<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>http://www.fraservalleypulse.com &#187; Home &amp; Garden</title>
	<atom:link href="http://fraservalleypulse.com/category/articles-fun/home-garden/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://fraservalleypulse.com</link>
	<description>Fraser Valley&#039;s Neighbourhood Lifestyle Guide</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Sun, 20 May 2012 07:59:37 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2</generator>
		<item>
		<title>Fraser Valley Farmers Markets 2012</title>
		<link>http://fraservalleypulse.com/features-fun/fraser-valley-farmers-markets-2012/</link>
		<comments>http://fraservalleypulse.com/features-fun/fraser-valley-farmers-markets-2012/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 16 May 2012 07:22:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kristi Ferguson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Eats & Drinks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Features & Fun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home & Garden]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[eat local]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[farm food]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[farmers markets]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fraser valley]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://fraservalleypulse.com/?p=10702</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[From Chilliwack to White Rock to Pitt Meadows, there is a Fraser Valley Farmers Market near you! Here is a list of local farm markets for the 2012 season. If we are missing one in your neighbourhood, please let us know! Farmers Markets are a wonderful place to discover local farmers and food producers. You [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>From Chilliwack to White Rock to Pitt Meadows, there is a Fraser Valley Farmers Market near you! Here is a list of local farm markets for the 2012 season. If we are missing one in your neighbourhood, please let us know!</p>
<p>Farmers Markets are a wonderful place to discover local farmers and food producers. You will find fruits, vegetables, dairy products, nuts, flowers, meat, fish, preserves, baking, snacks and a variety of unique artisanal works. As the spring turns to summer, and summer to autumn, the offerings change up and you will enjoy the full bounty that our Fraser Valley has to offer.</p>
<p>All of these local markets offer something unique &#8211; mark them on your summer calendars and give them each a try! We are excited to visit the Fraser Valley&#8217;s newest market &#8211; The Eco Market in Sardis!</p>
<p><span id="more-10702"></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a class="flickr-image aligncenter" title="Haney Farmers Market" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexpope/5992101793/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6018/5992101793_9b6c964722.jpg" alt="Haney Farmers Market" /></a><br />
<small><a title="Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/" rel="license"><img src="http://fraservalleypulse.com/wp-content/plugins/wordpress-flickr-manager/images/creative_commons_bw.gif" alt="Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License" /></a> by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/19191824@N00/">Alex Pope</a></small></p>
<p><strong>Abbotsford Farm &amp; Country Market</strong><br />
<strong><a href="http://www.abbotsfordfarmandcountrymarket.com/" target="_blank">www.abbotsfordfarmandcountrymarket.com</a></strong><br />
Montrose at George Ferguson Way, Abbotsford<br />
Saturdays 9AM – 1PM<br />
May 12 &#8211; October 15, 2012</p>
<p><strong>Chilliwack Farmers Market</strong><br />
<a href="http://www.ChilliwackFarmersMarket.com/" target="_blank">www.ChilliwackFarmersMarket.com</a><br />
10015 Young Road, Chilliwack<br />
Saturdays 9AM – 2PM<br />
June 23 – September 15, 2012</p>
<p><strong>Cultus Lake Market in the Park</strong><br />
<a href="http://www.cultuslake.bc.ca/default.aspx?PAGE_ID=145" target="_blank">www.cultuslake.bc.ca</a><br />
East side Main Beach parking lot<br />
Saturdays 9AM – 3PM<br />
June 9 &#8211; September 1, 2012</p>
<p><strong>Fort Langley Village Farmers Market</strong><br />
<strong><a href="http://www.fortlangleyvillagefarmersmarket.org/" target="_blank">www.fortlangleyvillagefarmersmarket.org </a></strong><br />
Orchard of the Fort Langley National Historic Fort<br />
Sundays 10AM – 3PM<br />
Begins April 21</p>
<p><strong>Haney Farmers Market</strong><br />
<strong><a href="http://www.haneyfarmersmarket.org/" target="_blank">www.haneyfarmersmarket.org</a></strong><br />
Memorial Peace Park on 224th, Maple Ridge<br />
Saturdays 9AM – 2PM<br />
Begins May 12</p>
<p><strong>Langley Farmers Market</strong><br />
<strong><a href="http://www.langleycommunityfarmersmarket.com/" target="_blank">www.langleycommunityfarmersmarket.com</a></strong><br />
Kwantlen University Parking Lot<br />
20901 Langley By Pass, Langley<br />
Wednesdays 2PM – 6PM<br />
May 23 &#8211; October 3, 2012</p>
<p><strong>Mission Farmers Market</strong><br />
<a href="http://www.missioncityfarmersmarket.com/" target="_blank">www.missioncityfarmersmarket.com</a><br />
Lane Creek Park (2nd &amp; Horne), Mission<br />
Saturdays 9AM – 1PM<br />
May 5 – September 29, 2012</p>
<p><strong>Pitt Meadows Farmers Market</strong><br />
<strong><a href="http://www.haneyfarmersmarket.org/index.php/pm-market.html" target="_blank">www.haneyfarmersmarket.org</a></strong><br />
Spirit Square (12007 Harris Road), Pitt Meadows<br />
Sundays 10AM – 2PM<br />
Begins July 8</p>
<p><strong>Surrey Urban Farmers Market </strong><br />
<strong><a href="http://www.surreymarket.org/" target="_blank">www.SurreyMarket.org</a></strong><br />
North Surrey Rec Centre Courtyard<br />
10275 135 Street, Surrey<br />
Wednesdays 1PM – 6PM<br />
June 13 – October 4, 2012</p>
<p><strong>The Eco Market</strong><br />
<strong><a href="http://www.theECOmarket.ca" target="_blank">www.theECOmarket.ca</a></strong><br />
Sardis Park, Chilliwack<br />
Wednesdays 4PM &#8211; 8PM<br />
May 9 &#8211; October 10, 2012</p>
<p><strong>White Rock Farmers Market</strong><br />
<strong><a href="http://www.whiterockfarmersmarket.ca/" target="_blank">www.whiterockfarmersmarket.ca</a></strong><br />
15154 Russell Avenue, White Rock<br />
Sundays 9AM – 1PM<br />
Begins May 27</p>
<hr /><small>Copyright &copy; 2008<br /> This feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. <br /> The use of this feed on other websites breaches copyright. If this content is not in your news reader, it makes the page you are viewing an infringement of the copyright. (Digital Fingerprint:<br /> )</small>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://fraservalleypulse.com/features-fun/fraser-valley-farmers-markets-2012/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>5 Great Fraser Valley Garden Centres</title>
		<link>http://fraservalleypulse.com/features-fun/5-great-fraser-valley-garden-centres/</link>
		<comments>http://fraservalleypulse.com/features-fun/5-great-fraser-valley-garden-centres/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 06 May 2012 07:49:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Shannon Clattenburg</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[5 Great]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Features & Fun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home & Garden]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://fraservalleypulse.com/?p=10769</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you’re anything like me, you love the look of beautiful garden flowers but you just don’t have the time to get them looking half decent. It probably doesn’t help that my thumb is anything but green and that I don’t really know where to begin when it comes to growing a garden! Lucky for [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you’re anything like me, you love the look of beautiful garden flowers but you just don’t have the time to get them looking half decent. It probably doesn’t help that my thumb is anything but green and that I don’t really know where to begin when it comes to growing a garden! Lucky for me (and all the other brown-thumbed gardeners out there) these 5 great gardening centres in the Fraser Valley employee folks looking to broaden our gardening knowledge. They are also great for seasoned gardeners who are looking for good quality plants and accessories.<span id="more-10769"></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a class="flickr-image aligncenter" title="5 Great Gardening Centres - Minter Gardens Country Store" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fraservalleypulse/6976016838/"><img src="http://farm9.static.flickr.com/8168/6976016838_48d33e4537.jpg" alt="5 Great Gardening Centres - Minter Gardens Country Store" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.mintergardens.com/CG_Home.htm"><strong>Minter Gardens Country Garden Store</strong></a></p>
