Farmers have a culture of pushing through pain, but pain is generally not a beneficial thing to push through in terms of longevity in our health and performance.

Don’t just carry on if you’re experiencing pain

Fit to Farm: This can lead to burnout, injuries, illness, and lower stress tolerance

I see all sorts of complaints in the clinic, ranging from sore backs, tense shoulders, headaches, and acute injuries. When we’re going through a busy time, it’s important to keep in mind some simple tools to help prevent, and alleviate, the symptoms of busyness. Farmers have a culture of pushing through pain, but pain is […] Read more

Ted the Singing Gardener sang his “Manitoba Marathon Rally Song” and other tunes on Father’s Day, June 16, 2019 in Winnipeg.

Singing Gardener: Ted entertains at the Manitoba Marathon in Winnipeg

Plus, some weather lore to test out and some zucchini recipes to try

It’s good to toot your horn once in a while except in this case there are no bells, whistles or horns, although I do recall horns tooting the day I became a married man decades ago. This year’s yellow and green zucchinis in my half-acre garden are awesome. I’ve a second batch of zucchini youngsters […] Read more


Bill and Laurette Keen.

Metal artist influenced by nature

Bill Keen says sculptured trees are now his signature work

Bill Keen is an artist, sculptor and craftsman. The Moose Jaw-area resident has been creating one-of-a-kind metal wall hangings for 46 years, and each piece is unique, original and inspired by his love of nature. “Sculptured trees have become my signature work,” he says. “The elements of nature can affect the design of our surroundings. […] Read more

Froese: When brothers don’t see eye to eye

Froese: When brothers don’t see eye to eye

One of the bulls in the middle of the farmhouse that we need to chase after is the undiscussabull of “my brother would never agree to that.” These transition conversations are as fresh as a newly minted cow plop, and they stink, too. “Elaine, my dad is great to work with, but he won’t stand […] Read more


It’s an awesome sight to behold when plum tree blossoms are at the 
peak of their utmost beauty beckoning arrival of pollinating insects.

Singing Gardener: What home remedies have you tried and what has worked or not worked for you?

Plus, Ted shares what readers have written to him

My plum trees did me proud this year while in full bloom with hundreds of blossoms (see photo at top). There were so many flowers the trees couldn’t sustain them all and many never got pollinated. The good news is green plums about the size of large cranberries had formed up nicely as of mid-June. […] Read more

One way to exercise mindfulness is to dedicate small periods of time to breathing.

How breathing can help encourage mindfulness

Fit to Farm: Incorporating this into the day could help with health, mental and physical performance

The word “mindfulness” has been floating around a lot in recent years, but I still come across many individuals who have yet to be introduced to the basics of mindfulness. Being mindful isn’t necessarily an exercise you can do three sets of 10 a day and expect immediate change — but similar to how I […] Read more


The former Lake City School is near Imperial, Sask.

Remembering schoolhouse history

The Prairies are smattered with the remains of once-thriving one-room schoolhouses

About a century ago, pioneers came to Western Canada with virtually nothing but the hope of a better life and escape from oppression. Though overpromised on the realities of life on the Prairies, they made the best of what they had. They obtained home quarters for a small sum, and met other obligations — breaking […] Read more

The bison are raised on the Janzen farm so are a ready source.

Mother and daughter both use bison for their cottage industries

Whether it’s tallow for soap or fibre for yarn, bison are a handy, nearby source

One of Barb Janzen’s enjoyable summer activities is roaming the quiet countryside foraging for wild rose petals, wild chamomile, sage, yarrow and mint to use in her homemade soap. Janzen, her husband Don, and his brother Larry raise bison near Glenbush, Saskatchewan, and having now retired from a long nursing career, she is eager to […] Read more


Farmers’ markets are more than food

Farmers’ markets are more than food

First We Eat: When I take my aging mom it’s a slow, social event as she carefully examines everything and talks to everyone

We’ve finished our coffee, and I am helping my mom into my car for our weekly trip to one of the local farmers’ markets. She has her green corduroy tote bag over one arm, her purse holding its little zip-up change purse on the other, her favourite feathered hat on her head, her cane in […] Read more