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Spiritual Leadership in the Home: leadership through love and example

We’ve all had ‘moments’ in our lives that influenced us for good; perhaps defining moments that altered our life trajectories, or foundational moments that awakened some sense of who we really are.

Some of my fondest early childhood memories involved our bedtime routine. My mom would come to each of us individually to tuck us in. She always said something nice about our day, and pulled our blankets up nice ‘n’ snug under our chins. It was a safe, comfortable way to close the day. She taught us to say a little prayer.

Now I lay me down to sleep; I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake, I pray thee Lord my soul to take.

It was a comforting little ritual, and the words themselves caused me to ponder God as I was closing my eyes. I considered what they meant. . . . .

“I pray thee Lord my soul to keep” sounded like I was asking Heavenly Father to take care of my soul while I was sleeping, since I couldn’t do it myself. I was sleeping.
“If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take” made me hope that God would take my soul and give it a good home since I wouldn’t be needing it anymore – if I were dead.

I never really understood them, but the ritual and repetition brought comfort to me – the words inspired godly thoughts that helped shape the beginning of my understanding of who I was.

When I was older and learned that prayers should be more personal, I still opened them with that little rhyme. It was a prayer my mother’s mother taught her, and I assume it was one her mother had taught her, since it’s been around that long – and much longer.

Though both my parents were born into it, we weren’t raised in the church. We were, however, all four of us baptized. I have often wondered what propelled my parents to make sure that happened, but I’ve always been grateful they did. Clearly, there was something that pulled them in that direction. I am ever SO grateful they followed through. Some of my aunts and uncles did not.

I admit when I was asked to speak in church on Spiritual Leadership in the Home recently, I wasn’t thrilled about the topic. I told the person who asked me if he’d have asked me 15 or 20 years earlier, I might have felt that I was rockin’ it, but lately I was feeling very inadequate. As I have been thinking about Spiritual Leadership in the Home, though, the spirit began opening new things for me to consider. Like the little prayer I told you about.

Like me, neither of my parents was raised in strong LDS homes, but they and all their siblings were baptized. In both their homes, it was their mothers who were the spiritual leaders.

My mother’s father was not a good dad, and not a good husband, and certainly not a spiritual leader in his home. He abdicated that responsibility to his wife, and he died at the age of 42 years, the father of 8 children. Though his death affected them all and caused great financial hardship, the older four did not miss him, the youngest never knew him, and the others had varying memories of him.

I’ve often wondered about him and the legacy he left his family. I assume from his vantage point in the spirit world, he has many regrets. I imagined he was not unlike Jacob Marley’s ghost, wishing he could undo a bunch of terrible choices. But lately, the spirit has me looking at him a bit differently.

The Hand of God by Yongsung Kim

It was his job to take care of his family. He was a good provider, but he should have done better on the home front. Leaving this earth did not take that responsibility away from him. Families are eternal. And when we die, we don’t get released from all our responsibilities to them.

I believe it may have been Jeffrey R. Holland who taught that guardian angels are real and that they are most likely family members who came before us, intimately connected with us and highly invested in our spiritual well-being and progression. Russel M. Nelson taught that the most important job any of us could ever be involved in is the gathering of Israel, on BOTH sides of the veil.

What if those of our family members who’ve passed away continue to be interested in us?
They know us. What if they truly love us?
What if they see the good in us and also the challenges we currently struggle with?
What if my grandfather repented of the things he did in this world? Repented of breaking the heart of his wife and losing the confidence of his children.
What if he is sorrowing for the generational trauma he caused?
What if he truly wants to make things better for his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren?
What if he were given the chance to do that?

So this Spiritual Leadership in the Home thing . . . . .
Whose job is that anyway?
Dads? Moms? What if it’s both of our jobs?
And what if we don’t ever get released from that calling when we die?

It wasn’t my dad who took the spiritual lead in the family I grew up in.
It was my mom who made sure we blessed our food and said our little prayers at bedtime. We didn’t go to church often in my young years, but when we did, it was she who took us.

We didn’t live the “Word of Wisdom” or read scriptures. My mom smoked the whole drive to church (and then popped a piece of gum in her mouth so nobody would know lol). My dad spent a lotta time in the bar with other dads who should have been home. We had a Bible, and I liked to look at the pictures in it. I didn’t know any of those stories, and neither did she, but I’m confident it was she who made sure we were baptized. It was she who spent her evenings with us, read to us, tucked us into bed and made us oatmeal for breakfast.

It was she who planted the seeds of love we would come back to.

My father’s brother entered our lives when I was 10 years old. He was transferred to CFB Cold Lake, where we lived – both these brothers being in the Royal Canadian Air Force (as it was called then). It didn’t take long for me to notice that my dad was a better dad when my uncle was around. Over the next two years, it was my uncle’s family who influenced me and quietly tutored me in my values, my character, and my understanding of what a strong, caring family could look like. It was my father’s brother who, after having left this life many years later, continued to work with my dad from the spirit world, until we were sealed together as a family in the temple.

I asked my dad as we walked out of the temple that day “Why now? …. After ALL this time, and after all the things we tried, why Now?”
He said, “It was Uncle Merlin’s death.”
He meant that for the first time in his life, he stared mortality in the mirror and decided he had better start cramming for his final exams, but I came to realize that he was ‘righter’ than he thought. Though my uncle was the younger brother, he was a great example of what a GOOD MAN looked like. I had four girl cousins, three of whom were all within a year of me: one a year younger, one the same age, and one a year older. So I spent more time in my cousins’ home than my siblings did. I saw what a faith-filled home looked like and felt like. When I was only 11 years old, I consciously knew that when I grew up, I wanted to marry someone like my uncle, not someone like my dad (bless his heart). That was one of those defining moments I mentioned earlier, and even from that tender adolescent age, it changed the course of my life.

Uncle Merlin had done all he could for my dad in this life. But after he died, he had different ‘access’. They were no longer miles apart. I don’t pretend to know how things in the spirit world work, but I know Uncle Merlin was with us in the temple that day. There was no way he wouldn’t have been. He literally changed the trajectory of my family’s life and relationship forever – through love and example. And his family did the same.

To be clear, that change of course wasn’t a sharp turn. It wasn’t a right angle.
It was a very slight shift—almost imperceptible at the time—that took decades to fully reveal itself.

But it was pivotal.

Let the Children Come by Liz Lemon

And along the way, I learned an important lesson:
If you’re ever going to come back, it helps to have something to come back to.

Sometimes we might get impatient when things aren’t moving quickly enough. There were times I didn’t believe anything in my family could change. But I knew I was baptized. I was on the records of the church. I belonged. I had received the gift of the Holy Ghost, who never let me down. And when I decided I wanted to come back, there was a place for me.

~

When I married Dan, he was not a member of the church. He had been attending church every Sunday for the year we dated, because that was where I was. He committed to baptism a time or two, but then changed his mind. His family was not happy with this whole “Mormon thing,” and they didn’t like that Dan seemed to be changing right before their eyes. He wasn’t resolute about the gospel, but he was resolute about me. And the good people in the Cherry Grove ward (which was where I went to church) were kind and welcoming to him. You could even say they were loving. They modelled what a ward family was and what life with the gospel could look like. Among them, and in my Uncle Merlin’s home, he felt the spirit for the first time.

A year after we were married, Dan was baptized.
A week or two later, he started smoking again—and so began a roller coaster.

There were times he felt deeply loved by God, and others when he felt like a dismal disappointment. Such is the nature of addiction, pulling a person back and forth, between hope and shame, between resolve and relapse.

That pattern lasted for over 30 years.

During that time, we raised five children. One by one, most of them came to realize that their dad smoked. And one by one, they came to me—each carrying the same difficult question in their own way.

I would ask them, “Are you trying to tell me that you think Dad smokes?”

“YES!”
“And you want to know that I know?”
“YES!”
“Okay. I know, And I have one thing to say. Your dad is a good man.
He has an addiction that none of us can fully understand, and it beats him up sometimes. It’s between him and God. But here’s what I do understand…”

“Charity is the pure love of Christ—and it endures forever. Moroni taught that if we don’t have charity, nothing else we do really matters. It all counts for nothing. Because charity is greater than all. Your dad has charity. He would give the shirt off his back—I’ve seen him do it, and so have you. God counts charity.
In the meantime, we’ll support him. As long as Dad stops one time more than he starts, he’s still on the right road.”

Spiritual leadership in the home is not about doing everything right. It’s not about never making mistakes. It’s about being real. It’s about knowing that God loves us—and choosing to love Him.

It’s not about being better than anyone else, but about knowing who you are.