<p><em>10015 Young Rd, Chilliwack<br />
</em><em>604-792-6612</em></p>
<p>If you have lived in the Fraser Valley for any length of time, you’ve most likely heard of Minter Gardens. A beautiful horticultural attraction in Rosedale, <a href="http://www.mintergardens.com/MG_Home.htm">Minter Gardens</a> really is a gardener’s dream. As an extension of their 35-acre show garden, Brian Minter and his family share their passion for all things plant related with other gardeners (and gardening hopefuls!) at the Minter Gardens Country Store. They have all the basics covered for the beginner, including great <a href="http://www.mintergardens.com/CG_Seminars.htm#HBDay">seminars and events</a>, plus a wide selection of plants from across the globe for those seeking a bit more variety. The best part about the Minter Gardens Country Store? Brian Minter is a wealth of knowledge! With plenty of speaking engagements, radio talk shows and regular gardening columns under his belt, Brian knows what it takes to make your garden grow. Note that the Country Store is located at the address above, and is not in the same location as the gardens themselves.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.pottersonline.ca/"><strong>Potters</strong></a></p>
<p><em>19158 48</em><em><sup>th</sup></em><em> Ave, Surrey<br />
</em><em>604-576-5011</em></p>
<p>If variety is the spice of life, then Potters is like a huge spice cupboard! The largest of their 4 locations, the retail space at their 48<sup>th</sup> Avenue location is <em>the</em> place to be for those looking to plant a little bit everything in their gardens. Low prices and weekly specials (check out their fliers <a href="http://www.pottersonline.ca/ads-2/">online</a>) make trying your hand at gardening a little less scary. In addition to gardening tools, flowers and starter vegetable plants, Potters also carries an array of patio bistro sets, home décor items (including sinamay, really cool garden friendly décor mesh) and lots and lots and lots of beautiful pottery planters! So many, in fact, that they’re famous for their “buy 1 save 30%, buy 2 save 40% and buy 3 save 50%” deals, on all of their pottery planters. A good thing to remember about this garden centre is that they are open year ‘round. Their incredible Christmas store (open October – Christmas Eve) and haunted house for Hallowe’en make Potters a neat family destination.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.portkellsnurseries.com/"><strong>Port Kells Nursery</strong></a></p>
<p><em>18730 88</em><em><sup>th</sup></em><em> Avenue, Surrey<br />
</em><em>778-882-1344</em></p>
<p>Situated on the Surrey/Langley border, Port Kells Nursery is a great full service garden centre destination for beginners and novices alike! With over 60 staff members, Port Kells Nursery is one of the only gardening centres in the area that can serve you in 11 different languages. They carry all your basic garden essentials as well as bulk soils, mulches, gravel, sands and lava rock. For those planning bigger landscaping projects, they also offer delivery services so you don’t have to worry about hauling it home yourself. Plus, you can even have the pros from the nursery plant what you want, in whatever you want, so it just looks like you know what you’re doing (and for a super affordable rate). Looking to plant something different this season? Ask them about adding raspberry or blackberry plants to your garden this year. These are just as easy to grow as tomatoes, but take up less space!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.cannor.com/"><strong>Cannor Nursery</strong></a></p>
<p><em>34261 Marshall Rd, Abbotsford</em></p>
<p><em>604-854-1616</em></p>
<p>Cannor Nursery has two locations in the Fraser Valley (Chilliwack &amp; Abbotsford), but we love their Abbotsford location the best. They have one of the greatest selections of flowers and greenery in the Fraser Valley and carry all kinds of annuals, perennials and tropical species. Cannor Nursery is a one-stop shop for those looking at getting into gardening, so don’t be shy to ask for help from one of their Canadian Certified Horticultural Technicians; they can help you pick out everything from the containers to use, the soil to fill them with and which flowers have the best chance of surviving, err I mean growing!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.ferncliffgardens.com/"><strong>Ferncliff Gardens</strong></a></p>
<p><em>8394 McTaggart St, Mission<br />
</em><em>604-826-2447</em></p>
<p>After being in business for 92 years, you can be sure the gang at Ferncliff Gardens know what they’re doing! They carry hundreds of catalogued varieties of flowers including peonies, dahlias, daylilies and irises – which are all listed on their website so you can browse before your visit. We love the specialized varieties that they carry like the <a href="http://www.ferncliffgardens.com/JapanesePeonies.php">Garden Lace Peony</a>, and their home-grown varieties like the <a href="http://www.ferncliffgardens.com/displayFlower.php?id=13277">Ferncliff Snowfire</a>. Plus, if you visit near the end of summer, you can find huge bunches of dahlias and wildflowers for just under $5. What an affordable way to keep that patio dinner table full of colour!</p>
<p><em><strong>We hope you take a break from your busy schedule during the spring and summer seasons to get out and do a little gardening! Be sure to visit one of these great garden centres for great selection and awesome advice. </strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>We’d love to hear what keeps you motivated to spend time in your garden and which garden stores keep you inspired. There are plenty of great ones &#8211; where&#8217;s your favourite?</strong></em></p>
<hr /><small>Copyright &copy; 2008<br /> This feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. <br /> The use of this feed on other websites breaches copyright. If this content is not in your news reader, it makes the page you are viewing an infringement of the copyright. (Digital Fingerprint:<br /> )</small>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://fraservalleypulse.com/features-fun/5-great-fraser-valley-garden-centres/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Seed Swap at restaurant 62</title>
		<link>http://fraservalleypulse.com/features-fun/seed-swap-at-restaurant-62/</link>
		<comments>http://fraservalleypulse.com/features-fun/seed-swap-at-restaurant-62/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Mar 2012 07:01:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kristi Ferguson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Eats & Drinks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Features & Fun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home & Garden]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Upcoming Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Abbotsford]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[free]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gardening]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[healthy eating]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://fraservalleypulse.com/?p=10419</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Restaurant 62 in Abbotsford is hosting their 1st Annual Seed Swap on Saturday, March 24, 2012. From 9am &#8211; 1pm, hobby gardeners are invited to exchange seeds and gardening information with other locals. Seeds from plants, flowers, trees or vegetables &#8211; all are &#8216;welcome&#8217;! &#160; Registration is not required, simply show up on the day [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.restaurant62.ca" target="_blank">Restaurant 62</a> in Abbotsford is hosting their 1st Annual Seed Swap on Saturday, March 24, 2012.</p>
