NATURAL HEALTH TECHNIQUES NEWSLETTER

June/July, 2012                          Volume 8 Number 4

In This Issue of NHT Volume 8 Number 4:

• From the Desk of Dr. Moffat: About.com Best Medical Intuitive Winner
• Monthly drawing for a free consult: Thanks for subscribing! And the winner is. . .
• Health in the News: The Healing Paws of Pets. Rattlesnake Bites Man in Clarkston, WA WalMart! Dehydrated Chicken Strips Killing Dogs.
• Case of the Month: Hoof challenges in horses
• Product of the Month: Myrrh Gum
• Media Reviews: None this month
• Ask Dr. Moffat: Why is my horse lame?
• Tips and Tricks for a Healthier Life: Know when to fold ‘em. Email hacker tips.
• Client Testimonials: Pap is normal!
• Healthy Recipes: Rosemary Lemonade
• Inspiration & Perspective: The most important thing in life. German shepherd saves owner’s life. Blessing your food.
• What’s New at Our House? We’re slammed with planting season, bees, chicks, ducklings, turkeys and poo! Oh my! Lots of photos for you.
• Local Events: Moscow ID Artwalk 2012 June 15-August. August 10-12, 2012. Stanton Horse Trials

(Please note that full names are never used in this newsletter or on my website without the full consent of the sender or client. Some cases also encompass groupings of cases with similar symptoms and suggestions for healing in an attempt to educate the general public.)

From the Desk of Dr. Moffat:

From my Inbox: “Just had a chance to check results of the voting – Congratulations!! 53% – Wow!  –  Huge victory for you.  You must be so happy!”  Sabina

 

For all of you who voted for me for the Best Medical Intuitive award I want to thank you SO much! Yep. It was a tough and stressful time period for me, but I had oodles of support and I WON! Here are the results: https://healing.about.com/gi/pages/poll.htm?poll_id=9444421162&linkback=https://healing.about.com/library/bl-readers-choice-vote-medical-intuitive.htm&rc=1 You all are just awesome!

Monthly drawing for a free consult: Thanks for subscribing! Putting the 4514 subscribers into the random number generator this month and clicking the enter number. . .the winner is. . . subscriber #2225. . .Barbara Greene from California. Please call or email me Barbara and we’ll set up a time for your consult. The consult can be for you, a pet or a child in your home. Happy reading.

Health in the News:

The Healing Paws of Pets: After Sheryl Brereton, 70, of Severn, MD., fell in January, her beloved black Labrador retriever, Remmy, was brought to her hospital bedside. “We placed mom’s hand on his paw so she could feel it,” says Brereton’s daughter, Ashley. “Remmy kept his paw there as long as she needed.” Hospitals have long recognized the comfort provided to patients by visiting cats and dogs. A visit with Valentine lifted Ethel Cohen’s spirits during her stay at Washington, D.C.’s Sibley Memorial Hospital. Now, though, more hospitals are allowing family pets to comfort patients during recovery or at the end of life. “The pet is often the one to curl up by your side and wants to help you feel better,” says Donna Dishman, executive director of PAWS Houston. The nonprofit group began coordinating personal pet visits at Houston’s Methodist Hospital and expanded its program to other area hospitals and hospices. The University of Maryland Medical Center allows pet visits for patients admitted for more than a few days, says the Rev. Susan Roy, director of pastoral care services. The trend is toward “recognizing what is important to the patient and family so that those things [like pets] can be a part of assisting” patient healing, Roy says. –Susan Kreimer Reference: (From the AARP Bulletin April, 2012 https://pubs.aarp.org/aarpbulletin/201204_DC?pg=4#pg4

Rattlesnake Bites Man in Clarkston, WA Wal-Mart! Can you believe this one? We learned about it from one of our neighbors and just had to look up the article since we don’t have TV or get the newspaper. Imagine shopping in the outdoor plant section at Wal-Mart, reaching down to move a stick to check out the price of mulch and getting bitten by a rattlesnake! Well, it happened in our local Clarkston, WA Wal-Mart. Read on. . . https://www.kare11.com/news/national/article/976256/18/Rattlesnake-bites-man-at-Walmart?odyssey=obinsite&fb_ref=artsharetop&fb_source=timeline

