What is the shelf life of kraut?  An unopened jar will last a year.  We recommend two months for an opened jar.  It helps to press the kraut down into the juice after each use.

What is the best way to take SuperTonic?  Many creative ways to take SuperTonic.  The latest suggestion is to put 1 - 2 tablespoons SuperTonic in 1-2 cups of hot water and add honey to taste.  Makes a delicious hot tea.  Other suggestions include 2-4 tablespoons in pint jar, add equal amount of honey or maple syrup, and top off with a fruit juice.  However, some like it straight,, some use it as a barbecue sauce, some add it to their morning "smoothie."  

Do we use vinegar to make our krauts or pickles?  No, the natural fermentation process generates its own healthy lactic and other organic acids.

I would like to make my own ferments.  Can you give me any tips? Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon and Wild Fermentation by Sandor Katz are excellent resources.  However, you can e-mail us with specific questions (localgrower@gmail.com) and we will be happy to provide pointers and tips.

I have heard the lactic acid is what makes your muscles ache after intense exercise.  Why is lactic acid considered desirable?  There are two forms of lactic acid: L(+) and D(-). Sauerkraut and other lactic acid-fermented foods contain the L(+) which is necessary for the creation of energy in the muscles, liver and red blood cells.  Also lactic acid is a basic substance for making glucose and fatty acids.  While the body can make its own, supplementing our diets with food rich in L(+) lactic acid has many positive effects.  D(-) lactic acid is produced when insufficient oxygen which is necessary to metabolize pyruvic acid results in the conversion of pyruvic acid to D(-) lactic acid.

How do I use sauerkraut?  Many ways!  It really wakes up a salad.  It's great as a side with almost any food: casseroles, meats, eggs, rice, beans, potatoes....mix a little in your stir-fried vegetables (after they're cooked please, so you don't kill the live enzymes and probiotics with the heat.  How about on a grilled cheese sandwich?

What is KimChi good with?  We love it with eggs or hamburger.  It is fantastic on a sweet potato or winter squash with coconut oil.  Always add the kraut or KimChi after, not during cooking.  You want the full benefit of the raw, living food.

We use Celtic Sea Salt to make our ferments.  How is this salt different from regular table salt?

What is the difference between Raw Fermented Kraut and commercial supermarketl Sauerkraut?

I love your krauts and eat them regularly. They seem to be helping my colitis. I have a question, though, about the survival of probiotics in the stomach acid environment. This is always an issue raised about pill-form probiotics. Is it an issue with probiotics that come in kraut and other fermented foods?  Unlike some probiotics taken in pill form, the probiotics, particularly L. plantarum, survive the stomach-acid environment, hence reaching the lower digestive tract.

Ancient High-Potency Remedy for inflammations, fevers, flu, colds, infections.

 “The FRESH JUICES of organic Horseradish Root drive this formula to your head, sinus, throat and lungs, where you need it. The organic Garlic Juice and its next of kin, organic Onion Juice, are the two best herbs to flush micro-organisms from your body. The organic Yellow Ginger Root Juice and Habanero Pepper Juice stimulate your blood and lymphatic flow like no other herbs to get your immune cells to the bad guys, as fast as possible.  Dr. Richard Schulze

Do not underestimate the power of this combination. We’ve used it for 15 years to great effect, whenever we feel a cold, flu or inflammation.

Suggested usage:

Shake in the sediment before pouring.

Adults: Add 2-4 tablespoons to jar, followed by 1-4 tablespoons honey or maple syrup. Add a cup or more of real juice (orange, apple, etc). Shake and sip often until desired effect is achieved.

 When detoxifying, drink plenty of water (preferably filtered).

 SuperTonic is powerful and very hot. Can be taken full strength for maximum effect if desired

 One customer uses it as a hot sauce on barbecued chicken. Mighty healthy sauce!

Update on how to take SuperTonic: 1 - 2 Tablespoons SuperTonic in one cup hot water.  Add honey to taste.  Makes a zingy delicious tea!

