As I browse the newspaper and some social media sites this morning, I am coming to the conclusion that the chosen buzz-phrase for the beginning of this new year is “Keep It Simple!” No matter what the subject – cooking, clothing, décor, relationships, life-in-general – the undoubtable advice of every headline seems to suggest that […]

There’s a popular Christmas tune by Johnny Marks, made famous many years ago by Burl Ives, that goes like this: Have a holly jolly Christmas; It’s the best time of the year. I don’t know if there’ll be snow, But have a cup of cheer! It occurs to me that there are many things about […]

Contrary to popular belief, in the fruit wine industry, November is a crazy-busy month! As I discussed in last month’s newsletter, serious winemaking begins in the fall.  This month we will see several thousand pounds of saskatoon berries, rhubarb and black currants prepped and pressed and filling the tanks. Soon they’ll be on their way […]

If you’ve listened to reports lately, you’ve heard the experts tell us that Indian Summer will  soon be waving goodbye, and Old Man Winter will be coming up the road. Summer markets finished, Thanksgiving behind us, fall field work completed. What do we look forward to now? Let the winemaking begin. Unlike grape wines, fruit […]

With the chill in the air, and the yellow leaves everywhere, it certainly feels like fall today!  When autumn begins, I love to remember this famous quote by David Henry Thoreau: Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each. […]

It’s been a whirlwind month. Hand-picking 2000 pounds of raspberries over a two-week period, and bringing in 3000 pounds of saskatoon berries in a single day, we can’t help but be amazed by all the wonderful fruit that Alberta can actually produce!  You are seeing much of it fresh at farmers markets this month, and […]