Organic Gardening News

Summertime, and the living is easy. Unless you’re overheated and sweaty, desperately trying to sidestep the sun’s punishing rays. And punishing they are: According to Melanoma Canada , the leading cause of skin cancer is overexposure to ultraviolet radiation. Extreme heat events , like the 2021 heat dome, are also becoming more common.

So, to save your skin and keep your cool while enjoying the great outdoors, you’ll need to throw some shade. Following are some suggestions, from an economical sail or patio umbrella to an elaborate (and costlier) pergola or gazebo.

Umbrellas and sails

Not only are umbrellas and sails budget-friendly, but they’re also portable and adaptable to small spaces, especially balconies. And modern weather-resistant fabrics offer a wide choice of colour and pattern in addition to that most important of considerations, UV protection. While any umbrella shade is better than no shade, some marketing claims that they block up to 98 per cent of UV rays may be more promotional than scientific.

The effectiveness of certain colours is also up in the air. Some marketers claim darker colours absorb more rays while lighter colours supposedly reflect more light.

“I don’t know if there’s any conclusive information on that,” says Stuart Ilott, president at Burnaby-based Wizard Screen Solutions , which also operates Patio Gurus . “I know that darker materials attract more heat, and you’ll feel that sitting underneath. They also feel darker and smaller. A lighter colour material feels more open and airy.”

Ilott says all Patio Gurus’ umbrella materials are 100 per cent solution-dyed acrylic, which is the most durable and colour fast. “Vinyl is very limited in colour options, and the material doesn’t breathe at all.”

Matt Vandenberg, president at Chilliwack-based Vandenberg Landscapes , says darker colours also fade faster. “Even a high-quality darker fabric is going to go from a black to a charcoal, or a charcoal to a grey, faster than a brown, beige and other lighter colour.”

Aside from fabric, Vanessa Rienau, general manager at Livingspace Outdoor, says to consider where you’re going to hoist that sail or umbrella: “Which direction does the sun come from so you can best angle it? How windy is the area? How much space do you want it to cover? Umbrella sizes can range from eight feet to 20 feet and weigh anywhere from 100 pounds to 800 pounds. Do you prefer a square, round, rectangular shape? Also consider furniture, trees, shrubs or other structures that could inhibit the opening and closing of the umbrella. Do you need it to tilt? Also, does it need to be mounted to the ground, requiring pouring of concrete, or will it have a weighted base?”

Rienau says a good-quality cantilever umbrella can range from $10,000 to $20,000 depending on the brand, model and size. “Some high-end umbrellas are designed to last a long time, offering repairable/replaceable parts. Other umbrellas are less expensive, not easily repairable, and designed to be replaced after a few years.”

Regardless, she advises caring for any umbrella. Always keep it closed when not in use, especially in high winds. “Never leave it open in a tilted position, since wind could send it sailing across the yard. If you live near the sea, regularly rinse your umbrella of airborne salt, especially before packing it away for the winter.”

Sails are even more versatile — and cheaper. Available in a range of shapes, sizes and styles, from triangles, squares and rectangles of 6.5 x 6.5 up to 10 x 13, shade sails work best in a smaller space, but you could layer multiple sails to cover a larger area. Sails are a little less resistant to weather, however, with heavy rain risking tears and leaks. High-quality material like acrylic or high-density polyester is more durable and offers better UV protection.

Cost depends on size and material, but you can expect to pay between $50 to $600, even more to have it installed professionally. If maintained and cleaned regularly, a good sail should last anywhere from five to 15 years.

Canopies and curtains

These easy-to-operate (and easy on the budget) options can range anywhere from $130 to $200 and can be up and shady in under 10 minutes. Sized at about 13’ x 13’, flexible canopies can be adjusted easily for height and will fold down for easy storage.

Outdoor curtains block not only harmful UV rays but nosy neighbours’ eyes. Available in a range of sizes and materials, from clear vinyl to polyester tarp mesh to light-filtering canvas, these coverings can be hung around decks and patios, gazebos and cabanas. Sizes range from 54” x 96”-plus, and cost anywhere from $25 to $150.

Retractable awnings

Ilott recalls installing an awning for a Surrey homeowner whose patio temperature gauge read 38 C. “After — 22 degrees, which shows how effective they are at cooling.”

Whether manually cranked or motorized, awnings cast a shadow over decks, patios and porches and range in price from $170 to $5,000 depending on size, fabric and make. A good awning is made of UV and water-resistant fabric that resists fading and can even stand up to winds of up to 50 km per hour. Some have wind sensors and will automatically retract in high gusts.

“The material itself has good colour fastness with a fluorocarbon topcoat antifungal treatment,” says Ilott. “But if your backyard is filled with cedar trees, you’ll eventually get some algae growth on the material.”

Awnings, umbrellas and sails are generally easy to keep clean, however, using a long soft brush or sponge and a mild soap and warm water solution.

Pergolas and gazebos

These structures are sturdier (and costlier) options made of vertical posts, pillars and beams that either stand alone or attach to a house. They’re typically made of wood or metal and are ideal for a larger backyard or garden.

A pergola’s roof is usually open to allow air flow and partly covers an outdoor space. A gazebo is typically free-standing with a closed roof and can come with built-in benches and tables. They range from $1,000 to $2,000. Neither protect you (or your outdoor furniture) from the elements, dust and dirt.

A wood (usually cedar or fir) pergola starts at about $10,000, says Ilott, and doesn’t stand up as well over time, needing to be resealed and stained over the years. It’s also susceptible to mould and rot.

Aluminum pergolas are durable and long-lasting — up to 30 years — and are resistant to rust, warping and cracking. They range from around $1,300 to over $6,000.

Vinyl structures are less expensive — anywhere from $950 to over $6,000 — and easier to maintain but more prone to damage from the elements.

Vandenberg says a handy homeowner could probably build a wood structure, but metal post and frame is best left to a contractor. He also notes there can be a convoluted permitting process that, depending on your municipality, can be either quick or slow.

Ilott says louvered roof systems are becoming more popular, albeit more expensive (ranging from $2,000 for DIY to $35,000 for professional installation).

“They’re aluminum so really low maintenance and they can bear the weight of snow, and they have a gutter system for rain. When the sun is out you just tilt the louvres and get full light coming in.”

Shade trees

You can’t get more natural shade than a broad-leafed tree. There’s also the bonus of the beautiful foliage they add to your backyard, not to mention the potential savings on energy bills: B.C. Hydro estimates that shade trees planted on the south or west sides of homes can reduce cooling costs by as much as 35 per cent.

But with newer homes being built on smaller acreage, there’s precious space for large, stately shade trees. Better options include species that are narrow and vertical. Still, a good deciduous tree can cast a nice shadow. The downside is that they drop their colourful leaves every fall, making for a laborious cleanup.

“But once the leaves come off, light comes during the winter,” says Vandenberg. “Maple trees with the bigger leaves work well but they also don’t get so big that they become a danger to the house in 20 or 30 years.”

He says fast-growing trees are another option, but the downside is they continue to be fast-growing. “After planting, in 10 years it’s perfect, but in 20 years it’s probably too big and too close to the house and starting to become a hazard. Too often we’re taking out a massive tree and it’s very costly.”

An alternative, he says, is a pergola or arbour that can be covered in fast-growing vines like clematis, wisteria or honeysuckle. “They’re not only shady, but pretty to look at.”

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Weekly roundup of three properties that recently sold in Metro Vancouver.

375 East 40th Ave., Vancouver

Type: Five-bedroom, four-bathroom detached

Size: 2,956 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $2,852,000

Listed for: $3,498,000

Sold for: $3,500,000

Sold on: April 18

Days on market in this listing: Two

Listing agent: Bridget Ross at Stilhavn Real Estate Services

Buyers agent: Sam Heller at Heller Murch Realty

The big sell: It took two days for this five-bedroom house just east of Main Street to be snapped up. Built in 2016, it sits behind a white picket fence and landscaped garden giving it instant curb appeal. Inside, the three-storey layout displays elevated craftsmanship with a built-in floor-to-ceiling bookshelf, a Sonos sound system, and a wood-burning fireplace (with the option to convert to gas) in the living room, an elegant kitchen finished with bespoke cabinets, engineered stone counters, and marble backsplash, and a study complete with a custom-made desk and daybed nook that leads into the dining room where French doors open to the private garden and cedar hot tub. There are four bedrooms upstairs alongside two full bathrooms with radiant heat, while the finished lower floor is fully plumbed and wired for a legal suite. A two-car garage with lane access comes fully equipped with an electric vehicle charger.

