A Message from Growing Alberta

Spring—Ahead? The great thing about magazine publishing is that you generally get to work a season in advance. So, while there is a severe wind-chill factor and the temperature is in the minus double-digits outside my window, our thoughts inside the office are focused on the excitement that spring brings.

In our health and safety column this issue, this time titled “Backyard Bogeys”, Lisa Ostrowski is making a list and checking it twice – only her list has to do with garden safety. Planning for spring seems to make it come a little quicker.

And the season also brings thoughts about planning pretty
parties. In Julie Van Rosendaal’s feature, “A Catered Affair”, she gets you started with a list of tips and a delectable finger-food menu. Her feature guides you, advising when it’s time to hang up your apron and call in the pros.

Caitlin Crawshaw takes off her apron and dons a lab coat as she ventures into the world of Alberta’s nutraceuticals and functional foods. She’ll explain what they are and why they should matter to you. You may be making different decisions at your grocery check-out.

Precious warm-weather weekends and short getaways are always popular. Rick Overwater pens a listing and some tips to get you started exploring some of Alberta’s great agriculture tourism destinations.

I’d like to issue a challenge to our readers! Agriculture tourism destinations are becoming very popular with many of our urban consumers and Growing Alberta would like to learn more about your adventures. Send us a photo, along with a letter describing your Alberta getaway, and share your experience. Your story may be published and, if so, we’ll award you a unique Alberta prize basket. Send your submissions to Editor, Food For Thought, 10259-105 Street, Edmonton, AB, T5J 1E3 or via e-mail to mpurvis@venturepublishing.ca.

Watch for our Summer issue coming to you in May!

Maureen Osadchuk