How I Got Started
(…this is my origin story…)

I started life in Ottawa, but spent the majority of my growing up life in Saskatchewan, where I gained an appreciation for family, work, chicken coops (related) and wide open spaces (mountains are ok, just further away most of the time). While I didn’t grow up on a farm, generations of my ancestors had a link to the land and the plants (and other things) that grow on it, and that carried through to me.

After completing a 2 year full-time volunteer mission for my church in Switzerland and France (where I learned French), I followed a couple of generations of my family to the University of Saskatchewan. I received a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Honours with Distinction), majoring in Horticulture and then completed a Master of Science (Plant Sciences), focusing on post-harvest potato pathology. Rotten spuds were my jam…

Experience and Skillset

I worked as a Commercial Horticulture Specialist for Alberta Agriculture and Forestry for over 17 years and worked in vegetable research prior to that. As a result, I have had the opportunity to really get to know the horticulture industries in Alberta. And true to my mantra/motto (“I may not know everything, but I know lots of smart people“), I have a very solid network of contacts and colleagues across North America.

I love to communicate, whether verbal or written. Over my career with Alberta Agriculture, I was involved in writing/editing 4 horticulture production manuals for the prairie provinces (strawberry, echinacea, vegetable and Saskatoon berry). I also created and published the Hort Snacks e-newsletter for over 11 years. I have written and edited many factsheets and articles, including an article in the Gardener for the Prairies magazine. I have given many, many presentations to groups in the horticulture industry and other audiences.

Other Interests and Skills

I enjoy working with people of all ages, from little kids to seniors. I am heavily invested in beautifying and improving my community and I have been the chair of the Heartland Beautification Committee for over a decade, along with leading a number of subcommittees. I put my horticulture training and interest to work, running the three community gardens and carrying out various horticultural projects. I recently designed and built a 1 acre Community Orchard and I hope to eat something from it someday soon. I am also the current President of the Alberta Horticultural Association.

I am an avid reader and I enjoy working outside in the yard and doing house renovation projects (ok, “enjoy” might be a stretch for the renos). I also love to bake, finger crochet blankets for babies, occasionally do scroll-saw woodworking projects, and play a few video games.