Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home. -- Edith Sitwell

Time to Relax a Little

Doing chores is fairly simple these days because the cattle and sheep are in the corrals, and the laying hens are in their berm barn. The farmers need to make sure there's enough feed for everyone and everyone is getting enough, and that the water isn't frozen. All of the animals have comfy straw packs in their shelters and seem to be taking this cold weather in stride. The farmers aren't complaining, either, even though it is frosty. But, they don't need to spend too many hours out in the cold most days.

With fewer chores, there's more time for working out in the gym, after all, no one wants to lose the fine form they developed during the summer while moving fences, chasing livestock, hauling irrigation pipes, weeding and harvesting gardens, and working nonstop on one thing or another. Long summer days mean long hours of labor.

Now, with it being dark by dinner, instead of putting more hours in the field, the farmers have exchanged their hoes and shovels for strings, keys, and skins. The recently finished Harvest Haven Harmony House (studio) is rocking. It's a small space with loud instruments, but everyone is enjoying the jam sessions.

The other evening Victor joined the band and sang one of his songs, which they've been practicing. The musicians have been working hard and it was evident by a pleasant performance. Lots of love and laughter.

Our friend, Peter Fiorino, who is a gifted creative, produced a series about local artisans. He included a segment with Martin demonstrating how to make naturally-leavened bread and bake it in our wood-fired brick oven.

Enjoy Peter's superb production.

Harvest Haven Pastured Ground Lamb – Ground lamb makes for an interesting flavor change and can be used as an alternative in most ground beef recipes. Harvest Haven lamb is completely pasture-raised on a variety of lush grasses and Grander Living Water. Tender and tasty.

Harvest Haven Spaghetti Squash – This seemingly ordinary winter squash has an extraordinary texture. After cooking, the mild-flavored flesh comes out in strands like spaghetti. It goes well with a variety of flavored sauces, such as marinara, pesto, curry, or simple butter/garlic/Parmesan cheese.

Organic Inari Couscous, 800 g – This North African staple is small steamed granules of rolled durum wheat semolina. Semolina flour is extremely high in gluten and a common flour used in pastas, as it creates firm noodles and isn't as sticky as many other flours. Couscous is a blank canvas that can take on any flavors you like.

Organic Lemons – Lots of love for lemons! Lemons with their distinct, pleasant taste and smell are used in many foods and drinks to enhance the flavor of that dish or drink. Besides being an important ingredient in many recipes, lemons also provide several health benefits, like most real foods.

Harvest Haven Frozen Strawberries – Picked in the summer at the peak of perfection, they are bursting with goodness and flavor. Blend into your favorite smoothie, make into a bright red sauce, bake in a tasty dessert, or thaw slightly for a refreshing snack.

Anita's Organic Rolled Oats – Nothing says breakfast like a steaming bowl of oatmeal on a cold winter morning. Rolled oats lend a chewier texture to oatmeal and are excellent for making granola or adding to baking.

Please note, all ingredients in our recipes are organic.

Knowing Who's Boss

All animals have a pecking order to keep their lives amenable. Usually, it can be obvious which one is the boss. In the beef herd, it's Holly with the horns, and she knows how to use them on the other cows to get her place at the feeder. With the sheep, it's Connie who is the oldest and largest. If she wants a spot at the feeder, she takes it. She is very well mannered, but doesn't take any guff from the other girls. Of the bulls, it's Bob because he's the biggest of the two. In the chicken barn, there's a boss hen, but who can tell one from the other, except Marseilles who knows nearly all of them by name.

Then, there's Gigantor, Konstantijn's pet ram. His name says it all. He was ginormous at birth and has a gigantic attitude to go with it. He's very friendly with people, but if you don't give him an immense amount of head scratching and hugs, he'll make sure to get your attention. And did I tell you that he's big?

Gigantor was put into the corral with Bob and Bill, our bulls, because he was too rough on Ivan and Walter, our other rams. Well, he let the bulls know who was boss, even though they are close to five times larger than he is. It's the attitude.

When the guys were moving the bulls around to another pen, Gigantor escaped to the ewe corral. It was wonderful to be with the girls! But it wasn't so wonderful for the other rams. Ivan is a small, gentle creature, and Walter, younger, had already been put in his place by Ivan, so was at the bottom of the pecking order. Ivan found some way to escape the pen and is now sleeping in the hay shelter beside the ewe corral, and Walter hangs out in the farthest corner away from The Boss.

When Igor, our Slovakian computer guy takes a turn to feed the animals, he and Gigantor end up having a tussle. Gigantor thinks Igor is playing with him and doesn't back down when being "told" to move out of the way. Igor throws up his hands in defeat and frustration.

What's even more frustrating for Igor is Konstantijn coming along, giving Gigantor a smack on the head, talking firmly to him, and getting this big guy's full submission. Just like that!

Now, who's the boss?