Petit Jean Farm
Weekly Farm Updates
February 2, 2009
Dear Folks,
Happy Groundhog Day! If you believe the lore of the small furry creatures, it looks like winter is not over yet. Today is sunny, so a groundhog, should he be paying attention, would be able to see his shadow. This means we should expect six more weeks of winter. We’ll see if he’s right!
Groundhogs have a special place in the hearts of those of us in the youngest generation of the Martsolf family. We didn’t often see them growing up here in Arkansas. Every summer, though, we spent weeks with our grandparents in Pennsylvania. It was the highlight of a morning to spot an adorable groundhog in the orchard at the family farm. We quickly learned not to act excited when Grandma was around, though, because calling her attention to the groundhogs would not be safe for them.
See, she knew things about groundhogs that we would rather not admit. She knew that they stayed up at night having groundhog conventions to plot taking down entire buildings. Four or five groundhogs working together could collapse a barn that had stood strong through 100 winters. The “cute” groundhogs simply undermined the building’s foundation.
That’s what we do to ourselves when we settle for sub-par food. Cheap food, even if it looks attractive, undermines the foundation of our health and the health of the systems that create food. We are doing ourselves and the world around us no favors when we eat less than high quality foods. Let’s learn from the groundhogs not to be as oblivious as they are!
This week’s delivery day will be a great time to stock up on high quality and delicious meat, like breakfast sausage, and dairy products, such as raw milk cheese. Check our inventory online at www.petitjeanfarm.com/farminventory.html . This is also a good time to be thinking about a whole or half beef, pork, or lamb. Will you be getting an income tax refund? Consider stocking your freezer or even buying a share in the farm.
We will be at the downtown Hot Springs Transportation Plaza, 12:00-1:00, and at the HSV Carmona Center, 3:00-5:00, on Friday, February 6. Be sure to place your order by noon on Thursday, February 5, by phone (501-727-5659) or by e’mail (ed@gatewayfarm-ar.com).
In addition to regular delivery days, there are several upcoming occasions to be looking forward to. In March, our blossoming market in Hot Springs Village will be taking its next exciting step. Stay tuned for more details.
Have a great week, and keep an eye out for marauding groundhogs!
Your Petit Jean Farmers
Petit Jean Farm
1039 Winrock Drive
Morrilton, AR 72110
501-727-5659
www.petitjeanfarm.com
