Editor's Message

SPRING IS HERE AND EVERYTHING IS COMING TO LIFE with lawns awakening; trees budding; and gardens an open canvas just waiting to produce vitality and brilliance. Many of us are looking forward to filling grocery bags with summer produce – bursting with flavour and nutrition.

Spring provides a renewed sense of hope, optimism and new beginnings. As you prepare your home, garden and life for your “best yet” season of sun and warmth, so too are those who bring food to your dinner table each day. Working diligently and confidently to prepare fields, pastures and plants, agriculture’s farmers, ranchers and business people are hopeful this season will be their “best yet”. And, with so many great farmers’ markets and top notch grocery stores, when agriculture reaps a bounty, we all benefit.

Bringing life to your garden, cooking and vacation time is the focus of this Food for Thought. With the help of experts like Jim Hole of Hole’s Greenhouses, we give you a primer on the latest trends and tips for gardening in Alberta (page 12). Dust off the barbeque (page 26) and get grilling with tips and BBQ recipes bound to make your taste buds sizzle. And who needs Disneyland or the Caribbean with so many exciting Alberta vacation adventures just beyond your doorstep? Check out three unique Alberta farm and ranch vacations that provide a little something for every family member (page 22).

Fire up the grill, plant a flower or just take time to enjoy the sun’s warmth. Take a step forward into this season of new beginnings and enjoy all it has to offer.

Jennifer Fisk, Editor
Food for Thought