that promised haying video...

a quick farm update

Be sure to check out our Local Harvest site for information regarding our Harvest Days each Saturday as they are now only available by reservation. Thank you.

We had a wonderful day at the cheese class

The menu was all on farm food here or local goodies. Local Cider, preservative free, Mac Intosh apples (we have them for sale at the produce stand currently) fresh egg salad with dill and onion, that homemade bread recipe I have on the blog here (search bread recipe Mother Earth news here) pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting (the same one from harvest days) 2 of our cheeses, goat and dairy, farm honey, tomatoes with garden fresh pesto, cheese and olive oil and more! our wonderful taste testing team below
Ang pumping the gas stove for the goat's cheese! squeezing the curds from the whey
cutting the curds

the hard dairy cheese below

we had a great time! Thanks Farm Girl Cyn for sending me the photos!

Friends (new and old) from all over Michigan, Allendale, Comstock Park, the locals (3 of my new favorite friends Jen and Tam and newly Kristin given to me by God!) Zeeland and Lowell. We had a great time. You can read the "write up reviews" on our Local Harvest site. Cheese people, the recipe is coming via email by tomorrow. Thank you for coming to the Maple Valley Farms Cheese Class! xoxox Ang

NEXT CHEESE CLASS OCTOBER 6, 2009!!! HOPE TO SEE YOU!

WOW, that’s going to leave a mark, and a deep and cherished one at that. For the last 8 months we have experienced something so rich it is unspeakable in our heart of hearts… And with that said I have absolutely NO regrets of living these past 240 days in the most fulfilling way imagined in this day and age as an Amish woman. But sadly some things must come to and end and out of our conscience and hearts we have found a few things that have caused us to change course in this area. So with that being said and with all and only this being said on the subject we will continue our course to an ever growing love of life, family, farm, earth and JESUS in our off-grid farming lifestyle! After all, we are an “eclectic culture”, this family of 8. In the words of the Gentle Giant, Matt Kuncaitis “Our identity follows us, it never leads us”!

its haying time... 3rd cutting

Just when farming seems a lot of work and not fun anymore, haying time begins and changes that! You get your 2nd and 3rd wind and you remember why it is you are doing this! It is such a community feeling... Everyone is in the same boat... You all put important things aside... Everything just stops for haying and just hop on the wagon in whatever you will and you eat late at night with a group of laughing friends. And for a while, a very short while, everything seems like it will be alright... ps. the new header above is the Gentle Giant feeding our hay team!

Our recent survey on the bottom right...

I just had to make a blog on the survey to the right, “What is holding you back from pursuing your dreams”… Your mate, fear of failure, money or your location…? I must say I was SHOCKED and slightly saddened that the answer was money. I was about certain it was going to be your mate #1 fear of failure #2 your location #3 and lastly money…
You might look at this blog and think, “They must have money to be able to live like this and make such a life changing decision”… I must tell you that is NOT the case and if you really know us you definitely know that this is not the case. When we were being convicted to leave the status quo of life and living our numbered days in a manner that was like everyone else we really stopped and listened to what God had to say to us. Originally the idea seemed so far fetched, but after really stopping and praying and thinking and listening to the Lord, the idea did not seem so far fetched at all. God was driving this thing all along! We just had to be willing to get on the ride and let Him drive it. It has been a roller coaster ride for SURE!
As we moved to our run down, off grid farm home, we took a huge leap of faith and moving without even selling our other home, “The Palace”. There was much thought and prayer behind this choice and I will tell you that it took 10 months to sell our other home. It was getting pretty scary in our eyes with the 2 homes. I would not suggest doing what we did in this economy unless you and God are “tight”. A lot of people would (and gladly did) say “this Is your own fault if you are hurting for money and if your other home does not sell”. Well actually, they were right, but what they did not take into consideration is that God ordered each of our steps and because we trusted Him, He ultimately took care of selling the other house. Was it easy during the time having two homes? “NO”! Was it hard having two homes? “YES”! Did it take longer than we thought to sell the palace? “YES”! Was it a hard year financially? “A RESOUNDING YES!” Did God take care of us? YES!!!! He was so faithful. And now, as my husband has changed his job, God is still taking care of us. What I need to remember is that he promises us TODAY and if I look ahead financially, it gets scary sometimes. But when I stop and listen to His still small voice He says, “Ang, I am taking care of today for you, your daily food, shelter and raiment, stop looking at tomorrow and enjoy and feel safe today”.
Americans tie their finances to how God is judging us… That is so American to do this! We are rooted in money. Money is not an evil entity for sure but “the love of money” is. For example, when we fall on financial hard times we wonder what God is trying to teach us, or what did we do wrong? I am not saying that this may not be the case during the financial trial but really, all we are promised is “our daily bread” not our car payment. We are promised shelter and a roof over our heads but not that summer home. Have you really ever NOT had anything to wear, seriously? I know I have always had clothes; I just might not have really liked them. People in 2nd and 3rd world countries must just look at us and cringe thinking we possibly have NO idea what it is to suffer.
So with that being said, do you really not have the money to pursue your God given dreams, or is it ultimately that you would be uncomfortable? I am not judging you; I am simply challenging you to not let money hold you back after God has told you to do something. I promise, HE will take care of all the details if you listen and obey His ideas. It might not be easy, but He will never let you down. Our family is a testimony of God's faithfulness and provisions.