The Making of SuperTonic

Habanero Pepper (one of the hotter peppers)

   Fights inflammation, clears mucus membranes, detoxifies, stimulates blood flow, protects and nourishes the heart; stimulates every organ quickly

Garlic Bulb

   Kills bad bacteria, fungi and parasites, anti-carcinogenic

Onion

   Anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, supports digestion

Ginger

   Anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, improves digestion

Horseradish Root

   Anti-biotic, dissolves thick mucus, heats the body, brings blood to the brain

Health Benefits of SuperTonic

In accordance with FDA regulations, we do not claim this product to diagnose, prevent, treat or cure any disease. But we can report that for 15 years we have consistently experienced relief from cold, flu and inflammatory symptoms after taking SuperTonic.

The components of SuperTonic instantly energize and stimulate every organ and give a surge of circulation, dilating blood vessels, including to the brain and the heart. By stimulating circulation, it speeds the powerful effects to where they are most needed.

It dissolves mucus, clears sinus and lungs, nourishes and protects the heart, balances digestion, fights inflammation, kills bad bugs and heats the body.

We could give a number of anecdotes, but we’ll just tell a few for now. A woman came to us and asked, “Will it help my arthritis pain?” We said, “We don’t know, but it will not harm you.” The following week she told us, “It actually helped ease my arthritis pain, in one week!”

Another woman who was on oxygen with cystic fibrosis breathed better and reduced her requirement for oxygen using SuperTonic.  (the antibiotics no longer were helping her.)

Several customers told us “This product really does stop the flu!”

These are only a few testimonials. Again we state that SuperTonic is not intended to diagnose, prevent, treat or cure any disease. We merely report that it has seemed to help us and others with inflammation-related problems.

Addendum:

What some of our customers have been saying to us:

Thanks for the info, I have already tried the tonic and it works great.  Haven't heard of the Weston Price Org.  but I will check them out.  Thanks again.

 Gary

*********

My husband's been down with what "we think" is the flu for a week now and he loves the tonic.

His flu symptoms are so low than he's used to, that we're not even sure it's the flu. He's usually bed ridden for 24 hours, but that hasn't happened. Though it's been lingering enough to where he's not normal for a week and we've run out of tonic.

Thank you for what you do!!!

Gina

*********

I bought some supertonic at the Apple Family Farm in McCordsville and I love it!  I haven't gotten "sick" since taking it! 

thanks so much!!
Trisha

*********

  Hello !   I am a patient and friend of ­­­­­________.  She highly recommends your Super Tonic to ward off the dreaded Hoosier Winter Crud.

*********

Now that your on-line ordering is up I am going to put up a post on my facebook page telling my friends to go check it. Also another little marketing thing I thought of, did you ever see the movie “The Karate Kid”? It came out back in the 80’s. In it at one point the Old master has the kid drink some tea, the kid says ohh tastes awful, the Old Master says yaya “Taste bad work good, now drink”. I think that fits Super Tonic perfectly!

David

*********

That super tonic is so wonderful that it is becoming a wonderful part of our goal toward healthy living. 

Jane

*******

Well, it looks like I was able to stop the diverticulitis this time without antibiotics, and with juice fasting and Supertonic. Here's what I did, in case you're collecting anecdotes.

When I first noticed the pain, while it was VERY MILD, I stopped eating.( Probably only people who have had this a few times would recognize it immediately. The beginning symptom is so mild that if you didn't know what it was, you'd ignore it.)
Did a water fast the first day.
From the second day, I drank juice only, (and potassium broth) almost entirely vegetable, lots of greens, celery, carrot, parsley, spinach, kale, cucumber. For the entire week I only used 2 apples, which was the only fruit I used.
In the morning, I drank potassium broth with 1 teaspoon of Supertonic.
I added 1 teaspoon Supertonic to each 2 cup glass of vegetable juice. I also juiced 2 cloves of garlic per each 2 cup glass of vegetable juice. I usually drank 2 to 3 of these per day.
Later in the week, as I found I could easily tolerate 1 teaspoon Super T, I started adding 3 teaspoons per glass. If I have to do this again, I would start with 3 teaspoons per glass. It actually tastes good in the vegetable juice. Kind of like bloody mary mix without the tomato. ???

