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The Rural Voice, 2002-03, Page 57AgriTech Preparing for Spring's arrival Janice Becker is a computer enthusiast and journalist living near Walton, ON. Greenhouse workers have been hard at it for several weeks now, a multitude of seeds are being nourish- ed by warm, moist soil. And accord- ing to Willie, spring is in the offing. It is a great time of year as soon, the trees will begin to bud and gardeners will be seen everywhere with their hands and knees covered in dirt. For the truly organized enthusiast, it's the season when mailboxes over- flow with seed catalogues, orders are - placed, and for the best (or most aggravatingly efficient) of us, tiny kernels are already in their pots. But, for those just beginning to think about this year's crop of roses, lilies, hostas and other assorted exotic blooms, spring plantings and breathtaking designs can be aided by on-line information. Most sites also have information for those of us slightly greenthumb-challenged, who still enjoy the opportunity to work the soil. Many sites are associated with printed magazines, but for those who are not regular subscribers, interesting and valuable information can be found on the web. Canadian Gardening magazine's site at www.canadiangardening.com, caught my attention. The first article was about cabin fever, commonly suffered by many Canadians as winter wears on, though this season . has been much easier to survive. There are crafts to make use of last year's bounty, book reviews and listings of upcoming events for horticulturalists. Seed catalogues can be ordered on-line; some at no charge while others are very inexpensive. Not only are there pamphlets from across the country, but also specialty catalogues, organic choices and even one from Forget Me Not Heritage . Seeds in Waterloo, which focuses on seeds from a bygone era. If looking for a specific plant or variety, a supplier search can be undertaken. Children's projects include creations with fall leaves to constructing a terrarium or studying toads, frogs and butterflies. A contact list for master gardeners across the country is included as are soil testing resources and locations of community gardens. At www.icangarden.com, master gardeners and enthusiasts from around the world contribute articles. The most interesting currently, deals with shifting zones. I'm always intrigued by various zones into which Huron County falls, depending on the source of the information. This site lists the county as 5b, as is most of mid -western Ontario. Is this what experienced gardeners of this area expected? Aficionados can search the registry of more than 375 North American organizations which are specific to plant breeds or regions. www.canadiangardens.com is an ordering site and information source located in Harrow. Electronic shopping is quick and easy and can be done with a registered account or by submitting a credit card number. (As with any on-line shopping. security should be tight and purchasing through a reputable company is recommended.) Alwa\ be aware of shipping costs. which this site, range from $8.50 for an order of less than $25 to $21 with an order of $100 or more. Obviously bulk has its advantages. A nice aspect of this site is the 'pictures and descriptions of products. One site readers may want to check out is through Sympatico. It looked as though it would offer a lot of material, but was inaccessible on the days I searched. Go to www.ab.sympatico.ca/mags/canadian gardening and let me know what you discover. Contact me at jlbecker@wightman.ca: with feedback or suggested topics.0 Great COMMUNICATORS Motorola's CDM Series of Two -Way Radios Whether you need to talk to one. one dozen. or one hundred people. the CDM Series keeps teams on the move communicating fficiently - all without costly airtime charges. CDM Series Professional Radio As Dedicated As You Arer" CDf'el Series radios combine high performance with ease of use. giving you instant. individual or group communication. at the touch of a button. Choose the radio that meets your needs - from practical mobile radios that deliver basic functionality, to sophisticated mobiles. . fully equipped to handle more advanced communication needs like OPERATING ENVIRONMENTAL AND IRRIGATION SYSTEMS. Z 1 COMMUNICATIONS 400 Huron SI Stratford ON N5A 5T5 Office (519) 273-3300 Toll Free 1-800-565-9983 Fax (519) 273-4111 © MOTOROLA Authonzed Two -Way Radio Dealer MARCH 2002 53