Reading Time: 4 minutes My parents came to Canada from the Netherlands after the Second World War. They came with very little money and only a few words of English, but they had a dream to own their own farm. Through hard work, diligence and a positive attitude, they were successful. But it wasn’t easy and when I have […] Read more
Raise resilient kids
How? Share your family stories with them. Research proves it’s a strategy that works
Guide HR: Nine tips for innovation
Innovation can be successfully harnessed on today’s farms. Here’s how
Reading Time: 3 minutes Some farmers seem to have a talent for developing new markets, new products, or new and better ways of getting things done. They innovate. Is that talent something they were born with? More to the point, can your enterprise promote innovation and creativity? Does environment contribute to innovation, and can you, as a leader, support […] Read more
Guide Life: Distracted driving
On the farm or on the road, turn that cellphone off!
Reading Time: 5 minutes Farmers know safety is important. So why do so many of us overlook one of the leading causes of injury and death? Distracted driving is a contributing factor in 80 per cent of vehicle collisions, leading to four million car crashes in North America each year. And in case you’re skeptical, those aren’t numbers that […] Read more
Guide Health: Yes, your eyes are getting old
As you get older, you’ll be bothered more by the glare of headlights, and you’ll find it harder to read small print too. But don’t hesitate to get checked out, especially if you notice any pain
Reading Time: 2 minutes As with any part of your body, your eyes change as they age. Often, in fact, eye conditions are attributed to old age. It is estimated that 500,000 Canadians are affected by macular degeneration, plus 2.5 million by cataracts and 250,000 by glaucoma. These conditions seem to occur in older people more often. They are […] Read more
Eat together: Have a healthier family
20 years of research proves that sitting down to eat together is good for body, brain and mental health
Reading Time: 6 minutes Here is one thing you can do that will help your kids succeed in school and life, and it’s as simple as making it a habit to eat together as a family. It sounds too good to be true, but true is exactly what it is. That’s according to Dr. Anne Fishel, a family therapist […] Read more
The new employee
Are your HR skills holding your farm back?
Reading Time: 8 minutes Farms keep getting bigger and more complex. But at the same time, farm families keep getting smaller, with farming couples having fewer kids, just like other Canadians. On many farms, this collision of demographic and economic trends means the days of running the farm by putting the family to work are gone. You can’t even […] Read more
Guide HR: Can you develop a thriver’s mindset?
These seven steps will help you thrive, not just survive
Reading Time: 3 minutes We face challenges and disappointments. What is it that determines whether you will overcome these and thrive, or merely survive? Some people have developed a thriver’s mindset. They are masters of challenge and change. They grow during difficulties by leaning into stress, and by relying on special resources. There is good news, however. Science is […] Read more
Guide Health: Oh, my head hurts
Don’t just shake off a head injury. Get it checked out. Brain injuries can lead to serious consequences that may not appear for decades
Reading Time: 3 minutes Hitting your head may just give you a headache, but you should never dismiss the hit as a minor injury. About 2.5 per cent of the Canadian population injure their heads each year, so it’s not an uncommon problem. But it can be serious. The type of head injuries that you hear most about in […] Read more
Guide Health: Don’t let your minor cuts and scrapes get major
Know the difference between an at-home bandage and a trip to the doctor
Reading Time: 3 minutes Your skin protects your body from the outside world while also regulating your temperature, so any damage to your skin can result in damage to underlying structures. Everyone has had a cut or a scrape at one time or other. These usually only need to be covered with a self-adhesive bandage. For larger or more […] Read more
Rural distress
As Jane’s story shows, spousal abuse is a stubborn fact of life for many country women
Reading Time: 11 minutes She was a rodeo queen with a wide circle of friends that included both men and women. And she still loves horses, although she’s had to put her equestrian activities on the back burner until she recovers financially. I catch her on the phone one evening after work. She is calm and thoughtful, pausing as […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
