Indice dei contenuti per Spring 2026 in Harrowsmith

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…

Fiddling legend Natalie MacMaster has been wowing audiences for decades. Over the years, she has collaborated with musical legends including Faith Hill, Santana and Yo-Yo Ma, and has won multiple awards, including two Juno Awards and a Canadian Country Music Award. We spoke with Natalie from her rural property in Lakefield, Ont., where she lives with her husband and seven children. We talked about what drives her, what keeps her grounded and how nature can be a wellspring for creativity for all of us. What prompted you to write this book right now? I was in my vehicle and called home, and my mom started telling me really sad things happening in Cape Breton and I’m just like, “Wow, we are not safe anywhere. So many horrible things can happen…

On hot summer days, from Alabama to Ontario, you will find me walking in fields of flowers. And not just any fields, but ones with long, perfect rows of colour — petunias, begonias, coleus, salvias, impatiens — with each one labelled, measured and meticulously placed. To someone passing by, it might look like I’m walking in a giant public garden. But to me, these are something even more important: trial gardens. These are the engines that power the future of gardening for all of us. Trial gardens, or test gardens, are living laboratories. They’re quieter than you’d expect — just rows of colour and the hum of bees — but this is where the future of gardening quietly takes root. Breeders, growers, horticulturalists, professors and independent experts grow thousands of…

My father’s Beirutsi-Armenian cuisine was one of the first languages I understood fluently without ever speaking it. Beirutsi-Armenian cuisine sits at the crossroads of history and adaptation: Armenian families arrived in Beirut carrying culinary memories, preserved spices, stories of village ovens and the muscle memory of grinding spices, while simultaneously finding themselves in a new culinary ecosystem replete with the iconic freshness the Lebanese pantry is known for. What emerged wasn’t a hybrid as much as a continuation — a living kitchen, shaped by resilience and pride. Before I knew the names of the dishes, I knew the rhythm: the gentle bloom of Lebanese seven spice in hot oil, the smack of lemon squeezed over grilled meat, the tang of sumac that seemed to brighten the room. These flavours were…

Storage sheds are practical options for storing yard equipment or excess furniture on your property. They can also serve as small rooms for guests, office spaces or play areas for kids. Sheds typically come in three primary materials: wood, metal and plastic (resin). And while there’s no wrong choice in material for sheds — they all have solid benefits and considerable drawbacks — there are some purposes where one material may be better than others. This guide will walk through the different types of storage sheds and their ideal purposes. Wood This is a classic choice for sheds, as it’s traditionally attractive and durable. Wood is an excellent choice if you’re using your shed for an office, in-law suite or bunkie. While wood does require some maintenance, such as repainting,…

There’s no time like spring to bask in all our forests have to offer. But have you ever tried forest bathing? This mindful practice originated in Japan as an antidote for burnout in 1982. It's now an official part of the country’s preventative care health system for its proven ability to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, improve mood and boost immune function. “People were dealing with intense work pressure and long hours indoors. The Japanese government wanted a simple way to help people manage stress,” says sylvotherapist Susan Olesen from Into the Woods We Go in Port Perry, Ont. “The idea was straightforward: slow down, spend unhurried time in the forest, and really pay attention to the sights, sounds, and smells around you.” The practice stayed in Japan for decades,…

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…

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…

STEP AWAY FROM SCREENS AND ROLL THE DICE WITH OUR BOARD GAME GUIDE Good old-fashioned board games are making a comeback — with even smartphone-obsessed teens putting their devices down for analog connection. Here are a few of our favourites. THE CHAMELEON (3 to 8 players, ages 12+) In this board game, everyone knows the secret word — except for the player with the chameleon card. Using hidden codes and carefully chosen words, players try to track down the imposter… before they blend in and escape. This is a great game to connect with your tween or teen! GUESS IN 10 JUNIOR: ANIMAL KINGDOM (2 or more players, ages 3 to 6) This trivia card game is designed for curious pre-readers who love animals! A set of cards provides inspiration…

