Coffee with Moe - Let it Grow!

Issue 15 Vol. 5
Coffee
withMoe
LET IT GROW!

Let it Grow!

07
#editorial
19
#MrJack
09
#Lawn&Order
07
#BlossomBuddies
13
#MoonSavvy
28
#Letitgrow
presents: Coffee with Moe, Let it grow!
ISSUE 13: LET IT GROW!
April 2020
On The Cover:
All My Relations by Peig Abbott
For her artist statement please visit Pg 6
You can catch this piece and more in
“Transitions” a group show exploring
climate change @artsplacecanmore
For digital Prints & Commission work, please
Contact Moe at: monique@moecreative.com
Website: www.moecreative.com
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Coffee with Moe Digital Magazine is
published in association with Moe Creative
Inc. based in Calgary, Alberta Canada
Publishing made possible by Moe Creative, Yumpo & the
Adobe Suite of Products.
* Art & photography by Monique DeNault
Many thanks to Family, Friends & Inspiration:
Gratefully & alphabetically:
AB, AC, AG, AL, AR, BCV, BD, CF, CG, CR,
CS, DD, DK, DL, DO, DR, EC, ED, EN, GD,
GDC, HC, HM, IF, JD, JM, JR, JS, KH, KW,
LB, LD, LK, LM, LOL, MB, MC, MH, MQ, MS,
MY, ND, NH, NS, PA, PB, RC, RS, SB, SH,
SK, SP, SMG, TN, TR, VH, YK.
& all Moe Creative’s clientele & suppliers.
All for whom this issue was created, with
heart & much gratitude.
© 2020 Moe Creative Inc. All rights reserved.

ALL MY RELATIONS
Extend beyond the surface….
Meditate in that space where materiality and the fabric of existence are akin.
Probe deeply….
.…Remember.
Three simple words. Combined, they have the power to change the world.
“All My Relations” is a call to consciousness, and a bridge to universal connectivity.
The phrase, “All My Relations”, has been the fabric of First Nations, Métis and Inuit beliefs and
practices for centuries. Spoken in ceremony and prayer, it signifies deep awareness of the
interrelationships between the physical, elemental and spiritual realms. It honours the sacred
relations of everything seen and unseen; trees, stone, beetles, the sun and moon, for example, are
held in great reverence as ancestors and teachers central to existence. It is a phrase that embodies
oneness. And it’s home is found in the heart.
Common layers of analysis in this installation are dualistic tones such as nature vs. nurture, death/
decay vs. life, human vs. environment, stasis vs. movement, etc. However, when probed deeper,
awareness of the solid fragility of what appears as solid material is unsettling; the unfired clay body
dries and begins to crack and decompose over the duration of the exhibition, as will the soil and
sapling. The sculpture will depart the gallery in a different state from which it is first unveiled as a
result of one essential ingredient: water.
Do you recall that feeling when you took your last sip of water? Do you remember that sensation
you had when the sun’s heat sat upon your face? What about that space of stillness in between the
rhythm of trees dancing in the wind? What if, for one moment none of this existed? What then?
All My Relations is a tribute to remembering the depth of our reliance on air, water, sunlight, the
vibration of the Earth, and power of the universe for sustenance and perpetuation of life.
I was asked the other day by an artist friend:
“What one word or idea summarizes the idea of you?”
“Sustainability”, I blurted out.
I’d never actually thought about summarizing myself before, but in the moment
that I answered, I knew my subconscious blurt, revealed an underlying truth.
Absolutely there are many ways I could become MORE sustainable.
Couldn’t everyone?
But I think sustainability, in the way I think about it, is simply about doing my
best every day, to show responsible stewardship towards all aspects of my life
and surrounding environment.
So with that blurt in mind, I bring you this latest issue of Coffee with Moe.
I look forward to sharing a wealth of knowledge that I’ve gained from books,
mother nature, contemplation, fellow gardeners, artists, philosophers and my
own trial and error. Perhaps you’ll find some forgotten wisdom or some new
treasures amongst it’s pages. At the very least, you’ll find an assortment of
images and thoughts I’ve curated just for you.
So grab a cuppa, sit back and take your mind off current affairs while you sip,
flip and allow your thoughts to sustainably grow with the flow.
It’s so great to have you here!
Coffee is always better, shared together.
Peig Abbott enjoys creating works for the viewer to dive deep into seen and unseen worlds, unveiling
layers of meaning to stimulate authentic engagement. Captivated by the magic of how art can
engage and repel two different individuals, Abbott’s work provides a mirror for the viewer to explore
and reflect.
XO
Moe

