Sara Williams, one of the most highly respected and best-known horticulturists on the Prairies, was inducted into the Saskatchewan Agriculture Hall of Fame last summer. The annual award is presented to people who have made significant contributions to agriculture, farming and the rural way of life. The Saskatchewan Perennial Society, the Saskatoon Horticultural Society, and the […] Read more
Well-deserved honour
Saskatchewan Agriculture Hall of Fame inductee shares her love of horticulture
Couple ‘farms’ city garden plots
Fall is a very busy season for market gardeners Wally Satzewich and Gail Vandersteen harvesting root crops and preparing vegetables for the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market. The Saskatoon couple had a large selection of fresh, chemical-free vegetables, herbs and flowers for sale from the garden plots they manage throughout the city. Wally and Gail currently ‘farm’ […] Read more
Art in the community
Colourful mosaic murals and brilliant flower beds welcome guests to Doreen Kalmakoff’s art studio near Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan. ‘Spirit of the Prairie’ has become a well-known art and teaching studio and students come to this peaceful, rural location for instruction, inspiration, and encouragement to follow their artistic dreams. “I always encourage my students to pursue […] Read more
Alpacas provide on-farm business opportunity
When Dennis and Karen Pashovitz moved from Saskatoon, Sask-atchewan in 2001 to farm full time in the Perdue area, one of Karen’s goals was for her to be able to generate some on-farm income. They decided that raising alpacas would fit their situation well, and started with two females, one of which was bred. “What I liked about […] Read more
Couple opts for hardy animals
When Ruth and Marcel Gosselin moved to their acreage south of Saskatoon in the early 1980s, they both had full-time jobs in the city, but their farm backgrounds soon had them thinking about purchasing some livestock. The Gosselins felt it was important to acquire animals that were tough — the kind that could take care of themselves. “I began to […] Read more
Blackstrap Art Studio Tour
An artistic adventure is in store for visitors to the Blackstrap Art Studio Tour, held annually in May. This is the seventh year the self-drive tour has been showcasing the work of artisans and craftspeople in the Blackstrap and Dundurn area, south of Saskatoon. About 30 participants at five sites will be displaying and demonstrating […] Read more
Creating cowboy gear
Jamie Mamer combined a lifelong love of horses with her need to create crafts, when she began producing her line of beautifully handcrafted cowboy gear. Some of her items include custom leather chaps, tack, saddles, wool saddle pads and horsehair hitching — a unique craft using twisted horsehair to make one-of-a-kind designs for items like […] Read more
New beginnings on the Prairies
When artist Ramona Swift-Thiessen moved from the Okanagan to a ranch near Waldheim, Saskatchewan she initially wondered what subject matter she should paint. She was used to the majestic mountain scenery, fast-flowing rivers and picturesque lakes and woodlands of British Columbia. But it wasn’t long before her artist’s eye began to appreciate the beauty all around her […] Read more
Greenhouse grows year-round produce
Before Chris and Rachel Buhler established their hydroponics operation near Saskatoon in 2007, they had conducted research into food security in Saskatchewan. “We learned that this province produces only about 4.7 per cent of its own vegetables, compared to Manitoba and Alberta, which produce close to 50 per cent. Our climates are similar, so why […] Read more
Canvas gear for the farm
Floreen Smith’s sewing machines are humming steadily as she and her husband Paul are busily preparing for a craft show. The retired farm couple fabricates canvas gear for horse lovers or anyone interested in sturdy, well-made farm- or shop-related items. “My products don’t break, you can’t eat them, and they take a long time to […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
