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May 24, 2017 It is possible, I think, to say that... a Christian agriculture [is] formed upon the understanding that it is sinful for people to misus
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It is possible, I think, to say that... a Christian agriculture [is] formed upon the understanding that it is sinful for people to misuse or destroy what they did not make. The Creation is a unique, irreplaceable gift, therefore to be used with humility, respect, and skill. -Wendell Berry, The Unsettling of America: Culture and Agriculture |
As you've seen, we have the dandelion as our farm symbol. But, you may not know why.
When we purchased our home at Moon River Estates in April of 1988, we decided not to use chemical pest control in our yard. This meant long hours of hand weeding, mostly dandelions, but we were given the grace to persist. You can read our story at "The weed weeds."
In the fall of 1995, we bought the farm and immediately converted it to organic – more hand-weeding, with dandelions being the predominant "pest."
In the early 2000's, we heard about George Cairns, an elderly man who used dried dandelion root to cure his cancer. Researching his work, we found dandelion to be a powerful liver cleanser and anti-carcinogen. This dramatically changed how we viewed this "weed."
When considering how the dandelion is so maligned, we could see a parallel between the plant and our lives, physically and spiritually. Read the parallels at A Symbol is Born.
We identify with the dandelion and have adopted it as our symbol for all these reasons. Our hope is to be able to share the goodness God has given us with many others. |
You'll have noticed the big dandelions on our cargo van. Did you take a minute to read the logo that's there?
YOUR LOCAL ORGANIC SLOW FOOD INCONVENIENCE STORE
Each word has meaning.
Your = we welcome you to join us in sharing good food and life experiences.
Local = not only are we accessible by the local community, we raise much of the products we sell and source what we can from local farmers.
Organic = everything we carry in our store is good for you because it's organic, raised organically, and GMO free.
Slow Food = be prepared to enjoy the experience when you come out because it's almost impossible to rush through the check-out; however, the even slower part is that if you're going to experience the delight of eating, you need to learn to prepare your food from scratch. That's the way it was meant to be; know that the reward is there.
Inconvenience Store = we're not your "corner store," but we are a working mixed farm where you can buy almost everything you need and be assured that what you purchase is good for you, your family, and the environment. Isn't that well worth the inconvenience? |
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. |
Bone-in Chicken Breast - Sale $9.99/lb Reg. $10.49/lb
Chicken Breakfast Sausage- $17.99/lb Reg. $18.49/lb
Top Sirloin Steak - Sale $13.49/lb Reg. $14.99/lb (See Recipe Box)
Ground Beef - Sale 3 or more pounds $6.99/lb Reg. $7.49/lb
Yellow Potatoes, 5 lb bag - Sale $5.99/ 5 lb Reg $7.99/ 5 lb (See Recipe Box)
Frozen Blueberries - Sale $7.99/lb Reg. $8.39/lb (See Recipe Box)
Mapleton's Organic Ice Cream, all flavours- Sale $7.99 each Reg. $8.99 each
(You must try the Dandelion one) |
Please note, all ingredients in our recipes are organic. |
Carne Asada
Grilled Steak
1 (16 oz.) Harvest Haven Top Sirloin Steak
2 Tbsp oil
1/2 tsp dried leaf oregano, crushed
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp coarsely ground pepper
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
1 Tbsp lime juice
2 tsp cider vinegar
2 orange slices, cut 1/2 inch thick
Place steak in a shallow glass baking dish. Rub oil on each side of steak.
Sprinkle with oregano, salt and pepper.
Sprinkle orange juice, lime juice, and vinegar over steak.
Cover and refrigerate overnight for best flavor or several hours, turning occasionally.
To cook, bring meat to room temperature. Preheat grill.
Drain meat, reserving marinade.
Place steak on grill over hot coals. Top with orange slices. Occasionally spoon reserved marinade over steaks as they cook.
Grill 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until medium-rare or desired doneness.
Remove orange slices to turn steak. Replace orange slices on top of steak. |
Finnish Potatoes with Butter and Dill
2 1/2 lbs Harvest Haven yellow potatoes, cut into chunks
3 tbsp butter
1 1/2 tbsp minced dill
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1. In a large pot over high heat, cover the potatoes with cold water. Bring the potatoes to a boil, and cook until tender, 10-15 minutes. The time will depend on the size of the potatoes: the smaller they are, the more quickly they will cook.
