Giving Boys a Fair Shot: Fair Play Camp School | March 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

Reuben Shetler, contributing writer

Sabrina Schlabach, quality assurance

Stacey Gagnon, Whispers of Hope

Bethany Troyer, bookkeeping

Rory Feek, Roots + Wings

Jan Schlabach, customer service

Merissa A. Alink, Homestead + Roots

Isaac Hershberger, production manager

Joel Salatin, Confessions of a Steward

Seth Yoder, graphic artist

Ferree Hardy, The Widow's Path

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

Elam Stoltzfus, Our Heritage Jim Zumbo, All Things Outdoors

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FEBRUARY 2022

contents

March 2022 // Issue 105

serving our neighbor 13

GIVING BOYS A FAIR SHOT Fair Play Camp School words by: Reuben Shetler "So Floyd decided to start his own boys camp, a Christian camp. His dream became reality when he received the opportunity to purchase 500 acres in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in South Carolina. Fair Play was born, a camp that has hosted over 1,000 boys in its 40 years of operation."

simple living 33

HOMESTEAD + ROOTS Small, Simple Frugal Tips column by: Merissa A. Alink

39

CONFESSIONS OF A STEWARD Start-up Farm column by: Joel Salatin "Our own nation has gone from free land to extremely expensive land. Old farmers today who acquired their land in the 1960s often have a hard time appreciating the land cost issue for aspiring new farmers."

resources 10

WHISPERS OF HOPE Support for Those Who Foster + Adopt column by: Stacey Gagnon

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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Eden Foods PLAIN VALUES

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8

58

ONE MINUTE WITH MARLIN

ON THE COVER

FUNDS AND BENEFITS

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

A sampling of gear and supplies well-known to the boys that attend Fair Play Camp School.

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

photo by: Landon Troyer Photography

community 27

ROOTS + WINGS Strong Winds column by: Rory Feek "The new year brought on more new creative opportunities, stretching our wings even more, with more sold-out concerts at the farm. But something was wrong..."

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THE WIDOW'S PATH Just Be There column by: Ferree Hardy "At the time, I didn’t know it was “a ministry” to sit on the kitchen floor and cry with my friends, but it was. I probably should have stayed longer."

history 50

OUR HERITAGE Printing the Ausbund

(part three)

column by: Elam Stoltzfus “Finally, Sauer had the German type, the press, the ink, and the paper: he was ready to print!"

outdoors 55

ALL THINGS OUTDOORS Campfire Basics column by: Jim Zumbo "A campfire is many things to many people.

It can save a life, help people bond together, or simply provide a way to cook a hot dog or marshmallow. Those are all good reasons to have plenty of campfires in your life!"

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MARCH 2022

I had such a wonderful time visiting with Sarah (left) and Amanda (right) —one of which happens to have a birthday on the 14th of March! Wishing you the happiest of birthdays Amanda.

one minute with Marlin IN 1964, Donald Currey killed the oldest tree ever. To this

and food! The Tree of Life is in the first and last books of

day, there has still never been an older tree discovered.

the Bible. Revelation talks about the Tree of Life bearing

The tree was a Great Basin bristlecone pine, and Currey

different fruit each month for the healing of the nations.

didn’t mean to kill it. It was an accident, and one he didn’t

I don’t know about you, but I can hardly wait to see and

really understand the ramifications of until he started

taste that fruit!

counting rings.

God is the Creator of trees, words, and languages.

Basically, Currey got his tree corer stuck in the tree. So

From trees we get paper; from the gifted minds He gave

stuck that it wouldn’t come out. An unwitting park ranger

us, we take thoughts and ideas and write them down on

helped him cut the tree down to remove the instrument,

paper. An invisible, intangible thing becomes visible and

and later Currey began to count the rings. Eventually, he

tangible on the page. These written words can then be

realized that the tree he had just felled was almost 5,000

passed down, generation after generation. How incredible

years old— the oldest tree ever recorded.

is this?!

I found the above story in Smithsonian magazine after

Have I told you lately how much I love books and

reading about it in a book by Andrew Peterson, The God of

magazines? I love print! Please feel free to point and laugh.

the Garden. Just imagine, that tree now named Prometheus

It’s ok — I know I’m goofy!

was pushing leaves and adding rings when the Civil and As always, may you find joy in the simple things. //

Revolutionary Wars were raging on this continent. It was there when Columbus landed in 1492, and it was keeping watch over the Great Basin National Park when Moses led the Jewish nation out of Egypt!

I love trees because they keep the air on; trees can live without man, but man will die without trees. There

MARLIN MILLER

are countless trees mentioned in the Bible. From the very

publisher, always looking for more friends

beginning, God planted a garden with trees for beauty

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MARCH 2022

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MARCH 2022

whispers of hope

SUPPORT FOR THOSE WHO FOSTER + ADOPT

WHAT IF... column by: STACEY GAGNON

I HEAR A LOT of ‘what ifs’ in the world

earlier had not stopped screaming and

of foster care and adoption. In fact, I

raging in the next room. It had been

I spent the rest of my days diapering a

lived in the ‘what ifs’ before we jumped

hours of primal shrieking, and I could

screaming man-child?

headlong into an adoption that almost

not imagine that I could do this. He was

drowned me in fear.

four years old, wore size 18-24 month

old emaciated orphan who scared me

clothing that hung on a skeletal frame,

to death. I believed on the deepest level

What if the baby I am fostering goes back to the biological parents?

What if he never attached to us and

In the other room was a four-year-

and his spine threatened to escape his

that I had just ruined my life. I had done

What if I have to give her back?

skin. He didn’t speak any intelligible

things in my life that required sacrifice,

What if I adopt a child with severe

words, he could only eat puréed foods

but those sacrifices were comfortable

or liquids (they are faster and more

and measured. This… this just seemed

convenient), and he’d never spent time

like drowning. And dear God was I lost

outside the four walls of the orphanage.

in my fears, as if I was falling through

We were told he was unable to be

the darkness, unable to breathe.

behavioral issues?

What if this destroys my biological children?

What if this is the worst decision I ever made?

What if this destroys my life?

The very darkest moment of my life can be found in the bathroom of a hotel in Eastern Europe. I was curled in the fetal position on the floor at 2 am Googling “how to return a child to the

educated.

I did not sleep that night, and

I am deeply ashamed that the fear

the next morning I went through the

of ‘what if’ had taken residence in my

motions of diapering, feeding, and

heart, and I saw no way out.

mothering this child. His very pores

What if he lived with me the rest of his life?

smelled of orphanage, and his yellowed teeth caused rank smells when he

What if he remained a scared child

exhaled near my face. I dressed him in

orphanage.” The child I had “rescued”

who could not leave my home without

the adorable clothes I had packed, and

from an orphanage just ten hours

freaking out and crying?

I still could not cover my fears. You see,

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my whole life I had the ability to avoid

all that they knew as fishermen and

disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do

my fears and to sacrifice on my terms.

follow Him, fear surely was in their

you still have no faith?” ~ Mark 4:39-40

This was too much, I had gone too far.

hearts. There must have been a few real

I brought my WHAT IF home, and

moments where they looked at each

this process of adoption absolutely

other and asked WHAT IF… But they

destroyed the life I knew before. I can

followed and became friends with the

look back and see how I needed to have

very good at measuring our sacrifices.

Creator of the universe. What if they had

my vain conceit, selfish ambitions, and

We apply logic and control to choices

instead looked at Jesus and asked Him:

countless fears destroyed. I can look

Measured Sacrifice As Christians in America, we are

and operate out of unconscious fear. It is human nature — our way of ensuring our survival and sanity.

But how can we live a life that dares to make a difference if we are too scared to try?

When Peter saw Jesus walking on the water, he asked if he could go to Him. Jesus said, come on, and Peter walked to him and had an experience that changed his life. It is obvious that

“What if you are not who you say

back and be humbled by a woman who lay on a bathroom floor begging God to

you are?”

“What if things go poorly, and we

see me out of this decision. And I can see how He sat beside me as I let go of

lose everything?”

"What if our families think we are crazy, and they mock and ridicule us?”

I cannot imagine how things would have been different for them.

What if this is the worst decision

all the things that I thought gave my life meaning, worth, and control. But the most beautiful part is what we find after we have gone beyond the WHAT IFs. At the end of myself, I have found HIM. //

I ever made?

“He got up, rebuked the wind

fear is a VERY REAL thing, but WHAT IF

and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be

we dare to go out on the water anyway?

still!” Then the wind died down and

When Jesus asked his disciples to leave

it was completely calm. He said to his 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.

MARCH 2022

serving our neighbor FAIR PLAY CAMP SCHOOL

Giving Boys a Fair Shot FAIR PLAY CAMP SCHOOL

words by: REUBEN SHETLER

THE MORNING SUN peeps over the horizon in South Carolina. It rises slowly over Oconee County, bringing the promise of a fresh, new day. Golden sunbeams probe through the trees of the Blue Ridge Mountains. A fine mist rises out of the forest. A blue jay screams, announcing to the woodland creatures, “Time to wake up!

