Clare and I were out on our now increasingly regular Saturday morning walk with our dogs and I was expressing how beautiful the sun was on the new 3” layer of snow. I hearkened back to Februarys of 35-45 years ago when I found myself often in a mildly depressed state, suffering with Seasonal Affective Disorder. For the first 35-40 years of my life, I spent a lot of time in the future tense, in expectation of what was to come, and hardly able to really enjoy what was at hand around me. I was in the full swing of raising, with Jack, 4 children, running a non-profit, a farm, and activity in the local music community. There was plenty to keep me anchored in the present, but I missed the delight of living in the moment. Now, perhaps it is just a case of years on the planet, but I appreciate all the magic that is constantly occurring around me. I realize that if I live completely in the present, I can be the most effective and joyful iteration of myself. Bring on as many more snow storms as are waiting in the atmosphere. February is a hearkening time, full of the little signs of returning life, while still offering us the chance to enjoy the snow!
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Jack and I received so many thoughtful emails last week in response to my lead article of last Monday. I am truly heartened by the people who see the way forward in this world — in our smaller groupings of community up to the larger national and international stage — to be one of thoughtful listening, collaboration, and strong but considerate debate about how to lift all boats. I am grateful to be a part of this community.
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Florida Points the Way?
by Jack Kittredge
Healthy food advocates and small organic farmers can’t be blamed for being a little confused these days. The US government has for years been in bed with the giant food corporations and helped them push junk food sales. But it is now, all of a sudden, turning the food pyramid upside down and prioritizing fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy and meat instead of carbohydrates and grains, as well as restricting the use of highly processed seed oil ingredients and clamping down on synthetic food dyes. More moves toward a natural food supply are coming, to listen to the Department of Health and Human Services.
These are reforms long desired by such liberal icons as author Michael Pollan, and professors Marion Nestle and Joan Gussow. Yet the changes are being promulgated by what is seen as an otherwise conservative administration.
Now states are joining in this ‘health freedom’ movement, in some cases abolishing mandated medical procedures altogether, in others allowing religious or other exemptions. Recently in Florida a conservative Governor and his Surgeon General announced a campaign to inform state citizens about toxic materials in various processed foods. So far the state has focused on candy, baby formula, and bread.
Surprisingly, a number of popular sweets contain arsenic (the National Confectioners Association claims it is naturally occurring, but only in certain brands, apparently). Florida has published a list of 46 branded candies, giving the amount of arsenic contained in each and the FDA’s safe annual limit of consumer consumption of that poison for children and adults. For 3 Musketeers (my favorite as a kid) for instance, the limit is 2½ bars per year for kids, 20 for adults. For Hershey’s Cookies ‘N’ Crème the comparable numbers are 1 1/5 and 3 bars per year; for Tootsie Rolls, 8 and 20. For a number of the candies no risk has been identified. The list gives informed Floridians (and whoever else has a browser) the ability to make thoughtful decisions about buying candy.
Twenty-four baby formulas are rated for the extent to which they contain levels above the maximum daily limit set by the EPA for the toxins arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury. One brand contains excess levels of all four toxins (Similac Soy Isomil Powder) and eight tested free of them all. Ten exceeded one toxic limit, three exceeded two, and two exceeded three.
Six of the eight listed brands of bread contained glyphosate, the active ingredient in the herbicide Roundup. The four worst loaves were Nature’s Own Butter Bread, its Perfectly Crafted White, Wonder Bread’s Classic White, and Honey Wheat from Sara Lee. Two loaves tested free of the contaminant (Sara Lee’s Artesano White and Pepperidge Farm’s Farmhouse Hearty White.)
Even to read these lists makes one ashamed of our government, which has been allowing such violations to occur so broadly for so long. It gives a strong argument to those who believe only personal vigilance can guarantee good health. It also vindicates those who have raised questions about the credibility of our health agencies but been silenced for passing on ‘disinformation’.
We need a lot more spotlights like this. States should be encouraged to use their resources to publicize hard-to-obtain information which serves to empower the public. Whether such action is seen as liberal or conservative is unimportant. We need to recognize and support good leadership when we see it.
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I was pretty excited to receive share confirmations from five families this past week – Desiree’s, Anna’s, Rich’s, Katie and Jon’s, and Jennifer’s! Perhaps they can sense in the longer days and stronger sun that great vegetables are now on the horizon.
We appreciate your early order for a 2026 summer, fall, flower, or egg share now at the following link. https://mhof.net/community-supported-agriculture/
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Reason number 5 to join the MHOF CSA
At MHOF we pay very fair wages that start at $15/hour, but currently run between $18-$20/hr and our employees and volunteers receive our “health insurance” that includes a weekly share, breakfast and lunch, and snacks – true health insurance.
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We appreciate your early order for a 2026 summer, fall, flower, or egg share now at the following link. https://mhof.net/community-supported-agriculture/.
Please be advised that flower and egg shares are only available with a vegetable share, not as separate items.
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An Annual Homesteader’s Preservation Calendar
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Blanching Reminders:
- Cut vegetables into bite-sized pieces
- Wait until the water is boiling to immerse the prepared vegetables
- Start timing when the pot comes back to a boil. Watch for a change in color.
- Dump the blanched vegetables into a colander in the sink and rinse immediately with cold water. Rinse until the vegetables are cold.
- Squeeze any stray water out of the vegetables and store in favored containers in freezer.
Freezing broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower
Due to their chunky texture, these brassicas take around three minutes to blanch.
Greens
Spinach, Asian greens, chard, kale, collards, and cabbage only take a minute or two. We usually strip the kale and collards from their stems before cutting them up, and we cut out and discard the core from cabbages.
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Jennifer’s Recipe
CCF Spiced Turkey Nourish Bowl with Tahini Drizzle
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On Monday, Jim joined Danny and Stu on the chicken houses and they knocked out three frames for our three new houses.
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Matt continued on his massive tool organization project in the basement.
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I continue to be amazed at the fact that we are harvesting really tasty and high-quality greens from the Clare house, despite several nights of below zero temperatures and the plants only covered with one layer of Reemay.
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Clare and Paula and I focused on cleaning up the Clare and blue houses for replanting lettuce, Asian greens, chard, kale, collards and chard. Clare and Paula spread some calcium silicate in houses while I slept off having sliced my inner lip the day before when I fell down a ladder. Then they gave me a double massage before heading home at the end of the day.
Tuesday found Clare and me packing up a batch of beef stock (we farm-traded some peaches for beef bones with Ben at Chase Hill. Then we settled down to do computer work, sending out marketing info to former young layer and pork customers.
On Friday, we quickly knocked through our next batch of beef stock, thawed and processed into paste 10 lbs. of that kelp that was donated to the farm 2 years ago (we still have 20 lbs. in the freezer). Then we headed out to plant seedlings of lettuce, kale, collards, chard and Asian greens in the Clare and blue houses. We finished before noon. We also had time to put together and try out our new watering towers in both houses, and were able to run them simultaneously. They work famously, and we can’t wait to take the drip tape out of the houses and discontinue using it.
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Marj took a break from her website work (presently updating our staff pages) to catch all of us doing something of a food preservation project in the kitchen
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Amanda, Angie and Clare prepping for replanting the hoophouses
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The new sprayer working famously
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In the afternoon a rather fast snowstorm kicked up and we did some housecleaning, started a whole new batch of seedlings, and called it early for the day.
Julie
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Two happy farmers, back planting things again already
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