I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden. - Ruth Stout

By Bonnie L. Grant

This was a popular article in our last newsletter. You can read it here.

Tang W. from New Zealand shared his childhood experiences in response:

Thank you for your article, 'Antidepressant Microbes In Soil: How Dirt Makes You Happy.'

As a young kid back in the '70s and in the Cook Islands, everybody seemed happy working on the land. My parents were always planting or harvesting root crops after work whilst my brother and I had to rake the fallen frangipani leaves or drag the fallen coconut tree leaves unto the pile of rubbish. This is followed by a lot of weeding around the garden bed of flowers..... a daily chore after school and just before dinner.

There was a healthy competition between neighbours and villages to see who had the best looking and cleanest garden. Besides, the Health Inspector always came around each village to see who had the cleanest yards. There were bragging rights to the village that was announced as the winner on the 'wireless.'

These chores were simply put in place to prevent any mosquito infestations or dengue fever outbreaks.

Looking at the old photos, we were happier and slimmer.

Sara D. from the Southern United States had this to say after reading the article:

A few years ago, my children and I were offered a place to stay on a friend's farm until I could get on my feet to provide for them.
Working daily in the dirt and sun cured a many years long depression I had suffered from and I also lost over 100 lbs that year, most of it at the farm.
Now when anyone asks advice about depression, I always mention gardening, and getting their hands in the dirt as the highest quality of treatment.
I can't dig in my garden this year, as my neighbors' cats have been using it as a litter box, and I am pregnant.

Gardening IS therapy!

There are way too many nasty chemicals being poured into our environment when natural and safe solutions work even better.

We have what you need. In our store, you'll find a good selection of natural fertilizers: Alfalfa Pellets, Kelp Meal, Soluble Seaweed Extract, and Earthworm Castings.

Diatomaceous Earth is a great organic pest control. The DE we have is a quality food grade product. These links give good information on uses: How to Use Diatomaceous Earth for Organic Pest Control and Diatomaceous Earth Pest Control.

At this site, 10 Homemade Organic Pesticides, you'll find all-natural, inexpensive, organic methods for making bug-busting pesticides. We carry several of the ingredients listed.

And my favorite product – Dog Be Gone! The deer in my neighbourhood love my petunias, but not when dusted with "Dog Be Gone." I get to enjoy my flowers and know that nothing is being harmed when sprinkled with this natural product. It works for other pests and pets, yet is safe for you and your children.

Fresh whole chicken will be available June 9 to 13.

Because our costs for feed, heating, and processing have gone up, there will be a price increase for whole chickens. You can take advantage of the current price on whole chickens by purchasing from the freezer now or by ordering 4 or more whole birds to be picked up fresh between June 9 and 13.

Fresh chicken parts will be available June 13.

Let us know how many whole birds and what parts you would like.

Lamb Chops - Sale $14.99/lb Reg. $16.89/lb (See Recipe Box)

Beef Smokies- $11.99/lb Reg. $12.99/lb

Beef Wieners - Sale $9.99/lb Reg. $10.99/lb

Raw Sauerkraut, 1 L - Sale $13.99 Reg. $15.49

Blue Potatoes, 5 lb bag - Sale $5.49/ 5 lb Reg $7.99/ 5 lb (See Recipe Box)

Cooking Onions, 3 lb bag – Sale $6.49/ 3 lb Reg. $7.49/ 3 lb

Maison Orphee Organic Mustard, 250 mL- Sale $3.89 each Reg. $4.10 each

Frozen Strawberries - Sale $7.89/lb or $7.39/lb for 3 or more bags Reg. $8.49/lb (See Recipe Box)

Frozen Organic Bananas- Sale $1.69/lb Reg. $1.99/lb (See Recipe Box)

Please note, all ingredients in our recipes are organic.

A Wild Goose Chase

Our farm seems to have become Goose Heaven. Geese are everywhere…on the buildings, in the hay shelters, around the corrals, on the dugouts, and in the parking lot. You'll hear them or see them on the tallest buildings when you come by the store.

On Sunday afternoon, James came tromping into the store carrying a feed pail.

Martin, "Whatcha got there, James?"

"Look at this! What are we supposed to do with it?"

Martin looked into the pail and there was the cutest, fluffiest little guy with big black feet.

We all know James loves his birds, but this was going a little too far.

"James, where did you get this little gosling?"

"I grabbed the pail to feed the sheep and there he was," James pleaded innocently.

"Okay, I know what happened," Martin cries. "Let's go. The rest of the family won't have gone far."

Sure enough. Martin and James went to the haystack where a pair of Canada Geese had nested and the nest was empty. When the hatchlings had tumbled off the top of the stack to head for water, this little guy fell right into the feed pail.

With at least five pairs of geese around the pond, it was anyone's guess which were the parents. On a closer look, Martin saw one mom that was kind of fluffed up as she sat on "something or somethings."

"There's the rest of the family little guy. Off you go." And off he went, big black webbed feet flapping away, tumbling over dirt lumps, and scurrying for mom.

We know of at least two more nests with eggs. However, these are on the ground where's it's a bit safer. When these hatch, it's going to be Harvest Haven Goose Heaven, for sure.