Dehydrated Chicken Strips Killing Dogs Really? Another food scare? Yes. This scare involves many brands of treats made in China. Many of the treats have been packaged in the US or Canada but originated in China so read those labels! Symptoms include lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody diarrhea (melena), and increased water consumption with increased urination (polyuria/polydipsia or PUPD). Your dog can develop symptoms within hours of eating the chicken strips, or your pet may develop symptoms gradually—over a period of several months. The worst part of this is that many dogs will develop Fanconi Syndrome which involves glucose dumping into the urine as the kidneys are destroyed. A long, lingering death. Treats that have been implicated in these sicknesses include: Chicken Jerky, VeggieDents (Virbac), Dried Sweet Potato treats, irradiated food (watch for the Radura symbol on the package), Waggin’ Train and Canyon Creek Ranch treats.

The FDA has had over 1000 complaints of poisoning.  Read more here: https://drpollen.blogspot.com/2012/05/chicken-strips-killing-dogs.html

Case of the Month: Hoof challenges in horses

I’ve been working with Jessica Lynn and her horses, including Destinee, since 2008. I’m part of her very expansive healing team, so sometimes consistency is not in the cards with Destiny but I go with the flow on that process. Jessica uses all kinds of healing modalities on her pets including essential oils, photonic lights, supplements, special feeds, massage, acupuncture, herb, enzymes, homeopathics, vaccine nosodes, chiropractics, energy work, allopathic medicines, natural and medicinal wormers (as needed of course) and she also communicates with Lydia Hiby.

Destiny Rose, a 10 year old female Arab cross, has been a problem child for quite a while. She didn’t want to come out into this world so Jessica actually pulled her from her mother’s birth canal. Destinee was born and raised in California and had been quite healthy for her first three years but has been on a BUNCH of supplements much of her life. She first became my patient (being a veterinarian I can say that for animals) in November of 2008. After her third year she developed quite a few challenges including fungal issues, fly bite problems, allergies, muscle ties and laminitis. Her feet were often sore and her hooves very soft. Destinee actually has lost her hoof once. It just sloughed off! Can you imagine that? Ouch!  A constant stream of foot attention was needed.  Jessica had her in boots often with various treatments in direct contact with the feet.

Over the years I’ve balanced out Jessica’s horses foods, figured out the exact timings for worming, dental procedures and vaccines, had Jessica get Destinee special foods like dandelion greens, yarrow powder, safflower oil, myrrh gum powder (for her fungal issues) and rutin for her circulation issues which were affecting her hooves. We’ve also tested out which specific boots or slippers to use on the hooves and tested out the percentage of effectiveness of each foot and general pain levels. We have even figured out new products to use on her that other clients had used with success for thrush (No Thrush Powder) which Jessica eventually decided to offer to her own clients online through her website (www.earthsongranch.com) because it worked so well.

Now, I’m not a horse-trained veterinarian, but I do believe in what my Guides give for advice. Jessica (fortunately) also believes in their guidance but asks lots of extra questions to get increased clarification which often helps us all. The last time we updated Destinee, the Guides told Jessica that she needed to take off the protective boots after two weeks. That didn’t make sense to Jessica so she didn’t do it. One afternoon shortly after that two week period Jessica emailed in concern saying that Destinee didn’t look any better even though she had been following the program diligently.   She was concerned that she was getting too much sugar in her diet, as there had been times when I had suggested things for Destinee which made Jessica cringe (knowing all that she knows) but she follows through, one being that Destinee needed 3 cups of whole re-cleaned oats for 2 months. Jessica suspected that Destinee is a Insulin Resistant/Metabolic prone horse so this went against all the current advice out in the “horse world.” She went ahead and fed the oats, but was worried that with the oats, carrots, and apples as well as other fruits the guides said Destinee needed it may be causing what seemed to be going on! Each horse is an individual, and some of the IR/Metabolic horses may in fact need oats!