<p>From 9am &#8211; 1pm, hobby gardeners are invited to exchange seeds and gardening information with other locals. Seeds from plants, flowers, trees or vegetables &#8211; all are &#8216;welcome&#8217;!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://fraservalleypulse.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Screen-Shot-2012-03-12-at-2.00.25-PM.png"><img class="aligncenter  wp-image-10424" title="Screen Shot 2012-03-12 at 2.00.25 PM" src="http://fraservalleypulse.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Screen-Shot-2012-03-12-at-2.00.25-PM.png" alt="" width="587" height="184" /></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Registration is not required, simply show up on the day of with your seeds and swap away! The event is free to attend, with an optional donation to <a href="http://www.wrsfv.ca/" target="_blank">Women&#8217;s Resource Society of the Fraser Valley</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">We think this sounds like fun! Some of our team members have hobby gardens &#8211; it would be great to see what our neighbours are growing and to exchange tips/tricks with one another. What a great way to connect!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Restaurant 62 Seed Swap</strong><br />
<strong> www.restaurant62.ca</strong><br />
<strong> 2001 McCallum Road, Abbotsford</strong></p>
<hr /><small>Copyright &copy; 2008<br /> This feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. <br /> The use of this feed on other websites breaches copyright. If this content is not in your news reader, it makes the page you are viewing an infringement of the copyright. (Digital Fingerprint:<br /> )</small>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://fraservalleypulse.com/features-fun/seed-swap-at-restaurant-62/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>5 Fraser Valley Bookstores Worth a Visit</title>
		<link>http://fraservalleypulse.com/features-fun/5-fraser-valley-bookstores-worth-a-visit/</link>
		<comments>http://fraservalleypulse.com/features-fun/5-fraser-valley-bookstores-worth-a-visit/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 29 Nov 2010 05:51:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Shannon Clattenburg</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Features & Fun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home & Garden]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Things To Do]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[books]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fraser valley]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reading]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://fraservalleypulse.com/?p=6358</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There is just something about a rainy or snowy afternoon that makes us want to curl up with a good book. Lucky for us, there are enough fantastic independent bookstores in the Fraser Valley to get us through an entire season of wet and slushy weather! With this list of 5 Fraser Valley bookstores to [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There is just something about a rainy or snowy afternoon that makes us want to curl up with a good book. Lucky for us, there are enough fantastic independent bookstores in the Fraser Valley to get us through an entire season of wet and slushy weather! With this list of 5 Fraser Valley bookstores to get lost in, you will have a good idea where to start the next time you’re looking to disappear in a good book – or even a whole bookstore!</p>
<p><strong>Bookman<br />
</strong><em>45939 Wellington St, Chilliwack 604.792.4595</em></p>
<p>Open 364 days a year (closed only on Christmas Day), you’ll never have to wonder if <a href="http://www.bookman.ca" target="_blank"><span style="color: #003366;"><strong>The Bookman</strong></span></a> will be open when the book shopping mood strikes you. <span id="more-6358"></span>The size of this cozy store is deceiving – so don’t judge this store by its cover! With over 500,000 books spread over 5000 square feet, you really can get lost in the weaving towers of bookshelves. In the slight chance that they don’t have the book you are searching for, just ask! The Bookman also offers an internet sales department as well, which has been known to track down a number of special edition vintage books in its time.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a class="flickr-image aligncenter" title="Top 5 Bookstores - Wendel's Bookstore &amp; Cafe" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/odetotheordinary/5192927336/"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4145/5192927336_c28b1b2ca1.jpg" alt="Top 5 Bookstores - Wendel's Bookstore &amp; Cafe" /></a><br />
<small><a title="Attribution License" rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/"><img src="http://fraservalleypulse.com/wp-content/plugins/wordpress-flickr-manager/images/creative_commons_bw.gif" alt="Attribution License" /></a> by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/39743068@N04/">Ode to the Ordinary</a></small></p>
<p><strong>Wendel’s Bookstore &amp; Café<br />
</strong><em>#103 – 9233 Glover Rd, Fort Langley 604.513.2238</em></p>
<p><a href="http://www.wendelsonline.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: #003366;"><strong>Wendel’s Bookstore &amp; Cafe </strong></span></a>is one of those fantastic destinations that combine the best of all worlds. Not only can you grab a coffee to sip while browsing the bookstore, you can stay for lunch after you’ve found one (or two or three) that you want to take home! This cute little store located in the heart of Fort Langley is not only a bookstore, but a full service, licensed café that provides a wide selection of hot &amp; cold drinks, soups, sandwiches and dessert goodies. With its late hours (open from 7:30am – 10:00pm daily) it is a great option for those late night book cravings. Looking for a beautiful and unique writing journal? The selection at Wendel’s Bookstore will definitely inspire you!</p>
<p><strong>Hemingway’s<br />
</strong><em>33765 Essendene Ave, Abbotsford 604.855.1894</em></p>
<p>Just one look at the outside of this bookstore, and you’ll know you are in for a treat. With over 8,000 square feet of neatly organized bookshelves, <a href="http://www.hemibooks.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: #003366;"><strong>Hemingway’s</strong></span></a> is one of the largest new and used independent bookstores in Western Canada. Not only do they have a spectacular selection of books in general, they’ve also been known to support local Fraser Valley talent as well! Be sure to watch their website, or make a habit of stopping in on Saturdays to catch a book signing by a local author (there are 3 coming up in November/December).</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a class="flickr-image aligncenter" title="Fraser Valley Pulse Top 5 Bookstores" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/odetotheordinary/5197829036/"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4092/5197829036_89a7e75cc8.jpg" alt="Fraser Valley Pulse Top 5 Bookstores" /></a><br />
<small><a title="Attribution License" rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/"><img src="http://fraservalleypulse.com/wp-content/plugins/wordpress-flickr-manager/images/creative_commons_bw.gif" alt="Attribution License" /></a> by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/39743068@N04/">Ode to the Ordinary</a></small></p>
<div style="width: 10px; height: 3px; display: block; overflow: hidden;"><a style="text-indent: 20px; display: block;" href="http://actfourscreenplays.com/screenwriting-blog/how-to-write-a-screenplay/">How To Write A Screenplay</a></div>
<p><strong>The Bookcase Co.</strong></p>
<p><em>22378 119 Avenue, Maple Ridge 604.467.5595</em></p>
<p><em> </em></p>
<p>Nestled on a quiet one-way street, <span style="color: #003366;"><strong>The Bookcase Co</strong></span> is a quaint little bookstore packed full of interesting reads yet to be discovered. With a book collection that is rapidly outgrowing their bookshelves, visitors are encouraged to look below the rows for even more selection. The displays in the window always provide great ideas in the event you aren’t sure what you’re looking for. Take a chance with a book you haven’t considered reading before – you might be pleasantly surprised!</p>
<p><strong>Sue’s Bookshelf<br />
</strong><em>#106 – 7380 King George Blvd, Surrey 604.599.8482</em></p>
