Farmers work together

It's pretty cool to watch a group work together -- especially when farmers band together to accomplish a task.

Many are self-proclaimed loners who admit to having to work a bit to share ideas with each other. But in this case, farmers in Ontario are teaming up in an attempt to set a new world record by harvesting 160 acres of soybeans with more than 100 combines in under 10 minutes.

The record attempt is part of Harvest for Hunger, a unique project organized by five local area farmers -- Richard Van Donkersgoed, Peter Rastorfer, Mike Koetsier, Randy Drenth and John Tollenaar -- to raise funds for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank and help end global hunger.

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers will sell the harvested soybean crop in a live unreserved charity auction during the event, with all proceeds going to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. The Canadian International Development Agency will also match proceeds raised in the auction.

Harvest for Hunger is a collaborative community effort involving more than 300 volunteers and more than 100 combines. Everything has been donated including the use of the land, field work, seed, fertilizer, crop protection, fuel and crop scouting. Ritchie Bros. is donating its auction services, staff and an auctioneer to support the event.

The harvest will yield about 8,000 bushels of beans which will be divided and auctioned in lots ranging in size from one bushel to 1,600 bushels (enough to fill a 40 tonne truck). Some of the crop will be sold as crushed beans for soybean meal or Identity Preserved beans (non-genetically modified beans that can be exported). Bidding on lots will be take place on-site during the Harvest for Hunger event. Each lot will be sold to the highest bidder, with no minimum bids or reserve prices.

"All the funds raised from the harvest will help the Canadian Foodgrains Bank provide critical food aid to drought ridden areas such as Ethiopia and Kenya," said Richard Van Donkersgoed, Fundraising Coordinator for Harvest for Hunger.

Harvest for Hunger will take place on Highway 23, just one kilometre north of Monkton at noon on Friday, Sept. 30. The public is invited to watch the soybean harvest and bid in the live charity auction. Lunch and drinks will be available by donation. Local dignitaries will also be on-site to determine whether a new harvesting world record is set, based on time and acreage.

"Community events like Harvest for Hunger speak to the strong heritage of Canadian farmers feeding the world," said Jim Cornelius, Executive Director, Canadian Foodgrains Bank. "We are grateful for the volunteers and donors who are working together in support of our mission to end global hunger."

The Canadian Foodgrains Bank is a partnership of 15 churches and church agencies working together to end world hunger through the collection and donation of grain and cash. To date, the Canadian Foodgrains Bank has provided more than one million tonnes of food to people in 80 countries around the world. Primary support for the organization comes from growing projects with farmers and communities in Canada's agricultural sector.

Canadian farm journalists examine food crisis

Alan Scholz of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada is the winner of the first ever International Federation of Agricultural Journalists-YARA award for Reporting on Sustainable World Agriculture.

Scholz's story, Food Scarcity - A Myth?, appeared in the Spring 2011 edition of Sustainable Futures magazine, published by the Agricultural Institute of Canada. Judges said Scholz “dared to ask if there really is a problem with sustainability, and like good journalism often does, it offered a contrary direction to popular thought.” In that way, they said, it opened the door for further debate and discussion. But despite its clear perspective, the story was well balanced, offering no single, simple feel-good solution.

“The writer described this complex, emotional topic fairly, in an easy-to-understand, realistic way that can basically be summed up by saying a multi-faceted approach is needed to address the complicated food problem,” they said.

Laura Rance of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada received distinguished recognition for her story in the Winnipeg Free Press newspaper, ”Put on pot of soup, help fight food crisis.” Judges called her story “very well-balanced, discussing pros and cons.” They said Rance “combines different aspects of the world food situation in a very convincing way. Conclusions from FAO and from researchers are taken into account and presented, so they can be used in our daily life. She succeeds in presenting a complicated problem and a simple set of solutions.”

Distinguished recognition was also given to Deanna Lush of Australia for her story in Stock & Land newspaper, entitled ”Crop quality key to feeding the world.” The judges said Lush “focused on better food quality, and not just quantity, an important aspect of producing enough food for more than nine billion people in 2050.” They noted the story focuses on nutrient deficiency – sometimes called hidden hunger – and praised Lush for describing farmers’ and scientists’ role in reducing nutrient deficiency. Several relevant cases are used, giving the reader a thorough understanding of the problem.

The awards were announced at the 2011 International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) Congress awards banquet in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.

The competition drew 23 entries from eight countries. The theme was how to feed a growing world population.

Judges for the inaugural competition were Henning Otte Hansen of Denmark, Cathy Reade of Australia’s Crawford Fund and a team of Fred Kirschenmann, Jeri Neal and Laura Miller of the University of Iowa’s Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture.

The award was sponsored by YARA International ASA, a global firm specializing in agricultural products and environmental protection agents.

The IFAJ is a non-political, professional association for agricultural journalists in 31 countries. It serves as a platform for communication, information and professional development for agricultural journalists from all over the world.