Since I’ve been doing this work for over 17 years, I try not to freak out when people tell me things are worse even though they are following the program (secretly I do always question and wonder and worry). When this happens it’s time to ask more questions. . .so we set up an appointment to review Destinee’s case.

Upon reviewing the case, the Guides said Destinee was getting better—so how come Jessica is not seeing this, I wondered. We determined that Jessica had not removed the boots (Soft Riders) so re-clarified that suggestion. “Destinee IS getting better,” they said, “and she’s healing from the inside out which is why it’s not apparent.” Well, we just had to go with what the Guides told us at that time, so Jessica made a call to her long-term bare foot professional for her to come do a trim and evaluation. The next day I got this email from Jessica.

“You were so right when you said the other day the hoof was healing from the inside out and that is what it is doing. There is now strength in the walls and the heels to hold her up, and she has been up and about today. Marci is coming back on Wednesday so we can trim some more… wanted to be a bit conservative! Denice, don’t ever doubt your abilities. You are awesome — you got everything right on. We just had to go with a different trim. When Marci (Destinee’s natural hoof care practitioner and consultant) saw all the strength in the feet after all this time she started to cry.”

Why do I question these things after all these years of working with the Guides? It just is so comforting to get that validation. It keeps me going and makes me feel safe as I continue to tread into waters I’m not totally comfortable with.

I’m sure if you sign up for Jessica’s newsletter she will keep you current on how Destinee is doing. I feel good and very blessed to be able to know that a cell is a cell is a cell—no matter if it’s a horse, human, dog, cat, iguana or even a plant cell. All the cell wants to do is be happy so it can function properly and give the living thing a great life. If we give the body or living thing what it needs, it responds in kind.

I’m sure if you sign up for Jessica’s newsletter (https://earthsongranch.com/viewContent.asp?idpage=57) or go to her Facebook page she will keep you current on how Destinee is doing. I feel good and very blessed to be able to know that a cell is a cell is a cell—no matter if it’s a horse, human, dog, cat, iguana or even a plant cell. All the cell wants to do is be happy so it can function properly and give the living thing a great life. If we give the body or living thing what it needs, it responds in kind.

Product of the Month: Myrrh Gum Powder

Myrrh

(Commiphora molmol syn. C. myrrha) Family: Burseraceae

Alias names for Myrrh: Abyssinian Myrrh, African Myrrh, Amyris kataf, Arabian Myrrh, Bal, Balsamodendron Myrrha, Balsamodendrum habessinicum, Bdellium, Bol, Bola, Commiphora, Commiphora abyssinica, Commiphora erythraea, Commiphora habessinica, Commiphora kataf, Commiphora madagascariensis, Commiphora molmol, Commiphora myrrha, Common Myrrh, Didin, Didthin, Gum Myrrh, Heerabol, Hemprichia erythraea, Mirrh, Mo Yao, Murrah, Myrrh Gum, Myrrha, Myrrhe, Opopanax, Resina Commiphorae, Somalien Myrrh, Yemen Myrrh.

Pictures of Myrrh:

Myrrh shrub with fruit.

Myrrh tree.

 

 

Myrrh resin

References for Myrrh pictures:

• Myrrh leaves and fruit:  https://www.kraeuterabc.de/img/krabc/Commiphora_molmol_150.jpg
• Myrrh Tree: https://livingclean.com/homeremedies/images/herbs/myrrh.jpg
• Myrrh Resin: https://malaria.ws/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Myrrh.jpg
  

About Myrrh: Myrrh comes from a spiny deciduous thorny tree or shrub which grows as thickets to the height of 15 feet in desert regions. It has 4-petaled yellow-red flowers on trifoliate leaves with obovate leaflets and 7mm pointed fruit which are slightly bitter. Originally native to northeast Africa, myrrh now grows in Somalia, Ethiopia, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, India, Iran, Thailand and in the West Indies.

