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
Volunteering overseas?
Volunteering in a developing country can be a life-defining experience. Here’s what to know before you sign up
Guide Health: How to help prevent osteoporosis
Men can be impacted as well, and are more likely to end up in a nursing home
Reading Time: 2 minutes Osteoporosis is linked to low bone density, a decrease in bone strength and deterioration of bone structure. And, with this loss of bone integrity comes an increased risk for fractures, most notably hip and wrist fractures. Unfortunately, by the time you realize your have osteoporosis, it may be too late to build healthy bone. Bone […] 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
Guide Health: Vaping. Please take care
Lung damage is starting to be noticed with the increased use of e-cigarettes
Reading Time: 2 minutes E-cigarettes and vaping have been in the news recently with concerns about their safety and health risks. While nicotine is often an ingredient in these products, there may be other substances too. Electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes were designed to be an alternative to smoking and are actually promoted as a way to quit smoking. It […] 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
Guide Health: Your nose – nothing to sneeze at
Reading Time: 3 minutes We all take our noses for granted. We breathe through them and smell odours with them, but you really only notice them when your’s doesn’t work well. Yes, you can breathe through your mouth, but you miss the warming and filtering of the air that your nose normally provides. And you may miss being able […] 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
Guide Health: Compression stockings – not just for Grandma any more
Compression stockings are meant to help prevent pooling of blood in your legs
Reading Time: 3 minutes When you hear of compression stockings being recommended for people on long-distance flights, you may remember the thick beige stockings your grandmother wore for varicose veins. Yes, those were compression stockings too, but today’s are available in a much wider variety of colours, lengths, and even thicknesses and compression strengths. Compression stockings are intended to […] 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