It’s about being a window to God’s love. Julie de Azevedo wrote a song by that title –

“I want to be a window to His love
So when you look at me, you will see Him.
I want to be so pure and clear
That you won’t see me standing here
‘Cause His love will shine brightly through me.
…
I want to be a doorway to the truth
So when you walk behond, you will find Him.
I want to stand so straight and tall
That you won’t notice me at all
And through my open door He will be seen.”

Spiritual Leadership in the home when you have young children involves training and teaching and modeling. And sacrifice.
It is about protecting your home emotionally and spiritually.

When your kids get older, it also involves letting them see struggle and faith, and letting God prevail. It involves a lot of humility and hoping you did right when you had the chance, because the years have flown by and you need to start letting go. And it involves MORE sacrifice.

When they become adults, there is an added dimension, and it becomes quieter.

Spiritual Leadership now means worrying about them—and praying for them—more than you ever have before.
It means trusting that your God is also their God, whether they recognize Him or not.

It means understanding that your job as a parent will never be over.
And you continue to love. You continue to sacrifice.

And you hold onto one quiet, steady hope:
That if they ever choose to come back, they know they have something to come back to.

As I reflected on all of this, I asked a friend this week for her thoughts on spiritual leadership in the home. Her words are a fitting way to close.

She said, “Love makes everything else work. There is always room to love better and deeper; always room to be kinder and softer; and always room to try to see things from another’s perspective, rather than just our own.”

I whole heartedly agree.
I’d love to hear your thoughts and feelings.

Warmly,

Cindy Suelzle

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7 Things You Can Do to Help Mitigate Heavy Rain Damage in Your Garden

1. Stay Off Waterlogged Soil
Avoid unnecessary walking on saturated ground. Wet soil compacts very easily, which reduces airflow and makes conditions even harder on plant roots.

2. Improve Drainage (Gently!)
Use a garden fork to lightly puncture the soil, allowing oxygen to reach the roots. If possible, dig small trenches in your pathways to help move water away. Otherwise, disturb the soil as little as possible while it’s still wet.

3. Trim and Tidy Plants
Remove any damaged, yellowing, or diseased foliage. This helps prevent the spread of fungal issues and allows plants to redirect energy into healthy growth.

4. Add Straw Mulch
Mulch with straw to keep leaves from drooping into the mud. Plant leaves should never sit directly on wet soil—it’s an open invitation for disease.

5. Support Heavy Plants
Stake or tie up plants that are drooping or top-heavy. Rain adds weight, and unsupported plants can easily bend or break.

6. Replenish Lost Nutrients
After prolonged rain, it’s almost guaranteed that nutrients—especially nitrogen—have been leached from the soil. Yellowing leaves are a common sign.
I’ve used blood meal at home with good results. It’s a fast-acting, organic nitrogen source that promotes lush, green growth. If it is leaf growth that you’re after, blood meal / nitrogen will help. Not being aware of that, in my younger days I used blood meal too freely one year on tomatoes. The result was big, gorgeous tomato plants that were of fairy tale proportions (Jack and the Beanstalk), but not a single tomato on any of them. It took me years to put that all together and realize what I had done wrong. * It is not for fruiting or rooting crops. It is for LEAFY crops.

organic blood meal fertilizer

* Remember: a little goes a long way—too much can burn your plants. 1

7. Get Ahead of Pests (Especially Slugs!)
Wet conditions are a paradise for slugs2… unfortunately. Set out traps and consider natural deterrents like crushed eggshells around your plants to help protect them.

Gardeners, this too shall pass. Maybe quicker than we might imagine. And with it, perhaps the best learning experience we’ll ever have. There is no end to learning. Keep it up.

I’d love to hear your suggestions. Please leave them in a comment.

Warmly,

Cindy Suelzle

Footnotes:

  1. BLOODMEAL:
    To apply blood meal (it’s a black powder) to already established plants, use 1 teaspoon per plant, working it into the top 2 inches. Water it in. The water will help activate the nutrients and prevent the attraction of animals. 
    I take about a cup of blood meal and mix it into a bucket of good, dry soil.  Then I add a handful of soil to the plants I want to treat.  Try to prevent direct contact with stem and leaves, as it could cause fertilizer burn.
    Blood meal is best for leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, kale and cabbage, swiss chard, Asian greens, etc, and nitrogen-loving heavy feeders like corn and squash. 

    Normally, it’s not recommended for tomatoes, but after a month or record rainfall, my tomatoes had yellow leaves, so I took a chance.  Too much may delay fruit production, just so y’know. …..

    Blood meal breaks down and washes away, so be prepared to reapply in about 6 weeks.
    *Caution: don’t overdo it, too much nitrogen will cause “nitrogen burn”, yellowing or browning leaves. You’ll cause more damage than you’re solving by far.  Avoid using it late in the summer, as it promotes new growth – not what you want when plants are trying to prepare for end-of-season. ↩︎
  2. SLUGS:
    Rain creates a perfect damp environment for slugs to thrive and hunt for young plants.
    Identifying Slug Damage
    Slugs leave behind distinct clues, especially when plants are wet:
    Irregular holes: Ragged, chewed edges on leaves and stems.
    Slimy trails: Silvery, shiny mucus trails left on foliage or pathways as they move.
    Vulnerable plants: Tender new seedlings, hostas, marigolds, and leafy greens are primary targets.

    Effective Control Methods
    Because rain washes away powdery deterrents like diatomaceous earth, you can rely on these highly effective post-rain tactics:
    Board Traps: Place a flat piece of wood or an old tile directly on the soil near your plants or even leaning against the edge or base of your raised bed. Leave it there over night and into the next day. Slugs love to hide under these cool, damp spaces during the day. Simply flip them over in the morning and dispose of them in a pail of soapy water.
    Liquid Traps: Slugs are highly attracted to yeast. Fill shallow containers with cheap beer or a mixture of 1 cup flour, 2 cups water, and standard yeast. Sink them so the lip sits even with the soil.
    Handpicking: Blech. My least favourite. Go out at dusk or early morning with a flashlight and pluck them off your plants by hand. Drop them into a bucket of soapy water.
    Physical Barriers: rough, dry or sharp surfaces like crushed egg shells around the base of each susceptible plant. Slugs cannot traverse these sharp, ‘crunchy’ surfaces. While it may protect the plant, it doesn’t get rid of your slugs unfortunately, so best to use egg shells in addition to a trap idea. ↩︎
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Having a Successful Garden after a month of Record Rainfall – can you save it?

Even if you’re a first-time gardener, you’ve likely discovered by now that gardening is not simply a matter of planting seeds and watering them. Nor is it as straightforward as planting in the spring and harvesting in the fall. Gardening asks for patience, attention, and a willingness to adapt—especially when nature has plans of its own.

This year has certainly proven that point. Edmonton has just experienced the wettest June in recorded history. The previous record, set in 1914, saw 217 millimetres of rainfall. That record was surpassed well before the end of the month, reaching 262 millimetres by Sunday, June 28—and that doesn’t even include the additional rain that fell on June 29 and 30. (At the time of writing, the evening of June 30, the final total is still climbing.)

While I’m sure that one day we’ll look back on this and even brag about it, right now it’s a record we would have been just as happy not to set. Everyone knows someone whose basement has flooded. Newly planted trees are quite literally floating. And it has created enormous challenges for farmers and gardeners of every kind.

Challenges We’re Seeing in the Garden:

Root Suffocation and Rot
Edmonton’s clay-rich soil drains slowly. When water lingers, it displaces oxygen in the soil, causing roots to literally suffocate and, in many cases, develop rot.

Nutrient Loss
At best, excessive rain leaches away essential nutrients—especially nitrogen—leaving plants looking pale, weak, and stunted.

Fungal and Bacterial Diseases
Constant moisture creates the perfect environment for disease. Splashing soil can carry fungal spores onto lower leaves, leading to issues like powdery mildew, black spot, and various blights.

Pest Surges when the flood dissipates
Beyond the mosquitoes we’re all battling, wet conditions also invite an increase in slugs and snails, which can quickly damage tender plants. 

Every experience is an opportunity to learn—especially the ones we wish we never had.

Here’s a foundational truth: we will never become good gardeners if the weather is always perfect. And the next truth is just as important: the weather is never perfect.

When I managed our family businesses, and later taught at annual industry conventions, I encouraged people to ask themselves three simple questions after every event—big or small. I’ve found these questions helpful in every area of life as a way to reflect, learn from both good choices and mistakes, from successes and failures, and to continually improve moving forward::

  1. What went well?
  2. What could I have done better?
  3. What did I learn?

So let’s bring these questions into the garden:

  1. Under the circumstances, what am I glad I did? What was working?
  2. Is there something I could have done that would have made this better? What was it?
  3. Where do I go from here? What did I learn—and what will I act on to ensure a better outcome next time?

From this month’s excessive rain, there is much we can take forward—not just for the rest of this season, but for all our gardening seasons to come.

