Small Efficiency with Joel Salatin | April 2022

Our Story WHO WE ARE...

From 2007 to 2012 we, the Millers, adopted our first three children, a preschooler on the autism spectrum and two babies with Down syndrome. We published our first issue of Plain Values in 2012 to highlight Biblical ministries, share the beauty of adoption, and to cultivate anchored community. In 2018 we welcomed our fourth child in a surprise adoption, this time a baby with Mosaic Down syndrome.

WHAT WE BELIEVE...

Our values are plain values, steeped in the rich traditions of yesterday. We enjoy the simple things in life. Gathering eggs from the coop, getting our hands in the dirt to grow food, and cooking meals from scratch. Sometimes we sit around a fire and share life. We strive to walk humbly to strengthen authentic relationships with our families and neighbors. And, yes, we have taken a fresh pie to a front porch and surprised a friend… we didn’t even text them before! We just stopped by, walked up the steps, and knocked on the door! Just the way our grandparents used to do on a Sunday evening. They called it living in community.

We seek to serve our neighbors. Plain Values began with a prayer, hoping to play a small role in connecting a child with Down syndrome to his or her forever family. We have checked that box nearly a dozen times in the last ten years, and we will not stop until the orphanages are empty! We will rest in Heaven!

HOW YOU CAN HELP...

Subscribe today. Join us as we pursue a more authentic life. By subscribing to Plain Values, a portion of each subscription goes directly to Room to Bloom, our non-profit that supports children with special needs.

Our Team PUBLISHER

OFFICE

WRITERS

Marlin Miller

Nic Stoltzfus, editorial manager

Alyssa Hupp, contributing writer

Sabrina Schlabach, quality assurance

Stacey Gagnon, Whispers of Hope

Bethany Troyer, bookkeeping

Sherri Romig , contributing writer

Jan Schlabach, customer service

Rory Feek, Roots + Wings

Isaac Hershberger, production manager

Merissa A. Alink, Homestead + Roots

Seth Yoder, graphic artist

Joel Salatin, Confessions of a Steward

ADVERTISING Matt Yoder, Ohio sales advisor Aaron Stutzman, Indiana + Michigan sales advisor

Ferree Hardy, The Widow's Path Elam Stoltzfus, Our Heritage Jim Zumbo, All Things Outdoors

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April 6, 2022

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FEBRUARY 2022

contents

April 2022 // Issue 106

serving our neighbor 13

JONI & FRIENDS So That My House Will be Full words by: Alyssa Hupp Joni and Friends is built on biblical truth and the foundation of Jesus Christ. For over 40 years, they've been advancing disability ministry and changing how those with disabilities are treated.

simple living 35

HOMESTEAD + ROOTS Frugal & Healthy Snack Ideas column by: Merissa A. Alink

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CONFESSIONS OF A STEWARD Small Efficiency column by: Joel Salatin On our farm, the first question we ask about a potential enterprise is, "How small can it be?" We believe that if it won't work well small, it probably won't work well big. Almost nothing in life that struggles when small sails smoothly when big.

resources 10

WHISPERS OF HOPE Sometimes There is No Happy Ending column by: Stacey Gagnon

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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT AG–USA PLAIN VALUES

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ONE MINUTE WITH MARLIN

ON THE COVER

FUNDS AND BENEFITS

Thoughts and ramblings from Marlin Miller, publisher of Plain Values.

In Joel Salatin's column this month, he shares encouragement and wisdom for the little guys.

Every month we provide a listing of opportunities to help out those in need.

community 29

ROOTS + WINGS Flying High column by: Rory Feek It has been such a gift to me to see the roots that Joey helped plant so firmly in the soil here at our farm… to see it take root and grow life and love beyond what any one of us could have imagined.

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THE WIDOW'S PATH Seasons column by: Ferree Hardy Besides springtime, are you in a season of waiting or a season of grief right now? It’s a relief to know that seasons are temporary.

history 49

OUR HERITAGE Printing the Ausbund

(part four)

column by: Elam Stoltzfus Although this article does not deal specifically with the Ausbund, the printing of the Unparteyisches GesangBuch became the model for how the Amish Book Committee dealt with other German books.

outdoors 52

ALL THINGS OUTDOORS ABCs of Venison column by: Jim Zumbo It’s up to you to ensure that your venison is as good as it can be. Common sense and a little know-how will make that happen.

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APRIL 2022

one minute with Marlin

MY WIFE LISA AND I have a favorite quote, “Adoption: when your family tree becomes an orchard.” Our family will forever be connected to the family trees of each of our children. Even as time passes and seasons change, we remain connected through open adoptions. Each of our children joined our family through a series of connections and events which could only have been orchestrated by God’s timing and ultimate plan, what a miracle!

Our youngest son arrived in what we have described as a surprise adoption. Miles is our most unexpected gift. Upon moving to our home, we had closed our adoption home study and notified our agency and the National Down syndrome Adoption Network that we were not planning to adopt again.

Technically, we should have never even heard about Miles. His birth family connected with someone who then put them in touch with our adoption agency; the person at the agency happened to be the exact person who had worked with our family. Again, they should have never heard about us.

A phone call on a Sunday afternoon led to a meeting a few days later, and Miles arrived at our door and was handed to us with great love by his birth family. We completed a new home study from application to approval in two weeks while caring for our new baby. Just four days before, we had been going about our daily routines with no inclination that something amazing was just around the corner— our family had just grown by two feet.

Lisa's reading a book about miracles. The day before this note was due to our editor, she shared with me a rarely known detail of Joni Eareckson Tada’s story. The miracle of how Joni survived that life-changing dive from a raft in a lake is a testament to our Lord’s sovereignty. The second Joni hit the bottom of the lake, she was paralyzed from the neck down. She was wholly underwater, with no ability to move her arms or legs to propel herself back to the surface.

The clock instantly began ticking. At that moment, her sister was walking toward the shore with her back to Joni when a crab pinched her toe. Joni’s sister turned around to warn Joni about the crabs and saw blonde hair just under the surface; she quickly realized something was wrong and swam to her sister’s aide. The very night before, Joni had bleached her hair on a whim from a “mousy” brown to white-blonde. This act ended up helping to save her life a short time later. Had she not changed her hair color, Joni’s sister wouldn’t have noticed her beneath the water, and she would have most likely drowned.

MARLIN MILLER publisher, always looking for more friends

I find it rather interesting that Lisa shared that story from her book without realizing that this month’s feature story is about Joni Eareckson Tada’s ministry. Even though we had both read her stories before, these were new details of which we had never heard, adding to our amazement of God’s plan for Joni’s life. If we take the time to do so, most of us can look back over our lives and remember something incredible that could be seen as a miracle.

As always, may you find joy in the simple things. //

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whispers of hope

SUPPORT FOR THOSE WHO FOSTER + ADOPT

sometimes there is no happy ending... column by: STACEY GAGNON

I'VE NEVER really talked about him.

not happy, and you are sitting, waiting

did God sit by and watch a one-year-

I guess I wanted to forget, and deep

faithfully for God to show up and

old slip beneath the surface of the

inside, I hoped that the passing of

rescue…. and He doesn’t.

bathtub water and not fix it? There

time would fade his story. He was

It was a warm spring night, and

would be no miraculous healing, no

in my home for a shorter time than

I sat in my car in the dark hospital

spontaneous return of brain function.

most of our foster children. He did

parking lot and sobbed ugly tears. In

This was our third hospital stay in a

not reunify with family, he was not

the seat behind me, I heard flared-

month, and I had been advised to take

adopted, he was not moved to another

nose grunting as the one-year-old

him home and stop feeding him. “He

home. He died.

pulled in breath after breath. I didn’t

only has brain stem function; there’s

He died, and when I signed up

need to turn around to know that

no quality of life.” Yet, in my heart,

for foster care, that was definitely not

blood mixed with saliva was tracing

I had believed in a different ending.

something I felt capable of handling.

down his chin, or that his tiny, pearl

I honestly believed that God would

I mean, seriously, how many of us are

white teeth were chewing through his

faithfully step in and heal him. But,

capable or willing to bring home a

bottom lip. In my mind’s eye, I saw

medically and scientifically, I knew this

dying child? Looking back, I’m not even

his wide blue-eyed stare and thick

wasn’t possible, and being discharged

sure why I said ‘yes’ when they called

blond curls. I knew his fists would be

by a nurse who tried to explain this

about the placement. Naiveté? I guess

clenched and his body strung tight as

to me in “comforting terms” made me

in my heart I thought he would be like

a bow. A survivor of near-drowning,

angry.

all the other children. He would arrive

he had been a running, talking, happy

Going into this, I thought I had

broken and hurting, and love would fix

toddler just months prior. Now he was

the resources and the ability. I also

things. We had experienced some of the

called “vegetative” and labeled “DNR”

thought I understood how this was

most miraculous moments with some

(do not resuscitate).

all supposed to play out. I had signed

critically ill children, and I thought this

I heard a voice tauntingly whisper,

up to rescue and save; certainly I

would be the biggest miracle story of

“You can’t save them all.” In fact, I had

wasn’t being asked to watch a child

them all. What I had not experienced

been told that by well-meaning friends

die because of abuse and neglect.

yet was that sometimes in foster care

when I first agreed to foster him.