The IFAJ-YARA competition co-ordinator was IFAJ secretary general Owen Roberts of Canada. Guidance, support and liaison activities for the inaugural award were provided by IFAJ member Jorgen Lund Christiansen of Denmark.

Further information about the IFAJ-YARA award is availble on the IFAJ website, or by contacting Roberts.

Wordless Wednesday

After a very long absence from blogging (no excuse!), I offer this link to you on Wordless Wednesday. And thanks to Jennifer MacDonald, New Brunswick ag promoter extraordinaire, for sharing this.

Cows sculptures created out of junked cars.

She wanted a horse, but her parents said no.

I love this girl's spirit!

How wet is it?

We've been hearing about flooding in Canada's Prairies, but how wet is it? It's hard to understand the impact of the excessive moisture without being there, but this video does an excellent job showing us just how disastrous the situation is.

Let's hope the rain clouds dissipate and the sun shines soon.

IFAJ 2011 Sneak Peak: Canada's Outdoor Farm Show

When the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists meet in Ontario in September, one of the sites we'll have a chance to visit is Canada's Outdoor Farm Show.

I've never been to the show, but it has been on my To Do list for several years. I'm quite looking forward to attending with my IFAJ colleagues. The video above is a sample of last year's show.

When freelancers need more than a "work like hell" biz plan

With the early registration deadline for the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists’ congress in Canada only days away, now is the best time to decide if you're attending. Of course, you can register after the early bird deadline, but it will cost an additional $200.

Freelance writers have a particular concern. The cost of the congress -- whether it's the Canadian guild meeting, or the international meeting -- is always top of mind. The congress cost is a big expense, and when I have to pay the entire cost myself, it certainly makes me stop and look at my financial situation before dishing out any money.

As well, I live in eastern Canada, so airfare is another consideration. It usually costs me extra to fly anywhere.

But when I look at the benefit of attending either the national or international congress, I ask myself one question: Why I would I NOT attend? It's money very well spent; in fact, the expense is an investment in my career.

Why’s that?

Well, at IFAJ 2011 in Guelph, Ont. in September -- or any of the other IFAJ congresses -- there will be about 300 agricultural communicators and journalists, from all around the world. By attending, I'll have the chance to meet each one of them. We'll dine together, sit beside each other on the bus, muck through barns in our disposable protective footware, share a table at professional development sessions, tour food processors wearing silly hair nets, toast each other over drinks, sing together and share laughs. The congresses are held in relaxed, casual settings and are the perfect forum to get to know other like-minded professionals. The experiences we share at these congresses solidify our profession.

It's easy to look around the congresses and see the teambuilding going on. But there's also a lot of business activity happening that we don't see. Our national guilds (and IFAJ) include public relations professionals, journalists, communicators, broadcasters, editors, publishers -- anyone involved in ag communications. Many of the people in a position to assign work or hire contract writers are often circulating among us.

All the contract work I do today is because of just one connection I made at one of our national guild meetings. That work now puts me in a situation where I subcontract to freelance writers. I know of several others within our national guild who are in the same position. It's not unusual for me to receive phone calls from others in our guild who are looking for a freelance writer or someone to do some public relations writing for them. Last year at the IFAJ congress in Belgium, I overheard a conversation between a publisher and a foreign freelance journalist. The journalist was considering immigrating to the country where the publisher works. "Give me a call," the publisher said, "I'm always looking for good writers."

And even if I don't get a call immediately after the congress for a chance at freelance work, I could very well receive a call sometime in the future, or could myself been looking for a freelancer in the months ahead. You never know for sure when it's going to benefit you, but I feel it's our job as freelancers to work at these gatherings to make sure we are a part of every opportunity.

The cost of a congress is a concern, and I agree that it holds merit. But think of the alternative. Lower cost accommodations, such as a university residence, could be considered. But that has its own set of complications. The congress time would be restricted to June, July or early August, a time when many people are on vacation with their families. And in many parts of the world, those months tend to bring warmer temperatures. Many university residences aren't air conditioned. And it's common for residences to request off season visitors bring their own linens. Is that any way to welcome visitors to our country?

The early registration cost for the IFAJ 2011 congress is $1,090, double occupancy. Sharing a room with someone you don't know can often be a gamble, but if we're looking at this to save money, it's the best place to start. That price includes your hotel fee for six nights, all meals, bus transportation to farms and tickets to a dinner theatre event hotel fees. It's certainly not a bare bones congress, but it isn't lavish either. The hotel is modest -- exactly what is to be expected of a conference of professionals.

And maybe that's the key. As freelancers, we need to recognize the fact that we're professionals. We're entrepreneurs and we need to operate our businesses that way -- including writing business plans, setting goals and budgeting for professional development and career boosting opportunities. I'll be the first to admit that I haven't always worked this way. For many of my 20 years as a freelancer, my business plan was "work like hell." But over time, I grew tired of working just to keep my head above water. I felt the need to have career goals and feel a sense of professional accomplishment. It's a never-ending evolution.

