Homegrown Hearts

02/13/2026

Good morning and happy Friday! May your coffee be strong, your mind be sharp, and your heart be happy! 💜🏡🌞

02/12/2026

Nobody can make sense of this tragedy,
and we may never find the right words.
Nothing we can do will erase what has been done.
Yet we can turn to one another, not for healing - that is a long road, but to bring comfort to those who are hurting.
We can bear the weight of grief shared over 41 million shoulders.
We can carry a message of love and empathy to guide them.
We can honour their memories.
We are here Tumbler Ridge. 🇨🇦❤️

02/11/2026

This one is for the gardeners✌️💜🏡
Have a happy Wednesday 😊

💜🏡 Homegrown Hearts

02/10/2026

Have you ever wondered why watermelon was commonly used as a racist symbol for African American people?

Watermelon's history dates back 5000 years to southern Africa. Watermelons were used as a water source by the indigenous population of the Kalahari Desert and as canteens by early explorers.

European colonists as well as the slave trade from Africa are thought to have introduced watermelon to the New World. Watermelon was found growing in Florida as early as 1576 and in Massachusetts by 1629.

Watermelon was a crop that enslaved Black people were allowed to grow since it was relatively easy and cheap to grow. Upon emancipation, newly freed Black families continued to grow the crop, selling them as a means of supporting themselves. This independence angered many Southern white people and soon the watermelon came to symbolize food for the "unclean, lazy and child-like." Watermelons were nicknamed n***er apples and used to shame black watermelon merchants. Defenders of slavery used images to portray African Americans as a simple-minded people who were happiest when dancing, singing and messily eating a big ‘ol piece of watermelon. The stereotype was perpetuated in minstrel shows and by white actors dressed in “black face”.

Popular ads and smear campaigns were created picturing Caricatures of African Americans stealing, fighting over, or sitting in streets eating watermelon. This was done partially as a form of bigotry, but also as an attempt to squash African American businesses and financial independence.

Released in March 1916 by Columbia Records, the song “N***er Love a Watermelon Ha! Ha! Ha!” was written by actor Harry C. Browne and played alongside the familiar depiction of black people greedily devouring slices of watermelon. The instrumental version of Harry C. Browne’s song was still used as the anthem for ice cream trucks up through the late 2010s (though its instrumental version was rebranded as “Turkey in the Straw”). Google it. I promise you have heard this tune but likely were unaware of its racist history. Now you know.

02/10/2026

02/10/2026

The sun has been getting stronger this week 🌤 and when it decides to show up you can feel the sunshine has some warmth again! 😌

Getting all of our buckets & taps sorted, cleaned and ready for this weekend. We don't get a lot of syrup, enough to last our family most of the year but it is some of the best tasting syrup you'llever have. There's nothing like real maple syrup made in small batches to pour over waffles and pancakes 🥞 😋🍁.

Currently -4°C with temperatures of 2-3°C predicted for Monday and Tuesday 😄🤞.
📸 Homegrown Hearts 💜🏡 2025 🇨🇦

02/09/2026

This exactly 💯 😄 🇨🇦!

02/09/2026

The only thing more powerful than hate is love.
💜

02/07/2026

Happy Saturday! 🏡💜
This is the time of year to start seriously planning the garden.

🌱What are you planting this season?

🌱Have you started any seeds indoors?

🌱Are you growing something new 😁?

02/07/2026

While you may think from this photo we've jet setted to some sort of tropical location
✈️🌴🥥.

This is actually the stunning Taylor's Head Beach in NS. One of my favorite places we visited while on our travels last summer.
Today is a good day to cozy up and plan your upcoming beach stay-cation ⛱️. Sunny beach days are closer than you think, winter is almost over!