If you and I have ever talked gardening, you’ve probably heard me mention no-till gardening. If you were to look at my plot in the community garden, you’d notice one thing right away: lots of mulch. I admit, at first the look of it took some getting used to. Like most, I was used to seeing the standard black soil. Nice, clean black soil, in a perfectly flat garden. Now I try to have as little bare soil showing through as possible, preferring a generous layer of mulch and no flat ground.
I sculpt out rows that sit noticeably higher than the surrounding ground, using the excess soil from paths that are set much lower. You’d also see that my rows are mulched with straw, while the paths are deeply covered with wood chips.

forgive my very amateur attempt to illustrate this lol

Though this method of gardening is often promoted as protection against drought, it works just as effectively in the opposite extreme.

By keeping the paths lower than the rows, excess water is naturally diverted into these “ditches,” moving it safely away from tender plants growing in raised mounds. These rows—often planted with multiple lines of vegetables—stay elevated and better drained.

Heavy mulching plays a dual role. Straw on the rows helps retain moisture when it’s needed, while wood chips in the paths encourage water to move downward into the soil, where it remains accessible to deep, searching roots. At the same time, both types of mulch help prevent rapid evaporation when the sun finally returns.

Advantages of Raised Rows

  1. Slightly Warmer Soil – Ideal for seed germination, especially in early spring.
  2. Improved Drainage – Plants sit above water collection areas and are never left standing in puddles.
  3. Healthy Soil Structure – Undisturbed soil supports a thriving ecosystem, creating natural air pockets and allowing moisture to move freely.

Advantages of Straw Mulch on Rows

  1. Temperature Regulation – Insulates soil, keeping it cooler in heat and warmer in cold.
  2. Moisture Retention – Acts like a “lid” on the soil, reducing evaporation.
  3. Weed Suppression – About 6 inches is ideal, but in smaller urban gardens, that is sometimes not possible. Less when neccessary, still makes a significant difference. Use as much as you can.
  4. Soil Protection – Prevents “sunburn”1 of the soil and protects the living ecosystem beneath. Yes, ‘sunburn for soil’ is a real thing. See the footnote below.
  5. Builds Soil Over Time – As it breaks down, it becomes compost, creating rich, healthy loam.

Tip: Add straw each fall to build a living, breathing soil system year after year.

Advantages of Wood Chip Mulch in Paths

  1. Water Management – Provides a place for excess water to go, allowing it to spread out and soak in—away from plants, but still accessible to roots.
  2. Moisture Conservation – In dry conditions, wood chips help retain water by reducing evaporation.

At Sakaw Garden, we try to keep extra straw on hand for anyone who would like to use it. Personally, I prefer chopped straw—especially in smaller garden spaces, where it’s easier to handle and apply evenly.

How do we chop it? The old-fashioned way. Dan and I have brought a lawn mower down to the garden, spread out a few bales in the field outside the fence (before the dandelions flowered), and mowed over them. We gathered the chopped straw into a wheelbarrow and brought it into the garden for use. Pretty simple and straightforward.

The first time we did this, Dan mowed many bales and left a generous pile just outside the east fence for others to use. These days, when all I need is to top up, I’ll often just bring a large bag from home that we’ve already chopped.

I strongly and wholeheartedly recommend the no-till method: raised rows, deep paths, and plenty of mulch. It’s a simple, resilient system that works with nature—whether we’re facing drought… or the wettest June on record or something in between.

These three garden plots are side by side in the community garden after a month of record-making rainfall.
All are adversely affected by the rain, but while plots 1 and 3 are flooded, the middle one is not. The difference?
From time to time, over the last couple of years, Gardener #2 has raised her wooden frame just enough to accommodate the additional material she’s been adding: compost, soil and mulch. She’s customized the spirit of no-till gardening and applied it to her 10×10 foot plot. She has a single recessed path in the middle from which she can reach her planted areas. She’s mulched it with straw, diverting all excess water into it. Meanwhile, she’s been gradually adding compost to her growing areas, resulting a garden that is winning in the Edmonton rain-wars of June 2026.

This quote from Maya Angelou is in two prominent spots in my home as a constant reminder to me. It is my personal mantra.

“Do the Best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, DO Better.”

I find its message both liberating and motivating at the same time. The principle is simple: to forgive myself for past mistakes, recognizing that I did the best I knew how at the time—while gently encouraging myself to learn from them and simply do better moving forward.

Gardeners, this too shall pass. Maybe quicker than we might imagine. And with it, perhaps the best learning experience we’ll ever have. There is no end to learning. Keep it up.

Warmly

Cindy Suelzle

Footnotes:

  1. SUNBURN: The sun’s intense UV rays and heat can heavily degrade soil. In Alberta’s usual dry climate, harsh sunlight and hot temperatures can bake topsoil, kill vital microorganisms, and cause rapid moisture evaporation, which turns exposed dirt into cracked, dusty crust.
    To prevent sun and heat damage to your Alberta soil, use the following actionable tips:
    Apply a Thick Layer of Mulch: Covering your soil with a minimum of 3 inches of organic mulch (like wood chips, bark, or straw) shields it from direct sunlight, insulates it against extreme temperature swings, and protects it from rapid evaporation.
    Add Organic Matter: Incorporate compost into your flowerbeds and vegetable gardens. This improves soil structure and water retention, allowing it to better handle our ‘usual’ blazing prairie sun.
    Water Effectively: By mulching, you will eliminate the need for watering as frequently as you did in the past, but when you do, water your soil early in the morning. This minimizes evaporation and ensures that the moisture absorbs deep into the soil before the peak afternoon heat hits. ↩︎

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Did you know that house plants can help with seasonal depression?  

Studies show the presence of indoor living greenery helps with depression and anxiety, reducing stress and aiding cognitive function.   Houseplants improve air quality, combatting dry, stagnant indoor air by increasing humidity and filtering pollutants.  They boost mental health, alleviating the winter blues (Seasonal Affective Disorder). 

How?

Humidity – Plants release water vapour through their leaves, helping counter dry skin, irritated sinuses, and breathing issues caused by dry indoor heat. 

Clean Air – Plants remove contaminants and toxins from the air which build up when windows are sealed shut.

Mood Boost – Taking care of plants is a therapeutic, meditative activity that reduces stress and fatigue.  Studies show that being around plants improves concentration, increases mental energy and boosts productivity. 

If ever we need the colourful, healthy greens of nature, it would be during the long dark months of winter.   But what if we could add a few colours to those greens? 
For a gorgeous display of colour, common coleus can’t be beat. Don’t let the word “common” fool you—this vibrant plant can brighten up your room or your summer flower garden simply by being there.

As a tropical plant, common COLEUS thrives in heat and humidity, but it does not require full sunlight. In fact, whether grown indoors or in the garden, it performs best in bright, indirect light or moderate shade (not deep shade).

The stunning hues of coleus are the result of how the plant reacts to sunlight. Light enhances certain pigments while reducing others, such as chlorophyll, which explains its rich and diverse colouration. Bright indirect light intensifies its vibrancy, while direct sun can cause fading—and eventually damage.

Brighten up a shady corner in your living room or your summer flower garden with a colourful coleus.

listen up people!

SAD is a great acronym for what it stands for. In addition to the abbreviation, the word is the perfect explanation for what it is – Seasonal Affective Disorder is a recognized type of major depression characterized by a recurrent seasonal pattern – triggered by reduced sunlight, Interventions focus on mimicking natural daylight and building healthy coping mechanisms

Symptoms typically begin during the late fall or winter months when daylight hours decrease and generally resolve in the spring or summer. triggered by reduced sunlight, interventions focus on mimicking natural daylight and building healthy coping mechanisms

Common Symptoms

  • Persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, or hopelessness
  • Low energy and excessive daytime fatigue
  • Increased appetite, cravings for carbohydrates, and associated weight gain
  • Difficulty waking up
  • Loss of interest in normally enjoyable activities and social withdrawal

Treatments

  • Light: turn on the lights! Some may find specialized lights that mimic natural sunlight helpful in regulating hormones like melatonin and helping to adjust your biological clock and improving brain chemicals linked to mood.
  • Talk: talking to a friend can help modify negative thought patterns. Using a specialized lightbox that mimics natural sunlight to regulate hormones like melatonin. Talking to a person you trust and admire (may even be a therapist) is considered highly effective and often provides longer-lasting results than light therapy or medication.
  • Lifestyle Changes: Get OUT of the house. Go for a walk. Challenge yourself to smile and say hello to every person you pass. Get your heart pumping, add more fruits and vegetables to your day. Consider taking a Vitamin D supplement. Maximize natural light exposure.
  • Serve: Take care of a living thing: like a houseplant or a puppy. Or your family. Or help a friend. Get lost in the care of someone else for a time – who may also be experiencing the same thing. Charitable service always helps.

