Strategy 1: Better late than early

Seeds do best when they have an uninterrupted growth phase.

So rather than having your plants stall out in a frost, wait 2 weeks (you can do it!) after your initial instinct to plant. It may seem like it’s too late, but the plants will put it into overdrive and make it work. If you’re in doubt and want to test this theory out, plant half the seeds early, and half the seeds 2 weeks later, and see which does better by the end of the growing season. If you’re new to gardening, you might not have a clue if your tomatoes should go in March 1 or July 1, and that’s totally okay too. The Farmer’s Almanac comes to your rescue with their 2025 updated guideline of when to plant based on your postal code. Click here for details.

Strategy 2: Layout matters

Think measure once, cut twice – but for your garden. First up, arrange the tallest plants on the north side of your garden, and the shortest plants on the south side. This will make sure both your little gem lettuces and the jolly green giant snap peas both get enough sunlight. Second, do your research on how much space each plant needs to thrive so you can plan enough real estate for everyone. This website will help you with both these action items for 71 different vegetables. And don’t be afraid to actually measure out your garden. Putting string dividers in there will help you achieve the perfect layout.

Strategy 3: Weed prevention

Prevention is the best way to avoid destroying your back weeding all spring and summer. This is a bit boujee, but if you don’t have raised garden beds it might just be for you. Putting down a layer of cardboard, then adding a 5-10cms of mulch on top, makes sure the weeds stay underneath while the worms and other goodies stay on top, working hard for your soil and plants. If cardboarding your garden isn’t in the cards, just make sure that there is no open soil. If you can see it, so can a weed! Covering the dirt with a layer of mulch (doesn’t have to be fancy mulch, it can just be lawn clippings, sawdust, and the fall leaves you never bothered to rake up and put out on the curb) will prevent most weeds from having the opportunity to grow in the first place.

Hopefully these tips make you the CEO of your own garden in 2025. If you try something new based on what you read here, send me a pic or a note. I’d love to know what’s working for you and share your advice on my socials!

Economic Insights from Dr. Sherry Cooper

Since Donald Trump took office, all bets are off on the Canadian economic outlook. Most people expected more substantial growth and lower inflation as we moved into 2025. Trump’s tariffs, deregulation, attempts at massive reductions in the federal government bureaucracy and geopolitical machinations have changed everything.

VUCA is the name of the game. An acronym used initially by the US Armed Forces, VUCA stands for volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity, and it describes the current situation to a tee. Canadian consumer confidence has fallen to its lowest level in decades. Stock markets have plummeted, the currencies are volatile, interest rates have fallen, and no one knows precisely how this will unfold.

On April 2, the US said it would impose reciprocal tariffs on countries with levies on US goods or that favour domestic producers in some way. Moreover, the president has chosen to go after Canada particularly damagingly. We are the number one supplier of steel and aluminum to the US and are now confronted with 25% tariffs. Inevitably, the economy will slow, layoffs will rise, and tariffs will be passed on to the consumer. Whether this will be a one-shot price hike or spillover into second-order effects is uncertain.

Fed Chairman Powell suggested today that inflation from tariffs will likely be transitory—suggesting that price hikes will trigger higher wage demands. Stagflation is an undesirable possibility.

Central banks do not have the tools to deal with tariff-induced stagflation. Higher interest rates might reduce inflation, but slow economic activity, and lower rates might increase price pressures. China is expected to impose retaliatory tariffs on Canadian canola oil, pork and seafood. The tariffs are push-back against Canada for imposing a 100% levy on electric cars from China and 25% on steel and aluminum.

The US is inserting disruption and disorder into a thriving trading partnership between Canada, Mexico and the US. As Jay Powell says, “It’s hard to say how this is going to work out.”

We are expecting slower growth to be dominant, brought on by VUCA. Shorter-term interest rates will fall. That, combined with more housing supply and lower home prices, should spur housing activity and bring buyers off the sidelines as we move into the Spring selling season.

Angela Calla is an 19-year award-winning woman of influence which sets her apart from the rest. Alongside her team, Angela passionately assists mortgage holders in acquiring the best possible mortgage. Through her presence on “The Mortgage Show” and through her best-selling book “The Mortgage Code“, Angela educates prospective home buyers by providing vital information on mortgages. In light of this, her success awarded her with the 2020Business Leader of the Year Award.

Angela is a frequent go-to source for media and publishers across the country. For media interviews, speaking inquiries, or personal mortgage assistance, please contact Angela at hello@countoncalla.ca or at 604-802-3983.

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