Every handshake at an IFAJ or guild congress is an opportunity for future work. It pays to be open to every chance we have to develop and grow our career, even if the upfront cost might hurt a little.

Cooking with Souvenirs

When I was in Berlin, Germany early this year at International Green Week, one of the items I picked up was a jar of a traditional Polish treat, krem mleczny.

The display at Green Week was amazing. The fountain of luscious caramel flowed and the rich, deep aroma drew us in. It managed to captured our attention above the assaults on our senses that surrounded us at Green Week.

I didn’t really have a plan for how to use the krem mleczny at home. I tucked it away in the cupboard, but every time I saw it, I wondered what to do with it. I often thought it would be good as a topping on ice cream.

Jose, a colleague also involved with the International Federation of Agriculture Journalists, bought the same treat and ended up using hers in a cake, which I thought was a great idea. When my mother-in-law invited us over for dinner a few days ago and told us a few other relatives would also be there, I volunteered to make dessert. Then, I started looking for a fabulous cake recipe.

The cake ended up being a bit more work then I expected, since it fell apart when I tipped it onto the cooling rake. My kids had no sympathy for me, though, and were more than happy to eat bits that were half in the pan and half on the counter.

In the end, all was good – very good! I used the krem mleczny as the filling between the two layers of the white cake and made a simple frosting. I probably could have made a cake in a tube pan, heated the krem and used it like a glaze, and the cake was probably a bit more dense than what the krem is usually used with, but it was a delicious learning experience and next time, I’ll have a better idea of how to put the treat to good use.

From the archives: Switzerland's bumper spaghetti harvest

Some stories are of such high quality that they can stand to be repeated. This news story below is a prime example.

The story about Switzerland's bumper crop of spaghitte broke April 1, 1957 and garnered great reaction from the BBC viewers who wanted to know where they too could buy spaghetti trees. The bumper crop was credited, in part, "to the virtual disappearance of the spaghetti weevil."

Here's an excerpt from the script:

It is not only in Britain that spring, this year, has taken everyone by surprise. Here in the Ticino, on the borders of Switzerland and Italy, the slopes overlooking Lake Lugano have already burst into flower at least a fortnight earlier than usual.

But what, you may ask, has the early and welcome arrival of bees and blossom to do with food? Well, it is simply that the past winter, one of the mildest in living memory, has had its effect in other ways as well. Most important of all, it's resulted in an exceptionally heavy spaghetti crop.

The last two weeks of March are an anxious time for the spaghetti farmer. There is always the chance of a late frost which, while not entirely ruining the crop, generally impairs the flavour and makes it difficult for him to obtain top prices in world markets. But now these dangers are over and the spaghetti harvest goes forward.

Historic news footage of the Swiss spaghetti harvest

 
The full story about the Swiss spaghetti harvest of 1957 is located at the BBC website.

(Special thanks to Truffle Media for posting about this on Twitter)

A blogging course -- Really?

I'm lucky to have a strong professional network through the Professional Writers' Association of Canada (PWAC) and the Canadian Farm Writers' Federation (CFWF).

I have trusted peers locally, nationally and internationally who I can call on for help, advice, support and friendship. Or a glass of wine or bottle of beer.

A couple of PWAC colleagues, Wendy and Trudy, and I decided we were looking for just a bit more oomph from our network. We wanted to find someway to carry on that enthusiasm we get from professional development workshops, conferences and meetings. You know that high when ideas flow just by having a discussion with like-minded entrepreneurs? We wanted to bottle it and drink deeply every week.

Last November, we started to meet once a week via Skype. So far, so good, although in some ways, we're still finding our groove.

When we met last week and Wendy talked about taking a blogging course, my initial reaction (that I kept to myself) was, "a blogging course -- really?? Why do you need a blogging course? Just jump in and do it!" But Wendy was excited about it, the course came with high recommendation from another PWAC colleague and I was happy that Wendy was finally going to start working towards her goal of setting up a blog. Trudy asked for the course information and I did too.

I changed my attitude about the validity of a blogging course when I checked out the outline and realized it would answer many questions I've been wondered about blogging, but just hadn't gotten around to answering on my own. Making the switch to Word Press, syndication, effective use of widgets... stuff I could probably get a handle on myself -- probably someday -- were all nicely packaged into a six week course.

Sign me up! I'm in.

And that's the beauty of a good network of support. They're always inspiring, even when you least expect it and when you've let your support for the others slip a little.

Maple Syrup Time!

Spring has officially -- and finally -- arrived and in Eastern Canada, that means warmer temperatures, longer days and maple syrup.

Here's a video produced by the New Brunswick Maple Syrup Producers. It gives an inside look at how maple syrup is gathered, processed and used.

New Brunswick Maple Syrup

Reveille is back!

Reveille is an open mic evening of laughter and sharing as the general public and special guests read the angst-filled words they wrote as children.