103 — 2478 Welcher Ave., Port Coquitlam

Type: Two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment

Size: 884 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $630,000

Listed for: $749,900

Sold for: $730,000

Sold on: March 30

Days on market in this listing: Four

Listing agent: Kylene Shannon PREC and Caprice Stadnyk at Macdonald Realty (Langley)

Buyers agent: Rod Bahari PREC at Sutton Group — West Coast Realty

The big sell: This renovated two-bedroom condo resides in Harmony, a four-storey condominium development constructed in 2008 in downtown Port Coquitlam with the West Coast Express, shopping, and Gates Park all nearby. Due to its ground-floor position, this unit has a private, keyed entrance off the street, and a large partially-covered patio bordered by privacy hedging. The interior of the home shines with modern flooring, crown moulding, new doors, designer light fixtures, California wood shutters and blinds, updated bathrooms, fresh paintwork, and a stylish electric fireplace. The brand new kitchen features white Shaker-style cabinets, stainless-steel appliances, and a quartz countertop and backsplash, and all of this under nine-foot-high ceilings. The pet- and rental-friendly building offers a bike room, gym, and guest suite, while this unit comes with a storage locker, two underground parking spots, and a monthly maintenance fee of $380.00.

2767 Charles St., Vancouver

Type: Four-bedroom, two-bathroom detached

Size: 1,289 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,582,800

Listed for: $1,498,000

Sold for: $1,600,000

Sold on: March 28

Days on market in this listing: Eight

Listing agent: Marty Pospischil at Pospischil Realty Group

Buyers agent: Graeme Lin PREC at Oakwyn Realty

The big sell: According to the listing agency Pospischil Realty Group, multiple offers were received for this classic 1940s bungalow located in east Vancouver’s Renfrew district with the successful bid coming in at $102,000 over the listed price. Sitting on a 33-by-110 foot lot, it features four bedrooms and two bathrooms divided between the two-level layout with almost identical square foot dimensions on each floor. On the main level, there are thin-slat oak hardwood floors, a brick-surround wood-burning fireplace, and corner windows in the living room, an updated functional kitchen with an eating area and views across the rear garden, and two bedrooms that are separated by a four-piece bathroom. Downstairs, there are a further two bedrooms and a bathroom, as well as laundry and mud rooms. The rear garden is fully fenced and mainly lawned, and contains a single-car garage with lane access.

These transactions were compiled by Nicola Way of BestHomesBC.com.

Realtors — send your recent sales to nicola@besthomesbc.com

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Walking into the University of British Columbia’s new school of biomedical engineering (the Gordon B. Shrum Building), the first thing you notice is light. Soft, northern light that filters through floor-to-ceiling windows lining the lab spaces. The Shrum building sits on University Boulevard but feels cocooned from the hustle of campus thanks to a preserved grove of London plane trees surrounding a quiet courtyard.

Greg Boothroyd, principal architect at Patkau Architects, who designed this new facility, says those trees weren’t meant to survive the development.

“UBC originally envisioned that these trees and this courtyard area would probably be destroyed because the building is so big. But when we came to the site and we saw these trees in this courtyard, we were like, forget it,” says Boothroyd. They found a way to keep them and in doing so, the site has a really interesting geometric shape, he says.

Designing across disciplines

UBC’s new school of biomedical engineering is a relatively new discipline that combines the rigour of engineering with the care of medicine. It’s the first time in Canada that the faculties of medicine and engineering have joined forces to share not just a space, but also a discipline, says Boothroyd.

Better together

Patkau Architects also collaborated with others to pull this project off.

“We have done many academic buildings, but never something quite as complex as a lab, so we partnered with Architecture 49 , who are lab specialists. It was a nice collaboration, and a good experience designing a building with such technical complexity,” he says.

A COVID creation

Another first for Patkau, this building was designed almost entirely over Zoom, during the early days of the COVID pandemic, says Boothroyd.

Some of the digital processes they learned through this time have stuck, he says.

“With projects that are at a distance, there’s just much less travel that’s required. It’s good for the environment, and good for people’s lives as well.”

Form meets function

Inside the Shrum Building, labs line the northern side, creating soft daylight. The offices are on the south side, and in between is an atrium, full of sunlight and intersecting triangles. This has been designed as a place for casual run-ins and spontaneous chats, says Boothroyd.

“It is a building that helps create opportunities for serendipitous interaction in everyone’s day. By having this big open lab that you walk through you see the work of your colleagues and get a sense of what it’s like to work in a research community. You’re not in an isolated silo.”

On the ground floor, maker spaces and design studios line the boulevard, offering glimpses into student life.

“People walking down the street get a glimpse at some of these super cool things students are building and making as they walk by, and hopefully they’ll draw them into the building and get them inside and interested in biomedical engineering,” says Boothroyd.

Teaching that can’t be YouTubed

Even the lecture halls in this building challenge conventional lecture design. One has rectangular tables for group work, another is tiered so students can swivel their chairs and collaborate.

“If you want to watch a lecture, you can just watch it on YouTube. The teaching style now is focused on more activities that you can’t do on YouTube,” says Boothroyd.

A lunchroom on the third floor, with a deck and kitchen, acts as yet another collaboration zone. There is a big open deck off the lunchroom. There is a corner designed for informal lunch-hour lectures.

“It’s a neat space and is already being very well used,” says Boothroyd.

Challenges and surprises

This was a challenging project because of the construction environment during COVID, says Boothroyd, but they had an amazing team on the project, a great contractor and project manager, and it was done on budget and on time, he says.

When asked what surprised him most about this completed building, Boothroyd doesn’t hesitate.

“The upper atrium. You think you know what a space will feel like from 3D models, but when I walked into it, it was better than I imagined. Full of light, but also intimate. It makes you want to stay.”

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Father’s Day is just around the corner. Show the special dads in your life some love this June 15 with a thoughtful gift.

From space-saving pots and pans for your home chef to a sporty Canadian-made portable cooler for that outdoorsy adventurer, here are five Father’s Day gift ideas sure to please even the fussiest father.

For the dad whose happy place is the back forty

Give your dad the perfect excuse to hang outside this Father’s Day. Vivere’s Combo Double Hammock promises the freedom to set up and snooze anywhere you choose, as it can be hooked to trees or stand solo. Comes with a carry bag and the opportunity to pretend he’s on vacation anywhere — or time — he likes.

$179.00 (online only) | Home Depot.ca

Say ‘yes’ to the dad who’s a chef

For the dad whose love language is food and can’t help cooking with every pot and pan in sight, T-fal’s Ingenio Expertise — stackable cookware with removable handles — is easy to clean and also an ingenious space saving hack. These practical pans are available in sets of three, eight or 14 and come in a rainbow of colours to match any kitchen decor style.

From $87 to $270 | Amazon.ca

For the dad who loves to lounge in comfort

Get dad the perfect throne for kicking back and napping. Dutch design brand’s Fatboy Bean Bags combine fun design with water-resistant durability. Canadian orders are stuffed and shipped from Fatboy’s Montreal-based warehouse, so there’s still time to secure dad the gift of ultimate comfort.

 From $269 | Fatboy Bean Bags

For the dad who appreciates coastal landscapes

Wall Art on Wood’s coaster sets are a great choice for the fellow who can’t get enough of the wild shores of the West Coast. Handcrafted in Esquimalt on Vancouver Island, the cork-backed coasters are sold in sets of four and feature prints of original art signed by the maker.

$33 | Etsy.ca

For the dad who needs to keep his cool

Whether he camps, fishes or picnics in the park, the Woods Boreal Cooler’s 65-litre model is made in Canada and a super choice for your dad’s outdoor adventures. Its spacious, durable and designed not only to keep drinks and food chilled, but to look cool too.

$159.99 | Canadian Tire

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If Vancouver city council gives the go-ahead on Wednesday, Granville Street could one day resemble a mix of car-free Las Ramblas in Barcelona, with the live music of Nashville’s Broadway, plus a touch of the bright lights of Tokyo’s Shibuya pedestrian crossing.

That is the 20-year vision for a striking new plan to revitalize the city’s once-neon-lit grand old dame of a street, which has fallen on hard times.

The plan, which envisions all of Granville eventually being car-free from the bridge over False Creek to Waterfront Station, could cost up to $140 million in 2025 dollars, according preliminary estimates in the report, which was two years in the making.

“Currently, the area faces challenges with vacant storefronts, lack of daytime activity, and rising health, safety and street-disorder concerns, contributing to a negative perception of the Granville Entertainment District,” the report states.