DRAGON & DAMSEL FLIES
Dragon and Damsel flies are two of the many
beneficial fliers in your garden. Born in water,
they are two of many reasons that it’s very
important to do everything we can to promote
healthy waterways and not use poison.
These flying dragons are well known to eat
hundreds of midges, mosquitoes and horse
flies every single day. That is a whole lot of
summer relief in every single fly.
Beyond the bliss of not getting bit, Dragons and
Damsels help to reduce the diseases pest bugs
carry, such as West Nile in humans and Heart
Worm in our furry friends.
Worried that these fast fliers can or will some
how hurt you? Take a big sigh of relief. Not
even the largest of these insects has been
known to bite, and that barb-y tail is not a
stinger. (Phew!)

It may seem a little strange for me to be
talking about lawns. Especially since
about 10 years ago, I removed every
blade of grass from my yard.
The reason I made such a radical
change, began when researching
how to resurrect the sad little lawn I’d
inherited with my house. I found that
tens of millions of pounds in pesticides,
hundreds of millions of gallons of gas
and trillions of gallons of water were/
are being used to maintain lawns per
year? Impact from run off into our
water systems and drinking water not
to mention air born pollutants stacked
up to a whole lot of environmental
concerns. The idea of ripping the whole
lawn out for a reboot seemed beyond
a sustainable solution, it seemed
downright sensible.
Fast forward ten years and we still
find plenty of lawns subjected to the
“fast and easy” chemically supported
method of care. The good news is,
this doesn’t have to be the way it is.
With a growing global focus on the
environment, companies are starting to
see a monetary benefit to bringing back
more eco-friendly forms of lawn care.
You see it’s not that our lawns need
chemicals, it’s just that we’ve been
marketed that this is the only way they
will thrive.
(If you can’t live without your lawn,
this part is for you!)
When lawns first became a thing,
lawn seed packages contained more
than just lawn seed? It’s true. Clover
(a nitrogen fixer), tiny flowers to feed
the bees and other beneficial plants
to reduce soil compaction used to
naturally be part of each lawns ecosystem.
These additional plants helped
keep lawns and soil healthier with a
side benefit of assisting bio-diversity by
creating a lush oasis of food for birds,
bees and butterflies while providing a
healthy playground for our little ones
(children and pets alike)
Those days aren’t beyond us.
Companies are now seeing the value
of selling alternative lawn options
that require less water, less mowing
and no pesticides.
Things, it seems, are coming full circle.
Many seed companies are now offering
eco-friendly seed mixes to combat
drought conditions, soil recovery and
are as easy to use as overseeding the
lawn you already have in place.
It’s a win / win for lawn lovers and
nature alike. It’s time we play together
again.
Lawn & Order

I found this idealic scene just outside of
Carcassonne, a Unesco World Heritage
site, in the south of France.
The village was called Pennautier and it
had it’s very own chateau surrounded by
well manicured trees and a lush drought
resistant lawn.
Hours earlier, this front lawn was the
scene of a wildly chaotic Easter Egg hunt
for local children. Yet, after hours of
chaos and commotion, the sprawling lawn
revealed nothing, but it’s naturally rugged
beauty. (the little white and yellow dots are
hundreds of beneficial flowers)
A beautiful Easter memory filled with
chocolate, laughter and a reminder that
nature is so much more than meets the eye.
- Moe

Every phase of
your life teaches
you how to grow,
how to heal, and
how to deal.
- Anish Kapoor