Spring is in the mountains!" Oconee County is paradise on Earth.

There’s a group of woodland creatures that have already been up for several hours.

In single file, they descend the mountain. Ten boys, led by two young men, are on a morning hike. They march down a rugged path, silently watching

the

woodpeckers

and

warblers

flit through the trees. They cross a stream, jumping from one rock to another. And then they’re back at camp.

The Frontiersmen, led by Jared Stoltzfus, are ready for a new day at Fair Play Camp School. A new day of learning, responsibility, and developing skills that will benefit them the rest of their lives.

About Fair Play Daniel Hochstetler, Executive Director of Fair Play (also known as “Head Chief”), emerges from his house on the premises of camp. Daniel is married, has five children, and has been director since 2014. He’s on his way to camp headquarters for morning devotions.

Fair Play Camp School was started in 1981

by Floyd Yoder and his father. When he was a young married man, Floyd lived near a camp for troubled boys in Virginia. Floyd thought

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MARCH 2022

Head Chief, Daniel Hochstetler, helping one of the boys stir a giant batch of apple butter

camp was a great place, but it wasn’t founded on the gospel of Jesus Christ. So Floyd decided to start his own boys camp, a Christian camp. His dream became reality when he received the opportunity to purchase 500 acres in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in South Carolina. Fair Play was born, a camp that has hosted over 1,000 boys in its 40 years of operation.

Camp is for boys, ages 8 to 17, who are experiencing behavior/emotional problems and have a desire to change.

They are placed in one of four campsites, the Frontiersmen, Explorers, Trailblazers, or Pioneers. Each camp has ten boys, and two counselors who are referred to as “chiefs.”

“Camp has two rules,” Daniel says. “Rule one: everything we do, we do as a group. Each group of ten boys always sticks together. Rule two: everything we do, we do with a good attitude.”

These two rules are the fundamentals of the experience that shapes boys into men. They learn how to interact with each other, how to communicate, and how to live unselfishly. And, they learn they are helping themselves when they help others. “We all have things we can improve,” Daniel says. “We all have skills within ourselves to help others. But we also have to be willing to accept criticism.”

Fair Play is located in a wilderness setting. “It’s a very simple atmosphere, where people need each other,” Daniel explains. “There are very few distractions in this environment. It’s like America 150 years ago. At that time, the quality of your life depended on your relationships with your neighbors. That’s what Fair Play is all about.

What’s important is your relationship with God and each other, and how we choose to help each other.”

Daniel pauses to look over the campsites. The boys are bustling about like a colony of ants. “We have this saying,”

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“Being a chief is one of the most worthwhile things a young man can do,” Jared says. “A chief will serve for two years. A typical boy who attends camp will be there for a year and a half. So, what’s unique is there are always new boys coming in, and there are always boys who are almost ready to leave. As a chief, the boys that start the same time as you do are extra special. You develop a connection with them because you interact with them the longest.”

Jared loves watching the boys grow. The boys who are at the end of their term will reach out a hand to those who are just beginning. “A peer can talk to someone who just came. It makes you get past yourself and your problems. Most boys are closed up, Jared Stoltzfus with his wife Andrea

or explosive. They’ve never talked about their hurts.

At camp, they open up, and it changes their lives. In general, a lot of these boys come from broken homes

Daniel says. “We’re not going to do anything to a

and have no father figure. Their adoptive parents

boy, or for a boy, but we’re going to do everything

may think they can love them out of their hurts, but

with a boy.”

sometimes it may take another step.”

He continues, “Camp is a place of healing and

Cole arrived at camp as a little boy and left as

hope. So many young boys have experienced hurts

a young man. He was very immature. When things

and need a place to restart. Our goal here is to be

didn’t go his way, he threw a temper tantrum. He

Christian mentors. We have a great opportunity to

screamed and yelled. He was overweight, and the

show boys how a godly man should live.”

outdoors was not the place for him. Cole was used to playing video games, and not much else.

Camp Operations

During his time as a chief, Jared built a relationship

Jared Stoltzfus grew up with Fair Play ingrained

with Cole. He saw an extremely intelligent young

into his childhood. “When I was a kid, Dad would sing

boy. Slowly, Cole began to exercise his leadership

camp songs to me when he put me to bed.” Jared’s

capabilities. He came full circle on taking care of

dad was a chief at Fair Play soon after the camp

himself. He loved to plan camp activities, and he

started. Then Jared’s uncle became a chief as well.

became a mentor to other boys. He learned to freely

“After he finished his time at camp, my uncle

express himself. “Cole went from having no respect,”

decided to live in South Carolina. When I was a boy,

Jared recalls, “to being a leader.”

we would visit my uncle, and sometimes we’d go see

Jared is a chief for the Frontiersmen. This

camp. It became super close to me,” Jared relates.

particular morning, they are building a tent in

He decided to follow in the family footsteps. In the

their campsite. The boys run into the forest and cut

fall of 2015, Jared became a chief at Fair Play.

down three small pine trees. They drag them back

"It's like America 150 years ago. At that time, the quality of your life depended on your relationships with your neighbors.

That's what Fair Play is all about."

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MARCH 2022

to camp. Two boys begin hacking off branches. Another two use knives to peel off bark. The rest of the group is bent over a blueprint, figuring out the next step.

Daniel joins the scene. “Each boy is responsible for his own tent,” he explains. “We help him create a blueprint to build it. He learns engineering, using math, and reading a tape measure. Then the entire group assists in building the tent, usually out of pine trees. After that, the boys are responsible to maintain it. They clean their own tents.

They fix leaks. Their tents are their domain, the property for which they are fully responsible.”

The Explorers are making firewood. Again, it’s a group effort. Some are cutting, some are splitting, some are carrying, some are stacking. “Firewood is their focus this week,” Daniel says. “Next week they’ll move on to something else.”

It’s Tuesday, so the Trailblazers are sitting in a circle planning their activities for the following week. The boys work together to make sure the schedule makes sense. Next Tuesday they will plan the week after that.

The Pioneers are preparing a menu. Two days a week, each group cooks their own food. They have six menus to prepare: two for breakfast, two for lunch, and two for supper. The boys have a certain quantity they can spend per menu. They create a list of ingredients,

they’ve learned, in real life. Then they return to camp to

which are purchased for them by the camp cooks.

learn more.

Daniel laughs. “If they plan to have pancakes, but

“No two days are alike at Fair Play,” Daniel says.

forget to get maple syrup, then there’s just no syrup! The

“But we try to work through things the best we can.

boys learn their decisions have direct consequences. They

Hopefully, these boys will go on to apply these principles

learn to be self-sufficient, and to think things through.”

in their schools, their churches, and when they grow up, their businesses and homes.”

Each day, the boys get up at 6:30. They make their beds, do campsite chores, then have devotions. On

Around the Campfire

Sundays, the entire Fair Play team has chapel together.

Five days a week, the entire camp eats together in a

It’s evening. The boys in camp sit around campfires to

dining hall called Chuckwagon.

evaluate their day. The flames flicker and dance, creating

“We try to make things fun,” Daniel says. “We go

moving shadows on their faces.

fishing. We play games. We go on canoe trips. When

The sound of laughter and happy conversation drifts

we’re working together, and taking care of each other,

into the woods. A barred owl calls, and spring peepers

it’s just like a family.”

serenade the creeks and bogs in the lowlands. The air is

Of course, families can have problems. And problems

alive with fireflies. Another day at Fair Play has come to

arise at Fair Play. But when an issue comes up, the group

an end.

will stop and talk about it. If someone is angry, normal

There’s nothing like sitting around the campfire,

activities will not resume until the issue is resolved.

talking about life. And it also is a time of reflection.

Every six weeks, the boys go home for 4-5 days.

Daniel watches his current campers talk and interact, and

This gives them the opportunity to exercise the things

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his mind floats back to boys of the past.

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Jordan came to camp when he was 12. Recently he called Daniel and said, “I’ve been thinking about camp a lot these days. Man, can I just come back? I miss that place.” The memories made stick with the boys the rest of their lives.

Hudson grew up in an orphanage in Ukraine. He got adopted, but his new family had little hope for him. They sent him to Fair Play. Now, he’s a senior in high school. He’s running cross-country, and he has a full-time job and a savings account. And Hudson’s family is excited about his future.

Daniel stares into the flames and ponders. He knows that many of the boys’ families consider the chiefs at Fair Play to be heroes. But who are the heroes? The heroes are the boys themselves. The boys, and everyone outside of camp who help make camp possible.

"There's nothing like sitting around the campfire, talking about life."

An Answered Prayer Curt Yoder is an associate board member for Fair Play. He also is an answer to a prayer.

Curt lives in Ohio, and he is the owner of Ashery Country Store near Mt. Hope. “When I was 19, one of my friends was a chief at Fair Play,” Curt shares. “I took a tour of camp, and I was impressed.

I wanted to help camp in some way, but at that time I was dating and had marriage on my mind.”

That marriage happened, and Curt wasn’t able to be a chief at Fair Play. But he never forgot.

