Summer can be a very fruitful time on the farm. Besides baling hay, the garden gets a start in producing its treasures. After the asparagus and rhubarb emerge and produce, the berry blossoms silently make their presence known. As the mature strawberry crop climaxes and declines, the June berries, the currants, and raspberries take to the fore. Yes, fruit is in the making … [Read more...]

“Recipe” for success: Raw milk benefits for your immune system “I love when my kids are sick,” said no mom ever. Playing mommy-nurse is hard. (Especially if you are sick!) My daughter had RSV as an infant. I spent countless nights watching her labored breathing, wondering what I could do to strengthen her struggling lungs. For many months after that, every cold she got … [Read more...]

Soon after wagon trains crossed the country, but B.C. (before computers) ; women saved recipes on index cards in special boxes. These were made of wood or metal and called recipe boxes. Don’t you love the logic of this? I collect recipes. I own 15 recipe boxes. The ones with advertising on them are the most valuable but most of them cost under $10. I used to organize recipes … [Read more...]

Farming Father’s Day Melodious bird songs, bright sunshine and the wide blue sky greeted us as my family awoke on this Father’s Day.  We all set out to prepare to attend church.  The grandchildren, their parents, my daughter and I busied ourselves to celebrate Father’s Day.  From all appearances we could expect to spend the day happily with Father. One of our number was … [Read more...]

Growing up, I lived several feet from the Root River and the Preston Soybean Mill.  Soybeans and water attract rats.  To combat the rats we always had pet cats.  They were all free, named Tabby, and died young from eating poisoned rats.  After moving away from the soybean mill we didn’t need the cats anymore. When I was a junior in high school, I had boyfriend who had … [Read more...]

It can be interesting to learn the history of a lifetime habit or a hobby.  Recently, I have been caning an antique rocking chair.  Its back and seat need to be caned.  I enjoy the weaving and the beauty I see when the project is done. I learned caning when we still had babies growing up in our house.  From my husband’s parents, we inherited a high chair that my husband’s … [Read more...]

As plant growers, we do all that we can to ensure happy, healthy plants are sent home with customers. We hope that the plants are installed immediately, watered in to settle the soil, and lovingly cared for all season long. Sometimes, however, Mother Nature has other plans for that particular plant. I lost quite a few plants this winter, likely due to the lack of insulating … [Read more...]