Garden time!

I love to garden! I love to see things grow!
I couldn't imagine being a farmer or gardener and not believing in God! We know that we don't " grow" anything! We don't give life to plants! We can only do our best to present the proper conditions for a seed to sprout and become a plant that bears fruit!
It is a wet year so far. I think the last frost will soon be behind us.
The peas are up and the radishes- the lettuce is peeking through as well. The first of the kale is about ready to harvest!
We're attempting to grow our potatoes in hay this year! We will let you know how that goes!
So what are you planting and how does your garden grow??

Organic

  What exactly IS organic? Well, it is not likely what you think it is.
  Most people, who don't know any better, think organic is (for example) a vegetable grown in dirt that isn't dirty and without any kind of pesticide.
  Hmm. Well, unfortunately, most people who buy 'organic' are buying it from the grocery store. And, news alert, the USDA has a very different definition of organic than what you might expect.
  One dictionary definition of organic is as follows;

or·gan·ic

[ awr gánn ik ]

1. of living things: relating to, derived from, or characteristic of living things
2. developing naturally: occurring or developing gradually and naturally, without being forced or contrived
3. intrinsic: forming a basic and inherent part of something and largely responsible for its identity or makeup

Specifically looking at number 2, we get the idea that an organic vegetable would be allowed to develop normally and naturally, without being altered in the first place (GMO) or smothered with pesticides. That would seem to be 'not contrived'.
  Here is how the USDA defines organic;
The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) defines organic as follows:

Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled "organic," a Government-approved certified inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too

  Did you see that very uncomfortable word "MOST"? It glares out at me like a sore thumb and is evident of a lot of wiggle room...
  If you google 'Which pesticides does the USDA allow to be used on organic vegetables", this is what you will find;
 

Allowable Synthetic Substances in Crop Production

Ethanol and isopropanol are allowable alcohols for use as disinfectants and sanitizers, all important in keeping irrigation systems uncontaminated. Permitted chlorines are calcium hypochlorite, chlorine dioxide and sodium hypochlorite, commonly used in food production to kill bacteria. In addition, copper sulfate is allowed for the killing of algae and unwelcome mosses in heavily irrigated crops like rice, but is limited in application to once every two years. For the extermination of pests and insects, USDA allows the use of boric acid and ammonium carbonate, as long as they are trap-based and have no contact with crop or soil

 
  This my friends, is not my definition of organic.
  And honestly, local home gardens are not much better most of the time. People think that because a vegetable is grown 'at home' that it is automatically better.
  The problem is though that most home gardeners use Sevin dust. Did you know that Sevin dust is illegal in the UK?
  To quote a UK website;

Legal Status

The active ingredient in Sevin dust, carbaryl, is banned in the United Kingdom and has been since 2001, after a review of the safety of organophosphate acetyl cholinesterase inhibitors and carbamate, of which carbaryl is one.

 

  Somehow that doesnt sound organic OR safe.

What then is the solution????

  Dont get me wrong; it is a great alternative to buy organic veggies at the store when your other option is commercial products. This should definitely be a first step in building up our health.

  And unfortunately, at the local farmers market in the summer, the veggies you buy may be just at toxic as commercial brands. So you must ASK.

  There is something more to think about as well, just because a farm is not 'certified organic' they may offer the safest, cleanest , most non toxic food you have ever eaten!

  'Certified Organic' is a designation you apply for from a govt agency. They determine the standard. Remember, their standards for organic are not the same as what your standard may be. Certainly not mine! Just because a farm is not 'certified organic' doesnt mean a thing! That is right...

  I know many farmers who are completely natural, use no chemical toxic pesticides and I even know a couple who are 'beyond organic'....we will save that topic for another day. On the other hand, an old couple who live nearby and have a garden every year,and have the most toxic vegetables imaginable! They freely use the very Sevin dust that is illegal in other countries!

  Be safe and dont be sorry. KNOW YOUR FARMER! Look for a local CSA~Ask questions when you go to a farmers market. And by all means dont discount healthy clean food because someone isnt certified organic.

  When all else fails, if you cant find safe food.....grow your own! We are inundated with pollution and pesticides more than we ever have been in history. And to add insult to injury, commercial production of vegetation begins with an unnatural GMO seed. How corrupt the food chain has become!

  So do your fearfully and wonderfully made body a favor. Find and eat truely organic food! Clean, safe food. Your body will thank you!

