Contact Elaine: +1-204-534-7466 | elaine(at)elainefroese.com

Planting the Seed of Hope

Elaine’s first and award-winning book

Strong families communicate, connect, and celebrate with their community. This inspirational book compiles Elaine’s first 10 years of writing in Grainews. This book is ideal for people who want to give the gift of hope and encouragement to folks who want to be intentional about making their farm family life more meaningful.

Winner of the 2006 IPPY Award for Best Regional Non-fiction and the 2006 Word Guild Canada Book Award.

Be intentional about planting the seed of hope. Do you want to encourage your family to learn how to connect, communicate and celebrate? Do you want some common sense tools to help you get unstuck? This book is a harvest of encouragement from a farm woman who has experienced the beauty, the bounty and the challenges of life on the prairies.

This book is for:

  • Families looking for tools to “discuss the undiscussabull”
  • People who want to be intentional about making their life more meaningful
  • Business teams needing encouragement to let go and move forward with change
  • People who want to give the gift of hope and encouragement to friends and family

Here’s the Table of Contents:

Communicating:

  1. Releasing Your Stress
    • Talk Kindly to Yourself
    • The Upside of Depression
    • Asking to Get Unstuck
    • BSE Anxiety in the Neutral Zone
    • Get Bitter or Get Better!
    • Giving with Positive Uncertainty
  2. Work Styles
    • Who Put My Life on Fast Forward
    • Facing the Fall
    • The Love of Work
  3. Family Issues
    • Fast Times…Slow Food
    • Meno-positive Changes
    • Get to Know your Money , Honey
    • Empowering Teenage Girls

Connecting

  1. Discussing the Undiscussabull
    • How to Deal with Conflict
    • Ten Tools for Talking About Tough Issues
    • Who Wants the Farm?
    • Is the Farm Terminally Ill?
  2. Teamwork
    • What Makes Strong Farm Teams?
    • Meet to Make Things Happen
    • Diary of a Workaholic
    • Dad, let go !
    • Goodbye Home Farm, Hello New Memories
  3. Planning for Change
    • Hold On, Take On, or Move On ?
    • Ready, Set, Goals ?
    • Stretching Out of Your Comfort Zone at 50
    • When Push Comes to Shove
    • The Vintage Advantage: What to Do at 62, 72, 82, and 92!
  4. Harmony
    • Daughter-in-law Harmony
    • How Do We Treat the Grils?
    • What Does Fairness Look Like to You?
    • What Do We Owe Our Kids?

Celebrating:

  1. Love
    • Write a Love Letter Today
    • Matchmaker : Hiring a Love Consultant
    • Five Easy Ways to Say “I LOVE YOU”
    • Date Your Mate on Valentine’s Day
    • Looking for Love in all the Right Places
  2. Spring and Easter
    • Planting the Seed of Hope
    • Bringing Others Hope
    • Why Easter Gives Me Hope
    • Your Deepest Needs
  3. Mom
    • Splashes of Joy for Mom
    • Thanks for Life !
    • Seasons
  4. Dad
    • Communicate the Big Four
    • The Gift of Touch
    • Father Care Strategies
    • Building the Father-Daughter Bond
  5. Grandparents
    • Blessing Grandchildren
    • Saying Goodbye
    • Helping Children Deal with Loss and Grief
  6.  Graduation
    • Graduates: Bundles of Potential
    • Roots and Wings
    • Beer, Being There and Boundaries
  7. Harvest
    • Filling Harvest’s Emotional Tank
    • Life is Like a Combine
    • Tips to Make Harvest Happier
    • Gains in the Rain
  8. Thanksgiving
    • How to Cultivate a Grateful Heart
    • Put More Than Turkey on the Menu
    • Tears with the Turkey
    • Creative Hospitality
  9. Gifts
    • The Gift of Encouragement
    • The Gift of a Visit
    • The Gift of Laughter
    • The Gift of Simplicity
    • The Gift of your Presence
    • The Gift of Peace
    • The Gift of Silence
    • The Gift of Next Year
    • The Gift of Contentment
    • The Gift of Interruption

Here’s what readers say…

“This book is a true gift to rural families. Elaine Froese has the genuine capacity to address the real issues of farm life today in a comforting, compassionate way. These vignettes of wisdom and inspiration will touch your heart and boost your spirit.”