The plan keys on three areas: The city centre (between Georgia and Smithe streets) with mixed-use residential developments including some of the city’s tallest towers; the entertainment core (between Smithe and Davie streets), a hub of live music, theatres and restaurants; and the bridgehead (between Davie and Drake Streets) with a quieter mix of residential, local shops and cultural spaces.

If approved, the plan eventually envisions the creation of a “world-class destination public space gradually working toward a year-round shore-to-shore pedestrian zone.”

Built around the time the city was founded, Granville soon became known as Theatre Row, and welcomed trolleys heading up and down. By the 1950s, it glowed with endless neon signs, and today is still home to icons such as the Orpheum Theatre and Commodore Ballroom.

The plan’s goal is to transform Granville into an arts, entertainment and cultural destination, with more restaurants and patios.

That includes improving safety, live music, expanded hotel space, mixed-use residential (including tall towers 200 and 400 feet high, taller than previously allowed, near the Canada Line Station at Georgia), and single-room occupancy social housing.

There are eight single-room accommodation buildings on Granville, the report states, containing about 600 rooms, many of them privately owned, which the city plans to replace with self-contained social housing.

The preliminary estimated cost is between $90 million and $140 million.

There is a proposed new plaza at Granville and Robson streets, which would be home giant digital billboards, like Manhattan’s Times Square or Piccadilly Circus in London’s West End, showing visual art and live-event screenings along with advertisements.

At the moment, about 1,100 TransLink buses ply the corridor daily, carrying 21,000 passengers. Those would be shifted to adjacent Seymour and Howe streets, after those roads are upgraded.

“Granville Street, part of Vancouver’s historic streetcar network, remains a busy transit corridor connecting key areas,” the report reads.

“The 2010 Winter Olympics marked a peak of activity, with significant changes including the introduction of the Canada Line and public realm improvements,” it says. “Despite (today’s) challenges, Granville Street has significant opportunities.

“The Granville Street plan will enhance the area’s future for businesses, venues, visitors, and residents. The plan’s vision aligns efforts across city departments, private property owners, and business and venue operators to transform Granville into a dynamic destination for culture, performance, and entertainment.”

There will be regular reviews and updates to ensure the plan adapts to changing contexts, the report says.

Before presenting the plan to council, the city held a dozen public workshops, held youth roundtables and public walking tours, received 5,700 completed surveys and heard 11,000 comments.

The city also met with business and hospitality associations, arts and cultural organizations, social service providers, and public agencies such as B.C. Housing and TransLink.

After the final round of engagement this past February, support for the vision was 76 per cent, the report says.

gordmcintyre@postmedia.com

x.com/gordmcintyre

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If Vancouver city council gives the go-ahead on Wednesday, Granville Street could one day resemble a mix of car-free Las Ramblas in Barcelona, with the live music of Nashville’s Broadway, plus a touch of the bright lights of Tokyo’s Shibuya pedestrian crossing.

That is the 20-year vision for a striking new plan to revitalize the city’s once-neon-lit grand old dame of a street, which has fallen on hard times.

The plan, which envisions all of Granville eventually being car-free from the bridge over False Creek to Waterfront Station, could cost up to $140 million in 2025 dollars, according preliminary estimates in the report, which was two years in the making.

“Currently, the area faces challenges with vacant storefronts, lack of daytime activity, and rising health, safety and street-disorder concerns, contributing to a negative perception of the Granville Entertainment District,” the report states.

The plan keys on three areas: The city centre (between Georgia and Smithe streets) with mixed-use residential developments including some of the city’s tallest towers; the entertainment core (between Smithe and Davie streets), a hub of live music, theatres and restaurants; and the bridgehead (between Davie and Drake Streets) with a quieter mix of residential, local shops and cultural spaces.

If approved, the plan eventually envisions the creation of a “world-class destination public space gradually working toward a year-round shore-to-shore pedestrian zone.”

Built around the time the city was founded, Granville soon became known as Theatre Row, and welcomed trolleys heading up and down. By the 1950s, it glowed with endless neon signs, and today is still home to icons such as the Orpheum Theatre and Commodore Ballroom.

The plan’s goal is to transform Granville into an arts, entertainment and cultural destination, with more restaurants and patios.

That includes improving safety, live music, expanded hotel space, mixed-use residential (including tall towers 200 and 400 feet high, taller than previously allowed, near the Canada Line Station at Georgia), and single-room occupancy social housing.

There are eight single-room accommodation buildings on Granville, the report states, containing about 600 rooms, many of them privately owned, which the city plans to replace with self-contained social housing.

The preliminary estimated cost is between $90 million and $140 million.

There is a proposed new plaza at Granville and Robson streets, which would be home giant digital billboards, like Manhattan’s Times Square or Piccadilly Circus in London’s West End, showing visual art and live-event screenings along with advertisements.

At the moment, about 1,100 TransLink buses ply the corridor daily, carrying 21,000 passengers. Those would be shifted to adjacent Seymour and Howe streets, after those roads are upgraded.

“Granville Street, part of Vancouver’s historic streetcar network, remains a busy transit corridor connecting key areas,” the report reads.

“The 2010 Winter Olympics marked a peak of activity, with significant changes including the introduction of the Canada Line and public realm improvements,” it says. “Despite (today’s) challenges, Granville Street has significant opportunities.

“The Granville Street plan will enhance the area’s future for businesses, venues, visitors, and residents. The plan’s vision aligns efforts across city departments, private property owners, and business and venue operators to transform Granville into a dynamic destination for culture, performance, and entertainment.”

There will be regular reviews and updates to ensure the plan adapts to changing contexts, the report says.

Before presenting the plan to council, the city held a dozen public workshops, held youth roundtables and public walking tours, received 5,700 completed surveys and heard 11,000 comments.

The city also met with business and hospitality associations, arts and cultural organizations, social service providers, and public agencies such as B.C. Housing and TransLink.

After the final round of engagement this past February, support for the vision was 76 per cent, the report says.

Finally, as temperatures continue to warm up, it’s time to plant the three most popular fruits that can be enjoyed well into late summer. Whether grown in garden beds or in containers, tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers are the favourites for summer menus.

There has been an explosion of plant breeding for each of these amazing edibles. It’s challenging to keep on top of all the new varieties because there is always the risk of missing out on some tasty new opportunity. In both the gardening and culinary worlds, when we select a favourite variety, it tends to become entrenched, and it’s hard to develop a relationship with a new introduction. In both disciplines, however, continually experimenting helps us discover even more delights.

Tomatoes are, perhaps, the most challenging. As a grower, it’s becoming more of an issue each year trying to decide which varieties to produce from the hundreds available. As with all edibles, it’s about the flavour, the ease of growing, weather adaptability and a variety’s tolerance of pests and diseases that determines the best ones to grow. Public demand, however, is the No. 1 reason to grow a particular variety.

I find it easier to break tomatoes into categories. Slicing tomatoes are still the most popular tomatoes, and yes, old heritage varieties, like Black Prince and Cherokee Purple, continue to hold the edge on flavour. However, many take 80 to 90 days to mature, and folks want to enjoy tomatoes in July, not wait until mid-August.

Slicing tomatoes, that mature in 60 to 70 days from an established plant, can provide fruit as early as mid-July. Early Girl and Early Girl Plus are among the earliest to mature, but varieties like Celebrity, Bush, Champion and Super Fantastic are all great. Coming in a few days later are the larger 8-ounce size Better Boy, the 8- to 10-ounce Big Beef and the 12- to 16-ounce Beefmaster, and all have good flavour. If you want the big, tasty giants, like the 32-ounce Supersteak, the 2- to 4-pound SteakHouse or the up to 4-pound Porterhouse, you will have to wait until mid-August.

As mentioned, in terms of timing, the heirloom varieties will take 80 to 90 days to harvest. The 8-12 ounce Black Krim is ready in 80 days; the 16- to 24-ounce Mortgage Lifter matures in 80 to 90 days; and the 32-ounce Pineapple will make you wait 90 days.

Small fruit tomatoes rank in popularity right after the slicers simply because they produce so many bite-sized fruits so quickly. The super sweet Sugar Rush is among the earliest, producing in 50 to 55 days. Some of my favourites, like Sweet Gold and Sun Sugar, produce in 62 days; while Sungold is ready in 65 days.  The traditional red Sweet 100 takes 65 days, and Sweet Million produces in 60-62 days.

