Everybody likes popcorn.  It is a favorite watching movies snack whether at home or in the theater.  Sure, it is junk food like potato chips, but we can indulge occasionally.  Well wouldn't it be great if there was some magical way to turn popcorn into a healthy snack?

First let's use organic popcorn.  It is far superior to the stuff you buy in the grocery store.  It simply pops up a lot bigger and tastes better.  Next, lets use coconut oil instead of vegetable oil.  Coconut oil has many beneficial effects.  It can boost brain function, lower cholesterol, help you lose weight, and even boost brain function.  Read more here. 

Finally, let's add something other than salt.  Let's sneak in some really good spices like turmeric.  Turmeric has been used by the Chinese for all sorts of ailments.  Contemporary studies have shown it is an antioxidant and has powerful anti-inflammatory properties.  The problem is, most people don't want cook lots of curry or some other dish which calls for turmeric.  If you mix it with black pepper, salt, garlic powder, celery seed, cayenne pepper, and a few other spices, you have a spice blend that tastes great on popcorn, not to mention eggs, hamburgers and other common foods.  We call our blend, Popcorn Power-up.

It's true, popcorn can join the ranks of carrot sticks and yogurt as a healthy snack.  If you want to lose weight, help your joints, lower your cholesterol, and fight cancer, it is as easy as popping up a big bowl of popcorn and watching your favorite movie.  Who knew?

hose of you who eat free range eggs know how much better they are than eggs from a factory farm.  There is really no comparison.  I read wonderful story about an encounter between the organic farmer, Joe Salatan, and a customer looking for eggs.  The customer drove up and asked Joe how much his eggs were.  “$5.00 a dozen,” he replied.

The customer was taken aback.  “$5.00?  I can get a dozen eggs from the grocery store for a dollar on sale.  Why should I pay $5.00 for yours?

Joe replied calmly, “Because I sell a better quality product.  Seeing how you drive a BMW I suspect you know a thing or two about quality.”

Here is a link if you want to know more:

http://www.healthambition.com/caged-versus-free-range-eggs-nutritionally/

There is a lot of misinformation out there.  Sadly, a peer reviewed study got published in the Journal of Poultry Science which shows the effects of free ranging your chickens is negligible.  And they are actually correct!  Allow me to explain.  The researchers took 500 hens, hatched at the same time and treated them identically-  same food, same lighting, same care.  The only difference was half the population had access to some amount of space outdoors.   Our friends at Wikipedia even cite this study saying, “the most rigorous scientific study of late found absolutely no significant nutritional advantage to free range eggs.”  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free-range_eggs  

Here’s the catch:  For purposes of labeling eggs as "free range," the hen who laid those eggs doesn't actually have to free range.  She can live her entire life without ever seeing the sun, catching a bug or even set foot on soil.  All the farmer has to do is provide access to space outdoors.  How much space?  Can it be a cement slab?  How long do they need to have this access per day?  The USDA does not have precise rules about what constitutes free range.  Under this rather nebulous definition it's easy to see why there was no difference in quality.  A hen does not lay superior quality eggs simply by having the opportunity to go outside for a couple hours a day.

The term “free range” implies a lot more than simply access to a space outside.  A more relevant comparison would be examine all the differences between a factory farm chicken and a typical free range chicken.  To get a truly accurate picture, we would need to take half of our population of hens, cut off their beaks, stuff them in shoe box sized cages, and feed them spent grains from a brewery.  And while we’re at it, let’s have some problems with the ventilation system from time to time.  Let’s make sure the air is filled with that nasty chicken dust.  The other hens get good food, fresh water, and plenty of room to roam, not just some undefined space outside the coop.  No journal would consider publishing our study because we changed too many variables.  Besides, it’s obvious that a hen under stress and fed garbage (literally) will produce a lower quality egg.  But the commercial egg industry can still correctly claim science is on their side with regard to the free range issue. 

Phew!  All this research has made me hungry.  Time for some real FREE RANGE EGGS.

This is a two part blog.  It’s easy to find a recipe for Ranch dressing on line.  It’s even easier if you buy our Ranch dressing seasoning.  Then the recipe becomes:

1 cup mayonnaise

1cup buttermilk

2 tsp Ranch dressing seasoning (or to taste)

Easy enough.  If you use sour cream instead of buttermilk, you have chip dip.

