Flying J Farm Journal -- Dedicated to preventing disease with food and lifestyle

Vol 12 (4)  Into every life a little rain (snow) must fall

appy

Started Friday, March 12, 2010  – Streaming to Friends in 17 countries

 

It's been a quiet week on the Flying J Farm, my home, on the edge of glacial flow that left rolling hills to the east and flat prairie to the west. It’s been over 3 weeks since my last issue of the farm journal so I’m sorry. You will remember from my last issue about the barn collapse that I was depressed. I told someone this week that it’s the first time since coming to the farm that I have felt some real mental stress. I just don’t feel like writing when I feel that way. I don’t know how Rudyard Kipling and others did it.

 

Anyway, I have had some success’s in the last week that have helped. Friends have called and that has helped. Lots of people have visited the farm including a tour group of home schoolers, a home group from Xenos for a weekend, two groups of Denison students and one group of Denison students in the Green Club who have been here every Sunday to work, and that has helped. Tamuve has been doing some wonderful volunteer work (She has added classical music to the greenhouse because she says it helps the plants to grow better – and they look very good)! as have Pete, Shirley, Ray, and Stu. I still welcome visitors. In fact, one parent in the home schooler group asked if she could bring her family out for a weekend saying that her 10-year-old son “Needs a farm”. I said “sure.” All of the visitors have been very generous with donations to the farm.

 

The insurance is going to pay about 2/3 of the cost for replacement so I guess I will not be as poor as I first thought. Also, I have a nice clear-span building design and a good contractor to do it. This contractor has already clear away the debris from the old building.

 

My Continuing Monavie Experience

 

I had a chance to hear Charlie Kalb last night and was reminded again of what good things Monavie has done for my health. In all this stress over the last three-four weeks, I would have had a bad cold and a very sore back but for Monavie. As you know, taking 4 oz of Monavie each day is equivalent in antioxidant value to eat 13 different fruits and vegetables. I have seen again how it has kept my immune system going strong in a very stressful time. I would love to help you get healthier too. Let me know if you are interested and I will give you a bottle to try. Charlie says he likes to tell people to drink the whole bottle in a day, that way they are sure to “feel” it. The first thing that happens is that the Monavie cleanses your digestive tract. This happened for me in two days drinking only 4 oz per day. If you drink a whole bottle, you better stay close to the bathroom!! Almost everyone has toxins that need to be cleansed from their system and this always works. After this, the system is much better at absorbing good nutrients from food. However, the main reason I take it is to reduce my risk of getting the four big diseases, cancer, heart disease, stroke, medical profession mistakes (avoided because I don’t need their care!). By the way, you can join my team by going to monavie.com and using my distributor number as your sponsor 2175371.

 

Does everyone take medication?

 

I got one of those calls from my health insurance provider yesterday and decided to go along with it. The caller said the purpose was to better recommend what type of coverage I need. Among the many questions she asked, “How many medications do you take per day, less than 6 or more than 6? Thinking about it afterward, she asked that question as if everyone is taking medication!! Is that so? Do you take medication for something? I sure don’t!! I’d love to find a health insurance that does not pay for medications because I don’t want to pay for something I don’t need!

 

Maple Sugaring

 

Well, after a long delay due to a colder than normal winter, we finally tapped most of the trees on Feb 22-23. Then a week later I tapped the rest of them across the road. We had our open house on Feb 27 but it was too cold to have sap to boil but we had a nice group here and the kids were a delight to see playing on the huge mounds of snow. Pete fixed his famous pancakes and the sun was out so the breakfast was enjoyed in the very warm “Atrium” with below freezing temps outside. There was a lot of excitement among the folks to get a taste of the Monavie as well, and many possibilities arose from that. Please, when you come out, if I forget, do ask me for a taste, I’d love to help you get healthier.

 

The past five days were ideal for sap flow and we got a lot! They have also been grueling – for me and Pete. I have been starting the evaporator at 6:00 AM and closing it down at 9:00 PM. We have made over 33 gals of great grade A medium syrup this year. Today, we are going to clean out the evaporator and maybe make some Grade B syrup which several have been asking about. We now have it for sale. The prices for now are:

 

$6 for ½ Pint

$10 for Pint

$17 for Quart

$32 for ½ Gal

 

Mark and Family visit

 

I had a nice, if short visit from my son Mark and his family including 3 grandsons last week. I was showing them the refurbished upstairs in the Garden Barn (thank you Sondra, again!) and Jenny liked the quilt on the bed. I said that is one of the quilts I bought at her suggestion from the Pottery Barn from their “Farm House” collection. She said, “You put a Pottery barn quilt in the barn!!!?? What a waste. I meant for you to put it in the house!!” I had two of them so I agreed to let her take one to the house. After making the bed in the Garden Barn, Jenny put herself to work on my upstairs guest bedrooms in the House. She now calls the back one, “Jenny’s Room” and the other, Rachel’s room and she proceeded to exchange beds. I thought I should help but she insisted on doing it herself. She even got on her knees and washed the floors with Murphy’s!! She then put the TV out in the hallway so that I would have to dispose of it. Anyone know what I can do with an old TV? Thank you Jenny!

 

By the way, the boys were great. Sam now has dozens of questions and Nathan has dozens of answers. We were out at the combine and 6-year-old Nathan was going around identifying various parts. I said, “Where did you learn all that?” He said, “from a book.”

