Montana Farmer Elizabeth Henric

Meet Elizabeth Henric. She’s farmed all over the world. Now she works at Amalthea Dairy Farm in Montana.

“There are so many things I love about working at Amaltheia—seeing my friends every day, greeting the animals, early mornings with snow capped mountain sunrises. I think most of all I love working outside and getting my hands dirty.” -Farmer Elizabeth Henric

“I feel so blessed to have a job that I can have her with me. That being said, it was also very challenging. I could not have any expectations for the day. Some days we’d work one hour and it would be really stressful. Other days we’d work 5 and it would be a breeze. I had to time my tasks to meet her needs. Some things were only possible once she was napping on my back. Sometimes she would fall asleep easily without a fuss. Other times we had to go out for a long walk before she’d relax enough to close her eyes. There were days when we’d be at the farm for four hours but only get a couple hours of work done. I’d get frustrated but remind myself that spending time with her is just as important as my work.” -Elizabeth Henric

Elizabeth’s advice to others interested in farming,

“Don’t wait! Don’t wait till you live in the perfect place or you’re able to buy land or you have enough money or whatever excuse! Find ways to be in nature and work with plants and animals, whether it be volunteering at a local farm, putting a few plants in the ground or in a pot at your house, or like I did—make a list of some of the things you want to learn and work seasonally, traveling to different farms to learn those things.” -Elizabeth Henric

The Women of Amaltheia Dairy Farm

Amaltheia Dairy Farm in Montana is a family run operation.

“We have had our farm for over 20 years. We love the Bozeman area and our goats get to enjoy beautiful scenery and seasons we have here. It’s beautiful every day.The best thing about what we do is to provide nutritious, delicious organic goat cheeses, pork, and vegetables to people. Those people appreciate being able to get great food and are thankful. It is a symbiotic relationship.

We have been making cheese for 17 years, certified organic for 12 years. We are sustainable farmers and try to utilize all of our resources and byproducts responsibly. We use the whey from the cheese to feed organic hogs and compost and use all of our manure for fields and gardens.

We sell our cheese in Montana, Western states, and on the east and west coasts to stores and restaurants.” -Sue Brown, Owner of Amaltheia Dairy Farm

 

“To be raised in a barn is the most fulfilling childhood I could possibly imagine. Yes, it’s a lot of hard work; but you develop a close-knit relationship with animals and nature. And my parents’ ideals of organic, home grown food for their children has definitely been instilled in my brother and myself. We are blessed to be able to continue to develop and hone-in our farming and cheese making skills into the future. My brother and I hope to take the reigns and continue to provide our community with farm-fresh, organic products.

It is a challenge everyday to balance work and home life. But, it is truly fulfilling at the end of the day to know everything that you do impacts your family and their well-being. We are beyond blessed to have a family that is capable of finding that balance with one another.

I love working with my family. My mom is the hardest working person I know, so to be able to keep up with her is a challenge in itself. My parents are incredibly thoughtful, hard-working and intelligent. I look up to them in so many ways, and they are the reason I love what I do.” -Sarah Brown

“My favorite part of this farm is how recycled the resources and byproducts are. The manure is collected from the pens and spread in the fields to nourish the soil which grows the vegetables as well as hay and straw for the animals. The whey from the cheese is fed to the pigs and they go crazy for it. The outcome being the food we produce, which we eat to nourish our bodies so we can continue to work the land. It is a pretty great cycle. And the piglets. I love watching them!” -Karen Page

 

 

“I wish everyone knew how involved it is to grow organically and how closely we interact with each and every plant. I have thought often about tracking how many times we touch each plant, from seeding to weeding to harvest and packing for sale. Our personal farming techniques involve a fair amount of time crawling around in the soil and making sure our little plants are thriving. Small scale organic vegetable production is ultimately a labor of love, and everyone should be a little more involved with where their food is coming from, and be supportive of organic and local agriculture in your community.” -Karen Page

Visit www.amaltheiadairy.com to find out more.

DROUGHT in the Rain

Cold-pressed juice masters, the James sisters of DROUGHT, are one Carhartt’s favorite families. The Crafted in Carhartt darlings know what it means to put your heart and soul into work and reap some major results.

Three to five pounds of fresh organic produce go into every bottle. Nothing but the best fruits and veggies comprise their unique recipes— that means no added sugar or water, just straight up real food.

Last week, Jenny, Jessie, Julie, and Caitlin got to take the Carhartt 2016 Spring Line out for a spin while picking vegetables at Frog Holler Farm. Come rain or shine, there’s work to be done.

Jessie is wearing the Force Equator Jacket. It is constructed from Storm Defender material, which means you’re gonna stay dry in even the heaviest of rain. To top it off, the Force Equator Jacket has been bonded with FastDry, a quick wicking technology, so you can finish the job with protection from the elements and sweat. (The island blue color Jessie is wearing will be available next spring.) 