<p>Not just a bookstore, but a gift store as well! S<span style="color: #003366;"><strong>ue’s Bookshelf</strong></span> carries inspiration throughout the store with unique gift items, inspirational magnets, bookmarks and more. Known for their excellent customer service and ability to recommend books of similar interest, try this bookstore the next time you are looking for a bit of help finding something great to curl up with. The resident cats make this little bookstore even cosier, so make sure to give yourself time to unwind here!</p>
<p>Although we’ve only featured five bookstores in this article, there are so many more fantastic independent new and used bookstores scattered throughout the Fraser Valley! We also highly recommend checking out <a href="http://www.abebooks.com/murdochs-bookshoppe-mission-bc-canada/1001184/sf" target="_blank"><span style="color: #003366;"><strong>Murdoch’s Bookshoppe </strong></span></a>in Mission, and <span style="color: #003366;"><strong>The Book Worm</strong></span> in White Rock.</p>
<p>Where are your favourite bookstores to venture off to when you are in search of new reading material (or just a quiet afternoon being surrounded by books)?</p>
<hr /><small>Copyright &copy; 2008<br /> This feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. <br /> The use of this feed on other websites breaches copyright. If this content is not in your news reader, it makes the page you are viewing an infringement of the copyright. (Digital Fingerprint:<br /> )</small>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://fraservalleypulse.com/features-fun/5-fraser-valley-bookstores-worth-a-visit/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Preparing Your Car for Winter</title>
		<link>http://fraservalleypulse.com/features-fun/preparing-your-car-for-winter/</link>
		<comments>http://fraservalleypulse.com/features-fun/preparing-your-car-for-winter/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 21 Nov 2010 17:43:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kelly Neufeld</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Expert Interviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Features & Fun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home & Garden]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[automobiles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cars]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fraser valley]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[winter]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://fraservalleypulse.com/?p=6251</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Winter sure has arrived here in the Fraser Valley. As we are posting this article, it&#8217;s -8c outside. -8!!! We asked local mechanic, Brendan Grant, for some advice about preparing one&#8217;s car for the cold winter weather. We hear it&#8217;s going to be a cold one this year, so check out these great tips! Q. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Winter sure has arrived here in the Fraser Valley. As we are posting this article, it&#8217;s -8c outside. -8!!! We asked local mechanic, Brendan Grant, for some advice about preparing one&#8217;s car for the cold winter weather. We hear it&#8217;s going to be a cold one this year, so check out these great tips!</p>
<p><strong>Q. Why is it important to prepare your car for the winter?</strong></p>
<p><strong>A.</strong> With colder temperatures bringing snow, ice and rain it’s clearly important to have your vehicle safe and in proper operating condition for the coming winter.<span id="more-6251"></span></p>
<p>Cold weather puts more stress on your vehicle’s electrical system as it has to work harder to get the vehicle started and running to normal operating temperature. Items such as tires and brakes are even more important in icy and snowy conditions so having your vehicle checked and serviced prior to winter can prevent unnecessary break downs, help your vehicle run safely and save on overall repair costs.</p>
<p><strong>Q. What steps should you take to get your car ready for winter driving<br />
conditions?</strong></p>
<p><strong>A.</strong> Have your vehicle inspected and tested to ensure that your tires, brakes, electrical, suspension, belts and cooling system are in good condition and operating as they should.</p>
<p>The only contact you have between you and the road is the surface of your tires. It’s this contact point that allows your vehicle to turn, stop and maintain control. Remember when the roads are slick, please drive slow and use additional caution.</p>
<p>Worn shocks and struts cause your tires to bounce rather than keeping your tires firmly planted to the road. This affects handling, control and stopping distance as well as causing wear on other suspension components and your tires.</p>
<p>Anti-lock brake systems are designed &amp; proven to help safely stop your vehicle in a skidding situation. If your ABS light is on or if your brake pedal requires excess effort, feels spongy or chatters, then your brake system should be checked and serviced as required.</p>
<p>Your vehicles cooling system contains antifreeze which if diluted with too much water can cause the system to freeze up and cause damage to cooling system components. It’s an easy check with a hydrometer to check the specific gravity of your coolant.</p>
<p>Engine oil thickens with colder temperatures so as always it’s important to keep your oil changes regular and use the proper grade of engine oil.</p>
<p><strong> Q. Here in the Fraser Valley, do you recommend snow tires or chains or will all season tires suffice for the weather we experience locally?</strong></p>
<p><strong>A. </strong>Snow tires are always better in snow and ice than all-season tires. They are softer and grip better allowing for better traction and stopping ability.</p>
<p>Here in the Fraser Valley, we experience sporadic snow throughout our winter months. I often get asked the question should I buy snows or just good all seasons? If money wasn’t an object I would recommend everyone have a set of four snow tires mounted on rims, so they are ready if and when we experience a snow fall.</p>
<p>Unfortunately it’s a budget question for most people so depending on the vehicle and each individual situation, the solutions can vary. Some all season tires are better than others in snow and ice and clearly any worn tires should be replaced before the winter months.</p>
<p>Chains can be handy if using all seasons and taking a skiing trip up to one of our local mountains. Four wheel drive vehicles have a huge advantage in traction over front wheel drive or rear wheel drive vehicles.</p>
<p><strong> Q. What is the best way to deal with a vehicle door that is frozen shut or windshield wipers frozen to the window?</strong></p>
<p><strong>A.</strong> If a door is frozen shut the first thing to try is another door. Hopefully you can get in well enough to try opening the driver’s door from the inside. If your key turns in the lock, try turning the key while pulling on the door at the same time.</p>
<p>Clear away any ice or snow from the door and if available, try pouring washer fluid around the door openings. If the lock cylinder won’t turn there is lock de-icer available from your mechanic, hardware or auto parts store. Lastly, and using obvious caution, try applying heat with a blow dryer or other heat source to the door, especially to the latched area.</p>
<p><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-6253" title="me" src="http://fraservalleypulse.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/me.jpg" alt="" width="180" height="192" /></p>
<p>Be sure to check that your wipers aren’t frozen to your windshield after a snowfall or cold night. Usually they can be easily freed up by hand prior to turning them on. Never try using your wipers to push away heavy amounts of snow from your windshield. This can cause the motor to fail or the regulator to break, leaving you with one or no wipers operating.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #003366;"><a href="mailto:bmgautomotive@shaw.ca" target="_blank">Brendan Grant</a></span></strong>, BMG Automotive<br />
Appointments through phone 778-836-1233<br />
Twitter @BMGAuto</p>
<hr /><small>Copyright &copy; 2008<br /> This feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. <br /> The use of this feed on other websites breaches copyright. If this content is not in your news reader, it makes the page you are viewing an infringement of the copyright. (Digital Fingerprint:<br /> )</small>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://fraservalleypulse.com/features-fun/preparing-your-car-for-winter/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Frugal Fun: Jo Priestley Pottery Studio &amp; Garden</title>