Sitting in that car, I started to ask

and adoption, there is no beautiful

Sitting in my car, I was angry

myself this question: “What if God

story of redemption or miracle moment

and hurt and questioned why God

didn’t step in and fix this?” My God,

of healing. Sometimes the ending is

had allowed this to happen. How

what if he dies?

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"What I learned is that following God means that I am called to get personal with brokenness and suffering."

The system had failed. His parents

letters –DNR–

overwhelmed with sorrow, to the

had failed. And I was scared that God

and call it justifiable. It had thrust

point of death” (Matthew 26:38). I

had failed also.

me headlong into brokenness and

take refuge in this. The God of the

I gagged on my sobs and started

heartache and gut-wrenching hurt. It

Universe, the Creator of all things

the car. Medically I knew he needed

was a moment that I felt DNR meant

(even those things we call “DNR”),

surgery and medication. He couldn’t

this: Do Not Rescue.

is saying He is overwhelmed with

keep

his

airway

clear

and

behind

three

little

kept

This baby had opened my eyes to a

sorrow, even to death….

aspirating vomit. Darren and I had

little-known secret: most people don’t

Death is not easy. For my foster

not slept for months because we took

want to sit in this grief. Most people

child, there was no silent passing; it

turns suctioning his airway every time

aren’t comfortable watching a baby die,

was sleepless nights and desperately

he refluxed and vomited. Nights were

so most people tell you to take them

whispered prayers. And God did not

scary because at night we held death

home and stop feeding them, because

show up in the way that I had begged.

at bay with a suction machine and

this is what is humane in their minds.

Grace and healing did not come on

pure determination.

Please take that blonde-haired, blue-

my terms.

I was told that he was not eligible

eyed chubby baby home and keep that

He died. But what I learned is that

for surgery or the medication because

kind of grief to yourself. We sanitize

following God means that I am called

he had been labeled DNR (do not

death… we scrub clean the pain and

to get personal with brokenness and

resuscitate) and ‘that-was-that.’ But

the brokenness because it reminds us

suffering. It means accepting that “I

‘that-was-that’ looks scary and awful

of our frailty and the human condition.

can’t save them all.” In fact, I can’t save

when a child is dying in your home

We don’t want to get too close or

any; redemption was never my job. My

beside

‘That-was-that’

too personal with suffering. When

job is to sit in the sorrow, mixed with

cannot be ignored when a child is

suffering comes, when death comes,

the blood and saliva of humanity, and

chewing through their bottom lip in

who will bear it with us? Who will see

desperately whisper my surrender to a

distress. And my foster child that was

us through it?

throne called GRACE. //

your

bed.

just a ‘brain stem’ opened my eyes to a world that places value and worth on intellectual and physical capability; a

Before He died, Jesus wrestled

world that would not allow an animal

with what He knew was to come.

to die in this manner yet would stand

Jesus said to his friends, “My soul is 11

Stacey Gagnon, along with her husband Darren, are the founders of Lost Sparrows. She can be reached at P.O. Box 751, Winona Lake, IN 46590. Learn more about Lost Sparrows at www.lostsparrows.org.

APRIL 2022

serving our neighbor JONI & FRIENDS

S O T H AT M Y H O U S E W I L L B E F U L L

words by: ALYSSA HUPP

"Open your mouth for the people who cannot speak, for the rights of all the unfortunate.

Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the poor and needy."

PROVERBS 31:8-9

IT WAS A HOT JULY DAY, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. It was likely a normal day for most visitors roaming the Chesapeake Bay, laughing and splashing in the water, and it was a typical day for Joni, a seventeen-year-old girl poised to dive into the water.

An athletic girl skilled at swimming, Joni dove into the water much the same as every other dive she’d taken in the past. But she misjudged how shallow the water was.

One moment. One decision. And suddenly, it was no longer a normal day.

Joni was about to face the harsh reality of creating a whole new definition of an "ordinary day." An active girl's dive into shallow water brought on pain and suffering, but also light, joy, and an incredible ministry for those with disabilities.

That dive into shallow water caused a fracture between the fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae. Joni Eareckson Tada became a quadriplegic (or tetraplegic), paralyzed from the shoulders down.

Joni Eareckson Tada was born in 1949 in Baltimore, Maryland, to John and Lindy Eareckson.

The youngest of four daughters, Joni was given the feminine spelling of her father's name.

Joni was an active teenager, and she enjoyed horseback riding, hiking, tennis, and swimming.

But after that life-changing dive, her life took a different turn. No longer able to enjoy her active hobbies or even get out of bed by herself, Joni had to create a new normal and find a new passion and purpose in life.

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Joni and Friends It took time for Joni, and she struggled with depression, thoughts of suicide, and lack of faith in God. She thought to herself, how could a good God let this happen to her? The people closest to her were pushed away by her anger. But one day, during occupational therapy, Joni learned to paint with a brush between her teeth. This act of creation stirred something within her — she felt a similar passion and purpose for drawing as she did for swimming. Joni began studying the Bible again and recommitted her life to God. To this day, Joni writes the same way as she paints, although she relies on voice recognition software for most writing tasks. To date, she has written over fifty books, recorded several musical albums, starred in an autobiographical movie of her life, and is an advocate for people with disabilities worldwide.

In 1979 Joni and Friends was created to accelerate Christian ministry in the disability community. Joni and Friends is built on biblical truth and the foundation of Jesus Christ. For over 40 years, they've been advancing disability ministry and changing how those with disabilities are treated.

Joni and Friends also hosts Family Retreats (a retreat experience for families living with disability), Warrior Getaways (which offer a similar experience for families of servicemen and servicewomen injured in war), and Wheels for the World.

"Together, our mission is to glorify God as we communicate the Gospel and mobilize the global church to evangelize, disciple, and serve people living with disability." – Joni and Friends

Joni Eareckson Tada (center) visiting a child in Peru in need of a wheelchair

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For over 40 years, they've been advancing disability ministry and changing how those with disabilities are treated.

The 200,000th Wheelchair The long drive had left the Cordova family weary and hungry. But they had arrived, they had finally arrived. They were going to meet people from Wheels for the World so that their son Levi could get fitted for his first wheelchair. Unfortunately, for the Cordovas and many other families in El Salvador, wheelchairs are unaffordable. This gift from Joni and Friends would change Levi's life forever.

Levi has cerebral atrophy and chronic kidney disease and is unable to walk on his own. For his parents Lilian and Ludwin, the weight of carrying Levi was becoming too much for them. It wasn't so hard when he was a small child, but he grew and became harder to carry. As Levi grew, he became restricted by his disability and could not participate in many everyday activities. Yet, Levi was still able to move around some. Seated on his behind, pulling his body forward with the one hand he has control over, he scooted around his home.

But now they had arrived — a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get Levi a wheelchair. With pounding hearts and eager souls, Levi and his family were directed to a wheelchair. Levi's chair. Seated in his new chair, Levi's smile brought tears of joy to the

for them. The small family is seated around a table

faces of everyone that saw him. Hours went by;

where the kind man hands them two books. Levi's

every detail of the wheelchair was made to work

parents study them — a Joni Eareckson Tada book

perfectly for Levi and his needs. The seat was

and a Spanish-language Bible. The pastor talks

adjusted and a chest harness was put in so Levi was

with them more about Jesus and invites them back

safely contained in the chair. The truth of Jesus was

to his church. He ends their meeting with a prayer.

spoken in soft words throughout the process.

He prays for Levi, his family, their safety, and

Levi’s parents cry out “Sabemos que este regalo

thankfulness for Levi's chair — a piece of equipment

vino de Jesús!” We know this is a gift from Jesus.

that will change Levi's life forever.

Fitted with his new chair, Levi and his family

Levi's chair was the 200,000th wheelchair that

are led to a pastor who has another gift waiting

Wheels for the World had fitted for a person in need.

Levi's chair was the 200,000th wheelchair that Wheels for the World had fitted for a person in need.

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Two men at a restoration center work to repair a used wheelchair for Wheels for the World

The Healing Message of the Gospel Wheels for the World has a complex and interesting

of a Christian program within the prison industry. Being a

process. While some may assume that most of the work

part of giving much-needed mobility equipment to those

happens in other countries while delivering the chairs,

in need helps those in prison find new meaning in life,

there is quite a bit of work that happens in the US while

and some even find their way to a personal relationship

preparing the chairs.

with God.

Wheels for the World distributes approximately

Each restoration center ships out approximately 240

17,500 to 20,000 chairs each year. They expect to reach

chairs at a time, packed into a 40' high container for

close to 26 countries by the end of this year.

travel. The chairs are all collected and then packaged and

The process begins with 470 volunteers — known as

shipped to the countries in which Wheels for the World

the "Chair Corps" — who collect chairs, canes, crutches,

will be working. A team of about fifteen travels with the

and other mobility equipment on Wheels for the World's

chairs. The team is built of four physical therapists, four

behalf. This equipment is then stored in barns, garages,

mechanics, a photojournalist, a team leader, and the

sheds, and warehouse space. Once enough equipment is

remaining are considered support personnel.

collected, everything is packed and shipped to restoration

It is a lengthy process of about three hours to fit

centers, where the equipment is brought back to a "like-

someone with a wheelchair. Not every chair is the same,

new" condition.

and every person has different needs. After the fitting

There are currently 15 restoration centers — these are

process, they are then sent to meet with a pastor. During

prison industry programs. There are state, federal, and

this time, they are given a book about Joni's life and their

private prisons involved. These programs offer vocational

own Bible. The pastor then goes in-depth into the Word

training to those in prison. It also allows them to be part

of God, gains a personal understanding of their spiritual

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and physical needs, and invites them back to church.