Moon Savvy
I wasn’t always a green thumb. In fact, I
sometimes wonder if I actually am. Maybe
it’s that I put my trust in nature to do the
dirty work for me. In fact...
I know that’s what I do. Thanks Mother
Nature and Grandmother Moon, you really
know your stuff!
Have you ever wondered why certain,
usually seasoned, gardeners plant
earlier some years and later others? At
first, it may seem completely random,
but whenever they get to it, their
gardens seem to flourish with ease and
abundance.
Is this just the result of a green thumb? Or
is there something else at work?
I think it’s the latter. They’re likely tuned
into the natural rhythms of the earth
and how they relate to the gravitational
influence of the moon within their gardens.
It may sound a bit whacky at first, but it’s a
method that’s been used quite accurately
by farmers for centuries, to the benefit of
many bumper crops.
They call this method of gardening:
Gardening by the Moon and it saves
wasted time weeding when weeds are
firmly rooted, sewing seeds when the
ground is not optimal for growth and
planting seedlings out, before killing frosts
have subsided.
Is it possible for you to become a Moon
Savvy gardener too?
Absolutely.
Here are 5 easy ways that gardening by
the moon can transform your gardening
woes into results that will impress even
the best of gardeners.
Be aware, that these general rules take
into account seeds, root systems and
plant types. So they work regardless, if
you are planting indoors or out.
1.
Plant Annuals and vegetables that bear
fruit above ground from the day the moon
is new to the day the moon is full.
2.
Plant flowering bulbs, root vegetables,
biennial and perennial flowers from the
day after the moon is full to the day before
it’s a new moon again.
3.
The best time to weed, prune, mow and
thin plantings is after the full moon (I
usually wait a couple of days) until the
time of the new moon.
4.
During drought conditions, it is considered
best to plant just before the moon is full.

Moon Savvy cont’d
5. Find plenty more planting by the moon
information in the Farmers Almanac.
There are Canadian and American
versions chalk full of great articles and
the promise of bountiful results regardless
of where you live. Support the Farmers
Almanac by purchasing their on-line or
in print Almanac for about the price of a
large coffee. The Almanac is filled with fun
facts, interesting tips regarding Gardening
by the moon, tide schedules, weather and
more gardening plus a slew of other useful
information. Don’t tell them I said so, but I
think the almanac is an absolute steal!
Get yours here: www.almanac.com
Arm yourself with gardening know-how
that will serve to lessen your time toiling in
the soil and free up more time to enjoy the
fruits of your garden.
Who knows, maybe the joy of less
weeding is actually the reason why people
are seen dancing under the light of the
moon. Happy growing.

Mr Jack
Many moons ago, I had a very hungry Jack Rabbit who thought
my yard was the local supermarket. Day after day I watched him
eat and eat all of the ripening poppyseed heads until not a single
seed head remained for re-seeding the following spring.
While I understood that this fuzzy fellow needed to eat, and
that his ancestors probably grazed freely where my house now
stood, I still needed a plan. A plan that would make us both
happy. So, the following spring, I not only bought more poppy
seeds, but I also bought a bunch of delicious looking lettuce for
Mr Jack.
Off I went at planting time, making sure that patches of lettuce
were obscuring my poppy patch from view. As the spring days
grew longer, the lettuce grew beautifully lush. I was sure my
poppies were saved until that fateful morning when I opened my
bathroom window to see, Mr Jack, politely poised on a lovely
cool pillow of lettuce. In his hands and fattening cheek, a
decidedly more delicious poppy seed head.
Mr Jack taught me a few very critical lesson that summer:
• Be sure to plant him a sacraficial menu that is more appealing
than what I want to save.
• Create protective and mutually beneficial barriers
• or simply plant a more abundant swath of my favourites.
These 3 measures have helped my relationship with Mr Jack
tremendously.
How did I manage to appease Mr Jack? I chose to plant a delicious
thicket of wild roses over and around his entrance to my
garden. While he loves the rose-hips with as much vigour as the
poppies, he’s actually giving my rose bushes a handy little
pruning, while saving me from the prickly potential of having to
weed new seedlings.
Now that’s what I call living in harmony!
Rabbit Resistant Plants
• Lantana
• Pot Marigold
• Snapdragons
• Wax Begonias
• Geraniums
• Vinca
• Salvia
• Sunflowers
• Milk Weed
• Globe Thistle
• Sweet Alyssum
• Catmint
• Wormwood
• Shirley Poppies
• Strawflower
• Floss Flower
• Peppers
• Tomatoes
• Artichokes
• Asperagus
• Onions
• Squash
• Potatoes
• Cucumber
• Corn
• Garlic
• Leeks
• Rhubarb
• Gooseberries
• Many herbs...

