Transition Medicine Hat: GALLERY of RURAL IDEAS

Opportunities for Rural Sustainability
County residents often think big, and they have the space to do that! These ideas suggest how some landowners are supporting the environment while still making a living. Agricultural opportunities can vary greatly in size, from expansive bison ranges to tiny greenhouses. In some cases, the operation uses only a small fraction of the space most people think is needed for a farm.

Given the choice, cattle greatly prefer to drink out of a trough. Taste tests (really!) show that they don't much like dugout water, with the usual addition of nutrients (yuck!). And when they drink more, they eat more and gain weight faster. Ranchers can increase their production by a whopping 10% just by pumping water into a trough.
This pump runs on solar power (note the large battery case, and the wheels allow it to change pastures with the cattle. If the pump stops for some reason, they can always return to the unfenced dugout. But the trampled soil shows they spend a lot of time drinking there.
The water source also benefits from less trampling. Vegetation can grow, keeping the water even cleaner while encouraging wildlife.

Photo by Rob Gardner

St. Margaret's Church on the west edge of the Cypress Hills has been lovingly restored by Rev. David Carter, with significant help from the local community. The new stained glass windows have been sponsored by prominent citizens, a tradition dating back centuries in Europe.

Brandings give neighbours a chance to reconnect, while getting a big chore done in a short time. Everyone has a role, and everyone has fun! In spite of the extreme distances between homes, people are able to stay in touch. This should be an inspiration for urban block parties.

Local landowners Twyla and Paul are pictured installing fence visibility clips, assisted by other Transitioners. These simple pieces of vinyl make the wires much easier to see, preventing bird collisions, and reducing damage by deer and elk.
Small changes like this can go a long way to enabling people and wildlife to co-exist.
Alberta Conservation Association has produced a major publication on Wildlife Friendly Fencing, with numerous inexpensive improvements to the traditional, hundred-year-old design. (See the Resources page for details.)

Some ranchers have found bison to be a satisfying animal to raise. They enjoy watching the entire ecosystem flourish, especially the wildflowers and birds. The meat brings a higher price per kilogram, and both the hide and skull are much in demand. Existing ranches show that the fences do not need to be that much taller.

Most landowners would like to end the summer with this much water in their pastures. Why not let beaver do the work. You can avoid the hassle of getting permits from the province, too.
I know that sometimes beaver can get out of hand. Recent innovation has created several new ways to co-exist with these ambitious rodents.
Click here to explore proven ways to increase your grazing capacity by managing your streams.

In southeastern Alberta, water can often be scarce, so it makes sense to manage it carefully. I have brought together the best ideas from many ranchers in an illustrated book called Prairie Streams.
As a teaser, one important fact is that the stream's health depends greatly on the abundance of woody plants, both trees and shrubs. These large plants have deep roots that will stabilize the stream banks, reducing erosion and keeping the water clear. Most ranchers will be amazed at what dry mixedgrass streams can look like!
The photos make this an enormous (174 MB) file, but I think it is worth the time to download. Or, you can e-mail me your address and I will snail-mail a memory stick with the file.

Gerry Ehlert points out that Skeleton Weed, the pink native wildflower shown below, often appears in fields of domestic Crested Wheatgrass. This demonstrates a gradual trend toward restoring the native grassland, a process we hope to accelerate on disturbed lands around Medicine Hat. If you or your group would like to help plant wildflowers, call 403-527-2052 to book a program.

Farmers markets offer a chance for urban residents to re-acquaint themselves with how their food is grown. Each week in the summer, thousands of people flock to markets across the province. Judging by the smiles, everyone has fun!
Locally produced food is picked fresher, needs less transportation. Buying direct from the farmer lets you ask how it was grown, what will be available next week, and how things are going in rural Alberta.
Solution: Regenerative Annual Cropping

Eldorado Farms and other farmers in the area grow extensive fields of corn. Corn on the cob has become an August tradition!
Medicine Hat's growing season has extended more than two weeks over the past 30 years, enabling corn and other heat-loving crops to flourish. This is one of the few benefits of climate change. Taber Corn is great, but maybe Foremost Carrots and Seven Persons Tomatoes are just around the corner!

Last modified October 11, 2023

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	Given the choice, cattle greatly prefer to drink out of a trough. Taste tests (really!) show that they don't much like dugout water, with the usual addition of nutrients (yuck!). And when they drink more, they eat more and gain weight faster. Ranchers can increase their production by a whopping 10% just by pumping water into a trough. This pump runs on solar power (note the large battery case, and the wheels allow it to change pastures with the cattle. If the pump stops for some reason, they can always return to the unfenced dugout. But the trampled soil shows they spend a lot of time drinking there. The water source also benefits from less trampling. Vegetation can grow, keeping the water even cleaner while encouraging wildlife.
Photo by Rob Gardner


	St. Margaret's Church on the west edge of the Cypress Hills has been lovingly restored by Rev. David Carter, with significant help from the local community. The new stained glass windows have been sponsored by prominent citizens, a tradition dating back centuries in Europe.

	Local landowners Twyla and Paul are pictured installing fence visibility clips, assisted by other Transitioners. These simple pieces of vinyl make the wires much easier to see, preventing bird collisions, and reducing damage by deer and elk. Small changes like this can go a long way to enabling people and wildlife to co-exist. Alberta Conservation Association has produced a major publication on Wildlife Friendly Fencing, with numerous inexpensive improvements to the traditional, hundred-year-old design. (See the Resources page for details.)
	Some ranchers have found bison to be a satisfying animal to raise. They enjoy watching the entire ecosystem flourish, especially the wildflowers and birds. The meat brings a higher price per kilogram, and both the hide and skull are much in demand. Existing ranches show that the fences do not need to be that much taller.

	Most landowners would like to end the summer with this much water in their pastures. Why not let beaver do the work. You can avoid the hassle of getting permits from the province, too. I know that sometimes beaver can get out of hand. Recent innovation has created several new ways to co-exist with these ambitious rodents. Click here to explore proven ways to increase your grazing capacity by managing your streams.
	In southeastern Alberta, water can often be scarce, so it makes sense to manage it carefully. I have brought together the best ideas from many ranchers in an illustrated book called Prairie Streams. As a teaser, one important fact is that the stream's health depends greatly on the abundance of woody plants, both trees and shrubs. These large plants have deep roots that will stabilize the stream banks, reducing erosion and keeping the water clear. Most ranchers will be amazed at what dry mixedgrass streams can look like! The photos make this an enormous (174 MB) file, but I think it is worth the time to download. Or, you can e-mail me your address and I will snail-mail a memory stick with the file.
	Gerry Ehlert points out that Skeleton Weed, the pink native wildflower shown below, often appears in fields of domestic Crested Wheatgrass. This demonstrates a gradual trend toward restoring the native grassland, a process we hope to accelerate on disturbed lands around Medicine Hat. If you or your group would like to help plant wildflowers, call 403-527-2052 to book a program.

	Farmers markets offer a chance for urban residents to re-acquaint themselves with how their food is grown. Each week in the summer, thousands of people flock to markets across the province. Judging by the smiles, everyone has fun! Locally produced food is picked fresher, needs less transportation. Buying direct from the farmer lets you ask how it was grown, what will be available next week, and how things are going in rural Alberta. Solution: Regenerative Annual Cropping