Frost To Frost columnist Joan Norberg run Grizzly Valley Farms on the Mayo Road. Her and her husband Alan can often be found at the Yukon Fireweed Market on Thursdays
Send her your questions at grizzlyvalleyfarms@hotmail.com.
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Joan Norberg
I conclude that socks and sandals are fashionable ...
It's a walking, talking paradox ... well, mostly it's a walking paradox: If wearing socks with sandals is so wrong, why do so many of us do it? I like to think it's because we Yukoners are soooo polite. If our tourists do it, whether it be from poor more
Issue: 2017-03-22, PHOTO: Teresa Kozakewich
Cooking Up a Career
Teresa Kozakewick grew up in Alberta. Raised by a father who had a passion for food, she had always been drawn to cooking. She enjoyed watching her dad cook on special occasions. Now her passion has become a career path. After moving to the Yukon... more
Issue: 2017-03-22, Photo: Joan Norberg
Great Food from the College Kitchen
On Feb. 16, the Yukon Convention Bureau (YCB) held its annual Bravo Awards. The Golden Bravo Award is in recognition of a YCB member who has gone above and beyond in service excellence in the meeting and conventions sector. This year’s winner was... more
Issue: 2017-03-08, PHOTO: Pixabay
Home Is Where the Heart Is
In August of 2008, we had ground cleared so we could build a new house. It wouldn't be very big or fancy, but it would be a clean, dry place to live. You see, the previous winter I had had pneumonia. Which was exacerbated by the mold in the... more
Issue: 2016-12-07, PHOTO: Darren Holcombe
About a Fair
From stunning jewelery, fine arts and unique crafts to quality prepared foods and personal care products hand made by Yukon artisans, the 12 Days of Christmas has become one of the largest Yukon craft fairs over the past decade. From its humble... more
Issue: 2016-11-16, PHOTO: by Joan Norberg
Braided rugs, just like Grandma used to make
There I was at the end of August looking through Salvation Army for wool coats. August. What was I thinking? I know it's the Yukon, but we still had beautiful summer weather and I was looking for a wool winter coat. I had to laugh at myself... more
Issue: 2016-09-15, PHOTO: Joan Norberg
Old Gardeners Never Die, They Just Go to Seed
Gardening is considered a challenge here in the Yukon. But this year the weather made it less so. Gardens flourished with an earlier than usual spring and a warmer than usual summer. With the fall colours here and cooler weather upon us most tend... more
Issue: 2016-04-07, PHOTO: Joan Norberg
Winter: A Season for Change
“The more things change the more they stay the same” and “The only constant in life is change” are both very cliche and very true. In some sense farming and gardening means things are staying the same. We usually use the same plot of land and... more
Issue: 2015-10-22 PHOTO: Joan Norberg
Winter is Coming
Over the past few years the gardens have been producing more and more vegetables. So, come fall we start to look for places to store the root crops for the winter. Our main root crops are potatoes and carrots, which need a dark, cool space with a... more
Issue: 2015-06-18 PHOTO: Joan Norberg
Flowers?
“Could we plant some flowers in our garden, next year?” This is what Allan asked me 25 years ago after we had harvested our first garden together. I hadn’t realized anything had been missing from our yard. We had an average vegetable garden on the... more
Issue: 2015-05-21 PHOTO: Joan Norberg
Training For the Yukon
Recently we went down south for a family visit. At the time it was still very much winter here in the Yukon. Down there the snow was melting, there were puddles everywhere and it felt like spring. more
Issue: 2015-04-16 PHOTO: Joan Norberg
A Friend For Schwartz
Schwartz has been our only dog for the past few years. For the most part he seems to be okay, although he does enjoy playing with other dogs when he gets the chance. But being the only dog can be lonely for an animal that would normally belong to... more
Issue: 2015-03-19 PHOTO: kozzi.com
Farmers Need Funds, Too
If you ate today, thank a farmer. If you know where your food comes from, thank them even more. Knowing where your food comes from can be a challenge, especially in the North. Why should a person support a local farmer when the food they sell... more
Issue: 2015-02-26 PHOTO: Joan Norberg
February Seedlings
Anything can happen in February, weather-wise. It can be -30°C one day and 5°C a few days later. The sun can be very warm and the spring starts diminishing the snow and icing-up the roads. January is a month of hibernation and rest. more
Issue: 2015-02-12 PHOTO: Joan Norberg
Seed Catalogues Launch Dreams
“There are two seasonal diversions that can ease the bite of any winter. One is the January thaw. The other is the seed catalogs” - Hal Borland, American journalist (1900 – 1978). Seed catalogues evoke memories of summer breezes and warmer times. more
Maksymowicz Getty Images/iStockphoto
Bigger is Not Always Better
In the 1970s farmers in the United States were told to “get big or get out” as a way to promote larger, corporately owned farms. more
Home Grown
The phrase “food security” is becoming common, and it can be interpreted in several different ways. more
Saving the Harvest
One of a gardener’s goals at the end of summer is to preserve the food harvested. more
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Butcher Day Death with dignity
Death is a part of life, without death no one could live. Even vegetarians’ diets put an end to life. By eating a carrot, for example, there is no way for the veggie to naturally finishing its lifecycle, and produce seeds. more
Unexpected Encounters on the Farm
Working outside is a given when gardening. Planting, weeding, and harvesting all are labour-intensive jobs, which are done manually on our farm. Most of the time, working in the garden it is just that, work; it is very easy to focus on the job that more
Market Season Ends as the Seasons Change
All good things must come to an end. And the summer outdoor market is no exception. Over the years we have enjoyed getting to know our summer market customers, and the other vendors become like family.So when the last market happens it is often a b more