2. When the potatoes are tender, drain the water out of the pot. Add the butter and dill, and the salt and pepper to taste. Toss until evenly distributed and serve.
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Blueberry Streusel Coffee Cake
Streusel:
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
4 tbsp butter, melted
Coffee Cake:
1/2 cup sugar
6 tbsp salted butter, room temperature
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup milk
1 Harvest Haven egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups frozen blueberries, thawed
Glaze
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1-2 tbsp milk
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a 9 inch cake pan with a circle of parchment paper in the bottom and grease the sides.
2. To prepare the streusel, add flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and melted butter to a medium sized bowl and mix with a fork until all ingredients are incorporated. Set aside.
3. To make the cake batter, beat sugar and butter until light in color and fluffy, 3-4 minutes.
4. Add sour cream and milk and mix until well incorporated.
5. Add egg and vanilla extract and mix until smooth.
6. Combine flour and baking powder in a separate bowl.
7. Add dry ingredients to batter and mix until smooth.
8. Spread half of the cake batter into the bottom of the cake pan.
9. Top batter with about half of the streusel mixture, then half of the blueberries.
10. Spread remaining cake batter over streusel.
11. Sprinkle remaining streusel and blueberries over the top of the cake batter.
12. Bake for 34-36 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out with a few crumbs.
13. Remove cake from oven and allow to cool in the pan for about 20 minutes. Then remove to cooling rack to finish cooling.
14. To make the glaze, combine powdered sugar and milk in a small bowl and whisk until smooth. You can always add a little more milk or sugar, if needed.
15. Drizzle the glaze over the coffee cake and sprinkle a few more blueberries over top.
Recipe courtesy of: http://www.lifeloveandsugar.com/2015/08/10/blueberry-streusel-coffee-cake/ |
Another One of Martin`s Agricultural Aggravations |
This story will continue to demonstrate my farming thesis I've been working on.
"It's all fun and games until sheep get involved."
James and I went looking for a scrap piece of pipe to patch up an irrigation blowout. We keep our extra pipe lengths out of the sun in the rafters of the sheep barn.
All the sheep were at the far end of the corral with their heads in the feeder, minding their own business when I came in through the barn gate. I was already in the rafters looking through pipe when James dummy-closed the gate behind him and told me what pipe to look for. (By the way, "dummy closing" is a term for closing a gate without chaining it. The term is appropriate.)
I tossed James the pipe we chose and jumped down. We were about to head back to work when we heard a lamb crying. He had escaped the corral and regretted it. He really wanted back in and found himself trapped in a corner of our sorting pen near the feeders. We cornered the little guy, picked him up, and tossed him back in with his mama. |
Since we were on the other side of the corral anyway, and headed in that direction, we decided to save ourselves 30 seconds by jumping over the fence and getting back to work. And that's why they call it "dummy closing." The gate we had come through looked closed and we forgot it wasn't.
You never see sheep pushing on gates to check if their unlatched, but some how they know. One of them calls to the others and says, "Hey guys, this dummy farmer left the gate unlatched; let's head for greener pastures!"
I had barely moved on to the next project when I got the phone call, "The sheep have escaped!"
I started running. I don't believe I stopped running for the next 20 minutes.
At one point, they were all running down the driveway heading for the open highway looking for adventure in anything that comes their way; they were going to make it happen…..born to be wild.
Now you must understand something about moving livestock. If you chase them, they run faster. You need to get alongside them while keeping your distance and then after outrunning them, you cut them off to turn them around.
As many of you know, we have a lilac hedge at the entrance to the farm. I had to run alongside the sheep and then jump through the bushes with my hands in front of my face just so I could get in front of the sheep fast enough to block them from leaving the farm. I barely succeeded.
We finally managed to reunite the scattered sheep and herded them back to the corral… But not without a remarkable amount of suffering.
As usual, the matter concluded with me being winded and feeling sheepish. Sheep have a remarkable way of bringing out the dummy in you. I'm fairly certain that crying lamb was a plant, and the whole thing was a setup. Either way, I felt like I'd been had.
Like I said, "It's all fun and games, until sheep get involved."
I shot James. |
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