Laying Cuckoo Maran's for sale

$7- for a laying hen! These birds have been raised fully free range. We will make a better deal on 10 or more. These are a beautiful heirloom chickens. Roosters available as well to make a beautiful pair at $5- a piece. Limited roosters available.

Harvest Days: Look what you missed...

The team ready and waiting for your arrival Barney gets jealous, so He needs a stroll as well
Aunt Bonnie's Famous Pumpkin Cakes with Cream Cheese Frosting!

Your Hostess missed you!

The farm at a glance

Hope to see you this Saturday! Check out our local harvest website for all the details!

That mini farm tour you always wanted

Hard and Soft Cheese Making Class, goat's and cow...

We have a few more spots open for the Cheese Making Class this coming Tuesday, September 15, 2009! Get a group of friends together for a day out at Maple Valley Farm!

Apples, smapples and whatever rhymes with that...

Hello everyone! I am putting together a large apple order from a "low-spray" local apple orchard here in Coral, Michigan. Just imagine, all the Mac Intosh Michigan Apples you can get your little mitts on for eating, baking, canning or freezing, picked fresh, just for YOU and all at an economical price! Sounds to good to be true? The only catch you ask??? You have to come to the farm and pick them up... Then you can meet ME! Although, delivery can be arranged for 18+ bushels in a 45 mile radius.

We have Jonagold apples for starters for only $15- a bushel but with an 18 bushel order or more (anything but Honey Crisp) I can get you pretty much any Michigan Apples for about $13- a bushel. Call 616-566-8481 for details and there are no catches!

We will try to have our FIRST (of many) apple order tallied up BY THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2009 to be picked up that following Saturday, September 19, 2009 at 11:45 am sharp. You can also stay for Harvest Days beginning at approximately 12:45 pm as well!

***Hint Hint*** We will be in Grand Rapids on September 17, 2009 and could meet at a specific spot with a minimum order of 20 bushels, so get a group together!

xoxo

Homemakerang

Labor Day!

1 of our CSA orders today!

Won't you join us next year?2009 CSA is $15- a week for wonderful organically grown produce!

Summer 2009 on the farm. We are truly blessed!

Johnny's Broccoli did AWESOME THIS YEAR! This is just one of MANY bushel baskets of brocolli! the humble farm
The back pond

after milking, lets "steal away" for a short minute near the windmill...

Here are the ground cherries already to be husked. They are sweet as sugar! I can never seem to plant enought Zinnias... A cheap thrill for sure!

a view of the back small pond on the property

heifers... Two just freshened yesterday

The back pond

The farm looking south Johnny Seed's Christmas Basil in all it's glory!

look closely through the window below

The work of my dear friend Alice and her family and my Quaker friends below

the heifers and the Maple Cottage and chicken coop in the background

out our front porch we see a beautiful field

putting up straw

all our own! Look at the Ground Cherries!