Good stories that cause us to pause and reflect about the character of Prairie producers are the fuel to kindle hope for the future. The things that you are teaching your children in the fields, the barns, and the farm yards are likely skills that you take for granted. At January’s Farm Tech 2010 in […] Read more
Cutlivate Your Farm Root Stories
Die Healthy! Watch What You Eat
Managing your glycemic index is a fancy term for keeping your blood sugars at a healthy level. My weight loss program helps me choose lower glycemic foods. If you want a really good book with colour charts, get Rick Gallop’s “The G. I. Diet Clinic.” Since June 1, 2009, I have been on a wellness […] Read more
Don’t Let Your Homemaking Slip
Recently my hubby and I watched Peter Walsh, life organization expert, “strip down” a family of four who were highly stressed, eating poorly, living in clutter, and only communicating via electronics. Wes’s question at the end was, “What was the stay-at-home mom doing all day?” Exactly. Today’s farm families are texting, listening to professional development […] Read more
What Does Money Mean To You?
We were sitting in a convention workshop under the direction of Bruce Sellery, the founder of Moolala, when he asked the question, “What does money mean to you?” He expected us to answer, so I said “adventure and giving.” Another woman said “freedom.” I would be curious to hear your answer. Our values and attitudes […] Read more
Counseling Is About Recovery
When farm and ranch families are stressed out for long periods of time -chronic, prolonged stress -they may experience a number of signs and symptoms. Watch for the following effects in farm families you see on a day-to-day basis: PHYSICAL COGNITIVE EMOTIONAL SELF-ESTEEM BEHAVIORAL Headaches Ulcers Backaches Eating Sleep Disturbances Frequent Sickness Exhaustion Memory Loss […] Read more
Don’t Split The Farmyard
As a mediator, I’ve seen some pretty dumb agreements about the home yard. When you are deciding to move away, or build a second home on the property, make sure you think things through with your lawyer and have some clear conversations with your successor. Many farmers in their 80s still have title to the […] Read more
Widows Seek Comfort From Widows
January is a great time to snuggle with a cup of tea and a great book. It is also a time to reflect on the lessons of last year, and for me, that lesson was learning to walk alongside friends who have become young widows. Widow to Widow is a practical book written by Genevieve […] Read more
8 Ps Your Daughter-In-Law Needs
Afarm family with a very strong-willed daughter-in-law asks their business planner how to make progress with decision making since the “in-law” seems to have an opinion about every farm business decision made. The planner advised the farm team to consider farm business and shareholder decisions as their “territory,” making it clear that the spouse — […] Read more
Are You Making Emotional Decisions?
Pierrette Desrosiers has a very powerful message for farmers. “If you can’t manage your emotions, your emotions will manage you,” she says. Desrosiers is a Quebec-based psychologist and coach who often shares a room with me at conferences, like we did in Quebec at the International Succession Conference last August. If you’d like to catch […] Read more
Invest In A Skills Upgrade
Late in August I attended the 2009 International Succession Conference in Quebec City. Why would I leave the farm when harvest was just beginning? In order to get more tools and ideas to help farm families work through the tough issues of transferring the farm to the next generation. Here’s a cornucopia of gleanings from […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