And get yourself a few houseplants!

Warmly,

Cindy

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I come from America Ann and Nehemiah Wood

Three years ago, I came to know this marvelous woman. Her name is America Ann (Steele) Beirdneau. The reason I never knew about her for most of my life was because my sweet grandmother Pearl Harrison, did not like her mother in law. How does that affect my relationship with America Ann? Well, Pearl’s mother in law was America’s daughter Capitolia. So our family was stuck at Capitolia, we never even asked about those who came before her. We never brought her name up in my grandmother’s presence. In fact their disdain for each other was the thing of legends.

I have some semblance of an understanding of the discord between my grandmother Pearl and my great grandmother Capitolia, but I suspect there was another side which I never heard. And it doesn’t even matter. As a mother in law myself, I decided to give Capitolia a little grace, and to try to know her notwithstanding my grandmother’s prejudice. To give Pearl some credit, she was a sweet, kind and loving woman, not given to hating anyone or anything to my knowledge – ‘except her mother in law’. I’m sure she had what she considered good reasons, but I expect she regrets most of them now, and can recognize her part in them a little better from her present vantage point in the spirit world. In fact it’s entirely possible that it is her influence prompting me to get to know America. Who knows how things like this work in the spirit world?

America was born in Kentucky in 1829 just one year before the Church was organized. When she was a little girl her folks moved west to Iowa, where they heard the Restored Gospel preached and embraced it wholeheartedly. Abandoning previous plans, they moved to Nauvoo Illinois, becoming one of the hundreds of convert families who gathered there to live among the Saints.

America Ann Steele Birdneau

There, with people like themselves, they enjoyed a brief time of peace. America was baptized January 1 1844, just 6 months before Joseph and his brother Hyrum were murdered. She was 15 years old.

Her father William H. Steele worked on the temple in Nauvoo, and was in attendance at the meeting where it was reported that Governor Ford “pledged the honor of the State of Illinois that the Prophet and his brother should be protected, and have a fair trial”. It was recorded that when William told his wife Margaret about it later, he remarked that he knew from Governor Ford’s looks and actions, that Brother Joseph would be killed before morning.

When the ‘Mormons’ (those who followed the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) were expelled from Illinois (and everywhere else), the Steele family joined the refugees in their trek to find a place to live and be safe, gathering with others in Council Bluffs Iowa. It was there that America met her future husband Nehemiah Wood Beirdneau (he was called ‘Wood’) in 1846.

She was nearly 17 and he was 22 when they married. I don’t know the events of the next few years. They had 5 children in the transitionary 11 years it took them to reach Utah. Their 5th child was Mary Capitolia, reportedly born in a covered wagon enroute to Zion on 12 August 1859, 17 days before they entered the Valley of the Great Salt Lake (on August 29, 1859). Mary Capitolia later became the mother of Leland Albert Harrison, my grandfather.

In April of 1861, nearly two years after arriving she received her endowment and was sealed to Wood and children in the Endowment House.

The family settled in Logan and built a home where Wood was a successful blacksmith, earning a comfortable living for them. Wood and America had a total of 8 children, 3 of them being born under the covenant in Logan. Like many men, Wood worked on the Salt Lake Temple. He had also worked on the Nauvoo Temple.

What I didn’t know until recently, was that somewhere along the line, not uncommon among the Saints, Wood took a second wife, Mary Bird Farrell a convert from Wales. Polygamy suddenly got real for me, and my heart breaks for the real people in such a difficult situation. Mary and America both received their endowments on the same day April 13 1861. They were both sealed to their husband Wood 10 days earlier, April 3 1861.

I do not know if they had separate homes or not; some polygamous families did, some did not, but clearly they knew each other well. Mary’s first child (a son Charles) was born 6 November 1862, a year and a half after they were sealed, so the implication is that they were married close to their sealing date. Mary had 6 children (all sons), and was 5 years younger than America. I hope they were friends.

Mary Bird Farrell Beirdneau

22 years later, Wood was called to assist in the settlement of Arizona. He was 59 years old when he took up the immigrant trail again to carve out a new life in the desert with Mary. America was 54 years old, and Mary was 49. Wood and Mary settled in Gila Valley Arizona. America refused to go, staying back with her two youngest (teenage) children, close to her six married children. I can hardly breathe when I try to imagine what that must have been like – for all concerned, but especially for America. I would have liked to have known them, these people from whom I came. About this – I would have cried with them. ALL.

It is interesting to note that beginning in 1862, the U.S. government passed a series of laws designed to force Latter-day Saints to relinquish plural marriage. From the very beginning, there had been tremendous opposition to polygamy, which continued to escalate. “In 1882, the U.S. Congress passed the Edmunds Act, which made unlawful cohabitation (interpreted as a man living with more than one wife) punishable by six months of imprisonment and a $300 fine.” 1 Up till that time, the Church did all it could to protect their right to live their religion, including years of court action, but after 1882. living plural marriage became an issue that conflicted with ‘the law‘. As a Church, a foundational tenet of their faith was to obey the law “We believe in . . . . obeying, honoring and sustaining the law.” (Article of Faith 12). Up till now, though unpopular, plural marriage was not against the laws of the land. Now it was. And now what?

Members of the Church were used to living with opposition; plural marriage was just part of the package, but now there was the added heartache of the uncertainty about the future of their families. Nehemiah Wood Beirdneau had two wives, and by 1883, had 14 children between them. Decisions had to be made. Very hard decisions. Painful decisions – that no one should ever have to make.

Wood never saw America or his first 8 children again. And in turn, though they communicated by letter, they never saw their husband, father and grandfather again.

Nehemiah Wood Beirdneau

In 1887 Congress went one step further, passing the Edmunds-Tucker Act to punish the Church itself, not just its members, for continuing to live as plural families. In consequence of tremendous pressure and at risk of losing all property, including the existing temples, Three years later, and more than a decade of fighting in the courts for their right to ‘live their religion’, President Wilford Woodruff announced on September 25 1890, what came to be known as “The Manifesto”. In it, he said, “Inasmuch as laws have been enacted by Congress forbidding plural marriages, which laws have been pronounced constitutional by the court of last resort, I hereby declare my intention to submit to those laws, and to use my influence with the members of the Church over which I reside to have them do likewise.” The Manifesto was presented formally to the Church one week later at General Conference. While some no doubt were relieved, many Saints were devastated. It was an entire generation that had been raised in a world of plural marriage.

Zina Young – then General President of the Relief Society wrote this in her journal: “Today the hearts of all were tried but looked to God and submitted.”

Years later Wood’s daughter Chloe wrote “We tried to persuade him to return to Utah, but he always remarked, ‘I was called to Arizona and I will remain here until I am honorably released.’ He was honorably released by death September 7, l90l in Thatcher Arizona. He was 77.”

Her daughter Chloe said of America “My mother was a typical pioneer woman, taking the raw material and spinning and weaving yarn for stockings and cloth for dresses, petticoats, men’s clothing, blankets, etc. She was a member of the Logan choir for a good many years, and was a member of the Relief Society from the time of its first organization. She raised a family of eight children, but with it all, she had time always to assist the needy and those who were in distress.“

During the later years of her life she was a widow and spent her time with her children in Utah, Idaho, Oregon and Canada. She was active until the last few months of her life. She died in her 80th year in Logan, Utah.” (journal of Chloe Beirdneau) I find these words of her daughter Chloe interesting. She mentions her mother’s last years as a widow (which were 13 years), but before then she had lived 18 years separated from her husband by 800 miles, which may well have been 8000 miles for all their ability to travel them.

Thank you America Ann Steele Beirdneau, for accepting the gospel and for living it’s precepts all your days. Thank you for raising a good posterity, and for every tear you shed while doing so. Thank you for your mother’s heart. I’m sure it would have made you sad to learn of Capitolia’s poor relationship with her daughter in law, and subsequently with 16 of her grandchildren. I wonder what your counsel would have been to her through all those years?

I’ll give my gramma Pearl Harrison one more thing. She knocked herself out to have a loving relationship with her daughter in law – my mom. You’d have been proud of that. And she made a good wife and lifelong companion for your grandson Leland.

Warmly,

Cindy Suelzle

  1. The Manifesto and the End of Plural Marriage https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics-essays/the-manifesto-and-the-end-of-plural-marriage?lang=eng ↩︎
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Lambs Quarters

Like many weeds, lambs quarters self seeds, so they are up and established weeks before your regular garden. Also called goose foot  – lambs quarters is a relative of spinach and quinoa. Sometimes known as wild spinach, and considered a weed in most gardens, it deserves more credit than it usually gets. Highly nutritious, tasting similar to spinach but more tender, rich in Vitamins A, C and E, essential fatty acids, iron, calcium, minerals and antioxidants.