David Irvine, author of Simple Living in a Complex World: A Guide to Balancing Life’s Achievements and Becoming Real: Journey to Authenticity

“Elaine Froese writes with intelligence, spirituality, and on-the-ground experience. This is sane, lucid writing that comes from a writer who drives a combine, goes for parts, and invites the neighbours over; a prairie woman who writes from the heart and reflects thoughtfully on the complexities of Canadian family life.”

Maxine Hancock, Ph.D., author of Living on Less and Liking it More and Gold from the Fire: Postcards from a Prairie Pilgrimage

“Elaine has a special gift of writing and caring for others, and reaching the farm population in a unique and meaningful way. There are two ways to use this book: put it in your library or put it in your life. Elaine’s practical approach will help you in your farming operation and personal life. A ‘must read’ for everyone in agriculture; it will change the way you think. As a farmer, consultant and motivational speaker, I found the book inspirational and useful.”

Gary Gregor, Specialist in Winning Corporate Coach

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Rave reviews

“A joy to work with, heard loud and clear. When the farmers laughed or asked a great question, I knew they were listening and really wanted to learn from her. Her tips were easy to understand. It was just about understanding that conflict happens, and to have the confidence in yourself to ask for what you want. In the glowing review from farmers after her presentation, I knew they had heard that loud and clear.”
Maddy Berner, Event Planner & Communications Coordinator, National Milk Producers Federation National Milk Producers Federation
“I wanted to say a HUGE thank you for your virtual kitchen table chat with Arlan Academy. My wife and I signed up as it was exceptionally relevant to our current journey with potentially transitioning to her parents’ farm. The session was able to cover so many aspects of these crucial conversations and hearing you speak to both sides of the conversation was eye opening for my own perspective on this topic. It seemed to be very well attended and sounded like there were many other people who would echo my thoughts and feelings on it.”
N. Oakley, Farmer, Ontario
“Elaine helped me allocate $1 Million of assets the night I listened to her. Elaine’s presentation brings value to the use of my services in my office.”
Don Forbes, Forbes Wealth Management
“I recently joined in and listened to your Healthy Farmer Agriwebinar for FMC. I truly enjoyed hearing your perspective and even went and grabbed my Mom, away from her work, to come and listen in on some of your main points as well! One area that really stood out for me, both personally with our own succession plans and with our clients, was your discussion involving "Instant Influence" and how ready are you to change? I loved this concept!”
Annessa Good, FCC Transition Specialist, Alberta
“Elaine Froese truly is the Farm Whisperer. With her big heart and stern resolve, she guides families through uncharted waters and helps them arrive safely at their desired destination. She has been there, done that, and has helped hundreds of families come out on the other side. With your family and your farm legacy on the line, you owe it to yourself to start this conversation. You do not need to do it alone. Let Elaine Froese guide you through. Your legacy is being written day by day. How will you be remembered?”
Tracy Brunet, Host of The Impact Farming Show & CEO of Farm Marketer
“You speak like you’ve been sitting at our kitchen table! You know our family issues well. I am feeling more comfortable understanding what we now need to do. Elaine Froese is real.”
Audience Member,
“I attended the meeting you spoke at in Stratford Ontario recently. We held an emergency family/farm meeting today because of issues that I had enough of. We used a 'talking stick' like you recommended and wrote a chart of rules. The rest of the family thought the idea that we needed a meeting was worth rolling their eyes over, until we got started. The younger ones were quick to clue in that they now have an opportunity to be bluntly honest. The older ones took a bit longer to believe they could truly say what they think. In the end, the meeting needed two sessions because there was so much to talk about… and so many things people didn't realize were a big deal to the others. Your lessons and encouragement have given us the tools we need to get to a better place in our relationships and our business. Truly thankful.”
Kim Martin, Dairy Farmer, Ontario
“Helped me develop my framework to start having constructive and meaningful conversations around the farm.”
Tennille Wakefield, Farm Partner
“Some great lessons, Elaine! You continue to do some remarkable and potentially life-changing work.”
James Mitchell, Principal, Conversations Consulting
