Winter is simple
no clutter, no color
a blanket of snow
reminds us to rest ~Terri Guillemets | Free Rangers You've heard of lone rangers, Texas Rangers, and the Lone Ranger. Well, we have Free Rangers. We were on the phone with Martin the other morning as he was taking a tour of the farm and checking for the next jobs to be done. "Well, what do we have here? Look at this!" he exclaims. "What? We can't see anything. What's happening?" we asked in alarm at the other end of the phone. "It's a flock of roosters…20, 30, maybe more. They're out here in the far garden next to the caragana hedge scratching around. "They survived the -40° C weather we had. How about that? "They have their rooster coop on wheels and James gives them grain every other day. So, they've been doing quite well. "A coyote or fox wouldn't dare poke his head into a nest of forty roosters. That would be insane. Hens can't see in the dark and will panic at anything unusual. Whereas, roosters seem to have some kind of night vision and will attack whatever is moving. Therefore, predators haven't gotten them, either." "That's amazing, Martin. Real free rangers." When hatching eggs, you get about 50% hens and 50% roosters. These are the roosters from the various hatchings Martin did in order to increase the number of our laying hens. In the summer, these free rangers will be put on the pasture to follow the beef cows. Chickens do a superb job of scratching through the cow pies and distributing the manure over the ground. There's a practical purpose for all the critters on our farm. | Essential Silver™ (32 ppm strength) – A vitally potent, safe, medicinal, bioactive ionic silver with multiple uses. Essential Silver™ is the Canadian leader of silver supplements with the fastest microbial kill rate. It instantly killed 99% of eight commonly found bacterial and yeast pathogens upon contact in independent laboratory testing, making it the most effective and powerful brand of silver supplements in Canada. Comes in: -500 mL bottle
-120 mL spray bottle
-60 mL dropper bottle
-30 mL nasal spray ReThink Oil of Oregano (1 oz and 2 oz bottles) – 100% Pure, Undiluted Wild Mediterranean Oregano Oil; non-standardized, naturally high in carvacrol. Oregano oil is used worldwide to naturally relieve signs and symptoms involving the respiratory and GI tracts, UTI's, parasites, viruses, bacterial and fungal overgrowth, oral care, and a wide range of skin conditions. The origanum minutiflorum in ReThink Oil of Oregano is naturally high in carvacrol, so there is no need to standardize. (Standardizing by means of high-heat distillation is common in the industry and is oftentimes done to increase levels of specific constituents, primarily carvacrol.) This oil is as close to Mother Nature as it gets. Beekeeper's Naturals Propolis Throat Spray (30 mL spray bottle) – Propolis, your bodyguard in a bottle. Prized as the immune system of the bee hive, propolis has incredible germ fighting properties and even contains over 300 beneficial vitamins, minerals, and compounds—making it nature's ultimate defender. This sweet-tasting Propolis Spray is a must-have for anyone who trains hard, travels often, or is looking for natural immune support. The Throat Spray For Kids is made with antioxidant-rich buckwheat honey and propolis. This gentle, kid-friendly duo is naturally tough on germs, but also super soothing on scratchy throats. SURO® Breathe™ (946 mL) – Approved by Health Canada for relief of seasonal or environmental allergies, sinus and chest congestion. SURO® Breathe™ also helps asthma sufferers. It works by quickly relaxing bronchial passages, clearing mucous, and opening airways. It soothes and heals inflammation and irritation. SURO® Breathe™ is a proprietary blend of 17 different organic ingredients. It includes nettle, elderflower, eucalyptus, mullein, and plantain. Kids Elderberry Cough Syrup (236 mL) – SURO® syrups provide fast, effective relief from colds and flu, cough, and sore throat. Approved by Health Canada, SURO® helps supercharge your immunity naturally. SURO® syrups are a powerhouse of premium ingredients including elderberries, propolis tincture, and elderflower extract. They have zero water and are fructose-free. The children's formula is safe for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Great health can taste this good! The FIR (Far Infrared) Hot House Dome – A proven excellent multi-purpose illness fighter for the entire family. Effective, comforting painkilling with no harmful side effects. A part of the sunlight spectrum multiplied. The FIR dome has a track record of healing as testified by many users. Harvest Haven Chicken Bone Broth – Let's not forget a big mug of warm chicken broth to chase away those sniffles. Our broth is made with lots of meaty bones and fresh vegetables, so it's super good for what ails you. | Research has shown that chicken soup does work to relieve the symptoms of the common cold. It increases mucous flow and helps the body rid itself of the cold. Here's the Abstract from the study, Chicken soup inhibits neutrophil chemotaxis in vitro: Chicken soup has long been regarded as a remedy for symptomatic upper respiratory tract infections. As it is likely that the clinical similarity of the diverse infectious processes that can result in "colds" is due to a shared inflammatory response, an effect of chicken soup in mitigating inflammation could account for its attested benefits. To evaluate this, a traditional chicken soup was tested for its ability to inhibit neutrophil migration using the standard Boyden blindwell chemotaxis chamber assay with zymosan-activated serum and fMet-Leu-Phe as chemoattractants. Chicken soup significantly inhibited neutrophil migration and did so in a concentration-dependent manner. The activity was present in a nonparticulate component of the chicken soup. All of the vegetables present in the soup and the chicken individually had inhibitory activity, although only the chicken lacked cytotoxic activity. Interestingly, the complete soup also lacked cytotoxic activity. Commercial soups varied greatly in their inhibitory activity. The present study, therefore, suggests that chicken soup may contain a number of substances with beneficial medicinal activity. A mild anti-inflammatory effect could be one mechanism by which the soup could result in the mitigation of symptomatic upper respiratory tract infections. In other