Dig out that box from the attic or basement -- or maybe it's still under your old bed at your parents' place -- and get ready to read. Yes, it's awful. Yes, it's embarrasing. YES, it's funny!

The event is part of the Frye Literary Festival in Moncton, N.B., Canada.

This year's lineup of authors includes Margaret Atwood, Kenneth Oppel, Johanna Skibsrud, Sylvia Tyson, Charles Foran and many others. We often have some of the visiting authors drop into Reveille with samples of their work from their youth, but everyone is welcome to come and read, or come and laugh.

Reveille is hosted by the Moncton Chapter of the Professional Writers Association of Canada. It's set for Wednesday, April 27, 8 p.m. at the Moncton Press Club.

In celebration of milk... if cats had thumbs

International agricultural journalists to gather in Canada

What will they see? This video just about says it all.

Galloping Cows at the Oscars?

A Nova Scotia food producer is heading to the red carpet.

Ron and Joanne Schmidt of Galloping Cows Fine Foods in Port Hood, Nova Scotia, left Monday, Feb. 21 for the Oscars in Los Angeles, California. They will set up a display in the Oscars' Gifting Suite and present stars with a gift box of Galloping Cows Pepper Jellies.

Joanne says they broke into the star-studded gift scene when they attended the Toronto International Film Festival and the Golden Globes with their Brandy Cranberry Marmalade. But they will shine the spotlight on their Wild Blueberry Pepper Spread as the Oscars.

The company started as a roadside farm market 16 years ago. They've continued to evolve and develop new products over the years with Ron and Joanne creating the new recipes. They use 100 per cent Nova Scotia fruit in their products.

In addition to the red carpet, Galloping Cows pepper jellies are available in the deli departments at Sobeys stores in Atlantic Canada. Gift stores, farm markets, specialty food stores and their website also sell the product.

The Oscars air Sunday, Feb. 27.

New IFAJ contest addresses hot ag topic

It's a question the agricultural industry -- including journalists and communicators -- has been asking repeatedly lately. It's even a topic that has spilled into mainstream media as analysts examine the topic.

Experts say agricultural production must double during the next 40 years. How does the world continue to feed its growing population?

As our work as agricultural journalists and communicators leads us to examine this question, the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) has unveiled a new contest, the IFAJ Award for Reporting on Sustainable World Agriculture. The award will recognize excellence in work that examines issues-based questions each year.

The IFAJ Award for Reporting on Sustainable World Agriculture is open to articles, internet productions or radio/TV broadcasts on the broad topics of hunger, feeding the world sustainably and meeting the challenge of providing nutrition to a growing world population.

This new award provides a unique professional development opportunity for all IFAJ members to participate in a broad-based contest that is relevant to current global issues -- the goal of higher food production with a lower carbon footprint.

Entries to this year's contest must address the following theme:
"How to feed a still growing world population? Can we double agricultural production towards 2050? Experts say we must double agricultural production during the next 40 years in order to avoid hunger and in order also to produce agricultural products for energy purposes. At the same time agricultural land will only increase slightly, and water may be an even more limited resource."

Eligibility
Individual IFAJ members from countries with paid-up memberships are eligible to enter. This means national guilds are not required to have a judging or selection process to decide on an entry to go forward. One entry per member is allowed.

Entries may be a written article, a radio program or a television/internet production.

Entries should touch on the broad themes of hunger, feeding the world sustainably or meeting the challenge of providing nutrition to a growing world population. Entries can be macro (global, regional or national) or micro (local) points of view. Entries may focus on a broad array of topics including food supply and demand, trade, production agriculture practices and policy.

Judging will be based on objectivity, balance, content, clarity and relevance to the theme. Solid organization, depth of reporting and brightness of style will be examined. Entries have no length (words, minutes, etc.) requirement, but must have been published or aired in one (print) issue or single broadcast; series of reports are ineligible.

Entries must have been published or aired between January 1, 2010 and June 1, 2011. In this first year of the award, entries scheduled to be published or aired no later than December 31, 2011 are also eligible.

All entries must be written or spoken in English. The committee of judges will consider less perfect English from participants whose primary language is not English. Entry deadline is June 15, 2011.

The following information must be provided in the e-mail to which the article is attached:

• Name, address, e-mail address and telephone number of the entrant;
• Name of IFAJ member association of which the entrant is a member;
• Name of publication, broadcast station or Web site where entry was published or aired;
• Date and/or issue of broadcast, posting, airing, or publication;
• The intended audience for the entry (consumers? farmers?)

For print entries, the layout and design will not be considered in the judging.

Entries, submitted in electronic format such as PDF or MP3, must be submitted to:

International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ)

c/o Secretary General Owen Roberts, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada

email: owen(at)uoguelph.ca.

An email directing judges to the entry via a link to broadcast sites such as www.youtube.com is also acceptable.

