Hello from Caledon Ontario Canada (Newbie to the forum)

[JacknBeanStalk]

Hello everyone! My name is Jack, and I live about 45 minutes North of Toronto, in the Calendon/Dufferin County area of Southern Ontario. I think I'm in zone 5 (but need to confirm that).

I've been blessed with a relatively large property; backyard is more than an acre (mostly grass and some trees). We certainly enjoy the space, but decided I should use some of it for a nice vegetable garden. I quickly determined that I should build some kind of 'raised' garden beds. I had no idea there was this much interest, information, and passion by so many people.

As I started digging-in (pardon the pun ) on how best to build my raised garden boxes, the concept of Square Foot gardening, Mel's mix, and this forum came up more and more. I was then I realized how much we didn't know about gardening. Vermiculwhat ?

My beds are built, and now ready for the mix. I quickly realized (as have many others before me) that getting all the mix components wasn't going to be as easy as I thought; particularly the Vermiculite.

I read some posts on this forum, indicating that some of the bigbox stores might begin to carry Mel's mix and/or bigger bags of vermiculite, but none of the bigbox stores here carry either.

After a few targeted Google queries, I found the Perlite Canada Website, which provided contact names/emails of individuals who could point me to where I could be Vermiculite locally.

I sent the contact name a quick email, and he responded with the day, pointing me to a local (<2 miles away) building supply company (that I didn't even know was there) ....ok, stop laughing...I'm new to the area....

Anyhow, I called the building supply company and they confirmed that they could sell me the 4 cubic ft bags of course vermiculite for $21 each...WOW....how about that. The compost (I know...I know...from multiple sources) and Peat Moss won't be a problem. My first raised bed Square Foot Veggie Garden, here I come...

For those folks in Canada that are looking for local Vermiculite suppliers, go to the perlitecanada.com website, click on the 'Vermiculite' link on the left, then select the 'Where can you buy Vermiculite' link (also on the left). I tried to post the actual link, but as a newbie, I have to wait 7 days. I just couldn't wait to share the info, in the hopes that it might help some that are struggling to find it.

Anyhow...apologies for the long 'Hi' post.

I'm happy that I found this forum, and looking forward to learning a lot more and sharing what I can.

cheers.

JacknBeanstalk

Caledon, Ontario, Canada.

[Kelejan]

JacknBeanStalk, that was a lovely long first post to read, and thanks for the info about the Pearlite Canada website for help in locating vermiculite. I do believe that retailers are finally catching on to the market out there for people who garden this way.

Last year my local garden centre only had the small bags of V, but now, if requested, they bring the larger bags in from their home base in the next city. Perhaps next year they will actually have the big bags in right at the beginning of the season.

Look forward to hearing of your progress.

[givvmistamps]

So glad you found us before you got started...though it seems you're right on track for getting things growing! Feel free to ask any questions you have as you set up. There are lots of folks here who are happy to answer questions. Photos of any problems you have will help in getting answers, and photos of your progress will be greatly appreciated by all. We love to see what everyone's growing!

[zomo]

Welcome fellow Canuck ! I can't believe the price you paid for the vermiculite Yeeeeesh I paid 40 dollars a bag and was happy to get it. Not anymore LOL OH well its to late now all my gardens are full of Mel mix. The guy at the store was looking at me like I was weird LOL I should bring him pictures of my garden. After all I put his first child through university with the price I paid.

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