Winter: A Season for Change
“The more things change the more they stay the same” and “The only constant in life is change” are both very cliche and very true. […]
Winter: A Season for Change Read More »
“The more things change the more they stay the same” and “The only constant in life is change” are both very cliche and very true. […]
Winter: A Season for Change Read More »
Over the past few years the gardens have been producing more and more vegetables. So, come fall we start to look for places to store
Recently we went down south for a family visit. At the time it was still very much winter here in the Yukon. Down there the snow
Training For the Yukon Read More »
Schwartz has been our only dog for the past few years. For the most part he seems to be okay, although he does enjoy playing
A Friend For Schwartz Read More »
If you ate today, thank a farmer. If you know where your food comes from, thank them even more. Knowing where your food comes from
Farmers Need Funds, Too Read More »
Anything can happen in February, weather-wise. It can be -30°C one day and 5°C a few days later. The sun can be very warm and
February Seedlings Read More »
In the 1970s farmers in the United States were told to “get big or get out” as a way to promote larger, corporately owned farms.
Bigger is Not Always Better Read More »
The phrase “food security” is becoming common, and it can be interpreted in several different ways. Whether it is a lack of food due to
Trying something new with peas One of a gardener’s goals at the end of summer is to preserve the food harvested. This takes many forms
Saving the Harvest Read More »
Death is a part of life, without death no one could live. Even vegetarians’ diets put an end to life. By eating a carrot, for
Butcher Day Death with dignity Read More »
Working outside is a given when gardening. Planting, weeding, and harvesting all are labour-intensive jobs, which are done manually on our farm. Most of the
Unexpected Encounters on the Farm Read More »
Seed saving is a time-honored way of keeping certain plant traits growing. It used to be a common practice among gardeners. This year we have
Living in the Yukon, people want to enjoy summer to the fullest, “summer” being those 14 to 21 days randomly sprinkled across June, July, and August. Gardeners
One of the biggest animal raising expenses in the Yukon is feed. So I am always on the look out for crops we can grow
In spring, while we wait for the snow to melt, we check on the chives to see if there will be enough for a taste.
Early in the spring, Swan Haven offers Yukoners a place to watch swans and other water birds as they stop to rest on their long
It’s planting time and one of the last things we plant are potatoes. We put in all of our cold crops first because if there
One Potato, Two Potato, Three Potato, Four… Read More »
Spring… there is nothing quite like it. Living here in the North, we generally have a long winter followed by a long spring. It seems
A Celebration of Spring Read More »
A few years ago, a neighbour told me my garden needed to be amended with some dirt. He was referring to the stereotypical black soil
I went to Vancouver a few weeks ago. I wasn’t looking forward to trading sunny skies for rainy ones — although the temperatures were going
A Frozen Pipe Dream Read More »
Recently, there’s been more focus on our food — what is in it, and where it comes from. Living in the North, securing a steady
Food Talks Explore Complex Relationships Read More »
Winter can be frustrating for gardeners. There are days when it feels like spring won’t get here soon enough. Combine this with the knowledge that
Homemade Seed Tapes Read More »
Winter; a season many people dread. The extra work of shovelling snow, the layers of clothing, the cold temperatures, and even the shorter daylight hours
Twas the week before Christmas and all through the farm. Not a chicken was stirring, they’re all in the barn. All summer they roam, but
A Quiet Yukon Christmas Read More »
Last year our chickens stopped laying eggs. For the first time in a decade we had to buy eggs instead of selling them. The egg
A Chicken and Egg Story Read More »
I have always wondered why we need to adjust our clocks for daylight saving time here in the land of the Midnight Sun. It was
Living on Farmer Time Read More »
Years ago I was asked by a Japanese helper what kinds of plants grew here in the winter. I laughed and said nothing grows, it
Nothing tastes quite as good as a garden fresh tomato. Here in the North these are rare enough to find, but this past summer we
The Joy of Homegrown Tomatoes Read More »
Explore the fascinating story of the Thanksgiving Turkey, from wild origins to the modern breeds raised for the holiday.
I can’t believe it’s almost over. This summer was one of the best on record as far as gardening goes. We always had lots of
Yukon Harvest Time Read More »
A few weeks ago I met a guy from Ontario who asked if it would be possible to help out at the farm. Of course
Helpers Extraordinaire Read More »
Recently we noticed some of the turkeys had bloody wings and were being picked on by the others. Often if turkeys don’t have enough feed
Barnyard Politics: Establishing a pecking order Read More »
With summer comes the sound of songbirds and the hum of insects. Often insects are seen as nuisances — pests that need bug dope to
Where are the Bees? Read More »
It is a good idea to find out a bit about your garden before planting anything in it. What will grow in a plot of
The peas were up before we finished planting the garden this year. We like to plant most of our seeds as soon as we can
Better Late than Never: How planting in the Yukon can be a challenge. Read More »
When we first moved to the Yukon 16 years ago I told my family that if I would like to have a market garden. The
Dreams Achieved: The Fireweed Market is back Read More »
All good things must come to an end and two days ago this was true for our piglets. It’s been eight weeks since they were
Venturing into the Unknown Read More »
There are pussy willows, crocuses and chives growing in the garden. Migrating birds are returning to Swan Haven and mallards are swimming in the ditch
Spring Means New Life Read More »
My husband Allan got a goose egg last night. He wasn’t hurt as some may suspect, rather he found an actual egg out in the
In early spring it is very hard not to dream of the summer growing season. Gardeners who want an early start often start plants indoors.
