See recipe for this Vinegret below.

Searching out my farming roots in Russia

Prairie Palate: Since childhood I had dreamed of this and finally the opportunity came


My farming ancestors came to Canada from Russia in the 1890s and, ever since I was a child, I dreamed of visiting their village on the Dnieper River. That opportunity came in April. Despite the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which is unfolding east of the Dnieper, I made a trek to the little village […] Read more

Who am I as father, founder and farmer?

You need to be intentional about being rich in relationships

As an outsider looking in to the many farm families that I am honoured to share time with, it always saddens me to see folks who cannot seem to grasp happiness beyond what they do as farmers, especially when it is time to let go of control of decision-making and let the next generation be […] Read more


Greek salad and meatballs

Making a pilgrimage in Greece

Prairie Palate: Wheat was more than a food here but a symbol of life itself

For more than 2,000 years ancient Greeks made a pilgrimage to the temple of Demeter, the goddess of farming. A few weeks ago, I did, too. Today, the temple is in ruins, but it is possible to walk the stone streets, run your hand over ancient walls and contemplate the importance of farming in Greek […] Read more

Rhubarb Pudding


It grows like a weed, but rhubarb makes for a great-tasting pudding

Prairie Palate: After a long winter we're always eager to see signs of spring

You may call them weeds, but to the pioneers, dandelions were dinner. After a long winter of root vegetables — progressively shrivelling and even running out — dandelions and other “weeds” were the first greens of spring. Mother Nature’s salad bar. Tender young dandelion leaves were collected by the pailful, as were lamb’s quarters, sorrel […] Read more


Chris beside apple tree

Homemade recipes to help control apple maggots and ants

Plus, Ted shares a letter from Alberta


A phrase taken from Isaiah 11:6 says, “and a little child shall lead them.” Most scripture scholars agree the passage containing those seven words has nothing to do with children teaching or leading adults. However, in our day-to-day living we’re never too old, nor too wise to know it all. We’re still learning from each […] Read more

Family with three children (3-9) walking on muddy road, cows in background, rear view

Top ‘phrases’ for coaching farm families

The Elaine Froese (phrase) that pays

One snowy day at a beautiful ranch home in southern Alberta around the expansive kitchen table, the farm team said, “Elaine you should make a list of your top phrases that you use in coaching.” “OK,” I said, knowing that many of the best projects are started by attentive practical ranchers and farmers who call […] Read more


Lentil cookies

Long legacy of lentils in cooking

Prairie Palate: A favourite food of ancient Greece finds new flavours in Canada

There’s an old adage in Greece about not adding “myrrh to the lentil soup” because myrrh is too fancy for a humble bowl of lentils. A culinary overkill. Ancient Greeks preferred more simple flavourings such as vinegar and sumac (which grew wild) or olive oil and salt. They boiled the lentils until they were soft […] Read more

salad dishes

All about wheat, and a recipe for Wheat Salad

Prairie Palate: Whether it’s called spelt, farro or kamut — it’s still wheat

You could say wheat is the reason I’m writing this today. Because of wheat, my ancestors came to farm in Western Canada, as did most of the settlers on the great plains. By 1906, one year after it became a province, Saskatchewan was calling itself the Breadbasket of the World. In 1928, Canada produced close […] Read more


woman with sheep

Raising miniature sheep

Sunnyside Sheep takes the 'Olde English' route of raising livestock

It was love at first sight when Jackie Hegel discovered the miniature Olde English Babydoll Southdown sheep. “They are noted for their gentle nature and their cute teddy bear faces,” she says. Jackie and her husband Keith moved out to their farm west of Saskatoon in 2009 and began looking for that perfect hobby farm […] Read more

Farmer sitting in tractor wheel with wheat in hands

Stopping the shame game

No one can function well when they always feel like a failure


We sat crowded a round the kitchen table less than a stone’s throw from the main farmhouse, two young frustrated farm couples and me, the farm coach. My eyes met the eyes of a daughter in-law (DIL) whose ready tears were about to roll as I explained that sometimes in the culture of agriculture there […] Read more