Name:
I always thought the name was curious and so odd. Apparently, it comes from “Lammas quarter“, an old English harvest festival celebrating the first grain harvest at the beginning of August. Lammas means “loaf mass” in Old English, originating from two words meaning bread and festival. It seems the name evolved from “Lammas” to “lamb’s” over time. It may have had nothing to do with ‘lambs’ except that it likely was a field green they liked to eat. Certainly, it was an abundant green that people liked to eat as well.

Identifying:
I’ve heard many people call it pigweed, and fair enough they look similar. Sometimes pigweed is simply an easy name to call all sorts of weeds that look similar and are often given to pigs, but more precisely both lambs quarters and pigweed are in the amaranth family. That may not help much, because there are officially 42 types of amaranth in North America. For the record, red rooted amaranth IS red rooted pigweed.

Leaves: Young leaves are often opposite and become alternate as the plant matures. They are triangular to diamond-shaped, sometimes resembling a goose foot (often called Goosefoot).
Powdery Coating: The most distinctive feature is a whitish, dusty powder on new growth and the underside of leaves.
Stems: They are succulent, hairless, and frequently have reddish, purple, or light green lengthwise stripes.
Flowers: Small, grey-green, roundish flowers grow in tight clusters at the top of the stalk or in leaf axils.
Size: Generally grows 2 to 3 feet tall but can reach up to 6 feet.
Edible Parts: All parts are edible and nutritious, but the best-tasting and easiest to eat are the young leaves. Once the plant matures, energy goes into flowering, seeding and growing taller so the seeds can be more widely dispersed.
Location: Grows best in full sun to partially sunny areas, including gardens, roadsides, fields, and disturbed soil.
Growing Season: Germinates early in the season, with peak growth in late spring to early summer. After that, it begins going to seed, with less energy devoted to the leaves – but no matter, it’s filled its job of providing us with early greens, and it can step into the background while other garden greens become the focus.

What if nature gave you a FREE vegetable that is super nutritious, cold-hardy, and fed you while you waited for the rest of your garden to produce?
Oh Wait! It did!

Surely you recognize lambs quarters as a common weed in your garden. I did, and I was trained to look at all weeds as the enemy and to get rid of them. At the same time, I was a big fan of spinach, but when the spring weather warmed up, spinach would bolt – which means that a plant prematurely produces a flowering stem and goes to seed. This usually happens as a result of heat or stress. The plant takes its cues from hotter, longer, rainless days, and goes into the next phase of its life. It stops producing edible leaves or roots to focus energy on reproduction. Bolting commonly affects lettuce, chard, spinach, cilantro, broccoli and onions. It is irreversible, but you can break off the stem to buy yourself a few more days, and harvest all you can while you still can.

*tip: to prevent bolting, plant the affected plants earlier in the season when the weather is still cool, provide shade during heatwaves and keep the plants well watered.

This would be a big frustration to me. Had I understood that spinach should be planted much earlier, (at least a month earlier) when the spring was still cold, I would have been less frustrated. At the same time, while I was mourning the loss of spinach, I noticed lambs quarters in my garden living its best life. It seemed to be snubbing its nose at me – this incorrigible WEED. I also noticed that it tasted good (yes I tasted it). One day the light went on so-to-speak. “Why am I knocking my head against a brick wall trying to grow spinach, when this weed that tastes so much like it, WANTS TO GROW? Why am I ripping it out and feeling sorry for myself because my spinach hates me?” My story changed that day.

I looked into Lambs Quarters, and discovered it had much to offer a gardener with an open mind. I opened my mind.

Lambs Quarters in the Kitchen

* tip: Like spinach, beet greens, swiss chard and most other greens lambs quarters contains some oxalic acid which, when eaten raw in large quantities, can inhibit calcium absorption.
These plants are so loaded with calcium, however, that the amount of calcium not absorbed due to oxalic acid is minimized. Its a good idea to rotate your ‘greens’ for that reason anyway. Variety is always a good thing. Individuals with kidney issues, gout or arthritis – know that oxalic acid should be consumed in moderation.

Lambs Quarters is highly nutritious, with a taste similar to spinach, and is often used in salads, sautéed, or blanched. The black seeds are edible and are an excellent source of vegetable protein.

early spring green garden salad with a base of romaine and some marigold sprinkled on top. Use a nice mild vinaigrette dressing.

The underside of Lamb’s Quarters’ leaves and the top of the new leaves are covered in a fine whitish or pinkish ‘dust’. Resist the temptation to wash it off, as it is full of calcium and protein.  Lambs quarters contains more protein than kale, more iron than spinach, and it WANTS to grow in your garden. You don’t even need to plant it; it is so comfortable that it invites itself to the party. You’ve gotta respect that quality.

The stems and leaves can be eaten raw, steamed, or sautéed; used in any way and in any recipe calling for spinach: scrambled eggs, omelets, fresh as a green in sandwiches, in a mixed green salad, or in a green breakfast smoothie. Add some to your next spaghetti sauce, soup, or fried rice. Use them in your favourite “spinach dip”.

wash well as it can be gritty

recipe:
Korean Lambs Quarters Side Dish

Serves 2-4
10 oz lambs quarters (300 g) young leaves and stems
3 tablespoons doenjang (soybean paste)
1 tablespoon gochujang (hot pepper paste)
2 garlic cloves minced
1 green onion chopped
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
Directions
1. Boil 3 quarts of water. Blanch the lamb’s quarters for about 1 to 2 minutes, until the leaves are tender.
2. Strain and rinse them in cold water a couple of times to stop them from cooking and to remove any grit.
3. Strain and squeeze out any excess water. If the leaves and stems are too long, cut them a few times into bite-sized pieces.
4. Put them into a mixing bowl and add soybean paste, hot pepper paste, garlic, green onion, and toasted sesame oil.
5. Mix by hand until all the leaves are well coated with the seasonings, and have absorbed them. You can wear disposable plastic gloves if you want.
6. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and transfer to a serving plate.

Serve as a side dish to rice. Toss in or garnish with sundried tomatoes if desired. 

When I am in my garden, I will often pick the tender new plants and eat them while I work. I never pull them to get rid of them. They’re much too valuable for that, I just break them off, hoping they’ll come back and offer more. I’ll throw them into early season salads, and combine with other greens that I steam, including our favourite: spanakopita.1 (read more about Spanakopita here)

Back to that nasty rumour about lambs quarters being considered a ‘common weed’.
It’s true. Officially. But don’t listen to that sorta ridicule. Those other plants are just jealous.
Who cares what people call it? “Weed” is just a word. Don’t be unkind or avoid eating it. It’s not it’s fault that some uneducated person gave it such a rude nickname.

5 Facts:
1. Lambs quarters is cold-hardy, and heat-tolerant. That’s quite a talent.
2. Because it self-seeds, it will grow before any of your cultivated greens have even germinated.
3. It WANTS to grow in your garden. It WANTS to be your friend. And it’s FREE.
4. It is a versatile, nutrient-dense substitute for spinach or chard in nearly any recipe.
5. It deserves to be accepted on its own merit, not indiscriminately discarded because of some misunderstanding carried over from a previous generation.

Here’s to Lambs Quarters!
Enjoy it.

Warmly,

Cindy Suelzle

  1. link to my recipe for SPANAKOPITA https://backyardcityhomestead.com/2025/08/21/homemade-greek-spanakopita/ ↩︎

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Soil vs Dirt: Enhancing Soil Quality

Healthy soil produces healthy, strong plants. It’s simple math.
It contains optimal nutrition – rich in microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, and earthworms) that break down organic matter into nutrients that plants can easily absorb.
Healthy soil builds immunity in plants, making them naturally more disease and pest-resistant.
It provides essential air pockets for roots to breathe and grow strong (proper aeration).
Healthy, nutritious soil results in healthy, nutritious vegetables.

What is the difference between SOIL and DIRT?
Soil is a complex ecosystem that supports plant life. Dirt is material that cannot support plant growth. Sometimes we get frustrated and feel that the universe is against us because our ground is full of weeds. We think there’s something wrong with it. Your soil doesn’t know the difference between a dandelion and broccoli. In many cases, weeds indicate that your soil is healthy and nutritious. It’s either a healthy place to grow or it’s not. If it grows healthy weeds, it will grow healthy vegetables. So relax, take a chill pill. If your new backyard, which looked so beautiful when you bought the house last summer, is full of weeds this spring, it’s not a conspiracy. Your soil is healthy. You just need to roll up your sleeves and get to work. But that’s another sermon for another time. The point is: when you don’t have any weeds, just nice clean empty ‘dirt’, you should be worried.

There is much we can do to continually improve the quality of soil in our home gardens.

