Author Archives: Alexandra Wilson

Recollection

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Rural Farmgirl Alexandra Wilson

“We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility of our future.” George Berrnard Shaw

Our pasts, however much we want to think of them as static things, are ever changing. Think of the word ‘recollection.’ Every time we look at the past we are re-collecting, or collecting again, thoughts and memories of times past. There is no doubt in my mind that this act of re-collecting continually results in changed versions of memories and the uncovering of thoughts long unthunk. How have I come to this point in my life of dreaming of being a farmer? As a kid, farming wasn’t even a consideration. What happened between then and now to influence these present dreams of farming?

I’ll have to take a trip down memory lane…

How in the heck have I found myself immersed in Alaskan agriculture?

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Long, Skinny, Slimy Things

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Rural Farmgirl Alexandra Wilson

Spring was here! for a few days, it was here, I swear. The skies were clearing up in the afternoons, the icicles broke from our house, and that distinct smell of snow melting and gravel roads thawing tinged the air. It seems to have all been a tease–but what was I expecting? It’s March in Alaska after all. Last year at this time we still had thigh deep snow on the farm, and growing up in Minnesota I would be expecting at least one more big snow fall.

However, the daylight hours are increasing, daylight savings time means that the afternoons seem even longer, and spring really is just right around the corner. With this increased vitamin D comes a jumpstart in our farmer-wannabe attitudes and motivations. Sigh…what a wonderful time of year!

It’s Spring Break for teachers and students alike! I headed south with a friend and spent a few days in Homer, enjoying the spring tease.

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A Year in Poetry

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Rural Farmgirl Alexandra Wilson

Hey Farmgirls, Guess what? I have now been lucky enough to have shared a year’s worth of some exciting and not-so-exciting stories with you all. That’s right, it is my one year Rural Farmgirl-iversary. The year has been full of ups and downs, wrongs and rights, and straight down the middles; and I can’t THANK YOU enough for joining me biweekly for a whole year. I love writing for Maryjane and you, her audience of amazing women (and some men, too!). Thanks for sharing your own anecdotes and providing some great advice for all situations.

I wanted to make this post an extra special one. However, I was having trouble getting past the stage of blabbing about what has happened over the past year–if you really want to read that, there is a list of my writings over there—–> somewhere on the side of the screen. Be my guest! Otherwise, I have composed some poems as a sort of lighthearted thank you to you all.

So, come on in for some various high school level poems inspired by 366 days (2012 was a leap year!) in Rural Alaska as Mary Jane’s Rural Farmgirl.

I’ve learned that skiing (and other winter sports) is a wonderful complement to farming! Plus, back country skiing is free!

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Upcycled for Our Pleasure

Posted on February 14, 2013 by Rural Farmgirl Alexandra Wilson

First off Farmgirls, Happy Valentine’s Day! For some reason, the holiday has eluded me this year. Yesterday, a few moms of my students asked if it was alright if the kids brought in cards or treats for our class, and it took me a second to realize why. Then I realized–oh yes, we are studying hearts and the circulatory system today for a reason! It is the heart happy holiday. The best thing that came from today was finding out, through the grapevine, that one of my cute students has a crush on another–he displayed his love by proudly giving her a candy heart that had “awesome” etched into it. He can’t read very well yet, so he had to ask me what it said (he’s seven). “Because you’re awesome,” he sweetly proclaimed as he handed it over. Ah, young love!

My stepmother collects heart shaped rocks for little decorations, I’ve taken to snapping pictures of heart shaped boulders.

While my love and I won’t be celebrating Valentine’s Day this year, our love is still young and this post is about a thing that we love to do together…Repurposing found and otherwise cheap objects. Have you ever heard of repurposing or upcycling? It entails taking another person’s trash and transforming it into something useful, possibly beautiful, and definitely better than it previously was.