Myrrh symbolizes suffering and was one of the three gifts offered to the baby Jesus by the three wise men (Matthew 2:11). Myrrh is one of the oldest known medicines used in ancient Egypt as early as 2000 B.C. as an important sacred anointing oil (Exodus 30:23) and for embalming. Myrrh was mentioned in the Songs of Solomon (1:13, 3:6, 4:14, 5:1, 5 and 13.) Jesus was offered “wine mingled with myrrh” when he was crucified—perhaps as a kindness to ease the pain, though it was done in a mocking manner (Mark 15:23.) Myrrh and aloes (which is actually in the Coral Bell family) were brought by Nicodemus from Jesus’ burial (John 19:39.)

Actions and Uses of Myrrh: Myrrh is a pungent/astringent aromatic herb used as a stimulant, antifungal, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, astringent, expectorant, antispasmodic, carminative, immune stimulant, circulatory stimulant, bitter, tonic and as a mild anesthetic. Myrrh is used as incense, in perfumes and for embalming. Myrrh is a hot/dry/acrid/bitter herb that strengthens the yang energy of the body.

Historical Uses of Myrrh: (Please note that many of these symptoms are yeast-related)

• Abnormal Pap smears
• Acne
• Aphrodisiac
• Athlete’s foot
• Blood cleanser
• Boils
• Canker sores
• Digestive complaints
• Ear infections
• Gingivitis
• Head and Hair tonic
• Head colds including glandular involvement
• Hemorrhoids (mixed in a carrier oil and applied topically)
• High cholesterol (lowers)
• Increases intelligence
• Infections and feverish glandular conditions
• Leprosy
• Menstrual problems
• Mouth sores
• Mouthwash
• Phlegm reducer
• Pressure sores
• Skin problems (applied topically)
• Stimulates Macrophage activity
• Syphilis
• Throat problems
• Thrush (Candida albicans)
• Tightens the gums
• Ulcerative colitis
• Yeast infections
  

Parts of Myrrh Plant Used: The sap or resin is collected from branches, dried and then crushed into a powder or made into tincture or essential oil. Myrrh resin is not water soluble, so some herbalists think it is better used externally. I’ve had quite a bit of success using it internally in capsule form for chronic yeast infections.  In my practice humans and dogs do well with myrrh in general but cats don’t like it. If you have a dog with chronic skin or ear infections, this may be a good herb to use. Myrrh seems to be hard to find in many locations but you can get it online or through Starwest Botanicals out of California. Here’s that link:  https://www.starwest-botanicals.com/product/4oz-myrrh-gum-powder.html

Chemical Constituents of Myrrh: Phytosterols, oligo gum resin, acidic polysaccharides, resin and the volatile oils (herbolene, eugenol and furanosesquiterpenes).

Contraindications, safety issues, concerns, harmful drug interactions and allergy precautions for Myrrh: No adverse side effects from myrrh have been reported, but one reference mentioned that it may decrease blood sugar levels, so if you are taking anything for diabetes, you should monitor your blood levels carefully. Of course, if myrrh helps to balance out yeast, this would make sense. Another resource said that there may be an interaction with blood thinners. When in doubt, check with someone who knows how to use myrrh. Many practitioners in this country do not seem to know enough about it though.

Plant Propagation Tips for Myrrh: Myrrh is propagated from seed in the spring or from cuttings in the fall. It prefers well-drained soil and full sun. I was thinking it would be cool if we gardeners in the United States could grow Myrrh, but here in Idaho that just isn’t going to happen. In 2011 I had started a plant in our nursery called a Spice Bush (Lindera benzoin) from Horizon Herbs. As I was researching on the Horizon website where to transplant it when I noticed that it has similar properties to Myrrh and can be used as a substitute for Myrrh. I’ll have to do some studying on that one, but I’m excited about it.

Helpful Links and References for Myrrh:

• Book: German Commission E Monographs is an excellent resource for any serious herb enthusists.
• Alias names for Myrrh: https://www.medicinenet.com/myrrh/supplements-vitamins.htm

Ask Dr. Moffat:

Hey Dr. D: I know we just had a recheck but my horse has come up lame. Can you and the guides tell me what happened? Janeen

Denice: I’m testing that he’s twisted it Janeen. There was a hole in the pasture and he got his foot stuck in it. Can you email me a map of the pasture that he is in? Maybe I can figure out where it is.

