I am a professional freelance writer specializing in agriculture and food. A member of the Canadian Farm Writers' Federation (CFWF) and Professional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC).
The Sentinels – Part 2
Inside my cousin Jim’s fishing store, special dates are recorded in permanent marker on white walls. The time his daughter won a prestigious scholarship, and the birth dates of his great-nieces. Details about significant storms or catches, and who was there. It’s telling, what details are important enough to mark on a wall — and also an indication of how much time Jim must spend in his shed when something noteworthy occurs.
Jim knows I’ll never pass up a chance to get out on the water, and th...
The Sentinels – Part 1
It’s 5am in July on the south coast of Newfoundland, and there’s light spilling from my cousin Jim’s fishing store. His is the one with the faded colours of the old pink, white, and green flag on the door. He’s pouring over a worktable with clipboards and paper packages when I arrive, but he stops what he’s doing to welcome me in.
“One of the tubs of trawl we’re setting today used to belong to your Dad,” he says, indicating two plastic bins of baited fishing gear. Jim knows I’m sentimental fo...
"Uncle Ray's Thumb" by Lisa McLean
Lisa McLean has made the 2017 CBC Nonfiction Prize longlist for "Uncle Ray's Thumb".
About Lisa
Lisa McLean's short stories have been published in the Antigonish Review, Room, This and Riddle Fence. Much of her creative work is based on, or inspired by, her family's roots in a small community off of Newfoundland's south coast, where she lived as a child. Origi...
FarmLead is changing the way farmers and buyers make a match, GOLD award winner, Canadian Farm Writers Federation 2017
By Lisa McLean for AgInnovation Ontario
Ottawa ON – Grain marketing and knowing when timing is best to make a sale can be one of the hardest tasks on a farmer’s to do list. But what if farmers with grain to sell had access to hundreds of buyers?
That’s the thinking behind FarmLead, an award-winning online platform that connects grain buyers and sellers, 24 hours a day. The Ottawa-based company boasts over 3,200 farmers and more than 300 different buyers who actively deal on crops ranging from...
What farm women say…
As remarks go, it was decidedly crude, so even though it was some years ago now that she first heard it, the memory still rankles Beth, especially because she’s so much more aware now how it fit into a pattern.
The day had been a workday like any other in any professional agricultural office. There were back-to-back meetings and deadlines, and Beth had also managed to connect with a business contact who had information that was essential to a project she was working to complete.
On the call, ...
The Growcer brings year-round food production to hard-to-feed places
Ottawa – If you’ve visited or lived in a remote community in Canada, chances are you weren’t there for the salad.
In many regions that are far from traditional food production systems, fresh vegetables are inconsistent and costly due to the distance and effort required to get them there.
Now, an Ottawa-based company with a focus on food access is helping remote communities grow fresh vegetables 365 days a year, thanks to Containerized Growing Systems.
Corey Ellis, chief executive officer and ...
Consumer preference work contributes to Ontario apple cider strategy
What’s in a cider?
Vineland – Ontario consumers are thirsty for more hard apple cider, and the province’s apple sector is poised to deliver. But first, researchers are profiling consumer preference to be sure the industry serves up cider that hits the spot.
The project developed in response to research needs identified in the 2016 Cider Research and Innovation Strategy is a partnership with the Ontario Craft Cider Association and the Ontario Apple Growers. The strategy aims to see seven milli...
Improving mental health on the farm - Gold award, Canadian Farm Writers' Federation 2017
If you had asked Brandon five years ago whether he’d
make a life on the farm, he would have said you were
crazy. He was having the time of his life at a university out
of province and had his sights set on a business career.
After graduation, he got a job with a Canadian corporation
and enjoyed plenty of perks such as free tickets to
sporting events and big-budget promotions.
“I was on top of the world,” he says. “Then the stress
started.”
Where lobsters live
Fishing and farming are closer than we think -- exploring the similarities from Newfoundland's wild-caught lobster boats.
Is the winter wheat going to be alright? - Grainews
Is the winter wheat going to be alright? - Grainews...
How high can we push sugar beet yields? - Grainews
How high can we push sugar beet yields? - Grainews
Canadian mobile device offers instant dairy cow health check - Ag Innovation Ontario
Canadian mobile device offers instant dairy cow hea...
Dude, where's our gender balance?
Cover story, summer 2016 in The RVT Journal. A look at males working as Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVTs).
Start your engines: The 200,000-acre promise - Ag Innovation Ontario
Start your engines: The 200,000-acre promise - Ag I...
The Faba Bean Dream: What Can Go Wrong?
Scouting for disease and pests in Saskatchewan’s newest crop.