After covering the home improvement industry for more than 20 years, I'm still astounded at the number of innovative products that keep coming on the market. Some are brand new inventions from Canadian companies, and some are time-tested ideas from around the world that are just now making it to this country.

At a recent press preview for a new hardware and garden trade show that will be held in Toronto in October, several Canadian distributors and manufacturers showed off a wide range of products for the home and garden -- from hen manure to spray-on mould control. And one thing that many of the new products have in common is that they are designed to do a job without harming the environment.

For example, Siamons International Inc. of Toronto introduced Concrobium Mold Control , which is sprayed on surfaces to stop mould. The solution "dries on surfaces to create an invisible antimicrobial shield that encapsulates and kills fungi, prevents mould growth and eliminates musty odours," says a company news release.

It's the first product of its kind to be approved by Health Canada and has no bleach, ammonia, alcohol or other dangerous chemicals, says the company. It is composed entirely of FDA-approved food additives, and the company says it can be used safely around children.

It's sold in small spray bottles for consumer use, or in larger containers that contractors can use to fog into an entire room or into inaccessible areas such as crawlspaces, where mould may become a problem. The product is available now at Home Depot stores across Canada.

Entrepreneur Robert Desilets, who operates a poultry farm in Quebec, wondered what he could do with the more than 2,000 tons of manure that his birds produced annually. He didn't like the idea of "over-fertilizing good farmland." In the early 1990s, he and daughter Claudia discovered a process in France that transforms manure into 95 per cent dry material. After bringing a modified version of the process home in 1995, they developed a way to turn hen manure into dry fertilizer, and Acti-Sol was born. They now offer drying machines to other poultry farmers in Quebec, and take the manure to recycle and market it.

Acti-Sol has developed fertilizer for plants, vegetables, lawns, shrubs and bushes. The product is simply sprinkled on the soil. It's safe for children and pets and has no unpleasant smell, the company says. Squirrels don't like it, however, so it's great for bulbs, the company says. Previously available only in Quebec, Acti-Sol is now expanding to include Ontario markets.

In Vancouver, sisters Kim Cassar Torreggiani and Vikki Olson came up with a simple way to get rid of those annoying wasps that like to ruin outdoor picnics and barbecues. It's called the Original Waspinator , and it works like a scarecrow, mimicking an enemy wasp nest. Wasps can see colours and shapes, the company says, and when they see the Waspinator, they'll stay away.

The product is waterproof and can be folded up to take with you on your picnics. It doesn't act as a trap to kill wasps, it simply keeps them away.

"Chemical sprays are terrible for the environment, plus they kill the wasps, which play an important role in nature," says Cassar Torreggiani in a news release. The Original Waspinator retails for $9.99 and is available at retailers across Canada.

Prime Way Companies in Welland, Ont. is marketing a number of products from the United States and elsewhere. One is the Frame-Tamer, an all-in-one tool that helps centre, level and secure photos to the wall. The product includes a built-in level, centring cord, tack storage compartment and two different types of tacks.

Another simple but good idea is the Paint Fresh Tray -- a paint tray that comes with a lid so it keeps the paint, roller and brush fresh if you need to stop painting for awhile. You can take a break for up to several days without having to clean up the paint tools, the company says. It is currently looking for distributors for these products.

Another cool product that's new to Canada is the EverEdge, a simple steel garden edging that will bend and curve to any shape. It's easy to create clean 90 degree angles or any design you need, and the edging pieces lock easily together. More information is available from the EverEdge website in Ireland.

Yaktrax , distributed in Canada by Interest Industries in Vancouver, is a winter footwear device that acts like winter chains on tires. The product fits over your boots to provide extra traction on slippery winter surfaces, but can be easily slipped off and folded into a bag or pocket. They won't damage floors, the company says.

The Canadian home improvement industry grew nearly nine per cent in 2005 to $35 billion, according to industry figures. With that kind of growth, you can bet that a lot more new products will soon be coming on the market.