March and April and into May were busy for everyone, I’m sure.

I was able to visit supporters in Legal, Edmonton, High River, Eckville, Linden, Manning, La Crete (two times), Grande Prairie/Bear Lake, Cleardale, Westlock, Neerlandia, Taber, Picture Butte/Iron Springs, Rosemary (Newell), Edberg, Mallaig, Red Deer, Ponoka, Lacombe, and Carstairs.

It’s a privilege to be able to visit at kitchen tables, in church halls, at coffee tables, and in warehouses and machine shops.

Picture of a field with a La Crete Foodgrains Growing Project sign in the foreground.
La Crete growing project seeding wheat.

Picture of a field with a Picture Butte Foodgrains Growing Project sign in the foreground.
Picture Butte growing project barley is up.

Seeding in Alberta

Growing projects in Alberta are mostly seeded. By the time you read this, all will be in the ground. Some need rain, while others have had a good start.

Some examples:

  • Trochu Viterra (canola) just had rain but will need more.
  • Westfield (lentils) needs rain.
  • Foremost South (winter wheat), recent rains helped.
  • Picture Butte (barley) has been irrigating.
  • Medicine Hat (wheat) is dry.
  • Bonnyville (wheat) has had a good start.
  • Manning (wheat) needs rain.
  • La Crete (wheat) has good moisture.
  • Leduc (wheat) needs rain.
  • Lacombe (canola) had rain last week.
  • Legal (new project, wheat) is very dry.
  • Granum (wheat) has had a good start.

Maybe it’s always like this, but moisture seems spotty this season. If anyone knows what it’s like to live by faith, it has to be farmers.

Picture of a field with a Westfield Foodgrains Growing Project sign in the foreground.
Westfield growing project seeding lentils

Picture of a field with a Granum Foodgrains Growing Project sign in the foreground.
Granum growing project – wheat is up

A note of thanks

A special thank you to two gentlemen who are retiring from their leadership roles in their projects.

Ron Hopper has served as project coordinator for Eckville (St. Paul’s Community growing project) since 1993 (31 years), and Charlie Redpath has served as coordinator for the Medicine Hat and District growing project since 1999 (25 years).

Both men will stay close to their projects, but others are stepping up, and that’s wonderful. We are very grateful for the people, younger and older, who keep making growing projects happen.

 

Silver Shovel fundraiser

The North East growing project (Bonnyville) has been going on for a long time.

Picture of a silver grain shovel.
North East Growing Project’s (Bonnyville) silver shovel

In 1997, they started what they call the “Silver Shovel fundraiser.” Each year, a church, a business, or anyone could ‘buy’ the shovel and keep it for that year.

More recently, they invite anyone to contribute to ‘buying’ the silver-plated shovel. On average they have raised $4500 a year since 1997 with that shovel.

You do the math. Pretty cool!

Our summers are not long, so I wish everyone a blessed few months of enough rain, safe travels, happy vacationing, and work times.

– Abe, Alberta regional representative