Throughout the whole process, members of the team share their testimonies and open their hearts as to how the healing message of the gospel has changed their lives.

This process of delivering a wheelchair to someone doesn't just begin with collecting that chair.

No, the story begins in the heart of someone who desires to give their chair to someone in need.

Around half of the chairs collected by the Chair Corps team comes from the loss of a loved one. These chairs are personal. They've often seen someone through many life experiences before reaching the restoration centers. Many people keep the equipment of a disabled person after their death; it's too hard to let go. This equipment was a part of that person and letting go of their loved one's wheelchair feels like letting go of the person they have lost.

Around half of the chairs collected by the Chair Corps team comes from the loss of a loved one.

If the equipment is not kept, most gets thrown away. It's sent off to a junkyard where its purpose is lost. But wheelchairs and other equipment donated to Wheels for the World receive a new purpose. It changes yet another life for the better.

Hope Springs Up Ten tiny fingers and ten tiny toes, just like every other baby born in the hospital that day. But not every child was given such a low chance of survival through the night. Doctors told Joy that her baby would never survive till morning. Born with cerebral palsy, Kekoa was left severely disabled and medically fragile. But living up to his name, Kekoa, which is Hawaiian for "Courageous Warrior," did survive the night. And many more nights after.

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For over 20 years, Kekoa blessed those around

and Friends was supposed to have this chair, Joy

him with love and smiles and giggles. But on his

reached out to them. Through different contacts,

26th birthday, Kekoa left this world and met Jesus

the wheelchair was shipped from Hawaii to the Joni

in his new and perfect body, healed of all earthly

and Friends headquarters. In addition, Joy bought

disabilities and pain.

herself a ticket and flew to the Joni and Friends

Two years after Kekoa went to be with Jesus, Joy

headquarters.

still held on to her son's chair. It was a piece of her

Joy told her story while sitting down with the

little boy. The wheelchair had been fitted perfectly

team at Wheels for the World. She shared that she

for his body. Every detail of the chair reminded her of

believes that Kekoa lived an amazing life due to the

his sweet personality. Kekoa could not speak, but he

grace of God and that his wheelchair has a huge

shared his heart through his winsome smile. Kekoa's

journey ahead of it.

wheelchair went everywhere. School. The grocery

"And if one person can come to know Christ

store. Everywhere Kekoa went, the wheelchair went.

because of Kekoa's life in this chair, then I so want

It was a part of him. For Joy, letting go of that chair

to give it." - Joy Kamakawiwoole

felt like she was letting go of her son. It was the last

Joy also shared that while the suffering is

part of him that she had.

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difficult, life here on earth is just the blink of an eye,

But Joy began to realize that God had a greater

while eternity is forever. Joy knew that something

purpose for Kekoa's wheelchair than simply leaving

as simple as a wheelchair here in the United States

it to sit empty. Joy felt strongly that Joni and Friends

is incredibly profound in developing countries. She

was the place that would give new life to her son's

knew that by donating Kekoa's wheelchair, she was

wheelchair. But Wheels for the World doesn't collect

sharing a piece of equipment that would change an

wheelchairs in Hawaii. Feeling God tell her that Joni

entire family's life. Along with the chair, they would 18

also be receiving hope and the knowledge that there

pipeline — they are personal. Each chair has a story.

is more to this life than suffering.

Usually that story would end with the passing of a

"I want that child to come to know how loved

loved one, but Joni and Friends has created a way

they are." - Joy Kamakawiwoole

to keep that story alive. The chair receives a new purpose — taking the gospel with it.

How Can I Help?

And of course, there's one thing that anyone

If you're anything like me, these stories have

and everyone can do — no matter your age, no matter

pulled at your heartstrings. As a Christian, our

how much space or money you have to share, no

priority is to love and serve God. We are also called

matter where you live — you can pray. Pray for the

to love and serve others, especially widows, children,

process. Pray for people like Levi and all the others

and the disabled.

blessed with these wheelchairs and the good news

Having grown up with a sister in a wheelchair,

of Jesus Christ. Pray for the missionaries and teams

a lot of Joni and Friends' work feels very personal.

that work hard to make Wheels for the World a

I can understand what a blessing wheelchairs,

reality. Pray for people like Joy who are willing to

walkers, and other equipment are for those living

give up something so precious to them in the hope

with disabilities. Without a wheelchair, my sister

of changing another person's life. And as always,

wouldn't be able to leave our home. She wouldn't

pray that Joni and Friends can share the light of

be able to sit up. Without her wheelchair, my sister

Jesus with those who need it. //

would be limited in many ways; her wheelchair gives her freedom.

Many of the wheelchairs collected by Joni and

"Go out quickly... and bring in the poor, the

Friends are kept in large storage rooms, buildings,

crippled, the blind and the lame… so that

and barns. One great help to Wheels for the World

my house will be full."

is when someone like you offers space for chairs to be stored.

You can also volunteer to be a part of Wheels

LU K E 1 4 : 2 1 - 2 3

for the World's Chair Corps team by collecting chairs on their behalf.

Donations are always accepted. Mobility devices such as wheelchairs, walkers, canes, and other

If you are interested in donating space, volunteering, or

equipment can all be donated to Wheels for the

donating mobility devices, you can reach out to Joni and

World. These chairs are not a part of the logistical

Friends on their website.

Joni and Friends Address: P.O. Box 3333, Agoura Hills, CA 91376 Phone: 818 -707-5664

While the suffering is difficult, life here on earth is just the blink of an eye, while eternity is forever.

Website: www.joniandfriends.org

Alyssa is an Ohio-born writer who loves her family, dogs, and anything outdoors.

Being homeschooled, she focused on her writing skills in high school and carried that skill into an adulthood career. She is also writing her first Christian Young Adult novel, which she hopes to have finished by 2023.

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resources AG - USA

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AG–USA words by:

SHERRI ROMIG

YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD the saying, “You are what you eat.” We eat right and do our best to be healthy, but have you ever considered the soil? How healthy is the soil that our fruits and vegetables come from? How healthy are the grasses and grains our livestock and horses are eating? What they eat ultimately affects us. I want to introduce you to AG-USA and their product MycorrPlus. It is an all-natural soil restoration product whose microbes help to remove toxins from the soil.

This produces a nutrient rich, better-tasting plant that yields abundantly more than you may be getting now.

For eighteen years, Paul Schneider Jr. and his wife were missionaries in Ghana, West Africa. After returning from Ghana, Paul decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and began selling the soil amendment products his father had sold back in 1969. But being the inquisitive scientist he was, Paul hoped for even more–an economical solution for getting crops to taste better, produce a larger yield, and be more beneficial to the animals and humans that ate the crops.

Paul discovered a book by Dr. Maynard Murray called, “Fertility from the Ocean Deep,” available from Acres USA. He read Dr. Murray’s research about how the sea contains many trace minerals that are lacking in our soils. Dr. Murray discovered that when land animals were fed with crops fertilized with sea minerals, they were healthier and not as

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Our soil is depleted of minerals, and MycorrPlus helps to meet this need, plus it helps to jumpstart biological life in the soil.

susceptible to diseases. The soil needs minerals.

of the root zone. It helps to greatly increase carbon

Paul began to pray, the Lord answered, directing

sequestration, which all by itself gives us more than

him to Gerry Amena in Australia and GroPal sea

thirty benefits.

mineral concentrate. In 2006, Paul became Gerry’s

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In 2015, the Lord instructed Paul to combine

PLAIN VALUES

rains instead of leaving water standing in the field.

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to break down toxins in the soil and flush salts out

Since you want to get it down into the soil, Paul said 22

Untreated field (left) Treated field (top)

that you want to apply when there is good moisture

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As MycorrPlus highly structures the soil, this

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APRIL 2022

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APRIL 2022

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27

APRIL 2022

community ROOTS + WINGS

Rory and Indiana reading one of the new children's books he has written.

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column by:

rory feek

APRIL IS MY BIRTHDAY MONTH, which is always interesting

flying high april 2022

for me. Each year, although I physically turn another year older, my mind never seems to age. The voice inside my head seems to stay forever young and stuck in another time, convinced that time stands still. But the face that I see in the mirror tells a different story. The lines around my eyes are like chapters carved in the book of life that I have lived, the life that I am living still.

When my wife Joey passed away in March 2016, and we came back home to the farm after being gone for five months, I had to find a way to keep living and somehow find new life. I had to find a way to take where we’ve been and all we have learned and carry

"I’M NOT SURE HOW OTHER PEOPLE HANDLE THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE OR SPOUSE, BUT FOR ME, MY FAITH IS

it into where we are going. I had to find a way to go where God has been leading us all along.

