I recently saw someone talking about their food, saying, “Why do farmers need to spend so much time and effort when most people just get their food from the grocery store anyway?” Grocery stores must have a great big manufacturing facility somewhere that takes air and turns it into all the food that you eat. I imagine that a grocery store would be kind of like that … [Read more...]

With the ripening of berries like currants, Juneberries, and especially raspberries, I have been reminded of past situations at berry time.  The following story taken from the book, “Tales From Heritage Farm” by Randall and Wenda Grabau illustrates such a memory. Judy, my mother-in-law, had a raspberry patch which I inherited when my husband and I moved onto Heritage Farm. I … [Read more...]

Eleven days ago, I held my dad’s hand while he took his last breath. After a 15-month battle with brain cancer, he stepped from earth into eternity with Jesus. In the last hours of his life, we hung on every breath as apnea caused long pauses between each one. Each pause brought the loudest silent words I’ve ever heard as we collectively wondered “was that his last one?” … [Read more...]

Have you ever been to an ice cream shop with freezers as far as you can see and thought, “I wish there were more flavors of ice cream in this shop. These 47 options are not enough. I think they need just one more flavor and then I would be satisfied.” I’ve served ice cream when there is one flavor and I’ve served ice cream when people had to pick between 10 different flavors. … [Read more...]

A brilliant, melodious song wafted over our yard.  It captured my attention since it highlighted a new song that I had not noticed on the farm before. Its music punctuated the chirps of sparrows, and the tunes of robins and various other birds.  The regulars in the birdy-choir making their homes on our farm greet us each morning, but our new neighbor adds a touch of color to … [Read more...]

Matches and lighter fluid in hand, I charged toward my bedroom like a bluefaced Mel Gibson in “Braveheart” yelling “They can take our lives, but they will never take our freedom!!!” At least,that’s how I wanted to feel. If you’re just joining us - we’re in the middle of a closet purging battle. Dawn from the Minimal Mom on YouTube told me that I would have more peace if I … [Read more...]

In case you haven’t noticed, it’s June! Time flies by so quickly that it circles the earth and laps me in my floating, flying machine. June has got to be one of my favorite months of the year. First of all, it’s Dairy Month! There’s no better time to come visit the farm and get some milk than June dairy month! Driving through winding valleys, to the top of towering bluffs, is … [Read more...]

Over the years, I have developed an interest in several different languages.  I have also enjoyed studying botany, the science of plants.  So when I learned from a naturalist at Forestville State Park that a particular, seemingly ordinary plant had its origin in France, I listened attentively.  Immigrants inadvertently introduced this plant onto the American landscape many … [Read more...]

“I guess I’ll have to start a nudist colony,” I told my husband. He didn’t seem to take my declaration seriously, so I figured I’d better amp it up. “I’ve been learning from Dawn at The Minimal Mom on YouTube and she said that if something isn’t an eight or higher out of 10, it isn’t worth owning.” Dawn explains how everything we own is talking (and sometimes screaming) at … [Read more...]