Janeen: Here is the pasture he was in. I massaged it. Thanks for all your help.

Denice: Check the center of the pasture on the level of the second e in creek [map not included here in the newsletter] and a bit to the right of the very center. That’s where I’m testing the problem is. You’re welcome Janeen. Denice

Janeen: I knew that was where you were going to say it was.  There was a small sink hole there I had forgotten about.  It was from where my other horse is buried.  I will fill it in. Thanks so much. Janeen

Tips and Tricks for a Healthier Life:

Know when to fold ‘em: If you allow people to make more withdrawals than deposits into your emotional bank account of life, you will be out of balance and in the negative. Know when to close the account. Of course the trick to life is to find relationships that nurture your account and generate interest. That way, when somebody bounces a check in your emotional bank account, it won’t matter much in the long run. What type of check writer are you?

Email Hacker Tips: These tips for handling email account hacking (and other very useful computer stuff) from the Ask Leo! Newsletter I get every week. . .Email Hacked? 7 Things You Need to do NOW. Yep, I get quite a few emails from clients that don’t really come from my clients. . .they come from their hacked accounts. Someone, somewhere has gained access to their account and has started using it to send spam. Leo says that sometimes passwords are changed, sometimes not. Sometimes traces are left, sometimes not. Sometimes everything in the account is erased, both contacts and saved email, and sometimes not. The one thing that all of these events share is that suddenly several people, usually those on your contact list, start getting email from “you” that you didn’t send at all because you’ve been hacked! Leo shares how to handle all of this. What a bother! Here’s what you need to do next. . . (read  more) https://ask-leo.com/C5415

Client Testimonials:

Dear Dr. D.: I just got my PAP smear results in the mail and everything is normal! Cultures. . . HPV. . . are all normal! I got so excited and wanted to share. I love naturopathic medicine, homeopathics and most of all YOU!! Thank you. F. P. in Michigan

Dear F. P.: Nice. Thanks for the kudos! I knew you could do it.  Denice

Healthy Recipes: Rosemary Lemonade

This recipe was submitted by Jessica Drollette (Mystic Manuscripts LLC), one of our farm members at Elk Meadow Farm & Nursery. She collected herbs from our farm one week and brought me back a jar of this recipe the next week. Yum! Rosemary Lemonade

Recipe of the Month: Rosemary Lemonade

• ½ gallon Water
• 5 4-inch sprigs of Rosemary
• 5 4-inch sprigs of Lemon Balm
• 2 Tablespoons of Sulfite-free Unsweetened Organic Lemon Juice Concentrate
• Stevia powder to taste or you can put in some fresh Stevia herb along with the other herbs before steeping in the sun.

• 

  Rosemary Lemonade Recipe ingredients.

Optional: Sweeten with Honey or Agave Nectar.

Put half the herbs in a gallon tea jar filled half way with water out in the sunshine to steep for 4-6 hours. Strain the herbs from the liquid. Repeat the process with the other half of the herbs using the water from the first steeping. Strain a second time and add the Lemon Concentrate and Stevia to taste. Enjoy!

Notes: You may want to crush the herbs before putting them into the jar so that more essential oils will be released into the tea.

Makes one half gallon.

Inspiration & Perspective: The Most Important Thing in Life

It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.

Over the phone, his mother told him, “Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday.”

Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.

“Jack, did you hear me?”

“Oh, sorry, Mom.  Yes, I heard you.  It’s been so long since I thought of him. I’m sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago,” Jack said.

“Well, he didn’t forget you. Every time I saw him he’d ask how you were doing. He’d reminisce about the many days you spent over ‘his side of the fence’ as he put it,” Mom told him.

“I loved that old house he lived in,” Jack said.

“You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man’s influence in your life,” she said.

“He’s the one who taught me carpentry,” he said. “I wouldn’t be in this business if it weren’t for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important.  Mom, I’ll be there for the funeral,” Jack said. As busy as he was, he kept his word.  Jack caught the next flight to his hometown.  Mr. Belser’s funeral was small and uneventful.  He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.

The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time.  Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time. The house was exactly as he remembered.    Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture….. Jack stopped suddenly.