Curt’s father passed away in 2004. Two years later, Curt joined a men’s group that offered support to one another. One session, a question came up. “What is a dream you never pursued?”

Curt told the group about his desire to help Fair Play when he was a young man. Then another question came up. “What’s holding you back from still helping them now?”

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MARCH 2022

So, Curt arranged a meeting with Judson

occasionally to do work projects, supports an annual

Schrock, a former administrator at camp. “Hey, can

fundraiser at Gospel Haven Church, and helps find

we start supporting you in some way?”

chiefs. “A chief has to be 21 years old, and unmarried,”

Judson couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

Curt says. “He has to be willing to make a two-year

Fair Play was going through some financial

commitment. It takes someone who is willing to

struggles, and they were at the point where they

learn, willing to humble himself, and willing to care

almost didn’t have the funds to keep operating.

about the boys.”

Putting a boy through camp is quite costly. But

Daniel says, “Camp may be a great program, but

when someone contacts Fair Play with a request

it needs support.”

to send a boy, Daniel doesn’t talk about money. He

Curt agrees. “During the times I’ve been there,

says, “Tell me about your son.” Fair Play will accept

I’ve seen leaders shed tears because of how much

any boy seeking help, regardless of how much his

they care. I’ve seen some very dedicated men and

family can pay.

women. I’ve seen a board of directors that is very

Fair Play has two local thrift stores that

engaged. They live what they say. Someone with a

donate their proceeds to camp. These stores, plus

lot of trouble can be hard to love. But it takes more

contributions from the boys’ families, cover about

than yourself. It takes God’s love in you.”

half the costs of operation. In the past, a lot of the

There’s one thing Curt always keeps in mind.

balance was provided by the state of South Carolina.

“Wherever it is that God is calling me, what can I do?”

But some rules and regulations shifted, and a lot of

Relationships That Last a Lifetime

the state funding disappeared. Fair Play now had to depend on God for sufficient funds.

Jared Stoltzfus’s experience as a chief at Fair

God did not disappoint them. He nudged Curt

Play was rewarding in many ways. In fact, it even

Yoder, and Curt became a monthly donor for Fair

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benefits him today.

Play. He had found a role to support the camp.

Twenty minutes from the boys camp is a girls

With Fair Play depending more on private donors,

camp called Wilderness Way. On one of his days off,

each monthly sponsorship is critical to the survival

Jared met a counselor from Wilderness Way. Her

of the camp.

name was Andrea.

Judson Schrock had prayed, “How can camp

Jared and Andrea began dating, although

run on private donations?” So far, God has moved

spending time together could be a bit challenging

people, and the camp continues to chug along.

due to their differing schedules. Still, they managed

Eventually, Curt became an associate board

to find time to go out to eat, go to town, or to do

member. He takes his church youth group to camp

some hiking together. “There are many relationships 18

that come about as a result of camp, which I think is

The smoke of breakfast campfires dies down to

amazing,” Jared says. “People who commit to going

nothing. The Frontiersmen have done their chores,

to camp often find common ground and other like-

wolfed down their food, and done devotions.

minded people in the rest of camp staff. You are all

Now, they’re ready for another hike. Jared tidies

choosing to do the same thing in life for a time, and

up the last of the dishes, then turns to the group.

I think it’s often a reflection of a similar life vision

“Are you ready?”

and purpose. That was our experience. In getting

“Ready!” they chorus.

to know each other through camp, we discovered

“Okay!” Jared heads for the mountain, the boys

we cared about the same things, and were headed

following behind. “March onward!” he calls. The

in the same direction in life, and camp was a great

group vanishes into the trees.

connecting point that helped us realize that.”

March onward, indeed. Onward to a better future; onward to a fair shot at life. //

One month after Jared arrived home from camp, he married his sweetheart. “We still talk about camp a lot,” Jared smiles. “Our married life is largely influenced by what we learned at camp.

If you would like to make a one-time donation, or become a

We implement those skills in the things we do, and

monthly sponsor, you can send your contribution to the address

the way we treat each other. Camp truly can inspire

below, or visit their website.

someone for a lifetime.”

Fair Play Camp School

Depending on what comes up in their lives, Jared and Andrea look at each other, and say together, “Man, you can be grateful I went to camp!”

Address: 347 Wilderness Trail, Westminster, SC 29693

March Onward

Website: www.fairplaycamp.org

It’s another new day in South Carolina. The sun rises again, bathing the mountains with light.

Photos submitted by Fair Play Camp School, Jared Stoltzfus, and Curt Yoder.

Reuben Shetler lives in Walnut Creek, Ohio, and is a member of the Old Order Amish Church. He has been blessed with a wife and three children. Reuben strives to preserve the culture and customs of the Amish church in every way he can. Reuben has numerous hobbies, with writing at the top of the list. You might also find him birdwatching in the spring, gardening and beekeeping in the summer, hunting in the fall, and making firewood in the winter. Reuben loves books, home cooking, books, anything outdoors, family time, and books. Reuben sees life as a continuous succession of 24-hour adventures. (Getting some sleep is exciting too, right?) He seeks to glorify God in all that he does, and bring honor to His name.

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MARCH 2022

resources EDEN FOODS

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WITH FIFTY-FOUR YEARS of experience, Eden Foods is more relevant than ever. Pursuit of its goals of healthy soil and pure food for all, local supply, righteous price, and sharing an understanding of the dynamics of good health, has been a painfully educational, joyous journey.

Originally a natural food co-op, we hold to the company (bread sharers from the Latin) original principles and goals. Initially sourcing brown rice, seaweed, and miso from macrobiotic guidance.

Knowledge of biodynamics and a visit from three Austrian, Rudolf Steiner Institute representatives who were working with U.S. Steel and travelled to meet with us, helped guide and encouraged our principles and high standards for Eden Food’s selection criteria. The nature of Eden Foods as a principled natural food company gives rise to the question, “What principles?”

Still remaining a small company, Eden has maintained the highest organic standards and is the longest serving natural food supplier in North America. The company’s focus is on the purest life supporting food, and accurate information about them, their uses, and benefits.

The hunt for good food grew around selecting whole grain and beans, which commonsensically required food without toxic chemical contaminants. Driving around country roads, ringing doorbells, knocking, and asking folks if they would be willing to grow grain and beans for us without chemicals was an awkward, fruitful beginning.

“As young people learning about the diet-disease relationship, the abysmal condition of commercial food, and as a group planning to start families, we were motivated to acquire good, pure food, and wanted to share it," said Michael Potter, president of Eden Foods.

After reading the book, You Are All Sanpaku by George Ohsawa given to him by his sister, Michael began a search for brown rice, miso, and seaweed. As personal and societal awareness grew to understand the relationship between food and health, the quest developed into Eden Foods. Growing from self-interest to wider commercial fulfillment was driven mainly by demand.

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MARCH 2022

from

California

were

replaced

with

“organic”

versions shipped from 5,000 miles south. Nearly all natural food stores were swept up and consolidated into finance giants with immediate profit being the goal. Wall Street, bolstered with federal organic agricultural policies, has served a huge setback to organic agricultural development in this hemisphere.

Eden Foods believes it an inalienable right, and an essential to intelligent food choice, to have accurate facts about food; how it is grown, handled, processed, prepared, and exactly what is in it. Following successful lobbying (bribing) and new government policy, the food industry hides where food comes from, how it is grown, handled, processed, and what toxic chemicals they contain.

Micheal Potter, president of Eden Foods

Successful marketing of that food is impossible if they were to be straightforward and forthright.

Eden Foods grew through many stages: a

Food disparagement and labeling laws give

co-op, retailer, packager, a brand, processor,

legal standing to intentional misinformation and

organic advocate, wholesaler, trucker, importer,

deceptive marketing. "Through the 60s and into the

manufacturer, exporter, pasta company, soymilk

70s, if something was in the food or in the packaging

maker, bean cannery, internet retailer, and organic

material of the food, it was an ingredient and had

field crop processor/cleaner.

to be declared as such. Since the mid 1980s the

In the 60s and early 70s, Eden Foods was the

definition of ingredient has quietly been changed

only source of natural food in the Midwest. Over

to, If it impacts the nutritional information panel,

time, as natural food companies thrived, lost their

it is an ingredient. If a substance does not impact

way, sold out, or went out of business, natural food

nutritional information, it is not an ingredient.

distribution became consolidated into Wall Street

Thousands of chemicals, mostly toxic, no longer

monied companies. Greenwashing drowned out all

need to be declared as ingredients," said Mr.

but the most grassroots, local companies growing

Potter. Previously, reading packages was helpfully

and preparing good food. The public was falsely led to

informative. That is no longer so. Food packaging

believe that through the transformations they were

label laws are legal foundation for a massive

seeing, the integrity and authenticity of natural and

misinformation scheme.

organic would remain unchanged. When the USDA

Eden Foods is proud to clearly show its

became the sole owner of the “marketing term”

ingredients, going to great lengths to make them

organic, the marketing agency for toxic chemical

easy to read. Ingredients are not hidden under

agriculture and GMOs became empowered to policy-

folds, flaps, or in type that is impossible to read.

encourage organic fraud. Despite doublespeak to

Questions about Eden foods and their sources are

the contrary, organic standards fell abysmally low

warmly welcomed.

