Features

Offspring from one of the rarest apple trees in the world, a Bardsey Island, produced its first apple at OKeefe Grange near Arran this year.
"It has one apple. It could fall off early before I even get to taste it," says O'Keefe Grange's owner.

Trying to keep things like they were yesterday only puts you further behind tomorrow.
That is a philosophy lived by Southwest Oxford Mayor Dave Mayberry over a career in municipal politics spanning almost 30 years.

Carolyn Crawford is a cook and a leader and a collector of cookbooks. As president of the Culinary Historians of Canada (CHC) her enthusiasm to inspire appreciation and advance knowledge of Canada's food history is bubbling over!

"A frost came in the night and stole my world..." penned the poet, Cecil Lewis. The countryside's abundance has been harvested, and the gardens are empty now. And yet, somehow, the Riverbend Gardens and Nursery maintain their beauty...

The invitation from Essentially Lavender Farm was irresistible: "We invite you to come and visit our farm where you can rest, relax and rejuvenate -- while surrounded by lavender and nature." Located between Teeswater and Formosa, this grassroots ...

All Sorts Acres Farm near Ayton really had "all sorts" of animals and ideas from its owners, Jennifer Osborn and Tim Fisher.
Surprisingly, it was the COVID-19 pandemic that provided the impetus for the life and business partners to become a profitable...

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for locally-produced meat has grown significantly. However farmers raising the meat, especially those in the beef sector, have faced their own set of challenges trying to get their beef ...

Timing is everything and in the case of the animal rights activist's fatality in Burlington and subsequent death threats towards the driver, one piece of legislation might have protected everyone.
No more proof is needed for the necessity...

The process of fermenting food turned into a personal interest this past winter, when I was dealing with a bout of pneumonia -- the second time within two years. The anti-antibiotics program had finished, leaving my gut microbiome out of balance ....

It wasn't just toilet paper. Seed sales also spiked during the height of the COVID-19 scare  and kept on bolting until seed companies like Hawthorn Farm Organic Seeds near Palmerston had to close down to process a tenfold increase in orders...

The enriched cage route is the way to go, believes Devon Dykstra who is switching from broilers to layers and installing the spacious cages in the remodelled barn.
"It's a nice balance of both worlds. The chickens have room and more natural habitat ....

Farmers farm for various reasons: an altruistic desire to grow high-quality, nutritious food for the eating public; a preferred lifestyle; a sacred vocation; a love of nature and the outdoors; or, maybe because they enjoy solving problems -- farming ...

The Sommers family raises chickens, both layers and broilers, to supply their family's needs for eggs and chicken. When COVID-19 hit they decided to create a space for backyard pigs to produce their own pork too.
Dad Jeremiah owns...

Conventional rituals and practices for the burial of the dead have been deeply ingrained in our religious and cultural traditions. So much so that few people have given them much thought.
But with concern over global warming and...

Ducks Unlimited Canada conservationist volunteer Phil Holst's excitement was infectious. Perched on a knoll, he eloquently shared his vision of a self-sustaining integrated wetland replacing marshy, marginal pasture with enhanced natural habitat ...

For Dr. Lee Siertsema, owner of Blyth Veterinary Services, taking care of animals is just part of providing for the community in which he was raised.
Siertsema, who was raised just outside of Blyth, had his heart set on medicine when...

In the right hands, the same sheet of metal used to make a trough for feeding pigs can be used to sculpt a bald eagle or a rooster.
Rich Baker has created both in his small wooden framed workshop on the home property shared with wife Jenn...

When a stray cat showed up on a farm outside of London, the landowners took him to the East Village Animal Hospital (EVAH) to get "her" spayed, knowing they offered a feral cat program.
That cat turned out to be a "he", was renamed McConaughey ...

For many dairy producers, the thought association when asked about carbon footprints could likely be a negative one. Recently the industry has been under pressure to reduce their carbon footprint -- a goal which to some could seem either ...

Thanks to Toni Newman, who calls herself a professional catalyst, many Ontario farm women will not be able to order parmesan cheese on their salad without thinking of sexy Stefan.
The ebullient Newman, a woman who perches on top of a red ladder to...

Spring isn't just a time for planting. It's a time for auction sales ... a social highlight that retired farmers, collectors and deal makers are missing dearly.
"People love their auctions. They love the thrill of bidding," says Ken...

Living though a pandemic may seem like a dark time but like seeds in soil, it is the combination of light and darkness that makes them sprout.
"Exponential growth can happen, especially in these times of darkness," says mental health expert...

In the agriculture and food industry, leading researchers are making predictions of what we can expect to see and what might be in store for the future for our food supply, after COVID-19 lock-down measures end. Three University of Guelph professors ...

The Rural Voice for April, 2020 includes stories about artisanal creators located on Highway 4, a hog farmer creating an energy-cost-saving system and a restored buggy.