Meet the Vegetable Gardener

Hi, my name is Catherine Abbott. I love being a vegetable gardener. My mission is to encourage everyone who wants to grow vegetables to do so with confidence and skill. I created this website to inspire and help others to start growing their own vegetables.

My husband Dave and I live on the Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada. I grew up on a farm in Northern Alberta, Canada where growing vegetables was a necessity in order for us to have fresh, healthy food. I was in my late 20's before vegetable gardening became my focus and passion.
After six years of gardening in our backyard we decided to make a lifestyle change. My husband completed a business plan for a small scale organic vegetable farm. We had this plan, some experience growing vegetables in our backyard but no vegetable farming experience. What to do?

The idea of WWOOFing came about through our market research. WWOOF – acronym for Willing Workers of Organic Farms was started back in 1972 by a group of British environmentalists. Their aim was to create a program that enabled travelers to gain first hand experience of organic farming in exchange for free room and board. Consequently, in the spring of 2000 we sold our house and left Canada for a 6 month trip in Europe where we “woofed” on 6 organic vegetable farms - 2 in England, 3 in France and 1 in Germany. It turned out to be a fabulous way to earn our “apprenticeship”, meet the locals and see the sights.

On our return to Canada we started All Organic Market Farm. Over the past seven years I have gained an immense amount of knowledge and experience growing a variety of different vegetables in small and large quantities. I have had the opportunity to teach vegetable growing skills through courses in our local community.

I believe one of the best things in life is having the opportunity to grow and eat your own fresh vegetables. This has increased my desire to share information to help you grow you own vegetables.

Contact me with your questions about vegetable gardening or with your suggestions for new pages. I would love to here from you.

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