Welcome!
June has been, well, wet! From one extreme to the other. We started off the season hot and dry with some wind thrown in for good measure, and now we are getting non-stop rain. The extreme weather is driving us to be ever adaptive in how we run our farm and greenhouse operation, and is definitely keeping us busy!
It’s been tough, even with the greenhouse, to keep all of the plants happy, but I have to say, anything that leaves here is definitely as tough as you can get for what it’s had to go through! I’m slowly getting caught up on orders, but please be patient if you are still waiting on certain plants as Mother Nature has caused delays on top of the long list of wonderful clients we have to get through.
Lambing was off to a stellar start with two sets of twins being born to first-time moms with no complications. That has changed to a drought on the lambing front,
which is showing us that some ewes are open and fat, rather than pregnant. it would seem our one ram lamb may not have been as ready to breed last fall as his slightly more mature buddy was, since the lambs we have been getting are all sired by the same ram lamb. Live and learn. Osian will be ready this fall to make up for it! In the meantime, we will enjoy the lambs we have.
We have our last hatch for the season, so are concentratiing on growing out our Lil’ Raptor Racers and new layers. We are excited to see how our new Black Copper Marans, Guineas (we have added some new colours to the flock!), and our newest addition – Standard Cornish (Dark and White Laced Red) turn out. Of course, we have our rainbow protein pearls for eating as well.
Juno is due for here preg-check tomorrow (depending on the weather forecast). Yes, you heard correctly. We bred her to a tall, dark, handsome jack named Magnus, and would be super excited to find out she would be expecting a long-eared mammoth foal next year!
Our Litha gathering may have been a bit smaller due to the weather, but our weaving group was cozy in our cabin and produced some lovely medicine pouches under the guidance of Kelsey Shapka.
Now to get ready for K-Days (a new one for us this year), while still maintaining everything else. We could really use some additional help in our booth in the Expo Centre, so if you would like free passes, and some $ for manning our booth, we are in need of slots filled on Saturday, July 25th and Sunday, July 26th. Reach out to me at dawnw@mmgardens.ca for more info.
We also require more volunteers for Alberta Open Farm Days (you get free products and discounts, or free spaces in our upcoming workshops in lieu, plus it’s a fun atmosphere where you can learn, and meet some other amazing people). We need people to help set up and tear down, man the gates, help with the Artisan Market, assist with the Lil’ Raptor Races, run the Hiraeth Gift Shop, and lead various tours, amongst other things so again, please connect with me at dawnw@mmgardens.ca
Upcoming Gatherings at the Manor
We are awaiting to confirm our tentatively scheduled Nature Walk – Whispers of the Wetlands for July2nd. It will feature the native orchids and other wetland plants of our fen. From then on, we will try to host a Nature Walk one Thursday a month, with more being booked as interest grows.
Whispers of the Wetlands nature walk – July 2nd?
Time 10:00 AM| Get Your Tickets: https://www.mmgardens.ca/product/guided-nature-tour/
Join us as we wander the spring-fed fen on the east side of our property. Our focus will be the native species of orchids, but there will be so much more to see, including other wetland plants, birds, insects, and possible other wildlife signs. Part of all proceeds from ticket sales will go towards the upkeep of the Wagner Natural Area – another beautiful fen area.
Who knows what you will experience on this guided journey?
Only you — should you decide to walk this path with us. 🌱
K-Days Innovation and Sustainability in the Expo Centre – July 24th to 26th
Various local businesses and groups will be featured that utilize innovative and sustainable practices in their ventures. MM Gardens will have a number of items for sale including native plants, wool, feather products, and artwork, and will be featuring demos for workshops that we host throughout the season, including weaving natural fibres, native plant identification, and immersive nature experiences like our Wild Eyes offering, where you get to literally visualize how our wild animal friends see things from their perspective.
These are but a few of many gatherings to be revealed in our Calendar of Teachings for 2026. Stay close, dear friends, so you do not miss what lies ahead.
Volunteers
Our Crewyrs (Creators) Tribe is looking for new members to help us with our upcoming Alberta Open Farm Days event on Aug. 15th and 16th. We are also planning our
Native U-Pick Garden (whhaat??? You’ll have to keep checking back for when we release more info about these exciting projects!). We also need to get our summer fields ready along with our ram shed. If you enjoy learning, sharing your knowledge and skills, especially in the areas of construction, gardening, livestock, and people, this might be for you! Volunteers get to learn, try out our products at no charge, and receive discounts on our upcoming workshops. You may be able to get hired on as part-time staff if the fit is right. Interested individuals can contact me at dawnw@mmgardens.ca.
Firecircle Program
We just have the business plan remaining to complete in the Firecircle Program. It is so worth the investment as it will guide Medieval Manor’s path in the short and long term. If you are considering starting a new business in the tourism sector, have an Indigenous led or rural-type business, consider this program.
Immersive Learning Experiences
If you have a group interested in having us run a workshop or hike for you at your location or ours, or are
looking for some consultation regarding a planting project, by all means, contact us to arrange something. Teachers, groups, and corporate team builders, a great idea for this spring or next fall, is to arrange for one of our in-person workshops or tours. Whether you wish to create a mini ecosystem (woodland faerie, prairie, or puddle garden), go on a nature walk, or engage with and learn from our unique livestock and regenerative farming practices, MM Gardens can create an experience just for you! Contact us at info@mmgardens for details. We do not take any deposits until we know it’s a go, and we can always change dates if required.
Other Tidbits
We currently do not generally ship live plants out of province as they are overwintered outdoors to ensure hardiness, and may therefore contain organisms not native to other places. Some areas near us can receive free shipping, so please inquire if you are unsure or if our website is not cooperating.
Gift certificates are a great way to gift something in advance or if you are unsure of what someone may like. Delivery is also available to a number of areas.
We aim to provide completely immersive nature and agricultural experiences and products to educate
and connect people back to the land, thus instilling a desire to take action regarding the health of Mother Earth and her children.
Stay safe, and thank you for supporting local business and going back to your roots to grow your future.
Dawn Watts,
Owner and creator of Medieval Manor Gardens
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