I’m not sure how other people handle the loss of a loved one or spouse, but for me, my faith is the only thing that sustained me… that sustains me still. Believing, knowing, that there is a bigger plan than what I’m able to see has given me a peace that truly ‘passes all understanding.’

In that last year, we had made our final album together called

THE ONLY THING THAT

Hymns That Are Important To Us. The words in those songs helped

SUSTAINED ME…"

when she was gone. I hadn’t grown up listening to songs like “I

to sustain Joey in her time of trial and continued to comfort me Surrender All” and “It Is Well With My Soul,” so most of those old hymns were powerful new thoughts to me when we recorded them.

Rory Feek is a world-class storyteller, songwriter, filmmaker, and New York Times best-selling author. As a musical artist, Rory is one-half of the Grammy-award-winning duo, Joey+Rory. He and his wife Joey toured the world and sold nearly a million records before her untimely passing in March 2016.

29

APRIL 2022

But as the months, and now years, have gone on, they have helped me to understand that all is well, even when it isn’t.

Before Joey and I had met, I had been a single parent. And now here I was, fifteen years later, a single parent again, this time of our two-year-old almond-eyed little girl, Indiana. When we got back home, one of the first things I found myself needing to figure out was what her immediate future looked like. Our plan had always been for Joey to homeschool Indy when she became school-age, and now that was no longer a possibility. We had to find another plan. At first, the answer was ‘High Hopes,’ an integrated pre-school where children with special needs were integrated with typical children. But within a year or two, as Indy aged out of the preschool, I had to come up with another plan: a way to homeschool her, and yet, let her grow in a unique, integrated farm and family environment. Soon, the idea of building a one-room schoolhouse here on

Indiana's one-room schoolhouse, Hardison Mill School

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30

our farm was born, and we were pouring concrete, laying a foundation for a school and future that was uncertain but exciting to work towards.

When Joey passed, thousands of letters and cards of condolence came in from all across the country and world, and many of them contained ten-dollar bills, twenties, or checks that people had sent, as a gesture just to help our family as best they could. When we spread out all the letters on a table, it added up to $100,000… almost exactly what the cost of the one-room schoolhouse would be!

In the fall of 2018, we opened the school.

Now, nearly four years later, we have a full-time teacher and a dozen children, including Indiana, all learning in a unique, one-of-a-kind environment that is as alive as each of the kids are. Over time, the schoolhouse has grown to include a greenhouse, Rory's solo album was released in June 2021.

garden shed, gardens and playground, barns, and a barnyard full of goats, pigs, donkeys, turkeys, and chickens. The idea of a fully working farm school has come to be, and then some.

And as Indiana’s schoolhouse came to be, another building here on the farm would find

"IT’S A DELICATE BALANCE BETWEEN

its purpose again also. When Joey and I stopped performing together in the fall of 2015, I felt certain

THE LIFE THAT JOEY AND I BUILT

that my days of being on stage were behind me, so

TOGETHER AND THE LIFE THAT WE’RE

for the next couple of years, the concert hall that

BUILDING NOW. THEY AREN’T THE

we’d built here on the farm stayed empty. But in time, I would be reminded that Joey had first seen

SAME, BUT ONE COULD NOT BE

and heard me, sitting on a barstool singing songs

WITHOUT THE OTHER."

and telling stories, and I would find my way back on stage and strangely feel at home, even though I was now alone in the spotlight. It would be a place where I would feel her beside me, singing songs and sharing stories, and that big empty building would find new life and hope. All these years later, it’s now called Homestead Hall, and besides the dozen or so concerts I play there each year, lots of other artists also come and perform on the stage. These artists bring new life to the place that started our unique creative journey more than ten years ago.

In the coming years, I would go on to turn all the footage we had been filming together from 2014 to 2016 into a full-length documentary called To Joey, with Love that would play in theaters all across

Rory with Marlin and Lisa Miller of Plain Values 31

APRIL 2022

PLAIN VALUES

the country. The blog that I had been writing led

could be without the things that we did then. The

to the opportunity to write two memoirs and four

hope and the love that we are trying to grow now

children’s books that I’m so proud of. And now, of

wouldn’t be possible without the hope and love and

course, a monthly column in Plain Values.

life that Joey and I built together from 2002 to 2016.

In 2020, the ‘Mealhouse’ that Joey and my sister

When we were first married, Joey and I had

Marcy had started a dozen years before branched

dreams of homesteading on our farm. We dreamt of

out into two more ‘sister’ restaurants in our area…

doing all we could to be as self-sustaining as possible

Marcy Jo’s Bakery in nearby Chapel Hill and Marcy

on what was only 6.5 acres at the time, and we

Jo’s Muletown in downtown Columbia. That same

did all we could to make the most of it. We grew a

year we also began making a new TV series called

garden and raised chickens for eggs and, at times,

Muletown In The Round, which showcased some

for our freezer. But over the past few years, our

of the best country music songwriters, songs, and

farm has grown to 100 acres, and now both of my

stories. We also began a new docu-series called

sisters and their families live on either side of our old

This Life I Live, where we captured and shared

farmhouse. And many of their children work on the

some special moments from our lives here and

farm as farmers, gardeners, and in other roles. This

around the farm.

is all part of a bigger picture and vision of learning to

And now here it is—2022, and we are still

be a closer family that grows our own food, life, and

finding our way. It’s a delicate balance between

culture together; a place where we can teach other

the life that Joey and I built together and the life

families and communities to do the same.

that we’re building now. They aren’t the same, but

Over the last year or so, we’ve started hosting

one could not be without the other. I have come to

Homesteading events where people travel from all

realize that none of the things we are doing now

over the country to hear some of the best speakers

32

Indiana bringing her Mama a card for Valentines Day this year.

and teachers share their knowledge of building a better life and living from the soil and home that you have, wherever you are.

It has been such a gift to me to see the roots

"IT HAS BEEN SUCH

that Joey helped plant so firmly in the soil here at our farm… to see it take root and grow life and love

A GIFT TO ME TO SEE THE

beyond what any one of us could have imagined.

ROOTS THAT JOEY HELPED

That, combined with the creative wings that God has given me, has created a unique opportunity to stay

PLANT SO FIRMLY IN

grounded and soar to new heights at the same time.

THE SOIL HERE AT

It’s been a wonderful gift to me to get to be part of Plain Values, both the magazine and the team. I’m excited to see where this column will lead

OUR FARM… TO SEE IT

creatively for me, and the hearts and lives that

TAKE ROOT AND GROW LIFE

might be touched and inspired by the work that

AND LOVE BEYOND

they, and I, are all part of.

Thank you for letting me share an abridged

WHAT ANY ONE OF US

version of our story, in four parts, over the last few

COULD HAVE IMAGINED."

months. I’m anxious and excited to share other thoughts, ideas, and stories in this column in the coming months and years.

Blessings to you all. //

rory 33

APRIL 2022

simple living HOMESTEAD + ROOTS

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34

homestead

+

roots

column by: MERISSA A. ALINK

Frugal & Healthy Snack Ideas ARE YOUR CHILDREN big snack eaters? Mine sure are! If I would let them, they would be happy to survive entirely on munchies and skip meals altogether. It seems that they prefer to eat more frequently in smaller quantities, and as long as they are eating healthy things, I’m just fine with that. It keeps them going through the day and even helps me offer them a wider variety of foods to eat.

However, as a result of this, I’m always looking for yummy, healthy, and inexpensive snack options for them. We’ve come up with many things that they love over the past few years, and I wanted to share them with you in case your family needs a little snack inspiration!

Bananas We pay $1.99 per 3 pounds of bananas at the store, which usually averages about nine bananas or $0.22 each. Bananas are a nice filling snack, and my kids think it’s fun to peel them and pretend to be a monkey.

If the bananas turn brown before we use them, I toss them in the freezer to use for Banana Bread Mini Muffins, which are another BIG favorite snack in our house!

Hard-boiled Eggs Even my kids that don’t like fried eggs for breakfast will eat hard-boiled eggs. The kids love this high-protein snack, and I love it because our eggs are practically free since we have our own chickens! Fresh eggs can be hard to peel, so just add a little bit of baking soda to the water you are boiling the eggs in and rinse them with cold water after boiling.

If you need a more filling snack, mix up some egg salad from your hard-boiled eggs and make Egg Salad Sandwiches.

35

APRIL 2022

Bell Peppers If they are in season or if you find a sale, bell peppers can be a great inexpensive snack. We love the crunch and sweet flavor. Cutting them into little sticks makes them easy to grab.

If you need a little higher protein snack, you can make a simple hummus out of 1 cup canned garbanzo beans, 4 tablespoons water, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. (Add more water or salt as needed to fit your texture and taste preferences.) Blend all the ingredients in the blender or food processor until smooth and serve as a dip.

Popcorn Hands down, this is the FAVORITE snack at our house. I put popcorn kernels with a little oil in my dutch oven, and cook it on the stovetop with the lid on until the kernels stop popping.

Then I simply toss the popped corn with a bit of olive oil and salt.

In-season Fruits or Veggies This one is a little harder to pin down to a certain item because prices change with the seasons, so while apples may be an affordable snack in the fall, in the spring you might want to pull out the jars of home-canned applesauce instead.

