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Holy Cow! The war on milk…

20 Wednesday Apr 2016

Posted by HattieBelle in American, Amish, Board of Animal Health, Brad Rogers, Community, Controlled, Cows, Crime, Elkhart County, Food, Food Labels, Freedom, Fresh Garden Produce, Genetically Modified Food, GMO Alternatives, Government, Health, Indiana, Mennonite, Milk, Raw Milk

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Illegal substance “partakers”???

By, Gayle Lane

Extending for four decades now, the war on drugs has ingrained a certain ideology into society. What was sold as an initiative to get dangerous drugs off the streets has conceived a totalitarian mindset that government has the authority to control everything you eat and drink and, if you disobey, the state can fine you, destroy your property, raid your home and throw you in jail. I’m not talking about cocaine or meth. I’m not even talking about marijuana. I’m talking about milk.

According to Time Magazine , “for some Americans, milk has become a test of their freedom. And they’re not paranoid kooks either; the government really is out to get them, authorizing seizures of bottles and jugs of unpasteurized milk and, in one recent case, a full-on, agents-brandishing-guns raid.”

There is indeed a war going on, and it’s threatening one of your most basic freedoms – the right to eat a wholly natural, healthful food!

The FDA has long banned the sale of raw milk across state lines, and in many states it’s illegal to sell raw milk entirely. (For more information about laws in various US states, please see this link. For information about raw milk in other countries go here.)

Why has a natural food source been banned for sale in so many areas?

Well, they claim raw milk is simply too dangerous to consume and by restricting its sale they are serving the public health and reducing the risk of illness….

Yet shockingly there’s no evidence backing up this claim.

According to CDC data, from 1993 to 2006, only about 116 illnesses a year were linked to raw milk. That amounts to less than .000002 percent of the 76 million people who contract a food-borne illness in the United States each year!

Looking at the evidence, or rather lack thereof, it is quite clear that raw milk has been unfairly singled out and targeted by the FDA, the USDA, and even the FBI, despite the fact that it’s so low on the food-borne illness risk scale it’s hardly measurable.

The recent enforcement efforts against raw milk sales is so disproportionate to the risk it poses to consumers that it defies all logic.

Is the Ban on Raw Milk Unconstitutional?

Raw milk enthusiasts and raw dairy suppliers began fighting back in early 2010, filing suit against the FDA, claiming that banning interstate sales is unconstitutional.

The rebuttal received from the FDA was shocking to say the least. It contained the following outrageous statements, which make it very clear they believe you have   no right  to natural, unadulterated food:

Live free, drink raw milk.

“There is no absolute right to consume or feed children any particular food.”

“There is no ‘deeply rooted’ historical tradition of unfettered access to foods of all kinds.”

“Plaintiffs’ assertion of a ‘fundamental right to their own bodily and physical health, which includes what foods they do and do not choose to consume for themselves and their families’ is similarly unavailing because plaintiffs do not have a fundamental right to obtain any food they wish.”

The FDA’s brief goes on to state that “even if such a right did exist, it would not render the FDA’s regulations unconstitutional because prohibiting the interstate sale and distribution of unpasteurized milk promotes bodily and physical health.”

“There is no fundamental right to freedom of contract.”

With these assertions, the FDA essentially claims to have the authority to prohibit any food of their choosing, and make it a crime for you to seek it out.

This is simply unacceptable.

Raw Milk Safety Standards – Actually HIGHER than Those for Pasteurized Milk

It’s essential to understand the reasons why most dairy is pasteurized in the first place.

The dairy cows used to produce much of the pasteurized dairy sold in the United States are raised in such unsanitary conditions that it affects the cows’ health and hence the quality of their milk.

Factory farming conditions are the reason why the milk has to be pasteurized in the first place. If it wasn’t, it simply would not be safe to drink. This fact is also what prevents the conventional dairy industry from competing with smaller organic farms.

In terms of quality and nutritional content of the milk, you simply cannot compare the milk produced by factory farms to that of organic farm that raise their cattle on grasses and let them out to pasture. These cows are healthy, and produce high quality, uncontaminated milk that does not require pasteurization to kill off dangerous pathogens.

