This is a good time to work in horticulture with so much going on and new ideas sprouting every year.
From the Netherlands to British Columbia, there's plenty happening. Change seems inevitable and with so much going on I have put together a brief overview of some recent news stories from the world of horticulture.
For those of us who still read printed words in books and magazines, a sad note: Gardens West recently ceased publishing. Gardens West was published several times a year with magazines tailored to Canada's West Coast, central provinces and recently the East Coast. The loss of the beloved publication leaves few, if any, notable publications to cover the world of gardening on the West Coast.
As with so many other things, Central Canada's perception of gardening will now dominate the public's gardening information. Or we West Coasters will be left to navigate the wilderness of the Internet to find local gardening information.
There is a real opportunity now for someone to start a new online magazine or TV show that is distinctly West Coast flavoured.
The next bit of news is not new to most people, but for horticulturists the reality of the change is now sinking in. As part of the B.C. government's Skills for Jobs Blueprint, the Industry Training Authority (ITA), which oversees all apprenticeable trades, underwent a core review of its operations and mandate. The Review of the B.C. Industry Training Authority was conducted by Jessica McDonald with Danielle Van and their report can be found at jtst.gov.bc.ca/ITA_Review/docs/ITA_ Review_Final_Report.pdf.
Of the many changes in visioning and accountability, the ITA will now take over direct responsibility for "making training investment decisions aligned with labour market demand targets." And the ITA will take over all apprenticeship training administration and visioning previously done by industry groups to, "Ensure that it (the ITA), has the capability needed to deliver on other government expectations," according to its website, itabc.ca.
I went through a similar process more than 10 or 15 years ago when I was the chairman of the Provincial Trade Advisory Committee for Practical Horticulture in B.C. For existing horticulture apprentices, there may be little immediate change, but the future is less clear at the moment. We'll have to wait and see how things evolve.
From the Government of Canada comes the announcement of an investment of $2.3 million in the Canadian Ornamental Horticulture Alliance to develop a national research cluster to help address the industry's top priorities, according to its website, news.gc.ca.
The new group is tasked with developing expertise in water and nutrient management, sustainable production and new market opportunities.
Our British Columbia Landscaping and Nursery Association will hopefully have input on the research activities. The B.C. association is part of the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association, which will be part of the new research cluster group.
News of one century of achievement comes from the Summerland agriculture centre. The British Columbia Government is recognizing Agri-Food Canada's Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre in Summerland for 100 years of providing important research by bestowing a Century Farm Award. Penticton MLA Dan Ashton presented the award to MP Dan Albas and staff of the Summerland facility on Nov. 13, thanking them for their contribution to the British Columbia agriculture industry and its history. The Summerland research centre does research in the area of fruit and ornamental crops, as well as poultry, swine, and cattle.
News of a most artistic form comes from the Netherlands. Designed by Daan Roosegaarde and Studio Roosegaarde with project builder Heijmans comes something that is truly new and innovative in landscape design and construction. It's a bike path that glows at night using only energy from the sun. The new Van Gogh-Roosegaarde bicycle path has thousands of glowing stones embedded in the surface. The small photoluminescent stones charge during the daytime using sunlight and at night the stones release their energy by glowing. The technological innovation and cultural heritage are combined in a bike path in the city of Nuenen, Netherlands, the place where Van Gogh lived in 1883. The concept was inspired by The Starry Night. You really have to see this creation to believe it. The effect is captivating and awe inspiring. A project video can be found at studioroosegaarde.net/project/van-gogh-path.
I would love to bring this technology to Vancouver and sell it to my clients to make their garden pathways glow at night.
Todd Major is a journeyman horticulturist, garden designer and builder, teacher and organic advocate. [email protected]
