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ABOUT US: A little history...


Karen Golden of Michigan Heirlooms, Highland, MI
Karen Golden (Photo Credit: Kate Phillips)

"Necessity is the Mother of invention."


In the late 1980's, I was fresh out of my parents house and out on my own for the first time. I was living in a 'real' city, in a duplex with a tiny postage stamp yard. I met and came to love the old woman that lived directly next to me. She was from southern Kentucky, and she taught me more that summer than all the education I've ever paid for - she taught me how to grow my own food, and more importantly, how to preserve it.

A handful of years later, I was lucky enough to inherit some land back in my hometown.

By now, I had three children under the age of four, a new house -- and no money. I did, however, have a strong back.

In those first years, there wasn't much I didn't try. I had a real-live micro farm, complete with a flock of 100+ chickens, pigs, cows, turkeys - you name it. Other than milk, cheese and flour, I produced everything my family ate for years, right here on this land.

I am not a doctor, nor a scientist, but I do know this: Not one of my children have EVER been sick enough to require an antibiotic. Coincidence? I think not.

Eventually, the glamour of farming wore off and I turned to ornamental plants. I have a thing for variegated plants. Any, and all of them. And the more, the better. I had an idea that I was going to open a nursery that specialized in only variegated plants. "Variations Greenhouse" was born. The truth is, I had to find some way to support my ever increasing habit of buying plants!


As it sometimes does, life interrupted and my circumstances changed and I got out of the 'green industry' for a few years. Fortunately, He has a way of bringing you back to where you belong.


Growing your own food is a powerful thing. It touches the deepest part of my soul. It is humbling and empowering. I believe that I am but a small, small part of this big world. Everyday, I think globally and try to act locally. You don't have to be a political science major to know that we are in hard times. Worldwide, food resources are being depleted.


My theory is simple: PLAN, PLANT, PROVIDE.


He will take care of the rest.


God bless.


~ Karen Golden


Thinking locally can create global changes

PARADOX of OUR AGE

Written by Dr. Bob Moorehead, former pastor of Seattle Overlake Christian Church from a 1995 collection of poems "Words Aptly Spoken".

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

Remember to spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

And always remember, life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by those moments that take our breath away.

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