Some know a great artist grew up on a farm near here and was inspired by the Interlake landscape around them. But not many. Later this month, a small local citizens’ group hopes to begin to change that by unveiling a monument dedicated to Canadian artist William Kurelek. The site is at the corner of
Hometown artist William Kurelek honoured near Stonewall
Few know the world-famous artist grew up on a dairy farm near the community north of Winnipeg
Researchers study how to extend the growing season
MAFRD is looking at how well these oversize cold frames can extend horticultural growing seasons
A production system that extends the growing season, offers growers a competitive edge in the marketplace and potential to make more money sounds mighty tempting. That’s why fruit and vegetable growers were out in large numbers at Hort Diagnostic Days in late July to hear more about construction of high tunnels. This is the first
Rain garden makes wiser use of run-off, beautifies urban areas
Rainwater capture takes the load off the drainage system, and provides low-cost water for gardens
A strip of newly planted trees and shrubs on the east side of the recreation centre in Morden might look merely like landscaping. Wait until it starts to rain. Then it’s an example of how towns and cities can also help overland flooding and nutrient run-off. The site at the east side of the Morden
Prairie towns lack settlement services for immigrants
Rural Development Institute study surveyed 29 towns across Prairies and B.C.
Rural towns exist because of immigration, but they aren’t easy places for immigrants to move into nowadays. Lack of employment or foreign credentials going unrecognized are only part of the problem, according to a new report released by the Brandon-based Rural Development Institute. Newcomers go wherever language training, affordable housing, child care, public transportation, and
Spotted Wing Drosophila an unwelcome visitor to fruit farms this summer
MAFRD began monitoring for SWD in 2013 and this is the worst year yet, say provincial fruit crops specialist
Altona-area fruit grower Waldo Thiessen knew what was wrong immediately when his U-pick customers started calling back a few hours after their first day in his raspberry patch in mid-July. “They said they’d started to make jam, and, well, there was a lot of protein (in the raspberries),” he said. It was larvae of spotted
Steinbach museum reveals a global recipe swap
A new exhibit at Steinbach’s Mennonite Heritage Village Museum explores the impact of migration and other influences on Mennonite food
Why do Mennonites eat watermelon and roll’kuaka? Where’d their recipe for varenikje come from? And what’s up with all that farmers’ sausage, anyways? A new food history exhibit at the Mennonite Heritage Village Museum in Steinbach answers those questions and more. Typical Mennonite foods like kielke (egg noodles, schmauntfat (white cream gravy) and/or pereschtje (meat-filled
Precision tillage offers new option for organic weed control
Frustrated with lack of weed control, organic farmer Jeremiah Evans has tried a U.K.-made in-row cultivator and he’s impressed with the results
Jeremiah Evans has a new high-tech hand helping him control weeds on his organic farm. Last fall the Somerset-area farmer took delivery of a custom-built U.K.-manufactured Garford Robocrop in-row cultivator, which uses special software to identify and target weeds, leaving the crop behind. After seeing what it could do to his wild oats, thistle and
Onanole entrepreneur driven to succeed
Nikita Shaurette started her shuttle company getting the bar crowd home safely. Now she’s transporting birdwatchers and hundreds of other tourists to and fro in the Riding Mountain area
Onanole resident Nikita Shaurette used to wonder why there was no local bus service. Lots of people were always headed to and fro in and around Riding Mountain National Park. Those leaving local bars often got behind the wheel — even when they shouldn’t. It was when a friend was injured in a car accident
Small-town growth strategies analyzed
The RDI report includes six municipal case studies
Regional is the new rural, according to a new report released by the Rural Development Institute (RDI) showing the most successful efforts to boost population in rural areas are those most focused across wider regions. Growth Strategies for Rural Communities includes six case studies that explore where municipalities, both losing and gaining in populations have
For direct-farm marketers, Alberta is a great place to operate
Support includes help to finance travel and research, and allowing sales of alcohol in farmers’ markets
Direct-farm marketers in Alberta have their share of regulatory hurdles to gripe about, but they have distinct advantages and supports which marketers in other provinces would envy. When apiary owners Cherie and Art Andrews were first eyeing prospects to start making mead (honey wine), the province gave them several kick-starts, not the least of which
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