Sisters Maya, Indy and Desta Johnson (l to r) feed their pet goats on the purebred Angus cattle farm near Peebles, Sask.

Johnson Livestock — A true family business

Saskatchewan Angus operation is run by young couple, four daughters and his parents

Every bull and nearly every cow bought from Johnson Livestock is delivered in person to the customer. The personalized service is part of a two-pronged approach at this purebred Angus operation — old-fashioned customer service coupled with new-school dedication to keeping a finger on the pulse of the market. “We truly care about our cattle […] Read more

There really is a good reason why oats are labelled as gluten free.

Changing my tune about gluten-free labelling

When my nephew was diagnosed with celiac disease I found out more about gluten and here’s what I discovered

Believe me, there was a time (not too long ago) that I was the biggest scoffer of any gluten-free labelling on foods that clearly did not have any wheat, barley or rye in it. Gluten is a protein that is only found in those specific grains, so why was there gluten-free oatmeal? Clearly there is no gluten […] Read more


Lessons from the hospital

Lessons from the hospital

When my husband was in a serious accident I learned many things while helping to care for him

My new year is in September when harvest is in full swing. On October 2, 2017 our farm family entered a new season of caring for my husband Wes, who collided at an uncontrolled intersection in his 2015 pickup with a heavy-duty trailer which flipped. Multiple rib fractures, concussion and a separated shoulder put Wes […] Read more

Goodbye from Amy Jo Ehman

Goodbye from Amy Jo Ehman

Prairie Palate: A fond farewell as she focuses on other projects

As we say hello to a new year, it’s time for me to say goodbye to all my friends and fans at Grainews. This is my last column. Writing a food column is a special joy. There aren’t many things that I’m any good at in this world but writing and cooking. I heart them […] Read more


Dan Reid with some of his paintings.

Artist captures memories of farm life

Growing up on a Saskatchewan farm produced many fond recollections

Growing up on a farm provided artist Dan Reid with a bank of pleasant, nostalgic memories that he can now immortalize on canvas for present and future generations to appreciate. Reid’s parents owned a mixed farm near Crystal Springs, northeast of Wakaw, Saskatchewan. Some of his fondest recollections as a youngster are travelling to school […] Read more

This striking mass of pink hibiscus-like lavatera flowers, also known as rose mallow are grown from seeds that Joan Ziegler got from her dad, but she doesn’t know the variety name. (Ted thinks they could be “Loveliness” or “Silver Cup.”) Joan also mentioned there are white ones tucked in among the pink lavatera. She tried starting them inside but decided lavatera do not transplant well and says they do much better when seeded outside directly into the soil. She always saves some seeds and also lets them volunteer.

Readers ask for more tomato info

Singing Gardener: Plus, farming couple shares photos of their flowers

All for the love of tomatoes opens the page in this my first Grainews column for 2018. I share an email from Alberta and a phone conversation with a farmer’s wife out of Unity, Sask. Am still out and about promoting the connection between five or more weekly servings of no-sugar-added homemade tomato juice, tomato soup, stewed […] Read more


Kids at play can remind us to appreciate the simpler things.

Laughing in spite of it all

Five farm women share how they remain positive even in dire circumstances

When snow sets in on October 1, and half a bumper crop lies in the field; when the news is full of refugees and the days seem long and grey — it’s easy to succumb to the blues. Five farm women from Africa, Switzerland and Canada tell us how they laugh despite dire circumstances and […] Read more

Kutya

Just in time for Christmas — kutya

Prairie Palate: This meatless dish of Ukrainian heritage is the first 
of 12 served on Christmas Eve

What sets Manitoba’s cuisine apart from the rest of Canada? I asked that question of Christine Hanlon, author of the new cookbook Out of Old Manitoba Kitchens, which arrived on store shelves in September. It’s chock full of old recipes that characterize the early cuisine of the postage stamp province. Some of the recipes are […] Read more


Discussions must be had so everyone is clear on the plan for transition of labour, management and ownership of the farm.

How do we tell our non-farming children they are not getting a raw deal?

Start by asking what fairness looks like as farm assets are transitioned


Our 33-year-old daughter was lamenting the fact that there is no longer a Sears Christmas Wish book. Decades ago she delighted in flipping pages of the coloured catalogue seeking out requests for her wish list, hoping that the cherished gifts would be under our Christmas tree. I remember the not-so-happy Christmas when some of the […] Read more

Bullet Soup

Try this Métis recipe for Bullet Soup

Prairie Palate: The name has nothing to do with ammunition 
and everything to do with little meatballs

I love my book club. We’ve been together for 24 years. Some of us have been there from the beginning and others have come and gone over time. Our newest member joined in September. I use the words “joined” and “member” loosely as there is no membership criteria beyond a love of good conversation over […] Read more