Got that Pecking Feeling

I tried to post this a while ago but the camera picture wouldn't transfer to the computer. I then got that to work but couldn't get the picture from the software to 'my pictures' so I could add the photo to the post....actually the photo was the post. I finally did get that to work but then couldn't get into this blog account to finally post this but figured it out and here we are...finally. At least I got this posted before all the snow melted for the winter....which we are happy to see disappear! Trying to get around to do chores (or anything) is major work when snow is this deep.

Anyway.......
I had to go over to the barn for a few weeks in Feburary to collect eggs during the day (a job I don't usually do) as John was busy at that time and couldn't do it. We had just had all the snow from the storms that had come through (over a foot of that white stuff) so walking over there got my boots well covered with snow.

When I walked into the barn, I had the fan club greet me at the door and every time I would stop long enough to collect the eggs (or do anything else), I could feel pecking at my feet. They were all pecking the snow of my boots.

I am not sure if they like snow or if it's a novel thing to do....maybe a little of both. The hens do have access to the outdoors in the winter so they could go out there and peck at it all day as there was plenty of it but I guess it's funner this way. There wasn't many going out there anyway with this amount on the ground.....it was over their head.

A Wedding & A Trip

It has been a long while since I have posted something here....sorry about that. We had a very busy summer & fall. I thought I would catch you up with something that happen. I hope to get back to posting here more as things have quieted down now.

First-- John and I had our 25th anniversary trip scheduled for Oct.
Second--Nathan had become engaged to Jessica Hilliker at Christmas time 2008 and was going to get married in 2010 but they decided in the spring to change the wedding to Sept 2009.....our schedules now became more busy in many ways.

THE WEDDING:
I don't have a lot of photos yet of the wedding to share as some of mine are still on the roll of film waiting to finish and be developed....yes I used roll film....the kids were taking the digital camera on their honeymoon.

The wedding was to be next door to us outside in the back yard in the pine trees between our yards---Nathan was marring the neighbor girl- everyone would be facing our yard. Here are the guys a little before everything started. Chad (standing next to Nathan) was his brother's best man.


The scene for guest setting about a hour before everyone arrived. It was a nice sunny day and the wedding theme was tropical/palm trees but it was a bit cool out and by the end was not feeling tropical at all.


The happy couple after the wedding greeting guests...taking a brief moment here for a picture.

The reception was at the fairgrounds and the kids took their honeymoon in Florida...continuing the tropical/palm tree theme.
They still live in Wellington now but with Nathan married it has caused us to adjust what we do here for farm issues as he will not be here for the day-to-day operations. We are still adjusting to that in what we want to do and not do and also trying to figure out how this will all work in the long run.


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THE TRIP:
Our trip was to go to Santa Barbara--the American Rivera . The reason for here was it had a Mediterranean feel to it but also it boasted of 92% blue sky days with the average temps being in the high 60' and low 70's. As it turned out, a storm moved in from the coast and it rained while we were there and the temps were cooler than normal. The last time it had rained there was about a year ago. Irrigation is the only thing that keeps everything alive. If you did see a green patch out in the farm land, it was probably hay and it HAD to be irrigated. We drove around the country side and saw no grass-fed beef anywhere..... the grass everywhere was brown.

We stopped at their year-round farmer's market and that was interesting seeing things you would never see here....like avacodos, oranges, lemons, several kinds of nuts...and yes they had California strawberries. We bought some and they didn't taste any better than the stuff you get in the stores around here. I felt sorry for them as they might never know what a real strawberry is suppose to taste like.


This is a pic of West Beach (Pacific Ocean), Santa Barbara and the mountains behind them. If you notice the mountians are not too green looking at all because they had had some wildfires up there not too long ago. When it rained, they were worried about mud slides. We now know why they have so many wild fires out there...no rain.


We found a little park above the city that gave us a very nice vista of the Rivera. We stayed here a good while and enjoyed the view, sun and the quiet.


Santa Barbara actually faces south so you need to make an effort to see the sun set in the west. On a few different occasions, we went to a park on the west side and climbed down the cliff and watch people on the shore below, the activity in the water (which wasnt' much) while we waited for sunset. No irrigation here.....you can see the brown grass.....the green you do see are shrub like things.