Lemon Balm!

My Lemon Balm is up and beautiful already!
It is truly one of my favorite herbs! It can be used as a refreshing tea, or it can be used to make a healing oil!
We make double infused lemon balm oil. It heals scraped or scratched up skin.
One year a friend of ours got a rope burn on his hand and while I was away the girls gave him double infused Lemon Balm for his wound. He liked it so much he kept the bottle!
I would have offered a comfrey ointment had I been there but the Lemon Balm was sufficient for his injury.
To make Infused Lemon balm oil, you can use fresh or dried lemon balm. I use fresh of course. Infusing is a matter of warming ( not boiling) an herb in oil for a couple of hours. Double infused simply means doing it twice!
I use almond oil or olive oil. In my opinion, olive oil that is less " virgin" the better. The less virgin the oil is, the higher temperature the oil can bear.
Personally I use a mini potpourri crock pot looking appliance. This keeps the oil steadily warm without getting too hot.
I use about 2 cups of oil and stuff in as many bruised ( crush them with your hand) leaves as the oil can sustain. After 2 hours of gentle nearly hot warming , I remove the leaves and press the excess oil out of them, into the oil. I then get a batch of new leaves and do it again.
If you make a large batch of your oil as I do, I suggest you either add the contents of two vitamin e capsules, or a dropper full of Rosemary extract. Either one will act as a preservative.
Enjoy Spring and may Your garden grow!

Non-GMO seed

  Ok so GMO is a big issue for us. All you need to do, to discover the heath issues related to GMO foods, use google. This is not the blog for 'rewriting' all of the scientific research that has been done and gone into proving GMO's dangers to our health...not to MENTION our land...
  So what about us who are trying to do our part and buy non GMO seed? How hard can that be right? WRONG! I spent over an hour online today reading various articles, legislation, blogs etc. I finally ended up at a website or blog.....named Occupy Monsanto.
  Here this person is trying to inform us as well as possible, about the potential GMO seed being sold by 'orgnaic' seed companies. Im sure this took a lot of time and by the time I read everything I once again confirmed to myself that the only safe seed we can buy is right here in MO from Baker Creek.
  My husband spent the better part of 2 hours talking with the owner of Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co, Jerr, the other day. He is very concerned about GMOs and does an amazing job of providing PURE seed. There are many things in the works to make sure we can preserve non GMO seeds in the future as well.
   So on this Occupy Monsanto website, there was a commenter, who was so irritated that a wrong word or phrase was being used by someone.....it was said that 'Monsanto owns these seed companies'...the commenter was irritated because , no Monsanto doesn't own them and he said it makes us sound like we are idiots....REALLY? Ok, so from a company standpoint, Monsanto may not OWN these seed companies that say they are organic yet they use GMO...but I have a news alert for ya...Monsanto is virtually owning us all!!
   Our food production, our poor health and our bleak future! So go ahead and get all irritated and technical about wording if you want but there is more truth to that misstatement than I care to realize!

  I think the pressure needs to be on the seed companies to CONVINCE US, PROVE TO US, REASSURE US, SOLICIT US with the fact that they are NON GMO seed providers. If they dont care to be maligned or misquoted or misrepresented then they need to be forthcoming and declare that they will not buy GMO seed. We are the consumer and if you are an organic seed company then you already know there is  a market for that. How can it be that Monsanto has GMO seed in an organic seed company? There is even questions as to whether those who have signed the safe seed pledge are up to date...Some companies were non gmo when signing but now they are not.
  So what is the solution to all of this? Do your homework, find NON GMO seed, and then save your seed.
  If you are anywhere in Iowa growing non gmo seed corn...well, pay attention to who your neighbor is or your corn will become infected.
  There is a lot of work to do and a lot of battles to fight in regards to the protection of our food. I suppose it goes along with our politics though. We want the govt to do everything for us. Now we want them to feed us too. News alert....our govt doesn't feed us any better than they can balance a checkbook...

Tornados and Winds and Rain O my!!

Well the twisty time of year is here.
Currently there have been several tornadoes in Arkansas and now Mo.
I nearly posted about the warm humid weather and how it reminds me of tornado weather..... !
The rain came down in torrents for a while, the wind was intimidating in the least .
I recall a few years ago when we had flat winds that flattened huge trees in a line for miles!!
So I was ready for winter to be over, and now Im ready for twister weather to be done, I really don't care for the dreadful hot summer- hmmm.
I think I'll focus on giving thanks in all things instead of just waiting for the next season to end. After all, godliness with CONTENTMENT is great gain!