How

ADDING ORGANIC MATTER by incorporating compost into the planting area, and using mulch all around the planting area not only enhances soil structure but also improves moisture retention and nutrient availability.

REDUCING TILLAGE! A long-term no-till commitment boosts microbial activity, improving soil health. Every time we dig up our soil, we destroy colonies of tiny organisms and critters trying to set up housekeeping. They are not the enemy. They are an important part of the soil ecosystem and critical to healthy soil. In addition, a no-till, mulched method of gardening reduces evaporation, addressing the problem of soil thirst. No more water wasted. Moisture passes through the mulch, where it is absorbed into the soil while being protected from evaporation.

AVOID THE SUNBURN OF BARE SOIL
There should be no bare soil in your garden. Not in the rows where the plants are growing, not in the spaces between the rows, not in the walking paths. Protect your soil from being sunburned.

Seriously? Soil can get sunburnt?
YES! As important as the sun is to life in general and to garden growth, it can harm the very soil in which our plants, which are completely dependent on it, grow. I know it seems like an oxymoron, but soil really does get sunburned. It’s the leaves that need the sun – they are the plant’s vital organs, primarily responsible for producing food through photosynthesis, utilizing sunlight, carbon dioxide and water to create energy. They also facilitate gas exchange (breathing), release excess water through transpiration, and can be specialized for storage or protection.

HOW TO PREVENT SUNBURNED SOIL

1. MULCH
Cover soil with organic mulch like straw, shredded leaves, small wood chips, etc. – but not a combination of these methods. Pick one and stick to it. Mulch creates a barrier (like sunscreen or light clothing for us), that keeps the soil cooler and locks in moisture. I use straw, dry grass clipping, chopped leaves and wood chips, but never together.

* note the straw mulch still in place from last summer, protecting and feeding the soil

Wood chips take longer to break down, so they’re best used in paths. I use lots of it. They are so chunky and loose that they don’t compact down quickly, and are easy to walk on, keeping your weight centred in the paths and away from the delicate root growth area of your plants. Rain water goes right through the wood chips, seeping into the softer rows on either side of the paths.

MULCH prevents MOISTURE LOSS.
High heat causes rapid evaporation, drying out the soil and depriving plant roots of desperately needed water.

MULCH prevents NUTRIENT DEGRADATION.
Intense sunlight and heat can degrade essential nutrients, making the soil less effective for plant growth and health.

MULCH prevents MICROBE DESTRUCTION.
Extreme surface temperature can kill beneficial micro organisms and fungi that are living in the soil and are essential for plant growth and health.

MULCH prevents CRUSTING.
Crusting is when the top layer of soil becomes excessively dry, hard and cracked, reducing it’s ability to absorb and retain water.

The rows in my community garden plot are higher than the paths, and they never get stepped on, so the soil doesn’t get packed down. In it I use straw mulch in the rows around my plants. In my backyard garden – space and sun are at a premium, my plants are close together, mostly in raised beds, so we chop up our straw (with the lawn mower) so it’s easier to spread into small areas. I try to pile the straw no less than three inches deep, providing serious protection from the sun, additional nutrients as it breaks down, and keeping the soil moist.

2. COMPOST
Apply generous amounts of good, clean compost into the rows where you expect to seed. Pat the seeds into it. This will give the seedlings or starter plants, much needed nutrition, in their early life.

3. WATER DEEPLY
Watering deeply and early in the day reduces evaporation and allows water to penetrate deeply, instead of only wetting the surface. The straw mulch protects the moisture from evaporating quickly.

Always water near to the ground, avoiding drenching the leaves. Less of the water will be wasted this way, going directly where it’s needed most.

4. Use GROUND COVER PLANTS when appropriate
If you don’t have enough mulch, it may be helpful to use low growing plants like thyme in an herb garden, and chickweed in a vegetable garden. These offer shade for the soil, keeping it cool. They are both edible, delicious and nutritious, so clip often and bring them into the kitchen.

Keeping your soil healthy is crucial because it is a living ecosystem that is the foundation for all plant, animal, and human life. Healthy soil provides nutrients to plants, filters water, and stores carbon. Unhealthy soil is merely dirt.

Warmly,

Cindy Suelzle

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SPINACH: not just for Popeye

Growing, Eating and Preserving

Did you know that you can plant spinach outside while there is still snow on the ground?
In my world (central Alberta), that generally means mid April. In fact, the best time to plant spinach outside was yesterday; the next best time is tomorrow.  Spinach THRIVES in Edmonton’s cool spring.  1st Spring, 2nd Spring, False Spring, Spring around the corner …. You name it, in the spring, spinach is your best friend.  But when the weather gets hot, it’s done.  It’ll bolt (go to seed) in a heartbeat.

Did you know that 100% of the vitamin C in “fresh” spinach is gone within 4 days of harvest?  I can pretty much guarantee that the spinach we buy from the produce department of our local grocery stores was not harvested within the last 96 hours.  And even if it was – are we really going to use it within hours of buying it? 

I confess that when I learned that sad fact, it took the appeal out of so-called “fresh” (store-bought) spinach for me.  But I love fresh spinach, in fact, I’m a huge advocate of it. I just want to make sure it’s FRESH.  Only one way to do that, and that is to grow it myself.   So, that is what I do.

WHEN?

The secret to growing great spinach is to remember that it likes cool weather.  In central Alberta, if we plant it later in May, when we plant the rest of our garden, it’s just getting going by the time the days and nights are pretty warm.  This may be good for you and me, but it’s not so good for spinach.  Keep it cold.  That means – APRIL planting!  As soon as the sun has melted the snow in your predetermined spot and the soil is workable, get out there and plant your seeds. Four to six weeks BEFORE the last frost expected, typically anytime after the beginning of April to EARLY May.  It’s okay if there is snow still around, and it’s okay if it snows right on top of your seeded area, even on top of your newly sprouted spinach plants.  Spinach laughs at spring snows. 

When you’re feeling sorry for yourself because the days are still cooler than you’d like, remind yourself THIS IS GOOD SPINACH WEATHER.  Get OUT THERE and plant some! 

WHERE? 

Choose and area that receives lots of bright sunlight – 6-8 hours a day.  Partial afternoon shade is alright. 

in WHAT?

Spinach loves a rich, well-draining soil – with plenty of regular compost enhancement.  Raised beds are perfect. 
The last thing your spinach seeds want is to sit in a soggy spring puddle of melted snow. 

If you’re in a small space with little or no soil, no worries. Even a small balcony or patio space will help.  Good size containers at least 12-18 inches across and at least 6-8 inches deep can easily hold 4 or 5 spinach plants.  Galvanized pails, plastic pots, terracotta planters or fabric bags will all be comfortable homes as long as their drainage is good. 

HOW?

Direct sow.  If you’re in the country and have a big garden, go ahead and plant in rows 10 inches apart.  I am in the city, and my growing space is considerably less; typically, my rows are 6 inches apart.  For spinach, however, I usually just broadcast the seed in my growing area and let them grow up in a loose spinach forest.  Cover with no more than ½ inch of soil. 

Keep your seeds well-watered until they germinate, which usually takes less than a week, but can take a little longer in cooler temperatures or if you’re growing certain spinach varieties. Once your seedlings develop their first true leaves, you can start thinking about thinning your plants out so each plant is spaced about 6” from its neighbour. 

Spinach enjoys regular and consistent watering and will sulk if it gets too dry.  Water when the top inch is dry to the touch.  Best to water at the bases and keep the leaves as dry as possible. Mulching with a few inches of organic mulch can slow evaporation and reduce the need to water.  *I use chopped straw, but you can also use chopped leaves. Don’t use them both at the same time – best to do one or the other.

Since I don’t grow spinach once the weather starts to get hot, it’s a relatively short season.  I don’t feel the need to fertilize as I top up my growing areas with compost every spring, and the breakdown of the mulch keeps the area well nourished.  Keep your spinach patch well weeded – but again, if you’re mulching, that keeps the weeds at bay.  Mulch will also help prevent issues like mildew because it keeps the moisture off the leaves. 

Once the spinach is ready to start thinning, make sure you’re harvesting regularly. There is no reason you cannot have fresh spinach on the table every other day until the weather gets too warm and it begins to bolt.  By continuing to harvest, you’ll be paying attention to your plants, continuously checking for weeds, pests or drought.  General garden care is all they need.  dryness.  Once they begin to bolt, read the writing on the wall and let them go.  You can now plant that same area with lettuce or flowers, or even some nice herbs like basil that will appreciate the summer heat. 

WHY eat spinach? And why plant it in your garden?

Why should you want to plant spinach? Because it’s good for you, that’s why. 
And because spinach is the segway between winter and spring.  It’s the first garden vegetable you’ll be harvesting.  By the time they start to complain about the warm weather, you’ve got lettuce growing and amaranth and other leafy greens fully present and doing beautifully. 