Another end to a day. Sunset over the Pacific Ocean....the last of the sun for the continental US.

Mrs Obama's Garden

Who knew that putting in an organic garden at the White House would cause such a stir?

Michelle Obama wanted to plant a garden in the White House lawn to promote the eating of fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy diet and bring awareness to the local food system....and she wanted their garden to be an organic garden.

Well--she heard some grumbling from some of the agibusinesses and they don't like it.

"For too long, the ag guys have said, If we raise it you're gonna eat it. You don't have options," says Mitchell. "Well, now we have options."

The pesticide peddlers are not happy with Michelle Obama. The Mid America CropLife Association, which represents agribusinesses like Monsanto, Dow AgroSciences and DuPont Crop Protection, does not appreciate the Frist Lady's organic garden at the White House.

According to a spokeman, "While a garden is a great idea, the thought of it being organic made [us] shudder." The Association wrote a letter to Mrs Obama encouraging her to consider using "crop protection products" and "to recognize the importance of agriculture to the entire U.S. economy."

In a press release, it asked, "What message does that send to the non-farming public about an important and integral part of growing safe and abundant crops to feed and clothe the world--crop protection products?"

It is also asking its own members to send letters to the First Lady.

STOP! HR 2749

Urgent Action Alert!!!
New Food Safety Bill HR2749

Background Information
A new food safety bill is on the fast track in Congress-HR 2749, the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009. The bill needs to be stopped.

HR 2749 gives FDA tremendous power while significantly diminishing existing judicial restraints on actions taken by the agency. The bill would impose a one-size-fits-all regulatory scheme on small farms and local artisanal producers; and it would disproportionately impact their operations for the worse.

HR 2749 does not address underlying causes of food safety problems such as industrial agriculture practices and the consolidation of our food supply. The industrial food system and food imports are badly in need of effective regulation, but the bill does not specifically direct regulation or resources to these areas.
To read a detailed account of the bill, go to: http://www.ftcldf.org/news/news-15june2009.htm

Alarming Provisions:

Some of the more alarming provisions in the bill are:
* HR 2749 would impose an annual registration fee of $500 on any "facility" that holds, processes, or manufactures food. Although "farms" are exempt, the agency has defined "farm" narrowly. And people making foods such as lacto-fermented vegetables, cheeses, or breads would be required to register and pay the fee, which could drive beginning and small producers out of business during difficult economic times.

* HR 2749 would empower FDA to regulate how crops are raised and harvested. It puts the federal government right on the farm, dictating to our farmers.

* HR 2749 would give FDA the power to order a quarantine of a geographic area, including "prohibiting or restricting the movement of food or of any vehicle being used or that has been used to transport or hold such food within the geographic area." Under this provision, farmers markets and local food sources could be shut down, even if they are not the source of the contamination. The agency can halt all movement of all food in a geographic area.

* HR 2749 would empower FDA to make random warrantless searches of the business records of small farmers and local food producers, without any evidence whatsoever that there has been a violation. Even farmers selling direct to consumers would have to provide the federal government with records on where they buy supplies, how they raise their crops, and a list of customers.

* HR 2749 charges the Secretary of Health and Human Services with establishing a tracing system for food. Each "person who produces, manufactures, processes, packs, transports, or holds such food" would have to "maintain the full pedigree of the origin and previous distribution history of the food," and "establish and maintain a system for tracing the food that is interoperable with the systems established and maintained by other such persons." The bill does not explain how far the traceback will extend or how it will be done for multi-ingredient foods. With all these ambiguities, it's far from clear how much it will cost either the farmers or the taxpayers.

* HR 2749 creates severe criminal and civil penalties, including prison terms of up to 10 years and/or fines of up to $100,000 for each violation for individuals.

Action to Take:

Contact your Representative now! Ask to speak with the staffer who handles food issues. Tell them you are opposed to the bill. Some points to make in telling your Representative why you oppose HR 2749 include:

1. The bill imposes burdensome requirements while not specifically targeting the industrial food system and food imports, where the real food safety problems lie.