Please help a dear friend in need!! And get some great soap too!!!

Have you read about all the harmful ingredients in store-bought soap yet the thought of making your own is too intimidating? Would you like to wash with a gentle lather safe enough for a baby's skin? Then let me introduce you to Mae’s Handcrafted Natural Soaps. These natural soaps made with real tallow will delight your senses! Mae lovingly makes all her soaps in small batches to ensure the highest quality. She uses the best of the best ingredients: real tallow is gentle on your skin while at the same time is used for the bar's hardness, which means it doesn't get mushy in the shower. Olive oil is added for further gentleness along with a touch of coconut oil for a fluffy lather. Only high quality soap scents or essential oils are used, and even then they are added with a light hand. Mae's bars give you an absolutely delicious scent you can enjoy in the shower, without becoming obtrusive during the day. Even her coloring agents are of a natural origin. These unique combinations make long-lasting, gentle bars that your whole family will love.

You Can Win Natural Handcrafted Soap!

Would you like to win some of Mae's Natural Handcrafted Soap for yourself? Well, here's your chance! Enter below and be one of SIX winners for a $25 credit that you can use to chose your favorite soaps from Mae's delicious selections.
a Rafflecopter giveaway This review and giveaway is on behalf of a dear friend and sister in Christ who unexpectedly lost her beloved husband in February of this year. He left Mae and a young son behind, reeling from their loss. Mae’s husband had been out of work for a year, living off of a small military pension. The family, understandably, had to cut back on expenses - one of which was their life insurance policies. His sudden death now leaves Mae and their son with very little income (less than a couple hundred dollars a month). Because of different personal situations, she is currently ineligible for benefits like Social Security. Mae homeschools their son, and thanks to The Home School Foundation, she will receive a grant to cover homeschooling supplies and curriculum. She is asking the Lord to provide for her son and herself through her small businesses, one of which is making soaps and other body products. As you can see, the situation is dire for this sweet widow and her son, but we know that God is able to do more than we could ever think, or ask (Eph. 3:20), and we hope that you will consider joining up with us to help our dear friend by supporting her business. We're asking you, dear readers, to seriously consider the call of James 1:27—to care for widows and orphans and consider Mae's Handcrafted Natural Soaps for your next soap purchase.

Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. James 1: 27

Anyone who knows Mae is touched by her. She is an incredibly godly woman, who acts as a Titus 2 mentor to those who know her. She is loved so dearly and we want to do all we can to support her during this incredibly difficult time! Please pass this on by sharing this giveaway on Facebook and Twitter.

 

If you'd like to give a donation, you can send via Paypal to RaymondBenevolentFund@gmail.com. Please remember to choose "Personal" giving so the Raymond family doesn't incur fees with your donation. If you need more details on how to do this, please contact sarahevan5@aol.com and she'd be happy to send you directions.

A big thank you to all the bloggers participating: Ann @ DuctTapeandDenim.com Anne @ Authentic Simplicity Tara @ Everyday Ramblings of My Life Jill @ Jill's Home Remedies Sara Elizabeth @ A Mama's Story Gail @ The Imperfect Housewife Renee @ I Am The Clay Del @ Devote & Seek Jill @ Blessed Beyond a Doubt Rebecca @ Rebecca's Ramblings Hilary @ Accidentally Green Marci @ Amazing Graze Farm Susan @ Learning and Yearning Erin @ The Humbled Homemaker Justyn @ Creative Christian Mama Chelsea Rebecca @ For Unmarried Christian Women Chelsea Rebecca @ Hearts for Home Paula @ Whole Intentions Amy @ A Heart Surrendered Blog Bambi @ In the Nursery of the Nation Dana @ Clan Chris Dean Kristen @ Smithspirations Caroline @ The Modest Mom Blog Alicia @ Walking In Faith Stephani @ The Cheapskate Cook Amber @ Homemaker by Choice Marci @ Thankful Homemaker Katie Sullivan @ Brighton Park Blog Anjanette @ Raising the Barrs Pam @ Mom Does Reviews Kristy @ Little Natural Cottage Stacy @ Something Whimsical Natalie @ Visionary Womanhood Paula @ Beautiful Life of Joy Rachel @ Of Love and Beauty Reagan @ The Arsenal Kelly @ Generation Cedar Kelly @ Practical Savings Stacy Karen @ A Delightful Home Kristen @ Five in Tow Diana @ A Little Bit of Spain Elizabeth @ Yes They Are All Ours Jacque @ Deep Roots at Home Karrilee @ Abiding Love, Abounding Grace Karrilee@ Blessed Memories Scrapbooks by Karrilee Shawnee @ The Apronista Adrienne @ Whole New Mom Janine @ True Aim Education Kathryn @ Singing Through the Rain Alicia @ Fun Reviews and Giveaways Deborah @ A Delightful Glow Stephanie @ The King's Bookworm Christy @ The Simple Homemaker June @ A Wise Woman Builds Her Home Shadedlily @ With Them Joy @ Artful Homemaking

