Reading Time: 5 minutes These days, Mark Crawford says he’s at a point in his career where his family no longer worries about him in what can be a crazy profession. And for good reason. This summer his fourth play in four years, Boys, Girls, and Other Mythological Creatures, is premiering in Ontario, and his first play, Stag and […] Read more
All the farm’s a play
Mark Crawford finds life on the farm an ideal apprenticeship for success as a side-splitting Canadian playwright
Guide Health: The scoop about naloxone
Even if you think no one you know could ever overdose on opioids, it can still make sense to have naloxone on hand
Reading Time: 2 minutes With the increased incidence of overdoses of opioids like fentanyl, you may have heard about naloxone, sold under the brand name Narcan. Your first thought was probably that this issue doesn’t concern you at all. But before you dismiss it completely, take a minute to learn a little bit more. You’ll be glad you did. […] Read more
Guide HR: When the in-laws cross the line
Reading Time: 4 minutes “You cannot imagine what it’s like to live close to your parents-in-law.” I often hear this from clients. But I can. When I was young, my brother and his wife were neighbours of the family home. As a farmer’s spouse, I lived across from my parents-in-law for 30 years. Eventually, I became a mother-in-law myself. […] Read more
Memories to build on
Capitalize on the summer to create lasting memories for your family. They’re the first step in a healthy succession process
Reading Time: 4 minutes Although a strong work ethic is always a point of pride in agriculture, the farm family also needs to celebrate its successes and to understand why you do all that hard work in the first place. That kind of perspective doesn’t grow by accident. Even so, says Rick Dehod, a provincial farm financial specialist with […] Read more
Networking for introverts
It may always be tough for you to say the first hello, but with these tips and your natural listening skills, you can be a networking pro
Reading Time: 4 minutes Most of us have been there. You find yourself standing awkwardly at the refreshment table at a conference, nodding and smiling as people pass you by. You want to connect with them but you’re not quite sure how to do it. If you’re an introvert, which researchers say is about a third of us, then […] Read more
Guide Health: Medical marijuana. Could it be the right choice for you?
Research into the medical benefits of marijuana is limited. It’s said to help many conditions, but we often don’t really know
Reading Time: 2 minutes Medical marijuana has been in the news a lot recently, as has legalizing its recreational use. There is a difference, though. With a medical document from a physician or nurse practitioner, you can now obtain marijuana for medical purposes from a licensed producer, and you can have it delivered directly to your home. In this […] Read more
Meditating on the farm
Work better, sleep better, and bring some calm to your world
Reading Time: 4 minutes With 5,000 acres of crops to seed and harvest, Tamina Miller used to be so anxious, she could only sleep three hours a night. Miller, who farms with her family near Alliance, Alta., was suffering from stress overload. Then seven years ago, Miller started meditating 10 minutes a day, and it changed her life. Before […] Read more
Guide Health: Head lice is more common than you think
It’s an important point worth repeating: head lice don’t mean that a home is unclean, they mean that this is a home where children play together
Reading Time: 2 minutes From time to time, head lice infestations become news stories, especially when treatment “failures” occur. You probably feel itchy right now just thinking about them! Head lice, scientifically known as Pediculus humanus capitis, have been around as long human beings have existed. After all, lice need human blood to live. Head lice also exist worldwide, […] Read more
Guide HR: Vacations: Why do you need them?
Reading Time: 3 minutes Levels of stress, anxiety, and burnout have never been so high across all industries, but we see it particularly in the farming business. Even though technology purports to simplify our lives, we’re experiencing more and more over-investment in work. Many farmers tell me they’re exhausted, with no time to catch up. Moreover, everyone wants it […] Read more
Guide Health: The embarrassment of hemorrhoids
It’s easy to understand why no one likes to talk about hemorrhoids, but at the very least you need to know when to get checked
Reading Time: 2 minutes Hemorrhoids are common, with anywhere from 50 to 80 per cent of Canadians having experienced them. It is difficult to determine the number more accurately, however, because many people do not report having hemorrhoids or, alternatively, they successfully self treat. Hemorrhoids are anal cushions which become inflamed and swollen. Internal ones remain within the anal […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
