Food and Farming Canada » random musings

People could use a little reconnecting to the farm

Lilian — Thu, 26 May 2011 12:57:37 +0000

The case of watermelons spontaneously exploding in Chinese fields made headlines recently. This coming weekend marks the annual Rural Romp in Wellington County – a county-wide food and farming open house of sorts. These two events are worlds apart, yet to me, they’re both part of the complex network our global food system has become.

Most Canadian [...]

A royal jam

Lilian — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 14:06:09 +0000

Royal wedding fever is ramping up as we inch closer to the long-awaited nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

I remember watching the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer back in 1981…the sheer pomp and circumstance of it all was like a magical fairy tale to my six year old eyes!

In Canada, of [...]

Food, farming and condoms

Lilian — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 13:53:50 +0000

You’re probably wondering what the connection could possibly be between condoms, food and farming.

At first glance, absolutely none – but the humour and the challenge in this little situation made it a bit too bizarre not to write about.

As a blogger and freelance journalist, I receive pitches all the time from PR folks and [...]

In the fields of remembrance

Lilian — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 15:19:10 +0000

I’ve always had a special connection to Remembrance Day – ever since I was lucky enough to visit Vimy Ridge as part of a school trip when I was 16.

I have also been fortunate enough to participate in the national service in Ottawa one year when I was the Canada-wide winner of an essay writing contest [...]

Awards from the Canadian Farm Writers

Lilian — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 11:28:57 +0000

I’m not usually one for shameless self-promotion, but in this instance, I can’t help but share some very good news.

I was totally thrilled to learn this past weekend that I was the winner of not one but two writing awards at the Canadian Farm Writers Federation (CFWF) annual banquet on Saturday night.

The CFWF program recognizes the [...]

Making the harvest last all year

Lilian — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 14:44:45 +0000

Last year at this time, I wrote a post about the great salsa adventure. I had spent a full Saturday with three friends turning yummy Ontario tomatoes, onions and peppers into even yummier salsa.

I also canned tomato sauce and tried various jam recipes. There’s so much great produce at this time of year and at [...]

Through the eyes of a cow

Lilian — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 18:23:18 +0000

Have you ever wondered what the world looks like through the eyes of animals?

I think about that sometimes when I watch my dog lie in the grass, seemingly engrossed in nothing. Growing up on a dairy farm, I was surrounded by cattle on a daily basis and I remember wondering that too when I’d watch them [...]

Our shocking, food wasting habits

Lilian — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:23:03 +0000

We have a curious relationship with food in this part of the world. On one hand, we worry about it – wondering whether we’re eating healthy and fighting feelings of guilt associated with the calorie, fat or carb content when we suspect we might not be. And on the other hand, we take its abundance [...]

It’s holiday time!

Lilian — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 23:24:54 +0000

I’m taking a little break from food and farming blogging over the next few days. We’re heading south on a roadtrip that will take us through Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama. Some have already pointed out to me how crazy an undertaking that is for the middle of August given the heat and humidity in this [...]

Checking out the local cafe

Lilian — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 10:57:39 +0000

We took advantage of the recent long weekend to spend a few days in the Kawartha region of Ontario. The village of Lakefield was our principle destination – and the highlight of our weekend a visit with our friend Jennifer MacKenzie. Jen and her husband, Chef Jay Nutt, own Nuttshell Next Door, a cafe in downtown [...]