We can see a thousand miracles around us every day. What is more supernatural than an egg yolk turning into a chicken? - S. Parkes Cadman

Spring, One Step Away From Summer

Spring is just the warm-up for the busyness of summer.

The guys have been cleaning out the big red shed and installing shelving for storage. It's a huge job, but will make finding what they need for other projects much more efficient. It frees up floor space for equipment, as well.

And you know all those trailers Martin keeps acquiring? Well, James used the long fifth-wheel unit to bring a load of utility poles the City was clearing out back to the farm. These poles will be used along with the metal James picked up last fall to build another shelter for the beef cattle. More cattle means more infrastructure.

Speaking of cattle, the cows have started having their calves. It's always exciting to see what speckles, spots, and odd stripes the calves present. Speckle Park cattle are very colorful.

Soon, all but the mothers-to-be will be out on green pastures and the farmer will have another task added to his daily to do list…moving fences and animals.

With warm weather in the forecast and the irrigation water running, Martin planted onions and some potatoes this week, a sure sign that spring is in full swing.

Spring usually means refreshing showers, but not in our area this year. We've only had 40% of our normal precipitation since last fall. We're thankful for irrigation, but rainfall is best.

Martin explains the benefits of raising broiler chickens on pasture and why he has chosen the portable cages you'll see in this video.

The birds are healthy because they get fresh air, sunshine, vibrant grasses, and real bugs, and they are not exposed to hazardous ammonia buildup in a confined barn. Portable cages on pasture provide a low stress environment resulting in a mortality rate that is nearly zero. The meat from pasture raised chickens is a richer color, tastier, and obviously healthier with no risk of salmonella or bacterial contamination.

The portable cages have a number of advantages for the birds and the farmers who tend the operation. The system is very simple to build and operate, and it's not noisy or invasive in the environment. It only takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes a day to move the units morning and afternoon, and to feed and water all of the chickens.

Another major advantage to portable cages is the spreading of the chicken manure evenly over the pasture without the use of machinery. The fields explode in greenery after the chickens have done the job for the farmer.

Pasture raised chicken is the clean, moral, ethical, and right way of raising a bird.

Fresh broiler chicken will be ready June 12th and 14th. You can place your orders now.

Humble Potato Chips has introduced the Canadian snack food industry's first certified organic potato chips packaged in certified plastic-free, compostable bags.

Humble Potato Chips are crafted from Canadian farmed, certified organic potatoes. Light and crispy, they're traditionally cooked (not kettle cooked) in organic sunflower oil, with skins on to enhance taste and reduce waste. The final product is lightly dusted with organic seasonings, then packaged in certified plastic-free bags made from renewable plant-based materials.

Committed to preserving taste and satisfaction, the brand's organic potato chip line-up – designed by a Certified Humble Chip Chef – includes family favourites like honey mustard, smokey BBQ, and creamy dill. All seasonings are made using natural and organic ingredients, resulting in a flavourful chip that has less sodium and sugars than competitors, and less preservatives/chemicals than factory produced brands. Their "Original" chip has only three ingredients – organic potatoes, organic sunflower oil, and sea salt.

Great taste in an environmentally-friendly package.

Harvest Haven Pasture Raised Whole Chicken – Truly pasture-raised, these chickens are moved to fresh pasture daily where they get a diet of lush grasses, bugs, and certified organic feed. The result is plump birds that have tender, tasty, and moist meat. Perfect for dinner!

Harvest Haven Cooking Onions – Pungent, savory bulbs that are a staple in every kitchen and give a boost of flavor to your favorite dishes. Besides being a tasty addition to meat dishes, salsas, and dips, they taste great sauteed, roasted, grilled, and caramelized.

Harvest Haven Potato Hashbrowns – Convenience without compromise! Fresh Harvest Haven potatoes are diced, deep fried briefly in hot tallow, quickly cooled, packaged, and frozen. Ready for a delicious meal.