Still, despite the fact that grass-fed organically-raised cows are at a distinct advantage, from the get-go when it comes to the quality of their milk, organic dairy farms in most states still must meet or exceed pasteurized milk standards, without pasteurizing.

California, specifically, (where raw milk is legal) has its own special set of standards for raw milk for human consumption.

So, if it’s not really about food safety, what’s all the hubbub about?

In a word: money.

The conventional dairy industry, realizing that consumers are flocking toward raw milk because of its health benefits, has redoubled their efforts to quench raw milk sales.

You might think that if raw dairy became attractive enough the dairy industry would simply follow suit and begin producing raw products to meet the demand. Alas… this is virtually impossible because of the way their overcrowded farms are run.

You simply CANNOT drink factory farmed milk raw. It would be extremely unsafe. Their business depends on pasteurization, and that is why their powerful lobbyists will stop at nothing to persuade government agencies to keep raw milk bans in full force.

Big Dairy simply cannot compete, so to maintain their market share, they’re employing dirty tactics to destroy the competition instead.

A yearlong sting operation, including aliases, a 5 a.m. surprise inspection and surreptitious purchases from an Amish farm in Pennsylvania, culminated in the federal government announcing this week that it has gone to court to stop Rainbow Acres Farm from selling its contraband.

Related articles
  • Setbacks and Bizarre Turns in the Raw Milk Saga (libertycrier.com)
  • Baylen Linnekin on the Fight for the Right to Choose Raw Milk (reason.com)
  • Setbacks and Bizarre Turns in the Raw Milk Saga (txwclp.org)
  • Raw milk appeal breaking news in TO (thebovine.wordpress.com)
  • Sheriff Brad Rogers takes on the Feds in defense of Elkhart County Dairy Farmer

116 members of Congress seek authorization vote on Syria

29 Thursday Aug 2013

Posted by HattieBelle in 2013, Al Qaeda, Amish, Barack Obama, Congress, Indiana, Military Strike, Senate, Syria, U.S. House, U.S. Senate, Vote, War, War Powers Resolution of 1973, World War III

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Assad, China, Congress Authorization, Constitution, Foreign Relations, Hagel, Iran, Kerry, Military Strike, NATO, Obama, Russia, Separation of Power, Syria, UN, War, War Drums, War Powers Resolution of 1973, Warpath, World War III

Oklahoma march opposes a military strike against Syria.

Oklahoma marches in opposition to a military strike against Syria.

As President Barack Obama considers the United States’ response to Syria’s (alleged) chemical attack on civilians, a growing bipartisan coalition in Congress came together today to “strongly urge” congressional approval of military action.

In a letter sent to the president this evening, Rep. Scott Rigell, a second-term Republican from Virginia, joined 97 of his Republican and 18 of his Democratic colleagues in demanding that the president first acquire consent from Congress, citing the War Powers Resolution of 1973, before responding militarily to the Syrian government’s purported use of chemical weapons on Aug. 21.

Here is a full copy of the letter,

followed by the 116 signatures

August 28, 2013

We strongly urge you to consult and receive authorization from Congress before ordering the use of U.S. military force in Syria. Your responsibility to do so is prescribed in the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution of 1973.

While the Founders wisely gave the Office of the President the authority to act in

Comments     A     A U.S. Rep. Justin Amash talks about Syria: During a visit to Brownstone Coffee Shop in downtown Battle Creek on Wednesday U.S. Rep. Justin Amash talked about Syria. (John Grap/The Enquirer)

U.S. Rep. Justin Amash talks about Syria: During a visit to Brownstone Coffee Shop in downtown Battle Creek on Wednesday U.S. Rep. Justin Amash talked about Syria. (John Grap/The Enquirer)

emergencies, they foresaw the need to ensure public debate — and the active engagement of Congress — prior to committing U.S. military assets. Engaging our military in Syria when no direct threat to the United States exists and without prior congressional authorization would violate the separation of powers that is clearly delineated in the Constitution.

