Reading Time: 4 minutes When you go to the mailbox and find a handwritten envelope among the bills and flyers, chances are it’s the thing that will draw your attention. A handwritten card or letter is a rare treat in this time of instant messages, texts and emails. While being able to Zoom with our family and friends during […] Read more
Say it by mail
Send your thoughts in actual writing. It makes them become a keepsake
How to cope in the long months ahead
Smart, healthful and fun tips for coping with winter and a global pandemic
Reading Time: 6 minutes Canadian winters on the farm can be tough at the best of times. The dark and the cold and the isolation can leave anyone feeling down. And this winter, of course, we also have the added stresses and restrictions of a global pandemic to make us feel battle-weary and burned out. The good news is […] Read more
Tracing your family history
This winter will be ideal for exploring your family’s roots
Reading Time: 5 minutes With travel plans interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, new hobbies are needed to occupy our time, especially during a long Canadian winter. If you’re curious about your family history, there has never been a better time to take up genealogy as a hobby. Every week, more and more records are being scanned and made […] Read more
Navigating farm business holiday celebrations
It’s going to take more thought before you decide how your farm should celebrate 2020
Reading Time: 5 minutes Social events like the Christmas party have traditionally been a big focus for non-farm businesses, giving staff a chance to mix and mingle, and employers a chance to show their appreciation. Increasingly, Christmas celebrations are popular on the farm too, providing an opportunity for employees and family members to meet and greet without the stresses […] Read more
Office space that works
Five steps to converting your office space into a productivity centre
Reading Time: 5 minutes During this stressful time of the COVID-19 pandemic, one place where we can exert some control in our lives is in our office space. As with anywhere else on the farm, if everything has a place, we feel more in control and more capable of taking what gets thrown at us. That’s the experience of […] Read more
The many sides of grief
Grief can be caused by many kinds of loss. Here’s why it’s so important to recognize that
Reading Time: 4 minutes We know that grief is a natural response when a loved one dies. What we may not realize, though, is that we may also grieve, sometimes for years, from non-death losses too. Losing the family farm, getting divorced, living with a debilitating illness, being estranged from one’s child, the turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic… all […] Read more
Find time for self-care
If it seems you haven’t a moment for your physical and mental health, read this
Reading Time: 5 minutes We all read the headlines. We know that self-care can make it easier to cope with high levels of stress. But too often, we feel we are already stretched so thin, it would only make matters worse if we stopped what needs doing and spent any time on self-care. To get some tips and tools […] Read more
Your story to tell
How many times have you said, “Somebody ought to write a book about this farm.” Here’s how to get started
Reading Time: 6 minutes Brent Preston had a story he wanted to share. In 2007, the Creemore, Ont. farmer and his wife, Gillian Flies, set to work and began building a thriving organic vegetable farm from the ground up. Preston wanted other would-be farmers to know it’s possible for a small, sustainable, organic farm to provide not only a […] Read more
How about a life coach?
More farmers are turning to life coaches to help them strengthen themselves, their families and their businesses
Reading Time: 5 minutes In the 30 years since the first coaching programs were developed, the field of coaching has exploded. You’ll find coaches who specialize in a broad range of areas including business, leadership, personal development, wellness, financial management and more. While coaching has been gaining popularity in the corporate world for the past decade, farmers are now […] Read more
Make self-care your priority
Actually, you do have time to take care of yourself, especially with these incentives
Reading Time: 5 minutes Grain farmers Jennifer and Michael Doelman are making self-care a priority in 2020. Years of hard work, sleepless nights caring for young children, and a stressful farm succession process have left the Renfrew, Ont. couple suffering from burnout. The couple love their work but have been stretched too thin giving to farm, family and community. […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