Prizes

Cash prizes for first (3,000 euro), second (1,500 euro) and third place (750 euro) will be awarded, with the winners of the contest announced at the 2011 IFAJ Congress in Canada, September 2011. IFAJ will publish the names of the winners and will publish their work at www.ifaj.org. IFAJ reserves the right to use the entries and subsequent critiques in future professional development activities.

Judging

A panel of three judges will form an independent committee. The judging panel is lead by distinguished professor Henning Otte Hansen, senior adviser at the Institute of Food and Resource Economics, University of Copenhagen. Other judges will be selected from North/South America, and Africa/Asia/Australia/New Zealand.

Applications for Young Journalist Award now being accepted

Are you:

     • 35 or younger?
     • A member of the Canadian Farm Writers' Federation?
     • Interested in boosting your ag journalism or communications career?

The Canadian Farm Writers' Federation (CFWF) is now accepting applications for the 2011 IFAJ-Alltech Young Leaders in Agriculture Journalism Award.

CFWF will select one entry from the Canadian applications for further judging by the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ). IFAJ judges will go on to select the winners of the IFAJ-Alltech Young Leaders in Agriculture Journalism Award.

This award recognizes the leadership potential of 10 young members from the 29 countries belonging to the IFAJ, and supports the young persons' participation at the 2011 IFAJ congress. The award is designed to offset travel and registration costs.

At the 2011 congress, winners of the young leaders' award will participate in a Boot Camp workshop. This will provide participants with expert training and feedback through on-site writing or broadcasting assignments and further develop their leadership skills through formal in-class training. They will be teamed with mentors during the congress to help with learning.

Participants will also write or record spot news three times during the congress. The stories will be made available to the general media and posted on the IFAJ website, http://www.ifaj.org/.

The 2011 IFAJ Boot Camp and congress are September 10-18, 2011, in the Guelph, Ontario, Canada region. Details, including the agenda, are available at http://www.ifaj2011.com/.

The only way apply for 2011 IFAJ-Alltech Young Leaders in Agriculture Journalism Award is through the Canadian Farm Writers' Federation.

A team of CFWF judges, selected by the federation executive, will pick one entry to represent Canada and will submit the successful candidate's name to IFAJ for further judging. The remaining nine IFAJ-Alltech Young Leaders in Agriculture Journalism Award winners will be selected from entries from other IFAJ member countries.

Rules and procedures for nomination and selection

1. Applicants must be CFWF members.

2. Applicants must write a brief (500 word maximum) essay that addresses:

• why they believe they have leadership potential in IFAJ. 
• how attending Boot Camp and 2011 IFAJ congress will benefit them in their professional life.

Application essays, as well as the applicant's name, mailing address, email address, telephone number and regional farm writer organization, must be sent to Allison Finnamore, Canada's IFAJ executive member, at allison@finnamore.ca by 5 p.m. eastern time, Monday, February 28, 2011.

 

3. The IFAJ-Alltech Young Leaders in Agricultural Journalism Award is valued at 1,000 Euro per winner.

4. The candidate must be able to attend Boot Camp and the IFAJ congress, September 10-18, 2011 in Ontario, Canada.

5. The Canadian Farm Writers' Federation will select one entry from the Canadian applications for further judging by the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists. CFWF will forward supporting information about the Canadian nominee, who will be required to provide CFWF with supporting information in a timely fashion.

6. Candidates must be involved in agricultural journalism or communications.

7. Candidates must be no more than 35 years old as of December 31, 2010.

8. Final judging will be conducted by a three-person panel chaired by the IFAJ general secretary.

9. Judges’ decisions are final.

Questions? Call Allison at 506-860-7761 or email allison@finnamore.ca

 

CFWF members, please share this with your regional associations.

Food Freedom Day

Today is Food Freedom Day in Canada.

That means the average Canadian has now earned enough disposable income to pay for his or her individual grocery bill -- food and alcohol only -- for the entire year.

And yes, it's only February 12.

This is the third year in a row that Food Freedom Day has fallen on this date, and only slightly later than in previous years. The recession and an increase in the price of food have helped push the date back. The calculation is made by comparing Canadians' disposable income and the amount we spend on food.

According to the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, in 2010 the average Canadian spent approximately 11.9 per cent of personal disposable income on food.

Beth Densmore, president of Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture points out that even though we enjoy reasonably priced food in Nova Scotia and the rest of the country, Canadian farmers "continue to be challenged with gaining a fair return of the food dollar."
 
Consumers want cheap food that is reliably safe. Farmers want to get paid fairly for the food they produce. Should Canadians spend more than 11.9 per cent of disposable income on food? What's the value of a safe food supply? Is enough money getting back to farmers?
 
Food Freedom Day may be a good time to take pause to reflect on these types of questions.
 
More on Food Freedom Day.
 

It'll be a wild party!

It's been 15 years since Nova Scotia named the wild blueberry its official berry.

Nova Scotia's wild blueberry is worth $40 million in export sales to 30 countries.

Proclaimed the provincial berry on Jan. 11, 1996, the wild blueberry is often touted for its medicinal benefits.