		<link>http://fraservalleypulse.com/features-fun/frugal-fun-jo-priestley-pottery-studio-garden/</link>
		<comments>http://fraservalleypulse.com/features-fun/frugal-fun-jo-priestley-pottery-studio-garden/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Nov 2010 07:10:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Shannon Clattenburg</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Features & Fun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Frugal Fun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home & Garden]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Things To Do]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fraser valley]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mission]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://fraservalleypulse.com/?p=6070</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As we know from last week&#8217;s Pulse Spotlight, the Fraser Valley is filled with incredibly talented artists! This month for our Frugal Fun adventure, we visited the studio of local pottery artist Jo Priestley, and learned about beautiful artwork, tending gardens, and taking time to enjoy the views of the Fraser Valley. The Jo Priestley [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As we know from <span style="color: #003366;"><strong><a href="http://fraservalleypulse.com/pulse-spotlight/spotlight-november-1-2010-inspired-arts-gifts/" target="_blank">last week&#8217;s Pulse Spotlight</a></strong></span>, the Fraser Valley is filled with incredibly talented artists! This month for our Frugal Fun adventure, we visited the studio of local pottery artist Jo Priestley, and learned about beautiful artwork, tending gardens, and taking time to enjoy the views of the Fraser Valley.</p>
<p>The <span style="color: #003366;"><strong><a href="http://www.jopriestleystudiopotter.com/" target="_blank">Jo Priestley Pottery Studio &amp; Garden</a> </strong></span>is a great artistic destination to visit before the weather gets too chilly. Located in Mission, Jo opens her studio, personal gallery and award winning garden up to visitors Thursdays to Sundays from 10am – 5pm. Admission is complimentary, and visitors are encouraged to wander around the grounds and enjoy not only the pottery, but also the beautiful garden and a breathtaking view of the Fraser Valley. <span id="more-6070"></span>Take a few minutes to catch your breath on the bench facing over the mountain, or under the cover of the patio if it starts to drizzle.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a class="flickr-image aligncenter" title="Jo Priestley Pottery Studio &amp; Garden" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/odetotheordinary/5132508093/"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/5132508093_ced66f9167.jpg" alt="Jo Priestley Pottery Studio &amp; Garden" /></a><br />
<small><a title="Attribution License" rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/"><img src="http://fraservalleypulse.com/wp-content/plugins/wordpress-flickr-manager/images/creative_commons_bw.gif" alt="Attribution License" /></a> by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/39743068@N04/">Ode to the Ordinary</a></small></p>
<p>With public and private galleries all over BC, the items on display in her personal gallery here in Mission are just a small sampling of Jo’s work. Pottery amateurs and novices alike can appreciate the fine detail and exquisite glaze colour of all of Jo’s pieces – if you look closely, you will notice that no two pieces are the same. If you see something you’d like to take home with you – you can! All items displayed in the showroom are available for sale.</p>
<p>While you’re there, be sure to take the time to read the signs as you go along, and enquire about the different techniques used to create the pieces in the gallery. With so many different colour combinations and techniques, it is easier to truly appreciate the art once you are familiar with the elaborate steps involved in creating the pieces on display. Jo is always happy to chat to her visitors and introduce them to the world of pottery.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a class="flickr-image aligncenter" title="Jo Priestley Pottery Studio &amp; Garden" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/odetotheordinary/5132499167/"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4152/5132499167_e84c7d8834.jpg" alt="Jo Priestley Pottery Studio &amp; Garden" /></a><br />
<small><a title="Attribution License" rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/"><img src="http://fraservalleypulse.com/wp-content/plugins/wordpress-flickr-manager/images/creative_commons_bw.gif" alt="Attribution License" /></a> by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/39743068@N04/">Ode to the Ordinary</a></small></p>
<p>The Jo Priestley Pottery Studio &amp; Garden occasionally hosts open houses, and holiday events – so be sure to watch the website for updates, and possible hour changes during the holidays.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Jo Priestley Pottery Studio &amp; Garden<br />
<span style="color: #003366;"><a href="http://www.jopriestleystudiopotter.com/" target="_blank">www.jopriestleystudiopotter.com</a></span><br />
33140 Richards Ave, Mission<br />
Ring: 604-826-3482</strong></p>
<hr /><small>Copyright &copy; 2008<br /> This feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. <br /> The use of this feed on other websites breaches copyright. If this content is not in your news reader, it makes the page you are viewing an infringement of the copyright. (Digital Fingerprint:<br /> )</small>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://fraservalleypulse.com/features-fun/frugal-fun-jo-priestley-pottery-studio-garden/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Composting Tips With Langley Environmental Partners Society</title>
		<link>http://fraservalleypulse.com/features-fun/composting-tips-with-langley-environmental-partners-society/</link>
		<comments>http://fraservalleypulse.com/features-fun/composting-tips-with-langley-environmental-partners-society/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 Oct 2010 14:53:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kelly Neufeld</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Expert Interviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Features & Fun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home & Garden]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[composting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Langley]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://fraservalleypulse.com/?p=5783</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Composting does not have to stop in the winter time. One can compost inside, in your garage or outside with some insulation in most weather conditions. We asked Liz Kendler of the Langley Environmental Partners Society for some tips on composting. The Langley Environmental Partners offers composting classes as part of their mission to &#8220;protect [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: left;">Composting does not have to stop in the winter time. One can compost inside, in your garage or outside with some insulation in most weather conditions. We asked Liz Kendler of the<span style="color: #003366;"><strong><a href="http://leps.bc.ca/" target="_blank"> Langley Environmental Partners Society</a></strong></span> for some tips on composting. The Langley Environmental Partners offers composting classes as part of their mission to &#8220;protect and restore the natural environment through education, cooperation and action.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>Q. To someone who has never composted before, how would you simply explain its benefits?</strong></p>
<p>A. It&#8217;s estimated that a whopping 40% of our household waste is organic material. Some of our landfills are close to overflowing and all this unnecessary garbage is contributing to climate change. <span id="more-5783"></span>Organic material piled up in a landfill undergoes oxygen-free decomposition which releases methane, a greenhouse gas 20 times more powerful than carbon dioxide.</p>
