For many farmers across Ontario, Autumn signifies a time during which things on the farm begin to slow down, depending on the crops being grown. And, for those farmers who are beginning to reduce their workload with the approaching colder weather, they’re likely getting ready to bid farewell to their employed migrant workers if they … More A tribute to migrant workers
October means go-time for any farmer who produces ginseng, which is exactly what my family and I have been doing for this past little while. Ginseng harvest typically happens in October, and for anyone who is unaware of what this type of harvest consists of, it involves digging up the root of the plant. A … More Finding treasures on the farm
A couple of evenings ago, the Brant County Federation of Agriculture held its annual meeting at my family’s farm. It was a pretty neat experience considering it was the first agricultural meeting I’ve ever attended, and I was able to meet some new people involved in the industry that I hadn’t been familiar with prior. … More Are you an agvocate?
To be passionate about something is, in my opinion, a privilege not all of us are privy to. Having the opportunity to find something that brings us true joy isn’t something we’re all fortunate enough to experience, but it really is an incredible concept. I’ve been thinking a lot about my own passions as of … More Exploring your passion
Before we delve into this topic, let’s take a look at what exactly CBD dabs are. “Dabbing is the practice of inhaling small quantities of concentrated vapors, typically cannabis products like hemp or marijuana, which can come in the form of wax,” an article originally published on Made By Hemp’s website. “The most commonly used CBD dabs are … More Navigating the pros and cons of CBD dabs
My sister shared a post on Facebook via Farm and Food Care stating “Farms are private property, please be respectful.” I find it quite disheartening this has to be made known publicly, but either way, it’s an important message. Depending on the crop, it may be tempting to pull over on the side of the … More Is your selfie worth ruining a farmer’s crop?
Maintaining a healthy balance between work and our personal lives can be incredibly difficult at times. Depending on the circumstance, perhaps we find it almost impossible to establish a separation between the two, contributing to feelings of stress and frustration in the process. Depending on your line of work, and even your upbringing, you may … More Designating a work/life balance
Hemp is something I firmly believe is highly misunderstood in contemporary culture. Whether it be hemp itself, hemp extract, or hemp-based products, many of us, from my understanding, often associate hemp with cannabis, but in reality, there is a difference. And, luckily, an article originally published on Made By Hemp’s website provides us with some … More Here’s what you need to know about hemp extract
Eggs are pretty fantastic when you think about it. Not only are they delicious and simple to prepare, but they further contain a multitude of nutrients that benefit the human body. And, they’re a whole lot more, according to ThinkEgg’s website. Eggs actually contain the highest quality protein you can buy, and egg yolks happen … More Let’s talk about eggs
Ciders and summertime pair perfectly. There’s something so refreshing about cracking open a crisp, cool apple cider on a hot summer day, and I imagine a lot of folks would agree with me. If hard cider is your go-to drink when the weather warms up, I have some fantastic news for you: Bonnieheath Estate Lavender … More Move over, Somersby; Folkin’ Hard Cider has you beat
It seems to me that as of late, farmers have been the subject of unnecessary criticism and scrutiny. And, the longer I think about it, the more it becomes apparent that farmers have somewhat always been targeted for the profession they chose, one that we as a society depend upon tremendously. Recently, farmers and members … More Why are we villainizing farmers?
In working at Bonnieheath Estate, a lavender farm and winery, I’ve come to develop a relatively firm understanding of lavender. Prior to starting this job, I had some knowledge of this magical plant, but now that my knowledge has expanded, I thought I would offer a little lavender 101, if you will, in hopes of … More Lavender 101
If you’re a resident of Ontario, chances are you’re probably wondering what in the heck it is that Mother Nature is all in a dither over. I shouldn’t say Ontario specifically. The weather is wonky all across the country, and worldwide. From what I’ve gathered, most of us are rather fed up with the so-called … More Fed up with the weather? Think about the farmers
Soil health is of utmost importance to farmers. Contaminated soil presents a multitude of problems both in terms of crop production and environmental sustainability, therefore maintaining soil health is an absolute must. So, what can be done to reverse soil contamination? Well, for a farmer in Italy, hemp has done the job. An article originally … More Using hemp to purify soil
Keeping plants alive has never been my strength. My struggle to do so is perhaps surprising, considering my mom and sister are fantastic gardeners, and my dad, along with his experience with tobacco, ginseng, chickens and cash crop, was a tree farmer in the past with the help of my mom. You would think I … More Cursed with a black thumb? Try a Bella Palm
Controversial footage of cows and their calves being mistreated at Fair Oaks Farms in Indiana has recently gone viral. The footage depicts farm employees aggressively handling and, in some instances, beating calves and cows. Understandably, a lot of people are concerned. Although it was difficult to watch the footage, I did so to ensure I had … More Animal abuse: know your facts
I stumbled across an article recently from The Toronto Star that struck a nerve. I encourage you to take a look at the article, and further to hear me out. I’m not going to give a complete summation of the articles’ context, but, in short, it discusses yet another instance of foreign temporary workers being … More Advocating for foreign temporary farm workers
Approximately three weeks ago, I began working at Bonnieheath Estate Lavender and Winery, located on Concession 12 in beautiful Waterford, Ontario. If you’re unfamiliar with this place, I highly encourage you to check out their website. This is one of the most serene locations to visit in Norfolk County, and although I may be slightly … More Bonnieheath Estate: a local paradise
Work ethic is timeless in terms of its value. If you’re someone who possesses strong work ethic, you’re at a tremendous advantage over those who don’t when it comes to the work world. The problem is, though, that strong work ethic seems to be becoming more and more scarce in popularity, and from my understanding, … More Where did the good work ethic go?