The very best hanging basket or container varieties are Tumbler at 45 days, followed by Tumbling Tom Red and Tumbling Tom Yellow, both at 65 days. Because they are so prolific and produce continuously, these varieties are usually the earliest tomatoes you will enjoy each year and among the last of the season.

There are so many tomato novelties, like grape tomatoes, paste tomatoes, varieties with unique colours, such as Chocolate Sprinkles, tomatoes shaped like pears and dipping varieties. We almost have too many varieties, but it keeps gardening fun, and discovering new flavours is always exciting.

Peppers have become very much a part of our summer gardens and year-round cuisine. Their flavouring, and spicy heat make them incredibly versatile. In order to connect them in groupings for culinary uses, the Ball Horticultural Corporation, one of the world’s largest, has classified peppers in simpler terms such as sweet bell, sweet non-bell, Anaheim, ancho/poblano, chili, cubanelle, ethnic hot, habanero, jalapeño, serrano and specialty hot pepper.

The nice feature of sweet bell peppers is their wonderful, fresh garden flavour, as well as their stunning range of colours. From orange, green, red and lime to chocolate, purple, yellow and now candy stripe, they truly create a potpourri of colour. Sweet, non-bells excel in colour, flavour and unique shapes. In terms of spicy heat, the runaway favourites are the jalapeño varieties. Anaheims, ancho/poblanos and serranos have a comfortable heat with which to work. They rank in the range of 1 and 2 in Scoville heat units.

Today’s young gardeners and foodies love hot peppers and know their limits with the super hots. When experimenting with peppers, proceed gradually up the Scoville scale. Some very hot varieties, like Carolina Reaper, Trinidad Scorpion and Bhut Jolokia (Ghost), can cause serious burns, so be cautious.

Cucumbers are some of the easiest vegetables to grow, and they are among the most productive, especially planted in containers. Seedless or burpless varieties are becoming today’s favourites because they are sweet, easy to digest and bitter free. If you love the long, straight 12- to 14-inch varieties, then Burpless Supreme and Tasty Green are two of the varieties you may wish to try.  If you insist on the super long varieties, then English Telegraph, stretching up to 18 inches long, is the variety to look for. The trend, however, is to go shorter. One of the popular varieties today is a short burpless, called Perseus, which grows only 5-6 inches long, making it easy to finish up at one sitting.

The new superstars are the miniature burpless cucumbers. Mini-Me and Quick Snack are great container varieties and, when trellised, are very productive, producing an amazing number of 2-3.5-inch deliciously sweet, bite-size fruits all summer.

Pickling cucumbers are hugely popular for summer preserves, and new varieties, like Gherking, are bitter free and ideal for fresh eating or pickles.

The beauty of growing cucumbers is their short growing time, anywhere from 45 to 60 days, and they love the heat of summer.

Even though summer is still a little way off, having tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers growing in your garden or on your patio will mean the promise of some great summer flavours to look forward to.

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Weekly roundup of three properties that recently sold in Metro Vancouver.

5917 169 St., Cloverdale

Type: Three-bedroom, two-bathroom detached

Size: 1,647 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,333,300

Listed for: $1,310,000

Sold for: $1,292,500

Sold on: Feb. 11

Days on market in this listing: Four

Listing agent: Scott Moe PREC at ReMax Treeland Realty

Buyers agent: Chris McNeill and Sierra McNeill at ReMax Colonial Pacific Realty

The big sell: This West Cloverdale rancher offers more than 1,600 square feet of one-level living with three bedrooms and two full bathrooms, and a 7,132-square-foot corner lot. It was built in 1987 with a traditional layout that encompasses a separate dining and living room finished with a brick-surround fireplace, an open kitchen with an adjacent eating area, and a sunken family room complete with wood stove. Plenty of windows ensure that the home is bathed in natural light, while engineered hardwood floors run underfoot, and there are modern fixtures and fittings in the bathrooms and kitchen with the latter displaying oak cabinets, stainless-steel appliances, and a centre island. An integrated double garage is found at the front of the home while the rear of the property is fenced and landscaped with flower beds, shrubs, a pond, and a backdrop of trees, all of which can be enjoyed from a covered patio.

2101 – 1201 Marinaside Cres., Vancouver

Type: Two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment

Size: 983 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,153,000

Listed for: $1,198,000

Sold for: $1,155,000

Sold on: Feb. 28

Days on market in this listing: One

Listing agent: Danny Chow PREC and Salina Kai PREC at Rennie & Associates Realty

Buyers agent: Lucy Hong at Royal First Realty

The big sell: It took just one day for an accepted offer to be received for this two-bedroom condo in Concord Pacific’s Peninsula building. Some of the reasons for the appeal? Enviable water views from its upper-level corner position, a separate kitchen with updated appliances, granite counters, and a window with inspiring vistas, a king-sized primary bedroom with double closets and a sumptuous ensuite, and brand new flooring, lighting, paintwork, window coverings, and hood fan. Additional highlights include a spacious living and dining area with full-height windows, a windowed den that could be a home office, and a flexible room for extra insuite storage. The home comes with a parking stall with electric vehicle hookup, and access to the building’s amenities that include concierge services, a gym, swimming pool, hot tub, sauna, and media room, as well as access to the Seawall just outside the building. The unit’s monthly maintenance fee is $856.02, and pets and rentals are permitted with restrictions.

308 – 3733 Norfolk St., Burnaby North

Type: One-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment

Size: 753 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $497,000

Listed for: $514,900

Sold for: $514,900

Sold on: March 28

Days on market in this listing: Three

Listing agent: Jackson Ng PREC and Darren Luk PREC at ReMax Crest Realty

Buyers agent: Adam Chahl PREC and Caylee Gaylard at Oakwyn Realty

The big sell: This one-bedroom Burnaby North condo was snapped up for the asking price soon after hitting the market. It has a number of attributes including an oversized floor plan in excess of 750 square feet, far-reaching North Shore Mountain views from a covered balcony, a corner gas fireplace in the living room with a tiled surround, laminate floors, a white kitchen with a double sink and a mix of white and stainless-steel appliances, a walk-in closet and semi-ensuite bathroom off the bedroom, and convenient insuite laundry. It forms part of Winchelsea, a four-storey complex that was built in 1994 with nearby access to Highway 1, BCIT, Burnaby Hospital, parks and shopping malls. The pet- and rental-friendly building has landscaped gardens, and underground parking where this unit has one dedicated stall. The suite’s monthly maintenance fee is $474.20.

These transactions were compiled by Nicola Way of BestHomesBC.com.

Realtors – send your recent sales to nicola@besthomesbc.com

For more detailed mortgage information, explore our guide to Canada’s lowest national insured and uninsured mortgage rates, updated daily. Related

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This year, Vancouver Heritage Foundation’s Heritage Discovery Day focuses on Kitsilano.

There are nine neighbourhood sites on the tour, including seven houses and two community sites.

“It’s a really important time for us to clarify what we mean by ‘heritage,’” says Laura Carey, executive director of the foundation.

“It’s all of the people, places, events and stories that have made Vancouver what it is today. Heritage was created by everyone and it belongs to everyone. So we want to show more than one perspective on heritage and to move beyond the colonial idea that only buildings constitute heritage.”

The community sites are City Farmer on Maple St. and the Hastings Mill Store on Alma St.

Created in 1978, City Farmer is an urban farm that follows the railway tracks along the Arbutus corridor.

“I believe that the site was the precursor to the Arbutus Greenway,” Carey says. “City Farmer created a vision of what could be four decades before the city could see that vision.”

Built in 1865, Hastings Mills Store is the oldest building still standing in Vancouver and even predates the incorporation of the city.

“It survived the Great Vancouver Fire in 1886, which is incredible, and then it was barged in 1930 over to Alma, where it stands today,” says Carey.

Many of the homes on the tour are in the Craftsman, or Arts and Crafts, style.

“It was a popular choice of builders during the 1910 to 1912 boom period,” Carey says.

Vancouver Heritage Foundation began conducting heritage tours in 2003. Until 2023, the tours were citywide. In 2023 the foundation began focusing on neighbourhoods, first with Strathcona and then, last year, with three: Arbutus Ridge, Kerrisdale, and Marpole.

Carey says the tours attract approximately 600 heritage hounds, along with over 120 volunteers.

This year’s tour takes place June 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $50 each and on sale until June 5 at vancouverheritagefoundation.org .

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Interior designers Kate Snyder and Jessica MacDonald, of Studio Roslyn , have opened a spectacular new studio space in Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant neighbourhood that allows for much more than just showing their work.

