Local Farm Tour

In our area once a year 20 local farms open their doors and let people tour their farms.  We have been intending to do this tour for the last couple of years but for one reason or another we did not go.  This year however we purchased our "button" and took two days to meet, greet and shop from our local farmers... and I must say I'm delighted we did.

Of the twenty farms we visited 5.   It was a HOT weekend, so the first day I did not bring my camera but by day two I just had to bring it along as the kiddos were having so much fun and also needed a way to remember ideas for our own gardening efforts!

One of our first stops was a Worm Farm!  The boys thought this was absolutely super cool.  We have wanted to start composting... and have also had interest to add worms to that mix.  This was quite the process and the end result was beautiful lush goodness to add to your garden beds.  They sell these babies by the pound and we intend to head back.  Since it was our first stop on a 105 degree day~ hauling around worms in our van felt as though it wouldn't end well.

 The boys dug right in.  Anyone who knows my boys this is no surprise!  They got dirty and it was fun!  This particular farm ships their worms all over the place, so if you too are looking to add worms to your composting efforts or are interested in learning more you can check them out here:  http://www.earlybirdworms.com/

 Here we are sitting on the Happy Cow Creamery trolley.   This was for some reason a very emotional little trip through his farm for me.  I found myself thankful it was a bright day that required sunglasses as while Farmer Tom was sharing his story I started to get teary!  MJ really enjoyed this tour and this particular smile (though there were many) occurred when Farmer Tom was sharing his story.  To make a long story short - he was feeding his cows corn etc and at one point he was ready to loose his farm ~  milk quantity was really down...among some other problems.  He said that most people don't believe him but one day his cows knocked down his fences and started to graze on his fields and they only ate the tops of the grass.  After having the grass analyzed he found out that they were eating exactly what they needed to make the most nutritious milk (lab tested as well) and it also increased their milk supply! Anyway, I can only paraphrase but he said something to this degree. " I realized that they were eating as God created them to and I wasn't going to mess with it."  This was huge for MJ as he was recently reading labels while in the grocery store and picked up a jar of strawberry jam among the ingredients was red food colouring.  This upset him (as his brother has an allergy to it) and he said to me "Why mom?  God made the strawberries red ~ why do they have to add chemicals to this?"  When he heard Farmer Tom say God's way was perfect this was his smile of agreement. 

 Here Farmer Tom is sharing about his 12 Aprils grazing program.  It is such an amazing story!  If you want to check out his farm and read more about him click here:  http://www.happycowcreamery.com/

This was cute and also nice to know that in the future they are interested in getting up to milk a cow! 

Or a goat :)

So this last picture was product purchased on day one.  Though we do enjoy Happy Cow in our home the boys main milk is goats milk. We visited a goat farm which was just fantastic.  This trip was fun on so many levels.  Seeing the boys interact with the goats and watching my youngest who can't have cows milk dive into goat deliciousness at the sample table just brought a smile to my face.  We came home with a couple soft cheeses goat yogurt, milk, feta and FUDGE!  I think this little face says it all!  If you want to check out Split Creek Farm click here:  http://www.splitcreek.com/

This farm tour was such an incredible experience for our family.  Not only did we get to mingle with our local farmers and purchase fresh goodies but my boys had the awesome opportunity to see aside from our own little garden what farm to table is all about!  This is an annual event and we most definitely intend to tour again next year!

He is a shield to all who trust in Him......

I'm going to be quite honest this week was tough in our house.  I have been tested on where my hope lies and whom I'm trusting in.  Now I would love to say  "Well of course.. I am child of the King!  I trust in Him! " and though I do sometimes my actions don't speak that.   I have to repent and ask the Lord to truly help me trust in Him and not rely on what I can do!  I think as a Mom my immediate response to everything is make it better and to fix it! But being faced with something that my hands can do nothing about and my words cannot reason away...it hurts my heart deeply.   I don't know why it takes a moment like this for me to get it... BUT it is in these moments that because I AM His child ,when I lift my eyes and heart to Him... He NEVER fails to lift me to my feet and speak His truth to my heart.  So what can my hands do?   And my words?  Raise them and pray to my heavenly father who knows exactly what we need.   We see him at work and as we wait for our miracle.... I am so truly thankful and overwhelmed as I see my boys hearts grow closer to Christ.   And to see our family strengthened through this time in the truth and hope we have in Christ I am forever grateful.   He is working things out for our good and His glory.  He is never shocked or burdened at what we bring to the foot of the cross.  There is so much comfort in knowing when we come to Him, He is there to meet us....

I don't know what your week looked like or what you might be facing....  I pray that you  may find encouragement from this scripture....


Psalm 18:28-30 ~ For You will light my lamp; The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.  For by you I can run against a troop and leap over a wall.  As for God His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. 

Mom these are delicious!!! - so of course I must share!!

So recently on a shopping trip with the boys I wandered from my list in my thoughts and I found myself thinking about rice crispy treats....  After picking up a pack of marshmallows I felt a familiar feeling rise up in me.... surely I can make these myself!  So... having only purchased brown rice crisps from the store once we got home I started some research.  I was delighted to find a recipe from Martha Stewart.  Now to back up a tad... I personally don't like marshmallows aside from the occasional campfire I personally don't think they taste all that good... BUT these I must say are yummy and were actually quite simple to make.  I did make a change as I am not a fan of corn syrup so I substituted brown rice syrup and I am quite happy with the results.  OK here is the recipe!

Ingredients:


2 1/2 tablespoons unflavoured gelatin
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup brown rice syrup
2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract (skip the artificial one I promise you won't regret it!)
1 cup cold water divided
Icing sugar for dusting

Directions:
1.  Combine gelatin and 1/2 cup water in the bowl of an electric mixer with wisk attachment. (I don't own one my hand held mixer worked just fine).  Let stand for 30 min.

2.  Combine granulated sugar, brown rice syrup, salt and 1/2 cup water in a small heavy saucepan; place over low heat, and stir until sugar has dissolved.  Wash down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to dissolve sugar crystals.

3.  Use candy thermometer; raise heat to high.  Cook without stirring until it reaches 244 degrees.  Immediately remove pan from heat. 

4.  With mixer on low speed, slowly pour syrup into the softened gelatin.  Increase the speed to high; beat until the mixture is very thick and white and has almost tripled in volume.  (about 15 min) Add vanilla; beat to incorporate. 

5.  Dust a 8x12 inch glass baking pan with icing sugar.  Pour marshmallow mixture into the dish.  Dust the top with icing sugar; I slightly giggled the pan until the top was smooth... you can also wet your hands and pat it smooth and dust it again with icing sugar.  Let it stand over night uncovered to dry out.  Turn out onto a board and cut marshmallows... however you wish... I cut them in to small cubes, large squares and even used a heart cookie cutter - the options are endless :)  The sides will be sticky so lightly dust with more icing sugar and you're done!

Now if you want to make the crispy treats...  simply skip step five and add a rice crisp cereal and then pat into large square pan.  I dusted the top with icing sugar to keep it from sticking to my hands.  These little treats are super delicious and my boys kept coming back asking for more!