BASHAW, Alta. — When Dave Fox moved to a farm just outside Stettler, he had two old existing water wells capped and a new well drilled. If the new water well was going to be his main source of drinking water, Fox wanted to know more about the well and how to maintain it. “I […] Read more
The Home Quarter
Embracing earthy delights
A lush, green front lawn is a waste of potential. That’s how Julia Mitchell and Jason Baranec see it. The…
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…
Oh, crap.
Just because it’s poop and it’s free doesn’t mean it’s good for the garden. That’s the bottom line from a…
Must Reads
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Skunked!
If you live on a farm and own a dog, then there’s a good chance you’ve had a close encounter…
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Canine curiosity can be costly
In life, there is a right way and a wrong way to do almost everything and Cheryl Klimack now knows…
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Companions wanted
It’s well known, at least among astrologists, that people with the zodiac sign of Leo are a perfect match for…
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Fruit growers branch out to new varieties
Move over crab apples, chokecherries and saskatoons. There are new fruit trees in town and they’re taking over yard space.…
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Consider taking a safety course when saddling up to drive an atv
All terrain vehicles have become as common in farmyards as half-ton trucks and tractors. It’s so easy to jump on…
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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…
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Stories from our other publications
All is well when water well is well maintained
Don’t pour oil on Troubled waters
The days of dumping used oil on the driveway to keep dust down are gone, or they should be. Phil Wrubleski, executive director of the Saskatchewan Association for Resource Recovery Corp., said farmers have come a long way in their thinking about what to do with used oil. The corporation was formed about 15 years […] Read more
Canine curiosity can be costly
Did you know?
In life, there is a right way and a wrong way to do almost everything and Cheryl Klimack now knows the wrong way to remove porcupine quills from her four-year-old mutt, Dodger. Klimack, like most pet owners, took her dog to the vet the first time he was pierced with porcupine quills. But the second […] Read moreTerrific tomatoes to tempt the taste buds
MIQUELON LAKE, Alta. — A good tomato is like a good wine. A bite into a ripe tomato can release a mild sensation or a zing at the back of the tongue as it rolls around the mouth. Ester Walker, who runs Glen View Greenhouse and Organic Farm, wanted her customers to taste the subtle […] Read more
A farmer’s garden diary
Jacob Quantz left Ontario in the 1880s to homestead in what is now central Alberta. He and his wife, Sophie, named their quarter section The Jungle Farm. The couple had two sons: one was killed in the First World War and the other, Oscar, returned to the farm. Jacob’s great-granddaughter, Leona, and her husband, Blaine […] Read more
Is this a weed? Gardeners click for answers
A garden enthusiast in the city can run next door or a few doors down to borrow a tool, pick up seeds and cuttings or have a coffee and get advice. But on farms and remote rural areas, the nearest neighbour who actively gardens might be 20 kilometres away, and so a lot of borrowing […] Read more
Lots of this, none of that: the scoop on composting
Those who have difficulty maintaining an outdoor compost pile can compost organic waste with red worms.
If anyone can appreciate the value of backyard composting it’s a farmer, says an expert in the field. “It’s amazing how much richer it can make the soil that you use in your garden or what it can do for your lawn,” said Natasha Page, waste re-duction specialist with Alberta Environment and Water. Starting and […] Read moreBats
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
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
