Reawaken to more sunlight, the cheerful chirping birds, the sound of water running as the winter melts away and tulips popping through the still chilled earth. We even resort to a smile as we see rubber boots stuck in a puddle and mud covered clothes. Springtime is fun. It is the time of year for […] Read more
Farm Living — page 271
Regulators outline Alberta’s cannabis plan
Medical marijuana is legal in Canada with a doctor’s prescription, but once the recreational form is allowed later this year, the game changes. It is a new industry drawing a lot of attention, said Jenna Hall of Health Canada’s cannabis legislation and regulation branch. “We have been living in a prohibition based regime for 100 […] Read more
Reviewing the available options for addiction treatment
Q: I do not think that there is any doubt that our son-in-law is into addictions. Whether it is alcohol, drugs or both, I am not sure. What I admire is the extent to which our daughter has been working patiently with him to help him understand that all of this is out of control. […] Read more
Alta. introduces proposals to help municipalities better handle disasters
The Alberta government is hoping new regulatory changes will help municipalities better respond to fires, flooding or other natural disasters in their communities. The proposed changes were tabled in the legislature today. The province plans to consult municipalities, First Nation and Métis communities and citizens on the changes before going forward with them. While more […] Read more
Cold delays provincial highway weight restrictions
Saskatchewan’s highways ministry announced April 2 that it has suspended road bans on provincial highways. The move means spring weight restrictions will not be applied to provincial highways, at least not for the time being. However, bans on some rural municipality roadways remain in effect. Cold weather has delayed the spring thaw in Saskatchewan, meaning […] Read more
Feds to hike international aid spending
The Canadian Foodgrains Bank is happy with the $600 million increase included in the latest federal budget
The Canadian Foodgrains Bank is pleased with the Canadian government’s recent budget announcement to increase international assistance by $600 million after five years. “We are welcoming this step that’s been taken in this budget as good news,” said Jim Cornelius, executive director of the non-profit agency based in Winnipeg. “The current international assistance budget is […] Read more
Livestock operation believes in the benefits of diversification
PONOKA, Alta. — Mark Stewart recalls the most memorable teaching moment he received at Olds College in 1987. “They said to diversify,” he said. Not only did he take that advice to heart, but he and his wife, Tina, who own MSW Farms at Ponoka, have taken it to another level. Tina was raised on […] Read more
Traditional Easter meal serves up lamb
Serving lamb at Easter became a custom long before the birth of Christianity. According to the Exodus story in the Bible, Jews painted their doorposts with lamb’s blood so God would pass over their homes. Egypt was suffering from many plagues including the death of all first-born sons. Later, the Jews who converted to Christianity […] Read more
Easter in southern Sask. — 1930s style
Preparing for the Easter holiday was a particular challenge for many prairie families during the Dirty Thirties
It was the mid-1930s and the week before Easter. For a month, my mother had been gathering and saving onion skins to make Easter eggs. She had also put aside about five dozen eggs over the past month that she had collected from our few egg-laying hens. As a young boy, I looked fondly on […] Read more
Ranch strives for environmental balance
Alberta’s Shoestring Ranch was founded on the philosophy of year-round grazing where the cows do the work
ACME, Alta. — Continuous improvement is the philosophy at Shoestring Land and Cattle Company Ltd. Owned by Ian and Carman Murray and their children Ty, 12, and Amber, six, the family was named Alberta’s environmental stewardship award winners as early adopters of techniques that protect the land and the water. Over time, the ranch near […] Read more
