What Does Retirement Look Like at Eco-Sense?

Gord and I have reached that age when many of our friends are “Retiring”.  We have always joked that in Nature, retirement means you’re dead.  But at nearly 57 and 59, we are no where near dead.  We are going strong…but there are more things we want to do and experience before we “retire” to the compost pile.

Life is short and the world is getting crazier by the day…Are you’re paying attention?

Skip this next paragraph if you are paying attention or don’t want a depressing refresher.

Between the genocides and human suffering, killing of protestors, events in Gaza, Ukraine, Iran, Israel, Venezuela, Greenland, Canadian separatists, US tariffs – economic crises, the crumbling of democracy, ICE, the insanity of misinformation, obscene and rising global inequality, the explosion of AI, the breaching of seven of nine planetary boundaries, the us versus them othering, the psychopathic governance of the Un-UnitedSA, and so on, one could easily fall into deep despair and hopelessness.  But not us…we still have work to do…meaningful work. The reality that our crumbling civilization could result in a global war is one hell of an opportunity for positive change.

So…2026 is a time of transition globally as well as here at Eco-Sense. We have many ideas we are exploring for the next stage of our lives…but… we need to make some space in the busyness.

Step one in making space in our lives is to wind down the Eco-Sense Nursery.  We’ve been propagating and selling food producing perennials for over a decade. We love this meaningful work, but it takes a significant amount of our physical and mental capacity.  Our permaculture homestead with maturing abundance is producing an ever increasing amount of food…which was the plan. Our focus now for the farm is to share and sell this food in our community.

BIG NURSERY SALE – Starting now until June 30th, 2026

Email Ann for appointments:  ann@eco-sense.ca 

• 20% off all our plants (Prices include the GST)
  • Inventory List Here
• 30% off all sales over $400
  • you save ~$120 when you buy ~14 trees/bushes/vines
• Fresh cuttings and scion wood for propagating and grafting your own trees. $2-10. Please request ahead of time.
• Potted up rootstocks for grafting onto ($10-15)
  • Apple (M7, M26, G222, M106, M111)
  • Plum (St. Julian)- (Gord won’t sell as he has been growing these out for special trees)
  • Pear OHXF 87 and 97
• Bare root rootstocks (until they leaf out in March)
  • American persimmon $20
  • Apple, M106 $10
  • Quince $20
• We also have some trees free to a good home with a purchase.  These free trees are not perfect,…they’re funny looking, root bound, or unknown cultivar.

Special Custom Grafting Day – SUNDAY Feb. 22, 2026 from 10am-2pm

• Do you have a family favourite Apple, Plum, or Pear tree growing that you want to propagate to make another identical tree for yourself or as a gift?  Now is your chance to bring a piece of Scion wood and Gord will graft for you.  He can also do multi grafts from your scion wood or ours.  Cost is about $10-$20 for the rootstock and $10 for each graft. Most grafts will be successful with a take rate of 80-90%  if you look after them and remove grafting tape later in the summer
• Nursery will be open this day as well.
• 3295 Compton Road, Victoria, BC

In other news…We had quite a set back in our plans for winter.

Pumpkin did this!

Pumpkin after surgery to put a plate and 6 screws in

yikes

Kitties love Pumpkin’s floor bed

A Christmas splint

I wonder what can be made with Husky fur?

Pumpkin has been a very good patient, however, she required a tremendous amount of care (and $) the first 6 weeks, with vet visits 2 times a week in the beginning, multiple X-rays, and a second surgery to remove the plate later this week…then comes the custom made brace to allow the soft tissue damage to heal.  We thank our Surgeon Dr. Audrey who was recommended by our vet Dr. Leith in what was close to being an amputation.  Pumpkin’s step mom’s Sparky and Stormy helped raise her from a puppy and have kept close to Pumpkin with many cat scans, and cuddles.  Also thanks to our friend and neighbour Maia who also has a special Pumpkie/Scrumpie bond.  In fact Maia started a Go Fund Me for pets to contribute to her care and raised about 1/4 of the cost of the vet bills.  We are so grateful.

Meanwhile Gord is back at his desk designing potable rainwater harvesting systems for a variety of clients.  We had put this on hold as we worked on other projects and figured out proper business insurance for this kind of new and emerging work. So it’s heads down for both of us now to keep up with the bills.

We continue to have much gratitude for all of life’s joys, challenges, lessons, and puzzles. Hope all of you are finding joy and gratitude in this crazy ride called life.

Ann and Gord