Some of our favorite fruits are cucumbers, apples, pears, grapes, whole peas, and mandarin oranges. If you can manage a great deal on a bulk amount of fruit or veggies, you can always dry them for a snack that lasts longer. Smoothies are great with slightly over-ripe fruits and vegetables too, and you can prep them in advance by sticking the ingredients together in a freezer bag and freezing them until needed. Then just thaw slightly and blend!

Green Dip A mashed avocado is all you need to make “green dip.” Of course, you can add a little garlic and salsa to make it more of a guacamole, but my kids prefer it plain. One avocado costs around one dollar, and that’s all I need to make a snack. We like to pair it with tortilla chips made from beans instead of regular tortilla chips for the added protein and fiber. Salsa is another great dip (especially in the summer when you have fresh garden tomatoes), as is a refried bean-based dip.

Gelatin Another one of our favorites! A little juice, water, and gelatin make a simple snack. In a saucepan, combine 1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin plus 2 cups fruit juice. Blend well, heat until warm through, then place it in a container and chill in the fridge until set. You can add fruits for different tastes and textures or add a bit more gelatin and make homemade fruit snacks. You can buy unflavored gelatin in bulk, and it provides a healthy source of protein.

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36

Make a “snack plan” just like you would do a menu plan for breakfasts, lunches, and dinners...

Raisins Sometimes it’s hard to convince my kids that raisins are a good snack, but they will enjoy them on occasion. Instead of just plain raisins, sometimes I toss them with a cereal (like a corn pop or flake), dried shredded coconut, maple syrup, and a little coconut oil. Then I roast it all for a few minutes in the oven, just long enough to let the oil and syrup dry to the pieces.

Bread and Jam Sometimes it’s not necessary to go past the basics! A nice slice of homemade bread topped with some homemade jam is a sweet and simple snack. My family loves this snack, especially if the bread is still warm from the oven.

Additional Tips Most snacks take some degree of prep work (even if it’s just washing), so to make things easier on yourself, follow these tips: At the beginning of the week (or before a shopping day), plan out the snacks that will be available to your family for that week or until the next shopping day. Make a “snack plan” just like you would do a menu plan for breakfasts, lunches, and dinners; snacks are important to plan out too.

If you plan your snacks before your shopping day, make sure to add any needed items to your grocery list so you don’t forget.

Once you have your snacks planned, think about any prep work you can do on the snacks that will make them easier to grab-and-go. For example, if you need to bake muffins, you will need to add that to your baking day plan or find a time. You can also wash and dice some produce in advance. Most items will keep in an air-tight container in the fridge for a week.

If your kids are older, let them know where they can find the available snacks. Make a special shelf in the fridge or pantry just for the snacks. Even my four-year-old can find the snack shelf quickly in the pantry when she’s looking for something to munch on.

I hope that your family enjoys these simple, healthy, and frugal snacks! //

Merissa Alink lives with her family in the Black Hills of South Dakota. She regularly writes on her blog, www.LittleHouseLiving.com, and has a book titled Living Slower that will be released in April 2022.

37

APRIL 2022

simple living CONFESSIONS OF A STEWARD

Confessions of a Steward Joel co-owns, with his family, Polyface Farm in Swoope, Virginia. When he’s not on the road speaking, he’s at home on the farm, keeping the callouses on his hands and dirt under his fingernails, mentoring young people, inspiring visitors, and promoting local, regenerative food and farming systems. Salatin has published 15 books, and he is the editor of The Stockman Grass Farmer, column by:

JOEL SALATIN

PLAIN VALUES

granddaddy catalyst for the homesteading movement. He passionately defends small farms, local food systems, and the right to opt out of the conventional food paradigm.

38

FOR DECADES, I've been direct marketing our farm's production directly to retail customers as a direct-marketed, branded product. That means our farm embraces the role of middle-man and we have a logo.

Small Efficiency

We practice craft rather than commodity. The Harvard Business Review analyzed the difference and found that although businesses can be profitable in either craft or commodity, success depended on staying in the same column.

In other words, a craft trying to scale to a commodity failed, and a commodity trying to present itself as a craft failed. The differences are profound.

Commodity hinges on homogeneity, specialization, least cost, and fairly unlimited market. Because commodities trade on a global scale, the market can absorb any newcomer at any scale without changing the price. You could add a 1,000 cow beef operation tomorrow, and it wouldn't change the price of cattle one penny. Because the global market sets the price, success depends on narrow margins compensated at scale. While a dime a chicken may not sound like much, if you're producing a million of them per year, that translates to $100,000.

Commodity requires as little variation as possible. That way, imports and exports can be labeled and certified as to type so that all buyers know what they're getting sight unseen.

Nobody wants to separate good corn from poor corn or good tomatoes from bad tomatoes. Furthermore, commodities require specialized production and objectives. A juicy sweet tomato can't survive shipping well; commodity tomatoes must be structurally sound foremost — above taste and nutrition — in

39

SEPTEMBER 2021

Almost nothing in life that struggles when small sails smoothly when big.

order to survive bouncing around in the back

frozen pies at Costco. While the commodity

of a tractor trailer for 1,500 miles. That's why

outfit compensates for narrow margins with

all commodity tomatoes are like cardboard.

scale, craft outfits compensate for volume

Specialization, sameness, and low price

with wider margins. Craft can never be the

drives commodity trading.

lowest cost, nor should it be.

Craft, on the other hand, only thrives if

As a craft food producer, I've found these

it's highly differentiated from conventional

principles spot on, but some interesting things

commodity options. A potter's hand-made

are developing culturally that offer some

mug attracts buyers because it's unique. It's

new opportunities. Specifically, two trends

not like all the mugs on the shelf at Wal-Mart.

are starting to offer craft additional market

Because it's unique, craft requires far more

options.

labor and personal involvement. In craft, we

The first is a new efficiency of small.

trade cookie-cutter similarity for individual

Anyone in the commodity business preaches,

distinctiveness.

lives, and breathes scale. It's all about scale.

Because craft is the opposite of mass

How big can it be? How fast can it scale? In

production, its cost is higher than comm-

direct opposition to that, on our farm, the first

odity counterparts. A homemade apple pie

question we ask about a potential enterprise

commands a higher price than commodity

is, "How small can it be?" We believe that if

it won't work well small, it probably won't work well big. Almost nothing in life that struggles when small sails smoothly when big.

The

cultural

dysfunction

and

disturbance

plaguing our nation these days, on a large scale, is a direct result of the breakdown in the family and individual abandonment of Judeo-Christian moorings. All the government agencies and federal policies pouring out to solve the drug crisis, the teen suicide crisis, the debt crisis — name any problem— is useless without a fundamental return to biblical truth as individuals and families.

The same thing is true in business. If it's floundering small, borrowing another half a million dollars to double in size will not fix things. To be sure, some businesses desperately need capital or do indeed need more scale, but in general, growth does not fix fundamental problems. If the work environment is toxic when an outfit is small, adding personnel won't alleviate the toxic work culture.

Because we're a craft producer, our volume has always been small and our prices higher than conventional commodities. Of course, we argue that our pastured chicken and pastured eggs are completely different than industrial conventional

(i.e. folic acid). The higher price is completely

chicken or eggs in the store. Indeed, empirical

justified, just like a higher-priced hand-made rocking

nutritional testing bears that out. In some nutrients,

chair that will last a century versus one from Ikea

our eggs are 20 times as nutritious as conventional

that falls apart in five years.

Price prejudice has always been a marketing impediment that we overcome with messaging about nutrition, environment, stewardship, and related superior qualities. We've been accused of being elitist, price gougers, disinterested in common folks, greedy, and irrelevant. But we don't pollute water, stink up the air, encourage C Diff and MRSA (superbugs created by subtherapeutic antibiotic use in animal agriculture), and send nutrient-deficient food onto the American plate. Unfortunately, none of these liabilities are captured at the checkout counter.

This may change. Early this year, a customer came into our farm store and, while perusing the meat counter, exclaimed, "wow, sirloin steak for $9; it's $16 at Costco." For the first time in my life, our prices — at least sirloin steak — were lower, far lower, than a conventional commodity product. How can this be?

