Make and hang a Valentine for your backyard friends! Start by trying to think about what things you have at home that squirrels and birds might like to eat. Some ideas: Nuts, all kinds Dried or frozen fruit like cranberries, raisins or blueberries Seeds and grains like sunflower, flax, sesame, pumpkin Birdseed Suet Materials Needed: Cake pan, any shape. The demo uses a square 8”x 8” x 2” or 21cm x 21cm x 5cm Styrofoam or non-porous foam for heart shape. 2” thick or layered to

Hop, hop! Did you know carrots grow underground? That’s right—carrots are called root vegetables because the part we eat grows down in the soil, not up in the air. While we see the leafy green tops waving in the wind, the crunchy orange carrot is busy growing below the surface. What Is a Root Vegetable? Root vegetables grow by digging deep into the ground. Their roots help them: Soak up water Collect nutrients from the soil Stay strong and healthy as they grow Carrots are jus

You may not find Santa selling fruits and vegetables at a farmers’ market, but he sure does have all the skills necessary to be a farmer! In fact, there’s solid evidence that he runs a farm up at the North Pole, alongside his toy workshop. It’s hard to know exactly what happens up in Santa’s domain, but here’s some of the best evidence that Santa either is a farmer or grew up on a farm: 1. He cares for and trains his reindeer. Reindeer are Santa’s main way of getting around,

As December arrives, calendars flip, the 25th is circled, and Christmas decorations are dug out of storage. One of these decorations, the wreath, has a long history. Coming from the Old English word “writhian,” which means “twist,” wreaths are usually made by twisting greenery together and adorning with flowers, berries, and other decorative materials. Often created from the trimmings of Christmas trees as they’re given their signature triangular shape, wreaths are a great wa

Red barns are a hallmark of Alberta’s landscape, nearly as ubiquitous as the fields they’re built on. The iconic red paint wasn’t initially an aesthetic choice, though the contrast of a red barn against a sunshine-yellow canola crop or a snow-covered field is certainly beautiful. Rather, red was chosen by early European settlers for its functionality, and it is because of tradition that the colour persists. Wood barns would weather quickly, turning to a dull grayish brown bef

What happens on the farm during the winter? For most farmers, the busiest times of the year are during the spring and fall. The spring marks the beginning of their growing season and crop farmers prepare for seeding. When the crops are fully grown, usually in the fall, farmers head straight into the harvest season! What do farmers get up to once the harvest season ends and that first snowfall hits? While it may seem like it’s a time for some good old rest and relaxation, they

November is Canadian Career Month—a time to explore future possibilities, especially in the world of agriculture. The industry touches every part of our lives—feeding families, supporting communities, and driving the economy. With 1 in 9 Canadian jobs connected to the agriculture and agri-food industry, students of all talents and passions can find a career here. Show students how their unique skills connect to meaningful, real-world opportunities by exploring these exciting

Trick or treat or . . . harvest? Though Halloween today revolves around collecting candy and dressing up in costumes, the spooky holiday has agrarian roots. Halloween is believed to have stemmed from Samhain (pronounced sow-win), a traditional Gaelic festival celebrating the end of the fall harvest. Beginning on October 31st and extending into November 1st, Samhain marked the end of harvest season and the beginning of winter. Feasts were held to celebrate a successful harves

In today’s classrooms, the call to help students understand their role in building a more sustainable future has never been louder....

Discover how botany connects us to the food we eat and the world we share Have you ever looked at a seed and imagined the plant it will...

As we approach Truth and Reconciliation week and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we want to acknowledge and honour the ancestral territory of all the Inuit, Metis, and First Nations people that call this land home. We are committed to rebuilding and renewing our relationships and recognize the ongoing impacts of colonization. We want to pause, reflect, and learn during this time and honour the survivors and victims of the residential school system. During thi

Make a wheat stalk out of paper! Materials: White and yellow craft paper Yellow craft paper Black marker Craft glue Scissors...

More Than Farming When many people hear “agriculture education,” they picture tractors, barns, and rural schools. But agriculture isn’t...

A Story to Begin Imagine a student opening their lunchbox. Inside is a sandwich with Alberta beef, lettuce from a greenhouse, and a slice...

Why This Matters for the Classroom Gen Z students are shaping the future of food in Canada. Their choices—guided by sustainability,...

At first glance, agriculture and cosmetology might seem worlds apart. One conjures images of fields, crops, and livestock, while the...

There’s something about a red barn on the horizon that stops us in our tracks. Even in today’s world of steel sheds and GPS-guided...

When you think of a food truck, your mind probably goes to sizzling street food, colourful menus, and the excitement of trying something...

Few desserts are as uniquely Canadian as the Nanaimo Bar — a no-bake treat made of three distinct layers: a crumbly base of chocolate,...

From the dawn of human civilization, food has been more than nourishment. It has been a symbol of gratitude, reverence, and connection between the living, the divine, and the departed. Across cultures, food offerings reflected the rhythms of agriculture—harvest cycles, livestock raising, and seasonal abundance. In this way, agriculture was not just an economic activity but a spiritual one, linking fields and farms to temples and tombs. The Meaning Behind Food Offerings Food w