“What’s wrong, Jack?” his Mom asked.

“The box is gone,” he said.

“What box?” Mom asked.

“There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside.  All he’d ever tell me was ‘the thing I value most,'” Jack said.

It was gone.  Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser extended family had taken it.  Read more. . . (https://naturalhealthtechniques.com/most-important-thing.htm)

Heroic German Shepherd refuses to leave drowning owner’s side.

Colin White was rescued from drowning in the sea because his German Shepherd dog refused to go back to shore and ended up alerting the coastguard to his whereabouts. White was out walking his dog at the ocean side at Earnse Bay at Walney Cumbria in the UK on Friday when he hurt his leg and got into trouble after the tide came in and he was stranded.

A passerby saw the pair around a half mile out surrounded by water at the top of the bay and noticed White was struggling. Concerned that the fast-incoming tide would sweep the man and his dog out to sea, the onlooker notified the Walney Coastguard.

When Walney Coastguard arrived at the beach they could see some objects in the water, which they thought might be seals or rocks. They could not be certain it was a man and a dog. When they got closer they spotted Starlight. She was recovered into their boat, but she kept on trying to get back into the water. Read the rest of the story. . .

https://www.dogheirs.com/tamara/posts/1075-heroic-german-shepherd-refuses-to-leave-drowning-owner-s-side

Blessing your food: From Cecily Reading:  In my early 20’s, I became a vegetarian. After a few years, I had an ah ha moment. I realized (for myself) that plants have a soul too, and maybe even eyes, but that I could not “see” them. I decided at that point to bless and give thanks to every source of life that gave itself to me. I made a decision to eat meat again as I no longer considered animals more sacred than plants, and I believe being grateful blesses the source and my body and soul as well. I no longer have the fear of “what meat will do to me”. After watching this, I thought some folks may choose to be “Meatarians”! This Singing Plants of Damanhur video brought tears to my eyes! Enjoy!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXhhAXjKmIU

Denice’s Note: Gee, I thought I was the only one who ever though about plants as living things that we kill to eat just like animals. Thanks for sharing Cecily. Great video by the way.

What’s New at Our House?

Our farm/nursery is in full swing this month. The seeds we started in the living room in February have now all been transplanted into 4-inch pots—most of which are waiting to be put into the ground. We sold trays and trays of cucurbits (squash, cucumbers, pumpkins) at the Moscow Saturday market a couple weeks back. We’re busy finishing up the arbors we started last year when we had to put the vines into the ground but didn’t have the time to finish the rest of the arbor after the vine was placed. More fencing and gates are next on the list in between hauling loads of horse manure.

I stepped out on a limb this year and got my first set of bees in early April. It took Michael and me about 40 hours to clean up the first hive we had purchased used the year before. We scraped, sterilized (basically scorched it with a propane torch), repainted it and got things ready for them. I still don’t really know what I’m doing and I can’t believe that honey doesn’t cost over $3.00 an OUNCE! Holy cow! The expenses on that project keep mounting. Beekeepers must be important because of all the work bees do to pollinate things is all I can figure. Here I look like I’m ready to run! I’m smoking the bees after I turned them into their brooder box. What an experience. The cardboard laying around the hive was to catch any bees that fell over the edge so I wouldn’t have to pick them up by hand. The little wooden box is what they came in (3 pounds of them all buzzing around keeping the queen at a steady 100 degree temperature at all times!) The queen was in her own little matchbox type of cage within the center of all those bees. We took out the little cork on her tiny cage and inserted a marshmallow which her attendants would then eat and release her once they were settled into the brooder box (so she wouldn’t freak out and leave). I’ve been feeding them sugar water for several weeks now. They drink about 3-4 cups of it every day. It’s a 50% water, 50% sugar mixture. You can’t wear black down at the hive because they will think you’re a bear and will come at you and sting you. I won’t let Maggie come with me any longer to feed them because they stung her. We’ve been told they sense that fear and more come to attack so. . .she stays on the porch. I only wear the bee outfit when it’s warm out. Mostly I feed with just gloves on at night when they are in the hive or when it’s cold when they aren’t very active. Of course it’s not summer yet! The outfit is quite the hassle to put on.

