And weeds? I will never forget her terse observation: "Back home, we don't have any weeds. We only have plants for which we have not yet found a use."
- Peter Denton, Live Close to Home | On Pasture The weather is warm and sunny, so out to pasture the broiler chickens and turkeys go. "Put out to pasture" generally means to retire someone or something. I guess you could stretch the meaning a bit for the broilers and turkeys. After all, they are just lazing around, eating the best food, and enjoying the good life. Fat and happy! Luna, our newest milk cow, had her calf. He's huge! Someone decided to call him Moonshine. I haven't heard why. Maybe something to do with Luna's name, which means "moon." She has a large white face like a full moon. | Fresh garden goodies are being brought into the store every day. So tender and tasty. Here's a tender situation that Martin found himself in. He's been cleaning up another shop and needed the trailer with sides on it for tossing junk into. In the cool of the morning, Martin went to the field where the trailers are kept and hitched the unit to his truck. He jumped into the cab and slammed the door. Looking out the windshield as he was about to drive to the shop, he saw thousands of honeybees swarming around his vehicle. That was surprising! The bees must have been in something on the trailer and were quiet until Martin slammed the truck door, which aroused them. With the sun warming them up, too, they were ready to move. It was a swarm that could be captured. "James, grab a bee box and get over here now!" quickly texted Martin. Grabbing a clean bee box, James set it up next to the trailer and the honey bees flew right into it. Apparently, at this time of year, bees will swarm away from their hives. And this swarm chose our farm. We'll monitor them and hope for some honey. This was a tender situation that turned sweet. Note: If you happen to see a swarm of bees, let Martin know and he'll don his bee suit and collect them. Bees are vital to our food production. | Honey Bees Bees are such amazing creatures! Here are a few facts about these wonderful insects: • It is the only insect that produces food eaten by man.
• A honey bee can fly up to six miles and as fast as 15 miles per hour.
• Honey bees must consume about 17 – 20 pounds of honey to biochemically produce each pound of beeswax.
• A colony may contain 40,000 to 60,000 bees during the late spring or early summer.
• The queen bee can live 2 – 4 years and may lay up to 2,500 eggs a day.
• Worker bees live for about 4 weeks in the spring and summer.
• The average honey bee will actually make only one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime.
• Honey bees are vital pollinators.
• Fermented honey, known as Mead, is the most ancient fermented beverage. The term "honey moon" originated with the Norse practice of consuming large quantities of Mead during the first month of a marriage. For more fascinating facts about this sweet insect, check out How Do Honeybees Get Their Jobs? | A Symbol is Born Over the years we sought for an appropriate symbol for Harvest Haven; we pondered in vain. We prayed, and received the answer to use the dandelion. What would people think? I began to realize the implications, particularly in relation to our lives, physically and spiritually. I saw how the dandelion is much like the Lord Jesus Christ. Here are the similarities. The dandelion is everywhere. Jesus Christ is omnipresent. The dandelion will grow anywhere, except where eradicated. One may find the Lord anywhere, except where people have excluded Him. The dandelion is hated and warred against by almost all people. Isn't that the way it is with the Lord? "He came unto His own and His own did not receive Him." He said He was hated by the world because He testified against it. The dandelion is not a pest, but rather good medicine. Jesus Christ, hated by all, is Good Medicine. He is the Good Physician, Who heals, though despised. The dandelion tastes bitter but brings health when eaten. Jesus Christ, the Truth, is bitter to receive, but if received, brings healing and makes the consumer free. The entire dandelion promotes good health – the leaves, flowers, stems, and roots. Jesus Christ is the Savior of all mankind. He is goodness and love, sent for man's wellbeing and salvation. The dandelion flower is gold in color. Gold represents God and precious value. The rest of the plant is green, representing life, nutrition and rest. Is that not what the Lord is all about? He came to give us life, to feed us Himself and to give us rest from our labors. The juice of the dandelion is white. In Scripture, white represents the righteousness of God, which can only come by the blood of Jesus Christ. Remarkably, the juice blackens the skin, though harmless, and likely healthful. To the world, the life of God soils a person. That is why Isaiah the prophet, who saw the coming of the Lord, the manifestation of the Life of God, wrote this: "He was despised and rejected by people. He was a man of sorrows, familiar with suffering. He was despised like one from whom people turn their faces, and we didn't consider Him to be worth anything" (Isaiah 53:3 GW). Dandelions bring no harm and are good not only for us; the rabbits and deer come to our yard and eat them as well. The birds eat the seeds. The bees gather their nectar and pollen. The environment loves them, with calcium (an essential nutrient) and elemental balance restored to the soil where dandelions grow. The Lord is good for all. True religion is good for all. Healing and nourishment happen in the Lord. The dandelion comes as a common