If all his dairy cows were under one roof, a rotary parlour would have been Ron Groen's first option but with two barns on the go, cost considerations made him choose robotic milkers.
"For us, it was about cost," ...
To invent something new and make change, you have to imagine how things can be different because saying "I want to make a difference" is useless if you don't actually make something different.
So says Mary Doyle, Founder of Rural on Purpose who ...
When 19th century American philosopher and poet Henry David Thoreau wrote those words, he'd just emerged from two years of self-imposed solitary living in a Massachusetts forest. His 1854 essay Life in the Woods is a record of what he called his...
Ash borer is just the start of future forest decimation with hemlock, butternut and beech trees also facing serious threat, concluded a forest study conducted by the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) as it was revealed 20 per cent...
Housing is a focal point for strong and healthy communities and a panel of experts shared how they are encouraging their municipalities and developers to provide homes for future generations.
"We should not be...
Nowadays, it's quite common to be asked to babysit the "grand" dogs. So it was for me when Spyro came to visit for a week. She's a great dog ---smart, loyal, obedient. Jack cannot believe his luck that such a beauty is sleeping in his bed...
I was struck by how the Grey County Federation of Agriculture hit the nail on the head when, at their annual meeting, they feared for the future of the special farmland in their county.
Randy McLeod, a farmer from ...
Another year has rolled around and we find ourselves cleaning up equipment, planning for next year, tidying up paperwork before the year-end deadline, and getting ready for Christmas. 2022 has brought some things we may not have been expecting...
The Rural Voice is delivered to over 11,000 farms in Southwestern Ontario (and beyond) every month.
Michelle Durnin says she is a risk taker who is willing to "try anything", an approach which has stood her in good stead as she launches a new women's work clothing business online.
Tired of wearing overalls that ...
It may seem like a long time ago now, but we all just went through a municipal election in October. While municipal elections do not always garner the same flash and attention of their provincial and federal counterparts, people who volunteer ...
The early mornings are getting harder to appreciate for long-time dairy goat producers, Henk and Ellen Van Schaik of Blyth.
With three daughters off on their own exciting careers, and a fourth helping part-time, Henk and Ellen are now the ...
Steph Muma's wide-ranging exploration of the culinary arts has happily transitioned from chickweed "plating tweezers" to fruit tree grafting tools.
"I do appreciate the art of food, 100 per cent," said owner/operator (with life and business partner....
From variable frequency drives to renting vans versus trucks to building net-zero homes, members of Huron's Carbon Footprint Initiative (CFI) are taking their commitment to reduce emissions and protect biodiversity very seriously.
I get out of the van to be greeted by three large Maremma dogs and one host, talking animatedly on her cell phone. I wander around as I wait and Lindsay Higgins mouths an apology while continuing the conversation.
When the phone call is over she...
People are thrilled to get on a farm to see and learn how food is grown, says Katrina McQuail of Meeting Place Organic Farm near Lucknow.
McQuail was instrumental in organizing a Farm Crawl on July 10 via Eat Local Huron, a not-for-profit...
Ten years ago, slightly photoshopped and keen, the Player family was plastered on the sides of Loblaws trucks promoting the Free From pork brand.
Today, the family still has those engaging grins but have changed their production protocols ...
As the food system transforms, will commercial agriculture survive or will synthetic and regenerative agriculture surge ahead to feed the world?
According to Hannah Tucker, a director at Balance Point Advisory, climate change is endangering ...
People are keen as a bean to learn how to farm. That's being proven at Ignatius Farm where the New Farmer Program attracts over 300 participants of which many visited the farm in May for a tour to see just what is going on at this Jesuit retreat....
This August marks the 50th anniversary of one of the foundational moments in Canadian theatre -- and it all took place in a barn west of Clinton.
Paul Thompson, son of a veterinarian who had practiced in Atwood...
Never underestimate the power of a baby animal to tell your story. One image and moment with a healthy farm animal in a pen full of fresh straw can embed a lifetime of security and confidence in the mind of a consumer who ...
Every spring I look forward to firing up the BBQ and cooking over a flame. Even when it is a bit too cold to be standing out there, or it starts to rain or snow, the first chance I get I'm snapping my tongs and firing up the grill. While it is easy to...
StormFisher Vice-President of Development, Brandon Moffatt, has heard more than once about one person's trash being another's treasure.
"That's very fair," he allowed, adding the other metaphor he catches frequently is "we're a dairy cow."