41

APRIL 2022

After doing some thinking and sleuthing, here's my

the packaging room, which means we can't get the

analysis. First, covid has gummed up the works for scaled

product boxed, which means we can't ship, which means

enterprises. In other words, the larger the outfit, the more

the customer is angry, which raises our costs, and on

covid gums up the operation. Suddenly human resource

and on. You get the picture.

departments and corporate officers spend countless

In my small business, with only about 25 people

time and energy dealing with quarantine protocols and

deriving their salary from our outfit, I don't wake up

trying to protect themselves from litigation brought by

every morning with these threats on my mind. On

employees who allege improper covid safety precautions.

our farm, we didn't mask; we didn't make any covid

The Wall Street Journal recently had a story on the

protocols. We just went on about our business as usual.

biggest concerns facing CEOs for 2022, and number one

To be sure, we don't drink Coca-Cola; we drink a lot of

was covid protocols.

good water, sleep 8 hours a night, practice and promote

Every morning CEOs of big businesses wake up

forgiveness to keep relationships tender and unstressed,

wondering who among their 1,000-plus employees

exercise, get lots of sunlight, and eat the most nutrient-

will call a government agency and allege some covid

dense food on the planet. We'd rather do that to build

mitigation violation. Or these CEOs worry about who

our immune systems than upend our lives worried about

will call an attorney and launch a lawsuit against some

a bogeyman that tends to attack immuno-compromised

covid policy that it's either too much or too little. Bigger

people. The number one enemy of the immune system is

businesses are in the crosshairs of covid backlash, and

spiritual, physical, or emotional stress.

it's radically reducing efficiency. That is the nutshell

Furthermore, the supply chains and costs, from

reason for supply chain snafus. Ted over in packaging

petroleum to chemical fertilizer on which commodity

got covid, so the five guys who work in that room need

farms depend, are not an issue on our farm. We

to go home for a week, which means we can't operate

generate our own fertilizer through a carbon economy

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42

clean, light bulbs burning, and lawyers wellfed, contactless retail keeps getting cheaper.

Could it be that we are entering a time when small not only beats large in quality but also in price?

As a result, the historically disparate price is falling dramatically, offering unprecedented opportunities for small and rural crafters of all types to access urban markets. This democratized

access

and

more

equitable

pricing put rural crafters on competitive par with their larger urban counterparts.

These two changes in the market landscape represent an earthquake shaking up marketing

with composting and management-intensive

as we've known it. Some of us are saying, "Good,

perennial pasture protocols. Between extricating

it's about time." Others are scared to death

from many of the typical dependencies and

that little speed boats like us will outrun and

building

farm

outmaneuver their aircraft carriers. Finally, small

operates outside the vulnerabilities that plague

may get the recognition it deserves. Growth is

larger conventional businesses.

not bad, but growth for the sake of growth has

our

immune

systems,

our

We're a speedboat navigating the rocks

no inherent merit. Cancer is a growth.

and shoals of societal disturbance while our

Creating room for small and mid-sized

conventional competitors are bogged down

businesses may turn out to be an unexpected

like aircraft carriers in treacherous waters.

blessing from covid. Time will tell how all this

Could it be that we are entering a time when

plays out, but for now, small players like our

small not only beats large in quality but also

farm are enjoying advantages we couldn't have

in price? That is indeed an exciting possibility.

imagined a few short years ago. That bodes

The

second

major

cultural

shift

is

well for better creation stewardship. //

contactless retail. Covid accelerated what was already developing through doorstep distribution. Certainly, Amazon, UPS, and FedEx were big prior to covid, but the new home-

Joel's Upcoming Speaking Events

bound workplace and paranoia about venturing outside the house sprayed jet fuel on this trend.

Markets that rural folks couldn't reach just a

April 14

Washington (Private Farm Consultation)

April 15

Longview, WA (Three River Christian School)

April 23

Mokelumne Hill, CA (Calaveras GROWN)

April 24

San Diego, CA (National Association of Nutrition Professionals)

April 25–26

Sacramento, CA (Private Farm Consultation)

April 29–30

Columbia, TN (Homesteaders of America)

meat and poultry in a box and shipping it via

June 3–4

Columbia, TN (The Homestead Festival)

UPS was largely price prohibitive. But through

June 10

Richmond, VA (Home Educators of Virginia Convention)

outfits kept shaving off pennies and then

October 7–8

Front Royal, VA (Homesteaders of America)

dollars on the cost of shipping to the point

October 18–19

Jackson, MS

where now it's affordable.

October 20–21

Jackson, MS

decade ago are now not only reachable, but distribution logistics efficiency makes internet sales with doorstep delivery prices competitive.

Our farm began shipping nationwide July 4, 2019, less than a year before covid upended our country. A decade earlier, putting frozen

logistics technology, these big distribution

As brick and mortar retail interfaces

(Stockman Grass Farmer Business School with Steve Kenyon) (Stockman Grass Farmer Marketing School with Sheri Salatin)

face mounting costs to keep their sidewalks

43

APRIL 2022

community THE WIDOW'S PATH

Seasons column by: FERREE HARDY

PLAIN VALUES

44

YOU MIGHT BE reading this in April, but I wrote it many

sunlight, which is cold, brisk, and invigorating rather

weeks before. Two days after Groundhog Day, I was

than wafting with heat like an oven. But I am looking

typing away on this column while a winter storm laid

forward to the snow melting. What I missed most in

nineteen inches of snow outside my window. I had moved

the South was the more dramatic change of seasons—

up here to “The North Country” from South Carolina on

those days when the air changed over to springtime. I

December 20, so you might think the cold was a shock to

missed those moments when you could smell the ground

me. However, aside from dressing in lots of layers, I am

thawing and the trees coming out of dormancy; those

enjoying this “real” winter so far. I grew up in Wisconsin

days when you could almost see the grass turn green

winters full of snow, and although as a youngster I had

and the dandelions pop. All of that might be happening

the advantage of having loads of fun in it, I also learned

even now, in April! But for me, as I write this in February,

that winter doesn’t last forever; seasons change.

it’s something I happily anticipate.

While it lasts, I will enjoy the winter. I especially love

I’m reminded, however, that there are other types

the sunshine, which is so different from the hot steamy

of seasons, seasons that have nothing to do with the

South. I’m filled with wonder to go outside into full

calendar. A small group discussion about my book,

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Postcards from the Widows’ Path, recently touched on a

to be with them in their last days, even though it was

season that nobody likes — a season of waiting. Whether

very hard for her. She’s now started into a season of

it’s waiting for something simple like a package or letter

life called “Grief.” It’s when all of life congeals and

to arrive in the mail, or something momentous like the

intensifies. Emotions — all of them — sadness, anger,

birth of a baby, it’s not the most comfortable of times.

love, hope, despair, and even happiness — rise to the

Life seems to hold its breath. Many have experienced

tip of our tongue, the top of our tear ducts, and swell

this with pandemic restrictions and social distancing.

within the weight of our heart. Grief stirs and layers all

Other situations in life add to this feeling of limbo—

our memories, experiences, and feelings.

perhaps a loved one is in prison, in another country,

Besides springtime, are you in a season of waiting

or out of work. The season of waiting might be a time

or a season of grief right now? It’s a relief to know that

filled with happy anticipation, or if we’re waiting for a

seasons are temporary. They do, eventually, change. A

doctor’s diagnosis or the inevitable death of a loved one,

friend of mine in California recently spent four days

it can be a time filled with dread, anxiety, and sorrow.

helping a young family move to a different house. The

A dear lady I know in the Midwest is currently

young mother was nursing a two-month-old infant.

asking for prayer as she spends the final days with

If you’ve been in a similar situation, I’m sure you can

both her parents. Imagine that — both parents at once.

understand the almost constant crying of that hungry,

She posted pictures of them on social media, and I was

stressed-out baby. My friend was grateful her children

reminded of my own parents’ passing. There comes

are almost grown! But babies grow, and seasons change.

a point of no return in age or health; sometimes we

Sometimes grief does not pass or change as quickly

can see it; sometimes we can’t. From her photos, I’m

as we want. It does require time. I’ve found that the

quite sure her parents will be gone by the time you are

old saying “time heals all wounds” is not entirely true,

reading this. I don’t think she’ll regret that she traveled

however. Time passing is no guarantee that grief will

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pass, although it does help. Love is a better key, and I don’t mean getting married again. Loving life itself — the fact that you are alive and thankful that you can see, hear, taste, smell, touch, talk, laugh, and cry — is what will heal the wound of grief. It takes time to choose that shift to thankfulness, and it takes honestly grieving. It’s hard work and cannot be rushed, but it will be resolved with time and love.

Just as the seasons change, they also come around again. So, too, the season of grief will revisit. Let it. It will be a bit different, it won’t be welcomed, it won’t be polite, but let it come. It won’t last as long if you don’t fight it. Allow it to come again and again. Lean into it.

Each time will help it wear itself out.

Sometimes we are helpless to love life again. If grief seems to have taken over your life and if every day feels the same as the day your heart was first broken, you might be caught in a season called “Complicated Grief.” Everyone wants to be over their sorrow in about two weeks. Everyone longs to be normal. But grief does take time. If you are grieving the loss of a spouse, you were probably married for years, decades, or over half a century! It will take more than a couple of weeks, and more than a couple of months, to work through such a

•

PTSD — post traumatic stress disorder: some of

loss. Take it at your own pace; your own pace is what

the symptoms are nightmares, and/or flashback

is normal — we cannot compare our grief to the grief of

memories of traumatically difficult times or

others.

death scenes, etc.

Complicated grief requires some extra help. I believe

•

everyone can benefit from talking to someone and finding

You’ve experienced more than one loss in a short period of time, and/or unresolved grief

the right kind of help at any point in grief, and sometimes

from the past has surfaced.

the earlier, the better. But if you think you might have complicated grief, then finding some professional help is

There’s one last season, and it happens now in

best. This is not a complete list, but here are some of the

April. It’s the Easter season — the celebration of Christ’s

signs and symptoms to seek help for:

resurrection. Did you know that His resurrection means

•

we can live again, too, no matter how much life has

No change or healing of your sorrow: every day

knocked us down? I’ve been helping widows for over a

feels like the first. This burden has lasted well

decade because it’s like watching someone come back

beyond your first year.

