A Visit to One of Wisconsin’s Treasures, The VanDeBoom Farm

On a Saturday morning in July, I watched the sun rise from the Western shore of Lake Michigan and thought, “this is going to be an awesome day.” On the agenda was a visit to the VanDeBoom Organic Farm in Delavan, Wisconsin. The time had finally come to visit the laboratory of my favorite raw food chef, Beth Van De Boom. With the top down and the classic rock blaring I took my roadster slicing through picturesque Middle America. At the end of my trail I found Beth – surrounded by chickens, cows and gardens-bursting with vitality. Class was about to begin, and she couldn’t wait to teach.

FARM OR PHARMACY?

MM: Beth, thanks for inviting the Motormouth crew out to your beautiful farm. Are all

certified organic farms basically producing the same quality products?

Beth: Most organic farms have to meet the NOP (national organic program) standards , but we go further than the standards. We supply drinking water in every pasture. Not only that, our cattle drink the same treated water we do. We offer shade to our livestock when uncomfortable conditions arise. We feed only pasture which consists of legumes such as Red Clover, White Clover and Alfalfa and different grasses like Meadow Fescue, Reed Canary Grass and Orchard grass. We call our pasture the cows’ salad bar as they have the ability to graze the pasture and choose what they need for the day. The cows are never fed any grains such as corn or soy. Our cows live on the pasture with clean water and sunshine for their vitamin D.

MM: What does someone with a certification in Raw Food Nutrition and an organic farm at her disposal do when she starts to feel sick? Are you able to live “pharmacy free?”

Beth: Most definitely! God has given us everything we need in nature to heal ourselves without all the modern interventions we have learned over the years. It takes a little retraining in our minds to recognize the old remedie

s that are readily available to us all year round. Dandelions for example are rich in bioflavonoids which help us heal faster when we get a cold or the flu. Dandelions also help our gallbladder and liver to detoxify heavy metals and chemicals. You can put them on a salad or make a tea out of them which will strengthen the gallbladder and liver area of the body. Other foods such as zucchini – which most garden owners have in abundance – helps detox heavy metals out of the body. We are continually exposed to toxins and if we don’t eliminate them daily we will get sick! You can grate your extra zucchini and freeze it raw in small freezer bags f

or soups or sauteing with other vegetables in the Winter.

MM: We’re going to play “Grand Rounds” here on the farm. I’ll give you two diagnosis, and you have two minutes to give me your management strategy:

First – ECZEMA. Go.

Beth: Here on the farm there are plants that can help clear up Eczema. The first one that comes to mind is Red Clover. Red Clover is a powerful blood cleanser. Cleaning the blood helps clear the Eczema. You also want to help the li

ver cleanse the toxins out which will assist the body in clearing the Eczema. The plant for that is called Milk Thistle. This herb will help the liver neutralize toxins in the body and help the liver cells to rejuvinate themselves. The third plant would be Echinacea. This is a beautiful plant that grows large daisy like flowers in pink, yellow or white. Making a tea out of this plant helps the immune system stay strong. Vegetables to plant in your garden to help with the Eczema would be all the cruciferous vegetables: cabbage, brussel sprouts, bok ch

oy, kale, Broccoli and cauliflower. These foods contain sulphur compounds called Sulforaphane, which help create clear glowing skin.

MM: Second – hot flashes and irritability associated with menopause. Go.

Beth: I would take a walk right to the Red Raspberry plants growing in the garden. Red Raspberry herb rebalances the female

energy in conditions such as hot flashes. Drinking 1 or 2 cups of this wonderful tea works as a nutritious tonic. This herb also helps promote healthy bones, teeth and skin! Then I would walk over to the Lavender plants. Lavender has wonderful calming effects for the irritability and lack of restful sleep we frequently experience during menopause.

You can get this herb in an essential oil and rub some on your wrists or you can cut the Lavender flowers in your garden and put them under your pillow so you can smell them all night! The last helper would be broccoli. Broccoli has powerful phytonutrients. One of the compounds is called Indole-3-carbinol or I3C for short. These compounds protect against cancers of the ovaries, breast, uterus. So much more to share, but I guess it will have to wait for next time!

MM: There’s no question that organic farms will play a bigger role in the evolving healthcare paradigm. But I am not willing to give up my local pharmacy just yet. I believe it will be the doctors who can skillfully utilize both sides of the (electrified) fence that will enjoy the greatest satisfaction in the years ahead.

Bob and Beth Van De Boom own and operate Van De Boom Organic Farm in Delavan, Wisconsin.  Beth has worked along side physicians for two decades offering natural therapies from her farm.  To schedule a consult with Beth Van DeBoom email: iamhealthy247@gmail.com