Calgary Blog

Everyone is familiar with the sprawling land used by farmers in rural areas, but urban farming is also an important part of Calgary's agriculture scene — and a vital part of the growing farm-to-table movement. And within that movement, YYC Growers stands as a prominent figure in providing locally sourced food to Calgarians.

"YYC Growers began as a collective of urban farmers in 2013. We were looking for ways to save on costs as well as support each other in the tough business of farming in the urban context," explains Rod Olson, YYG Growers' general manager. "We really got going in 2014 with Dennis Scanland taking on the president role. We found our niche in offering a combined CSA (community supported agriculture) for Calgarians. This expanded so

October is the month of ghosts, goblins, crunchy leaves, pumpkins, candy, and fall festivities!

Fall is one of those seasons where there is nothing better than an evening spent cozy and warm inside — that is, until there are fun things to do in the city of Calgary! When crisp autumn mornings are followed by sunny afternoons, Calgary becomes busy with walks in the park, costume creation, and visiting the many seasonal festivities put on throughout the city! October is a month for Halloween spooks and scares, but on the 14th we will also come together with friends and family and be thankful for all that we have — and we can sure be thankful for such a beautiful city with plenty to do too!

If you are looking to get out and engage with the community

Selling a vacation home starts with understanding the differences between a second and a primary home. Not only will the rules change for listing the home, but sellers have to be ready for new tax laws that apply only to vacation homes. While talking to a real estate agent with experience in second home sales is the best way to get all your questions answered, understanding some basic distinctions is a good way to get started when selling their home.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a financial advisor before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

Deciding When to Sell a Home

All home selling is cyclical—there are certain months when people want to buy and others that are not as popular. However, second homes can

Want to freshen up your Calgary home before you sell it? Painting existing kitchen cabinets is one of the easiest ways to update a tired kitchen, but it's easier said than done. It's not as easy as painting a wall or trim and requires a great deal more preparation.

To make the job mistake-free with less mess and a more perfect job, follow these basic steps:

Put Labels On Each Item

Remove all the cabinet doors and the hinges. Some people paint right over the hinges because its easy and they're in a hurry. But it looks unprofessional and sloppy and that can translate into lower offers. Take everything off and label each door. You might draw a map of your kitchen and match the labels with the position on your map. Put hinges in a clear plastic

Many Seller's are now getting hit with some large Mortgage Payout Penalties. It is now more important than ever that they very this information along with their Realtor what their penalties will be if they are not porting their mortgage to their new home. Unfortunately with mortgage interest rates continuing to fall, most penalties are now calculated on the interest rate differential / loss of interest.

This is because most mortgage early payout penalties are calculated on three months interest payment or the interest rate differential—whichever is the GREATEST!!

How to Calculate a Mortgage Interest Rate Differential Penalty

Methods of calculating penalties are as varied as the lenders' imaginations. As a Seller or a Realtor, always remember:

What does contingent mean when buying a house in Calgary? Once a buyer's offer has been accepted, it can only be rescinded under certain conditions and in certain circumstances. These conditions are known as contingencies. The contingencies are put in place to protect the home buyer. Every home buying contract includes information about contingencies, usually at the beginning of the contract.

Some home buyers choose to waive the contingencies to make an offer more attractive to the seller. Others leave the contingencies in place in order to reap the full benefits of the contingencies. Home buyers should be familiar with the contingencies to ensure that the home buying process goes well.

Financing Contingency

The financing contingency is

Pest remediation is an important topic in homeownership, especially if you are thinking of selling your home. From urban areas to rural communities, homeowners everywhere may struggle with pest remediation. Whether you're a new homeowner who would like to prevent pests, or you're an experienced homeowner who has long struggled to keep pests away, these tips can help.

Recognize the Signs of Pest Infestation

Knowing the signs of pest infestation is important. It's especially important to recognize these signs early in the infestation. Catching the signs early can ensure that the homeowner will be able to remediate the pests before they become a serious problem. Homeowners can watch for:

• Mouse feces. Mouse feces are small, black, and shaped

For many people, buying a new home means learning to do housework and home repair. To do this, many people need to buy tools. For people who have long been renters, it's hard to know what tools are necessary and useful around the house. Below are some of the most helpful tools that you can buy when making the transition from home renter to homeowner.

Hammer, Nails, Mallet

Every homeowner needs a hammer and nails. Some homeowners buy nails as they're needed, but it's good to have a supply up front. Buy a variety of lengths and gauges, some with wide flat heads, and some with small heads.

Buy a hammer for pounding in the nails, and a mallet for pounding on something that could be damaged by the hard head of a hammer. For example, you might use a

Deepwater Farms brings a new look to sustainable farming in Calgary. With indoor farms that host crops as well as fish, around-the-clock farming and optimized crop cycles, the Deepwater Farms team is stepping into the future and combatting food scarcity here in Calgary.

The Creation of the Deepwater Aquaponic Farm

During his university days, Paul Shumlich researched food security and became intrigued by Aquaponics, a system of aquaculture where waste from marine life fertilizes plants that are grown in water. Closing the loop, the plants purify the water in which the fish swim.

Shumlich thought that aquaponics was a forward-thinking solution for year-round food security. With co-founder Kevin Daniels, the two built prototype systems in

Do you love to have Sunday Brunch? Calgary has some great places for you to indulge in all your brunch time favorites. What ever you are craving you will find it in Calgary.

River Café

You will find the River Café nestled inside the river park. This café can only be reached by foot because of its location within the park. The atmosphere is rugged, yet friendly and inviting. The meals are created with ingredients found within Calgary, and a good portion of them are organic or free range. With each season new dishes are offered.

There is a wood-fired oven, which provides an amazing aroma that fills the restaurant. Meat options include wild game, seafood, Alberta beef, duck, and fish. River Café serves up a homemade crusted bread, which is a