“Little girls with dreams become women with vision.”

When I was little my mom was always busy, so one of the ways she did her work while caring for a curious little girl was to have me stand watch at the gate to keep the cows from getting out and running around the yard.

It made me feel important that I had a job to do. While I was there, I would dream of being a mom with six kids of my own and having my very own farm. I would take a stick and plan it out in the dirt.

People would come to our house to get cream, eggs, chickens and butter and this all left a big impression on mini Farmer Mandy. I guess it’s really no surprise that I choose this as my life’s work.

What I didn’t fully see as a child was just how much of a load my mom was carrying: working two outside jobs and caring for four children, on top of the farm chores. She did whatever she could do to make sure we had what we needed. When we came home from school and dropped our backpacks, we just had to peek in the oven and love was right there.

Our Meadow Creek Farms families are all different, but many of the kids we feed today were in their mamas’ bellies when I first met them, or very, very young. Today they are watching the choices their parents make to support real food and small farmers, and have been educated to know the value of having a farmer in their life.

I invite you to consider purchasing our products and Join the Hope Rebellion as supporting a small farmer is an act of rebellion against corporate profiteering of food.

We have farm-raised chicken and pork, garlic and onions available for November and December home delivery in Fort McMurray and Edmonton.

Go online now to https//www.meadowcreekfarms.ca

The Price Gap Is Closing! What you might want to know about imported food!

With the Corporate profiteering of " Big Food" our price gap is very narrow at the moment and we are not more expensive for the density of what you receive!

Often people will say to me " Mandy your onions and garlic are so strong, and there are many reasons for this, mostly it is the nutrients in our soil. However, did you know that grocery store foods are often Irradiated? Mandy food is not irradiated therefore does not lose its nutrients; most food at the grocery store is imported and imported food is generally irritated to extend its life for travel and as result loses some its nutrients. If you can, choose us, you will help keep a small farmer growing food as we can grow food right here in Alberta!

Imported grocery store food that are irritated!

• Beef and Pork

• Crustaceans (e.g., lobster, shrimp, and crab)

• Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, including onions, garlic, carrots, beets, cabbage, potato

• Lettuce and Spinach

• Poultry

• Seeds for Sprouting (e.g., for alfalfa sprouts)

• Shell Eggs

• Shellfish - Molluscan (e.g., oysters, clams, mussels, and scallops)

• Spices and Seasonings

What is Irradiation

X-rays are produced by reflecting a high-energy stream of electrons off a target substance (usually one of the heavy metals) into food.

Electron beam (or e-beam) is similar to X-rays and is a stream of high-energy electrons propelled from an electron accelerator into food.

Gamma rays are emitted from radioactive forms of the element cobalt (Cobalt 60) or of the element cesium (Cesium 137). Gamma radiation is used routinely to sterilize medical, dental, and household products and is also used for the radiation treatment of cancer.

Along with killing bacteria, irradiation kills nutrition, too. Vitamins A, B1, C, and E are highly sensitive to irradiation. Food irradiation may also affect the other B vitamins, as well as vitamin K.

Food for thought!

Have a beautiful day!

Mandy

2023 Work-for-Produce program

Want to REALLY know where your food comes from? Come help us out on the farm in exchange for fresh produce this summer. Keep reading for full details.

“Get Dirty to Eat”

2023 Farm Work-for-Produce Exchange! Share in Knowledge, Soil and Hope

This season we will be offering people the opportunity to trade labor for produce. We have very specific tasks that we need help with and we know that we will have a labor shortage this season. Mandy’s farm, on a good weather day, is a fun place to enjoy working hard and finding your own peace. One does have to be mindful of wasps, but other than that it is a place where you can enjoy the soil, the sun, the wind, and all that nature brings!

What to Bring for a Volunteer Session

• Drinking water (our well water is also available, depending on your constitution)

• Sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat

• Bug spray

• A few pairs of work gloves

• Layered clothing for cooler mornings and hotter afternoons

• Optional: Small bluetooth speaker for music. Headphones get in the way of communicating.

A Typical Work Day

• We usually go from 8 am to 5 pm with breaks as needed.

• Please bring your own lunch or you can stop and go eat at the Gathering Place Co-op.

• Pitch your tent if you would like to stay for a few days. Showers and kitchen available.

• Mandy’s day doesn’t end when yours does, if you stay you will have time to relax and enjoy the farm. There are great places to walk, bike, read, and visit.

The Fine Print

• To prevent the threat of Avian flu to our flock, all shoes and tires need to be bleached before entering the yard. There is a spray bottle at the mailbox.

• There is no minimum time commitment necessary; however, volunteering once a week is nice if you can make it. This helps you get orientated and then you can work unsupervised when necessary. Regular visits allow you to see the progress of the crops and animals throughout the season.

• Farm work is physical and days are long. You may come and find that your body can only handle a few hours at a time. Do not be put off if it is not a good fit for you! There are other tasks that might be a great fit at the farm for you, for example drying garlic or processing dill!

Mandy is very generous, and we will discuss the product exchange on an individual basis before you arrive at the farm. Youth are welcome but require your supervision! If you are interested in a Work-for-Produce Exchange, please email Mandy at mandy@meadowcreekfarms.ca or call her at 1-780-650-2047. For specific tasks and weekly opportunities, please continue reading below.

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Opportunities Monday through Saturday

May/June

• Weeding Bulbil ( seed garlic)

• Weeding Garlic

• Transplanting onions and tomatoes

• Planting onion sets

• All of the above work requires working on your hands and knees and a lot of bending

• Getting produce ready for market at the Gathering Place Co-op

June /July

• Hand-weeding all produce

• Possible picking raspberries depending on the growth conditions

• Picking dill and preserving it

• Getting produce ready for market at the Gathering Place Co-op

August

• Garlic harvest involves many aspects including digging and drying

• Picking cucumber and beets, making pickles

• Cutting cabbage and making sauerkraut

• Picking and preserving herbs

• Picking raspberries. This involves a great deal of clothing as the wasps are very bad in the berry patch.

• Getting produce ready for market at the Gathering Place Co-op

September/October

• Planting Garlic this involves work on your hands and knees and allot of bending as well as walking and spreading diatomaceous earth