Greetings from Flamig Farm. February 2016 was a GREAT month! |
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Hello Friends:
Welcome to the February 2016 issue of EggsPress, Flamig Farm's newsletter. I hope you enjoy reading a bit about our latest ideas and activities.
Flamig Farm celebrated a special birthday this month. As of February 19, 2016 our kind-hearted, caring, Farmer Julie has been hanging out here on planet earth in physical form for 50 years. Farm family and friends enjoyed sharing good ole fun on her special day.
Don't miss my thoughts below on coincidences. My perspective on coincidenes and life in general for that matter has changed thanks to the Global Information Network (GIN). GIN is a worldwide club that Julie and I belong to that has taught us many pathways to success and has helped us bring many wonderful things into our lives. Julie and I know that a lot of the joys and achievements we have in our lives result from the things we have learned from our GIN experience. It has truly enhanced our lives in many ways. If interested, you can learn more about GIN at http://nevinjukie.myginclub.com
All the best, Farmer Nevin
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Earth Day 2016
Our grand, reopening Earth Day Celebration is scheduled for April 23rd. For the past years, this has been one of our premier events to kick off our season, and attendees have totally enjoyed the day.
Mark your calendar and come on down for the festivities which will include our new and improved petting zoo with as many baby animals as we can muster. We'll have hay rides, pony rides, booths and educational displays featuring natural food production, health and wellness. You'll also enjoy live music and onsite food. |
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Summer Adventure Camp
Enrollment is happening at record speed! Our new on-line system has made it faster and easier for parents to sign up their children. We think we will completely avoid first day registration lines, and campers will be able to enter day one activities right away. And we are pleased that our amazing, dedicated staff members are returning to create another season of joy, learning and love.
The apprentice program is turning out to be more popular than ever. So if your child is 14 years old and wants to learn and complete farm projects directly with Farmer Nevin, he or she should sign up soon. Apprentice Farmers receive hands on experience that builds life skills and self confidence: learning that is not available in conventional educational settings. We will be looking at ways to expand this program in 2017 in order to accommodate all the interest. |
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COINCIDENCE: An accidental sequence of events that seem to have a casual relationship.
I don't believe that coincidences are accidental. When one begins to pay close attention to 'coincidences' (It's a good idea to write down what you notice.) they seem to happen more often until they appear all the time. It's becoming harder and harder for me to label them as accidental. Paying close attention to these coincidences has shown me that there is a big positive, plan for the evolution of our species, our world, the universe. Give it a try; pay attention to what's going on around you. It's amazing!
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| Book of the Month The Dirt Cure, by Maya Shetreat-Klein, MD
I think you'll find valuable a new book by a brilliant pediatric neurologist about the value of good old dirt. I came across this interview in which she talks about her new book.
Q. Explain what you mean by “dirt cure” in the title of your book.
A.
Dirt means three things to me. It’s eating nutrient-dense food from healthy soil. It’s being exposed to certain microbes. And it’s spending time outdoors in nature.
Q.
Why is it that children who grow up on farms tend to have lower rates of asthma and other allergies?
A.
We used to think that children who grew up on farms were healthier than children in urban and suburban environments because they were exposed to more microbes. But studies have found that the number of bacteria in urban environments and on farms is similar. The difference is the diversity of the bacteria. Microbial diversity seems to have a very powerful impact. Children’s immune systems are very social: they like to meet and greet a lot of things. It seems the more they meet and greet, the more likely they are to be in balance, and the less likely they are to let any one microorganism grow out of control, as occurs with infection.
Q.
What is the microbial diversity like in soil?
A.
In one teaspoon of soil there are more organisms than there are humans on our planet. Soil houses about 25 percent of the world’s biodiversity. What we also know from studies is that when children spend time in green environments – in natural playgrounds, for example, or in parks and forests – they perform better on standardized tests, they’re more creative, they’re happier and their cortisol levels are lower, so they’re calmer and less stressed. And I think that might be somewhat related to the kind of organisms they’re exposed to when they’re playing outdoors.
Q.
Can you talk about how microbial diversity in soil relates to food?
A.
The organisms in soil have an impact on the health of our food. Part of what makes fruits and vegetables good for us is the phytonutrients in them – the things that make cranberries red or coffee bitter. Phytonutrients are part of the plant’s immune systems. Organisms in the soil that we might think of as pests actually stimulate plants to make more phytonutrients. So these small stressors actually in a sense enhance our health. Being exposed to different organisms improves the health of the plant and it improves our health as well.
Q.
Based on your research, what are some things you would like to see change?
A.
I think we need more outdoor and nature-based curriculum in schools because this actually benefits children from a health perspective and a learning perspective. Children are more focused and they perform better on tests after they’ve spent time outside in nature. In Japan there’s this idea called “Shinrin-yoku,” or forest bathing, which means taking short visits to the forest. It’s been shown to reduce inflammatory markers in the body and boost beneficial hormones. We know there are many physical benefits to children being outdoors and being physically active in nature.
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| Meet Gigi A new friend in need of a forever home, Gigi has come to live at Flamig Farm. She, as you can probably tell from her picture, is a LionHead Rabbit. She is funny, friendly and (soon to be) famous if her popularity so far predicts the future. Until the weather warms up, you can find her in the Farm Office, but as soon as spring arrives she'll have a spacious new home in a 'garden suite' out with the other Flamig Farm animals. |
| | Farm Animal Fun Create some smiles by sharing these unexpected facts with friends and family: -The chicken is the closest living relative to the T-Rex. -Goats were the first animal to be domesticated (according to many historians). -Pigs are considered the 4th most intelligent animal (after chimpanzees, dolphins, and elephants.) -Cows can recognize their names (though they may not come when called!). - Sheep make a bleating sound. A baby lamb can identify its mother by her individual bleat.
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| | Thanks for reading. Will write again next month. |
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