As the rain makes a pitter-patter sound on my umbrella, Maria ‘tugs’ up some of her garlic at the Vancouver Compost Demonstration Garden. She braids the soft-necked variety into something quite beautiful, which she will hang in her kitchen.

A frantic scratching sound inside one of our unused standing rain barrels drew Joan’s attention to a trapped young raccoon, which had fallen through the small opening in the top. All of our barrels have screens covering the top hole except this one, which is not connected to a downspout.

We carefully tipped the barrel onto its side to allow the frightened animal to escape.