I’d say, as a gardener on Gabriola, most if not all of about a population of about 5,000 of us on Gabriola Island, garden.  The few of us that don’t, are not that far away from finding the ways and means of procuring choice some greens, flowers, produce at all times of the year.  We’re surrounded by the Salish Sea, within the Gulf Islands on the west coast of Canada.  A moderate climate, and careful tenure, we can enjoy the fruits of our labour all year long.  Our monthly meeting cumulated 2011’s member’s open garden tour with a slide show by Jinny Hayes, and wonderful, thoughtful readings by Naomi Beth Wakan highlighting colour in our gardens from the progression of pink, purple, yellow, green, brown, white.  Appreciated the first time through, we just had to repeat Jinny’s photographic splendour a second time, with oh’s and ah’s and smiles and delighted laughter.  You know you are with kin of this sort when the evening moves gentle as the wind from perusing the lending library, to the tool of the month demo, and on to the plant or plants of the month which doing best in the garden at this time of year.  Varga and Gail described several plants which in winter, show off the best.    Book reviews by Sue Dunn and then followed by Sonja Baker reminding us of what we can be doing in the garden in January. Yes, there are always lots to do.   We meet monthly at the Agi Hall, on Gabriola, first Thursday of the month except in summer.  Come join us.  Even if you haven’t lifted a pitch fork, or ploughed a field, bet our enthusiasm will find you thinking of those heritage tomatoes, clematis’, or wandering a sacred space you created yourself.  All in peacefulness and huge satisfaction.