Head Starts and Crop Rotations Read More »
I got my seeds today! Seeds … tiny little pieces of life, stored until spring arrives to awaken them. It is this miraculous life that
Tiny Little Pieces of Life Read More »
When we moved to Whitehorse, from Saskatchewan, I had been led to believe that gardening here was next to impossible. Then I visited Yukon Gardens
Deep in Snow and Going to Seed Read More »
Spring has finally sprung. The arrival of spring also brings with it new joys of farming – not just in the garden, but also in
‘Honk, Peep (Oink?) or Gobble’ If You Love Spring! Read More »
Can you smell it? … fresh-tilled dirt. There is nothing like it to a gardener or farmer. It is one of my favourite smells of
Gardening: It’s About Knowing Where and When Read More »
I don’t really like waiting but as a farmer there are some things you have to wait for. Like seeds to sprout or crops to
The waiting is the hardest part Read More »
They don’t dig like dogs, with their front feet, but with their noses. It is unbelievable how strong their nose muscles are. They can even
Dig Those Diggin’ Pigs Read More »
They’re up … radishes and swiss chard that were planted only a week ago are now pushing up through the soil. The radishes looked like
What’s ‘Up’ in the Garden Read More »
With the snow finally gone, a gardener’s mind turns to working the soil. But, to work it too soon could leave it in unwieldy clumps,
Ploughing for Parsnips (and Other Root Crops) Read More »
We just got more baby chicks and turkey poults. They are one day old when we get them and not much bigger than the egg
Drying Turkey (with a Hair Dryer) Read More »
Well it seems that summer is here. The heat that we have been getting has been a bonus for the garden. Everything is up, even
The Joy of Weeding Read More »
I usually plant more vegetables than I am going to personally use because I like to attend the farmers’ markets in Whitehorse. It started out
To Market, To Market … Read More »
It’s chicken-butchering time again … This is a part of farming that is definitely hard work. It starts a day or so before the actual
Unwelcome Guests at Butchering Time Read More »
Well, we are nearing the end of summer and, while no one wants summer to end, there are benefits at this time of year …
A ‘Berry’ Wonderful Time of Year Read More »
This year we have been having record temperatures. With the heat, some plants start start to bolt to seed. My spinach has done this and
Give Peas a Chance! Read More »
It’s fall. I know that no one wants it to be fall, but it is hard to deny. With every season, there are vegetables that
Unearthing Harvest Treasure Read More »
It was cold this morning, zero according to the thermometer. In most places there have been frosts already, but we haven’t really had any until
How to Beat ‘Jack’ at His Frosty Game Read More »
In the fall, wild geese migrate south. But domestic geese are bred for meat, so they are almost too heavy to lift off the ground
With winter finally here, the farming workload seems to lighten. Winter is a time of rest and contemplation. It is also a time to recuperate
News from the Barnyard Read More »
With the market over and the garden harvested, you would think that there isn’t much to do on the farm. And you would be partially
Harvest is About More Than Vegetables Read More »
I love Christmas … the lights that light up Main Street, the smells of Christmas baking, the excitement of wrapping up secrets and putting them
Christmas for Farmers Read More »
About six months after we purchased our farm, we decided we needed to start raising chickens. This decision came about when, about a week after
Sunny Side Up? Over Easy? Egg-cellent! Read More »
The pussy willows are out! Willows are one of the first plants to show any signs of life in the spring. Even with mounds of
The Signs Point to Spring Read More »
Spring starts when seed catalogues arrive. At least it does for me. I receive about four or five every year. This doesn’t include the online
The First Sign of Spring Arrives in the Mail Read More »
With the snow so deep, it seems impossible that spring will ever arrive. Gardeners, however, take things into their own hands and start seedlings in
The ‘Love Apple’ Needs Love Read More »
One of the main spring tasks is to clean out the barn. On our barn we have two four-foot doors at each end to help
Manure Tea and Mud Read More »
”Gardening is about community” is part of a phrase that caught my eye in an e-mail I received today. And I agree. I didn’t learn
Gardening is About Community Read More »
With spring just around the corner, even some non-gardeners are planning on planting a garden. I am thinking specifically of my niece, Shauna, who for
A Good Garden Starts From the Ground Up Read More »
With the warmer weather we have been having, my thoughts turn to spring. I am wondering if this year I will be able to get
Where the Chickens Roam Read More »
It’s up! In my garden there are all sorts of little sprouting plants, most of which we planted. This year we were able to get
Plants Are Popping Up Everywhere Read More »