Spinach is a nutrient-dense leafy green that boosts eye health, lowers blood pressure, supports heart health and aids digestion. Packed with vitamins A, C, K, folate, fibre and iron.  It helps protect your immune system, reduces inflammation and strengthens bones. 

As a rich source of vitamin C, spinach is wonderful served fresh in a salad.  But lightly cooking (which harms the vitamin C of course), increases the availability of other nutrients like iron, calcium and vitamin A.  So use it a lot, in many different ways.  Pairing it with healthy fats like olive oil or avocado oil improves the absorption of nutrients.  

To harvest:
I begin harvesting by gently pulling baby plants that are too close together.  When they get a little bigger (about 3 or 4 weeks old), I start pinching off some of the larger leaves. By the time the plants are fully mature (6 to 8 weeks) they’ll begin to form a rosette shape in the center of the plant.  You can continue to pinch off the bigger leaves, including a center stalk that might sprout up (its starting to bolt).  Then you can pull the whole plant out. 

To use:
Fruits and vegetables begin to deteriorate within the first hour of harvest – in every way, including nutrition.  Nutrient content rapidly declines right after picking, so snip off as much as you plan to use.  Store anything you don’t eat in the fridge, but eat it as soon as possible.  Make sure you’ve shaken all moisture from rinsing it off, and pat dry.  Wrap in a paper towel and place in an air tight container. 

To preserve:

Freezing:
If you need to pick more than you can use, you can always freeze it.  Before freezing, blanch or steam for two minutes in or over a pot of boiling water. Strain immediately and plunge the hot spinach into ice water to stop the cooking.  Once cool, strain again, and squeeze as much moisture out as you can.  You can press the brightly coloured steamed spinach into silicone muffin pans (holds about 1 cup) or silicone ice cube trays that hold ¼ cup.  Lay on the level in your freezer for at least 4 hours. Once they have frozen, you can remove them from the trays and pop them into labelled plastic bags or containers.  This makes the spinach easily accessible to throw into soups, or to lightly chop and throw into stir-fried vegetables, scrambled eggs or omelettes.  Freezing is my preferred way to preserve whatever excess spinach I might have.

Canned Spinach: WHY?
Of all the ways to preserve spinach, this would be the least healthy. Yes its convenient, but “how can it possibly taste good?” says the person who admittedly has no recollection of ever having tasted it. My dad used to buy canned spinach when I was a young child. Must have been some fond childhood memory of his. I remember him opening the can and eating it straight outta the can with a fork. Only once was it sufficiently compelling to me that I asked for a taste. Though I cannot remember what it tasted like, I do recall being profoundly disappointed, and I recall that I didn’t ask for another. Ever. When I was a child, there was no ‘fresh’ spinach on the grocery store shelves, and no frozen spinach either. But there was canned. The only other way was to grow it yourself, but I didn’t grow up in a gardening family, and I didn’t even know one could grow food.

“I’m strong to the finich, cause I eats my spinach. I’m Popeye the Sailor Man.”

A popular cartoon when I was very young was Popeye the Sailor Man, featuring a pipe-smoking, spinach-eating, unusually physically strong sailor man who always had to fight bad guys. When he was getting beaten, all he had to do was eat a can of spinach, and instantly he was strong as an ox, and no one could beat him. As an adult, I wrongly assumed that he was created as a marketing gimmick to get kids to eat their canned spinach, but I’ve since learned that the spinach came later, as some kind of explanation for his strength. His famous quote: “I’m strong to the “finich”, ’cause I eats me spinach.” Whether it was the original intention or not, the consumption of spinach is reported to have increased by a third after Popeye started eating canned spinach on TV in the 60’s. It certainly was enticing to me as a child, and had fresh or frozen spinach been available to the average household I might have learned to like it. As it was, I was in my twenties the first time I tasted fresh spinach. In a salad. In a restaurant. I was immediately converted, and it became a favourite dish in our house for many years.

For the record, canned spinach is NOT good for you, neither commercially canned nor home canned. At 70 minutes per pint, 90 minutes per quart under 11 pounds pressure, there is not enough nutrition left in the jar (or can) to justify the salt.

Freeze Drying:
Once spinach-season is over, my preferred way to serve spinach to my family is freeze dried. The brand I used to buy was Thrive Life, which was the most nutritious way of eating spinach that didn’t come straight out of one’s own organic garden. The company stopped selling to individual homes in 2025, choosing instead to sell exclusively to big businesses. Huge loss to the public.
Freeze dried spinach, if processed correctly and immediately after harvest, is the most nutritious, delicious and convenient way to eat spinach all year long. Second only to FRESH out of your backyard garden – of course.

Any which way you serve it, spinach is a great addition to your garden in the coolness of early spring – aka NOW! 
It has earned an honoured place in my garden. 

I’d love to hear your thoughts, and any tips you might have for growing spinach.

Now go plant some.

Warmly,

Cindy

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Our Environmental Stewardship in an Urban Setting

Whether we live in an urban area, a rural community or remotely, we have an environmental responsibility to each other. John Donne’s assessment, “No man is an island“1 means we are all fundamentally interconnected and cannot thrive or survive in complete isolation. We rely on the support and companionship a community provides. But in the last generation or two, our awareness of the effect we have on our natural environment, both close at hand and globally, has become greater and more realistic. Individually, as a community and as a society, we impact the quality of the world we ALL live in.

Stewardship essentially means “the job of taking care of“. It implies that we are not “the owner”, but rather, the caretaker; in effect, we are a trustee making conscious, ethical choices and commitments that will benefit far more than simply ourselves and our own families. With that in mind, specifically addressing the environment, stewardship is the responsibility of planning, managing and protecting the resources that influence the world in which we live. It addresses having a voice in the planning and management of those resources. It also means being accountable and trying hard not to be part of the problem. It means on a personal level, doing our part to be part of the solution.

When we were young parents in the 80’s, Alberta experienced a severe economic downturn. We were so busy taking care of our young children and trying to make ends meet, that we knew little about what was going on in the financial world around us. We knew that mortgage rates were higher than they’d ever been before, but we didn’t know why. We paid 10.5% on our mortgage of a little OLD house we bought in 1975. We knew we loved the small town-ness of Calmar, and the elementary school our kids attended. But we also knew Dan travelled far for employment, and was away long hours. In 1984, Dan was laid off and struggled to find steady work. He took whatever odd jobs he could, but it wasn’t enough to keep up with the house payments. Eventually, we realized that the only real path forward was for Dan to return to school, which meant moving back into the city. Like many Albertans that year, we lost our home.

We moved into subsidized housing in Edmonton and stepped into a new chapter – a temporary detour from our life plan. Dan began driving bus for Edmonton Transit while attending NAIT full time, working long, exhausting days in pursuit of something better.

It took a little attitude adjusting to get used to the higher density of our neighbours in a subsidized complex. We (mostly me), missed the small town atmosphere we had become accustomed to in the previous 5 years. But life is full of adjustments, and sometimes we have to bend a little. Though we had little means and worked hard every day, we had enough, and we were happy.

We planted flowers in our sunny front, as well as strawberries, herbs and pole beans strung to cover our southern window and shade our living room from the heat of the day. We planted vegetables in Dan’s mom’s nearby backyard garden. I came across a quote in those early months that helped me. “Let everyone sweep in front of his own door, and the whole world will be clean.” by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 2 – an 18th century German “Influencer“. I took it to heart. I understood it to mean that I had a responsibility to make the world a better place simply by caring for and beautifying the areas I have control over – my “front door step” as it were.

Spencer W. Kimball, another INFLUENCER who influenced me greatly in those early years, was more specific. “Even those residing in apartments or condominiums can generally grow a little food in pots and planters. . . . Make your garden neat and attractive, as well as productive. ”

With this philosophy in mind, personal environmental stewardship becomes more than an idea—it becomes a responsibility. It rests with each of us to protect and conserve natural resources through the choices we make every day.

“Doing our part” isn’t just a phrase; it’s a series of small, meaningful actions—conserving water and energy, reducing waste, choosing more sustainable ways to get around, and supporting the health of our local ecosystems. Individually, these efforts may seem modest, but together, they shape the kind of world we leave behind.

What can WE do at home that will affect the environment?

Drawing on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s philosophy, “Let everyone sweep in front of his own door…”, we are reminded that meaningful change begins with personal responsibility. The small, intentional steps we take each day may feel like minor inconveniences, but they matter.

Individually, they may seem insignificant; collectively, they have the power to create real, lasting change. How many of these action steps listed below are you already employing? Which ones can you improve on? Which ones are you willing to commit to?

