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.

Kailey and Caleb’s Latest Farm Video
What has been happening on the farm in February 2020? You can check out the latest  News Report with Kik and Boppy. Another great video! You can watch it here.

February Farm Happenings

By Angie Mentink

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.

Farm Happenings
The link to Kailey and Caleb’s latest video, A Christmas Special, which has nothing to do with the farm is below. We appreciate another amusing, fun, short video. I definitely witnessed a different personality in both of them. Thankful it’s just a video!

Greetings from the Mentink Family!

December is surely here – snow to shovel, chimney smoke in the air, icicles hanging from the barn, hats and gloves, drifts of snow blanketing the fields, everyone hauling tissues around… and what a year we are looking back at!

Early this spring, we packed the family van and drove to Wyoming for a vacation – the first in almost five years! Spirits were high as we set off on a Friday evening, leaving the farm in Grandma and Grandpa Lemburg’s hands for a few days. We stayed at a cabin in Cody, Wyoming and went sight-seeing during the day. With all the stuff we had to remember to bring, thankfully we didn’t forget anything – well – anyway, not anything too important (Quote: “What! Did you just say that nobody packed toothpaste?”).

Kailey and Caleb blessed us with another video. We appreciate their hard work and especially the humor they added to this video!

We’re making hay while the sun shines! The Mentinks – specifically Kik and Boppy – are showing you the process of how the grass gets from the pasture to the horses’ mouth. Kailey and Caleb bring us another lively farm video. 

The 2019 growing season flew by a little too fast for all of us. We have learned a lot of lessons through trials and struggles, were blessed with an abundant harvest, and savored our time together on this farm that is improving, changing, and blessing our family richly. We are planning for the next growing season as we think about what worked well, what could be improved, and what new things we would like to try. My husband and I really try to be open to new ideas, and we continually strive to improve upon things and not get stuck in a rut.

The weather has turned very cold for this time of year. The windows are all closed tight to keep the weather out, my outdoor kitchen (screened in porch) is no longer bustling or smelling of food, most days my clothes line is empty, the leaves are changing colors and falling to the ground, preparations for the shelter of our animals for the winter are almost complete. Our fruit trees have been prepared and only a small area in my wood chip garden remains uncovered, and while the animals are still grazing, they will soon be returning to their winter shelter. I love getting back into the routine of school, the fun of learning, returning to our cozy, warm house with the fire burning after chores, and a feeling of getting close to completion as we continue to cross things off our list that is getting shorter. I enjoy the change in seasons that Nebraska offers, and while we are still busy, it feels like a time of rest as we get to bed a little earlier and have more time to sit, read, and continue to teach our children.