Mr. President, in the case of military operations in Libya you stated that authorization from Congress was not required because our military was not engaged in “hostilities.” In addition, an April 1, 2011, memorandum to you from your Office of Legal Counsel concluded:

“… President Obama could rely on his constitutional power to safeguard the national interest by directing the anticipated military operations in Libya –which were limited in their nature, scope, and duration — without prior congressional authorization.”

'U.S. Hands off Syria' protest in Minneapolis.

‘U.S. Hands off Syria’ protest in Minneapolis.

We view the precedent this opinion sets, where “national interest” is enough to engage in hostilities without congressional authorization, as unconstitutional. If the use of 221 Tomahawk cruise missiles, 704 Joint Direct Attack Munitions, and 42 Predator Hellfire missiles expended in Libya does not constitute “hostilities,” what does?

If you deem that military action in Syria is necessary, Congress can reconvene at your request. We stand ready to come back into session, consider the facts before us, and share the burden of decisions made regarding U.S. involvement in the quickly escalating Syrian conflict.

Sincerely,

Rep. Scott Rigell (VA-02)

CNN coverage of Anti-Syrian-Protest in Washington.

CNN coverage of Anti-Syrian-Protest in Washington.

Rep. Matt Salmon (AZ-05)

Rep. Mo Brooks (AL-05)

Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05)

Rep. Tom McClintock (CA-04)

Rep. Tom Marino (PA-10)

Rep. Dan Benishek (MI-01)

Rep. Tom Rooney (FL-17)

Chicago says "Hands Off of Syria".

Chicago says “Hands Off of Syria”.

Rep. Steve Pearce (NM-02)

Rep. Tim Griffin (AR-2)

Rep. Justin Amash (MI-03)

Rep. Raul Labrador (ID-01)

Rep. Joseph Pitts (PA-16)

Rep. Trent Franks (AZ-08)

Rep. John Campbell (CA-45)

Rep. Paul Gosar (AZ-04)

Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (GA-03)

Rep. Joe Wilson (SC-02)

"Great is the Guilt of Unnecessary War!"

“Great is the Guilt of Unnecessary War!”

Rep. Charles Boustany (LA-03)

Rep. Tom Cole (OK-04)

Rep. Louie Gohmert (TX-01)

Rep. Austin Scott (GA-08)

Rep. Bill Posey (FL-8)

Rep. Randy Forbes (VA-04)

Rep. Phil Gingrey (GA-11)

Rep. David Roe (TN-01)

Rep. Mark Sanford (SC-01)

Protesters in Washington DC in front of the White House chant, "NO WAR WITH SYRIA!"

Protesters in Washington DC in front of the White House chant, “NO WAR WITH SYRIA!”

Rep. John J. Duncan, Jr. (TN-02)

Rep. Reid Ribble (WI-08)

Rep. James Lankford (OK-05)

Rep. Bill Cassidy (LA-06)

Rep. Stephen Fincher (TN-08)

Rep. Trey Radel (FL-19)

Rep. Chris Stewart (UT-02)

Hatem Abudayyeh speaking at Aug. 29 rally against U.S. military attack on Syria. Over 300 people marched and protested in this rally in Chicago.

Hatem Abudayyeh speaking at Aug. 29 Chicago rally against U.S. military attack on Syria. Over 300 people marched and protested.

Rep. Lynn Jenkins (KS-02)

Rep. Jeff Duncan (SC-03)

Rep. David McKinley (WV-01)

Rep. Gus Bilirakis (Fl-12)

Rep. Joseph Heck (NV-03)

Rep. Dennis Ross (FL-15)

Rep. Billy Long (MO-07)

Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14)

Rep. Steven Palazzo (MS-04)

Rep. Kevin Yoder (KS-03)

Rep. Doug Collins(GA-09)

Opponents of a United States military strike against Syria protest at Times Square in New York City, Saturday, August 31.

Opponents of a United States military strike against Syria protest at Times Square in New York City, Saturday, August 31.

Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick (PA-08)

Rep. Beto O’Rourke (TX-16)

Rep. Zoe Lofgren (CA-19)

Rep. Peter DeFazio (OR-04)

Rep. Kurt Schrader (OR-5)

Rep. Rush Holt (NJ-12)

Rep. William Enyart (IL-12)

Rep. Timothy Walz (MN-01)

Rep. Christopher Gibson (NY-19)

Rep. Trey Gowdy (SC-04)

Rep. Frank Wolf (VA-10)

Rep. Michael Capuano (MA-07)

"No U.S. Bombs Against Syria", say Indiana protesters standing in front of the statehouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

“No U.S. Bombs Against Syria”, say Indiana protesters standing in front of the statehouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Rep. Michael Simpson (ID-02)

Rep. Michael McCaul (TX-10)

Rep. Thomas E. Petri (WI-06)

Rep. Robert Pittenger (NC-09)

Rep. Walter Jones (NC-03)

Rep. Tom Latham (IA-04)

Rep. Richard Nolan (MN-08)

Rep. Jim McDermott (WA-07)

Rep. Kerry Bentivolio (MI-11)

Rep. Mike Coffman (CO-06)

Americans do NOT want military aid given to the Syrian rebels OR military strikes against Syria.

Americans do NOT want military aid given to the Syrian rebels OR military strikes against Syria.

Rep. Sean Duffy (WI-07)

Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01)

Rep. Morgan Griffith (VA-09)

Rep. Brad Wenstrup (OH-02)

Rep. Mark Amodei (NV-02)

Rep. Roger Williams (TX-25)

Rep. Doug LaMalfa (CA-01)

Rep. Brett Guthrie (KY-02)

Rep. Sam Farr (CA-20)

Rep. Steve Daines (MT)

Rep. Robert Hurt (VA-05)

Rep. Steve Southerland, II (FL-2)

"War against Syria is built on a lie" say the protesters in front of the White House.

“War against Syria is built on a lie” say the protesters in front of the White House.

Rep. Michele Bachmann (MN-06)

Rep. Ralph Hall (TX-04)

Rep. Randy Neugebauer (TX-19)

Rep. Robert Wittman (VA-01)

Rep. Anna Eshoo (CA-18)

Rep. David Schweikert (AZ-06)

Rep. Todd Rokita (IN-4)

Rep. David Loebsack (IA-02)

Rep. Scott Tipton (CO-03)

Rep. Frank LoBiondo (NJ-02)

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)

Constituents in INDIANA protesting the United States intervention in Syrian crisis.

Constituents in INDIANA protesting the United States intervention in Syrian crisis.

Rep. Sam Johnson (TX-03)

Rep. Tom Price (GA-06)

Rep. Mark Meadows (NC-11)

Rep. Paul Broun (GA-10)

Rep. Markwayne Mullin (OK-02)

Rep. Steve Stockman (TX-36)

Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner (WI-05)

Rep. Chris Collins (NY-27)

Rep. Diane Black (TN-06)

Rep. Daniel Webster (FL-10)

Rep. Peter Welch (VT)

"Syria, same as Iraq", "U.S., NATO, Hands Off Syria" say the HUNDREDS who turned out to protest at NYC's Times Square last Thursday.

“Syria, same as Iraq”, “U.S., NATO, Hands Off Syria” say the HUNDREDS who turned out to protest at NYC’s Times Square last Thursday.

Rep. Lou Barletta (PA-11)

Rep. Tim Murphy (PA-18)

Rep. Gregg Harper (MS-03)

Rep. Jim Jordan (OH-04)

Rep. Ted S. Yoho ( FL-03)

Rep. Bill Flores (TX-17)

Rep. Michael Burgess (TX-26)

Rep. Jim Matheson (UT-04)

Rep. Cory Gardner (CO-04)

Rep. Alan Nunnelee (MS-01)

"Who lied? Who died? Who pays? Who profits?" Americans overwhelmingly do NOT want to bomb Syria.

“Who lied? Who died? Who pays? Who profits?” Americans overwhelmingly do NOT want to bomb Syria.