The company name, Eden, was drawn from

from that point. Fraud rapidly accelerated.

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Suddenly and magically, it became far cheaper

singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell’s hit song Woodstock;

to grow organic grain and beans in Eastern Europe

“We are stardust, we are golden, and we’ve got to get

and China, despite having to move them halfway

ourselves back to the garden.” In a supportive role for

around the world. U.S. real organic growers were

the name Eden was – Environmental Defense, Energy

unable to compete. Berries, fruit, and vegetables

Network.

22

Pure, real organic food requires more than doing paperwork for USDA’s unprincipled organic system. Knowing and learning about the growers, their motivation, farming practices, how they harvest, handle, store, and transport crops, all provide

insight

into

potential

reliability

and

other values. Personal relationships supply the information needed to answer logical questions from discerning folks about the food they seek. That knowledge allows Eden Foods to be straightforward and transparent with our customers, and to know what we are feeding our families.

Through fifty-four years of change, Eden Foods still travels rural roads, knocks on doors, and gets to know real organic farmers. Regularly heard in our travels is that Eden Foods is the only natural, organic food company that does this. Eden management and staff sit at kitchen tables to share ideas and updates. Fields are walked, information collected, and relationships are nourished. Knowing farm histories, the prevailing winds, and how the farms are positioned into the environment, are part of the value derived. Learning the motivation behind various organic farm families has served us and our patrons very well. The company works directly with organic growers and traditional food makers, helping nourish approximately 100,000 acres of organic farmland and its 380 families.

“Changing how food is grown and handled will fundamentally change all aspects of humanity and societies in positive ways,” said Mr. Potter.

This belief has guided and sustained Eden Foods.

A consistent Eden marketing theme has been, “Organic agriculture is society’s brightest hope for positive change.”

“In selecting food we offer and eat, we strive to do so in harmony with the goal of bringing back life to the soil,” said Mr. Potter. As Eden studies organic food options, an overriding question is, "What will result in, and nurture, life in the soil?" Vital energy from healthy, living soil is essential to good food production.

The people who make the company work, its suppliers and customers, share an affinity with the original mission in an enthusiastic pursuit of excellence and pure food. //

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MARCH 2022

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MARCH 2022

community ROOTS + WINGS

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26

column by:

rory feek

HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF TENNESSEE, the arrival of March

strong winds march 2022

signals the return of spring. The long-awaited blooming of yellow daffodils that encircle our family cemetery here on the farm lets us know that winter is wearing thin, and the warmer weather will soon be on its way. The pretty daffodils are also a gentle reminder of my beautiful bride Joey’s passing this month six years ago.

After a whirlwind music career together that we didn’t see coming, and then a few years of touring and traveling, we had come back home to strive for less and yet, believe in more. So as Joey’s garden flourished in 2012 and '13 and our weekly television show grew in popularity… early 2014 found us taking a year off from

"...EARLY 2014

music and television and welcoming our new little girl, Indiana,

FOUND US TAKING

into the world.

A YEAR OFF FROM

sure we didn’t miss a moment of that first year. So in January that

MUSIC AND TELEVISION

year, I put my songwriting pen away and began writing a blog

AND WELCOMING OUR

did my best to capture our lives in an even more intimate way for

NEW LITTLE GIRL, INDIANA, INTO THE WORLD."

We both knew what a gift she was to us and wanted to make

called This Life I Live. Along with the blog, I picked up a camera and the next two years. Even though we had put our musical dreams on hold for a while, Joey and I hoped and believed that an even more important story was about to unfold. Our goal was to document and share our life journey as we went along.

In February, Indiana was born at home, here at the farmhouse, naturally, just as babies had been born in this old house for 150

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.

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MARCH 2022

years. The birth went just as expected, but Indy’s little almond eyes were a surprise to all of us. In the nine months before, we had never given any thought to the idea that our little one might have Down syndrome. So a few days after she was born, when the tests confirmed that she had an extra chromosome, it caught us both off guard.

Those first few days were filled with phone calls and visits from friends and family excited to hear about the new baby, with most people responding by saying “I’m so sorry” or not knowing what to say at all when we shared the DS diagnosis. And we understood. We weren’t upset. Everyone, of course, meant well. But even with the disappointment that seemed to be spoken between the lines of the wellwishing, we were far from disappointed. We were in love. We knew that God had given us the baby and the future that He had planned for us, and that was all we needed to know.

Those first few months with Indy were magical.

Although Joey had always been afraid of having a baby and concerned that she might not be cut out to be a mother, the moment the midwife put Indiana in her arms, her whole life changed. She, for the first time, seemed to understand what life was truly about and what her true purpose was. In the weeks that followed, she even began imagining having more babies together but wanted to be prayerful and seek what God wanted, more than what she or I had in mind.

By May, those prayers were answered in a follow-up visit with her doctor, who saw something on her cervix that concerned her. Within days, the doctor’s fears were confirmed with a cervical

"...THE MOMENT THE MIDWIFE

cancer diagnosis. A full-hysterectomy surgery was

PUT INDIANA IN HER ARMS,

scheduled to remove the cancerous area and to keep it from spreading. The surgery was difficult for

HER WHOLE LIFE CHANGED.

Joey but thankfully successful. Although Joey was

SHE, FOR THE FIRST TIME,

disappointed that no more babies were in her future,

SEEMED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT

she was thrilled to get to be a mother to Indy, and within weeks life was pretty much back to normal.

LIFE WAS TRULY ABOUT AND

As Indy grew, she thrived and brought so much

WHAT HER TRUE PURPOSE WAS."

joy to us and everyone around her. By Christmastime, we were back on stage in the concert hall, blessed this time to bring our little one out to the shows and introduce her to the audience.

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28

The new year brought on more new creative

much prayer and consideration, we decided to take

opportunities, stretching our wings even more,

a different route. We came home instead. They had

with us making a feature film in Virginia and then

given her six to nine months to live… and so, our

returning back home for more sold-out concerts at

choice was to fully live that time together with all

the farm. But something was wrong: Joey’s health

the love and hope we had. We hadn’t given up hope;

began taking another turn for the worse. That

we just shifted our trust from the medical world to

summer, she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.

the one we knew could heal her if He chose to.

It was a surreal moment for us for a number of

And so we came home. First to our farm here in

reasons. First off, Joey had always done such a great

Tennessee, and then one final tour bus ride to Joey’s

job of taking care of herself. She was a conscious,

hometown in Indiana. She wanted to be with her

healthy eater and exercised regularly, and she

mama and daddy and sisters and family. However

did all the right things to take care of herself and

much time she had, she wanted it to be purposeful,

her family. But also, getting news like that when

and if life was going to end, she wanted it to be in

you have a 15-month-old baby is a hard thing to

the place where it began for her 40 years before.

comprehend. And yet, Joey’s faith was incredibly

I can honestly say that time in Indiana was

strong. She trusted God and wanted to do whatever

maybe the most special of any time in my life. We

it took to fight it. We spent the summer in Chicago

lived in a small house on Bill & Gloria Gaither’s

and then Newnan, Georgia. First for another very

property just across the pond from them, and all we

difficult surgery and recovery and then a long

had was a few things in a suitcase, each other, our

regime of chemo and radiation. And through it all,

family, and our faith. And somehow, when life gets

Joey remained hopeful and positive, believing that

cut down like that, when it’s just the essentials, it

the cancer would be removed and life could resume

has a way of getting richer. Much, much richer than

as normal, in time.

how we all usually live it. We were scared, but we

In October, those hopes were dashed again as

were together. And my bride’s faith in whatever God

another round of testing confirmed that the cancer

had in store was inspiring to all of us.

had continued spreading at an alarming rate. The

We had no plans or agenda for those last few

doctors offered to do more. To try more. But after

months except to be together. We shared each moment with Joey and the ones we loved, and it was truly incredible. As the new year began and

Joey getting chemotherapy with Indy by her side in the fall of 2015

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MARCH 2022

Joey’s strength dwindled, she continued to do the

for us, it was hard for us to see at the moment, but

things she loved from her bedside the best she

spring was on its way. And with it, somehow, our

could, planting seeds in eggshells for the spring and

grief would be overshadowed by our gratitude for

teaching our little one sign language and reading

the time we had with Joey. And in the months and

books to her.

years that followed, seeds that had been planted

Just after Indiana turned two years old, Joey passed away. It was bittersweet for all of us.

in our hearts during this hard winter would begin sprouting, and new life would soon abound... //

Unimaginable, and yet after such a difficult struggle for the last year or more, we had relief that she was

~ Part four of Rory's story coming next month ~

no longer hurting.

During that final year, we had continued capturing and sharing our story via the blog This Life I Live that I’d been writing, and week-by-week, month-by-month, more and more people had begun following our story. By the time Joey passed away, there were millions of people praying for Joey and grieving with us at her passing.