Humble Potato Chips, 150 g – New Product! Humble Potato Chips are crafted from Canadian farmed, certified organic potatoes. Light and crisp, they're traditionally cooked (not kettle cooked) in organic sunflower oil, with skins on to enhance taste and reduce waste. Seasoned with chef-created organic flavors and packaged in compostable bags.

Great taste in an environmentally-friendly package.

Organic Medjool Dates, 180 g – These super sweet bites from the desert are the best. Medjools are large and soft, making them ideal for your favorite recipe or as a snack.

Greek God's Organic Plain Yogurt, 500 g – Traditional Greek-style yogurt that is thick and creamy. Perfect with fresh fruit, added to your smoothies, or in your favorite dip or sauce recipes.

Please note, all ingredients in our recipes are organic.

Freedom-Loving Creatures Everywhere

What is a farm yard without free ranging critters and kids?

You've seen Ivan, our black ball of fluffy wool on four little legs, meandering here and there, looking for a scratch on the head or something interesting to eat (as if he needs anything more). His favorite trick is to sneak up on unsuspecting farmers checking corrals at night. All of a sudden there's something softly rubbing the back of your legs in the dark. Yikes!

Then, there are the kids, Marseilles and Mathijs, off on some adventure and discovering a new batch of kittens or a nest of eggs.

In the previous newsletter Marseilles told us about Big Fatty, the broiler rooster that escaped going to slaughter because he was too small. He grew very well after that and continues to live happily with the laying hens. He's free in more ways than one.

This year, there's another tiny chick in the broiler batch. When he hears people in the barn, he comes running to be picked up and petted, especially by Mathijs. Meet Chickweed. He's a free agent in his world.

Don't underestimate the intelligence of a chicken.

One of the guys was grumbling that RIGHT after he had raked the grass and swept the sidewalk, a group of hens excitedly flew to the mulch beds and straightway threw chips and dirt all over his pristine work. Cry or wring necks?
Martin pipes in, "Just tell them with authority that they have no business being in the yard and need to scratch for bugs somewhere else! There's a whole farm for them to peck around.

"I had some around our house, digging in the garden, and messing on the sidewalk. So, I firmly scolded them and chased them away. They never came back.

"They understand more than you think."

With free range hens in the barnyard, you never know where the next nest of eggs will be or what may be hatching. Hens are very secretive.

Last summer one of the older hens hatched a few chicks. Five of which were pullets that after they matured were always together. They were the cutest clutch of little hens scurrying around the corrals.

This spring, a multi-colored rooster joined the fivesome as they wandered around the yard. A few weeks ago, there were only four hens in the group.

"Maybe something happened to one of them. You never know what predator may slip by Harriett. We did smell a skunk."

One of the men piped in, "The other day I was feeding the sheep and a hen was sitting by the bale I was using. She didn't move, so I went over to her, thinking she may be an old hen that had died. She was definitely not dead! She flew up squawking loudly and clucking, and as she ran away, there was this tiny chick running after her as best his little legs would carry him. I think that's your 'lost' hen."

Then, there's outstanding Blondie, the eldest lady of all chickens, maybe even from before the flood. How old is she? Does she lay eggs? What does she do? Where does she go? How much does she know? A mystery, to be sure. Maybe Tony knows. He sees lots of things, day and night.

Tony, our Hong Kong shepherd, has continued to keep his eyes on the lambing barn because he likes to and there are still a couple of young ewes to have lambs. He likes watching the free range chickens that make their home in the barn, too.

Martin received a text the other day from Tony, "I think the hens are laying eggs in the hay in feeder #3. I can see a hole there."

Checking in the hay, Martin found a nest of eggs. No one saw the hens going there because they wait until the guys leave the barn before carefully picking their way across the pen, flying up onto the feeder, and settling into the soft hay to lay their eggs. They don't know there are eyes from Hong Kong watching them.

Fresh eggs for breakfast. Yum! Unfortunately, we can't get any to Tony.