Published: March 13, 2008 01:54 pm            

From city life to living on Milk and Honey Farm

Originally published in the March 7, 2008, print edition.

Bob and Sarah Lea both grew up in the city, but you’d never know it by looking at their Milk and Honey Farm near Cokato.

Great Pyrenees guard dogs watch over the farm’s many animals, including sheep, chickens, geese and a few ducks. A 10,000 square foot organic garden provides an array of vegetables, herbs and flowers, while fruit trees round out the scene.

“We raise 95 percent of the food we eat,” Sarah said. “The health benefits are huge.” The garden begins in the basement in February, where seeds are planted and placed under grow lights.

“We raise our own salads in the winter,” Sarah said. In late March, the plants are transferred to a greenhouse, and in May are brought into the actual garden.

The Leas are firm believers that a natural diet is important to good health. Many years ago, Sarah was a heavy smoker who lived off junk food and didn’t exercise. She became very ill and decided it was time for a change. By reading the Bible, Sarah said she learned how to take care of her health. She went to college and began teaching nutrition classes. She had a radio program about healthy living called “Milk and Honey” and is the author of two books, “25 Ways to Save Money on Food And Eat Healthy,” and “Biblical Health & Nutrition.”

Sarah said she enjoyed teaching about nutrition on TV and the radio, but she wanted to get her “hands in the dirt and actually do it.” Now, with the Milk and Honey Farm, Sarah is able to do just that. Bob also enjoys working on the farm. “He does a huge amount of work here and it would not be happening without him,” Sarah said.

When the Leas started the farm, they bought three ewe lambs. To guard the sheep from predators, they got two Great Pyrenees dogs.

“The dogs had their first litter, and I was hooked,” Sarah said. The dogs ended up being more fun than the sheep, she added.

Now, the Leas sell puppies all over the United States.

“About 50 percent are sold as guardians for livestock and 50 percent are sold as pets,” Sarah said. Recently, the Leas began selling the dogs to protect autistic children. “The dog sticks with the child,” Bob said. “They’re big, but they’re extremely gentle.”

The dogs act as guardians as well as pets, while the other animals and plants on the farm are mainly used for food. At harvest time, the Leas enjoy homegrown organic strawberries, raspberries, cherries, apricots, plumbs, apples, rhubarb and peaches.

“When we planted the peach tree, everybody thought it was so funny, until we started handing out peaches,” Sarah said.

“There is a huge difference in the flavor of grocery store food versus fresh,” Bob said.

Sarah said she loves cooking a wide variety of foods. “For me, it’s entertainment,” she said. “With the same meats, fruits and vegetables used in American cooking, you can go to Thailand by changing the way it’s prepared and adding herbs and spices.”

“One of the negative side effects is that we have a hard time eating out,” Bob said with a smile.

Sarah said that much of the food people eat can “sustain life but not health.”

“So many people have diseases they really shouldn’t have,” Sarah said. “By changing their lifestyle, a ton of it can be prevented.”

To learn more about the Lea’s farm, log on to www.milkandhoneyfarm.com.

        

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