Welcome!

Wow! What a busy few weeks! We’ve been focusing our attention on completing more infrastructure in

order to be prepared for winter and get a jump start on next season. The Chook Nook is almost complete. It just needs the door to be insulated, a rolling nest box, a few regular nest boxes, a proper screen door between the 2 sides, one more covered chicken run for Reno’s group, and we should be ready!

Thanks to Harlis and Edward, the new sheep shed is almost complete. We just need to screw down the floor, put up some kick boards, and put on a barn door (I’m hoping for a sliding barn door style;).

Then there’s the fencing. The entire Crewyrs Tribe was out pounding posts and

stringing wire. Once we put up some more page wire and hang some gates, we should have 3 solid paddocks again! We’ll hammer in some T-posts to try out some new pasture areas, and if we like how they go, next year we can put up more permanent fencing. 

I had an amazing day at the Aquora VerDae Environmental Innovation and Education Seminar! I had the privilege of guest speaking along with Indigenous presenters, a sustainability professor from Grant MacEwan, and a Sustainable Urban Development company, among others.

The audience was very receptive to the variety of topics, and I feel they really want to make a difference. It was great to make new connections and friends, and I look forward to future collaborations and the sharing of ideas.

I should resume the next Celtic Zodiac and Plants blog soon, since the big W will be arriving shortly. This next one will feature Hazel, Crane, and Amethyst, among other things, so patiently follow us on FB and here on our website so you can catch it when it does come out.

I am writing about our journey of building our chickens their insulated winter coop, including how, why, what worked, and what we would change on our next one. I have had to revamp it already due to our flock increasing, so I will add our addition into my accounts for you as well. 

We are so close to completing the Firecircle program! The business plan and last modules take the longest, but this program is so worth the investment as it will guide Medieval Manor’s path in the short and long term. If you are considering starting a new business in the tourism sector, have an Indigenous led or rural-type business, consider this program. 

All of these projects will require a lot of infrastructure and elbow grease! MM Gardens is looking for some great volunteers who wish to learn and share their skills to join our Crewyrs (Creators) tribe for next season.  If you enjoy working in the soil or like working with people, and livestock, perhaps you assist us next season with workshops and events like Alberta Open Farm Days! In exchange, you get products to take home and learn more about what we do at MM Gardens. Qualified individuals can use us as a reference on their resume as well!  Interested individuals can contact me at dawnw@mmgardens.ca.iIf

If you have a group interested in having us run a workshop or hike for you at your location or ours, or are looking for some consultation regarding a planting project, by all means, contact us to arrange something. We do not take any deposits until we know it’s a go, and we can always change dates if required.

We currently do not generally ship live plants out of province as they are overwintered outdoors to ensure hardiness, and may therefore contain organisms not native to other places. Some areas near us can receive free shipping, so please inquire if you are unsure or if our website is not cooperating. 

Teachers, groups, and corporate team builders, a great idea for this fall or next spring, is to arrange for one of our in-person workshops or tours. Whether you wish to create a mini ecosystem (woodland faerie, prairie, or puddle garden), go on a nature walk, or engage with and learn from our unique livestock and regenerative farming practices, MM Gardens can create an experience just for you! Contact us at info@mmgardens for details.

Gift certificates are a great way to gift something in advance or if you are unsure of what someone may like. Delivery is also available to a number of areas.

We aim to provide completely immersive nature and agricultural experiences and products to educate

and connect people back to the land, thus instilling a desire to take action regarding the health of Mother Earth and her children.    

Stay safe, and thank you for supporting local business and going back to your roots to grow your future.

Dawn Watts,

Owner and creator of Medieval Manor Gardens