It’s a collaborative space that took four months to renovate and the results are beautiful, showcasing lighting, furniture, wallpaper and tiles from design companies across Canada and the US — from Montreal to Portland.

Snyder and McDonald have people interested in holding art shows at their studio, others have asked to rent it for photo shoots and events. They’ll be using it to host Studio Roslyn events as well.

“We’re excited to use our space beyond just an office,” says Snyder.

Vibrant neighbourhood

Snyder says they were thrilled to find this studio space in Mount Pleasant, which she feels is one of Vancouver’s most vibrant pockets.

“There’s a lot of different things happening in this little hood, which is really cool,” she says.

The business mix in Mount Pleasant includes fashion, tile and flooring showrooms, cafés, restaurants and breweries.

It’s one of those rare Vancouver neighbourhoods where the energy isn’t just in a straight line. You don’t just walk up a corridor like Main Street or Commercial, it feels dispersed and that makes it feel kind of magical because you discover things as go, says Snyder.

90s live-work space

Their new studio space is in a 90s live-work building, with blue corrugated siding, red handrails and double-height ceilings that span 25 feet.

“I personally really like that esthetic; it’s a really unique building,” says Snyder.

The space spans two levels, with open desks and two private offices on a mezzanine above. Downstairs includes a fully equipped kitchen, a three-piece bathroom (with shower), a lounge and a large open-concept material library, which is a major upgrade from their previous studio.

Having a full kitchen and bathroom wasn’t just about convenience. It was about rethinking what a workplace could be.

“We wanted it to be multi-functional. Our out-of-town employees actually stay here,” says Snyder.

Studio Roslyn has team members in Montreal, Edmonton and Vancouver Island, and specifically designed the private offices to fit a fold-out queen bed, so when their colleagues from out of town fly in, they have a proper place to stay.

Something they might look at doing in the future is renting this accommodation out, for those looking for a unique, Mount Pleasant stay, says Snyder.

Expanding the practice

Studio Roslyn is well known for their hospitality and retail design. Included in their restaurant bar cafe portfolio are Just Another Cafe + Bar , It’s OK , Superflux (Cabana) , Bricklayer Brewing , the Fairmont Lobby Lounge , and many others.

They’re now leaning into more residential architecture and design, in addition to hospitality projects, says Snyder.

“We’re currently working on our first full new-build home where we’re leading both architecture and interiors. It’s still about 16 months out from completion, but it’s been really rewarding.”

They’re also working on a boutique hotel in the Okanagan, with design work now complete and the build phase beginning.

Industry in flux

Like many design firms, Studio Roslyn has felt a shift in the market over the past year.

There’s a general sense of caution in the industry, with people still moving forward with projects, but they’re showing restraint, which is understandable, says Snyder.

As a studio, they’re keeping busy, with more momentum in recent weeks.

People seem to be getting comfortable with a bit of an unknown future and are pushing ahead with projects.

“Things are picking up,” says Snyder.

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Ready for anything

Made from solid teak, the Table Talk is durable and weather-resistant with a sturdy criss-cross base. Suitable for both indoors and out, the coffee table rests on smooth, rounded legs that complement the oblong top. A slatted design prevents water from pooling. Table Talk Outdoor Coffee Table, $742.50; sundays-company.ca

Suit your space

This small-space seating option is perfect for snuggling, without those bothersome arms getting in the way. The Cove Loveseat is part of a larger, modular outdoor seating collection that includes corner pieces that can be configured to fit different spaces. Cove Outdoor Armless Modular Loveseat, $1,839; article.com

Balancing act

This outdoor sectional, hewn from solid acacia wood, balances style, comfort and versatility. Whether you are wanting a full sectional or opt to mix and match two-seaters and chaises, the Hampton adapts to your space. Hampton Outdoor Sectional, $5,599; roveconcepts.com

Sturdy and sensible

Practicality is key to this outdoor furniture from Gloster. The table features subtly sculpted legs, while the top is solid ceramic. The chairs feature powder-coated aluminum frames and weatherproof sling seats. Carver Ceramic Dining Set with 180 Dining Chairs: table $6,170; dining chair, $1,725; livingspace.com

Weather ready

An aluminum frame, hand-painted finish, welded joints and high-quality resin are designed to ensure these pieces won’t rust, fade, peel or break. Matching dining and side tables are available in all sizes. Coco Rico Swivel Rocking or Stationary Dining Chairs, $1,499; thewickertreelangley.com

Classic comfort

The Saranac Lounge Chair features a natural finish teak frame, woven outdoor rope and comfy cushion. Perfect for afternoons when you just want to kick back and sip iced tea.Saranac Lounge Chair, $5,580; livingspace.com

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Location is always at the top of the checklist, but lifestyle considerations are becoming increasingly important as homebuyers align decisions with their interests, activities and the amenities provided in residential developments.

Signature, the next stage of Aspac Development’s master-planned River Green community located along 1.1 kilometres of the Fraser River in Richmond, offers location and lifestyle, says Alice Lam, director of sales and marketing, Aspac Developments.

Designed by Dialog, Signature comprises three 13-storey residential buildings and includes 365 homes. These range from one- to three-bedroom homes with floorplans from 430 to 1,290 square feet and larger Skyhomes with floorplans from 1,350 to 2,270 square feet while the Sky Garden Mansion will be a 2,385 square feet home with a 2,420 square feet terrace.

Aspac launched the first phase of River Green on the 27-acre site in Richmond in 2013 and since then more than 1,300 homes have been delivered in the established waterfront community, says Lam.

In addition to over 50,000 square feet of amenity space for Signature residents there are scenic pathways along the river and nearby bike trails. Shopping (Richmond Centre and Lansdowne Mall) and the Vancouver International Airport are a short drive away while Lansdowne SkyTrain station is a 15-minute walk from River Green.

“We feel like our homeowners who live in this area are not just looking for accommodation, they’re really looking for more than just a home – that’s why they choose River Green,” says Lam adding, “they love the quiet, the conveniences, the activities. They do a lot of sports, and they care about their health – that’s why we integrated wellness and health into the project.”

Signature’s comprehensive amenities package will include wellness, social and entertainment features spread across the three towers (Towers A, B and C).

In Tower A, Le Jardin de France, a Provence-inspired Garden, surrounds the Astoria Sky Club, a rooftop amenity with views of the Fraser River and space to entertain friends and family.

On the ground floor of Tower B, the Braxton Club Room (a lounge with kitchen, media setup, outdoor seating and barbecue facilities) connects with a games lounge while other amenities on this level include a co-working space, multimedia room and two private mahjong rooms.

The podium that connects all three towers includes many of the development’s fitness and wellness amenities. The fitness centre with its strength and cardio equipment will extend to an outdoor fitness zone while the yoga room has space for stretching, aerial yoga and Pilates equipment. In addition, plans to include a spa pool and chill pool along with sauna and steam rooms plus a Zen garden also lean into the wellness component of the development.

“It’s like bringing a five-star spa resort right to your home,” says Lam.

The podium also has a children’s play area, a fireside terrace and a lawn.

“The amenities have something for everyone, for people of all ages, for families and [their] different needs,” says Lam.

Diana Ellis, associate and senior interior designer at CHIL Interior Design says for the amenities there was focus on curating distinct palettes to evoke different moods and uses.

“For instance, the media room features a rich, moody and intimate palette that invites comfort and cosiness. In contrast, the co-working and social spaces – such as the Braxton Club and mahjong rooms –incorporate brighter tones with pops of colour creating a youthful, energetic atmosphere,” she says.

The Astoria Sky Club exudes a luxurious ambience with a mix of marble finishes, glossy surfaces, warm wood tones, feature ceilings and decorative lighting, says Ellis.

In the lobby, design elements were chosen to create a sense of sophistication and arrival. “From the marble-fronted concierge counter and the intricately detailed coffered ceiling with integrated lighting, to the softly illuminated archways and the curved wood slat feature wall, the space offers a refined, hotel-like welcome,” says Ellis.

Homeowners can choose from two interior design schemes for their units: Sunlit Dream, a light and bright palette, and Twilight Glow, a warm and moody collection.

“Each colour palette was chosen to ensure connectivity to the property’s waterfront setting and to complement the surrounding river views,” says Ellis.

Both design schemes incorporate high-quality Italian cabinetry custom-designed for Aspac by Cesar, with the Sunlit Dream featuring a light blonde laminate for the upper cabinets while Twilight Glow shows a darker grey oak tone. The same neutral quartz countertops and backsplashes (by Silestone) will be used in both colour schemes with an integrated appliance package by Bosch and polished chrome faucet by Kohler adding the finishing touches.