Energy and Water Conservation:

  • Switch to energy-efficient LED light bulbs and energy-efficient appliances.
  • Use a clothesline in warm weather instead of a dryer.
  • Adjust our thermostats for heating and cooling to be more moderate. Put a sweater on, wear slippers.
  • Unplug electronics, computers, and chargers when not in use.
  • Take shorter showers and fix leaky faucets promptly.
  • Mulch in the garden to reduce the need for watering.

Waste Reduction and Management:

  • Make “Use it up, Wear it Out, Make it Do, or Do Without” your household motto. The chic new way of saying the same thing is: “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle“. Who knew thrift would ever be ‘cool’?
  • Reduce the things your household consumes that include excessive or single-use packaging.
  • Reuse shopping bags, water bottles and other materials. Compost food, garden and yard waste.
  • Recycle when appropriate.

Sustainable Transportation:

  • Walk, bike, use public transit or carpool when possible, instead of driving.

Sustainable Food Management:

  • Grow more of your own fruits and vegetables. If this is new to you, LEARN how, by taking classes and attending workshops in your community.
  • If your yard isn’t sufficient, join a community garden.
  • Learn how to preserve what you grow, to extend it into the cold months.
  • Reduce food waste by shopping in your fridge and freezer more and eating out less.
  • Compost kitchen scraps to use as natural soil builders and fertilizers.
  • Volunteer in your community garden, charitable organizations, and food bank.
  • Volunteer with your community league to protect natural areas, create pollinator parks, and encourage urban gardening and habitat restoration.

We all share a responsibility and an accountability to improve the places we call home. It begins right at our own front door—by caring for what we can see and influence—and then slowly extends outward.

We may find that our efforts inspire others to do the same, creating a quiet ripple of change. But even if they don’t, that isn’t the point. What matters is staying true to our own conscience, choosing each day not to be part of the problem, but part of the solution.

Stewardship plays a vital role in shaping sustainable relationships between people and nature—especially in rapidly growing urban landscapes like our own.

Reach out. Be a good neighbour. Take care of what you can see from your own front door, and then go a little further. Get involved. Volunteer. Support the good things happening around you.

Make the world a better place simply because you are in it. And above all, find joy in the doing. When you approach it with a willing heart, your attitude begins to shift. You find more reasons to smile, more moments to appreciate—and, in ways you might not expect, life becomes richer for it.

I’d love to hear your experiences and thoughts.

Cindy

  1. “No man is an island, entire of itself. Every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less. As well as if a promontory were. As well as if a manor of thy friend’s or if thine own were. Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And therefore, never send to know for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for thee.” John Donne ↩︎
  2. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, a German writer and natural philosopher, was born Aug. 28, 1749. Goethe is best known for his literary works, such as The Sorrows of Young Werther (1774) and Faust (1808 and 1832). Goethe also saw himself as a Naturforscher, an investigator of nature. ↩︎
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Haskaps or Honeyberries

Also known as honey berries, haskaps are blue-purple berries that look similar to a blueberry or a saskatoon, except for their elongated – oblong shape. They are native to the northern boreal forests of the world. In the 1950’s Russia began cultivating them, and by the 1970’s Japan began commercially breeding the fruit. By the early 2000’s, the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon joined the party, and began their own research program, introducing haskaps to the prairie region.

The name Haskap comes from the Japanese name “hasukappu” which means “little present on the end of a branch”. You’ve gotta respect a name like that. It gets straight to the point. As a backyard fruit, Haskaps are gaining popularity fast in western Canada.

In Canada they are often called honey berries, but don’t let this fool you – they don’t taste like honey. When we first got them, I only knew them by that name, expecting they must taste like honey – else why the name? Trickery! They are actually an edible member of the honeysuckle family – that’s where “honey” part comes from, LOL Once you get over that misconception you can appreciate it for what it IS, not what it isn’t. If you’ve ever tasted a honeysuckle berry, you’ll identify slight hints of that taste.
Warning: most honeysuckles have poisonous berries, so don’t get any bright ideas about eating THEM.

The names have become interchangeable. Don’t be confused: HONEY BERRIES and HASKAPS are both referring to the SAME berry.

berries in June, against the east wall.
Some of these berries are fully ripe, some are still green.

In about the year 2010, we planted our first six haskap bushes. I should clarify that it was Dan who brought them home after reading some very compelling information. I hadn’t read the same reports, so I wasn’t much interested at the time. He planted them in one of our raised beds because we didn’t have anything else prepared, and they stayed there for a couple of years—until I banished them from my limited vegetable-growing space.

By then they had doubled in size and were attractive plants, but they still hadn’t produced any berries.

The only spot we had available was beside the house on the east side. It was an area that didn’t get much attention—pretty dry and rarely watered. It received the morning sun, but not much past noon. All in all, it was one of the most inhospitable spots in our yard.

However, a couple of years after transplanting them, we noticed dark blue, oblong berries growing on the bushes. The taste was quite tart, but not unpleasant. Unfortunately, the birds noticed them too.

That was the beginning of our love affair.

I am not very patient with plants that are persnickety. I don’t have the time or inclination to fuss over those that don’t want to grow here—those that sulk and pout if they don’t get enough to drink once in a while, or complain about the cold (sissies).

The way to my heart is through strength of character. And after four years of intermittent care in a less-than-desirable location, our haskaps showed their true colours. They appreciated their new home. They had adapted to their surroundings, like true native plants. They didn’t mind the winters, had no apparent health or insect problems, and required no pruning or special care. In short, they proved themselves stronger than whatever opposing forces might threaten them.

They wanted to stay. They loved me, and they wanted to be of service. They found my soft spot. If a food producing plant wants ‘that much’ to be my friend, and if the food they offer is nutritious – I’m all in. You could say I converted to haskap-ism.

The modern name “haskap” translates to “berry of long life and good vision”, also a great name that gets right to the point.

Gramma Great picking haskap berries the beginning of June.

While haskaps have grown wild since time immemorial, they only started being scientifically bred and cultivated in the 1950’s – in Siberia (appropriately). Since then, Japan and Canada joined the party, and many commercial varieties popular today were developed right here in our own backyard, at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon – improving size and taste. “U of Sask” is renowned for global leadership in water security and agricultural sciences. Go Riders!

Why We Should Grow Haskaps

The Perfect Berry for Northern Gardens

They are the ultimate superfood, and we don’t have to import them from some tropical climate. They grow right here, in your own backyard!

🌱 Built for Our Climate

Haskaps are incredibly hardy—thriving in temperatures as low as Zone 2. Here in Edmonton (Zone 4a), they don’t just survive—they flourish.
They are ideal for cold-climate farming.

🌸 Easy to Grow

Haskaps grow as compact shrubs and require at least two plants for cross-pollination. Once established, they are low-maintenance, need minimal pruning, and can produce fruit for up to 50 years. Haskaps are hardy, healthy, productive, and delicious—an ideal fruit for northern growers and backyard gardeners alike.

⏰ Early & Extended Harvest

Haskaps are among the earliest fruits to ripen, often ready by June. By planting multiple varieties, you can enjoy an extended harvest season.

💪 A True Superfood

These berries are nutritional powerhouses – rich in:

  • Vitamins A & C
  • Fiber
  • Potassium
  • Antioxidants
    Haskaps have a higher anthocyanin content than many other berries. Potent antioxidants that help protect eyes from oxidative damage.
    Anthocyanins are associated with enhanced night vision and improved circulation within the retinal capillaries.
    Regular consumption is believed to help fight against age-related macular degeneration and to prevent retinopathy in diabetic patients.

👀 Unique & Beautiful

Haskaps are easy to recognize:

  • Oblong shape
  • Deep blue skin (similar to blueberries)
  • Striking crimson interior

🍇 Bold, Complex Flavour

Their flavour is unlike any other—often described as a blend of blueberry, raspberry, and black currant, with a tangy, slightly pungent edge that makes them unforgettable. Personally, I’d throw the taste of honeysuckle berries into that mix. And I might add the word “pungent”.

🍽️ Incredibly Versatile

Enjoy haskaps:

  • Fresh off the bush
  • In baking (pies, muffins, crisps)
  • As jams, syrups, and sauces
  • Juiced or added to smoothies
life story of a haskap muffin

In short, Haskaps are doing everything in their power to earn a place in your yard and on your table.

the boys picking berries

* I am told that haskaps require two different varieties that bloom at the same time for pollination. I am not convinced that we have two or more different varieties among our six bushes. I’m pretty sure we didn’t know that when we bought them all those years ago. It seems information has evolved since then. We will buy a couple more plants this spring, and I will do my best to be certain they are different ‘enough’, while blooming at the same time. Even though our berries are growing fine, I am anxious to benefit even more with this new information.

Growing is an ongoing journey.
I’ll share my progress here so stay tuned, but in the meantime, I’d love to hear your experience with growing or using Haskaps.

Warmly,

Cindy