Moving to Newfoundland from the Gulf Islands of British Columbia was a shock for long-time gardener Dan Rubin. Accustomed to warm, calm, and relatively predictable weather, Rubin faced long winters, strong winds, and constant salt spray at his new property perched on the edge of the north Atlantic.

Twenty years later, Rubin’s productive and lush seaside garden is filled with a range of crops, from tomatoes, squash, and greens to plums, artichokes, and even peaches.

Sun, Seed and Soil is a collection of practical tips and techniques for gardening in northern, colder climates, based on Rubin’s personal experiences and discoveries. This book offers valuable advice for Canadian gardeners—particularly in Atlantic Canada—as well as those in the northern United States, or anyone facing similar challenging growing conditions.

Sun, Seed and Soil provides insight into:

• Choosing the right seeds to plant and build rich, organic soil
• Protecting plants from wind and cold to extend the growing season by months
• Using sustainable, regenerative approaches and avoid the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers
• Growing common garden food plants, herbs, flowers, fruit trees and bushes

Dan Rubin is a gardener, garden educator, and garden designer who is leading a range of local initiatives focused on food production, food distribution, and food security in Newfoundland and Labrador. He is an established author of four books; his articles on local gardening have appeared in Rural Delivery magazine and Gardens Canada.
He has led workshops and presented talks on season extension for more than 1000 participants, including two recent videos on Seed Starting and Seed Saving under contract to the national heritage seed organization Seeds of Diversity. Rubin's radio series, Uncle Dirt, ran 10 episodes on CHMR radio and is now online as a podcast sponsored by the website Fit to Eat.

Dan Rubin's profile page