In the bathrooms, the tile selections were inspired by nature.

“Both [colour scheme] options have a stone-nature feel to them: a warm sandstone or a marble look,” says Ellis.

Primary bathrooms include dimmable LED-lit mirror cabinets, radiant floor heating and soaker tubs (in some residences).

Both these colour schemes are represented at the Signature presentation centre (5111 Hollybridge Way, Richmond) with a one bedroom and den suite highlighting the Sunlit Dream scheme while a two-bedroom two-bathroom suite features the colours and tones of Twilight Glow.

Several of the Skyhomes (penthouses)are available with an upgrade package. These enhancements include a custom curved-edge kitchen island by Cesar, Gaggenau appliances and luxury features in the bathroom including a freestanding soaker tub and TOTO smart toilet.

The Signature development will also include several features that will up the convenience factor for residents including a keyless entry system, a bike repair station (and secure bike lockers), a pet wash and grooming space, a large parcel storeroom and a car wash facility.

Project: Signature at River Green

Project address: 6011, 6033, 6055 River Road, Richmond, B.C.

Developer: Aspac Developments

Architect: Dialog

Interior designer: CHIL Interior Design

Project size: 365 units

Number of bedrooms: one to four bedrooms

Price: 1-bedroom: from $559,800; 2-bedroom: from $740,800; 3-bedroom: from $1,266,800

Sales centre: 5111 Hollybridge Way, Richmond B.C.

Centre hours: Daily 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. (except statutory holidays)

Sales phone: 778-899-2638

Website: signaturebyaspac.ca

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Weekly roundup of three properties that recently sold in Metro Vancouver.

42 66 St., Tsawwassen

Type: Four-bedroom, three-bathroom detached

Size: 3,145 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,584,000

Listed for: $1,899,999

Sold for: $1,899,999

Sold on: March 28

Days on market in this listing: 25

Listing agent: Aileen Noguer PREC at ReMax Westcoast

Buyers agent: Stephanie Miller and Katherine Patching at Oakwyn Realty

The big sell: Boundary Bay is the location for this West Coast-themed home that has been completely updated with clean lines and attention to detail. Bespoke front doors open to soaring ceilings in the entertaining areas with exposed beams and wood-clad feature walls, a double-sided floating gas fireplace, and a kitchen boasting quartz countertops, stainless-steel appliances including a five-burner gas cooktop, double sinks, and a large centre island with pendant task lighting. An open staircase leads to the upper floor and a galleried landing off which are all four bedrooms including the primary that delights in vaulted ceilings, a luxury ensuite, and an oversized 13-by-12-foot walk-in closet. An air-conditioning/heat pump system ensures a comfortable year-round temperature, while outside there is a partly-covered patio, a fire pit surrounded by bench seating, and a useful 259-square-foot heated studio.

3541 West 14th Ave., Vancouver

Type: Five-bedroom, three-bathroom detached

Size: 2,328 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $2,468,100

Listed for: $2,088,000

Sold for: $2,100,000

Sold on: February 27

Days on market in this listing: Nine

Listing agent: Marty Pospischil at Pospischil Realty Group

Buyers agent: Kevin Banno PREC and Kris Pope PREC at Dexter Realty

The big sell: This five-bedroom 1920s Kitsilano home sits on a 33-by-122-foot lot just half a block from Almond Park as well as the amenities along West Broadway. According to listing agent Marty Pospischil, the property was being sold “as is where is” but has benefited from a number of updates throughout the years that blend a modern esthetic with original features such as sash windows, heating registers, hardwood floors, and coved ceilings. The house contains a selection of suites with the front unit currently rented on a short-term basis, but with the ability to be reconnected to the suite at the rear of the house (which has stairs to the semi-finished attic) to create a larger family home. A one-bedroom suite with modern fixtures and fittings resides in the basement alongside ample storage, laundry facilities, and a guest bedroom. A one-car garage with lane access, and gardens to both the front and the rear, complete the outside offerings.

18117 68A Ave., Cloverdale

Type: Five-bedroom, three-bathroom detached

Size: 3,294 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,494,000

Listed for: $1,499,900

Sold for: $1,470,000

Sold on: March 12

Days on market in this listing: 73

Listing agent: Rod Bahari PREC at Sutton Group – West Coast Realty

Buyers agent: Jonathan Katronis PREC at Homelife Benchmark Realty

The big sell: This five-bedroom house is situated towards the north of Cloverdale and enjoys not only a landscaped lot with a 65-foot frontage but a cul-de-sac location to boot, with proximity to Adams Road Elementary School, parks, trails, and transit. It was constructed in 1999 with identical dimensions of 1,647 square feet on both levels. The main floor features three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a formal living/dining room, a family room, and an informal eating area off the kitchen. The lower level comprises two further bedrooms, a bathroom, recreation room, flexible areas, and its own entrance, prompting listing agent Rod Bahari to suggest that it could be converted into a rental suite or guest accommodation. The outside space delivers with a covered patio, and a fully-fenced and meticulously-maintained garden. There is an integrated double-car garage together with generous driveway parking that could accommodate an RV.

These transactions were compiled by Nicola Way of BestHomesBC.com.

Realtors – send your recent sales to nicola@besthomesbc.com

Learn more about the latest mortgage rates and explore our guide to Canada’s lowest national insured and uninsured mortgage rates, updated daily. Related

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When Anthony Belisle co-founded Supermod on Vancouver Island two years ago he wasn’t just thinking about speed or affordability, but also how to design and build modular homes that don’t look prefabricated. He was aiming for beautiful, design-forward homes that are permanent and look custom built.

He, and his business partner, Ken Sharpe, looked to Australia and New Zealand for inspiration, says Belisle. They were noticing stunning, modular homes that looked as if they’d been built on site, when in fact they were prefabricated and had been shipped in, he says.

Steel strong

Originally from Belize, Belisle moved to Vancouver many years ago and has worked in project management, entrepreneurship and product design. For Supermod, the team has chosen steel as their base material.

Steel is structurally harder to work with, but once you’ve modelled it digitally you can print components that are strong and precise, says Belisle. Unlike wood, steel won’t rot or mould, and it’s naturally fire-resistant. Wrapped in exterior insulation, Supermod homes are also exceptionally energy efficient.

A home that doesn’t look modular

Supermod homes are fabricated on Vancouver Island and shipped across the region — including a recent install in North Vancouver. If you weren’t on site the day the crane arrived and delivered that home, you wouldn’t know it’s modular. “One day it’s a foundation, the next it’s a house. It’s seamless,” he says.

Supermod offers both pre-designed models and fully custom builds. Clients have requested everything from cantilevered second-storeys to imported Finnish soapstone fireplaces.

“We’ve done some pretty interesting projects that are extremely custom, and then chop them up into boxes, build them and ship them to the site,” says Belisle.

The final home doesn’t look modular and that’s the point, he explains.

Custom interiors

Interior designer Marina Medina of Marina Medina Design leads the firm’s luxury custom interiors.

Clients come in with a vision, and Medina helps them with their decisions from layout optimization to material choices, with the aim being an entirely personal modular home, she says.

One of their standout projects is a retirement home on B.C.’s remote Cortes Island, where building conventionally would have been difficult.

They designed a compact yet refined home with four stacked modules, full-height oceanview glazing, a sculptural Japanese soaker tub, European fireplaces, and a mud room with a custom dog shower, says Medina.

Reduced costs and fast turnaround

Pre-designed homes offer quicker turnarounds and lower costs — roughly around $300 to $350 per square foot, says Belisle.

Most Supermod homes take about 12 weeks from factory to installation, with the in-house team, including engineers, architects, project managers and fabricators, says Belisle.

Changing minds about modular

One of the challenges people have when opting for a modular home is securing financing, says Belisle.

“If you want to buy a modular home, how do you finance it?” he says.

“It’s not traditional, where, you know, you do a foundation and the bank cuts you a check, and then you do the framing and then the bank pays for the framing,” Belisle explains. “There’s a huge upfront cost, financial cost, by either of us, the owners and manufacturers, or by a client who has to pay for their house upfront before it is shipped.”

Belisle has just attended a modular housing conference where B.C. mayors are discussing how to build more homes, faster.

“Canada is going through this push to increase the modular capacity of the country and try to build more houses faster,” he says.

What modular homes are all about

Sometimes, when people hear modular, they think trailer parks or cheap homes, says Belisle.

