares about the natural world and does her part right in her neighbourhood in downtown Toronto. She entered the Master Gardener training program in 2023 and has fast become a rising star.  A skilled writer, editor and communicator with a knack for making connections and bringing people together. Listen in as we talk about her ongoing leadership role in the Girl Guides, a successful grant application for PollinateTo funding, and her ongoing studies that are assisting her on The Shift. Enjoy. Notes & Link PollinateTO https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/water-environment/environmental-grants-incentives/pollinateto-community-grants/ Girl Guides Video https://youtu.be/yeXP4v891nQ?si=i16UJomAb74N2iij

    35 min

  2. FEB 12

    Swallowtail Native Plants - A Local Seed Company

    In today's episode you will hear from Andrea D'Silva the owner of Swallowtail Native Plants an online specialized seed company. Why is growing plants from local seed important and what seeds are easy to try if you are new to growing native plants from seeds. Winter is the time to buy seeds and Andrea gives great tips on how to have success with germination. Blue Flag Iris , Wild Basil and Prairie Smoke are a few special species we discuss. www.swallowtailnativeplants.ca Andrea's Native Plant Easy to Start List

    40 min

  3. FEB 5

    The Battle in Burlington - Out of Date Municipal By-Laws

    In this episode we continue on the theme of naturalized gardens and out dated by-laws that penalize gardeners who want to do their part for nature. The City of Burlington is taking ecologist Karen Barnes to court over her naturalized garden, that was deliberately planted, maintained, free of noxious weeds and not obstructing any sidewalk or sightline. It's been a battle that has seen her front and back garden mowed down by the City. Listen in to Karen joined by her daughter Julia as they detail the case based on constitutional grounds and their aim to set a strong precedent in support of Canadians’ rights to freedom of expression through gardening. https://www.nationalobserver.com/2025/08/29/news/ontario-naturalized-garden-charter-challenge Donate https://smallchangefund.ca/campaign/protecting-naturalized-gardens/

    30 min

  4. JAN 29

    A Naturalized Garden with Douglas Counter

    Douglas Counter goes to court in Counter v City of Toronto (2002) to express his pro-environmental views of how to manage a garden on privately maintained public property. Listen to a passionate gardener who fought and won this case for all Canadian gardeners. Recorded in Nov.2025 Contact Douglas: dcu.humanature@rogers.com Spacing Toronto |  https://spacing.ca/toronto/2024/08/21/from-drainage-ditch-to-vibrant-pollution-absorbing-habitat/ Fireflies- -Ontario Nature  https://ontarionature.org/fireflies-of-ontario-blog/

    38 min

  5. JAN 22

    Botanical Terminology with Ryan Godfrey

    The Garden Shift is back for 2026. In this episode we define & explore common botanical terms used in ecology and horticulture. What is a weed? What makes a plant invasive? Is a naturalized plant bad for an ecosystem? Ryan Godfrey, Senior Conservation Research Associate Specialist at WWF Canada, makes sense of it all. Use the chart found in this link to follow along: https://wwf.ca/stories/botanical-terminology-invasive-ornamental-plants/

    42 min

  6. 12/18/2025

    Mistakes, Marvels & a Mascot

    Listen in as we close the year with TMG Pat Concessi and Tena van Andel. This is a tell all- as we share real stories from our own gardens. Don't miss the last few minutes when we are joined by researcher David Lawrie from the Toronto Region and Conservation Authority- he will outline the work to create safe passage for an endagered species who you might recognize from The Garden Shift podcast cover. https://wildones.org/about/honorary-directors/larry-weaner/ https://trca.ca/conservation/environmental-monitoring/searching-for-salamanders/

    39 min

  7. 12/11/2025

    Pollinator Corridors with Dorte Windmuller

    Dorte Windmuller has been gardening in Scarborough for over 15 years. Part of The Cliffcrest Butterflyway-a citizen-led group under the umbrella of the David Suzuki Foundation with the aim to bring back more bees and butterflies to our gardens, schools and public places. Listen and get inspiration on creating an oasis for wildlife by planting native. Pollinator Garden by Dorte Windmuller for bees and birds and butterflies https://www.pollinatorgarden.ca/ www.Cliffcrestbutterflyway.com  What’s the Rush? Doug Tallamy, Co-Founder Homegrown National Park® - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3KQW2BKtx4 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=K3KQW2BKtx4 The Chelsea Chop - Credit Valley Conservation https://cvc.ca/the-garden-post/the-chelsea-chop/ Merlin Sheldrake https://www.merlinsheldrake.com/entangled-life

    34 min

  8. 12/04/2025

    A Local and Sustainable Model of Growing Native Plants

    Do you love growing plants from seed, ever thought of starting a local native plant nursery? Sundaura Alford Purvis of A Cultivated Art in Ottawa, will tell you all about the magic of growing. We talk unsustainable horticulture practices, plant associations, the importance of wild gathered seed and so much more. This episode is jammed pack with detail- but don't worry included below are great links and resources . And who said you can't listen to the episode more than once? A Cultivated Art - acultivatedart.com VASCAN - data.canadensys.net Plants Have So Much to Give Us, All We Have to do is Ask: Anishinaabe Botanical Teachings, Mary Siisip Geniusz (2015) Plant List- see Resource Library thegardenshift.com

    36 min
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About

A podcast about becoming a guardian of your garden with host Tina Cesaroni and friends. Informal conversations about ecological gardening, including -nature observations -less lawn and more plants - critters to co-exist with -caterpillars, moths, butterflies, birds & bees to name a few -messy garden beds -meadows -native plants to know and grow -invasive plants to remove -Ontario native plant nurseries for you to visit -ecological news I hope you laugh a bit and learn a lot. More good stuff here: thegardenshift.com @the_garden_shift

Information

  • Creator
    Tina Cesaroni
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Tina Cesaroni
  • Show Website
    The Garden Shift