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The Rural Voice, 2002-02, Page 38the farming families. Sharing — the willingness to help each other, being able to call on neighbours at any time knowing that they would not be expecting anything in return — was a vital part of the rural life. As the saying goes, "you can live without your relatives, but you can't live without your neighbours". A good example of that community spirit was the barn raisings. As a young girl, June remembers the barn raisings as a big News event. They got the day off school and everyone went. She recall.s watching her Dad walking high upon the beams fitting them together and pounding in the big wooden pegs. The women prepared the food that was set out on long tables and everyone ate together. Harvest time, cutting wood, clearing the roads of snow and building their churches were other times when the rural families worked together. The Woodhouses remember fondly those HILL & HILL FARMS LTD. For Your 2002 Planting Needs • ROUND UP READY SOYBEANS 2601R - 2650 H.U. 2702R - 2750 H.U. 2802R - 2800 H.U. AG 1901 - 2950 H . U. Itoundup Ready - SOYBEANS Ask about Identity Preserved and other specialty varieties. PLUS: Bring more value to your farming operation by choosing one of these available hybrids: N27 -M3 N3030Bt MAX 23 N43 -C4 N44 -4P - 2775 H.U. - 2850 H.U. - 2975 H.U. - 3000 H.U. - 3050 H.U. Call Pete or Kristen for further details 519-233-3218 34 THE RURAL VOICE days of neighbour helping neighbour. At an age when many farmers have retired, moved to town or cut back on their farming activities, Harold and June Woodhouse are still as active as ever on their farm which looks across the Beaver River meandering to the village of Heathcote. They love caring for their horses and the herd of cattle. With the help of the children and their families the crops are harvested and livestock fed. Harold can still be found climbing in the mow — June prefers throwing bales off the wagon. June and Harold Woodhouse were the recent recipients of the Agricultural Heritage Award. Family, friends and neighbours gathered in Rocklyn at the Euphrasia Federation of Agriculture annual dinner to honour the Woodhouses for their contribution to agriculture and service to their communitv.0 Guide helps rural communities discuss problems A handy guide designed to help the residents of rural and remote communities initiate effective discussions on the issues that affect them most was unveiled recently. The Community Dialogue Toolkit, containing tips for participants, facilitators and organizers, includes a guide and an informative CD-ROM containing the Pocket Directory of Rural Programs and Services. Through the Canadian Rural Partnership, which encourages an ongoing dialogue between residents of rural and remote communities across the country, participants have indicated an interest in continuing discussions in their own communities. Basically a "how -t4' guide which was written for use by community leaders, the Toolkit offed'a flexible approach that can be easily adapted to each community's needs. By holding a dialogue, residents will be able to identify a shared vision and goals; build partnerships; identify issues and opportunities; develop creative responses to local issues and determine actions.0