Supermod homes are permanent structures. They’re built to be incredibly strong — and last hundreds of years. They have to be strong, because they’re shipped big distances, he says.

Belisle says he’s very proud of Supermod’s work so far, but they’re just getting started.

“There’s still so much room to innovate.”

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Even with all the different weather patterns across our country, the May long weekend has, traditionally, been the time we plant our gardens. Our daytime and nighttime temperatures are now in the range where both cool-loving and heat-loving crops can, for the most part, be seeded and transplanted outdoors to ensure a timely harvest.

However, this long-held garden wisdom is giving way to earlier plantings of virtually everything. April has suddenly become tomato planting time, and heat-loving annuals — like impatiens, marigolds and zinnias — are being set out even when evening temperatures still dip down close to frost.

I understand that many folks, especially the younger generation of gardeners, are anxious to get their gardens growing earlier in order to enjoy both fresh produce and garden colour sooner, but that eagerness can come at a cost. Seeds, when planted too early, often germinate poorly or not at all. Transplants, when set out too early, turn a protective bronze or grey colour, and this slows down their growing process. More tender plants, such as cucumbers, develop diseases like botrytis and simply wither away.

What we need for all our gardens today is a longer-term vision of both the colour with which we surround our homes and the fresh food we can grow to help offset both scarcity and higher costs. Depending on where you live in B.C., our growing season can stretch from the latter part of May until mid-September. In the Lower Mainland, that time frame can be extended from late March well into October and even beyond.

The most effective use of colour in our gardens is achieved by using perennials, grasses, flowering shrubs and flowering trees as a base, and then complementing with biennials and annuals for that extra boost of summer colour. By incorporating more perennials, you will enjoy a longer early season of colour each year without having to wait for warmer temperatures.

Baskets and containers, created with evergreen perennials like carex grasses, heucheras and euphorbias, can look stunning year-round, but especially in the cool temperatures of late winter and early spring.

When the weather finally warms up in late May and June, annuals will not only make a more instant show, but they will also last weeks longer into the fall. In our garden, we never put out our summer baskets until the later part of June.

The same is true for food gardens. Once we get closer to 8 to 10 degrees Celsius daytime temperatures without night frosts, early potatoes, onion sets, multipliers and scallions can go in for harvesting in June. With a little more warmth, early brassicas, lettuce, peas, Spanish onion starts, broad beans and swiss chard can be planted to expand the produce options from your early garden.

When we finally get those all-important 10-degree Celsius nighttime temperatures, the heat-lovers can be planted. The difference warmer temperatures make is in the speed at which these plants become established and grow. By selecting earlier-maturing varieties of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and other heat-loving plants, this will also help accelerate a far earlier harvest, so there is no need to wait until late July or August to enjoy tomatoes or peppers.

For instance, Early Girl tomatoes and cherry tomatoes will produce approximately 30 days earlier than the later-maturing larger varieties. Be particular about the varieties you select in order to enjoy an extended harvest. Squash, too, is a prime example as summer varieties, like zucchini and scaloppine, can produce crops as early as 50 days and even earlier from transplants.

As you enjoy your late spring and early summer garden, you should be planning your fall and winter harvests. Late varieties of cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli mature in late August and September. Brussels sprouts, to be harvested for both Thanksgiving and Christmas, can be started in June, and they will hold nicely in your garden. Late squash, started in June, will mature in September and October and will keep well into the new year. Root crops, like beets, carrots, parsnips, turnips and rutabagas, also come in early, midseason and late varieties for a more continuous harvest well into late fall and beyond.

By carefully selecting varieties, by pre-starting some of your seeds and by using strategic timing for all your food garden plantings, you will not only save time but will also enjoy a longer season of more continuous harvests.

Once we get consistent warm weather, the daylight will last longer and the growth rate will increase dramatically in both food and colour gardens. By having a long-range, year-round plan, you will be able to grow, harvest and enjoy a wide diversity of foods you have grown yourself.

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Family-owned Apcon Group recently took home Best Multi-Family Townhouse Production and Best Multi-Family Kitchen at the Canadian Home Builders’ Association ( CHBA ) of British Columbia’s 33rd annual Georgie Awards Gala for Headwater.

“Headwater shines as an award-winning development, celebrated for its thoughtful design that harmoniously blends functionality, sustainability and esthetics,” says Tejvir Atwal, managing director, Apcon Group. “Situated in Surrey’s Fraser Heights area, the project complements the surrounding landscape with well-planned floorplans, a comforting colour palette, and environmentally conscious materials and practices.”

Designed with young families in mind, Headwater is a collection of 39 three-level townhomes, offering three and four-bedroom plus den plans, ranging from 1,520 to 1,585 square feet.

Headwater has also been resonating with buyers, most notably for the neighbourhood — one that has proven itself to be quite attractive to young families.

“What makes Headwater unique is the location and design — Fraser Heights neighbourhood is a unique blend of suburban and urban living. Fraser Heights has a strong sense of community and we wanted to bring spacious homes to the area where families could come together through community initiatives, nearby schools and recreational activities,” says Atwal. “With a high walkability score, and being closely connected to the arterial road network, Headwater further contributes to a well-rounded community.”

Fraser Heights is its own distinct community, interwoven with 12 parks, wide streets, creeks and ponds, with river valley and magnificent mountain views. North Surrey also has a reputation for having excellent schools, including Pacific Academy, elementary and secondary private schools catering from kindergarten to Grade 12.

Accessibility to Metro Vancouver has been yet another draw.

“Residents who work in Metro Vancouver in particular are drawn to the proximity to the highway (for work commute mainly), so they get to experience suburban living without shifting their entire lives,” says Atwal.

Janet Hardy, an interior designer at Creative Spaces, was tasked with designing the two show homes. Her first assignment was choosing the finishes.

“The cabinets have plywood boxes, soft close doors and drawers, the countertops are Quartz with undermount sinks, and the blinds are roller shades, so there are no edges to catch any dust,” says Hardy.  “We wanted the homes to be timeless for years to come, but also durable so that the home looks the same as the first day buyers moved in.”

The two show homes were designed so that prospective buyers could easily imagine how their whole family could live in the spaces.

Family friendly spaces feature open concept living, designer finishes and views of the mountain range and Fraser River.

The efficient floorplans offer two-and-a-half bathrooms and plenty of practical space, including large dens with natural light for working remotely and expansive deck space for those looking for extra entertainment room.

Another selling point is just how functional the townhomes are for young families.

“Every entrance has a coat closet, and all the main floors have a powder room and ample closet space that you can use as an extra coat closet or more pantry space,” says Hardy. “Another benefit for families is that most of the homes feature side by side washers and driers with a countertop across and shelving above.”

In the kitchen, a stainless-steel appliance package includes a full-sized French-door refrigerator, a slide-in gas range stove and built-in microwave in the pantry. Many of the islands are over six feet long — all with an overhang for stools.

“We have elevated our finishes to include champagne bronze fixtures to our kitchens,” says Hardy.

Each home comes with an attached garage equipped with charging capabilities for electric vehicles and spacious enough to accommodate cars and also recreational toys.

Amenities incorporate a multi-level indoor lounge and a furnished outdoor picnic area with bistro tables — adding to a sense of community.

Headwater homeowners will appreciate the convenience of living in an emerging community, where shopping, schools, playgrounds and amenities are already complete. Located 10 minutes from Guildford Town Centre, with its over 200 shops and restaurants, as well as movie theatres, and a wide variety of restaurants, cafés, bars and entertainment options. It is also a short distance from Highway 1 to the south and Highway 15 to the east. Fraser Heights offers residents the opportunity to be close to both nature and big city amenities.

Project: Headwater

Project address: 17458 100 Ave., Surrey B.C.

Developer: Apcon Group

Architect: Flat Architecture

Interior designer: Janet Hardy

Project size: 39 townhomes move-in ready

Number of bedrooms: 3 and 4 bedrooms

Price: Starting from $949,900

Sales centre: On site

Centre hours: By appointment

Phone: 604-354-7025

Website: Liveatheadwater.ca

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Weekly roundup of three properties that recently sold in Metro Vancouver.