I did this for 7 days, then did a gradual 3 day transition to food. I've been eating normal food for a couple days now, and feel fine. First time I've gotten through this without antibiotics. One note: I wouldn't try this if the pain had gotten bad already. AND I went to the doctor, who gave me antibiotics to have on hand in case the pain got worse. He did say I could try this fast though, and that it might work. Looks like it did!

-Laura

*******

I have heard that SuperTonic MIGHT help arthritic symptoms, but did not take this advice seriously.  For two weeks I had been experiencing weakness and burning pain anytime I tried to use my left hand for gripping or doing daily chores.  I tried the usual anti-arthritic herbs and supplements but to no avail.  Then I caught a flu the day before a farmer's market where I was a vendor.  I mixed SuperTonic with juice and sipped it every 20 minutes awake and every time I woke up in the night.  The next morning my flu symptoms were gone, but more amazingly to me - not a trace of pain in my left hand.  It has remained that way to date.

--Beverly

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What They Are Publishing About Us:

Examiner Article on Fermented Ketchup 2/25/12

http://www.examiner.com/nutrition-in-indianapolis/product-review-hidden-pond-farm-naturally-fermented-ketchup-review

BloomingFoods Article 2/14/12:  

http://www.bloomingfoods.coop/

Examiner.com article on SuperTonic:   http://www.examiner.com/alternative-medicine-in-indianapolis/product-review-hidden-pond-farm-s-supertonic-review

Examiner.com article on Kombucha:

http://www.examiner.com/alternative-medicine-in-indianapolis/product-review-hidden-pond-farm-kombucha-review

Exminer.com article on KimChi

http://www.examiner.com/nutrition-in-indianapolis/product-review-hidden-pond-farm-s-kimchi-review

http://www.bloomingfoods.coop/

Product Listing:

Krauts:

KimChi

Red

Veggie

Root

Garlic Dill

Green

Hot Hot KimChi

Sweet Onion Dill 

Kombucha Varieties:

Ginger

Mint

Pear

Spruce-Spruce needles high in Vit. C

Pineapple

Cherry

Plain

Grape

Beet Kvass:

Plain

Dill

KimChi

Ginger 

Tomato Ferments 

Ketchup

BBQ Sauce

Salsa

Other Products:

SuperTonic

Fermented Dill Pickles

Ketchup: The Kid-Friendly Ferment - Teaming with probiotics and good-for-the-gut natural acids!

BBQ Sauce: Perhaps our most robust, mature flavored product yet!

Beet Kvass Facts

•  Lacto-fermented beverage made from beets,

   unrefined sea salt, and whey.

•  One small glass morning and night —

       --Is an excellent blood tonic

       --Promotes regularity

       --Aids digestion

       --Alkalizes the blood

       --Cleanses the liver

•   Beet kvass probably originated in the

    Ukraine, although grain kvass originated in

    Russia

Recent update information from Kelly Dearie of Creative Cultures, Santa Cruz, CA (http://www.creativeculturesfoods.com/)

:

'The only villages near Chernobyl that didn't experience radiation poisoning were the ones drinking Beet Kvass. I have heard this from multiple sources but I haven't been able to locate any scientific studies, so I'll keep you posted, and if you have any resources related to this please let me know, thanks!

What is verified is that beet Kvass and beet juice helps detox from radiation and toxin exposure, is used as a cancer therapy throughout Europe and is frequently recommended to cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy . Beet Kvass is also a good source of whole-spectrum, natural iodine.  Beet kvass cleanses the liver, improves digestion with over 20 different beneficial probiotics and b-vitamin rich yeast, helps with allergies, and more and more.  This is why the Ukrainians call it a "Cure All".

If you or someone you know has stress, digestive problems, blood issues, cancer, toxicity, or general health issues please forward this to them."

                                 Beet Kvass and Health

•   Beets and beet kvass are valued for their

    liver-cleansing properties and widely used

    in cancer therapies in Europe.

•   Anecdotal reports indicate that beet kvass

    is an excellent therapy for chronic

    fatigue, chemical sensitivies, allergies,

    and digestive problems.

