Farm Mom: The Important Lessons She Has Taught You

Farm Mom: The Important Lessons She Has Taught You

I am looking at my bare garden, waiting for the soil to warm up. The guys are busy in the fields, we’ve been seeding since April 26th. We are celebrating having our family close this weekend. I wish my farm Mom was still alive, she passed away in 1998 at age 65, but I...
The 5 Ways of Dealing With Conflict on the Farm

The 5 Ways of Dealing With Conflict on the Farm

This article is an excerpt from Elaine’s book Farming’s In-Law Factor. What comes to mind when you hear the word “conflict”? Is it negative or is it positive? If you’re like most people, you’re thinking, “Of course it’s negative! How could conflict be a good thing?”...
Embrace Love and Let Go of Loneliness

Embrace Love and Let Go of Loneliness

February is typically a month of love. Couples being happy and embracing the love between them. But what do you do if loneliness is on your farm? Did you spend February lonely or embraced in love. Her sniffles were clear on the phone line, she said “He used to spend...
Transitioning with Harmony: How to Stop Parents Fighting

Transitioning with Harmony: How to Stop Parents Fighting

Where is it written that your parents have to go south for the winter together? Many aging farmers like to visit the sun belt at this time of year to get rest, connect with friends and have some well-deserved fun.  But what if one of your parents prefers to stay home?...
What Really Matters After 40 Years

What Really Matters After 40 Years

The clouds at 30,000 feet are keeping me company as I write and reflect. My ears hear Celtic tunes of praise while I contemplate the lessons of the last 4 decades. November 10, 1978, marked the first day of my move to Boissevain to serve farm families with Manitoba...