A few days later, on March 8, 2016, we found ourselves back at home on the farm for the first time in five months, gathered in the concert hall with family and friends, celebrating Joey’s life. And following the service, we formed a procession that led to the family cemetery, where we laid her to rest.

Then, just as now, the daffodils were blooming.

Although it was an incredibly difficult winter season

"AND WITH IT, SOMEHOW, OUR GRIEF WOULD BE OVERSHADOWED

BY OUR GRATITUDE FOR THE TIME WE HAD WITH JOEY."

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MARCH 2022

simple living HOMESTEAD + ROOTS

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32

homestead

+

roots

column by: MERISSA A. ALINK

Small, Simple Frugal Tips WITH THE CURRENT economic condition and prices of everything rising, it’s become imperative that many of us need to find as many ways to save money as possible.

While we all have plenty of “fixed” bills that can’t be changed (gas, mortgage, rent, etc.), there are still many small everyday things that we can do to save a little.

Each of these things individually might not seem like much, but when you add them all together, you will start to see a big difference! So here are some small, simple ways that you can start shaving those valuable dollars off of your monthly bills.

Write Down Every Expense Write every single expense down as it happens. Keep a journal, notebook, scratch-pad… anything will work. Write down when you pay a bill, write down when you buy sour cream, write down when you buy socks. Write it all down! Before you can start saving money, you have to see where it’s all going.

At the end of the month, review this list and see how much excess cash is going to places it shouldn’t be. Make adjustments if necessary.

Have a Garden in the Summer or Winter I believe that everyone can have a garden no matter where you live! I want to challenge you to grow at least one thing. I like to grow at least lettuce year-round in small containers. Herbs also grow very well in the house.

In the summer, you can have as large of a garden as you have room for, even if that just means planting some small pots on a patio. You don’t need to spend a lot on seeds either. Ask a friend who gardens if they have any extras, or check your local dollar store.

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MARCH 2022

Stop Using Paper and Start Using Cloth Most of us have plenty of old towels or sheets that can be used as rags around our homes in place of paper towels. You can also make your own “cloth paper towels” with a bit of knit or flannel fabric if you have any scraps. I keep my cloth rags right under my kitchen sink so they are always easily accessible.

If you go through one roll of paper towel a week and you pay $1 per roll, that’s $52 a year. What could you do for an extra $52 a year?

Paper napkins are also expensive and not necessary. We made the switch to cloth napkins years ago and haven’t looked back. I toss them in with our regular laundry loads every other day, and it barely causes me any extra work.

Don’t Throw Away Food This will be a challenging one for many of us.

Did you know that the average family of four throws away 122 pounds of food each month? That’s a lot of wasted money that we are literally throwing in

vegetable stews are a great way to do this, as are

the trash!

most meals that feature potatoes or beans.

An easy way to use up all the leftovers from the

Shampoo Your Hair Less

week is to have at least one designated leftover day

If you currently shampoo your hair every day,

each week. Once (or twice) each week get out all

try shampooing every other day this week and

the leftovers and set them up buffet-style. That way

see if you notice a difference. This is something

things get eaten up instead of hanging out in the

I already do. I still wash my hair with water, but

back of the fridge until they get moldy.

I don’t always shampoo it. (I need that morning shower to wake up!)

Go Meatless We try to eat meatless at least one day a week.

Sell at Least 3 Things Per Week

Meat is one of the most expensive proteins per

This week, challenge yourself to find at least

pound that you can buy. If your husband is like

three things you don’t need and list them for sale

mine, he may be a little resistant to this idea, so try

wherever your local free ads can be listed. Craigslist

and find some hearty meals to make up for it. Filling

is always free, Facebook Marketplace is free, and some newspapers allow you to list free items if they are under a certain dollar amount.

If you can make a goal to sell at least three

"Meat is one of the most expensive proteins per pound that you can buy."

things each week that you don’t need, you will be surprised at how much extra cash you can earn.

In the meantime, your home will be getting a little cleaner as you get rid of things you don’t really need!

Use 1/4 Less Laundry Detergent Instead of filling up that detergent lid to the fill line, add a little less. This means that if you currently pay about $0.20 per load for detergent

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34

and use 25% less, you save $0.05 per load. While

the environment, and it’s better for your health not

that doesn’t seem like much, if you do one load of

having to breathe in all those toxic chemicals.

laundry per day every day of the year, you will save

A simple online search will find a lot of

$18.25 per year (enough to buy another bottle or

homemade cleaning supply recipes. (I have several

two of detergent!).

on my website, www.littlehouseliving.com.)

Line-dry Your Clothes

Stick to the Food Basics

Where I live, it costs $0.12 per kWh for

Next time you head to the grocery store, only

electricity (check your local bill for your cost per

walk around the perimeter. You will see the basics:

kilowatt hour), so that means each time you run the

bread, produce, meat.

dryer, it costs $0.40. That may not seem like much,

As you are trying to stretch a buck when it

but that means if you are doing five loads of laundry

comes to your groceries, it’s good to try and avoid

per week, it’s costing you an extra $8.58 per month

those middle aisles filled with pretty packaging and

on your electric bill. If you are doing eight loads of

all kinds of foods we don’t need.

laundry a week, it’s costing you $13.75 per month

Consider this the next time you are grocery

on your electric bill. If you don’t have to spend that

shopping and before you put something into your

extra $100 – $200 a year, why would you?

cart. Do you really need that box of sugary cereal for

You can line-dry your clothes on a traditional

$4? Or can it be replaced with a container of oats for

line outside or use an indoor drying rack. I use both,

less than $1/lb?

depending on the season.

Hopefully, you will be able to utilize some (or all!) of these tips and be able to have a few more

Make Homemade Cleaners

dollars left in your pocket at the end of every

It’s so easy and inexpensive to make your own

month. //

homemade cleaners. Not to mention it’s better for

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.

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MARCH 2022

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36

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MARCH 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

column by:

JOEL SALATIN

15 books, and he is the editor of The Stockman Grass Farmer, 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.

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38

THE SINGLE BIGGEST COST — and hurdle — in starting a farm of any size is the land cost. Our own nation has gone from free land to extremely expensive land. Old farmers today who acquired their land in the 1960s often have a hard time

Start-up Farm

appreciating the land cost issue for aspiring new farmers.

When my mom and dad bought our place in 1961, it was $90 an acre, and feeder calves sold for $180; one acre would grow half a calf per year, which means the land and production were in a 1:1 ratio ($90:$90). Today, the land is $7,000 an acre, and that calf is worth $700; the land receives no more sunlight or rain and still grows half a calf worth $350. That means today's land:production ratio is 20:1 ($7,000:$350), which is a far cry from the 1:1 in 1961.

The point of this short example is that what grandpa did no longer works. To us conservatives, this is a hard pill to swallow because we don't want things to change drastically.

We like keeping things the way they've been. But a 20:1 ratio is a different climate than a 1:1 ratio — that is real climate change. That means we must think and do differently — drastically differently.

Look at it another way, when young people can't get in, old people can't get out. The historic seamless transition between generations, whether blood relatives or not, is complicated with this new land market value:land production value ratio. It's a real hurdle to entry for the next generation. It complicates inheritance and all succession discussions.

Anyone currently in farming or aspiring to it understands this entry hurdle. Land costs stymie the most intrepid farmer

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SEPTEMBER 2021

"God gives us our mental and physical equity; part of stewardship is leveraging it to further our ability to be His hands and feet."

wannabes. This new reality is perhaps the

I'll make a bold statement: any farm that

biggest reason why the average American

doesn't employ at least two people from two

farmer is now 60 years old. People who

different generations is unsustainable. That

study business agree that when the average

means existing farms lacking young people

practitioner in an economic sector is above

need to figure out how to bring someone on,

35 years old, that's a sector in decline. In

and young farmers have a better chance of

fact, any business can take its own vibrancy

success if they partner up with an existing

temperature, if you will, by adding up its

older farmer. For the sake of discussion, let's not

team and seeing if the average is above or

muddy the waters by talking about family and

below 35 years old.

relatives. Let's just keep the discussion simple:

In farming, many outfits are only one

young people germinating into farming.

person, and the business waxes and wanes

The farming business gurus I've followed

according to the vibrancy of the farmer.

all my life have made a significant and

Cycles of life are real. Historically, tribes

consistent pitch for separating farming from

gained wealth by leveraging elder wisdom

land ownership. In general, land ownership is

on youthful energy. When a business outfit

for folks who have money and want to hold

lacks either elder wisdom or youthful energy,

onto it; what is called a financial defensive

it's imbalanced. Too much elder, and it's

position. Land management, on the other

stagnant, even in-grown. Too much youth,

hand, is for up-and-comers on the front end

and it's inefficient.

of financial development; what is called a financial offensive position.

Probably the single biggest pitfall aspiring farmers fall into is the notion that owning property is necessary to farm. It is not. In fact, that notion keeps many young people who have the savvy and heart to be successful farmers from ever starting. Or it cripples their finances for so long that they never have the capital to develop a property into profitability.

