“The Prairie Garden” is an annual publication produced in Winnipeg by a team of dedicated and talented volunteers.
The 2014 edition, entitled “Gardens,” marks the 75th year of publication and is due to be released very soon.
The articles that appear in the “The Prairie Garden” are written by gardeners of the Prairie provinces and Northwestern Ontario. What makes this publication unique is that it is tailored to the challenges and demands of Canada’s northern climate.
Gardeners in Rainy River District, and elsewhere in Northwestern Ontario, face some of the same climatic challenges as those of the Prairies, so they’ll find this publication very informative and pertinent to our area.
“The Prairie Garden” is a soft-cover annual publication dedicated to the advancement of horticulture in the Prairie provinces. Each year, a theme is chosen and the committee works hard to solicit articles related to it.
Most, if not all, committee members also contribute articles—not to mention the stunning photographs that complement the articles.
The editor and the annual guest editor, chosen because of their knowledge in the chosen subject area, manage the task of organizing the layout, selecting the submitted articles, and preparing the document for the publisher.
Under the guise of the editor, the articles are edited in part and as a whole by the Prairie Garden Committee.
The final document then is sent to the publisher in time to be released each year before Christmas.
The Prairie Garden Committee consists of dedicated volunteers putting in endless hours to ensure the content of the periodical is accurate and informative, and that the final draft is aesthetically pleasing and meticulous in its information.
This is what the dedicated readers of the “The Prairie Garden” have come to expect over the years.
Committee members are made up of Master Gardeners, instructors in the Master Gardener Program, and/or have careers in horticulture/agriculture-related fields that have come together.
I have had the honour and pleasure of being invited to contribute to, and be involved with, the “The Prairie Garden” since the 2011 edition (you will find “Gardening Guru” articles published in the 2011, 2013, and 2014 editions).
The digest is now printed fully in colour and has been since the 2012 edition. As a result, there are more photos, graphics, and illustrations complementing each article.
Printed on high-quality glossy paper, this book looks nothing less than professional and top quality. For many years, the publication has made the McNally Robinson Booksellers top 10 list.
The digest is launched just in time for Christmas gift-giving, and the annual book launch is an anticipated event every November at the McNally Robinson Bookstore in Winnipeg by area gardeners.
After the launch (held Nov. 27 this year), “The Prairie Garden” is available on the shelves of McNally Robinson, the University of Manitoba bookstore, and many of the nurseries and garden centres in Winnipeg.
Back issues often are available there, too.
Don’t fret if you are unable to travel to Winnipeg. “The Prairie Garden” can be ordered through www.theprairiegarden.ca/order.html (back issues also are available through the website).
The publication is non-profit and all attempts are made to produce a professional product while keeping costs as efficient as possible.
I recommend all of the editions as informative must-reads for any gardener. You won’t be disappointed as you will learn something from each article.
The digest is an economical (retailing for $13.95) and informative purchase that will make a great stocking-stuffer for the gardener in your life.
Visit www.theprairiegarden.ca to learn more about the “The Prairie Garden,” as well as the history of this publication and its dedicated volunteers.
