What Gardening Resources and Content Can I Find on the MGABC Website?

MGABC (Master Gardeners of BC) is a BC-wide association whose stated mandate is to promote sustainable gardening practices, with six chapters across the province providing education and science-based information to all gardeners. Its website is organized as a resource hub rather than a course platform: you can ask gardening questions, read articles on sustainable gardening and specific plants, find upcoming events and training programs, and browse recommended links. Everything below is free to read on the public site; the page evidence does not describe any paid membership area or login requirement, so treat any gated content as unconfirmed until you see it.

What the site covers

The homepage groups its material under a few clear themes:

• Sustainable gardening — the association's core focus, presented as science-based information for home gardeners.
• Events and training — Basic Training Programs, gardening events and lectures, seed swaps, and community happenings across the six chapters.
• Ask a gardening question — an invitation to submit questions, with answers published as "You Asked Us" posts (for example, October 2026 and September 2026 editions filed under Victoria).
• Plant-specific guidance — practical articles such as deer deterrence through strongly scented foliage, a list of useful garden plants, and a Mason Bee tip sheet.
• Recommended links — a curated list at the very bottom of the page.

Content formats: Watch, Read, Listen

The site explicitly labels a "Watch, Read, Listen" section, so expect a mix of video, written articles, and audio rather than text only. Recent posts show the pattern:

Posts are tagged by chapter and category, which makes it easy to follow the output of the chapter nearest you.

How to find what you need

1. Start with the topic menu. The homepage lists "Upcoming events," "Sustainable Gardening," and "How to join us" as entry points — pick the one matching your goal.
2. Scroll for the latest posts. The page says to scroll down for the newest articles or go to the bottom for recommended links.
3. Use the question route for specifics. If your issue isn't covered, submit it through the ask-a-gardening-question channel; answers appear as "You Asked Us" posts.
4. Check events for hands-on learning. Basic Training Programs and lectures are listed under events rather than as static pages.

A worked example

Suppose you want to keep deer out of a border. The site's deer article explains the mechanism — deer rely on smell to detect predators, so strongly scented foliage can make them uneasy and deter them from an area — and pairs it with a plant list. It also includes a caveat worth taking seriously: "Deer don't read lists." Use the article to choose candidates, then expect to test them in your own garden.

Regional and seasonal content

Coverage extends beyond the Lower Mainland. A post on the Khasdzoon Yusk'ut Botanical Garden in Prince George — Dakelh for "Red Maple of the Hill," opened June 2025 and described as Canada's most northerly botanical garden — shows the site reports on northern BC projects, run by the David Douglas Botanical Garden Society with the Lheidli T'enneh First Nation and the University of Northern BC. If you garden outside Victoria or Vancouver, scan for your region's chapter tag.

What to expect and what to verify

• Expect educational articles, Q&A answers, event listings, and external links — not a searchable plant database.
• Verify dates and event details on the individual post, since listings are dated and change.
• Check whether a Basic Training Program has prerequisites or fees by following its event page; the homepage excerpt does not state costs or registration terms.