Ever wonder what to do with those cured ham hocks? I used to just throw them to the dog until I discovered ham and bean soup. The key to excellent flavor is sourcing good quality pasture raised pork. The nourishing bone stock is the most important step in making this soup.  Properly prepared stocks are high in nutrients and contain collagen, glucosamine, chondroitin sulphates, and amino acids. They were a staple in traditional kitchens and they are quickly gaining in popularity again. Make this inexpensive soup any time, but especially on those cold winter days while you await spring! Continue reading “Ham and Bean Soup” →

Introduction

Did you know that pastured meats contain more nutrients and have less fat and calories than meat from grain fed animals? As we grow our beyond organic, pasture based farm, we continue to see the benefits of a pasture based system. We have reaped the health benefits and relish the testimonies of our customers’ health stories and compliments on flavor, texture, and even the smell of the meat.  As our family reads the Bible, and we look into sustainable animal husbandry practices of the past along with God’s design in nature, we see very similar systems.  Because we live in a fallen world, we will never enjoy perfect health for ourselves or for our animals, but by seeking God’s wisdom, we believe we can improve the quality of life for ourselves and our customers, as well as our animals. With chronic diseases and cancer rates soaring, contaminated water becoming the norm, increased antibiotic resistance, and wildlife suffering, we must stop and ponder, “What has changed with our food, environment, and lifestyles that could potentially be to blame?” Continue reading “Benefits of Our Pastured Meats” →

Spring is a time of new life on our farm. We all enjoy the birth of new animals and look forward to caring for new babies, spending more time outside, garden produce, flowers, and green pastures. Today is a cloudy, cool spring day. We had a nice shower overnight and the grass is beginning to green up. There is excitement as we think about what we will be planting and the projects we hope to accomplish. We are constantly praying and seeking guidance and wisdom. Spring is a time when we set very high goals and sometimes think we can accomplish more than our time allows. Unfortunately, something always suffers in the heat of the summer, but each year seems to improve. Continue reading “Happenings on the Mentink Family Farm in March 2018” →

By Angie Mentink

A Thanksgiving tradition that our family embraced several years ago is to take the day before Thanksgiving off of school and prepare food for the next day. I relish this time with our children working side by side in the kitchen, listening to music, and thinking of the great food that will be enjoyed by many, along with the numerous undeserved blessings the Lord has bestowed upon us. Continue reading “Family Traditions” →

By Angie Mentink

We enjoyed a leisurely walk to the dam on Sunday afternoon. After about an hour of visiting, skipping rocks, relaxing, soaking up the sun, and taking advantage of the pleasant temperatures a strong north wind began to blow. We decided we better head home quickly. As we were walking briskly, watching the leaves whirling far distances from the trees, it occurred to all of us that winter was near. The summer flew by faster than any summer in the past and none of us feel ready for the cooler temperatures. The kids do Continue reading “Gathering in the Harvest and Baby Number 7 Arrives!” →

By Alena Mentink

Inside our house, everything is cool and quiet. The shades are pulled down, the fans are swirling, and only a couple of lights are on. Although we rarely run the air conditioner, by blocking the sun and keeping the air moving with the help of a few fans, the house stays nice and cool (at least by our standards). However, as soon as we step outside the door, we realize that summer is indeed here. Continue reading “Summertime on the Farm” →

By:  Kailey Mentink

We have had a wonderful spring, and so far have had at least four lambs born. We had one ewe who had two lambs and excepted one of the lambs but refused the other one. After keeping them in the barn for a few days, and helping the baby, Continue reading “An early spring on the Farm” →

By Angie Mentink

Today as the snow covers the ground again and the temperatures are frigid, it’s hard to think that spring is almost here. Outside chores were done as efficiently as possible and the wood is being added to the stove at higher frequencies. We enjoy extra reading time on these cold days. We have experienced extreme temperature changes in the last several weeks. Continue reading “Spring Planning” →

By Alena Mentink

With a beautiful, warm break from the icy winter weather, we enjoyed spending extra time outside.The warm spell lasted for almost two weeks, and everyone made the most of this time. The boys pulled out their fishing poles and headed down to the dam to try to catch some fish. Although they were unable to catch any fish, they were able to find some water bugs to take home, and they did see a few small fish. Kailey has spent time working with her two horses. On most nice afternoons she can be seen carrying a rope and brushes across the paddocks. Mom, Kailey, Annika, Asher, and I have also taken several walks down to the dam. Although the migrating geese generally leave as soon as they spot us, we can generally watch them from a distance. Continue reading “Early Signs of Spring” →

When we ditched MSG laden products I was desperate for a ranch dressing. After many months and countless failed attempts I found a ranch seasoning mix that I love even more than the store ranch I used to adore! What makes this recipe great is the organic spices I buy from Azure Standard. There is a remarkable difference in the flavor and I don’t patronize the commercial, irradiated spice market. Continue reading “Dry Ranch Seasoning Mix” →