In recent years, the bat has been gaining allies, particularly among acreage owners, farmers, ranchers and environmentalists, says Dave Hobson, wildlife biologist with Alberta Fish and Wildlife. “Certainly over the years, people’s attitudes towards bats have changed,” said Hobson. “In the past, I used to get calls from people saying, ‘I’ve got bats in my […] Read more
News
Bats
The humble wheelbarrow always there to help
Wheelbarrows haven’t changed much since the days of Fred Flintstone and the first ancients who invented the wheel. When you think about it, until you get to the point in history when you can add an engine, there’s not much room for improvement. It’s a wheel with a flat platform and a couple of sticks […] Read more
Bat droppings can transmit disease
Donna Rudd is not about to denounce the bat as public enemy No. 1 based on one negative experience. However, she is encouraging prairie residents to take extra care when dealing with bats and their droppings. Rudd is recovering from a rare disease known as histoplasmosis, which can affect the function of lungs and other […] Read more
Embracing earthy delights
Permaculture concept | Couple makes the most of the land while protecting the environment for future generations
A lush, green front lawn is a waste of potential. That’s how Julia Mitchell and Jason Baranec see it. The rural Lethbridge couple has embraced permaculture, which works with nature to create sustainable habitat and grow food. For these self-described “permies,” the front lawn is a common example of how people have separated themselves from […] Read more
Caribbean-style resort nestled in Alberta
SUNDRE, Alta. —When Jerry Leussink built a dugout for swimming on his Alberta farm, he went a little crazy. His dugout is larger than most small town swimming pools and fancier than some Caribbean resorts. “You’ll never see another farm dugout like this.” With a white liner, deck chairs, nautical ropes and an endless supply […] Read more
Value of shelterbelts evident when wind blows
There was a time, during early settlement of the Prairies, that homesteaders believed it was impossible to grow trees and became resigned to a wind-swept existence. Seedlings brought in from Eastern Canada failed to grow because they were non-hardy species. Tenacious farmers using native species had better success in establishing the first shelterbelts. The Canadian […] Read more
Everything dear begins at home
They say home is where the heart is, an old and perhaps hackneyed phrase that nonetheless chimes with all of us. That’s where it all begins on the home quarter. You don’t build a beautiful pool because you want a dip now and then; you build it so family and friends can gather and have […] Read more
Oasis in bloom
BLACK DIAMOND, Alta. — Vale Greenhouses may be one of southern Alberta’s best kept secrets. Located at the edge of Black Diamond, southwest of Calgary, visitors pass through the gates of an English style stone fence where they can enjoy an alpine retreat, a kinetic garden or they may sit in one of the carefully […] Read more
Hardy plant varieties make the garden grow
Planning and design
Dry conditions are more common on the Prairies than excess moisture, the last two years notwithstanding. Gardeners are well aware of this and many have embraced the concepts of xeriscaping that include practical ways to use water in yards and gardens. June Flanagan knows all about gardening in dry areas. The Lethbridge author was a […] Read moreFormer Manitoba Beef Producers president dies in farm accident
A leader of Manitoba’s cattle industry died in a farm accident Dec. 23. Major Jay Fox, 32, was a cattle producer from Eddystone, Man. and former president of the Manitoba Beef Producers. MBP president Ray Armbruster said Fox’s death shocked and saddened members of the association and people from the province’s Westlake region. “Especially a […] Read more