“Our family had a good farm meeting yesterday afternoon. Your Fairness video was a great topic of discussion. One of the action items after the meeting was to have my two non-farming siblings watch the video before the next big meeting they are involved with on the farm. It will be a great conversation starter as we catch them up on our current plan. As they are younger, we also hope it will help them to ask new questions that may not have been on their mind.”
G.G., Farm Family Legacy Coach, Alberta
“Elaine gives me excellent tools that help me work with my clients!”
Laurianne Osmack, Financial Planner / Partner, Doell Osmak Wealth Management
“She has a sense of “knowing” quickly what is happening in the family dynamic. Her messages to her audiences drive home what needs to be done next to solve the complex issues of farm transition and conflict resolution.”
Audience Member,
“Eye-opening. Excited to open the door of communication with my spouse and farm family.”
Ashley Hoppe, Farm Partner
“The Strong Farms, Strong Families session gave farm families an opportunity to meet face to face with Elaine Froese... hear her own story, experiences and skill set. From this information packed session and related materials, families could identify areas of success in their journey and other places they need assistance. The greatest take away was that participants could see that Elaine Froese is someone they can trust with the things that they hold most precious.... their family and their farm.”
Nancy Atkinson, Nobleford Ag Society, Alberta
“Elaine’s real-life scenarios help her audiences know they are not alone, knowing there are creative solutions to help them get the life on the farm they have always wanted.”
Audience Member,
“A long time female client who had refined the art of procrastination was so moved by the end of your presentation that she accepted your permission to “drop the bananas.” She contacted me soon after for an appointment to do some planning which included the selling of the family “Century Farm.” A very, very emotional decision on her part that was not likely to have occurred without your presentation.”
Don Forbes, Forbes Wealthy Management
“I just have to say… that your work is amazing and I have never forgotten your teachings from our session in Williams Lake at TRU. It is super important work. I know so many people going through the trauma of succession. I hate to use that word, but I was an “out-law” and know it can get terrible. I continue to forward your emails on to others. Keep doing what you do! You are amazing. You kind of walk into the fire regularly… and with a smile. Proud to have met you.”
Megan, BC Rancher
“As my husband and I eagerly started the course we were optimistic and excited to be taking this next step in our Farm Transition. We were starting to question ourselves and whether or not we were just being selfish and greedy, and if this Farm Transition was still an option for us. We barely got through the first Module and were already having such a huge relief. As we moved through the modulus there were so many times that we just sat back with our hands in the air and thought YES. My husband and I would smile with relief because all of the concerns that we have been struggling with were relevant and came up in the modules. We really enjoyed the course and are excited to move on to the next stages to find our farm resolution.”
Shannon Gilchrist, “Get Farm Transition Unstuck” online course participant
“My hubby farms with 2 brothers and parents, and it’s become a really toxic place. No communication, no respect, etc. Twelve months ago, my husband’s brothers told him they don’t want to work with him anymore and offered him a pay out. His parents did nothing to stop it! He had no choice but to leave. Three months later, we moved off the farm and into town. He has been offered heaps of jobs and is now truck driving and carting hay and grain. We have tried communicating with his parents about what happened but they are not interested. So basically my hubby has lost his family. Very sad but we as husband and wife are overall in a good place and moving on to create our own life. Please continue on with all your wonderful work in helping families on the farm. I continue to tell any farmers I know about you, that they must ‘google’ you, and read your books.”
Donna, Farmer, Australia

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Contact Elaine to start the conversation.

+1-204-534-7466 | elaine(at)elainefroese.com

Contact Elaine

+1-204-534-7466 | elaine(at)elainefroese.com

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I would like to acknowledge that the land where our farm is situated was once shared with Canadians by Anishinaabe and Cree peoples through Treaties 1 and 2 in Manitoba. I am thankful for the prosperity shared through the joint stewardship of this bountiful land by many agricultural peoples for hundreds of years. Let us recognize the creativity and resourcefulness of Indigenous women who worked the land to support their families and engage in trade. May we continue to respectfully share this land and its bounty for the good of all.