Postpartum Depression… Why The Shame?

I don’t recall a lot about the days immediately following the birth of my first child. Even as I write this, my feelings are hard to retrieve, tucked away and hidden in a faraway place. My safe place. My,I-don’tpull- these-memories-out-to-fondly-embrace place. I don’t like to share my inadequacies or my fears — to hold these […] Read more

Raising Quality Horses In Saskatchewan

LaPlaine Quarter Horses and Paints is a family operation that includes the families of Raymond and Vera Gauthier and Henry and Nicole Gauthier of Duck Lake, Saskatchewan. The Gauthiers have been raising breed and show stock for over 17 years. Both Henry and Nicole were raised with horses and over the years their love and […] Read more


What’s Different About This Lady?

I remember meeting her at a rural development conference many years ago and thinking, “there’s something different about this lady.” Maybe it was her enthusiasm for her small town? Maybe it was her ability to make those around her feel like they’d been friends and neighbours for years? Maybe it was her unique capacity to […] Read more

A Tribute To Lilies

I think of “Lily Sweet Lily” as a love song and tribute to garden lilies. The lyrics might also suggest it’s Romeo pouring out his heart to Juliet, or a serenade to a beautiful woman whose name is Lily. Here are some of the words: Loveable as Romeo, Prince Charming of the town, Lily you […] Read more


You Have Been Chosen

Slightly skeptical… and absolutely terrified. That’s how I felt as I stood anxiously in the middle of Cain Quam’s horse-riding arena. Sure, I was happy that the horse-training guru and his wife Roberta had invited me out to their brand new equine centre for a ground-breaking workshop that they developed with counsellors Judy Wright and […] Read more

What Happens In Vegas, Stays In Vegas…

Prior to this miraculous occurrence, my husband and I had been discussing the merits of adding a third child to our family for some time — me being for, him being against. I’m from a farming community in Manitoba, heavily populated by Belgian Catholics. Translation: no one stopped at a couple of kids. In fact, […] Read more


Planning And Planting Garden A Family Affair

When we started farming, our children were quite young and it has been easy to instil in them the importance of being able to grow their own foods. We weren’t one of those families where Mom worked in the garden while the children sat in the house playing video games. Instead, we all have a […] Read more

Sweet Success For Honey Producers

When the price of honey fell to 75 cents a pound in 2006, honey producers Sam and Sandra Thiessen of Tofield, Alberta felt they needed to value add or get out of bee farming. “We experimented adding real fruit to our creamed honey and after a year of trial and testing on family and friends, […] Read more


Daylilies, Planting Tips, And So Much More

Bob Yaremko of Parkland Perennials has dozens upon dozens of hardy daylilies ranging in height from compact to very tall and in some unbelievable colours. They bear such intriguing names as: Always a Pleasure, Blackberry Parfait, Chipped Ice, Doug’s Red Mercedes, Evening Gown, Hush Little Baby, Leprechaun’s Wealth, Pomp and Circumstance, Second Thoughts, Susanna’s Delight […] Read more

The Silver Lining SLAP™ For Your Business

It’s my joy in travelling to meet energetic young entrepreneurs who have been grounded by their farm experiences. Last December in Montreal I met the passionate founder of Silver Lining Limited, Carissa Reiniger, who is now 28. Carissa’s common-sense approach and SLAP system is giving a workable template to small business owners who want better […] Read more