Julie is wearing the Rockford Windbreaker. It is also outfitted with Rain Defender. This jacket has a lighter feel to it, great for a windy but temperate day on the job. (The burnt coral color Julie is wearing will be available next spring.)

Jenny is wearing the Mountrail Jacket. Its waterproof breathable membrane is made of Storm. You’ll feel snug in the complete coverage with adjustable cuffs and fully taped seams.

Drought: This Juice Is Alive

Conscious companies are the way of the future. When I look to make a purchase, I want to buy from someone I trust. For most, that depends on quality and reliability. However, in a world where so many corporations revolve around the bottom line, it’s refreshing to see a business with character, not blinded by greed. I want to put my cash behind people who bring dependable products to their consumers in a mindful way, supporting the environment and keeping the customers’ well being at heart.

Detroit’s beloved James sisters dreamed of making raw juice commercially available and viable. What is raw juice? To put it simply, it’s juice in its purest form, made from 100% organic fruits and veggies. Conventional juice is dead, pasteurized and preserved to the point of reducing it to a mere sugar-y substance, low in nutrients. Raw juice is technically alive, hence the short shelf life, but full of all the goodness you’d find in the ingredients.

Four years ago, DROUGHT was born, a product of this sister super team on a mission to bring an honest approach to the health food industry. They make a great team.

“What is one’s shortcoming is another’s strong suit. We step in where needed and don’t allow each other to flounder. We are direct with one another and at the same time allow one another the flexibility to be independent. Of course we regularly push each other’s buttons, but we have one another’s best interest in mind. Trust me, none of us would be in business together if it were cutthroat competition with one another behind the scenes. We support one another 110%.” –Caitlin James

Their advice for anyone with a similar vision is to, “Do it now! Don’t wait or get caught up in the how’s–just do it! The how’s will work themselves out. Thoughts become things.”

Like what the girls are wearing? You can find the James’ winter work-wear here.

Things to Consider About Your Food This Holiday Season

The Knapp family farm, Cobblestone Valley, has been passed down 4 generations. To preserve, conserve, and rebuild is the driving force behind this beautifully maintained estate in Preble, New York. The Knapps see it as their mission to treat land, animals, and people well.

This certified organic farm specializes in dairy. That in turn fuels the other enterprises that thrive there: such as poultry, beef, pork, strawberries, and compost. Maureen Knapp introduced me to their gang of turkeys. With the holidays right around the corner, it’s a good time of year to consider where your food comes from.

Local and organic products are the building blocks of a more sustainable food structure. To quote the mindful family, “In organic farming we use nature as our teacher and we believe that all health begins with the soil. As such our soils are our most precious resource. Healthy soils grow healthy plants, which produce healthy animals and, in turn, healthy people.” With all the feasting that happens with loved ones during this season, wouldn’t it be nice to spread the consideration that you are what you eat? Challenge your household to eat local and organic products this year, and support farmer owned organizations.

Maureen is wearing: Carhartt Women’s Clarksburg Quarter-Zip Sweatshirt, Cascade Jacket, & Relaxed-Fit Denim Jasper Jean.

Imani of Keep Growing Detroit

 

There is a certain feeling of empowerment and resolve that come with sticking your own two hands in the soil and growing your own food. Dusting the dirt off your clothes after a hard day of work never felt so good. To watch your labor generate new life is almost as satisfying as taking a big bite out of a your fresh produce.

Spend some time with the folks at Keep Growing Detroit and you’ll know what I’m talking about. This non-profit organization makes it possible to grow fruits and veggies in the city limits for the people of Detroit. Their focus is to help residents create a healthy relationship with food, spread knowledge about growing and farming, and cultivate a sense of community.

After a few minutes of following Imani around as she worked in the gardens, I sensed her connection with the land. With experience and dexterity, she performed each familiar task as if she were having her daily conversation with the ground. The interdependent relationship between Mother Nature and those who harvest its potential is one that should be respected and never taken for granted.

Included above are some tips to starting your own garden. Take a look at some of Imani’s Carhartt gear that helps her get the job done: Carhartt Women’s Force Equator Jacket, Carhartt Force Performance Quarter-Zip Shirt, Original-Fit Canvas Crawford Dungaree, Wellington Boot, and Soft Hands Gloves. 

The Women of Seasons Soda

It’s time to treat yourself and continue your healthy lifestyle at the same time. Seasons Soda, based out of Chicago, makes natural soda out of fresh fruits, herbs, and filtered co2 water. In an effort to keep things local, Seasons Soda has created a closed loop system. Most of their fruits and herbs are from organic, family farms in the midwest. Then after the production process, their compost is reused and donated to Chicago urban farms. On top of that, no sugar or preservatives are added. Lisa and Agata are in on the ground floor of this relatively new company. Pretty exciting stuff to see organizations that make products that are good for the consumer and community alike. To get some soda for yourself, check out Seasons Soda facebook page for their farmer’s market schedule.