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‘Strong Woman’ from Soup of Success…because we need to hear MORE good news

23 Thursday Aug 2012

Posted by HattieBelle in Achievement, Activism, Civic Benefit, Civic Engagement, Civic Service, Education, Elkhart, Elkhart County, Elkhart County 4-H Fair, Faith-base, Farm, Farming, Food, Food Aid, Food Pantries, Food Prices, FUN, Fundraisers, Gardening, Goshen, Hard Work, Independence, People helping Neighbors, Principles, Vegetables, Volunteer

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Challenge, Church Community Services, Civic Engagement, Community, Community Service, Constitution, Education, Education Empowers, Elkhart County, Elkhart County Indiana, Ensuring Success, Family Fun, Food, Food Pantry, Freedom, Goshen, Indiana, Life Skills, Need, Soup of Success, Volunteer, Volunteering, Women, Work

Need some inspiration?

WEEKLY ‘SEED TO FEED’ UPDATE…IT IS ALL GOOD!

Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2012 7:45 AM
Subject: Seed to Feed Weekly Update

Hi Everyone,

This past week we had two great harvests at both of our gardens. There
were 29 volunteers who showed up at the Bullard Garden on Monday and 25
volunteers at the Goshen Garden on Tuesday. Thank You all.

We are moving the time of the Bullard Garden picking to 6:00 p.m. We are moving the time of the Bullard Garden picking on Monday evenings. We still need 30 volunteers to pick green beans and sweet corn. Although we will pick on Monday evenings, if anyone wants to pull weeds between the rows, please do so at your own time schedule. If more weeds are pulled,that means more beans get picked. The Bullard Garden is
directly across from Sorg Jewelers, C.R. 17. With 30 volunteers, weeds pulled and fast pickers, we could pick a 1000# of green beans in 3 hrs—-we have lots of beans!!!!!

The Goshen Garden has tons of green tomatoes that should be ready
soon. We will pick every Tuesday at 6:00pm and it is located at 14723
C.R. 36. Last week with 25 volunteers, we picked 11 boxes of beans, tomatoes
and peppers in 1 1/2 hours.

This was a great week and thanks to ALL the volunteers that came and
helped pick. See you Monday and Tuesday at the gardens.

Blessings
Dave Hochstetler

We ARE our brother’s keeper: Elkhart County works together to assist neighbors in need

15 Wednesday Aug 2012

Posted by HattieBelle in Caring, Civic Benefit, Civic Engagement, Civic Service, Community, Community Service Event, Community Services, Compassion, Crops, Drought, Elkhart County, Enterprise, Event, Events, Farm, Farming, Food, Food Aid, FUN, Fundraisers, Goshen, Indiana, Journalism, Meeting, Meetings, People helping Neighbors, Philanthropic, Vegetables, Volunteer

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

Benefit, Civic Engagement, Community, Community Service, Depression, Elkhart County, Elkhart County Indiana, Food Banks, Food Pantry, Gardens, Indiana, Need, Recession, United States, Vegetables

Helping hands come in all shapes and sizes.

Elkhart County’s community gardens bring people together of all ages and from every walk of life. You DON’T have to be an experienced gardener to be of assistance. One woman who picked beans last night told me that she had never before picked a bean in her life. But, she said she likes how working in the garden makes her feel. “This feeds people here in our community,” she explains. “We can get a little sweaty and dirty for someone else. Giving back is a good thing.”

Despite this summer’s earlier drought, I do not think it possible for the bean crop to have been MORE prolific. I have NEVER seen bean bushes so laden.

As the economic recession keeps demand at food banks running high, the “big need” and “big hearts” keep “Seed to Feed” volunteers motivated.

Hi, it’s me. I cheated and brought a garden cart to wheel around on.

Get involved! We believe God will continue to bring people and resources together to produce a harvest of vegetables as well as fruit in the lives of those giving and receiving.

Wow! Look at the results. According to Dave Hochstetler, Seed to Feed Coordinator, yesterday volunteers picked 210 pounds of beans and 94 pounds of cucumbers and tomatoes. All from the Goshen farm!

These tomatoes will be SO appreciated by Church Community Service’s food pantry clients!

‘Seed to Feed’s’ coordinator, Dave Hochstetler, says that the vegetables are coming in so plentifully that “Seed to Feed” needs 30 pickers each time: Mondays at 9 a.m., Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Tell your churches, tell your clubs, tell your families. Great group project. Call Dave for details: 574-349-4905 or dhhooch@aol.com .

Related articles
  • How to get emergency assistance in Elkhart County for utility bills (elkhartcountygrassrootshub.wordpress.com)
  • A Network of Community Gardens – Now Online (greenvilleforwardthinking.com)
  • Grant awarded to West End Community Garden (salisbury.wbtv.com)
  • Community Gardens ribbon-cutting Wednesday in Schenectady (timesunion.com)
  • Field Notes: Las Monjas Community Garden (enterprisecommunity.typepad.com)
  • Community Gardens 101 (theurbn.com)

‘Seed to Feed’ has yielded 510 pounds of food so far this summer! More volunteers needed!