weed, unrecognized and unwanted, though far more potent than other plants as a medicinal and healing herb. Jesus Christ took upon Himself the form of a man, humbling Himself to the death of the cross, despised and rejected of men; the Stone rejected, the Bible says, yet full of true value. Dandelion seeds fly with the wind, like the Word of God that comes from Heaven and goes wherever He wills. Dandelion seeds drop into the ground and come up again multiplied. Jesus Christ was crucified, buried, and raised up again to multiply Himself manifold, in order to bring healing and life to the world. While the dandelion "dies" over winter, it rises again because it is a perennial, even as the Lord is eternal. It can look messy, especially when dandelions go to seed. That is how salvation works. The work of God in a person's soul can look quite ugly (take Job for example), but afterwards, there is spiritual health, His work yielding the "peaceable fruit of righteousness." Finally, "dandelion" means "teeth of the lion." Jesus Christ came first as a Lamb, to die for us, but now He comes as the Lion from the tribe of Judah. He comes with teeth. God is a consuming fire, the Bible declares. He comes to judge the earth in righteousness. Nobody fools with a lion, especially This One, Jesus Christ Glorified. All praise, thanksgiving, blessing, power, might, strength, riches, wisdom, glory, honor, majesty, authority, dominion, salvation, and worship to Him forevermore. Amen! | All parts of the dandelion (flowers, leaves, roots, and stems) can be used. Interestingly enough, the dandelion's botanical name, Taraxacum officinale, is Latin for "remedy for man's illnesses." A few of the many benefits of the dandelion: • Blood purifier
• Mild stimulant for the bowels
• Stimulant (quickens the functional activity of tissues)
• Removes poisons from the body
• Benefits liver function
• Promotes bile production
• Removes excess water from the body For a more complete list go to Harvest Haven Dandelion Root Powder. George Cairns, an elderly fellow from Illinois, suffering cancer, was given a revelation that by drying dandelion roots and grinding them to a powder, leaving some soil residues clinging to the roots, these would serve as a powerful liver cleanser and anti-carcinogen. He took half a teaspoon each day and was free of cancer in six months. George passed away in 2011 at the age of 94 after many years of health and helping others. Harvest Haven Dandelion Root Powder is: • Rich in calcium (highest concentration of any plant), potassium, and organic sodium, with some iron and phosphorus
• A good source of protein
• High in vitamins A, B, C, and E
• Free of any pesticides and herbicides
• Watered with Grander Living Water, which enables all plants, including dandelions to effectively assimilate nutrients from the soil.
Dandelions are a carpet of health under our feet! | This is the time of year to enjoy all the freshness of the garden. Here's the short list of what we have available: • Garlic scapes
• Herbs including basil, dill, cilantro, and parsley
• Salad greens such as, lettuce mixes, leaf and romaine lettuces, arugula, and kale
• Zucchinis
• New potatoes
• Tender young onions
• Beets
• Beet tops Some of these garden goodies will be found in the cooler while others are picked fresh when you ask for them. Now, that's fresh! | Harvest Haven Pasture Raised Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast – Tender, moist, tasty, and so easy to prepare for that special dinner or a quick meal for the family on the go. Harvest Haven Pasture Raised Beef Bacon – This healthy alternative to conventional bacon is made from Harvest Haven pastured beef. The brisket is simply brined and smoked without any nasty preservatives. It's great served with eggs, pancakes, or cornbread for breakfast, in a BLT for lunch, or diced into a casserole. Harvest Haven Baby Beets – This is the time to enjoy sweet baby beets. Low in calories, and high in nutrients and fiber, they are great as a side dish, in a salad or soup. Roasting fresh beets brings out their sweet flavor. Harvest Haven Garlic Scapes – Those strange curly green things, available only at this time of year, have a mild garlic flavor and a slight sweetness. Garlic scapes can be used in salads, any dish calling for garlic, sautéed for a nice stir-fry side dish, or made into pesto. Organic BC Blueberries – Here's to summer with all the beautiful fresh fruit! Blueberries are a must for fresh eating, incorporating into muffins, sprinkling on pancakes, blending into a smoothie, or stirring into yogurt. Organic Limes – Small green powerhouses of nutrition! In 1747, it was discovered that drinking lemon and lime juice helped ward off scurvy on naval ships. Hence, a British sailor became known as a "limey." There are endless ways to use limes. The juice and floral aroma of their zest add a wonderful flavour to desserts, baked goods, savory dishes, and beverages. And can be used as a natural cleaning agent. | Please note, all ingredients in our recipes are organic. | BBQ Chicken Nachos 6 strips Harvest Haven beef bacon, cooked until crispy
2 pounds Harvest Haven boneless skinless chicken breast halves
2 teaspoons olive oil
Lemon pepper seasoning
1 1/4 cups sweet bbq sauce
1 large bag tortilla chips
2 cups freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese
2 cups freshly grated Gouda cheese