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The White Stuff

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Rural Farmgirl Alexandra Wilson

White. It is the color of purity and innocence. Most say it isn’t a color, rather it is the combination of all colors. For our purposes, white is a color that compliments and opposes all other colors at the same time. It is clean and bright, and it brings to mind (at least for Farmgirls!) an image of crisp, beautiful linens flapping softly in a summers breeze. However, as the weather reports have shown us over the last few weeks, white takes on a whole new meaning in the winter months.

A farm in Norway, ca. 1910

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Gaining Traction

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Rural Farmgirl Alexandra Wilson

Farmgirls, I have a confession for you: My holiday season up until about yesterday wasn’t all that great. I tried, really, to see the best in everything and be full of holiday cheer. There were definitely very good times had by myself, my loved ones and some great friends, but overall, I was kind of down in the dumps. I even tried a faux Happy New Year resolution excitement in my last post on New Year’s resolutions; and you know what? I’ve already failed at most of those! Have I done yoga once in 2013? No! I did call a good friend; but I called my grandmother and she didn’t answer, when she called back I didn’t answer and haven’t called her back. I guess I have been a bit more organized. But overall, I’ve been somewhere between apathetic and discouraged.

There are many, many facets that played into this state of mind. Most notably I really miss my family. Another one is ice. It gets to me. I’m afraid of it at times and in total awe at others. We have been living in an increasingly icy world here in Palmer since before Christmas, so I’ve had a lot of time to ponder ice and its role in my life. Luckily, I’m gaining traction, both physically and mentally.

Moki gets a break from the ice in this snow at higher elevations.

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Resolute

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Rural Farmgirl Alexandra Wilson

Well, Farmgirls, we’ve done it, we’ve turned another page in history and now have a nearly blank page to fill with the trials and tribulations of 2013. What stories will top our bank of memories at the end of the year? Will the great and beautiful outweigh the hard and sad? Will our adventures outnumber moments of inertia? I have a feeling this year is going to be great! Maybe thats just because of my unorthodox attraction to the number thirteen, though…

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Small Things

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Rural Farmgirl Alexandra Wilson

Writing is therapeutic. It is for me, at least. Whenever I have been at my most confused, my most disoriented, my most misdirected–writing has helped clarify and organize my jumbled thoughts. After the tragedy on Friday, I haven’t been able to write. I tried to write a poem… but I just don’t have the words. I’m still waiting, perhaps this blog post will help get them flowing.

I am devastated.

I am angered.

I am sickened.

I am fearful.

I am hopeful.

I am thankful.

Louise’s Farm School–Some of the best kiddos around!

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Rural, Rural, Rural

Posted on December 6, 2012 by Rural Farmgirl Alexandra Wilson

When I was first contacted about becoming Mary Jane’s Rural Farmgirl, I was living in an apartment, in Anchorage, with a short elevator ride to my car; a car which I rarely used because I could walk to work, walk to the store, walk to a coffee shop, and walk to the park. However, this wasn’t me. The view from our window was of Office Depot, the ambient noise and light from the surrounding city was constant, and our arguing neighbors could be heard way too easily through our too thin walls. Luckily, at the time that MJF contacted me, we were slated to move to Spring Creek Farm in one month’s time.

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Thankful for Cliches

Posted on November 22, 2012 by Rural Farmgirl Alexandra Wilson

Happy Thanksgiving Farmgirl Sisters! I hope your days are filled with delicious foods, wonderful company, moments of nostalgia and the giving of many thanks. Since I have been one of the Farmgirl bloggers for less than a year, this is my first Thanksgiving as part of the crew. That means that I get to write about all of the things that I am thankful for in life! Next year or years to come I can write about the perfect Turkey preparation or an awesome carved out pumpkin pot; but for now, it’s a cliche “What I am Thankful For List.” I highly recommend making one of these, yourself! I think that a hard look at what is really great in our lives is so necessary sometimes. This is such an opportune time to do this and to think about our gratitude more than the obligatory declaration of thanks around the dining room table (which has its own merits!).