ground flax seeds

Control blood pressure with flax

Reporter's Notebook: New research shows that eating ground flaxseed can lower your blood pressure

One of the interesting side effects of covering agriculture is that influences my eating habits. I get to hear about the research into food uses and health claims of the crops grown in Western Canada. I eat pulses for the fibre and protein. I use canola oil several times a week. I’m not shy about […] Read more

Reporter’s Notebook: The Co-op has everything you need

You can get everything at a co-op, from stories 
to spinach to investment opportunities

Last fall my husband Corey started working at the lumber desk of the Turtleford Co-op. Besides the benefits, I think the best part of that job is the stories he brings home. There’s the customer who brought in banjos for Corey to fix (Corey is a musician). There’s the banter with one of the local […] Read more


A rough ride ahead for Canadian farmers

Politics and trade may well be changing, and they certainly won’t be boring

As you may have heard, this year marks the 150th anniversary of Confederation. It’s worth taking stock of where we’ve been and where we are now, and so I’m going to use this space to do just that, on issues important to agriculture and rural communities. I’m tapping out this column a few days before […] Read more

Reporter’s Notebook: The post-trauma trauma in rural areas

Dealing with PTSD is more difficult in rural areas. Here’s what you need to know

A few years ago we were moving cows to a different summer pasture. It was an easy job, more of an excuse to go riding than anything. I’ve forgotten most of the details of that day. But one moment was memorable. The cows had to walk through a little draw to get to the gate. […] Read more


Reporter. Taking notes. Media interview.

Reporter’s Notebook: Tips for safely managing ag reporters

Some tips on how to talk to reporters, and why you might want to in the first place

Last spring I wrote a column designed to scare all of you from ever talking to a reporter. If you’ve run into a pack of farm reporters at a field day, you’ll know why I felt compelled to warn you. (Just kidding, we’re okay). I thought I’d start the New Year with a couple more […] Read more

Reporter’s Notebook: Communications confusion

People with different backgrounds, knowledge and attitudes see the world differently

A couple of years ago I took a few days to work on some fiction at Spring Valley Guest Ranch, a bed and breakfast a short ways from Ravenscrag, Saskatchewan. The B&B, run by Jim Saville, sits in a valley. It’s quite idyllic, as long as you like the Prairies (which I do). Jim even […] Read more


Evie Carver and Blue Jeans await their turn during the gymkhana during the Bonnyville Fall Fair and Farmers’ Market.

Reporter’s Notebook: The landscape makes its mark

People and culture are influenced by the environment more than we realize

There are two eyes in the head — the eye of mystery, and the eye of harsh truth — the hidden and the open — the woods eye and the prairie eye. The prairie eye looks for distance, clarity, and light; the woods eye for closeness, complexity, and darkness. The prairie eye looks for usefulness […] Read more

Reporter’s Notebook: Racism is alive in our community

Colten Boushie’s death has brought ugly racism to the surface. But there is room for hope

The death of Colten Boushie in August opened an ugly wound in rural Saskatchewan. I’ll refrain from speculating about what happened on Gerald Stanley’s farm near Biggar because the truth is I don’t know much about it. But we all know that a young man is dead and that is tragic. I also wasn’t surprised […] Read more


horse

Reporter’s Notebook: A guide to low-stress cattle handling

The first thing to know is that there is no such thing as low-stress cattle handling

I help out with seasonal chores on my parents’ ranch, but I don’t think of myself as a “real” rancher. However, I think I’ve learned a few life lessons from working with animals. I’m not a stockmanship expert, but working cattle is basically about working their flight zones. You need to figure out where to […] Read more