Erika and Christoph Weder, on their ranch in northwest Alberta’s Peace region.

You’ve heard the catch-phrase “Where’s the beef?” If you ask Christoph and Erika Weder, a better question is “Where’s the beef from?”

At Spirit View Ranch, the beef comes from a property with more than 100 restored wetlands and over 1,200 acres of grassland and forest protected under conservation easements. It comes from a place where the landowners believe in sustainable land management practices and biodiversity, not hormones and antibiotics.

On this ranch in the Peace region in northwest Alberta, the Weders not only share their property with cattle, but also countless species of wildlife and fauna. That wasn’t the case when they took over operations in 2003 and found most of the wetlands were drained.

With a philosophy of working with nature, the Weders partnered with Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) to restore the wetlands – a concept not well understood in the Peace area given that wetland drainage and woodlot liquidation there continues at an extraordinary rate.

The Weders saw the benefits of conservation and building management practices around existing natural resources. “They’re shallow wetlands, so really good habitat for ducks and geese,” says Christoph Weder.

He explains that their wetlands are a hidden insurance policy during dry years. Even though the wetlands are empty of visible water, they potentially grow the best grass on the range, which the Weders can use.

The approach is proving valuable. In the last number of years the Peace area has experienced drought conditions. Through wetland restoration and good forage management, the Weders adapt to the conditions and continue ranching successfully.

Their efforts have not gone unnoticed. Recently, the Alberta Beef Producers honoured Christoph with their 2012 Environmental Stewardship Award. The Weders are proud of this award because, “it gives us a platform to say some of the things we have been saying for years.”

Watch Christoph’s recent video documenting some of the wildlife that call the Weder’s  Spirit View Ranch home:

For more information:

Website

Blog

Encouraging kids to get outside, get active and even get dirty is critical in curing the next generation from what’s been dubbed the “nature-deficit disorder.” American author Richard Louv coined this term in his bestselling book Last Child in the Woods to describe the increasing divide between youth and the natural world. Find out what Louv says is major cause of this problem, what parents can do to help connect their kids to the great outdoors, and the role organizations like DUC can play in shaping the next generation of conservationists in this exclusive conservator.ca interview:

In 1943, National Volunteer Week (NVW) was first introduced to draw attention to the contribution women made to the war effort on the home front. Now, NVW is an annual, week-long celebration that honours the 12.5 million volunteers who donate their time to hundreds of charities and organizations across Canada.

Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is blessed to have 6,600 volunteers who help us raise funds for wetlands year after year. In an effort to highlight the hard work and dedication of our volunteers, we interviewed a few from across the country and asked them to share their DUC stories.

Laurence Peck, DUC volunteer from Comox Valley, B.C.

Laurence Peck – British Columbia

Laurence Peck is a 27-year-old DUC volunteer from Comox Valley, B.C., who attended his first banquet and auction in 1999.

“I initially started attending events when I was 14,” Peck says. “Mostly, I helped out with the greenwing display and sold raffle tickets. As I grew older I really started to understand the importance of wetland conservation and all that DUC stands for.”

While Peck continues to volunteer with DUC because he is an avid outdoorsman who values both wildlife and wildlife habitat conservation, he most enjoys working with his chapter members.

“My favourite aspect of volunteering is working together as a team,” says Peck. “Our chapter is full of long-time, dedicated members, and it’s great to work with such a committed group of people. It’s a great feeling and it will keep me volunteering for many years to come.”

Next page: Charles Price – Alberta

Browse these photo highlights from Hazard Campbell’s inspiring tribute event:

[shashin type="albumphotos" id="3" size="large" crop="n" columns="max" caption="y" position="center"]

Students explore Ontario’s Hillman Marsh as part of a field trip sponsored by Talisman Energy. Encouraging kids to get outside and active is critical in combatting “nature-deficit disorder.”

Close your eyes and think back to your childhood. Imagine your favourite getaway. Can you call up the sights, sounds and scents and re-live the days you spent simply being a kid? For many, the great outdoors was a place to play, escape and explore. Building forts, catching minnows and flying kites made for hours of entertainment. Memories like these provide a connection to the environment years later.

Now think about today’s generation. For children becoming more and more plugged in to a life indoors, what role will Mother Nature play in the storyline of their lives? Will video games, iPods, cell phones, the Internet and structured extracurricular activities overshadow what’s happening in their own backyard?

In the fall of 2011, the world’s seven billionth child was born. This milestone renewed concerns about how the Earth can support so many people. A country rich in land and resources like fresh water, Canada plays an important role in developing strategies to conserve and maintain critical natural areas that are essential to the Earth’s survival.

Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) recognizes that today’s youth are tomorrow’s conservation leaders. And ensuring children are equipped with the passion, knowledge and resolve to care for the environment, amid a swelling world population, starts with connecting them to it. DUC education programs are a positive step in this direction. Encouraging kids to get outside, get active and even get dirty is critical in curing the next generation from what’s been dubbed the “nature-deficit disorder.”

Next page: Getting the kids outdoors

Read the submissions from the three contest winners, as well as excerpts from other winter wheat grower submissions:

Matthew Standford, Coaldale, Alberta

(L-R) Autumn Holmes-Saltzman, DUC, Matthew Stanford, Alberta Bin Winner, Courtney Stephenson, Bayer CropScience, Rick Istead, Alberta Winter Wheat Producers Commission, and Janine Paly, DUC

Today we are always aiming to save and conserve.  Every business endeavors to save time, money and the environment.  Our farm is no exception.  And winter wheat is a critical part of our conservation strategy.

As our business grows, we need to become increasingly efficient with our time and equipment.  Fall seeding takes some of the pressure off in the spring, and means that we have a portion of crop harvested and in the bin before our spring-seeded crops are ripe.  With a bit of coordination, winter wheat means we can farm more acres with the same equipment investment.  Winter wheat also helps us to harvest all of our crops in a timely fashion, preserving yield and quality.

Winter wheat consistently has a profitable bottom line.  It out yields our spring wheat by an average of twenty-five percent, partly through the efficient use of early season moisture.  In southern Alberta, where moisture is often limited, winter wheat is growing and using the spring moisture before spring cereals are even planted.  Its early maturity and competitive nature mean we also save money on pest control.  Typically, winter wheat avoids wheat stem sawfly damage and we do not have to spray to manage wild oats.  While wheat midge has not been an issue in our area, for locations further east, where it is a problem, winter wheat generally does not suffer because of its advanced maturity.

With minimal pesticide requirements and higher yield, winter wheat is consistently a winner on our farm, reducing input costs and increasing our net profit.

From an environmental conservation perspective, winter wheat means we can grow more on the same acres.  With access to arable land becoming ever more limited and a growing global population, it will become more and more important to maximize production per acre.  Winter wheat is an evident fit.  If we can improve production on the existing farm land base, environmentally sensitive areas, including wetlands and uplands, are more likely to remain on the landscape.

With minimal farm traffic in winter wheat fields in the spring, it also contributes to waterfowl and wildlife conservation.  By growing winter wheat, we provide a safer, more productive nesting habitat for waterfowl, in particular the Northern Pintail.

Seeing our green winter wheat field amid fields of crop stubble in the early spring is inspiring.  And there is nothing quite like finding a nest in that green lushness.

Winter wheat is a conservation success – saving us time, money and protecting our natural capital for our kids, the next generation of farmers.

Next page: Travis Greenbank, Wawota, Saskatchewan