Volunteering as a community scientist is a wonderful way to feed your body, mind and soul, connecting you to a wider community of nature enthusiasts. You can make meaningful contributions to science and conservation efforts just by paying attention. Spending just 10 minutes a day observing nature in your own garden and backyard can really add up over time — and it can help to make you a better gardener! What is Community Science? Community science is the practice of amateur and professional scientists working together to collect and record observations for scientific study. I have personally spent decades observing our most precious pollinators: Canada’s native bees. The advantage of enlisting amateur naturalists to collect data is the sheer number of observations we can make over a large geographical area.…

What if a garden could be a living oasis where vegetables mingle happily with flowers, fruit trees hum with bees and herbs spill fragrance into the air? You can make it happen! As a landscape designer, I’m often asked about how to start a successful vegetable garden, and why I often mix vegetables and edibles with ornamental plants. My answer is always the same: A thriving garden is built on diversity. That means a mix of colours, heights, textures and species. In my opinion, the best way to grow healthier food, reduce pest pressure and support your local ecosystem is to blend edibles and pollinator plants into one vibrant, functional design. Why Mix Pollinators with Vegetables? Because Nature Does It Best In nature, plants don’t grow in neat little rows.…

A well-designed gravel patio or walkway adds charm and functionality to any outdoor space. It creates a clean, defined area for relaxing, entertaining or moving through your yard — all without the cost and hassle of poured concrete or pavers. Best of all? Installing one is completely doable as a DIY project. With the right materials and some effort, you can build a durable, low-maintenance gravel surface that will last for years and look great. There is no need for expensive contractors or specialized tools — just a solid plan, some hard work and the right approach to layering and compacting the gravel. A gravel patio or walkway doesn’t just look good. It improves drainage and prevents muddy spots, while blending naturally into the landscape. Whether you want a cozy…

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…

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…

Every family has recipes that feel like home. Maybe it’s the cookies your aunt was famous for, or the tomato sauce your grandmother made every week. These dishes and treats aren’t just instructions on a page; they are a time capsule in written form. And when they’re collected alongside family pictures and souvenirs, you have the makings of a Mother’s Day gift that captures your family’s legacy in a meaningful, lasting way. MATERIALS A sturdy scrapbook or binder* Scrapbook paper or cardstockPlastic sleevesAdhesive cornersPens, markers and washi tapeSmall envelopes for keepsakesGlue or double-sided tape *You can use anything from a three-ring binder to a high-quality scrapbook, depending on your budget and the look and feel you’re going for. Just be sure that whatever you choose is strong enough to hold…

For many years, I longed to grow my own food. I craved the tangible sense of sustainability I knew would come with producing my own edible plants, where I would truly know the origins and growing conditions of what I ate. I craved a deeper connection to the life cycle of growing things, and the thought of rearing seeds into mature plants that could provide me with sustenance seemed — and still seems — like pure magic. For most of my adult life, I lived in apartments with no gardening space. When I became a homeowner, I assumed possession of my new house buoyed by dreams of growing all of the fresh produce a fertile imagination and good backyard soil could muster. The only problem was that my large backyard…

When it comes to the adoption of new products, history has a way of repeating itself. Lawn mowers and tools are no exception. When the first mechanical push mowers were introduced in the 1830s, they were immediately dismissed for being too heavy, difficult to manoeuvre and not particularly good at cutting wet grass or producing an even cut. In the early 1920s when early gas mowers first appeared, they were deemed too heavy and physically demanding. They were difficult to maintain, had blunt blades and overall were deemed to be unsafe. A decade later when the first electricity-powered mowers hit the market, they were criticized for lacking range and power. To this day, even after most manufacturers have literally cut the cord (transitioning first to lead acid batteries and now…

When I first met William and Christine, I wondered, “Do they realize what they signed up for?” It was the first day of our hiking tour in the Italian Alps, and this couple didn’t scream “active hiker.” That they were in their 70s wasn’t an issue — I’ve had many strong, fit 70-year-olds on our hiking trips. Indeed, they often outpace the 40- and 50-year-olds. This couple just seemed to move slower, and when William confided that he’d only just recently stopped walking with a cane, alarm bells went off. A couple of years prior, a woman in her 50s joined us in Italy. She’d been a marathon runner in her 20s, but, as she later admitted, our six-day hiking tour was not only the first hiking she’d ever done,…