Rep. Jason Smith (MO-08)

Rep. Charles Fleischmann (TN-03)

Rep. Tim Walberg (MI-07)

Rep. Marsha Blackburn (TN-07)

Rep. Collin Peterson (MN-7)

RELATED ARTICLES:

  • Want to know how your senator voted on arming and funding Syrian Rebels? You can’t.
  • Ben Swann’s Reality Check: “We already ARE involved in Syria”
  • BBC: “Syrian Rebels ‘used sarin’
  • Thomas Massie: “When you deliver missiles into somebody’s country, that is an act of war.”

White House Moves to Quash Amash

24 Wednesday Jul 2013

Posted by HattieBelle in 4th Amendment, Amish, Barack Obama, Bill of Rights, HYPOCRISY, White House

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Tags

4th Amendment, Barack Obama, HYPOCRISY, Justin Amash, NSA

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 23, 2013

Statement by the Press Secretary on the Amash Amendment

WH::" We're against Amash/Conyers amendment because it's not an "OPEN" process/".

WH:”We’re against Amash/Conyers amendment because it’s not an “OPEN” process”(unlike what the FISA court & NSA do in total secrecy.)

In light of the recent unauthorized disclosures, the President has said that he welcomes a debate about how best to simultaneously safeguard both our national security and the privacy of our citizens.  The Administration has taken various proactive steps to advance this debate including the President’s meeting with the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, his public statements on the disclosed programs, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence’s release of its own public statements, ODNI General Counsel Bob Litt’s speech at Brookings, and ODNI’s decision to declassify and disclose publicly that the Administration filed an application with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.  We look forward to continuing to discuss these critical issues with the American people and the Congress.

However, we oppose the current effort in the House to hastily dismantle one of our Intelligence Community’s counter terrorism tools.  This blunt approach is not the product of an informed, open, or deliberative process.  We urge the House to reject the Amash Amendment, and instead move forward with an approach that appropriately takes into account the need for a reasoned review of what tools can best secure the nation.

(Presented without comment. Bold emphasis is mine.)

TO SUPPORT AMASH-CONYERS AMENDMENT CLICK HERE FOR YOUR HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE’S PHONE NUMBER.

HOLY COW: The war on milk…

07 Tuesday Aug 2012

Posted by HattieBelle in Amish, Bill of Rights, Business, Elkhart, Elkhart County, Elkhart Indiana, Farm, Farming, Food, Freedom, Health, Indiana, Mennonite, Neighbors, USDA, Vegetables

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Amish, Co-ops, Dairy, Dairy Industry, Farming, FBI, FDA, Food and Drug Administration, Food Industry, Fundamental Right, Health, Healthy Food, Illegal Substances, Milk, Milk Wars, Monsanto, Organic Farms, Pasteurization, Pasteurized Milk, Raw milk, The Constitution, United States

Illegal substance “partakers”???

Extending for four decades now, the war on drugs has ingrained a certain ideology into society. What was sold as an initiative to get dangerous drugs off the streets has conceived a totalitarian mindset that government has the authority to control everything you eat and drink and, if you disobey, the state can fine you, destroy your property, raid your home and throw you in jail. I’m not talking about cocaine or meth. I’m not even talking about marijuana. I’m talking about milk.

According to Time Magazine , “for some Americans, milk has become a test of their freedom. And they’re not paranoid kooks either; the government really is out to get them, authorizing seizures of bottles and jugs of unpasteurized milk and, in one recent case, a full-on, agents-brandishing-guns raid.”

There is indeed a war going on, and it’s threatening one of your most basic freedoms – the right to eat a wholly natural, healthful food!

The FDA has long banned the sale of raw milk across state lines, and in many states it’s illegal to sell raw milk entirely. (For more information about laws in various US states, please see this link. For information about raw milk in other countries go here.)

Why has a natural food source been banned for sale in so many areas?

Well, they claim raw milk is simply too dangerous to consume and by restricting its sale they are serving the public health and reducing the risk of illness….

Yet shockingly there’s no evidence backing up this claim.

According to CDC data, from 1993 to 2006, only about 116 illnesses a year were linked to raw milk. That amounts to less than .000002 percent of the 76 million people who contract a food-borne illness in the United States each year!