Tartan Day!

Ok so my post is a couple of days late! We had a great time on Tartan Day!
We did a dance demonstration in St Charles and danced on the main stage. We had a great time but the wind was awful!
Tartan Days celebration is always such a fun event! We love seeing our friends and making new ones!

Heirloom Seeds

I do hope and pray that you only use heirloom non GMO seeds!
We are blessed to live very near to the famous Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Farm! No worries,they sell over the Internet and everyone has access to the best seed!
Hubby had a great long talk with Jer the owner about big bad Monsanto and current legislation here in Mo that affcts all of us and our future food security.
Aside from the health dangers of GMO seed, we need to realize that a hybrid seed is one in which, the seed from it cannot produce more fruit/ veggies-
God put seed within food that produces after its own kind- GMO alters and destroys that fundamental order. What good is a seed that won't produce?
So enjoy your gardens this year and may you plant non GMO seed!

This is the day........?

The world looks particularly ugly this morning. Monsanto, abortion, heinous crimes and threats, multiple constitutional violations, the enemy rages. It is no false rumors flying around either. Very real issues.
Comfort being- There is nothing new under the sun and our God reigns.
One of the dearest truths I hold is the fact that our Risen Saviour is Sovereign. He rules in the affairs of man. He is the Alpha and the Omega. In the beginning was God- He is with us now- He lives and reigns forevermore at the right hand of the Father and ever lives to make intercession for us.
Whew!!!And I thought it was going to be a bad day. Looks like the Son is shining after all and I just didn't see it. Thank you Lord.
THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HATH MADE I WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!

Fast food anyone?????

  Fast food! Yes I said it! And I mean it! You have to agree that there are just some days that are busy right? Some days that you don't have time to put a square meal on the table! So in that case, there is nothing to be done other than, fast food....
  However, not all fast food is created equally! Fast food doesn't have to be gmo, garbage, toxic laden and plastic! There are even healthy alternatives to fast food.
  For example, we got in around dinnertime, had to get half of the kids out the door to a dance, another child out the door to milk, say hello to the little who I hadn't seen most of the day, take a call, then strain the milk that came in then .....whew! I'm tired how bout you?  So fast food it is! All of these things by the way could be used on the go as fast food as well!
  So for dinner we had, hard  baked eggs, leftover rice, fruit and cold veggies. If I had cheese I would have thrown that in as well. Top it all off with a big glass of fresh farm milk. It was quick and easy and healthy. Home grown or organic food, fresh and fast. What kind of healthy fast food items do you use in your house?

A lovely spring Day????

Not! But a few of the kids and grand kids enjoyed a day of riding anyhow!
We can not keep the two year old off of the horse!
The day after this wet and depressing looking day , we were able to burn off the garden and put mulch around the trees.
We have our third raised bed prepared and the spinach will be joining the kale outside, tomorrow!
Three of the little kids started their garden plot! Little ones are so faithful with their gardens! Our 5&7 year olds grew 12 watermelon plants last year! They love it so be sure and let them have their own space out there! They help with the main garden as well if course! They are learning skills for a lifetime by gardening. Our children know by age 6 what a weed is and isn't! I'm pretty sure I was 30 before I knew that!
So were all mucking along in this wet weather and not letting it put a damper on our upcoming gardening season! Tomatoes are in our mini greenhouse, herbs growing in pots on the window sill and kale already in the garden!
What are you doing with your garden so far???