For the record, our farm has never had a marketing target, income target, or even done a formal business plan. This column is not about greedy wealth. It's about becoming profitable fast enough to make a living. I have no desire to be rich. But I do need to pay my taxes, put shoes on my feet, and pay 40

for transportation to visit friends once in a while.

God gives us our mental and physical equity; part of stewardship is leveraging it to further our ability to be His hands and feet.

With all this in mind, then, how in the world does a young person start farming without buying land? Imagine a mobile farm, where virtually all the infrastructure is portable. Again, I know I'm pushing on paradigms here. In addition to owning land, most farmers also own a barn. After all, what kind of farm doesn't have a barn on it?

Be creative. If I'm going to farm without owning land or building a barn, what are my options?

Obviously equipment is mobile. A hay baler that works on owned land is just as effective on unowned land. Equipment can move from place to place; that's easy to understand.

Digging deeper, fencing can be mobile. It doesn't have to be expensive stationary material. It can be lightweight mobile electric. As farmers age, more and more land is becoming available to rent. Our family now leases 15 properties in the area. Often new buyers are not farmers; they're urban folks

41

MARCH 2022

with money seeking a financial and lifestyle refuge. My

outfit, the first thing you need is a half-million-dollar

mentor Allan Nation, founder of The Stockman Grass

chicken factory. But with pastured poultry, all you need

Farmer, said that if you know how to make a property

is some pocket change to build a mobile shelter. If you

beautiful, you'll never lack for land.

like it, you can build a second one. We now have 200 of

Kit Pharo out in Colorado has 100 landlords and

these shelters, but we built them over many years with

runs thousands of head of cattle on unowned land.

cash flow and no debt. Dave Ramsey would be proud.

Greg Judy in Missouri leases many adjoining properties,

Another consideration in farming without land

several of which pay him to lease their land because

ownership is to stack another enterprise on an existing

his cattle keep it in land use taxation, and that's

farm property. Most farmers work long, tiring hours

cheaper than paying someone to mow it annually. The

and can't imagine adding additional enterprises, like an

point here is that if your infrastructure is cheap and

orchard, to dairy or pastured chickens. But I don't know

portable, leases and other collaborative arrangements

of a farm in the world, including ours, that can't enjoy

are not very risky. If things go south, you just pick up

increasing income ten-fold simply by adding enterprises.

stakes and move to another place.

Some of these can be complementary enterprises, and

Our pastured poultry operation probably illustrates

others can be value-adding to an existing enterprise.

the portable farm concept as well as anything. Mobile

For example, a farm producing peaches could put in

field shelters offer $7,500 per acre gross income; the

a kitchen and start selling peach cobbler. That's what D.

whole operation uses transportable infrastructure from

Howard Doane called "vertical farm diversification." His

brooding to grow-out to processing. Because the shelters

book by that title is one of my well-worn favorites. If you

are modular, we achieve scale by duplication and not by

grow corn, make cornmeal muffins. If you grow wheat,

amassing centralized stationary infrastructure.

feed it through pigs. If you have trees, put in a band

If you want to grow a chicken for an industrial

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sawmill, then add a woodworking shop.

42

farm can grow internally and symbiotically with complementary enterprises.

"God definitely has both a sense of humor and a wild imagination.

As stewards, let's use imagination to launch thousands of start-ups."

Probably one of my favorite pieces of paper is a yellowed sheet that my dad wrote 35 years ago, just before he died. He called me into his desk area, and we sat for an hour, brainstorming the number of incomes that our little farm could generate. At the time, it was barely keeping Teresa and me afloat, but Dad's optimistic vision wouldn't let the status quo define the future. At that time, he wrote down nearly 25 full-time incomes. If I did it today, I think I'd have perhaps 100.

Our weak link is not money, resources, or knowledge; our weak link is imagination. If

If you start brainstorming what could be

creation shows us anything, it shows a divine

done or grown on a farm property, you'll never

imagination. God definitely has both a sense

exhaust the possibilities. I know a fellow in

of humor and a wild imagination. As stewards,

British Columbia who had an old iconic German

let's use imagination to launch thousands of

bank barn. He cleaned it up, turned it into an

start-ups. //

art gallery, and sold all his farm produce to the 20,000 folks who visited the art show each fall — in four weekends. How about that? He sold lamb sandwiches and stew along with other

Joel's Upcoming Speaking Events

things he grew on his farm as a concession to the visitors.

On our farm, we've launched several young

March 5

Live Oak, FL (Rouge Food Conference)

farmers on land they were able to use rent-

March 8

Warwick, RI (Rhode Island Women in Agriculture)

free. What beef cattle farmer wouldn't want

March 10

Indiana (Private Farm Consultation)

a pastured poultry enterprise piggybacked on

March 11

Middlefield, OH (Being Self-Sustaining in Challenging Times – Amish Gathering)

his land base? The chickens leave nitrogen-rich

March 12

Atwater, OH (A Day with Joel Salatin: Christian Stewardship)

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)

June 3–4

Columbia, TN (The Homestead Festival)

June 10

Richmond, VA (Home Educators of Virginia Convention)

want to farm grow up coveting the neighbor's

October 7–8

Front Royal, VA (Homesteaders of America)

land, hoping the neighbor's dad will die

October 18–19

Jackson, MS

October 20–21

Jackson, MS

droppings that turn the pasture green, growing more grass for his cows. A fellow in Belize, Central America, started growing chickens under his citrus grove. Because wormy fruit dropped to the ground, the chickens cleaned up the worms, which eliminated his need to spray, and the chickens gave him eggs to sell at the local market. Adding the chickens dropped his expenses and increased his income — a two-fer.

Unfortunately, most farm children who

before his own, creating an opportunity for expanding the land base. This is not a good

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

mindset. With the mobile farm concept, the

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community THE WIDOW'S PATH

Just Be There THE MINISTRY

PLAIN VALUES

column by:

FERREE HARDY

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OF PRESENCE

I SUSPECTED my friend was having a hard time, but I

and family can help grieving people — just be there.

didn’t know for certain until another friend phoned me;

At the time, I didn’t know it was “a ministry” to sit on

she told me to go to our friend’s house and let myself in.

the kitchen floor and cry with my friends, but it was. I

When I got there, I knocked on the door and cautiously

probably should have stayed longer.

opened it. There she was, sitting on the floor of the

Do you remember the story of Job? His three friends

kitchen, rocking back and forth. The friend who’d called

illustrate the ministry of presence. “Now when Job’s

sat next to her. At first, I was confused. Did we need to go

three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon

to the emergency room, I wondered? But it didn’t make

him, they came every one from his own place… for they

any sense: they were both crying. I hurried over and sat

had made an appointment together to come to mourn

down on the floor. When I heard the news, I cried too.

with him and to comfort him. And when they lifted up

“Ministry of presence” is a term used by chaplains

their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their

and grief counselors for a very effective way that friends

voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle,

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"...you don’t need to bear the responsibility for saying anything.

You understand that you cannot fix suffering people with your words."

and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven. So

The most important thing to know about the

they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and

ministry of presence is that you don’t need to bear the

seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they

responsibility for saying anything. You understand that

saw that his grief was very great.” (Job 2:11-13 KJV)

you cannot fix suffering people with your words. There’s

This is a perfect example of the ministry of

no recipe for grieving — a little bit of this, a little bit of

presence. They wept with Job. Romans 12:15 commands

that; stir; let it simmer for an hour, and then you can

us to “weep with those who weep.” Job’s friends did well

move on — No! Instead, you come alongside and feel the

at first, but then — unfortunately — they opened their

burden of pain that weighs on your friend. You realize

mouths. Pent-up questions, arguments, and accusations

that you don’t have the power to lift that burden, but

boiled over, growing worse and worse until God Himself

you do have the ability to silently pray, listen, and lift

stepped in. To be fair to Job’s friends, I think we’d all

the grief to the God who does have the power to lift up

agree it’d be hard to sit with someone for seven days

the downcast soul.

without saying a word. Maybe that’s why it’s considered

Funerals are a public opportunity for the ministry of

a ministry. It’s not always easy, and it takes patience

presence. You might think no one will notice if you do

and self-control.

not attend, but what if no one else came either? Your simple presence is greatly appreciated. Cards, meals, and visits afterwards are too, even if they are months later.

It’s better to receive late condolences than none at all.

The ministry of presence means that you reach out to the widow and widower. You go to visit them. This doesn’t have to take all day. You also include them in your life. Sit with them in church. Church is often the loneliest spot on the planet for widows and widowers.

Invite them to your gatherings, even when you think they will say no. Please keep asking and inviting; it shows that you care.

If you’ve not been widowed, you probably don’t understand why it’s so hard for some people to adjust to widowhood. But after the death of a spouse, everything drastically changes.