"Early research suggested the antioxidant power of blueberries was responsible for health benefits," said Wilhelmina Kalt, research scientist, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, who is investigating the berry's health attributes. "More recently, research indicates blueberries may be important in reducing inflammation that comes with disease and aging."

Health research is examining the blueberry's benefits in areas such as cardiovascular health, neuroscience, cancer, inflammation, aging and, more recently, diabetes and sight.

For more information about the wild blueberry or Select Nova Scotia, go to http://www.selectnovascotia.ca/.

Maple Syrup Dreams

When I met recently with colleagues from the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists in Berlin, there was much talk about maple syrup. It may have been because we discovered the wonderful drink, firewater, or... well, no, the discussion about maple syrup definitely came from the firewater conversation.

It's easy to take what we have for granted and I forgot how novel the notion is of harvesting sap from a tree and turning it into sweet syrup. Eastern Canadians share the annual spring tradition of pulling on our rubber boots, usually one of the first times we wear them after shedding the winter boots, and heading into the barren woods for a walk to the sugar shack.

Timing is everything with maple syrup production. The night temperatures must drop below freezing and temperatures during the day must be above freezing. The see-saw on the thermometre is what makes the sap in the tree begin to flow after its winter's rest. Depending on the weather, the sap could run for many weeks.

Maple syrup facts and history

My most memorable spring maple syrup memory is from when I was about 12-years-old. I had a mouth full of braces -- the big, heavy braces that felt and looked like railroad tracks. They came with the firm instructions: no gum and nothing sticky to eat.

I was at a sugar camp and when it was time for some maple candy, the owner of the camp passed the first, sticky, gooey piece to me. Of course I took it. Of course it hauled the cemented-braces right off my teeth. Of course my parents were upset and of course, I was at the orthodontist the very next day to have the cement reapplied. But of course, for maple candy, I would do it all over again in an instant.

These are photos from a couple of years ago when my son's Cub group went the the maple sugar woods.

 Heading into the muddy woods

 The sap lines snaking through the bare tress

 A gentle tap into the tree

 Before producers used tap lines, they put buckets directly on to the trees. Some small producers still do, while others only do a few trees to demonstrate past practices.

 The evaporator. It's not operating in this shot or it would be a room full of steam

Maple candy in the snow

I'm the best

I'm doing an office clean-up today and while looking for some files on my computer, I found this. Mark just turned nine, so it's a few years old.


Since my son was born, I’ve said, “Mark, you’re the bestest boy ever made.”

When he began talking, he would reply, “You’re the bestest Mom ever made.”

It was just our thing. I know I’m far from it, but he’s six now – I know this won’t last much longer. I'm going to enjoy it while I can.

Tucking him in one night, we shared usual exchange except this time, he went on to list what was good about me...

“You’re the best at making good food for us, you’re the best at taking good care of us...”

“But Mark,” I said, “I sometimes get grouchy.”

“Oh, you’re the best at that too,” he replied.

Oh Canada!

The Canadian Farm Writers' Federation hosted Canada Night at International Green Week in Berlin for our colleagues of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists. Owen Roberts, IFAJ Secretary General, from Guelph, Ont. and I were happy to have Stefanie Nagelschmitz from Canada's Outdoor Farm Show join us and help host the evening.

We gathered in a charming Italian restaurant about a block from our hotel. Red and white checkered tablecloths (Canadian maybe?), candles, good conversation. It was a wonderful evening.

We were especially proud to bring a gift for our international colleagues -- red mittens with a white maple leaf. The mittens, sold by HBC, are in support of Canada's Olympic team. They seemed to be a big hit with our friends.

We look forward to hosting our colleagues in September at IFAJ 2011 in Canada. A schedule, registration details and information on sponsorship is available at http://www.ifaj2011.com/

Special thanks to Steve Werblow for being our photographer.

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

These photographs to promote Berlin's International Green Week are surprising and a bit weird. But I can't stop looking at them!

They are certainly attention-getters, but, as I heard more than one of my colleagues muse, it's interesting to have such peculiar promotional material in a region that seems so afraid of genetically modified foods.



With glowing hearts

National pride is something that most of us hold near to our heart, no matter what nation we come from. And when we have the chance to show off our nation – invite someone to our home and show them what makes us proud – we jump.

It was with great pride of nation that I went to Berlin, Germany. I was recently elected as Canada’s representative on the executive board of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists – and I’m kind of proud, and humbled, to be in this role. As well, Canada is hosting the annual congress of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists later this year. So not only is the Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation expecting 300 of our colleagues from around the globe here in September, but I’m hosting a post-congress tour to Atlantic Canada.

With all of these elements combined, well, I’m pretty darn close to popping with Canadian pride.

The IFAJ executive meetings are held in conjunction with International Green Week in Berlin. During the 10-day food, horticultural and agriculture show, 400,000 people stream through the dozens of multi-levelled halls. In total, the 632 exhibitors from 57 countries fill 23 acres. The many people working at each booths was dressed in a traditional costume from their home country. The pride of their home country could be seen in the smiles on their faces.