words, chicken soup really does work. | We're having a chicken soup parts box sale! Make your own delicious chicken soup. SALE PRICE on a 40 lb box is $1.75/lb Regular price on a 40 lb box is $3.19/lb Email us at solutions@harvesthaven.com to order today. | Harvest Haven Pastured Chicken Soup Bones, 40 lb box – These meaty soup parts from our pasture raised chickens are rich in flavor, and will make a stellar broth that is tasty and nutritious. Harvest Haven Linzer Potatoes, 5 lb and 10 lb bags – Thin, smooth-skinned potatoes with a slightly nutty flavor that are perfect for roasting, boiling, frying, and slicing into soups, stews, and casseroles. The best potato for salad because it doesn't fall apart when cooked. An absolute favorite! L'Ancetre Organic Butter, 250 g and 450 g – Tasty and healthy organic Canadian butter from environmentally-friendly farms. Smooth, creamy, and flavorful – perfect for all your baking or just spread on your favorite Harvest Haven bread. L'Ancetre Organic Sharp Cheddar, 325 g – A classic Canadian cheese! Made from organic unpasteurized milk and aged for a minimum of 10 months, it is gluten free and lactose free. This pale yellow, slightly brittle cheese has a smooth, creamy, melting texture and sometimes contains a few crystals. Its nutty flavor and fruity finish make it a delicious addition to any cheese platter and a wonderful blend with all sorts of cooked dishes. Organic Dark Chocolate Wafers, 300 g – These wafers are so easy to melt and use for dipping, drizzling, or decorating cakes, cupcakes, cookies, or desserts. Can be used in place of cooking chocolate in your favorite recipes. Arla Organic Cream Cheese, 200 g – So creamy, smooth, and tasty! Perfect for spreads, dips, sauces, and desserts. | Please note, all ingredients in our recipes are organic. | Homemade Chicken Soup 2 Harvest Haven cloves garlic, finely diced
1 Harvest Haven onion, diced
2-3 medium-sized Harvest Haven carrots, diced
3 celery stalks, diced
2 Harvest Haven potatoes, diced
2 cups shredded cooked Harvest Haven chicken
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp rosemary
1/2 tsp oregano
1 tsp nutritional yeast
2 tsp salt
2 tbsp butter
?8 cups of Harvest Haven chicken bone broth Cut potatoes and cover with water, bring to a boil, and let simmer till tender (approximately 20 mins.) In a large pan, melt butter on low to medium heat. Add finely diced garlic and diced onion and let simmer until onions start to become translucent approximately 2-3 minutes. Add diced carrots and celery with salt, pepper, and spices. Let everything saute together until vegetables start to soften up and slightly brown. Transfer all ingredients, including diced potato and shredded chicken, to the 8 cups of homemade chicken bone broth in the slow cooker. Let the chicken soup simmer for another 2 hours allowing the flavors to meld together. Serve this homemade chicken soup in bowls with additional salt and cracked pepper to taste. | Cheddar Biscuits 2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese FOR THE TOPPING
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat; set aside. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, garlic powder, salt and cayenne pepper, if using. In a large glass measuring cup or another bowl, whisk together buttermilk and butter. Pour mixture over dry ingredients and stir using a rubber spatula just until moist. Gently fold in cheese. Working on a lightly floured surface, knead the dough 3-4 times until it comes together. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough into a 1 1/4-inch thick rectangle. Cut out 10-12 rounds using a 2 1/2-inch biscuit or cookie cutter. Place into oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown. FOR THE TOPPING Whisk together butter, parsley and garlic powder in a small bowl. Working one at a time, brush the tops of the biscuits with the butter mixture. Serve immediately. | Fallen Chocolate Cake CAKE
1/2 cup butter, cut into 1" pieces, plus more, room temperature, for pan
3/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp. sugar, divided, plus more for pan
10 ounces dark chocolate wafers (61%–72% cacao)
2 tablespoons sunflower oil
6 large Harvest Haven eggs
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon salt TOPPING
1 cup chilled heavy cream
1/2 cup Arla cream cheese
3 tablespoons powdered sugar Preheat oven to 350° F. Lightly butter springform pan and dust with sugar, tapping out any excess. Combine chocolate, oil, and 1/2 cup butter in a large heatproof bowl. Set over a saucepan of simmering water and heat, stirring often, until melted. Remove bowl from saucepan. Separate 4 eggs, placing whites and yolks in separate medium bowls. To bowl with yolks, add cocoa powder, vanilla, salt, 1/4 cup sugar, and remaining 2 eggs, and whisk until mixture is smooth. Gradually whisk yolk mixture into chocolate mixture, blending well. Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat egg whites until frothy. With mixer running, gradually beat in 1/2 cup sugar; beat until firm peaks form. Gently fold egg whites into chocolate mixture in 2 additions, folding just until incorporated between additions. Scrape batter into prepared pan; smooth top and sprinkle with remaining 2 Tbsp. sugar. Bake until top is puffed and starting to crack and cake is pulling away from edge of pan, 35-45 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cake cool completely in pan (cake will collapse in the center and crack further as it cools). DO AHEAD: Cake can be made 1 day ahead. Cover in pan and store airtight at room temperature. Using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat cream, cream cheese, and powdered sugar in a medium bowl until soft peaks form. Remove sides of springform pan from cake. Mound whipped cream mixture in center of cake. | With the start of a new year come thoughts of changes and resolutions. Eat better, exercise more, volunteer somewhere, get more rest. But, how long is it before these good intentions are lost to old habits? Martin makes excellent points in this video, Personal Responsibility Must Precede Personal Resolutions. Note: this video was made in December 2019 before Martin started on his own life changing resolution to gain weight and be healthier. You can see what his journey has entailed so far by going to Being Tongue-tied is No Joke, Parts One to Three under Videos on the Harvest Haven website. | |
