When I was a very small farm girl, dressed in my homemade red velvet jumper, I looked forward to “Edie” Christmas on Boxing Day with my cousins. I recall my great-grandmother singing “Silent Night” to us in German. Little did I know then that I would marry into a family whose first language was German. […]
Trading overwhelm for mental rest…When you can’t go south for the winter
Harvest on our farm finished October 7th which is a whole lot better than December 18th of 2019 for last year’s harvest. I can only imagine what you might be feeling as you read this, sitting down for a break wondering when the mental chatter in your brain is going to calm down. I’m a […]
How to Start the Succession Planning Conversation
(Source: Canola Digest October 2020) Farm families are stuck when it comes to getting folks to the kitchen table to talk about timelines for transition of labour, management and ownership of the farm. As a farm family coach over the past 8 months of the Great Pause, many young farmers have reached out looking for […]
Spoiled Farm Children and Farm Succession: How to Stop the Temper Tantrums
As founders, we all want our farm children to be happy and successful. To make them happy, we’re often drawn to giving them what they want. But by the time they become adults, we also hope they’re grateful for the opportunity and don’t take advantage of our generosity. When kids have always received something, whether […]
The Gift of Contentment
As part of the redecorating project of my flooded basement, I took an ancient (faded ) mountain print gold framed picture to the glass guys and had a mirror put into the frame. The print had faded to blues, but the story behind the picture prompted me to “repurpose” what other designers might label “junk.” […]
Which Shade of Control is Blocking Your Farm Transition?
“Elaine, Dad just won’t give up control on the farm!” This is a common frustration I hear from the next generation of farmers trying to navigate into management and ownership before a farm transition. When we dedicate ourselves to something for decades, it’s no wonder it can be tough to give up control on the […]
How to Get Unstuck in Your Farm Transition Plan
October for farmers is a “get ‘er done” kind of season where fall work is pressing, late-season crops are harvested, cattle are moved, and the list goes on. Last March, when the Great Pause hit us, we were advised: “not to waste a good crisis.” So, on top of the routine things that we manage, […]
Lend Me Your Ear at Harvest: Audio Inspiration for Farmers
As I write this on Sept 7th, Labour Day, we are 25 percent done our harvest, being very thankful for a great crop. Like you, we are putting in long hours to reap the rewards, and hopefully, to dodge the frost, rain, winds, and assorted field threats. Over the summer, I’ve been listening to folks […]
6 Tips for Managing Brotherly Conflict on the Farm
“I can’t believe that we have farmed together for over 25 years and the fights between these two brothers just don’t stop!”, says the exasperated farm woman who has had enough with the brotherly conflict on the farm. There’s no time like the present to reflect on how you want things to be different at […]
Farm Transition Planning: 19 Ways to Change Your Mindset
Long harvest hours give you time to think about what is working on your farm and what needs to be tweaked. Our thoughts drive our actions. It’s time to check your mindset to consider how you can create more certainty for yourself as the owner, and the next generation who wants a piece of equity […]
