About HomesteadBrook
HomesteadBrook.org publishes practical information on backyard permaculture design adapted to the conditions of Canadian short growing seasons. The site focuses specifically on three core topics: raised bed construction and management, cold frame use for season extension, and companion planting arrangements suited to compressed growing calendars.
Most of the available gardening information online and in print is written for temperate European climates or for the American Pacific Northwest and Northeast, where frost-free periods of 180–220 days are common. A grower in Winnipeg, Red Deer, Thunder Bay, or the Saguenay region of Quebec faces a materially different set of constraints. The site addresses those constraints directly.
What This Site Covers
Content on HomesteadBrook is organised around three main areas:
- Raised beds — how soil temperature, drainage, and construction choices interact with short growing seasons
- Cold frames — how unheated transparent enclosures can effectively extend both ends of the outdoor growing season
- Companion planting — documented and commonly observed plant pairings that improve efficiency in small northern kitchen gardens
Editorial Standards
Articles on this site distinguish between claims supported by published horticultural research and claims based on common observation without formal study. Where evidence is limited or contested, this is noted explicitly. The site does not fabricate statistics, invent research, or attribute quotes to unnamed experts.
External links point only to publicly available resources from recognised institutions, including Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, provincial ministries of agriculture, and university extension programs.
Contact
For questions or feedback, use the contact form below.