Big jobs usually go to the men who prove their ability to outgrow small ones. - Theodore Roosevelt

Clean-up and Road Work

Winter is usually the season to get indoor work done. But this year has been so mild that the guys are still working on outdoor projects and more clean-up.

They've removed machinery and various items that "will be used someday" from an area that is now restored to grass for grazing livestock. The objects have been relocated to more accessible sites or stored in the new shop, leaving a clean landscape.

Considering the quote for this week's newsletter, we're not sure if James outgrew his small jobs or just got bigger toys. You'll see a shy smile cross James's face when you ask him what he's been busy at. He does enjoy using his big equipment around the farm, repairing and building up the roads, digging debris out of the old dugout, mixing compost, or moving dirt piles. The farm has become a giant sandbox for James and his "diggers."

Personal Responsibility Must Precede Personal Resolutions

Martin discusses the importance of personal responsibility.

What is responsibility? How is it manifest?

The basic question to ask yourself is, "What can I do differently"?

This video was produced just before the 2020 New Year. The message is just as relevant today.

The cooler's full of fresh raw sauerkraut – 1000 pounds of it!

We made more this year because it's such a super food and people love it.

Organic green cabbage and Maison Orphee French grey sea salt fermented in ceramic crocks make a probiotic-rich kraut. Great for your gut.

There are three varieties to enjoy: basic green cabbage, green cabbage with grated carrot, and red cabbage for a bright addiction.

Do you have a favorite?

Harvest Haven Pasture Raised Ground Turkey – A mixture of dark and light turkey meat processed together makes a nice alternative to ground beef in most recipes. Lean and protein-filled.

Late July Organic Thin and Crispy Tortilla Chips - Melt-in-your-mouth, thin and crispy tortilla chips cut a little bit bigger to hold extra guacamole, pico de gallo, queso, or whatever your special party dip may be. Being thin and crispy, they crush nicely for the perfect casserole dish, too.

Harvest Haven Linzer Fingerling Potatoes – These smooth, thin skinned potatoes are sooo yummy. Perfect for roasting or boiling, served hot or cold, in salads or with the main course. A favorite for sure!

Harvest Haven Garlic – As you must be able to tell, we love our garlic!

Organic Pineapple – An incredibly delicious and healthy tropical fruit rich in vitamins, enzymes, and antioxidants. Sweet and crunchy, it can be eaten fresh or used in puddings, salsas, savory marinades, kabobs, meat dishes, drinks, and so much more.

Organic Walnuts – So good for you, they should be a regular part of your meal preparation. Top your salads with chopped toasted walnuts, make a pesto sauce for pasta, toss into your favorite muffins, cake or dessert, use in granola, sprinkle on yogurt or hot cereal for breakfast.

We keep all our nuts, including walnuts, in the cooler, so they are always fresh.

Please note, all ingredients in our recipes are organic.

Ivan, The New Guy

"Good morning, Martin. What's happening today?"

Martin replies excitedly, "I'm getting a new ram today."

"That sounds good. Where…"

My question is cut short by Martin interrupting, "Gotta go! James is here with the truck and trailer."

James quietly asks Martin, "How far is this place?"

"Somewhere out by Fort Macleod."

Further down the road, James asks again, "How far is it? We've passed Fort Macleod AND Head Smashed In."

"Well, just a little further."

"Okay. But the paved road ended a while back and now the gravel road is finished and we're driving on a dirt road?"

"The lady selling the ram wasn't really willing to part with him. I kind of had to twist her arm. Maybe she gave us the wrong directions," chuckled Martin. "Just kidding."

Finally, when the road ended, they saw a farmstead cozily tucked into the hillside. There was no where else to go. It must be the place.

"Hello! I'm here for a ram that you have for sale."

"Yes, he's right over here."

And there he was…this small, black sheep with a bushy tangle of dreadlocks and straw.

Martin had been looking to replace our ram and saw an ad for a Gotland ram for sale. Never having heard of this breed before, he did some research and knew he wanted it.

Like the Speckle Park beef breed, which we have for our beef herd, Gotland sheep are smaller, with many other desirable features, such as hardiness and excellent meat quality.

Getting the new guy back home, the first thing Martin and James did was to give him a hair cut. It wasn't hard because the little guy submitted quietly to their handling. The hardest part for Martin was finding the tail so it wouldn't get clipped it in the midst of the black bushiness.

The second thing was to give him a name.

Someone suggested "Igor" because the ram reminded them of Igor, our friend from the Czech Republic who visits us. They're both quiet, small, and have lots of unruly black curly hair, only Igor has only two legs while the ram has four. But it would be a little weird to have two Igors and it would be hard to know who you were talking about half the time, maybe even who you're taking to.

Jeannie thought of Ivan…Ivan, the Terrible, which is funny because the new ram is the exact opposite. He is really a cute little guy and very gentle. Maybe Ivan the Terrible came across that way, too. Who knows?

So, meet Ivan, the New Guy.