2. Small farms and local food processors are part of the solution to food safety; lessening the regulatory burden on them will improve food safety.

3. The bill gives FDA much more power than it has had in the past while making the agency less accountable for its actions.

HR 2749 needs to be defeated!! Please take action NOW.

To contact your Representative, use the finder tool at www.Congress.org or send a message through the petition system (the petition will be on our website this evening) at http://www.ftcldf.org/petitions_new.htm.
Or call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.
To check the status of HR 2749, go to www.Thomas.gov and type "HR 2749" in the bill search field.

FOOD INC.--the movie

Mark your calendars for July 3, 2009!
You will never look at dinner the same way again.


If you have not heard about it already, there is a new movie opening on June 12 that you might like to see! So far the only play date for the northeastern Ohio area is July 3 in Cleveland Heights @ the Cedar Lee Theatres.

One of the people staring in the movie is Joel Salatin and his Polyface Farm....the farm that Nathan apprenticed at a few years ago.

Watch movie trailer @ www.foodincmovie.com

SHORT SYNOPSIS OF THE MOVIE:

In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, insecticide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won't go bad, but we also have new strains of E. coli—the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults.

Features interviews with such experts as Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation), Michael Pollan (The Omnivore's Dilemma, In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto) along with forward thinking social entrepreneurs like Stonyfield's Gary Hirshberg and Polyface Farms' Joel Salatin, Food, Inc. reveals surprising—and often shocking truths—about what we eat, how it's produced, who we have become as a nation and where we are going from here.

MOVIE REVIEWS:
"Does for the supermarket what 'Jaws' did for the beach. "- Staff, Variety

"More than a terrific movie—it's an important movie." - Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

"A riveting cautionary tale. This is one movie that truly provides food for thought." - Patrick Goldstein, Los Angeles Times

"A cleverly written and well produced documentary. Kenner crafts an intelligent, visually compelling argument grounded in old-fashioned investigative research and journalism." - Maria Garcia, Film Journal International

"Excellent in every respect." - Pete Hammon, BoxOffice Magazine

BalloonFest 2009

I meant to post this earlier to give you more time to plan but my days got away from me.
This weekend (Saturday- June 13) Wellington is having its hot air balloon festival from 10am -10am and we wanted to let you know about it. It is going to be at the Lorain Co. Fairground so while your out checking out the balloons in our 'back yard', stop by and pick up some beef (or other farm products) while your in the area. Please contact us if you do decide to come. They are calling for some nice weather this weekend so it should be a good show. Hope you can make it.



*******From the Morning Journal -May 28 *********

Balloon Fest Takes Flight Next Month
By RON VIDIKA

WELLINGTON — On June 13, the skies above Wellington will be filled with hot air for the second annual Wellington Balloon Fest at the Lorain County Fairgrounds.

Howard Reynolds, co-organizer of the event, said last year's event had 11 hot-air balloons. This year, he said, there will be 18 balloons.

Balloon Fest begins at 10 a.m. with the start of children's games. There will be crafts, food and live bands, he said.

The balloons are slated to arrive at the fairgrounds at about 3 p.m., Reynolds said.
At about 6:30 p.m., the balloons will ascend and then return to earth at dusk, creating a "balloon glow.""They stay on the ground and a special burner gives out a bright orange flame and makes the balloon look like a light bulb," Reynolds said. "It's an awesome sight."

Cost of admission to Balloon Fest is $5 per vehicle. All proceeds will benefit the Lorain County Office on Aging.

Should there be inclement weather, the balloons will fly Sunday at 7 p.m.

There is a raffle for a hot-air balloon ride offered by the Lorain County Office on Aging and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program. Tickets cost $5 each and the drawing will be June 4 in the office of the Lorain County Office on Aging, Elyria.

To purchase a raffle ticket, stop by the office of the Lorain County Office on Aging at 320 Gateway Blvd., Elyria, or send $5 in care of the agency, 226 Middle Ave., Elyria, OH 44035. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope so the ticket can be mailed back.Deadline to purchase raffle tickets is June 3. For further information on Balloon Fest, call (440) 326-4800.