There was a communal, yet individual sense of national pride wrapping its arms around us at Messe Berlin and I was anxious to find the booth representing Canada. I had heard that IFAJ colleagues sometimes invite others to their country’s booths for a drink or meal and I wanted to see what Canada had to offer.

When my Canadian colleague Owen Roberts, who is IFAJ’s Secretary General, and I arrived at Canada’s booth, Owen was met with a loud hello, a huge smile and a warm hug. The booth is operated by Marie-Luise Gareis. She remembered Owen from his visits in previous years and the sparkle in her eyes showed she was genuinely happy to see him. I felt that same kindness when she shook my hand.

Owen Roberts and Marie-Luise Gareis

From Germany, Marie-Luise and Fritz discovered Canada when Fritz went salmon fishing in British Columbia several years ago. He fell in love with our country and Marie-Luise did too when she joined him on subsequent trips. They’ve been back to Canada about 20 or 30 times, she can’t really remember, and her passion for Canada has grown.

The Gareis' booth is Canada’s only presence at International Green Week in Berlin. Their entrepreneurship is striking. They import bison meat and make beef jerky, marketing it as a Canadische spezialitäten (Canadian specialty). They also bring in Crown Royal, maple syrup and Moosehead beer. Smoked salmon use to be a popular item, but import cost restrictions have driven costs high and she’s stopped selling it. Along with the Canadian booth at International Green Week, the Gareis sell to high-end retailers during the rest of the year. Marie-Luise also creates and bottles a drink called feuerwasser, or firewater, a combination of Crown Royal, maple syrup and a secret ingredient that Marie-Luise refuses to reveal.

According to three other Canadians who I bumped into at Green Week, the Canadian booth was certainly one of the louder, more fun booths. Country music was blasting from on top of the cooler and plaid shirt, cowboy hat-wearing workers at the booth, including Aboriginal Murray Small Legs from Alberta, were calling out for folks to stop in for their feuerwasser.

Four Canadians, on the left, and a Dutch at the Canadian booth at International Green Week, Berlin

Congratulations to Marie-Luise for representing Canada – but it’s a huge responsibility. The one booth is a small presences for the world's second largest country and the agriculture and food sector that relies heavily on exports.

Like the Canadian booth, many of the booths represented stereotypes of our views of other countries, but this event is a chance to promote our countries and our foods. In Canada, there are agri-food and agri-businesses across the country who create wonderful products – endless unique and delicious foods. It’s a perfect chance to showcase Canadian products directly to German and other European customers. Canada needs more representation.

"Ich liebe dich" and other handy phrases

In anticipation of going to Berlin, I downloaded an app for my iPhone that teaches basic German phrases. I had tried some that translate words when you type them into the "search" bar, but I needed the audio to help with pronounciation.

The app, Speak German, has phrases sorted by social situations: basics, business, emergency, travel... and then the topics like leisure and relationships. So along with teaching hello, good bye, do you have a business card, who are your customers the app also hits leisure and social situations. I want a beer, that's hilarious and let's party are classified as leisure topics.

Under relationships, the phrases are mostly typical bar talk: are you free for dinner, are you married and call me.

For the most part, the phrases are delivered in a clear, easy to understand voice. It would be nice if the app had someway to slow down the phrase -- I had to repeat several of the phrases many times in order to hear the sound of some letter combinations. Even with my headphones on, they could be hard to pick-up.

My favourite phrase is filed under relationships. The voice, Benjamin A. Holfeld is rich and smooth, and I blush with the passion he puts into Ich liebe dich or I love you.

And how great is it that in this day and age, we can find an app that not only teaches us to say I want a drink and what are you studying, also teaches I love you. Now that's special.\

iTunes preview of the Speak German app

We love food

One of the greatest benefits of writing about agriculture is the direct link to food - and agriculture's pride in the food they create.


Now, stop for a second and think... which country stands out as having a deep and profound pride in its food. Italy, right? Hands-down one of the countries best known for its food and a place where what people put in their mouths is as much a part of their culture as music or dance.


Last week, I attended International Green Week in Berlin. The show continues this week, but I was in attendance for meetings with the executive of the International Federation of Agriculture Journalists and I had the chance to meet many of my colleagues from around the world, including Antonio Brunori, the IFAJ executive representative from Italy.


Antonio shared his pride of food with us and brought brochures about the creation of Parmigiano-
Reggiano and story of how it's made. The booklet is a poetic account, with the creation, the aging and the opening of the cheese told in three acts.

"With a piece of Parmigian-Reggiano in your bag, you are set and ready to take on any task. You feel as if you would like to sail away like Stevenson's adventurers in search of the Treasure Island, knowing that you are holding something that will stand up to time and adversity and that will always be both tough and tender. And then you realise that the Treasure Island is here in the Provinces of Parma, Regio Emilia, Modene, Mantua (on the right of the river Po) and Bologna (on the left of the river Reno)."


