"It is a beautiful and delightful sight to behold the body of the Moon." — Galileo Galilei | Planning Pays Remember the picture of Martin with Cindy, the sheep, contemplating what to do about the drainage problem we had with the parking lot and driveway? | The solution came, and James and Martin got to work. Materials were available, James had the equipment, and the weather was great. | Almost the day they finished everything, winter came in with a blast of snow and cold. The snow was quickly and easily removed because the road surface was smooth and the old power poles were good buffers to keep the plow on track. The real test was when a warm front came in with much above-normal temperatures and the snow melted rapidly. The water ran down the storm sewer, just as planned. With the crushed concrete road surface and the proper drainage, the roadway and parking lot were not muddy. Then, there was another day that tested the system. This is hard to believe, but we had a full day of rain in January. In the past, all the roads and the parking lot would have been a muddy bog with ruts made by the trucks and tractors. The weather turned cold and snowy that night, which would have frozen the ruts into a leg-breaking obstacle course. Not this time! Everything was ice-covered but smooth enough for proper snow removal. The guys are very thankful for how the system is working. Before the weather turned cold, Marseilles took her ducks for a walk down the roads looking for puddles. She found only a couple, which will be dealt with in the spring. | Talking about spring…that busy time of year is quickly approaching. The sheep will be sheared soon in preparation for lambing. The lambing pens are being set up in the barn, along with fresh straw, hay, and other supplies to make the most stressful time less harrowing. Martin has been scheduling the arrival and slaughter dates for the broilers and turkeys. The slaughter dates for beef and lamb have already been set for the year. Lots goes on behind the scenes to keep the operation running smoothly, or as smoothly as possible. | Drumsticks and Soup Parts When the broiler chickens are processed, only some are kept whole. Most are cut into parts. The breasts and thighs have multiple uses, but not the drumsticks and soup bones. There are always lots of drumsticks after cutting up chicken into parts.
Tender, tasty, and delicious drumsticks from our pasture-raised broiler chickens make for fabulous meals. SALE PRICE: A 20 lb box, which is 12 pkg of 4 drumsticks each (48 total) is $6.50/lb Regular Price: $7.99/lb The soup parts are meaty and ready to make delicious bone broth, soups, and stocks. SUPER SALE PRICE: 40 lb box is $1.99/lb Regular price on a 40 lb box is $3.99/lb Email us at solutions@harvesthaven.com to order today. | Benefits of Bone Broth Bone broth has so many benefits, it should be an essential food in every home. And Harvest Haven bone broth has unique qualities not easily found in other broths. We have four varieties, Beef, Lamb, Chicken, and Turkey, all made from our pasture-raised livestock. Along with the vegetables grown on our farm, the other ingredients used in our broths are certified organic. However, the most important difference with our broths is the water, which is filtered and Granderized. Granderizing the water results in rich, velvety smooth broths full of flavor. All our broths are ready to use as a warm drink, or in soups, gravies, and sauces. Some of the benefits of bone broth: • It is mineral-rich and very healing for the digestive system. • The minerals found in bone broth are very easily absorbed and utilized by the body and are essential for helping to make healthy bones. • Potassium and sodium are two essential electrolytes abundant in bone broth that are essential for hydration and fluid balance. • Bone broth is a source of easy-to-absorb amino acids such as glycine and glutamine. Glutamine is one of the best amino acids to help heal the gut as it is a primary fuel source used by the intestinal lining. • It also contains amino acids essential for the formation of collagen which is why bone broth is touted for its anti-aging skincare properties. • Bone broth is a rich source of protein and minerals, but its greatest magic lies in its glycine content, increasing the ratio of glycine to methionine. Glycine is anti-inflammatory and improves insulin sensitivity, making bone broth a wonderful healing food. | This product is so new to us that it is still in transit at the time of this publication. Here's how Taza describes what they do. We make stone ground chocolate that is seriously good and fair for all. Cacao is so complex in flavor that we want to let it shout loud and proud. That is why we do less to bring you more. We stone grind organic cacao beans into perfectly unrefined, minimally processed chocolate with bold flavor and texture, unlike anything you have ever tasted. Taza Smooth & Crunchy bars are silky smooth 70% dark chocolate with lots of irresistibly crunchy mix-ins. The "crunch" varieties include Chocolate Cookie, Cornflakes, and Triple Nut (hazelnuts, almonds, and cashews). All ingredients are organic. Taza Chocolate discs were inspired by Mexican chocolate traditions. Taza hand-carved granite millstones to make these rustic, organic dark Mexican-style chocolate discs bursting with bright tastes and gloriously gritty textures. The flavors we have are Salted Almond, Vanilla, and Sea Salt. Note: ask Jeannie about Mexican-style chocolate as her family is from Mexico. | Harvest Haven Pastured Chicken Wings – At one time, wings were just thrown into the soup pot. But now there are dozens of tasty recipes to make with these succulent bits of chicken. Harvest Haven wings are split into drummettes and wingettes, ready for you to use. Bob's Red Mill Organic Baking Powder – Bob's Red Mill Double Acting Baking Powder is a leavener used for baking. It releases carbon dioxide when exposed to moisture and heat, causing dough and batter to rise. It is gluten-free and contains no added aluminum. Unlike many other baking powder brands that utilize sodium aluminum phosphate or sodium aluminum sulfate as the acid ingredient, this baking powder substitutes monocalcium phosphate and sodium acid pyrophosphate