Harrowsmith is still the reliable go-to for gardeners, weekend carpenters, homesteaders, hobby farmers and urban dwellers with romantic fantasies of country life. Harrowsmith publishes four issues a year in conjunction with the seasons.
For many of us, spring is the best time of the year — with daffodils, crocuses and tulips peeking out of still-frosty soil, and local garden centres opening for the season. In my town, neighbours swap cuttings, propagations and plants, cultivating community connections as well as our gardens. It can also be a busy time of year, with garden clean-up and planning, as well as a long list of outdoor projects and chores to take care of. That’s why we’ve packed this issue with inspiration for gardeners and DIY enthusiasts — whether it’s creating an edible pollinator garden, mastering square-foot gardening or building a beautiful gravel pathway or patio. Stepping off our own properties, spring is a magical time of year to explore the forests, mountains and meadows we are…
In 1976, Canada hosted the Winter Olympics in Montreal, the CN Tower opened to the public and, in the village of Camden East, Ont., Harrowsmith magazine was born. James M. Lawrence started Harrowsmith to connect with Canadians who care about the environment and a back-to-the-land ethos. Today, while the magazine continues to resonate with that philosophy, our audience demographic is broader as more Canadians of all ages embrace the value of a simpler, back-to-basics lifestyle. As we continue to evolve, I am grateful to our readers — some of you have followed the magazine since its inception. On that note, longtime reader Bob Chaulk recently donated his collection of back issues to Harrowsmith — recalling how he and his wife used to flip through the pages of the magazine as…
From hand-forged garden tools to small-batch perfume, these gifts are practical, beautiful and proudly produced by Canadian makers from coast to coast. Mother’s Day is the perfect opportunity to give a gift that feels both useful and meaningful. One of the simplest ways to do that is by choosing Canadian-made picks from small businesses, family-run companies and thoughtful makers who care deeply about how their how their wares are produced. There’s an innate specialness to anything created with this level of care. Whether your mom is happiest in the garden, at the stove or enjoying a quiet moment, each of these gifts offers something she’ll actually use and appreciate long after the second weekend in May. Hand-forged garden trowel from Newquist Forge Newquist Forge is known for traditional blacksmithing techniques…
A pickup truck towing a livestock trailer pulled into the grassy entryway where I was standing, then stopped. The driver got out, walked around and opened the tailgate, reached for the reins of the horse inside and started backing it out. The horse was nervous, fear in its eyes, as it stepped down, sides rising and falling with panicked breathing. The driver led it across the lane, toward a nearby fenced corral, opened the corral gate, walked the animal inside and unfastened the lead rope. He then stepped out and closed the gate. Still skittish, the horse looked around the enclosure, noticed other calm horses in close proximity and quiet people watching them. And then — instantly, instinctively — it knew. It gave a relieved, happy whinny and a kind…
Eileen Bona is a registered psychologist who founded Dreamcatcher, an animal and nature-assisted therapy facility in Ardrossan, Alta., 25 years ago. She had been working as a complex case worker for children and youth with behavioural issues, serving remote northern communities, but when her husband proposed a move from Edmonton to the country, Bonas had an idea. “Even though the work I was doing before was really effective, I bet that I could partner kids with horses and have a completely different outcome,” she says. Bonas trains other therapists, as well as working with children and adults at her facility. We asked her all about it. What is animal-assisted therapy and who is it for? I would describe it as the best tool for people who are not good at…
Infinite Paradise: Witnessing the Wild, A Memoir by Dianne Ebertt Beeaff (SHE WRITES PRESS) Through personal stories and stunning photos that capture the seasons of a single year, this title invites readers to embrace the restorative powers of nature. Month by month, Beeaff shares the magic of the 16 acres of wild forests and water meadows along the Conestoga River where she spent much of her childhood. Infinite Paradise demonstrates how immersing ourselves in the rhythms of nature can foster healing and a renewed sense of belonging for all of us. Floramama: From Garden to Bouquet, Growing Flowers for Market by Chloé Roy (FIREFLY BOOKS) If you have ever dreamed of opening your own cut-flower farm (or if you have just gotten started), you won’t want to miss this gorgeous…
