Reading Time: 2 minutes Steroids are a group of organic compounds that we produce in our bodies, just like many other species. As molecules, steroids are similar in their structure. Specifically, each steroid consists of a group of four chemical rings with various side chains. In the body, steroids have a variety of functions. They help to regulate your […] Read more
Guide Health: Steroids – essential for life
We’ve all heard about anabolic steroids and sports, but what are corticosteroids?
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
How might penguins offer farm advice? Read on
Guide Books Review: Our Iceberg Is Melting. Changing and Succeeding Under Any Conditions
Reading Time: 3 minutes What is more urgent than a melting iceberg? Not much, say scientists. No matter where we live or what work we do, all of us have got to expect a devastating series of cataclysmic ripple effects as long as the world’s ice continues to melt. But the penguins have a plan. At least, the penguins […] Read more
Guide Health: Your bowel – don’t take it for granted
Yes, your bowel habits are very personal, but get your symptoms checked sooner, not later
Reading Time: 2 minutes You don’t really think about your bowel until something goes wrong like constipation or diarrhea. Your digestive tract includes everything from your mouth to your rectum, but often the word “bowel” is meant to be your small and large intestine. The small intestine is made up of three parts, specifically the duodenum, jejunum and ileum, […] 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
Guide Health: Take care of your nose. It’s nothing to sniff at
Abrupt loss of smell can be related to trauma, tumours, polyps or diseases like COVID-19
Reading Time: 3 minutes You probably take your nose for granted. You breathe through it and you don’t even need to think about it. Breathing is an autonomic nervous system function; it just happens. And, of course you use your nose for smelling, which you do notice, even though sometimes you wish you didn’t have to! Your nose is […] Read more
Guide Health: The scoop on cannabis
Check with your health care providers before using cannabis for any medical condition
Reading Time: 2 minutes We all know by now that cannabis is legal for recreational use in Canada. We also know there are still a number of restrictions and limitations on its use, and we know how to find out exactly what these are. However, we also hear claims about therapeutic uses for cannabis and about its effectiveness and […] 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
Does your farm team have the skills your farm needs the most?
Summer can be the best time of year to ask
Reading Time: 9 minutes First, let’s start with something everyone can agree on. Investing in developing the skills of the farm team is vital for the continued success of every farm. It’s documented by Farm Management Canada’s Dollars and Sense study too, and by the finding that the number one practice of Canada’s top farmers — in other words, […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
