Grated and diced apples can add texture to muffins.

Winter fruit, part 3: The versatility of apples

Apples add character to a dish, even when not the star ingredient

I first saw Meryl Streep in 1979 in Kramer vs. Kramer and then in Sophie’s Choice. Both earned her Oscars. A wonderful string of movies followed: Manhattan, Silkwood, The French Lieutenant’s Woman, The Hours and Out of Africa, to name a few. In 1990 at the Screen Actors’ Guild national women’s conference, Streep spoke out […] Read more

It’s possible that lingering emotions from past stress may spawn fear of failure for the farm’s future finances.

Create more financial transparency with your farm team

Farm partners need to be able to be frank about their financial realities

Where is “You don’t talk about money!” written in the farm family rule book? Recently on a coaching call, a farm family admitted a huge “undiscussabull” within the family had caused great stress to their over-40-year-old son. This non-farming son did not have any clue about the profitability of the farm, what the parents needed […] Read more



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

Support the nervous system for whole health

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

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.

Fruits in a Prairie winter, part 1: Blueberries

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

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.

Just converse — it feels so good to talk

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

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.

Odes to purple potatoes and to horticultural hearts

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

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.

How to embrace a positive perspective for farm transition

People who feel their concerns are taken seriously will feel understood

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.

Under pressure: Cooking with the Instant Pot

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

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

Tomatoes rise stronger from ashes

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

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