Reading Time: 4 minutes The mental health of farmers is getting more attention these days, but the situation in Alberta isn’t well understood and there are big gaps in support, says a provincial researcher. A landmark study done by the University of Guelph six years ago revealed that many farmers suffer mental-health issues, said Rebecca Purc-Stephenson, a research associate […] Read more
UNDER PRESSURE: Group boosts aid for farmers hit by stress
Driven by passion, preservationists find new uses for old farm buildings
Reading Time: 5 minutes For 17 years, Michael Gerrand drove the roads and back roads of southern Alberta for his job as a grazing specialist. He loved the job and he loved the travel, but there was one thing he’d see every day that stuck in his craw. “I started to see this trend of all of these beautiful […] Read more
Once again, supporters of growing projects are making a difference
Reading Time: 4 minutes Just keeping track of the offers of help would likely keep the eight members of the Taber Foodgrains Project’s organizing committee busy. “There’s probably close to 100 organizations that help out in some way, shape or form,” said Jeremy Wind, the group’s chair. “We had no challenges getting people to help out. There’s always a […] Read more
Art Froehlich: A passion for promoting farming — and helping others
Reading Time: 4 minutes Being awarded the Alberta Order of Excellence was something that had never occurred to Art Froehlich. “I’m very private. I never spend a lot of time in the front of the parade. I’m always at the back of the parade or in the parade somewhere,” said the Calgary resident. And while his name may not […] Read more
There’s something for everyone on Alberta’s menu of agriculture podcasts
Reading Time: 4 minutes The amount of information and education available to farmers is not unlike Alberta landscapes — mountains of video, valleys of print and plains of online content that stretch to the horizon. It can be overwhelming but podcasts provide a convenient window into local and global issues that matter to prairie farmers. Cows on the Planet […] Read more
Alberta gardener grows largest pumpkin in Canadian history
“You have to do 60 to 70 pounds a day for a fairly good length of time…”
Reading Time: 4 minutes There’s a lot more to growing a 2,537-pound pumpkin than you might think. Like most other forms of farming, it’s just not a case of planting a seed, walking away and hoping for a good outcome. “I could talk about pumpkins for just about as long as there is time,” said Don Crews of Lloydminster, […] Read more
To be truly sustainable, local food must work on many levels
Reading Time: 4 minutes Austin Noirot, 13, of Caroline, is the junior winner of this year’s Alberta Young Speakers for Agriculture competition. In his speech, he addressed the question: Is local food sustainable? The topic of food sustainability has become increasingly popular lately, with many people putting their opinions out on social media and newspapers. There seems to be […] Read more
Sustainability is a challenge that continues to evolve
Reading Time: 4 minutes Jenaya Roseboom is the senior winner of this year’s Alberta Young Speakers for Agriculture competition. The 20-year-old lives on a dairy farm near Rimbey, and in her speech, she addressed the question: Is local food sustainable? There is no simple answer to this question. In agriculture, sustainability is a complex issue that has many parameters […] Read more
‘Let’s give this a whirl’ – a farmers’ market can be a rewarding sideline
Reading Time: 4 minutes A central Alberta grain and cattle producer is sharing what it takes to add a farmers market sideline to a busy commercial farming operation. Double J Crop and Cattle is a third-generation family cattle and grain farm near Rimbey. In addition to beef (they have 300 head of cattle), they sell pork, poultry and lamb […] Read more
Alberta Open Farm Days celebrates 10 years of education and fun
“We try to show them as much as we possibly can during their visit.” – Charlotte Wasylik
Reading Time: 4 minutes Educating consumers about where their food comes from can be a daunting task — but not at Alberta Open Farm Days. “I think for a lot of people, farming was something they wanted to get away from,” said Charlotte Wasylik of Chatsworth Farms, a mixed family enterprise in east central Alberta. [PHOTO GALLERY] Open Farm […] Read more
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