OK…  so it’s easy to see why this is a two part blog.  The first part is rather short, isn’t it?

 

Let’s talk about the “why” make your own Ranch Dressing.  First of all, it is cheaper than buying the real stuff.  There is nothing easier than buying a bottle of salad dressing from the store, so in a sense you are trading economy for convenience.  On the other hand, it is not difficult to make Ranch dressing from scratch.  My preferred method is to take a pint jar, fill it about half way with buttermilk, add the seasoning mix, and shake to blend well.  Then I add the mayonnaise and shake or stir until it is completely mixed. 

Now let’s talk about the savings.  Calculating the cost difference between commercial Ranch dressing and home made is not simple because there are many different brands and sizes of Ranch dressing.  Do I go with the cheapest?  The original?  Store brand?   The same is true for mayonnaise.  I could use a small squeeze bottle for my per ounce price or a quart?  In fact, I could make the results come out any way I want with the right choices.   I went to my local Food Lion here in Dinwiddie, VA, and compared large containers of name brand products.  Then I normalized the prices to our recipe scale of 16 oz for easy comparison.  Here they are:

Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing, 36 oz bottle; $6.99;  16 oz= $3.10

Hellman's Mayonnaise, 30 oz bottle; $3.39;  16 oz= $1.81

Pet Buttermilk, 64 oz carton (1/2 gallon), $3.60;  16 oz= $0.90

The cost of 1 cup mayonnaise and 1 cup buttermilk is (1.81 + 0.90)/2 or $1.36.  Adding in the spice blend brings the cost of your homemade Ranch dressing to about half of store bought.

Now, here is where things get interesting.  Price is always a factor in the retail world, but we look at other things as well.  Is it healthy?  Is it fresh and natural?  How are the ingredients sourced?  If a food item is filled with ingredients you cannot pronounce, you won’t find it on our shelves.  If something containing eggs and buttermilk is shelf stable for months, it’s a red flag for us.  You see, in order to make truly authentic Hidden Valley dressing you also need to add phosphoric acid, xanthan gum, modified food starch, monosodium glutamate (MSG), artificial flavors, disodium phosphate, sorbic acid, and disodium inosinate. Here is a link to the full ingredient list and a commentary for each.

http://blog.fooducate.com/2009/05/07/inside-the-label-ranch-dressing/

Hellmans mayonnaise only has one slightly unpronounceable ingredient, calcium disodium EDTA.  This is a chelating agent, a stabilizer which is innocuous.  If you look up chelation therapy, you will find EDTA is used.  Buttermilk is simply buttermilk.

So making your own dressing is cheaper and better for you.  Can we go further?  Yes!  We can take this process a step further and make our own mayonnaise.  {gasp! We can?}  Mayonnaise is nothing more than egg yolks, vegetable oil, and vinegar with spices to taste.  Now this opens up a whole lot more options.  Do we really want to use soybean oil?  Or corn oil?  Let’s use olive oil instead, maybe a bit of fish oil or flax seed oil mixed in.  While we are at it, let’s use free range eggs instead of the factory farm variety.  Here is an easy recipe for mayonnaise.  The basic recipe is 4 egg yolks, 2 cups oil oil, and 1 tbsp wine vinegar.  The dry mustard, salt, and pepper are optional.  Of course, you can always sneak in some really healthful spices like turmeric.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/mayonnaise_90223

Honey has been used since the dawn of human history as a remedy for many different ailments.  The ancient Egyptians used it as an embalming fluid and to treat wounds.  How many of these claims hold water?  To find out, I did a little research starting with WebMD, one of the most skeptical sites on the internet. 

WebMD endorsed two uses for honey- wound care and cough suppressant.  Looks like those ancient Egyptians were on to something.  Honey even has the blessing of the FDA.  Look for something called Medihoney which works very well to disinfect wounds and stimulate healing. 

Honey also works as a cough suppressant.  Two studies were done on children in which honey beat dextromethorphan (a cough suppressant) and diphenhydramine (an antihistamine).  These studies only confirm what most of us have known for a very long time.  Honey soothes a cough.

