Trip: Alberta & Saskatchewan Part 5 Grandfather's Homestead Farm

Canada wanted to populate the prairies, so they advertised in Europe that 160 acres could be obtained free! The northern Saskatchewan land was divided into homesteads, land grants to the CPR and Hudson's Bay Company. Land was also set aside for towns and schools.Tony's grandfather had a niece who married and had several children, one of whom was Mary. She was able to lead us to the actual farm that my husband's grandfather had homesteaded. With Mary's son Ambrose, my husband was able to walk the land!There are ponds throughout the farms in the northern area of Saskatchewan. During the 'Dust bowl' problems of the 1930's, this area did not suffer from water shortage as badly as southern Saskatchewan.Playing with colour in an enlargement of a seed pod ... with it's thousands of seeds.Beavers do their work here!You have to love the new cameras with multiple shots ...Mary's family knew the farmers in the area. These buildings were operational - probably into the 1960's. The fields are still farmed. This little shed is one step from caving in. The walls of this barn collapsed slowly to leave the roof intact.Two years ago, my husband had no idea that his grandfather had homesteaded in Saskatchewan!