
Our visit was a real joy
By: Harley & Twia Peterson (Aug 3, 2008)
We visited the Hilsgen Family Farm for the first time in May 2008 duriong the Art Fail. What a joyful 1 1/2 hour visit. The family lives a very simple life. No farm machinery like tractors. Thay use Belga horses, four. They heat and cook with wood which Mr. Hilsgen brings in from the woods with the horses and then cuts up by hand. They raise goats which they milk twice a day. Mrs. Hilsgen then makes goat cheese and goat soap. They seel it along with goat's milk. They also have geese and chickens and sell chicken eggs. No pens for these chickens; they run free. Yheir vegtable garden is large as they are a CSA farm and provide vegtables to members all sommer long. They also sell bedding plants, some of which are heirloom.The Helsgen's have 8 children, the youngest is 6 months old. Mrs Hilgren carried it in a carrier on her back as she showed us around, including her rug looming and knitting. All there children are home schooled. There is no TV, computer, radio, CD player, etc. They sell from their home. Be sure to go there sometime. Harley and Twila Peterson, W. St. Paul, MN
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