ROBLIN, Man. — Representing a region’s interest and giving voice to its concerns are behind Floyd Martens’ longtime service on school boards in Manitoba and now nationally. “When decisions are made from somewhere else by people who don’t understand the local community, it may or may not be in the best interest of the community,” […] Read more
Farm Living
National school board chair willing to listen
Prairies are blooming: preserving heritage, natural beauty
Any drive through the Prairies will reveal familiar signage, with some version of the sign, ”Proud to Be a Community in Bloom.” CIB is a volunteer-based non-profit Canadian organization committed to fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification through community participation and the challenge of involvement in an internationally recognized Quality of Life program. It […] Read more
Putting Canada on the map sip by sip
Vancouver Island couple proud to offer tea boasting unique flavours produced on Canada’s first commercial tea farm
WESTHOLME, B.C. — Many said it couldn’t be done, but a couple on Vancouver Island have grown their passion for tea culture into Teafarm, Canada’s first commercial tea growing operation. This summer, Victor Vesely and Margit Nellemann are celebrating the first estate-grown Canadian tea. It was released at a special celebration in July, the culmination […] Read more
The spectacular sights of Cape Breton’s Cabot Trail
L istings of the most scenic drives in North America usually rank the Cabot Trail on Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island near the top. We decided to see what all the fuss is about and discovered a rare place that more than met our expectations. A third of the loop route snakes through Cape Breton […] Read more
Beef herd expands slightly
The Canadian beef herd has shown a slight expansion of 1.3 percent compared to last summer, making it the first year-over-year increase since 2012. The Statistics Canada livestock inventory report released today reported growth in the cattle and hog sectors but a decline for the sheep business. The beef herd is at 13.2 million head […] Read more
Cattle breeders have fingers in many pies
Couple has off-farm jobs, raise purebred Black Angus, grow feed, sell embryos and sit on a sustainable development board
BENITO, Man. — Escapes to cattle shows and the lake are necessary distractions for the busy Tibble family. Cindy and Scott have balanced careers on and off the farm while raising three school-aged children: Martina, Robyn and Parker. “You almost have to get away from everything just to relax,” said Cindy of days at a […] Read more
Hail claims stay above five-year average
July 21 and July 24 were notable days in Alberta. They were the only days within a two-week stretch when no hailstorms occurred in the province. But in all three prairie provinces, the number of hail claims is greater than the five-year average as reported by the Canadian Crop Hail Association. “Claim numbers are very […] Read more
Ducks Unlimited wants wetlands law re-introduced in Manitoba
Ducks Unlimited Canada is calling on the Manitoba government to pass legislation protecting wetlands as soon as possible. Manitoba’s former NDP government introduced surface water management legislation last year that would have had a lasting impact on rural landowners. The NDP failed to introduce the bill for a vote in the legislature, so it never […] Read more
Boerboels make loyal friends
Manitoba dog breeders raise these dogs to ward off bears and wolves, but say they also make gentle and obedient pets
PINE RIVER, Man. — Jeremiah, the South African Boerboel stud, eats five cups of food a day and weighs 195 pounds. This well muscled dog is often seen patrolling Deb and Willy Malcolm’s farm property but can also be found cuddling with them on the living room couch. The cattle producers from Pine River, Man., […] Read more
Pavelich farm cultivates healthy lifestyle
Couple enjoys growing their own food, operates a bed and breakfast and rents land to neighbours to grow forage
KENASTON, Sask. — It doesn’t take long to get a sense of what matters most to Gene and Glen Pavelich. After approaching their farmyard along a quiet treed driveway, visitors enter a serene Saskatchewan rural oasis, complete with hand-made chicken coops, manicured lawns, beds of perennials, shrubs, brilliant flowers of every description, and carefully tended […] Read more