Fall is a bittersweet season. The mountainside is absolutely glorious with the sun shining off the golds and reds. The days are still warm enough
Fall’s Bittersweet Song Read More »
I tend to mow the grass around the barn areas as green feed for all of the animals. This not only gives them the greens
Shredding the Trees is Within Her Comfort Zone Read More »
The garden is just buzzing these days. I noticed a lot of bees while I was pulling up the radishes that had bolted. Even after
Everything Has Its Season Read More »
Kali and Sienna are home. They have been for about a week now, and it is very nice to have them back. When I mentioned
Kali and Sienna Would Rather Dig Holes Read More »
One of my favourite parts of spring is when we get our chicks. It doesn’t seem to matter how often we have gotten them in
Meeting Chicks at the Watering Hole Read More »
One of the best types of vegetables to grow in the Yukon are root crops. Most root crops can take late frosts in the spring,
The grass always seems greener on the other side of the fence. When living in the north, it is easy to look at how things
Is it Really Greener on the Other Side? Read More »
Last spring, we took both Kali and Sienna to visit Boris, the boar. So this fall we were waiting with bated breath for them to
A passion for piglets Read More »
Summer ended abruptly this year. When the first snowfall came, I was very thankful that all of our veggies had been harvested. Harvesting is backbreaking
A Time to Be Thankful Read More »
With the snow blowing around and the temperatures dropping, most people and animals prefer to be indoors. This isn’t the case for the geese and
Iam enjoying our long fall this year. It has allowed us to work on outside projects much easier than if we were knee deep in
Rhythms Change as Seasons Change Read More »
The sun is shining, the snow is melting off of the roof and it is starting to feel like spring. But we are still in
Reap What You Sow … Now! Read More »
I took a walk today with three young boys. First they followed me throughout the barn while I did the chores. Asking questions and admiring
Stopping to Smell the Roses on the Farm Read More »
I decided to go with the larger package. It is a variety that has done very well in the past. It was almost funny, when
One of my pet peeves is dogs (no pun intended). More specifically, other people’s dogs that come onto the farm. One reason dogs were domesticated
Schwartz on the Job Read More »
Most vegetables have their share of pests and problems. If it’s too wet, mildew will attack peas or tomatoes. An early fall frost can kill
Volunteering is something that a lot of people do to give back to their community. Sometimes it is more than that. Some volunteers go a
Volunteers and Other Visitors Read More »
They say birds of a feather flock together. When you visit our barnyard, you will see that the chickens don’t like to spend much time
Children, when learning to garden, show this quite plainly when they dig up a seed to see if it is doing anything. Sometimes this actually
Will It Germinate? Read More »
Spring! There is just something about it that gets the blood moving. It could be the excitement of new life pushing its way up from
Better Late Than Never Read More »
Springtime on the farm is one of the busiest times of the year. Harvest is busy, too. You’re racing the frosts and fall rains to
Multi-tasking Time Read More »
Well, spring has sprung. I am seeing the evidence of this everywhere. Trees and bushes are starting to bud, grass is coming up and crocuses
New Life, New Challenges Read More »
Every spring, we start preparing for chicks. This usually means a rearrangement of how animals are housed. In the fall we usually move everything into
Changing Accommodations Read More »
There’s more to farming than feeding animals and planting seeds.” This is a quote from my husband, Al. When he said this a few weeks
Living Self-sufficiently Read More »
In mid-July, I dream of January. For most people it’s the other way around. Cold temperatures have never really bothered me and, after a very
Flipping the Calendar Read More »
While I grew up on a farm, it wasn’t until after I started farming as an adult that I realized how many phrases in our
Dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh, o’er the fields we go, laughing all the way, ha, ha ha. Bells on bobtail ring
Christmas on the Farm Read More »
Are you ready for winter? It’s a common phrase heard every fall all over the place. What does it take to be ready? Vehicles and
Are You ready for Winter? Winterizing Yukon Style Read More »
Most people associate fresh vegetables with summer, especially in the Yukon. So when my cousin came for a visit near the end of October, she
One of the most beautiful seasons in the Yukon is autumn. But with that beauty comes the threat of frost. In fact, frost is probably
Facing the Frost Threat Read More »
Well, it’s harvest time again. Whether you’re a gardener, hunter, berry picker or farmer, the freezer starts to fill up for us all. Not so
Considering Food Security Read More »