Harrowsmith is still the reliable go-to for gardeners, weekend carpenters, homesteaders, hobby farmers and urban dwellers with romantic fantasies of country life. Harrowsmith publishes four issues a year in conjunction with the seasons.
Do you know what I love the best about this almanac? Every time I mention it to a friend or a family member, it makes people happy. Whether they remember it from their past (“Oh! My grandmother always had a copy on her coffee table!”) or their present (“We have the latest one at the cottage!”), it’s the type of magazine that brings joy to whoever comes into contact with it. It’s become one of my favourite things. What other little things bring me joy? I decided to list a few things here: 1. Handwritten notes. I am a fan of Canadian artist Lauren Zweerink. Her whimsical cards never fail to make me smile (especially her animal prints) and I know they will brighten the day of anyone I send…
In 2026, Harrowsmith will mark a significant milestone — 50 years of publication. Since the beginning, the magazine has reflected the values of Canadians who care about how we live, what we grow and what we eat. I joined Harrowsmith in 1997 and purchased the magazine in 2012. Over the years, I’ve seen our editorial voice remain true while adapting to change. In 2007, we launched Harrowsmith’s Truly Canadian Almanac, a homegrown resource written entirely by and for Canadians. It quickly became a reader favourite and will take centre stage next year as a special collector’s edition. While we’ll honour our past with archival features, we’re also looking ahead. The next 50 years will be shaped by shifts in Canadian agriculture, sustainable living and food systems. Issues such as seed…
Canada (41,528,680) Ottawa (1,660,269) British Columbia (5,722,318) Victoria (441,491) Alberta (4,960,097) Edmonton (1,631,614) Saskatchewan (1,250,909) Regina (282,032) Manitoba (1,504,023) Winnipeg (941,641) Ontario (16,182,641) Toronto (7,106,379) Quebec (9,111,629) Quebec City (900,343) New Brunswick (858,963) Fredericton (122,500) Nova Scotia (1,079,627) Halifax (530,167) Prince Edward Island (178,280) Charlottetown (93,877) Newfoundland and Labrador, (545,579) St. John's (238,316) Northwest Territories (45,074) Yellowknife (22,735) Nunavut (41,414) Iqaluit (8,428) Yukon (47,126) Whitehorse (38,000) **Source: Statistics Canada, 2024, 2025…
HelloFresh Fun Fact: The first modern meal-kit delivery service is widely credited to Kochhaus, founded in Germany in 2010. They sold recipe-based grocery kits in their stores, which sparked the idea for what would become HelloFresh, launched out of Berlin just a year later. Since then, HelloFresh has changed the game by sending pre-measured ingredients, making it easier to cook at home while also cutting down on food waste, by as much as 36 percent compared to regular grocery shopping. They’re also serious about where their extra food goes. Instead of tossing it, HelloFresh partners with organizations in places like the Netherlands and the United Kingdom to turn food waste into animal feed and pet food. And in 2022, they donated more than 26 million pounds of unsold, edible food…
Harrowsmith magazine, launched in 1976 in Camden East, Ont., began as a grassroots voice for sustainable living, homesteading and environmental awareness. From kitchen-table beginnings to becoming one of Canada's top magazines, Harrowsmith has evolved through media and cultural shifts, urban and population growth and technological advancements in agriculture, all of which reinforced our country’s interest and desire to live simply and sustainably. 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL COLLECTOR’S EDITION To celebrate our 50th year anniversary, Harrowsmith is creating a special collector’s edition fall Almanac. Similar to the one you are currently reading, this edition will be even more jam-packed with the things you’ve come to expect in the only all-Canadian almanac. Regular subscribers will receive this issue as part of their subscription at no additional cost. NOT A SUBSCRIBER? Subscribe for one…
QUEBECOISE-STYLE CHICKEN CHASSEUR Classic French flavours meet the vibrant heritage of Quebecois cuisine in this recipe. For this version of the iconic dish, we explore an artful blend of traditional techniques with a local secret: herbes salées, a savory medley of salted herbs that is a cherished staple in Quebec kitchens. This aromatic seasoning infuses the dish with a unique depth of flavour, complementing the rich, earthy tones of the chasseur sauce and ingredients like tomato, white wine, brandy, mushrooms and shallots. I’ve added cubed carrots to give this stew more heft, but feel free to omit. I like serving this dish with potatoes, egg noodles or — my favourite — a crusty baguette perfect for scooping up every last drop. Serves 4-6 2 tbsp oil6 oz pork belly, finely…