•

Depression — thoughts

to life. It’s not easy for them, and it doesn’t happen of

suicide,

despair,

overnight, but it’s the closest thing to a resurrection I’ll

hopelessness, etc.

•

ever see, and it’s a season of pure joy. //

Physical problems — uncontrollable weight loss Easter blessings to you,

or weight gain, chronic insomnia, medical

ferree l

issues, etc.

NEW ADDRESS: To learn more about widowhood, order a copy of Postcards from the Widows’ Path—Gleaning Hope and Purpose from the Book of Ruth. It’s a gentle, biblical guide for widows that has many saying, “This is the best I’ve ever read!” Mail a check for $14.99/copy (paperback, 248 pgs.), along with your address to: Ferree Hardy, 76 Grace Ave., Ticonderoga, NY 12883. Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery. Free shipping for all Plain Values readers!

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history OUR HERITAGE

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PA RT FO U R

Printing the Ausbund ORIGINS column by: ELAM STOLTZFUS

ELI KING, member of the Amish Book Committee, shared the following story with me: While attending church one Sunday morning, he observed that there weren't enough Ausbund hymn books for everyone to sing from. So at the next Sunday gathering, Eli brought along several new Ausbunds and set them on the benches. The man hosting the church gathering that Sunday asked Eli, "Where do these Ausbund come from? "

Last month, we ended at the cusp of the 1900s. By the early 20th century, many German printing presses were no longer in operation, and anti-German sentiment swept across the country due to World War I. In Berks County, bordering Lancaster, the Reading Adler newspaper stopped publishing in German in 1913 and switched to

(left) Old wooden crates full of bookplates for the GesangBuch.

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the English language text as The Reading Eagle.

He immediately walked across Queen Street to

In Lancaster County, the Der Volksfreund Und

talk to Johann Baer & Sons Printing, printers for the

Beobachter newspaper ended in 1910.

Ausbund, the well-regarded German Almanac, and

In the early 1900s, many Plain communities in

other German books. The printers informed him

Lancaster County got their German books from L.

that he had heard correctly: they were considering

B. Herr Bookstore, located on North Queen Street

no longer printing German books. Furthermore,

in downtown Lancaster, only a few blocks from the

they were planning on discarding and destroying

Lancaster Central Market. But even this bookstore

the lead printing plates for the German books.

in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country felt the

Who would print this important collection of

pressure to stop selling German books.

books for the Amish and Mennonites? If these books

One day, Amish minister Jacob Lapp traveled to

were lost, an essential piece of their heritage would

this bookstore in Lancaster to replenish his inventory

be lost, too. Jacob knew he had to find a way to save

of German books. Jacob Lapp cherished German

these books.

books, and he taught children how to read and

With some creative thinking, Jacob Lapp asked

speak the language. In addition, he was generous in

if the plates could be bought, and at what price. But

giving away books as gifts and providing the church

Jacob would not be alone in making these significant

with new books when supplies got low.

decisions. On August 13th, 1913, the Amish bishops

When Jacob arrived at the L.B. Herr bookstore,

and brethren from nine districts met to see if they

he was informed that the Ausbund and other

could financially support printing a collection

German books might not be in print much longer.

of German books. This was an arduous task that

Troubled by this answer, Jacob asked, "How is

would include buying the plates, printing, binding,

this possible?"

storing, and shipping the books to churches and people across the country who desired these books.

This August 1913 meeting was the beginning of the

Unparteyisches GesangBuch plate

Amish Book Committee.

Two other men who shared Jacob Lapp's vision and worked closely with him were Amish ministers Stephen F. Stoltzfus (known as Steffy F.) and Christian L. Fisher. The leadership of these three Amish ministers came at a crucial time for the Ausbund and other German books. If not for their intervention, these books could have been lost or destroyed forever.

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Quoted from Amos B. Hoover, Historian and Founder of Muddy Creek Farm Library, January 27, 2022

"The Ausbund is the only book which encouraged us Swiss Mennonites in the face of oppression, from the Reformation to the present time.

The Ausbund is a jewel."

After some counsel and successful meetings

Baer Printing. One of the challenges was moving

with the church leaders, these three men had

the eleven heavy wooden boxes from the print shop

the support to purchase the lead plates for the

to the warehouse—I'm sure they had some strong

Unparteyisches GesangBuch (Impartial Songbook).

Amish young folk to help with that task! Next, the

This songbook contains a collection of Reformed

Book Committee signed a contract with Lancaster

Hymns from Ambrosii Lobwasser's book, a selection

New Area Printing to print 1,000 songbooks at the

of Ausbund songs, a series of basic hymns, psalms,

cost of less than sixteen cents each.

and some scored shape notes. It is still used today

These plates were used to print thirty-one

among some Plain churches, most commonly by the

editions and were retired in 1985. Today the

Old Order Mennonites.

eleven boxes of the old 1841 lead plates of the

Johann Baer & Sons Printing agreed to sell the

Unparteyisches GesangBuch are on display at the

bookplates for the GesangBuch to the Amish Book

Muddy Creek Farm Library in Ephrata, Pennsylvania.

Committee for $500. Although this may not seem

The Book Committee agreed not to sell the

like much money today, let's put it into context.

books for profit; rather, they sold each book at a

In the early 1900s, an eighty-acre farm sold for

small margin above the cost of printing. This wasn't

an average price of $8,000. That meant that the

about operating a book organization to create

amount the Committee paid for the GesangBuch

wealth for the Committee. Instead, printing these

plates could have bought five acres of farmland.

German books was about preserving our Anabaptist

With Steffy F. assigned as the spokesperson

ancestors' songs, stories, and writings. Today,

and record keeper, the three members of the Amish

thanks to the leadership and commitment of the

Book Committee devised a plan: get each of the nine

Amish Book Committee, these hymns and scriptures

church districts to donate at least $50 to purchase

were saved for generations to come.

the GesangBuch plates.

Although this article does not deal specifically

According to Steffy F.'s meticulous ledger

with the Ausbund, the printing of the Unparteyisches

records, we find the commitment of funds from the

GesangBuch became the model for how the Amish

nine church districts:

Book Committee dealt with other German books. //

Upper Pequea (Bird-In-Hand, Ronks) $65.00

Next month, we will learn about the Amish

Upper Middle Creek (Belmont) $45.00

Book Committee's struggles with the 1922 Ausbund

Lower Middle Pequea (Intercourse) $60.00

printing.

Lower Pequea (Cattail-Kinzers) $65.00 Upper Millcreek (Leola) $55.00 Sources of research and quotes: History of the Amish Book Committee;

Millcreek (Monterey-Mascot) $50.00

Benuel M. Fisher, research and preface; Muddy Creek Farm Library; Amos B.

Lower Millcreek (Centerville) $55.00

Hoover; Stephen F. Stoltzfus Journal & Ledger; Wikipedia.

Grofenthal (West New Holland) $55.00 Conestoga (Churchtown-Elverson) $50.00

Elam Stoltzfus currently serves as caretaker of the Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in (Berks County) Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. In 2018, he traveled to Germany to document the history of the Stoltzfus family—this

The GesangBuch plates were sent over in

research is documented in German Lutherans to Pennsylvania Amish: The

eleven wooden boxes; these were Stereotype lead

Stoltzfus Family Story. To order a copy of this book, you can mail a $30

plates made in 1841 by Douglas Wyeth for Johann

check to Elam Stoltzfus, 1700 Tulpehocken Road, Wyomissing, PA 19610.

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outdoors ALL THINGS OUTDOORS

—

ALL THINGS OUTDOORS

—

The ABCs of Venison column by: JIM ZUMBO

THERE ARE ABOUT 11 million deer hunters in the US, which translates to a whole lot of venison brought home to family freezers. Some of it is processed into steaks, roasts, stew meat, burgers, and sausage, and some is canned or made into jerky.

Properly cooked venison can be a gourmet’s delight, and improperly it can be a chunk of meat that might end up in the dog’s bowl.

But first, let’s define venison. Some dictionaries say it’s the flesh of deer, others say it’s the flesh from ungulates, or large hooved animals.

Most folks tend to call venison deer meat. I lump all the big game animals together in a group, such as deer, elk, antelope, moose, caribou, and call them all venison. Having said that, different species have unique textures and flavors.

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Nonhunters who have never tasted venison often

penetrating the stomach contents with your knife,

ask what it tastes like. That’s impossible to answer

which would make the job a whole lot more onerous.

because no one can really explain a taste. It’s like asking

Having someone show you how is always recommended.

what an apple tastes like. Venison is unique and doesn’t

It would be nice if the animal fell on flat, open

taste like other meats, just as a peach tastes like a peach

ground, but that’s often not the case. You might be

and not an orange.

dealing with dense vegetation in rugged terrain,

The quality of venison is dependent on many

offering a profound challenge in getting your animal

factors, starting with the care of the animal as soon as

field-dressed. I once shot a bull elk on a very steep

it expires. The key is to cool the carcass down as quickly

hillside in the Idaho wilderness. He rolled and slid and,

as possible. Any delays could result in the meat having

to my horror, fell straight down off a 30-foot cliff and

an “off” or “gamey” taste. That means removing the

landed belly down in a sapling thicket. It took my pal

entrails quickly, whether the air temperatures are hot or

and me an hour to cut the trees with a saw so we could

cold. As soon as the animal dies, putrefaction begins to

maneuver the elk to a spot where we could field dress it.

occur, which means the decomposition of body tissues.

