Home Sweet Home

It was time to come back home to my little, but much negelected, BLOG. I needed to share a lot of BIG changes. I am currently in Northwest Arkansas (Fayetteville, Bentonville, Rogers) and it seems as though the universe has been drawing me back HOME for some time now. You see, this is my birthplace. I have been gone for over 35 years (yikes that was almost scary to type). I have family here and have always remained infatuated with the natural state. However, life just never presented a realistic opportunity to return... until NOW.

A few years ago, my parents moved back to begin feathering their nest for future retirement and to be closer to their extended family.  Eventually my daughter made a proclamation that she would be attending the University Of Arkansas (at Fayetteville) to begin her Biology (Pre-Med) studies. Several visits later and I was swooning over the weather, terrain and beauty of all that is Northwest Arkansas and the Ozarks. Recently, a few daydreams were had , by my husband and I, that it would feel great to move this way in the next few years. I mean the Texas Oil and Gas economy has not been kind to our family finances and hubby's career and the climate (floods and droughts) and its associated expenses were devastating to our FARM investment--it was time to face that reality anyway. We had already been prioritizing our biggest life STRESSORS, and how to remove them one by one. Fast forward (only a few weeks) to my mother having a breast cancer diagnosis and my needing to be here full time to be her lead "Wellness Warrior" and I am HERE!

Its kind of surreal---in that I am HOME but not really. My husband and son (along with my amazing WWOOF interns) are in Texas and will be getting the farm consolidated and ready to sell. The Queen Bee Goats and Bee's will be going to my best friends ranch in Oklahoma (she is 45 minutes from NWA) and the cow to neighbors in Montgomery and chickens and donkeys will be relocated to other farms in the next several months. We will keep a place in Texas for hubby's work and so I can travel back and forth to visit my teenaged son (who is with his (birth)dad until HS graduation). How can you be following your "plan" and journey and suddenly be re-rooted?  It all seems to be THE right move, but is none the less a bit like being thrown out of an airplane. No worries though- I am a connector and have already been searching out my tribe and planting roots in my NEW community. As strange as sudden change can be...I do feel like I am coming HOME.

My mother had a PET scan yesterday to confirm that the Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, of the Breast, has not spread. We have GOT this and the challenge it brings with it. She is a strong woman and is searching all the best in HOLISTIC treatments. I wanted to bring the blog back as an outlet for me to share, vent and communicate about this NEW chapter.

I will be putting an emphasis on completing my "Recipe for Radiance" (Ingredients for living a BEAUTIFUL Life) program to work with my coaching clients remotely and LOCAL workshop venues here. My Queen Bee Wellness products will be available online for shipping still via my store at www.queenbeewellness.com and at the weekly Bentonville Farmers Market as of August 20th, 2016. I will be sharing on all my social media links as this is developed and events scheduled.

I am off to YOGA and a beautiful walk at my favorite little meditation spot in Bentonville, Crystal Bridges and Compton Gardens. Be good to yourselves and remember to nourish your mind, body and soul --"Wellness is Beauty".

Bee Well,
Melissa

Fermentation Crocks

For those who attended our wonderful fermentation class at Three Goats Farm yesterday, here is the crock that we used for the small 5 Liter kraut batch we started. the pricing has increased slightly since I purchased mine last year- however, still a great bargain. Happy FERMENTING!







The base recipe for the 5 Liter was 4 heads of cabbage at 1 Tbsp salt per head.......from their get your taste buds and seasonal bounty involved in your recipe creation. Now go "get cultured"!

Kickin Kimchi

Its been a rainy week at Three Goats Farm. That means I have been hanging out in the kitchen....making kombucha, kefir, cheese, saur kraut and kimchi (Texas Style). It has become one of my favorite flavors with the extra kick of serrano's added to the blend of cabbages, carrots, ginger and garlic. So, I had a request to share my recipe. Please feel free to share comments and questions below, if you need guidance for your ferments---Just let me know. I would be happy to help.

Three Goats Farm Kickin Kimchi 

For this recipe, I am using a  half gallon size  lidded jar

1 head of Napa Cabbage (roughly chopped)

1 head of Green Cabbage (roughly chopped)

2 cups of  grated Carrot or julienned

4 tbsp chopped Ginger and a 1 inch cube

2 Serrano peppers (sliced)

4 large cloves of Garlic (3 sliced and 1 whole)

6 cups of filtered water

6 tbsp of Sea Salt

2 tbsp of dried Red Chile Peppers

Place the chopped cabbage, julienned carrot's, sliced serrano peppers and chopped ginger into a large glass bowl and toss to blend. In a blender combine salt, water, ginger cube, 1 garlic clove, and dried red chile pepper and blend to create your brine. Now pour the brine over the kimchi, and coat well by tossing and then "pressing" (by hand) the vegetable mixture. Continue to break it down a bit and release water from the plants cell walls (5 minutes at least). Cover loosely and allow vegetables to soak in brine for 1-2 hours. Then transfer to your jar as you pack and press the mixture tightly into the jar. The mixture should be an inch below the threads on the jar neck and completely submerged under brine. Place a whole cabbage leaf over the top of mixture (tucking down onto the inside of jar) and fill to to the rim with any remaining brine. Place jar onto a plate or bowl to catch overflow. Place the lid on loosely and store in a quiet, cool, dark area for 7-10 days (*Longer if you want it to have more KICK)

I will be sharing my favorite sauerkraut recipe next week, with a video of "Dishing with the Diva". Make it a GREAT one ya'll. ~ Off to feed the Goats!