Q: I would like to know how to say goodbye. Seven years ago, I graduated from university and took a job teaching Grade 3 out here in the country. I would never have guessed when I took that job that I would be opening myself to so much in life. I was a young, single […] Read more
Farm Living
Saying goodbye essentially means letting go
When children learn to use the phone
Kids have a much more casual acceptance of telecommunications technology than when the author was a young child
My granddaughter, Lucy, learned how to call me on the phone when she was four years old. At any time, I can expect an excited little girl to reply when I answer the phone. I’m amazed she can do this on her own but even more so because she uses an old dial telephone. Her […] Read more
Expanding your egg menu? There are plenty of options
Eggs are an amazing food. They are nutritious, easy to prepare, adaptable and essential in many recipes. They are an excellent source of complete protein and contain 14 important nutrients like vitamins A, D, E, folate, iron and zinc. A large egg contains about 6.5 grams of protein and being a complete protein means they […] Read more
Producer settles down after life on the road
On the Farm: Blake Brownridge spent 12 years harvesting other producers’ crops before deciding to start a farm of his own
ARCOLA, Sask. — Blake Brownridge didn’t have your typical start in farming. His entrance into seeding and harvesting his own land came at age 30, after 12 years of harvesting other people’s crops. The Arcola farmer began travelling on the custom-harvesting circuit when he was a teenager, spending every fall season in places like North […] Read more
Restaurant uses local ingredients in typical Asian dishes
Beautifully framed by both foothills and grassland, Calgary is one of my favourite prairie cities. Not only does the landscape captivate me, the ever-expanding food scene has long been recognized as having some of the top restaurants in Canada. And, not much happens in Calgary’s culinary world without hearing the respected name of Chef Duncan […] Read more
Black and white threat was cause for alarm
The arrival of the school inspector was almost as dreaded an occasion as a skunk making itself at home on the farm
Skunks made regular calls to our chicken house, cranky old clucks notwithstanding. I went to gather eggs one day and as I approached, there was a black and white “kitty” we didn’t own looking out at me from the hen house. I beat a hasty retreat with my basket, while the skunk just ambled off […] Read more
Letter writing helps ease the pandemic blues
The project matched a senior with a Grade 6 student, who was given time in class to write a letter to his or her pen pal
I was hesitant to pick up the senior’s package at the local library fearing that it would contain pictures to colour and notices about activities I could get involved in. I have difficulty embracing retirement and being a senior, in that order. The cover page of the package, however, drew me in — one of […] Read moreSuccess in life often depends on setting our own expectations
Q: I am feeling somewhat embarrassed for our daughter. She was for many years the star of our small community. She was top of her class for graduation, a winner at our track and field meets and clearly a favourite among her teachers. She played piano for our Sunday school and was a gem around […] Read more
Sask. budget boosts ag spending
Saskatchewan’s second pandemic budget contains extra money for agriculture. Finance minister Donna Harpauer delivered the 2021-22 budget April 6. It includes agriculture estimates of $386.97 million, up from last year’s estimate of $363.9 million. The bulk of that increase is for business risk management spending, which is up about $20 million to cover off the […] Read more
Grain rescue – photo essay
Photo essay | The fire department in Magrath, Alta., recently held a training event to teach volunteer firefighters from southern Alberta how to perform grain entrapment rescues. The March 20 session used wheat for the simulation, in part because it is not as itchy as barley. Smaller material such as canola can be even more constrictive on a person who accidentally becomes entrapped in a bin, but regardless of material, entrapment can be fatal. Among other things, firefighters learned how to handle a small auger that extracts grain from around a person trapped in a bin. They ran through the protocol before undertaking a rescue involving actual grain and extraction made possible by a mobile unit dedicated to the purpose. The training unit allows rescue personnel to learn and practice grain extraction using a realistic scenario. | Barb Glen photos
The fire department in Magrath, Alta., recently held a training event to teach volunteer firefighters from southern Alberta how to perform grain entrapment rescues. The March 20 session used wheat for the simulation, in part because it is not as itchy as barley. Smaller material such as canola can be even more constrictive on a […] Read more
