When I was growing up, one of the carrots my mother would use to get us to help when she was baking was the opportunity to lick the beaters or spatulas. Or sometimes when she was baking cookies, my mom would roll some dough into a small ball and offer […]
Columnists
I just arrived home from a whirlwind road trip with Daughter #4. Thea is here visiting me from Alberta and we decided to take Cape Breton by storm. And that’s exactly what we did—except the storm that blew up was not what we were expecting. But then where storms are […]
I recently was short-listed for the 2016 Kobo Emerging Writer Prize that recognized six of the many first novels by Canadian writers in the literary fiction category. Or rather “Meadowlark” was short-listed. I just was along for the ride. I flew into Toronto for a rush overnight trip; flew into […]
The final FLW Tour regular-season event wrapped up this past weekend down at Lake Champlain, N.Y. and while I had a good tournament, ending up in 29th place, I fell a little short of winning the coveted Angler-of-the-Year title I have been mentioning over the past few weeks. In the […]
This rain! We have had just over six inches of rain this month alone, with two of that falling over the weekend. It is starting to really get to me. It affects my work and my farm—and we have no control over it! I wore rubber boots all weekend just […]
Soil organic matter (SOM) is the single-most important soil property you have influence over through your management. Higher soil organic matter levels translate into better water-holding capacity. It also results in higher and more consistent yields in the long run. Many of the key management practices that help build SOM […]
This Friday begins the great countdown to the 150th anniversary of Canada. On the 149th anniversary of Confederation, we will begin making preparations for the grand celebration one year from now. This past month, my wife and I were fortunate to visit Newfoundland—the last province on our list of places […]
I am writing this “Moos” column by candlelight Sunday night since our hydro was out for the second time that day. We certainly saw some crazy thunderstorm activity over the weekend. Luckily, we seemed to be on the edge of the hail earlier Sunday and I drove as fast as […]
Facebook and Twitter were alive with photos and memories of dads on Sunday. I didn’t post anything, but the number of memories of fathers got me to thinking about the impact my father had on my life. I remember a saying he often used: “If everyone is thinking and saying […]
I was thinking of heroes the other day—heroes whom I admired while I was in my “impressionable years.” I’m still impressionable so while I was watching the eulogies for the passing of Muhammad Ali and felt the ache at the loss of Gordie Howe, and the reminder that time marches […]
When the FLW Tour fishing season started back in early February down at Lake Okeechobee in Florida, I couldn’t count down the days fast enough until it was time to hit the road. Getting a break from winter was welcomed, and the opportunity to put the boat in the water […]
It is June and the grass is growing faster than you can get animals out on the paddocks to use it. Pasture management decisions made today will enhance pay off later this fall, but it’s time to get on it. Planning for the grazing season ahead includes feed budgeting, seeding, […]