<p>Composting not only reduces the need for more landfills and slows climate change, it provides a superior source of garden and lawn fertilizer. Good compost improves the structure of soil, allowing air flow and drainage, and adds important nutrients. All this is great news for your plants.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">
<a class="flickr-image aligncenter" title="better compost" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29278394@N00/2457055952/"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2069/2457055952_1de6ef6cdc.jpg" alt="better compost" /></a><br />
<small><a title="Attribution License" rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/"><img src="http://fraservalleypulse.com/wp-content/plugins/wordpress-flickr-manager/images/creative_commons_bw.gif" alt="Attribution License" /></a> by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/29278394@N00/">normanack</a></small><br />
<strong>Q. Do you need to buy a composting bin or can you make your own?</strong></p>
<p>A. Compost bins can be purchased or home built. Most municipalities in the Fraser Valley offer backyard compost bins and worm bins for residents to purchase at a subsidized rate. Various plans for building your own bin can be found online.</p>
<p><strong>Q. What different types of composting bins are there?</strong></p>
<p>A. Most backyard compost bins available for purchase are made of plastic and are slightly larger than a garbage can. These bins work well for single family homes with a small amount of yard waste. They have a door at the front for harvesting finished compost and are rodent resistant.</p>
<p>For apartment dwellers, worm compost bins are ideal. They fit under a kitchen table or on a small balcony and can process about a gallon of organic waste each week.</p>
<p>For larger amounts of organic waste, a home-built system with two or three bins offers more space and allows compost in “working”  bins to fully decompose and then be harvested easily.</p>
<p><strong>Q. What are the most common things that are composted?</strong></p>
<p>A. Raw kitchen waste, including fruit and vegetable scraps and peels.<br />
Egg shells.<br />
Tea bags and coffee grounds.<br />
Newspaper, cardboard and sawdust.<br />
Grass clippings and fallen leaves.<br />
Wood ashes.<br />
Dryer lint.</p>
<p><strong>Q. What are some things that cannot composted?</strong></p>
<p>A. Cooked foods, grains, meat and dairy cannot be composted in backyard bins. However, all of these items can be put out on the curb in municipalities that do food waste pickup.</p>
<p>Plastics, fruit stickers, metals and pet waste cannot be composted in the backyard or in municipal pickup.</p>
<p><strong>Q. Where should you store your bins to keep them safe from animals?</strong></p>
<p>A. Compost bins should be covered on all sides to prevent rodents from entering. A heavy plastic or wire mesh can be placed under the bin to prevent rodents from tunneling in while still allowing water to drain and worms to enter. Rodents are most likely to be attracted to meat, grain and cooked foods, so be vigilant in keeping these items out of you backyard bin.</p>
<p><strong>Q. How long does the composting process take?</strong></p>
<p>A. Your organic waste will turn into rich fertilizer within 3 to 6 months. Turning the contents of your bin regularly with an aerator and adding at least 50% brown material (dry leaves, sawdust, newspaper) will speed up the process and keep you compost smelling sweet.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Langley Environmental Partners Society<br />
<span style="color: #003366;"><a href="http://www.leps.bc.ca" target="_blank">www.leps.bc.ca</a></span><br />
4700 &#8211; 224th Street, Langley<br />
Ring: 604.532.3511</strong></p>
<hr /><small>Copyright &copy; 2008<br /> This feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. <br /> The use of this feed on other websites breaches copyright. If this content is not in your news reader, it makes the page you are viewing an infringement of the copyright. (Digital Fingerprint:<br /> )</small>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://fraservalleypulse.com/features-fun/composting-tips-with-langley-environmental-partners-society/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Outdoor Living Tips With Heather Stewart</title>
		<link>http://fraservalleypulse.com/features-fun/outdoor-living-tips-with-heather-stewart/</link>
		<comments>http://fraservalleypulse.com/features-fun/outdoor-living-tips-with-heather-stewart/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 25 May 2010 02:47:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kelly Neufeld</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Expert Interviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Features & Fun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home & Garden]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://fraservalleypulse.com/?p=3865</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[With the beautiful weather lately we want to spend as much time outdoors as possible. FVP asked local home stager, Heather Stewart for tips on creating beautiful outdoor living spaces. Q. When should you start planning and setting up your outdoor living space? A. You can set up your outdoor living space as soon as [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>With the beautiful weather lately we want to spend as much time outdoors as possible. FVP asked local home stager, Heather Stewart for tips on creating beautiful outdoor living spaces.</p>
<p><strong>Q. When should you start planning and setting up your outdoor living space?</strong></p>
<p>A. You can set up your outdoor living space as soon as it&#8217;s warm enough that you want to spend time there.</p>
<p>You can plan your outdoor space all year long. Pay attention to colours, textures and shapes that you like and think about how you might incorporate them into your outdoor space. <span id="more-3865"></span>If you start at the end of the previous summer you can find killer deals on outdoor living furniture and accessories.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://fraservalleypulse.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/32563_0_8-4011-traditional-porch.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3869" title="32563_0_8-4011-traditional-porch" src="http://fraservalleypulse.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/32563_0_8-4011-traditional-porch.jpg" alt="" width="375" height="500" /></a><span style="color: #23466d;"><strong><em>Heather likes this soothing colour palette by Chris Kauffman</em></strong></span></p>
<p><strong>Q. Creating a great outdoor living space is more than just having the right patio set.  What other things can you include?</strong></p>
<p>A. You can create a great outdoor living space for your patio furniture by using fences, overhead design elements and accessories. You can use permeable surfaces like pavers, flagstones, blocks or bricks.  Sustainable materials for decks are available in more and more variety.</p>
<p>Fences and plants can be part of your design and can be used to create private conversation areas, dining areas and lounging areas.</p>
<p>Don&#8217;t forget to consider overhead design elements like pergolas, arbors and sun shades.</p>
<p>Lighting is another important element.  Function and ambiance should both be considered.</p>
<p>Once you have created the envelope of your outdoor living area, think about adding accessories for decor and function. Depending on your needs you may include an alfresco dining area, lounge area, conversation area, play area for children or pets, water feature etc. The options are endless.</p>
<p>Think about using one or two colours as accents to use throughout your outdoor living area to create flow and cohesion &#8211; you may want to use an accent colour from inside your home to increase the feel of your outdoor space as an extension of your indoor living space.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://fraservalleypulse.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/45622_0_8-0384-contemporary-exterior.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3874" title="45622_0_8-0384-contemporary-exterior" src="http://fraservalleypulse.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/45622_0_8-0384-contemporary-exterior.jpg" alt="" width="375" height="500" /></a><strong><span style="color: #23466d;"><em>Heather enjoys this great use of inexpensive furnishings in a small space to create a comfortable balcony seating area. Photo by Niche Interiors.</em></span></strong></p>
