Harrowsmith

As I read over the pages of this issue, I was reminded about where—and when—Harrowsmith magazine began. Back in the 1970s, Harrowsmith focussed on rural life and farming and, believe it or not, it was considered to be quite radical. Articles spoke to

I’ve been at Harrowsmith for more than a year and a half now, six months as Editor-in-Chief, and I thank my lucky stars every day. (If you are reading this, you must love Harrowsmith as much as I do!) As the team and I put the finishing touches on th

Since the summer solstice is June 20, this month will see the latest evening twilights and shortest nights. Also, bug season is upon us, making the limited dark skies less inviting. Regardless, the Milky Way rises in the east as evening twilight ends

Our theme for this issue is “Celebrating Family Farms,” and when it comes to family, goats are the GOAT. Just like humans, they thrive on social interaction and companionship, finding solace and joy in the company of their fellow caprine friends. To

When it comes to celebrating Canadian women in agriculture, we’d be remiss if we didn’t recognize the vital contribution made by the Farmerettes, a group of women who stepped in to fill the labour shortage during the Second World War. This summer, th

My neighbour Dave and I both love gardening. We have large garden plots just over the escarpment from Toronto in the Halton Hills area. Come spring, summer and fall, it’s time to clean and rototill the garden. We love our rototiller almost as much as

National Tree Day may not be until September 25 (always the Wednesday during National Tree Week, which is September 22 to 28 this year), but that doesn’t mean our friends at Forests Ontario are taking the summer off. Along with local partners, they h

Perhaps some of you have heard of the app called Farmville. In this game, players start their own animal farm from the ground up. As you build your farm, you decide what livestock to raise, what crops to grow, how many farmhands you need, etc., and y

Who they are: Sisters Sophie Sharp (left) and Ellen Folkins What they do: Co-owners of Sharp Brook Flower Farm When they started: 2021 Where they farm: Lower Millstream, NB Why they do it: “We grew up in agriculture. Our parents have a dairy farm. Ou

Backup electrical power with no fuel, fumes or noise—this is the promise of portable power stations. Sometimes called solar generators, this up-and-coming technology offers distinct advantages over fuel-powered generators. But does it make sense for

One thing about an active, rural life is that it often comes with a lot of outdoor stuff that needs protection from the elements. A tractor, wood splitter, snow-removal equipment, fishing boat, perhaps a hay mower and baler—the list can be long. This

Whether you are a Master Gardener or a budding horticulturist, taking part in an organized botanical excursion can offer moments of serenity, glimpses of perfection, nuggets of wisdom and endless inspiration. But before you put on your sunhat and wal

Food shopping can give you indigestion. Grocery shopping is a mundane task that is underestimated for its complexity. Culture, diet, budget, seasonality, convenience, emotion, habit, instinct, environmental concerns and more more come into play. Whoe

Questions of livestock management and economics aside, there has always been lots to be learned between farmers and gardeners. With the current trend toward “regenerative agriculture” taking hold, we cannot afford to ignore what applies in the garden

Your soil is an important ally in tackling climate change, as well as achieving productivity and profitability. When you pay attention to the health of your soil, you will realize a rich harvest of benefits: climate stability, improved water quality,

Every garden has a story to tell. When you open a garden gate, it’s like starting a new book. You do so with anticipation, to discover and be inspired. If you find yourself feeling this way, chances are you have the makings of a garden tourist. It st

The warm summer breeze. Twinkling lights. The sounds of laughter. Delicious, fresh-from-the-farm flavours. The unmistakable scent of barbeque. Entertaining outdoors in the summer ignites all of our senses, creating indelible memories, reminding us of

Serves 4-6 1 cup cooked farro2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice1 teaspoon Whole Grain Dijon mustard1 teaspoon honey¼ cup extra virgin olive oil1 medium bulb of fennel, cored and sliced into thin pieces3 cups arugula handful fresh herbs, torn into small

6 cups chopped ripe fresh tomatoes2 garlic cloves½ cup fresh whole basil leaves½ cup fresh whole parley¾ cup olive oil1 tsp sea salt1 tsp freshly ground pepper Combine all ingredients into a blender. Blend until fully mixed and herbs are completely c

The basic rule for salmon burgers is the same as for any well-crafted beef burger—make it thick and juicy. But since salmon is more delicately flavoured than beef, there’s plenty of room for enhancement. Your burger will benefit from some of the same

A traditional Maritime lobster supper typically consists of a freshly caught Atlantic lobster, boiled to perfection and served with melted butter for dipping. Classic side dishes include potato salad, coleslaw, steamed mussels, rolls or biscuits, and

rusticoresort.com You’ll come for the golf, but you’ll stay for the food. With their 18-hole course with water views from every hole, grass tennis courts and unique, waterfront glamping domes, Rustico Resort has been a summer vacation destination fo

II started reading Harrowsmith in 1978 when I bought my little farm here in Simcoe County beside the Niagara Escarpment, and started restoring the old homestead as a weekender. A few years later, while working as the public affairs director for Canad