Farm girl. Farm wife. Farmer's daughter. Agriculture advocate. Ag marketer. Ag volunteer.
During last week's International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) 2011 Congress I participated in the two-day Lake Ontario agriculture tour. The tour took us east of Toronto to visit a bison farm and a maple syrup business. From there we drove to Prince Edward County, a piece of fertile land jutting into Lake Ontario, where... Continue Reading →
Last week I participated in the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) Congress in Ontario, Canada. The congress theme, Experience New World Agriculture, showcased how Canada’s relatively young agricultural sector (compared to many other IFAJ member countries) is making a place for itself globally. The event began in Guelph, a hub of agricultural research and innovation,... Continue Reading →
Canola is often referred to as western Canada's Cinderella crop because of its humble beginnings and fast climb to multi-billion dollar status. The oilseed is my favorite crop because of its bright yellow flowers. The countryside around my family farm is a sea of yellow during the summer. Here are some photos from our recent canola harvest. We... Continue Reading →
...something red. Fresh garden tomatoes in a variety of shapes and sizes! Do you grow tomatoes in your garden? What do you do with them (make salsa, can them etc.)?
I can jump out of a plane at 13,000 feet and jump off a ledge from 47 metres up (sky diving and bungy jumping in New Zealand last winter), and yet I had to work up the courage to climb to the top of the new grain bin on my family farm. I finally did it this past weekend... Continue Reading →
Sweet corn is a summer treat on the Prairies. My mom usually grows a couple rows of corn in her garden. Of course we eat some of the corn on the cob and some we put in bags and store in the freezer to be enjoyed during the winter months. Here is a series of photos... Continue Reading →
My friend Ruth, who has an apron fetish, convinced me to buy this homemade red satin apron at a farmers' market in Saint John, New Brunswick during our trip to Canada's East Coast this summer. It's fun yet practical, and it's red, my favorite color. Red satin in the kitchen... or maybe the bedroom... The lady who made... Continue Reading →
I grew up on a mixed farm in what many people would consider the middle-of-nowhere. There was no 7-Eleven or Starbucks just down the street, and no arcade or mall to waste my time and money at (there still isn't). Instead we had a few friends/family down the road, cows in the pasture and grain in... Continue Reading →
On the Prairies winter wheat is planted in the fall and harvested the next summer, as opposed to spring wheat which is planted in the spring and harvested in the fall. Last week we harvested approximately 400 acres of winter wheat on our farm. Here are some photos from our winter wheat harvest. This year... Continue Reading →
Over the past few weeks my mom has been busy teaching me the canning ropes. Check out these posts on making relish: https://ruralrouteramblings.wordpress.com/2011/08/08/relishing-homemade-relish/ and canning peaches: https://ruralrouteramblings.wordpress.com/2011/08/15/gettin-peachy-in-the-kitchen/ With all the canning, baking and cooking, I'm starting to feel like Molly Homemaker! In honor of Canning Week 2011, I'm showing you how to make Café Pickles. My mom... Continue Reading →
Rural Route Ramblings 