vegetables, fresh, raw, tomatoes, garlic, red, pepper, cucumbers on the table on a plate and cutting Board, jars of pickles, jars of pickles and tomatoes on a table, food

Why not pickle some of those garden veggies?

First We Eat: Try this recipe to pickle colourful jars of crisp mixed vegetables

Dave is mourning the passing of the lake that almost surrounded our house for seven years. It covered 15 acres at its peak, in fact a large slough, but “lake” dignified what was a difficult situation. And now he mourns its loss. Our lake arrived suddenly and unannounced in April 2011 with the flood that […] Read more

Goosefoot, a.k.a. Tree Spinach is a tall-growing ornamental whose edible mineral-rich green leaves taste similar to Popeye’s favourite veggie.  
Colourful magenta-tipped leaves appear at the top.

A fast-maturing turnip that can be planted end of July into early August

The Singing Gardener: Plus, info on Goosefoot, also known as Tree Spinach

Having trouble growing maggot-free turnips? Let me tell you about a fast-maturing variety that’s ideal to plant toward the end of July and into early August for a fall garden crop. They’re as easy to grow as radishes. Details and source for seeds are provided further along. Also a short presentation about a plant called […] 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

(2nd from left) Derek & Tannis Axten of Axten Farms of Minton, Sask. and François Handfield & Véronique Bouchard of Ferme aux petits oignons at Mont-Tremblant, Que. Photo: Bruce Sargent

Winners of Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2017 celebrated

National winners for Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmer for 2017 were awarded on Dec. 1 to Derek & Tannis Axten of Axten Farms in Minton, Sask., and Véronique Bouchard & François Handfield of Ferme aux petits oignons at Mont-Tremblant, Que. “Once again, the seven regional finalists exceeded our expectations as innovative, forward thinking, young agricultural leaders.  […] Read more


During the first week in October, Karl Voesenek harvested over 70 slicer-size green tomatoes plus about 15 smaller ones from this exceptionally generous tomato plant. Adjoining plants each bore between 40 to 50 tomatoes.

Meet a tomato-growing farmer

Singing Gardener: Plus, how do you take your garlic?

Seems to me fruits of the vine and apples of the earth are top of the list when it comes to homegrown vegetables among Canadian gardeners, so both share space on this page with a hint of garlic at the end. Had the good fortune to spend a day to remember with gardener and farmer […] Read more



This chickpea and spinach recipes is simply delicious!

Following Canada’s Food Guide

Try this recipe that will fit all four categories of the current guide

The federal government is updating Canada’s Food Guide and I say it’s about time. I have a few bones to pick with the last one. For instance, take the recommendation to eat six to seven grain products per day. That’s the recommended amount for an adult woman; for men it’s eight. I grew up on […] Read more

Now in its third year, Ag in Motion is Western Canada’s only major outdoor farm show, where you can see, hear and feel the latest in ag technology. It will be held July 18-20 at Langham,
just 15 minutes northwest of Saskatoon. For more information or the full program, visit www.aginmotion.ca.

Ag in Motion: Seeing results where they count

At Ag in Motion, seed, crop protection and fertilizer companies, as well as grower associations and industry members will showcase field crop products as they should be seen — in the ground. Ag in Motion, running July 18-20 at Langham, Sask., northwest of Saskatoon, is home to over 100 acres of crop plots from over […] Read more