Chopped red onion to taste Preheat your oven to 400° F. In a skillet, cook the bacon until crispy and drain on to paper towel. Once cool, finely chop into small pieces. Meanwhile, on a rimmed metal baking sheet arrange the chicken, drizzle with olive oil and use tongs to toss and coat. Season both sides with the lemon pepper seasoning before sliding the pan onto the middle rack of your oven. Bake the chicken for 18 to 20 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked. Once cooked, remove the chicken to a cutting board to rest for about 5 minutes before shredding with two forks and transferring to a bowl. Pour in 1/2 to 3/4 cup [give or take] of barbecue sauce and toss to coat. Reduce the heat of your oven to 325° F. On a clean, rimmed metal baking sheet, arrange chips in a single layer. Top with a light sprinkle of cheese before scattering the barbecue chicken over top. Then top with more cheese, red onion and chopped bacon. Drizzle a little extra sauce overtop before sliding the nacho onto the middle rack (double check that you've reduced the temp!) and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the barbecue sauce is caramelized. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve immediately! | Steamed Baby Beets with Garlic Scape Vinaigrette 2 pounds Harvest Haven baby beets
1 recipe Garlic Scape Vinaigrette (see below)
Garnishes:
Fresh picked herbs such as – small basil leaves, oregano, dill
Extra thinly sliced Garlic Scape rounds
Feta Cheese Make the Garlic Scape Vinaigrette. Garlic Scape Vinaigrette: 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon fresh Harvest Haven garlic, peeled and minced or finely grated
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1/4 teaspoon cane sugar
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly cracked pepper
2 tablespoons Harvest Haven Garlic Scapes, minced
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil Garnish: I like to add an additional tablespoon of thinly slice garlic scapes to the vinaigrette when using Method: In a medium sized bowl add the first 8 ingredients (vinegar through garlic scapes.) Let stand 15 minutes to macerate. SLOWLY add the oil in a narrow stream while stirring quickly with a wire balloon whisk. Continue until all the oil is added and emulsified. Store in a glass container in the refrigerator. Will last at least 2 weeks. Make the salad. Trim the tops off the beets. Wash and scrub dirt from them. Add enough water to the bottom of a pot so that it does not rise above the steamer basket. Add basket and beets to the pot. Steam until beets are fork-tender, about 30 minutes (this will depend on the size of your beets.) Allow beets to cool until easy to handle and peel warm beets in the sink by nudging the peel off. If necessary – nudge the peel off with the back of a pairing knife. TIP: Fresher beets usually take less time to cook than older beets because older beets lose their tenderness over time. Cut beets as you wish. I like 1/4 inch sliced circles – you may like to dice them. Add warm sliced beets to a bowl. Add some vinaigrette to coat generously. | Blueberry Lime Cake The Cake:
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup butter, room temperature, plus 1 tablespoon for preparing pans
1/4 cup coconut oil
1 1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla paste or 1 teaspoon extract
6 Harvest Haven eggs, room temperature
1 1/3 cup cultured buttermilk
1 1/4 cups fresh blueberries, rinsed, dried and stems removed (plus more for decorating if desired)
zest of two limes The Frosting:
1/2 cup butter, room temp
zest of one lime
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
tiny pinch of sea salt
4-5 cups powdered sugar Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and place oven rack in center position. To prevent the cake from sticking use a paper towel to wipe sides and bottom of pans with soft butter. Dust each pan lightly with flour. Use bottom of cake pan and pencil to trace a circle on parchment, then cut folded paper so you end up with two circles. Place parchment circles into the bottom of pans and grease with butter. This is my favorite method. Set aside. Combine flour, baking powder and salt, set aside. Place butter, coconut oil, sugar and vanilla in mixer and mix until well combined. Add eggs one at a time. Alternate adding flour mixture with buttermilk until well combined, mix for one more minute. Add lime zest and mix until incorporated. Add blueberries and gently mix in by hand. Pour equal amounts of batter into prepared pans, tap pans firmly on counter to take out any bubbles. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Allow cakes to cool, gently remove from pans discarding parchment and then frost. The Frosting:
Place softened butter, lime juice, zest, sea salt and 4 cups powdered sugar into a bowl and mix. If frosting is not quite thick enough add more sugar (up to a cup, I usually end up using almost 5 cups). If it's too thick add just a little more lime juice. When frosting is desired consistency, frost cooled cake. Top with your choice of decoration and serve. | Tales of the Sea: Ollie Learns a Lesson by Marseilles Van Popta The Van Popta children keep everyone delighted with their abilities and creativity. You've appreciated Konstantijn's exceptional piano performances and Mathijs's mechanical abilities and guitar solos. Now, you'll see Marseilles' evident talent as a storyteller and illustrator. Eleven-year-old Marseilles loves creating fascinating stories and drawing imaginary characters. She has art books full of her creations. Tales of The Sea: Ollie Learns a Lesson is one of many of her illustrated stories. This video is a cooperative creation by the Van Popta children. Mathijs, Marseilles' twin brother, filmed and edited the video; Konstantijn, her older sister, played the piano to accompany the production; and Marseilles read her story. | |