Possibly the worst situation is shooting a moose

As hunters, we have the profound responsibility

where it falls in water. That may be the biggest

of properly processing and caring for an animal. That

challenge of all. If you hunt enough, you’ll likely

means having the savvy, tools, and ability to physically

encounter a difficult field-dressing project which may

move the animal after taking all precautions to cool the

make you scratch your head and ask yourself why you

meat. Removing the innards is the all-important first

ever squeezed the trigger in the first place. But that’s

step. That’s a procedure that requires mentoring. First-

hunting. Some of us never learn, me included.

hand experience is almost always necessary. It’s tough,

If venison has a strong gamey taste, improper field

if not impossible, to learn how to do it by looking at

care is usually the blame, as I mentioned, but not always.

instructions in a book or in a video. You need to get your

Animals may be quickly and properly field dressed in

hands in there and make all the correct cuts without

the woods but may retain body heat too long because

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they’ve been lying in the sun, in a pickup bed or wagon, or hanging from a tree or in a barn on a hot day. The necessity of keeping the carcass cool doesn’t stop at removing the entrails. In many instances, skinning the animal quickly is essential because the hide insulates the carcass. Some animals require more precautionary measures than others. Pronghorn antelope, for example, which are popular in the West, have hollow hair. This unique feature protects them from blizzards and gale winds on the open prairie. That’s the reason why the antelope hide must be removed as quickly as possible to avoid heat retention, which is so damaging. We also may have to deal with insects such as blowflies that will lay eggs in unprotected meat. Birds, such as ravens, crows, and magpies, will work on your meat. Remedy these problems by putting the venison in game bags and hanging them in the cool shade. Predators such as coyotes, foxes, and bears would love to dine on your venison as well. Hang the meat far up a tree and out of

recovering a deer that was shot because night was

their reach — though a black bear is a champ at pilfering

coming on, and it was decided to wait until morning

meat from a tree no matter how high it’s hung.

to continue looking. I’ve seen many cases where a deer

I’ll repeat again the truism that hunters bear the

that expired and was left overnight will be bloated

sole responsibility of dealing with an animal he or

when it’s located in the morning. When that happens,

she has taken. One of the most basic mistakes is not

which is almost always, the animal is inedible. To avoid that scenario, use every means possible to recover the animal as soon as you can. Perhaps you can ask a friend for help if he has a hound that will track a wounded deer (and it’s legal), or you can round up a bunch of buddies and form a search party. The fact that it’s dark doesn’t mean you can’t follow a blood trail. A flashlight or lantern will allow you to see those telltale crimson colors in the leaves on the forest floor.

Some folks suggest that improper field care is always the reason for gamey-tasting meat. Not true.

Some species are inedible no matter how you take care of them. For example, the meat from a big old feral boar hog will reek of unsavory odors. A remedy that works is to turn the whole thing into sausage. Because of all the spices and seasonings used, sausage will tame just about anything. I’m told by many that the Barbary sheep that are popular in Texas are inedible no matter what processing method is used.

Male animals in the rut may also have gamey meat.

Caribou are good examples. Hunting seasons typically begin in late August. At this time, the bulls have antlers

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that are still covered in velvet, which is the substance that protects the antlers when they’re growing. Caribou

I think it’s great fun to process your own animal with all the family helping.

taken during this period are delectable, reminding me of veal. But when caribou are taken during the breeding season later on, the meat smells so strongly that even most dogs won’t eat it. To a far lesser degree, this is true of some other species.

The animal’s diet is also a consideration. A buck whitetail that lives in a forest in Pennsylvania or New York’s Adirondack Mountains eats different forage than a deer that inhabits an agricultural area with abundant crops. Many believe those farm-fed deer are far superior to those that live in the big woods.

When I hunt antelope in my home state of Wyoming, I always opt to hunt in and around alfalfa fields rather than in the big sagebrush country. I’m convinced that those antelope around ranches are far better to eat.

Interestingly, Sitka blacktail deer, which inhabit the coastal forests of British Columbia and Alaska, are among my very favorite deer regarding superb table fare, yet most of them live many hundreds of miles from the nearest agricultural areas. They forage almost exclusively on brush and other wild plants.

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The age of an animal can contribute to poor quality

cared for. Either way, there are countless recipes in wild

venison, especially when considering toughness. It may

game cookbooks that will help you convert iffy meat into

be difficult to tell how old an animal is when you’re

delectable venison.

observing it, especially if it’s a doe deer or cow elk. I once

Now that we’ve addressed venison quality, we must

brought home a cow elk that wildlife biologists judged

make decisions on how to process the animal. Are you

to be more than ten years old. As some old-timers like

going to simply drop it off at a wild game processing

to say, “That meat was so tough I had to use a knife to

facility or do it yourself, as do many folks in rural

eat the burger.”

communities? To me, a big part of hunting is what

Another factor that may cause venison to taste

comes after the outing. I love to cut up meat and make

gamey is an animal that has been running hard before

all the cuts, including sausage, burger, and jerky. If I’m

being taken by a hunter. It’s believed that the meat is

blessed with more meat than my freezer can handle, I’ll

affected by adrenaline and other body chemicals, which

can it in pint jars.

in turn, negatively affects the venison.

I think it’s great fun to process your own animal

If you hunt enough, you’ll sooner or later find

with all the family helping. Being self-sufficient in these

yourself with venison that’s strong tasting. Perhaps

uncertain times we live in also gives us a welcome sense

you couldn’t avoid some pitfalls, or maybe the meat

of security. It’s up to you to ensure that your venison is

was given to you by someone else and wasn’t properly

as good as it can be. Common sense and a little knowhow will make that happen. //

PHOTOS FROM OUR READERS

Jim has hunted all fifty states for deer, has fished in most states, has hunted elk

We'd love to feature hunting, fishing, and other outdoor photos from our

in all the major western elk states, and has hunted on four continents. He worked

readers in Jim's column. If you'd like to contribute photos, please email

for fifteen years as a forester, game warden, and wildlife biologist. Jim draws

them to: reachout@plainvalues.com. Be sure to include information

on these experiences for his monthly column “All Things Outdoors.” For more

about your photos so we can include captions.

information, visit www.jimzumbo.com.

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funds & benefits

PLEASE NOTE If you are conducting a fundraiser to assist with medical or hardship expenses, please let us know and we will be happy to feature it for one month at no cost.

Funds must be payable to a bank, church, or charitable organization.

PHILIP KAUFFMAN FUND A fund has been set up for Philip Kauffman, 19, son of Kenneth and Leanna Kauffman. He has been in and out of the hospital numerous times with recurring urinary tract infections and blockage since August 2021.

After an unsuccessful surgery, he was recommended to a specialist. In January 2022, they went to Mayo Clinic seeking help. Phillip still has a long road to recovery. If you feel led to help with this cause, any donations will be greatly appreciated. Make checks payable to: Philip Kauffman Benefit Fund, C/O Denmark State Bank, PO Box 134, Reedsville, WI 54230.

MRS. PAUL (ANNA MAE) WENGERD FUND A fund has been set up for Mrs. Paul Wengerd. Paul, 33, and son Michael, 4, passed away in a road cart/vehicle accident. Anna Mae and her two children, ages 2 and 9 months, have payments due and no income. God bless you for sharing. Make checks payable to Mt. Hope Charities Inc., PO Box 19, Mt. Hope, OH 44660. Attn: Clark Northwest Church District #31.

ESH ORPHAN FUND John & Barbie Esh were killed in a vehicle/buggy accident leaving their 8 children, age 16 and under, as orphans. Previous funds were raised and spent on their immediate living and medical expenses. The Eli & Linda Esh family took in the children; however, the financial load of caring for 13 children is large. If you feel led to help it would be greatly appreciated! Send check to: First National Bank, Eli & Linda Esh Fund, PO Box 35, Loganton, PA 17747.

JAMES AND LINDA YODER FAMILY FUND A fund has been set up for the James and Linda Yoder Family. Due to mold in their old house, this young family with five children have moved to James’ parent’s shop. They are now in the process of building a new house and expenses are high. All help is greatly appreciated. Thank you and God bless! Send donations to Mt Hope Charities Inc., PO Box 19, Mt Hope, OH 44660. Attn: Winesburg Central #91-2.

LEVI AND LIZZIE SCHMUCKER FAMILY FUND Levi, age 42, from Montello, Wisconsin, is fighting Multiple Myeloma Cancer. He is now planning a stem cell transplant, which requires a large up-front payment. A benefit account has been set up for Levi, Lizzie, and their seven children for all who would like to help. Send donations to: Farmers State Bank, 516 S Detroit St, LaGrange, IN 46761. Memo: Levi Schmucker Fund Acct 0598. Thank you for your prayers and support!

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