20 years of Maynard

RENFREW — Renfrew County beef farmer Maynard van der Galien celebrates 20 years writing about agriculture in the valley and beyond. He figures he’s written about 2,500 columns — that’s the equivalent of 35 novels. He writes for the Renfrew Mercury, Cobden Sun, Christian Courier and Farmers Forum. Here’s what he says about it.

What was your most controversial column? "In 1987, I was writing about valley expressions. Instead of saying, ‘my wife and I’, people from the valley say ‘me and the wife’. When I hear that I want to blurt out: ‘the dog, the cat and the wife.’ But that didn’t sit very well with readers. Well, that’s the way they talk and they thought I was making fun of them. I remember being told: ‘If my husband loves me, so what if he calls me ‘the wife?’"

Your most popular column? I wrote one on homemade buttermilk and people wanted the recipe. I had 20 letters of request.

What is the highlight of your writing career? "Standing on Russian ground in St. Petersburg and writing about it. I love travelling and writing."

Did you ever get stumped for a column? "No, I never get writer’s block. I know Mary Cook (writer of seniors’ stories) sometimes prays to her mother for help. And then it flows."

Ever want to quit? "Sometimes in the summer I get busy. Or sometimes a week goes by and I don’t get any response. Then I’ll meet someone who says ‘I liked you column in Farmers Forum.’ That makes your day."

Any future plans? "Well, I’m getting married Sept. 20 for the first time at age 59 to a retired nurse from Brockville."