African agricultural event gives women information and leadership skills
Luskaka, Zambia Toting bags of information pamphlets and seed packets, Suzen and Mary Mungulube leave the Zambian Agri-tech Expo grounds full of excitement. “We’ve learned so much,” Suzen said. Shy, Mary just nods. The two African village farmers, who rarely travel beyond their nearest small town, were sponsored to attend the biggest agriculture event in […] Read moreStories by Marianne Stamm
Organic facts
The person who wrote “E. coli deaths in Europe preventable” on page 11 (opinion) of the July 7 issue ofThe Western Producerdoesn’t have their facts right. I returned from Switzerland a week ago, where this topic was the hot item in the papers and on the news for the last weeks. False media reports and […] Read more
Swiss take country-of-origin labelling seriously
COOL is not a discussion in Switzerland. It just is. “Country-of-origin regulations are actually always protection for a country’s own producers,” said Hans Schneebeli of the province of Zurich’s food safety department. Almost all fresh meat, even in the big grocery chains, seems to be from Switzerland, even though meat is produced much cheaper in […] Read more
Average home uses 329 litres per day
Canadians use a lot of water. Environment Canada says the average Canadian household used 329 litres of water a day in 2004, compared to the European average of 200 litres per day and 10 to 20 litres per day in sub-Saharan Africa. It seems Canadians have something to learn about water conservation. Three families in […] Read more
Magazine focuses on stories of rural women
Cindy McKay hopes to give Canadian farm women their due. “Women are the backbone, the heart and soul of rural Canada,” she said. Hearts of the Country, a national publication now preparing its fourth issue, focuses on rural women and provides a forum and network to help improve and preserve a rural way of life. […] Read more
Diaries of a Global Farmer from January 15, 2009
Jan. 12: Schleitheim, Switzerland. Sun streams through the big windows of our little apartment and upon the roses from Robert’s parents that sit on the antique table before me. Outside the snow almost blinds my eyes. We landed to blowing snow, almost like what we left in Edmonton, except that it’s not as cold here […] Read more
Diaries of a Global Farmer
Clothes are scattered in piles on the floor – sleeveless blouses, skirts and shorts for Africa, heavy sweaters for Europe, my books on tropical herbal medicine, Robert’s building tools – utility knife, multipurpose screwdriver, carpenter’s pencils, measuring tape. The power, gas and phone bills are paid. Our will and insurance is up to date. I […] Read more
Four generations of love and agriculture on Triple Creek Farm
DAPP, Alta. – On Aug. 2, Luke Seatter looked at Jessica van Dijken, standing at the edge of the Pembina River, and repeated, “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer.” They seem fitting words for a fourth generation farmer. The ups and downs of farming and marriage are no strangers to Triple Creek Farm. […] Read more
Diaries of a global farmer
Robert and I took a few days off from visiting relatives last week and toured some of southern Germany and northeastern France. Switzerland is fascinating because you can so quickly enter another culture, language and country. Two to three hours driving and you will be in France, Germany, Austria or Italy. This also means a […] Read more
Diaries of a global farmer
Dec. 28, 1991: On a clear frosty morning, we take a last look back at the Emmerhof, our farm in Switzerland that we’ve just sold, and then turn our faces toward Canada. Like many Swiss before us, we are immigrating to a land where we hope better opportunities await us as farmers. I am a […] Read more
