Harvest Haven Health - HERALD ISSUE 10

It is good to wait for something to mature before acting. Nutritious and immune-boosting, life-giving phytochemicals develop only in ripened fruits and vegetables. And only ripened fruits and vegetables are truly delicious. So we learn to wait patiently for things to arrive when they are ready. While there are times when I think the next issue of the Harvest Haven Herald is overdue, we now have the timing and substance for yet another issue. It comes with new things happening on every level and in no insignificant way for us.

Just what is Harvest Haven all about? Harvest Haven Market Farm is not primarily a business, organic or otherwise; it is not primarily (or even secondarily) a profit venture. I assure you, we can think of much easier and more effective ways to prosper financially. Harvest Haven is as its name...a haven, a provision and protection against the many and divers ills of this world. It is a haven for us and it is a haven that impacts all those who come in contact with us, whether or not they are granted to recognize and respect its physical, mental and spiritual value.

Some come and go without a word or purchase. Some come, express excitement, promise to return but never do. Some come and stay for a while, then move away, or those for whom they came die, not considering that while it is too late for those they tried to save, it is not too late for them. They lack the knowledge, foresight and conviction. But there are those who come, marvel, and return, realizing, in varying degrees, that they have struck on something unique and of substantial value to them and their loved ones. They continue to take advantage of their good fortune...and they prosper, many in physical health, and some in other ways as well. All have something to gain and to enjoy.

There are also those who are offended by the truth we speak, which we speak only for the good of the hearers, without charge or any requirement. They go their way the losers, saying, "It is your opinion, or your truth, not mine," but truth is truth, and we need to speak faithfully, prepared to let dissenters go. Contrary to the opinion of wanderers in darkness (which form the vast majority), mankind is not doomed to remain forever in the realm of opinion. Truth can be known with certainty and joy, as we have experienced ourselves. Our primary function is to do the right thing, to live before and for God. He has been wondrously merciful and good to us, though we are very undeserving of it. Therefore, we have a responsibility before Him, and we take it seriously, concerning our conduct toward our neighbor before Him. What we speak is every bit as important as what we do. Did not Jesus Christ say that for every idle word spoken, man shall give an account? Opinions are, for the most part, idle words. We need the truth, which, Jesus said, will make us free.

I want to confess to all that we are primarily interested in having a personal public shopping with us. We are not interested in people coming and relating to us as to a usual business, without regard for us as people, as neighbors, as friends. We are not interested in being disinterested in you. We want our store and farm to be a personally social affair, a life-satisfying one, in an atmosphere of give and take. We do not want people feeling as though they must be on the lookout for themselves when they deal with us, nor are we interested in dealing with those who seek to live only for their own advantage. In essence, it is not about business but about friendship and mutually loving our neighbor.

We are looking for sincere, concerned, dedicated partners. For one example (of many), in all our experimentations and searches for better ways to do things, in a world where such information and expertise is not readily available, we have had some tough circumstances...chickens that have been scrawny or too big. People have no idea what we must go through to get it right, retaining not only the taste, but also the true nutritional value and safety not necessarily retained by many organic producers, certified ones included, who are trying to survive as viable businesses, many of which have not survived long. We are looking for those who will bear with us through thick and thin, literally and metaphorically.

Here is another example: Recently, we brought in some wonderful, organic cherries, not cheap but large and flavorful. We have been accustomed to pitting them with a small tool, which is quite labor intensive, in a day when labor is costly and scarce. Seeking a more cost-efficient way, we purchased a more sophisticated tool…which did not work so well. By the time we realized it, the job was done and perhaps as much as 70% or more of the pits remained in the cherries. Could we sell them as pitted? No. We have had to process the unfrozen ones again but many will remain with pits because frozen. Will the nutrition, flavor and usefulness remain? Yes. Will our customers be willing to bear with us the inconvenience of pits? We hope we have "friend customers" who will do so. It is a matter of purpose and willingness, is it not?

What I am saying is that we seek to have friends who bear with us, people with whom we can freely, though not presumptuously, socialize with in an unselfish, and to varying degrees, a personal, meaningful manner. Business is not what life is all about. We want an atmosphere of a home rather than a business, a place where friends and neighbors drop by and not a mercenary, flattering institution where strangers come and go, and where both parties seek their own personal gain. Those who wish to keep their lives separate from ours in every respect can go to Safeway, Save-On, Wal Mart or Costco. There the clients are not in the least interested in the shareholders and management, and the shareholders and management could not care less about the personal welfare of their patrons. If it were otherwise, they would not be merchandising the many things they do to the public.

Is organic expensive? On the surface, it certainly may appear so, but essentially and realistically, it is a bargain of inestimable value. The nutrition is there, the health is there, the dining pleasure is there, the peace of mind (for those with knowledge and discretion) is there, the hope is there, and the financial value is there. What is not there? Not there is the poison, the danger, the deception of mock savings, the destruction, disease and death, the pretension of food.

