Harrowsmith

Summer conjures up visions of sparkling lakes and refreshing dips in the pool. Here in Canada, with our abundant freshwater lakes and rivers, water doesn’t seem a top concern. And yet it is under threat. As Phil Norton explores in this issue (page 27

Some months ago, I had the pleasure of speaking with two fascinating people who brought me to tears with their inspiring stories. Joe Wilkins is a former mathematics professor who volunteers with the U.S. National Park Service, an experience he chron

If one of your goals in designing your garden is to attract desirable wildlife that is environmentally beneficial to your yard and neighbourhood, this should interest you: a water feature is the most beneficial addition to your yard and garden that y

When Canadians were introduced to the concept of planting tall growing grasses in their gardens, most of us were unsure of what to make of the concept. Grass, after all, was something that you grew to walk on and set off the rest of your home landsca

Rainbow carrots are popular at farmers’ markets, but you can grow these beauties in your garden too. And with roots in rich shades of purple, red, yellow and pure white, why wouldn’t you? They’re just as easy to grow as orange carrots and add fun and

It’s a water world across Canada in the springtime, and everyone is talking about it. The snow is melting and the maple sap is running in late March; then April showers bring May flowers; and by early June in the Rocky Mountains, ice packs have relea

When we think about species migrating, our minds conjure up images of birds flying south or herds of elk moving from their winter ranges to the landscapes that will support them throughout the summer months. Rarely, however, do we think of trees relo

“Water, water everywhere / Nor any drop to drink,” said Samuel Coleridge in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. I often think of these words as I struggle with the drama that is water on our Perth, Ontario, farm. I know that it sounds a bit dramatic as

Ah, at last! The smell, the sound, the feeling of spring, the pending summer and the glorious summer night sky. I don’t know about you, but it’s great to shed my parka. Trying to look high into the sky during winter—with a thick coat, scarf and hat—i

We’ve lost count of the number of times that we’ve stood silently, morbidly, looking down upon some unfinished farm task, dirty and sweaty, perhaps even a little bloodied, and certainly tired. Always tired. And as we turned our backs on this thing th

At first glance it would seem that I built this raft for my kids, but that’s not entirely true. We live within walking distance of the small lake where the raft is anchored, and when it’s hot enough to make the cicadas sing, plunging off the side bri

Ponds are often one of the most eye-catching and enjoyable elements in the backyard landscape. At Genoscape, we have been designing and installing award-winning ponds for many years, and here I would like to guide you through how we do it. All of th

We humans are on the horns of a dilemma—we have to eat, but what can we eat that doesn’t damage ourselves or the environment? We’re bombarded daily with conflicting messages about what to eat and what not to eat. Yesterday, butter was a killer; today

It’s hard to believe that Canada is one of the worst food wasters in the world. And yet, a 2017 report released by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation found that, when including all stages of the food supply chain—from the farm all the way t

Food, water, shelter—as far as we’ve come as the human race, it seems the very basics of day-to-day living are still on shaky ground, perhaps even more now than ever. Climate swings are leaving some homes in ashes, others drowned out. Water is quickl

Arecurring cast member on Discovery’s Naked and Afraid, Laura Zerra is a New Hampshire survivalist and an expert in primitive techniques and adventure travel. Born in western Massachusetts, Zerra spent her childhood exploring abandoned coyote dens, s

Once the capital of Canada, Kingston, Ontario, has a rich history, including as an important military installation. Nicknamed Limestone City for its many heritage buildings constructed using local limestone, the city sits midway between Toronto and M

A longtime fan and regular visitor to the Gates of the Arctic National Park, Joe Wilkins became a U.S. National Park Service volunteer after he retired from teaching mathematics at the University of Illinois Springfield. In his recent book, Gates of

Born and raised in the U.K. and now living in Prince Edward County, Ontario, artist Kate Golding sees beauty where others may not. Capturing iconic Canadian moments and vistas in ink with brush and pen—turkey vultures riding an updraft, icebergs slid