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About Sandra Phinney
Sandra Phinney is a freelance writer who’s passionate about travelling. She writes from her perch on the Tusket River in the wilds of Nova Scotia, outside of Yarmouth. (Her home is off the grid. She and her husband, Barrie MacGregor, built this home and are powered up with solar. The roof did not cave in; their marriage survived.)
Sandra’s had a few former lives. She was a teacher and social worker in earlier times. Later, she farmed for 18 years, growing organic vegetables. The farm lost money for 17 of those 18 years so she sold the farm; started over. Somewhere along the line she and Barrie raised three interesting humans—and they continue to amaze her.
Now, instead of driving a tractor and growing vegetables, Sandra harvests stories. Her articles have appeared in over 60 publications. She also writes content for travel guides (Fodor’s, D.K. Eyewitness) and a number of her photos were selected for the Michelin Atlantic Canada Green Guide. To satisfy her craving to teach, she gives writing workshops on various topics including narrative, writing memoir, how to start a freelance business and travel writing.
Sandra is a member of the Professional Writer’s Association of Canada, The Writer’s Union of Canada, The Travel Media Association of Canada, the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia, the Canadian Association of Journalists and The World Federation of Journalists and Travel Writers. In her spare time she practices Tai Chi and does wilderness canoeing.
Forgotten Missouri: What the Books Don’t Tell About Black History
On Good Friday, April 13th, 1906, the sheriff’s wife falsely accused two black men of rape. The next day, over 6,000 people watched as Horace B. Duncan and Fred Coker were hanged and burned in the Public Square. The mob returned to the jail, grabbed another black man, set up a mock trial and repeated the atrocity. By Easter Sunday, hundreds of blacks had abandoned their businesses, homes, properties, farmlands and livestock... [Read more]
BBQ beauties (Better’n Steak and Hot Dogs!)
My husband says you can barbecue an old boot and it would probably taste good. No doubt about it — the aroma of food sizzling on an outdoor grill is always heady and wonderful. But I’d be willing to bet that 99 percent of us barbecue the same-old-same-old: steak, hamburgers and hot dogs. Fess up! Then step on the wild side. [Read more]
Ooh-lala! Lobster!
Can you believe that there was a time when lobster sandwiches were an embarrassment? Today lobster dished out in any which way is a big treat. Sandra Phinney gives us the lowdown on this delectable crustacean, including their bizarre mating rituals and ooh-lala recipes. [Read more]
Amazing Asparagus: The Queen of Greens
Asparagus is amazing, nutritious and easy to grow (but you need patience). It can be baked, boiled, steamed, sautéed, grilled — and eaten raw. Sandra Phinney salutes the queen of vegetables, and offers up some delicious recipes. [Read more]
Don’t Go Hungry
My mother never gave advice or preached. She simply taught us certain values by her actions, and one of those actions was to never let anyone go hungry. [Read more]
Blank Page Blues: A Writer’s Guide to Her Galaxy
Deadlines are a curse for some freelance writers. Sandra Phinney dreads facing a blank page — those moments before she actually starts to write. Sometimes those moments can last for days. [Read more]
Popeye Got It Right: Spinach is Healthy…and Delicious
Popeye got it right. He knew that to be fit, smart and savvy, you had to eat your spinach every day. And he probably didn’t cook the you-know-what out of it. Sandra Phinney explores how to truly celebrate this versatile vegetable with some great recipes. [Read more]
Jordan – Timeless and Tantalizing
Alas, for many people, the Middle East conjures up images of strife. True, Jordanians find themselves in a tough neighbourhood; reports from Israel, Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq often paint a disquieting picture of this part of the world. But Jordan is an oasis of calm from one end to the other. [Read more]
The Water Droplet Lesson
I focus on the top of this puny little tree and start to count. I’m bored by the time I hit number 40 but giving up is not my style. Around 800 the counts are coming along: dum dum dum—849—dum dum dum—852—dum dum dum 855 and my eyelids are drooping.... [Read more]
Wilderness Canoeing, Tent Dwellers’ Style
Life As A Human is pleased to present another adventure in Sandra's Phinney's travel and exploration series, Travelling Thoughts. This time she goes into "the deep unknown" in the wilds of Nova Scotia, following the footsteps of Mark Twain's biographer and a military spy. [Read more]
