Not just for tools

For over 15 years Lee Valley Tools Inc. has been conducting in-store seminars for woodworkers and gardeners, including everything from landscape planning to turning bowls. “The seminars are a way of providing customers with knowledge and information, and perhaps introduce them to something they may not have tried before. In some cases, they might not […] Read more

Farmers need hobbies; what is yours?

“Retirement is an artificial construct, stop thinking about it. Think about reinvention instead. I know too many people in their 60s who have “retired” from their occupations and are, basically, sitting around waiting to die. There is no moral or religious code calling for the excitement of life to end before life ends.” — Alan […] Read more


Folklore, moonlore, flowers and tomatoes

From a touch of humour to the mystique of folklore and taking a look at brown-eyed Susan (also known as black-eyed Susan). Why I’m growing Tall Tree tomato again this year… it’s all right here! HE LOVES HORSES, I LOVE GARDENING My 16-year-old grandson Kirk is an avid horseback rider. He lives on a farm […] Read more

Jack’s take on Isla’s magic eyes…

In my quest to ensure that Isla feels at ease wearing her glasses, I decided to have a discussion with my son Jack about making sure he tells her he loves them, and that he looks after her if someone starts to tease her. I started by telling him that Peanut was a fairy-tale princess […] Read more


The love of crafting

Growing up in Saskatoon with parents who had struggled through the Great Depression taught Serena DuBois to live frugally, spend wisely and make do with very little. “My father was a war veteran and died when I was 13 years old. I was the fourth of seven children and each of us had our responsibilities […] Read more

Tomatoes and onions

Tomatoes are No. 1 when it comes to home gardens and horticultural crops in the U.K. Onions are designated the second most important veggie in that country. Canadians also love their homegrown fruits of the vine. Need I say both tomatoes and onions are part and parcel of my assembly of words that follow? FIRST, […] Read more


A taste of the Wild West

It’s a sport that makes riders feel like outlaws from the Wild West. Cowboy mounted shooting comes complete with revolvers, horses and gunpowder. However, the guns are loaded with blanks and the bandits are in the form of balloons. “Every kid wanted to be Wyatt Earp or Billy the Kid and in some small way, […] Read more

Her magic eyes…

We recently paid a visit to our optometrist to get Isla’s eyes checked out. Seemingly overnight, she developed a lazy eye. Or maybe two. Turns out, she’s far sighted. Apparently enough for the optometrist to warn me that her eyes were going to be noticeably magnified. Translation: she needed glasses. Really thick ones. As we […] Read more


What the next generation needs for succession success

Founders typically want to know where their income streams will be after they let go of power and control of management and/or ownership. They also have marital conflict about home residence issues, and how to be fair to non-business heirs. The next generation can’t wait to gain equity, quota, and more decision-making power. Young farmers […] Read more

Fun and economical gift ideas

Many family budgets become strained during the holidays. With a long list of family and friends, finding enough money to go around may be challenging. To help reduce the stress of the holiday season, consider these fun and economical homemade gift ideas:  Create gift baskets. For the family member who loves movies, make a “night-in” […] Read more