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Try to imagine walking into your own house the

friendship. “Ordinary” and “normal” are precious

day after the funeral. It’s so quiet and empty that your

commodities when life seems to have shattered. Small

footsteps almost echo. Your heart pounds; you hear each

talk about the weather and the neighborhood is fine

breath you take. Or you might unconsciously hold your

because it’s familiar. Also share your favorite memories,

breath and feel like you’re suffocating. You don’t hear

but be sensitive so that it’s not all about you and your

your spouse’s familiar greeting when you come home.

experiences. Don’t compare others’ losses either. Make

Your bed is empty, and the sheets are cold. You might

it a two-way conversation so the widower can open up

not have anyone to eat supper with. Or, if you’re a parent

and talk if he or she would like. Ask questions, listen

with children at home, there’s no one who can give you

well, sit, and chat.

a break when you have a splitting headache or the flu.

The ministry of presence takes time. I’m often in too

This is why a ministry of presence is so important; the

much of a rush, but I’m learning and growing.

loss is so huge. It’s unspeakable — there are no words to

Will you learn with me? It all starts with a

describe the depth. Mere words cannot fix it.

compassionate heart and being a good friend. Do like

The PRESENCE of people is what matters. This

Job’s friends did at first: “…No one said a word to him

means you don’t tell a widow, “Let me know if you need

because they saw how great his suffering was.” Just

anything.” That’s too vague, and it’s too much of a job

be there. //

for her. She won’t let you know. She can’t! Her life is in Until next month,

chaos and shock; she has no idea what she needs.

ferree l

Instead, offer her your presence and your ordinary

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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MARCH 2022

history OUR HERITAGE

PLAIN VALUES

50

PA RT T H R E E

Printing the Ausbund ORIGINS column by: ELAM STOLTZFUS

HOW MUCH DO WE KNOW about what books our ancestors brought along when they left the old country for America? What books brought them comfort during the arduous, months-long journey across the Atlantic to Pennsylvania in the 1700s? We know that many families brought along a chest of their few beloved belongings. For example, in 1766, my immigrant ancestors — Nicholas Stoltzfus and his family — brought along a large wooden chest from Germany. We don’t know what items they had packed in the chest, but we do know that, according to his 1775 estate inventory, Nicholas owned a “Bible and other books.”

It’s possible that one of those “other books” was a European-bound Ausbund that he brought over from Europe. Sometimes I imagine Nicholas with his wife and children singing the Lob Lied on a stormy Sunday morning out at sea, taking comfort in those verses as they wonder what their new life will be like in Pennsylvania.

(left) The chest Nicholas Stoltzfus brought with him in 1766

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Starting around 1720, there was a large increase

The first step Sauer took was to reach out to

of immigrants from German territories bound for

his German Pietist friends who had successful

William Penn’s “Holy Experiment.” Many of these

printing operations in Halle and Frankfurt. With

new immigrants to Pennsylvania were risk-takers,

the help of his German contacts, Sauer purchased

and a few were entrepreneurs. Several of these new

the German type-blocks he needed for printing. Six

entrepreneurs started new enterprises in diverse

hundredweight of Cöelnische Current-Fraktur type

fields such as farming, banking, brewing, trading of

was shipped over to Sauer in 1738. Sauer didn’t

goods, and printing.

own a printing press, so, with his carpentry skills,

In

1724,

in

Germantown,

Pennsylvania,

he went to work to build his own printing press.

Immigrant Johann Christoph Saeur had founded

With his chemistry skills, he mixed a new ink known

several successful businesses in the colony. As a

as “Sauer’s Curious Pennsylvania Ink-Powder.” One

sort of “jack of all trades,” Saeur had experience

of the obstacles for Sauer was to purchase paper for

as a cabinetmaker, apothecary/chemist, botanist,

printing. At the time, Benjamin Franklin managed

clockmaker, and paper-maker. As a German Baptist,

most of the paper market in Philadelphia and the

he built his businesses on a strong foundation of

surrounding area. Franklin would not extend credit

faith-based convictions.

to Sauer to purchase paper to print the Seventh-Day

Sauer realized that the opportunity was ripe to

Baptist Brethren hymnal. Colonial diplomat Conrad

start a printing business geared towards his fellow

Weiser traveled from Ephrata to Philadelphia to

German immigrants. In Germany, the custom for

help Sauer negotiate the purchase of paper supplies

starting your own printshop meant that someone

from Franklin.

first spent many years training as an apprentice

Finally, Sauer had the German type, the press,

with a guild. This was not the case in early America:

the ink, and the paper: he was ready to print! With

one of the freedoms in America was the ability to

his Pietist religious convictions, he had a strong

start a new business without being trained with

belief that providing printed material would be for

the guild. Sauer commented, “there is neither

the “glory of God and the physical or eternal good

guilds nor burdens from the authorities” to start a

of my neighbors. Whatever does not meet these

printing business. Sauer didn’t have any experience

standards… I will not print,” he said. “I am happier

in printing and hadn’t apprenticed with anyone. But

when I can distribute something of value among the

what he did have was a bold vision, determination,

people for a small price, than if I had a large profit

and connections.

without a good conscience.”

The home of Johann Christoph Sauer

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With this business model guiding his interest,

What is important about this 1784 document of

he published a religious broadside for Benjamina

agreement is that it reveals that the Mennonite and

Padley, a female Quaker prophet. He followed this

Amish leaders were involved in the negotiations of

success with printing the “ABC Book” for Christopher

the American Ausbund Hymnal printing in the 1700s.

Dock, a local Mennonite school teacher, and a hymnal

The 5th edition moved to Lancaster and was

for Conrad Beissel from the Ephrata Cloister. He

printed by Joseph Ehrenfriend in 1815. The next

also printed hymn books for the Moravians, German

five editions were printed in the City of Lancaster

Baptists, German Reformed, and Lutherans.

by Johann Bar & Sons. This was followed by two

In 1742, Sauer published the Ausbund hymnal

editions printed in Elkhart, Indiana, in 1880 and

for the Mennonites and Amish. Sauer printed

1905. In 1908, Johann Bar & Sons printed another

two more Ausbund editions in 1752 and 1767 for

edition, with the next edition printed back in

the Amish and Mennonites. These were the first

Elkhart in 1913.

printings of the Ausbund in America. (As an aside,

By the early 20th century, American sentiment

I sometimes wonder whether one of Immigrant

had turned against Germans and the German

Nicholas Stoltzfus’ “other books” was one of these

language because of World War I and, later, World

Pennsylvania-printed Ausbund.)

War II. As a result, speaking and reading German in public became taboo and many printers of Germanlanguage material stopped printing German text.

"In 1742, Sauer published the Ausbund hymnal for the Mennonites and Amish.

For example, in 1901, the Mennonite periodical Herold de Warheit was discontinued and became the English Herald of Truth.

The conservative Plain communities desired to continue to use German-language books and hymnals at their church services and at home. But,

On August 17th, 1784, the printers Peter Liebert

as their books became frayed with use and in need of

and Michael Billmeyer met with several Mennonite

replacement, they were having a hard time finding

and Amish leaders to discuss printing for the

new printers for the Ausbund and other books.

4th American edition of the Ausbund. Christian

Who would have a bold vision to continue to

Burkholder (1746-1809, Mennonite bishop), Christian

print the Ausbund in America? Who would step up

Eby (1734-1807, Mennonite deacon), Bentz Hirschy

as determined leaders dedicated to preserving the

(1696-1789, Mennonite bishop), Jacob Kauffman

Plain community’s beloved hymnals, Gebet-Buch,

(1730-1787, Berks Cty. Amish), Johannes Knegy

and Bibles? //

(1742-1815, Berks Cty. Amish), and Jacob Sensenig, Jr. (1730-1814, Mennonite) met with the two printers

Next month I’ll introduce you to the beginnings

to work out details for the Ausbund printing. The

of the Amish Book Committee and the struggles to

group agreed upon a price of seven shillings, six

continue printing the Ausbund and other German

pence gold, and a silver piece. Liebert and Billmeyer

books in America.

promised to print 2,000 copies on high-quality paper

Sources of research and quotes: Immigrants Entrepreneurship, German-

and bind it in calf leather. Interestingly, there was

American Business Biographies, 1720 to the Present; Wikipedia; Sauer to

a note in the negotiations that Christoph Sauer —the

Luther, (Oct. 11, 1740), in Egenolff-Luthersche Schriftgiesserei, 39; quoted in Durnbaugh, “Christopher Sauer,” 329; Muddy Creek Farm Library, Ephrata, PA.

printer for the last three versions — was to inspect the book for final approval. This 1785 printing was a

Elam Stoltzfus currently serves as caretaker of the Nicholas Stoltzfus

repeat of Sauer’s 3rd edition.

