http://cowsandfish.org/en-us360http://cowsandfish.org/photos/audio.aspx?id=31Ever wondered how natural capital, such as rivers, lakes and wetlands, fit together with property values? Like other forms of capital, natural capital requires careful understanding and management to pay dividends for property owners, buyers and sellers. Using Albertan examples, we'll help you to understand the value of existing natural capital such as greenspaces, parks, wetlands and rivers. We'll highlight the science behind understanding landscapes and how that science fits into real estate.Fri, 14 Jan 2011 14:31:02 GMThttp://cowsandfish.org/photos/audio.aspx?id=32“We protect what we love; we love what we understand; we understand what we are taught”. Those words begin to touch on the complexity of a term “stewardship” that grows in importance, timeliness and necessity, for the sustainability of our economy, our families and our communities. It is a complex relationship, like a robust stew that embodies protection, love, understanding and education. The story that follows begins to grasp those, and other ingredients.<br>Tue, 25 Jan 2011 16:43:38 GMThttp://cowsandfish.org/photos/audio.aspx?id=33“We protect what we love; we love what we understand; we understand what we are taught”. Those words begin to touch on the complexity of a term “stewardship” that grows in importance, timeliness and necessity, for the sustainability of our economy, our families and our communities. It is a complex relationship, like a robust stew that embodies protection, love, understanding and education. The story that follows begins to grasp those, and other ingredients.Tue, 25 Jan 2011 16:49:14 GMThttp://cowsandfish.org/photos/digital.aspx?id=42Brenda Schroeder tells a story from the consumer perspective. Brenda is a bright and caring individual who is committed to positive change at the community level. Brenda’s focus has continuously been on supporting leadership to allow for stronger relationships between individuals, communities, organisations and the environment.<br><br>“I used to be vegetarian but since moving home, the best meals I have had are beef roasts and pork loin. I have eaten them with an unrestrained appetite, with complete joy. The meal was an act of investment and not consumption. Why? Because I’ve met the people who grew the greens and have walked the farm where the pigs played. I trust the food, the farmers and I know that I am not taking from the environment and community, but supporting it. “Wed, 16 Mar 2011 17:10:54 GMThttp://cowsandfish.org/photos/digital.aspx?id=43Difficulty Ranch is a family-run cow-calf ranch located in Mountain View County. The La Brie’s have been growing as a family with Difficulty Ranch for over 5 years now. At the heart of the ranch and the family is Dogpound Creek, providing the LaBrie’s with a good place to enact their stewardship ethic. “I am raising my children to grow up like I did… riding horses, chasing cows, playing in the creek and eating dirt. I don’t think this is crazy. The crazy part is hoping that my children can grow up to be small cow-calf producers too and not succumb to the big production farms and urban sprawl. The crazy part is hoping that the way we raise our beef and take care of our land has value to you.”Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:02:48 GMThttp://cowsandfish.org/photos/digital.aspx?id=44The Nadeau Ranch is a cow-calf, back grounding ranch nestled in the foothills of the southern Porcupine Hills near Fort McLeod. The Nadeau’s have been managing their grass and water resources responsibly for several decades producing high quality beef and healthy landscapes. “As we began to slow down our pace, use fewer inputs and improve water and pasture quality, we found that we had more, not less of everything. Now our family is rewarded with better health &amp; quality of life, while producing wholesome natural food. We experience great fulfillment in working with nature, not against it.”Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:07:38 GMThttp://cowsandfish.org/photos/digital.aspx?id=45Sunrise Farm is an 800 acre mixed-farm in the Killam area that is holistically and organically managed by Don &amp; Marie Ruzicka. The Ruzickas believe if the land is managed well, it will reflect on the health of the plant communities, resulting in healthy, nutritious and great tasting meats. The Ruzicka’s feel that “stewardship,” when practiced in partnership with organic farming methods, goes a long way toward satisfying the concern for the environment. “With the knowledge, wisdom and patience of a number of people, I began the long journey back to restoring health to the land. With the same knowledge and wisdom, I believe the consumer is just as critical in sustaining the health of the land – and ultimately our rural communities.”Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:13:52 GMThttp://cowsandfish.org/photos/digital.aspx?id=46Twin Butte Simmentals is a family-run purebred cattle ranch situated in south west corner of Alberta approximately 15 minutes away Waterton Lakes National Park. The Bruders are very active in the Drywood-Yarrow Conservation Partnership a local stewardship group focusing on watershed management and educational activities. “What I’d like moving forward is for the consumer to be involved in the partnership on the land. This would mean the consumer being able to understand that for us to take good care of the animals, their food… I need to take good care of the land and all His creatures. Together the consumer and I would have an understanding – a commitment to seeing the bigger plan, being a partner with the land.”Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:19:02 GMThttp://cowsandfish.org/photos/digital.aspx?id=47Round Rock Ranching is a family-run cow-calf and yearling cattle ranch located in the Vermillion area. The McGrath family is dedicated to improving their local environment, to their benefit, the benefit of the community at large, and the benefit of future generations. The McGraths believe that they have a responsibility to engage the local and the global community and that they have a responsibility to work with the public to provide educational opportunities.<br><br>“I don’t know when or even how the grass became a part of me. There was no specific day that it happened, cows and life and everything else seem to revolve around grass at our place. People don’t notice grass like they do a tree or a mountain, but it is a visceral part of me. Grass is part of my guts.”Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:23:26 GMThttp://cowsandfish.org/photos/digital.aspx?id=48Butters Ranching Ltd is a commercial cow-calf ranch located northwest of Cochrane, alongside the Rocky Mountains and astride Robinson Creek which flows through the ranch. The ranch philosophy is to manage the land for the legacy to their children and grandchildren and the responsibility to maintain healthy, productive lands for society over economic considerations. “I can't remember when I first felt connected to the land but I know that the close relationship we share with land, and water, cows and horses is something at the core of who I am. Caring for the land like my parents do translate into a fair bit of extra work, when more work was maybe not what we needed most.”Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:28:36 GMThttp://www.cowsandfish.org/whatsnew/whats_new.html?id=65Riparian Health Assessment Course. May 15, 2012. Airdrie, AB. (Day 1 of 4 days of training, additional dates July 3, 4 and 5, 2012). Do you want to learn more about riparian health assessment for extension and teaching purposes, data collection, management decision making and monitoring? Do you want to practice what you've learned on your own projects and gain valuable feedback on your own riparian health assessment work? If so, this course might be for you, and it's no ordinary field day! <br><br>Talking to People - The Art &amp; Science of Making Presentations Effective, Memorable &amp; Enjoyable. May 16, 2012. Airdrie, AB. Join Lorne Fitch, Provincial Biologist and presenter extraordinaire, for this fun and engaging one-day workshop. Building on over 30 years of working with communities and individuals and delivering hundreds (possibly thousands) of presentations, Lorne will lead you down the path to perfecting your presentation skills. And no, his advice won't be to just envision the audience naked! <br><br>Riparian Ecology &amp; Grazing Management Training - Basics &amp; Beyond. May 17, 2012. Airdrie, AB. Need a refresher on riparian areas and management or would like to build on the basics you have already attained? Join Cows and Fish staff for this one day training opportunity to increase your knowledge of riparian ecology and management. Complete with an interactive session to advance your riparian management skills using project examples of your choice, this will be a great chance to focus on a few topics relating to environmental services of riparian sites and solutions to common management issues. <br><br>For registration details and more information visit: www.cowsandfish.org/whatsnew/events<br> <br>Fri, 04 May 2012 07:59:34 GMThttp://www.cowsandfish.org/whatsnew/whats_new.html?id=66Join the Pincher Creek Watershed Group and friends for the 10th anniversary of the Blueweed Blitz. An opportunity to do your part to help control Blueweed along the Pincher Creek. Plus a great chance to meet neighbors, enjoy a BBQ, and spend the day with family and friends. <br>Visit www.cowsandfish.org/whatsnew/events for more information.Fri, 04 May 2012 08:01:07 GMThttp://www.cowsandfish.org/whatsnew/whats_new.html?id=67A day long tour to Cochrane are ranch country with Waterlution and many special guests, including Norine Ambrose, with Cows and Fish. From the farm to the store to our tables, food and water are intricately linked through our agricultural practices. Join us for a special day-long Learning Journey. Come prepared to walk on the fescue grasslands of the Alberta foothills of a working ranch, visit the historic Cochrane Ranche, and wrap up the day at the newly formed Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park. Engage in an interactive dialogue with farmers, ranchers, government workers and community, about how we relate to water and the land. <br>Register at: www.waterlution.org/hubs/ab.Fri, 04 May 2012 08:02:09 GMThttp://www.cowsandfish.org/whatsnew/whats_new.html?id=68NEW ONLINE REGISTRATION via our new BLOG: www.grazingschoolforwomen.blogspot.ca <br><br>Contact Kerri O'Shaughnessy at koshaugh@cowsandfish.org or (780) 427-7940.<br><br>Fri, 04 May 2012 08:05:20 GMThttp://www.cowsandfish.org/whatsnew/whats_new.html?id=69NEW ONLINE REGISTRATION via our new BLOG: www.ladieslivestocklessons.blogspot.com<br>Contact Kelsey for more information: kspicer@cowsandfish.org or 403-948-8519Fri, 04 May 2012 08:06:50 GMThttp://www.cowsandfish.org/whatsnew/whats_new.html?id=70Contact Amanda Halawell at ahalawell@cowsandfish.org or (403) 451-1182.<br> <br>NEW ONLINE REGISTRATION via our new BLOG: www.southernalbertagsw.blogspot.ca <br>Fri, 04 May 2012 08:07:52 GMT