We look forward to corn season all year long. Harvested at the peak of ripeness, corn is great boiled, grilled, sauted or simply raw. How to choose and store corn Peeling leaves back to peek at the kernels is not proper corn buying etiquette. Doing this makes the cob become shrivelled and starchy sooner. A […] Read more
Farm Living
Life hectic raising kids, healing sick animals
BALMORAL, Man. — Neil Versavel is not the type of person who likes to sit and relax. Sitting in an office chair inside his veterinary clinic 20 minutes north of Winnipeg, Versavel held his one-month-old son, Aiden, and continually swivelled the chair back and forth for seven to 10 minutes. Many people rock or sway […] Read more
Rash caused by shingles virus best treated with oral medication
Q: What is the name of the cream you mentioned in your article on shingles? A small patch on my back appeared after having gastro surgery, during which 18 inches of small intestines were removed. The following year, sores appeared. I have never had it checked because I didn’t have pain, but it itches about […] Read more
Support for grieving parents
Q: My sister’s daughter was killed in a horrific car accident recently. No one is entirely sure what happened. Her vehicle, or what was left of it, was found on a country road not far from her dad’s farm. It is so sad. My niece was wonderful and well liked in the community, was getting […] Read more
Choosing tree suitable for climate key to success
Trees are one of nature’s great wonders. They are magnificent things that boost our emotional health and provide other tangible benefits, such as supplying wildlife habitat and protection from wind and soil erosion. Trees can reduce heating and cooling costs by shading a home or deflecting cold winter winds. They can also clean the air […] Read more
Love of farming weaves through many generations
CROSSFIELD, Alta. — For the Taks, the Master Farm Family Award from their county is affirmation that they are doing something right. Peter Taks, 90, still takes an active interest in the multi-generational operation near Crossfield. His son, Murray, and Murray’s wife, Reba, work with their sons, Kevin and his wife, Amy, and Ryan and […] Read more
Scholarships ease burden for agriculture student
GILBERT PLAINS, Man. — Christopher Manchur will enter the University of Manitoba’s college of agriculture next month better off than many of his rural classmates. Community service and strong marks made him a candidate for numerous scholarships that will pay for most of his first-year expenses. That’s especially helpful for the 18-year-old from Gilbert Plains, […] Read more
Train station now go-to place for hungry crowds
ROBLIN, Man. — The train doesn’t stop here anymore, but the spot where passengers are now picked up is still visible from the patio at the Starving Artist. The station-cum-restaurant in Roblin has a train schedule on an outside wall just metres from the tracks. Inside, patrons dig into a chef’s salad where tickets were […] Read more
Bears rule in Alaska’s Katmai National Park
“Two bears are coming down the path toward us,” warned the park ranger. “We had better move back and wait on this rise until they pass by.” As we stood on the small knoll right beside the path, two well-fed brown bears (larger cousins of the grizzly) ambled by, seemingly ignoring us. Just when we […] Read more
Diet success starts with self-esteem
Q: I know that if I lost quite a few pounds, my self-esteem would skyrocket and I would generally enjoy life more. The problem is that when I start a diet or any kind of weight loss program, I only just get into it before I give up. I suspect that this is true for […] Read more