Homestead in (Berks County) Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. In 2018, he traveled to Germany to document the history of the Stoltzfus family—this research is documented in German Lutherans to Pennsylvania Amish: The Stoltzfus Family Story. To order a copy of this book, you can mail a $30

A 1742 Ausbund at the Muddy Creek Farm Library in Ephrata, PA

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

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outdoors ALL THINGS OUTDOORS

—

ALL THINGS OUTDOORS

—

Campfire Basics column by: JIM ZUMBO

MOST OF US who participate in outdoor recreational activities build a campfire at some point, whether it’s warm or cold, while you’re hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, or just picnicking. Then there are times where a campfire is necessary to save your life in a survival situation. Interestingly enough, many folks don’t have the savvy to get a fire going when conditions are unfavorable, such as damp wood, not enough kindling, wet matches, strong winds, and other issues.

There’s something about a crackling, cheery campfire that appeals to us. We stare at the flames, watch the popping embers dance into the sky, and seem to be mesmerized. Any problems or issues we may be dealing with are temporarily forgotten.

We’re totally enchanted with the remarkable healing power of a campfire.

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There’s often a silence among participants, each of us

conventional wooden matches in waterproof containers,

absorbed in our own thoughts as we watch the dancing

they typically failed in the wind or at attempts to light

flames, or perhaps the camaraderie that allows for

damp tinder. But nowadays, I carry the wind-proof

bonding where we’re open to insightful conversation

matches only as a backup. My igniter of choice is the

among new and old friends and family members.

propane lighter that’s about nine inches long, very light,

We may inadvertently breathe some of the smoke,

dependable, sold everywhere, and easily stowed in my

which can’t be helped if we’re downwind. The solution is

backpack. For good measure, I’ll toss in a few small,

to move our chair or stump since smoke is problematic to

cheap Bic-type propane lighters. One system I don’t

our eyes and lungs. Being too close to the fire can cause

fool with is the flint and steel method because it simply

you to be too hot. If you’re too far, you might be too cold

takes too much time and must be used with extremely

if it’s a cool evening. It might take a bit of seat juggling

dry tinder, which may not be available, especially if

to find the perfect spot, and when you do, you can sit

you want a quick fire under adverse conditions. With

back and enjoy.

this technique, you must strike flint on steel, causing

A fire needs three elements to burn — heat, oxygen,

sparks to fly into a nest of dry tinder. This is fun to do

and fuel. If one is missing, it cannot burn. Heat is

if you’re building a fire for a picnic, a camping trip, or

introduced to the fuel via a match or other device that

just a social campfire. You’ll impress your friends and

causes ignition. Once the fuel is ignited, it produces its

family when you get a fire lit, but if you find yourself

own heat. Fuel must be able to be ignited by a source

in a perilous situation, you want something that works

that produces a flame, which then burns into the fuel.

immediately. That’s not the time to be fooling with any

This is where attempts at building a campfire usually

ignition system that’s iffy and not dependable.

fail. The ignition source may be inadequate, or the

Besides a reliable ignition system, it’s important to

fuel is too wet or green. Either way, your only reward

have dry tinder or kindling, which are essential to get

may be a temporary fizzle or a tiny wisp of smoke that

the wood burning. Tinder can be in the form of balled-

immediately disappears.

up newspaper, wood shavings, straw, pine needles,

Let’s look at ignition sources. A simple match comes

anything that quickly catches fire. It should burn long

first. They can be in the form of paper or wooden matches

enough to heat the wood to the point where it begins

that are ignited only by striking them on a sandpaper

to burn. I carry a variety of firestarters in my backpack,

strip on the box, wooden matches that can be ignited

some artificial, some natural. All are stored in one quart

by striking on any hard surface, or specialized matches

sealed Ziploc bags. Natural starters that I prefer are

that are waterproof and wind-proof and burn longer. My

pieces of white birch bark that I gather from dead trees,

preference is the latter — the wooden types that have a

pieces of spruce sap called gum which is highly volatile

long, thick head that defies wind for several seconds,

(and sticky), fatwood that I find myself or buy in many

which are usually long enough to get the tinder and

stores, and pine cones that have pitch on them (though

kindling going. Even though I tried keeping paper and

these are bulky and take up room in your backpack). If

"If there are spruce trees around, the very lowest branches will be dry and slender and will burn easily... " PLAIN VALUES

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there are spruce trees around, the very lowest branches

I’ve been blessed with having a career that allowed

will be dry and slender and will burn easily, even if

me to work in the woods all my adult life. Countless

the surrounding forest is wet. My favorite artificial

campfires have been a big part of those adventures.

firestarter is easy to make. Fill an empty cardboard egg

Some are etched more deeply in my memory than others.

carton with wood shavings. Carefully melt paraffin in

A vivid memory that comes to mind is of a hunting trip

a double boiler (I use old candles, many of which I buy

for musk ox and caribou above the Arctic circle. Several

from thrift or charity stores) and pour the melted wax

Inuit families who camped next to us in tents joined our

into the wood shavings. When cool and hardened, cut

group of hunters. They were spearing and netting Arctic

away each egg compartment with heavy shears. They

char and hunting caribou for their winter food supply.

light immediately and last for several minutes. (Be

One day I accompanied the Inuits when they went to a

aware that melting wax and paraffin can be dangerous.

falls and speared char. When they brought in a fish, they

Always use a double boiler.) Another easy one to make

immediately cut them open and ate some of the choice

is to rub Vaseline thoroughly into cotton balls. They burn

morsels within. They also ate the flesh raw. A 12-year-

for several minutes, and you can store several of them

old boy, Brian, ran off into the tundra and returned 20

in an empty pill bottle. Stores that sell camping supplies

minutes later with a huge armload of willow sticks that

usually have fire paste that comes in a tube as well

were as big around as pencils. That was the only wood for

as many other types of firestarters. I take no chances

hundreds of miles. I watched with interest as he built a

when I’m outdoors in the wilderness. If I find myself in a

small fire, and I had no idea what he was doing. He then

survival situation, I want a fire right now.

produced a small skillet and put in a chunk of butter,

With your tinder and kindling ready to go, you can

followed by a fresh char fillet. When it was cooked, he

construct the two basic types of campfire structures if

put the fillet on a plate and handed it to me with a fork.

you wish — the teepee or log cabin. The teepee is made

I was overwhelmed. Brian must have assumed I wasn’t

by adding small sticks over the kindling so they look like

interested in eating raw fish, so he cooked one for me. It

a teepee or wigwam. The log cabin looks like a square

was a touching act of kindness.

structure with the thickest sticks at the outside perimeter,

Campfires often nudge folks to reflect and chat

and you work your way around with smaller and smaller

about a variety of subjects that they normally wouldn’t

sticks. Before lighting a fire, be sure you have plenty of

mention. I’ve had the good fortune to have hunted and

wood gathered for your needs, especially the driest wood

fished with General Chuck Yeager many times. He was

that will be applied once the kindling is burning.

the first person to break the speed of sound, and he was considered the best pilot in the world, having flown many combat missions and flying more than a hundred different jets as a test pilot. When we sat around a campfire, the General didn’t want to discuss flying.

Instead, he loved talking about the allure and beauty of the outdoors and nature. He’d point out golden aspen leaves floating to the forest floor and how much he enjoyed the peepers, bullfrogs, and whippoorwills.

A campfire is many things to many people. It can save a life, help people bond together, or simply provide a way to cook a hot dog or marshmallow. Those are all good reasons to have plenty of campfires in your life! //

Jim has hunted all fifty states for deer, has fished in most states, has hunted elk in all the major western elk states, and has hunted on four continents. He worked for fifteen years as a forester, game warden, and wildlife biologist. Jim draws on these experiences for his monthly column “All Things Outdoors.” For more 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.

LYDIA MILLER FUND Lydia and baby Mary, 1year, are currently living at her parents as her husband has left her. They were living in a trailer and had started to build a shop house. Right now, it’s at a standstill as more funds are needed to finish it. The trailer is very hard to heat and in bad shape. Please consider showing Lydia we care and send prayer and funds to finish the house. Make checks payable to Deacon Uria Troyer, 417 Attleberger Rd, Knox, PA 16232.

MARY SHETLER FUND A fund has been set up for the Mahlon Jay and Mary Shetler family. Mahlon Jay, age 35, passed away suddenly of a suspected heart attack. They have three boys, ages 11, 10, and 7. Thank you for your prayers and support. Make checks payable to Mary Shetler Fund and send to Commercial & Savings Bank, PO Box 136, Charm, OH 44617.

KALEB MILLER FUND Kaleb, 3-year-old son of Michael and Lori Miller, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma cancer in June. He has had numerous hospital stays taking chemo and radiation treatments. Recently they did a surgery to remove a tumor that had been cancerous, which was a success. Expenses are high and will be ongoing. Tax deductible donations can be made to: Mt Hope Charities Inc., PO Box 19, Mt Hope, OH 44660. Attn: Union Valley West Church District #183. God bless you for sharing.

AARON & MARY HERSHBERGER FUND A fund has been set up for Aaron and Mary Hershberger to help with their ongoing hospital expenses. Their son, Levi, was born with Down syndrome and without a rectum and needs multiple surgeries to reconstruct one. Mary also had surgery since his birth. Thank you for all prayers and support. Donations can be sent to Mt Hope Charities, Inc., PO Box 19, Mt Hope, OH 44660. Attn: Wellsville District #305.

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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