Looking at the evidence, or rather lack thereof, it is quite clear that raw milk has been unfairly singled out and targeted by the FDA, the USDA, and even the FBI, despite the fact that it’s so low on the food-borne illness risk scale it’s hardly measurable.

The recent enforcement efforts against raw milk sales is so disproportionate to the risk it poses to consumers that it defies all logic.

Is the Ban on Raw Milk Unconstitutional?

Raw milk enthusiasts and raw dairy suppliers began fighting back in early 2010, filing suit against the FDA, claiming that banning interstate sales is unconstitutional.

The rebuttal received from the FDA was shocking to say the least. It contained the following outrageous statements, which make it very clear they believe you have   no right  to natural, unadulterated food:

Live free, drink raw milk.

“There is no absolute right to consume or feed children any particular food.”

“There is no ‘deeply rooted’ historical tradition of unfettered access to foods of all kinds.”

“Plaintiffs’ assertion of a ‘fundamental right to their own bodily and physical health, which includes what foods they do and do not choose to consume for themselves and their families’ is similarly unavailing because plaintiffs do not have a fundamental right to obtain any food they wish.”

The FDA’s brief goes on to state that “even if such a right did exist, it would not render the FDA’s regulations unconstitutional because prohibiting the interstate sale and distribution of unpasteurized milk promotes bodily and physical health.”

“There is no fundamental right to freedom of contract.”

With these assertions, the FDA essentially claims to have the authority to prohibit any food of their choosing, and make it a crime for you to seek it out.

This is simply unacceptable.

Raw Milk Safety Standards – Actually HIGHER than Those for Pasteurized Milk

It’s essential to understand the reasons why most dairy is pasteurized in the first place.

The dairy cows used to produce much of the pasteurized dairy sold in the United States are raised in such unsanitary conditions that it affects the cows’ health and hence the quality of their milk.

Factory farming conditions are the reason why the milk has to be pasteurized in the first place. If it wasn’t, it simply would not be safe to drink. This fact is also what prevents the conventional dairy industry from competing with smaller organic farms.

In terms of quality and nutritional content of the milk, you simply cannot compare the milk produced by factory farms to that of organic farm that raise their cattle on grasses and let them out to pasture. These cows are healthy, and produce high quality, uncontaminated milk that does not require pasteurization to kill off dangerous pathogens.

Still, despite the fact that grass-fed organically-raised cows are at a distinct advantage, from the get-go when it comes to the quality of their milk, organic dairy farms in most states still must meet or exceed pasteurized milk standards, without pasteurizing.

California, specifically, (where raw milk is legal) has its own special set of standards for raw milk for human consumption.

So, if it’s not really about food safety, what’s all the hubbub about?

In a word: money.

The conventional dairy industry, realizing that consumers are flocking toward raw milk because of its health benefits, has redoubled their efforts to quench raw milk sales.

You might think that if raw dairy became attractive enough the dairy industry would simply follow suit and begin producing raw products to meet the demand. Alas… this is virtually impossible because of the way their overcrowded farms are run.

You simply CANNOT drink factory farmed milk raw. It would be extremely unsafe. Their business depends on pasteurization, and that is why their powerful lobbyists will stop at nothing to persuade government agencies to keep raw milk bans in full force.

Big Dairy simply cannot compete, so to maintain their market share, they’re employing dirty tactics to destroy the competition instead.

A yearlong sting operation, including aliases, a 5 a.m. surprise inspection and surreptitious purchases from an Amish farm in Pennsylvania, culminated in the federal government announcing this week that it has gone to court to stop Rainbow Acres Farm from selling its contraband.

Related articles
  • Setbacks and Bizarre Turns in the Raw Milk Saga (libertycrier.com)
  • Baylen Linnekin on the Fight for the Right to Choose Raw Milk (reason.com)
  • Setbacks and Bizarre Turns in the Raw Milk Saga (txwclp.org)
  • Raw milk appeal breaking news in TO (thebovine.wordpress.com)
  • Sheriff Brad Rogers takes on the Feds in defense of Elkhart County Dairy Farmer

COMMUNITY SERVICE–ONE PERSON can make a DIFFERENCE to SO MANY!