•   “Professor Zabel observed that sick people

    always lack digestive juices, not only during

    the acute phase of their illness, but also for a

    long time afterwards.  In addition, he never saw

    a cancer victim that had healthy flora….Thus,

    the different lacto-fermented foods are a

    valuable aid to the cancer patient.  They are

    rich in vitamins and minerals and contain, as

    well, enzymes that cancer patients lack.  Of

    particular value are lacto-fermented beets,

    which have a very favorable effect on

    disturbed cellular function.  Many scientific

    studies have demonstrated that beets have

    a regenerating effect on the body.”

    Annelies Schoneck Des Crudites Toute

     L’Annee 

Inside the Crock

Beets are chopped and submerged in salt

water and whey.  Whey is necessary in

order to prevent the beets from going to

alcohol instead of lactic acid.  After bottled

and refrigerated, kvass may be consumed

but the flavor deepens and improves after

a couple of weeks in the cooler. 

What they are saying about us:

I love everything that I ordered from you. The beet kvass is delicious. I really feel like it is helping my liver immensly. I would like to order some kvass to tide me over until October. I had ordered some cultured vegetables from a company in New York (found them through Dr. Mercola's site) and I am trying to use up what I purchased. I must say that your kraut is so far superior, but I don't want what I have to go to waste, so I will use it. I only wish that I had found Hidden Pond Farm firs. I will be ordering all my kraut from you from now on starting in October when you ship again. The three different krauts I tried from you are delicious. Hopefully I will be able to try all the varieties. They are a real treat besides being so healing. Have a great day and thank you for the wonderful products you provide. Mary 

*    *    *    *   *    *    *    *   *    *    *    *   *    *    *    *   *    *    *    *   *    *    *    *   *    *    *    *   *    *    *    *

I am from indianapolis and buy your kvass on a regular basis when I can get it. Georgetown market is out of your product. I would like to get both dill and kimchee kvass. Natures Market on 86th street is also out of your product. How can I get your product?  Is it available for pickup at your bottling location? I feel much better when I have your product daily as it has totally taken me off blood pressure meds."

We are Andy and Beverly McDowell and we run a small farm-based new enterprise in Wayne County.   Years ago, in a quest to solve certain health problems, particularly digestive, we started making raw fermented sauerkraut and other raw fermented cultured vegetables and beverages, based on Sally Fallon’s book Nourishing Traditions.  In 2008, we were fortunate enough to acquire the “Old Home Place,” boyhood home of Andy.  Our interest in finding real answers to health problems coupled with a passion for organic gardening and a need to pay for the farm, spawned the Hidden Pond Farm enterprise. 

We raise as much of our ingredients (organically grown, of course) as we can manage.  The first year much of our effort was spent clearing land for gardening.   One of our first acquisitions was a European scythe, a fabulous tool for dealing with a field that was out of control with weeds, poison ivy, and wild berries.  We then sought to buy a good commercial tiller, but the constraint of little working capital drove us to a better direction: No-till gardening.   We construct our long beds by layering cardboard or newspaper, compost, and finally straw or hay.   Many trips to a local horse stable and many loads of manure resulting in long windrows which we watered and turned by hand systematically gave us delectable compost.  A local farmer sold us 20 round bales of old hay for a pittance enabling us to mulch generously.  Finally, we purchased a small greenhouse from a neighbor to extend our growing season.

Our farming/gardening methods are beyond organic. We utilize traditional organic buildup practices, more than most in fact. But we also employ the broad mineral balance, trace mineral addition and other high brix methods. The result is organically rich, high brix, mineral-balanced foods with world-class health attributes.

Our aim is to provide local folks with healthy, tradition-crafted raw lacto-fermented Sauerkrauts, KimChi, Kvass, and Kombucha.  August 14, 2010 Andy just completed construction of our state-certified facility located on our farm.  This facility is perhaps the only one dedicated solely to making ferments in the state of Indiana.  We are now able to make our products on site  in temperature-controlled chambers for more consistent and high quality products.   

Wishing each of you the best in your quest for good health and good living.

KimChi Facts