GFM Network News

More News →

Farm Life

The temperature in a warm-to-hot shower or bath can help support a healthy vagal tone in the body.
Columns, Farm Life

Support the nervous system for whole health

Fit to Farm: Stimulating the vagus nerve can help you deal with stress-related conditions

By
If you’ve read my articles before, you may know I am a total nervous system nerd. The nervous system is the mechanism of direction and feedback for our soft tissue which, in turn, moves our skeleton and connective tissues. The nervous system has sensory and motor pathways throughout the entire body, including our musculature, organs, […] Read more
Blueberries from last summer, when it was too hot to even consider canning, were kept frozen until the arrival of better jam-making weather.
Columns, Farm Life, Fruit/Vegetables

Fruits in a Prairie winter, part 1: Blueberries

Picked fresh or cooked into favourite foods, those purple berries leave their mark in memories

By
Last week I made jam from blueberries I had frozen last summer, when it was just too hot to consider canning. Stirring the pot reminded me of other lovely ways and words with the blue fruit. “The way the night tastes” is how the U.S. poet W.S. Merwin described blueberries. Another poet, Mary Oliver, wrote […] Read more
A significant benefit of courageous conversations is in learning what everyone on the team thinks, feels and wants.
Columns, Farm Life

Just converse — it feels so good to talk

Know your communication style, and be ready to make room for others’ styles

By
Being able to talk freely with your farm team and feel they understand what you are needing is a huge gift! Accept you can’t make other people change, but you can change how you respond and handle things. Talking is the work. Decide today that you are going to become more self-aware and self-controlled around […] Read more
This is a closeup of superb Valentine bleeding heart flowers. The plant likes soil to be evenly moist but not constantly wet. Allow surface soil to become dry to an inch deep or more between waterings. An eastern exposure is ideal and filtered light or mostly shade is preferred much of the day. Avoid scorching the plant from too much direct sunlight and excess heat. As soon as the first crop of blooms begins to show signs of exhaustion, cut back the entire plant once flowering is done. Sprinkle a complete fertilizer on the surrounding soil, moisten in and wait. If autumn frost doesn’t arrive too early, you’ve a good chance to enjoy a second flowering of bleeding heart during fall.
Columns, Farm Life

Odes to purple potatoes and to horticultural hearts

Also: an Alberta reader is on the hunt for a Bird of paradise

By
What’s it going to be this Valentine’s Day? Red roses, a box of chocolates and a corsage along with a singing card are standard. Or maybe you’ve created a one-of-a-kind, original Valentine’s Day card of your own? Perhaps a night out in town with a reservation for two at Mr. Mikes Steakhouse hits the spot. […] Read more
It’s up to you to improve your skills in sharing your ideas, thoughts and feelings in the culture of your farm business.
Columns, Farm Life

How to embrace a positive perspective for farm transition

People who feel their concerns are taken seriously will feel understood

By
Imagine this is the day you’re hopping out of bed with a new spring in your step as you anticipate the life-changing transaction taking place this afternoon. You, your spouse and your folks are headed to the lawyer’s office to officially sign shareholder agreements. You’re excited to finally have some certainty for your future. How […] Read more
The first dish I made with the Instant Pot was pork and beans, a staple in our home.
Columns, Farm Life

Under pressure: Cooking with the Instant Pot

Safety concerns dimmed the pressure cooker’s star until the Instant Pot came on the scene

By
In “Under Pressure,” Queen’s Freddie Mercury teams up with David Bowie to sing that “love dares you to change our way of caring about ourselves.” Changing is a challenge, even when I might care for myself and my family more efficiently by adopting something new. Two weeks ago I recounted my experience with a new […] Read more
Tomatoes and a toonie
Columns, Farm Life

Tomatoes rise stronger from ashes

Also, bank on beans to boost beneficial bacteria in your bowel

By
Got a stove or fireplace where you burn wood only? Save those ashes and use them in this summer’s garden to grow some of the finest tomatoes ever. Already I can hear myself singing: “Oh it must be the tomatoes, maybe strawberries and homegrown potatoes, but I still think it must be tomatoes.” Those are […] Read more
A woman digging out her driveway after a big snowstorm
Farm Life

Prevent winter injuries and illnesses

Getting creative with nutrition and maintaining restorative movements can help keep you healthy during the cold months

By
Winter is notorious for an increase in aches, pains, illnesses and injuries. Some of this stems from colder temperatures and less sunlight, which can take a toll on our bodies and minds even before hazardous conditions such as snow and ice take effect. We can’t control the weather, but there are a few things we […] Read more
The shape of the instrument has changed, but the air fryer uses old cooking methods.
Columns, Farm Life

Cooking with hot air

By
I am a purist. I like classic methods and techniques with proven results. And I love knowing that what I am doing in my Prairie farm kitchen has been done for centuries by others in kitchens far different from mine. There are only so many ways of transforming raw food into a meal. Regardless of […] Read more
parents and an adult child discussing finances
Columns, Farm Life

Get the tough and tender transition conversations started in 2024

A farm’s founders may not want the embarrassment if they see a personal net worth lower than expected

By
Seven years ago, here’s what I said about getting transition conversations started: Show up as adults to attack the issues, do not attack the person who is delivering ideas for change. Understand transition is a journey of many plans, with communication as the foundation. Spend some quiet time with yourself thinking about what you truly […] Read more

AgCanadaTV

AgCanadaTV: Your Agriculture News Recap for Dec.19, 2025

Sponsored By:
More Videos →

Cyber-Savvy Farmer

Glacier Farmmedia Podcast

Latest Market News

More Market News →