28 Saturday Jul 2012

Posted by HattieBelle in Achievement, American, Amish, Aspire, Community, Community Services, Compassion, economy, Elkhart County, Faith-base, Farm, Farming, Gardening, Hoosier, Independence, Indiana, Investment, Liberty, Mennonite, Neighbors, Philanthropic, Service, Too Busy, Volunteer

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Activism, Altruistic, Amish, Caring, Community, Community Service, Compassionate, Family, Foster care, Foster Children, Fostering Handicapped Children, Generous, Giving, Good Heart, Mennonite, Nappanee Indiana, United States, Unselfish, Volunteering

“I would like to get more involved in my community, but I do not have time.”

“I’m just too busy with life to volunteer.”

“Life is too hectic for me to make a commitment to volunteering.

How often do we hear those words? I used to say them. Then I met Freeda Helmuth.

Monday through Friday, 93-year-old Freeda (Schwietert) Helmuth babysat for her two-year-old, 4-year-old and her 6-year-old great-grandchildren. She also gardened, kept house and made quilts. The last time I talked to Freeda she had made grape jelly and grape juice that day from her homegrown grapes. She also gave me her recipe for a cucumber and onion mix. Freeda ALWAYS had time to give.

My friend, Freeda Helmuth.

An active member of Salem Mennonite Church, Nappanee, Freeda was involved with the Nappanee Missionary Church’s Sewing Circle and attended Nappanee Care Givers. But, Freeda’s “giving” wasn’t limited to church or missionary service work.

In 1936 Freeda married Eli and by 1959, they had eight children. Then they further expanded their family by taking in foster children needing a home. Over the next 25 years Freeda and Eli took in 46 children including those with handicaps and serious illnesses.

“Several children came that were so undernourished,” Freeda told me, “one girl was hit on the head by her daddy and was blind and paralyzed because of it. She had surgery on her head and was able to see and walk again. She was soon adopted after that.

“It’s hard to give up children in foster care. They never left without tears and a prayer, knowing that God would take care of them wherever they are.

“After 25 years we quit foster care. Five years later they wanted us to start up again, but in the meantime, friends and neighbors had started bringing in their babies and I started daycare. I did not realize it would last until now, over 20 years later.

“I just thank God for my health so I can continue to have the children since it helps pass the time and the days are not so long.”

In 1981, Freeda and Eli traveled to Germany, France, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium and Denmark. In 1987 they took a 6 week trip to Alaska. They went up to see the pipeline. While in Fairbanks, they saw an Eskimo lady sweeping the sidewalks.

Freeda grew up in North Dakota during a time of dust storms and the depression. She was the fifth child from a family of eleven. Her nearest neighbors were a mile away. This is a picture of the farm where she lived.

She said, “Are you what we call Amish?” She told Freeda and Eli that she had read about the Amish and that there were just a few left. Freeda told her there were Amish in almost every state in the United States.

Says Freeda, “She had the Shaker people in mind. There are just a few of them left.”

In 1990, when Eli was 80 years old, he and Freeda went to Paraguay, South America for two weeks for a wedding. In 1993, Eli had flu symptoms and a pain in his side.

Eli’s first horse and buggy.

Only it wasn’t the flu. Eli had had an abdominal aneurysm. Freeda and Eli had been married 57 years when he died. Together they had bought and paid for their farm. They had traveled around the world. They had raised 8 children and fostered 46. In addition, Freeda has 20 grandchildren and 24 greatgrandchildren.

“We had a good life,” said Freeda, “It was a busy one, I’m still busy and I have no regrets. The Lord has been good to me and for that I am grateful and truly at peace.”

Freeda Helmuth, 95, died Thursday at 3:30 p.m., March 3, 2011 at IU Health Goshen Hospital. Today, I believe that Freeda is caring for children. She is also encouraging each and every one of us to do ALL that we can to help those less fortunate.

