My Social Media Break – Two Month Update
From the Garden Shed
by Catherine Karpman
11M ago
It’s been two months since I took a break from Instagram and Facebook. My departure in March was not an intended one. It came to me one morning as I was scrolling through posts and feeling quite sad that my images and stories were not getting any interactions and the connection I sought. After years of commitment to sharing my journey, products, services, tips and personal stories, I felt less connected to my community. My self-worth was tied to likes and interactions, comparing myself to others, and wondering why I did not see success (or at least my perception of success). Keeping up with ..read more
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Seed to Bloom Garden Plan 2023
From the Garden Shed
by Catherine Karpman
1y ago
This season puts a spring in my step. March is the month that many of us are itching for long, warm days and seeing the white stuff melt away. However, here in Pemberton Meadows, we must be patient as we are usually a few weeks behind those living in Squamish, Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. I was recently in Vancouver, and the sights of crocus, daffodils and forsythia in bloom lifted my spirits. As one of my clients said, “I love each season, but when a new one arrives, you realize that you are ready for it and appreciate it even more.” Our lavender is just starting to peek out from t ..read more
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Four-Season Container Gardening – Part 1: Container Gardening 101
From the Garden Shed
by Catherine Karpman
1y ago
Repurposed from my presentations earlier this year at the Landscape Ontario’s Congress Conference – Redefined and BC Home + Garden Show – Garden Stage, this month’s blog is about my passion – Container Gardening. Whether you are a novice gardener or interested in the learning tricks of the trade, I share my knowledge and expertise in creating well-designed and successful four-season container gardens. There is so much to share that I have divided this blog into two parts: PART ONE Container Gardening 101 and Elements of Successful Four-Season Container Gardening PART T ..read more
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What’s cooking at From The Garden Shed | Culinary Lavender
From the Garden Shed
by Catherine Karpman
2y ago
What is culinary lavender?  What can you make with culinary lavender? These are the two common questions I get at the farmer’s markets, especially now that our culinary line has grown from one to five products in the past year. Culinary lavender is derived from lavender buds that come from Lavandula angustifolia varieties.  This type of lavender has less camphor and other terpenes that do not leave a bitter or medicinal taste in the mouth.  Depending on the variety, culinary lavender will impart a soft, floral, citrus or sweet flavour to foods. Here at FTGS, we grow three types ..read more
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My Latest Guilty Pleasure – Seeds!
From the Garden Shed
by Catherine Karpman
3y ago
I am making up for lost time it seems, and can’t get enough of collecting and planning a garden from seed. It’s only been two years since I dug into something new with my first direct sow garden.  (See my Direct Sow Garden PT 1. and Pt. 2).  As I go into my third year, I am feeling more confident.  I am far from being an expert, but I love how much I am learning through the journey. In this blog, I share my plans for this year’s seed garden and several garden tips that are helping me along the way, including my participation in this year’s Floret Flowers online course. I share m ..read more
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My top three takeaways of 2020
From the Garden Shed
by Catherine Karpman
3y ago
Image credit Tara O’ Grady Photography “Often when you think you are at the end of something, you are at the beginning of something else” FRED ROGERS After a hectic holiday season, I am enjoying this time to reflect, plan, and take advantage of January’s slower pace.  I am playing a bit of catch up on plans for 2021, but what 2020 taught me is that we need to be flexible, and our best-laid plans can change due to circumstances out of our control. From The Garden Shed had a good year, all things considered, but not without me taking the challenge head-on and being vulnerable.  I ..read more
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Confessions of a lavender farmer and self-preneur.
From the Garden Shed
by Catherine Karpman
3y ago
As FROM THE GARDEN SHED celebrates its third year in business, this blog reflects my journey and the lessons learned along the way.  I hope it will give insight into how I have designed my business and life I love. I would have to say my biggest lesson so far as a lavender farmer is one of patience – a hard exercise for someone like me with high energy and ambition.  I can still hear the words of my mentor who drove the message that lavender farming is at least three-year investment. Three years before I would see the full benefits of my efforts – and that’s if everything goes as p ..read more
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Catherine’s Tips for Professional Container Gardens
From the Garden Shed
by Catherine Karpman
4y ago
image courtesy Andi Wardrop One of my favourite types of gardening is container gardening.  I have enjoyed working with this form of gardening for over 25 years, which all began with the purchase of our first home.  I remember my very first planter, it was a cast iron planter given to me from my dear friends Kate & Laura (which is still with me today and has travelled to four homes since then).  Today that one planter has grown to almost 20 planters that grace our patio, front entrance, garden and deck. Container gardening is an art form for me, but mostly it’s my guilt ..read more
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Lavender Love
From the Garden Shed
by Catherine Karpman
4y ago
My love for lavender, prior to growing it for commercial use, was inspired by images of Provence.  The large fields of purple in the forefront of the historical abbey, Norte-Dame de Senanque and the beautiful French countryside, offered a dream life away from the hustle and bustle of big city life I was living during my twenties and thirties.  I have always been drawn and inspired by the culture, lifestyle, gardens, and history of France.  I believe this is what inspired my love of lavender, not to mention that purple flowers have always been a favourite of mine. Image Tar ..read more
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My Direct Sow Garden | Pt. 2
From the Garden Shed
by Catherine Karpman
4y ago
Part 2 – My Direct Sow Garden. – Part one, released on January 22, highlights my plan, soil prep, my first attempt to start my sweet peas, and why I ended up direct sowing my flower garden.  This is the conclusion of my first direct sow garden journey.  I share tips, the fruits of my labour, and what my plans are for 2020. Plan B – “ Sowing the seeds of love” Before any of my seeds went into the ground, I made sure all the hardscape elements including plant supports and the patio stones were in the garden bed.   The odd shape of my garden bed had the potential of making it difficult to tend t ..read more
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