Mary Murray
describes herself as a goat charmer, chicken whisperer, bee maven, and farmers’ market baker renovating an 1864 farmhouse on an Ohio farm. With a degree in Design, Mary says small-town auctions and country road barn sales "always make my heart skip a beat thinking about what I could create or design out of what I’ve seen.”
Rooted in the countryside, she likes simple things and old ways … gardening, preserving the harvest, cooking, baking, and all things home. While you might find her selling baked goods from the farm’s milkhouse, teaching herself to play the fiddle, or sprucing up a vintage camper named Maizy, you will always find her in an apron!
Mary says, “I’m happiest with the simple country pleasures … an old farmhouse, too many animals, a crackling fire, books to read, and the sound of laughter … these make life just perfect.”
Column contents © Mary Murray. All rights reserved.
Farmgirl
is a condition
of the heart.
Alexandra Wilson
is a budding rural farmgirl living in Palmer, the agricultural seat of Alaska. Alex is a graduate student at Alaska Pacific University pursuing an M.S. in Outdoor and Environmental Education. She lives and works on the university’s 700 acre environmental education center, Spring Creek Farm. When Alex has time outside of school, she loves to rock climb, repurpose found objects, cross-country ski on the hay fields, travel, practice yoga, and cook with new-fangled ingredients.
Alex grew up near the Twin Cities and went to college in Madison, Wisconsin—both places where perfectly painted barns and rolling green farmland are just a short drive away. After college, she taught at a rural middle school in South Korea where she biked past verdant rice paddies and old women selling home-grown produce from sidewalk stoops. She was introduced to MaryJanesFarm after returning, and found in it what she’d been searching for—a group of incredible women living their lives in ways that benefit their families, their communities, and the greater environment. What an amazing group of farmgirls to be a part of!
Column contents © Alexandra Wilson. All rights reserved.
Libbie Zenger
Previous Rural Farmgirl,
June 2010 – Jan 2012
Libbie’s a small town farmgirl who lives in the high-desert Sevier Valley of Central Utah on a 140-year-old farm with her husband and two darling little farmboys—as well as 30 ewes; 60 new little lambs; a handful of rams; a lovely milk cow, Evelynn; an old horse, Doc; two dogs; a bunch o’ chickens; and two kitties.
René Groom
Previous Rural Farmgirl,
April 2009 – May 2010
René lives in Washington state’s wine country. She grew up in the dry-land wheat fields of E. Washington, where learning to drive the family truck and tractors, and “snipe hunting,” were rites of passage. She has dirt under her nails and in her veins. In true farmgirl fashion, there is no place on Earth she would rather be than on the farm.
Love your blog and many blessings ro your sweet family!
Thank you, Laurel! The same to you and yours.
We are hoping to move to a rural 40+ acres in NE washington in 2-3 years. I also have 3 girls. Who are currently 8, 7, & 4. It is so inspiring to see you out with 3 so young! Makes me feel like I’ll be able to get a lot done with my older helpers!
Thanks, Ashley! It is really amazing to see what the older farm kids I know can accomplish, and how quickly they learn. Sometimes the only thing in their way is strength and the ability to operate heavy machinery 🙂
Oh, wow, those pix are treasures. I especially love the fashionistas, the dirt eating, and the album cover. What a story they tell ! (along with your insightful words) :))))))
Thanks, Laura! We do have fun working slowly together.
You hit the nail on the head! It’s challenging to farm with kids! It’s also super fun, entertaining and fascinating… who knew it’s sooo much fun to cut hornworms in half? It’s a wonderful thing to see things through their eyes, even if I have to stop what I’m doing for the umpteeth time! My girls are old enough now that they do a lot of chores on their own. The best part is seeing them take pride in a job well done. The worst part is when they scheme together and rush through cleaning the barn to go do who knows what. I did tell them to work together, right? I’ll have to be more specific on the “work” part- (future advice for you!) I find myself saying to them, ” I can’t stand it when you act like your mother!” My girls just smile at that and all is well. Many blessings to you and many fun-filled “work” days with your little ones!!!
Thanks, Amanda! I’ll have to use that mother line :). They will get a kick out of it, and Ava is already at the point where she will say things like, “but mom, that’s what you do…” ha! Guilty as charged. Hope your fall is great and your daughters scheme to muck like they’ve never mucked before!
The dirt pictures really made me smile! So much to explore and learn. I remember when my very fastidious friend put her son in a sandbox for the first time. He was appalled, to say the least! I grew up playing in a garden and so did my kids. We’re all better for it. Big hugs from Colorado!
Thank you, Maureen 🙂
Fun blog post! Love the photo of Fernie eating dirt and pea-henge and potato-henge!
Mommie Dearest
Ha! I love the pea and potato henges, too. Love you!
Thank You for sharing this post. The girls are getting so big. They are beautiful. God Bless.
Marilyn
Thanks, Marilyn!
So enjoyable reading about your adventures with your children and I had some chuckles. You are a patient lady even if you don’t think so. They are blessed to have you as their Mom.
Thank you, Randee! Especially for the comment re:patience…I feel my well drying up once in awhile 🙂
Love your “littles” reports…as a Great great grandma I can so relate, and remember trying to pick berries with my kids and grandkids. All too soon they will grow up and those fun times will be no more. So just enjoy while you have them and make wonderful memories. Best wishes with your little “farmers”!!