 

CSA

 

I have made the changes to my CSA brochure that I need to do to let you sign up. Lots of people have been asking about it. Basically, the cost for pick up at Westerville this year will be $575 and at the farm it will be $475 plus 30 hours of work spread through the summer. There will be a limited number of Westerville options, probably 5. If you would like to see the brochure and application, let me know. The deadline for sign up is April 15

 

Interns Needed

 

I have talked with a few people about interning on the farm this summer but so far, I do not have anyone. I am needing at least one live-in intern and one commuter or up to four total mixed live-in and commuters. Please send this request to folks who you know might be interested. Thank you.

 

In the Coup

 

When the worst of the snow hit, the chicken fence was totally covered but for several days the chickens stayed in the coup. Then the rooster (Hercules) got the nerve to set out and the two hens followed. They have been all over the yard and no more eggs were layed in the coup. I have no idea where they are but you are welcome to any eggs you might find around the farm. One night I was in the Sugar Shack late and here comes Hercules right into the Sugar Shack. He was lost! I picked him up and carried him back to the coup where he was happier.

 

In the Greenhouse and Garden

 

Tamuve has transplanted the lettuce started first to the tubes that hang from the ceiling as well as the rest to larger cells. This is the lettuce that will be offered the to Vineyard’s Green Conference on April 17. By the way, you are welcome to attend.

 

In the Pasture

 

I have had 5 healthy calves born so far but unfortunately two others died either in birth or from the cold shortly after birth. With the barn down, I had no where to put them inside. It’s so sad to see mothers with a full bag, standing over a the frozen body of her calf.

 

With the barn down I did not have anyway to load a cow and so had to cancel my appointment with the processor this month. I still have lots of ground beef though. As you know all of the meat that I offer is from cows that were born and raised here on the Flying J Farm. I do not buy cows from other farmers so there is no chance for disease brought in that way. Come to the farm to pick it up and receive a 10 percent discount on all products. The following is a price list for this certified organic grass-fed beef per pound:

 

Filet (tenderloin) $19.00 sold

New York Strip $11.00 sold

Porterhouse Steak $14.00 sold

Ribeye Steak $13.00 sold

T-bone Steak $12.00 sold

Top Sirloin $11.00 sold

Sirloin Steak $8.00 sold

Flank Steak $12.00 sold

Skirt Steak $8.00 sold

Round Steak $6.00 sold

Rump Roast $7.00

Chuck Roast $6.00

Stew Beef (boneless) $6.00 sold

Short ribs $4.00

Ground beef $4.50

Patties $5.00

Beef for boiling $3.00  

Liver $4.00

Soup Bones $2.00

Heart, tongue, tail, kidneys $2.00

Dog bones $1.00 ea

 

Other products of the farm

 

Flour (From which you can make “powder milk biscuits that give shy persons what it takes to get up and do what needs to be done” – Garrison Keillor). We are offering our whole wheat flour ($1.25 per pound), and spelt flour ($1.75 per pound) milled while you wait. I also, can mill corn meal for you for $1.00 per pound in 5-pound bags. I have new 2-pound bags and will sell flour and cornmeal in these for $2 per bag.

 

Maple syrup

 

Sorry, we are sold out for the year. Check with me in February – that’s next month!!. Can’t wait.

 

Until next week:

 

May your life be crowded with unexpected joys. May the Lord smile at you today. Be with someone who will make you laugh a little this week.

 

Dick, NBF, not a slave to fashion, the clock, or technology, saying, If you care for the Creator, care for His creation.

 

The Flying J Farm Motto: “Restoring the land, the buildings, and the people.”

Flying J Farm Website: www.flyingjfarm.com

 

"Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food."

Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine

 

"The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame and diet, and the causes of disease." Thomas Edison

 

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is a wonderful teacher, and he gives the farmer great wisdom.” Isaiah 28:29

 

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:23

 

“They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety," observed Benjamin Franklin, "deserve neither liberty nor safety”.

 

Sign over the door to Albert Einstein’s office at Princeton Univ: “Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts”

 

A government that is big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.  Thomas Jefferson

 

…to provide for the common defense, and to promote the general welfare.” Preamble to the US Constitution (Jensen note: It does NOT say “Provide for the general welfare” and that is why the USA has been so successful!)

 

expect a high yield.

Herbal Tea Recipes
Aside from use in cooking, all of the above herbs can be used to make aromatic potent teas. You may use the herbs individually or experiment with combinations. For example, to make a tea that soothes digestion and prevents bloating: Steep 1 teaspoon each of mint, rosemary, oregano, cilantro, sage and basil and in a cup of hot filtered water for five minutes.

Other herbal teas that can bring big benefits to your health are my specially formulated Ancient
Treasures tea and Internal Cleanse tea, which will gently cleanse your body of toxins and bring you emotional tranquility.

Grow Your Own
To grow your own herbs, all you need is some terra cotta pots with drainage holes, high-quality organic potting soil, and a window sill that gets at least six hours of light per day. A southwestern-facing window is your best choice for good light. If this isn't possible, you can get a few clamp-on reflector lights with compact fluorescent bulbs and place them about six inches away from the plant. Keep in mind that overwatering is the biggest mistake people make when trying to grow herbs inside. The rule of thumb is to let the herbs dry out completely, and then water. Beginning with baby plants will be less troublesome than starting from
seed. With practice, you will learn the best ways to grow and care for your indoor herbal garden.

I hope this article helps you make the most of herbs! I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

May you live long, live strong, and live happy!