A day’s harvest from Sue Kraft’s garden in 2021. It’s a labour of love when it’s veggie-picking time for carrots, corn, cukes, lettuce, peas and tomatoes.

Pick of the crop

Singing Gardener: When it comes to carrots, Scarlet Nantes is hard to beat

Hello young people, hello senior citizens and welcome to everyone in-between who is trying hard to make ends meet and keep afloat on the river of economic problems — in particular, the high cost of food. We’re glad to be gardeners and keepers of the soil. Cost-wise, it’s hard to eat healthy if you’re eating […] Read more

Exacting cooks know it’s important to choose the right tool for the task.

The mettle of metal cooking pots

First We Eat: It matters what your kitchen pot is made of

Metal matters, as surely with knives and kitchen pots as any other farm tool. As we speak, a pot of split pea soup burbles on my gas range in a pot of enamelled cast iron. I feel safe about leaving it on its own. Much safer, say, than leaving our new kitten, Hercule, on her […] Read more


Having personal wealth spreads your wealth across the farm assets as well as on the personal side.

Froese: Build your personal wealth bubble

Smart investing can reduce your dependence on farm business assets

Why is it important to have personal investments? I found a good answer to this question online: “Investing is an effective way to put your money to work and potentially build wealth. Smart investing may allow your money to outpace inflation and increase in value. The greater growth potential of investing is primarily due to […] Read more

Mortgage Lifter is a classic organic heirloom beefsteak tomato originating in the 1930s. Its seeds are still in demand.

Want to grow a huge tomato? Mortgage Lifters can do the trick

Singing Gardener: Plus more from Ted’s treasury of tomato tips

Hey there gardeners! Let’s meet in the tomato patch where, with a bit of imagination, a whole bunch of us can gather together to sing “O I’m lovin’ my tomatoes in the good old summertime, my tomatoes, in the garden, in the row, my tomatoes where they grow.” Now back to reality. Today’s page is […] Read more


When you are planted in a remote rural area, or are far away from city friends, you must be very intentional about creating a new life that aligns with your values and goals.

Froese: Help for lonely hearts

For many young women, moving away to join farms far from home can be really difficult. Here are some tips that can help

I received a lengthy LinkedIn message from a woman concerned about her farming daughter who lives six hours south, far away from her former life in the city. It strikes a chord with me as I recall the teary eyes of young female agricultural leaders who express sadness at their lack of emotional support for […] Read more

Once properly seasoned, woks are ready to prepare mouth-watering meals like this.

How to wok the talk

First We Eat: The distinctive wok toss isn’t just an art. It’s also science

I received a wok and cookbook recently. The 14-inch wok has a long wooden handle and a looped helper handle on the opposing side. The book, The Wok: Recipes and Techniques, is by J. Kenji López-Alt, a cook, an MIT-trained scientist and architect, and author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science. His […] Read more


What works for you as an individual will be different from other patients, and effective practitioners will work with you to find the best approach for you.

How to choose the right health care professional

Fit to Farm: How well they can communicate, educate and relate to you is really important

When it comes to choosing who we bring onto our health care and wellness team (I am a firm believer that a team approach is best), it’s important to keep in mind what types of services and tools we may best benefit from and the type of person we feel most comfortable with. If we […] Read more

A delectable panettone, ready to eat.

Perfecting panettone

First We Eat: Patience is required to make this classic Italian bread, but it’s worth the time and effort

Panettone is the Armani of sourdough, a tall, tender, airy dome garnished with raisins and candied citrus, sometimes glazed with chocolate. Complex and subtle, it is immensely popular in Italy and around the world. Making panettone is a patient multi-day process, which may be why so many Italians buy theirs. But it’s worth it, in […] Read more


Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)

The benefits of feverfew

Singing Gardener: Plus some tips for growing summer poinsettia

Migraine headaches! Ever had one? I’m no expert, but I do know body pain is increasingly a part of everyday life for many people, regardless of age. I’m so glad I’m a gardener. Nature’s pharmacy and self-help remedies from around the world are useful as my preferred guides for relieving pain along with prayer. I have […] Read more

If the emotional factors in your farm dynamic are keeping you stuck, now is the time to grab the bull by the horns and say, “Enough!”

Froese: Too much farm drama?

Here are some tools to help you get better at fixing farm fights

As this is Heart Month (February is a time to bring attention to the importance of cardiovascular health), I hope this finds you living a wholehearted life on your farm, not living with a broken heart. The deep emotions we carry as “stoic or stubborn” farmers need to come to the surface and let healing […] Read more