Lies inevitably lead to death. Conventional food today, by and large, is a lie, a slow murder, a game of "Russian Roulette" with a bullet in every chamber, a genocide of enormous proportions. What does it matter if the bullet takes ten years, as long as it is headed in the destructive direction? Are not one in two persons now on Cancer's "to do list"? Where do you think its agents are if not in the food and water consumed, the air breathed, and the personal and household care products used indiscriminately?

Our purpose is to inform and to befriend all those who are found to be serious about doing the right thing; it is not to "get your business." Therefore, when you visit our store, know that you are visiting us. Be prepared for some personal interrelationships, tolerable and decent familiarity. Is not such a thing a blessing? Of course, it is! Who does not need friends, or who has too many?

What's New?

We finally have our web site up. It is www.harvesthaven.ca. Go there for almost anything you need to know about what we have and us. Suggestions much appreciated.

We now have a turkey operation, hopefully. Our turkey supplier, because of the difficulties in raising turkeys, has decided to go the way of many organic producers...out of production. We have thus been forced either to market what we considered to be less than satisfactory, though certified organic, turkey, at considerably higher prices, or raise our own. Fifty thousand dollars later, we have entered yet another learning curve, raising what we hope to be truly organic and delicious birds, available by Thanksgiving Day. So far, after seven weeks, we have lost almost half of them, though it seems we are doing all the right things. Few people know what organic farmers, or even conventional farmers, face or what it takes to bring quality organic food to them.

Most of you now know that since the last Herald issue, we purchased a ten-foot wide display cooler, which is now packed with delicious goodies of all sorts. We have new freezer organization, new packaging, new fixtures, a new layout, and new products.

New Products!

Magnetico Sleep Pads

Are we making a lot of people happier and healthier with these or what! Dr. Dean Bonlie of Calgary has left his mark for the good here. We are being healed!

Sunrider Herbal Products

Where have we been?! Sunrider has been around for decades already, a proven herbal product line and only now do we make it available to you?! Our apologies and enthusiastic urge for you to experience the benefits of Sunrider's many excellent products, as we have! You'll see!

Avalon Organic Personal Care Products

Using organic personal care products is almost as important as eating organic food. What goes on your skin goes into your body! Do your family and yourself a great favor. Avalon too is proven safe, effective and pleasurable.

Intime Powdered Deodorant

We have tried many deodorants, but few as simple, effective, and long-lasting as this wonderful product developed by a lady in Calgary with a need and desire for safe, effective protection!

E3 Live Blue Green Algae

Reputedly more powerful than chlorella products. We have all been taking it. Several of our customers use it and love it. We are still researching and comparing, so stay tuned for further developments. We will use unless we find something better yet.

Manitoba Harvest Organic Hemp Seed and Powder

There is a hemp seed product being marketed in many stores in Alberta and elsewhere that leaves one with the impression that it is organic. While its producer does not claim it to be organic, he quite leaves the impression that it is, while remaining cynical of organic principles. Go figure. Many of our friends and customers are discovering that Harvest Haven has something truly organic and tastes much better...from Manitoba Harvest.

Go to our web site for information on Magnetico and Sunrider. Ask us about the others (we plan to post information on these also wonderful products in the near future).

New Family

In the last issue, we mentioned that Mark and Mariko were engaged. They are now happily married, as of March 5, 2006. We have a casual reception on Sunday, August 27, from 1 to 4 pm, at Harvest Haven, to which we invite all our friends and customers. Join us for a "come and go as you will" visit with Mark, Mariko, her family from Japan, us, and anyone else that comes. Refreshments served. RSVP.

Organic Food

The strawberries have been wonderful this summer—great flavor, great quantity. If you missed the fresh ones, we have a good supply in the freezer. However, the distinctively sweet Harvest Haven fall strawberries are now available for the picking until it freezes.

The ever popular BC organic fruit is available by the pound or by the case. The fruit is very nice this year. For those who missed the fresh cherries and blueberries, we have a good supply of frozen ones.

Fresh lamb will be ready starting this month (August). Please let us know if you would like a whole or half of a lamb or just particular cuts. The lamb has excellent flavor because it is pasture raised in a low stress environment.

Last year, the chicken turned out very good. It was tender and tasty. We expect the same results this year. However, there will be a limited supply, so we advise you to order yours while you can. They will be ready the end of September. Chicken parts are available, as well as whole chickens.

As mentioned, we are raising turkeys this summer. They will be ready for Thanksgiving. These too will be in short supply, so order what you need while you can.

Please take time to look through our new cooler, as there are items being added all the time. We have fresh fruits, lots of different greens picked right out of the garden, and a variety of other fresh garden produce. In the dairy section we have new items, such as Vital Green Farms sour cream (which is excellent), and a flavored yogurt drink called a Moothie. For a quick meal, try the organic fresh tortillas made with either wheat flour or spelt. We have been pleased with the quality of this product. Hemp seed and flax seed products are easily accessible now, too. If you are unable to find what you are looking for, please ask us, and we will make every effort to get it for you.

