Reading Time: 3 minutes Historically, our sense of smell helped our ancestors find food and avoid predators, as well as seek receptive mates. But the sense of smell is important today too. Without a sense of smell, food wouldn’t taste the same to you and there’d be no reason to wear perfume, and that’s just the beginning. Smell is […] Read more
Your Sense Of Smell
REFLECTIONS – for Mar. 15, 2011
Reading Time: 2 minutes As a child growing up in Ireland, Roy Ferguson’s dream was to go to sea on merchant ships. When he qualified for his steam engineer’s ticket, he was off to sail the seven seas. Then lovely Maureen came into his life. He had to rethink his career path. The young couple emigrated to Alberta, first […] Read more
Caution: Children Working Here
Reading Time: 3 minutes When my eldest daughter Kissable turned 13, she asked us to help her find a part-time job. So, we talked to the catering manager of the ski club at the base of Pipesmoke Mountain, about five miles west of the farm, and he invited us to bring her over for a chat. When Kissable heard […] Read more
Safety First, But Accidents Happen
Reading Time: 3 minutes Everyone wants to avoid accidents in the workplace. Employers and employees of farming operations are no exception. However, farm workplaces present a variety of hazards and injuries to workers do occur. This is particularly so as the operation grows, and often less experienced or knowledgeable workers are hired. An accident causing harm to one employee […] Read more
REFLECTIONS – for Feb. 15, 2011
Reading Time: 2 minutes “If an aircraft goes down, who knows it is missing? Who searches for it?” I explain that pilots file a flight plan before taking off. They are expected to fly their intended route. If they divert to another destination, or make an unplanned stop for lunch, they are to let someone know. After landing pilots […] Read more
Vitamin D
Reading Time: 3 minutes If recent news reports are to be believed, many Canadians are not getting enough vitamin D, and yet if you eat a well-balanced diet, you may wonder how this is possible. You definitely need vitamin D to maintain good calcium levels and healthy bones and teeth. Without it, osteoporosis and broken bones can occur. Vitamins […] Read more
Worry Warts
Reading Time: 3 minutes I have written here before that February is the toughest month for the farmer because it’s the one time of the year that he knows everything. Crops are in the bin, yields are recorded in the book, there’s nothing left to break down, dry up, wash away or get eaten by bugs. In short, there’s […] Read more
Sore Throats Can Be A Pain
Reading Time: 3 minutes Everyone has probably experienced a sore throat (i. e. pharyngitis) at one time. After all, sore throats account for about 10 per cent of doctor visits. Sore throats are characterized by redness, swelling and irritation as well as pain which makes swallowing difficult. Often, sore throats are caused by bacterial or viral infections, but they […] Read more
REFLECTIONS – for Feb. 1, 2011
Reading Time: 2 minutes A church in our neighbourhood serves a free lunch every Wednesday. The food is tasty, and the gathering brings people together. A free meal benefits folks who find it difficult to make ends meet. As one wag puts it “Every time I think I can make ends meet, someone moves one of the ends.” Some […] Read more
There’s Always A Better Way
Reading Time: 3 minutes My neighbour Wilf Smalley is a proud man. You hear it in his voice when he insists that he has never called a tow truck to the farm in 30 years. That’s a formidable achievement for anyone who farms the gumbo clay soils on the gentle slopes of Petunia Valley. I have personally watched Wilf […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