<p><strong>Q. Do you have to buy items specifically for outdoors or can you use items that are usually inside your home?</strong></p>
<p>A. Furnishings and accessories can be those made especially for outdoor spaces.  Fabrics and finishes for outdoor items abound.  Many indoor items can be repurposed and incorporated for outside areas, too.  Ceramic stools, metal lanterns and candle holders, stone sculptures, metal furniture (with appropriate finishes), and (treated) fabrics all make the transition easily from indoors to out.</p>
<p><strong>Q. Outdoor rugs: can they be left outside all summer or do they need to be taken indoors if it rains?</strong></p>
<p>A. In drier climates than our own &#8220;wet coast&#8221;, outdoor carpets can be left outside all season.  However, when the weather gets wet, outdoor carpets (even from covered spaces) are best rolled up dry and placed somewhere dry for the duration.  Forgetting once or twice won&#8217;t be disastrous for an outdoor carpet but best to dry it thoroughly in the sun after a cleaning or a dousing with rain to prevent mildew and staining.  Keep in mind that any pad under an outdoor carpet should ideally have the similar care and maintenance to the outdoor rug so they can be cleaned by the same method and will dry in similar time frames.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://fraservalleypulse.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/24412_0_8-1853-eclectic-porch.jpg"><img class="aligncenter" title="24412_0_8-1853-eclectic-porch" src="http://fraservalleypulse.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/24412_0_8-1853-eclectic-porch.jpg" alt="" width="375" height="500" /></a><strong><span style="color: #23466d;"><em>Heather loves, loves, loves taking indoor furniture outside.  Photo from Dear Daisy Cottage</em></span></strong></p>
<p><strong>Q. What kind of lighting could one use in an outdoor living space?</strong></p>
<p>A. Traditionally, low voltage landscape lighting has been used in outdoor areas along with standard outdoor light fixtures.  Spotlights, flood lights, security lighting, pathway lights, lighting for water features, decorative lights and even lamps can all be used to create the ambiance you want in your outdoor living space.  Many of these types of lighting are now available in affordable versions using solar power.  Decide what kind of lighting you want to incorporate in your design and then seek out lighting using any combination of power source that works for you.</p>
<p>Your outdoor living area can be a simple or as ornate as you are comfortable with and provides another design opportunity &#8211; have fun and enjoy!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>HS Home Staging<br />
<a href="http://www.hshomestaging.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #23466d;">www.hshomestaging.com</span></a><br />
Ring: 778.278.4747</strong></p>
<hr /><small>Copyright &copy; 2008<br /> This feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. <br /> The use of this feed on other websites breaches copyright. If this content is not in your news reader, it makes the page you are viewing an infringement of the copyright. (Digital Fingerprint:<br /> )</small>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://fraservalleypulse.com/features-fun/outdoor-living-tips-with-heather-stewart/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Local Landscapers Renovate Ridge Meadows Hospice Grounds</title>
		<link>http://fraservalleypulse.com/features-fun/local-landscapers-renovate-ridge-meadows-hospice-grounds/</link>
		<comments>http://fraservalleypulse.com/features-fun/local-landscapers-renovate-ridge-meadows-hospice-grounds/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 22 Apr 2010 23:05:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kristi Ferguson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Features & Fun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home & Garden]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://fraservalleypulse.com/?p=3257</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This morning I caught up with a group of very generous local landscape professionals. Representatives from Beneath Your Feet Landscaping, Blasig Landscape &#38; Construction, Golden Ears Landscaping, Janzen &#38; Co. Landscaping, and The Green Man Landscape Services were working their buns off this sunny Earth Day as part of the PLANET Day of Service.  PLANET [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This morning I caught up with a group of very generous local landscape professionals. Representatives from <a href="http://www.beneathyourfeet.ca/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #23466d;"><strong>Beneath Your Feet Landscaping</strong></span></a>, <a href="http://www.blasig.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #23466d;"><strong>Blasig Landscape &amp; Construction</strong></span></a>, <span style="color: #23466d;"><strong>Golden Ears Landscaping</strong></span>, <span style="color: #23466d;"><strong>Janzen &amp; Co. Landscaping</strong></span>, and <span style="color: #23466d;"><strong>The Green Man Landscape Services</strong></span> were working their buns off this sunny Earth Day as part of the <a href="http://planetdayofservice.org/home/index.php" target="_blank"><span style="color: #23466d;"><strong>PLANET Day of Service</strong></span></a>.  <a href="http://planetdayofservice.org/home/index.php" target="_blank"><span style="color: #23466d;"><strong>PLANET Day of Service</strong></span></a> is an internationally recognized grassroots event bringing landscape professionals together for volunteer projects which beautify the grounds of schools, parks, playgrounds, senior centers, shelters and anywhere that people enjoy green spaces. Today they were renovating the front grounds of the Ridge Meadows Hospice Society’s Bailey House and McKinney Creek residencese, on Laity Street in Maple Ridge.<span id="more-3257"></span></p>
<p><a href="http://fraservalleypulse.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/2010-PLANETDay-of-Service-at-Ridge-Meadows-Hospice.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3258" title="2010 PLANETDay of Service at Ridge Meadows Hospice" src="http://fraservalleypulse.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/2010-PLANETDay-of-Service-at-Ridge-Meadows-Hospice.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="334" /></a></p>
<p>Plants for this project were generously donated by <a href="http://maps.google.ca/maps/place?hl=en&amp;um=1&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;q=picketts+nursery&amp;fb=1&amp;gl=ca&amp;hq=picketts+nursery&amp;hnear=Cloverdale,+BC&amp;cid=3230832870496604828" target="_blank"><span style="color: #23466d;"><strong>Picketts Nursery</strong></span></a>, Landscape Materials came from <a href="http://www.meadowslandscapesupply.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #23466d;"><strong>Meadow Landscape Supply </strong></span></a>and the machinery was donated by <a href="http://www.avenuemachinery.ca/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #23466d;"><strong>Avenue Machinery</strong></span></a>.  Organized by Sherilyn Gale of Beneath Your Feet Landscaping, today&#8217;s event will see over $10,000 of product and services donated.  Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows certainly have some awesome <a href="http://www.bclna.com/bclna_membership_benefits.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: #23466d;"><strong>BCNLA</strong></span></a> members!  Well done guys and gals!</p>
<p><a href="http://fraservalleypulse.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Ridge-Meadows-area-BCNLA-members-on-PLANET-Day-of-Service-2010.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3259" title="Ridge Meadows area BCNLA members on PLANET Day of Service 2010" src="http://fraservalleypulse.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Ridge-Meadows-area-BCNLA-members-on-PLANET-Day-of-Service-2010.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="334" /></a></p>
<p>These kindhearted local companies really outdid themselves.  Can&#8217;t wait to see the finished gardens, stream and new accessible pathway.  Take a drive by the Ridge Meadows Hospice today if you&#8217;re in the area, and give these hard workers a honk or a high five.  They will be there till dark.  Tomorrow and thereafter the families who will use the hospice, as well as the local community members, will all enjoy the fruits of their labour.</p>