Mr Jack cont’d
To be clear, most critters can be deterred but not completely
eliminated. After all, our gardens are sometimes the only nature
that animals can access. They’re not trying to tick us off, they’re
actually just trying to survive without central heating,
grocery stores or the natural environment that was around
before the city, town or farm you’re part of eliminated their
natural food sources. As stewards of our land, it’s really
important that we understand that while we might only see the
destruction they cause, there is nothing on this planet that is
without it’s value. Our eco-sytem is all interconnected.
The best thing to do is to cultivate a climate that is less
hospitable to your gardening foes. Allow them to migrate to
richer pastures and here are some of the ways you can do just
that:
Empty standing water, plant scented herbs and plants like
lavender or geranium while wearing light toned clothes to deter
mosquitoes
Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around affected plants, keep beer
traps and reduce soppy wet areas to deter slugs
Rake up debris around your garden and keep the ground
beneath your bird feeders cleaned up to deter mice from finding
food and lodging on your property.
Plant herbs or follow companion gardening practices to deter
many bugs including aphids from your precious plants.
To deter squirrels, add baffles to your big bird feeders and metal
collar your trees.
For deer, ask your local zoo for predator manure to frighten deer
away, or plant a deterring perimeter so they simply move on.
Deer Resistant Plants
• Fox Glove
• Ferns
• Wormwoods
• Larkspur
• Broom
• Asters
• Snapdragons
• Baptisia
• Buddleia
• Allium (Onion
family of plants)
• Lavender
• Borage
• Pot Marigolds
• Bergamots
• Fescues
• Rugosa Roses
• Salvia
• Vibernum
• Catnips
• Asperagus
• Rhubarb
• Eggplant
• Artichoke
• Fig
• Carrots
• Fennel
• Echinacea
• Forget-me-not
• Many herbs...

Blossom Buddies
I believe life is so much better with friends and I’m not
the only one. Plants feel that way too. I noticed the
astonishing difference in the growth of plants when
they were with friends vs alone quite a while ago and
decided to look into it.
Thats when I found out about companion plants.
Companions are plant besties that, like any good
friend, helps their buddies thrive. The first way is
by living in close proximity. Sometimes this creates
weather shelter, sometimes they increase useful
nutrients like nitrogen to the soil, sometimes they repel
harmful bugs. However they contribute, the bottom line
is, that your desired veggies, fruits and flowers thrive
easier with a little help from their friends
How can you go about planting companions? Here are
some helpful hints:
THE UPSIDE OF COMPANION PLANTING
1
Companion planting doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
Many plants can be easily grown by seed for a fraction
of what it would cost to buy seedlings.
2.
Borage and other flowers are not just pretty faces.
They are a great addition to the garden, because
beyond their beauty, they attract pollinators which can
increase your yields.
3.
Companion plants can invite more than pollinators to
your yard. Some attract beneficial bugs like ladybugs
and spiders who work along side companions to dine
on harmful bugs that are persistent enough to make it
through your companion’s defences.

cont’d
THE DOWN SIDE OF COMPANION PLANTING
1.
Some plants, like people, just don’t get along. It
happens. Be sure when looking up companions, you
also look up what plants don’t play well together and
why.
2.
Companion planting helps, it’s not a miracle worker.
Enlist the help of simple fencing or netting, plant
nutrition and perhaps an organic soap spray along the
way.
3.
Companion planting may seem confusing at first and
sometimes there is even conflicting information on the
internet. The best thing you can do, is don’t over think
it. Do what you can, experiment for yourself and keep
a log of what works and what doesn’t so that you grow
into a confident guru of your own little patch.
An extra tip or two:
Plant specific websites such as:
www.gardeningknowhow.com can become great
resources to help you start your exploration of the right
companions for your yard and planting zone.
If you are more of a book worm, a great companion
planting book is called:
Carrots Love Tomatoes, by Louise Riott
or again, the Farmers Almanac (no I am not sponsered
by them, I’ve just gleaned loads of useful knowledge
from the pages of their publications)
ps. Tomatoes & Basil are well known companions.
Not only on the table, but in the garden too.

We all know these are hard times.
No one needs me to confirm that for
them. We’re entering a brave new world
that is a mix of emotional strife and joy
with a pinch of (sometimes scary) new
potential. It’s a strange brew. Not a blend
that many of us would take on willingly.
But here we are.
I trust that you enjoyed this edition of
Coffee with Moe. That it might contribute
in some way to the growth of a good,
wholesome and rewarding life around you
and within you. Every moment we spend
doing meditative tasks like moments
enjoyed over warm beverages, reading,
gardening, playing or listening to music
etc. Let’s us grow in unexpected ways
and that is what I want for you.
May this movement into spring allow
you to plant new ideas and beauty in
your own unique ways. Thanks so much
for joining me for this cuppa and I look
forward to connecting with you again
soon.
XO
Moe

Catch you
this October
for the next
Coffee with Moe!