***Our hometown newspaper --The Wellington Enterprise****

A lot of Hot Air to Lift BalloonFest Attendees Saturday.

The skies over Wellington will be filled with balloons on Saturday. The Wellington Chamber of Commerce and the Lorain County Office on Aging is hosting its second annual BalloonFest held at the Lorain County Fairgrounds; gates open at 10 a.m. and the admission fee is $5 per carload.

In addition to the balloon exhibit, attendees can enjoy games, entertainment -- including Bald Paul & The Irish Rockers at 3 p.m. -- and food vendors offering a variety of culinary delights such as kielbasa, polish sausage, italian sausage, gyros, chicken pitas, and french fries.

The Lorain County Office on Aging will be holding an arts and crafts show in conjunction with the Balloon Fest. More than 30 crafters will be featured, including jewelry, loom weaving, wood carving, handmade purses, and more.

The balloons will launch at about 6 p.m. and the festival will culminate with a Balloon Glow at 10 p.m.

Sponsors of the BalloonFest include several organizations and businesses including Linden's Propane, Mike's Cash-4-Gold, and Weber Health Care Center.

All proceeds of the BalloonFest go to the Lorain County Office on Aging to fund programs for the senior citizens of Lorain County, including Meals on Wheels, monthly food deliveries, housekeeping, chores, and escorts to physicians' offices. Last year, more than $5,000 was raised.

Strawberry Time- 2009

We officially kick off the 2009 strawberry season this week.


Are you ever tempted to buy those big red (tasteless) strawberries in the store because you want to eat healthy? They might not be as healthy as you think. Actually-- you will more than likely be adding more toxins to your body than what they are worth!!

Did you know that those store strawberries are loaded with chemicals? It's true! Strawberries are at the top of the twelve most contaminated fruits and vegetables list (or also known as "The Dirty Dozen" list) ---the items you should always try to eat organically. Strawberry growers everywhere use large amounts of pesticides and fungicides (fungicides can be sprayed on the berries before they are shipped to help keep them from molding so fast). The end result is a popular fruit that contains a myriad of toxic chemicals.

According to the EWG (Environmental Working Group) peaches had the most pesticides overall, with some combination of up to 53 different pesticides found on the samples tested, followed by apples with 50 pesticides and strawberries with 38. That's 38 different kinds of pesticides that have been detected on strawberries. Peaches and apples had the most pesticides detected on a single sample, with 9 pesticides on a single sample, followed by strawberries and imported grapes where 8 pesticides were found on a single sample of each fruit.

The methodology used in nearly all the studies used to create the list (based on an analysis of 87,000 tests for pesticides on these foods conducted from 2000 to 2007 by the USDA and the FDA), tested the produce after it had been rinsed or peeled. This is an even bigger problem as far as strawberries go because you can't wash (or wash it well) or peel a strawberry. All that is sprayed on a strawberry is soaked right into the berry itself; it is like a sponge.

We're not going to get into the effects that pesticides have on the body right now or the known higher nutritional value that organic has over nonorganic as there are many places to find that info. Our main objective here is to point out that the buyer needs to be aware of this pesticide problem. You need to know where your strawberries are coming from and that organic is the best choice if you really want to stay healthy.

And what about our strawberries? They are grown organically which, in part, means we use no pesticides, fungicides, herbicides (weed killers) or the like on them. They are safe and healthy to eat.....and extra yummy!


And as far as our 2009 berry season.......

We think it is going to be a slower than normal year as there is going to be a limited supply....especially at the beginning. The reason you ask.... as it has been a nice spring? Our older patches don't have as many in them as they use to and the new patches were taken over by weeds this past summer.

As a result, we will only be opening the berry stand on an as-needed-basis. We think we will only be able to do phone and email orders this year (no u-pick) but if we have extras, we will put them at the stand and open for business on a first-come-first-serve basis. But for right now, we can't say if or how long that will last so ordering is still your best bet. If we do get enough to start putting them at the stand, we will post that here at the blog as an update....so check back often if you were looking to get some that way.

So if you want some strawberries this season from us this year, please us the 'Contact Us' post under 'Labels' to get our phone and email info, if you don't have it already.