Dear friends and family (and those who are both),

Need I even mention that this year has been crazy? It’s been crazy for everyone – perhaps crazy-busy, crazy-lonely, crazy-as-always, with a few exceptions of crazy-fun (?). But it certainly has been a unique year. If anyone had told me that this year we would have to wear masks to the bank, stay six feet away from people for fear they give you a deadly virus, that . . . anyway, I would have thought they were crazy.

But such glum talk has wasted enough of this precious small space I have to fill with all sorts of stuff about our family – a paper of only 8.5 x 11 inches, double sides, with 3/4 inch margins . . . I guess I’d better get going before I’m out! As usual, I want to go through all the individuals in our family (10 in all!), but I think it would be helpful (more humorous than helpful) to add in a few lessons we’ve learned this year, as well as some highlights.

Ever wonder why soap is so cheap in the store? Besides having several cheap, toxic ingredients, most of the glycerin (a natural skin softener) has been removed. The glycerin can be used to make lotions or other products which one will need to purchase after using this cheap soap. Here at Mentink Family Farms we wouldn’t even know how to remove the glycerin (nor would we want to!). Our ingredients are simple, natural oils like olive oil, palm oil, and coconut oil. These are saponified with lye (which all soap contains). If anyone says different they are lying. In the past women would soak their wood ashes in rain water to make their own lye, and then add this to whatever fat they were producing on their farm to make soap. Maybe some day I will give homemade lye a try, but for now we buy it. http://www.mentinkfamilyfarms.com/…/bulk-soap-order-10…/

            Several years ago my husband came home from a dentist appointment and announced that the cavities he had gone in to have filled healed up themselves. I was . . . angry! Honestly, I didn’t believe him, and I remember insisting that he seek a second opinion because, “Cavities just don’t heal themselves!” If they did dentists would be shouting this news from the rooftops! After some time passed and the Lord chipped away more of that pride in my heart, I asked my husband, “Did the dentist ask you how you healed your teeth?” The answer, “No,” shocked me at the time, but it doesn’t anymore.

This was just the beginning of my journey into seeking truth and trying to make careful observations of what heals, what damages, and what the research is really telling me. At about the same time (almost 14 years ago) a lot of things changed for the better. We were introduced to Nourishing Traditions and most importantly we got saved. Praise the Lord! We have healed a lot of issues with food and better lifestyle choices, and my hope in writing this blog post is to encourage others to make their own observations and seek truth even when it feels unnecessary.

I planned to write this blog post in the future, but with the current state of our country, I honestly don’t know if I will have the freedom to do it in my timing. When I look to my government as a Savior, I get tyranny and their best interest in my life, but when I seek my Savior Jesus Christ, that is where true freedom lies.

Kik and Boppy’s Farm Happenings Video

In this video, it’s Kik who is giving her thoughts concerning the Mentink family and our farm. Of course, you’ll see a lot of Boppy as well. What does Kik have to say about hedgehogs? What is going on in the Mentink household? What were the outcomes of the study concerning Mrs. Berkshire P. Lawrence? It’s all here.

Changes on the Farm Since Covid-19 Part 1

A Summer of Joy and Sacrificial Love

When considering the title of this story, what comes to mind? Several years ago I might have thought of an extravagant vacation with loved ones, candle light dinners at a fancy restaurant, or a new vehicle to drive, but to be honest, none of those things happened, and most people might find our summer rather boring.

The spring started out with the birth of our eighth child at home. I learned a lot from this pregnancy and birth about nutrition and the importance of keeping stress levels down. The pregnancy was more of a roller coaster with one month my baby measuring bigger than normal and the next month hearing, “This is a really small baby.” I didn’t think too much about it. I kept going on like normal, adding as much work as I could manage in a day during my pregnancy. I have always been one to make a list of too many things that I want to accomplish before the baby comes. I piled up my list as usual and set to work. With most of my list complete, our child arrived 3 weeks early and weighed in at 5 pounds 7 ounces. I had never had such a small baby, and I was very worried about her size. We had also just learned about the Covid-19 pandemic and that had me concerned as well.

Growing Up in a Big Family – the Challenges and the Joys

                 “Mom, I can’t find my shoes!”

                “Has anybody seen my Bible anywhere?”

                “Why is Asher still in his pajamas? Does anyone even have his clothes picked out for the day?”

                “We’re running behind, and if we don’t leave for church now, we’re going to be late!”

                The scene was a typical Sunday morning at our house, and while it might sound like chaos, all the last minute scrambling around and hair slicking and shoe finding was nothing unusual. One by one, children raced out to the van, the girls trying to protect their hair from the wind and the boys tugging at their collars and grimacing. Little ones were fastened into their car seats, diaper bags and water jars arranged on the floor, and the doors slammed shut on the twelve-passenger van. Dad started the van and began to drive forward.

                “Wait!” came a sudden yell from the back. “We don’t have everyone!”

Aiden is demonstrating how we move the cows and sheep daily in our pasture. He usually volunteers for this chore and does a great job. We are so thankful for his diligence and keen observation skills. You can watch the video here.

Putting the Pigs to Work Video

The pigs are being put to work clearing weeds and green cover crops. After they are done we will throw out some more cover crop for them to stomp in and move them to another paddock. Warning this is not a Kik and Boppy show! Watch here

Kailey and Caleb’s Latest Farm Video

Wow! This year sure is going fast. We are half-way through the year of 2020! In this issue, Kik and Boppy will show you some footage that just didn’t turn out and . . . enter Mr. Hampshire! Also, you’ll see Boppy’s childhood crash footage, a competitive calf, and catch up on those Mentinks! You can watch it here. 

Kailey and Caleb’s Latest Farm Video

If you are looking for some entertainment with clean humor you have to check out Kailey and Caleb’s two videos. I don’t know where they come up with all their ideas, but I so appreciate the laughs they bring us.

Video #1 Special: The Mentink Family on Quarantine

How are the Mentinks handling social-distancing with ten in their family? Get a peek into their life as they stay home together on the farm. Watch here

Video #2 Farm Happenings: What on Earth Have Those Mentinks been up to? April 2020

WARNING: This video contains content that the whole family will enjoy. The missing goat was found. . . where? Mrs. Berkshire P. Lawrence being served a gourmet dinner? What are those Mentinks up to? Find out with Kik and Boppy in this issue of the Mentink News! Watch here

The month of February on the farm has been pleasant for this time of year. We have started a few of our seeds inside, accomplished a couple projects to improve the farm, plan to incubate eggs soon, and will be researching how to save more seeds this growing season. With the baby expected to arrive in less than 6 weeks, we have been very focused on school and many house projects, along with planning and organizing for this next busy growing season.

Over the last few years I have added many new challenges. One of these includes growing open-pollinated plants from seed. These plants “breed true” and are roughly identical to their parents. The seeds can be saved and planted the next season. We love the flavor, higher nutrients, and easier digestibility they offer, but I find them harder to grow than hybrid plants. They require a lot more fertility through the growing season than the hybrids I have planted in the past. At times, finding the right plants for our area has been challenging. Over 75% of our plants in the summer of 2019 were open pollinated varieties and that summer proved to be our best harvest season. During the growing season, I added more compost than in the past, sprayed plants with fish emulsion every few weeks, and diligently kept up with the weeds although they did get away from us at times. I also used Epson salt on some of my magnesium loving plants a few times during the summer. I have heard and also experienced that open pollinated plants tend to not be as productive as hybrids, so I was shocked at the abundance we harvested and how healthy the plants looked.