I am grateful to have met Freeda Helmuth and blessed that she shared her story and friendship with me.

Related articles
  • Cognitively-Based Compassion Training For Children In Foster Care Helps Them To Develop Resilience Through Compassion (medicalnewstoday.com)
  • Early Neglect Alters Kids’ Brains (livescience.com)
  • Friend Fest kicks off Indiana’s Christian music festival season in Nappanee (hoosierlujah.com)
  • Compassion helps foster care kids cope (futurity.org)
  • Children in foster care develop resilience through compassion (eurekalert.org)

Free enterprise in Elkhart County & a red and black raspberry pie

07 Saturday Jul 2012

Posted by HattieBelle in Amish, Cooking, Dessert, Elkhart County, Food, Heat, Hoosier, Indiana, Mennonite, Pie, Raspberry, Recipe, Vegetables

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Amish, Berry, Black raspberry, Cook, Cooking, Entrepeneur, Food, Free Market, Mennonite, Recipe, Shopping, United States, Vegetable

Mrs. Weaver’s Produce Stand Sign

One of the best things about living in Elkhart County are the Amish and Mennonite entrepreneurs. My neighbors sell eggs, vegetables, fruit, quilts, vitamins, bread, home baked food, dried noodles, handmade furniture and flowers from their homes.

Saturday, Mrs. Weaver had one last pint of red raspberries. I had already gathered two cups of black raspberries from the wild bushes in our woods and put them in my freezer last summer. It was so dry this year there were NO wild berries to be found. With the red raspberries from the vegetable stand I had “just enough” berries.

Dot raspberries with butter

Red & Black Raspberry Pie

4 cups fresh berries

1 cup or more sugar (you will need more)

¼ cup flour

2 teaspoons tapioca

1 tablespoon lemon juice

pinch of salt

2 tablespoons butter

Mix all of the ingredients except for the berries & butter.

Sprinkle sugar and flour mixture over berries and stir gently. Let stand for 15 minutes. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Turn the fruit into a pie shell. Dot with butter. Cover the pie with top crust. Prick holes and design in crust. Bake the pie at 450 for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350. Bake an additional 35 to 40 minutes or until the pie is golden brown.

Indiana’s Official ‘State Pie’ for the 4th of July! My Heirloom Recipe

03 Tuesday Jul 2012

Posted by HattieBelle in 4th of July, Amish, Celebrations, Dessert, Family times, Hoosier, Indiana, Pie, Recipe

≈ 4 Comments

According to my mother, ‘Hoosier Pie’ should have two layers. The top should be a light custard. The second layer needs to be rich and even a little syrupy.

Virtually unheard of outside of Indiana, Hoosier/Sugar Cream Pie officially became Indiana’s State Pie on January 23, 2009. Although the pie is associated with the Amish, the recipe has been traced back to 1816, the year Indiana became a state and long before the Amish came to this area.

My grandparents owned the Wawasee Restaurant, Syracuse, Indiana during the ’40s (which is before I was born) and my grandmother’s “old-fashioned cream” pie was the signature dessert. She also served it at family gatherings; as did my mother. When I was a new bride, this was the first recipe I copied into the blank pages of my brand-new cookbook.

It was and always will be my favorite pie. Enjoy!  And have a safe and happy 4th!

REAL HOOSIER CREAM SUGAR PIE

¼ Cup white sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 generous tablespoon butter

1 egg yolk

2 heaping tablespoons flour

1 pinch salt”

Milk or Cream (1-1 ½ cups…enough to fill pie shell)Preheat oven to 410 degrees. Mix brown and white sugar with flour. Cut butter into flour and sugar mixture with a fork or mix it with your fingers (this pie has also been called finger pie) to crust-like consistency. Sprinkle flour/sugar mixture over pie crust. Beat egg yolk with milk. Fill pie shell. Take a spoon and swirl it through the milk mixture a couple of times. Sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg.

Bake at 410 degrees for 10 minutes.Then bake at 350 for 45 minutes. The filling should be bubbling. The center should still jiggle. Be careful not to overcook or the filling will not set.


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