"A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone.”

Henry D. Thoreau

Subscribe

Search


Tuesday
Apr232024

The Rewiring of Childhood

by Gary Martens

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me” is an age old saying that is proving to be incorrect. The more apt saying would be the one coined in 1839 by English author Edward Bulwer-Lytton, “the pen is mightier than the sword.”

Click to read more ...

Tuesday
Apr162024

Recycling Aluminum

by George Klassen

Since we live close to the growing edge of housing development on the south side of Steinbach, I go dumpster diving sometimes. Recently, I discovered 3- 15' lengths of 1/2" aluminum cables each consisting of 18 bare strands of aluminum all encased in two layers of poly. At 5 1/4 pounds each, the three cables are worth only a few bucks as scrap, presumably because there are large reserves of bauxite ore that can be extracted and processed. Eventually those will be exhausted, sooner if we don't recycle the metal.

Click to read more ...

Tuesday
Apr092024

Pink Hotel, Boutique, and a Swingin' Hotspot (retro)

 

by Wade Wiebe

If you consider for a moment why you choose to live where you do, it’s likely because of the opportunities you expect: to live in health and security, to make a good living, and to spend time with family and friends. At their base, however, all of these things actually depend on the ability of the land to physically provide you with these opportunities.

Click to read more ...

Tuesday
Apr022024

Experimenting with Local Colour

(wool dyed with golden rod-left and black beans-right)

by Leah Bouchard

Since getting my own wool spun into yarn several years ago, I have experimented with natural dyes from local materials. Although chemical dyes may produce more vibrant colour, I choose to work with plants and other natural materials I find around my farm. I find natural hues bring a connection to the seasons and land - as well as comfort that it is not polluting soil and water.

Click to read more ...

Monday
Mar252024

Wabi-Sabi

by Wade Wiebe

I still have a mug that we had at our cottage when I was 10 years old. Back then, I considered it an ugly relic of the 70’s. Certainly nothing special. But when the cottage was sold, I’d grown so accustomed to it that it became part of my household set. Then a few years ago the handle broke, and it was time to make a choice – throw it out or fix it.

Click to read more ...