Category Archives: Uncategorized

Growing the food we eat has always been very much a part of my life. We spent our summers helping to plant, weed and harvest the large vegetable garden that fed us through the winter. Later, as a young farmwife, … Continue reading →

I just spent a few turbulent jubilant days on the family farm east of Fort St. John, B.C. I grew up there as an immigrant child on a homestead. When my Dad bought the land, there were less than 100 … Continue reading →

It’s good to come in from the cold. A steady buzz of voices greets us. Men and women stand together in comfortable groups, cocktails in their hands, catching up on the latest news after a long busy harvest season. Delicious … Continue reading →

Everything is so big! The roads, the fields, the sky; even the fridge! I drive up to an intersection and the other side of the highway is so far away, I can hardly find it. The fields seem to go … Continue reading →

November 1. Zurich airport: I leave behind the brilliant colours of late autumn; the still lush green pastures. I don’t mind leaving behind the heavy fog that often accompanies this time of year. If we’re lucky it lifts by noon, … Continue reading →

2011 is definitely an election year! And one that’s brought all kinds of change. Canada finally saw a conservative majority voted in last spring after several minority governments, and the socialist NDP is enjoying its first stint as the official … Continue reading →

The news from our Zambian small farmers hasn’t been very encouraging lately. On October 7, Jessy Mpupulwa emailed: “We have received some rains, almost to 30mm. This year is different. Even some bags on FRA (Federal Reserve Agency) depots have … Continue reading →

For many Canadians, when it comes to family dinners, Thanksgiving ranks in importance right after Christmas. The big question for western Canadian grain farm women is always: will there be a sit down Thanksgiving dinner with the family this year? … Continue reading →

It’s the stuff a party is made of! – sunshine, food, friends and family, grapes and wine. I would have begged to be part of the grape harvest, but Robert’s cousin Helen Mueller from Osterfingen beat me to it and … Continue reading →

On September 20, Zambians elected a new President in peaceful and apparently quite fair elections. Within three days Mr. Michael Sata was inaugerated as the new President with the incumbant President Rupiah Banda bowing out gracefully. This is twice in … Continue reading →