<hr /><small>Copyright &copy; 2008<br /> This feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. <br /> The use of this feed on other websites breaches copyright. If this content is not in your news reader, it makes the page you are viewing an infringement of the copyright. (Digital Fingerprint:<br /> )</small>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://fraservalleypulse.com/features-fun/local-landscapers-renovate-ridge-meadows-hospice-grounds/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Interview: Gardening Tips With Arnold Falk</title>
		<link>http://fraservalleypulse.com/features-fun/interview-gardening-tips-with-arnold-falk/</link>
		<comments>http://fraservalleypulse.com/features-fun/interview-gardening-tips-with-arnold-falk/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:26:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kelly Neufeld</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Expert Interviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Features & Fun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home & Garden]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gardening]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[spring]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tips]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://fraservalleypulse.com/?p=2683</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the best things about Spring is the beautiful flowers and vegetation. While there are plenty of pretty plants throughout the Fraser Valley, if you want them in your own backyard it will take a bit of work. With all the plant varieties, weather variables and technical knowledge needed, gardening can be overwhelming.  We [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>One of the best things about Spring is the beautiful flowers and vegetation. While there are plenty of pretty plants throughout the Fraser Valley, if you want them in your own backyard it will take a bit of work. With all the plant varieties, weather variables and technical knowledge needed, gardening can be overwhelming.  We asked local nursery owner, Arnold Falk, for advice on gardening in the Fraser Valley climate.</p>
<p>Arnold, his wife, Brenda, and daughter Lauren run a boutique nursery, <a href="http://tanglebank.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #23466d;"><strong>Tanglebank</strong></span></a>, located in Abbotsford. <span id="more-2683"></span>The couple have been avid gardeners for 25 years and opened their own nursery 14 years ago.</p>
<p><a href="http://fraservalleypulse.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Tanglebank-Abbotsford.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2685" title="Tanglebank Abbotsford" src="http://fraservalleypulse.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Tanglebank-Abbotsford.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="332" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Given the very warm winter we&#8217;ve just experienced, should typical springtime planting/gardening start earlier this year? </strong></p>
<p>Here in the Fraser Valley I recommend that as long as you can work the soil, go ahead and plant. Mind you, you don’t want to plant annuals at this time because it’s still too cold, but you can start planting trees, shrubs and hardy perennials. I’ve even planted some of my garden beds in December and January. I actually prefer it because it’s a lot cooler and I don’t have to water.</p>
<p>The biggest challenge will be finding a good variety of nursery stock, as the Garden Centres are not fully stocked right now.  If you find something you like, start digging.</p>
<p><strong>What are some easy to maintain outdoor bushes/plants that work well in the Fraser Valley climate?</strong></p>
<p>The variety of plants that work well and are easy to maintain in our climate is almost endless. For winter colour you can’t beat winter flowering heather. Kramer’s Red, Mary Helen and Springwood White are all garden classics. All these plants require for maintenance is a light shearing to remove old flower blossoms which will keep them nice and compact.  For trees I really like flowering Dogwoods (Cornus); two outstanding varieties are Cornus ‘Kousa’ and Cornus ‘Venus’.  Japanese Maples are another low maintenance tree which work very well here.  For summer colour I would go for Hydrangea. It’s a very easy shrub to grow that only requires a light pruning once a year to keep it tidy.</p>
<p>Ornamental grasses are still growing in popularity. They fall into two categories, cool season which means they begin their growth in early spring and warm season where their growth cycle begins as the temperature starts to warm. Cool season would include varieties like ‘Elijah Blue’, ‘Blue Oat Grass’ and ‘Bulbous Oat Grass’. Warm season varieties would include ‘Japanese Blood Grass’ and the ‘Miscanthus’ group of grasses.</p>
<p><strong>I&#8217;m new to gardening &#8211; where do I start?  Annuals vs perennials?  Help!</strong></p>
<p>When I first started gardening, my flower of choice was the marigold. I had them planted everywhere. I don’t think it matters what you start out gardening with as long as you like the plants. Keep in mind though annuals have to be planted every year and perennials will come back year after year.I encourage my customers to use both annuals and perennials in their flower beds. Perennials only bloom for a season; annuals go from summer to frost.  If you’re new to gardening, keep it simple.</p>
<p><strong>At what time of year should one plant a herb/vegetable garden?</strong></p>
<p>You could start planting the vegetable garden this month, just make sure you have raised beds of 8 to 10 inches as well good soil preparation and drainage. You could start your peas, radishes, spinach and broad beans now as well as your hardy herbs such as chives, mint, welsh onion and sage.  You might want to keep some row cloth on hand to protect your seedlings from frost as March weather can be a little fickle.</p>
<p><strong>Not everyone has a yard to garden in.  What are some easy Spring/Summer flowers to grow in planter/window boxes?</strong></p>
<p>When it comes to planting containers you can use just about anything. We’ve used small shrubs and even small trees in our plantings. There aren’t really any rules.  To make it easy you could use the annual geraniums for flower boxes, it’s a classic look and so easy to look after. The Proven Winner line of annuals is also great for window boxes and containers. Ornamental grasses, Euphorbia, Black Eyed Susan, Blanket Flower are all good for containers. Ferns, Hosta, ivy and hardy fuchsia work great for containers in shaded areas.</p>
<p><strong>What are three simple pieces of advice to new gardeners?</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Shop for your garden all year. Most people have a garden that looks good in spring but boring the rest of the year. Here in the Fraser Valley, we can have a garden that looks good all year. Don’t buy all your plants in spring. Tour public gardens and garden centres through the changing seasons and see what’s in bloom and plant accordingly.</li>
<li>Slow down and enjoy the garden. This is supposed to be a hobby so relax and enjoy it. I like nothing better than wandering through my garden and looking at all the things I planted twenty years ago, it’s like watching your kids grow.</li>
<li>Don’t be afraid to get dirty, it washes off.</li>
</ol>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>TangleBank Nurseries<br />
<a href="http://tanglebank.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #23466d;">www.tanglebank.com </span></a><br />
29985 Downes Road, Abbotsford<br />
Ring: 604.856.9339</strong></p>
<hr /><small>Copyright &copy; 2008<br /> This feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. <br /> The use of this feed on other websites breaches copyright. If this content is not in your news reader, it makes the page you are viewing an infringement of the copyright. (Digital Fingerprint:<br /> )</small>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://fraservalleypulse.com/features-fun/interview-gardening-tips-with-arnold-falk/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
	</channel>
</rss>

<!-- Dynamic page generated in 0.748 seconds. -->
<!-- Cached page generated by WP-Super-Cache on 2012-05-21 05:26:00 -->
<!-- Compression = gzip -->