10 Friday Aug 2012

Posted by HattieBelle in Achievement, Activism, Benefit, Caring, Civic Benefit, Civic Engagement, Civic Service, Community, Community Service Event, Community Services, Compassion, Elkhart County, Faith-base, Family times, Farm, Food, Food Aid, Food Pantries, FUN, Fundraisers, Gardening, Goshen, Hoosier, Indiana, Locations, Meetings, Neighbors, People helping Neighbors, Philanthropic, Volunteer

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Tags

Community, Community Service, Food, Food Pantries, Food security, Garden, Goshen, Green bean, Harvest, Home, Home-Grown, Potatoes, Sweet corn, Tomatoes, Tuesday, Vegetables, Volunteer, Volunteering

Posted on August 10, 2012 by churchcommunityservices

Yield from the Goshen farm.

Beautiful produce from our beautiful Seed to Feed acre in Goshen.  Our clients are so happy!

Fresh vegetables for Elkhart Counties food pantries.

Fresh air, exercise, good honest dirt, and service that helps sustains CCS’s food supply: From now till the end of harvest season, Seed to Feed will need at least 15 volunteers 2 days a week. We will pick the green beans and sweet corn at the Bullard Garden every Monday at 9:00am. It is located on C.R.17 and Middlebury St, directly across from Sorg Jewelers on the west side of C.R.17.

The Fresh Produce Garden in Goshen will be picked every Tuesday at 7:00pm. It is located at 14723 CR36. It is just east of CR33 about 1/8 of a mile on the north side of CR36. The gardens are really starting to produce nice yields each week and should until the end of the season. If you can help, please contact Church Community Services either by email (dhhooch@aol.com) or phone (574-349-4905).

Related articles
  • Volunteers needed this week to help Seed to Feed’s garden (part of Church Community Services) (elkhartcountygrassrootshub.wordpress.com)
  • PLANTING A MILE: Group Goes The Distance (whotv.com)
  • County farmers and ‘Church Community Services’ join forces to feed the hungry (elkhartcountygrassrootshub.wordpress.com)
  • August update on the development of The Mustard Seed (themustardseedcoop.wordpress.com)

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)

The 2012 Elkhart 4-H County Fair

17 Tuesday Jul 2012

Posted by HattieBelle in 4-H Fair, Baby Farm Animals, Celebrations, Chickens, Community, Cooking, Cotton Candy, Cows, Elephant Ears, Elkhart County, Elkhart County 4-H Fair, Events, Fair Food, Family times, Farm, Farming, Food, Horses, Indiana, Jackie Walorski, Kettle Corn, Parade, Pigs, Rabbits, Rides, Sea Lion Splash Show, Sheep, Young McDonald Barn

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Cheerleading Contest, County commission, Elkhart County Indiana, Fair Queen, Glenn Campbell, Goshen Indiana, Harness racing, Indiana, July, Parade, Purdue University, Rodeo, Senior Fair Queen, Styx, Tractor Pull

July 20-28, 2012
FREE Parking ~ FREE Grandstand
Admission $8 – Children 9 years & under FREE

Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds
17746-D County Road 34
Goshen, Indiana 46528

Sunshine is forecasted for the 4-H Fair Opening Weekend. The evenings will be a relief as they are expected to be cooler.

FRIDAY, July 20
Veteran’s Day & Senior Citizen’s Day (Seniors admitted FREE until 3:00 p.m.)
9:00-10:00 a.m. SENIOR QUEEN PAGEANT
3:00 p.m. CHEERLEADING CONTEST
8:00 p.m. FAIR QUEEN CONTEST

SATURDAY, July 21
11:00 a.m. HARNESS RACING
8:00 p.m. STYX

SUNDAY, July 22
2:15 p.m. 4-H PARADE
8:00 p.m. SALVADOR featuring JACI VELAQUEZ

MONDAY, July 23
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. DISABILITIES AWARENESS DAY
11:00 a.m. HARNESS RACING
8:00 p.m. THOMPSON SQUARE

TUESDAY, July 24
SENIOR CITIZEN’S DAY (Seniors admitted FREE until 3:00 p.m.)
11:00 a.m. HARNESS RACING
8:00 p.m. JOSH TURNER

WEDNESDAY, July 25
KIDS DAY (ALL rides $1 from 1:00 p.m. until closing)
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. KID’S DAY EVENTS
8:00 p.m. GLEN CAMPBELL – THE GOODBYE TOUR

Glen Campbell was born in Delight, Arkansas on April 22nd, 1936 and his father gave him his first guitar when he was only 4 years old.

THURSDAY, July 26
8:00 a.m. FARM STOCK TRACTOR PULL
12:00 p.m. LUCAS OIL TRACTOR & TRUCK PULL

FRIDAY, July 27
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. GREEN EARTH EDUCATION DAY
1:00 p.m. WAGON WHEEL IPRA RODEO
5:00 p.m. HORSE PULLING CONTEST
8:00 p.m. WAGON WHEEL IPRA RODEO

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