Spring in Ontario thus far has been incredibly wet. Too wet, to be honest. Rain seems continuous at this point, and with sunny days becoming more and more of a rarity, farmers and ag industry members are feeling the pressure. Spring is a crucial time of year for farmers. Ground is worked to prepare for … More Lend an ear to a farmer this Spring
I recently heard about two separate incidents involving dairy farms and animal activists – one in Ontario and one in the U.S. One of the incidents involved animal activists trespassing onto the farmer’s property and entering their dairy barn without permission to emphasize their disapproval of dairy farming and other producers in the industry. While … More The dangers of activist trespassing
Canadian Agriculture Day was on Feb. 12, and although a few days have passed since this tremendous social media initiative occurred, I still wanted to draw attention to it as it is such an important day of celebration in our country. Before I delve into the topic any further, I wanted to mention ag Twitter. … More Celebrating #CdnAgDay
Growing up in the presence of migrant workers has truly opened my eyes to how important they are to Canada’s agricultural industry. My dad and uncle, who operate and manage the family farming business together, have been employing migrant workers for as long as I can remember. Together, they bring up 20 guys annually, and … More Appreciating migrant farm workers
Scrolling through my Twitter newsfeed the other day, I stumbled across a post from PETA that thoroughly pissed me off (no, I do not follow PETA on Twitter, don’t worry). The post was linked to an article titled “‘Game of Thrones’ Star Jerome Flynn: Reject Cruelty, Go Vegan,” and since I am a huge Game … More Recognizing misleading animal activism (cough, PETA, cough)
I often tell people who are not involved with the ag industry that it’s one that stands on its own. It’s completely unique and dynamic in its own, independent way. It’s difficult to explain the sense of interconnectedness that exists between ag folk, but I’ll give it my best shot. I have lived on our … More Interconnectedness in the ag community
I came across a Tweet recently that, quite honestly, made my blood boil. It’s probable that the individual who posted this Tweet did so merely to spark outrage and reaction from other Twitter users, hence why I chose not to engage. However, their opinion towards farming and further farmers is incredibly disrespectful, and the user … More A lack of agricultural understanding
I was fortunate enough to attend this year’s Canadian Outdoor Farm Show (COFS) for my job. I had never been to the show prior to this year as it occurs during the busy season on our own farm, but after hearing about it for years, I was looking forward to seeing what it’s all about … More The Canadian Outdoor Farm Show
An article from the Washington Post recently caught my attention. Written by Breena Kerr and Lynh Bui, it’s opening line reads “Historic, torrential April rains on the island of Kauai wiped out much of Hawaii’s taro crops — the main ingredient in poi and a staple carb of the island diet.” So often when we hear … More Here’s how Hawaii’s farming industry has been pummeled by weather
An article by The Globe and Mail discussing how social media has potentially devastated the Bogle sunflower farm in Ontario has myself and many other individuals reeling. The Bogles’ family farm consists of breath-taking fields of colourful and vibrant sunflowers which, prior to now, was open to tourists to enter and take photos in. The Bogles’ … More Here’s How Social Media Destroyed this Local Farm
My sister shared the following photo on Facebook a few days ago, and the contents of this image really got me thinking. Posted by the National Farmers Union, this image is a disturbing reminder to consumers of just how imbalanced the profit farmers earn for the goods they produce is. Granted, the National Farmers Union … More What Do Farmers Really Make?
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