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.