to create a superior double-acting baking powder without the metallic aftertaste. This baking powder is perfect for quick breads, biscuits, scones, waffles, pancakes, cakes, and cookies. It makes consistently excellent baked goods every time. Organic Basmati Rice – A wonderfully fragrant, nutty-tasting long-grain rice traditionally grown in India, Pakistan, and Nepal. It cooks up fluffy and not very sticky, making it a versatile dish. Harvest Haven Chicken Bone Broth – Bone broth has so many health benefits, especially for your joints and digestive system. Besides being a refreshing warm beverage, its use as an ingredient is invaluable in many recipes. Harvest Haven Frozen Strawberries – Fill your kitchen with the wonderful aroma of summer. Picked at the peak of perfection, these wonderful berries are bursting with goodness and flavor. Blend into your favorite smoothie, make into a bright red sauce, bake in a tasty dessert, or thaw slightly for a refreshing snack. L'Ancetre Organic Butter, 250 g and 454 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. | Please note, all ingredients in our recipes are organic. | Crispy Oven Baked Wings 2 lb Harvest Haven chicken wings
1 tablespoons Bob's Red Mill Organic baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder Use paper towels to pat the wings completely dry. *Keep patting them dry until the paper towels no longer absorb any liquid. Place the wings in a large bowl. Combine the salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and baking powder in a small bowl. Then sprinkle the seasoning over the wings, tossing to evenly coat. Place the wings in the refrigerator for 30 minutes and up to 4 hours. Place an oven rack in the middle-upper position of the oven. Then preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a wire baking rack inside the baking sheet. Brush the rack with sunflower oil. Arrange wings, skin side up, in a single layer on the prepared wire rack. Bake for 1 hour, turning the wings every 20 minutes. Continue to cook until the wings are crispy and browned. *Bake time will depend on the size of the wings. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 180°F when put in the thickest part of the wing/drummettes, being sure to stay away from the bone. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes before serving. If desired place the wings in a bowl and toss with your favorite wing sauce. | Garlic Butter Rice 1 1/2 cups dry Basmati rice
1/4 cup finely chopped yellow onion
1 1/2 tbsp minced garlic (or up to 2 tbsp)
2 1/2 cups Harvest Haven chicken bone broth
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 tbsp butter, cut into 1 tbsp pieces, divided
1 tbsp minced fresh parsley (optional) Melt 1 tbsp butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add yellow onion and saute until starting to deepen in color, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and saute until just barely starting to deepen in color (not browned), about 1 minute. Pour in chicken broth, season with salt and pepper to taste, and bring to a boil. Add rice and stir once, cover with a snug lid then reduce heat to low. Let simmer until liquid has been absorbed, about 15 - 18 minutes. Remove from heat and let rest for 5 - 10 minutes. Add the remaining 3 tbsp butter, toss, and fluff with a fork. Serve warm garnished with parsley if desired. | Strawberry Cobbler Sauce Ingredients:
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tbsp lemon juice
3 cups Harvest Haven strawberries, thawed
2 tablespoons cold butter, diced (this is to dot the strawberries with after they are in the baking pan) Crumble Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons cold butter, cut into cubes
1/2 cup heavy cream For the sauce:
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Butter a 9-inch round or square baking pan. For the sauce:
Place 2 tablespoons cornstarch, 1/4 cup lemon juice, and 1/2 cup sugar in a heavy-duty saucepan. Cook on medium heat until the mixture thickens. Remove from the heat and add the strawberries, fold gently to mix. Place the strawberry mixture into the buttered baking dish and dot with butter. For the crumble:
Place the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Cut 3 tablespoons of cold butter into the flour mixture until you have crumbs. Stir in the cream. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the strawberries. Bake for 25 minutes at 400 degrees F until the biscuit topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbly. | Harvest Haven Pasture Raised Chicken Looking out the window and seeing the cold, snow-covered landscape, it's nice to watch a summertime video. But before discussing how we raise our chickens in the summer, here's a brief update on Martin's visit to BioStrong and his bone density scan. In the previous Harvest Haven Happenings under Down On the Farm, we mentioned that Martin was looking forward to seeing what his bone density progress has been. "When Martin had a bone density scan a couple of years ago, he was in a scary place. He had the bone density of a 70-year-old woman with osteoporosis! He was starving to death. He wasn't eating enough because he couldn't swallow properly. Since then, he's had his tongue-tie released and has forced himself to eat more, gaining about 50 pounds. He has also been going to BioStrong once a month. It'll be interesting to see what his next bone scan shows." It was a good report. Martin's bone density in his spine is normal and the density in his hip has increased significantly. Keeping his weight steady and continuing to go to BioStrong will build strong bones. Jonathan made an alarming observation after a month of doing bone density scans. "Out of the men in their 30s and 40s that we've scanned, much to their surprise, over 60% have low bone density. And it decreases as you get older."
Thankfully, BioStrong offers a simple solution to the problem. Now, to chickens. In this video, Martin explains how we raise our broiler chickens on pasture and all the benefits of this method. The birds are healthy because they get fresh air, sunshine, vibrant grasses, and organic insects, 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 many 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. | | |
