The nutrition co-ordinator at Montmartre School in eastern Saskatchewan offers students more than just hot lunches
MONTMARTRE, Sask. — When you walk in the door, the mouth-watering aroma of fresh buns envelopes the senses. In the kitchen, it quickly becomes evident that the homey smell is from so much more than fresh bread — it’s from pizza buns, cinnamon buns, pulled pork, chili, chocolate-chip cookies and peanut butter squares. Charlotte Shewchuk […] Read moreStories by Freelance writer
Increased CO2 exposure can hinder crop growth
Researchers discover that plants exposed to higher carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere take up less phosphorus
Researchers have discovered that when plants are exposed to increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the phosphorus levels in their shoots and leaves decrease. Phosphorus is essential for growth but researchers at Michigan State University have discovered that the phosphorus reduction is an adaptive response of plants to increasing carbon dioxide levels worldwide. […] Read more
Greenhouse operators embrace new technology
Horticultural business adopts a specialized machine that eliminates the drudgery of sticking plants into a soil medium
STURGEON COUNTY, Alta. — Mindy and Justin Bidewell took a step to secure their horticulture future by investing in technology. One of the most laborious jobs in the greenhouse is to take a tiny plant stem with three tiny leaves and stick it into a soil medium and hope it grows. “If you were doing […] Read more
Sask. woman enjoys shooting from the horse
A commitment to push herself out of her comfort zone drew Judy Wright to the sport of cowboy mounted shooting
KENDAL, Sask. — At age 68, some are looking for ways to slow down. Not Judy Wright. She is looking for ways to speed up. The Regina psychologist gets on a fast horse several times a week, straps a loaded gun to her waist and shoots black-powder blanks off that horse’s back. “I’m going to […] Read more
Beaver activity improves water-holding capacity
The animals can significantly increase open water, raising the water table and making more of it available to vegetation
For higher water retention, erosion control, greater biodiversity, increased pollinators, fire resilience and more vital land systems, farmers might consider looking to the beaver. “There are many cost-effective strategies to manage the two f-words — flooding and foraging — when it comes to beavers,” says Kirby England, faculty instructor at Lethbridge College’s School of Environmental […] Read more
Winter is fun, but safety comes first
This time of year brings with it new risks on the farm, especially for children, and families are urged to play it safe
Keeping kids safe on the farm is a key consideration during the winter, whether it’s snow-submerged fence posts, hidden barbed wire on snowmobile trails, snow removal that reduces yard visibility or the exhaustion that comes with winter calving,. Snow sports, shifting weather, extreme cold and chores can add to safety risks. Trish Henderson and her […] Read more
Life has changed for Ukrainian farmer coping with war
Ukrainian farmer Yuriy Vovchenko survived the Russian occupation and constant shelling for eight months but his life has changed immeasurably. I have known him for years and since the invasion I have wanted to phone him many times but each time I dialed, I stopped, because I was afraid I might hear that he’d died. […] Read more
Methane studied in Japanese breed
Methane produced in the rumen of cattle during digestion is a potent greenhouse gas. Japan’s agricultural industry produced 29.3 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in 2020, accounting for 2.8 percent of the country’s total emissions. A quarter of that came from enteric fermentation within livestock. For years, researchers have been exploring feed additives and […] Read more
Old favourites still make the toy list
Every year has its fads, but parents are urged to also consider giving their children toys from the past this holiday season
If toy shoppers learned anything from the pandemic lockdown, it’s that tried and true toys, like board games, stand the test of time. Families began playing together as they had to stay together. Toy shopping became an online or curbside pick-up activity, so parents had to rely on advertising and their child’s wish list to […] Read more
Kids make memories in the kitchen
I used to cook with my oldest grandson before he started school and we would make pizza normally once a week. One day while we made pizza my young granddaughter was playing nearby while my grandson and I discussed how we should make coleslaw to serve with it. Two minutes later we heard a thud […] Read more