Another brochure is just as lush.


"Parmigiano-Reggiano is a true miracle of nature and of the traditions of the people who produce it. It is for the enjoyment of those who seek in what they eat not only nourishment, but also incredible flavor, love for the earth and respect -- a lot of respect -- for nature and its mysteries."

Antonio brought samples of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, who sponsors his trip to these IFAJ executive meetings. The cheese was just as described, and more. 


We were very happy that Antonio was able to join us -- and we appreciate him sharing his love of his country's food with us.

So, what do you think of Green Week?

Veterans of International Grune Woche in Berlin have asked me, a rookie, what I thought of the show.

Well, as a writer, I try to avoid comments like, "words can't describe," since that's kind of my job. But still, I think the exposition comes pretty close to being one of those "you just have to be there" situations.

The show began as a local market in 1926 and evolved into the agriculture meeting. Over 50 agriculture-related groups, including the International Federation of Agriculture Journalists, meet during the event. The displays cover 28 acres!

I think I needed a 17 hour trip home to Canada to give thought to describing the experience of Green Week. Every step I took while on the Messe Berlin site seemed to evoke another feeling about the experience of Green Week.

It was definitely a sensory riot. The shoulder-to-shoulder crowd pushes, even though the mass of people is so thick there is no place to go except to move along with them. Sweat snakes down my spine because of the heat generated by throngs of people, or, when I’m dashing from one building to the next, I caught my breath from the chill of the cold German air and watched my footing for icy patches on the roadway.

As the crowd shuffles along, I yell to be heard over the loud music being played at most booths. In the French hall, the wartime songs of Vera Lynn drifted around us as we sipped espresso. When the Swiss booth hosted us for an evening meal, musicians playing traditional music and wearing costumes performed for us. When we attended a lunch hosted by the German Farm Writers Guild, we had an upper level, bird’s eye view of the stage and watched a horn band play and a choir sing. Then, as we continued through the halls, I found it hard not to belly dance past the Middle Eastern countries' booths, do a jig through Ireland or even polka past the Poland people.

And the smells… they changed with each new breath. Fresh, sweet hay near the farm animals created the unmistakable farm smell and rubber tires of the farm equipment reminded me of Saturday mornings errands as a child with my father. The mild Gouda, sharp Emmental and pungent blue cheeses from Switzerland and France could be absorbed with each turn of the head. The aroma of Belgium’s decadent chocolates danced by me, and more than once, I had to stop despite the crowd, breathe deep and try to place the bouquet that met me in that space -- liquorice, paprika, the wonderful, rich and spicy goodness from the Vietnamese, Lebanese, Moroccan foods.

I flew over the Atlantic Ocean today to journey home. I think my senses needed the blandness of an airplane to recover, regroup and begin to describe what Grune Woche is like in Berlin.

Feeling a little green

Every January, around 114,000 people converge on Berlin for International Green Week, one of the world's largest exhibitions of the food, agricultural and horticultural. This year, I'll be one of them.

I'm quite excited about heading to Germany, even if I'll only be there for a five days. Along with the chance to visit over 1,500 exhibitors from almost 60 countries -- ag machinery to garden equipment to food and wine -- I'll also be taking part in the executive committee meetings of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists.

The skies are clear and blue in eastern Canada and the forecast is fine for the next few days. Cross your fingers for me that they stay that way, as I leave tomorrow evening for the flight o'er the sea.

Gruene Woche

Who knows where we'll go?

It's big world out there -- and everyone has a story to tell.

I'm looking for followers for my blog. Would you mind? Would love to have you along for the ride, although you must know, destination is unknown. That's where the adventure is.

I won't lead you down the garden path -- although we may visit some gardens. There will be farms and food and friends and probably a few wineries and breweries too. True to my family roots, I love taking photos, so I'll post many of those too.

Life is a highway...

Friends of Inspiration

Wendy left today for six months in California. Sandra is a few weeks into four months in the British Virgin Islands. Deborah is enjoying the success of seven years (!!) of research on a book. Brian is living his dream of being self-employed. Debby raised some amazing kids (a success itself) while attending university and now holds a PhD. Doreen is confidently working towards her book. Nina's is continuously taking another step in growing her business. Lilian and Owen are leading an organizing committee into its final year of hosting an international event. Olivia had five A+ on her last report card. Tamara is Zen.

And that's just some of you. You're all taking amazing, awe-inspiring, wonderful steps in your lives. Each of you is living a full life and working towards your dreams. Some of you are living your dreams and creating new ones.

Every morning when I open up my email, Twitter or Facebook accounts and see what each of you have been up to, I get so excited by you and for you! If I'm feeling like I've bitten off more than I can chew, I look around at my friends and am motivated to keep going -- work harder to reach my goals -- personal and professional.

Thank you for being you and being such wonderful sources of energy and inspiration.