Lives & Legacy

When it comes to buying Canadian, I’ve gotten better at knowing which vegetables and fruits are truly of Canadian origin.

Every year it tastes different. Whatever herbs grew best during the summer are the ones that become the signature flavour notes of the yearly herbes de Provence blend that I make. As this summer’s harvest faces the mortar and pestle, you just never know. It may produce a very traditional mix. Or, it may be time to throw away the recipe and go instead with whatever herbs have grown well — because that’s what will taste best.

It’s always the way. When the pots of colourful autumn asters come in, it’s literally time to take stock. Whether you prefer the yellow ones or the burgundy ones (or the beautiful blue ones with the yellow eyes), you have officially crossed the seasonal border of the year. September is here and you must now switch over from your inner-nurturer-gardener to your outer-cleaner-upper.

I came late in life to pesto. Having grown up with only salt, pepper and occasional cinnamon in the spice rack, fresh pesto made with aromatic basil was a remote exotic world onto itself. But when I started gardening and planted out my first batch of herbs, a little pot of basil ignited a bit of a taste revolution. Now, I make fresh pesto every summer.

Rewilding is an interesting word. But it’s an even more interesting concept, and truly satisfying to see in action.

Let no one believe that the heart of any gardener isn’t ridden with dark envy and the capacity to act on it. Inside every gardener is a scavenger and thief, and it’s just a truth universally acknowledged that sometimes another garden has what you want.

And just like that, the first herbs of the garden are ready to be harvested.

The summer solstice is almost here. And if it were a thousand years ago or so, every farmer and gardener would be busy right now, preparing to observe the most important moment of their year.

It’s been the kind of spring that makes gardeners jittery — and prone to take chances.

I clearly remember that first garden. Everyone remembers their first garden.