WebMD was more skeptical of some honey’s other reputed uses- allergies, diabetes- and silent on others.  As I said this is one of the most skeptical sites on the web when it comes to the benefits of so called natural remedies.  I don’t take it- or any other site- as the gospel truth, but it is a good place to start.

Let’s go to a less skeptical site, Mother Nature Network (www.mnn.com).  They claim ten health benefits of honey.  In addition to the two previously mentioned, they also claim:

·       Boosts memory
·       Provides nutrients
·       Helps low white blood cell count due to chemotherapy
·       Relieves seasonal allergies
·       Kills antibiotic resistant bacteria
·       May help metabolize alcohol
·       Makes a great workout fuel
·       Helps with scalp problems

There are other benefits.  If one delves deeper into the world wide web, there is evidence that honey helps regulate blood sugar.  Honey’s antibacterial and healing properties make it a great addition to your face cream.  It has been used for millennia in ayurvedic medicine (a system of medicine which evolved in ancient India, somewhat similar to Chinese herbal medicine).  Here is a link for a better description:  http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART00454/Ayurvedic-Medicine.html

There is evidence that raw honey can reduce cholesterol, stimulate liver function, and lower blood pressure.  The antioxidants in honey reduce the risk of cancer.  A tablespoon of honey in the morning can curb your appetite.  Honey after a big meal can aid digestion.  Honey before bed can help you sleep and keep your liver burning fat.

https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/animal-product/benefits-of-honey-in-weight-loss.html

Look for raw, local honey for maximum benefit.  And live healthy.

It’s summer, time for beach weekends, swimming, and just being outdoors- under the hot summer sun.  It is a good idea to wear sunscreen every time you go out.  In addition to preventing sunburn, a good sunscreen reduces your risk of skin cancer and keeps your skin young looking.

So let’s go to the drugstore and get some Coppertone or Hawaiian Tropic, problem solved….  Or is it?  Did you ever stop and think what was in commercial sunscreens?  The vast majority contain two or more of the following active ingredients:  oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate, p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) and octinoxate.  Now there is a multiple mouthful! 

Are they safe?  That depends on who you ask.  Oxybenzone readily finds its way into the bloodstream.  PABA has been banned in Europe.  The FDA is no help.  They quit regulating sunscreens in 1978.  Putting on commercial sunscreen is like tap dancing through a mine field.

Well how about essential oils?  Believe it or not, serious research has been done on the ability of our favorite oils to screen out harmful radiation from the sun.  Olive oil is the best with a calculated SPF of 7.55.  Coconut oil is not far behind at 7.12.  Castor oil and almond oil come in at 5.69 and 5.66.

Here is the reference: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3140123/

A word about SPF before we go on-  SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor.  The SPF of a sunscreen is the number of hours you would need to be in the sun for your skin to get the same amount of radiation as being in the sun for one hour with unprotected skin.  So wearing SPF 15 means you can be in the sun for 15 hours and your skin will have absorbed only one hour’s worth of UV radiation, under ideal conditions.   In fact, most sunscreens only protect about half their label rating because they are not applied uniformly and heavily and often enough to afford maximum protection.

Most commercial sunscreens are water based.  They have a small amount of active ingredient in some sort of lotion.  Coconut oil is simply coconut oil- and it protects almost as well as an SPF 15 sunscreen.

Now let’s add some oils that are really good for the skin- Vitamin E, jojoba, calendula, and sunflower oil-  and we have something that will nourish and revitalize the skin in addition to protecting it from the sun.  We have an oil blend that is great for your skin whether you are out working in the garden or sitting inside typing on the computer. 

You see, a really good sun screen should not have side effects.  There should be no cause for worry if some component shows up in your urine.  It should not feel like something that should be showered off when you are done outside.  Anything you put on your skin should be good for your skin, and healthy for your body. 

A natural sun screen has its limits.    Some people do need the higher level of protection afforded by some commercial sun screens.  Some people need a good amount of oxybenzone or avobenzone in their sun screen.  For the causal sun bum, a good sun screen based on coconut oil works just fine. 

We have applied for a grant from Chase bank for small businesses like ours.  If we get 250 votes, our application will be forwarded the judges for consideration.  It would be great if everybody who read this blog post went to the contest link and voted for us. The essay is good to read just to get an idea of who we are and what we do here.  Here is our application essay.

