Reading Time: 5 minutes While farm kids learn many things that their urban counterparts never get to experience, it’s also possible that in the busy-ness of life on the farm, some skills needed for independent living can get overlooked. It’s just easier to keep getting their meals for them, doing their laundry for them, helping them sort their money […] Read more
Adulting 101
Got a teenager who will soon be off to school? Do them a favour with these life lessons
Tips for better emailing
These apps can make your business and family communications more efficient, but you still need to write clearly
Reading Time: 5 minutes The irony is that even though we have more ways to communicate than ever before, somehow we seem to be always be getting worse at the job. We are inundated with emails and distracted by text messages, and it feels like we’re always trying to puzzle out what some sender meant to say, or whether […] Read more
Volunteering overseas?
Volunteering in a developing country can be a life-defining experience. Here’s what to know before you sign up
Reading Time: 5 minutes In winter 2019, Donald Hilborn spent three months volunteering on an agricultural research project in Morogoro, Tanzania. It was a gratifying experience for Hilborn but he cautions that it’s essential to do your homework and choose carefully when travelling on a volunteer mission to a developing country. “You need a support system,” says Hilborn, who […] Read more
Turning the dream into reality
Danielle French’s customers promote South Pond Farms, making this a social media success and a profitable farm venue
Reading Time: 7 minutes “One thing led to another,” Danielle French tells me. You wouldn’t guess it from meeting her. French has transformed a rundown 60-acre property into a highly acclaimed events venue hosting weddings, workshops and farm-to-table dinners. She’s super-organized, super-efficient and bursting with great ideas, and it seems impossible that anyone could have achieved all that without […] Read more
Supportive communities. The key to resilience
There are recurring themes to resilience. We have 12 of them
Reading Time: 5 minutes Society likes to idealize the rugged individual who, against all odds, manages to overcome their difficult life circumstances and succeed in a big way. There is a problem with this narrative, though, says Dr. Michael Ungar, a family therapist and researcher at Dalhousie University. Personal resilience actually has a lot more to do with the […] Read more
Preparing the next generation to take over the farm
How can you be sure they’re ready for the responsibility of running the operation?
Reading Time: 5 minutes Transferring the farm to the next generation is a complicated affair that involves finances, tax implications, legal strategies and good communication among all those affected. With all those balls in the air, the one element that Mom and Dad often think about, but somehow don’t actually get serious about, is whether the next generation is […] Read more
How to protect yourself online
Cybercriminals used to go after big business. Now they know you’re easier to hit
Reading Time: 4 minutes The internet has been a boon to farm businesses. Whether it’s ordering farm supplies online, hosting an online store, problem solving, communicating with the farm team and other farmers, accessing detailed weather forecasts or marketing info, the list of the ways we rely on the internet every day is long. Unfortunately, as the internet has […] Read more
Keep it smart
How about a little maintenance for the organ you depend on the most
Reading Time: 5 minutes The old adage, “use it or lose it” really is true when it comes to our brains. Problem solving, processing speed and thinking can all go downhill as we age, says Dr. Fraser Smith, a professor, researcher and clinician at the National University of Health Sciences near Chicago. But there’s good news too. We can […] Read more
Train your brain
HR management: Skeptical farmers like to scoff at talk about mindfulness. So how do you account for the success of this U.K. farm project?
Reading Time: 5 minutes Over the past decade, a growing number of CEOs in North America have embraced mindfulness and meditation to cope with stress and increase their productivity. Now, science proves they’re onto a good thing. Research shows these ancient techniques actually do boost concentration, memory and creativity while reducing the negative effects of stress. So, why isn’t […] Read more
Long-table dinners: The tale of two farms
An enchanting evening meal on the farm can be a great way to raise funds for your favourite causes, and to build support for agriculture too
Reading Time: 5 minutes You can tell from their expressions that it was one of those magical summer evenings. Sue and Don Hilborn served a four-course dinner to 60 people at one long communal table under an awning strung with twinkling lights. Even when the festivities drew to a close and darkness descended, the July evening was enhanced by […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
