Editor’s Note: We’ve been reaching back into Michelle Smith’s archive for gardening tips and this week, we found a good one about what to do when you’ve downed tools for the winter. (This column first appeared in November 2019).   What to do this week It’s time to hang upRead More

The Cape Breton Spectator would be a shadow of itself were it not for the work of its regular contributors, each of whom writes with such clarity and focus and passion that reading, editing and formatting their work counts among the best parts of my job. I can’t thank themRead More

Editor’s Note: We’re re-running another of Michelle Smith’s timeless farming columns, this one originally published on 24 January 2018.   There is a country proverb that the best fertilizer is the footsteps of the farmer. Anyone who follows me through an average day could be forgiven for taking this literally,Read More

Editor’s Note: A reader — who “doesn’t even garden” asked me to republish some more of Michelle Smith’s writings because “she’s always worth reading.” Being in complete agreement, I’ve dusted off this column from September 2017.    Inspiration for this column can come from the strangest places. This time, IRead More

Editor’s Note: I’ve been enjoying my favorite apples — Gravensteins — this season and they reminded me of this great Michelle Smith column about apples which first appeared on 15 February 2017.   I have something to confess. For someone in my position it is, well, more than a littleRead More

Editor’s note: We are reaching into Michelle Smith’s archives for tips that remain as timely now as when they were first published — which, in the case of today’s item, was 17 October 2017.   What to do this week This week is a good time to care for yourRead More

Editor’s Note: We’re reaching into Michelle Smith’s archive to provide gardening tips as timely now as when they first appeared — which today’s column did on 17 October 2018.   What to do this week This is a great week to pot up a few of your herbs, if youRead More

Editor’s Note: We’re reaching into Michelle’s Smith’s archives for posts as useful now as when they were first published, like this one, which we last shared on 7 October 2020.   What to do this week You might need a garden shovel or something similar in the next month orRead More

Editor’s Note: We’re reaching into Michelle’s Smith’s archives for posts as useful now as when they were first published. This was last republished on 30 September 2020.   What to do this week I think we had better talk about planting garlic. It’s getting to be that time. I know itRead More

Editor’s Note: We’re reaching into Michelle Smith’s archives for still-timely gardening tips like these — first published on 19 September 2018.   What to do this week This week I want to talk about the best ways to store your veggies once you pick them, both long term and shortRead More