 

Denice in Bee outfit April, 2012.

We taught a Quick Hoop Bending workshopApril 28th and shared season extension techniques with eight participants.

My brother and sister-in-law in Montana sold us their hydraulic dumping trailer (what a HUGE blessing) so it no longer takes us an hour to unload a trailer of poo. We are constantly planning a year ahead when it comes to building soil. We’re moving the composted horse manure from last year into the new straw bale beds and into the hoop house. There is never enough ready soil at our place but we’re only on year three of building garden beds. It’s all green and pretty around here and the Batik irises are just opening.

We’ll need to have more spring flowers to be competitive in the flower market but this all takes time to develop. A bit later this year you’ll be able to purchase an Elk Meadow bouquet each week at the Moscow Co-op though. We’re looking forward to that.

Oh, and we sold about 15 Bourbon Red Heritage Turkeys and 24 Indian Runner Ducklings so far this season and have another batch of duck eggs in the incubator. Our Black Copper Marin chicks came June 6^th at the Will Call window. Do you all know what that means? It’s really cool. The Post Office calls you first thing in the morning to say your chicks are in and to come pick them up at the Will Call Window. You jump into the car and zoom to the Post Office usually before everyone else gets there and knock on the locked door and they answer it. The chicks are all peeping. What a joyous noise. I think the people working there like it much better than the rotten, horrible smelling red worms that came a couple of years back. Pee-U!

Black Copper Maran Chicks 6-6-12 (plus two Buff Orphingtons).

Baby chicks are born with a two-day food supply in their abdomen in the form of the egg yolk so they can survive the two or three day Express Mail journey. After that they need to eat! Our secret weapon for chicks that look weak is watermelon juice. We always have a fresh watermelon on hand for newbie poultry. We squash the juice out and put it into a syringe and dribble a few drops or so down their gullets then we make a “mash” of watermelon available to them in a saucer or plastic lid. They really go for that (chickens love the color red—they are technically cannibals.) It really gives them a boost and we rarely lose a chick.

Black Copper Marins are on the endangered species list. They originated from France and the US no longer allows them to come into our country, so there are a few breeders who raise them. We’ve purchased chicks from three different bloodlines so we can eventually breed and sell the eggs and chicks. One of our favorite things to do on the farm is to hatch and raise baby poultry. The fascination with this breed is that they lay eggs the color of a Hershey’s milk chocolate bar. The color on the egg is deposited on its way down the oviduct (unlike Americana eggs where the color is part of the shell) so the eggs are “painted” they call it. And the paint needs to set up for a little bit so if the egg rubs on straw or sawdust the paint will be scratched. Black Copper Maran Eggs.

Michael has the brooder box (actually a 100-gallon horse trough) all ready for them. He’ll watch over them in his office for a week or two (until they start stinking) then we’ll put them out into the garage for a while as we madly build a mobile chicken coop for them to grow up in because we’re too soft-hearted to butcher the old girls that we have to make use of their hen house. Chickens don’t integrate that well.

Local Events:

The Moscow, ID 2012 Artwalk opens June 15^th. If you’ve never taken the walk-a-bout in Moscow during this time and you love art you should really put on your walking shoes and take a stroll. Here’s the link to more information: https://www.moscow.id.us/art/artwalk.aspx

July 21st, Saturday Medical Intuitive and Holistic conference at the Unity Church in Spokane. I’ll be speaking at 3pm about helpful tips you can do at home and will be on a panel with other medical intuitives from 7-9pm. Hope to see you all there.  https://www.medical-intuitives.net/classes.htm

August 10-12, 2012. Stanton Horse Trials. See Shirley Scott (our local Animal Communicator) www.animaltalkhealing.com and myself at the Stanton Horse Trials https://www.stantonfarm.com/events.  I’ll be interacting with people and doing some free mini-readings and Shirley will be communicating with the critters for a small fee. Stop by and visit us, bring a pet (on a leash) or a photo of your pet and let us do our things for you.

That’s a wrap for these next couple of months. It’s planting season. Be well.  Denice