pallet-garden-bed / Green Building & Sustainable Home Renovation Information & Advice

Pallet beds - cool but potentially dangerous! We've all seen these rustic shabby-chic pallet wood beds & headboards on social media - these days it seems we can't get enough of being creatively frugal and independent - but while certain pallets are a great source of rustic wood with character for repurposing, other...

The tiny house movement is on the far end of the scale of a very encouraging and growing trend towards modern smaller home sizes. Small homes take less materials to build than large homes, and they consume less energy to operate. Ergo, smaller homes are ‘greener’ homes. At least most of the time…  Tiny houses are on on...

Introducing BioCity's indoor vertical veggie garden. This beautiful installation made with reclaimed wine bottles allows you to grow arugula, chard, strawberries, cherry tomatoes and more all year round in your very own home. Thanks to the craftsmanship and innovation of the folks at Montreal based company BioCity, gro...

As with any easy gardening technique, there is a lot to consider regarding lasagna gardening that specifically relates to its many benefits and ease of application. One of the main ‘pros’ of lasagna gardening is that it can be an easy way to smother out weeds and grass while enhancing soil over time, which is an ideal ...

More and more people are informing themselves on various forms of urban farming to counteract the heavy ecological footprint of industrial agriculture. However, there are very few options for the increasing number of people wishing to get involved but who don't necessarily have the time, the means, or the expertise for...

  What is a keyhole garden? A keyhole garden is a circular raised garden bed with a compost basket at the center and a keyhole-shaped path that allows access to the entire garden. The compost basket can be fed throughout the season and will continually break down and deliver nutrients to the bed for the duration, as wi...

The Quebec homeowner's guide to ADUs, multi-generation & backyard tiny houses  How to navigate municipal bylaws, PIIA architectural requirements, and construction costs to build a legal secondary suite or "UHA" in Quebec. In Quebec, the conversation around Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) is rather unique. While the...

The complete guide to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in Canada As housing prices soar and the need for urban density increases, the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) has emerged as one of the most popular sustainable housing solutions in Canada. Whether you call it a laneway house, a garden suite, a granny flat, or a base...

The Ontario homeowner's guide to 'as of right' zoning of laneway homes, garden suites & Bill 23 The Canadian federal government as well as provincial governments are promoting increased rates of home construction to aleviate the housing crisis, to stimulate the economy, and to increase urban density. This makes it ...

The cost of every item we purchase is determined in part by the price of oil. This includes products that are in no way petroleum based, since material extraction, manufacturing and transportation will in one way or another, rely at least in part on oil. As the price of oil continues to rise, the money saved by employi...

b sq. Design Studio Inc. is a Toronto-based landscape design and build firm that endeavours to create elegant and modern landscapes with a focus on sustainability and longevity for their work. “Plug and Play – the Pallet Garden” is their 5th feature garden installation for the annual Canada Blooms Garden Festival. Bui...