1702 — 188 Keefer St., Vancouver

Type: One-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment

Size: 756 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $732,000

Listed for: $749,000

Sold for: $725,000

Sold on: March 20

Days on market in this listing: Nine

Listing agent: Marilou Appleby PREC, Louis Dupuis and Sean Carey at Dexter Realty

Buyers agent: Colette Gerber PREC at Heller Murch Realty

The big sell: The listing agents report that this one-bedroom unit had been designated by the developer as a two-bedroom suite but the original owner redesigned it to create a generous-sized one-bedroom home. It forms part of a mixed-use residential and retail complex that was built by Westbank in 2016 in Vancouver’s historic Chinatown neighbourhood, complete with an ornamental entryway inspired by a traditional Chinese Moon Gate. This upper-floor condo has a spacious open-concept floor plan with wood floors, a wall of windows, and a 150-square-foot west-facing balcony that flanks the living space and bathes in panoramic city views. There is an ensuite bathroom off the bedroom plus another washroom for guests, insuite laundry, a storage locker, and a strata that permits two pets. Parking is available to rent, and this unit’s monthly maintenance fee is $580.63.

4 — 6033 168 St., Cloverdale

Type: Three-bedroom, two-bathroom townhouse

Size: 1,395 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $771,000

Listed for: $750,000

Sold for: $742,500

Sold on: Jan. 17

Days on market in this listing: 62

Listing agent: Scott Moe PREC at ReMax Treeland Realty

Buyers agent: Tevan Singh at Real Broker

The big sell: Three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, and a three-storey layout are just some of the highlights of this 1,395-square-foot townhouse in West Cloverdale. It resides in the Chestnut development that features 22 units constructed in 2006 within walking distance to Boothroyd Heritage Coffee shop, Cloverdale Athletic Park, transit, a convenience store, and elementary schools. Inside, the main level is open and airy with communicating living and dining areas overlooked by a kitchen with sleek flat-panelled cabinets, stone countertops, and stainless-steel appliances. An adjacent family room/home office has rear door access to the backyard and private deck, while all three bedrooms are accommodated upstairs. The unit’s monthly maintenance fee is $467.83, and all of this is topped off by an extra-long 39-foot-deep integrated tandem garage that can accommodate two cars including a pickup truck.

1 — 1186 Kaslo St., Vancouver

Type: Three-bedroom, three-bathroom half duplex

Size: 1,587 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,706,000

Listed for: $1,599,999

Sold for: $1,599,999

Sold on: February 13

Days on market in this listing: 16

Listing agent: Mark Hammer PREC at eXp Realty

Buyers agent: Hanson Wang PREC at Ohmproperty

The big sell: This brand-new front duplex was built by Pavarya Homes in Vancouver’s Renfrew district with a smart, modern exterior set off by a landscaped front yard and a patio seating area. The interior is flooded with natural light thanks to the home’s west-facing aspect, while premium finishings are front and centre with white oak flooring, custom millwork, a built-in sound system, contemporary light fixtures, a glass-sided staircase, air conditioning, and high-end Fisher & Paykel appliances. There are three bedrooms and a den divided between the upper two floors with the primary bedroom residing on the top level resplendent with vaulted ceilings, dual closets, a spa-like ensuite bathroom, and a balcony for private sanctuary. Finally, a versatile heated garage to the rear of the property provides a number of options for use.

These transactions were compiled by Nicola Way of BestHomesBC.com.

Realtors — send your recent sales to nicola@besthomesbc.com

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During the Second World War, New Westminster became a hub for soldiers from all over the country waiting to be transferred to other bases or shipped overseas.

Heritage New West is celebrating this legacy, and honouring the 80th anniversary of VE-Day on May 8, with On the Homefront theme for this year’s New Westminster Heritage Homes Tour on May 25.

Stories of local soldiers who died or were killed during the war will be showcased in the homes that they grew up in. Soldiers like the brothers Mayo and Bruce Barber, who were raised on Hamilton Street.

“It’s very poignant,” says Catherine Hutson, director of Heritage New West.

“There wasn’t any thought but, ‘We’re going to sign up and do this.’ And a lot of them didn’t come back. The war changed the dynamics of neighbourhoods for years to come.”

The tour features both privately owned heritage homes and wartime spaces. The latter include the Armoury, the Royal Westminster Regiment Museum (formerly the Gun Room at the Armoury), and Westminster Club, now Galbraith House.

“The Westminster Club was this amazing Victorian house from the 1890s,” Hutson says. “It was a destination for returning soldiers. They could have coffee, play pool, unwind. It was just down the street from the Armoury, which was one of the busiest depots in Western Canada.”

Exhibits at the Royal Westminster Regiment Museum will include photographs, uniforms, medals, weapons, and rare artifacts alongside a memorial case honouring fallen soldiers, and profiles of seven local soldiers.

The tour takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at several heritage locations across New Westminster. A ticket guidebook — serving as a tour passport and map — is required for entry and must be picked up in advance at Royal City Colours (700 Twelfth Street, New Westminster).

Tickets are $45 and available via Eventbrite

Proceeds from the tour support local heritage initiatives.

More info: newwestheritage.org

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Weekly roundup of three properties that recently sold in Metro Vancouver.

3478 Deering Island Pl., Vancouver

Type: Four-bedroom, five-bathroom detached

Size: 3,610 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $4,159,000

Listed for: $3,998,000

Sold for: $3,850,000

Sold on: March 7

Days on market in this listing: 14

Listing agent: Rob Zwick PREC at Stilhavn Real Estate Services

Buyers agent: Salina Kai PREC at Rennie & Associates Realty

The big sell: The riverside community of Vancouver’s Deering Island started off life as the location for a shipyard before residential development began towards the end of the 1980s. This particular house was built in 1993 with a front-row view of tugboats floating by and uninterrupted sunsets. The three-storey interior blends sophisticated upgrades alongside a grand foyer with soaring ceilings, a formal living/dining room finished with a gas fireplace and shuttered windows, an elegant kitchen with premium appliances, an informal eating area surrounded by windows, and an adjacent family room with custom millwork. All four bedrooms are found upstairs including a primary suite that boasts a river-view deck, a walk-in closet, and an ensuite bathroom. A top-floor flex space with a large balcony offers possible options for a home office or studio. Outside, the lot size extends to 9,728 square feet providing plenty of space for gardening enthusiasts.

10122 Williams Rd., Richmond

Type: Six-bedroom, four-bathroom detached

Size: 2,420 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,496,000

Listed for: $1,899,000

Sold for: $1,810,000

Sold on: Jan. 3

Days on market in this listing: 69

Listing agent: Vince Chan PREC at ReMax Crest Realty and Joyce Chan at Oakwyn Realty

Buyers agent: WEIQING Wendy YANG Yang PREC at Metro Edge Realty

The big sell: This six-bedroom Richmond house resides in the city’s McNair neighbourhood, conveniently located near transit, corner stores, Ironwood Plaza, and a bike lane along Williams Road. Constructed in 2007 but updated in 2021, the layout comprises both a legal one-bedroom suite on the ground floor as well as a separate two-bedroom guest suite – both with private entrances. The upper floor is bathed in natural light thanks to expansive windows and nine-foot-high ceilings. On this level there are three bedrooms, two ensuites, open living and dining areas, a spacious kitchen with ample storage space, white Shaker-style cabinets, a mosaic tile backsplash, and quartz countertops, and a family room with access to a covered deck. The rooms are finished with crown molding, contemporary-style light fixtures, and laminate flooring. Bonus features include an alarm system, and an attached two-car garage.

101 – 58 Kong Crt., Coquitlam

Type: One-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment

Size: 638 square feet

B.C. Assessment: N/A

Listed for: $664,900

Sold for: $664,900

Sold on: March 13

Days on market in this listing: 29

Listing agent: Nathalie Jabour at Beedie Living Realty

Buyers agent: Rod Bahari PREC at Sutton Group – West Coast Realty

The big sell: The master-planned community of Fraser Mills is being created by Beedie Living along the banks of the Fraser River in Coquitlam. The waterfront project will comprise high- and low-rise condos, townhomes, retail and community amenities including restaurants and recreational facilities. This one-bedroom pre-sale apartment resides in Chapter, with completion currently scheduled for 2028. The interior spans 638 square feet and features a 221-square-foot front patio. The air-conditioned unit has nine-foot-high ceilings, energy-efficient windows with roller shades, durable laminate floors, and a walk-in closet in the bedroom. The stylish kitchen has high-performance Porter & Charles appliances, stone backsplash and countertops, European-inspired cabinetry, and a pantry. Amenities include a fitness centre, co-working lounge, entertainment room and catering kitchen, a playground, and garden plots. The unit’s monthly maintenance fee is $400.62.

These transactions were compiled by Nicola Way of BestHomesBC.com.

Realtors – send your recent sales to nicola@besthomesbc.com

For more detailed mortgage information, explore our guide to Canada’s lowest national insured and uninsured mortgage rates, updated daily.

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