Willows Bend Farm is a gem with many facets.  It is an interactive place where people come as customers and leave as friends.   Education is foremost in both the Nursery and Emporium, encouraging people to take charge of their health and wellness.

On the farm side, we strive to preserve biodiversity and provide food security by teaching people how to grow and save seeds from heirloom and open pollinated plants using sustainable farming practices.  We study and teach the principals of permaculture and apply them to integrate the native ecosystem with our own.  We raise plants that encourage beneficial insects, vegetables and fruits, chickens and turkeys and sometimes heritage breed pigs. Every year we make sure to include produce listed in the Slow Food Ark of Taste. Our customers come out of their way for a huge selection of heirloom tomato plants, choosing from over 20 varieties each year.  We also grow to order for other farms seeking high quality plants grown chemical free. During our seven years in business, our loyal repeat customers spread the word ensuring new customers each year, many bringing children to the farm to understand the connection between the farmer and their food source. 

Re-entering the work force is difficult for a woman nearing 50, so I decided to follow my mother’s footsteps and grow plants for sale. My mother inspired me by creating beautiful gardens and a thriving greenhouse business out of a hayfield. She managed the business for 30 years before retiring and even 20 years later people still ask for her flowers.

My first year, I started seeds under grow lights in a shed and grew them on in straw bale cold frames. Needing more room, we found a greenhouse for sale, spent two days dismantling the 100 foot structure, and with the help of family and friends, rebuilt it. People took notice and our customer base grew.

Next, I put my experience with herbs and essential oils to work selling culinary herbs and  spices, teas, and offer one of the largest collections of medicinal herbs in the Richmond area.  I do aromatherapy consultations to create custom therapeutic oil blends and other aromatherapy products.  Our biggest challenge has been marketing, both labeling and advertising.  Folks who come here say that Willows Bend Farm is the best-kept secret in Dinwiddie. Of course we don't want to keep it a secret!

Willows Bend Farm encourages volunteers to learn about farm life, working in exchange for plants, produce and the therapeutic experience. Interns stay on the property for immersion courses in herbalism, aromatherapy and plant propagation some of which we offer to the public.

We sell locally sourced herbs in our Emporium whenever we can.  Providing an outlet for backyard farmers who may not have enough to bring to market, we combine their produce with our own to sell here at the farm and through our Midweek Mobile Market which will stop at local businesses, campgrounds and mobile home parks where folks often don’t have access to fresh local food.  

Our convenient location, just a half mile off Interstate 85, also serves as a conduit for other producers to get their goods to market.  Direct market distributors pick up produce and value added products here, enabling farmers in remote locations to participate in their programs. We also started a network of farmers and artisans promoting each others goods and services, while providing a link between farmers needing occasional help and day laborers. Willows Bend Farm is always pleased to support local charity fundraising through the donation of plants. 

$100,000 in grant money would expedite the next project for Willows Bend Farm.  As soon as we are able, we want to build a commercial kitchen for the farm.  A commercial kitchen would allow us to turn our produce into value added products.  Jams, jellies, pickles, ferments, bread, cheese, salsas, spaghetti sauce and more are all in high demand but cannot be sold without being produced in an inspected kitchen.  Many farmers can’t get certification in their own kitchens because animals share the living spaces.  A commercial kitchen, conveniently located, could be rented out by the hour for farmers and gardeners to make their own value added products for market or for their own pantries.  Willows Bend Farm would also provide low cost lessons and workshops on food preparation, canning, bread baking, and offer free cooking lessons and menu planning for SNAP recipients.

Our short-term goals continue to engage the community through agritourism and education.  We want to offer more workshops and classes for adults, and hope to provide a destination for field trips working with the Virginia Standards of Learning to provide educational modules for public, private and home schooled children.  Recognizing the therapeutic benefits of farming/gardening, we would like to work with veterans groups and other special needs groups to provide therapeutic learning environments.

On the farming side, we want to grow our own herbs on a larger scale and include mushroom growing in our cash crops.  Local mushroom growers can’t keep up with the demand. Aquaculture is also of interest and a naturally filtered stocked pond is in our long-term goals. Growing sprouts for market and restaurants is also promising to be profitable.  We have a grain mill, and hope to buy locally produced, non-genetically modified grain, to fulfill the demand for freshly ground flour.