"We Bought the Farm"

The Gleaned

Mark and Trevor went to the Picture Butte Auction to see what they could buy. What should come up for sale but a small, silver, 1964 self-propelled combine, "The Gleaner"! Over the ten years of our farm experience, each fall we would sit on the edge of our seats wondering how we would get our grain harvested, hoping to take advantage of good weather windows, while neighbor farmers with combines were getting their own grain off first. With only 10 acres of grain, we had hoped to buy a cheap combine to do it ourselves. Local farmers at the auction advised the boys that they knew the owner of this one, that he maintained his machinery well and that they should buy it. They bought it.

Now to get it home, about twenty-five miles away, without ever having driven one! Our chief engineer, mechanic, driver/experimental robot, Trevor, was carefully handpicked and commissioned. (Mark happened to be a skilled administrator in this specific matter, well trained and conditioned by years of having to supervise this unique combination of engineer, mechanic, driver/experimental robot, coincidentally enough, this very one he chose for the job). It seems they both had years of intensive, personal training for this fateful day.

Trevor, normally security-minded, more eagerly than graciously, accepted the challenging mission, to go where he had not gone before, in a combine, without seatbelts, crash helmet, gas mask, airbag, roll bar, ejection seat, parachute, welding mask, asbestos suit, fire extinguisher, or even fire truck, ambulance and police escort accompanying him on his mission...all of which he was fond of having with his lawn tractor. He recalled, with nostalgia, the last time he had driven a combine...about thirty-two years ago, in his sandbox. "Wow! I can play again!" he mused. You know the saying: Men only differ from boys in that the toys are bigger.

Trevor was shown the gears and the gas pedal. He recognized the steering wheel and ignition key, and was informed the gas tank to be full, wherever it was. The distance for a combine from Picture Butte to Harvest Haven would require every bit of it...and more...because Trevor knew nothing about adjusting the belts for road speed. So the sleek machine could do a sound barrier-bashing six miles an hour when floored, unlike combines today.

After escorting Trevor a third of the way home, Mark decided to go on ahead. "I will take our van and trailer home, Trevor," advised Mark, "but whatever you do, stay on range road #25 so I can find you. I will be back to see that everything is going okay and bring more gas with me."

"Who knows?" Trevor might have thought, "Maybe Tollestrup Construction has a giant sandbox here somewhere!"

In spite of all the wondrous qualifications and years of specialized training the boys had, the art of communications and anticipation control were disciplines Mark and Trevor had not yet quite perfected. Trevor found the wet gravel roads becoming too daunting to travel, so, seeing he did not have all the desired and mentioned safety elements in place, he abandoned the range road and went back to the highway.

As he drove, he found farmers frequently, vigorously waving to him. He proudly waved back, thinking, "They see I am a farmer with a combine!" They were probably wondering why he was going so slow on the road, trying to motion some advice to him.

Mark went home, tended to some quick duties, got gas, and returned to the range road looking for Trevor. Trevor was not there. He looked on the highway; no Trevor, no combine. He checked the river, saw no flashing lights or emergency vehicles near the water, or bubbles in it, so he proceeded all the way back to Coaldale, getting frantic as only Mark can. "Is he arrested? Is the combine impounded? What was it we bought? A spaceship in disguise? A time machine? Where is he?!" He decided to turn back to start the loop again, found Trevor on the range road, and got an explanation, though not in the best of spirits for receiving it.

They looked in the tank. Trevor decided that according to their progress, there was plenty of gas left to get all the way home. Mark returned home again, taking the gas with him, planning to return and check in a while, just in case! He calmly relaxed in the living room and had a bite to eat. By now it was dark. About an hour passed. Suddenly there was a row of white teeth at the screen door (Trevor has nice white teeth that shine in the dark) accompanied with a loud wheezing and puffing. He had arrived...without the combine.

"Where’s the combine? We didn't hear you come in," Lois asked.

"I (puff) ran out of gas (puff, puff) a mile and a half down the road! I ran all the way home (puff, puff). Where's Mark?! Why didn't he come and check on me (heave, wheeze)?!"

Into the night they went with gas, together but not necessarily in togetherness, Trevor frustrated and Mark sheepish. Splashing some gas in the tank, Trevor was mobile once again, and for the third time, Mark came home, this time to stay...or so he thought...until he saw the white teeth glimmering through the front door screen again, this time not quite as conspicuously. "It stalled on me (huff, puff) about a quarter mile down the road!"

Now, when even grown men need to be thinking of going to bed, and roosters are about to take a deep breath, like Trevor (and like Mark and Lois, but for different reasons), they go to the combine on the road and are stumped. Over to the experienced, battle-hardened farmer neighbor they go, asking for advice in their predicament. "Put some more gas in the tank; it's probably an air lock. See if that works," said Guido Zanoni. The boys took the advice, the combine started, Mark returned home for a fourth and final time, Trevor got a ride home this time, in his combine.

Harvest Haven is now the independent, howbeit circumspect rather than proud, owner of a brand old "Gleaner" by Allis Chalmers. Will it work? Trevor and Mark hope so. They can't take it back, but even if they could, would they dare?