By Marc J. Elzenbeck When we last left our 3,500 pound purebred Holstein flight risk, we had upgraded the 4 foot high fence she had jumped, topping and criss-crossing it with electric wire. The group that hated the 100 mile-rated Zareba Energizer’s power included Leslie Lou “Minnie” Moo, her new calf Nettie, our dogs, their…
Gardening, Literary, October 2025
Harvesting Stones
By Jane Valencia A reflection from 25 years ago, when our family lived on the Island’s west side. We are deep into autumn – on All Hallow’s Eve, it so happens – a day whose crone eyes decree decay and change, and spark with new beginnings. The apples on the old tree in our front lawn…
June 2025, Literary
On the Go With Jean-Jacques Rousseau
“I have never been so much my own self as when I have set out on foot and alone. There is something about walking that animates and activates my ideas. I can hardly think at all when I am still; my body must move if my mind is to do the same. The sight of…
June 2025, Literary, Poetry
Mukai Haiku Festival 2025 Winners
Mukai Farm & Garden is proud to announce the winners of the Mukai Haiku Festival 2025. The festival received over a hundred haiku from twelve countries around the world. The prize winners and their haiku are below. Youth 5-13 1st: Aiden Hermmans Jungle Green, leafy, wet, coolIt is an ecosystemCanopy of life 2nd: Peter T….
Literary, May 2025, Poetry
Violet – Lore, Poem, and Herbal Litany
By Jane Valencia In Catholic faith tradition, flowers have a treasured place in devotions to Our Blessed Mother Mary. Since the earliest centuries of the faith, flowers (and other plants and trees) have served as nature’s “icons” – expressing the virtues, character, and mysteries of Our Lady, as well as other spiritual truths and tales….
Literary, May 2025, Poetry
A Poem
By Jo Ann Herbert These fragrant historic roses have not opened yet this season. My garden’s past beauty has suffered damage as the poem references, but as all of us age and life unfolds, I hope we remember what of beauty and joy we have expressed created and shared in this life. I just went…
Literary, November 2024, Poetry
Take, for What Is Given – A Villanelle
By Jane Valencia Download a pdf of the poem set to music Years ago, in the dark of the year, a friend shared with me a dream she’d had. I quickly forgot the nature of her dream, but a phrase she spoke sparked my imagination: “Take, for what is given.” I set to work on…
Island Voices, Literary, October 2024
Going Aground in Mystery Bay
By Suzanna Leigh “This t-shirt says ‘Nordland General Store’ on it,”R says as he folds the laundry (I wash, he folds). “I don’t recognize it.” “It’s mine,” I say – and I am flooded with memories. Bob and I went aground on our boat Sea Change, on the way to Nordland. Nordland is a community…
Literary, October 2024
Old Michaelmas and Blackberry Bramble
By Jane Valencia Michaelmas – the Christian Feast Day of St. Michael the Archangel – is celebrated on September 29th. But I recently learned that this feast day was once celebrated on October 10th or 11th, and that “Old Michaelmas,” at least in Britain, also commemorated the day that Satan was cast out of heaven….