Rural Enterprise – PFR

Farmgate to Dinner Plate

admin — Sat, 07 Nov 2015 15:07:55 +0000

Jeff & Sabrina live on a farm near Indian Head, Saskatchewan, Canada. While 320 acres is a fairly small farm by Saskatchewan standards, it is just the rightsize for their operation known as “The Grazing Goose”. Both Jeff and Sabrina have off farm employment, but they also find the time to grow and sell numerous farm products directly to consumers. Everything from organically produced beef, pork, chicken and turkey meat is marketed. The animals all live in a ‘free range’ environment and by in large are maintained with a grass related diet. All of their meat products come from animals that have never been given artificial hormones or antibiotics. As a result, Jeff raises heritage breeds like the Berkshire hog which does better on a grass diet. He’s found Dexter and Longhorn cattle do well on grass/hay feed. All of their meat products come from animals that have never been given hormone or antibiotic products. The couple market most their products through their website www.thegrazinggoose.com. They are also eager to consult and share ideas about growing organic food locally for neighbors and friends.

Location: Indian Head, Saskatchewan, Canada

Amigo’s Auto Wrecking

admin — Sat, 24 Jan 2015 23:19:27 +0000

Blair Bentley of Amigo’s Auto Wrecking Ltd., of Clavet, Saskatchewan discussing how he and his brother and another friend turned 40 acres of their family farm into a thriving auto wrecking and parts supply business. At the time of the airing they had grown to 24 employees.

Location: Clavet, Saskatchewan, Canada

Goat Cheese Makers

admin — Sat, 24 Jan 2015 14:35:41 +0000

James Holtom and Marin Waddell who established Salay View Farm Goat Cheese operation on a small farm near Lang, Saskatchewan. The couple have a 900 square foot cheese building where they milk the goats and the cheese is made. At the time of the airing they were milking 24 goats. They sell most of their cheese packaged in 100 gram containers, at venues like the nearby Regina, Saskatchewan Farmers Market.

Location: Lang, Saskatchewan, Canada

Potter and Educator

admin — Sat, 24 Jan 2015 12:00:12 +0000

Jeffrey Taylor and his business called New School Arts located in Duval, Saskatchewan. Jeffrey and his wife Nadia live and work in an old school house built in 1928. He works with a computer controlled kiln. His pottery products very greatly from $5 mugs to $575 antler handled teapots.

Location: Duval, Saskatchewan, Canada

Metal Welding Art

admin — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 20:06:39 +0000

Bill and Laurette Keen and their metal art and sculpting business. They build some items that are fairly large and depict native prairie trees and other plants. They also use everything from rocks to driftwood often as mounts for their welded together metal art pieces.

Location: Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada

Custom Glassblowing Studio

admin — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 19:14:51 +0000

Jacky Berting and her husband Jim Clark have developed a very successful glass blowing operation. They make a wide variety of glass items, many of them with a prairie theme such as badland vases and prairie lily plants. They even built a 400 square foot field of glass wheat with 14,000 waste high stocks.

Location: Cupar, Saskatchewan, Canada

Hand Crafted Cowboy Gear

admin — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 16:00:18 +0000

Jamie Marner and her handcrafted cowboy and riding gear. She makes various products from Horsehair Hitching. A large portion of her business involves making chinks and chaps for working cowboys.

Location: Hanley, Saskatchewan, Canada

Starting Your Own Sheep Ranch

admin — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 20:05:46 +0000

While Shayne Horn and his wife Vicky didn’t grow up on farms it didn’t stop them from starting Tangle Ridge Ranch a small sheep ranch in Alberta. At the time of our visit they were marketing about 180 lambs per year on their quarter section farm. They direct market the meat to individuals and area restaurants.

Location: Thorsby, Alberta, Canada

Camelina Cooking Oil

admin — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 00:25:59 +0000

Sisters Elysia and Natasha Vandenhurk operate Three Farmers Products. The firm makes Camelina oil which is derived from camelina oilseeds which was grown by their family and 2 other neighbors, thus the company name Three Farmers. The oil is an ideal cooking oil that can withstand temperatures of up to 475 degrees Fahrenheit and it has an 18 month shelf life and it has strong health qualities. The product is widely distributed in Canada and since our visit in 2012, the sisters have gone on to produce several other products under the Three Farmers brand.

Location: Midale & Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Market Garden Farming

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:15:57 +0000

At the time of our visit in 2012, Marlin Peters and his 12 acre market garden was providing him and his wife Deb with a living. While most farmers in his area are cultivating thousands of acres, he has found that intensive small scale agriculture does pay off. He supplies fresh vegetables to area farmers markets plus wholesales produce to stores as far away as in southeast Saskatchewan.

Location: Virden, Manitoba, Canada