MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — The internet gives young people more access to nutritional information than previous generations, but a dietitian recently warned students to have a healthy skepticism. Hannah Da Silva, a registered dietitian and researcher from Toronto, recently told the National 4-H Members Forum that many differing messages are spread through social media sites that […] Read more
Stories by Karen Morrison
Stressed out? How to cope
Ask for help | Some stress can be positive, but ‘ugly’ stress can lead to anxiety and depression
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — Taking care of mental health is just as important as monitoring physical health, young people were told during the recent National 4-H Members Forum. Simon Greenbush of the Rawdon 2-Way 4-H Club in Newport, N.S., said skiing is his stress relief. “There’s lots of different ways to be active to help you […] Read more
Renewed interest in old-fashioned skills
Home canning | Younger generation at the forefront of a trend to bring back home canning techniques
TORONTO — Home canning is undergoing a renaissance among a growing number of consumers who want to know what’s in the food they eat. Entries in the home crafts categories at this year’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair exceeded 400, up from last year, said Peter Hohenadel, the fair’s director of agriculture and food. Recent additions […] Read moreLabs illustrate link between science, healthy environment
WOODBRIDGE, Ont. — A new chemistry workshop for elementary schoolchildren is showing the role science plays in protecting the environment. The 45 minute We Dig Soil workshops that BASF developed will be presented to 800 grades 4 to 6 students in 30 western rural schools this fall. Christina Stroud of BASF said the lab includes […] Read more
Conservation program targets species at risk
WOODBRIDGE, Ont. — Young people who have close encounters with the natural world are more likely to protect it, say Earth Rangers Centre staff. 4-H members recently got a chance to experience this as they toured the conservation centre. During the tour, Finigan the bald eagle patiently perched and Hudson the Eurasian lynx hopped onto […] Read more
Research key to success, says P.E.I. winemaker
Be unique | Winery operator says if it’s a novel idea, it will probably work
MURRAY RIVER, P.E.I. — John Rossignol sailed up the Northumberland Strait and into a grape growing hobby that became a first-of-its-kind business for the island province. Rossignol Estate Winery grew from its owner’s desire to make a living on a farm while enjoying a rural lifestyle. Being the first in an industry was fraught with […] Read more
Raising money with flowers
YORK, P.E.I. — Venturing into the U.S. fundraising market has been a risk worth taking for Veseys Seeds. Business has been strong enough since the seed and gardening supply company acquired Flower Power Fundraising last year to support new office and call centre staff. “It’s good for business and good for local people wanting jobs,” […] Read more
Garden varieties carefully selected
Bulb sales | Seed company looks for certain traits before importing bulbs to Canada
YORK, P.E.I. — A job with a seed company is a dream come true for an avid gardener like Glenn Holmes. “It never crosses my mind I’m at work, it’s very grounded when working in the earth,” he said. Meeting and working with plant breeders and growers overseas are just icing on the cake for […] Read moreScare tactics ineffective when promoting farm safety
Farmer awareness | Cost, not threat of accidents, important, says official
OTTAWA — Emotion can change behaviour, a broadcaster recently told those involved with farm safety. Terry O’Reilly, author and host of CBC’s Under the Influence, spoke about effective ways to communicate safety messages to the farm community during the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association’s annual conference held in Ottawa Oct. 7-9. “People have to feel the […] Read moreFarmers at risk for obesity, sleep deprivation
OTTAWA — Increased levels of sleep deprivation and obesity in farmers are emerging concerns for safety advocates. Will Pickett of Queen’s University’s department of public health sciences shared the latest results of the ongoing Saskatchewan Farm Injury Project at the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association conference this month. The study found farmers often work 80 to […] Read more