 A $100,000 grant would provide the capital needed for the construction of a commercial kitchen that would provide the community with a much-needed resource to enable farmers to bring value added products to market and create a platform for education in the community.

Our tomatoes are getting on past their prime.  Since they no longer meet out standard for quality, we have marked them down to $1.00 each.  They will still grow and bear just fine, but they don't look good enough to have our name on them.  We also have a few 4-packs left for $1.50 each.  Come and get them while they last.

Our warm weather plants are ready!  We have:

Cucumbers

• Marketmore
• Straight 8
• ATC pickling
• Asian Suyo Long
• Mexican Gherkin
• Richmond Green Apple
• Poona Kheera
• Super Zagross Mid-East
• Arkansas Little Leaf
• Bushy
• Shintokiwa

Squash

• Butternut
• Jackpot Zucchini
• Reba Acorn
• Spaghetti
• Luffa
• Sweet Dumpling
• Bunnings Green
• Candy Roaster

Muskmelon

• Golden Gopher
• Piel De Sapo
• Organic

Pumpkin (limited supply)

• Seminole
• Connecticut Field
• Tan Chinese

Okra

• Clemson Spineless
  

Quality is a term which is thrown about a lot these days.  Everybody wants quality.  "Sell me a quality product!"  Many products have become disposable- shoes, small appliances, lawn mowers- because it is cheaper just to by a new one rather than fix the one you have.  How did this happen?

The same is true with plants.  Many people choose tomato plants based on price and appearance. Here at Willow's Bend Farm, our heirloom tomatoes sell for $4.00 each.  It's easy to find cheaper tomato plants.  Why pay the extra money?  You are actually not buying a tomato plant.  You don't actually eat the plant itself.  You are buying the potential harvest of tomatoes when they get ripe.  Many of our customers have come back and told us our tomatoes consistently outproduce everything else in their garden.  The plants grow larger and they bear fruit like crazy.  One customer told me that just one currant tomato plant produced so much her extended family of 10 couldn't keep up.  It took a half hour to pick all the fruit.  Eventually they gave up and let some fruit fall to the ground.  She was worried about volunteers coming up this year.  This is what you are buying when you buy one of our $4.00 tomato plants.

We have our old reliable Yellow Pear plants again, as well as a red pear tomato.  Both of these varieties will have you giving away the excess.  The currant tomato is back.  We have 20 varieties of heirloom tomatoes to choose from as well as the familiar hybrids.  We did buy the hybrids from a wholesale greenhouse and their price- $1.50 per 4 pack- reflects that fact. 

Of course, we sell more than just tomatoes.  The principle is the same though.  We sell only quality plants.  You can buy a Lavender plant from us and harvest sprigs of Lavender for the next 20 years.  We have four different varieties of mint, also a perennial.  We work hard to give you a reason to make a special trip here to see us.  Please, stop by and see us. 

Alisa and I have been working like two beavers getting the farm ready for our Spring Celebration.  I must acknowledge the help of a veritable legion of neighbors and family who have come over to help.  It's the country way, neighbors helping neighbors.  I'm glad residents of Dinwiddie county still follow the old ways.  Sometimes old-fashioned is the best way.

It's all coming together.  The retail area behind the greenhouse will be clear.  We have a really neat covered area up front.  The roof is a geodesic dome designed and built by our friend Will "Papa" Byrd.  There will be flowers, of course, lots of flowers, hanging baskets, giant Boston Ferns.  The greenhouse is overflowing with little plants just waiting to get in the ground.

Our Emporium has lots of new products, too.  We have a lot more healing herbs and essential oil blends.  We are just about out of the joint relief blend.  People buy it faster than we can make it.  We also have a nice general purpose skin healing blend, and just make up an itch relief blend.  Alisa is just finishing up a group of products for fibromyalgia.

The alpacas will be back for a visit.  The chickens, turkeys, and guinea hens will be around.  We actually loaned out one of the Tom turkeys to a friend of ours who lost most of his flock to dogs.  Mr. Brown was completely dominated by our Bourbon Red Tom here.  Now he has the hens all to himself.  I suspect he won't want to come back- ever.  

It's going to be a great day.  Please come out, even if it is just to look and say "Hi."  There is a lot of neat stuff going on here these days.  Be a part.